bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Belowground plant traits and their ecosystem functions along aridity gradients in grasslands
Authors: Klimešová Jitka , Martínková Jana , Bartušková Alena , Ott Jacqueline P.
Published: March 2023

Ecosystem responses to environmental change are usually studied solely using aboveground (usually leaf) traits. However, belowground plant traits, such as fine roots and coarse belowground organs, likely play a crucial role in ecosystem response, especially under aridifcation. We conducted a literature survey on belowground plant traits along aridity gradients in temperate grasslands to propose which effect traits might be connected with abrupt vegetation changes that would occur with aridification due to environmental change. With increasing aridity, seasonal regeneration decreasingly relies on recruitment from the belowground bud bank and increasingly relies on regeneration from seeds. This leads to greater inter-annual variability in biomass production. Other belowground traits, such as bud bearing organs and fine root distribution in the soil, also shifts along the aridity gradient. As aridifcation begins, we propose that plants would become more conservative in their belowground traits producing lower amounts of belowground litter. Increasing aridifcation would lead to the loss of rhizomatous plants from the community and a prevalence of deep rooting plants leading to changes in soil resource utilization and increasing susceptibility to soil erosion. Under extreme aridification, perennial plants, except those with bulbs, would be lost from the community and replaced by annuals which produce low amounts of litter and use only ephemeral water resources in the upper soil layers. Belowground plant traits, such as belowground clonal growth organs, bud banks, and fine root distributions, may provide a more mechanistic understanding behind shifts in ecosystem functioning due to environmental change.
Assessing the Effect of Increased Deportations on Mexican Migrants’ Remittances and Savings Brought Home
Authors: Weber Rosa , Massey Douglas S.
Published: March 2023

Beginning in the 1990s and intensifying after the events of September 11, deportations in the United States increased to record levels under President Obama and continued at high levels under President Trump. Although a growing literature addresses how migrants respond to the shifting context of reception, empirical evidence on how migrants’ remitting and saving behavior changed as a result of immigration enforcement remains limited. Using detailed individual-level data from the Mexican Migration Project (MMP, N = 6787) for the years 1970–2019, this study examines how deportations relate to Mexican migrants’ joint decisions to remit and/or save, and how this relationship differs by documentation status. Results from multinomial logistic regressions reveal that rising deportations are associated with an increase in the transnational economic engagement of undocumented migrants. This is largely due to an increase in remittances; savings brought back decrease with rising deportations, likely because keeping savings in the United States is riskier than sending money back directly. Among documented migrants, the remitting and saving behavior does not appear to change as deportations rise. Analyzing these behaviors together is important to gain a more complete understanding of migrants’ transnational economic ties and links to the country of destination.
Configurational analysis of conditions influencing customers’ channel switching intention in omnichannel retailing: a fuzzy-set analysis
Authors: Van Nguyen Anh Thi , Halibas Alrence S. , McClelland Robert , Thuan Nguyen Hoang
Published: March 2023

This research examined the interplay among personal factors, namely channel lock-in, cross-channel synergy, attribute-based decision making (ADM); environmental factors, namely others’ past switching behaviour (OPB), pressure to switch from others (PSO); and behavioural factors, namely perceived self-efficacy and perception on facilitating conditions as antecedents to customers’ channel switching intention in an omnichannel context. Drawing on the complexity theory and set theory, we applied configurational analysis using the fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis. The result of the analysis indicated two (2) sufficient configurations that led to an intention to switch channels. Both configurations contained ADM, OPB, and PSO conditions that highlight the importance of personal factors and environmental factors needed for the presence of an intention to switch channels. However, no sufficient configurations were obtained that indicate an absence of intention to switch channels. This study challenges theoretical underpinnings by demonstrating that omnichannel channel-switching behaviours can be explained from a configurational perspective. The configurations produced by this study can serve as a basis for researchers who plan to conduct asymmetric modelling of customers' channel-switching behaviour in an omnichannel context. Finally, this paper suggests omnichannel retail strategies and management as informed by these configurations.
Relationship between secondary health conditions and life satisfaction in persons with spinal cord injury: study across twenty-one countries
Authors: Tasiemski Tomasz , Kujawa Jolanta , Tederko Piotr , Rubinelli Sara , Middleton James W. , Craig Ashley , Post Marcel W. M.
Published: March 2023

Purpose

To determine the relationships between impact of secondary health conditions (SHCs), treatment of SHCs, and life satisfaction (LS) following spinal cord injury (SCI) across 21 countries. Hypotheses were as follows: (1) Persons with SCI and fewer SHCs report higher LS and (2) Persons who receive treatment for SHCs report higher LS than those who do not receive treatment.

Methods

Cross-sectional survey, including 10,499 persons with traumatic or non-traumatic SCI aged 18 years or older and living in the community. To assess SHCs, 14 items adapted from the SCI-Secondary Conditions Scale were used (range 1–5). SHCs index was calculated as the mean of all 14 items. LS was assessed using a selection of 5 items from the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment. LS index was calculated as the mean of these 5 items.

Results

South Korea, Germany, and Poland exhibited the highest (2.40–2.93) and Brazil, China, and Thailand the lowest (1.79–1.90) impact of SHCs. Indexes for LS and SHCs were inversely correlated (– 0.418; p < 0.001). Mixed Model Analysis showed that the fixed effect (key predictors of the study) of SHCs index (p < 0.001) and the positive interaction between SHCs index and treatment (p = 0.002) were significant determinants of LS.

Conclusion

Persons with SCI across the world are more likely to perceive better LS if they experience fewer SHCs and receive treatment for SHCs, in comparison to those who do not. Prevention and treatment of SHCs following SCI should be a high priority in order to improve the lived experience and enhance LS.
Future Exploration of the Outer Heliosphere and Very Local Interstellar Medium by Interstellar Probe
Authors: Brandt P. C. , Provornikova E. , Bale S. D. , Cocoros A. , DeMajistre R. , Dialynas K. , Elliott H. A. , Eriksson S. , Fields B. , Galli A. , Hill M. E. , Horanyi M. , Horbury T. , Hunziker S. , Kollmann P. , Kinnison J. , Fountain G. , Krimigis S. M. , Kurth W. S. , Linsky J. , Lisse C. M. , Mandt K. E. , Magnes W. , McNutt R. L. , Miller J. , Moebius E. , Mostafavi P. , Opher M. , Paxton L. , Plaschke F. , Poppe A. R. , Roelof E. C. , Runyon K. , Redfield S. , Schwadron N. , Sterken V. , Swaczyna P. , Szalay J. , Turner D. , Vannier H. , Wimmer-Schweingruber R. , Wurz P. , Zirnstein E. J.
Published: March 2023

A detailed overview of the knowledge gaps in our understanding of the heliospheric interaction with the largely unexplored Very Local Interstellar Medium (VLISM) are provided along with predictions of with the scientific discoveries that await. The new measurements required to make progress in this expanding frontier of space physics are discussed and include in-situ plasma and pick-up ion measurements throughout the heliosheath, direct sampling of the VLISM properties such as elemental and isotopic composition, densities, flows, and temperatures of neutral gas, dust and plasma, and remote energetic neutral atom (ENA) and Lyman-alpha (LYA) imaging from vantage points that can uniquely discern the heliospheric shape and bring new information on the interaction with interstellar hydrogen. The implementation of a pragmatic Interstellar Probe mission with a nominal design life to reach 375 Astronomical Units (au) with likely operation out to 550 au are reported as a result of a 4-year NASA funded mission study.
Long-term monitoring confirms limitations of recruitment and facilitation and reveals unexpected changes of the successional pathways in a glacier foreland of the Central Austrian Alps
Authors: Erschbamer Brigitta , Niederfriniger Schlag Ruth , Carnicero Pau , Kaufmann Rüdiger
Published: March 2023

On a glacier foreland of the Central Austrian Alps, a permanent plot study was performed to investigate the successional pathway on two moraines. We expected that the pioneer stage deglaciated for 25 years will converge to an early successional stage after another 25 years and the early stage deglaciated for 40 years will show trends toward a late successional stage. Different dynamics of species occurrence such as colonization/persistence and cover increase/decrease, were anticipated. Twenty plots of 25 × 25 cm were established in 1996 on each successional stage by selecting vegetated and bare ground plots to account for impacts of facilitation on seedling recruitment. We expected seed and establishment limitations, therefore, also effects of sowing were studied on sown and control plots. Species enrichment occurred on all control and sown plots of both stages. However, the pioneer stage did not converge to an early successional stage as it was expected. On the early successional stage, only on sown plots a development toward a late successional stage was found. Bryophyta were the most efficient colonizers on all plots together with the lichenStereocaulon alpinumat the pioneer stage and the sown speciesAnthyllis vulnerariassp.alpicolaat the early successional stage. The pioneer speciesSaxifraga oppositifoliawas still present after 25 years on the pioneer and early successional stages, although its cover significantly decreased. We conclude that seed and establishment limitations, drought, facilitation deficits, and ageing of individuals are the essential drivers on the studied glacier foreland, creating ‘quasi-stationary’ communities.
Through Hawks’ Eyes: Synthetically Reconstructing the Visual Field of a Bird in Flight
Authors: Miñano Sofía , Golodetz Stuart , Cavallari Tommaso , Taylor Graham K.
Published: March 2023

Birds of prey rely on vision to execute flight manoeuvres that are key to their survival, such as intercepting fast-moving targets or navigating through clutter. A better understanding of the role played by vision during these manoeuvres is not only relevant within the field of animal behaviour, but could also have applications for autonomous drones. In this paper, we present a novel method that uses computer vision tools to analyse the role of active vision in bird flight, and demonstrate its use to answer behavioural questions. Combining motion capture data from Harris’ hawks with a hybrid 3D model of the environment, we render RGB images, semantic maps, depth information and optic flow outputs that characterise the visual experience of the bird in flight. In contrast with previous approaches, our method allows us to consider different camera models and alternative gaze strategies for the purposes of hypothesis testing, allows us to consider visual input over the complete visual field of the bird, and is not limited by the technical specifications and performance of a head-mounted camera light enough to attach to a bird’s head in flight. We present pilot data from three sample flights: a pursuit flight, in which a hawk intercepts a moving target, and two obstacle avoidance flights. With this approach, we provide a reproducible method that facilitates the collection of large volumes of data across many individuals, opening up new avenues for data-driven models of animal behaviour.
A Minimal Solution for Image-Based Sphere Estimation
Authors: Tóth Tekla , Hajder Levente
Published: March 2023

We propose a novel minimal solver for sphere fitting via its 2D central projection, i.e., a special ellipse. The input of the presented algorithm consists of contour points detected in a camera image. General ellipse fitting problems require five contour points. However, taking advantage of the isotropic spherical target, three points are enough to define the tangent cone parameters of the sphere. This yields the sought ellipse parameters. Similarly, the sphere center can be estimated from the cone if the radius is known. These proposed geometric methods are rapid, numerically stable, and easy to implement. Experimental results—on synthetic, photorealistic, and real images—showcase the superiority of the proposed solutions to the state-of-the-art methods. A real-world LiDAR-camera calibration application justifies the utility of the sphere-based approach resulting in an error below a few centimeters.
Applications of Explainable Artificial Intelligence in Finance—a systematic review of Finance, Information Systems, and Computer Science literature
Authors: Weber Patrick , Carl K. Valerie , Hinz Oliver
Published: March 2023

Digitalization and technologization affect numerous domains, promising advantages but also entailing risks. Hence, when decision-makers in highly-regulated domains like Finance implement these technological advances—especially Artificial Intelligence—regulators prescribe high levels of transparency, assuring the traceability of decisions for third parties. Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) is of tremendous importance in this context. We provide an overview of current research on XAI in Finance with a systematic literature review screening 2,022 articles from leading Finance, Information Systems, and Computer Science outlets. We identify a set of 60 relevant articles, classify them according to the used XAI methods and goals that they aim to achieve, and provide an overview of XAI methods used in different Finance areas. Areas like risk management, portfolio optimization, and applications around the stock market are well-researched, while anti-money laundering is understudied. Researchers implement both transparent models and post-hoc explainability, while they recently favored the latter.
Enzymatic post-treatment of ozonation: laccase-mediated removal of the by-products of acetaminophen ozonation
Authors: Schmiemann Dorothee , Hohenschon Lisa , Bartels Indra , Hermsen Andrea , Bachmann Felix , Cordes Arno , Jäger Martin , Gutmann Jochen Stefan , Hoffmann-Jacobsen Kerstin
Published: March 2023

Ozonation is a powerful technique to remove micropollutants from wastewater. As chemical oxidation of wastewater comes with the formation of varying, possibly persistent and toxic by-products, post-treatment of the ozonated effluent is routinely suggested. This study explored an enzymatic treatment of ozonation products using the laccase from Trametes versicolor. A high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS) analysis revealed that the major by-products were effectively degraded by the enzymatic post-treatment. The enzymatic removal of the by-products reduced the ecotoxicity of the ozonation effluent, as monitored by the inhibition of Aliivibrio fischeri. The ecotoxicity was more effectively reduced by enzymatic post-oxidation at pH 7 than at the activity maximum of the laccase at pH 5. A mechanistic HPLC-HRMS and UV/Vis spectroscopic analysis revealed that acidic conditions favored rapid conversion of the phenolic by-products to dead-end products in the absence of nucleophiles. In contrast, the polymerization to harmless insoluble polymers was favored at neutral conditions. Hence, coupling ozonation with laccase-catalyzed post-oxidation at neutral conditions, which are present in wastewater effluents, is suggested as a new resource-efficient method to remove persistent micropollutants while excluding the emission of potentially harmful by-products.

Graphical abstract
Mesoporous Ag-functionalized magnetic activated carbon-based agro-waste for efficient removal of Pb(II), Cd(II), and microorganisms from wastewater
Authors: Ali Omnia I. , Zaki Eman R. , Abdalla Mohga S. , Ahmed Saber M.
Published: March 2023

Herein, eco-friendly mesoporous magnetic activated carbon-based agro-waste nanosorbents incorporating antimicrobial silver nanoparticles (Mag@AC1-Ag and Mag@AC1-Ag) have been prepared. Various techniques (XRD, SEM/EDX, TEM, FTIR, and BET analysis) were employed to characterize the prepared nanosorbents before being utilized as novel nanosorbents to remove Pb+2 and Cd+2 ions. Mag@AC1-Ag and Mag@AC1-Ag exhibited rapid and excellent uptake of Pb+2 and Cd+2. The pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Langmuir isotherm are more suitable for the explanation of the experimental results. The thermodynamic parameters showed that the Pb+2 and Cd+2 sorption by the nanosorbents was a spontaneous and endothermic reaction. The prepared nanosorbents can be effectively regenerated using HCl and recycled up to the fifth cycle. These nanosorbents’ potential uses for eliminating Pb+2 and Cd+2 from real water samples were evaluated. Moreover, the results revealed that both Mag@AC1-Ag and Mag@AC2-Ag exhibited high antimicrobial activity against fecal coliform (gram-negative) and Bacillus subtilis (gram-positive).
Population growth of phosphine resistant and susceptible populations of Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (Coleoptera:Anobiidae) exposed to different temperatures and commodities
Authors: Sakka Maria K. , Athanassiou Christos G.
Published: March 2023

The aim of this work was to investigate the population growth of Lasioderma serricorne (F.) with two populations with different susceptibility to phosphine (one resistant and one susceptible). Population growth was recorded on different days (35 days, 50 days, 65 days, 80 days, 95 days, and 110 days) in two different commodities: (a) mixed food consisted of wheat flour (10 parts) + cornmeal (10 parts) + brewers’ yeast (1.5 parts) and (b) wheat flour. Our results clearly indicate that both populations preferred mixed food compared to wheat flour for all combinations tested. Moreover, the increase in temperature from 25 to 30 °C showed a positive effect in some combinations in the population growth of both populations. In general, we found some differences in the production of offspring between the susceptible and the resistant population. Based on the results of the present study, population growth may provide critical information for the fitness advantages or disadvantages of each population.
Managerial marketing and behavioral marketing: when myths about marketing management and consumer behavior lead to a misconception of the discipline
Authors: Bruhn Manfred , Gröppel-Klein Andrea , Kirchgeorg Manfred
Published: March 2023

Marketing has become accepted and proven in science and practice over the past decades. Many principles of marketing have become self-evident, but have led to gross generalizations and simplified thought patterns. This article examines myths and metaphors in marketing. A distinction is made between myths of managerial marketing and of behavioral marketing. In both sub-disciplines, we are often dealing with complex and invisible phenomena that occur in a variety of contexts. Attempts to explain these phenomena are therefore particularly prone to the emergence of myths or misconceptions. From a managerial perspective, topics such as the philosophy and leadership role of marketing, the generation of innovation success, the development of strategic competitive advantages, and brand management are reflected. Since the change from a sellers’ market to a buyers’ market, consumer behavior research and marketing have been closely intertwined. Therefore, findings from consumer behavior research form a central basis for successful decisions in marketing management. Based on this background, the second part of the article focuses on myths of consumer behavior research, here addressing unconscious phenomena in consumer behavior, mainly the discussion of subliminal priming (and its impact on manipulation) and unconscious perception as well as of unconscious motives, and approaches to implicite attitude measurement. Finally, implications are derived as to what extent the presented phenomena and the unveiling of myths have an impact on marketing management and on consumer behavior research and what roles these disciplines should take in the future. In the era of climate change and digital transformation, particular challenges are emerging. Thus, facts and not myths should determine the future path of the marketing discipline.
A consumer perspective on Corporate Digital Responsibility: an empirical evaluation of consumer preferences
Authors: Carl K. Valerie , Mihale-Wilson Cristina , Zibuschka Jan , Hinz Oliver
Published: March 2023

While digitalization offers numerous new possibilities for value creation, managers have to overcome a number of threats and obstacles that it harbors. In this context, the concept of Corporate Digital Responsibility (CDR) is of increasing interest to practitioners. Drawing on the well-established paradigm of Corporate Social Responsibility, CDR comprises a set of principles designed to encourage the ethical and conscientious development, adoption, and utilization of digital technologies. This work aims at contributing to the evolving research base by empirically assessing consumer preferences and a consumer segmentation approach with regard to companies’ concrete CDR activities, thus supporting the operationalization of CDR. Hence, this work provides concrete guidance for firms’ CDR activities in practice. To this end, a series of Best–Worst Scaling and dual response studies with a representative sample of 663 German-speaking participants assesses consumers’ perspectives on firms’ concrete (possible) activities within several CDR dimensions. Both DURE studies reveal the potential halo effect of data privacy and security activities on the perception of the CDR engagement at large, suggesting a more holistic approach to digital responsibilities. Besides, the findings reveal that in case of CDR one size does not fit all. Especially in terms of informational approaches, consumer preferences are rather heterogeneous suggesting that consumer segmentation is beneficial for companies. Additionally, the high importance of price for the consumers’ evaluation shows that it can be useful to offer a slimmed-down version in terms of CDR activities for more price-conscious consumers.
Red Alarm for Pre-trained Models: Universal Vulnerability to Neuron-level Backdoor Attacks
Authors: Zhang Zhengyan , Xiao Guangxuan , Li Yongwei , Lv Tian , Qi Fanchao , Liu Zhiyuan , Wang Yasheng , Jiang Xin , Sun Maosong
Published: March 2023

The pre-training-then-fine-tuning paradigm has been widely used in deep learning. Due to the huge computation cost for pre-training, practitioners usually download pre-trained models from the Internet and fine-tune them on downstream datasets, while the downloaded models may suffer backdoor attacks. Different from previous attacks aiming at a target task, we show that a backdoored pre-trained model can behave maliciously in various downstream tasks without foreknowing task information. Attackers can restrict the output representations (the values of output neurons) of trigger-embedded samples to arbitrary predefined values through additional training, namely neuron-level backdoor attack (NeuBA). Since fine-tuning has little effect on model parameters, the fine-tuned model will retain the backdoor functionality and predict a specific label for the samples embedded with the same trigger. To provoke multiple labels in a specific task, attackers can introduce several triggers with predefined contrastive values. In the experiments of both natural language processing (NLP) and computer vision (CV), we show that NeuBA can well control the predictions for trigger-embedded instances with different trigger designs. Our findings sound a red alarm for the wide use of pre-trained models. Finally, we apply several defense methods to NeuBA and find that model pruning is a promising technique to resist NeuBA by omitting backdoored neurons.
One-pot synthesis of N-doped carbon dots from microwave-irradiated egg white: application to raspberry ketone assay by photo-induced charge transfer fluorescence sensing
Authors: Abdelaal Sarah H. , El-Kosasy Amira M. , Abdelrahman Mona H.
Published: March 2023

In this article, we designed one-step economic eco-harmonious microwave-assisted procedure to prepare nitrogen-doped carbon dots. We selected egg white as a cheap glycoprotein-based carbon source without the assistance of any chemicals. The synthetic process requires only 3 min during which carbonization and nitrogen doping are realized at the same time. The fabricated carbon dots were characterized for particle size, structure and photoluminescence behaviour. The nanodots were amorphous carbon-rich naturally nitrogen-doped particles with plentiful attached hydrophilic functional groups. They had average particle size 2.98 ± 1.57 nm, emitted strong blue fluorescence and showed excitation-dependant emission behaviour. What is more, the practical use of this system for raspberry ketone determination in commercially available weight loss dietary supplement product is demonstrated successfully. In ethylene glycol medium, the addition of raspberry ketone enhances the emission intensity of the synthesized carbon dots. The effect of reaction time and solvent was investigated. After optimization, the intensity enhancement was linear to the amount of raspberry ketone added to the assay solution in the concentration range of 100–1000 ng/ml, with detection and quantitation limits of 15.10 and 45.45 ng/ml, respectively. The method was validated in accordance to International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines and further applied to raspberry ketone capsules showing excellent results.

Graphical abstract
HucMSC-EVs Facilitate In Vitro Development of Maternally Aged Preantral Follicles and Oocytes
Authors: Zhang Ying-Yi , Yang Weijie , Zhang Yi , Hu Zhanhong , Chen Yingyan , Ma Yerong , Yang Anran , Shi Zhan , Zhou Hanjing , Ren Peipei , Shi Libing , Jin Jiamin , Rong Yan , Tong Xiaomei , Zhang Yin-Li , Zhang Songying
Published: March 2023

Follicle developmental capacity and oocyte quality decline with advanced maternal age. Extracellular vesicles from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HucMSC-EVs) act as a potential therapeutic product in the treatment of age-related ovarian dysfunction. In vitro culture (IVC) of preantral follicles is a useful method for understanding the mechanism of follicle development and is a promising means for improving female fertility. However, whether HucMSC-EVs have beneficial effects on aged follicle development during IVC has not yet been reported. Our research demonstrated that follicular development with single-addition withdrawal of HucMSC-EVs was better than that with continuous treatment with HucMSC-EVs. HucMSC-EVs facilitated the survival and growth of follicles, promoted the proliferation of granulosa cells (GCs), and improved the steroid hormone secretion of GCs during IVC of aged follicles. Both GCs and oocytes could uptake HucMSC-EVs. Moreover, we observed elevated cellular transcription in GCs and oocytes after treatment with HucMSC-EVs. The RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) results further validated that the differentially expressed genes are related to the promotion of GC proliferation, cell communication, and oocyte spindle organization. Additionally, the aged oocytes displayed a higher maturation rate, presented less aberrant spindle morphology, and expressed a higher level of the antioxidant protein Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) after treatment with HucMSC-EVs. Our findings suggested that HucMSC-EVs can improve the growth and quality of aged follicles and oocytes in vitro through the regulation of gene transcription, which provides evidence for HucMSC-EVs as potential therapeutic reagents to restore female fertility with advanced age.

Graphical Abstract
Modeling cancer’s ecological and evolutionary dynamics
Authors: Bukkuri Anuraag , Pienta Kenneth J. , Hockett Ian , Austin Robert H. , Hammarlund Emma U. , Amend Sarah R. , Brown Joel S.
Published: March 2023

In this didactic paper, we present a theoretical modeling framework, called the G-function, that integrates both the ecology and evolution of cancer to understand oncogenesis. The G-function has been used in evolutionary ecology, but has not been widely applied to problems in cancer. Here, we build the G-function framework from fundamental Darwinian principles and discuss how cancer can be seen through the lens of ecology, evolution, and game theory. We begin with a simple model of cancer growth and add on components of cancer cell competition and drug resistance. To aid in exploration of eco-evolutionary modeling with this approach, we also present a user-friendly software tool. By the end of this paper, we hope that readers will be able to construct basic G function models and grasp the usefulness of the framework to understand the games cancer plays in a biologically mechanistic fashion.
TGF-β Activated Kinase 1 (TAK1) Is Activated in Microglia After Experimental Epilepsy and Contributes to Epileptogenesis
Authors: Khan Dilaware , Bedner Peter , Müller Julia , Lülsberg Fabienne , Henning Lukas , Prinz Marco , Steinhäuser Christian , Muhammad Sajjad
Published: March 2023

Increasing evidence suggests that inflammation promotes epileptogenesis. TAK1 is a central enzyme in the upstream pathway of NF-κB and is known to play a central role in promoting neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we investigated the cellular role of TAK1 in experimental epilepsy. C57Bl6 and transgenic mice with inducible and microglia-specific deletion of Tak1 (Cx3cr1CreER:Tak1fl/fl) were subjected to the unilateral intracortical kainate mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Immunohistochemical staining was performed to quantify different cell populations. The epileptic activity was monitored by continuous telemetric electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings over a period of 4 weeks. The results show that TAK1 was activated predominantly in microglia at an early stage of kainate-induced epileptogenesis. Tak1 deletion in microglia resulted in reduced hippocampal reactive microgliosis and a significant decrease in chronic epileptic activity. Overall, our data suggest that TAK1-dependent microglial activation contributes to the pathogenesis of chronic epilepsy.
Effective Fermentation of Sugarcane Bagasse Whole Slurries Using Robust Xylose-Capable Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Mokomele Thapelo , Brandt Bianca A. , Görgens Johann F.
Published: March 2023

The pre-treatment of lignocellulose material towards cellulosic bioethanol production releases microbial inhibitors that severely limit the fermentation ability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This study evaluated to what degree robust xylose-capable strains may improve the fermentability of non-detoxified sugarcane bagasse (SCB) slurries derived from steam explosion (StEX) and further compared this to slurries derived from ammonia fibre expansion (AFEX) pre-treatment. Initial screening in separate hydrolyses and co-fermentation processes using StEx-SCB hydrolysates identified S. cerevisiae TP-1 and CelluXTM4 with higher xylose consumption (≥ 88%) and ethanol concentrations (≥ 50 g/L), and ethanol metabolic yields (≥89% relative to theoretical maximum), even in the presence of approximately 8 g/L of acetic acid. Under industrially relevant pre-hydrolysis simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation (PSSCF) conditions of high solids loading (15%, w/w) and low enzyme dosage (8 mg protein per gram untreated biomass), the fermentation of StEx-treated SCB whole slurry achieved ethanol yields of 208 and 224 L per Mg raw dry SCB using S. cerevisiae TP-1 and CelluXTM4, respectively. Under the same solids loading and enzyme dosages, the PSSCF of ammonia fibre expansion (AFEXTM) pre-treated SCB achieved ethanol yields of 234 and 251 L per Mg raw dry SCB using TP-1 and CelluXTM4, respectively. The study achieved non-detoxified whole-slurry co-fermentation using StEx pre-treated SCB, with higher ethanol yields than previously reported, by utilising robust xylose-capable strains. The results of this work provide insights into the potential use of inhibitor-tolerant S. cerevisiae strains TP-1 and CelluXTM4 as ethanologens for the fermentation of steam-exploded and undetoxified SCB whole slurries.
Finite element model to simulate impact on a soft tissue simulant
Authors: Imam Syed Adil , Hughes Angus C. , Carré Matthew J. , Driscoll Heather , Winwood Keith , Venkatraman Prabhuraj , Allen Tom
Published: March 2023

A finite element model of an impact test on a soft tissue simulant, used as part of a shoulder surrogate, was developed in Ansys© LS-DYNA®. The surrogate consisted of a metal hemicylindrical core, with a diameter of 75 mm, covered with a 15 mm thick relaxed muscle simulant. The muscle simulant consisted of a 14 mm thick layer of silicone covered with 1 mm thick chamois leather to represent skin. The material properties of the silicone were obtained via quasi-static compression testing (curve fit with hyperelastic models) and compressive stress relaxation testing (curve fit with a Prony series). Outputs of the finite element models were compared against experimental data from impact tests on the shoulder surrogate at energies of 4.9, 9.8 and 14.7 J. The accuracy of the finite element models was assessed using four parameters: peak impact force, maximum deformation, impact duration and impulse. A 5-parameter Mooney-Rivlin material model combined with a 2-term Prony series was found to be suitable for modelling the soft tissue simulant of the shoulder surrogate. This model had under 10% overall mean deviation from the experimental values for the four assessment parameters across the three impact energies. Overall, the model provided a repeatable test method that can be adapted to help predict injuries to skin tissue and the performance/efficacy of personal protective equipment.
NL-EVDR: Netherlands—ExtraVascular Device Registry
Authors: Tjong Fleur V. Y. , Breeman Karel T. N. , Boersma Lucas V. A. , Yap Sing-Chien , van Erven Lieselot , van der Stoel Michelle D. , van Dijk Vincent F. , Maass Alexander H. , Knops Reinoud E. ,   NL-EVDR Working Group and NHR Device Registration Committee
Published: March 2023

Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) therapy is an essential element in treating cardiac arrhythmias. Despite their benefits, conventional transvenous CIEDs are associated with a significant risk of mainly pocket- and lead-related complications. To overcome these complications, extravascular devices (EVDs), such as the subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and intracardiac leadless pacemaker, have been developed. In the near future, several other innovative EVDs will become available. However, it is difficult to evaluate EVDs in large studies because of high costs, lack of long-term follow-up, imprecise data or selected patient populations. To improve evaluation of these technologies, real-world, large-scale, long-term data are of utmost importance. A Dutch registry-based study seems to be a unique possibility for this goal due to early involvement of Dutch hospitals in novel CIEDs and an existing quality control infrastructure, the Netherlands Heart Registration (NHR). Therefore, we will soon start the Netherlands—ExtraVascular Device Registry (NL-EVDR), a Dutch nationwide registry with long-term follow-up of EVDs. The NL-EVDR will be incorporated in NHR’s device registry. Additional EVD-specific variables will be collected both retrospectively and prospectively. Hence, combining Dutch EVD data will provide highly relevant information on safety and efficacy. As a first step, a pilot project has started in selected centres in October 2022 to optimise data collection.
Samen evalueren met de doelgroep: lessen uit de ontwikkeling van een participatief evaluatie-instrument
Authors: Huiberts Irma , Pellegrom Sanne , Collard Dorine , Singh Amika , van Hartingsveldt Margo , den Broeder Lea
Published: March 2023

Samenvatting

Bij het evalueren van gezondheidsbevordering is het van belang de beoogde doelgroep erbij te betrekken. In de praktijk wordt participatieve evaluatie echter nog onvoldoende ingezet. Om professionals te helpen de doelgroep bij de evaluatie te betrekken werd hiervoor in het kader van de JOGG-aanpak (Gezonde Jeugd, Gezonde Toekomst, voorheen: Jongeren Op Gezond Gewicht) een instrument ontwikkeld. Hoewel het samen met de JOGG-professionals is ontwikkeld, bleek dit instrument niet goed aan te sluiten bij hun behoeften. In dit artikel reflecteren we op hoe dit komt en delen we de geleerde lessen. Ongelijkwaardige samenwerking tussen onderzoekers en professionals heeft er aan bijgedragen dat praktijkbehoeften onvoldoende in het evaluatie-instrument zijn meegenomen. Daarnaast ervaren professionals zelf verschillende uitdagingen bij participatieve evaluatie, omdat de context waarin zij werken hen hierin onvoldoende faciliteert.
Cardiac dose in the treatment of synchronous bilateral breast cancer patients between three different radiotherapy techniques (VMAT, IMRT, and 3D CRT)
Authors: Salim Nidal , Popodko Alexey , Tumanova Kristina , Stolbovoy Alexandr , Lagkueva Irina , Ragimov Vadim
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Synchronous bilateral irradiation of both mammary glands and chest wall is a challenging task due to technical difficulties and limited evidence supporting an optimal technique to improve treatment outcomes. We studied and compared the dosimetry data of three radiotherapy techniques to select the most optimal one.

Methods

We compared three-dimensional conformal radiation treatment (3D CRT), intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) during irradiation of synchronous bilateral breast cancer in nine patients followed by examination of dose distribution to the cardiac conduction system (SA node, AV node and Bundle of His), myocardium, lungs, left anterior descending artery (LADA) and right coronary artery (RCA) .

Results

VMAT is the most sparing technique for SBBC treatment. Even though doses to the SA node, AV node and Bundle of His were higher with VMAT (Dmean were 3.75 ± 0.62, 2.58 ± 0.83 and 3.03 ± 1.18 Gy respectively) compared with 3D CRT (Dmean were 2.61 ± 0.66, 1.52 ± 0.38 and 1.88 ± 0.70 Gy respectively), this difference is statistically insignificant. Doses to the right and left lung (average Dmean = 12.65 ± 3.20 Gy, V20Gy = 24.12 ± 6.25%), myocardium (Dmean = 5.33 ± 1.51 Gy, V10Gy = 9.80 ± 3.83%, V20Gy = 7.19 ± 3.15%, V25Gy = 6.20 ± 2.93%), and LADA (Dmean = 10.04 ± 4.92 Gy, V20Gy = 18.17 ± 13.24% and V25Gy = 15.41 ± 12.19%) were highest with 3D CRT. The highest  Dmean in the cardiac conduction system (5.30 ± 2.23, 3.15 ± 1.61 and 3.89 ± 1.85 Gy respectively) was observed with IMRT, and a similar effect was noted in RCA (Dmean = 7.48 ± 2.11 Gy).

Conclusion

VMAT is the optimal and satisfactory radiation therapy technique for sparing organs at risk (OARs). With VMAT, a lower Dmean value was noted in the myocardium, LADA, and lungs. The use of 3D CRT significantly increases the dose of radiation reaching the lungs, myocardium, and LADA, which can subsequently cause cardiovascular and lung complications, but not in the cardiac conduction system.
Modeling variability of infiltration tests in ephemeral stream beds as a random function for uncertainty quantification
Authors: Niyazi Burhan , Masoud Milad , Elfeki Amro , Rajmohan Natarajan , Alqarawy Abdulaziz , Rashed Mohamed
Published: March 2023

Infiltration processes are highly variable in space and time, and therefore, building reliable hydrological models without considering the variability is questionable. In this research, we propose a methodology that can systematically handle the variability in the infiltration process. The methodology is based on the theory of random functions in a dimensionless formalism that allows the derivation of a generalized model from the observed infiltration test data. The Monte Carlo technique is utilized to generate hypothetical infiltration tests that carputer the characteristics of the real tests. The methodology is applied to a case study in ephemeral stream beds located in Al Madinah Al Munawarah Province in Saudi Arabia. The measurements are made by the double-ring infiltrometer. Beta distribution fits the dimensionless cumulative infiltration relatively well at a 1% significant level at all times, and therefore, it can be used to model the uncertainty in hydrological modeling. High variability is observed in infiltration tests at the early time (a platykurtic distribution with high dispersion); however, it decreases at the late time (Leptokurtic distribution with low dispersion) since the infiltration reaches a steady infiltration. Some extreme tests show different behavior from the fourteen tests that cannot be captured by the model and therefore need special treatment.
Sensitive analysis of meteorological data and selecting appropriate machine learning model for estimation of reference evapotranspiration
Authors: Adib Arash , Kalantarzadeh Seyed Shahab Oddin , Shoushtari Mohammad Mahmoudian , Lotfirad Morteza , Liaghat Ali , Oulapour Masoud
Published: March 2023

This study applies three methods, Gene Expression Programming (GEP), M5 tree (M5T) model and optimized Artificial Neural Network by Genetic Algorithm (ANN-GA) for estimation of reference evapotranspiration in Ahvaz and Dezful in the southwest of Iran. Comparison between results of the FAO Penman-Monteith (FPM) method and the mentioned three methods shows that ANN-GA with the Levenberg-Marquardt training method is the best method and the M5T model is the second appropriate method for estimation of reference evapotranspiration. In Ahvaz, R2 and RMSE of ANN-GA method are 0.996, 0.184 mm/day. For M5T method, these values are 0.997 and 0259 mm/day, and for GEP method, they are 0.979 and 0.521 mm/day. In Dezful, R2 and RMSE of ANN-GA method are 0.994, 0.235 mm/day. For M5T method, these values are 0.992 and 0265 mm/day, and for GEP method, they are 0.963 and 0.544 mm/day. In addition, sensitivity analysis shows that the maximum temperature is the most effective parameter, and the wind speed is second effective parameter. In Dezful, the effect of the maximum temperature is more than those of Ahvaz but the effect of wind speed is less than those of Ahvaz. Because Ahvaz is more flatter than Dezful (the movement of wind in Ahvaz is freer than those of Dezful). The third effective meteorological parameter is the average relative humidity in Ahvaz and the sunny hours in Dezful. The reason for this subject is the less distant of Ahvaz from the Persian Gulf (it is source of moisture).
Oncoplastic level II volume displacement surgery for breast cancer: oncological and aesthetic outcomes
Authors: Sparavigna Marco , Gipponi Marco , Carmisciano Luca , Franchelli Simonetta , Atzori Giulia , Cornacchia Chiara , Diaz Raquel , Murelli Federica , Depaoli Francesca , Friedman Daniele , Fregatti Piero
Published: March 2023

Oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery (OBCS) is increasingly used to treat breast cancer with the dual purpose of performing a radical oncological resection while minimizing the risk of post-operative deformities. The aim of the study was to evaluate the patient outcomes after Level II OBCS as regards oncological safety and patient satisfaction. Between 2015 and 2020, a cohort of 109 women consecutively underwent treatment for breast cancer with bilateral oncoplastic breast-conserving volume displacement surgery; patient satisfaction was measured with BREAST-Q questionnaire. The 5-year overall survival and disease-free survival were 97% (95%CI 92, 100) and 94% (95%CI 90, 99), respectively. In two patients (1.8%), mastectomy was finally performed due to margin involvement. The median patient-reported score for “satisfaction with breast” (BREAST-Q) was 74/100. Factors associated with a lower aesthetic satisfaction index included: location of tumour in central quadrant (p = 0.007); triple negative breast cancer (p = 0.045), and re-intervention (p = 0.044). OBCS represents a valid option in terms of oncological outcomes for patients otherwise candidate to more extensive breast conserving surgery; the high satisfaction index also suggests a superiority in terms of aesthetic outcomes.
The Metaverse: Surveillant Physics, Virtual Realist Governance, and the Missing Commons
Authors: McStay Andrew
Published: March 2023

This paper argues that there are value and design-based problems in current ambitions for the Metaverse. With the Metaverse deepening longstanding commercial surveillance practices, the paper focuses on data protection harms from biometric and emotion data, the gauging of first-person perspectives, and sensitivities around profiling of avatars. The paper advances two notions to address harms and data protection:surveillant physicsandvirtual realist governance.Surveillant physicsrefers to surveillance informing the laws of how that reality operates: this is a useful concept given the granular control that platforms have over virtual worlds and the laws by which they function.Virtual realist governancebuilds on the longstanding principle of virtual realism and David Chalmer’s recent theorising of Reality+ that demands that the virtual is taken to be real, meaning that experiences of virtual objects and what occurs in-world are treated as meaningful. The paper progresses to further consider governance questions, both around technical and ethical standards, but also data protection ideas such as personal data stores, and data trusts, that were not conceived as Metaverse-based ideas, but have greater chance of being realised as basic premises of the Metaverse are being designed. Although this paper is regretfully pessimistic, finding that a root problem of current ambitions for the Metaverse is that the public good and the commons are missing, it sees virtual realist scope for modes of resistance unseen in other digital realms.