bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
pH‐Sensitive Magnetic Nanoparticle‐Mediated Natural‐Killer‐Cell‐Based Microrobots for Dual‐Targeted Delivery and Induction of Pro‐Inflammatory Macrophage Polarization
Authors: Nguyen Van Du , Park Jieun , Choi Seoyeon , Nguyen Kim Tien , Kim Hyungwoo , Park Jong‐Oh , Choi Eunpyo
Published: September 2024

Adoptive cell therapy using natural killer (NK) cells emerges as the next‐generation cancer immunotherapy. Based on the intrinsic capability of direct cancer cell necrosis without prior education, a chemotherapeutic, free‐drug delivery, NK‐cell‐based platform can be developed. However, weak targeting of NK cells to solid tumors is observed. In addition, to boost the tumor‐killing efficiency, another immune‐regulating function should be added to the cells. Herein, a NK‐cell‐based hybrid system (NK‐Robot) conjugated with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) that provides 1) efficient guidance of NK cells and 2) targeted delivery of MNPs in situ is demonstrated, taking advantage of a newly designed, stimuli‐responsive polymeric linker. Thus, NK cells are allowed to target tumors under magnetic control conditions, and the liberated MNPs effectively reeducate the tumor‐associated macrophages (M2) to antitumor macrophages (M1), beneficial for the immunotherapy of tumors. In vivo experiments on BALB/c nude mice further support the finding that NK‐Robots effectively inhibit tumor growth.
Effect of using normal concrete or recycled concrete layer on behavior of repaired projectile bullet damaged reinforced concrete beams
Authors: Obaidat Ala’ Taleb
Published: September 2024

This study utilized experimental research to investigate the efficiency of using normal aggregate concrete (NAC) or recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) as a new concrete layer for repairing projectile bullet damage to strengthening reinforced concrete (RC) beams. This study comprised the construction and testing of eight RC beams made of RAC and NAC. They are initially subjected to projectile bullets and after that tested with flexure load to evaluate the effect of using RAC and NAC that was investigated. The findings of test results demonstrate that the repaired specimens with RAC or NAC experienced a higher load capacity than the damaged control specimens. As such, this approach could potentially use to restore RAC or NAC beams were previously damaged by projectile bullets. In addition, the findings of this research indicate that the load capacity of the damaged RC beams that were previously repaired using the NAC layer was higher than the load capacity of the damaged RC beams that were repaired using the RAC layer. The load capacity enhanced significantly of (106%–118%) and (104%–113%), respectively, when NAC and RAC are utilized in repairs. Therefore, using either NAC or RAC concrete is more economical, environmentally friendly, and efficient than demolishing.
Reconceptualizing assessment design in the age of AI: Is it genuine or faux?
Authors: Pramjeeth Shamola , Ramgovind Priya
Published: September 2024

While AI has the potential to streamline assessment development in higher education, there are concerns about its reliability, fairness, and potential to perpetuate bias. This study sought to understand the perceptions of academics and teaching and learning (T&L) specialists on the use of AI tools and large language models on assessment development, whether the private HE institution (PHEI) needs to change how it assesses students, and the types of assessments to be created. This topic is extremely relevant, as many higher education institutions (HEIs) are entering unchartered territory, and there is scant credible evidence on the prior‐implementation reporting and evaluation of AI integration into assessment practices. Forty academics and T&L specialists at a PHEI in South Africa shared their perceptions. The study revealed two key themes: (a) AI use and (b) reconceptualizing assessments and T&L structures, indicating the need for HEIs to understand the synergies between AI and assessment practices.
Magnetoelastic Elastomers and Hydrogels for Studies of Mechanobiology
Authors: Galie Peter A. , Pogoda Katarzyna , Tran Kiet A. , Cēbers Andrejs , Janmey Paul A.
Published: September 2024

Magnetically responsive soft materials that change elastic modulus upon application of a magnetic field have many applications but have only recently been applied to biological studies. The ability to make magnetoelastic materials with shear moduli between 100 and 10,000 Pa, which span the range of most soft tissues, enables many new methods to study the response of cells to a changing mechanical environment. In this chapter, we summarize some properties of magnetoelastic soft elastomers and hydrogels, with an emphasis on hydrogels comprised of fibrous polymers that mimic the extracellular matrix forming most soft tissues. An example of the utility of these materials is the demonstration that cells respond within seconds to a nearly instantaneous change in environmental stiffness. This response involves intracellular calcium fluxes, identifying this mechanism as perhaps the initial signal that cells use for mechanobiological control.
Transdisciplinary Approaches in Assimilating Power and Diversity to Address Children’s Interface with the Law: A Case Study from India
Authors: Ramaswamy Sheila , Seshadri Shekhar , Bunders Joske
Published: September 2024

Many children worldwide interact with the justice system, which presents a host of legal and practical problems. The substantial power differentials in children’s interface with the criminal justice system are skewed towards professionals from the judicial, protection and mental health fields. Since legal and judicial systems tend to be particularly patriarchal, paternalistic and hierarchical, they are poorly equipped to grasp the need for democratic and more fluid interactions in order to include marginalized and vulnerable witnesses, such as children. Drawing on the work of SAMVAD (Support, Advocacy & Mental Health Interventions for children in Vulnerable circumstances and Distress) and discussing transdisciplinary methodologies, this chapter reviews SAMVADs’ attempts to address the complex problems of child protection and mental health and law—both with children, and in intersectoral collaboration between service providers and stakeholders from the domains of child mental health and law. It does so with the specific aim to elicit lessons on how to overcome systematic and structural barriers and power asymmetries to bringing stakeholders together in a process of knowledge co-creation.
Roles and Competencies in Transdisciplinary Practices
Authors: Broerse Jacqueline E. W. , Zweekhorst Marjolein B. M.
Published: September 2024

This part of the edited volume explores how conceptualizations of transdisciplinary knowledge development processes, guided by transformative visions, materialize in engaged research practices. In this context, researchers grapple with navigating diverse roles and reflecting on their positionality. In addition, a reflexive, situated research practice demands a careful assembly and application of a wide variety of competencies to effectively implement and navigate these roles. By connecting theory-based approaches with empirical examples drawn from various transdisciplinary projects, this part of the book aims to cultivate a nuanced understanding of how roles and competencies contribute to shaping the emerging profile of the ‘transformative transdisciplinary researcher’.
Running a Real-World Lab to Stimulate Urban Food System Transformation: Navigating Between Different Actor Roles as a Transdisciplinary Researcher
Authors: den Boer Alanya C. L.
Published: September 2024

Real-world Labs are increasingly used to catalyse systemic change by creating experimental spaces in which knowledge co-creation is stimulated among actors from the domains of research, business, policy, and civil society, known as the quadruple helix. However, relatively little attention is given to the challenge of facilitating such transformative Labs as a transdisciplinary researcher. In this chapter, Alanya den Boer reflects on her learning journey as a PhD researcher who conducted transdisciplinary research. She elaborates on the roles she adopted and the role synergies and conflicts that she faced during the course of a project in the field of food system transformation. The chapter ends with a critical discussion and a set of recommendations for the design and architecture of future projects that aim to stimulate system transformation via transdisciplinary Real-world labs approaches.
Transdisciplinarity for Transformation: What’s Next?
Authors: Regeer Barbara J. , Klaassen Pim , Broerse Jacqueline E. W.
Published: September 2024

As many of the chapters in this volume have illustrated, there are no single or easy answers to the question of ‘what is transdisciplinarity?’ and ‘how can I, through research or everyday inquiry, contribute to transformation?’. Everyone who was involved in this book project went on their own quest, their own journey, sometimes together with others, sometimes alone. In this concluding chapter, we loosely tie things together, ask ourselves what is next for Transdisciplinarity for Transformation by drafting an agenda for action, learning and research, and remind ourselves of the importance of diving into the unknown with curiosity and humility, without losing one’s ideals to make the world a more just, sustainable and safe place for all.
The Local Politics of Green Mobility in San Francisco and Copenhagen
Authors: Henderson Jason
Published: September 2024

In this chapter I consider how local politics shapes policies that promote or impede green mobility, including walking, cycling, and public transport organized around compact, high-density, car free and car-lite urbanism. I refer to municipal or city-scale politics and examine two aspirational green mobility cities, Copenhagen, Denmark, and San Francisco, California to help understand why green mobility transitions have been slow to realize in even the most promising localities. Despite different governing structures and histories, the politics of green mobility in both cities is remarkably similar. In both cities there are three broad factions demonstrating ideological difference over green mobility. (1) A left/progressive political faction promotes green mobility as a public good that government should actively promote. (2) A neoliberal faction, sometimes labeled “moderate” in both San Francisco and Copenhagen, also promotes green mobility, but with a market-oriented, deregulated hue, especially on housing and real estate. (3) A right/conservative politics of mobility expresses skepticism towards green mobility transitions and seeks to preserve car access to city spaces. I highlight how each mobility ideology is operationalized through debates over green mobility, including housing, in San Francisco and Copenhagen during 2022, two years after the Covid-19 Pandemic first locked-down cities.
On the Weierstraß form of infinite-dimensional differential algebraic equations
Authors: Erbay Mehmet , Jacob Birgit , Morris Kirsten
Published: September 2024

The solvability for infinite-dimensional differential algebraic equations possessing a resolvent index and a Weierstraß form is studied. In particular, the concept of integrated semigroups is used to determine a subset on which solutions exist and are unique. This information is later used for a important class of systems, namely, port-Hamiltonian differential algebraic equations.
A potent therapeutic scaffold fusing quinazolinone/melatonin for future colorectal cancer interventions: design, one-pot synthesis, biological and ADME-tox modeling studies
Authors: Preciado David , Cardona-Galeano Wilson , Herrera-Ramírez Angie , Yepes Andrés F.
Published: September 2024

Colorectal cancer is one of the most incident and lethal cancers in the world. The search for new compounds to treat this disease is being motivated by the occurrence of side effects and the rising in the resistance to chemotherapy. We synthesized a new class of conjugates bearing quinazolinone and melatonin which were prepared in good yields (63–93%) through one-pot three-component approach. quinazolinone/melatonin conjugates were proved against SW480 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells and non-malignant colonic cells (NCM460). The cytotoxic and antiproliferative activities were determined through the sulforhodamine B assay. Compounds 1f, 1g and 1i–l displayed the best activity, being hybrids 1i–l the most selective against malignant cells, causing either a cytostatic and/or cytotoxic effect with evident morphological changes. Moreover, a theoretical drug-like/pharmacokinetics/toxicological study suggested that the hit-promising compounds 1i and 1j would have a great chance to advance to further preclinical studies as anti-cancer therapeutic candidate for oral oncological management. Our study evidently identified the potency of these quinazolinone/melatonin hybrids to be a prototype drug for further investigations toward novel therapeutics treatments of colorectal cancer.
Endoscopic endonasal resection of olfactory tract hamartoma for pediatric epilepsy
Authors: Kundishora Adam J. , Reeves Benjamin C. , Lerner David K. , Storm Phillip B. , Prelack Marisa S. , Palmer James N. , Adappa Nithin D. , Kennedy Benjamin C.
Published: September 2024

Background

Non-hypothalamic glioneural hamartomas are rare entities known to cause medically refractory epilepsy. Olfactory bulb hamartomas, in particular, are exceptionally rare.

Methods

We describe a case of an olfactory bulb hamartoma that was surgically resected at our institution. We also performed a literature review of all glioneural hamartomas and discuss the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of these lesions.

Results

Herein, we present the unusual case of a typically developing 17-year-old boy with a near life-long history of drug-resistant epilepsy, found to have a 0.8 × 1.0 cm right olfactory bulb hamartoma. Endoscopic endonasal trans-cribriform resection of the lesion led to seizure freedom in the 6-month follow-up period (Engel class 1 outcome). Comprehensive literature review revealed only one other sporadic case, which was also successfully treated with total surgical resection.

Conclusions

Our case of an olfactory bulb hamartoma adds to the limited literature currently available, illustrating key clinical characteristics of these exceedingly rare lesions and outlining an effective, minimally invasive, and low-morbidity treatment strategy.
Cardiologists' perspective on termination of pacemaker therapy–an anonymous survey among cardiologists in Germany
Authors: Portig Irene , Hofacker Elena , Sommer Philipp , Volberg Christian , Seifart Carola
Published: September 2024

Background

The patient’s right to refuse pacemaker therapy is mentioned in the relevant European consensus statement but additional information is only available on deactivation of implantable cardioverter deactivator and not on other cardiac implantable electronic devices such as pacemakers. Therefore, we were interested in opinions, concerns and attitudes of cardiologists, who are the primary contact persons for such requests, since the number of patients asking for withdrawal of pacemaker therapy is likely to increase leaving cardiologists and healthcare professionals with a difficult medical but also ethical problem.

Methods

An anonymous questionnaire was sent to all German cardiology departments (N = 288).

Results

48% of cardiology departments responded by sending back 247 completed questionnaires. Most participating cardiologists were experienced when considering the duration of their professional activity. Almost all of the respondents regularly perform check-ups of pacemakers. The majority of cardiologists answering our questionnaire were prepared to deactivate a pacemaker upon patients’ request, and have done so. In pacemaker dependency, however, the willingness to withdraw decreases, even if death is imminent, for fear of causing distressing symptoms, sense of being responsible for patients possible immediate death, or fear of legal consequences.

Conclusions

The survey could clearly show that uncertainties remain among cardiologists dealing with a patient's wish for withdrawal, especially in cases of pacemaker dependency. We suggest that official statements of cardiologic societies in Europe are issued to clarify ethical, legal and practical aspects of pacemaker withdrawal.

Trial registration

Registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00026168) on 30.08.2021.

Graphical Abstract
Correlation of preoperative sonographic staging and postoperative histopathologic staging in patients with invasive breast cancer
Authors: Mueller Carolin , Zimmermann Julia Sarah Maria , Radosa Marc Philipp , Hahn Anna Katharina , Kaya Askin Canguel , Huwer Sarah , Stotz Lisa , Wagenpfeil Gudrun , Radosa Christoph Georg , Solomayer Erich-Franz , Radosa Julia Caroline
Published: September 2024

Purpose

To assess the accuracy of preoperative sonographic staging in patients with primary invasive breast cancer.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed a prospectively kept service database of patients with newly diagnosed, unifocal, cT1-3, invasive breast cancer. All patients were diagnosed at a single center institution between January 2013 and December 2021. Clinical T stage was assessed preoperatively by ultrasound and correlated with the definite postoperative pathologic T stage. Demographics, clinical and pathological characteristics were collected. Factors influencing accuracy, over- and underdiagnosis of sonographic staging were analyzed with multivariable regression analysis.

Results

A total of 2478 patients were included in the analysis. Median patients’ age was 65 years. 1577 patients (63.6%) had clinical T1 stage, 864 (34.9%) T2 and 37 (1.5%) T3 stage. The overall accuracy of sonography and histology was 76.5% (n = 1896), overestimation was observed in 9.1% (n = 225) of all cases, while underestimation occurred in 14.4% (n = 357) of all cases. Accuracy increased when clinical tumor stage cT was higher (OR 1.23; 95% CI 1.10–1.38, p ≤ 0.001). The highest accuracy was seen for patients with T2 stage (82.8%). The accuracy was lower in Luminal B tumors compared to Luminal A tumors (OR 0.71; 95% CI 0.59–0.87, p ≤ 0.001). We could not find any association between sonographic accuracy in HER2 positive patients, and demographic characteristics, or tumor-related factors.

Conclusion

Our unicentric study showed a high accuracy of sonography in predicting T stage, especially for tumors with clinical T2 stage. Tumor stage and biological tumor factors do affect the accuracy of sonographic staging.
Communication in oncology between healthcare providers, patients, the scientific community, and the media: recommendations from the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM)
Authors: Berardi Rossana , Parisi Alessandro , Maruzzo Marco , Bellani Marco , Beretta Giordano Domenico , Boldrini Mauro , Cavanna Luigi , Gori Stefania , Iannelli Elisabetta , Mancuso Anna Maria , Marinelli Massimiliano , Martinella Vera , Musso Michele , Papa Roberto , Russo Antonio , Tarantino Valentina , Taranto Mirella , Cinieri Saverio
Published: September 2024

Aim

To identify barriers between health and communication in oncology in order to promote the best possible practice. The areas of communication to be focused on are communication directly with the patient, communication within the scientific community, and communication with the media.

Material and methods

A working group including eminent experts from the national mass media, healthcare system, and patients’ advocacy has been established on behalf of the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM), with the aim of developing suitable recommendations for the best communication in oncology.

A literature search has been conducted selecting primary studies related to the best practices applied to communication in oncology. Subsequent to having identified the most representative statements, through a consensus conference using the RAND/University of California Los Angeles modified Delphi method, the panel evaluated the relevance of each statement to support useful strategies to develop effective communication between oncologist physicians and patients, communication within the scientific community, and communication with media outlets, including social media.

Results

A total of 292 statements have been extracted from 100 articles. Following an evaluation of relevance, it was found that among the 142 statements achieving the highest scores, 30 of these have been considered of particular interest by the panel.

Conclusions

This consensus and the arising document represent an attempt to strengthen the strategic alliance between key figures in communication, identifying high-impact recommendations for the management of communication in oncology with respect to patients, the wider scientific community, and the media.
A demand forecasting system of product categories defined by their time series using a hybrid approach of ensemble learning with feature engineering
Authors: Mejía Santiago , Aguilar Jose
Published: September 2024

Retail companies face major problems in the estimation of their product’s future demand due to the high diversity of sales behavior that each good presents. Different forecasting models are implemented to meet the demand requirements for efficient inventory management. However, in most of the proposed works, a single model approach is applied to forecast all products, ignoring that some methods are better adapted for certain features of the demand time series of each product. The proposed forecasting system addresses this problem, by implementing a two-phase methodology that initially clusters the products with the application of an unsupervised learning approach using the extracted demand features of each good, and then, implements a second phase where, after a feature engineering process, a set of different forecasting methods are evaluated to identify those with best performs for each cluster. Finally, ensemble machine learning models are implemented using the top-performing models of each cluster to carry out the demand estimation. The results indicate that the proposed forecasting system improves the demand estimation over the single forecasting approaches when evaluating the R2, MSE, and MASE quality measures.
Prediction of COVID-19 cases using SIR and AR models: Tokyo-specific and nationwide application
Authors: Seki Tatsunori , Sakurai Tomoaki , Miyata Satoshi , Chujo Keisuke , Murata Toshiki , Inoue Hiroyasu , Ito Nobuyasu
Published: September 2024

With fast infectious diseases such as COVID-19, the SIR model may not represent the number of infections due to the occurrence of distribution shifts. In this study, we use simulations based on the SIR model to verify the prediction accuracy of new positive cases by considering distribution shifts. Instead of expressing the overall number of new positive cases in the SIR model, the number of new positive cases in a specific region is simulated, the expanded estimation ratio is expressed in the AR model, and these are multiplied to predict the overall number. In addition to the parameters used in the SIR model, we introduced parameters related to social variables. The parameters for the simulation were estimated daily from the data using approximate Bayesian computation (ABC). Using this method, the average absolute percent error in predicting the number of positive cases for the peak of the eighth wave (2022/12/22–12/28) for all of Japan was found to be 62.2% when using data up to two months before the peak and 6.2% when using data up to one month before the peak. Our simulations based on the SIR model reproduced the number of new positive cases across Japan and produced reasonable results when predicting the peak of the eighth wave.
“We live here because of nature”: transformation towards better flood resilience on small Danish islands
Authors: Baron Nina , Kongsager Rico
Published: September 2024

Climate change is increasing the threat of flooding on small Danish islands. This article presents the results of a qualitative case study of flood risk perceptions and adaptive actions on three small Danish islands. The study explores how an empirical study of the islanders’ sense of place can contribute to a transformation towards better flood resilience. It finds that sense of place is closely connected to living close to nature, but also it highlights that the meaning given to ‘nature’ varies among the islanders. For some, nature is an uncultivated, wild landscape; for others, it is the present, cultural landscape. Another difference concerns whether the islands are described as a place to make a living or as a place to get away from everyday life. For some, farming and grazing are central to how they make a living on the islands; for others, these activities belong to the past. This insight into differences in the islanders’ sense of place contributes to understanding different perspectives regarding what is worth protecting, and what it is possible to protect from flooding, as well as why it is difficult for the islanders to reach agreement on the subject. This understanding has transformative potential, as it can give the islanders themselves, as well as authorities responsible for flood protection, a valuable insight into what drives and hinders actions to manage or reduce flood risk on small islands.
Current status of BAFF targeting immunotherapy in B-cell neoplasm
Authors: Tagami Nami , Yuda Junichiro , Goto Yasuyuki
Published: September 2024

B-cell activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF), also known as B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS), plays a crucial role in B-cell development. It has multiple receptors, including BCMA, TACI, and BAFF-R, with diverse roles in different cell types. BAFF induces B-cell proliferation and immunoglobulin secretion, and acts as a survival factor for immature, naive, and activated B cells. Consequently, BAFF-deficient mice often show suppressed humoral responses, while BAFF-overexpressing mice show the higher number of mature B cells and may develop autoimmune-like manifestations and B-cell lymphoproliferative diseases. Elevated BAFF levels are also associated with various hematological malignancies, and its expression correlates with disease progression in some cases. Therefore, BAFF-targeted therapies, such as belimumab, atacicept, and tabalumab, are being explored in clinical trials for conditions like chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and multiple myeloma. Belimumab, an anti-BAFF monoclonal antibody, is being investigated in combination with rituximab/venetoclax for CLL. Atacicept, a decoy receptor for BAFF and APRIL, showed tolerability in a phase 1b trial for CLL. Tabalumab, another monoclonal antibody targeting BAFF, did not demonstrate significant efficacy in a phase 2 study for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. BAFF ligand-based CAR-T cells are designed to target BAFF receptors and show promise in preclinical studies, particularly for B-cell malignancies. The review emphasizes the importance of understanding the roles of BAFF and its receptors in the microenvironment of hematologic malignancies. Targeting BAFF and its receptors presents potential therapeutic avenues, and ongoing clinical trials provide valuable insights.
Batch Electrocoagulation Process for the Removal of High Colloidal Clay from Open-Cast Coal Mine Water Using Al and Fe Electrodes
Authors: Abfertiawan Muhammad Sonny , Syafila Mindriany , Handajani Marisa , Hasan Faiz , Oktaviani Hanifah , Gunawan Firman , Djali dan Febriwiadi
Published: September 2024

Open-cast coal mining operations can produce water with high amounts of total suspended solids (TSS). We tested the use of electrocoagulation for the removal of colloidal clay from mine water. Monopolar batch electrocoagulation was performed at the laboratory scale using Al and Fe electrodes and varying the DC current (0.5, 1, and 2 A) and contact time (15, 30, and 45 min). Aluminum electrode electrocoagulation with a current of 2 A and a contact time of 15 min had the greatest TSS removal efficiency (99%), with concentrations decreasing from 5,400 to 23 mg/L. The greatest removal (98 and 99%, respectively) was obtained using an Al electrode with an electric current of 0.5 and 1 A, with 30 min of contact time. With an Fe electrode, the greatest efficiency was achieved with a current of 2 A and a contact time of 30 min. The TSS removal efficiency reached 98% while the concentration dropped to 66 mg/L, followed by 89% and 95% for the 0.5 A-45 min and 1 A-15 min variations, respectively.
Equilibrium Solubility of Sulfadiazine in (Acetonitrile + Ethanol) Mixtures: Determination, Correlation, Dissolution Thermodynamics, and Preferential Solvation
Authors: Delgado Daniel Ricardo , Ortiz Claudia Patricia , Martínez Fleming , Jouyban Abolghasem
Published: September 2024

The equilibrium solubility of sulfadiazine (SD, 3) in several {acetonitrile (MeCN) + ethanol (EtOH)} mixtures at nine temperatures from T/K = (278.15 K to 318.15) has been determined by following the shake flask method. SD solubility increased with temperature-arising as well as with the MeCN proportion-increasing in the mixtures. Thus, x3 increased from 7.74 × 10−5 in neat EtOH to 6.20 × 10−4 in neat MeCN at T/K = 298.15. SD solubility was adequately correlated with a second-order multivariate equation as function of both mixtures composition and temperature. Moreover, two models including the Jouyban–Acree and Jouyban–Acree–van’t Hoff models were applied to mathematical SD solubility data modeling in solvent mixtures. The accuracy of each model is investigated by the mean relative deviations (MRD%) of the back-calculated solubility. A full predictive model was provided by training the Jouyban–Acree–van’t Hoff model with only seven experimental solubility data which provided excellent predictions with the MRD% of 3.7 %. All used models show a low MRD% values (< 4.0 %) for the calculated data indicating a good correlation of SD solubility data with the given mathematical models. By means of the van’t Hoff and Gibbs equations, the apparent thermodynamic quantities relative to SD dissolution and mixing processes, namely Gibbs energies, enthalpies, and entropies, were calculated and reported. Apparent dissolution quantities of SD were positive in all cases indicating endothermic and entropy-driven behaviors. A non-linear enthalpy–entropy relationship was observed for SD in the plot of SD dissolution enthalpy vs. Gibbs energy. Observed trend exhibits negative slope in the composition from neat EtOH to the mixture of 0.05 in mass fraction of MeCN indicating entropy-driving mechanism for this SD transfer process. Moreover, variant but positive slopes were found in the composition interval of 0.05 < w1 < 1.00 indicating enthalpy-driving mechanism for these SD transfer processes. Furthermore, the preferential solvation of SD by MeCN or EtOH was analyzed by using the inverse Kirkwood–Buff integrals. Thus, SD is preferentially solvated by EtOH molecules in EtOH-rich mixtures but preferentially solvated by MeCN in MeCN-rich mixtures. In this way, this research expands the literature investigations about the solubility of SD in some non-aqueous cosolvent mixtures conformed by MeCN and other alcohols.
Inequalities and Social Capital as Factors of Subjective Well-Being: Case Study from Western Province, Zambia
Authors: Schlossarek Martin , Harmáček Jaromír , Seidlová Aneta , Suchá Lenka
Published: September 2024

Understanding well-being’s complexities, including its subjective and context-dependent nature, is crucial for informing policy decisions and development interventions aimed at enhancing quality of life and reducing poverty. Unfortunately, subjective well-being (SWB) research, particularly in the context of Global South, has received relatively less attention, despite its fundamental importance in the field of human development. This research aims to contribute to the discussion on SWB by examining its association with diverse forms of inequalities and deprivations. Specifically, we investigate the impact of these deprivations, both at the societal and intra-household levels, on SWB among the rural population of the Western Province in Zambia. The study underscores low levels of SWB in the surveyed area. It reveals the impact of intra-household inequalities, demonstrating that the presence of a more educated individual in the household positively affects well-being. On the other hand, having responsibilities related to decision-making power within households diminishes SWB, probably due to related stress and anxiety. As expected, limited access to resources in the household also negatively affects SWB. Our main finding in the realm of societal inequalities revolves around the assertion that fostering social capital through active participation in formal or informal groups significantly enhances SWB. Empowering individuals through education and knowledge sharing, and promoting inclusivity and diversity in social interactions are key strategies that policymakers can adopt to enhance SWB in the Muoyo-Mukukutu area and similar regions.
Thermodynamic approach for designing processing routes of 4Mn quenching and partitioning steel
Authors: Kozłowska Aleksandra , Skowronek Adam , Grzegorczyk Barbara , Grajcar Adam
Published: September 2024

The study addresses the design and optimization of chemical composition and processing routes of new quenching and partitioning medium-Mn alloy using theoretical and experimental approaches. The thermodynamic calculations using Thermo-Calc and JMatPro software were carried out to characterize the influence of Mn, Si and Al contents on cementite formation and precipitation processes. The evolution of individual phases as a function of temperature under thermodynamic equilibrium conditions was estimated. The investigations included the determination of continuous cooling transformation (CCT) and the time–temperature transformation (TTT) diagrams of a model 4Mn alloy. The calculated equilibrium diagrams were compared with the experimental diagrams determined using dilatometric tests. Microstructural observations were carried out to verify the results of dilatometric measurements. The results of thermodynamic calculations and experimental tests showed the moderate agreement. It is related to the inaccuracy of currently available models in the used software and/or non-equilibrium conditions of experimental tests.
Parkinsonian gait modelling from an anomaly deep representation
Authors: Rangel Edgar , Martínez Fabio
Published: September 2024

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is associated with gait movement disorders, such as bradykinesia, stiffness, tremors and postural instability. Hence, a kinematic gait analysis for PD characterization is key to support diagnosis and to carry out an effective treatment planning. Nowadays, automatic classification and characterization strategies are based on deep learning representations, following supervised rules, and assuming large and stratified data. Nonetheless, such requirements are far from real clinical scenarios. Additionally, supervised rules may introduce bias into architectures from expert’s annotations. This work introduces a self-supervised generative representation to learn gait-motion-related patterns, under the pretext task of video reconstruction. Following an anomaly detection framework, the proposed architecture can avoid inter-class variance, learning hidden and complex kinematics locomotion relationships. In this study, the proposed model was trained and validated with an owner dataset (14 Parkinson and 23 control). Also, an external public dataset (16 Parkinson, 30 control, and 50 Knee-arthritis) was used only for testing, measuring the generalization capability of the method. During training, the method learns from control subjects, while Parkinson subjects are detected as anomaly samples. From owner dataset, the proposed approach achieves a ROC-AUC of 95% in classification task. Regarding the external dataset, the architecture evidence generalization capabilities, achieving a 75% of ROC-AUC (shapeness and homoscedasticity of 66.7%), without any additional training. The proposed model has remarkable performance in detecting gait parkinsonian patterns, recorded in markerless videos, even competitive results with classes non-observed during training.
Geoelectric studies in earthquake hazard assessment: the case of the Kozlodui nuclear power plant, Bulgaria
Authors: Kovacikova S. , Boyadzhiev G. , Logvinov I.
Published: September 2024

The study presents the results of geoelectric research for seismic risk assessment on the example of the Kozlodui nuclear power plant in Bulgaria. The image of the geoelectric structure in the study area was obtained using one-dimensional inverse electrical resistivity modeling of the full five-component magnetotelluric data and quasi-three-dimensional inverse conductivity modeling of the geomagnetic responses recorded during the summer 2021 field campaign. According to the presented results, the geoelectrically anomalous structure is divided into two levels. The near-surface anomalous structure in the immediate reach of human geotechnical activity corresponds to the electrically conductive sedimentary fill. The mid-crustal layer is coincident with the low seismic velocity zone at the brittle and ductile crust interface, revealed in previous studies. The presented results imply that the geological environment is not affected by large faults capable of transmitting seismic energy from tectonically active areas, however, in further studies, attention should be paid to the strike-slip fault systems adjacent to the study area.
Epistemic emotions and self-trust
Authors: Bortolan Anna
Published: September 2024

Epistemic emotions – namely affective phenomena like curiosity, certainty, and doubt – have been claimed to play a key role in epistemic evaluation and motivation, and, relatedly, to be an integral aspect of the epistemic virtues. In this paper I argue that the experience of epistemic emotions is extensively shaped by self-trust. More specifically, I claim that the set of epistemic emotions that we can undergo, and how these unfold over time, is modulated by the level of trust in one’s abilities as a knower. I do so by drawing on research on epistemic injustice, as well as through the exploration of some features of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and depression. I then argue that the connection between epistemic emotions and self-trust can be best accounted for by conceiving of self-trust, through the framework of philosophical phenomenology, as an affective background orientation which has a structuring role in our cognitive and affective experience.
The multifaceted factors affecting the publication times of pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus articles: what has changed in two decades
Authors: Baharav Shlezinger Einav , Mosleh Rasha , Ben-David Gil , Mezer Eedy , Wygnanski-Jaffe Tamara
Published: September 2024

Expeditious publication is an important factor when considering publishing ophthalmic research. We investigated the factors associated with shorter publication times in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus (POS). We analyzed 2487 POS articles from 8 ophthalmology journals publishing POS articles. Time from submission to acceptance, from acceptance to publication, and from submission to publication were calculated for each article. We compared trends over time of factors affecting the publication times from 2002 to 2007 and those from 2014 to 2018. Median peer review durations were 156 days from submission to acceptance; 79 days from acceptance to publication, and 244 days from submission to publication. The American Journal of Ophthalmology, JAMA Ophthalmology, and Strabismus had the shortest submission to publication time. Authors from Africa, East Europe, Central and South America received the fastest processing time in all time categories, although most authors were based in North America and UK. All-time intervals decreased annually, significantly more during the first decade. In the study's second period, more co-authors and affiliated departments correlated with shorter review times. Manuscripts in higher Impact Factor (IF) journals had faster publication times in the first decade. Female senior authors faced longer submission-to-acceptance times in the first decade. This gender gap disappeared in the second period. A general improvement occurred with most journals, specifically those journals with a higher number of co-authors and affiliated departments, indicating an efficient collaborative authorship. Low-income regions benefited from comparatively shorter time intervals. The gender gap in senior authorship diminished over time.
Not a good fit? The roles of aesthetic labour, gender, race, Indigeneity, and citizenship in food service employment
Authors: Stevens Andrew , Connelly Catherine E.
Published: September 2024

Companies and business lobby groups bemoan a lack of qualified workers, even for entry-level or low-skill jobs. At issue is a stated inability to find workers with the right ‘fit’ for the role or business. But what does fit really mean? We draw on human capital theory and labour segmentation theory to examine how perceptions of fit are shaped. We conducted ninety-three interviews with food service workers, managers, and other industry stakeholders and found that employment decisions are shaped by stereotypes, with a particular focus on ‘pretty privilege’ or aesthetic labour, as well as Indigeneity, citizenship, race, and gender. We present implications for research and practice in the food services industry.
Facial expressions in different communication settings: A case of whispering and speaking with a face mask in Farsi
Authors: Mahdinazhad Sardhaei Nasim , Żygis Marzena , Sharifzadeh Hamid
Published: September 2024

This study addresses the importance of orofacial gestures and acoustic cues to execute prosodic patterns under different communicative settings in Farsi. Given that Farsi lacks morpho-syntactic markers for polar questions, we aim to determine whether specific facial movements accompany the prosodic correlates of questionhood in Farsi under conditions of degraded information, that is, whispering and wearing face masks. We hypothesise speakers will employ the most pronounced facial expressions when whispering questions with a face mask to compensate for the absence of F0, reduced intensity and lower face invisibility. To this end, we conducted an experiment with 10 Persian speakers producing 10 pairs of statements and questions in normal and whispered speech modes with and without face masks. Our results provide support to our hypotheses that speakers will intensify their orofacial expressions when confronted with marked conditions. We interpreted our results in terms of the ‘hand in hand’ and ‘trade-off’ hypothesis. In whispered speech, the parallel realisation of longer word duration and orofacial expressions may be a compensatory mechanism for the limited options to convey intonation. Also, the lower face coverage is mutually compensated for by word duration and intensified upper facial expressions, all of which in turn support the trade-off hypothesis.
Light Transfers Through a Koch Shape Cloud
Authors: Ren Tong , Yang Ping , Huang Xianglei , Iwabuchi Hironobu
Published: September 2024

Modeling radiative transfer in a 3D cloudy atmosphere is critical to climate projections. A recently developed fast 3D radiation parameterization scheme gains some success in quantifying horizontal radiative transfer through cloud sides using cloud area fraction. Based on 3D Monte Carlo simulations of radiative transfer through an idealized single‐layer cloud with Koch‐shaped fractal geometry edges, here we show that radiative energy transport through cloud sides correlates more significantly with cloud area fraction than with cloud perimeter length. The results exemplify the importance of accounting for the horizontal radiative energy exchanges between cloud‐free and cloudy regions with cloud area fraction. Results from additional sensitivity simulations show that increased cloud vertical extent often enhances cloud‐side sunlight leak more significantly than cloud‐side sunlight interception. At low sun elevations, cloud‐side sunlight interception is enhanced more than cloud‐side sunlight leak does with the increase of cloud mass.
On the Use of SuperDARN Ground Backscatter Measurements for Ionospheric Propagation Model Validation
Authors: Ruck Joshua J. , Themens David R. , Ponomarenko Pasha , Burrell Angeline G. , Kunduri Bharat , Ruohoniemi J. Michael , Elvidge Sean
Published: September 2024

Prior to use in operational systems, it is essential to validate ionospheric models in a manner relevant to their intended application to ensure satisfactory performance. For Over‐the‐Horizon radars (OTHR) operating in the high‐frequency (HF) band (3–30 MHz), the problem of model validation is severe when used in Coordinate Registration (CR) and Frequency Management Systems (FMS). It is imperative that the full error characteristics of models is well understood in these applications due to the critical relationship they impose on system performance. To better understand model performance in the context of OTHR, we introduce an ionospheric model validation technique using the oblique ground backscatter measurements in soundings from the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN). Analysis is performed in terms of the F‐region leading edge (LE) errors and assessment of range‐elevation distributions using calibrated interferometer data. This technique is demonstrated by validating the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) 2016 for January and June in both 2014 and 2018. LE RMS errors of 100–400 km and 400–800 km are observed for winter and summer months, respectively. Evening errors regularly exceeding 1,000 km across all months are identified. Ionosonde driven corrections to the IRI‐2016 peak parameters provide improvements of 200–800 km to the LE, with the greatest improvements observed during the nighttime. Diagnostics of echo distributions indicate consistent underestimates in model NmF2 during the daytime hours of June 2014 due to offsets of −8° being observed in modeled elevation angles at 18:00 and 21:00 UT.
Fracture toughness of mixed-mode anticracks in highly porous materials
Authors: Adam Valentin , Bergfeld Bastian , Weißgraeber Philipp , van Herwijnen Alec , Rosendahl Philipp L.
Published: September 2024

When porous materials are subjected to compressive loads, localized failure chains, commonly termed anticracks, can occur and cause large-scale structural failure. Similar to tensile and shear cracks, the resistance to anticrack growth is governed by fracture toughness. Yet, nothing is known about the mixed-mode fracture toughness for highly porous materials subjected to shear and compression. We present fracture mechanical field experiments tailored for weak layers in a natural snowpack. Using a mechanical model for interpretation, we calculate the fracture toughness for anticrack growth for the full range of mode interactions, from pure shear to pure collapse. The measurements show that fracture toughness values are significantly larger in shear than in collapse, and suggest a power-law interaction between the anticrack propagation modes. Our results offer insights into the fracture characteristics of anticracks in highly porous materials and provide important benchmarks for computational modeling.