bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proteomics contributions to epigenetic drug discovery
Authors: Noberini Roberta , Bonaldi Tiziana
Published: September 2023

The combined activity of epigenetic features, which include histone post‐translational modifications, DNA methylation, and nucleosome positioning, regulates gene expression independently from changes in the DNA sequence, defining how the shared genetic information of an organism is used to generate different cell phenotypes. Alterations in epigenetic processes have been linked with a multitude of diseases, including cancer, fueling interest in the discovery of drugs targeting the proteins responsible for writing, erasing, or reading histone and DNA modifications. Mass spectrometry (MS)‐based proteomics has emerged as a versatile tool that can assist drug discovery pipelines from target validation, through target deconvolution, to monitoring drug efficacy in vivo. Here, we provide an overview of the contributions of MS‐based proteomics to epigenetic drug discovery, describing the main approaches that can be used to support different drug discovery pipelines and highlighting how they contributed to the development and characterization of epigenetic drugs.
Stretchable conductive Janus hydrogel with controllable porous structures for high‐performance strain sensing
Authors: Zhang Shi‐Yuan , Pan Da‐Wei , Fan Hai‐Dong , Shi Lu , Yang Yi‐Min , Liu Zhuang , Ju Xiao‐Jie , Xie Rui , Wang Wei , Chu Liang‐Yin
Published: September 2023

A stretchable conductive Janus hydrogel with controllable porous structures is developed for highly sensitive monitoring of human motion. The Janus porous structure of the hydrogel is fabricated using patterned single‐layer droplets produced by microfluidics as pore‐forming templates. The hydrogel possess dual‐crosslinked polymeric networks to achieve good stretchability (480%), which allows fully cover the stretching range of human skin (usually <200%). Meanwhile, the hydrogel possess controllable Janus porous structures with local strain/stress enhancement to achieve high sensitivity (GF = 5.2) for strain‐sensing. The Janus hydrogel shows fast response for stretching (175 ms) and recovery (170 ms), and good durability (200 cycles at 50% strain). The conductive Janus hydrogel with high sensitivity and good mechanical properties are promising for developing soft wearable sensors in fields such as human health monitoring and human motion detection.
Investigating the effect of atmospheric plasma on protein fibrinogen: Spectroscopic and biophysical analysis
Authors: Bharati Ashim Jyoti , Khanikar Rakesh Ruchel , Bailung Heremba , Sankaranarayanan Kamatchi
Published: September 2023

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has gained significance in recent years and different prospects of it have been studied widely owing to its effectiveness and eco‐friendly nature. CAP has been used extensively in wound healing. However, a detailed understanding of the interaction of the CAP with different protein macromolecules present in our body is essential. In this study, we emphasize how CAP affects the protein fibrinogen. Fibrinogen is a major protein involved in blood clotting and the major protein in the blood. Numerous spectroscopic investigations have been done including UV spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Zeta. This work shines a light on protein self‐assembly to bring the future possibilities of bio‐medicine with CAP treatment. Fibrinogen undergoes structural changes around tryptophan residue as evidenced by UV spectroscopy and quenching in fluorescence spectroscopy. The order of the fluorescence quenching is Oxygen > Helium > Argon gas plasma. 2,4‐dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) assay supports fluorescence studies as more protein carbonyls are formed in the case of argon and oxygen gas plasma. DLS and Zeta potential measurements prove that the protein Fibrinogen undergoes a self‐assembly process to form organized assemblies in the presence of a plasma jet. Reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species produced in the plasma have been evaluated using various assays and correlated with the other studies. This study will help understand protein fibrinogen's self‐assembly process and pave the way for the CAP application in wound healing.
Deucravacitinib for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis
Authors: Chaplin Steve
Published: September 2023

Deucravacitinib (Sotyktu) is a new small‐molecule TYK2 inhibitor for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. This article outlines its mode of action, efficacy and place in therapy.
Quantum Enhanced Probes of Magnetic Circular Dichroism
Authors: Hua Chengyun , Marvinney Claire E. , Hong Seongjin , Feldman Matthew , Pai Yun‐Yi , Chilcote Michael , Rabinowitz Joshua , Pooser Raphael C. , Marino Alberto M. , Lawrie Benjamin J.
Published: September 2023

Magneto‐optical microscopies, including optical measurements of magnetic circular dichroism, are increasingly ubiquitous tools for probing spin‐orbit coupling, charge‐carrier g‐factors, and chiral excitations in matter, but the minimum detectable signal in classical magnetic circular dichroism measurements is fundamentally limited by the shot‐noise limit of the optical readout field. Here, a two‐mode squeezed light source is used to improve the minimum detectable signal in magnetic circular dichroism measurements by 3 decibels compared with state‐of‐the‐art classical measurements, even with relatively lossy samples like terbium gallium garnet. These results provide a framework for new quantum‐enhanced magneto‐optical microscopies that are particularly critical for environmentally sensitive materials and for low temperature measurements where increased optical power can introduce unacceptable thermal perturbations.
Single‐port robotic surgery using the EDGE SP1000 surgical system in gynaecology: Initial experience of a single institution
Authors: Chen Yu , Zheng Ying , Wang Ping , Wang Qiao , Yang Fan , Zhou Shengtao
Published: September 2023

Background

The EDGE SP1000 is a newly developed single‐port (SP) robotic surgical system whose clinical evaluation in gynaecology has not yet been addressed.

Methods

This is a single‐arm clinical trial evaluating the perioperative outcomes of patients receiving EDGE SP1000 assisted surgeries. Patients with either benign or malignant gynaecological diseases suitable for robotic surgery were included, and their data were prospectively collected.

Results

Eighteen patients were included and 8 of them had malignant conditions. The total operative time was 190.1 ± 83.3 min for benign diseases and 254.4 ± 59.4 min for malignant diseases. The mean estimated blood loss was 25 mL (range, 5–100). No assistant ports or conversions were required. No perioperative complications occurred. Overall satisfaction with the umbilical wounds was expressed at the 1‐month follow‐up.

Conclusion

EDGE SP1000 SP robotic surgical system is technically feasible and safe in various gynaecological surgeries with good cosmetic effects.
Assessing progress of India in reduction of premature mortality due to four noncommunicable diseases towards achieving the WHO 25×25 goal and the sustainable development goals
Authors: Kulothungan Vaitheeswaran , Ramamoorthy Thilagavathi , Mohan Rohith , Mathur Prashant
Published: September 2023

The World Health Organization (WHO) adopted a global noncommunicable disease monitoring framework in 2013 with a target of a 25% reduction in premature mortality from four noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic respiratory disease (CRD) by 2025 compared to 2010. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target to reduce premature deaths from the four major NCDs by one‐third from 2015 to 2030. The objective of this study was to estimate the trend and reduction in premature mortality in India due to 4 major NCDs combined and separately between 2001 and 2030 and compare its progress toward the WHO and SDG target achievement. The publicly available data from the census for population and the Sample Registration System (SRS) for cause of death by 5‐year‐age groups were extracted. Age standardized premature mortality rates, unconditional probability of dying and annual percent change (APC) were computed. The premature mortality for four major NCDs decreased by −13.9% from 2010 to 2025 and by −15.6% from 2015 to 2030. The percentage changes in premature mortality from 2010 to 2025 were −33.9%, −17.4%, −9.3%, and 6.9% for CRD, cancer, CVD and diabetes respectively. For 2015–2030, these changes were −21.7%, −11.5%, −15.4%, and −15.1%. A significant reduction trend was observed for CRD with an average APC of −5.2%. The current reduction trend in premature mortality indicates that either the 25% reduction by 2025 or a one‐third reduction by 2030 will require intensive implementation of policies and program for NCD reduction.
Performance metrics in strategy research: A new metric and method for assessing dynamic value
Authors: Souder David , Shaver J. Myles , Harris Jared D. , Alrashdan Abdullatif
Published: September 2023

Research Summary

We discuss two research design considerations that jointly influence the choice of financial performance metrics in strategy research: (a) expected temporal payoff of the strategic choice and (b) source of variation invoked in the research design (i.e., within‐firm vs. between‐firm comparisons). We map existing performance metrics commonly used in the research literature to these considerations, and highlight the lack of performance metrics well suited for the combination of strategies with not‐well‐defined temporal payoffs and within‐firm research designs. To remedy this, we introduce a value partitioning methodology that provides a performance metric we call dynamic value. We apply this methodology and demonstrate how it generates additional insights about how cash holdings affect firm performance.

Managerial Summary

This article introduces the value partitioning methodology for interpreting two distinct elements of stock market valuations: (a) the firm's implied future value from continuing operations in a “steady state” and (b) the market's estimate of dynamic future value associated with the firm's strategic choices or competitive positioning. We describe situations where the latter element is useful for measuring strategy performance. We apply this methodology and demonstrate how it generates additional insights about how cash holdings affect firm performance.
Entrepreneurial framing: How category dynamics shape the effectiveness of linguistic frames
Authors: Taeuscher Karl , Rothe Hannes
Published: September 2023

Research Summary

How do new entrepreneurial ventures effectively deploy linguistic frames to attract customer demand? Drawing on framing and categories research, we develop and test theory about how category dynamics shape the effectiveness of two commonly observed frames—social impact framing and innovativeness framing—in the context of prosocial categories. We test our predictions by tracking entrepreneurial ventures in the market category for massive open online courses over the category's first 10 years of existence (2012–2021). Our fixed‐effects models show that higher levels of category salience increase the effectiveness of a social impact framing but decrease the effectiveness of an innovativeness framing; conversely, higher levels of category crowdedness decrease the effectiveness of a social impact framing but increase the effectiveness of an innovativeness framing.

Managerial Summary

This research explores how startups can strategically frame themselves to attract customers. We specifically compare the effectiveness of a “social impact framing” (emphasizing the startup's benefits to society) versus an “innovativeness framing” (emphasizing innovativeness) under different market conditions. Our longitudinal study finds that startups benefit most from a social impact framing when their market attracts a lot of attention or has low competition. While an innovativeness framing can backfire under such conditions, it effectively helps to attract customers in a market that receives little attention or exhibits fierce competition. Entrepreneurs and managers can leverage our insights to more effectively tailor their framing strategies to their market environment and ultimately gain more customer traction.
Technology adoption and innovation: The establishment of airmail and aviation innovation in the United States, 1918–1935
Authors: Sohn Eunhee , Seamans Robert , Sands Daniel B.
Published: September 2023

Research Summary

This article explores how technology adoption can shape innovative activity. We study this issue within the historical context of the introduction and expansion of airmail across the United States between 1918 and 1935 using archival material and a novel dataset of early 20th century patents. A joint qualitative and quantitative investigation indicates that local individual and corporate actors applied diverse pools of knowledge and intensified their work with aviation innovations following airmail entry into their county. Moreover, we find evidence that the co‐location of aircraft manufacturing and airmail operations was associated with more corporate innovations that facilitated economies of scale and corresponded to increased technological diversification of firms' aviation patent portfolios. Ultimately, this paper deepens our understanding of the antecedents, consequences, and organizational processes that underpin innovation.

Managerial Summary

This research investigates how aviation innovation in the United States was influenced by the postal service's early 20th century introduction and expansion of airmail routes. Our results indicate that counties with an airmail route experienced increased aviation‐related patenting by individual and corporate inventors relative to similar counties that did not receive an airmail route. Moreover, we find that corporate inventors working in airmail counties that also contained aircraft manufacturers were particularly active in technological areas that enhanced aircraft economies of scale and patented in a wider range of aviation‐related domains. An implication of this work for managers and policymakers is that early access to nascent technology can be a driver of local innovation and that spillovers can benefit diverse economic actors working in close proximity.
Recent Advances in Phosphorene: Structure, Synthesis, and Properties
Authors: Zhang Wei , Zhang Xuan , Ono Luis K. , Qi Yabing , Oughaddou Hamid
Published: September 2023

Phosphorene is a 2D phosphorus atomic layer arranged in a honeycomb lattice like graphene but with a buckled structure. Since its exfoliation from black phosphorus in 2014, phosphorene has attracted tremendous research interest both in terms of synthesis and fundamental research, as well as in potential applications. Recently, significant attention in phosphorene is motivated not only by research on its fundamental physical properties as a novel 2D semiconductor material, such as tunable bandgap, strong in‐plane anisotropy, and high carrier mobility, but also by the study of its wide range of potential applications, such as electronic, optoelectronic, and spintronic devices, energy conversion and storage devices. However, a lot of avenues remain to be explored including the fundamental properties of phosphorene and its device applications. This review recalls the current state of the art of phosphorene and its derivatives, touching upon topics on structure, synthesis, characterization, properties, stability, and applications. The current needs and future opportunities for phosphorene are also discussed.
Launching a Drop via Interplay of Buoyancy and Stick‐Jump Dissolution
Authors: Zeng Binglin , Yang Haichang , Xu Ben Bin , Lohse Detlef , Zhang Xuehua
Published: September 2023

According to Archimedes' principle, a submerged object with a density lower than that of aqueous acid solution is more buoyant than a smaller one. In this work, a remarkable phenomenon is reported wherein a dissolving drop on a substrate rises in the water only after it has diminished to a much smaller size, though the buoyancy is smaller. The drop consisting of a polymer solution reacts with the acid in the surrounding, yielding a water‐soluble product. During drop dissolution, water‐rich microdroplets form within the drop, merging with the external aqueous phase along the drop‐substrate boundary. Two key elements determine the drop rise dynamics. The first is the stick‐jump behavior during drop dissolution. The second is that buoyancy exerts a strong enough force on the drop at an Archimedean number greater than 1, while the stick‐jump behavior is ongoing. The time of the drop rise is controlled by the initial size and the reaction rate of the drop. This novel mechanism for programmable drop rise may be beneficial for many future applications, such as microfluidics, microrobotics, and device engineering where the spontaneous drop detachment may be utilized to trigger a cascade of events in a dense medium.
Advance Technologies in Biodegradable Flexible Solid‐State Supercapacitors: A Mini Review on Clean and Sustainable Energy
Authors: Das Himadri Tanaya , Balaji T Elango , Mohapatra Subhashree , Dutta Swapnamoy , Das Nigamananda , Assiri Mohammed A.
Published: September 2023

In the recent times research towards solid state supercapacitors (SSS) have increased drastically due to the promising performance in futuristic technologies particularly in portable and flexible electronics like smart watches, smart fabrics, foldable smartphones and tablets. Also, when compared to supercapacitors using liquid electrolyte, solid electrolyte has several advantages like high energy density, safety, high cycle life, flexible form factor, and less environmental impact. The crucial factor determining the sustainability of a technology is the eco‐friendliness since the natural resources are being exploited in a wide scale. Numerous studies have focused on biodegradable materials for supercapacitor electrodes, electrolytes, and other inactive components. Making use of these biodegradable materials to design a SSS enables the technology to sustain for a very long time since biodegradable materials are not only environment friendly but also, they show relatively high performance. This review focuses on recent progress of different biodegradable electrodes, and electrolytes along with their properties, electrochemical performance and biodegradable capabilities for SSS have been analyzed and provides a concise summary enabling readers to understand the importance of biodegradable materials and to narrow down the research in a more rational way.
Exploring the role of high school engineering courses in promoting science attitudes for students with learning disabilities
Authors: Plasman Jay , Gottfried Michael , Oskay Filiz
Published: September 2023

Demand for engineering‐interested and proficient high school graduates continues to grow across the nation. However, there remains a severe gap in college participation and employment in engineering fields for students with learning disabilities (SWLDs). One potential way to encourage SWLDs to consider engineering as a profession and promote the development of key science attitudes may be through engineering and technology career and technical education (E‐CTE) coursework. In this study, we address the following research questions: Do SWLDs take E‐CTE courses in the early years of high school at different rates compared to students without learning disabilities? What is the relationship between early E‐CTE coursetaking and science attitudes (self‐efficacy, utility, identity), and does this differ for students with and without learning disabilities? How do specific engineering career expectations change with respect to enrollment in early E‐CTE coursework, and do these differ for students with and without learning disabilities? We utilize the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS) to respond to the research questions through moderation models and a student fixed effects methodology. Ultimately, we found no evidence of SWLD underrepresentation in E‐CTE in high school. However, SWLDs were expected to benefit more than the general population from E‐CTE participation with respect to higher levels of science self‐efficacy and science identity. Implications from these findings include how to encourage persistence along the engineering pathway, the growth of career pathway policies at the state level, and how to incorporate E‐CTE practices in academic courses.
Urgent call for protection and use of transboundary watercourses. Some legal reflections
Authors: Ha Thanh Hoa , Vu Van Tuan
Published: September 2023

The use of transboundary water resources has received special international attention in recent years. Although riparian countries recognize the benefits of cross‐border rivers and enter into agreements with countries sharing the transboundary rivers by means of legal rules, treaties, and principles, they have done excessive riverine exploitation activities to maximize their socio‐economic benefits, causing the imbalance in the ecosystems and peace. This study aims to conduct a secondary analysis of primary qualitative data to research the common legal frameworks on international water law such as Helsinki Rules, UN Watercourses Conventions, and UNECE Water Convention, together with a case study on the Mekong River Agreement. Bilateral, multilateral, international treaties and principles are currently not enforceable enough to compel riparian countries strictly to comply with these legal rules and principles on equitable and sustainable water coordination and development. Besides, there are still internal conflicts among the upper and lower riparian countries over the equitable and reasonable use of transboundary river watercourses due to lack of punitive sanctions. There is an urgent need to establish a specialized international water management commission designated by all nations with the utmost power to regulate human‐related activities concerning transboundary watercourses to govern equitable and sustainable management and development of the transboundary water use. Besides, current international law principles have to be revised to fill the gap of disagreement and potential conflicts between upstream, middle stream and downstream countries.
Structural and magnetic properties of antifluorite‐type Li5+xFe1−xCoxO4
Authors: Thøgersen Rasmus Vester , Fjellvåg Asbjørn Slagtern , Fjellvåg Øystein Slagtern , Fjellvåg Helmer
Published: September 2023

We report on the structural and magnetic properties of Li5+xFe1−xCoxO4 (0≤x≤1).< The system assumes two distinct crystal structures at room temperature (α and β), and shows a transition in preference from α to β between x=0.18 and x=0.25. This tendency is supported by DFT‐calculations. Upon heating, Li5FeO4 undergoes a reconstructive transition from α→β at ∼1060 K, while Li6CoO4 shows an order‐disorder transition from β→ϵ at ∼885 K, where ϵ is a cubic cation‐disordered antifluorite structure. Li5.50Fe0.50Co0.50O4 is stabilised towards the ordered β‐phase until at least 1170 K. XANES‐measurements confirm that the oxidation states of Fe and Co remain unchanged throughout the series with charge compensation from additional Li+ on increasing x. Magnetic measurements show onset of low‐temperature antiferromagnetic ordering around 3 K to 12 K. The magnetic structure of Li5FeO4 is described on the basis of powder neutron diffraction at 1.5 K, while the magnetic structures of Li5.50Fe0.50Co0.50O4 and Li6CoO4 are found to be slightly incommensurate below the ordering temperature.
How Dual-Tasking Using VR Affects the Elderly: A Systematic Review
Authors: Choi Jun-Su , Jung Min-Ye , Kim Junghun Aj
Published: September 2023

This study systematically reviewed research that applied dual-task interventions using VR technology for balance and cognitive tasks among older adults. Ten databases were searched following the PRISMA guideline, and 18 studies were selected based on their evidence levels and risk of bias. The selected studies consisted of 10 RCTs, 6 non-randomized controlled trials, and one each of case and qualitative studies. The types of balance tasks included standing and sitting postures, and all studies utilized cognitive tasks that required concentration. A total of 30 physical assessment tools and 42 cognitive assessment tools were identified. The results showed that virtual reality interventions improved balance and cognitive abilities among older adults and had a positive effect on fall prevention. These findings suggest that VR technology can be an effective tool for improving the physical and cognitive health of older adults.
Accelerating black holes in 2 + 1 dimensions: holography revisited
Authors: Arenas-Henriquez Gabriel , Cisterna Adolfo , Diaz Felipe , Gregory Ruth
Published: September 2023

Abstract

This paper studies the holographic description of 2 + 1-dimensional accelerating black holes. We start by using an ADM decomposition of the coordinates suitable to identify boundary data. As a consequence, the holographic CFT lies in a fixed curved background which is described by the holographic stress tensor of a perfect fluid. We compute the Euclidean action ensuring that the variational principle is satisfied in the presence of the domain wall. This requires including the Gibbons-Hawking-York term associated with internal boundaries on top of the standard renormalised AdS3 action. Finally, we compute the entanglement entropy by firstly mapping the solution to the Rindler-AdS spacetime in which the Ryu-Takayanagi surface is easily identifiable. We found that as the acceleration increases the accessible region of the conformal boundary decreases and also the entanglement entropy, indicating a loss of information in the dual theory due to acceleration.
Revisiting the refined Distance Conjecture
Authors: Rudelius Tom
Published: September 2023

Abstract

The Distance Conjecture of Ooguri and Vafa holds that any infinite-distance limit in the moduli space of a quantum gravity theory must be accompanied by a tower of exponentially light particles, which places tight constraints on the low-energy effective field theories in these limits. One attempt to extend these constraints to the interior of moduli space is the refined Distance Conjecture, which holds that the towers of light particles predicted by the Distance Conjecture must appear any time a modulus makes a super-Planckian excursion in moduli space. In this note, however, we point out that a tower which satisfies the Distance Conjecture in an infinite-distance limit of moduli space may be parametrically heavier than the Planck scale for an arbitrarily long geodesic distance. This means that the refined Distance Conjecture, in its most naive form, does not place meaningful constraints on low-energy effective field theory. This motivates alternative refinements of the Distance Conjecture, which place an absolute upper bound on the tower mass scale in the interior of moduli space. We explore two possibilities, providing evidence for them and briefly discussing their implications.
Spectral Convergence of the Laplace Operator with Robin Boundary Conditions on a Small Hole
Authors: Barseghyan Diana , Schneider Baruch
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we study a bounded domain with a small hole removed. Our main result concerns the spectrum of the Laplace operator with the Robin conditions imposed at the hole boundary. Moreover, we prove that under some suitable assumptions on the parameter in the boundary condition, the spectrum of the Laplacian converges in the Hausdorff distance sense to the spectrum of the Laplacian defined on the unperturbed domain.
Interface potential in composites with general imperfect transmission conditions
Authors: Amar M. , Andreucci D. , Timofte C.
Published: September 2023

The model analyzed in this paper has its origins in the description of composites made by a hosting medium containing a periodic array of inclusions coated by a thin layer consisting of sublayers of two different materials. This two-phase coating material is such that the external part has a low diffusivity in the orthogonal direction, while the internal one has high diffusivity along the tangential direction. In a previous paper (Amar in IFB 21:41–59, 2019), by means of a concentration procedure, the internal layer was replaced by an imperfect interface. The present paper is concerned with the concentration of the external coating layer and the homogenization, via the periodic unfolding method, of the resulting model, which is far from being a standard one. Despite the fact that the limit problem looks like a classical Dirichlet problem for an elliptic equation, in the construction of the homogenized matrix and of the source term, a very delicate analysis is required.
Genesis of copper mineralization in the polymetallic tin deposits from the Herberton Mineral Field, Queensland, Australia
Authors: Kumar Avish , Sanislav Ioan , Martin Laure , Aleshin Matvei , Dirks Paul
Published: September 2023

The Herberton Mineral Field hosts multiple small-scale, polymetallic Sn-Cu and Sn-Zn deposits. The Baal Gammon and Isabel polymetallic deposits in the Herberton Mineral Field contain early Sn that is overprinted by sulfides. At Baal Gammon, the sulfide overprinting is Cu-In-rich, whereas Isabel is a Zn-Pb-In-rich system. These deposits are hosted in the meta-sedimentary rocks of the Hodgkinson Formation and the porphyry dikes and volcanic rocks of the Kennedy Igneous Association. Primary Sn in these deposits occurs as cassiterite, which was altered to stannite during sulfide mineralization. The sulfide ores from Baal Gammon consist of chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, and minor sphalerite, and sphalerite, galena, and minor chalcopyrite are observed at Isabel. Chalcopyrite from Baal Gammon contains on average 609 ppm Ag, 1194 ppm In, and 1410 ppm Sn, whereas chalcopyrite from the Isabel deposit contains on average 2302 ppm Ag, 725 ppm In, and 1042 ppm Sn. Sulfur isotope (δ34S) measurements of in-situ chalcopyrite-pyrrhotite mineral pairs show limited variation and low values that are indicative of a magmatic sulfur source with limited interaction with sulfur from connate and meteoric fluids during mineralization. The chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite δ34S values at the Baal Gammon deposit vary between 0.99–1.91‰ and 1.35–2.48‰, respectively. The δ34S values at the Isabel deposit vary between 0.91–1.45‰ for chalcopyrite and 1.12–2.11‰ for pyrrhotite. The trace element composition of major sulfides and sulfur isotopes of chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite combined with thermodynamic modeling indicates that the mineralizing fluids at the Baal Gammon and Isabel deposits have an igneous source, where the metals were transported as metal-chloride complexes at low pH (< 5) and below ~ 300 °C. The source of these sulfide-rich mineralizing fluids is most likely derived from the magmatic activity associated with the emplacement of the Slaughter Yard Creek Volcanics during a period of crustal thinning between 300 and 280 Ma.
Bone morphology features associated with knee kinematics may not be predictive of ACL elongation during high‐demand activities
Authors: Nukuto Koji , Gale Tom , Yamamoto Tetsuya , Musahl Volker , Anderst William
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Bony morphology has been proposed as a potential risk factor for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The relationship between bony morphology, knee kinematics, and ACL elongation during high‐demand activities remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine if bone morphology features that have been associated with ACL injury risk and knee kinematics are also predictive of ACL elongation during fast running and double‐legged drop jump.

Methods

Nineteen healthy athletes performed fast running and double‐legged drop jump within a biplane radiography imaging system. Knee kinematics and ACL elongation were measured bilaterally after using a validated registration process to track bone motion in the radiographs and after identifying ACL attachment sites on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Bony morphological features of lateral posterior tibial slope (LPTS), medial tibial plateau (MTP) depth, and lateral femoral condyle anteroposterior width (LCAP)/lateral tibial plateau anteroposterior width (TPAP) were measured on MRI. Relationships between bony morphology and knee kinematics or ACL elongation were identified using multiple linear regression analysis.

Results

No associations between bony morphology and knee kinematics or ACL elongation were observed during fast running. During double‐legged drop jump, a greater range of tibiofemoral rotation was associated with a steeper LPTS (β = 0.382, p = 0.012) and a deeper MTP depth (β = 0.331, p = 0.028), and a greater range of anterior tibial translation was associated with a shallower MTP depth (β = − 0.352, p = 0.018) and a larger LCAP/ TPAP (β = 0.441, p = 0.005); however, greater ACL elongation was only associated with a deeper MTP depth (β = 0.456, p = 0.006) at toe‐off.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that observed relationships between bony morphology and kinematics should not be extrapolated to imply a relationship also exists between those bone morphology features and ACL elongation during high‐demand activities. These new findings deepen our understanding of the relationship between bony morphology and ACL elongation during high‐demand activities. This knowledge can help identify high‐risk patients for whom additional procedures during ACL reconstruction are most appropriate.
Bindung und seelische Gesundheit von ehemaligen Wochenkrippenkindern
Authors: Flemming Eva , Knorr Stefanie , Lübke Laura , Terne Claudia , Spitzer Carsten
Published: September 2023

Hintergrund

Eine umfangreiche oder andauernde institutionalisierte Betreuung in den ersten Lebensjahren (etwa in Heimen) ist mit einem erhöhten Risiko für spätere psychische Erkrankungen assoziiert. Die Annahmen der Bindungstheorie können für ein Verständnis dieses Zusammenhangs hilfreich sein. In einer Stichprobe von Personen, die im Alter zwischen 0 und 3 Jahren in einer Wochenkrippe in der DDR betreut wurden, werden die Assoziationen zwischen institutionalisierter Betreuung, dem Auftreten späterer psychischer Erkrankungen und Bindungsunsicherheit in den aktuellen Beziehungen untersucht.

Methodik

Anhand von Selbstbeurteilungsfragebogen wurden 80 ehemalige Wochenkrippenkinder (WK, 81,3 % weiblich, Alter: Mittelwert [M] ± Standardabweichung [SD] = 53,8 ± 6,7 Jahre) und eine Vergleichsstichprobe von 192 in der DDR geborenen Personen (VG, 45,3 % weiblich, Alter: M ± SD = 52,2 ± 12,0 Jahre) hinsichtlich der psychischen Belastung und Bindungsdimensionen in Partnerschaften befragt. Mithilfe linearer Regressionsanalysen wurden Zusammenhänge zwischen Wochenkrippenbetreuung und den Ergebnismaßen unter Kontrolle der soziodemografischen Variablen untersucht.

Ergebnisse

Die Gruppenzugehörigkeit (WK/VG) stellte, bezogen auf alle Ergebnismaße, einen signifikanten Prädiktor dar, insbesondere für die Zahl psychischer Problembereiche (Lebenszeit: β = −0,71, aktuell: β = −0,49, jeweils p < 0,001) und Bindungsvermeidung (β = −0,44, p < 0,001).

Diskussion

Ehemalige WK weisen ein höheres Maß an selbstbeurteilten psychischen Erkrankungen und Bindungsunsicherheit auf als die VG. Die vorläufigen Ergebnisse dieser Studie haben Implikationen für die Diagnostik und Therapie der Betroffenen. Eine mögliche Verzerrung der Befunde durch die Selbstselektion der Studienteilnehmenden ist bei der Interpretation kritisch zu berücksichtigen.
Diagnostik und Therapie der Membranösen Nephropathie – 2023
Authors: Säemann Marcus D. , Odler Balazs , Windpessl Martin , Regele Heinz , Eller Kathrin , Neumann Irmgard , Rudnicki Michael , Gauckler Philipp , Kronbichler Andreas , Knechtelsdorfer Maarten
Published: September 2023

Die membranöse Nephropathie (MN) ist eine Immunkomplex-Glomerulonephritis und zählt zu den häufigsten Ursachen für ein nephrotisches Syndrom beim Erwachsenen und zählt zu den autoimmunen Nierenerkrankungen mit der höchsten Rate an Spontanremissionen. Das häufigste Autoantigen (> 70 % der Fälle) ist gegen den Phospholipase-A2-Rezeptor (PLA2-R) gerichtet und erlaubt mit seinem Nachweis und Verlauf eine hervorragende Diagnostik sowie auch ein optimales Therapiemonitoring. Andere Autoantigene werden laufend veröffentlicht und werden künftig einen autoantigen-basierten Diagnose- und Therapiealgorithmus der MN ermöglichen. Bei fehlender Spontanremission stellt eine spezifische B‑Zell-gerichtete Therapie, insbesondere mit Rituximab die initiale Therapie der Wahl dar. Kalzineurin-Inhibitoren oder Cyclophosphamid sollen erst bei sorgsamer Indikation im jeweiligen klinischen Kontext wie bei ernsthaften klinischen Konsequenzen sowohl durch das nephrotische Syndrom als auch bei Nierenfunktionsverlust erwogen werden. Da renale Immunkomplexe oft lange Zeit benötigen, um abgebaut zu werden, kann eine große Proteinurie der immunologischen Remission durchaus über viele Monate hinterherlaufen, bis es schließlich zu einer Abnahme oder Resolution der Proteinurie kommt. Die Therapie der MN stellt den günstigen Fall einer präzisionsmedizinisch-basierten Therapie in der Nephrologie dar, wobei neue therapeutische B‑Zellantikörper für die seltenen, aber schwierigen Verlaufsformen der MN in naher Zukunft Eingang in die klinische Routine finden werden.
CMTM6 as a potential therapy target is associated with immunological tumor microenvironment and can promote migration and invasion in pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Authors: Gao Hongli , Yin Jianqiao , Guan Xin , Zhang Shuang , Peng Songlin , Liu Xun , Xing Fei
Published: September 2023

CMTM6 has been connected to the development of several malignancies. However, it is still unknown what function CMTM6 serves in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD). We obtained RNA sequencing information of PAAD from public datasets and predicted statistical significance of CMTM6 survival in accordance with Kaplan–Meier curves. Gene set enrichment assessment (GSEA) was employed to analyze changes in pathways. Then, we systematically investigated the association involving CMTM6 and the immunological traits within the tumor microenvironment (TME) of PAAD, including immune pathways, immunomodulators, immune infiltrating cells, inflammatory activities, and immunotherapy response prediction. To demonstrate the biologically malignant properties of CMTM6 expression, the Cell Counting Kit-8, transwell experiments, colony formation, and wound healing were utilized. Upregulated CMTM6 expression was revealed within PAAD tissues, which was associated with more frequent somatic mutations and worse survival outcomes. Specifically, CMTM6 expression represented stronger immune infiltration, inflammatory activity, and better immunotherapeutic response in TME. Functional studies revealed that CMTM6 promoted the ability to proliferate, migrate, and invade. Additionally, CMTM6 and PD-L1 had a positive relationship, and CMTM6 can co-immunocoprecipitate with PD-L1 protein in pancreatic cell lines. CMTM6 overexpression shapes the inflammatory TME with a strong immune response. These findings support that CMTM6 is an immunotherapeutic target with promising effect to treat PAAD.
Improving spam email classification accuracy using ensemble techniques: a stacking approach
Authors: Adnan Muhammad , Imam Muhammad Osama , Javed Muhammad Furqan , Murtza Iqbal
Published: September 2023

Spam emails pose a substantial cybersecurity danger, necessitating accurate classification to reduce unwanted messages and mitigate risks. This study focuses on enhancing spam email classification accuracy using stacking ensemble machine learning techniques. We trained and tested five classifiers: logistic regression, decision tree, K-nearest neighbors (KNN), Gaussian naive Bayes and AdaBoost. To address overfitting, two distinct datasets of spam emails were aggregated and balanced. Evaluating individual classifiers based on recall, precision and F1 score metrics revealed AdaBoost as the top performer. Considering evolving spam technology and new message types challenging traditional approaches, we propose a stacking method. By combining predictions from multiple base models, the stacking method aims to improve classification accuracy. The results demonstrate superior performance of the stacking method with the highest accuracy (98.8%), recall (98.8%) and F1 score (98.9%) among tested methods. Additional experiments validated our approach by varying dataset sizes and testing different classifier combinations. Our study presents an innovative combination of classifiers that significantly improves accuracy, contributing to the growing body of research on stacking techniques. Moreover, we compare classifier performances using a unique combination of two datasets, highlighting the potential of ensemble techniques, specifically stacking, in enhancing spam email classification accuracy. The implications extend beyond spam classification systems, offering insights applicable to other classification tasks. Continued research on emerging spam techniques is vital to ensure long-term effectiveness.
Using technology to make learning fun: technology use is best made fun and challenging to optimize intrinsic motivation and engagement
Authors: David Loukia , Weinstein Netta
Published: September 2023

Educators have incorporated technologies designed to “gamify” or increase the fun and reward of classroom learning, but little is known about how these resources can be employed to create positive learning climates. Informed by self-determination theory (SDT), two experiments investigated a number of strategies teachers can use to frame one such technology, the student response system (SRS), when they use it as an educational tool to enhance its fun and contribution to positive learning environments. Participants (n = 30) in a pilot experiment were randomly assigned to a 2-month experiment that showed that using SRS versus non-technology-based learning increases academic well-being. A primary study (n = 120 students) experimentally manipulated the use of SRS with and without motivational framing strategies that were anticipated to enhance its effects, specifically by employing teamwork, friendly competition between students, and giving students a choice to participate. Results showed that motivational framing strategies enhanced students’ need satisfaction for autonomy (sense of choice), competence (sense of efficacy in relation to learning), relatedness (to others in the classroom), and academic well-being (interest and engagement). In short, the use of interactive technology and how it was implemented in class was vital for enhancing students’ learning outcomes.
Die Menopause und ihre Auswirkungen auf Haut und Haare
Authors: Weidlinger Susanna , Weidlinger Magdalena , Heidemeyer Kristine
Published: September 2023

Die Haut gilt als endokrines Organ und wird von Sexualsteroiden wie Östrogenen und Androgenen beeinflusst. Die mit der Menopause einhergehenden hormonellen Veränderungen gehen auch an Haut und Haaren nicht spurlos vorüber. So kommt es an der Haut zu vermehrter Trockenheit, Juckreiz, Ausdünnung, Erschlaffung, Faltenbildung, verringerter Vaskularität und eingeschränkter Wundheilung – Symptome, die durch eine Östrogensupplementierung verbessert werden können. Zu den typischen menopausalen Haarveränderungen gehören ein generell verminderter Haarwuchs, eine geringere Haardichte auf der Kopfhaut mit Rarefizierung der Haarfollikel sowie eine veränderte Haardicke. Auch kann es infolge eines im Vergleich zur Prämenopause relativen Übergewichts von Androgenen zu Östrogenen zu einem vermehrten unerwünschten Haarwuchs im Gesicht und an anderen Köperpartien kommen. Obwohl eine menopausale Hormontherapie nicht speziell für Haut- und Haarsymptome empfohlen wird, sollte medizinischem Fachpersonal deren breiterer potenzieller Nutzen, der über die positiven Auswirkungen auf vasomotorische Symptome, den Knochenstoffwechsel, das kardiovaskuläre System usw. hinausgeht, bewusst sein und mit Patientinnen diskutiert werden, damit Letztere in der Lage sind, fundierte Entscheidungen zur Therapiewahl ihrer Wechseljahresbeschwerden zu treffen. Dieser Artikel befasst sich mit den Auswirkungen des abnehmenden Östrogenspiegels auf Haut und Haare sowie mit den therapeutischen Optionen.
Enteignungen für die Wiedernutzbarmachung
Authors: Frenz Walter
Published: September 2023

Dass Enteignungen für den Braunkohleabbau im Tagebau Garzweiler immer noch zulässig sind,
hat das OVG Münster am 28.3.2022 deutlich gemacht und eine vorzeitige Besitzeinweisung ermöglicht.
Sind Enteignungen auch noch im Anschluss daran für die Wiedernutzbarmachung möglich, und zwar
selbst dann, wenn es nur um die Materialbeschaffung dafür geht? Haben die Ereignisse um die Inanspruchnahme
von Lützerath Auswirkungen auf die Zulässigkeit? Welche Rolle spielen der Klimaschutz und die
Akzeptanz nach der Windparkentscheidung des BVerfG?
Design of cellulose nanofibre-based composites with high barrier properties
Authors: Alves Luís , Ramos Ana , Ferraz Eduardo , Ferreira Paulo J. T. , Rasteiro Maria G. , Gamelas José A. F.
Published: September 2023

Gas barrier properties are very relevant in composite materials for applications so diverse such as food packaging, electronics, or old document restoration. In the present work, four different types of cellulose nanofibres (CNFs), two types of clay minerals used individually (sepiolite) or combined (sepiolite + kaolinite), and the influence of pH, were explored in the production of composite films. Neat CNFs, only mechanically treated or prepared by enzymatic pre-treatment, gave films with good mechanical and barrier properties, but the addition of minerals led to a dramatic loss of these properties. Contrarily, the use of thin and functionalized fibrils (TEMPO-oxidised or cationized CNFs) gave composite films with good mechanical, thermal and barrier properties. Superior oxygen barrier properties (oxygen transmission rate (OTR) < 0.4 cm3 m−2 day−1) were obtained using TEMPO-oxidised CNF and 20% sepiolite, and, in general, for all the composite films containing the TEMPO CNF (OTR ≤ 1.8 cm3 m−2 day−1). The cationic CNF-based composites also showed a very good oxygen barrier (OTR ≤ 8.2 cm3 m−2 day−1). The high oxygen barrier could be explained by the compactness of the films and better entanglement of the more fibrillated nanocelluloses with the mineral particles. A decrease in the pH of the suspensions led to a decrease in the film preparation time, without a major negative impact on the composite film’s properties.