bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Looking at Patent Law Patenting an Invention for Improved Electrochemical Machining by Combining Magnetic Field Waveforms, Ultrasonic Motion, and Pulsed Electric Field Waveforms: A Case Study …Overcoming an Obviousness-based Prior Art Rejection
Authors: Jennings Taylor E. , Inman Maria
Published: September 2024

In this installment of the “Looking at Patent Law” series, we present a case study of the prosecution events of U.S. Patent No. 10,357,839; “Method for Electrochemical Machining using Sympathetic Waveform Interactions”. The subject invention aligns with the technical interests of several divisions of The Electrochemical Society (ECS), including Corrosion (CORR), Industrial Electrochemistry and Electrochemical Engineering (IE&EE) and Physical and Analytical Electrochemistry (PAE). Additionally, the case introduces ECS members to an emerging technology of interest to industry. The case study begins with a brief synopsis of the background of the invention followed by 1) summary of several drawings and the specification of the invention, 2) inventor assignment and power of attorney designations, 3) submission of the Invention Disclosure Statement (IDS) and associated Duty of Candor, 4) summary of the non-final office action rejecting the patent application for obviousness, and 5) applicant response and allowance of the patent application. The case study illustrates the use of adding limitations from the dependent claims and the specification to the independent claim to overcome an obviousness rejection. In addition, the case illustrates an applicant initiated nonpublication exception to the eighteen month publication rule. With this case study, we hope to de-mystify the patent prosecution process and better prepare electrochemical and solid-state scientists, engineers and technologists to interact with their patent counsel regarding their inventions.
RRAGD variants cause cardiac dysfunction in a zebrafish model
Authors: Adella Anastasia , Tengku Faris , Arjona Francisco J. , Broekman Sanne , de Vrieze Erik , van Wijk Erwin , Hoenderop Joost G. J. , de Baaij Jeroen H. F.
Published: September 2024

The resultant heart-associated phenotypes in the zebrafish embryos of this study serve as a valuable experimental model for this rare cardiomyopathy. Moreover, the potential therapeutic property of rapamycin in cardiac dysfunctions was highlighted, making this study a pivotal step toward prospective clinical applications.
Novel Epidemiologic Features of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Virus A H5N1 2.3.3.4b Panzootic: A Review
Authors: Sacristán Carlos , Ewbank Ana Carolina , Ibáñez Porras Pablo , Pérez-Ramírez Elisa , de la Torre Ana , Briones Víctor , Iglesias Irene
Published: September 2024

Avian influenza is one of the most devastating avian diseases. The current high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) A virus H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b epizootic began in the 2020–2021 season, and has caused a panzootic, considered one of the worst ever reported. The present panzootic has novel epidemiological features that represent a challenge for its prevention and control. This review examines key epidemiological changes of the disease such as seasonality, geographic spread, and host range. The seasonality of the virus has changed, and contrary to previous avian influenza epizootics, this subclade was able to persist during boreal summer. Its geographic range has expanded, with reports in all continents except Australia. During this epizootic, HPAIV H5N1 has broadened its host range, infecting hundreds of bird species, and causing the death of thousands of wild birds and over 300 million poultry. The number and diversity of mammal species infected by H5N1 2.3.4.4b is unprecedented. Although considered low, this strain’s potential to spillover to humans should not be underestimated, especially considering the current extremely high viral circulation in animals and increasing adaptation to mammals. Overall, HPAI A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b represents an ongoing and growing threat to poultry, wildlife, and human health.
Effect of Different Feeding Habits on Metabolomics Profiles and Microbiota Composition and Functions of Tilapia Gut
Authors: Wang Miao , Yi Mengmeng , Zhang Ziyue , Fan Zijian , Jiang Lijin , Liu Zhigang , Wang Zhang , Lu Maixin , Cao Jianmeng , Ke Xiaoli
Published: September 2024

As an omnivorous fish, wild tilapia feed on both animal and plant foods, depending on what is available. To understand the nutritional function of the gut microbiota of tilapia, we used shotgun metagenomic sequencing, untargeted metabolomics analysis, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing to study the metabolites and gut microbial communities in tilapia eating different diets (artemia nauplii in the carnivorous diet; plant‐based pelleted feed [PBP] in the herbivorous diet; and a mixture of these two in the omnivorous diet). A total of 225 Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were cultured in nine 1500 L outdoor tanks, with three replicate tanks per diet and 25 fish per tank. β‐diversity analysis revealed that there was no significant difference in microbial structure between the three diets. However, significant differences were detected in gut metabolites. The abundance of the core bacteria in tilapia intestine (genus Cetobacterium) increased significantly when an omnivorous diet was fed. Cetobacterium abundance was significantly correlated to some differential metabolites including glucose and amino acids, and significantly correlated to pathways of carbohydrate and amino acids metabolism, identified by metagenome analysis. Metagenomic binning produced seven Cetobacterium MAGs with the completeness >50% and contamination <10%, in which genes related to the above metabolites and metabolism pathways were identified. All seven MAGs contained CAZymes that could act on distinct carbohydrates, providing highly diversified capabilities to this genus to cope with both animal and plant glycans. These tilapia fed with an omnivorous diet also showed increased growth. The differential intestinal metabolites aspartate, isoleucine, ornithine, proline, nicotinate, and NAD+ could be related to the increased growth. Our results expanded the understanding of how tilapia have adapted to an omnivorous diet and may provide knowledge for improving aquaculture management.
Genomic Landscape of Advanced Solid Tumors in Middle East and North Africa Using Circulating Tumor DNA in Routine Clinical Practice
Authors: Dawood Shaheenah , Sandhir Nippun , Akasheh Marwan , El Khoury Maroun , Otsmane Sonia , Alnassar Muath , Abulkhair Omalkhair , Farhat Fadi , Olsen Steve
Published: September 2024

Introduction: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of tumor DNA can detect actionable drivers and help guide therapy for patients with advanced-stage cancers. While tissue-based genotyping is considered a standard of care, blood-based genotyping is emerging as a valid alternative. Tumor genomic profiles may vary by region, and data from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are not widely available. This study elucidates the genomic landscape of advanced solid cancers in patients from the MENA region by retrospectively analyzing results from NGS circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing. Methods: In routine clinical practice, 926 plasma samples from 767 patients with advanced cancers from the MENA region were profiled using a comprehensive NGS assay (Guardant360®). We conducted a pan-cancer analysis and sub-analyses focusing on lung, breast, and colorectal cancers. Results: In the pan-cancer group, TP53 (58.5%), EGFR (20.4%), and KRAS (18.9%) were the most frequently mutated genes. EGFR (10.2%), FGFR1 (4.9%), and PIK3CA (4.9%) showed the most amplifications, while fusions were observed in 2.7% of patients, including ALK, FGFR2, and RET. For lung adenocarcinoma, EGFR (30.5%), KRAS (19.3%), and ERBB2 (4.6%) were the most frequently identified alterations among the genes recommended for evaluation by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). In patients with breast cancer, PIK3CA (35.3%), ESR1 (21.7%), and BRCA1/2 (13.3%) had the most prevalent alterations among NCCN-recommended genes. In colorectal cancer, KRAS (39.0%), NRAS (8.0%), and BRAF (V600E, 4.0%) were the most observed mutations among genes recommended by the NCCN. Comparing this cohort to publicly available Western and Eastern datasets also indicated similarities (including PIK3CA in breast cancer) and variances (including EGFR in lung adenocarcinoma) in key genes of interest in the analyzed cancer types. Conclusion: Overall, our findings provide insight into the genomic landscape of individuals with advanced solid organ malignancies from the MENA region and support the role of ctDNA in guiding therapeutic decisions.
Intraindividual Comparison of Ultrahigh-Spatial-Resolution Photon-Counting Detector CT and Energy-Integrating Detector CT for Coronary Stenosis Measurement
Authors: Vecsey-Nagy Milán , Tremamunno Giuseppe , Schoepf U. Joseph , Gnasso Chiara , Zsarnóczay Emese , Fink Nicola , Kravchenko Dmitrij , Halfmann Moritz C. , Laux Gerald S. , O’Doherty Jim , Szilveszter Bálint , Maurovich-Horvat Pál , Kabakus Ismail Mikdat , Suranyi Pal Spruill , Varga-Szemes Akos , Emrich Tilman
Published: September 2024

BACKGROUND:

A recent simulation study proposed that stenosis measurements on coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography are influenced by the improved spatial resolution of photon-counting detector (PCD)-CT. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the impact of ultrahigh-spatial-resolution (UHR) on coronary stenosis measurements and Coronary Artery Disease Reporting and Data System (CAD-RADS) reclassification rates in patients undergoing coronary CT angiography on both PCD-CT and energy-integrating detector (EID)-CT and to compare measurements against quantitative coronary angiography.

METHODS:

Patients with coronary calcification on EID-CT (collimation, 192×0.6 mm) were prospectively enrolled for a research coronary CT angiography with UHR PCD-CT (collimation, 120×0.2 mm) within 30 days (between April 1, 2023 and January 31, 2024). PCD-CT was acquired with the same or lower CT dose index and equivalent contrast media volume as EID-CT. Percentage diameter stenosis (PDS) for calcified, partially calcified, and noncalcified lesions were compared between scanners. Patient-level reclassification rates for CAD-RADS were evaluated. The accuracy of PDS measurements was validated against quantitative coronary angiography in patients who underwent invasive coronary angiography.

RESULTS:

In total, PDS of 278 plaques were quantified in 49 patients (calcified, 202; partially calcified, 51; noncalcified, 25). PCD-CT-based PDS values were lower than EID-CT measurements for calcified (45.1±20.7 versus 54.6±19.2%;
P
<0.001) and partially calcified plaques (44.3±19.6 versus 54.9±20.0%;
P
<0.001), without significant differences for noncalcified lesions (39.1±15.2 versus 39.0±16.0%;
P
=0.98). The reduction in stenosis degrees led to a 49.0% (24/49) reclassification rate to a lower CAD-RADS with PCD-CT. In a subset of 12 patients with 56 lesions, UHR–based PDS values showed higher agreement with quantitative coronary angiography (mean difference, 7.3%; limits of agreement, −10.7%/25.2%) than EID-CT measurements (mean difference, 17.4%; limits of agreement, −6.9%/41.7%).

CONCLUSIONS:

Compared with conventional EID-CT, UHR PCD-CT results in lower PDS values and more accurate stenosis measurements in coronary plaques with calcified components and leads to a substantial Coronary Artery Disease Reporting and Data System reclassification rate in 49.0% of patients.
Arg92Leu-cTnT Alters the cTnC-cTnI Interface Disrupting PKA-Mediated Relaxation
Authors: Lynn Melissa L. , Jimenez Jesus , Castillo Romi L. , Vasquez Catherine , Klass Mattie M. , Baldo Anthony P. , Kim Andrew , Gibson Cyonna , Murphy Anne M. , Tardiff Jil C.
Published: September 2024

BACKGROUND:

Impaired left ventricular relaxation, high filling pressures, and dysregulation of Ca
2+
homeostasis are common findings contributing to diastolic dysfunction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Studies have shown that impaired relaxation is an early observation in the sarcomere-gene-positive preclinical HCM cohort, which suggests the potential involvement of myofilament regulators in relaxation. A molecular-level understanding of mechanism(s) at the level of the myofilament is lacking. We hypothesized that mutation-specific, allosterically mediated, changes to the cTnC (cardiac troponin C)-cTnI (cardiac troponin I) interface can account for the development of early-onset diastolic dysfunction via decreased PKA accessibility to cTnI.

METHODS:

HCM mutations R92L-cTnT (cardiac troponin T; Arg92Leu) and Δ160E-cTnT (Glu160 deletion) were studied in vivo, in vitro, and in silico via 2-dimensional echocardiography, Western blotting, ex vivo hemodynamics, stopped-flow kinetics, time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer, and molecular dynamics simulations.

RESULTS:

The HCM-causative mutations R92L-cTnT and Δ160E-cTnT result in different time-of-onset diastolic dysfunction. R92L-cTnT demonstrated early-onset diastolic dysfunction accompanied by a localized decrease in phosphorylation of cTnI. Constitutive phosphorylation of cTnI (cTnI-D
23
D
24
) was sufficient to recover diastolic function to non-Tg levels only for R92L-cTnT. Mutation-specific changes in Ca
2+
dissociation rates associated with R92L-cTnT reconstituted with cTnI-D
23
D
24
led us to investigate potential involvement of structural changes in the cTnC-cTnI interface as an explanation for these observations. We probed the interface via time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer revealing a repositioning of the N-terminus of cTnI, closer to cTnC, and concomitant decreases in distance distributions at sites flanking the PKA consensus sequence. Implementing time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer distances as constraints into our atomistic model identified additional electrostatic interactions at the consensus sequence.

CONCLUSIONS:

These data show that the early diastolic dysfunction observed in a subset of HCM is attributable to allosterically mediated structural changes at the cTnC-cTnI interface that impair accessibility of PKA, thereby blunting β-adrenergic responsiveness and identifying a potential molecular target for therapeutic intervention.
Automated quality control of small animal MR neuroimaging data
Authors: Kalantari Aref , Shahbazi Mehrab , Schneider Marc , Raikes Adam C. , Frazão Victor Vera , Bhattrai Avnish , Carnevale Lorenzo , Diao Yujian , Franx Bart A. A. , Gammaraccio Francesco , Goncalves Lisa-Marie , Lee Susan , van Leeuwen Esther M. , Michalek Annika , Mueller Susanne , Olvera Alejandro Rivera , Padro Daniel , Selim Mohamed Kotb , van der Toorn Annette , Varriano Federico , Vrooman Roël , Wenk Patricia , Albers H. Elliott , Boehm-Sturm Philipp , Budinger Eike , Canals Santiago , De Santis Silvia , Brinton Roberta Diaz , Dijkhuizen Rick M. , Eixarch Elisenda , Forloni Gianluigi , Grandjean Joanes , Hekmatyar Khan , Jacobs Russell E. , Jelescu Ileana , Kurniawan Nyoman D. , Lembo Giuseppe , Longo Dario Livio , Maria Naomi S. Sta , Micotti Edoardo , Muñoz-Moreno Emma , Ramos-Cabrer Pedro , Reichardt Wilfried , Soria Guadalupe , Ielacqua Giovanna D. , Aswendt Markus
Published: September 2024

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a valuable tool for studying brain structure and function in animal and clinical studies. With the growth of public MRI repositories, access to data has finally become easier. However, filtering large datasets for potential poor-quality outliers can be a challenge. We present AIDAqc, a machine-learning-assisted automated Python-based command-line tool for small animal MRI quality assessment. Quality control features include signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), temporal SNR, and motion. All features are automatically calculated and no regions of interest are needed. Automated outlier detection for a given dataset combines the interquartile range and the machine-learning methods one-class support vector machine, isolation forest, local outlier factor, and elliptic envelope. To evaluate the reliability of individual quality control metrics, a simulation of noise (Gaussian, salt and pepper, speckle) and motion was performed. In outlier detection, single scans with induced artifacts were successfully identified by AIDAqc. AIDAqc was challenged in a large heterogeneous dataset collected from 19 international laboratories, including data from mice, rats, rabbits, hamsters, and gerbils, obtained with different hardware and at different field strengths. The results show that the manual inter-rater agreement (mean Fleiss Kappa score 0.17) is low when identifying poor-quality data. A direct comparison of AIDAqc results, therefore, showed only low-to-moderate concordance. In a manual post hoc validation of AIDAqc output, precision was high (>70%). The outlier data can have a significant impact on further postprocessing, as shown in representative functional and structural connectivity analysis. In summary, this pipeline optimized for small animal MRI provides researchers with a valuable tool to efficiently and effectively assess the quality of their MRI data, which is essential for improved reliability and reproducibility.
New Rankine Vortex Models Developed Based on SMAP Measurements
Authors: Gao Yuan , Sun Jian , Guan Changlong , Wang Yunhua
Published: September 2024

The L-band passive microwave radiometer on board the NASA Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite can measure brightness temperature to retrieve sea surface wind speed under tropical cyclone (TC) conditions without being affected by rainfall or signal saturation caused by high wind speeds. Based on this advantage, this paper used the SMAP wind products for parameterizing the key decay exponent α of the Rankine vortex model (a traditional parametric model of the TC wind field) and finally developed new Rankine models. The SMAP dataset included 67 TC cases. Through data statistics, we examined the relationship between α and the maximum wind speed Um, the relationship between α and the radius of maximum wind speed (Rm), and the relationship between Rm and the averaged radius of 17 m s−1 (R17). Results showed that the three relationships were both positive correlations, indicating that α can be parameterized in three empirical ways. The first way is to calculate solely with Um. The second way is to calculate solely with Rm. The third way is to calculate Um and Rm together. The three ways correspond to three new models: the SMAP Rankine Model-1 (SRM-1), the SMAP Rankine Model-2 (SRM-2), and the SMAP Rankine Model-3 (SRM-3). Finally, comparisons were made between the new models and three existing Rankine models, according to the model simulations and the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 measurements of 49 TC cases. Results showed that the SRM-3 performed best overall.

Significance Statement

Ocean surface wind fields are important driving factors for numerical models to guide evolution forecasting and risk assessment of tropical cyclones. The purpose of this study is to utilize the SMAP products to modify the traditional Rankine vortex model for tropical cyclone surface wind field estimation. Rankine decay exponent was found between 0.3 and 0.9 and positively dependent upon maximum wind speed and its radius. Based on these characteristics, the proposed new Rankine models could calculate the decay exponent and further the TC surface wind field symmetrically with high accuracy, simply using maximum wind and its radius. This paper shows a practical use of SMAP measurements on TC wind field monitoring, analyzing, and modeling.
Heterogeneity in Dental Tissue–Derived MSCs Revealed by Single-Cell RNA-seq
Authors: Behm C. , Miłek O. , Schwarz K. , Kovar A. , Derdak S. , Rausch-Fan X. , Moritz A. , Andrukhov O.
Published: September 2024

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent, progenitor cells that reside in tissues across the human body, including the periodontal ligament (PDL) and gingiva. They are a promising therapeutic tool for various degenerative and inflammatory diseases. However, different heterogeneity levels caused by tissue-to-tissue and donor-to-donor variability, and even intercellular differences within a given MSCs population, restrict their therapeutic potential. There are considerable efforts to decipher these heterogeneity levels using different “omics” approaches, including single-cell transcriptomics. Previous studies applied this approach to compare MSCs isolated from various tissues of different individuals, but distinguishing between donor-to-donor and tissue-to-tissue variability is still challenging. In this study, MSCs were isolated from the PDL and gingiva of 5 periodontally healthy individuals and cultured in vitro. A total of 3,844 transcriptomes were generated using single-cell mRNA sequencing. Clustering across the 2 different tissues per donor identified PDL- and gingiva-specific and tissue-spanning MSCs subpopulations with unique upregulated gene sets. Gene/pathway enrichment and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis revealed differences restricted to several cellular processes between tissue-specific subpopulations, indicating a limited tissue-of-origin variability in MSCs. Gene expression, pathway enrichment, and PPI network analysis across all donors’ PDL- or gingiva-specific subpopulations showed significant but limited donor-to-donor differences. In conclusion, this study demonstrates tissue- and donor-specific variabilities in the transcriptome level of PDL- and gingiva-derived MSCs, which seem restricted to specific cellular processes. Identifying tissue-specific and tissue-spanning subpopulations highlights the intercellular differences in dental tissue–derived MSCs. It could be reasonable to control MSCs at a single-cell level to ensure their properties before transplantation.
Understanding the confidence of agricultural producers in an emerging market
Authors: Montemurri David , Gogni Valeria A , Escobar Mariano Bonoli , Ramos Silvia A , Castellini María A , Barelli Esteban , Rojo Horacio , Picasso Emilio O
Published: September 2024

In this paper, we address the confidence of the agricultural producers in their prosperity as a driver of development. The agricultural sector development is highly dependent on short term investment decisions for sowing area, breeding, among others, which in turn is mediated by confidence. Agricultural producer confidence is continually measured in Argentina by CREA, a non-profit organisation composed of groups of producers spread across the country striving for innovation and best practices diffusion. We leverage this measurement methodology to propose a structural equation model to explain confidence by an exhaustive collection of factors affecting the business at company, sector or economy level, providing critical insight about the range of policies that would enable agriculture to grow. High regulation and tax burdens prevailing in the market during the past decades have been identified as relevant hindrance factors to confidence. On the enablers side are the respect for property rights and the organisation effectiveness actively fostered by CREA.
Analysing non-linearities and threshold effects between street-level built environments and local crime patterns: An interpretable machine learning approach
Authors: Lee Sugie , Ki Donghwan , Hipp John R , Kim Jae Hong
Published: September 2024

Despite the substantial number of studies on the relationships between crime patterns and built environments, the impacts of street-level built environments on crime patterns have not been definitively determined due to the limitations of obtaining detailed streetscape data and conventional analysis models. To fill these gaps, this study focuses on the non-linear relationships and threshold effects between built environments and local crime patterns at the level of a street segment in the City of Santa Ana, California. Using Google Street View (GSV) and semantic segmentation techniques, we quantify the features of the built environment in GSV images. Then, we examine the non-linear relationships and threshold effects between built environment factors and crime by applying interpretable machine learning (IML) methods. While the machine learning models, especially Deep Neural Network (DNN), outperformed negative binomial regression in predicting future crime events, particularly advantageous was that they allowed us to obtain a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between crime patterns and environmental factors. The results of interpreting the DNN model through IML indicate that most streetscape elements showed non-linear relationships and threshold effects with crime patterns that cannot be easily captured by conventional regression model specifications. The non-linearities and threshold effects revealed in this study can shed light on the factors associated with crime patterns and contribute to policy development for public safety from crime.
Trajectory tracking control of underactuated unmanned underwater vehicle without speeds measurement
Authors: Tian-tian Luan , Kai Wu , Ming-xiao Sun , Xiao-shuang Zhang , Bao-qi Wu
Published: September 2024

When unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) navigate on the surface, the UUVs’ speed cannot be accurately measured due to the humid environment. This can lead to a decrease in trajectory tracking control accuracy, and in severe cases, it may lead to controller failure. To solve this problem, a novelty speed observer based on real-time position state is proposed, and the UUV trajectory tracking controller is designed based on this observer. First, a speed observer with position status based on the UUV surface navigation kinematics model is proposed. Considering the impact of environmental disturbances, a disturbance observer is designed to observe surge, sway, and yaw torque disturbances. Next, a virtual control law is designed based on speed observations and reference trajectories to solve control laws. Considering the saturation input problem of the UUV driver, a command filter is introduced to constrain the amplitude and speed of the virtual control law. Then, a trajectory tracking sliding mode controller is designed using the virtual control law and the output of the command filter. Meanwhile, the disturbance of surge torque and heading torque is compensated with the observed value of the disturbance observer. The stability of the entire closed-loop control system is analyzed using Lyapunov’s stability theory. Finally, a series of numerical simulations are added to illustrate the method’s effectiveness.
Interrelatedness of false-belief reasoning, structural language, and pragmatic communication in typically developing 4- to 6-year-old children
Authors: Kotila Aija , Mäkinen Leena , Leinonen Eeva , Loukusa Soile
Published: September 2024

This study investigated the complex relationship between false-belief (FB) understanding, structural language and pragmatic communication in typically developing children. A total of 78 Finnish children, aged from 4 to 6 years, including an equal number of boys and girls, participated in this study. In the first instance, the study explored the relationship between children’s structural language skills and their understanding in FB tasks. The children’s structural language was evaluated using the Token Test for Children, German’s Test of Word Finding and the structural language scales (Speech, Syntax, Semantics and Coherence) of the Children’s Communication Checklist (CCC-2). Subsequently, the study examined the relationship between FB understanding and pragmatic communication skills, as measured by the pragmatic communication scales of the CCC-2 (Inappropriate Initiation, Stereotyped Language, Use of Context and Non-verbal Communication). In addition, the study investigated the effect of sex on these skills. A significant effect was found between the ability to understand verbal instructions and FB reasoning. However, no significant effect was found for naming and word retrieval abilities, nor for linguistic abilities as assessed by the CCC-2’s structural linguistic scales. Furthermore, children who demonstrated higher skills in understanding the mental states of others also exhibited better pragmatic communication skills using the CCC-2’s pragmatic scales. Although girls outperformed boys in the FB task, sex did not significantly predict pragmatic communication skills. The result suggests interrelatedness of language comprehension and FB understanding, as well as between FB and pragmatic communication abilities in typically developing preschool children.
Chronic Cough Related to Thyroid Cartilage Superior Cornu Abnormality
Authors: Lechien Jérôme R. , Buchet Alexandre , Doyen Jacques , Saussez Sven , Legrand Alexandre
Published: September 2024

Chronic cough is a common troublesome symptom in otolaryngology head and neck surgery practice. In rare cases, chronic cough may be related to anatomical abnormalities. In this article, we report the history of a 64-year-old female with a chronic course due to a curved superior cornu of the thyroid cartilage and related irritation of the laryngeal superior nerve. The cough was atypical and resolved after the surgical resection of the abnormal cornu. There was no recurrence at 9 months post-surgery. The findings of the present case report highlight the need to explore the laryngeal anatomy in patients with chronic cough to identify potential abnormalities, which may be treated surgically.
Covalence in Cow-veillance: Sensing Technologies and Human-Animal Affinities in Dairying
Authors: Bellet Camille , Morgan Emily Kathryn
Published: September 2024

This article considers how the widespread use of camera surveillance systems in dairy farming affects engagements between farmers and cows. While literatures on visual surveillance often cast monitoring technologies as cold and mechanical tools for enabling and reinforcing hegemonic power relationships, our research leads us to question this reductive formulation. Drawing on ethnographic research with dairy farmers, as well as archival materials from agricultural presses in the United Kingdom and France, we argue that applying camera surveillance on dairy farms extends emotional investments and affinities between farmers and cows. Challenging dominant critiques of visual surveillance, we consider cows as subjects and not just objects of the camera gaze and bring attention to the sensorial experiences of farmers relying on cameras as vital tools. We explore how experiencing visual images of cows, particularly real-time images displayed on computers and smartphones, engenders new sensations among farmers; and we speculate about how cows’ own material realities and sensory experiences of being farmed may change with the advent of remote-sensing cameras. Our study offers an innovative way of looking at human-animal relationships in agriculture, one focused on the evocative and sensorial experiences of remote visual monitoring, from human and non-human animal perspectives.
The mystery of discrepancies of piano education for children in China: How social classes affect musical parenting of parents
Authors: Cheng Chao , Wu Yijun , Diao Yanjie , Xiao Sihan
Published: September 2024

Parents from different social classes in Eastern and Western countries have distinct approaches to musical parenting. This study focused on the musical parenting practices among Chinese parents concerning their children’s piano education, aiming to elucidate how social class affects these practices. Fieldwork and semi-structured interviews were conducted with four Chinese parents at a music school, within-case analysis identified four musical parenting practices: (1) limited supportive learning; (2) playing to win; (3) strategy for an elegant girl; and (4) preparation for becoming a pianist. Through cross-case analysis, four distinct musical parenting patterns emerged based on the practices of Chinese parents of varying social classes. These findings provide potential explanations for four distinct musical parenting patterns across various social classes, highlighting how working-class Chinese parents construct the myth of upward social mobility through their musical parenting.
Journeying Through Journals: The Publishing Process and How to Maximise Research Impact
Authors: Madden Judith C. , Kandarova Helena , Neuhaus Winfried , Osborne Nikki , Paini Alicia , Seabra Rita , Trigwell Susan
Published: September 2024

Publication is essential to share new ideas, knowledge, or recent findings with those who have an interest in a particular area. Selecting the most appropriate format and timing for dissemination is critical to ensuring the long-term impact of research. However, many researchers, particularly those in the early stages of their career, are unaware of how the publication process works and the different options available for promoting research to maximum effect. Understanding how to maximise impact is particularly important for research using animal models or alternative methods, to make the best use of any animal data generated and reduce animal testing in future. Herein, different publishing models are explained, including anonymised peer review, open review and data sharing initiatives. An overview is given of key resources available to assist authors, reviewers and editors in the process of writing, presenting, reviewing and publishing research. New challenges and opportunities in publishing are discussed, including the potential influence of Artificial Intelligence. A list of ‘ten top tips’ in publishing for early career researchers is presented, providing advice and recommendations for ensuring a successful and impactful publication record.
An Interview with Vinciane Despret: A Question Rarely Lives Up to Its Situation
Authors: Muecke Stephen , Janicka Iwona
Published: September 2024

In this interview, Vinciane Despret discusses the importance of Bruno Latour to her work. In particular, she addresses the questions of methodology. She examines why it is necessary to invent a new method for each new object we study and how we can become more attentive as scientists, especially those specialising in ethology, to the ways in which humans and non-humans are interested in each other. Finally, Despret considers how we can inherit from Bruno Latour’s work for our future thinking.
After eviction, before emergence: Temporal displacements and differentiated futures in Boribana, Abidjan (2019–2022)
Authors: Veithen Christoph
Published: September 2024

In Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), many inhabitants have had to cope with eviction and forced displacement in the last decade under the governmental project of émergence, or developmental policies which are intended to transform Côte d’Ivoire into an emerging, worldclass economy. This article analyzes experiences and temporalities of displacement in Boribana, one of the neighborhoods in Abidjan impacted by a large-scale infrastructure project, the Fourth Bridge Construction Project (FBCP). The article proposes to analyze the impact of the FBCP and evictions among Boribana’s inhabitants from 2019 to 2022 as temporal displacements, thus going beyond analyses of eviction which emphasize spatial displacement and socio-economic dispossession. By emphasizing the process of temporal displacement, the article shows how evictions transform social temporalities and orientations towards the future. Evictions often impact the capacities of residents to imagine and work towards future opportunities and possibilities to cope with uncertainty and precarity. Furthermore, this article contends that exclusionary policies and evictions produce differentiated futures as they affect the temporalities and futures of differentiated citizens unevenly and ultimately reinforce inequalities.
Elimination of surface spottiness defects and characterisation of the nitrocarburised surface for 40Cr steel
Authors: Fan Dong Xu , Liu Cong , Xu Jing Sheng , Wang Man Fu
Published: September 2024

Nitrocarburising was an effective technique to enhance the surface strength of iron-based alloys and has been widely used in engineering. However, an unfavourable issue was the potential development of spottiness defects on specimen surfaces due to nitrocarburising treatment. This paper focused on the nitrocarburised 40Cr steel shafts with surface spottiness defects in production conditions. Optimisation of the production process was conducted by pre-cleaning the furnace with organic solvents before nitrocarburising treatment to address spottiness defects on the workpiece surfaces. The microhardness values of the specimens were measured, and surface characteristics were analysed using scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffractometer. The surface microhardness results indicated that the specimens with spottiness defects displayed lower levels, which implied that spottiness defects were detrimental to surface microhardness. The main elements distributed on the surface of the specimens were iron, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon. The phase identification results proved that the nitrocarburised surface layers were mainly composed of Fe3O4, Fe3C, and Fe4N. The spottiness defects were most likely caused by the accumulation of iron oxides, which hindered the diffusion of nitrogen and carbon atoms in the nitrocarburising process. As a result, the Fe3O4 levels on the surface of the optimised-treated specimens decreased, while the Fe3C and Fe4N content increased. This research served as valuable insights for enhancing the visual appearance and properties of alloy steels post nitrocarburising treatment.
Physiotherapy-led care versus physician-led care for persons with low back pain: A systematic review
Authors: Severijns Pieter , Goossens Nina , Dankaerts Wim , Pitance Laurent , Roussel Nathalie , Denis Corentin , Fourré Antoine , Verschueren Pieter , Timmermans Annick , Janssens Lotte
Published: September 2024

Objective

To summarise the evidence on the effect of physiotherapy-led versus physician-led care on clinical outcomes, healthcare use, and costs in persons with low back pain.

Data sources

PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Embase, and PEDro were systematically searched with the latest search performed in July 2024. Reference lists of articles were hand-searched.

Review methods

Studies comparing clinical outcomes, healthcare use, or costs between adults with low back pain first consulting a physiotherapist and those first consulting a physician were included. Methodological quality was assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Study design, clinical setting, patient characteristics, and group effects were extracted. Findings on outcomes assessed in two or more studies were synthesised narratively. Certainty of evidence was determined using the GRADE approach.

Results

Eighteen studies comprising 1,481,980 persons with low back pain were included. Most studies were non-randomised retrospective or prospective cohort studies. In primary care (15 studies), consistent evidence, though of mostly very low certainty, indicated that physiotherapy-led care leads to higher patient satisfaction, less use of medication, injections and imaging, fewer physician's visits, lower total healthcare costs, and less sick leave compared to physician-led care, without increased harm. In emergency care (three studies), evidence of very low certainty showed that physiotherapy-led care leads to shorter waiting and treatment times, and fewer hospital admissions.

Conclusion

Physiotherapy-led care is a clinically, time- and cost-effective care pathway for low back pain, although the certainty of evidence was overall very low. Further high-quality research with a greater focus on clinical outcomes is warranted.
Ethics Education, Moral Attentiveness and Consumer Wisdom: Exploring the Relationships
Authors: El-Sherbiny Youmna Soliman , Hammad Hadeer , El-Bassiouny Noha
Published: September 2024

Ethics education has recently garnered a great deal of attention; it has been viewed as a remedy against a plague of diverse forms of immoral practices carried out by businesses and consumers. Markedly, ethics education has proved its effectiveness in influencing students’ moral cognition and behavior as future business practitioners. However, the effect of being exposed to ethics courses on students as consumers has not been investigated yet. Thus, a post-only quasi-experimental design was conducted to examine such an influence on the dimensions of moral attentiveness and consumer wisdom; as cognitive and behavioral constructs respectively. Results revealed that ethics education had a positive influence on students’ reflective moral attentiveness as well as two dimensions of consumer wisdom, which are purpose and perspective. Finally, the research provides theoretical and practical implications as well as directions of the available research avenues for future researchers.
Construction of Electrically Heated Pavement Using Recycled Waste Rubber Tires
Authors: Radwan Islam M. , AbdelRaheem Mohamed
Published: September 2024

Accumulated snow on roads presents a dual risk of accidents and financial losses. Conventional de-icing methods, which rely on chemicals, salt, and heavy machinery, are unsustainable and detrimental to both the environment and infrastructure. Furthermore, they demand significant labor and pose hazards in densely populated areas. In response, heated pavement systems such as hydronic and electrically conductive concrete (ECON) have gained traction for mitigating snow accumulation on roads. However, the use of carbon fiber and carbon black in ECON raises costs and depletes valuable resources. This research introduces an inventive and sustainable approach to address snow accumulation on rigid pavements during winter. The proposed method utilizes waste rubber tires (WRT) as heating pads for pavements. The steel wires within these tires generate heat when an electric current is applied. The study validates this method by embedding WRT across the rigid pavement, creating an electric circuit connected to a power source. The rubber tire pads demonstrated high efficiency in conducting electricity, significantly increasing temperatures with a 6 V supply. The tire rubber pads reached up to 46.3°C and 60°C using different electric circuit designs, compared with the ambient temperature of 22°C–23°C. Embedded in concrete, these pads raised surface temperatures to as high as 52°C, effectively melting snow, ice cubes, and crushed ice within 1 h. This method provides an environmentally friendly and sustainable solution. This research unveils a groundbreaking strategy for de-icing snow on rigid pavements, offering a sustainable substitute for traditional de-icing procedures and addressing resource depletion.
Promoting Sustainable Transportation Modes: A Systematic Review of Behavior-Change Strategies
Authors: Pan Meiyu (Melrose) , Ryan Alyssa
Published: September 2024

In previous studies, many travel-behavior-change strategies often relied on single behavior determinants or psychological theories, overlooking the incorporation of sociopsychological theories for guidance in their design. Integrating these theories could offer consistent guidance for program developers and enhance intervention effectiveness. This paper systematically reviews interventions targeting travel-behavior change, with a focus on self-determination theory and its principles of satisfying individuals’ competence, autonomy, and relatedness needs for enacting change. Additionally, experiment design methods, including randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental designs, are reviewed and discussed. Key findings highlight the effectiveness of personalized interventions and integrating feedback with goal-setting strategies. Given the limited direct references to sociopsychological theories in existing studies, we explore relevant sociopsychological theories applicable to travel-behavior-change programs to provide examples of how strategies could be designed based on them. This review contributes valuable insights into the development of strategies for changing travel behavior, offering a theoretical framework for researchers and practitioners to guide intervention design, experimentation, and evaluation. Leveraging these theories not only facilitates reproducibility but also provides a standardized approach for transportation demand management program developers.
Development of a Real-Time Lane Departure Warning System for Varying Severity Levels Using a Sparse 3-D Lidar Sensor
Authors: Gupta Akshay , Jain Shreyansh , Choudhary Pushpa , Parida Manoranjan
Published: September 2024

The study proposes a mechanism to robustly identify lane markings using sparse point cloud and offers a practical solution for detecting different types of vehicle movement based on their severity levels which have not been addressed in existing literature. Ground surface was first separated out from 3-D point cloud data collected from lidar sensors in dynamic conditions using a random sample consensus (RANSAC) algorithm. Within the ground plane, curb points were segregated using a modified Z-score and a curb line was generated using RANSAC. After getting tilt information, outlier points were removed, and lane marking points were segregated from road surface based on intensity values. Further, a window search algorithm was employed to get the lane marking points within each window, and a ridge regression (regularization) method was used for polynomial fitting of lane marking lines. Based on the minimum vertical deviation, the best fitted lane line was selected and other lines were parallel fitted accordingly. The system was designed to continuously monitor the vehicle position compared with detected lanes. When a vehicle begins to drift within or outside its designated lane or approaches a lane boundary without the turn signal being activated, the system issues a warning to the driver. The proposed method achieves an accuracy of 99.87% and precision of 98.01%, demonstrating its robustness. With an average run duration of 40 ms per frame, the suggested algorithm can operate in real time. The proposed system will help drivers improve lane keeping behavior, maintain lane discipline, and prevent crashes resulting from unintentional lane departures.
Measurement While Drilling in the Illinois Subsurface: Drilling Versus Compound Parameters
Authors: Abhinav Anshu , Rodgers Michael , Kassel Scott , Hessing Bradly , Baser Tugce
Published: September 2024

This study focuses on the investigation of detecting soil profiles encountered during exploratory drilling using continuous drilling parameters recorded in real-time, known as measurement while drilling (MWD). MWD is an instrumented drilling technique where drilling parameters, such as drilling rate, rotational speed, thrust, and torque, are recorded. Despite the advancements in MWD practices in the energy industry, MWD application in geotechnical engineering remains limited because of the lack of comprehensive research utilizing a large database and a systematic analysis of MWD parameters and their relationships with changing stratigraphy. This lack of research motivated this study to perform multiple exploratory drillings using an instrumented drill rig to measure the MWD parameters and calculate the compound parameters. The computed compound parameters were plotted with depth and their predictive capabilities toward soil stratigraphy was assessed. This assessment included an analysis of variation in MWD and compound parameters for both drilling data in the literature and for the data collected in Illinois. Data from all sites were combined and they were used to train various machine learning models, including decision trees, random forests, XGBoost, neural networks, and support vector machines, with hyperparameter tuning. The models were benchmarked for their prediction accuracies. The XGBoost model achieved an accuracy of 0.85, which was the highest compared to other models. The outcomes of this research will contribute to the generation of an extensive dataset for future MWD research and solidify the use of MWD as a cost-effective complementary approach to traditional site investigation techniques.