bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ethical Issues Associated with Managing and Sharing Individual-Level Health Data
Authors: Kaur Sharon , Cheah Phaik Yeong
Published: April 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the generation of an unprecedented and exponentially mounting volume of data, including individual-level health data, bringing into sharp focus the importance of thinking about what constitutes ethical use of data in a public health emergency. The timely and appropriate use of such data (e.g. data from public health surveillance, electronic health records and research projects) has great potential to contribute to successful public health policies, effective therapeutic interventions and enhanced public support for, and trust in, governmental responses to the pandemic. However, a number of ethical issues arise from the use of different kinds of data, and the ways in which they are collected, processed and shared in the context of research during a pandemic. Two broad principles are generally associated with managing and sharing health data in research: first, that researchers should ensure research is carried out in a way that is respectful of persons and communities; and second, that the research is carried out in a manner that is fair to stakeholders, i.e. that it promotes equity. These should also remain the foundational principles of data sharing during a public health emergency. The principle of respect for persons and communities requires careful attention to be paid to consent processes for data sharing, justifications for waiving consent and approaches to protecting privacy and confidentiality. The promotion of equity prompts consideration of how the needs of differing stakeholders in data sharing are recognised and balanced, including appropriate forms of recognition for data sharers, and fair benefit sharing with the individuals and communities data have been collected from. The cases in this chapter illustrate issues arising when populations contribute data to a symptom-checker app, when heightened concerns arise raised about privacy and confidentiality in the context of collecting data about individuals who are potentially easily identifiable by their demographic characteristics, when very sensitive data is collected, and when a waiver of consent to access survey data is requested to enable potential participants of a study to be identified and contacted.
Corruption and Investment Arbitration in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Corruptio Incognito
Authors: Weeramantry Romesh , Sharma Uma
Published: April 2024

In recent years, corruption has become prevalent in investment arbitration. This chapter closely examines the issue of corruption in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic through the lens of two key investment-treaty arbitration decisions:Lao Holdings N.V. v. Lao People’s Democratic RepublicandSanum Investments Limited v. Lao People’s Democratic Republic. The decisions place a spotlight on how tribunals address allegations of fraud and corruption, and also the larger systemic issues which plague the Republic. The chapter thoroughly analyses the two decisions and discusses their implications on the conduct of arbitral proceedings. It is envisaged that these observations will provide a guide for practitioners navigating allegations of corruption in investment-treaty arbitration proceedings while contextualising the socio-political environment within which such grafting is perpetuated.
Foreign Investment, Corruption, Investment Treaties and Arbitration in Thailand
Authors: Khoman Sirilaksana , Nottage Luke , Thanitcul Sakda
Published: April 2024

Thailand’s economy has developed strongly by consistently attracting foreign investment especially since the 1980s, despite political upheavals and persistent corruption amidst ongoing challenges. It has also expanded the numbers and scope of its investment treaties, including more options for investor–state dispute settlement arbitrations to enforce substantive commitments to foreign investors, resulting in a few treaty-based arbitrations as well as some contract-based arbitrations involving foreign investors. A few, and possibly the Kingsgate v. Thailand claim under the Thailand–Australia Free Trade Agreement since 2017, have involved allegations and investigations concerning corruption and other serious illegal behaviour. As reiterated in the conclusion, corruption investigations and court proceedings are necessarily very lengthy, sometimes more so than the time taken to generate and enforce final awards in large (especially treaty-based) investment arbitrations. To reduce the consequent risk of enforcing an award that later proves to be based on seriously corrupt conduct, one solution may be for investment treaty arbitrators to apply the same higher standard of proof that corruption investigators and criminal courts need to apply, although this will mean more delays and perhaps costs in arbitration. Secondly, more transparency could be added to Thailand-related investment arbitration proceedings, so that the public at least knows that corruption is being alleged.
Corruption in International Investment Arbitration
Authors: Hwang Michael , Chang Aloysius
Published: April 2024

Corruption takes on several forms, including bribery, trading in influence and facilitation payments, with some forms facing universal condemnation but not others. The topic of corruption and its many forms is gaining increasing importance in the field of investor–state dispute settlement, where three broad categories of issues are relevant: evidentiary issues, attribution of responsibility and legal consequences. As corruption is notoriously difficult to prove, many unique legal issues arise with regard to the evidence required to prove the relevant allegations. Even where there is evidence of the alleged corruption at hand, there is the added complexity of the need to establish whether the relevant act is attributable to the party alleged to have committed it—particularly host states. Once corruption has been proven and properly attributed, the legal consequences of that finding of fact must be determined, which may differ depending on various factors, including the extent to which the parties were complicit in the corruption and the nature of the corruption.
Foreign Investment, Investment Treaties and Corruption in China and Hong Kong
Authors: Bath Vivienne , Gu Tianqi
Published: April 2024

This chapter focuses on the interaction of domestic regulation of corruption in China and Hong Kong and the increasing number of international arbitration cases brought by and against China. In conjunction with the enormous growth in foreign investment in China since it opened up at the end of the 1970s, China has developed a comprehensive network of international investment agreements (IIAs). Hong Kong is also a party to about 30 IIAs in its own name. Government and business corruption and bribery have been a problem in both jurisdictions. China and Hong Kong have taken active steps to criminalize, and to investigate and prosecute, corruption and to participate in major international initiatives relating to corruption. While corruption has, so far, made a limited appearance in the small number of investor–state dispute settlement (ISDS) cases brought by investors against China and cases brought against other states by Chinese and Hong Kong investors, based on existing material, a number of tentative conclusions and recommendations can be made. China should move towards a higher level of transparency, both in relation to ISDS cases and to its domestic criminal law system; both China and Hong Kong should play a more active role in prosecuting bribery by enterprises outside China, including by joining the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Officials; and, finally, China should consider including provisions relating to corruption in its future IIAs in order to demonstrate its commitment to the international war on corruption in business.
Running of the top quark mass at NNLO in QCD
Authors: Defranchis Matteo M. , Kieseler Jan , Lipka Katerina , Mazzitelli Javier
Published: April 2024

Abstract

The running of the top quark mass (mt) is probed at the next-to-next-to-leading order in quantum chromodynamics for the first time. The result is obtained by comparing calculations in the modified minimal subtraction ($$\overline{{\text{MS}} }$$) renormalisation scheme to the CMS result on differential measurement of the top quark-antiquark ($${\text{t}}\overline{{\text{t}} }$$) production cross section at $$\sqrt{s}$$ = 13 TeV. The scale dependence of mt is extracted as a function of the invariant mass of the $${\text{t}}\overline{{\text{t}} }$$ system, up to an energy scale of about 0.5 TeV. The observed running is found to be in good agreement with the three-loop solution of the renormalisation group equations on quantum chromodynamics.
Discrete Degree of Symmetry of Manifolds
Authors: Mundet i Riera Ignasi
Published: April 2024

We define the discrete degree of symmetry disc-sym(X) of a closed n-manifold X as the biggest $$m\ge 0$$

m
≥
0

such that X supports an effective action of $$(\mathbb {Z}/r)^m$$

(
Z
/
r
)

m

for arbitrarily big values of r. We prove that if X is connected then disc-sym$$(X)\le 3n/2$$

(
X
)
≤
3
n
/
2

. We propose the question of whether for every closed connected n-manifold X the inequality disc-sym$$(X)\le n$$

(
X
)
≤
n

holds true, and whether the only closed connected n-manifold X for which disc-sym(X)$$=n$$

=
n

is the torus $$T^n$$

T
n

. We prove partial results providing evidence for an affirmative answer to this question.
Effect of thermomechanical aging on force system of orthodontic aligners made of different thermoformed materials
Authors: Elshazly Tarek M. , Keilig Ludger , Nang Diva , Golkhani Bijan , Weber Anna , Elattar Hanaa , Talaat Sameh , Bourauel Christoph
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The aim was to investigate the effect of aging by thermocycling and mechanical loading on forces and moments generated by orthodontic clear aligners made from different thermoplastic materials.

Methods

A total of 25 thermoformed aligners made from 5 different materials, i.e., Essix ACE® and Essix® PLUS™ (Dentsply Sirona, Bensheim, Germany), Invisalign® (Align Technology, San Jose, CA, USA), Duran®+ (Iserlohn, Germany), Zendura™ (Fremont, CA, USA), underwent a 14-day aging protocol involving mechanical loading (a 0.2 mm vestibular malalignment of the upper left second premolar [tooth 25]) and thermocycling in deionized water (temperature range 5–55 °C). The 3D forces/moments exerted on tooth 25 of a resin model were measured at three time points: before aging (day 0), after 2 days and after 14 days of aging.

Results

Before aging, extrusion–intrusion forces were 0.6–3.0 N, orovestibular forces were 1.7–2.3 N, and moments as mesiodistal rotation were 0.3–42.1 Nmm. In all directions, multilayer Invisalign® exhibited the lowest force/moment magnitudes. After aging, all materials showed a significant force/moment decay within the first 2 days, except Invisalign® for orovestibular and vertical translation. However, following thermomechanical aging, Duran®+ and Zendura™ aligners had equivalent or even higher vestibular forces (direction of mechanical load).

Conclusion

Thermomechanical aging significantly reduced forces and moments during the first 48 h. Multilayer aligner materials exhibit lower initial forces and moments than single-layer ones, and were less influenced by aging. Material hardening was observed after subjecting some of the aligner materials to mechanical loading. Thus, orthodontists should be aware of possible deterioration of orthodontic aligners over time. This work also sheds light on how material selection impacts the mechanical behavior of aligners and may provide valuable guidance regarding optimal timing for the aligner changing protocol.
Long-term effects of doping with anabolic steroids during adolescence on physical and mental health
Authors: Berger K. , Schiefner F. , Rudolf M. , Awiszus F. , Junne F. , Vogel M. , Lohmann C. H.
Published: April 2024

Background

Systematic doping programs like in the GDR were applied in adolescent competitive athletes to induce supramaximal athletic performance. The substances had adverse somatic and psychological effects. The psychological development of the young athletes was impaired and they suffered in adulthood from long-term effects and secondary diseases even years after the doping period.

Method

The study compared three groups: competitive athletes with doping (I), competitive athletes without doping (II) and persons with no sports activities (III). Somatic and psychological diseases were analyzed to identify the adverse effects of doping in the most vulnerable phase of development in adolescence. Participants were asked to supply a patient history and completed a questionnaire with standardized psychological tests.

Results

The doping cohort had a higher rate of somatic diseases, psychological disorders and social and professional difficulties. The differences were gender–specific with males more often having impaired liver function, depression, tumors and difficulties associated with the workplace .

The doping group reported more emotional and physical neglect during childhood. They proved to be less optimistic but more pessimistic, to perceive less social support and to be more depressive. The study identified less extraversion and more neuroticism. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurred in a small number of participants in the doping group. Doping is associated with psychiatric variables. Predictors were the subscale identifying feelings of the Toronto alexithymia scale 20 (TAS-20), the sense of coherence and the Beck depression inventory 2 (BDI-II) and the Beck depression inventory (BDI).

Conclusion

Physical and psychosocial effects imply correlation with the application of doping substances but might not only be due to the side effects of these substances but also caused by the system, which exerts great psychological pressure and stress during adolescence, a highly vulnerable phase.
Identification of different plastic types and natural materials from terrestrial environments using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy
Authors: Wohlschläger Maximilian , Versen Martin , Löder Martin G. J. , Laforsch Christian
Published: April 2024

Environmental pollution by plastics is a global issue of increasing concern. However, microplastic analysis in complex environmental matrices, such as soil samples, remains an analytical challenge. Destructive mass-based methods for microplastic analysis do not determine plastics’ shape and size, which are essential parameters for reliable ecological risk assessment. By contrast, nondestructive particle-based methods produce such data but require elaborate, time-consuming sample preparation. Thus, time-efficient and reliable methods for microplastic analysis are needed. The present study explored the potential of frequency-domain fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FD-FLIM) for rapidly and reliably identifying as well as differentiating plastics and natural materials from terrestrial environments. We investigated the fluorescence spectra of ten natural materials from terrestrial environments, tire wear particles, and eleven different transparent plastic granulates <5 mm to determine the optimal excitation wavelength for identification and differentiation via FD-FLIM under laboratory conditions. Our comparison of different excitation wavelengths showed that 445 nm excitation exhibited the highest fluorescence intensities. 445 nm excitation was also superior for identifying plastic types and distinguishing them from natural materials from terrestrial environments with a high probability using FD-FLIM. We could demonstrate that FD-FLIM analysis has the potential to contribute to a streamlined and time-efficient direct analysis of microplastic contamination. However, further investigations on size-, shape-, color-, and material-type detection limitations are necessary to evaluate if the direct identification of terrestrial environmental samples of relatively low complexity, such as a surface inspection soil, is possible.

Graphical Abstract
Acacia fiber or probiotic supplements to relieve gastrointestinal complaints in patients with constipation-predominant IBS: a 4-week randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled intervention trial
Authors: JanssenDuijghuijsen Lonneke , van den Belt Maartje , Rijnaarts Iris , Vos Paul , Guillemet Damien , Witteman Ben , de Wit Nicole
Published: April 2024

Purpose

To date, no adequate treatment for irritable bowel syndrome with predominant constipation complaints (IBS-C) is available. Fibers with prebiotic properties and probiotic compounds have shown promise in relieving IBS-C-related complaints. We aimed to determine the effects of a 4-week intervention with either an Acacia fiber (AF) with prebiotic properties or a probiotic Bifidobacterium Lactis (BLa80) supplement, compared to a control supplement, on stool pattern, IBS symptoms and Quality of Life (QoL), in IBS-C individuals.

Methods

A parallel, double-blind, randomized controlled trial involving 180 subjects meeting the ROME IV criteria for IBS-C was conducted. Following a 4-week observation period, subjects received either AF (10 g), Probiotic BLa80 (4 g; 2 × 1011 CFU/g) or a maltodextrin placebo (10 g) daily for 4 weeks. Subjects reported daily information on stool pattern and gastrointestinal complaints. Before and after each 4-week period, questionnaires on symptom severity, constipation symptoms, anxiety and depression and QoL were completed. Stool mass was measured for 5-days before and after the intervention.

Results

Stool frequency significantly improved in the AF and Probiotic BLa80 groups compared to placebo (P < 0.001, P = 0.02, respectively). Probiotic BLa80 showed a significant reduction in IBS symptom severity (P = 0.03), for AF a trend towards decreased constipation symptoms (PAC-SYM, P = 0.10) was observed. No significant changes in stool consistency, stool mass or QoL measures were observed between the AF and Probiotic BLa80 compared to placebo.

Conclusion

Daily dietary supplementation with Acacia fiber and probiotic supplements might help IBS-C patients by relieving IBS-related complaints compared to a placebo supplement.

Registration number of clinical trial

The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04798417: Study Details | Nutrition to Relieve IBS Constipation | ClinicalTrials.gov.
Impact of fed-batch process intensification on the productivity and product quality of two CHO cell lines expressing unique novel molecular format proteins
Authors: Wolnick Nicolas Q. , Dickson Marissa R. , Webster Thaddaeus A. , Connolly Roger P. , Fernandes Nancy , Encheva Vesela , Crittenden Hunter , Hodgkins Jessica , Hadley Brian C. , Palermo Gabriella , Hendrick Shannon J. , Newell Roy A. , Gray Genevieve , Siltanen Christian , Armstrong Julia , Downey Brandon J. , Mason Carrie
Published: April 2024

While monospecific antibodies have long been the foundational offering of protein therapeutics, recent advancements in antibody engineering have allowed for the development of far more complex antibody structures. Novel molecular format (NMF) proteins, such as bispecific antibodies (BsAbs), are structures capable of multispecific binding, allowing for expanded therapeutic functionality. As demand for NMF proteins continues to rise, biomanufacturers face the challenge of increasing bioreactor process productivity while simultaneously maintaining consistent product quality. This challenge is exacerbated when producing structurally complex proteins with asymmetric modalities, as seen in NMFs. In this study, the impact of a high inoculation density (HID) fed-batch process on the productivity and product quality attributes of two CHO cell lines expressing unique NMFs, a monospecific antibody with an Fc-fusion protein and a bispecific antibody, compared to low inoculation density (LID) platform fed-batch processes was evaluated. It was observed that an intensified platform fed-batch process increased product concentrations by 33 and 109% for the two uniquely structured complex proteins in a shorter culture duration while maintaining similar product quality attributes to traditional fed-batch processes.
Structured feedback and operative video debriefing with critical view of safety annotation in training of laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized controlled study
Authors: Cizmic Amila , Häberle Frida , Wise Philipp A. , Müller Felix , Gabel Felix , Mascagni Pietro , Namazi Babak , Wagner Martin , Hashimoto Daniel A. , Madani Amin , Alseidi Adnan , Hackert Thilo , Müller-Stich Beat P. , Nickel Felix
Published: April 2024

Background

The learning curve in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is lengthened compared to open surgery. It has been reported that structured feedback and training in teams of two trainees improves MIS training and MIS performance. Annotation of surgical images and videos may prove beneficial for surgical training. This study investigated whether structured feedback and video debriefing, including annotation of critical view of safety (CVS), have beneficial learning effects in a predefined, multi-modal MIS training curriculum in teams of two trainees.

Methods

This randomized-controlled single-center study included medical students without MIS experience (n = 80). The participants first completed a standardized and structured multi-modal MIS training curriculum. They were then randomly divided into two groups (n = 40 each), and four laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LCs) were performed on ex-vivo porcine livers each. Students in the intervention group received structured feedback after each LC, consisting of LC performance evaluations through tutor-trainee joint video debriefing and CVS video annotation. Performance was evaluated using global and LC-specific Objective Structured Assessments of Technical Skills (OSATS) and Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills (GOALS) scores.

Results

The participants in the intervention group had higher global and LC-specific OSATS as well as global and LC-specific GOALS scores than the participants in the control group (25.5 ± 7.3 vs. 23.4 ± 5.1, p = 0.003; 47.6 ± 12.9 vs. 36 ± 12.8, p < 0.001; 17.5 ± 4.4 vs. 16 ± 3.8, p < 0.001; 6.6 ± 2.3 vs. 5.9 ± 2.1, p = 0.005). The intervention group achieved CVS more often than the control group (1. LC: 20 vs. 10 participants, p = 0.037, 2. LC: 24 vs. 8, p = 0.001, 3. LC: 31 vs. 8, p < 0.001, 4. LC: 31 vs. 10, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Structured feedback and video debriefing with CVS annotation improves CVS achievement and ex-vivo porcine LC training performance based on OSATS and GOALS scores.
Examining the feasibility of immersive virtual reality to measure upper limb motor performance in typically developing children and adolescents
Authors: Alrashidi Mohammed , Evans Jack O. , Tomlinson Richard J. , Williams Craig A. , Buckingham Gavin
Published: April 2024

Over the last five years, virtual reality (VR) has become more popular in pediatric physiotherapy. In this study, we assessed the feasibility and acceptability of measuring upper-limb movements in typically-developing children and adolescents using an immersive virtual reality (iVR) headset. Thirty-six typically-developing children (age: 12 ± 2.1 y) were recruited and required to draw circles in a custom-built virtual environment using a Meta-Quest-2 headset. Outcomes were the System Usability Scale (SUS), Developmental Coordination Disorder-Questionnaire (DCD-Q), and three metrics of circle drawing performance (movement time, mean velocity and circle roundness). The mean score for the SUS was 74 ± 11, indicating good levels of acceptability and usability when the participants used the headset. No strong relationships were observed between the circle drawing metrics and DCD-Q scores (rho = < 0.3, p = > 0.05), but circle roundness ratios were positively and significantly correlated with SUS scores (rho = 0.5, p = 0.003). No adverse effects associated with iVR use were reported for any participants. This study showed that iVR is a viable method to measure upper-limb motor performance in children and adolescents, highlighting the potential value of this tool in pediatric physiotherapy practice.
Geschlechtsspezifische Aspekte beim Lungenkarzinom
Authors: Mosleh Berta , Gompelmann Daniela , Sarova Pavla
Published: April 2024

In den vergangenen Jahrzehnten hat sich der Inzidenztrend des Lungenkarzinoms signifikant gewandelt, wobei eine Abnahme der Häufigkeit bei Männern und eine Zunahme bei Frauen zu verzeichnen sind. Dieser Wandel ist vorrangig auf veränderte Rauchgewohnheiten zurückzuführen, die durch einen Anstieg des Nikotinkonsums bei Frauen und einen rückläufigen Trend bei Männern gekennzeichnet sind. Weitere Erklärungen für die Zunahme der Inzidenz bei Frauen sind eine erhöhte Suszeptibilität für die karzinogenen Wirkungen des aktiven und passiven Zigarettenrauchens sowie die Wirkungen der Luftverschmutzung im Freien und in geschlossenen Räumen. Diese Differenzen in der Suszeptibilität könnten auf genetische, hormonelle oder metabolische Faktoren zurückzuführen sein. Während in der Vergangenheit bei Männern histologisch das Plattenepithelkarzinom dominierte, ist die Verteilung der histologischen Subtypen heute bei beiden Geschlechtern ausgeglichen, wobei das Adenokarzinom den häufigsten histologischen Subtyp darstellt. Genetische Alterationen, insbesondere EGFR(„epidermal growth factor receptor“)-, KRAS(„Kirsten rat sarcoma virus oncogene homolog“)-, BRAF(„v‑Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1“)- und TP53(„tumor protein p53“)-Mutationen, sind bei Frauen häufiger als bei Männern. Hinsichtlich der Therapie zeigt sich, dass Frauen auf platinbasierte Chemotherapie, Kombination von Chemo- und Immuntherapie sowie zielgerichtete Therapie besser ansprechen als Männer. Gleichzeitig treten bei Frauen allerdings auch mehr Nebenwirkungen auf. Auf eine alleinige Immuntherapie sprechen Frauen hingegen schlechter an. In früheren Krankheitsstadien haben Frauen nach Resektion und Bestrahlung eine günstigere Prognose als Männer, sodass das weibliche Geschlecht unabhängig von Stadium, Histologie und Therapieform (außer bei Monoimmuntherapie) einen positiven Prognosefaktor darstellt. Darüber hinaus konnte gezeigt werden, dass Frauen mit einer Raucheranamnese mehr von einem CT(Computertomographie)-Screening profitieren als Männer.
Deep reinforcement learning-based methods for resource scheduling in cloud computing: a review and future directions
Authors: Zhou Guangyao , Tian Wenhong , Buyya Rajkumar , Xue Ruini , Song Liang
Published: April 2024

With the acceleration of the Internet in Web 2.0, Cloud computing is a new paradigm to offer dynamic, reliable and elastic computing services. Efficient scheduling of resources or optimal allocation of requests is one of the prominent issues in emerging Cloud computing. Considering the growing complexity of Cloud computing, future Cloud systems will require more effective resource management methods. In some complex scenarios with difficulties in directly evaluating the performance of scheduling solutions, classic algorithms (such as heuristics and meta-heuristics) will fail to obtain an effective scheme. Deep reinforcement learning (DRL) is a novel method to solve scheduling problems. Due to the combination of deep learning and reinforcement learning (RL), DRL has achieved considerable performance in current studies. To focus on this direction and analyze the application prospect of DRL in Cloud scheduling, we provide a comprehensive review for DRL-based methods in resource scheduling of Cloud computing. Through the theoretical formulation of scheduling and analysis of RL frameworks, we discuss the advantages of DRL-based methods in Cloud scheduling. We also highlight different challenges and discuss the future directions existing in the DRL-based Cloud scheduling.
Evaluation of histological and ultrastructural changes provoked by prenatal tramadol on postnatal cortical cerebellar neuronal development in rats: possible implication of Ki67, GFAP and MicroRNA-7/P53 signalling trajectories
Authors: Abdelmoez Walaa Adel
Published: April 2024

Tramadol is a novel centrally acting analgesic. Despite, its implementation during pregnancy may impair neuronal survival and synaptic development in neonatal cerebella. The current investigation assessed the histological and ultrastructural alterations in postnatal cortical cerebellar neuronal development induced by prenatal tramadol. 30 offsprings were divided to control group I: fifteen pups born to mothers given saline from D10 till D21 of gestation. Tramadol-treated group II: fifteen pups born to mothers received tramadol HCL (50 mg/kg/day) from D10 till D21 of gestation. Pups were categorized into three subgroups (a, b, and c) and offered for sacrifice on the seventh, fourteenth and twenty-first post-natal days. Light microscopic examination revealed the overcrowding and signs of red degeneration affecting purkinje cell layer. Neurodegenerative signs of both purkinje and granule cell neurons were also confirmed by TEM in form of chromatin condensation, dilated Golgi channels, disrupted endoplasmic reticulum, marked infolding of the nuclear envelope and decrease in granule cell precursors. In addition, the astrocytic processes and terminal nerve axons appeared with different degrees of demyelination and decreased number of oligodendrocytes and degenerated mitochondria. Furthermore, group II exhibited an increase in P53 immune expression. The area percentage of apoptotic cells detected by TUNEL assay was significantly increased. Besides to the significant decrease of Ki67 immunoreactivity in the stem neuronal cell progenitors. Quantitative PCR results showed a significant decline in micro RNA7 gene expression in tramadol treated groups resulting in affection of multiple target genes in P53 signaling pathways, improper cortical size and defect in neuronal development.
Employing supramolecular chemistry strategies for the separation of mixtures of anisole and bromoanisole isomers
Authors: Barton Benita , Senekal Ulrich
Published: April 2024

In the present work, host compounds trans-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-dicarboxylate (H1), trans-α,α,α’,α’-tetraphenyl-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-dimethanol (H2) and trans-α,α,α’,α’-tetra(p-chlorophenyl)-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-dimethanol (H3) were assessed for their host ability for anisole (ANI) and 2-, 3- and 4-bromoanisole (2-, 3- and 4-BA). It was demonstrated that H3 formed complexes with each of these guest species, while H1 and H2 only possessed the ability to enclathrate ANI. When H3 was crystallized from equimolar binary guest solutions, a significantly enhanced host affinity was observed for ANI and 3-BA. As examples, equimolar binary ANI/2-BA and 2-BA/3-BA solutions afforded complexes that demonstrated a near-complete H3 selectivity towards ANI (97.5%) and 3-BA (94.5%), respectively. Furthermore, from H3 crystallization experiments in binary ANI/2-BA, ANI/4-BA, 3-BA/2-BA and 3-BA/4-BA mixtures, where the molar guest amounts were varied sequentially, were calculated significant selectivity coefficients (K values), so much so that H3 may be used to separate very many of the guest anisole mixtures prepared in this work, through supramolecular chemistry strategies, which serves as a greener separation protocol compared with tedious and energy intensive fractional distillations. Thermal analyses were also used to investigate the relative stabilities of each of the single solvent complexes.
Hypergraph p-Laplacians and Scale Spaces
Authors: Fazeny Ariane , Tenbrinck Daniel , Lukin Kseniia , Burger Martin
Published: April 2024

The aim of this paper is to revisit the definition of differential operators on hypergraphs, which are a natural extension of graphs in systems based on interactions beyond pairs. In particular, we focus on the definition of Laplacian and p-Laplace operators for oriented and unoriented hypergraphs, their basic properties, variational structure, and their scale spaces. We illustrate that diffusion equations on hypergraphs are possible models for different applications such as information flow on social networks or image processing. Moreover, the spectral analysis and scale spaces induced by these operators provide a potential method to further analyze complex data and their multiscale structure. The quest for spectral analysis and suitable scale spaces on hypergraphs motivates in particular a definition of differential operators with trivial first eigenfunction and thus more interpretable second eigenfunctions. This property is not automatically satisfied in existing definitions of hypergraph p-Laplacians, and we hence provide a novel axiomatic approach that extends previous definitions and can be specialized to satisfy such (or other) desired properties.
Ask, but You Might not Receive: Unanswered Supervisor Support Scale Development and a Daily Diary Study
Authors: McIlroy Thomas D. , Parker Stacey L. , McKimmie Blake M.
Published: April 2024

Supervisor support is widely studied in the organizational literature, yet existing measures tend to exclusively focus on either the provision or the seeking of support, while overlooking instances where employees seek support but do not receive it – an experience termed unanswered supervisor support (USS). In Study 1 (N = 312 employees), we developed a measure of the experience of USS and examined its reliability and validity. In Study 2, we provided further support for the measure and, using a diary methodology, examined daily fluctuations in the experience and consequences of USS. Drawing from self-determination theory, we expected that need satisfaction and frustration would mediate the effects of USS on emotional exhaustion, perceived leadership effectiveness, and helping behavior. For five workdays, 199 employees completed a survey at the end of each workday. As predicted, on days when employees experienced USS, they had greater need frustration and emotional exhaustion. They also had lower need satisfaction and perceived their supervisor as a less effective leader. The association between USS and emotional exhaustion was mediated by need frustration – in particular, frustration of the needs for competence and relatedness. Further analyses showed that relatedness frustration mediated the effects of USS on employees’ perceptions of their leader’s effectiveness. The experience of USS in daily work life has implications for employees’ well-being and the way they perceive their supervisor. Thus, employees, supervisors, and organizations need to be aware of the impact of USS and how to prevent and manage its occurrence.
Subspace Acceleration for a Sequence of Linear Systems and Application to Plasma Simulation
Authors: Guido Margherita , Kressner Daniel , Ricci Paolo
Published: April 2024

We present an acceleration method for sequences of large-scale linear systems, such as the ones arising from the numerical solution of time-dependent partial differential equations coupled with algebraic constraints. We discuss different approaches to leverage the subspace containing the history of solutions computed at previous time steps in order to generate a good initial guess for the iterative solver. In particular, we propose a novel combination of reduced-order projection with randomized linear algebra techniques, which drastically reduces the number of iterations needed for convergence. We analyze the accuracy of the initial guess produced by the reduced-order projection when the coefficients of the linear system depend analytically on time. Extending extrapolation results by Demanet and Townsend to a vector-valued setting, we show that the accuracy improves rapidly as the size of the history increases, a theoretical result confirmed by our numerical observations. In particular, we apply the developed method to the simulation of plasma turbulence in the boundary of a fusion device, showing that the time needed for solving the linear systems is significantly reduced.
Quantified Modal Logics: One Approach to Rule (Almost) them All!
Authors: Orlandelli Eugenio
Published: April 2024

We present a general approach to quantified modal logics that can simulate most other approaches. The language is based on operators indexed by terms which allow to express de re modalities and to control the interaction of modalities with the first-order machinery and with non-rigid designators. The semantics is based on a primitive counterpart relation holding between n-tuples of objects inhabiting possible worlds. This allows an object to be represented by one, many, or no object in an accessible world. Moreover by taking as primitive a relation between n-tuples we avoid some shortcoming of standard individual counterparts. Finally, we use cut-free labelled sequent calculi to give a proof-theoretic characterisation of the quantified extensions of each first-order definable propositional modal logic. In this way we show how to complete many axiomatically incomplete quantified modal logics.
Proximity Labelling Confirms the Involvement of Papain-Like Cysteine Proteases and Chaperones in Cyclotide Biosynthesis
Authors: Lee Meng-Han , Jackson Mark A. , Rehm Fabian B. H. , Barkauskas Deborah S. , Ho Wing L. , Yap Kuok , Craik David J. , Gilding Edward K.
Published: April 2024

Cyclotides are disulfide-rich insecticidal peptides from plants that harbour a cyclic cystine knot motif that imparts them with high stability. Like most ribosomally encoded peptides, cyclotides are produced as precursor proteins that are subsequently processed to maturity through proteolytic activity. Although the final maturation of the prototypic cyclotide kalata B1 (kB1) is known to involve asparaginyl endopeptidases, the role of the in planta folding machinery is less well characterized, as is also the case for in planta N-terminal processing enzyme(s). Here, we used proximity labelling to identify proteins involved in the biosynthesis of kB1 in both a cyclotide-bearing plant species, Petunia × hybrida [Regel], and in Nicotiana benthamiana [Domin] that does not naturally produce cyclotides. Together, several ER resident chaperones, protein disulfide isomerases, a papain-like cysteine protease, and an asparaginyl endopeptidase were identified in the kB1 interactome. We found that overexpression of the identified papain-like cysteine protease resulted in an improvement in the yield of cyclic kB1, while this was not the case for the overexpression of protein disulfide isomerases, despite their interaction being verified using bimolecular fluorescence complementation. Together, these results provide a significant advance in our understanding of the role of auxiliary biosynthetic elements for heterologous cyclotide production in plants.
Rasch validation of the short form (8 item) PC-QoL questionnaire and applicability of use as a health state classification system for a new preference-based measure
Authors: Roberts Jack M. , Chang Anne B. , Goyal Vikas , Kapur Nitin , Marchant Julie M. , McPhail Steven M. , Kularatna Sanjeewa
Published: April 2024

Background

The parent-proxy paediatric chronic cough quality of life questionnaire (PC-QoL) is a commonly used measure of spillover quality of life in parents of children with chronic cough. To date, spillover health utility in these parents is not routinely estimated largely due to the lack of a suitable instrument. Their perspective is not included in economic evaluations of interventions for their children. We explored developing a health state classification system based on the PC-QoL for measuring health utility spill over in this population.

Methods

This study included PC-QoL 8-item responses of 653 parents participating in a prospective cohort study about paediatric chronic cough. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and Rasch analysis were used to examine dimensionality and select potential items and level structure.

Results

EFA indicated that the PC-QoL had one underlying domain. Rasch analysis indicated threshold disordering in all items which improved when items were collapsed from seven to four levels. Two demonstrated differential item functioning (DIF) by diagnosis or ethnicity and were excluded from the final scale. This scale satisfied Rasch assumptions of local independence and unidimensionality and demonstrated acceptable fit to the Rasch model. It was presented to and modified by an expert panel and a consumer panel. The resulting classification system had six items, each with four levels.

Discussion

The PC-QoL can conform to a Rasch model with minor modifications. It may be a good basis for the classification system of a child cough-specific PBM. A valuation study is required to estimate preference weights for each item and to estimate health utility in parents of children with chronic cough.
Augmenting the Softmax with Additional Confidence Scores for Improved Selective Classification with Out-of-Distribution Data
Authors: Xia Guoxuan , Bouganis Christos-Savvas
Published: April 2024

Detecting out-of-distribution (OOD) data is a task that is receiving an increasing amount of research attention in the domain of deep learning for computer vision. However, the performance of detection methods is generally evaluated on the task in isolation, rather than also considering potential downstream tasks in tandem. In this work, we examine selective classification in the presence of OOD data (SCOD). That is to say, the motivation for detecting OOD samples is to reject them so their impact on the quality of predictions is reduced. We show under this task specification, that existing post-hoc methods perform quite differently compared to when evaluated only on OOD detection. This is because it is no longer an issue to conflate in-distribution (ID) data with OOD data if the ID data is going to be misclassified. However, the conflation within ID data of correct and incorrect predictions becomes undesirable. We also propose a novel method for SCOD, Softmax Information Retaining Combination (SIRC), that augments a softmax-based confidence score with a secondary class-agnostic feature-based score. Thus, the ability to identify OOD samples is improved without sacrificing separation between correct and incorrect ID predictions. Experiments on a wide variety of ImageNet-scale datasets and convolutional neural network architectures show that SIRC is able to consistently match or outperform the baseline for SCOD, whilst existing OOD detection methods fail to do so. Interestingly, we find that the secondary scores investigated for SIRC do not consistently improve performance on all tested OOD datasets. To address this issue, we further extend SIRC to incorporate multiple secondary scores (SIRC+). This further improves SCOD performance, both generally, and in terms of consistency over diverse distribution shifts. Code is available at https://github.com/Guoxoug/SIRC.
Organizational unlearning as a process: What we know, what we don’t know, what we should know
Authors: Klammer Adrian , Grisold Thomas , Nguyen Nhien , Hsu Shih-wei
Published: April 2024

Although the field of organizational unlearning has recently gained increased interest, its conceptual foundations and raison d’être are still debated. In this review, we aim to revisit various discourses and arguments to advance the understanding of organizational unlearning in management and organization studies. Using an integrative literature review approach with systematic elements, we examine the existing body of research on organizational unlearning. We review the literature from different perspectives, focusing on a process-based understanding in terms of why and how organizations intentionally discard knowledge. Based on our review, we develop an integrative framework that portrays organizational unlearning as a dynamically unfolding process over time. We propose implications and offer research directions that will allow future researchers to develop a more profound understanding of the concept.
For sustainability environment: some determinants of greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector in EU-27 countries
Authors: Doğan Hasan Gökhan , Kan Mustafa
Published: April 2024

Climate events significantly affect the lives of not only humanity but also all living things. Just as transformation in the ecosystem affects sectors, all sectors also transform the ecosystem. It is stated that the agricultural sector is at the root of the deterioration in the ecosystem due to the effect of intensive agriculture after the green revolution. It can be stated that, with an understanding far from the concept of sustainability, the foodstuffs and their waste produced in the agricultural sector are considered among the causes of climate change, which is now concentrated on the whole world in the third millennium. In this study, the effect of N2O gas released from produce residues and the release of enteric fermentation on the level of CO2 released from agricultural-food systems was investigated using advanced econometric models. The findings reveal that both factors are effective. However, it can be stated that the effect of N2O gas released from the produce residues is greater. Suggestions such as improving feed rations and maintaining herd management strategies within certain patterns to reduce the level of enteric fermentation may contribute to the process. In produce residue management, turning waste into compost and expanding bioenergy power plants will ensure both waste disposal and resource continuity in generating energy. Otherwise, the decreasing resources in the world may come to an end, and there will be disruptions and problems in the agricultural sector, as in all sectors. Considering the increasing world population, it is inevitable that food supply security may be endangered and the hunger problem may reach an irreversible level.
Enhancing sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) resilience grown in cadmium-contaminated saline soil: a synergistic approach using Moringa leaf extract and effective microorganisms application
Authors: Abdelkhalik Abdelsattar , Abdou Nasr M. , Gyushi Mohammad A. H. , Shaaban Ahmed , Abd El-Mageed Shimaa A. , Hemida Khaulood A. , Abd El-Mageed Taia A.
Published: April 2024

Raising soil contamination with cadmium (Cd2+) and salinization necessitates the development of green approaches using bio-elicitors to ensure sustainable crop production and mitigate the detrimental health impacts. Two field trials were carried out to study the individual and combined effects of foliage spraying of Moringa leaf extract (MLE) and soil application of effective microorganisms (EMs) on the physio-biochemical, osmolytes, antioxidants, and performance of sweet potato grown in Cd2+-contaminated salty soil (Cd2+  = 17.42 mg kg−1 soil and soil salinity ECe = 7.42 dS m−1). Application of MLE, EMs, or MLE plus EMs significantly reduced the accumulation of Cd2+ in roots by 55.6%, 50.0%, or 68.1% and in leaves by 31.4%, 27.6%, or 38.0%, respectively, compared to the control. Co-application of MLE and EMs reduced Na+ concentration while substantially raising N, P, K+, and Ca2+ acquisition in the leaves. MLE and EMs-treated plants exhibited higher concentrations of total soluble sugar by 69.6%, free proline by 47.7%, total free amino acids by 29.0%, and protein by 125.7% compared to the control. The enzymatic (SOD, APX, GR, and CAT) and non-enzymatic (phenolic acids, GSH, and AsA) antioxidants increased in plants treated with MLE and/or EMs application. Applying MLE and/or EMs increased the leaf photosynthetic pigment contents, membrane stability, relative water content, water productivity, growth traits, and tuber yield of Cd2+ and salt-stressed sweet potato. Consequently, the integrative application of MLE and EMs achieved the best results exceeding the single treatments recommended in future application to sweet potato in saline soil contaminated with Cd2+.