bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A phase 2 clinical trial of luspatercept in non-transfusion-dependent patients with myelodysplastic syndromes
Authors: Kosugi Hiroshi , Fujisaki Tomoaki , Iwasaki Hiromi , Shinagawa Atsushi , Iida Hiroatsu , Jo Tatsuro , Kubonishi Shiro , Morita Yasuyoshi , Nakashima Yasuhiro , Onodera Koichi , Suzuki Kenshi , Suzuki Takahiro , Tamai Yotaro , Usuki Kensuke , Yokota Akira , Yonaga Hideyuki , Hayakawa Jin , Midorikawa Shuichi , Nishio Mitsufumi , Suda Makoto , Matsue Kosei
Published: November 2024

Luspatercept has shown durable clinical efficacy for the treatment of anemia in transfusion-dependent patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS). We report the results of a prespecified primary analysis of a phase 2 trial of luspatercept in non-transfusion-dependent (NTD) Japanese patients with anemia due to LR-MDS. Luspatercept (starting dose 1.0 mg/kg) was administered subcutaneously once every 3 weeks. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients who achieved hematological improvement-erythroid (HI-E) response (≥ 1.5 g/dL increase in hemoglobin level for 8 weeks) without transfusions within the first 24 weeks of treatment. At the primary analysis data cutoff, 21 patients had been enrolled/treated; 17 and 10 patients had completed 24 and 48 weeks of treatment, respectively. HI-E response occurred within 24 weeks in 10 patients (47.6%; 95% confidence interval, 25.7–70.2; P < 0.0001), which was significantly higher than the predefined threshold (10%). By week 48, HI-E response occurred in 12 patients (57.1%) and 17 patients (81.0%) remained NTD. Luspatercept was well tolerated. Three patients (14.3%) had grade 3–4 treatment-related treatment-emergent adverse events. Luspatercept resulted in statistically and clinically significant improvements in hemoglobin levels, and may help delay the need for transfusions in NTD patients with LR-MDS.
Unraveling (K)RAS in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Doleschal Bernhard
Published: November 2024

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal malignancy with a poor 5‑year survival rate. The majority of PDAC cases harbor KRAS mutations, predominantly at codon 12, with G12D being the most common. While selective inhibitors like sotorasib have shown promise in KRASG12C-mutated PDAC, these mutations are rare, and resistance develops rapidly. Efforts to target more prevalent mutations like KRASG12D are ongoing, with compounds such as MRTX1133 showing preclinical efficacy. Resistance mechanisms include secondary mutations and pathway reactivation, prompting the development of pan-(K)RAS inhibitors (e.g., RMC-6236) and combination strategies targeting upstream effectors. Novel approaches, such as KRAS-targeted vaccines and T‑cell receptor (TCR) therapies, offer additional potential. Continued clinical trials are crucial to optimizing KRAS-targeted therapies in PDAC.
Naturstoffe aus der Vergangenheit
Authors: Klapper Martin , Ramm Michael , Stallforth Pierre
Published: November 2024

Low molecular weight compounds biosynthesized by microorganisms, commonly known as natural products, are indispensable in modern medicine. They serve as the basis for many antibiotics, immunomodulators, and anti cancer agents. The new research field of paleobiotechnology allows access to natural products of the past. Based on ancient DNA from dental calculus, it was possible to generate bacterial natural products dating back over 100,000 years.
The impact of urban pollution on the metal contamination of the Zandvlei estuary, Cape Town, South Africa
Authors: Sidondi L. , Odendaal J. P. , Walker D. R. , Paulse A. N.
Published: November 2024

Metal contamination of aquatic systems is a global concern, negatively impacting ecosystems and human health. However, limited information is available on metal concentration levels in South African estuaries, including the Zandvlei estuary in Cape Town, a highly urbanised system with an extensive stormwater drainage network. The objective of this study was to determine spatial and temporal variations of metal concentrations (aluminium, zinc, lead, and copper) in water, sediment, and macroalgae (i.e. Enteromorpha spp.) in the Zandvlei estuary. Samples were collected from five sites over four seasons in 2017 and analysed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), with metal levels were compared to water and sediment quality guidelines. Results revealed significant spatial and temporal variations, influenced by the proximity to pollution sources, physicochemical parameters, river inputs, sediment characteristics, weather conditions, and anthropogenic activities (i.e. industrial activities and urban development). In water samples, metals were most concentrated in the order Al > Zn > Cu > Pb; in sediment and macroalgae, the order was Al > Zn > Pb > Cu. Notably, Enteromorpha spp. accumulated higher metal concentrations than water and sediments, and some metal levels exceeded guideline thresholds, indicating contamination risks. These findings highlight the importance of Enteromorpha spp. as a biomonitoring tool for metal pollution in urban estuarine environments. This study addresses significant knowledge gaps in South African estuaries, supporting enhanced environmental monitoring and conservation strategies.
A virtual data generator system for shape recognition in haptic robotics
Authors: Gutiérrez Anna , Garrofé Guillem , Nonell Pau , Serrano Claudia , Parés-Morlans Carlota , van den Heijkant Tomás , Vera Mireia , Ruiz Conrado , Vidal Laia , González Alejandro , de Jesús Òscar , Ros Raquel , Miralles David
Published: November 2024

In robotics, the current state of object recognition in haptic sensory mode falls significantly short of the results obtained in visual mode. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of haptic data sets for training recognition models. A major impediment is the time-consuming and difficult task for a real robot to capture large amounts of haptic information. This paper introduces a virtual haptic dataset generator system that captures haptic features based on the curvatures of an object. The main goal is to show that this capture system is a feasible approach that can eventually be implemented not only in virtual settings but in actual robots. The virtual haptic capture system described speeds up the learning process, where a real robot would learn through virtual simulation. The paper shows three important points that make the system feasible. The capture is independent of the angle of inclination of the end-effector as it approaches the explored object. The system recognition is performed on everyday objects. Since a real system is exposed to noise during data acquisition, the data of the virtual system must also contain noise. High performance is still achieved within the noise ranges of current sensor systems.
Chemical composition and consumer acceptability of oyster mushroom and sorghum-pearl millet based composite flours
Authors: Ndunge Charles Alice , Mburu Monica , Njoroge Daniel , Zettel Viktoria
Published: November 2024

Due to over-reliance on starchy staple foods in Kenya Micronutrient deficiency (MD) and Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) are the major nutritional concerns. Despite these foods being characterized by low nutrient densities, they are still used as main food ingredient especially in making porridges. Therefore, this study intended to develop composite flour of sorghum-pearl millet blends fortified with oyster mushroom and further evaluate its chemical composition and consumer acceptability. The sorghum and pearl millet were soaked in tap water then solar dried followed by milling into flour. Oyster mushrooms were also solar dried and milled. Subsequently, oyster mushroom was substituted to sorghum-pearl millet blends at 10–50 % to achieve the composite flours. Proximate composition of the samples was determined using standard methods, Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy and Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography Ultraviolet Spectroscopy/Mass Spectrometry were used for mineral and vitamin analyses, respectively. In addition, consumer acceptability test was done on thin porridges was also carried out using untrained panelists. Protein content of the composite flours increased from 11.15–19.74 %, and there were significant increases in fiber (2.68–10.66 %) and ash (1.38 % to 5–79 %). Mineral content increased with Ca, P, Na, K, Mg, Zn and Fe as high as 286.25 mg/100 g, 2088.05 mg/100 g, 167.55 mg/100 g, 1833.05 mg/100 g, 136.75 mg/100 g, 4.22 mg/100 g and 9.46 mg/100 g respectively. An improvement of B1, B2, B3, B6 and B9 vitamin contents was also observed. Sensory analysis showed relatively moderate overall acceptance of thin porridges from the composite flours, although the acceptability decreased with the increase in oyster mushroom. Specifically, composite flour with 50% oyster mushroom was rich in most nutrients but it had the lowest scores for the sensory attributes. In conclusion, addition of oyster mushroom increased the overall nutritional composition of local cereal based staple foods an indication of potential solution to PEM and MD.
Competition Law and Democracy
Authors: Deutscher Elias
Published: November 2024

Examining the normative foundations of US antitrust and EU competition law, Elias Deutscher argues that the idea of a competition-democracy nexus rests on a commitment to a republican understanding of economic liberty. The book uses this republican concept of economic liberty to analyse how US antitrust and EU competition law embodied a competition-democracy nexus and explains how the turn of competition law toward a more economic approach has led to its decline. The book offers proposals for how the nexus can be revived to allow competition law to address contemporary concerns about the concentration of corporate power.
Reconceptualizing Organizational Control
Authors: Kreutzer Markus , Walter Jorge
Published: November 2024

Organizational control addresses the fundamental yet vexing managerial problem of aligning workers' capabilities, activities, and performance with organizational goals and aspirations. In recent years, the onset of COVID-19, combined with new developments in information and communication technologies, has brought about profound changes in organizations, and even in the nature of work itself. We have seen surges in virtual and remote work; progression of alternative work arrangements (especially in the gig economy); and an increasingly wide-spread reliance on algorithmic monitoring and control. These changes have exacerbated the tension between the pursuit of individual and organizational interests, exposing the limits of traditional approaches to organizational control, and questioning whether they still reflect contemporary organizational realities. Providing a comprehensive discussion of the multi-disciplinary approaches to organizational control, this book integrates the new and evolving trends in technology, organizations, and society into a reconceptualization of organizational control for twenty-first-century organizations.
Aeolic and Aeolians
Authors: Woodard Roger D.
Published: November 2024

Aeolic and Aeolians explores the origin of an ancient Greek language and the beginnings and evolution of the community of its speakers – the Aeolians. Roger Woodard argues that the starting point for both is situated in Asia Minor during the period of the Late Bronze Age, and that the ancestral Aeolic speech community can be identified with the Mycenaean peoples of Anatolia called the Ahhiyawans in Hittite records. These Bronze-Age Asian Greeks would intermarry with local Luvian peoples of western Anatolia, and the Aeolian language and identity – an identity encoded in myth-emerged from the intermixing of the two societies. Aeolian myths are central to Woodard's ground-breaking investigations presented in this volume. He demonstrates how assemblages of mythic components, what Lévi-Strauss called bricolage, enabled early Aeolians to give intellectual expression to their distinctive Greek identity.  With the collapse of Bronze-Age societies in Mycenaean Greece, some of the early Aeolians of Anatolia would migrate to Europe, introducing their language and myths into Hellas.
The Neurology Riddle Book
Authors: Dolbow James , Fotedar Neel , Edmondson Joshua
Published: November 2024

If you love neurology, chances are that you also love a good puzzle. Providing a fun and refreshing alternative method of learning and reviewing neurological syndromes, conditions and diseases, this engaging book is perfect for those who love both neurology and riddles. 150 four-line riddles describe common neurodegenerative diseases and movement disorders as well as rare but commonly board-tested stroke syndromes, seizure disorders and infectious diseases. Each riddle contains cryptic clues such as patient demographic, clinical presentation and underlying pathophysiology for each condition and there are hints in case you get stuck. On the following page you will find the answer to the riddle along with a complete description of the condition, including the history of the disease, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostics, treatment and prognosis to aid learning. For even more challenging neuroscience puzzles, consider the Neuroanatomy Riddle Book, which includes riddles about clinically-relevant neuroanatomical structures.
Programming in Ada 2022
Authors: Barnes John
Published: November 2024

The latest version of 'Programming in Ada' covers the full details of the core language Ada 2022 as approved by ISO in 2023, including new features that aid program proof and the efficient use of multicore architectures. The book is arranged in four parts. The first part introduces the key ideas to the newcomer with a working example illustrating the basic ideas. The algorithmic features, structural features such as OOP and multitasking, and details of the standard library and interaction with the external environment are all covered in subsequent parts. This comprehensive guide includes several working examples and is enhanced by a range of supplementary online materials, including a dozen complete executable programs, five of which illustrate important new features. 'Programming in Ada' is a must-have for anyone looking to learn Ada programming language, and will serve as a definitive reference for years to come.
Maritime Metropolis
Authors: Palmer Sarah
Published: November 2024

Nineteenth-century London was not only the greatest city of its time but it had an equally immense port. Although the relationship between the two physically shaped the city and profoundly affected the lives and livelihoods of its inhabitants, historians have always told their stories separately. Sarah Palmer's authoritative work instead paints a picture of London as a maritime hub driven by trade, shipping, marine insurance, shipbuilding and meeting the needs of seafarers ashore. Drawing on disparate archival materials from dock company records, the National Archives, the London Metropolitan Archives and more, she reveals both the economic importance of international and domestic sea-borne trade and the unique urban geography it created. In creating this more interconnected understanding of Britain's capital, Palmer argues that the nineteenth-century transition from sail to steam didn't just affect London's port, but transformed the city and its economy with an impact comparable to that of the railways.
Description of national antibiotic prescribing rates in U.S. long-term care facilities, 2013–2021
Authors: Gouin Katryna A. , Creasy Stephen , Beckerson Mary , Wdowicki Martha , Hicks Lauri A. , Kabbani Sarah
Published: November 2024

Long-term care pharmacy dispensing data from 2013 to 2021 were used to characterize antibiotic prescribing data in U.S. long-term care facilities. Overall antibiotic prescribing rates decreased from 2013 to 2021, mostly due to decreases in fluoroquinolones and macrolides. Tracking antibiotic use in long-term care settings can help identify opportunities for optimizing prescribing practices.
How sludge impairs the effectiveness of policy programs: a field experiment with SMEs
Authors: Grieder Manuel , Kistler Deborah , Schmitz Jan
Published: November 2024

Small and medium-sized enterprises constitute the largest share of companies in most economies. As major resource users and significant contributors to environmental pollution, they are relevant targets for public policy programs aimed at increasing sustainability. We study how ‘sludge’ – small frictions in the choice architecture – can impact the uptake and effectiveness of such public policy programs targeted at SMEs. To this end, we conducted a field experiment within an existing policy program designed to support SMEs in implementing cost-effective environmental management practices. We manipulated the process of receiving free green items intended to support the implementation of those environmentally friendly practices within firms. We find that sludge, in the form of minor additional effort required to order the items, substantially undermined the program’s effectiveness. These results have important implications for policymakers: even minor sludge in the choice architecture can seriously impair the effectiveness of public policy programs targeted at companies.
Public Health Policy that Leads with Equity in Rural Appalachia: Recommendations to Confirm Vaccination Status in an Equitable Manner
Authors: Tyson Jennifer Schroeder , Scalise Danny , Hege Adam , Sugg Maggie , Roy Manan
Published: November 2024

Vaccination is the most important method to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and vaccination is key to this goal. This paper highlights considerations for policy development around vaccination attestation and proof requirements, specifically in rural Appalachia. Migrant and immigrant farmworkers are integral to the food and goods supply chain globally; they have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, therefore these policies need to take extensive precautions for farmworkers to systematically and easily comply with vaccination status submission procedures. In this paper, we present steps to equitably manage and implement vaccine mandates: (1) Develop and establish policies to support safe workplace standards for everyone, including vaccination policies; (2) Utilize equitable methods to collect vaccine verification; (3) Use effective and inclusive methods to implement the policies by using these techniques; (4) Integrate key populations to develop and strengthen policies to improve health equity.
Design thinking: catalysing change in the educational ecosystem – a framework for future challenges
Authors: Berglund Anders
Published: November 2024

Universities face a critical crossroads, in need of swift, targeted, and efficient actions to address future challenges. This necessities a strategic approach to updating and assessing engineering design education. Efforts to improve teaching and learning require systematic change in many universities, yet research on structuring such change is scarce. Few studies have combined a systems perspective with a functional operational level. This research embeds design thinking to structure to isolated actions. Drawing from an extensive literature review of educational change frameworks and several illustrative cases, this article demonstrates the potential of design-driven change. It highlights how dynamic interrelations can facilitate educational transformations across diverse academic levels. By presenting an educational ecosystem as a framework for systematic educational change, design thinking functions as a catalyst for educational transformation. The article also presents case findings that strengthen supportive actions ingrained in existing change research frameworks connecting, them to a transparent approach for sustainable and careful decision-making.
Imperial Crucible: Alcoa and the Transimperial History of American Capitalism, 1888–1953
Authors: Howell Jordan
Published: November 2024

“Imperial Crucible” tells the story of the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) from the company’s founding in Pittsburgh in 1888 through the 1950s. Although scholars have long contended that American multinational corporations played a pivotal role in the industrialization of the United States, the building of a global working class, and the transformation of European empires, they have tended to see these stories as distinct, rather than interconnected. In contrast, Imperial Crucible focuses on a single firm to draw together the political-economic, working-class, and imperial history of American business. What the industrialists behind Alcoa built, I argue, was not a multinational but a transimperial corporation.
Thermal effect in shock-induced gas filtration through porous media
Authors: Li Jiarui , Chen Jun , Tian Baolin , Xiang Meizhen , Xue Kun
Published: November 2024

The gas dynamics of shock-induced gas filtration through densely packed granular columns with vastly varying shock intensity and the structural parameters are numerically investigated using a coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian approach. The results shed fundamental light on the thermal effects of the shock-induced gas filtration manifested by a distinctive self-heating hot gas layer traversing the medium. The characteristics of the thermal effects in terms of the thermal intensity and uniformity are found to vary with the shock Mach number, Ms, and the filtration coefficient of the granular media, Π. As the incident shock transitions from weak to strong, and (or) the filtration coefficient increases from O(10−5) to O(104), the heating mechanisms transition between three distinct heating modes. A phase diagram of heating modes is established on the parameter space (Ms, Π), which enables us to predict the characteristics of the thermal effect in different shock-induced gas filtrations. The thermal effects markedly accelerate the pressure diffusion due to the additional heat influx when the time scale of the former is smaller than or comparable to the latter. Based on the contour map displaying the coupling degree of the thermal effects and the pressure diffusion, we identify a decoupling criterion whereby the isothermal assumption holds if only the pressure diffusion is concerned. The thermal effects may well bring about considerable thermal shocks which pose a great threat to the integrity of the solid skeleton and further reduce the overall shock resistance performance of the porous media.
Experimental investigation of velocity and temperature distribution inside single droplet impingement on a heated substrate
Authors: Xu Ruina , Wang Gaoyuan , Zhu Xun , Jiang Peixue
Published: November 2024

Droplet impingement on a heated substrate is the fundamental process underlying various technologies, ranging from spray cooling to inkjet printing. Understanding the coupled effects of fluid dynamics and heat transfer patterns during droplet jumping, boiling and evaporation, which determine the outcomes of the impingement process, is essential. Here, we developed two-colour planar laser-induced fluorescence and micro-particle image velocimetry technologies to measure quantitatively the velocity and temperature distributions inside the droplet during an impingement process with high temporal and spatial resolution. With our novel measuring system, the hot spots at the solid–liquid interface are discovered for the first time. The influence of contact boiling on the droplet internal mixing, which impedes droplet recoiling and reduces the rebounding velocity, is discussed. A significant enhancement in heat absorption for partially rebounding droplets is discovered, where the impingement heat transfer rate is doubled compared to other vapour-layer-covered droplets. The scaling correlations of viscous dissipation rate and contact time of rebounding droplets, as well as the time variation of droplet temperature rise, are proposed. More detailed patterns inside droplets can be captured by these experimental methods, which will help to reveal more intrinsic mechanisms lying in thermally induced flow, complex fluids and droplet-impacting-based technologies.
Significant haematological alterations in clozapine-treated patients: prevalence and clinical correlation
Authors: Tabara Muhammed Fatih , Akar Cafer Baris , Atdagi Mehmet Kadir , Gurok Mehmet Gurkan , Atmaca Murad
Published: November 2024

Objectives:

Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic crucial for treatment-resistant schizophrenia, characterised by its multi-receptor targeting, including serotonin (5-HT2A, 5-HT2C) and dopamine (D1, D2, D3, D4) receptors, among others. This broad mechanism is effective against positive symptoms of schizophrenia with a lower incidence of extrapyramidal side effects. However, clozapine poses significant haematological risks, notably agranulocytosis, necessitating stringent blood monitoring protocols.

Methods:

This study examined haematological parameters in 157 patients on clozapine therapy, analysing the prevalence and clinical correlations of haematological abnormalities such as leucocytosis, thrombocytosis, and alterations in red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and mean platelet volume (MPV).

Results:

The findings revealed leucocytosis in 36.9% of patients, thrombocytosis in 8.9%, and elevated RDW in 23.6%. Notably, higher clozapine doses were associated with leucocytosis, though no significant correlations were found between clozapine dose, duration of use, and changes in RDW, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, or MPV.

Conclusion:

The study’s results underscore the necessity of regular haematological monitoring to mitigate the risks of clozapine therapy while leveraging its therapeutic benefits. Additionally, the study suggests personalised dosing strategies to balance efficacy and safety, particularly in managing clozapine-induced haematological changes.
First record of Perkinsus beihaiensis in cultured mussels Mytilus coruscus in the East China Sea
Authors: Zhai Jia Y. , Qi Peng Z. , Yang Xiao A. , Ren Zhong J. , Zhang Zi H. , Gao Jia X. , Zhu Deng H. , Fu Pei P.
Published: November 2024

During the investigation of parasitic pathogens of Mytilus coruscus, infection of a Perkinsus-like protozoan parasite was detected by alternative Ray's Fluid Thioglycolate Medium (ARFTM). The diameter of hypnospores or prezoosporangia was 8–27 (15.6 ± 4.0, n = 111) μm. The prevalence of the Perkinsus-like species in M. coruscus was 25 and 12.5% using ARFTM and PCR, respectively. The ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 fragments amplified by PCR assay had 100% homology to that of P. beihaiensis, suggesting that the protozoan parasite was P. beihaisensis and M. coruscus was its new host in East China Sea (ECS). Histological analysis showed the presence of trophozoites of P. beihaiensis in gill, mantle and visceral mass, and the schizonts only found in visceral mass. Perkinsus beihaiensis infection led to inflammatory reaction of hemocyte and the destruction of digestive tubules in visceral mass, which had negative effect on health of the farmed M. coruscus and it deserves more attention.
Stanza permutation in the “Guo feng” 國風 and an examination of the hermeneutical tradition of “orderly progression”
Authors: Liu 劉美惠 Meihui
Published: November 2024

The Anda manuscript and Haihun slips have revealed that there were several different stanza permutations for poems in the “Guo feng” 國風 in early China. As most repetitive stanzas are essentially nonlinear, there is no intrinsic sequence for many poems. Rather than finding a “superior” stanza order, I would like to consider how the various stanza orders might challenge traditional interpretations of references to stanza numbers in the Zuozhuan 左傳 and the hermeneutical rule of “orderly progression” in the Shijing. Just as establishing the order of stanzas took a long time, the development of this rule was gradual. The belief in there being an unalterable stanza order not only influences how rhymes are interpreted but also shapes how lines and verses are annotated. Therefore, reconsidering the theory of orderly progression is a step towards re-evaluating the tradition of Shijing interpretation.
Transnational grandparent migration and care-giving: a systematic scoping review
Authors: Nguyen Hien Thi , Stevens Catriona , Baldassar Loretta
Published: November 2024

Grandparents are increasingly participating in international migration to resettle with or visit adult children and grandchildren living overseas. In doing so, they make important social, cultural, emotional and financial contributions to transnational families, in particular through providing unpaid childcare and domestic work. This scoping review aims to examine the extent, range and nature of studies on transnational grandparent migration and care-giving to provide an overview of existing research. The review was conducted in August 2022, following Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review methodology. Of 2,099 sources identified using nine databases, supplemented with manual searching (including grey literature), 65 (qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods) studies conducted between 2000 and 2022 were deemed relevant for inclusion. A descriptive analysis of study characteristics details the author(s), the (year) and the type of publication; the study population and sample size; the research objectives; the research methods; and the sending and receiving places. A thematic analysis of these studies identified key themes, including study characteristics, typologies of transnational migrant grandparents, their family roles and contributions, the uses of information and communication technologies in supporting migrant grandparents’ transnational lives, benefits gained from migration, challenges faced and strategies employed in response. The article concludes that grandparents make significant contributions to transnational families and host economies, but their roles and challenges are overlooked in national and transnational (supra-national) policies. Future research should explore the ethics of migration programmes aimed towards migrant grandparents as well as effective measures to assist grandparents to age well in transnational mobility.
Multi-dimensional civic engagement of older Europeans: a latent class analysis
Authors: Vercauteren Toon , Van Regenmortel Sofie , Näsman Marina , Nyqvist Fredrica , Brosens Dorien , Serrat Rodrigo , Dury Sarah
Published: November 2024

Civic engagement is increasingly relevant for healthy and active ageing and addressing social exclusion among older people. Current research focuses primarily on formal volunteering, overlooking other ways older people contribute to their families and communities. This study addresses these gaps by recognising civic engagement as multi-dimensional – including associational engagement, informal care-giving, formal volunteering, digital engagement and formal/informal political engagement – and exploring activity combinations among older individuals. Using data from the 2016 European Quality of Life Survey (33 European countries), it examines the civic engagement of 9,031 individuals aged 65+. Descriptive analysis maps their multi-dimensional civic engagement, while latent class analysis identifies distinct engagement profiles and explores which activities are combined. It also investigates the socio-structural and social capital resources associated with each profile. Findings reveal that 32 per cent of older individuals are not engaged in civic activities. Among the civically engaged, five profiles emerge, illustrating varied engagement across multiple activities. Many older people (35.8 per cent) combine several civic activities, albeit in different combinations. Informal care-giving can be found in all profiles; and for a large part of the population, it is their only civic activity, while another profile displays older Europeans engaged in several activities simultaneously. Higher levels of socio-structural resources are associated with greater diversity in civic engagement in later life. Interventions and policies therefore must consider the diverse circumstances and preferences of older people and valorise and include all forms of multi-dimensional civic engagement, including informal care-giving, in policy making.
World Order from Birmingham Jail
Authors: Hurd Ian
Published: November 2024

In this essay, I use Martin Luther King Jr.'s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” to open questions about international order and disorder. The idea of order is central to modern discourse on international politics, but the concept is often ill defined and ambiguous. King's ideas clarify three issues: First, is order understood as an objective condition of a system or a political judgment about its suitability for social life? Second, does compliance with law lead naturally to order? And third, is order always preferable to disorder? The way King answers each question is somewhat different than the conventional wisdom in international relations. IR scholars typically assume that international order is a universal good and that compliance with law enhances it. King highlights the gap between order as defined by the authorities in Alabama and his own lived experience. I use the difference to map the terrain of scholarship on international order and disorder and to draw implications for concepts, research methods, and political judgment.
Beyond a “Partisan-Ethics-Wars” Interpretation of Congressional Ethics Investigations: The Cases of James Wright, Newt Gingrich, and Tom DeLay
Authors: Rosenson Beth
Published: November 2024

This article examines three high-profile House ethics cases involving former Speakers James Wright (1988–1989) and Newt Gingrich (1994–1997) and former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (1997–2004). The analysis of the filing and disposition of charges in the three cases provides some evidence for the “politics-by-other-means” or “partisan-ethics-wars” framework that is sometimes used to evaluate ethics enforcement in Congress. However, the analysis also provides evidence of bipartisan agreement both in the ethics committee and on the floor. The article highlights the areas of bipartisan consensus and the principles behind that consensus. In paying attention to the content of the cases, it also highlights an important change in ethics investigations over time, specifically an increase in “political gain” cases. The article thus calls attention to aspects of House ethics investigations that are undervalued and inadequately addressed by the partisan-ethics-wars framework.
A novel frequency down-converter design at X-band for LEO satellite ground station using single conversion
Authors: Sisman Ismail , Ergin Tugba Haykir , Barkana Duygun Erol
Published: November 2024

This paper presents the design and implementation of a broadband down-converter system using the AWR (Advancing the Wireless Revolution) modeling and Microwave Office tool. The radio frequency (RF) signal coming to the antenna interface requires a frequency down-converter to be lowered to the intermediate frequency (IF) band. It includes mixing blocks, oscillators, amplifiers, step attenuators, isolators, and filters. The input frequency band (RF) is 8250 ± 250 MHz, while the output frequency (IF) band is 720 ± 200 MHz. The gain dynamic range of the circuit is expanded through the use of digital attenuators. It is a superheterodyne down-conversion circuit, combining the IF band to produce the desired RF spectrum in one pass. Two phase-locked oscillators are used at the local oscillator port of the mixer, one providing a single frequency, while the other has a programmable frequency synthesizer with 1 MHz steps in the frequency range from 7280 to 7780 MHz.
Center of mass acceleration during walking: comparison between IMU and camera-based motion capture methodologies
Authors: Liang Jasmine Y. , Chou Li-Shan
Published: November 2024

Placing an inertial measurement unit (IMU) at the 5th lumbar vertebra (L5) is a frequently employed method to assess the whole-body center of mass (CoM) motion during walking. However, such a fixed position approach does not account for instantaneous changes in body segment positions that change the CoM. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the congruence between CoM accelerations obtained from these two methods. The CoM positions were calculated based on trajectory data from 49 markers placed on bony landmarks, and its accelerations were computed using the finite-difference algorithm. Concurrently, accelerations were obtained with an IMU placed at L5, a proxy CoM position. Data were collected from 16 participants. Bland–Altman Limits of Agreement and Statistical Parametric Mapping approaches were used to examine the similarity and differences between accelerations directly obtained from the IMU and those derived from position data of the L5 marker (ML5) and whole-body CoM during a gait cycle. The correlation was moderate between IMU and CoM accelerations (r = 0.58) and was strong between IMU and ML5 or between CoM and ML5 accelerations (r = 0.76). There were significant differences in magnitudes between CoM and ML5 and between CoM and IMU accelerations along the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions during the early loading response, mid-stance, and terminal stance to pre-swing. Such comprehensive understanding of the similarity or discrepancy between CoM accelerations acquired by a single IMU and a camera-based motion capture system could further improve the development of wearable sensor technology for human movement analysis.
Genderkompetenz entwickeln
Authors: Hahn Maximilian
Published: November 2024

Was ist zu diesem Thema bereits bekannt?

Zur Gesundheitsversorgung von nicht-binären und transsexuellen Personen bestehen zahlreiche Publikationen, die darstellen, dass sich diese häufig durch Vorurteile und Diskriminierung kennzeichnet. Als Folge meiden Betroffene häufig Arztbesuche oder zögern diese hinaus.

Wie wird eine neue Perspektive eingebracht?

Der Artikel integriert bestehende Erkenntnisse und setzt sie in den Zusammenhang mit Maßnahmen zur Umsetzung einer inklusiven Gesundheitsversorgung aller Bevölkerungsgruppen.

Was sind die Auswirkungen für die Praxis?

Der Beitrag präsentiert praxisorientierte Maßnahmen, die Fachkräfte und Organisationen dabei unterstützen, ihre Gesundheitsversorgung sensibler und offener zu gestalten.
Sensitivities of Ozone and Radiative Forcing to Supersonic Aircraft Emissions Across Two Flight Corridors
Authors: van ’t Hoff Jurriaan A. , Grewe Volker , Dedoussi Irene C.
Published: November 2024

Civil supersonic aviation may return in the near future. Their emissions have been found to lead to changes in the composition of the stratosphere, affecting the ozone layer and climate. To keep up with the rapid developments in supersonic aircraft technology and alternative fuels there is an increasing need for the development of surrogate modeling methods, which requires knowledge of the sensitivities to these emissions. We present a parametric study which evaluates the first‐ and second‐order sensitivities of the ozone column and radiative forcing (RF) to supersonic emissions across two flight corridors and three altitudes. For a given increase in global fuel burn, we find that the increase in emission of is the main driver of both the changes in the global ozone column and RF, the latter of which is linked through changes in the ozone distribution. Followed by the increase in the emission of , which leads to loss and has a cooling effect. The ozone column and climate are least sensitive to increases in emissions. We also show that interactions between , , and emissions lead to non‐linear behavior in the atmospheric response. The effect of these interactions can lead to 5% differences in the ozone column impacts and up to 7.3% increases in RF. Our results demonstrate that the majority of second‐order sensitivities may be neglected in surrogate models for small errors, which could greatly simplify their development. Our results also indicate that reductions in flight altitude and fleetwide emissions may effectively reduce the environmental footprint of supersonic aviation emissions.
Mechanisms of Upper‐Level Divergence Superimposed on Low‐Level Disturbance Causing Heavy Rainfall Over the Northern South China Sea in Autumn: Case Study
Authors: Feng Jie , An Xiadong , Sheng Lifang , Wang Fei , Li Wanju
Published: November 2024

Tropical disturbances frequently occur over the South China Sea and the western Pacific from May to October. Less than half of them can intensify into tropical cyclones, with the majority remaining nondeveloping. This study reveals that nondeveloping low‐level tropical disturbances within the easterly wind belt can also cause heavy rainfall over the northern South China Sea (NSCS, 110°E–120°E, 15°N–20°N) in autumn. Based on a heavy rainfall event in September 2021, physical mechanisms of intensified tropical disturbance‐induced rainfall over the NSCS are investigated. The tropical disturbance at 850 hPa initially originated within easterly winds south of the western Pacific subtropical high and was guided into the NSCS by these easterlies. Meanwhile, the South Asian high disrupted the long‐lasting cyclone‐anticyclone pairs on its southeast side, inducing divergence at 200 hPa, which enhanced the tropical disturbance. Specifically, the upper‐level divergence superimposed on the tropical disturbance intensified ascending motion and low‐level convergence. Above the tropical disturbance, convergence below 400 hPa, combined with vertical and horizontal advection above 500 hPa, together reinforced the vortex structure of the disturbance, facilitating water vapor accumulation. Further results show that cold rain processes above the freezing level were active and significantly contributed to the precipitation. This study provides new insights into heavy rainfall over the NSCS, showing that in the absence of the Intertropical Convergence Zone and cold air, upper‐level divergence promotes the vertical development of the tropical disturbance. The enhanced ascending motion and the increased midupper level moisture intensify cold rain processes and precipitation.
PCRX-201, a novel IL-1Ra gene therapy treatment approach for low back pain resulting from intervertebral disc degeneration
Authors: Snuggs Joseph W. , Senter Rebecca K. , Whitt Joshua P. , Jackson J. Derek , Le Maitre Christine L.
Published: November 2024

Low back pain is the leading cause of global disability with intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration a major cause. However, no current treatments target the underlying pathophysiological causes. PCRX-201 presents a novel gene therapy approach that addresses this issue. PCRX-201 codes for interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, the signalling inhibitor of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1, which orchestrates the catabolic degeneration of the IVD. Here, the ability of PCRX-201 to transduce human nucleus pulposus cells to increase IL-1Ra production was assessed together with effects on catabolic pathways. When transduced with PCRX-201, the production and release of IL-1Ra was increased in degenerate human nucleus pulposus cells and tissue. Whereas, the production of downstream proteins, including IL-1β, IL-6, MMP3, ADAMTS4 and VEGF were decreased in both cells and tissue, indicating a reduction in IL-1-induced catabolic signalling. Here, a novel gene therapy vector, PCRX-201, was shown to transduce degenerate NP cells and tissue, increasing the production of IL-1Ra. The increased IL-1Ra resulted in decreased production of catabolic cytokines, enzymes and angiogenic factors, whilst also increasing aggrecan expression. This demonstrates PCRX-201 enables the inhibition of IL-1-driven IVD degeneration. The ability of PCRX-201 to elicit anti-catabolic responses is promising and warrants further development to determine the efficacy of this exciting, novel gene therapy.
Spatiotemporal predictions guide attention throughout the adult lifespan
Authors: Shalev Nir , Boettcher Sage , Nobre Anna C.
Published: November 2024

Older adults struggle with tasks requiring selective attention amidst distractions. Experimental observations about age-related decline have relied on visual search designs using static displays. However, natural environments often embed dynamic structures that afford proactive anticipation of task-relevant information. We investigate the capacity to benefit from spatiotemporal predictions across the adult lifespan. Participants (N = 300, aged 20–80) searched for multiple targets that faded in and out of displays among distractors. Half of the targets appeared at a fixed time and approximate location, whereas others appeared unpredictably. Overall search performance was reduced with age. Nevertheless, prediction-led behaviour, reflected in a higher detection of predictable targets, remained resistant to aging. Predictions were most pronounced when targets appeared in quick succession. When evaluating response speed, predictions were also significant but reduced with progressing age. While our findings confirm an age-related decline, we identified clear indications for proactive attentional guidance throughout adulthood.
Vulnerability of Arctic Ocean microbial eukaryotes to sea ice loss
Authors: Jackson Victoria L. N. , Grevesse Thomas , Kilias Estelle S. , Onda Deo F. L. , Young Kirsten F. , Allen Michael J. , Walsh David A. , Lovejoy Connie , Monier Adam
Published: November 2024

The Arctic Ocean (AO) is changing at an unprecedented rate, with ongoing sea ice loss, warming and freshening impacting the extent and duration of primary productivity over summer months. Surface microbial eukaryotes are vulnerable to such changes, but basic knowledge of the spatial variability of surface communities is limited. Here, we sampled microbial eukaryotes in surface waters of the Beaufort Sea from four contrasting environments: the Canada Basin (open ocean), the Mackenzie Trough (river-influenced), the Nuvuk region (coastal) and the under-ice system of the Canada Basin. Microbial community structure and composition varied significantly among the systems, with the most phylogenetically diverse communities being found in the more coastal systems. Further analysis of environmental factors showed potential vulnerability to change in the most specialised community, which was found in the samples taken in water immediately beneath the sea ice, and where the community was distinguished by rare species. In the context of ongoing sea ice loss, specialised ice-associated microbial assemblages may transition towards more generalist assemblages, with implications for the eventual loss of biodiversity and associated ecosystem function in the Arctic Ocean.
Thrust system, flower structures and transpressive duplexes in Zeidun-Kareim Belt, Central Tectonic Province, Egyptian Nubian Shield (East African Orogen)
Authors: Hamimi Zakaria , Khalil Magdi , Saad Hoda Ragab , El-Tawapty Mahmoud N. , Khamis Hosam , Elbahrawy Ahmed , Abdelmaksoud Ashraf S.
Published: November 2024

In this study, we explore thrust system, flower structures and transpressive duplexes in the Zeidun-Kareim belt (ZKB) in the Egyptian Nubian Shield (ENS; northwestern ANS). Filed observations and the measured stretched lineations along thrust planes reveal two main thrusting directions; ESE- (to NE- and NNE-)- and NW- (to WNW-)-directions belonging to two main phases of contraction. The timing of both phases is indirectly constrained. The older ESE- (to NE- and NNE-)-vergent thrusting is attributed to the E-W Gondwana assembly. The younger NW- (to WNW-)-vergent thrusting is akin to the Najd Orogeny. The poles to the in-sequence thrusts lie close to the poles of stretching lineations. The mean orientations of thrust propagation are, respectively, 059° and 309°. Propagation of thrusting along the two main thrusting directions resulted in the formation of a complete geometry of thrust duplex system, imbricate nappe stacking, flower structures and thrust-related folding. The top-to- ESE- (to NE- and NNE-) transpression reflects dextral sense, whereas the top-to- NW- (to WNW-) transpression exhibits sinistral sense, in compatible with those recorded and argued by many authors elsewhere in the ENS and the entire ANS. Our study fully constraints the ZKB spathio-temporal tectonic evolution which involves three main stages.