bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing the biodiesel production in the green alga Chlorella vulgaris by heavy metal stress and prediction of fuel properties from fatty acid profiles
Authors: Saber Hani , Galal Hamdy Ramadan , Abo-Eldahab Mohamed , Alwaleed Eman
Published: May 2024

The green microalga Chlorella vulgaris was used as a test organism during this study for evaluation of the impact of different heavy metal stress, Mn2+, Co2+, and Zn2+, on enhancing the biodiesel production. The algal cultures were grown for 13 days under heavy metal stress after which were subjected to estimation of growth, some primary metabolites, lipid, and fatty acid profiles. The maximum lipid accumulation (283.30 mg/g CDW) was recorded in the algal culture treated with 3 µM cobalt nitrate. Application of 2 mM manganese chloride; 1, 2, and 3 μM cobalt nitrate; and 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 mM zinc sulfate caused highly significant increases in the lipid contents amounting to 183.8, 191.4, 230.6, 283.3, 176.3, 226.0, and 212.1 mg/g CDW, respectively, in comparison to control (153.4 mg/g CDW). The maximum proportion of saturated fatty acids (SFA) (64.44%) was noted in the culture treated with 6 mM MnCl2 due to the existence of palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), and pentadecylic acid (C15:0) which are represented by 53.59%, 5.96%, and 1.37%, respectively, of the total FAs. Relative increase in energy compound (REEC) showed that 1, 2, and 3 µM Co2+ lead to the highest stimulation in lipid and carbohydrate contents to 0.207, 0.352, and 0.329 × 103%, respectively. Empirical formulas were used for the assessment of biodiesel fuel properties based on FAME composition. The estimated properties met the prescribed international standard criteria.
Comparison of active measurements, lichen biomonitoring, and passive sampling for atmospheric mercury monitoring
Authors: Gačnik Jan , Živković Igor , Kotnik Jože , Božič Dominik , Tassone Antonella , Naccarato Attilio , Pirrone Nicola , Sprovieri Francesca , Steffen Alexandra , Horvat Milena
Published: May 2024

The number of atmospheric mercury (Hg) monitoring stations is growing globally. However, there are still many regions and locations where Hg monitoring is limited or non-existent. Expansion of the atmospheric Hg monitoring network could be facilitated by the use of cost-effective monitoring methods. As such, biomonitoring and passive monitoring offer a unique alternative to well-established monitoring by active measurements, since they do not require a power supply and require minimal workload to operate. The use of biomonitoring (lichens and mosses) and passive air samplers (PASs) (various designs with synthetic materials) has been reported in the literature, and comparisons with active measurement methods have also been made. However, these studies compared either biomonitoring or PASs (not both) to only one type of active measurement. In our work, we used transplanted (7 sampling sites) and in situ lichens (8 sampling sites) for biomonitoring, two PASs from different producers (3 sampling sites), and two different active measurement types (continuous and discontinuous active measurements, 1 and 8 sampling sites, respectively) to evaluate their effectiveness as monitoring methods. In the 9-month sampling campaign, 3 sampling locations with different characteristics (unpolluted, vicinity of a cement plant, and vicinity of a former Hg mine) were used. The results obtained with lichens and PASs clearly distinguished between sampling locations with different Hg concentrations; using both PASs and lichens together increased the confidence of our observations. The present work shows that biomonitoring and passive sampling can be effectively used to identify areas with elevated atmospheric Hg concentrations. The same can be said for discontinuous active measurements; however, the discrepancy between atmospheric Hg concentrations derived from PASs and discontinuous active measurements should be further investigated in the future.

Graphical Abstract
How the Social Gets Under the Skin: From the Social as Signal to Society as a Metabolic Milieu
Authors: Landecker Hannah
Published: May 2024

Inflammation has risen to the forefront of biomedical research into many chronic diseases prevalent in industrialized countries, including mental, metabolic, and postviral conditions. For sociologists, the rise of inflammation in explanatory models of chronic disease is an opportunity to grasp a historical shift in thinking about how society gets under the skin as new modes of conceptualization of the relationship between societies and bodies emerge in this domain. Highlighting two historical conjunctures between epidemiology and molecular biology concerning hormones and fat, this paper thereby contrasts an older cybernetic model of the social as a signal transduced via the brain and hormonal signaling system to become a biological accretion of stress or adversity with an explanatory trajectory centered on chronic inflammation. Rather than transducing the social environment, the inflammatory body emerging from the studies of adiposity and diabetes is produced by metabolizing material and psychosocial conditions. Inequalities in the social world are thereby reflected as inflammatory states that exist upstream of, not downstream to, the kinds of social signals previously deemed important to health and health disparities. Signals still matter, but they are not their own key determinant in terms of action or impact—that is a contextual matter within the chronicity of the processual metabolic life of a cellular and bodily milieu.
Increasing Energy Efficiency by Optimizing Heat Treatment Parameters for High-Alloyed Tool Steels
Authors: Schuppener Jannik , Benito Santiago , Weber Sebastian
Published: May 2024

In the paper industry, machine circular knives are used in the cutting process to provide industrial quality cuts on a variety of products. In the production of paper rolls, they cut the long-rolled paper products into commercial sizes. For this application, the high-alloyed ledeburitic cold work tool steel, DIN EN 1.2379 (X153CrMoV12; AISI D2), in the secondary hardened heat-treated condition has become the widely used industry solution. However, its heat treatment is a very energy-intensive production process. It consists of a quenching from an austenitizing temperature above 1050 °C, followed by three high-temperature tempering steps of more than 500 °C. In the study, the heat treatment process was optimized for energy efficiency, resulting in superior material properties with lower energy consumption. The most promising low energy heat treatment developed in the laboratory was reproduced in the industrial scale, and the required energy consumption was quantified. Subsequently, the resulting properties of the tools such as hardness, wear resistance and fracture toughness were determined. The energy production costs and mechanical properties of the tool steel were evaluated in comparison to conventional production methods. The newly applied heat treatment condition showed very promising and positive results in all analyzed parameters.
Food contamination and cardiovascular disease: a narrative review
Authors: Mancuso Gerardo , Violi Francesco , Nocella Cristina
Published: May 2024

Cardiovascular disease is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among non-communicable diseases worldwide. Evidence shows that a healthy dietary pattern positively influences many risk factors of cardiometabolic health, stroke, and heart disease, supported by the effectiveness of healthy diet and lifestyles for the prevention of CVD. High quality and safety of foods are prerequisites to ensuring food security and beneficial effects. Contaminants can be present in foods mainly because of contamination from environmental sources (water, air, or soil pollution), or artificially introduced by the human. Moreover, the cross-contamination or formation during food processing, food packaging, presence or contamination by natural toxins, or use of unapproved food additives and adulterants. Numerous studies reported the association between food contaminants and cardiovascular risk by demonstrating that (1) the cross-contamination or artificial sweeteners, additives, and adulterants in food processing can be the cause of the risk for major adverse cardiovascular events and (2) environmental factors, such as heavy metals and chemical products can be also significant contributors to food contamination with a negative impact on cardiovascular systems. Furthermore, oxidative stress can be a common mechanism that mediates food contamination-associated CVDs as substantiated by studies showing impaired oxidative stress biomarkers after exposure to food contaminants.This narrative review summarizes the data suggesting how food contaminants may elicit artery injury and proposing oxidative stress as a mediator of cardiovascular damage.
The potential protective role of vitamin D and calcium supplements in reducing cardiovascular disease risk among elderly patients with osteopenia
Authors: Khasawneh Ramada R. , Al-Soudi Hana S. , Abu-El-Rub Ejlal , Alzu’bi Ayman , Al-Zoubi Raed M.
Published: May 2024

Background

Cardiovascular disease and low bone mineral density are major health problems in the elderly. These two conditions are considered independent of each other and age-related diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between low bone mineral density (BMD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidents, and the effect of vitamin D and calcium supplement on the incidence of CVD in patients with low BMD.

Methods

A total of 1047 patients (597 females/450 males) with the age of 65 years and more were diagnosed with osteopenia for 13 years or more. The study also included 220 patients (107 females/113 males) with osteopenia who already took calcium and vitamin D continually since their diagnosis. BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The incidence of any cardiovascular diseases in the study patients and the presence of corresponding risk factors were collected and analyzed.

Results

In both elderly Arab females and males, there was an association between total hip and femoral neck BMD and the possibility to have CVD. On the other hand, the results showed that patients who use calcium and vitamin D supplements showed a significant reduction in the incidence of CVD comparing to the non-treated patients.

Conclusion

Low total hip and femoral neck BMD were associated with a higher chance to have CVD incidents in both elderly Arab males and females; moreover, calcium and vitamin D supplements have a possible protective role in reducing cardiovascular disease in elderly patients with osteopenia.
Perioperative care in infective endocarditis
Authors: Quintana Eduard , Ranchordas Sara , Ibáñez Cristina , Danchenko Polina , Smit Francis Edwin , Mestres Carlos - Alberto
Published: May 2024

Patients undergoing surgery for acute infective endocarditis are among those with the highest risk. Their preoperative condition has significant impact on outcomes. There are specific issues related with the preoperative situation, intraoperative findings, and postoperative management. In this narrative review, focus is placed on the most critical aspects in the perioperative period including the management and weaning from mechanical ventilation, the management of vasoplegia, the management of the chest open, antithrombotic therapy, transfusion, coagulopathy, management of atrial fibrillation, the duration of antibiotic therapy, and pacemaker implantation.
On the Properties of Quasi-Banach Function Spaces
Authors: Nekvinda Aleš , Peša Dalimil
Published: May 2024

In this paper we explore some basic properties of quasi-Banach function spaces which are important in applications. Namely, we show that they possess a generalised version of Riesz–Fischer property, that embeddings between them are always continuous, and that the dilation operator is bounded on them. We also provide a characterisation of separability for quasi-Banach function spaces over the Euclidean space. Furthermore, we extend the classical Riesz–Fischer theorem to the context of quasinormed spaces and, as a consequence, obtain an alternative proof of completeness of quasi-Banach function spaces.
Phylogenetic evidence reshapes the taxonomy of Cacao and its allies (Theobroma and Herrania; Malvaceae, Byttnerioideae)
Authors: Colli-Silva Matheus , Richardson James Edward , Bossa-Castro Ana M. , Pirani José Rubens
Published: May 2024

Theobroma (Malvaceae, Byttnerioideae), the cacao genus, has a taxonomic history spanning over two centuries. Currently, it comprises 23 species of trees from lowland forests from the Tropical Americas. Herrania, a closely related genus described later, includes 17 additional species commonly referred to as “wild cacaos.” Phylogenetic relationships and morphological circumscriptions between Theobroma and Herrania have been the subject of debate. While Herrania has traditionally been treated as a separate genus based on evident morphological differences in leaf and petal features, it shares similarities with Theobroma in terms of habit, inflorescence, and fruit types. Recent phylogenetic evidence, incorporating a broader taxonomic sampling and a total-evidence analysis, suggested that Theobroma is paraphyletic, with Herrania nested within it. This finding supports the restoration of a classical circumscription of Theobroma wherein Herrania is considered a section of the former genus. Here, we provide a detailed account of the taxonomic history at infrageneric levels and propose one new subsection, two names at new ranks (to better allocate the diversity within T. sect. Herrania), and nine new combinations encompassing this expanded circumscription of Theobroma. In our study, we delimit Theobroma with forty species divided into six sections: T. sect. Glossopetalum (14 spp.), T. sect. Herrania (17 spp.), T. sect. Oreanthes (5 spp.), T. sect. Rhytidocarpus (1 sp.), T. sect. Telmatocarpus (2 spp.), and T. sect. Theobroma (1 sp.). Furthermore, we recognize three subsections within T. sect. Herrania. Alongside these newly proposed changes, we present a section-level identification key and provide diagnostic characters for each taxon.
Increased Expression of Inactive Rhomboid Protein 2 in Circulating Monocytes after Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: van Dijck Phillip , Hannemann Carmen , Dreger Henryk , Stangl Verena , Stangl Karl , Ludwig Antje , Hewing Bernd
Published: May 2024

Increased TNF-α levels following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) contribute to impaired recovery of myocardial function. Interaction of inactive rhomboid protein 2 (iRhom2) with TNF-α converting enzyme (TACE) is required for TNF-α shedding from immune cells. We hypothesized that iRhom2 expression increases in circulating monocytes following AMI. Transcript levels of iRhom2, TACE and TNF-α were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR in isolated monocytes of 50 AMI patients at admission (d1) and 3 days (d3) after. We observed a significant increase in levels of iRhom2 mRNA expression in monocytes between d1-3, while TNF-α and TACE mRNA expression remained unchanged. At d3, iRhom2 mRNA expression positively correlated with levels of intermediate monocytes or serum TNF-α, and negatively with LV systolic function. iRhom2 may contribute to regulation of post-infarction inflammation and is associated with LV dysfunction following AMI. iRhom2 modulation should be evaluated as a potential therapeutic strategy to attenuate cardiac remodeling following AMI.
Do energy communities need to be local? A comparative study of two energy cooperatives in Europe
Authors: Dudka Aurore , Magnani Natalia
Published: May 2024

Energy communities are integral to achieving the European goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. While these communities are currently being emphasized as strictly place-based, with some states interpreting RED II’s proximity criterion stringently, our research offers a contrasting perspective: We argue that a sole focus on geographical proximity fails to capture the full contributions of energy community projects, especially those that function as communities of interest rather than merely as communities of place. In order to support this perspective, our study analyses data from 5402 responses and 31 semi-structured interviews from two main energy cooperatives: Ecopower in Flanders, Belgium, and ènostra in Italy, in both of which, members are not confined by geographical boundaries and are instead united by shared energy-related interests.

Our findings indicate that these two organizations are pivotal to driving the European energy transition. The organizations effectively rally their members around a common identity, thereby fostering new norms, practices, and forms of social capital as well as offering a shield against the market’s prevailing logic. This observation becomes even clearer when considering the fact that the cooperatives have reached a significant level of business maturity, with Ecopower utilizing more resources for including and empowering participants and territories. Our research underscores the importance of re-evaluating the role of geographical proximity in energy policies and highlights the potential that interest-based cooperatives have when it comes to advancing sustainable energy initiatives across various geographical scales.
Crafting resilience: persistence and adaptation of the ceramic manufacture at Roca Vecchia from the Middle to the Final Bronze Age phases
Authors: Mentesana Roberta , Iacono Francesco , Guglielmino Riccardo
Published: May 2024

Through the second millennium BC, Bronze Age communities of Southern Italy have shown a remarkable degree of resilience in coping with changes in both macro-trends of cultural interaction and the landscape. In this paper, we will examine long-term processes of adaptation to shifting historical and environmental conditions from the vantage point of the impasto ware production at the site of Roca Vecchia (Melendugno-Lecce, IT), one of the main hubs of interaction for the Bronze Age of the Central Mediterranean. Sixty-eight ceramic individuals coming from the Middle to the Final Bronze Age levels and seven soil deposits from the site surroundings were analysed by petrography and fifteen were selected for SEM–EDX examination. We explore how changes in the complex history of the settlement and the surrounding landscape are matched in technological choices operated by the community of practice responsible for producing impasto pottery at Roca, in a moment when the long-range connection with the Aegean world was at its historical peak.
Robust fracture intensity estimation from petrophysical logs and mud loss data: a multi-level ensemble modeling approach
Authors: Azadivash Ahmad , Soleymani Hosseinali , Seifirad Atrina , Sandani Amirali , Yahyaee Farshid , Kadkhodaie Ali
Published: May 2024

This study presents a pioneering machine learning approach to continuously model fracture intensity in hydrocarbon reservoirs using solely conventional well logs and mud loss data. While machine learning has previously been applied to predict discrete fracture properties, this is among the first attempts to leverage well logs for continuous fracture intensity modeling leveraging advanced ensemble techniques. A multi-level stacked ensemble methodology systematically combines the strengths of diverse algorithms like gradient boosting, random forest and XGBoost through a tiered approach, enhancing predictive performance beyond individual models. Nine base machine learning algorithms generate initial fracture intensity predictions which are combined through linear regression meta-models and further stacked using ridge regression into an integrated super-learner model. This approach achieves significant improvements over individual base models, with the super-learner attaining a mean absolute error of 0.083 and R^2 of 0.980 on test data. By quantifying the crucial fracture intensity parameter continuously as a function of depth, this data-driven methodology enables more accurate reservoir characterization compared to traditional methods. The ability to forecast fracture intensity solely from conventional well logs opens new opportunities for rapid, low-cost quantification of this parameter along new wells without requiring advanced logging tools. When incorporated into reservoir simulators, these machine learning fracture intensity models can help optimize production strategies and recovery management. This systematic stacked ensemble framework advances continuous fracture intensity modeling exclusively from well logs, overcoming limitations of prior techniques. Novel insights gained via rigorous model evaluation deepen the understanding of naturally fractured reservoirs.
“I come from a poor family”: deciphering how working-class young men aspire to and experience their journeys in STEM higher education
Authors: Stahl Garth , Fugurally Shaneeza , Hu Yating , Nguyen Tin , McDonald Sarah
Published: May 2024

Working-class young men are often pathologised for their perceived lack of white-collar career aspirations. Historically, and in our present context, only a select minority of working-class males pursue higher education. Of those who attend, few choose to study STEM, which is often associated with academic rigour, competition and prestige. As a result, we know little about the motivations and experiences of working-class men pursuing STEM degrees. The aim of this paper is to decipher some of the complex interweaving of masculinities, social class and learner identities in STEM through focusing on three key themes from a longitudinal study focused on first-in-family males: (1) desire for financial stability and fulfilment; (2) internalising pressure; (3) struggles with social acclimatisation to university. The research provides some insight into how we can better support males from non-traditional backgrounds who aspire to pathways that contrast greatly with their socio-economic background.
Advances on anticancer fungal metabolites: sources, chemical and biological activities in the last decade (2012–2023)
Authors: Evidente Antonio
Published: May 2024

Among microorganisms, fungi are the ones that have the most imagination in producing secondary metabolites with the most varied structural differences, which are produced through different biosynthetic pathways. Therefore, they synthesize secondary metabolites classifiable into numerous families of natural compounds such as amino acids, alkaloids, anthraquinones, aromatic compounds, cyclohexene epoxides, furanones, macrolides, naphthoquinones, polyketides, pyrones, terpenes, etc. They also produced metabolites with very complex structures that can not be classified in the known families of natural compounds. Many fungal metabolites show different biological activities with potential applications in agriculture, food chemistry, cosmetics, pharmacology and medicine. This review is focused on the fungal secondary metabolites with anticancer activity isolated in the last ten years. For some metabolites, when described, their biosynthetic origin, the mode of action and the results of structure activity relationships studies are also reported.

Graphical Abstract
Viral Meningitis and Encephalitis Update
Authors: Garber Boris , Glauser Johnathan
Published: May 2024

Purpose of Review

This review describes advances in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of non-bacterial meningitis and encephalitis, with a focus on emerging viral causes of central nervous system (CNS) infection.

Recent Findings

The Infectious Diseases Society of America recently published new guidelines for the management of encephalitis. Multiple articles have been published detailing emerging etiologies in human CNS infections, including analyses of neurological complications in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, several novel viral detection methods have been described, which may improve the detection of the specific etiologies of CNS infections (Hongyan et al. Front Neurol 14, [1]).

Meningitis and encephalitis remain important causes of morbidity and mortality. They are as a whole uncommon, yet timely diagnosis, treatment, and disposition are still critical to improve patient outcomes. In clinical practice the exact cause of encephalitis is frequently unidentified, making supportive care often the only available treatment. Emergency physicians, neurologists, infectious disease doctors, and intensive care unit specialists will benefit from reviewing this discussion on emerging pathogens, as well as from reviewing advances in virology, immunology, and the imaging of inflammatory CNS conditions.
Numerical investigation of the effect of an air layer on the melting process of phase change materials
Authors: Khalaf Abbas Fadhil , Rashid Farhan Lafta , Al-Obaidi Mudhar A. , Ameen Arman , Mohammed Hayder I.
Published: May 2024

Designing more effective thermal energy storage devices can result from understanding how air layers impact the melting process. The total efficiency of these systems can be improved by optimizing the melting process of the phase change materials (PCMs), which are utilised to store and release thermal energy. The current study utilises an analysis to evaluate how an air layer would affect melting of the PCM. The enthalpy-porosity combination based ANSYS/FLUENT 16 software is specifically used to accomplish this study, considering the paraffin wax (RT42) as the PCM. The study reveal that the presence of an air layer would impact the dissolution process. This result is assured an increase of melting time of PCM by 125% as a result to having an air layer of 5 cm thickness compared to a cell without an air layer. Furthermore, an increase of the layer thickness beyond 5 cm has a progressive effect on the melting time of PCM. One important component that affects the melting process is the existence of an air layer above the cell. Greater heat transfer resistance from thicker air layers prolongs the time needed to finish melting. The efficient heat transmission of PCM is shown to be reduced when there is an air layer above the cell. The melting process gradually slows down as the air layer thickness rises, which reflects the decreased heat transmission. These results highlight how crucial it is to take the environment into account while creating PCM-filled energy storage cells.
Addition of nisin to high-viscosity glass-ionomer cement: a comparative in vitro study on antibacterial and physical properties
Authors: Hegde D. , Suprabha B. S. , Ginjupalli K. , Suman E. , Natarajan S. , Shenoy R. , Rao A.
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Nisin is a lantibiotic effective against Gram-positive microorganisms such as Streptococcus mutans. The study aimed to determine the effect of the addition of nisin to high-viscosity glass-ionomer cement (HVGIC) on its antibacterial activity, setting time, surface microhardness, and compressive strength.

Methods

1 and 3% w/w nisin were added to HVGIC before mixing. Unmodified HVGIC was the control. Agar disc diffusion, direct contact test, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis were used to evaluate antibacterial activity against S. mutans. Setting time, surface microhardness, and compressive strength were measured using Gilmore needle apparatus, digital microhardness tester, and universal testing machine, respectively. Statistical analysis included Student’s t test, one-way ANOVA with Tamhane’s post hoc test, and repeated-measures ANOVA.

Results

As evidenced by the agar disc diffusion (p < 0.001), direct contact tests (p = 0.025), and SEM analysis of the S. mutans cell count and cell surface area (p = 0.049 and 0.003), 3% nisin had the strongest antibacterial activity. There was a dose-dependent increase in setting time (p = 0.005) and surface microhardness (p = 0.006), with no significant difference in compressive strength compared to control.

Conclusion

The addition of 3% nisin to HVGIC enhances the antibacterial action against S. mutans and surface microhardness without adversely affecting setting time and compressive strength.
Correlation of serum DKK1 level with skeletal phenotype in children with osteogenesis imperfecta
Authors: Wang Y. , Hu J. , Sun L. , Zhou B. , Lin X. , Zhang Q. , Wang O. , Jiang Y. , Xia W. , Xing X. , Li M.
Published: May 2024

Purpose

We aim to detect serum DKK1 level of pediatric patients with OI and to analyze its relationship with the genotype and phenotype of OI patients.

Methods

A cohort of pediatric OI patients and age-matched healthy children were enrolled. Serum levels of DKK1 and bone turnover biomarkers were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Pathogenic mutations of OI were detected by next-generation sequencing and confirmed by Sanger sequencing.

Results

A total of 62 OI children with mean age of 9.50 (4.86, 12.00) years and 29 healthy children were included in this study. The serum DKK1 concentration in OI children was significantly higher than that in healthy children [5.20 (4.54, 6.32) and 4.08 (3.59, 4.92) ng/mL, P < 0.001]. The serum DKK1 concentration in OI children was negatively correlated with height (r = − 0.282), height Z score (r = − 0.292), ALP concentration (r = − 0.304), lumbar BMD (r = − 0.276), BMD Z score of the lumbar spine and femoral neck (r = − 0.32; r = − 0.27) (all P < 0.05). No significant difference in serum DKK1 concentration was found between OI patients with and without vertebral compression fractures. In patients with spinal deformity (22/62), serum DKK1 concentration was positively correlated with SDI (r = 0.480, P < 0.05). No significant correlation was observed between serum DKK1 concentration and the annual incidence of peripheral fractures, genotype and types of collagen changes in OI children.

Conclusion

The serum DKK1 level was not only significantly elevated in OI children, but also closely correlated to their skeletal phenotype, suggesting that DKK1 may become a new biomarker and a potential therapeutic target of OI.
Conception and parameterization of field-scale models for simulating ammonia loss from fertilized lands: a review
Authors: Horváth László , Szabó Anna , Weidinger Tamás
Published: May 2024

Ammonia is a crucial component in the biogeochemical cycle of nitrogen, with various harmful environmental effects. The primary source of NH3 is agriculture, particularly the application of fertilizers in crop cultivation. A significant portion of the nitrogen content from fertilizers, when applied without utilization, is released into the environment, becoming a source of loss and pollution. Emissions occur both from the soil and through stomata. However, if the compensation point concentration of the apoplast is lower than the nearby concentration of NH3, stomatal absorption occurs. Additionally, cuticular deposition processes and bidirectional exchange of droplets on foliage (rain, dew, guttation) contribute to the ammonia cycle within the canopy. Depending on the conditions, a considerable amount of the ammonia emitted by the soil can be recaptured by the canopy. This recapture helps reduce both nitrogen loss from fertilizers and environmental pollution. This article presents a general review of models simulating the bi-directional exchange of ammonia in the soil—plant—atmosphere system, focusing on determining ammonia loss and amounts recycled by the canopy. The review covers concepts and parameterization of various model inputs.
MXene@c-MWCNT Adhesive Silica Nanofiber Membranes Enhancing Electromagnetic Interference Shielding and Thermal Insulation Performance in Extreme Environments
Authors: Han Ziyuan , Niu Yutao , Shi Xuetao , Pan Duo , Liu Hu , Qiu Hua , Chen Weihua , Xu Ben Bin , El-Bahy Zeinhom M. , Hou Hua , Elsharkawy Eman Ramadan , Amin Mohammed A. , Liu Chuntai , Guo Zhanhu
Published: May 2024

A lightweight flexible thermally stable composite is fabricated by combining silica nanofiber membranes (SNM) with MXene@c-MWCNT hybrid film. The flexible SNM with outstanding thermal insulation are prepared from tetraethyl orthosilicate hydrolysis and condensation by electrospinning and high-temperature calcination; the MXene@c-MWCNTx:y films are prepared by vacuum filtration technology. In particular, the SNM and MXene@c-MWCNT6:4 as one unit layer (SMC1) are bonded together with 5 wt% polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution, which exhibits low thermal conductivity (0.066 W m−1 K−1) and good electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance (average EMI SET, 37.8 dB). With the increase in functional unit layer, the overall thermal insulation performance of the whole composite film (SMCx) remains stable, and EMI shielding performance is greatly improved, especially for SMC3 with three unit layers, the average EMI SET is as high as 55.4 dB. In addition, the organic combination of rigid SNM and tough MXene@c-MWCNT6:4 makes SMCx exhibit good mechanical tensile strength. Importantly, SMCx exhibit stable EMI shielding and excellent thermal insulation even in extreme heat and cold environment. Therefore, this work provides a novel design idea and important reference value for EMI shielding and thermal insulation components used in extreme environmental protection equipment in the future.
Pore structure response at different scales in coal to cyclical liquid nitrogen treatment and its impact on permeability and micromechanical properties
Authors: Jiang Changbao , Sun Qi , Deng Bozhi , Yang Bowen , Guo Jianquan
Published: May 2024

The methane in the coal seams of abandoned mines is a valuable natural gas resource. However, the ultra-low permeability of coal seams restricts the extraction of coalbed methane. The liquid nitrogen fracturing technology is a novel approach suitable for enhancing the permeability of coal seams in abandoned mines. The ultra-low temperature could potentially facilitate the growth and propagation of pores and fractures in coal seams. In this study, we observed inconsistent alterations in coal properties measured by multiple instruments at different scales, whether in dry or wet coal specimens. This suggests that the mechanisms influencing the pore structure due to LN2 treatment differ across various scales in dry and wet coal specimens. For dry specimens, heterogeneous thermal deformation and freezing shrinkage exhibited opposing effects during LN2 treatment. Thermal stress-induced micro-fractures might counteract the freezing contraction of micropores in coal matrices, preventing a significant decrease in coal macropores and fractures. In wet specimens, the effects of LN2 treatment on wet coal specimens were predominantly controlled by frost heaving. However, due to low water saturation, LN2 treatment had negligible effects on coal micropores, even in the presence of local frost heaving. In field applications, water migration from smaller to larger pores could further diminish the impact of LN2 treatment on micropores.
The Date of Ādi Śaṅkarācārya and Emergence of Śaivism as a Popular Religion in South India
Authors: Saraswati Sainath R.
Published: May 2024

The date of Ādi Śaṅkarācārya has been one of the unsolved problems of Indian Philosophy. He is generally accepted to have lived from 788 to 820 CE and is thus assigned from the end of the eighth century to the beginning of the ninth century. So far scholars who have worked on this problem have consulted his hagiographies and his works to determine his date. However, they have not studied the date of Ādi Śaṅkarācārya by placing him in the context of the development of religion in South India. Nor have they consulted South Indian sources, especially Tamiḻ texts, to see if there are any references to his philosophy. In this paper, I study the problem of the date of Ādi Śaṅkarācārya by consulting Tamiḻ sources and the hitherto less consulted epicŚivarahasya. I also connect his date with the emergence of Śaivism as a popular religion in South India. Based on my study, I place Ādi Śaṅkarācārya in the fifth century BCE and as a result, I emphasize the importance of redating Hindu scriptures, especially theVedas, as Ādi Śaṅkarācārya is the earliest commentator.
Influence of Boxing Training on Self-Concept and Mental Rotation Performance in Children
Authors: Rahe Martina , Schaefer Johannes , Schürmann Linda , Jansen Petra
Published: May 2024

Mental rotation is a spatial cognitive ability malleable by training, e.g., physical education. The importance of children’s physical activity on their self-concept is also well proven. The present study examines whether a ten-week boxing training improves ten-year-old children’s mental rotation performance and self-concept. Forty-five children (26 boys and 19 girls, age: M = 9.62, SD = 0.71) completed a mental rotation test and filled out a questionnaire about their academic, physical, and social self-concept. Seventeen of the children participated in a ten-week boxing training. After the training, all children completed the same test and questionnaire. Results showed that children in the training group improved more than children in the control group in all three aspects of self-concept and mental rotation performance. All interaction effects between time and group were moderate to large. We conclude that a ten-week boxing training successfully improves children’s self-concept and spatial abilities.
Die Rolle von kognitiver Verhaltenstherapie bei Insomnie bei Frauen in den Wechseljahren
Authors: Ott Simona
Published: May 2024

Hintergrund

Insomnie ist eines der häufigsten Symptome bei Frauen während der Wechseljahre und beeinträchtigt Betroffene sehr.

Ziel der Arbeit

Ziel der Arbeit ist, den Effekt von kognitiver Verhaltenstherapie bei Insomnie (KVT-I) bei Frauen peri- und postmenopausal zu untersuchen.

Material und Methode

Studien, welche auf Ovid Medline und Google Scholar publiziert wurden und die Wirkung von KVT‑I bei Frauen in den Wechseljahren untersucht haben. Für Behandlungsoptionen werden die S3-Leitlinien für Insomnie verwendet.

Ergebnisse

Die kognitive Verhaltenstherapie ist eine sehr wirkungsvolle Therapie bei Frauen während der Wechseljahre mit Insomnie. In allen untersuchten Studien war es die Therapie mit den erfolgreichsten Ergebnissen, egal ob die Therapie „face to face“, telefonbasiert, in Gruppen oder online durchgeführt wurde. Die Schlafrestriktionstherapie konnte ähnlich überzeugende Resultate liefern. Vor allem in Bezug auf depressive Symptome und maladaptives Denken hat die SRT ähnlich gute Ergebnisse wie die KVT‑I aufgezeigt [13]. Nicht eindeutige Resultate wurden in beiden Interventionsgruppen zur Funktionsfähigkeit am Tag, der Arbeitsleistung sowie der allgemeinen Lebensqualität gezeigt [14]. Die SHA zeigte in allen Studien einen geringen bis keinen Effekt. Insomnie-Remittierte wiesen ein generell besseres Gesundheitsempfinden nach der Therapie auf.
Thiol-based chemically modified carbon screen-printed electrode for simultaneous quantification of trace level Pb(II) and Cd(II)
Authors: Tiwari Mritunjay S. , Kadu Arun K.
Published: May 2024

Present work reports, the development of a novel electrochemical sensor based on a diazonium-coupling reaction and covalent attachment of the –NH2 group of cysteamine (Cyst) on screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE), for simultaneous determination of Pb(II) and Cd(II). Initially, the in-situ generated 4-carboxyphenyl (4-CP) diazonium salt was electro-grafted to generate 4-CP/SPCE, followed by covalent bonding of terminal carboxylic group of 4-CP with –NH2 group of Cyst to give Cyst/4-CP/SPCE. The modified electrode showed an enhanced selectivity and sensitivity toward the quantification of Pb(II) and Cd(II) using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) without mutual interference. Under optimal experimental conditions, the newly designed sensor showed a wide linear range of 0.01 µM to 0.7 µM. The limit of detection (LOD) obtained was 0.882 nM (0.09 ppb) and 0.65 nM (0.134 ppb) for Cd(II) and Pb(II), respectively. The modified SPCE exhibited good stability, selectivity, and reproducibility. Furthermore, the sensor was successfully applied for the determination of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions in water samples which illustrated excellent recoveries in different spiked samples and the results were in line with the standard ICP-AES analysis.

Graphical abstract

A thiol-based disposable electrochemical sensor was developed via electro grafting of diazonium salt on SPCE followed by covalent immobilization of cysteamine for quantification of Pb(II) and Cd(II) in water samples.
Working towards a paradigm shift in mental health: stakeholder perspectives on improving healthcare access for people with serious mental illnesses and chronic physical illnesses in Jamaica
Authors: Whitehorne-Smith Patrice , Lalwani Kunal , Mitchell Gabrielle , Martin Robyn , Milbourn Ben , Abel Wendel , Burns Sharyn
Published: May 2024

The Jamaican public health system has incorporated mental health services into community-based primary care to improve healthcare access for people with serious mental illnesses (PWSMI), especially given global concerns about the high rate of comorbidity of chronic physical illnesses (CPI) among this population. Although it has been over twenty years since this strategy was implemented, there is a dearth of research into the views and experiences of stakeholders relating to this health system response. The current study sought to explore stakeholders’ perspectives and recommendations for improving the Jamaican public health system's response to healthcare access for PWSMI & CPI. A constructivist grounded theory approach was used to collect and analyse data from fifty-seven participants across six participant groups: health policymakers, primary care physicians, psychiatrists, mental health nurses, PWSMI & CPI and, their caregivers. The findings of the study identified one overarching category, “a paradigm shift in mental health” supported by six subthemes: (1) prioritise mental health, (2) reduce stigma and discrimination, (3) fill gaps in policies and practice, (4) address workforce issues, (5) improve health infrastructure and operations, and (6) respond to social needs. Findings highlighted a need for strategies that address social determinants of health inequalities such as stigma and discrimination as well as poverty to improve healthcare access. The paradigm shift in mental health will require greater financial and human resource investment in responding to these comorbid conditions and increased involvement of PWSMI and other stakeholders in strategies aimed at improving healthcare access and outcomes.
Writing the History of the African Diaspora
Authors: Falola Toyin
Published: May 2024

This Element is an analysis of the African Diaspora. It will define the African Diaspora and how the concepts behind the term came to be socially and historically engineered. The African diaspora is then placed into a broader historical context where the diverse, global, and overlapping histories of Africa's ancient-ongoing diasporas will be explored. In particular, themes of injustice, agency, resistance, and diversity (regarding people, diasporas, and experiences) will feature heavily. Through this exploration, this Element will interrogate dominating narratives regarding African diaspora-related discourse, seeking to address prevailing ideas that inadequately capture the true complexity and nuance of the subject. It does so to construct a more comprehensive understanding of the subject matter while lining out a more holistic approach to thinking about the very nature of 'diaspora.' Finally, this Element will analyze the present circumstances of the African diaspora, bringing into conversation a progressively global and connected world.
Militarization and Democracy in West Germany's Border Police, 1951-2005
Authors: Livingstone David M.
Published: May 2024

A social history of West Germany's Bundesgrenzschutz (BGS, Federal Border Police) that complicates the telling of the country's history as a straightforward success story.
Cardiovascular fluid dynamics: a journey through our circulation
Authors: Menon Karthik , Hu Zinan , Marsden Alison L.
Published: May 2024

This article presents a broad overview of the fluid mechanics of the human cardiovascular system. Beginning in the heart, we travel through the main features of our circulation to highlight important functions and diseases where fluid mechanics plays a central role. Of particular focus is the role of computational modelling in uncovering the dynamic flow phenomenon throughout our body, its association with cardiovascular disease mechanisms and progression and its importance in clinical treatment planning. We also emphasize the multiscale nature of the cardiovascular system, and associated challenges. The main aim of this review is to highlight progress and ongoing challenges in our understanding of cardiovascular haemodynamics, as well as the future outlook for translating the current state-of-the-art to widespread clinical application and improved patient outcomes.
The Queen of the Vic: Eliza Vincent's Actress-Management of the Victoria Theatre, London, 1841–1856
Authors: Ridgwell Stephen
Published: May 2024

Early in 1850, Charles Dickens went to the Victoria Theatre in Lambeth. One of several theatres sited close to the bridges linking the southern bank of the Thames with the north, the Vic was a prominent neighborhood institution catering to a mostly working-class audience. Launched in 1818 as the Royal Coburg Theatre, a move designed to coincide with the opening of Waterloo Bridge, its investors’ hopes of drawing a more upmarket crowd were largely disappointed. Visiting the theatre in 1820, William Hazlitt was distressed to find Junius Brutus Booth among an ill-assorted and noisy throng, and in 1831 Edmund Kean was reduced to haranguing the “unmitigated brutes” gathered before him. Pelted with orange peel and nutshells, he still drew his nightly fee of £50. Although research by Jim Davis and Victor Emeljanow has revealed an audience more varied than once assumed, upon the changing of its name in 1833, the Victoria's core clientele was more or less established, as indeed was its reputation for the bloodier aspects of popular drama. It had also experienced regular changes of management, sudden spells of closure, and periodic clashes with the authorities. Suitably enough for what follows, by 1840, the Vic was judged to have suffered “more vicissitudes” than any other theatre in London.
THE BIODIVERSITY CRISIS, BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS, AND OUR OBLIGATIONS WITH RESPECT TO THEM
Authors: Moore Margaret
Published: May 2024

This essay argues that we have a duty to protect biodiversity hotspots, rooted in an argument about the wrongful imposition of risk and intergenerational justice. State authority over territory and resources is not unlimited; the state has a duty to protect these areas. The essay argues that although biodiversity loss is a global problem, it can be tackled at the domestic level through clear rules. The argument thus challenges the usual view of state sovereignty, which holds that authority over territory, resources, and migration (all of which are connected to the protection of biodiversity hotspots) is unlimited.
A macroscope of English print culture, 1530–1700, applied to the coevolution of ideas on religion, science, and institutions
Authors: Grajzl Peter , Murrell Peter
Published: May 2024

We combine unsupervised machine learning and econometric methods to study England’s print culture in the pivotal sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Machine learning synthesizes the content of 57,863 texts comprising 83 million words into 110 topics. Topics include the expected, such as Natural Philosophy, and the unexpected, such as Baconian Theology. Timelines suggest that religious and political discourse gradually became less antagonistic and economic topics more prominent. The epistemology associated with Bacon was present in theological debates already before Bacon’s epistemological contributions. Vector autoregression estimates provide insight into the coevolution of ideas on religion, science, and institutions. Innovations in religious ideas stimulated focus on science, especially at times when Puritanism was prominent in religious discourse. Neither science nor institutional thought evidence secularization. The Glorious Revolution and the Civil War did not spur debates on institutions nor did the founding of the Royal Society markedly elevate attention to science.