bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pathological findings associated with Dipetalonema spp. (Spirurida, Onchocercidae) infection in two species of Neotropical monkeys from Brazil
Authors: Ehlers Luiza Presser , Slaviero Mônica , De Lorenzo Cíntia , Fagundes-Moreira Renata , de Souza Viviane Kelin , Perles Lívia , Baggio-Souza Vinicius , Bezerra-Santos Marcos Antonio , Modrý David , Benovics Michal , Panziera Welden , Driemeier David , Pavarini Saulo Petinatti , Soares João Fabio , Otranto Domenico , Sonne Luciana
Published: June 2023

Among vector-borne helminths, filarioids of the genus Dipetalonema (Spirurida: Onchocercidae) localize in several tissues and body cavities of several animal species, causing mild to moderate lesions. The pathological findings associated with Dipetalonema spp. infection in Neotropical monkeys from southern Brazil are herein described, along with a fatal case due to filarial polyserositis and entrapment of an intestinal segment. At necropsy, nematodes were observed in abdominal and thoracic cavities, or in the pericardium of 37 (31.3%) out of the 118 individuals examined (i.e., 35 Alouatta guariba clamitans and two Sapajus nigritus). In addition, at histology, 27.0% of positive animals presented microfilarie (inside blood vessels of lung, spleen, liver, and brain) and 8.1% presented adult nematodes in the heart, lung, and liver. In two cases, cross-sections of filarioids were associated with areas of epicardial thickening with intense fibrosis and pyogranulomatous inflammation in the brain, heart, liver, lungs, or spleen. The DNA fragment was amplify using the cox1 gene, sequenced and analyzed to identify the nematode species collected; presence of Wolbachia was assessed in the filarioids using the 16S rRNA gene. At BLAST analysis of the cox1 gene, 10 sequences showed 91.7% nucleotide identity with Dipetalonema gracile, and two with D. gracile (98.5%) and Dipetalonema graciliformis (98.3%). Phylogenetic analyses clustered sequences of the cox1 obtained in this study in two clades corresponding with the host species. Wolbachia sp. endosymbiont was detected in four samples. Data herein reported provide a description of pathological lesions associated with the infection by Dipetalonema spp., suggesting that they may cause disease in Neotropical monkeys. In addition, a better understanding of diversity and biology of Dipetalonema spp. in South America is needed to assess the impact they may cause in native non-human primates from Brazil.
Dysphagia Prevalence and Outcomes Associated with the Evolution of COVID-19 and Its Variants in Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Clayton Nicola A. , Freeman-Sanderson Amy , Walker Elizabeth
Published: June 2023

Data collected during the 2020–21 COVID-19 alpha wave indicated dysphagia prevalence rates up to 93%. Whilst many patients recovered during hospital admission, some experienced persistent dysphagia with protracted recovery. To explore (1) prevalence, (2) treatment, and (3) recovery patterns and outcomes for swallowing, in the ICU patient with Delta and subsequent variants of COVID-19. Prospective observational study. Patients admitted to 26 Intensive Care Units (ICUs) over 12 months, diagnosed with COVID-19, treated for survival and seen by Speech–Language Pathology (SLP) for clinical swallowing assessment were included. Demographic, medical, SLP treatment, and swallowing outcome data were collected. 235 participants (63% male, median age = 58 years) were recruited. Median mechanical ventilation was 16 days, and ICU and hospital length of stay (LOS) were 20 and 42 days, respectively. ICU-Acquired Weakness (54%) and delirium (49%) were frequently observed. Prevalence of dysphagia was 94% with the majority (45%) exhibiting profound dysphagia (Functional Oral Intake Scale = 1) at initial assessment. Median duration to initiate oral feeding was 19 days (IQR = 11-44 days) from ICU admission, and 24% received dysphagia rehabilitation. Dysphagia recovery by hospital discharge was observed in 71% (median duration = 30 days [IQR = 17-56 days]). Positive linear associations were identified between duration of intubation, mechanical ventilation, hospital and ICU LOS, and duration to SLP assessment (p = 0.000), dysphagia severity (p = 0.000), commencing oral intake (p = 0.000), dysphagia recovery (p < 0.01), and enteral feeding (p = 0.000). Whilst older participants had more severe dysphagia (p = 0.028), younger participants took longer to commence oral feeding (p = 0.047). Dysphagia remains highly prevalent in ICU COVID-19 patients. Whilst invasive ventilation duration is associated with swallowing outcomes, more evidence on dysphagia pathophysiology is required to guide rehabilitation.
Validity evidence and psychometric evaluation of a socially accountable health index for health professions schools
Authors: Barber Cassandra , van der Vleuten Cees , Chahine Saad
Published: June 2023

There is an expectation that health professions schools respond to priority societal health needs. This expectation is largely based on the underlying assumption that schools are aware of the priority needs in their communities. This paper demonstrates how open-access, pan-national health data can be used to create a reliable health index to assist schools in identifying societal needs and advance social accountability in health professions education. Using open-access data, a psychometric evaluation was conducted to examine the reliability and validity of the Canadian Health Indicators Framework (CHIF) conceptual model. A non-linear confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on 67 health indicators, at the health-region level (n = 97) was used to assess the model fit of the hypothesized 10-factor model. Reliability analysis using McDonald’s Omega were conducted, followed by Pearson’s correlation coefficients. Findings from the non-linear CFA rejected the original conceptual model structure of the CHIF. Exploratory post hoc analyses were conducted using modification indices and parameter constraints to improve model fit. A final 5-factor multidimensional model demonstrated superior fit, reducing the number of indicators from 67 to 32. The 5-factors included: Health Conditions (8-indicators); Health Functions (6-indicators); Deaths (5-indicators); Non-Medical Health Determinants (7-indicators); and Community & Health System Characteristics (6-indicators). All factor loadings were statistically significant (p < 0.001) and demonstrated excellent internal consistency ($$\upomega$$ω>0.95). Many schools struggle to identify and measure socially accountable outcomes. The process highlighted in this paper and the indices developed serve as starting points to allow schools to leverage open-access data as an initial step in identifying societal needs.
Human-centric and semantics-based explainable event detection: a survey
Authors: Kolajo Taiwo , Daramola Olawande
Published: June 2023

In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems that can provide human-centric explanations for decisions or predictions. No matter how good and efficient an AI model is, users or practitioners find it difficult to trust it if they cannot understand the AI model or its behaviours. Incorporating explainability that is human-centric in event detection systems is significant for building a decision-making process that is more trustworthy and sustainable. Human-centric and semantics-based explainable event detection will achieve trustworthiness, explainability, and reliability, which are currently lacking in AI systems. This paper provides a survey on human-centric explainable AI, explainable event detection, and semantics-based explainable event detection by answering some research questions that bother on the characteristics of human-centric explanations, the state of explainable AI, methods for human-centric explanations, the essence of human-centricity in explainable event detection, research efforts in explainable event solutions, and the benefits of integrating semantics into explainable event detection. The findings from the survey show the current state of human-centric explainability, the potential of integrating semantics into explainable AI, the open problems, and the future directions which can guide researchers in the explainable AI domain.
Regional environmental governance of protected natural territories in the European North: Russia, Finland, and Norway, and the case of Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park
Authors: Vladimirova Vladislava
Published: June 2023

This article explores how international organizations (IOs), national governments, and regional actors interact in the field of nature conservation in the European Arctic, focusing on Russia. I also reveal the unequal role of Indigenous communities, which are stakeholders in protected nature territories in the Arctic but receive limited attention in research.

I present the case of the Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park, which in 2008 received Europarc Certification as a result of long-term international cooperation dating back to the 1990s. The park consists of five protected natural areas: three in Norway, one in Russia and one in Finland. The areas have different organizational forms and restrictions on human activities, and the efforts of IOs such as the Europarc Federation to increase cooperation and coordination among them in conservation projects, research initiatives, and international travel for tourists, have had only partial success.

I apply insights from regional analysis to discuss how governance at international, national, and local levels shape the practices and ideas of nature conservation in the different parts of Pasvik-Inari. The article also addresses the role of Indigenous environmental knowledge and nature use in protected natural territories in the Arctic. The paper contributes to the special issue on regional environmental governance by expanding the regional focus toward Russia and by stressing the significant relations between Indigenous communities and nature that should be taken into consideration in Arctic environmental governance.
SimCost: cost-effective resource provision prediction and recommendation for spark workloads
Authors: Chen Yuxing , Hoque Mohammad A. , Xu Pengfei , Lu Jiaheng , Tarkoma Sasu
Published: June 2023

Spark is one of the most popular big data analytical platforms. To save time, achieve high resource utilization, and remain cost-effective for Spark jobs, it is challenging but imperative for data scientists to configure suitable resource portions.In this paper, we investigate the proper parameter values that meet workloads’ performance requirements with minimized resource cost and resource utilization time. We propose SimCost, a simulation-based cost model, to predict the performance of jobs accurately. We achieve low-cost training by taking advantage of simulation framework, i.e., Monte Carlo simulation, which uses a small amount of data and resources to make a reliable prediction for larger datasets and clusters. Our method’s salient feature is that it allows us to invest low training costs while obtaining an accurate prediction. Through empirical experiments with 12 benchmark workloads, we show that the cost model yields less than 5% error on average prediction accuracy, and the recommendation achieves up to 6x resource cost saving.
The environmental impact of the sugar industry waste in Sudan
Authors: Ibrahim Tageldeen Saeed Tageldeen , Workneh Tilahun Seyoum
Published: June 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of Sudanese sugar manufacturing waste on the communities surrounding the industries. The study employed a cross-sectional survey in which 311 respondents living in factory areas. The selected sugar industries included Kenana, Guneid, Halfa, Sinnar, Assalaya, and White Nile. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 19. Descriptive statistics, nonparametric statistics, and logistic regression were employed. The results showed that wastewater discharge has a significant (P < 0.05) effect on community health. Respondents indicated that the waste creates an ideal environment for parasites to reproduce, off-odors to develop, and ultimately contamination of water. A multinomial logistic regression model showed that wastewater (i.e., off-odors and mosquitoes) have significant (P 0.05) influences on causing health risks (i.e., malaria) to people living around sugar factories. The study also revealed that the lack of sugar industry wastewater management has significantly affected crop and animal production. The suspended particles and bagasse fly were significant (P 0.05) in causing eye and respiratory system diseases in the region. Health services provided by the industries significantly (P = 0.05) impacted community satisfaction. In this regard, the study designed a framework for enhanced handling the industrial waste to be adopted by the Sudanese sugar industry decision-makers. A framework was developed to reduce the impact of waste to the lowest possible level by improving management strategies sufficiently to minimize its impact.
Electromagnetic Modeling Using Adaptive Grids – Error Estimation and Geometry Representation
Authors: Spitzer Klaus
Published: June 2023

This review paper addresses the development of numerical modeling of electromagnetic fields in geophysics with a focus on recent finite element simulation. It discusses ways of estimating errors of our solutions for a perfectly matched modeling domain and the problems that arise from its insufficient representation. After a brief outline of early methods and modeling approaches, the paper mainly discusses the capabilities of the finite element method formulated on unstructured grids and the advantages of local h-refinement allowing for both a flexible and largely accurate representation of the geometries of the multi-scale geomaterial and an accurate evaluation of the underlying functions representing the physical fields. In summary, the accuracy of the solution depends on the geometric mapping, the choice of the mathematical model, and the spatial discretization. Although the available error estimators do not necessarily provide reliable error bounds for our complex geomodels, they are still useful to guide grid refinement. Therefore, an overview of the most common a posteriori error estimators is given. It will be shown that the sensitivity is the most important function in both guiding the geometric mapping and the local refinement.
Mother’s Age and Social Integration Modulate Sex-biased Maternal Investment in Wild Spider Monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi)
Authors: Soben Carolina , Llorente Miquel , Villariezo Paula , Liebal Katja , Amici Federica
Published: June 2023

In many mammal species, mothers are crucial for the survival and development of young offspring. In primates, maternal investment may ensure immatures’ survival and also foster their social integration in the group, providing long-term fitness benefits. In this study, we analysed maternal investment in a wild group (N = 49) of male philopatric spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi). We assessed whether maternal investment is biased toward sons (compared with daughters) and which factors modulate this relation. We studied 20 mother–offspring dyads, measuring the time mothers spent in body contact, nursing, carrying, grooming, and playing with their offspring, for a total of 359 focal samples from February to July 2022. We then ran generalized linear mixed models to assess how these responses varied depending on the two-way interactions of offspring sex with offspring age, maternal age, and maternal centrality. Our results showed that mothers were more likely to nurse, carry, and have body contact with younger than older offspring, regardless of their sex. However, we also found that mothers invested more in male than female offspring; differences were mediated by mothers’ age and social integration in the group. Older mothers, in particular, were more likely to carry sons than daughters, whereas the contrary was true for younger mothers. Moreover, socially more central mothers were more likely to be in body contact with sons than daughters. Overall, our study shows that some maternal behaviours are sex-biased in male-philopatric species, although maternal experience and social integration may modulate this relation.
Super Linguistics: an introduction
Authors: Patel-Grosz Pritty , Mascarenhas Salvador , Chemla Emmanuel , Schlenker Philippe
Published: June 2023

We argue that formal linguistic theory, properly extended, can provide a unifying framework for diverse phenomena beyond traditional linguistic objects. We display applications to pictorial meanings, visual narratives, music, dance, animal communication, and, more abstractly, to logical and non-logical concepts in the ‘language of thought’ and reasoning. In many of these cases, a careful analysis reveals that classic linguistic notions are pervasive across these domains, such as for instance the constituency (or grouping) core principle of syntax, the use of logical variables (for object tracking), or the variety of inference types investigated in semantics/pragmatics. The aim of this overview is to show how the application of formal linguistic concepts and methodology to non-linguistic objects yields non-trivial insights, thus opening the possibility of a general, precise theory of signs. (An appendix, found in the online supplements to this article, surveys applications of Super Linguistics to animal communication.)
GOunder/Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation DEsmoid Symptom/Impact Scale (GODDESS©): psychometric properties and clinically meaningful thresholds as assessed in the Phase 3 DeFi randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Gounder Mrinal M. , Atkinson Thomas M. , Bell Timothy , Daskalopoulou Christina , Griffiths Pip , Martindale Moriah , Smith L. Mary , Lim Allison
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The GODDESS© tool was developed to assess Desmoid Tumor/Aggressive Fibromatosis (DT/AF) symptom severity and impact on patients’ lives. This study evaluated GODDESS©’s cross-sectional and longitudinal measurement properties.

Methods

The Phase 3, randomized placebo-controlled, DeFi study (NCT03785964) of nirogacestat in DT/AF was used to assess GODDESS©’s reliability, construct validity, responsiveness, and estimate of meaningful change thresholds (MCTs). Other patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures included Patient Global Impression of Severity (PGIS) in DT/AF symptoms, EORTC QLQ-C30, Brief Pain Inventory Short Form, and PROMIS Physical Function short-form 10a v2.0 plus 3 items.

Results

DeFi participants (N = 142) had a median age of 34 years (range: 18–76) and were mostly female (64.8%), with extra-abdominal (76.8%) or intra-abdominal tumors (23.2%). The GODDESS© symptom/impact scales showed internal consistency at baseline, cycles 4 and 7 (Cronbach’s α > 0.70) and test–retest reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient > 0.85). GODDESS© scales correlated moderately to highly with PRO measures capturing similar content and differentiated among PGIS and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group groups. GODDESS© scales detected improvement over time. For the total symptom score, a 1.30-point decrease was estimated as the within-person MCT and a 1.00-point decrease as the between-group MCT. For the physical functioning impact score, estimated within- and between-group MCTs were 0.60-point and 0.50-point decreases, respectively. Few participants exhibited symptom worsening.

Conclusion

GODDESS© was found to be reliable, valid, responsive, and interpretable as a clinical trial endpoint in the pooled sample of DT/AF patients. Estimated MCTs can be used to define responders and assess group-level differences in future, unblinded, efficacy analyses.

Trial registration number and registration date

NCT03785964; December 24, 2018.
Understanding the measurement relationship between EQ-5D-5L, PROMIS-29 and PROPr
Authors: Mulhern Brendan J. , Pan Tianxin , Norman Richard , Tran-Duy An , Hanmer Janel , Viney Rosalie , Devlin Nancy J.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Many generic patient-reported instruments are available for the measurement of health outcomes, including EQ-5D-5L, and the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS). Assessing their measurement characteristics informs users about the consistency between, and limits of, evidence produced. The aim was to assess the measurement relationship between the EQ-5D-5L descriptive system and value sets, the PROMIS-29 and PROPr (PROMIS value set).

Methods

Data were extracted from a cross-sectional survey administering measures of quality of life online in Australia. Descriptive analysis, agreement and construct validity assessment methods were used to compare instruments at the item, domain and value set level.

Results

In total, 794 Australians completed the survey. Convergent validity analysis found that similar dimensions across instruments were highly correlated (> 0.50), but the PROMIS-29 assesses additional health concepts not explicitly covered by EQ-5D (sleep and fatigue). Known-group assessment found that EQ-5D-5L and PROPr were able to detect those with and without a condition (ES range 0.78–0.83) but PROPr could more precisely detect differing levels of self-reported health. Both instruments were sensitive to differences in levels of pain.

Discussion

There is some consistency in what the EQ-5D-5L, PROMIS-29 and PROPr measure. Differences between value set characteristics can be linked to differences what is measured and the valuation approaches used. This has implications for the use of each in assessing health outcomes, and the results can inform decisions about which instrument should be used in which context.
Learning your own risk preferences
Authors: Charness Gary , Chemaya Nir , Trujano-Ochoa Dario
Published: June 2023

Do people know their own risk preferences, or do risk choices change with experience and observation? We provide a straightforward test in the laboratory. People make an initial decision concerning a lottery choice and then experience 24 unpaid practice periods in which they roll the dice, record the outcome, and record the would-be payoff. They then make a final decision for the lottery choice; one of the first and last periods is randomly chosen for payment. Our primary hypothesis is that people will become less risk-averse by having made and experienced the practice rolls. We do find that people are significantly more likely to become less risk-averse than more risk-averse over time. We note that this move towards assuming increased risk goes in the opposite direction from what is at least arguably predicted by loss aversion and reference dependence. We find that women’s preferences change much less during a session than men’s preferences change. We feel that our literally hands-on approach ensures a degree of engagement that helps to accelerate the learning process. We argue that measures obtained after people have had experience with a mechanism are more meaningful, and that this principle might well extend more generally to other elicitation tasks.
Inking Cultures: Authorship, AI-Generated Art and Copyright Law in Tattooing
Authors: Stockton-Brown Melanie
Published: June 2023

This article considers current advances in tattooing that are challenging community-held views of authorship and ownership, and the need to address this tension. The key challenge is from AI-generated artworks being used as tattoo designs, but the authorial role of the tattooist is also challenged by body art projects such as tattoo collection. Legal clarity for tattooing is lacking, and in addressing this, this article advocates for an open, community-based form of shared copyright ownership and authorship for projects as tattoo collecting, drawing on Dusollier’s and Mendis’ work. This article contributes to both copyright and cultural heritage legal scholarship, and to tattooing scholarship and the tattooing community. AI-generated art being tattooed on people has not been explored in the literature to date, and this article fills this gap. Furthermore, this article contributes a pilot study of the tattoo community’s views on AI-generated tattoos, which is currently lacking from the scholarly debate on AI-generated art. This article argues that the debate within the tattoo community about AI-generated art being used in tattoos needs to be addressed within the community through agreed extra-legal norms, which may well depart from how copyright law decides to approach AI-generated art globally. This article also asserts that AI should not be regarded as the “author” of tattoo works in the traditional copyright sense, as only a human tattooist can draw from a number of cultural, textual, audiovisual and visual, cultural folklore, history and mythical references in creating their tattoo designs, as well as drawing on the client’s personal stories. This article explores the following: (i) an understanding of tattooing as an artform; (ii) tattoos in UK copyright law; (iii) an exploration of the authorial role of the tattooist within tattooing; (iv) the authorial role of the tattooist within tattoo collecting; (v) AI-generated tattoos—perspectives from the tattoo community, through a pilot study of YouTube videos and viewer comments about this; and (vi) a consideration of whether copyright legal reform is the solution for the tattooing community.
Scientific practice as ecological-enactive co-construction
Authors: Sanches de Oliveira Guilherme , van Es Thomas , Hipólito Inês
Published: June 2023

Philosophy of science has undergone a naturalistic turn, moving away from traditional idealized concerns with the logical structure of scientific theories and toward focusing on real-world scientific practice, especially in domains such as modeling and experimentation. As part of this shift, recent work has explored how the project of philosophically understanding science as a natural phenomenon can be enriched by drawing from different fields and disciplines, including niche construction theory in evolutionary biology, on the one hand, and ecological and enactive views in embodied cognitive science, on the other. But these insights have so far been explored in separation from each other, without clear indication of whether they can work together. Moreover, the focus on particular practices, however insightful, has tended to lack consideration of potential further implications for a naturalized understanding of science as a whole (i.e., above and beyond those particular practices). Motivated by these developments, here we sketch a broad-ranging view of science, scientific practice and scientific knowledge in terms of ecological-enactive co-construction. The view we propose situates science in the biological, evolutionary context of human embodied cognitive activity aimed at addressing the demands of life. This motivates reframing theory as practice, and reconceptualizing scientific knowledge in ecological terms, as relational and world-involving. Our view also brings to the forefront of attention the fundamental link between ideas about the nature of mind, of science and of nature itself, which we explore by outlining how our proposal differs from more conservative, and narrower, conceptions of “cognitive niche construction.”
Antimicrobial susceptibility of Rhodococcus equi strains isolated from foals in Chile
Authors: Zúñiga María Paz , Badillo Elena , Abalos Pedro , Valencia Eduardo David , Marín Pedro , Escudero Elisa , Galecio Juan Sebastian
Published: June 2023

Rhodococcus equi is responsible for foal pneumonia worldwide, with a significant economic impact on the production and breeding of horses. In Chile, the first case was reported in 2000, and since then, its incidence has been increasing. Distinctive characteristics of R. equi as an intracellular pathogen in macrophages, emergence of virulence plasmids encoding surface lipoprotein antigens, and appearance of antibiotic resistance against macrolides and rifampicin have significantly complicated the treatment of R. equi pneumonia in foals. Therefore, in vitro susceptibility studies of first-line and newer antibiotics against R. equi are the first step to establishing effective treatments and optimizing new therapeutic options. The aim of the present study is to determine the susceptibility profile of fourteen strains of R. equi isolated from foals in Chile to several antibiotics of the macrolide group including azithromycin, amikacin, tildipirosin and gamithromycin as well as others such as rifampicin, doxycycline and ceftiofur. Identification of R. equi in collected isolates from foals in Chile has been performed by CAMP test and PCR based on detecting of the gene encoding the 16 S rRNA. The presence of genes encoding virulence plasmids was also determined using PCR. Results obtained have demonstrated presence of virulent R. equi strains in Chile. In vitro susceptibility pattern to different antibiotics has shown better results for doxycycline and rifampicin similar to previous studies performed. Current macrolides have been evaluated in order to consider alternative treatment options in a context of emerging resistance to classic macrolides and rifampicin, obtaining better results with gamithromycin (MIC range of 0.125 to 128 mg/ml) than with tildipirosin (MIC range of 16 to 128 mg/ml). An adequate diagnosis of bacterial susceptibility based on antibiograms is necessary to treat the Rhodococcus equi infection in foals.
Ultralow friction PTFE/PEEK heterolayer: A new solid lubrication approach toward simplicity
Authors: Sun Wei , Ye Jiaxin , Song Qingrui , Feng Yi , Liu Xiaojun
Published: June 2023

Tribological applications of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) are often limited by technological complexity to overcome its poor wear resistance. Here, a PTFE/polyetheretherketone (PEEK) heterolayer (HL) was proposed and evaluated as a new solid lubrication solution. Pin-on-disk tribometry found the lowest friction coefficient (μ) of 0.031 and ultralow wear for the PEEK/HL under typical conditions. The friction coefficient of the HL surpasses those of the state-of-the-art polymeric coatings/composites by at least 200%, and approaches that of highly lubricated interfaces. Mechanistic investigations revealed multi-length physical and chemical heterogeneity of the HL that best facilitates a tribofilm with high subsurface stability and surface instability. The technological simplicity and robustness of the HL’s high lubricity make it a promising new type of solid lubrication toward greater reliability and longevity.
Why Circular Business Models Fail And What To Do About It: A Preliminary Framework And Lessons Learned From A Case In The European Union (Eu)
Authors: Baldassarre Brian , Calabretta Giulia
Published: June 2023

The circular economy aims to decouple economic growth from negative environmental impacts. To achieve this goal, circular economy concepts and policies must be implemented in practice by organizations through new circular business models. However, organizations often fail to implement circular business models on the market at scale. This is a major problem in business innovation practice, while a knowledge gap about the underlying implementation challenges remains in the scientific literature. More research on the subject is needed. The objective of this study is contributing to shed light into the gap with empirical insights. Using an action research method within an EU innovation project, this article proposes a preliminary empirical framework that links the value proposition, creation, delivery, and capture dimensions of a circular business models with specific cultural, regulatory, economic, and technical barriers that might hinder implementation. Based on the framework, four lessons to support managerial action are provided. Future research might build upon this work by systematically collecting and structuring more granular empirical data about the specific reasons why new circular business models fail to be implemented by organizations, across different sectors and geographical areas.
Development of a Qualitative Tool for Sustainability Assessment and Application of the Tool to Benchmark Electronic Smart Labels
Authors: Hakola Liisa , Smolander Maria , Orko Inka , Sokka Laura , Välimäki Marja
Published: June 2023

This paper presents a sustainability benchmarking tool, the GreenTool, to compare different electronic product concepts, specifically printed ones, with each other from the sustainability perspective. The purpose is to increase awareness of different aspects of sustainability and support the design of more sustainable electronics. This tool is built on European and global sustainability regulations and recommendations, and it considers environmental, economic, and social sustainability aspects in seven different criteria, each with several sub-criteria that are the actual categories used in the comparison. The tool uses scientific and industrial information as input, as well as a technical understanding of the new and baseline concepts to be compared to properly support sustainability benchmarking. In this paper, we further present an example comparison of four smart label product concepts, one of which is the commercial baseline concept, and the other three are developmental concepts. The biggest differences among the product concepts were found in the categories of ‘raw materials’, ‘manufacturing’, and ‘logistics’ criteria, where the developmental concepts based on manufacturing by printing and bio-based materials gave environmental benefits over the baseline. In the other criteria, the differences were smaller, but the developmental concepts also provided slight improvements in sustainability. The GreenTool can be considered suitable for qualitative sustainability comparisons in product concept design.
The Postsecular Restoration and the Making of Literary Conservatism
Authors: Harol Corrinne
Published: June 2023

This book reveals a synergy between postsecularity – as a critique of emergent liberal secular ideals and practices – and the modern literary sphere, in which conservative writers feature prominently. Corrinne Harol argues boldly yet compellingly that influential literary forms and practices including fiction, mental freedom, worlding, reading, narration, and historical fiction are in fact derived from these writers' responses to secularization. Interrogating a series of concepts – faith, indulgence, figuring, reading, passivity, revolution, and nostalgia – central to secular culture, this study also engages with works by Aphra Behn, John Dryden, Margaret Cavendish and Walter Scott, as well as attending to the philosophies of Thomas Hobbes, David Hume, and Edmund Burke. Countering eighteenth-century studies' current overreliance on the secularization narrative (as content and method, fact and norm), this book models how a postsecular approach can help us to understand this period, and secularization itself, more fully.
Relative Distance
Authors: Fesenmyer Leslie
Published: June 2023

The socio-economic and political uncertainties of Kenya in the 1990s jeopardised what many saw as the promises of modernity. An increasing number of Kenyans migrated, many to Britain, a country that felt familiar from Kenyan history. Based on extensive ﬁeldwork in Kenya and the United Kingdom, Leslie Fesenmyer's work provides a rich, historically nuanced study of the kinship dilemmas that underlie transnational migration and explores the dynamic relationship between those who migrate and those who stay behind. Challenging a focus on changing modes of economic production, 'push-pull' factors, and globalisation as drivers of familial change, she analyses everyday trans-national family life. Relative Distance shows how quotidian interactions, exchanges, and practices transform kinship on a local and global scale. Through the prism of intergenerational care, Fesenmyer reveals that the question of who is responsible for whom is not only a familial matter but is at the heart of relations between individuals, societies, and states.
Armed Intervention and Consent
Authors: Kritsiotis Dino , Corten Olivier , Fox Gregory H.
Published: June 2023

In the past decade, numerous military operations by outside states have relied on the real or alleged 'invitation' of one of the parties. In this book, three experts examine the relevant legal issues, from sovereignty to the scope and relevance of consent, the use of force to the role of the Security of Council. Using critical historical analysis, qualitative case studies and large-N empirics, these topics are debated and addressed in a unique trialogue format. Accommodating the pluralism of the field, the trialogical setting highlights the divergences and commonalities of each of the three approaches. Benefiting from an in-depth analysis of recent cases of armed intervention and the diversity of the authors' perspectives, this collection is key to developing a richer understanding of the law of military intervention. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Lessons from the ANZ-Phnom Penh Sugar Case for the OECD National Contact Point System of Corporate Accountability
Authors: Bugalski Natalie , Pred David
Published: June 2023

In February 2020, following a decade-long struggle for justice, a determined group of displaced Cambodian farmers and two advocacy organizations (Inclusive Development International and Equitable Cambodia) reached a landmark agreement with the Australia New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) to provide a financial pay-out to the farmers for their suffering. The agreement set an important human rights precedent for the global banking industry. It was the first time known that a commercial bank made a financial contribution to remediate harms caused by one of its corporate customers, after acknowledging that its human rights due diligence had been inadequate.1 The case was also a rare example of a community receiving financial compensation through the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)’s voluntary system of corporate accountability (the OECD’s National Contact Points or NCPs). While the final outcome was positive, its singularity and the immense effort, tenacity and resources required in obtaining it, demonstrate both what is wrong with this corporate accountability system and what reforms are needed to reach its potential to advance greater business respect for human rights.
Syntabulin regulates neuronal excitation/inhibition balance and epileptic seizures by transporting syntaxin 1B
Authors: Ke Pingyang , Gu Juan , Liu Jing , Liu Yan , Tian Xin , Ma Yuanlin , Meng Yuan , Xiao Fei
Published: June 2023

Epilepsy is a widespread neurological disorder affecting more than 65 million people, but the mechanisms of epilepsy remains unknown. Abnormal synaptic transmission has a crucial role in the occurrence and development of epilepsy. Here, we found that syntabulin, a neuronal transporter, was mainly localized in neurons, and its expression was increased in epileptic tissues. Knockdown of syntabulin increased susceptibility and severity of epilepsy, whereas overexpression of syntabulin had the opposite effect. Mechanistically, in the epileptic brain tissue, syntabulin mainly translocated syntaxin 1B (STX1B) rather than syntaxin 1A (STX1A) to the presynaptic membrane, which resulted in increased presynaptic transmitter release. Further studies showed that syntabulin had a more significant effect on presynaptic functionality of GABAergic activity over that of excitatory synapses and resulted in an excitation/inhibition (E/I) imbalance, thereby regulating the epileptic phenotype. In addition, we found that the increased expression of syntabulin in epileptic brain tissue was mainly regulated by transcription factor TFAP2A. In summary, syntabulin plays a protective role in epilepsy by maintaining a proper E/I balance in the hippocampus.
Multifunctional microelectronic fibers enable wireless modulation of gut and brain neural circuits
Authors: Sahasrabudhe Atharva , Rupprecht Laura E. , Orguc Sirma , Khudiyev Tural , Tanaka Tomo , Sands Joanna , Zhu Weikun , Tabet Anthony , Manthey Marie , Allen Harrison , Loke Gabriel , Antonini Marc-Joseph , Rosenfeld Dekel , Park Jimin , Garwood Indie C. , Yan Wei , Niroui Farnaz , Fink Yoel , Chandrakasan Anantha , Bohórquez Diego V. , Anikeeva Polina
Published: June 2023

Progress in understanding brain–viscera interoceptive signaling is hindered by a dearth of implantable devices suitable for probing both brain and peripheral organ neurophysiology during behavior. Here we describe multifunctional neural interfaces that combine the scalability and mechanical versatility of thermally drawn polymer-based fibers with the sophistication of microelectronic chips for organs as diverse as the brain and the gut. Our approach uses meters-long continuous fibers that can integrate light sources, electrodes, thermal sensors and microfluidic channels in a miniature footprint. Paired with custom-fabricated control modules, the fibers wirelessly deliver light for optogenetics and transfer data for physiological recording. We validate this technology by modulating the mesolimbic reward pathway in the mouse brain. We then apply the fibers in the anatomically challenging intestinal lumen and demonstrate wireless control of sensory epithelial cells that guide feeding behaviors. Finally, we show that optogenetic stimulation of vagal afferents from the intestinal lumen is sufficient to evoke a reward phenotype in untethered mice.
Esr1+ hypothalamic-habenula neurons shape aversive states
Authors: Calvigioni Daniela , Fuzik Janos , Le Merre Pierre , Slashcheva Marina , Jung Felix , Ortiz Cantin , Lentini Antonio , Csillag Veronika , Graziano Marta , Nikolakopoulou Ifigeneia , Weglage Moritz , Lazaridis Iakovos , Kim Hoseok , Lenzi Irene , Park Hyunsoo , Reinius Björn , Carlén Marie , Meletis Konstantinos
Published: June 2023

Excitatory projections from the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) to the lateral habenula (LHb) drive aversive responses. We used patch-sequencing (Patch-seq) guided multimodal classification to define the structural and functional heterogeneity of the LHA–LHb pathway. Our classification identified six glutamatergic neuron types with unique electrophysiological properties, molecular profiles and projection patterns. We found that genetically defined LHA–LHb neurons signal distinct aspects of emotional or naturalistic behaviors, such as estrogen receptor 1-expressing (Esr1+) LHA–LHb neurons induce aversion, whereas neuropeptide Y-expressing (Npy+) LHA–LHb neurons control rearing behavior. Repeated optogenetic drive of Esr1+ LHA–LHb neurons induces a behaviorally persistent aversive state, and large-scale recordings showed a region-specific neural representation of the aversive signals in the prelimbic region of the prefrontal cortex. We further found that exposure to unpredictable mild shocks induced a sex-specific sensitivity to develop a stress state in female mice, which was associated with a specific shift in the intrinsic properties of bursting-type Esr1+ LHA–LHb neurons. In summary, we describe the diversity of LHA–LHb neuron types and provide evidence for the role of Esr1+ neurons in aversion and sexually dimorphic stress sensitivity.
Synthesis and characterization of nanocatalyst Cu2+/mesoporous carbon for amidation reactions of alcohols
Authors: Ghafuri Hossein , Hanifehnejad Peyman , Rashidizadeh Afsaneh , Tajik Zeinab , Dogari Hanieh
Published: June 2023

In this research, mesoporous carbon (MC) with high efficiency (0.65 g yield from 1.0 g MCM-41 and 1.25 g sucrose) was successfully prepared by adding carbon precursor (sucrose) in a single step with ultrasonic waves, which reduces time and energy cost. Then, the Cu2+/Mesoporous carbon nanocatalyst (Cu2+/MC) was synthesized by adding Cu(NO3)2 in a single step and applied as a catalyst in amidation reactions of alcohols. Also, Cu2+/MC was characterized using different spectroscopic methods and techniques, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), N2 adsorption analysis (BET), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). Moreover, to show the catalytic merits of Cu2+/MC, various primary and secondary amines and ammonium salts were applied in the amidation of alcohols. Easy synthesis method, recyclability, excellent yields (80–93%), and simple work-up are some noticeable strengths of using Cu2+/MC as a catalyst in this reaction.
Moral reframing of messages about mask-wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Kaplan Jonas T. , Vaccaro Anthony , Henning Max , Christov-Moore Leonardo
Published: June 2023

When communicating about political issues, messages targeted to resonate with the core values of the receiver may be effective, an approach known as moral reframing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we tested the relationships between moral values and mask-wearing in a sample (N = 540) of self-identified liberals, conservatives, and moderates in the United States. Anti-mask attitudes were stronger in conservatives, and were associated with increased concerns for in-group loyalty, national identity, and personal liberty. We then crafted messages about the benefits of mask-wearing framed to resonate with these moral concerns, and in a pre-registered study of N = 597 self-identified U.S. conservatives, tested the effect of moral reframing on anti-mask attitudes and behaviors. Messages framed in terms of loyalty, with appeals to the protection of the community and America, were effective in reducing anti-mask beliefs, compared with unrelated control messages and messages delivering purely scientific information, and these changes in belief persisted for at least 1 week. Exploratory analyses showed that participants who saw loyalty-framed messages reported wearing masks in public more frequently in the subsequent week. This study provides evidence that framing messages about health behaviors in terms of group loyalty may be one productive way of communicating with conservative audiences.
Techno-economic assessment of co-production of edible bioplastic and food supplements from Spirulina
Authors: Chalermthai Bushra , Charoensuppanimit Pongtorn , Nootong Kasidit , Olsen Bradley D. , Assabumrungrat Suttichai
Published: June 2023

Large amount of plastic wastes harming the environment have raised concerns worldwide on finding alternatives to non-biodegradable plastics. Microalgae has been found as a potential source for bioplastic production, besides its more common application in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industry. In this study, the objective was to techno-economically evaluate the large-scale co-production of Spirulina powder as food supplements and edible bioplastic for food packaging. The scale of production was large enough to satisfy 1% of local (Thailand) plastic demand (i.e., approx. 1200 MT y−1), and 1% of the global Spirulina demand (approx. 1000 MT y−1) as food supplements. Results showed that the co-production of the Spirulina powder and bioplastic revealed an attractive venture with a payback time (PBT) as low as 2.6 y and ROI as high as 38.5%. This was because the revenues generated were as high as US$ 55.6 million y−1, despite high capital (US$ 55.7 million) and operating (US$ 34.9 million y−1) costs. Sensitivity analysis showed differences in the profitability based on variations of major parameters in the study, where the split ratio of biomass used for food supplement versus bioplastic production and the bioplastic’s selling price were found to be the most sensitive.
The dynamics analysis of Gompertz virus disease model under impulsive control
Authors: Wang Linjun , She Aiqing , Xie Youxiang
Published: June 2023

The pandemic of Gompertz virus disease remains a pressing issue in agricultural production. Moreover, the dynamics of various infectious diseases is usually investigated by the method of mathematical modelling. A new mathematical model for dynamics on Gompertz virus disease impulsive system is proposed and analyzed in this paper. We prove the dynamic characteristics about the permanence and globally exponential stability of Gompertz virus disease model. Moreover, we also give the sufficient condition that one positive solution which satisfies $$E(t) \ge q_2$$

E

(
t
)

≥

q
2

if $$R_{1*}> 1$$

R

1

∗

>
1

exists. Eventually, numerical simulations are utilized to validate the validity of the theoretically analyzed conclusion in this paper.