bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unveiling the Aluminum Doping Effects of In‐Situ Transmogrified Dual‐LDH Heterostructure and Its Fermi‐Level Alignment to Water Splitting Potentials
Authors: Manivelan Nandapriya , Piao Junji , Kim Jaekook , Lee Seunghwa , Kim Youngji , Soundharrajan Vaiyapuri , Son Min‐Kyu , Humayun Amir , Ganji Masoud Darvish , Ko Hyunseok , Prabakar Kandasamy
Published: December 2024

The layered double hydroxide (LDH) captivates the starlight of electrochemical water‐splitting applications due to its stacked layers and larger surface area. A novel approach is reported to integrate CoFe‐LDH/NiAl‐LDH heterostructure through a single‐step in situ transmogrification, harnessing the benefits of LDH. The in situ Raman spectroscopy reveals that aluminum (Al) doping promotes the formation of high‐valent CoIII/IV‐O active species concentration in LDH, whereas without Al dopants, the catalyst predominantly exhibit NiII/III‐O species and underperform the catalytic activity. The projected density of states is very close to the Fermi level positions in Al‐doped samples which significantly enhance the electron transfer processes. The Mott–Schottky studies confirm that both Al40 CoFe30 and Al60 CoFe20 catalysts are p‐type semiconductors, exhibiting a distinct redox behaviors under applied bias. At positive bias, Al60 CoFe20 undergoes downward band bending (accumulation), and align the Fermi‐level near the water oxidation potential, which promotes the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The negative bias causes upward band bending (deep depletion) in the Al40 CoFe30, and shifts the Fermi‐level near the water reduction potential, and hence facilitates hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Overall, this study highlights the importance of manipulating Fermi‐level alignment in LDH catalysts through strategic metal doping to achieve targeted water‐splitting reactions.
Unlocking Cage‐Confined Cations Molecular Dynamics toward High‐Tc Perovskite Ferroelectrics
Authors: Ma Yu , Li Wenjing , Sun Jianchao , Liu Yi , Guo Wuqian , Rong Hao , Li Qiaohong , Fu Xiaobin , Luo Junhua , Sun Zhihua
Published: December 2024

Cage‐confinement effect that imposes great constriction on the dynamic behaviors of guest molecules is an established platform for tailoring physical properties. Herein, the strategy of enhancing cage‐confinement effect to control molecular motion has been probed for the first time to exploit new high‐Tc ferroelectrics of 2D hybrid perovskites. By fine‐tailoring of the confined cations inside the perovskite cavities, we have successfully obtained new homologous ferroelectrics of (BA)2(MA)2Pb3Cl10 (1; BA=n‐butylamine, MA=methylamine) and (BA)2(EA)2Pb3Cl10 (2; EA=ethylamine). Intriguingly, this dynamics modulation of cage‐confined cations leads to a remarkable promotion of Curie temperature (Tc), boosting from 340 K (for 1) to 402 K (for 2). In situ solid‐state NMR spectroscopy and theoretical simulations on energy barrier confirm that the larger EA cation in 2 is subject to stronger confinement effect, of which potential energy barrier of molecular motion is ~3.5 times that of MA cation. This dynamic behavior greatly suppresses the dynamic motions of EA cation, while MA cation can easily accelerate motion and reach a fast motion limit, thus accounting for an enhancement of Tc (ΔT~62 K) in 2. The finding sheds light on the understanding of cage‐confined electric orders and the precise design of high‐performance ferroelectrics.
pH‐Directed Capture‐SELEX for Nanomolar Affinity Aptamers for Kanamycin Detection
Authors: Zhao Yichen , Liu Juewen
Published: December 2024

Kanamycin A is a widely used antibiotic, although it has a narrow therapeutic window demanding highly accurate monitoring. The sensing of kanamycin A using aptamers is of great interest since aptamers can be used for continuous monitoring with a rapid response. While kanamycin has been the target for at least four previous aptamer selections, the binding affinities of the reported DNA aptamers are still sub‐optimal. All the previous aptamer selections were performed at pH 7.5 or higher. Given that kanamycin A has four amino groups with pKa values close to 7, we herein selected DNA aptamers for kanamycin A at both pH 6 and pH 8. The selection at pH 6 enriched aptamers although the pH 8 selection library remained highly diverse in the end. The best aptamer named KAN6‐1 showed a dissociation constant of around 320 nM measured using isothermal titration calorimetry in the selection buffer. In buffers without salt, binding can happen from pH 6 to 8. Specific binding was confirmed using mutation studies. A strand displacement assay was developed with a limit of detection (LOD) of 100 nM in buffer. Similar LOD values were also obtained in lake water and in 10 % human serum. Comparisons were also made with some previously reported DNA aptamers. This study shows the importance of pH value on the selection of aptamers and provides a new aptamer for kanamycin A detection.
Self‐Assembled Peptide Sheet‐Mediated Multivalent Capture of Cells with Enhanced Tunability
Authors: Xia Cai , Chen Xin , Jiang Yun‐Bao , Jiang Tao
Published: December 2024

We report the creation of multivalent ligand surfaces for cell capture by conjugation of ligand‐appended 2D peptide assemblies on an antifouling glass substrate. The sheet‐like structures organize ligands into non‐uniform, patchy patterns, enhancing multivalent cell targeting. A 155 % increase in captured cells was achieved compared to the presentation of the ligands on surfaces lacking the peptide sheets. Being orthogonal to the commonly used dendrimer‐ and cyclic organic molecular‐based scaffolds, this peptide assembly‐based approach offers a facile method to modulate the identity, number, and spatial distribution of ligands through controlled peptide coassembly. Using this method, we constructed a surface bearing two types of ligands, which demonstrates a 128 % enhancement in targeting selectivity between two model cells compared to the mono‐ligand surface. These findings illustrate that integration of peptide assemblies into ligand substrates permits robust and effective manipulation of multivalent cell targeting, advancing the development of customizable cell‐binding materials.
COVID‐19 Infection and Massive Aortic Dissection
Authors: Zangeneh Mehrangiz , Khosravaninezhad Yasamin , Mesgarian Masoumeh
Published: December 2024

COVID‐19 had a significant impact on public health, including respiratory and cardiovascular complications. Because of COVID‐19 hypercoaglupathy effect, it can lead to cardiovascular complications. A 68‐year‐old Iranian male admitted to the infectious diseases department with the diagnosis of COVID‐19 infection. Despite initially stable vital signs and mild symptoms, the patient's condition rapidly deteriorated over the course of several days, with severe respiratory distress and other concerning symptoms. Further investigations revealed evidence of aortic aneurysm or dissection, which was confirmed to be a Stanford type A aortic dissection extending from the aortic root to the abdominal aorta. The available evidence points to a potential association between COVID‐19 infection and aortic dissection, and the need for continue investigations about the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this relationship.
The in vitro elution characteristics of vancomycin from the ligament augmentation and reconstruction system
Authors: Luo Yong , Zou MingYang , Zhang XinTao , Ye SuFen , Huang XianCheng , Li JiaTong , You Tian
Published: December 2024

Purpose

In this study, we aimed to characterize the elution profile of the ligament augmentation and reconstruction system (LARS) immersed in different concentrations of vancomycin using different immersion methods and determine whether the amount of vancomycin released was lower than the toxic concentrations for osteoblasts and chondroblasts.

Methods

The LARS was presoaked with 5, 2.5 or 1.25 mg/mL vancomycin solutions or wrapped in presoaked sterile gauze. After 10 min, the rinsed and unrinsed LARS samples were eluted in 100 mL agitated 37°C phosphate‐buffered saline. An ultraviolet spectrophotometer was used to analyze 1 mL samples taken after 10 min and 0.5, 1, 6, 12, 24h.

Results

Initially, no hysteresis was observed with vancomycin release into the solution at the tested conditions. The LARS elution profiles for different concentrations of the vancomycin solutions varied significantly. The amount of vancomycin released after 24 h was 9.10 ± 1.21, 5.29 ± 0.63 and 2.28 ± 0.59 mg for the 5, 2.5 and 1.25 mg/mL solutions, respectively. The amount of vancomycin released in the soaked group was significantly higher than in the rinsed and wrapped groups. The released amounts of vancomycin were below the toxic concentrations for osteoblasts and chondrocytes.

Conclusion

Soaked LARS can act as a reservoir for vancomycin, with the amount released and the elution profile dependent on rinsing, soaking solution concentration and soaking method. The eluted concentrations of vancomycin were lower than those previously reported for osteoblast and chondrocyte toxicity and higher than the minimal inhibitory concentrations for Staphylococci.

Level of Evidence

N/A.
Rhabdomyolysis in Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome: Associations With Acute Kidney Injury and Mortality
Authors: Zhang Zhongwei , Hu Xue , Du Qian , Liu Jie , Chen Xiaoping , Mo Pingzheng , Luo Mingqi , Jiang Qunqun , Deng Liping , Xiong Yong
Published: December 2024

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging zoonosis caused by a novel bunyavirus. Until recently, rhabdomyolysis in SFTS was not elucidated. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of rhabdomyolysis and its association with AKI and prognosis in patients with SFTS. A total of 231 consecutive patients diagnosed with SFTS were enrolled, including 144 (62.3%) patients in the no rhabdomyolysis group and 87 (37.7%) patients in the rhabdomyolysis group. Clinical characteristics and laboratory parameters of SFTS patients were compared between the no rhabdomyolysis and rhabdomyolysis groups. Patients with rhabdomyolysis had more frequency of confusion, cough, sputum, chest distress, abdominal pain, petechia and ecchymosis, headache, myalgia, and myasthenia than those without rhabdomyolysis. Compared with patients in the no rhabdomyolysis group, patients in the rhabdomyolysis group had higher serum levels of laboratory parameters referring to liver, kidney, pancreas, heart, coagulation system injury, and higher viral load. The cumulative survival rate of patients with rhabdomyolysis was significantly lower than that of patients without rhabdomyolysis. Furthermore, univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses demonstrated that rhabdomyolysis was an independent predictor for acute kidney injury and mortality in patients with SFTS. Rhabdomyolysis may be an important contributing factor to adverse outcomes and its effects on mortality may be mediated by acute kidney injury in SFTS. The early detection and effective intervention of rhabdomyolysis may decrease the mortality of patients with SFTS.
SG‐FET Based Spiking Neuron With Ultra‐Low Energy Consumption for ECG Signal Classification
Authors: Zargar Babar M. , Khanday Mudasir A. , Khanday Farooq A.
Published: December 2024

This paper presents an energy‐efficient single‐transistor leaky integrate‐and‐fire neuron, based on Suspended Gate‐FET (SG‐FET), for signal classification and neuromorphic computing applications. By leveraging the SG‐FET model, extensive simulations were conducted to demonstrate the device's remarkable neuronal ability. The device faithfully emulated the intricate behaviour of biological neurons, without the need for external circuitry. One of the standout achievements lies in the device's astonishingly low energy consumption of 94.5 aJ per spike. Therefore, it outperforms the previously proposed one‐transistor (1‐T) neurons, which makes it a potential candidate for energy‐efficient neuromorphic computing. To verify the practical viability of the device, an emulation was seamlessly integrated into a spiking neural network framework, allowing for real‐time signal classification. In this specific case, the device excelled in the classification of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals, achieving an impressive accuracy rate of 85.6%. This outcome highlights the device's efficacy in handling real‐world signal processing tasks with remarkable precision and efficiency.
Impact of prolonged QTc interval on mortality risk with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Hasegawa Shun , Higuchi Satoshi , Minami Yuichiro , Sakai Masayuki , Matsui Yuko , Shirotani Shota , Haruki Shintaro , Yagishita Daigo , Shoda Morio , Yamaguchi Junichi
Published: December 2024

Background

The association between corrected QT (QTc) interval and life‐threatening cardiac events in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) remains unclear. This study sought to investigate whether the prolonged QTc was associated with HCM‐related death in patients with HCM.

Methods

We included 445 patients with HCM (mean age 51 ± 16 years, 67% men). The QTc interval was measured at the time of the initial evaluation and the patients were classified into those with and without QTc prolongation, which was defined as a QTc interval >450 ms. HCM‐related death was defined as a combined endpoint of sudden death or potentially lethal arrhythmic events, heart failure‐related death, and stroke‐related death.

Results

Prolonged QTc interval was found in 120 patients (26.4%) at the time of enrollment. Over a median (IQR) follow‐up period of 8.1 (4.6–11.9) years, a total of 67 patients (15.1%) experienced HCM‐related deaths including 57 (12.8%) with the endpoint of sudden death or potentially lethal arrhythmic events. In a multivariable analysis that included prolonged QTc interval and the risk factors for life‐threatening events, prolonged QTc interval was independently associated with an HCM‐related death (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 1.91; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16–3.16; p = .011) and this trend also persisted for the combined endpoint of sudden death or potentially lethal arrhythmic events (adjusted HR: 2.01: 95% CI: 1.17–3.46; p = .012).

Conclusions

In this cohort of patients with HCM, QTc prolongation may be associated with HCM‐related death, including the endpoint of sudden death or potentially lethal arrhythmic events.
Photostimulated Ultraviolet Luminescence for Anti‐Counterfeiting in Daylight Conditions
Authors: Yang Bingbing , Yu Zengchao , Liu Xueqing , Liu Yi , Liu Feng , Wu Hao , Zhang Jiahua , Wang Xiao‐jun , Liu Yichun
Published: December 2024

Photostimulated luminescence in the ultraviolet (PSL‐UV) holds promise for high‐security anti‐counterfeiting applications, especially in brightly lit environments. Despite its potential, research on PSL‐UV is relatively limited. Here, the PSL‐UV properties of a NaYF4:Gd3+ fluoride‐based phosphor is explored, demonstrating its suitability for advanced anti‐counterfeiting purposes. This phosphor effectively captures excitation energy from X‐rays and subsequently emits UV light at 311 nm when stimulated by visible ambient light. Remarkably, the material exhibits exceptional reliability and durability, maintaining effectual PSL‐UV output even after enduring exposure to 100 cycles of ambient light and subsequent decay. Furthermore, ultraviolet imaging experiments highlight the practicality of PSL‐UV for real‐world implementation, presenting a fresh and robust strategy for enhancing security and authentication processes.
Correction of Experimental Thermal Analysis Data and Kinetic Computations Using Isoconversional state Diagrams
Authors: Tao Qi , Krivec Thomas
Published: December 2024

An isoconversional state diagram (ISD) method is a graphical representation of the commonly used model free kinetics (MFK) method. An ISD state curve describes the relationship between 1/T and lnβ at a certain conversion degree, where T is the temperature and β is the heating rate. The ISD tangent rule describes the pattern of intersection of two tangents to two adjacent state curves at given points having the same temperature, which can be used for the correction of random error in the experimental thermal analysis data. The comparison of kinetic predictions between the ISD and MFK methods shows that the corrective effect is evident and the prediction quality can be improved in the predictable heating rate and temperature ranges. Furthermore, the proposed implicit method simplifies the ISD construction procedure compared to the previous explicit method.
Mixed‐Integer Motion Planning for Nonholonomic Robots Under Visible Light Communication Constraints
Authors: Caregnato‐Neto Angelo , Maximo Marcos R. O. A. , Afonso Rubens J. M.
Published: December 2024

This work is concerned with the problem of motion planning for a group of nonholonomic robots under Visible Light Communication (VLC) connectivity requirements. Recently, multi‐robot systems operating with VLC networks have been demonstrated as an attractive solution for inspection tasks in pipelines and underground facilities. However, there are still no established methodologies to automate their operation. We address this problem with an optimization framework based on Mixed‐Integer Linear Programming (MILP) to design a motion planner that safely coordinates the robot team while jointly addressing the nonlinearity of the robots' dynamics, the directed line‐of‐sight requirement for VLC connections, and the connectivity maintenance of the ensuing directed networks. We propose a novel method to encode the nonlinear dynamics of nonholonomic robots into the MILP formulation and demonstrate through comparative trials that, although the resulting optimization search space is more restricted, the approach still outperforms mixed‐integer nonlinear programming in terms of optimization time and solution quality. The efficacy of the proposal is also demonstrated through realistic simulations of the Turtlebot3 robot platform.
Aerosol Assisted Chemical Vapour Deposition (AACVD) of Zinc dichalcogenoimidodiphosphinate Complexes for the Deposition of Zinc Selenide Thin Films
Authors: Oyetunde Temidayo , Omorogie Martins O. , O'Brien Paul
Published: December 2024

Dichalcogenoimidodiphosphinate complexes of zinc [Zn{(EPiPr2)2N}2], [E=Se,Se; S,Se] were synthesized through metathetical reactions from the dichalcogenoimidodiphosphinate ligands [(EE'PiPr2NH)] (E, E’=Se, Se; S, Se). These complexes were characterized and used as single‐source precursors through Aerosol‐Assisted Chemical Vapour Deposition (AACVD) for the deposition of cubic zinc selenide (ZnSe) films on glass substrates. The deposition temperature occurred at 500 and 525 °C, while the flow rates of the carrier gas was 160 and 240 standard cubic centimetre (sccm). The morphology of the deposited films ranged between dense fibrous network and woven fibres. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the presence of the constituent elements in zinc selenide.
Characteristics of the drinking habits of people who overdose over‐the‐counter drugs: Insights from a nationwide Japanese survey
Authors: Mizuno Satomi , Inoura Satoshi , Matsumoto Toshihiko , Shimane Takuya
Published: December 2024

Aim

To analyze the drinking habits of individuals who overdosed on over‐the‐counter (OTC) drugs, such as cough suppressants, antitussives, antipyretic analgesics, and combination cold medications, in Japan.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study analyzed data collected from 2881 participants through a national survey conducted in Japan in 2023. Through a self‐administered questionnaire, the participants were categorized into OTC (overdosed OTC drugs in the past year) and control (did not overdose OTC drugs) groups. Variables related to drinking habits, social background, smoking habits, use of other medications, such as analgesics, tranquilizers, controlled drugs, and products containing high concentrations of caffeine, and perception of OTC drugs were compared between the two groups. Additionally, we matched the participants in the OTC (n = 25) and control (n = 100) groups by sex and age in a 1:4 ratio to assess these variables. Multivariate analyses were performed to examine how these factors are associated with drinking habits in individuals with OTC drug overdose.

Results

OTC drug overdose was prevalent among teenagers and those in their 50s, and was associated with habitual binge drinking and consumption of energy drinks. Those overdosing on OTC drugs obtained them mostly from drugstores and pharmacies.

Conclusion

This is the first study to show a relationship between drinking habits and OTC drug overdose. An understanding of the characteristics of drinking habits in those who overdose on OTC drugs can help reduce fatal health risks in this population.
A new mathematical solution of convection‐dispersion equation to describe solute transport in heterogeneous soils
Authors: Shuai Xiufu
Published: December 2024

There was a long‐time debate about the validation of the convection‐dispersion equation (CDE) and its replacement with the well‐known convective lognormal transfer function model (CLT) to describe solute transport in a heterogeneous soil with uniformity at the longitudinal water flow direction and nonuniformity at the transverse direction. The objective of this study is to prove that the CDE is valid and almost identical to the CLT. Gamma probability density function (pdf) was initially assumed in this study to describe the distribution of pore‐water velocity across capillary tubes in a heterogeneous soil. The capillary bundle model was used to describe solute transport without transverse solute mixing between adjacent tubes. The inverse‐gamma function, a new mathematical solution of the CDE differential equation with scale‐dependent dispersivity, was initially derived from the capillary bundle model and the gamma pdf. The only difference between the inverse‐gamma function and the CLT is that lognormal pdf of pore‐water velocity is assumed in the CLT while the two pdfs are close to each other. The inverse‐gamma function and the CLT were tested with the published data from the miscible displacement experiments on the two repacked soils with different aggregate sizes. Results show that both the inverse‐gamma function and the CLT fit the measured breakthrough curves in the miscible displacement experiments. The estimates of the squared coefficient of variation of the pore‐water velocity in the gamma pdf were 0.314 and 0.0582 for the two soils, and they were consistent with the lognormal pdf in the CLT.
Prophylactic central lymph node dissection for low‐risk papillary thyroid cancer—Impact on subsequent therapy
Authors: Ren Tianrui , Min Seojung , Grodski Simon , Serpell Jonathan , Lee James C.
Published: December 2024

Background

For small papillary thyroid cancers (PTCs) with no lateral nodal involvement, American Thyroid Association guidelines recommend performing prophylactic central lymph node dissection (pCLND) if it influences further management. Our cohort study explored to what extent performing pCLND for small PTCs can de‐escalate subsequent therapy including completion thyroidectomy and adjuvant radioactive iodine (RAI) ablation.

Methods

Adults with T1, T2, and cN0 PTCs were identified from 42 centers across the prospectively maintained Australian and New Zealand Thyroid Cancer Registry (ANZTCR) between 2017 and 2023. Patients were excluded if they had clinical nodal involvement or distant metastases. Subsequent therapy and complication rates were compared between patients with and without pCLND.

Results

Out of 1290 patients with T1, T2, and cN0 PTCs (78% female and median age 53 years), 660 (51%) received a total thyroidectomy and 630 (49%) received a hemithyroidectomy. Prophylactic CLND was performed for 477 patients (37%) and 36% uncovered occult lymph node metastases. After adjusting for differences in age, sex, and tumor characteristics, absence of lymph node metastasis after pCLND was independently associated with fewer completion thyroidectomies (adjusted relative risk [aRR] = 0.65 and p = 0.008) and reduced RAI ablation (aRR 0.55 and p < 0.001). Additionally, pCLND was not associated with higher risks of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (p = 0.33), temporary hypocalcemia (p = 0.21), or permanent hypoparathyroidism (p = 0.48).

Conclusions

In specialized settings across Australia and New Zealand, identifying negative lymph nodes from pCLND is associated with reduced completion thyroidectomies and RAI ablation amongst low risk cN0 PTCs. There were no additional complications rates when performed by experienced thyroid surgeons.
Dynamic treatment units in forest planning improves economic performance over stand-based planning
Authors: Wilhelmsson Pär , Wallerman Jörgen , Lämås Tomas , Öhman Karin
Published: December 2024

High-resolution, wall-to-wall forest information enables precision-driven decision-making in forest management planning. In a case study we compare planning approaches using such information for solving long-term forest planning problems. The two first approaches are based on dynamic treatment unit (DTU) planning with high-resolution cells (12.5 × 12.5 m2) or segments (0.27 ha on average), respectively, solved with a cellular automata heuristics. The third approach is a traditional stand-based approach using stands (5.2 ha on average) and linear programming to solve the planning problem. Fixed costs associated with cutting operations are quantified as each treatment unit is charged with an entry cost of 10 000 SEK. The entry costs are included in the DTU approach while in the stand approach entry costs are applied accordingly in a post-optimization routine. In large, the analyses are based on open-access tools and data provided by Swedish authorities. The traditional stand approach produced plans with 5.2–2.7% lower net present value compared to DTU planning. Most of the differences were caused by greater suboptimal losses in plans produced with the stand approach, but entry costs were also lower in DTU plans. While forestry was less profitable, treatment units were more spatially compact with stands, especially compared to cell-based plans. Therefore, we reason that a combination of modelling of direct costs and use of spatial proxy variables, such as common border length, may be advisable in DTU planning to achieve compact and realistic treatment units. Finally, the results indicate that high-resolution data and DTU planning may better utilize forests’ potential of economic production, compared to the traditional stand approach.
Evaluating frailty assessment tools and biological frailty markers in C57BL/6 female mice
Authors: Perazza Laís R. , Bougher Christopher M. , Thompson LaDora V.
Published: December 2024

Frailty is a complex condition characterized by a decline in multiple physiological systems, compromising an individual’s ability to maintain homeostasis. The onset and progression of frailty are linked to negative health outcomes such as disability, hospitalization, and mortality. To better understand frailty mechanisms, animal models have become valuable due to their accessibility to critical tissues and the ability to control variables. This study investigates frailty in female C57BL/6JN mice by comparing the two most widely accepted frailty assessment tools—the Physical Phenotype (PP) and the Frailty Index (FI). While FI relies on the accumulation of health deficits, PP focuses on functional physical performance. Our results suggest that these tools are complementary rather than interchangeable, each targeting distinct markers of frailty. To address the limitations of both, we propose a new combined assessment tool, the Vitality Phenotype (VP), which integrates physical performance and health deficits into a more comprehensive evaluation. We also explore the challenges in standardizing frailty cutoff values and the need for a reference group to enhance the accuracy of frailty identification. Lastly, we investigate the correlation between frailty criteria and biological markers, particularly bone mineral density (BMD), which shows a significant relationship with physical performance metrics such as grip strength and voluntary wheel activity, highlighting its potential role in frailty pathophysiology.
Impact of Combinations of Native Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Mineral Fertilizers on the Production and Nutrition of Maize Plants on Ferruginous Soil
Authors: Akpodé Corentin , Assogba Sylvestre Abado , Hoteyi Sêmassa Mohamed Ismaël , Aguégué Mèvognon Ricardos , Adoko Marcel Yévèdo , Alao Luckman Tokumbo , Sina Haziz , Noumavo Pacôme Agossou , Houssou Ayihadji Paul , Adjanohoun Adolphe , Babalola Olubukola Oluranti , Baba-Moussa Lamine
Published: December 2024

In the current context of decline in soil fertility, soil degradation and climate change, the use of mycorrhizal inoculum is one of the alternatives for sustainable agriculture. This study aims to determine the best combination of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) biostimulant and mineral fertilizer (NPK + Urea) to improve maize production and the nutritional status of maize plants on ferruginous soils. The experimental design was a completely randomized block of seventeen treatments repeated three times in Savè/Benin. Growth parameters were assessed at 60 days after sowing, while grain yield, physical characteristics and nutritional status were assessed after harvest. After a hierarchical classification of the results, we obtained a group of high-performing and statistically homogeneous treatments composed of T10 to T16. These treatments induced an average height of 185.81 ± 1.16 cm, a crown diameter of 2.20 ± 0.02 cm; a leaf area of 469.82 ± 2.11 cm2 and a grain yield of 2.98 ± 0.11 t/ha. Treatment T10 improved plant nutrition in terms of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium follow up T1 and T11. High 1000-grain weights were recorded with the treatments T10 and T11. The hardness of maize grain produced with the biostimulant decreased as root mycorrhization increased. It appears from the results that the application of the biostimulant based on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improved the parameters evaluated. In addition, the application of the biostimulant based on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improved the parameters evaluated. But this research deserves to be handled in the field in order to lead to an economic profitability study.
Influence of experience level on determining weld diameter in resistance spot welding
Authors: Mathiszik Christian , Nopper Benedikt , Koal Johannes , Füssel Uwe , Schmale Hans Christian
Published: December 2024

The weld diameter is the most important quality criterion in resistant spot welding and is unsually determined after destructive testing. Several standardized destructive testing methods are available for this purpose. The determination of the spot weld diameter is influenced by numerous factors. These include the measurement conditions, such as the lighting conditions, the measurement equipment used, and the person performing the measurements. The human aspect is influenced by experience and is therefore subjective. To manually evaluate a resistance spot weld, the weld diameter can be measured according to ISO 17677-1, AWS D8.1M, or DVS 2916-1, among others. The challenge here is that the statistical variation in the destructive evaluation of the spot weld diameter due to human experience is still insufficiently researched. In addition, the results of destructive testing are not statistically validated or are questioned in many scientific publications. The suitability of the destructive test methods used is often not justified or compared with other test methods. The purpose of this contribution is to statistically evaluate the human experience on manual weld diameter measurements and give recommendations, that should be taken into account in the future of some kind of issues. For this purpose, more than 180 spot welds were destroyed by torsion testing and the weld diameters were measured by 20 different participants with different levels of experience. The results show that the measurements are influenced by a number of factors, including the level of experience of the participants, the size of the weld diameters measured, the failure mode, and the duration of the measurements on a sample.
Frailty phenotypes and their association with health consequences: a comparison of different measures
Authors: Lin Yu-Chun , Yan Huang-Ting
Published: December 2024

Objectives

The frailty index is widely used in clinical and community settings to assess health status. This study aimed to identify the potential phenotypes of frail older adults and examine their relationship with health consequences compared with existing frailty measures.

Methods

The 11-year follow-up data from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging, covering 5,334 individuals aged ≥ 50 years, were analyzed using random-effects panel logit models. We identified three frailty phenotypes: energy-based frailty (EBF), sarcopenia-based frailty (SBF), and hybrid-based frailty (HBF). Existing frailty measures such as the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF), Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illness, and Loss of weight (FRAIL), and Fried scales were applied. We examined their correlation with health outcomes, such as falls and fractures, depression, comorbidities, hospitalization, emergency department visits, and mortality, adjusting for individual-level characteristics.

Results

Individuals with only EBF were found to be at a lower risk of falls and fractures than their counterparts with only SBF (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.03–0.46). Depression was less likely in the SBF group than in the EBF group (AOR = 0.02, 95% CI = 0.01–0.05). Hybrid-based frail older adults were more likely to be hospitalized (AOR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.08–3.14) and have emergency department visits (AOR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.15–3.58). Frailty assessed using existing measures was associated with adverse health outcomes.

Conclusion

The proposed frailty phenotype classification differs from the existing frailty measures in its ability to distinguish the corresponding phenotypes underlying various health consequences. Governments may develop strategies based on frailty phenotypes to mitigate adverse health consequences.
Experimental Tests and Simulations About The Efficiency of Commercial Hybrid Inverters Operating at Variable Power Factor
Authors: Ventura Cristina , Tina Giuseppe Marco , De Benedetti Massimiliano Maurizio , Dugo Daniele , Abouchabana Nabil
Published: December 2024

The need to ‘rethink’ the concept of Distribution, both at the planning and operational levels, arises from the emergence of the Distributed Generation paradigm, mostly installed in LV networks. The existing arrangements for the management, protection and control of distribution networks are typically inadequate for this ever-increasing presence of Distributed Generation. Consequently, national and international grid codes have been updated requiring distributed generators to be involved in grid control by supplying ancillary services, such as the voltage and frequency regulation. In this context, the Italian Standards, and in particular the CEI 0–21, require hybrid inverters of residential systems, which are usually only setup to supply active power at unity power factor, to include also the possibility of being able to absorb or supply reactive energy. This allows to limit the over / under voltages problems. To this aim, the inverter manufacturers have introduced the possibility for residential inverters to set the power factor. These new capabilities have been exploited in this paper in order to study the inverter performance with the variation of the power factor, considering both the inductive and the capacitive behaviour. In particular, the presented paper focuses on experimental tests on a hybrid inverter-based system for residential use with the aim of evaluating the dependence of the inverter efficiency on the power factor. Based on measured values, a Matlab/Simulink simulator has been developed for modelling the system, using the found dependence. The main aim is to evaluate the inverter control systems in order to participate in regulation services and to evaluate the inverter efficiency in case of a power factor different from unity.
A Human Rights View of the Past
Authors: Baets Antoon De
Published: December 2024

The idea of human rights has been much criticized from a historical perspective but curiously enough its theoretical and practical contributions to the study of time, memory, and history have never been systematically explored. How is it to look at the past from a human rights perspective? How can historical writing benefit from applying human rights principles? In tackling these questions, the book first clarifies what a human rights view of the past is. The constituent dimensions of the past – time, memory, and history – are then reviewed, indicating what a human rights perspective can add to the study of each. Finally, the benefits accruing from a human rights view of the past to historical theory and practice are highlighted.
Landscapes of the Imagination
Authors: Cupchik Gerald C.
Published: December 2024

The idea that imagination is everywhere in our lives, and that reality is an illusion, may sound absurd to the concrete mind. This book will try to convince you that imagination manifests in different 'phases,' encompassing even the most fundamental ideas about what is real (ontology) and what is true (epistemology). It is present in the contents (e.g., images) and the acts (e.g., fantasy) of our minds. Imagination helps us remove barriers through conscious planning and finds ways to fulfill unconscious desires. The many words related to imagination in the English language are part of a unified web and share a “family resemblance.” The first section of this book deals with imagination in everyday life, the second focuses on aesthetic imagination, and the third discusses scholarly approaches that incorporate both imagination types. The fourth section proposes a unified model integrating the diverse ways that imagination is manifested in our culture.
The Letters of Paul in their Roman Literary Context
Authors: Livesey Nina E.
Published: December 2024

Since the late-nineteenth century, scholars have all but concluded that the Apostle Paul authored six authentic community letters (Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, and 1 Thessalonian) and one individual letter to Philemon. In this book, by contrast, Nina E. Livesey argues that this long-held interpretation has been inadequately substantiated and theorized. In her groundbreaking study, Livesey reassesses the authentic perspective and, based on her research, reclassifies the letters as pseudonymous and letters-in-form-only. Like Seneca with his Moral Epistles, authors of Pauline letters extensively exploited the letter genre for its many rhetorical benefits to promote disciplinary teachings. Based on the types of issues addressed and the earliest known evidence of a collection, Livesey dates the letters' emergence to the mid-second century and the Roman school of Marcion. Her study significantly revises the understanding of Christian letters and conceptions of early Christianity, as it likewise reflects the benefit of cross-disciplinarity.
Understanding the American South
Authors: Ford Lacy K.
Published: December 2024

Americans in the twenty-first century find themselves searching for new understandings of their history. They seek explanations for chronic political polarization, acute pandemic polarization, social media addiction, heightened concern over global warming and armed global conflict, widening cultural and economic gaps between city and countryside, persistent racial tensions, gender divides, tensions over abortion rights and the public school curriculum, and a forty-year pattern of increasing economic inequality in the United States. Americans are looking for a past that can help them understand the divided and fractious present, a past that enlightens and inspires. In this collection of original essays, Lacy K. Ford uses the past to inform the present, as he provides a deeper, more nuanced understanding of American history and the American South's complicated relationship with it.
The Rhetoric and Reality of Shareholder Democracy and Hedge-Fund Activism
Authors: Shin Jan-Sup
Published: December 2024

This Element investigates the historical and systemic roots of hedge-fund activism. It argues that the spirit of the New Deal financial regulations was subverted in the 1980s and 1990s in the name of shareholder democracy and opened the door for the rise of hedge-fund activism. It analyzes the effects of regulatory reforms including the introduction of compulsory voting by institutional investors, proxy-voting rule changes that greatly facilitated aggregation of the proxy votes of institutional investors, and rules that allow hedge funds to draw effectively limitless alternative investments from institutional investors. This Element also evaluates the recent empirical research on hedge-fund activism and explains why shareholder activism has gone awry. It argues that the regulatory changes created a large vacuum in the arena of corporate voting that hedge-fund activists can effectively exploit for their own profits. It concludes with policy proposals for rebuilding the proxy-voting and engagement system.
Mixed-Signal CMOS for Wireline Communication
Authors: Cowan Glenn
Published: December 2024

Get up to speed with the fundamentals of complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) for wireline communication with this practical introduction, from short-reach optical links to various electrical links. It presents practical coverage of the state of the art, equipping readers with all the tools needed to understand these circuits and then design their own. A comprehensive treatment of components, including details for front-end circuits, equalizers, oscillators, phase-locked loops and clock and data recovery systems, accompanies significant coverage of inverter-based circuits, preparing the reader for modern designs in nano-scale CMOS. Numerous inline examples demonstrate concepts and solutions, allowing readers to absorb the theory and confidently apply concepts to new scenarios. Suitable for graduate students and professional engineers working in mixed-signal integrated circuit design for high-speed interconnects, and including over 100 end-of-chapter problems to extend learning (with online solutions for instructors), this versatile book will equip readers with an unrivalled understanding of exactly what goes into a modern wireline link – and why.
The Art of Counterpoint from Du Fay to Josquin
Authors: Rodin Jesse
Published: December 2024

This book transforms our understanding of a fifteenth-century musical revolution. Renaissance composers developed fresh ways of handling musical flow in pursuit of intensifications, unexpected explosions, dramatic pauses, and sudden evaporations. A new esthetics of opposition, as this study calls it, can be contrasted with smoother and less goal-oriented approaches in music from before – and after – the period ca. 1425–1520. Casting wide evidentiary and repertorial nets, the book reinterprets central genres, theoretical concepts, historical documents, famous pieces, and periodizations; a provocative concluding chapter suggests that we moderns have tended to conceal the period's musical poetics by neglecting central evidence. Above all the book introduces an analytical approach sensitive to musical flow and invites new ways of hearing, performing, and thinking about music from Du Fay to Josquin.
Flexible working and well-being: evidence from the UK
Authors: Agnoletto Margherita
Published: December 2024

Recent technological advancements have facilitated alternative work arrangements. This paper investigates how flextime and working from home (WfH) relate to workers’ well-being using longitudinal data drawn from the Understanding Society study for the UK. It accounts for individual, job, and family characteristics while controlling for individual fixed effects. Additionally, it employs the Oster test to examine the potential influence of unobserved variables. Results show that men experience improved job satisfaction and mental health with flextime arrangements, while women predominantly benefit in terms of job satisfaction. Additionally, women adopting remote work report heightened satisfaction with job and life, and better mental health, whereas men primarily report greater job satisfaction. Interestingly, flextime effects are stronger for men, while WfH is more beneficial for women. Some heterogeneous effects are also found by parental status, age, and income groups.
Co-evolution of behaviour and beliefs in social dilemmas: estimating material, social, cognitive and cultural determinants
Authors: Gavrilets Sergey , Tverskoi Denis , Wang Nianyi , Wang Xiaomin , Ozaita Juan , Zhang Boyu , Sánchez Angel , Andrighetto Giulia
Published: December 2024

Understanding and predicting human cooperative behaviour and belief dynamics remains a major challenge both from the scientific and practical perspectives. Because of the complexity and multiplicity of material, social and cognitive factors involved, both empirical and theoretical work tends to focus only on some snippets of the puzzle. Recently, a mathematical theory has been proposed that integrates material, social and cognitive aspects of behaviour and beliefs dynamics to explain how people make decisions in social dilemmas within heterogeneous groups. Here we apply this theory in two countries, China and Spain, through four long-term behavioural experiments utilising the Common Pool Resources game and the Collective Risk game. Our results show that material considerations carry the smallest weight in decision-making, while personal norms tend to be the most important factor. Empirical and normative expectations have intermediate weight in decision-making. Cognitive dissonance, social projection, logic constraints and cultural background play important roles in both decision-making and beliefs dynamics. At the individual level, we observe differences in the weights that people assign to factors involved in the decision-making and belief updating process. We identify different types of prosociality and rule-following associated with cultural differences, various channels for the effects of messaging, and culturally dependent interactions between sensitivity to messaging and conformity. Our results can put policy and information design on firmer ground, highlighting the need for interventions tailored to the situation at hand and to individual characteristics. Overall, this work demonstrates the theoretical and practical power of the theory in providing a more comprehensive understanding of human behaviour and beliefs.
Receptive vocabulary is superior to education level to account for Black and White neuropsychological performance discrepancies
Authors: Goldstein Felicia C. , Hanfelt John J. , James Taylor A. , Lah James J. , Loring David W.
Published: December 2024

Objective:

To evaluate the impact of receptive vocabulary versus years of education on neuropsychological performance of Black and White older adults.

Method:

A community-based prospectively enrolled cohort (n = 1,007; 130 Black, 877 White) in the Emory Healthy Brain Study were administered the NIH Toolbox Picture Vocabulary Test and neuropsychological measures. Group differences were evaluated with age, sex, and education or age, sex, and Toolbox Vocabulary scores as covariates to determine whether performance differences between Black versus White participants were attenuated or eliminated.

Results:

With vocabulary as a covariate, the main effect of race was no longer significant for the MoCA, Phonemic Fluency, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, and Rey Complex Figure Test immediate and delayed recall. Although still significantly different between groups, the effect sizes for Animal Fluency, Trails B-A, Symbol Digit Modalities Test, and Rey Copy were attenuated, with the greatest reductions occurring for the Multilingual Naming Test and Judgment of Line Orientation.

Conclusions:

Findings support the value of using receptive vocabulary as a proxy for premorbid ability level when comparing the cognitive performance of Black and White older adults. The results extend investigations using measures of single word reading to encompass measures assessing word meaning.