bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementation of an Upflow Fixed Bed Bioreactor for Denitrification Coupled to Methane Oxidation: Performance and Biomass Development Under Anoxic Conditions
Authors: Molina-Macías Anngie K. , Londoño Yudy Andrea , Pino Nancy , Peñuela Gustavo A.
Published: October 2024

Denitrification coupled to methane oxidation (DOM) has been shown to be an appropriate process for wastewater treatment applications, since it can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogen discharges, making wastewater treatment plants more environmentally sustainable. Study of DOM has focused on laboratory-scale application using membrane biological reactors (MBR) or sequency batch reactors (SBR), which have been shown to be able to retain DOM biomass and therefore appropriate for use with this process. However, it is necessary to expand knowledge of the behavior of this process using other configurations, with a view to scaling up. Therefore, in this study, an upflow fixed bed bioreactor (UFBR) was implemented using plastic carriers such as bioballs and Biochips® to carry out the DOM process under anoxic conditions. The reactor reached stable nitrogen removal conditions after approximately 400 days of continuous operation, forming a biomass composed of denitrifying methane-oxidizing microorganisms where the genus Anaerolinea and Methylocystis predominated. Once the biomass was formed and the DOM process was stabilized, maximum nitrite and nitrate removal rates of 17.6 mgN-NO2−/L-d and 8.9 mgN-NO3−/L-d, respectively, and a removal efficiency of methane up to 77% were obtained. This demonstrates the feasibility of the application of the DOM process under anoxic conditions using fixed bed bioreactors, which is promising for further nitrogen removal from wastewater using a varied reactor configuration easily to scaled-up.
Inhibited adipogenesis and low-grade inflammation enhance adipocyte hypertrophy in aging adipose tissue
Authors: Fang Bing , Zheng Chenyan , Ma Yumeng , Wu Fang , Cheng Le , Li Yixuan , Wang Ran , Ren Fazheng
Published: October 2024

Adipose tissue mass grows through an increase in the number (adipogenesis) and size (lipogenesis) of adipocytes, and these processes change with age. Visceral adiposity and increased inflammation often accompany aging. Here, we review the factors and changes that influence adipogenesis, lipogenesis, and the inflammatory microenvironment of adipose tissue during aging with a focus on adipose stem cells and immune cells. Aging-associated cellular senescence and stem cell exhaustion inhibit adipocyte renewal, leading to excessive hypertrophy and low-grade inflammation. Moreover, the different adipose stem cell types can stimulate or inhibit adipogenesis. The removal rate of triglycerides stored in adipocytes decreases with age, but the results of studies regarding changes in the related enzymes and the effects on lifespan are conflicting. Adipogenesis inhibition induced by changes in the types and proportions of cells may be the primary driving force for adipose tissue aging and thus may be a target for anti-aging therapy. Due to the similarities between obesity and aging adipose tissue, studies have previously verified the roles of adipose stem cells, senescent cells, and immune cells in obesity, whereas studies in aged adipose tissue are sparse. Future studies should address the effects of changes in adipose stem cell subtypes and immune cells on the aging of adipose tissue, which may help to develop anti-aging therapies.
Professionalising English Language Teaching
Authors: Cirocki Andrzej , Hallet Wolfgang
Published: October 2024

The issue of professionalisation of English Language Teaching (ELT) remains underexplored in academic discourse. Written by experienced teacher educators, this book presents a timely guide to professional teacher development in ELT, showing how teacher educators and classroom practitioners can develop their practice. It scrutinises key topic areas for teacher education, detailing the specific competences that professional teachers need to demonstrate in the 21st century, including transforming English language classrooms, engaging in ongoing debates that examine theory, research and practice, responding to managerial and policy discourses on English language instruction, and playing a leading role in regulating the entire teaching profession. It highlights how meaningful, impactful, transformative, and sustainable language education requires high-quality teachers who are lifelong learners, classroom ethnographers, and educational leaders. It is essential reading for pre- and in-service teachers, teacher educators and professional development providers, educational researchers, as well as policy makers in the field of ELT.
Religion and the Making of Roman Africa
Authors: McCarty Matthew M.
Published: October 2024

This book fundamentally rewrites the cultural and religious history of North Africa under the Roman Empire, focalized through rituals related to child sacrifice and the carved-stone monuments associated with such offerings. Earlier colonial archaeologies have stressed the failure of the empire to 'Romanize' Indigenous and Punic settler populations, mobilizing inscriptions and sculpture to mirror and explain modern European colonial failures as the result of ethnic African permanence. Instead, this book uses postcolonial theory, pragmatic semiotics, material epistemologies, and relational ontologies to develop a new account of how Roman hegemony transformed and was reproduced through signifying practices in even a seemingly traditional, 'un-Roman' rite such as child sacrifice. In doing so, the book offers a model for understanding the Roman Empire, the peoples who lived across its provinces, and their material worlds.
Characteristics of Technological Disasters
Authors: Altintas Emel , Ataman Ali Kaan , Ongar Murat
Published: October 2024

Objective

Disasters are the consequences of natural or technological hazards that affect a vulnerable society.1 Technological disasters are divided into three groups: industrial, transport, and miscellaneous.2,3 It is possible to determine the risks of technological disasters, to determine priorities, and to plan services by knowing this epidemiology.4 In this study, we aimed to define the distribution and characteristics of the subtypes of technological disasters in the world according to regions and years.

Methods

Our study was conducted using the international dataset at www.emdat.be/. The technological disasters between 1970 and 2020, the years they occurred, their locations (region and continent), the types of disasters, and the numbers of dead and affected were recorded.

Results

We found that the greatest number of disasters occurred between 2001 and 2010. The most common type of disaster was transportation accidents. While the continent with the most frequent disasters was Asia (3 879 [45.6%]), it was followed by Africa (2 220 [26.1%]) and South and North America (1 359 [16%]).

Conclusions

Transport accidents are the most common cause of technological disasters, and road accidents are the most common type of transport accident.
Climate Change and Disaster Mental Health: Addressing Burnout and Leveraging Wearable Technology for First Responder and the Healthcare Workforce Retention
Authors: Saltzman Leia Y. , Hansel Tonya C. , Ferreira Regardt J.
Published: October 2024

Objective

Climate change has impacts that contribute to increased disasters and chronic stressors. Subsequently we are faced with the great resignation of employees in the first responder and healthcare workforces.

These industries are crucial to community recovery and there is an urgent need to understand risk and protective factors toward burnout and mental health.

Methods

We hypothesize that disaster experiences and community disruptions contribute to burnout and mental health problems among the healthcare and emergency personnel workforces. Mixed methodology was used to identify services that would support retention.

Results

As symptoms of burnout increased, mental health problems also increased. Increased burnout was associated with increased work hours per week, more hours than usual, and more traditional first responder roles. Social isolation and other trauma, such as disaster, were associated with mental health problems. Protective factors included wellbeing, connectedness, and self-care.

Conclusions

Findings support the need for services aimed at reducing negative mental health and loneliness while improving coping skills. This presentation explores the utility of artificial intelligence, such as wearable technology, to screen, triage, and provide mental health services. By leveraging technologies, we offer a plan for addressing burnout, increased retention and the future of disaster mental health.
Augmented Reality in Education
Authors: Cole Rebekah
Published: October 2024

The Military Unique Curriculum at the Uniformed Services University consists of three high-fidelity simulations to prepare students for future conflicts in austere operational environments. One of these simulations, Operation Bushmaster is a five-day high-fidelity military medical field practicum (MFP) held for fourth-year military medical students and nursing students. During this simulation, students deploy to Fort Indiantown Gap, PA, where they enter the notional country of “Torbia.” Assembled in platoons, the students care for simulated critical condition patients (portrayed by first year medical students) within a stressful combat environment. In addition, while participating in Operation Bushmaster, students fill various roles relevant to their future deployments, including surgeon, platoon leader, assistant platoon leader, preventative medicine technician, ambulance team leader, and behavioral health technician while caring for simulated disease and non-battle injury patients, combat stress casualties, and combat trauma casualties in a variety of scenarios. The simulation concludes with a mass casualty event where students care for over thirty patients during a one-hour time frame. This presentation will explore the educational impact of Operation Bushmaster on student learning and readiness to deploy by describing several educational research studies conducted at Operation Bushmaster. Best practices for developing training simulations like Operation Bushmaster will be described and discussed.

Learning Objectives

Participants will identify the critical elements of high-fidelity simulations at the Uniformed Services University.

Participants will describe the impact of Operation Bushmaster on military medical trainee learning.

Participants will discuss the value of using high-fidel\ity simulation for disaster training and readiness.
Human Health Impacts of Wildland Fire
Authors: Cascio Wayne E
Published: October 2024

The confluence of extreme weather conditions and crowded forests are contributing to larger and more severe forest fires. The progressive migration of the US population into the wildland-urban-interface is placing more people in the path of wildfire, while the emissions from wildland fire are reversing historical improvements in national air quality and placing the health of people remote from the wildfire at risk. The presentation will describe the historical pattern of wildfire in the U.S., factors contributing to a significant increase recently, and projections for wildfire behavior into the future. The human health effects of wildfire will be addressed within the context of mental health issues emerging among survivors of wildfire, and health effects to exposure to emissions of firefighters, and populations at a distance. Clinical and public health recommendations for individuals and communities to protect themselves from smoke exposure will be presented.

Learning Objectives

Describe the factors that are increasing the size and severity of wildfire.

Describe actions individuals and communities can take to reduce exposure to wildfire smoke.

Describe key unanswered questions requiring new research to inform policy and decision-making by professionals charged with managing forests and environmental quality, prescribed fire, public health and healthcare.
Timings of Pre-hospital Life-saving Interventions During Mass Casualty Incidents: An Observational Simulation Pilot Study
Authors: Alruqi Fayez , Cole Elaine , Brohi Karim
Published: October 2024

Objective

This pilot study assessed the feasibility of measuring time to perform pre-identified lifesaving interventions (LSIs) used during mass-casualty incidents (MCIs).

Methods

An observational simulation study involving pre-hospital providers (PHPs) was conducted at London’s Air Ambulance training center. PHPs performed 16 basic-to-advanced LSIs and were video-recorded to capture the LSIs’ time intervals (TTs) (time from picking up equipment to completing the LSIs). TTs are reported in seconds (median and interquartile range [IQR]). Ethical approval was obtained from Queen Mary University.

Results

Seven PHCPs (five paramedics and two physicians) performed 92 LSIs, with paramedics limited to 11 LSIs due to their scope of practice. Physician-only performed LSIs had the longest TT compared to other LSIs, Rapid-sequence intubation 175.00 IQR(162.50–187.50). The longest TT in all LSIs was related to circulation support, with fluid resuscitation taking 99 IQR(88–101) for paramedics and 80 IQR(74.5–85.5) for physicians. LSIs with a median time exceeding 30 seconds were generally characterized by substantial variability, as indicated by a wide IQR.

Conclusion

This pilot study demonstrated the feasibility of recording timings for LSIs. Physician-only performed LSIs had the longest TT but were more complex interventions. Further investigation within a simulated environment is planned.
Identifying Triage Determinants and Using a Novel Bayesian 3D-CNN Model for COVID-19 Mass Casualty Incidents (MCI) Triage Recommendation
Authors: Cheung Liege
Published: October 2024

Objective

This research identified the key determinants and designed a novel Bayesian three-dimension convolution neural network (3D-CNN) for COVID-19 mass casualty incidents (MCI) triage recommendation.

Methods

109 articles between 2019 and 2022 were archived from MEDLINE databases. An empirical review and content analysis were done to find out the triage determinants and a Bayesian 3-D CNN model was designed for triage recommendation.

Results

35 out of 109 articles were used. The severity of infection (signs and symptoms of coronavirus), likelihood of spreading (attitudes of pandemic spreading, personal behaviors, and government policy), and available resources (physician and medication availability, hospital vacancy, and evacuation assets) were the identified determinants. The likelihoods of having COVID-19 were calculated with a Bayesian network based on the parameters of the three determinants, and were pre-processed for training the 3D-CNN model with the COVID19 test result, recover history, and medication outcome for “immediate (hospital admission with immediate medical care)”, “delayed (quarantine center and observation)”, “minimal (home quarantine with medication)”, “semi-minimal (home quarantine without medication)”, or “no priority (no therapeutic resources)” triage recommendation.

Conclusions

The determinants and AI model classify patients to an optimal healthcare facility for reducing disaster medicine risk. The model verification and validation were undergoing.
Supported employment as a global mental health intervention
Authors: Mascayano Franco , Drake Robert E.
Published: October 2024

The global health community has recognized that social determinants of health account for most of the inequities of health outcomes, including mental health outcomes, across and within countries. Strategies to overcome such inequities must focus on modifiable social factors. In this viewpoint, we argue for the preeminence of employment among social determinants of mental health for several reasons. People with mental health disabilities want to work, and a well-validated model of supported employment that is effective and cost-effective now exists. Employment leads to improvements in income, daily structure, self-esteem, social support, community integration and illness management, and people who are employed experience fewer emergencies and hospitalizations. Employment is empowering because people can use added income to activate their own choices regarding other social determinants. Supported employment actualizes the recovery paradigm: People who are employed in competitive jobs of their choice develop a meaningful functional life, increased self-esteem and new social supports. We provide examples of supported employment developments in diverse settings and discuss the implications of scaling up these services worldwide.
The generalised resolvent-based turbulence estimation with arbitrarily sampled measurements in time
Authors: Ying Anjia , Li Zhigang , Fu Lin
Published: October 2024

In this study, the resolvent-based estimation (RBE) is further generalised to cases with arbitrarily sampled measurements in time, where the generalised RBE is denoted as GRBE in this study. Different from the RBE that constructs the transfer function at each frequency, the GRBE minimises the estimation error energy in the physical temporal domain by considering the forcing and noise statistics. The GRBE is validated by estimating the complex Ginzburg–Landau equation and turbulent channel flows with the friction Reynolds number

$Re_{\tau }=186$

, 547 and 934, where the results from the RBE are also included. When the measurements are temporally resolved, the estimation results of the two approaches are equivalent to each other, and both match well with the reference numerical results. For the temporally unresolved cases, the estimation errors from the GRBE are obviously lower than those from the RBE. After validation, the GRBE is applied to investigate the impacts of the abundance of the measured information, including the temporal information and sensor types, on the estimation accuracy. Compared with the mean square error (MSE) in the estimation with temporally resolved measurements, that with measurements at only one snapshot, i.e. without any temporal information, increases by approximately

$15\,\%$

. On the other hand, it can effectively improve the estimation accuracy by increasing the number of sensor types. With temporally resolved measurements, the relative MSE decreases by

$12.3\,\%$

when the sensor types increase from

$\lbrace \tau _u \rbrace$

to

$\lbrace \tau _u,\tau _w,p \rbrace$

, where

$\tau_u$

,

$\tau_w$

and p are the streamwise shear stress, spanwise shear stress and pressure at the wall. Finally, several existing forcing models are incorporated into the GRBE to investigate their performance in the linear estimation of flow state. The wall-distance-dependent model (W-model) results match well with the optimal linear estimations when the measurements are temporally unresolved. Meanwhile, with the increase of temporal information of the measurement, the estimation errors from the tested W-model and the scale-dependent model (

$\lambda$

-model) both increase, which contradicts the tendency observed in the optimal linear GRBE estimation results. Such a phenomenon highlights the importance of proper modelling of the forcing in the temporal domain for the accuracy of flow state estimation.
An entangled memoryscape: Holocaust memory on social media
Authors: Richardson-Walden Victoria Grace , Marrison Kate
Published: October 2024

Within Holocaust studies, there has been an increasingly uncritical acceptance that by engaging with social media, Holocaust memory has shifted from the ‘era of the witness’ to the ‘era of the user’ (Hogervorst 2020). This paper starts by problematising this proposition. This claim to a paradigmatic shift implies that (1) the user somehow replaces the witness as an authority of memory, which neglects the wealth of digital recordings of witnesses now circulating in digital spaces and (2) agency online is solely human-centric, a position that ignores the complex negotiations between corporations, individuals, and computational logics that shape our digital experiences. This article proposes instead that we take a posthumanist approach to understanding Holocaust memory on, and with, social media. Adapting Barad's (2007) work on entanglement to memory studies, we analyse two case studies on TikTok: the #WeRemember campaign and the docuseries How To: Never Forget to demonstrate: (1) the usefulness of reading Holocaust memory on social media through the lens of entanglement which offers a methodology that accounts for the complex network of human and non-human actants involved in the production of this phenomenon which are simultaneously being shaped by it. (2) That professional memory institutions and organisations are increasingly acknowledging the use of social media for the sake of Holocaust memory. Nevertheless, we observe that in practice the significance of technical actancy is still undervalued in this context.
Nationalism and Economic Modernization of China: The Chinese Masses’ Reorientation to “the Spirit of Capitalism”
Authors: Wu Zeying
Published: October 2024

Following Max Weber’s emphasis on a fundamental change in ethical values behind the modern capitalistic economy, this paper offers an ideational explanation for China’s economic modernization since 1978. It argues that China’s economic reform, which first and foremost changed the official rhetoric about profit-making, endowed the economic preoccupations of ordinary people with a special dignity. Since then, the Chinese masses have been allowed to proudly connect their personal prosperity with China’s national wealth and international status. This dignifying connection, in turn, led them to invest in sustaining the growth of their personal prosperity and national wealth. In other words, it converted the Chinese masses to economic nationalism that prioritized economic development as the chief means for the achievement of China’s glory. The conversion of the Chinese masses to economic nationalism marked the Chinese society’s reorientation to “the spirit of capitalism,” hence China’s economic modernization.
The Tracking Tapered Gridded Estimator for the 21-cm power spectrum from MWA drift scan observations I: Validation and preliminary results
Authors: Chatterjee Suman , Elahi Khandakar Md Asif , Bharadwaj Somnath , Sarkar Shouvik , Choudhuri Samir , Sethi Shiv K. , Patwa Akash Kumar
Published: October 2024

Drift scan observations provide the broad sky coverage and instrumental stability needed to measure the Epoch of Reionization (EoR) 21-cm signal. In such observations, the telescope’s pointing centre (PC) moves continuously on the sky. The Tracking Tapered Gridded Estimator (TTGE) combines observations from different PC to estimate

$P(k_{\perp}, k_{\parallel})$

the 21-cm power spectrum, centred on a tracking centre (TC) which remains fixed on the sky. The tapering further restricts the sky response to a small angular region around TC, thereby mitigating wide-field foregrounds. Here we consider

$154.2\,\mathrm{MHz}$

(

$z = 8.2$

) Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) drift scan observations. The periodic pattern of flagged channels, present in MWA data, is known to introduce artefacts which pose a challenge for estimating

$P(k_{\perp}, k_{\parallel})$

. Here we have validated the TTGE using simulated MWA drift scan observations which incorporate the flagged channels same as the data. We demonstrate that the TTGE is able to recover

$P(k_{\perp}, k_{\parallel})$

without any artefacts and estimate

$P(k)$

within

$5 \%$

accuracy over a large

$k$

-range. We also present preliminary results for a single PC, combining 9 nights of observation

$(17 \, \mathrm{min}$

total). We find that

$P(k_{\perp}, k_{\parallel})$

exhibits streaks at a fixed interval of

$k_{\parallel}=0.29 \, \mathrm{Mpc}^{-1}$

, which matches

$\Delta \nu_\mathrm{per}=1.28 \, \mathrm{MHz}$

that is the period of the flagged channels. Since the simulations demonstrate that the TTGE is impervious to the flagged channels, the streaks seen for the actual data are possibly caused by some systematic that has the same period as the flagged channels. These streaks are more than 3–4 orders of magnitude smaller than the peak foreground power

$\mid P(k_{\perp}, k_{\parallel}) \mid \approx 10^{16} \, \mathrm{mK^2}\, \mathrm{Mpc^3}$

at

$k_{\parallel}=0$

. The streaks are not as pronounced at larger

$k_{\parallel}$

, and in some cases they do not appear to extend across the entire

$k_{\perp}$

range. The rectangular region

$0.05 \leq k_{\perp} \leq 0.16 \, \mathrm{Mpc^{-1}}$

and

$0.9 \leq k_{\parallel}\leq 4.6 \, \mathrm{Mpc^{-1}}$

is found to be relatively free of foreground contamination and artefacts, and we have used this to place the

$2\unicode{x03C3}$

upper limit

$\Delta^2(k) < (1.85\times10^4)^2\, \mathrm{mK^2}$

on the EoR 21-cm mean squared brightness temperature fluctuations at

$k=1 \,\mathrm{Mpc}^{-1}$

.
Optimising an array of Cherenkov telescopes in Australia for the detection of TeV gamma-ray transients
Authors: Lee Simon , Einecke Sabrina , Rowell Gavin , Balazs Csaba , Bellido Jose , Dai Shi , Filipović Miroslav D. , Harvey Violet , McGee Padric , Marinos Peter , Tothill Nicholas , White Martin
Published: October 2024

As TeV gamma-ray astronomy progresses into the era of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA), instantaneously following up on gamma-ray transients is becoming more important than ever. To this end, a worldwide network of Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes has been proposed. Australia is ideally suited to provide coverage of part of the Southern Hemisphere sky inaccessible to H.E.S.S. in Namibia and the upcoming CTA-South in Chile. This study assesses the sources detectable by a small, transient-focused array in Australia based on CTA telescope designs. The TeV emission of extragalactic sources (including the majority of gamma-ray transients) can suffer significant absorption by the extragalactic background light. As such, we explored the improvements possible by implementing stereoscopic and topological triggers, as well as lowered image cleaning thresholds, to access lower energies. We modelled flaring gamma-ray sources based on past measurements from the satellite-based gamma-ray telescope Fermi-LAT. We estimate that an array of four Medium-Sized Telescopes (MSTs) would detect

$\sim$

24 active galactic nucleus flares >5

$\sigma$

per year, up to a redshift of

$z\approx1.5$

. Two MSTs achieved

$\sim$

80–90% of the detections of four MSTs. The modelled Galactic transients were detectable within the observation time of one night, 11 of the 21 modelled gamma-ray bursts were detectable, as were

$\sim$

10% of unidentified transients. An array of MST-class telescopes would thus be a valuable complementary telescope array for transient TeV gamma-ray astronomy.
Observing bursting and chirping coherence modes in plasma of solely electron cyclotron wave heating
Authors: Wang Mingyuan , Yang Jixing , Shi Yuejiang , Dong Jiaqi , Liu Wenjun , Li Hongyue , Li Yingying , Wu Jie , Liu Ad , Zhuang Ge , Wang Yahui , Zhang Ruibo , Yuan Baoshan , Martin Peng Y.-K. ,   EXL-50 team
Published: October 2024

This study presents observations of coherent modes (CMs) in a spherical tokamak using a microwave interferometer near the midplane. The CMs within the 30–60 kHz frequency range were observed during electron cyclotron resonance heating only, and the frequency of the CMs increased proportionally with the square root of the electron temperature near

$R = 0.7m$

. Generally, these modes displayed bursting and chirping signatures with strong density rise and fall. Their appearance indicated an increase in the intensity of hard x rays, suggesting a deterioration in energetic electron confinement. Furthermore, the effect of CMs on the intensity of energetic electron-driven whistler waves was observed. They decreased when CMs were present and gradually increased with the decrease in CM intensity. The CMs may influence the intensity of whistler waves by affecting the energetic electron confinement.
Modelling of relativistic electron transport with non-relativistic DKES solver
Authors: Marushchenko I. , Azarenkov N.A.
Published: October 2024

The paper considers the electron transport in toroidal systems taking into account relativistic effects for electrons. The treatment is based on the relativistic drift-kinetic equation with the thermodynamic equilibrium given by the relativistic Maxwell–Jüttner distribution function. The definition of relativistic fluxes is given in a classic-like form using the same set of thermodynamic forces as in the classical (non-relativistic) approach. Such a formulation allows us to apply the currently used non-relativistic solvers for calculation of relativistic mono-energetic transport coefficients. As an example, the procedure for calculating electron fluxes is proposed, in which relativistic effects are taken into account using the DKES code. The model can be easily implemented in various transport codes, developed for the non-relativistic limit, making them accurate also for hot plasmas with non-negligible relativistic effects.
How Shock ignition can help to overcome the negative effects of hot electrons in direct-drive high-gain inertial confinement fusion
Authors: Temporal Mauro , Canaud Benoit , Ramis Rafael
Published: October 2024

Hot electrons produced by parametric instabilities can negatively affect the thermonuclear gain of a direct-drive inertial confinement fusion capsule. A Monte Carlo transport is coupled to the hydrodynamics MULTI-IFE code in order to study the hot electron transport in a high-gain target implosion. The thermonuclear energy produced by the directly driven implosion of a reference target drops from 27 MJ without hot electrons to 13.5 kJ when the hot electrons are taken into account. A clear relationship is established between the level of hot electrons produced and the degradation of the thermonuclear yield produced by the target. It is shown that adding a relatively short laser spike (shock ignition) to the main pulse restores the thermonuclear energy released by the implosion. Different shock-ignition windows are presented depending on the duration of the spike. It appears that the longer the duration of the spike, the lower the power required for shock ignition. Finally, a 300 ps-duration spike requires only 50 TW to restore a thermonuclear energy output of 20 MJ.
Expanding the Borders of Atlantic History
Authors: Cañeque Alejandro
Published: October 2024

The field of Atlantic history initially focused exclusively on the Anglo-American North Atlantic, largely ignoring the South Atlantic and Africa. This approach, dominant after World War II, portrayed a “Western civilization” based on North Atlantic liberal values, akin to a postwar Mediterranean. Over time, historians of the Anglo-American Atlantic criticized this narrow focus, recognizing the broader interconnectedness of the Atlantic world. Recent decades have seen a shift, with more historians acknowledging the Atlantic as a complex, interconnected space involving four continents. Particularly notable is the rise of studies on the South Atlantic, especially regarding science and empire in the Iberian world. These studies highlight the significant role of Spain and Portugal, challenging the previously North Atlantic-centered narrative. This research has revealed that the Atlantic world was as much, if not more, shaped by Spanish and Portuguese influences as by English ones. The reviewed works exemplify this shift, focusing on the South Atlantic's imperial entanglements and the African diaspora in the Caribbean.
Low protein uptake during peripuberty impairs the testis, epididymis, and spermatozoa in pubertal and adult Wistar rats
Authors: Frigoli Giovanna Fachetti , Quadreli Débora Hipólito , Santos Dayane Priscila dos , Costa Ivana Regina da , Ferreira Anna Rebeka Oliveira , Peres Maria Natália Chimirri , Ribeiro Maiara Vanusa Guedes , Ceravolo Graziela Scalianti , Mathias Paulo Cezar , Palma-Rigo Kesia , Fernandes Glaura Scantamburlo Alves
Published: October 2024

Protein malnutrition during critical periods poses significant risks to reproductive health. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the immediate and delayed effects of a 30-day low-protein diet on the postnatal development of the male reproductive system. For so, male rats were fed a protein-deficient diet from postnatal day 30–60, followed by evaluations of testis, epididymis, and spermatozoa both at the end of the diet and after a 60-day recovery period. Testicular and epididymal weight was lowered in pubertal animals. Several histological alterations were found in the testis, such as acidophilic cells and vacuoles in the seminiferous epithelium, and sperm production was compromised. In the epididymis, the luminal compartment was diminished, and the stroma was enlarged both in the caput and cauda; in the cauda, the epithelial compartment was enlarged; the transit time of spermatozoa through this organ was diminished. Testosterone production was lowered. Spermatozoa’s motility, mitochondrial activation, and acrosomal integrity were impaired, and several alterations in morphology were observed. After the recovery period, testicular and epididymal weight was restored. Tissue remodulation was observed in the epididymis, but the spermatozoa’s transit time in this organ was not altered. Sperm and testosterone production, spermatozoa motility, mitochondrial activation, and acrosomal integrity were also restored. However, testicular histological alterations and spermatic morphological abnormalities were maintained in protein-restricted animals. Protein restriction during peripuberty impairs the reproductive maturation of pubertal Wistar rats, impairing testicular and epididymal function, with lasting effects even after dietary correction.
Challenges in transitioning from adolescent to Adult Mental Health Services for young adults with ADHD in Italy: an observational study
Authors: Roberti Elisa , Clavenna Antonio , Basso Eleonora , Bravaccio Carmela , Riccio Maria Pia , Pincherle Maurizio , Duca Maddalena , Giordani Claudia , Scarpellini Francesca , Campi Rita , Giardino Michele , Zanetti Michele , Tessarollo Valeria , Costantino Ilaria ,   TransiDEA Group, Bonati Maurizio
Published: October 2024

Aims

Ensuring a successful transition to Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS) is fundamental for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients to prevent adverse scenarios in adults (e.g., psychiatric disorders, substance or alcohol abuse). Yet, most European nations do not have appropriate transition guidelines and still fail to adequately support transition processes. This study aims to enquire about the current transition paths in Italy and the perceived experiences of the patients and their clinicians.

Methods

The present observational study collected 36 interviews with young adults with ADHD who turned 18 between 2017 and 2021. Simultaneously, two questionnaires were filled in by the clinicians (both from paediatric and AMHS) who were involved in their transition paths. These tools collected information about the transition process, the services that cared for the young adults and well-being indicators such as impairment in daily life, employment status and the presence of sentinel events (e.g., critical stage accesses to the emergency room or hospitalizations). Successful and failed referrals were analysed.

Results

A referral to an AMHS was attempted for 16 young adults (8 before age 18 and 8 when turning 18), and 8 patients (22.2% overall) were successfully taken into the care of the AMHS. Twenty patients were not referred since it was deemed unnecessary (N = 6) or because of the lack of specialized services or compliance (N = 14). At the time of the interview, only nine participants were still under AMHS care. Of eleven individuals with a high need for care (identified by the level of impairment, support needs or sentinel events), five were not followed by a mental health professional at the time of the interview.

Conclusions

For the majority of ADHD young adults, a transition path was never started or completed. While this is partly due to mild levels of impairment, in many cases it was difficult to find a service that could care for the adult patient. Only one out of four young adults are successfully transferred to AMHS care. Creating or improving evidence-based transition guidelines should be a priority of the public health system to ensure healthcare for as many patients as possible. The results of this study will converge towards the need for recommendations for the transition of services from adolescence to adulthood for young people with ADHD for Italian clinical practice.
Deertongue (Dichanthelium clandestinum L.) control in golf course naturalized areas
Authors: Godara Navdeep , Rana Sandeep S. , Askew Shawn D.
Published: October 2024

Deertongue is a perennial, warm-season grass, and is problematic in naturalized areas of golf courses due to limited control options. Research was conducted to evaluate several herbicides for deertongue control in naturalized areas consisting primarily of fine fescue. Greenhouse studies assessed 24 herbicide admixtures and indicated that fluazifop, glyphosate, imazapic, and thiencarbazone + iodosulfuron + dicamba (TID) reduced deertongue biomass by >80% at 10 wk after initial treatment (WAIT). Subsequent field trials were conducted on golf course naturalized areas. The first site was on a woodland edge and was partially shaded for 6 h each day, and the second trial site was 50 m away from the woodland edge and not subjected to more than 1 h of daily shade. At 9 WAIT, fluazifop at 420 g ai ha−1 applied once or three times at 3-wk intervals and topramezone at 37 g ai ha−1 applied thrice at 3-wk intervals injured fine fescue by ≤10% at both sites. Glyphosate applied at 1,120 g ae ha−1, imazapic at 105 g ai ha−1, and imazapic at 53 g ai ha−1 tank-mixed with glyphosate at 560 g ae ha−1 injured fine fescue by ≥50% under shaded conditions, whereas glyphosate alone did not injure fine fescue under sunny conditions. Fine fescue was completely recovered by 52 WAIT from injury following herbicide treatments, except for glyphosate-containing treatments at the shaded site and glyphosate + imazapic at both sites. At 52 WAIT, glyphosate-containing treatments and sequential applications of fluazifop controlled deertongue by ≥93% and reduced shoot density to ≤5 shoots m−2 averaged over both sites. Fluazifop at 420 g ha−1 applied thrice at 3-wk intervals selectively controls deertongue with excellent safety to fine fescue. Glyphosate also controls deertongue, but unacceptably injures fine fescue when managed under shaded conditions. Future research will assess how different light intensities influence fine fescue epicuticular wax deposits and associated response to glyphosate.
A working research agenda for sports psychiatry
Authors: Claussen Malte Christian , Currie Alan , Burger James W. , Prossor David , Glick Ira
Published: October 2024

Abstract: Introduction: Sports psychiatry is an emerging medical and psychiatric discipline that has experienced significant development in recent years. This growth has been accompanied by an increase in scientific outputs from sports psychiatrists and other academics that address the three fields of activity of sports psychiatry: namely, mental health and disorders in competitive and elite sports, mental health and sport-specific mental disorders in recreational sports, and the use of sport, exercise and physical activity in the prevention and treatment of mental disorders. Conceptual publications have discussed the scope of sports psychiatry and education and training. However, some topics receive more attention than others, with evidence gaps in other key areas of sports psychiatry. Advancing the field towards evidence-based practice requires an assessment of the current state of the literature and the development of a strategic research agenda. Methods: Following the Working Group on Research Gaps, Priorities and Agenda at the Summit on Sports Psychiatry arranged by the International Society for Sports Psychiatry (ISSP), the ISSP Scientific Committee conducted a narrative review of the sports psychiatry literature to benchmark the current academic state of the discipline and further developed the research agenda to provide a strategic framework for future research directions. Results: We discuss a research agenda according to five key areas: sports psychiatry as a discipline, education and training in sports psychiatry, and the three clinical fields of activity of sports psychiatry. Conclusion: This sports psychiatry research agenda provides a framework to guide the strategic development of the scientific literature in the field.
The Interaction Between the Production Effect and Serial Position in Recognition and Recall
Authors: Gionet Sébastien , Guitard Dominic , Saint-Aubin Jean
Published: October 2024

Abstract: In memory tasks, items read aloud are better remembered than their silently read counterparts. This production effect is often interpreted by assuming a distinctiveness benefit for produced items, but whether this benefit also comes at a cost remains up for debate. In recall tasks, when pure lists are used in which all items are produced or read silently, studies have shown a better recall of produced items at the last serial positions, but a lower recall at the first positions. This cost of production has been interpreted by assuming that production interferes with rehearsal. However, in recognition tasks, models typically assume that the distinctiveness benefit for produced items comes at no cost. Across four experiments, participants completed a 2AFC recognition test, an old–new recognition test or an immediate serial recall test. List length was also manipulated. Results show that although the production effect is larger at the last serial positions, the cross-over interaction between the production effect and serial position observed in recall was not present in recognition. These results suggest that task-related differences in the production effect may inform us about the modulation of basic memory processes by task demands.
Behavioral Experiments Online?
Authors: Böffel Christian , Meinardus Ruben Alajos
Published: October 2024

Abstract: Online experiments offer several advantages over traditional laboratory experiments. However, for reaction time experiments, precise stimulus presentation and response detection is crucial. The precision of online experiments could be compromised due to increased variance arising from varying hardware configurations among participants, lack of control over experimental conditions, and the absence of an examiner. In this study, we conducted an online experiment using the avatar-Simon task to investigate whether small differences in reaction times could be examined using online experiments conducted with the experimental toolkit PsyToolkit. In the avatar-Simon task, participants respond to the color of vertically presented stimuli in front of avatars by pressing a left or right button. Reactions are faster when the position of the stimulus, defined from the avatar’s point of view, matches the position of the response. Compared to the previous laboratory experiment, we observed lower effect sizes and more timeouts but were able to replicate the avatar-Simon effect overall. Based on further distributional and reliability analyses, PsyToolkit appears to be suitable tool to detect behavioral effects in the range of tens of milliseconds. We discuss differences and similarities with the original laboratory study and suggest how to address potential problems associated with online experiments.
Predictability of the 2020 Strong Vortex in the Antarctic Stratosphere and the Role of Ozone
Authors: Lim Eun‐Pa , Zhou Linjing , Young Griffith , Abhik S. , Rudeva Irina , Hope Pandora , Wheeler Matthew C. , Arblaster Julie M. , Hendon Harry H. , Manney Gloria L. , Son Seok‐Woo , Oh Jiyoung , Garreaud René D.
Published: October 2024

The Antarctic vortex of October–December 2020 was the strongest on record in the satellite era for the season in the mid‐ to lower stratosphere. However, it was poorly predicted by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's operational seasonal climate forecast system of that time, ACCESS‐S1, even at a short lead time of a month. Using the current operational forecast system, ACCESS‐S2, we have, therefore, tried to find a primary cause of the limited predictability of this event and conducted forecast sensitivity experiments to understand the potential role of ozone in the event and its associated anomalies of the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) and rainfall over south–eastern Australia and western Patagonia. Here, we show that the 2020 strong vortex event did not follow the canonical dynamical evolution seen in previous strong vortex events in spring but suddenly appeared as a result of the record‐low upward propagating wave activity in September 2020. The ACCESS‐S2 forecasts significantly underestimated the negative wave forcing in September even at zero lead time, irrespective of the ozone configuration, therefore falling short in predicting the record strength of the polar vortex in late spring 2020. Nevertheless, ACCESS‐S2 with prescribed realistic ozone that had large anomalies in the Antarctic stratosphere significantly better predicted the strong vortex and the subsequent positive SAM and related rainfall anomalies over south–eastern Australia and western Patagonia in the austral summer of 2020–21. This highlights the potentially important role of ozone variations for seasonal climate forecasting as a source of long‐lead predictability.
Phase II Study of Irinotecan, Trifluridine/tipiracil (TAS-102) plus Bevacizumab as a Later-line Therapy for Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (mCRC): a prospective single-center explorative study
Authors: Li Baoqi , Yang Wenwei , Liu Na , Bi Deying , Yang Tingting , Wu Guifu , Sun Yongkun
Published: October 2024

Purpose

To explore the efficacy and safety of the combination of irinotecan, trifluridine/tipiracil (TAS-102), and bevacizumab in a later‐line setting for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients.

Patients and methods

This was a single-center, phase II trial. The mCRC patients who are refractory to standard first-line and second-line treatment are eligible. Patients who previously received irinotecan while progressing during maintenance therapy are also eligible. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR).

Results

Between August 1, 2022, and September 30, 2023, 35 patients were enrolled, and 31 of them were evaluable for efficacy. The ORR was 25.8% (8/31), and the disease control rate (DCR) was 93.5% (29/31). As of April 30, 2024, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 9.2 months (95% CI 6.285-12.115), whereas the median overall survival (OS) was not reached with the 1-year OS rate of 73.5%. The most common grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events were neutropenia (34.3%), anemia (17.1%), and thrombocytopenia (8.6%).

Conclusion

Irinotecan, TAS-102 plus bevacizumab regimen preliminarily demonstrated promising efficacy with tolerable toxicity for mCRC patients as later‐line treatment. This regimen warrants further exploration in refractory mCRC patients.