bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analyzing effects on anterior open bite in twins by PLS-SEM and sobel test
Authors: Birant Sinem , Veznikli Mert , Kasimoglu Yelda , Koruyucu Mine , Evren Atıf Ahmet , Seymen Figen
Published: August 2024

Objective

This study aimed to assess the different pathways between predictor factors such as zygosity, atypical swallowing, mouth breathing, breastfeeding and bottle feeding related to anterior open bite (AOB) in twins.

Methods

The study was conducted in monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twin children aged 3–15 years. AOB, atypical swallowing, mouth breathing, feeding type, duration of bottle use, and mouth opening status during sleep were recorded during oral examination. Partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) and sobel tests were performed to assess the total and indirect effects among the variables on AOB.

Results

A total of 404 children (29.2% MZ;70.8% DZ) participated in this study. The effect of zygosity on mouth breathing in the PLS-SEM model was statistically significant. Conversely, it was determined that mouth breathing effected that atypical swallowing (p = 0.001). Atypical swallowing triggered AOB (p = 0.001). The atypical swallowing has a mediation effect between AOB and mouth breathing (p = 0.020). Mouth breathing causes atypical swallowing and therefore indirectly increases the likelihood of AOB. While breastfeeding decreases AOB incidence (p = 0.023), bottle feeding increases AOB incidence (p = 0.046). The sobel tests show that the fully mediator variable feature of mouth breathing is statistically significant in the negative relation between zygosity and atypical swallowing.

Conclusion

The PLS-SEM model showed that mouth breathing triggers atypical swallowing and atypical swallowing triggers AOB. As a result of this chain of relationships, an indirect effect of zygosity on AOB was observed. According to sobel tests, zygosity has an indirect effect on atypical swallowing through mouth breathing, while mouth breathing has a positive indirect effect on AOB through atypical swallowing.

Clinical relevance

This study identified the relationships between different factors and the presence of AOB. The findings of this study demonstrate in detail the relationships between AOB and zygosity, atypical swallowing, mouth breathing, breastfeeding and bottle feeding. Brestfeeding has a reducing effect on the frequency of AOB. Among the nutritional forms, breastfeeding ensures the proper development of the stomatognathic system by working the oro-facial muscles.
Construction and Validation of a General Medical Image Dataset for Pretraining
Authors: Zhang Rongguo , Pei Chenhao , Shi Ji , Wang Shaokang
Published: August 2024

In the field of deep learning for medical image analysis, training models from scratch are often used and sometimes, transfer learning from pretrained parameters on ImageNet models is also adopted. However, there is no universally accepted medical image dataset specifically designed for pretraining models currently. The purpose of this study is to construct such a general dataset and validate its effectiveness on downstream medical imaging tasks, including classification and segmentation. In this work, we first build a medical image dataset by collecting several public medical image datasets (CPMID). And then, some pretrained models used for transfer learning are obtained based on CPMID. Various-complexity Resnet and the Vision Transformer network are used as the backbone architectures. In the tasks of classification and segmentation on three other datasets, we compared the experimental results of training from scratch, from the pretrained parameters on ImageNet, and from the pretrained parameters on CPMID. Accuracy, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, and class activation map are used as metrics for classification performance. Intersection over Union as the metric is for segmentation evaluation. Utilizing the pretrained parameters on the constructed dataset CPMID, we achieved the best classification accuracy, weighted accuracy, and ROC-AUC values on three validation datasets. Notably, the average classification accuracy outperformed ImageNet-based results by 4.30%, 8.86%, and 3.85% respectively. Furthermore, we achieved the optimal balanced outcome of performance and efficiency in both classification and segmentation tasks. The pretrained parameters on the proposed dataset CPMID are very effective for common tasks in medical image analysis such as classification and segmentation.
Prevalence of Paid Sex and Associated Factors Among Women and Men Attending HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Prospective Cohort
Authors: Carlos Silvia , Reina Gabriel , Burgueño Eduardo , Makonda Benit , de Irala Jokin , Beltramo Carlos , Díaz Herráez Paula , Burgo Cristina Lopez-del
Published: August 2024

Paid sex is associated with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, which are highly prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, few data exist on this sexual practice among the general population in SSA, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where data on paid sex mainly comes from sex workers. In the DRC, most HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) centers do not discuss paid sex as a risk factor. Thus, we aimed to analyze the prevalence of paid sex, its associated factors and association with HIV among women and men attending HIV VCT at a reference hospital in Kinshasa. From 2016 to 2018, the Observational Kinshasa AIDS Initiative cohort analyzed the impact of HIV VCT on changes in HIV knowledge, attitudes, and sexual behaviors at follow-up. Participants aged 15–69 years were HIV tested and interviewed at baseline and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. At baseline, participants were asked about their history of “ever” having had exchanged sex for money. At both follow-ups, the frequency of this practice was referred to as “the previous 6 months.” Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out to evaluate the prevalence of paid sex, its associated factors, and the association between paid sex and HIV. Statistical analyses were performed with Stata 15.1. Among 797 participants at baseline, 10% of those sexually experienced reported having ever had paid sex (18% men and 4% women, p < 0.001). At 6 and 12-month follow-ups, 5% and 2%, respectively. Paid sex was significantly and independently associated with being male (aOR = 2.7; 95% CI = 1.4–5.2), working or studying (aOR = 2.8; 95% CI = 1.5–5.0), daily newspaper reading (aOR = 4.4; 95% CI = 1.7–11.2); daily/weekly alcohol consumption (aOR = 3.3; 95% CI = 1.8–6.1), first sexual intercourse before age 15 years (aOR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.1–5.0), multiple sexual partners (aOR = 4.1; 95% CI = 2.2–7.7), and extragenital sexual practices (aOR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.3–4.4). A high religiosity (daily/weekly church attendance and praying) was inversely associated with paid sex (aOR = 0.1; 95% CI = 0.0–0.4). The high prevalence of paid sex among people attending HIV VCT in Kinshasa, associated with other sexual and consumption risk behaviors, highlights the need to include paid sex among the risk factors mentioned in HIV prevention counseling.
Media Reporting of Environmental Supply Chain Sustainability Risks: Contextual and Moderating Factors
Authors: Mateska Ivana , Wagner Stephan M. , Stienen Laura
Published: August 2024

Ethical and sustainable business practices in global supply chains have become a major concern for firms. Media stakeholders hold firms accountable for the environmentally unethical behavior of their suppliers. Based on agenda-setting theory and stakeholder theory, this study presents a model that shows how various internal and external factors explain media reporting of environmental supply chain sustainability risks. It also examines the role of firms’ risk avoidance practices. The study uses regression analysis of secondary data from 541 buying firms. The results show that the size and brand visibility of buying firms, and their affiliation to high-risk industries increase the frequency of media coverage of suppliers’ environmental misconduct, while their affiliation to high-risk countries decreases the frequency of media coverage. In addition, companies can reduce media coverage by implementing proactive supply chain sustainability risk avoidance practices. However, reactive supply chain sustainability risk avoidance practices are not effective in reducing media coverage.
Spatial and temporal ecology of Cerdocyon thous: a mesopredator canid coping with habitat loss, fragmentation, and chronic anthropogenic disturbances
Authors: Santos Tamara , Marinho Paulo Henrique , Venticinque Eduardo M. , Fonseca Carlos Roberto
Published: August 2024

Context

Human activities are reducing the amount and quality of natural landscapes. Understanding how such changes affect the spatial and temporal ecology of mammal populations will enable us to foresee how communities will be structured in the Anthropocene.

Objectives

Here, we evaluated how the occupancy, intensity of use, and activity patterns of the mesopredator canid Cerdocyon thous are affected by topographic variation, habitat amount, fragmentation and chronic anthropogenic disturbances.

Methods

Camera trapping data were obtained between May and September 2014 in 179 sampling points within ten priority areas for conservation in a seasonally dry tropical forest (Caatinga) in Brazil, totaling an effort of 6,701 camera.days. We use occupancy models for analyzed occupancy, generalized linear models (GLM) for the intensity of use and kernel density curve for activity pattern.

Results

Cerdoyon thous benefited from human disturbance, showing greater occupancy and intensity of use near anthropogenic habitats, fragmentation, human density and cattle density. Moreover, temporal analyses showed that it modulates its daily activity according to habitat amount, human density, cattle density and altitude. However, C. thous tends to avoid areas with excess of fire, logging and infrastructures.

Conclusions

These results allow us to understand the mechanisms that contribute to the dominance of generalist mesocarnivores in human-dominated environments.
Exploring the prognostic value of BRMS1 + microglia based on single-cell anoikis regulator patterns in the immunologic microenvironment of GBM
Authors: Zhao Songyun , Ni Kaixiang , Xie Jiaheng , Cheng Chao , Zhao Ning , Liu Jinhui , Ji Wei , Wang Qi , Zhang Pengpeng , Liu Yuankun
Published: August 2024

Background

Anoikis is a specialized form of programmed cell death induced by the loss of cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM). Acquisition of anoikis resistance is a significant marker for cancer cell invasion, metastasis, therapy resistance, and recurrence. Although current research has identified multiple factors that regulate anoikis resistance, the pathological mechanisms of anoikis-mediated tumor microenvironment (TME) in glioblastoma (GBM) remain largely unexplored.

Methods

Utilizing single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data and employing non-negative matrix factorization (NMF), we identified and characterized TME cell clusters with distinct anoikis-associated gene signatures. Prognostic and therapeutic response analyses were conducted using TCGA and CGGA datasets to assess the clinical significance of different TME cell clusters. The spatial relationship between BRMS1 + microglia and tumor cells was inferred from spatial transcriptome RNA sequencing (stRNA-seq) data. To simulate the tumor immune microenvironment, co-culture experiments were performed with microglia (HMC3) and GBM cells (U118/U251), and microglia were transfected with a BRMS1 overexpression lentivirus. Western blot or ELISA were used to detect BRMS1, M2 macrophage-specific markers, PI3K/AKT signaling proteins, and apoptosis-related proteins. The proliferation and apoptosis capabilities of tumor cells were evaluated using CCK-8, colony formation, and apoptosis assays, while the invasive and migratory abilities of tumor cells were assessed using Transwell assays.

Results

NMF-based analysis successfully identified CD8 + T cell and microglia cell clusters with distinct gene signature characteristics. Trajectory analysis, cell communication, and gene regulatory network analyses collectively indicated that anoikis-mediated TME cell clusters can influence tumor cell development through various mechanisms. Notably, BRMS1 + AP-Mic exhibited an M2 macrophage phenotype and had significant cell communication with malignant cells. Moreover, high expression of BRMS1 + AP-Mic in TCGA and CGGA datasets was associated with poorer survival outcomes, indicating its detrimental impact on immunotherapy. Upregulation of BRMS1 in microglia may lead to M2 macrophage polarization, activate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway through SPP1/CD44-mediated cell interactions, inhibit tumor cell apoptosis, and promote tumor proliferation and invasion.

Conclusion

This pioneering study used NMF-based analysis to reveal the important predictive value of anoikis-regulated TME in GBM for prognosis and immunotherapeutic response. BRMS1 + microglial cells provide a new perspective for a deeper understanding of the immunosuppressive microenvironment of GBM and could serve as a potential therapeutic target in the future.
Board bias, information, and investment efficiency
Authors: Gregor Martin , Michaeli Beatrice
Published: August 2024

We identify a novel force behind the benefit of misaligned preferences in corporate governance. Our model entails a CEO who encounters a project and, after gathering information, decides whether to seek the approval of a corporate board. The CEO may be able to choose the properties of the collected information—this may happen if the project is “novel,” i.e., explores a new technology, business concept, or market and directors are less knowledgeable about it. We find that only sufficiently conservative and expansion-cautious directors can discipline the CEO’s empire-building tendency and opportunistic information collection. Such directors, however, underinvest in projects that are not novel. The board that maximizes firm value is either conservative or neutral (has interests aligned with the shareholders) and always overinvests in innovations. Boards with greater expertise are more likely to be conservative, but their bias is less severe. The board’s commitment power and bias are substitutes.
Quantifying pesticide-contaminated sediment sources in tropical coastal environments (Galion Bay, French West Indies)
Authors: Bizeul Rémi , Cerdan Olivier , Pak Lai Ting , Le Callonec Laurence , Huon Sylvain , Sabatier Pierre , Evrard Olivier
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Over the last 60 years, intensification of soil cultivation led to an acceleration of soil erosion and sediment delivery to river systems. In Martinique, this acceleration has led to the remobilization of a toxic insecticide (i.e. chlordecone) used in the 1970s-1990s to control banana weevil. A previous study attributed this accelerated remobilization to the application of glyphosate in plantations from the 1990s onwards. To further unambiguously confirm this link, the identification of soil erosion sources supplied to coastal sediment is essential.

Methods

Accordingly, sediment fingerprinting tools were adapted and applied to a coastal sediment core collected in the Galion Bay. Potential source samples (n=37) were collected across the drainage area. Along with the coastal sediment core layers, these samples were analysed for potential tracing properties. The optimal suite of tracers was then selected and introduced into an un-mixing model to quantify their contributions to coastal sediment.

Results

Results showed that subsoil (i.e. soil layer $$< 30$$

<
30

cm depth) and banana plantation soil surface supply the major sources of sediment (49-78% and 12-36%, respectively) to the Galion Bay and that their contributions increased since 2000, in line with chlordecone and glyphosate fluxes.

Conclusion

This evolution may be attributed to the higher sensitivity of banana plantations to erosion that may have been enhanced by the glyphosate application leaving the soil uncovered with vegetation and to the contamination of both topsoil and deep soil layers ($$< 30$$

<
30

cm) layers with chlordecone due to its vertical transfer along the soil profile and its redistribution across hillslopes.
Phenotyping sleep disturbances in ADHD and identifying harmonised outcome measures
Authors: Ipsiroglu Osman S. , Klösch Gerhard , Stein Mark , Blunden Sarah , Brand Serge , Clemens Stefan , Cortese Samuele , Dück Alexander , Dye Thomas , Gringras Paul , Kühle Hans-Jürgen , Lawrence Kate , Lecendreux Michel , Miano Silvia , Mollin Julian , Nobili Lino , Owens Judy , Kaur Pandher Parveer , Sadeghi-Bahmani Dena , Schlarb Angelika Anita , Schneider Barbara , Silvestri Rosalia , Smith Susan , Spruyt Karen , Weiss Margaret Danielle
Published: August 2024

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a widespread neurodevelopmental disorder. Currently, the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents is primarily centred on daytime functioning and the associated impairment of academic performance, although disrupted and restless sleep have been frequently reported in individuals with ADHD. Further, it has been recognised that sleep disorders not only intensify existing ADHD symptoms but in some cases can also mimic ADHD symptoms in the paediatric population with primary sleep disorders. Under the title ‘The blind spot: sleep as a child’s right issue?’, professionals from diverse disciplines, including medicine and social sciences as well as individuals with an interest in ADHD and sleep medicine, including laypeople, have initiated a unifying discourse. The objective of this discourse is to improve our understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD and disruptive behaviours and to develop personalised and precision medicine. Research has shown that the existing, primarily descriptive and categorical diagnostic systems do not capture the heterogeneous nature of youth with attentional and behavioural difficulties and the phenotypic expressions thereof, including nighttime behaviours and sleep. New strategies for clinical phenotyping and the exploration of patient-reported behaviours are necessary to expand our understanding and develop personalised treatment approaches. In this position paper, we outline gaps in the clinical care of ADHD and related sleep disturbances, review strategies for closing these gaps to meet the needs of individuals with ADHD, and suggest a roadmap for escaping the one-size-fits-all approach that has characterised ADHD treatment algorithms to date.
Mechanisms and evidence of prospective teachers’ learning through enquiry-oriented practices: the case of a lesson study intervention
Authors: García F. J. , Lendínez E. M. , Lerma A. M. , Abril A. M.
Published: August 2024

Existing research has highlighted the key role of observation and reflection in teacher learning during lesson study interventions, and how challenging it can be for pre-service teachers. This study focuses on the post-lesson discussion phase and on the observation of the research lesson of a lesson study process. It is carried out with early childhood education pre-service teachers who studied the Theory of Didactical Situations. The aim of our research is two-fold: finding evidence of the activation of pre-service teacher knowledge during the post-lesson discussion, and identifying mechanisms that may explain said activation as well as the potential development of their professional knowledge. To model pre-service teacher knowledge, the notion of teachers’ praxeological equipment from the Anthropological Theory of the Didactic, specified in the Theory of Didactical Situations, is used. It is hypothesised that potential teacher learning is mainly connected to the identification of particularly relevant episodes during the observation phase, henceforth referred to as critical events. The analysis of a group discussion on three critical events shows the activation and development of mathematical and didactic components of pre-service teachers’ praxeological equipment. However, it is found that it depends on the degree of dissonance these events can provoke, and on the quality and depth of the discussion that takes place around them. It is therefore concluded that the identification of critical events followed by productive discussion is a mechanism that explains teacher learning through lesson study, which can be enhanced by the intervention of teacher educators as mediators.
Design and development of a modular hydroponic tower with topology optimization
Authors: Patel Kushal , Chauhan Dhruv , Mishra Priyanka , Rath Jagat Jyoti , Saxena Kuldeep K. , Prasad K. S. Rajendra , Bandhu Din
Published: August 2024

Tower hydroponics has evolved as an inventive technique for sustainable agriculture, offering benefits in space utilization and water management, and it can be utilized to grow a wide variety of crops. In this work, a hydroponics tower with the advantages of high scalability and flexibility has been designed. The proposed tower comprises four independent modular units, each with four slots for growing plants. Water is supplied to the tower via two pipes connected by a ring-shaped disc to ensure efficient use of water resources. The system can accommodate 20 plants and is designed for optimal space utilization with a 1 m³ spacing. For efficient prototyping, topology optimization considering Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material was employed - for developing an optimal design of each module. The structural stability of the tower was analyzed for various loads corresponding to the number of plants on individual modules and the base of the tower. Utilizing finite element analysis (FEA), the von Mises stresses experienced by the individual modules, base, and the entire tower, and the corresponding displacements under such stress were computed, providing essential insights into potential weaknesses and areas requiring reinforcement. Specifically, each module under a maximum load of 2.3 kg experienced a stress of 4.386 × 105 N/m2 resulting in a displacement of 11.08 × 10− 3 mm of the ports. Similarly, for the base module under a cumulative load of 60 kg due to five modular units, the stress experienced was 3.773 × 105 N/m2 and the corresponding displacement was 15.30 × 10− 3 mm. Further, the structure was refined using topology optimization, and FEA analysis for a single module was performed. With a maximum mass reduction of 50%, the stress experienced was 1.468 × 105 N/m2 and the displacement was 3.448 × 10− 3 mm, thus exhibiting good structural stability. Detailed performance results for stress, strain, and displacements for other scenarios have been presented to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed design.
Are Hair Scalp Trace Elements Correlated with Atherosclerosis Location in Coronary Artery Disease?
Authors: Urbanowicz Tomasz , Hanć Anetta , Frąckowiak Julia , Białasik-Misiorny Maksymilian , Olasińska-Wiśniewska Anna , Krasińska Beata , Krasińska-Płachta Aleksandra , Tomczak Jolanta , Kowalewski Mariusz , Krasiński Zbigniew , Tykarski Andrzej , Jemielity Marek
Published: August 2024

Coronary artery disease is among the leading current epidemiological challenges. The genetic, clinical, and lifestyle-related risk factors are well documented. The reason for specific epicardial artery locations remains unsolved. The coronary artery topography and blood flow characteristics may induce local inflammatory activation. The atherosclerotic plaque formation is believed to represent inflammatory response involving enzymatic processes co-factored by trace elements. The possible relation between trace elements and coronary artery disease location was the subject of the study. There were 175 patients (107 (61) men and 68 (39) females) in a median (Q1-3) age of 71 years (65–76) admitted for coronary angiography due to chronic coronary syndrome. The angiographic results focused on the percentage of lumen stenosis in certain arteries and were compared with the results for hair scalp trace elements. The correlation between left main coronary artery atherosclerotic plaques and nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), and antimony (Sb) hair scalp concentration was noted. The analysis revealed a positive relation between left descending artery disease and chromium (Cr), sodium (Na), arsenic (As), and molybdenum (Mo) and a negative correlation with strontium (Sr). The atherosclerotic lesion in the circumflex artery revealed correlations in our analysis with sodium (Na), potassium (K), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), arsenic (As), and negative with strontium (Sr) (r) hair scalp concentrations. The negative correlations between right coronary artery disease and magnesium (Mg) and strontium (Sr) concentrations were noted. The possible explanation of different epicardial artery involvement and severity by atherosclerotic processes may lay in their topography and blood rheological characteristics that induce different inflammatory reactions co0factored by specific trace elements. The trace element concentration in the hair scalp may correlate with a particular coronary atherosclerotic involvement, including the severity of lumen reduction. This may indicate the missing link between the pathophysiological processes of atherosclerosis development and its location in coronary arteries.
Mercury Exposure Assessment from the First Harmonised Total Diet Study in Portugal
Authors: Vasco Elsa , Dias M. Graça , Oliveira Luísa
Published: August 2024

The aim of this study was to estimate the Portuguese population’s baseline exposure to methyl and inorganic mercury by a harmonised total diet study (TDS) methodology and the risk of exceeding the Tolerable Weekly Intake (TWI). TDS food samples representative of the whole diet of the population were prepared as consumed, and analysed for total mercury. European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) conservative approach was used to estimate methylmercury and inorganic mercury and exposure was estimated using Monte Carlo Risk Assessment (MCRA) software. Mean, median and P95 exposure of the overall population (18 to 74 years old) to methylmercury and to inorganic mercury were 1.25, 0.01 and 5.45 µg/kg bw/week, and 0.37, 0.15 and 1.27 µg/kg bw/week, respectively. The percentage of individuals exceeding TWI was 27.6 for methylmercury and 3.5 for inorganic mercury. Regarding childbearing age women (18 to 45 years old), methylmercury mean exposure was 1.13 µg/kg bw/week with 25% of women exceeding the TWI. Cod and hake were the main contributors to mercury intake.
Silvaticusins A–D: ent-kaurane diterpenoids and a cyclobutane-containing ent-kaurane dimer from Isodon silvaticus
Authors: Hai Qi-Xiu , Hu Kun , Chen Su-Ping , Fu Yang-Yang , Li Xiao-Nian , Sun Han-Dong , He Hong-Ping , Puno Pema-Tenzin
Published: August 2024

Three new ent-kaurane diterpenoids, silvaticusins A–C (1–3), along with a new ent-kaurane dimer silvaticusin D (4) were isolated from the aerial parts of Isodon silvaticus. The structures of these new compounds were established mainly by comprehensive analysis of their NMR and MS data. The absolute configuration of compounds 1 and 4 were determined using a single-crystal X-ray diffraction and computational methods, respectively. Compounds 2 and 3 were found to exhibit remarkable cytotoxic effects against five human tumor cell lines (HL-60, A-549, SMMC-7721, MDA-MB-231, and SW-480), with IC50 values spanning from 1.27 ± 0.08 to 7.52 ± 0.33 μM.

Graphical Abstract
Nano-multilayered ZrN-Ag/Mo-S-N film design for stable anti-frictional performance at a wide range of temperatures
Authors: Ju Hongbo , Luan Jing , Xu Junhua , Cavaleiro Albano , Evaristo Manuel , Fernandes Filipe
Published: August 2024

A multilayer film, composed by ZrN-Ag (20 nm) and Mo-S-N (10 nm) layers, combining the intrinsic lubricant characteristics of each layer was deposited using DC magnetron sputtering system, to promote lubrication in a wide-range of temperatures. The results showed that the ZrN-Ag/Mo-S-N multilayer film exhibited a sharp interface between the different layers. A face-centered cubic (fcc) dual-phases of ZrN and Ag co-existed in the ZrN-Ag layers, whilst the Mo-S-N layers displayed a mixture of hexagonal close-packed MoS2 (hcp-MoS2) nano-particles and an amorphous phase. The multilayer film exhibited excellent room temperature (RT) triblogical behavior, as compared to the individual monolayer film, due to the combination of a relative high hardness with the low friction properties of both layers. The reorientation of MoS2 parallel to the sliding direction also contributed to the enhanced anti-frictional performance at RT. At 400 °C, the reorientation of MoS2 as well as the formation of MoO3 phase were responsible for the lubrication, whilst the hard t-ZrO2 phase promoted abrasion and, consequently, led to increasing wear rate. At 600 °C, the Ag2MoO4 double-metal oxide was the responsible for the low friction and wear-resistance; furthermore, the observed transformation from t-ZrO2 to m-ZrO2, could also have contributed to the better tribological performance.
Instructional Technology Tetrahedron and Network Visualization: Conceptualizing Online Teaching Through a Lens of Reflective Noticing
Authors: Liu Jinqing , Buchbinder Orly
Published: August 2024

Online learning and teaching, accelerated by the global pandemic and rapid advancement of digital technology, require novel conceptual and analytical tools to understand better the evolving nature of online teaching. Drawing on the classical model of the instructional triangle and previous attempts to extend it, we propose the Instructional Technology Tetrahedron (ITT)—a conceptual framework that integrates technology into the instructional triangle to represent the role of technology, as a learning tool and a mediator between teachers, students, and content. Combining the ITT framework with network visualization strategies allowed for representing the intensity of interactions within the tetrahedron. We illustrate the affordances of the ITT framework by analyzing reflective noticing patterns of three prospective secondary teachers (PSTs) who reflected on the video recordings of their own online teaching, with each PST teaching four online lessons to groups of high-school students. We demonstrate the utility of the ITT framework to characterize individual noticing patterns, in a particular lesson and across time, and to support a variety of cross-case comparisons. The discussion sheds light on the broader implications of the ITT framework.
3D-Printed MOF Monoliths: Fabrication Strategies and Environmental Applications
Authors: Molavi Hossein , Mirzaei Kamyar , Barjasteh Mahdi , Rahnamaee Seyed Yahya , Saeedi Somayeh , Hassanpouryouzband Aliakbar , Rezakazemi Mashallah
Published: August 2024

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been extensively considered as one of the most promising types of porous and crystalline organic–inorganic materials, thanks to their large specific surface area, high porosity, tailorable structures and compositions, diverse functionalities, and well-controlled pore/size distribution. However, most developed MOFs are in powder forms, which still have some technical challenges, including abrasion, dustiness, low packing densities, clogging, mass/heat transfer limitation, environmental pollution, and mechanical instability during the packing process, that restrict their applicability in industrial applications. Therefore, in recent years, attention has focused on techniques to convert MOF powders into macroscopic materials like beads, membranes, monoliths, gel/sponges, and nanofibers to overcome these challenges.Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has achieved much interest because it can produce many high-resolution macroscopic frameworks with complex shapes and geometries from digital models. Therefore, this review summarizes the combination of different 3D printing strategies with MOFs and MOF-based materials for fabricating 3D-printed MOF monoliths and their environmental applications, emphasizing water treatment and gas adsorption/separation applications. Herein, the various strategies for the fabrication of 3D-printed MOF monoliths, such as direct ink writing, seed-assisted in-situ growth, coordination replication from solid precursors, matrix incorporation, selective laser sintering, and digital light processing, are described with the relevant examples. Finally, future directions and challenges of 3D-printed MOF monoliths are also presented to better plan future trajectories in the shaping of MOF materials with improved control over the structure, composition, and textural properties of 3D-printed MOF monoliths.
Polynomial Description of the Fe–C–Si Stable Phase Diagram for up to 4.5 wt% Si, Including the Effect of Cr, Cu, Mn and P
Authors: Sertucha Jon , Lacaze Jacques , Regordosa Anna , Suarez Ramon
Published: August 2024

Knowledge of the relevant stable equilibrium phase diagram is a prerequisite for taking account of deviations from equilibrium when modeling the solidification of silicon cast irons. While a linear description is practical for silicon contents up to 3 wt%, the curvature of the austenite liquidus at higher silicon contents necessitates the use of second-order polynomials. This study was carried out with the aim of obtaining an accurate description up to 4.5 wt% silicon, representative of today’s emerging high-silicon cast irons. In addition, alloying with up to 1 wt% copper, 0.5 wt% manganese and 0.25 wt% chromium and phosphorus was considered. In parallel to a description of the liquidus of austenite and graphite, the austenite-liquid partition coefficients of all alloying elements have been described. This paves the way for future work aimed at providing an accurate description of microsegregation and other non-equilibrium phenomena occurring during the solidification of silicon cast irons.
Review Mechanisms for Advanced Medical Therapies in Japan and Thailand: A Proposal for the Use of Expert Clinical Benefit Assessments at Designated Institutions
Authors: Matsui Kenji , Israsena Nipan , Kaewkungwal Jaranit , Adams Pornpimon , Wendler David , Lie Reidar K.
Published: August 2024

Advanced new therapies, such as stem cell and gene therapies and xenotransplantation, represent challenges for regulatory and ethical review. Major drug agencies, such as in the U.S., India, and Europe, have asserted regulatory authority and require ethics review by local ethics review committees, using the same strict requirements as those for standard drug approvals. In spite of this, unapproved and undocumented stem cell clinics flourish in all of these places, suggesting that current approaches do not offer patients sufficient protection. Japan has attempted another approach, requiring approvals at local levels for all regenerative medical procedures, and a faster approval of promising new interventions. The Japanese approach has, however, also been criticized as not striking a proper balance between early access and a proper assessment of safety and effectiveness. For smaller and less-resourced countries, such as Thailand, one major challenge is limited expertise to conduct the evaluation of these advanced new therapies. This article provides an overview of the issues facing regulators and proposes that countries should restrict the early adoption of advanced new therapies to specialized clinics with appropriate scientific and ethical expertise for review. Review in these institutions should focus on expert clinical benefit assessments for individual patients being offered such interventions, independently of whether they are offered as research or therapy.
Suitability of different artificial diets for mass rearing of six lepidopteran pest species
Authors: Strydom Elrine , Erasmus Annemie , Plessis Hannalene du , van den Berg Johnnie
Published: August 2024

Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Noctuidae), Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Crambidae), Eldana saccharina (Walker) (Pyralidae), Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Noctuidae), Sesamia calamistis (Hampson) (Noctuidae) and Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Noctuidae) are six of the most important insect pests of sugarcane, sorghum and maize in Africa. Suitable artificial diets are needed for the continuous rearing of these species in sufficient numbers to support research on Bt protein-incorporated artificial diet bioassays, screening for host plant resistance, as well as for monitoring of insecticide and Cry-protein resistance evolution in pest populations. This study evaluated diet protocols for rearing of these species. Different noctuid and crambid diets were evaluated and the following life history parameters were recorded: larval survival and mass, larval duration, pupation rate, pupal mass, duration of pupal period and sex ratio. Chilo partellus, E. saccharina and H. armigera excelled on a sugarcane-incorporated diet with high larval survival and mass, pupation and the quickest development to adults. Busseola fusca, S. calamistis and S. frugiperda performed better on a maize leaf-incorporated diet. These two diets are considered optimal for the respective species and are recommended for use in rearing of these species.
Project Assemblages: Identity Realignment in China-Africa encounters in the Construction Industry in Congo-Brazzaville
Authors: Ning Rundong
Published: August 2024

Many studies on China-Africa encounters have demonstrated the significance of ethnic and racial identities in these encounters. I reverse this perspective and ask: in what circumstances are China-Africa encounters shaped by identities other than racial and ethnic ones? Drawing on my ethnographic research in the construction industry in Congo-Brazzaville, I argue that the actions of many Chinese are often more influenced by their economic roles, such as workers, managers, and entrepreneurs than by their ethnic identity. Their identities are thus realigned in the economic encounters which I term “project assemblages.” This concept highlights the fluidity of multiple identities in economic encounters and shows that China-Africa encounters are a fertile ground for producing theories, beyond the China-Africa framework, on lived experiences of economic relationships.
Democratising Food Safety: Why We Need to Look Beyond Government Regulation and Provide a Citizen Right of Action
Authors: Fortin Neal David
Published: August 2024

Imperfect information on food safety and risk has created a system with less safety than the public wants. Consumers cannot pay for the level of safety they desire. Tort under-compensates for foodborne illness due to difficulty proving causation. When market controls are ineffective at producing the level of safety desired by consumers, the classic approach is government regulation. However, government regulators face challenges that impede the translation of scientific knowledge into regulatory controls. This often results in an equilibrium of private interests and bureaucratic interests rather than the public interest. To restore republican deliberation on food safety we need greater citizen involvement in the decision-making. Access to the courts is an effective means for citizens to participate directly in the decisions affecting food safety; thus, a private cause of action to our national food safety laws is proposed.
Mind the Gap: Assessing Member States’ Implementation of Farm to Farm-to-Fork Targets within the 2023–2027 Common Agricultural Policy
Authors: Mezzacapo Enrico
Published: August 2024

This work has the aim of dissecting the legal and policy dress designed for the new “Green” Common Agricultural Policy (CAP 2023–27) across the proposed CAP Strategic plans (CSPs) of the EU member states. The analysis is carried out through the lens of a special inquiry: the consistency and coherence between the CAP and the perspective of the Green Deal and its satellite strategies, among all the Farm to Fork Strategy (F2F) and Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, for transition to a resilient and Sustainable food system. The F2F proposes a roadmap of interventions and sets specific goals to reach such a transition. Within these interventions, a renewed CAP is the first stage through which the direction undertaken by the EU can be measured. Following the new CAP delivery model, this work will investigate the national CSPs and address the consistency of the CAP financial instruments utilised to fulfill the social, economic and environmental objectives of the CAP according to the ambition of the F2F and other key strategies.
How should we estimate inverse probability weights with possibly misspecified propensity score models?
Authors: Katsumata Hiroto
Published: August 2024

Inverse probability weighting is a common remedy for missing data issues, notably in causal inference. Despite its prevalence, practical application is prone to bias from propensity score model misspecification. Recently proposed methods try to rectify this by balancing some moments of covariates between the target and weighted groups. Yet, bias persists without knowledge of the true outcome model. Drawing inspiration from the quasi maximum likelihood estimation with misspecified statistical models, I propose an estimation method minimizing a distance between true and estimated weights with possibly misspecified models. This novel approach mitigates bias and controls mean squared error by minimizing their upper bounds. As an empirical application, it gives new insights into the study of foreign occupation and insurgency in France.
L-asparaginase induces IP3R-mediated ER Ca2+ release by targeting µ-OR1 and PAR2 and kills acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells
Authors: Lee Jung Kwon , Kamran Hamza , Lee Ki-Young
Published: August 2024

L-asparaginase is a standard therapeutic option for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (aLL), a hematologic cancer that claims the most lives of pediatric cancer patients. Previously, we demonstrated that L-asparaginase kills aLL cells via a lethal rise in [Ca2+]i due to IP3R-mediated ER Ca2+ release followed by calpain-1-Bid-caspase-3/12 activation (Blood, 133, 2222-2232). However, upstream targets of L-asparaginase that trigger IP3R-mediated ER Ca2+ release remain elusive. Here, we show that L-asparaginase targets µ-OR1 and PAR2 and induces IP3R-mediated ER Ca2+ release in aLL cells. In doing so, µ-OR1 plays a major role while PAR2 plays a minor role. Utilizing PAR2- and µ-OR1-knockdown cells, we demonstrate that L-asparaginase stimulation of µ-OR1 and PAR2 relays its signal via Gαi and Gαq, respectively. In PAR2-knockdown cells, stimulation of adenylate cyclase with forskolin or treatment with 8-CPT-cAMP reduces L-asparaginase-induced µ-OR1-mediated ER Ca2+ release, suggesting that activation of µ-OR1 negatively regulates AC and cAMP. In addition, the PKA inhibitor 14-22 amide (myr) alone evokes ER Ca2+ release, and subsequent L-asparaginase treatment does not induce further ER Ca2+ release, indicating the involvement of PKA inhibition in L-asparaginase-induced µ-OR1-mediated ER Ca2+ release, which can bypass the L-asparaginase-µ-OR1-AC-cAMP loop. This coincides with (a) the decreases in PKA-dependent inhibitory PLCβ3 Ser1105 phosphorylation, which prompts PLCβ3 activation and ER Ca2+ release, and (b) BAD Ser118 phosphorylation, which leads to caspase activation and apoptosis. Thus, our findings offer new insights into the Ca2+-mediated mechanisms behind L-asparaginase-induced aLL cell apoptosis and suggest that PKA may be targeted for therapeutic intervention for aLL.
Efficacy of an AAV vector encoding a thermostable form of glucocerebrosidase in alleviating symptoms in a Gaucher disease mouse model
Authors: Milenkovic Ivan , Blumenreich Shani , Hochfelder Ariel , Azulay Aviya , Biton Inbal E. , Zerbib Mirie , Oren Roni , Tsoory Michael , Joseph Tammar , Fleishman Sarel J. , Futerman Anthony H.
Published: August 2024

Almost all attempts to date at gene therapy approaches for monogenetic disease have used the amino acid sequences of the natural protein. In the current study, we use a designed, thermostable form of glucocerebrosidase (GCase), the enzyme defective in Gaucher disease (GD), to attempt to alleviate neurological symptoms in a GD mouse that models type 3 disease, i.e. the chronic neuronopathic juvenile subtype. Upon injection of an AAVrh10 (adeno-associated virus, serotype rh10) vector containing the designed GCase (dGCase) into the left lateral ventricle of Gba−/−;Gbatg mice, a significant improvement in body weight and life-span was observed, compared to injection of the same mouse with the wild type enzyme (wtGCase). Moreover, a reduction in levels of glucosylceramide (GlcCer), and an increase in levels of GCase activity were seen in the right hemisphere of Gba−/−;Gbatg mice, concomitantly with a significant improvement in motor function, reduction of neuroinflammation and a reduction in mRNA levels of various genes shown previously to be elevated in the brain of mouse models of neurological forms of GD. Together, these data pave the way for the possible use of modified proteins in gene therapy for lysosomal storage diseases and other monogenetic disorders.
Intermediate phenotype between CMT2Z and DIGFAN associated with a novel MORC2 variant: a case report
Authors: Hanada Kenta , Osaki Yusuke , Miyamoto Ryosuke , Muto Kohei , Haji Shotaro , Nazere Keyoumu , Kuwano Yuki , Morino Hiroyuki , Azuma Yoshiteru , Miyatake Satoko , Matsumoto Naomichi , Izumi Yuishin
Published: August 2024

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2Z is caused by MORC2 mutations and presents with axonal neuropathy. MORC2 mutations can also manifest as developmental delay, impaired growth, dysmorphic facies, and axonal neuropathy (DIGFAN). We report a patient exhibiting an intermediate phenotype between these diseases associated with a novel MORC2 variant. A literature review revealed that the genotype‒phenotype correlation in MORC2-related disorders is complex and that the same mutation can cause a variety of phenotypes.
Risk willingness in multiple system atrophy and Parkinson’s disease understanding patient preferences
Authors: Bernhardt Alexander Maximilian , Oeller Marc , Friedrich Isabel , Kocakavuk Emre , Nachman Eliana , Peikert Kevin , Roderigo Malte , Rossmann Andreas , Schröter Tabea , Wilhelm Lea Olivia , Prell Tino , van Riesen Christoph , Nieweler Johanna , Katzdobler Sabrina , Weiler Markus , Jacobi Heike , Warnecke Tobias , Claus Inga , Palleis Carla , Breimann Stephan , Falkenburger Björn , Brandt Moritz , Hermann Andreas , Rumpf Jost-Julian , Claßen Joseph , Höglinger Günter , Gandor Florin , Levin Johannes , Giese Armin , Janzen Annette , Oertel Wolfgang Hermann
Published: August 2024

Disease-modifying therapeutics in the α-synucleinopathies multiple system atrophy (MSA) and Parkinson’s Disease (PD) are in early phases of clinical testing. Involving patients’ preferences including therapy-associated risk willingness in initial stages of therapy development has been increasingly pursued in regulatory approval processes. In our study with 49 MSA and 38 PD patients, therapy-associated risk willingness was quantified using validated standard gamble scenarios for varying severities of potential drug or surgical side effects. Demonstrating a non-gaussian distribution, risk willingness varied markedly within, and between groups. MSA patients accepted a median 1% risk [interquartile range: 0.001–25%] of sudden death for a 99% [interquartile range: 99.999–75%] chance of cure, while PD patients reported a median 0.055% risk [interquartile range: 0.001–5%]. Contrary to our hypothesis, a considerable proportion of MSA patients, despite their substantially impaired quality of life, were not willing to accept increased therapy-associated risks. Satisfaction with life situation, emotional, and nonmotor disease burden were associated with MSA patients’ risk willingness in contrast to PD patients, for whom age, and disease duration were associated factors. An individual approach towards MSA and PD patients is crucial as direct inference from disease (stage) to therapy-associated risk willingness is not feasible. Such studies may be considered by regulatory agencies in their approval processes assisting with the weighting of safety aspects in a patient-centric manner. A systematic quantitative assessment of patients’ risk willingness and associated features may assist physicians in conducting individual consultations with patients who have MSA or PD by facilitating communication of risks and benefits of a treatment option.