bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Photoelectrocatalytic Utilization of CO2: A Big Show of Si‐based Photoelectrodes
Authors: Yu Jiacheng , Hao Xue , Mu Lixuan , Shi Wensheng , She Guangwei
Published: December 2023

CO2 is a greenhouse gas that contributes to environmental deterioration; however, it can also be utilized as an abundant C1 resource for the production of valuable chemicals. Solar‐driven photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) CO2 utilization represents an advanced technology for the resourcing of CO2. The key to achieving PEC CO2 utilization lies in high‐performance semiconductor photoelectrodes. Si‐based photoelectrodes have attracted increasing attention in the field of PEC CO2 utilization due to their suitable band gap (1.1 eV), high carrier mobility, low cost, and abundance on Earth. There are two pathways to PEC CO2 utilization using Si‐based photoelectrodes: direct reduction of CO2 into small molecule fuels and chemicals, and fixation of CO2 with organic substrates to generate high‐value chemicals. The efficiency and product selectivity of PEC CO2 utilization depends on the structures of the photoelectrodes as well as the composition, morphology, and size of the catalysts. In recent years, significant and influential progress has been made in utilizing Si‐based photoelectrodes for PEC CO2 utilization. This review summarizes the latest research achievements in Si‐based PEC CO2 utilization, with a particular emphasis on the mechanistic understanding of CO2 reduction and fixation, which will inspire future developments in this field.
A Novel Prediction‐Integration Forecasting System for Short Wind Speed Based on Combined Data Preprocessing Technique and Weight Determination Strategy
Authors: Wang Xuhui , An Yining , Wang Jianzhou , Shao Yuanyuan
Published: December 2023

Based on the advanced theory research of artificial intelligence and data analysis strategy, a multimodel‐integrated wind speed prediction system is designed in this study, which contains a combined data preprocessing technique, weight determination strategy, and uncertainty prediction. The proposed system not only eliminates the impact of noise but also integrates the results of individual prediction models based on a weight determination strategy. In addition, uncertainty prediction is used to quantify the uncertainty caused by point prediction. The experimental results show that: 1) the mean absolute percentage error values of the proposed model at Site 1 are about 1% and 2%, respectively, which outperform some common basic models such as back propagation neural network (about 7% and 9%). 2) At the significant level α = 0.05, the prediction interval coverage probability values of the proposed model at Site 1 are about 98% and 94%, respectively, for the uncertainty forecasting, which is significantly better than most traditional methods such as extreme learning machine (about 86% and 41%). It is reasonable to conclude that the proposed system is superior to the traditional model in accuracy and stability, which can be a powerful tool for power grid planning.
Optimizing chitosan‐enriched salicylic acid coating to extend the shelf‐life of fresh‐cut radishes using response surface methodology
Authors: Lv Ruoning , Zuo Changzhou , Tu Kang , Pan Leiqing , Liu Liwang , Peng Jing
Published: December 2023

Chitosan coating and salicylic acid are two widely used preserving methods for fruits and vegetables in postharvest storage, but very limited research can be found on the application of chitosan‐enriched salicylic acid (CS–SA) coating for fresh‐cut radishes. In this study, three variables (chitosan, salicylic acid, and immersion time) and two responses (whiteness and total bacterial count) were employed to optimize CS–SA process for fresh‐cut radishes using response surface methodology. The results showed that the optimal coating process for fresh‐cut radishes was 1.0% chitosan and 1.0 mM salicylic acid for 1.8 min. The effects of the optimal CS–SA process on the major storage quality and shelf‐life of fresh‐cut radishes were also investigated. Results indicated that CS–SA effectively delayed the decrease of whiteness, firmness, ascorbic acid, and total phenolic content in fresh‐cut radishes during storage. Meanwhile, CS–SA significantly inhibited the microbial growth and extended the shelf‐life of fresh‐cut radishes up to 12 days, much longer than those of non‐ or NaClO‐treated ones with 6 and 8 days, respectively. This study suggests that CS–SA is an efficient alternative for the preservation of fresh‐cut radish products, and the underlying regulation mechanism of CS–SA on delaying browning and microbial growth is worth further exploration.
Biomass‐based lateral root morphological parameter models for rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)
Authors: Zhang Wei‐xin , Wu Qian , Sun Chuan‐liang , Ge Dao‐kuo , Cao Jing , Liang Wan‐jie , Yin Ying‐jun , Li Hong , Cao Hong‐xin , Zhang Wen‐yu , Li Bai‐ming , Xin Yu‐kai
Published: December 2023

Lateral roots, including adventitious roots, are the main component of rapeseed roots with support, absorb, and synthesis functions and their morphological parameters directly affecting the plant's aboveground growth and yield. Root biomass, as a material base for lateral root growth, can be used as a link between plant phenotypes and their physiological processes, as well as to enhance root 3D growth model mechanisms and accuracy. To quantify the relationships between lateral root morphological indices and the corresponding organ biomass for rapeseed, we used two cultivars, NY 22 (conventional) and NZ 1818 (hybrid), and conducted cultivar and fertilizing cylindrical tube experiments during the 2016–2019, with two fertilizer levels, no fertilizer, and 180 kg N ha−1 fertilizer. The lateral root biomass and morphological parameters were determined during the whole growth period. The biomass‐based lateral root morphological parameter models were developed by analyzing the quantitative relationship between the lateral root morphological indices and their corresponding biomass, and the descriptive models were verified with independent experimental data. The results showed that the correlation (r) of simulated and observed values for the lateral root morphological parameters are all greater than 0.9 with significant levels at p < 0.001. The absolute values of the average absolute difference (da) of simulated and observed values for the lateral root length (LLR), lateral root average diameter (ADLR), lateral root surface area (SALR), and lateral root volume (VLR) are −30.408 cm, −0.003 mm, 12.902 cm2, and 0.039 cm3, respectively. The RMSE values are 175.183 cm, 0.010 mm, 59.710 cm2, and 1.513 cm3, respectively. The ratio of da to the average observed values (dap) for the LLR and VLR are all less than 5%, and the ADLR and SALR are all <6%. The models developed in this paper have good performance and reliability for predicting lateral root morphological parameters of rapeseed. The study provides a mechanistic method for linking the rapeseed growth model with the morphological model using corresponding organic biomass and laying a good foundation for establishing a 3D morphological model for rapeseed root system based on biomass.
Tissue distribution and pharmacokinetics of isoxanthohumol from hops in rodents
Authors: Mukai Rie , Hata Natsumi
Published: December 2023

Vegetables and fruits contain prenylflavonoids with biological functions that might improve human health. The prenylflavonoid isoxanthohumol (IXA) and its derivative, 8‐prenylnaringenin (8‐PN), have beneficial activities, including anti‐cancer effects and suppression of insulin resistance. However, their pharmacokinetic profile is unclear. Previous studies suggested flavonoids have low systemic availability and are excreted via the feces. Therefore, this study investigated the tissue distribution dynamics of high‐purity IXA (>90%) from hops administered orally, either singly (50 mg/kg body weight [BW]) or daily for 14 days (30 mg/kg BW), to mice. High‐pressure liquid chromatography demonstrated that IXA was absorbed rapidly after a single administration and reached plasma maximum concentration (Cmax) (3.95 ± 0.81 μmol/L) by 0.5 h. IXA was present at high levels in the liver compared with the kidney, pancreas, lung, skeletal muscle, spleen, thymus, and heart. The highest IXA level after 14 days of IXA ingestion was observed in the liver, followed by the kidney, thymus, spleen, lung, and brain. There was no significant difference in IXA accumulation in tissues between the single and multiple dose groups. Analyses of the livers of rats treated with different concentrations of IXA (112.5–1500 mg/kg BW) once a day for 28 days demonstrated that IXA accumulated dose‐dependently with a correlation coefficient of .813. The accumulation of 8‐PN was dependent on the intake period but not the intake amount of IXA (correlation coefficient −.255). In summary, IXA and 8‐PN were detected in tissues and organs up to 24 h after ingestion, suggesting that orally ingested IXA might have health benefits as a nutraceutical.
Changes in food quality and characterization under thermal accumulation conditions during Chinese cooking
Authors: Zhang Mingzan , Yang Yun , Zhang Hongwen , Li Cuiqin , He Laping , Deng Li
Published: December 2023

Chinese cooking is the primary treatment method for table food in China. The process is complex and large‐scale, which is important to the macroeconomy and national nutrition and health. First, this article puts forward the concept of thermal accumulation for Chinese cooking by taking pork tenderloin fried at different oil temperatures, explaining changes in moisture content, hardness, and color with different thermal accumulation conditions, and measuring kinetic parameters. The variations of L* and b* obtained by the experimental results belong to the first‐order reaction kinetic model, while the changes in water content and shear force belong to the zero‐order reaction kinetic model. Simultaneously, the superheat value is used as a thermal accumulation indicator, combined with sensory evaluation to determine that the Z value of the human sensory overheating of pork tenderloin is 99°C, and Os,max (Z = 99°C, the reference temperature is 110°C) is 5.86 min.
Laser constructed bulk oxygen vacancy caused high P doping for boosting the sodium‐storage capability
Authors: Li Zhimeng , Huang Man , Chang Bin , Ge Jinyu , Xin Di , Jiang Di , Liu Hong , Zhou Weijia
Published: December 2023

Defect‐assisted heteroatom doping can effectively enhance the intrinsic transfer characteristics of carriers in the crystal structure, which advantages over fast and efficient charge storage. In this work, a three‐dimensional self‐supporting titanium dioxide nanoparticle rich in bulk vacancies (L‐TiOx) on titanium substrate is synthesized by pulsed laser. Different from the surface vacancies, the bulk oxygen defects of L‐TiOx cause a uniform and bulk phosphorus (P) doping with a high concentration of ~5.71 at %, which endows the elevated electronic conductivity, and accelerates the transport of Na+. The obtained P‐doped L‐TiOx (LP‐TiOx) as an anode material in sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) provides a reversible capacity of 400 mAh g−1 at 200 mA g−1, outstanding rate capability of 196 mAh g−1 at 10,000 mA g−1, and maintains stable performance over 1000 cycles. In situ X‐ray diffraction and ex situ high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy show that LP‐TiOx exhibits robust mechanical behavior with almost no lattice change under (de)sodiation. This work supplies a novel idea for high‐concentration bulk heteroatoms doping to enhance the electrochemical performance of SIBs.
AFIS Report on Challenges for the Near Future
Authors: Alix Christophe , Garnier Jean‐Luc , Le Mouëllic Mikael , Alt Laurent , Vingerhoed Rob , Bouyaud Mickaël
Published: December 2023

Systems engineering shall adapt itself with the changes of the world. System engineering communities like (AFIS 2022) and (INCOSE 2021) have been developing their visions with the identification of needs that systems engineering shall integrate to address new challenges. The systems engineering discipline shall be now considered at the enterprise level and be included in the governance of the project. Systems engineering and system thinking shall be deployed on all layers of the organization and horizontally to ensure the consistency the definition, production, and all phases of the lifecycle of the system within all involved organizations. The future is paved with unknowns. Systems engineering can integrate new methodologies, new posture to complete its analytical based tools to better face new kinds of complexity. These new challenges are often due to the reallocation of functions and responsibilities between human and machine in the context of autonomous systems. These collaborative socio‐technical systems induce new questions for systems engineering which needs to integrate new domain of skills and interacts with new disciplines from the soft sciences.
Understanding the Indirect Effects of Interactive Systems Within Systems of Systems
Authors: Bornes Laetitia , Letondal Catherine , Vingerhoeds Rob
Published: December 2023

Until recently, research into the sustainable design of interactive systems has primarily focused on the direct material impact of a system, through improving its energy efficiency and optimizing its lifecycle. Yet the way a system is designed and marketed often has wider repercussions, such as rebound effects, and systemic change in practices. These effects are harder to assess (and to anticipate) than the direct physical impact of the construction and use of the system itself. Current tools are unable to account for the complexity of these effects: the underlying causal mechanisms, their multi‐level nature, their different temporalities, and the variety of their consequences (environmental and societal). This is why we are seeking to develop a specific methodology and tool, inspired by systemic design and system dynamics. These are intended for decision‐makers and designers of interactive systems within systems of systems (for example, in the fields of agricultural robotics or public transportation). In this paper, we present this modeling approach and our prototype tool through the example of a second‐hand clothing sales platform.
WONKA: An Ontology‐Aided Model‐Based Systems Engineering Analysis for Early V&V on Heterogeneous Systems and Applications
Authors: Delabeye Romain , Penas Olivia , Plateaux Régis
Published: December 2023

This research is undertaken as part of the EU‐funded EnerMan project aiming at improving the energy sustainability of manufacturing systems. In such a large project, with 22 partners over 10 countries, a first challenge addresses the collaborative design of an energy management system (EnMS) for the improvement of energy sustainability, while offering the flexibility and agility necessary for the diversity of the industrial cases studied and the partners involved. In a second stage, industrial use cases are generally too constrained to easily proceed to the verification and validation (V&V) of the scientific approaches tackling their challenges. In this context, our research contributions consist of methodologies and automated approaches to: (i) ensure the consistent collaborative integrability of developments, in a sustainable manufacturing context, and (ii) perform the verification and validation of such contributions on multiple systems, assessing their scalability on heterogeneous systems, environments, and missions in a V&V context.
Purification, identification and molecular docking of dual‐functional peptides derived from corn protein hydrolysates with antioxidant and antiadhesive activity against Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Li Guanlong , Liu Xiaolan , Miao Zhengfei , Fu Jinshuang , Zheng Xiqun
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND

More than 50% of the world's population is infected with Helicobacter pylori, which is classified as a group I carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO).

RESULTS

Corn protein dual‐functional peptides were identified and functionally analyzed in vitro and in silico. Two novel dual‐functional peptides were identified as Cys‐Gln‐Asp‐Val‐Pro‐Leu‐Leu (CQDVPLL, CQ7) and Thr‐Ile‐Phe‐Pro‐Gln‐Cys (TIFPQC, TI6) using nanoscale liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (nano‐LC–MS/MS). The antiadhesive effects against H. pylori of CQ7 and TI6 were 45.17 ± 2.41% and 48.62 ± 1.84% at 4 mg mL−1, respectively. In silico prediction showed that CQ7 and TI6 had good physicochemical properties. Molecular docking demonstrated that CQ7 and TI6 could bind to the adhesins BabA and SabA by hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds, preventing H. pylori infection. Moreover, CQ7 showed strong antioxidant activity due to its unique amino acid composition.

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrated that the identified peptides, CQ7 and TI6, possess antioxidant and antiadhesive effects, preventing H. pylori infection and alleviating oxidative injury to the gastric mucosa. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Ultrasound Combined With Continuous Microbubble Injection to Enhance Catheter‐Directed Thrombolysis in Vitro and in Vivo
Authors: Feng Shuang , Wang Shan , Tang Jiawei , Zhu Xiansheng
Published: December 2023

Objectives

To investigate the influence of microbubble perfusion mode on catheter‐directed thrombolysis (CDT), we evaluated the effect of two different types of microbubble perfusion modes (continuous injection versus bolus injection) on the thrombolytic efficacy of CDT in vitro and further assessed the effect of continuous microbubble injection on CDT in vivo.

Methods

In an in vitro experimental setup, 50 fresh bovine whole blood clots were randomized into five groups: ultrasound and continuous microbubble injection‐enhanced CDT (US + cMB + CDT), ultrasound and bolus microbubble injection‐enhanced CDT (US + bMB + CDT), US + CDT, US + cMB, and CDT. In a porcine femoral vein thrombosis model, 16 completely obstructive thrombi were randomly assigned to the CDT group and the US + cMB + CDT group, respectively. Thrombolysis rate, vascular recanalization rate, hematoxylin–eosin, and immunofluorescence staining were used to evaluate the thrombolytic effect in vitro and in vivo.

Results

In vitro, US + cMB + CDT group resulted in a significantly higher thrombolysis rate compared with the other four groups (P < .05). Meanwhile, this group also demonstrated a looser clot structure and more disrupted fibrin structures. In vivo, US + cMB + CDT contributed to a significantly higher vascular recanalization rate compared with CDT (87.50% versus 25.00%, P < .05).

Conclusions

US + cMB + CDT was more effective than US + bMB + CDT in thrombolysis, and ultrasound combined with continuous microbubble injection could enhance the thrombolytic efficacy of CDT.
A broadband mono‐cone antenna employing a shorted parasitic ring and parasitic metal pillars
Authors: Zhang Xiao Hong , Yu Weiliang , Luo Guo Qing
Published: December 2023

This letter proposes a broadband mono‐cone antenna with a shorted parasitic ring and parasitic metal pillars. Four parasitic metal pillars expand the high‐frequency operation band, while a shorted parasitic ring increases the current flow path and expands the low‐frequency operation band. A 148.3% impedance bandwidth for VSWR ≤ 2 from 0.831 to 5.6 GHz is attained. The antenna has stable radiation performance across the entire operation spectrum. The simulated and measured results show a good agreement. It is exceptionally compatible with GSM900, DCS1800, PCS1900, UMTS, IMT2000, WiBro, WiMAX2350/3500, LPWAN, wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11b), and a portion of the WLAN/Wi‐Fi frequency spectrum. Indoor applications such as wireless energy collection, partial discharge detection, and so on are possible for the proposed antenna.
Technical note: Commissioning of a linear accelerator producing ultra‐high dose rate electrons
Authors: Cetnar Ashley J. , Jain Sagarika , Gupta Nilendu , Chakravarti Arnab
Published: December 2023

Background

Ultra‐high dose rate radiation (UHDR) is being explored by researchers in promise of advancing radiation therapy treatments.

Purpose

This work presents the commissioning of Varian's Flash Extension for research (FLEX) conversion of a Clinac to deliver UHDR electrons.

Methods

A Varian Clinac iX with the FLEX conversion was commissioned for non‐clinical research use with 16 MeV UHDR (16H) energy. This involved addition of new hardware, optimizing the electron gun voltages, radiofrequency (RF) power, and steering coils in order to maximize the accelerated electron beam current, sending the beam through custom scattering foils to produce the UHDR with 16H beam. Profiles and percent depth dose (PDD) measurements for 16H were obtained using radiochromic film in a custom vertical film holder and were compared to 16 MeV conventional electrons (16C). Dose rate and dose per pulse (DPP) were calculated from measured dose in film. Linearity and stability were assessed using an Advanced Markus ionization chamber.

Results

Energies for 16H and 16C had similar beam quality based on PDD measurements. Measurements at the head of the machine (61.3 cm SSD) with jaws set to 10×10 cm2 showed the FWHM of the profile as 7.2 cm, with 3.4 Gy as the maximum DPP and instantaneous dose rate of 8.1E5 Gy/s. Measurements at 100 cm SSD with 10 cm standard cone showed the full width at half max (FWHM) of the profile as 10.5 cm, 1.08 Gy as the maximum DPP and instantaneous dose rate of 2.E5 Gy/s. Machine output with number of pulses was linear (R = 1) from 1 to 99 delivered pulses. Output stability was measured within ±1% within the same session and within ±2% for daily variations.

Conclusions

The FLEX conversion of the Clinac is able to generate UHDR electron beams which are reproducible with beam properties similar to clinically used electrons at 16 MeV. Having a platform which can quickly transition between UHDR and conventional modes (<1 min) can be advantageous for future research applications.
Vibration control for the solar panels of spacecraft: Innovation methods and potential approaches
Authors: Li Dongxu , Liu Wang
Published: December 2023

Solar panels on spacecraft are typical kinds of flexible structures. Low‐frequency and large‐amplitude vibrations usually occur due to the inevitable disturbances of deployment impact, attitude/orbit maneuver, separation/docking impact, and so forth. These vibrations degrade the stability of the spacecraft platform, leading to a reduction in imaging quality and pointing direction accuracy. Vibration control is obligatory during flight missions. Here, we summarize the researches on vibration control of the solar panels. First, typical solar panels used in spacecraft and the specific difficulties in dynamic modeling and control design are introduced. Next, the researches on dynamic modeling methods, decentralized vibration control strategy, and in‐orbit vibration controller design technologies are presented sequentially. Finally, a practical example where our method was successfully applied in‐orbit is described. In conclusion, the theories, methods, and technologies presented in this review hold significant value for achieving high‐precision performance in large spacecraft.
Mononuclear cell therapy of neonatal hypoxic‐ischemic encephalopathy in preclinical versus clinical studies: A systematic analysis of therapeutic efficacy and study design
Authors: Scrutton Alexander M. , Ollis Francesca , Boltze Johannes
Published: December 2023

Background

Hypoxic‐ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a devastating condition affecting around 8.5 in 1000 newborns globally. Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) can reduce mortality and, to a limited extent, disability after HIE. Nevertheless, there is a need for new and effective treatment strategies. Cell‐based treatments using mononuclear cells (MNCs), which can be sourced from umbilical cord blood, are currently being investigated. Despite promising preclinical results, there is currently no strong indicator for the clinical efficacy of the approach. This analysis aimed to provide potential explanations for this discrepancy.

Methods

A systematic review and meta‐analysis were conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis guidelines. Preclinical and clinical studies were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and clinicaltrials.gov using a predefined search strategy. A total of 17 preclinical and 7 clinical studies were included. We analyzed overall MNC efficacy in preclinical trials, the methodological quality of preclinical trials, and relevant design features in preclinical versus clinical trials.

Results

There was evidence for MNC therapeutic efficacy in preclinical models of HIE. The methodological quality of preclinical studies was not optimal, and statistical design quality was particularly poor. However, methodological quality was above the standard in other fields. There were significant differences in preclinical versus clinical study design including the use of TH as a baseline treatment (only in clinical studies) and much higher MNC doses being applied in preclinical studies.

Conclusions

Based on the analyzed data, it is unlikely that therapeutic effect size is massively overestimated in preclinical studies. It is more plausible that the many design differences between preclinical and clinical trials are responsible for the so far lacking proof of the efficacy of MNC treatments in HIE. Additional preclinical and clinical research is required to optimize the application of MNC for experimental HIE treatment.
Selective exercise of discretion in disability insurance awards
Authors: Garcia‐Gomez Pilar , Koning Pierre , O'Donnell Owen , Riumalló‐Herl Carlos
Published: December 2023

Variation in assessor stringency in awarding benefits leaves applicants exposed to uninsured risk that could be systematic if discretion were exercised selectively. Using administrative data on disability insurance (DI) applications in the Netherlands, we show that even in one of the most rule‐based DI programs, there is still between assessor variation in awards, and there is systematic variation in assessment across applicants. Discretion is exercised in favor of lower‐wage applicants relatively more than it is used to benefit higher‐wage applicants. This is evident indirectly from downward discontinuities in pre‐disability wages just above benefit entitlement thresholds and directly from wage‐related differences in the extent to which assessors intervene in the semi‐automated calculation of earnings capacity. While lower‐wage applicants benefit on average, they are exposed to greater risk from between assessor variation in the exercise of discretion. Rule‐based disability evaluation can reduce, but not eliminate, between‐applicant variation in awards.
Global burden trends of MAFLD‐related liver cancer from 1990 to 2019
Authors: Huang Hangkai , Liu Zhening , Xu Miao , Chen Yishu , Xu Chengfu
Published: December 2023

Aims

Metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has become a serious public health challenge and is a cause of liver cancer. Reports on the global epidemiology of MAFLD‐related liver cancer remain limited. This study aimed to estimate the global burden trends of MAFLD‐related liver cancer between 1990 and 2019.

Methods

We estimated the numbers of global incident cases, deaths, and disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs) of MAFLD‐related liver cancer by analyzing data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. We also analyzed the trends and regional and national differentials of MAFLD‐related liver cancer. Finally, we investigated the influential factors for the trends in MAFLD‐related liver cancer.

Results

Globally, there were 36,340 (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 29,490–44,860) incident cases, 34,730 (95% UI: 28,390–43,180) deaths, and 795,810 (95% UI: 657,290–975,790) DALYs of MAFLD‐related liver cancer in 2019, representing increases of 205%, 195%, and 166% compared with 1990, respectively. The age‐standardized incidence, mortality, and DALY rates per 100,000 population in 2019 were 0.44, 0.43, and 9.64, respectively. The most pronounced increases in incidence, deaths, and DALYs were consistently observed in countries with a high sociodemographic index. Increasing trends were noted in these three measures since 2005, and the trends were much greater in men than in women.

Conclusions

MAFLD‐related liver cancer poses a substantial global burden that continues to grow. Undesirable trends were observed in countries with a high sociodemographic index.
Evolutionary Algorithms for Multi‐Center Solutions
Authors: Rawash Sami , Turton David
Published: December 2023

Large classes of multi‐center supergravity solutions have been constructed in the study of supersymmetric black holes and their microstates. Many smooth multi‐center solutions have the same charges as supersymmetric black holes, with all centers deep inside a long black‐hole‐like throat. These configurations are constrained by regularity, absence of closed timelike curves, and charge quantization. Due to these constraints, constructing explicit solutions with several centers in generic arrangements, and with all parameters in physically relevant ranges, is a hard task. In this work, an optimization algorithm, based on evolutionary algorithms and Bayesian optimization is presented, that systematically constructs numerical solutions satisfying all constraints. Explicit examples of novel five‐center and seven‐center machine‐precision solutions are exhibited.
Leveraging epoch‐era analysis and digital twin for effective system concept and execution: A CO2$_2$ storage salt‐cave project
Authors: Vieira Daniel P. , Fonseca Ícaro A. , Nishimoto Kazuo , Assi Gustavo R. S. , Gaspar Henrique M. , Rhodes Donna H.
Published: December 2023

With the demand to reduce the release of CO‐rich gases into the atmosphere, the offshore industry is turning to systems for gas capture and storage. The construction of a cave for that purpose is planned in the salt layer of the Santos Basin, Brazil; however, numerous factors bring uncertainties to the project. We propose combining systems engineering methods and digital twin technology to enable system concept and execution aiming at value robustness. The system is modeled in mission, subsystems, components, and design attributes. System utilities and costs are estimated for a range of viable solutions based on the relevance of each attribute to the stakeholders. The alternatives are evaluated using the Epoch‐Era Analysis framework for analyzing the system's performance over time in changing future scenarios. The system model also outlines a digital twin concept and identifies how it might support salt cave design and operations. Finally, the potential of tuning and improving system evaluation based on gathered data is examined, and measures toward further digital twin development are recommended.
Design and Implementation of IoT Based Rivers Monitoring System
Authors: Abdulbaqi Alaa Ghazi , Hashim Yasir
Published: December 2023

Water is the most essential element for human life after air, hence the amount and quality of water resources must be monitored by the appropriate government agencies. The goal of this research is to create and implement an IoT‐based rivers monitoring prototype system. Two basic components make up the proposed system: the first component represents the node points, and the second component represents the control point. In order to achieve continuous updates of the information via Internet from the node side, ESP32 with its built‐in Wi‐Fi adapter was utilized. The node should pinpoint three major situations, Normal, High. and Low of river water, and then transfer it using IoT to the control point to take an action depending on conditions at the river. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Accuracy and diagnostic performance of the Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology in a tertiary endocrine surgical referral center in Belgium
Authors: Kinet Sam , Cornette Hendrik , Van Den Heede Klaas , Brusselaers Nele , Van Slycke Sam
Published: December 2023

Background

The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology is a commonly used classification for fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology of suspicious thyroid nodules. The risk of malignancy (ROM) for each category has recently been analyzed in three international databases. This paper compares the diagnostic performance of the Bethesda classification in a high‐volume referral center in Belgium.

Methods

All consecutive thyroid procedures were registered in a prospective database from January 2010 till August 2022. Patient and surgical characteristics, preoperative Bethesda categories, and postoperative pathology results were analyzed.

Results

Out of 2219 consecutive thyroid procedures, 1226 patients underwent preoperative FNA. Papillary thyroid cancer was the most prevalent malignancy (N = 119, 70.4%), followed by follicular (N = 17, 10.1%) and medullary thyroid cancer (N = 15, 8.9%). Micropapillary thyroid cancer was incidentally found in 46 (3.8%) patients. Bethesda categories I, II, III, IV, V, and VI, respectively, represented 250 (20.4%; ROM 4.4%), 546 (44.5%; ROM 3.8%), 96 (7.8%; ROM 20.8%), 231 (18.8%; ROM 15.2%), 62 (5.1%; ROM 72.6%), and 41 (3.3%; ROM 90.2%) patients. Overall ROM was 13.8%. An negative predictive value (NPV) of 96.2% was found. Overall specificity was 64.2% with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 31.9%. Diagnostic accuracy was 67.8%. Compared to international databases (CESQIP, EUROCRINE, and UKRETS), ROM in this study appeared lower for Bethesda category IV (15.2 vs. 26.7% and p = 0.612).

Conclusion

Despite being validated in numerous studies, ROM based on preoperative FNA cytology classified according to the Bethesda classification may vary among surgical centers and countries as this study reveals a higher NPV and lower PPV.
The Main Indicators of Gender (in)Equality
Authors: di Bella Enrico , Suter Christian
Published: December 2023

The topic of gender (in)equality is increasingly at the centre of international debate due to its numerous implications on our society’s socioeconomic context. Indeed, gender equality is one of the determinants of economic growth, human capital development, and more generally, a sustainable development model (Kabeer & Natali, 2013; Moorhouse, 2017; Profeta, 2017; Maceira, 2017). Several initiatives have been undertaken at the international level to support greater gender equality. In 2015, the W20 group was established at the summit of the world’s top 20 economies (G20) with the primary objective of empowering women by ensuring that they play a prominent role in the G20 process. Another noteworthy initiative was the inclusion of gender equality among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (Goal #5) identified by the UN in Resolution A/RES/70/1 on 25 September 2015:
Comparative Analysis of Regional Gender Disparities
Authors: Fachelli Sandra , López-Roldán Pedro
Published: December 2023

The analysis of gender equality at country level is a key information tool to assess the impact of gender policies as well as the trends of change over time regarding this social reality. In this chapter we would like to deepen this type of analysis by investigating at the regional level (NUTS2) to what extent differentiated behaviour can be observed within each country. We have chosen Italy, Spain and France as case study, covering a total of 62 regions, to analyse gender equality with the different indicators proposed in the GEI and to be able to observe what particularities emerge from a disaggregated territorial analysis, essential for the development of local gender policies. We carried out two types of analysis: a) the construction of the index and the analysis of the six main domains that define the measure: Work, Money, Time, Power, Knowledge and Health, with the aim of typifying the regions analysed, showing specific structures and dynamics that allow us to enrich the conclusions of the analyses; b) to relate the results obtained in the RGEI to elements linked to other indicators of economic, social, cultural, political and demographic development. The relevance of this analysis is inscribed in the importance of the persistent regional disparities observed in Europe. Monitoring these regional gender differences is essential in order to identify processes of convergence (or divergence) that are urgently needed and for the evaluation and implementation of policies at regional level.
Gender-Responsive Regional Policies: Gender Budgeting
Authors: Bonazzi Leda Maria
Published: December 2023

Achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls has been identified by the United Nations as one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) “to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all” by 2030. The importance of this topic is related to the fact that gender gaps are responsible for significant losses in economic growth, human development, and more generally, sustainable development (Kabeer & Natali, 2013; Moorhouse, 2017; Profeta, 2017). In fact, eliminating gender inequalities can not only increase female economic participation and boost economic growth but also improve health outcomes for women and children.
Advancing Human Progress as a Twenty-First-Century Science and Technology Pioneer
Authors: Garijo Belén , Heinzel Matthias , Guenter Peter , Beckmann Kai , Kuhnert Marcus
Published: December 2023

Since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, society has been under tremendous stress. Geopolitical, environmental, and social forces have been converging at an unprecedented pace to make our world more complex and uncertain. Within this challenging environment, science has been one beacon of hope across borders, cultures, and markets.
Is Trust Enforceable? The Conservation of Contemporary Artworks from a Socio-legal Perspective
Authors: Miller Zoë , Moerland Anke
Published: December 2023

The conservation of works of contemporary art is a complex endeavour and involves a variety of actors. As well as the artist, museums, collectors, gallerists and conservators are involved in activities relating to conservation. It is not self-evident that all of them will have the same interests when dealing with a contemporary artwork. Conflicts can occur in relation to the conditions of ownership, access, display, and integrity of the artwork. In order to manage a divergence of expectations, it is essential for parties to trust that they will work according to shared values and beliefs. This chapter explores the relationship between artists and museums in terms of trust and control and considers the role that contracts can play to manage expectations of artists and museums, and to regulate aspects of the conservation of contemporary artwork currently not addressed by copyright law. Drawing on literature from the fields of sociology and art, we explore how trust and control influence the relationship between the artist and the museum. Legal doctrinal methods help us to explain how copyright law applies to aspects of the conservation of contemporary art, and what provisions contracts could include to address parties’ expectations.
Making Time
Authors: Laurenson Pip
Published: December 2023

This chapter considers the different temporalities within the contemporary art museum and explores how externally funded research affords thicker care time to enable an engagement with works that challenge the structures, systems and temporalities of the museum. Drawing on the idea of a “timescape” introduced by the sociologist Barbara Adam, it considers the “timescapes” of conservation practice and thinking, of the museum and of artworks, and how these different and sometimes conflicting temporalities impact our practices of care.
No Longer Artwork
Authors: Valle Noronha Marina
Published: December 2023

In this conceptual chapter I explore, from a curatorial perspective, a new approach to the lifespan of artworks in museum collections. At a time when the managing of collections is under pressure because of new theories on the conservation of contemporary art, the conventional understanding of collection management might no longer hold. I speculate on how philosopher’s Tristan Garcia’s non-linear notion of time, in which the future does not exist and time is marked by intensities of presence, makes us re-think the engagement with objects perceived as deviant in collections. I investigate further implications of recent attempts in contemporary conservation theory that account for the temporal nature of artworks and explore what it means for artworks that, despite attempts to progressive thinking, they are still perceived as no longer suitable for display because of their material degradation. Through this, I aim at offering ways of engaging with objects whose changing artwork properties have been, for different reasons, regarded as impaired by their hosting institutions. I focus on what I call a “complex object family” formed by different entities of artist Naum Gabo’s Construction in Space: Two Cones, 1927–1937. As part of this complex object family formation, I also discuss versions of artist Marianne Vierø’s work Great Transformation (2015).
Visible Issues. Insights Into the Professional Identity of the Conservator
Authors: Macedo Rita
Published: December 2023

This chapter addresses the professional identity of the contemporary art museum conservator. It departs from a general review of the literature about the professional role of the conservator to focus on how practitioners see themselves in their profession when it comes to their values, beliefs, the functions performed and perceived relationships with colleagues. I also discuss how conservators think they are seen by others (colleagues or the anonymous public). Aware of the complexity of relationships that shape the contemporary art museum, this chapter focuses specifically on the identity of conservation professionals and their reported invisibility to colleagues and the public. I argue that while some of the factors that negatively influence a conservator’s self-perception come from beliefs and stereotypes formed along with the construction of professional identity, others are consolidated and perpetuated in the context of the museum, where these identities do not seem to have room for transformation or renegotiation, through professional agency.
Classical Liberalism Against Populism
Authors: Karlson Nils
Published: December 2023

This chapter introduces and summarizes the major themes, arguments, and contributions of this book. How can liberals and classical liberals fight back against the populist threat to liberty, free markets, and the open society? I explore the defining characteristics of populism, to make populism intelligible, recognizable, and contestable. I explain the ideational background of the populist ideas and strategies and show how populists promote their non-liberal institutional changes through the deliberate polarization of society and a collectivistic identity politics. Based on this analysis several counterstrategies are developed that require a revival of classical liberalism.
A Threat to Liberty, Free Markets, and the Open Society
Authors: Karlson Nils
Published: December 2023

In this chapter the support for populist parties and regimes, and their threats to democracy, liberty, and the open society are summarized. It is shown how, over the last decades, populist voter support and the use of populist rhetoric have increased continuously, while democracy has been backsliding, and liberty, free markets, and the open society have been curtailed.
Explaining Populism and Autocratization
Authors: Karlson Nils
Published: December 2023

In this chapter the most popular explanations that have been proposed for why and how populists succeed are discussed and synthesized into “a populist model of autocratization”. Explanations dealing with (1) globalization, immigration, and policy failures; (2) culture and identity; (3) psychology and human nature; (4) social media and echo chambers; and (5) charismatic leaders and policy entrepreneurs, are included in the analysis. My conclusion is that the populist ideas, beliefs, and values, related to identity and shaped by the populist rhetorical style and discourse frames, play the central role.
The Populist Divisive, Activist Ideas
Authors: Karlson Nils
Published: December 2023

In this chapter the ideational roots of the populist ideas are traced back to thinkers like Rousseau, Nietzsche, Heidegger, and Carl Schmitt, later to be developed within post-modernism and critical theory. Identity politics, as a politics of resentment and recognition, and as a function of meaning, community, and virtue are discussed and analyzed. I argue that populism, on both the left and the right, is a kind of collectivistic identity politics that appeals to the ‘people’ by constructing narratives that give a sense of belonging and by offering a purpose and meaning.
Expose the Populist Strategies and Their Consequences
Authors: Karlson Nils
Published: December 2023

In this short chapter the first counterstrategy to fight back against populists, both on the left and on the right, is presented. I argue that many supporters of populism are neither aware of the deliberate manipulation that lies behind the strategies used by populists, nor the negative consequences that follow for society at large, for democracy, and in the end for the supporters of the populists themselves. Hence, it is necessary to expose the populist strategies and to explain their consequences.
For F☆ck’s Sake. The Political Narrative of Sex Toys in the Communication of MySecretCase
Authors: Biasetton Silvia , Biasetton Noemi
Published: December 2023

In the last 20 years, the industry of sex toys has grown exponentially within the Western online market, giving life to new forms of communication regarding topics such as sex and sexuality. However, if on one hand the online sale of sex toys and its related communication allow (once again) the spread of political narratives, on the other they seem to reinforce an individual and self-determining conception of sex and sexuality which preclude its broader understanding within societal norms and omit forms of collective and shared practices related to such topics.

To understand the consequences of this paradox, the paper will focus on sex toys as carriers of political narratives related to sex and sexuality, reflecting especially on the role of that online communication might have on their diffusion. To achieve this, the paper will take into consideration the visual communication of MySecretCase as a case study and analyze it through the visual methodology proposed by Gillian Rose [1, 2]. Through the analysis of the communication design strategies adopted by MySecretCase, we aim at interrogating whether—if confined in the virtual space—sex toys can still be considered as carriers of political and collective values, reflecting on the role of communication design in shaping the symbolic narrative around these objects.
25 Ways to Hammer a Nail. “Postcrocian” Aesthetics and Everyday Life’s Poetics in Enzo Mari
Authors: Messori Rita
Published: December 2023

The essay analyzes the poetics of Enzo Mari in the light of postcrocian aesthetics, in particular Umberto Eco and Luciano Anceschi’ contributes.

The field of reflection of the essay, conducted on several levels (both meta-artistic and intra-artistic) is polarized around some expressions and some key words, explications of issues perceived as urgent.

First, a rethinking of aesthetic experience on the basis of the results of psychology and the phenomenology of perception.

Secondly, a rethinking of the status of the work of art, which becomes “open work” or work “with multiple outcomes”; to characterize the work is a semantic stratification, a multiplicity of meanings that requires an active user, able to enter the work and trace an interpretative path. Thirdly, a rethinking of the aesthetic-social impact of art capable of activating an “aesthetic education”, a new and more conscious experience of the “environment”, be it natural or cultural: artistic objects, as well as those of design, have a transformative power of ordinary space-time, and consequently of the habits that mark it. This creates a very close link between aisthesis, poiein and praxis, between aesthetics, artistic operation and life, in its ethical and social aspect.