bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Polymeric Nanofibers for Drug Delivery Applications: A Recent Review
Authors: Duan Xiaoge , Chen Hai-lan , Guo Chunxian
Published: December 2022

With the rapid development of biomaterials and biotechnologies, various functional materials-based drug delivery systems (DDS) are developed to overcome the limitations of traditional drug release formulations, such as uncontrollable drug concentration in target organs/tissues and unavoidable adverse reactions. Polymer nanofibers exhibit promising characteristics including easy preparation, adjustable features of wettability and elasticity, tailored surface and interface properties, and surface-to-volume ratio, and are used to develop new DDS. Different kinds of drugs can be incorporated into the polymer nanofibers. Additionally, their release kinetics can be modulated via the preparation components, component proportions, and preparation processes, enabling their applications in several fields. A timely and comprehensive summary of polymeric nanofibers for DDS is thus highly needed. This review first describes the common methods for polymer nanofiber fabrication, followed by introducing controlled techniques for drug loading into and release from polymer nanofibers. Thus, the applications of polymer nanofibers in drug delivery were summarized, particularly focusing on the relation between the physiochemical properties of polymeric nanofibers and their DDS performance. It is ended by listing future perspectives.
The shortest confidence interval for the ratio of quantiles of the Dagum distribution
Authors: Jȩdrzejczak Alina , Pekasiewicz Dorota , Zieliński Wojciech
Published: December 2022

Jȩdrzejczak et al. (REVSTAT-Statistical Journal 19(1), 87–97, 2021) constructed a confidence interval for a ratio of quantiles coming from the Dagum distribution, which is frequently applied as a theoretical model in numerous income distribution analyses. The proposed interval is symmetric with respect to the ratio of sample quantiles, which result may be unsatisfactory in many practical applications. The search for a confidence interval with a smaller length resulted in the derivation of the shortest interval with the ends being asymmetric relative to the ratio of sample quantiles. In the paper, the existence of the shortest confidence interval is shown and the method of obtaining such an interval is presented. The results of the calculations show a reduction in the length of the proposed confidence interval by several percent compared to the symmetrical confidence interval.
Landscape-level honey bee hive density, instead of field-level hive density, enhances honey bee visitation in blueberry
Authors: Eeraerts Maxime , Rogers Emma , Gillespie Bob , Best Lincoln , Smith Olivia M. , DeVetter Lisa W.
Published: December 2022

Context

To date, managing honey bees and wild bees within crop fields remains challenging. Landscape structure is often overlooked when studying the pollination contribution of honey bees. Increasing our understanding on how to predict honey bee visitation in crops is crucial for sustainable management of agroecosystems.

Objectives

With this study we investigated which landscape and field-level variables determine honey bee and wild bee visitation, and whether honey bee or wild bee visitation influence crop pollination.

Methods

Sixteen highbush blueberry fields were surveyed for honey bees, wild bees, and crop pollination in Washington, USA. Additionally, within a radius of 1000 m around each field all honey bee hives were located and the surrounding landscape was characterized.

Results

Honey bee hive numbers in the landscape positively correlate with the proportion of blueberry in the landscape. Honey bee visitation was best predicted by landscape-level hive density within a radius of 1000 m, whereas semi-natural habitat and field-level hive density did not impact honey bee visitation. The amount of semi-natural habitat and blueberry within a radius of 1000 m had a positive and negative impact, respectively, on wild bee visitation. Honey bee visitation had a positive effect on blueberry seed set.

Conclusion

We conclude that honey bee visitation is determined by the number of honey bee hives in the surrounding landscape. Hence, field-level hive density recommendations miss contributions from other hives in the landscape. Furthermore, semi-natural habitat did not impact honey bee visitation and contributes to diversifying pollinator diets and provides wild bee habitat.
Reasons for action: making a difference to the security of outcomes
Authors: Gunnemyr Mattias , Touborg Caroline Torpe
Published: December 2022

In this paper, we present a new account of teleological reasons, i.e. reasons to perform a particular action because of the outcomes it promotes. Our account gives the desired verdict in a number of difficult cases, including cases of overdetermination and non-threshold cases like Parfit’s famous Drops of water. The key to our account is to look more closely at the metaphysics of causation. According to Touborg (The dual nature of causation, 2018), it is a necessary condition for causation that a cause increases the security of its effect. Building on this idea, we suggest, roughly, that you have a teleological reason to act in a certain way when doing so increases the security of some good outcome. This represents a middle way between the proposal that you have a reason to act in a certain way just in case this would cause a good outcome and the proposal that you have a reason to act in a certain way just in case this could cause a good outcome.
Why Naturalism cannot (Merely) be an Attitude
Authors: Spiegel Thomas J.
Published: December 2022

Varying forms of ontological and methodological naturalism are among the most popular theses in contemporary philosophy. However, each of these theses faces a different dilemma: ontological naturalism is famously challenged by Hempel’s dilemma, while methodological naturalism faces issues regarding its coherence. Some prominent naturalists (Elpidorou and Dove 2018, Ney 2009, Rea 2002) have suggested to circumvent these respective dilemmas by reconceiving naturalism as an attitude (rather than a thesis). This paper argues that such attitude accounts are unsuccessful: naturalism as an attitude either collapses into a thesis again or is rationally unjustifiable. This paper closes by suggesting two options a naturalist has remaining. Either a naturalist can reasonably choose to revert to defending naturalism as a thesis; given that naturalism receives substantial support, it is not unlikely that a solution to the problems encountered by naturalism qua thesis is forthcoming. Or a naturalist might simply want to embrace an a-rational form of naturalism as a worldview, as suggested by Kim (2003) and Stoljar (2010) (and earlier by thinkers like Dilthey 1960 and Jaspers1925).
Assessment of pollution and risks associated with microplastics in the riverine sediments of the Western Ghats: a heritage site in southern India
Authors: Amrutha Kaniyambadi , Shajikumar Sachin , Warrier Anish Kumar , Sebastian Joju George , Sali Yamuna Adichinalniravel , Chandran Thara , Sivadas Sanitha , Naik Ravidas , Amrish Vadakkeveedu Narayan , Kumar Arun , Unnikrishnan Vishnu
Published: December 2022

There is very little knowledge on microplastic pollution in the Western Ghats (WG), a heritage site in southwest India. To address this, we have studied the spatiotemporal variations of sedimentary microplastics (MPs) from the River Sharavathi, a pristine river in the Western Ghats (WG), southern India. The rich biodiversity in the region makes it relevant to analyse the distribution of this emerging pollutant that is causing harm to the biota and the ecosystem. We analysed the sedimentological and carbon content (organic and inorganic) of these sediments and explored their relationship with MPs. Finally, risk assessment indices such as the Pollution Load Index (PLI), the Polymer Hazard Index (PHI), and the Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI) were calculated to detect the levels of plastic pollution. The concentration of MPs ranged from 2.5 to 57.5 pieces/kg and 0 to 15 pieces/kg during the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, respectively. The dip in the MPs’ abundance during the post-monsoon season was due to the extremely high rainfall in the river basin during July–August 2019, which would have entrained the sedimentary MPs and transported them to the coast/Arabian Sea. Smaller MPs (0.3–1 mm) were more abundant than the larger MPs (1–5 mm), mainly due to the breakdown of sedimentary plastics by physical processes. Fragments, films, foams, and fibres were the main categories of MPs, and the main polymers were polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polypropylene. No significant relationship was observed between the sedimentological properties and microplastics, which may be due to the different physical properties of sediments and microplastics. The PLI, PHI, and PERI indices suggest different contamination levels in the river basin. Based on the PLI scores, all the samples belong to the hazardous level I suggesting minor risk category, and the risk of microplastic pollution falls under the high to hazardous risk category based on the PHI values. The PERI value ranged from 160 to 440 and 40 to 2240 during the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, respectively. The risk assessment in a region known for its rich biodiversity is crucial, as the data can be used by the district administration to mitigate plastic pollution.
Toxicity assessment of hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid on morphology, heart physiology, and gene expression during zebrafish (Danio rerio) development
Authors: Gong Sylvia , McLamb Flannery , Shea Damian , Vu Jeanne P. , Vasquez Miguel F. , Feng Zuying , Bozinovic Kesten , Hirata Ken K. , Gersberg Richard M. , Bozinovic Goran
Published: December 2022

Hexafluoropropylene oxide-dimer acid (HFPO-DA) is one of the emerging replacements for the “forever” carcinogenic and toxic long-chain PFAS. HFPO-DA is a polymerization aid used for manufacturing fluoropolymers, whose global distribution and undetermined toxic properties are a concern regarding human and ecological health. To assess embryotoxic potential, zebrafish embryos were exposed to HFPO-DA at concentrations of 0.5–20,000 mg/L at 24-, 48-, and 72-h post-fertilization (hpf). Heart rate increased significantly in embryos exposed to 2 mg/L and 10 mg/L HFPO-DA across all time points. Spinal deformities and edema phenotypes were evident among embryos exposed to 1000–16,000 mg/L HFPO-DA at 72 hpf. A median lethal concentration (LC50) was derived as 7651 mg/L at 72 hpf. Shallow RNA sequencing analysis of 9465 transcripts identified 38 consistently differentially expressed genes at 0.5 mg/L, 1 mg/L, 2 mg/L, and 10 mg/L HFPO-DA exposures. Notably, seven downregulated genes were associated with visual response, and seven upregulated genes were expressed in or regulated the cardiovascular system. This study identifies biological targets and molecular pathways affected during animal development by an emerging, potentially problematic, and ubiquitous industrial chemical.
Alacrity: a new model for venture acceleration
Authors: Spigel Ben , Khalid Fizza , Wolfe David
Published: December 2022

As research on venture accelerators develops, different models have emerged in the literature. These focus on the goals of the accelerator, which range from creating profit for managers and building support for business platforms to promoting regional economic development, as well as on its organizational form based on its for-profit or non-profit status. This article examines a novel model, the networked venture builder model, which offers an alternative perspective on the acceleration process. Using the example of the Alacrity Global Ecosystem (AGE), this article explores how the venture builder model includes characteristics of multiple accelerator types, which has helped it both rapidly grow new ventures and achieve substantial economic development goals. Synergies between the different aspects of the AGE’s organizational design help it support multiple missions. Drawing on interviews with key stakeholders and entrepreneurs within the AGE, this article describes the history of the AGE and its present form, providing new insights into a novel, but increasingly common, accelerator design and laying the basis for further research on its emerging organizational form.
Feasibility and Efficacy of Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation for the Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Post-Sleeve Gastrectomy for Obesity
Authors: Khaitan Leena , Hill Michael , Michel Michael , Chiasson Patrick , Woodworth Philip , Bell Reginald , Sadek Ragui , Hoffman Aaron , Loing Kari , Veldhuis Paula , Petraiuolo William , Anciano Carlos
Published: December 2022

Background

Patients with medically intractable GERD after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) have limited surgical options. Fundoplication is difficult post-LSG. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass may be used as a conversion procedure but is more invasive with potential for serious complications. Magnetic sphincter augmentation (MSA) is a less invasive GERD treatment alternative. The objective of this study was to assess safety and efficacy outcomes of MSA after LSG.

Methods

The primary outcome of this observational, multicenter, single-arm prospective study was the rate of serious device and/or procedure-related adverse events (AEs). The efficacy of the LINX device was measured comparing baseline to 12-month post-implant reductions in distal acid exposure, GERD-HRQL score, and average daily PPI usage.

Results

Thirty subjects who underwent MSA implantation were followed 12 months post-implant. No unanticipated adverse device effects were observed. There were two adverse events deemed serious (dysphagia, pain, 6.7%) which resolved without sequelae. GERD-HRQL scores showed significant improvement (80.8%, P < 0.001), and reduction in daily PPI usage was seen (95.8%, P < 0.001). Forty-four percent of subjects demonstrated normalization or >  = 50% reduction of total distal acid exposure time (baseline 16.2%, 12 months 11%; P = 0.038).

Conclusions

Post-LSG, MSA showed an overall improvement of GERD symptoms, and reduction in PPI use with explants within anticipated range along with improvement in distal esophageal acid exposure time.

Graphical Abstract
Endogenous Modulators of NMDA Receptor Control Dendritic Field Expansion of Cortical Neurons
Authors: Jorratt Pascal , Ricny Jan , Leibold Christian , Ovsepian Saak V.
Published: December 2022

Impairments of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) activity have been implicated in several neuropsychiatric disorders, with pharmacological inhibition of NMDAR-mediated currents and associated neurobehavioral changes considered as a model of schizophrenia. We analyzed the effects of brief and long-term exposure of rat cortical cultures to the most prevalent endogenous modulators of NMDAR (kynurenic acid, pregnenolone sulfate, spermidine, and zinc) on neuronal viability, stimulation-induced release of glutamate, and dendritic morphology with synaptic density. Both, glutamate release and neuronal viability studies revealed no difference between the test and control groups. No differences were also observed in the number of dendritic branching and length, or density of synaptic connections and neuronal soma size. Comparison of the extent of dendritic projections and branching patterns, however, revealed enhanced distal arborization with the expansion of the dendritic area under prolonged treatment of cultures with physiological concentrations of NMDAR modulators, with differences reaching significance in spermidine and pregnenolone sulfate tests. Measurements of the density of glutamatergic synapses showed consistency across all neuronal groups, except those treated with pregnenolone sulfate, which showed a reduction of PSD-95–positive elements. Overall, our data suggest that constitutive glutamatergic activity mediated by NMDAR controls the dendritic field expansion and can influence the integrative properties of cortical neurons.
Evaluation of the modified AHP-VIKOR for mapping and ranking copper mineralized areas, a case study from the Kerman metallogenic belt, SE Iran
Authors: Maghsoudi Moud Fardad , Abbaszadeh Shahri Abbas , van Ruitenbeek Frank , Hewson Rob , van der Meijde Mark
Published: December 2022

Exploration and prioritization of potentially mineralized areas by integrating different geoscientific datasets help to manage the time and costs of an exploration project. In this study, copper exploration and prioritization of explored areas were done on the Kerman copper belt, which was formed due to the subduction of the Arabian plate under the Iranian plate. After processing geoscientific layers (geology, hydrothermal alteration zones, stream sediment geochemistry, and airborne geophysics), the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method was used to compute the weights of geoscientific layers by a decision-making group consisting of ten local experts in copper exploration. The weight of evidence (WofE) method was used to compare and assess the fairness of the AHP weights. The AHP weights were used for the multi-criteria optimization and compromise solution (VIKOR) method to integrate the geoscientific layers and create an AHP-VIKOR copper mineralization potential map. The “v” parameter of the VIKOR method was modified by replacing the concept of mathematical expectation value with the manual assignment. The real value-area (RV-A) fractal method was used to select optimum threshold values for different AHP-VIKOR copper mineralization potential classes. The accuracy of the classified AHP-VIKOR copper mineralized potential map was assessed by creating a confusion matrix and using existing mineralization locations. The average pixel values of the copper mineralization class were extracted and sorted to rank the very high potential areas. The AHP-VIKOR ranking results were compared with recorded ore grade and ore tonnage information of each copper deposition. The results demonstrated that the AHP ranks are roughly similar to the WofE ranks, except for lithology. An accuracy of 84% for classified copper mineralization potential map with the RV-A fractal method was obtained. The used expectation value for the “v” parameter of the VIKOR method showed that the decision-making group’s opinion was more important than the individual opinions (v = 0.6). The AHP-VIKOR method identified mineralization areas, especially porphyry deposits. Also, the outcome of the AHP-VIKOR ranking showed that the currently active mines, especially porphyry deposits, have the highest priority for mining. This study showed that the AHP-VIKOR approach helps explore and rank favorable areas with high copper ore grade and tonnage characteristics.
Retroperitoneal kidney transplantation with liver and native kidney mobilization: a safe technique for pediatric recipients
Authors: Riella Juliano , Ferreira Raphealla , Tabbara Marina M. , Abreu Phillipe , Ernani Lucas , Defreitas Marissa , Chandar Jayanthi , Gaynor Jeffrey J. , González Javier , Ciancio Gaetano
Published: December 2022

Background

Pediatric kidney transplant (KT) using larger, deceased or living donor adult kidneys can be challenging in the pediatric population due to limited space in the retroperitoneum. Liver and native kidney (L/NK) mobilization techniques can be used in smaller and younger transplant recipients to aid in retroperitoneal placement of the renal allograft. Here, we compare the clinical outcomes of pediatric retroperitoneal KT with and without L/NK mobilization.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed pediatric renal transplant recipients treated between January 2015 and May 2021. Donor and recipient demographics, intraoperative data, and recipient outcomes were included. Recipients were divided into two groups according to the surgical technique utilized: with L/NK mobilization (Group 1) and without L/NK mobilization (Group 2). Baseline variables were described using frequency distributions for categorical variables and means and standard errors for continuous variables. Tests of association with the likelihood of using L/NK mobilization were performed using standard χ2 tests, t tests, and the log-rank test.

Results

Forty-six pediatric recipients were evaluated and categorized into Group 1 (n = 26) and Group 2 (n = 20). Recipients in Group 1 were younger (6.7 ± 0.8 years vs. 15. 3 ± 0.7, P < 0.001), shorter (109.5 ± 3.7 vs. 154.2 ± 3.8 cm, P < 0.001) and weighed less (21.4 ± 2.0 vs. 48.6 ± 3.4 kg, P < 0.001) than those in Group 2. Other baseline characteristics did not differ between Groups 1 and 2. One urologic complication was encountered in Group 2; no vascular or surgical complications were observed in either group. Additionally, no stents or drains were used in any of the patients. There were no cases of delayed graft function or graft primary nonfunction. The median follow-up of the study was 24.6 months post-transplant. Two patients developed death-censored graft failure (both in Group 2, P = 0.22), and there was one death with a functioning graft (in Group 2, P = 0.21).

Conclusions

Retroperitoneal liver/kidney mobilization is a feasible and safe technique that facilitates implantation of adult kidney allografts into pediatric transplant recipients with no increased risk of developing post-operative complications, graft loss, or mortality.
Predictive End-to-End Enterprise Process Network Monitoring
Authors: Oberdorf Felix , Schaschek Myriam , Weinzierl Sven , Stein Nikolai , Matzner Martin , Flath Christoph M.
Published: December 2022

Ever-growing data availability combined with rapid progress in analytics has laid the foundation for the emergence of business process analytics. Organizations strive to leverage predictive process analytics to obtain insights. However, current implementations are designed to deal with homogeneous data. Consequently, there is limited practical use in an organization with heterogeneous data sources. The paper proposes a method for predictive end-to-end enterprise process network monitoring leveraging multi-headed deep neural networks to overcome this limitation. A case study performed with a medium-sized German manufacturing company highlights the method’s utility for organizations.
Investigating solids present in the aqueous stream during STEX condensate upgrading—a case study
Authors: Hermundsgård Dag Helge , Ghoreishi Solmaz , Tanase-Opedal Mihaela , Brusletto Rune , Barth Tanja
Published: December 2022

Steam explosion (STEX) of woody biomass is an efficient pretreatment method in the production of water-resistant wood pellets. The STEX process also generates an aqueous condensate stream containing dissolved organic compounds, with furfural as the most abundant and valuable component. An industrial-scale recovery process for furfural and other organic by-products is therefore in the process of being developed and built. One challenge in the process has turned out to be the formation of solid particulate matter that can clog filters in the process unit. We have analyzed both the solid deposits and the fluids present at different points in the process unit to try to identify the origin of the particles using spectroscopic and chromatographic analysis, elemental analysis, and scanning electron microscopy.

The aqueous fluids deriving from condensed steam contain furfural and other small organic molecules, with a separate low-density organic layer occurring at some points. This layer largely consists of wood extractives, typically terpenoids. In addition, a heavy organic phase comprising mostly furfural was found at one sampling point. The particles comprise a black, largely insoluble material with a H/C ratio of 0.88 and an O/C ratio of 0.26 and a very low ash content. IR spectra show a low content of C–H functional groups, and chromatographic analysis supports an interpretation that the particles are dominantly furfural-sourced humin-like polymers with adsorbed or co-polymerized terpenoids. Particle formation has been reproduced in a laboratory setting with conditions similar to those in the full-scale process.
Direction-independent laser-GMA hybrid welding with coaxial wire feed and annular beam
Authors: Clemens Michael , Warnecke Lucas , Olschok Simon , Reisgen Uwe , Steiner Max Fabian
Published: December 2022

Conventional laser gas metal arc hybrid welding (LB-GMA hybrid welding) is used as an efficient joining process in several high-tech steel processing production facilities. However, the use of the LB-GMA hybrid welding is often limited to the joining of linear weld seams as the welding process has a preferred welding direction due to lateral positioning of the laser beam and welding wire electrode. Reorienting the welding direction, therefore, often results in weld defects since changing the welding direction also requires a geometric manipulation of the GMA torch in relation to the laser beam optics. This means a considerable additional effort that is necessary if this efficient welding process is to be used for geometrically complex weld seam contours. Furthermore, the conventional LB-GMA hybrid welding process has a high adjustment complexity. Within this work, a direction-independent laser GMA hybrid welding head with an annular beam and coaxial wire feed is used. The annular laser beam with homogenous intensity profile is formed by a special processing head, split and reassembled around the coaxial wire. Due to the coaxial arrangement of the wire electrode to the annular beam, the hybrid process is in theory direction independent. As a result, there should not be any irregularities in the weld seam, when the welding direction is changed. The annular beam considerably reduces the complexity of adjustment and improves reproducibility. The focus of this work is to qualify the process for joining geometrically complex weld contours and to investigate possible advantages of the directional independence of the coaxial LB-GMA hybrid welding process. For this purpose, fillet welds in lap joint configuration with a sheet thickness of 2 mm each at different weld contours (different direction changes, corners, radii) are discussed. By performing a DoE-based sensitivity analysis, influencing factors on the quality of the generated weld are analysed.
Learning attentive attribute-aware node embeddings in dynamic environments
Authors: Ahmed Nourhan , Rashed Ahmed , Schmidt-Thieme Lars
Published: December 2022

Learning node embeddings is fundamental for numerous applications, such as link prediction and node classification. Node embeddings seek to learn a low-dimensional representation for each node in the graph. Many existing node representation learning methods for dynamic attributed graphs focus on preserving the temporal proximity of the nodes with relatively shallow models. However, real-life graphs are complex and usually exhibit evolutionary patterns of node attributes and graph structure. Therefore, the current state-of-the-art models fail to capture the information in the dynamic attributed graphs and settle for sub-optimal results. In this paper, we propose a novel model for embedding nodes in dynamic attributed graphs that captures the full extent of all relevant node information and the graph interrelations as well as graph evolutionary patterns. During model training, attribute-aware node embedding is learned using both graph and node properties in a dynamic context. Experiments demonstrate that our proposed method is superior to the state-of-the-art models in link prediction tasks. In addition, it introduces a novel way of learning richer representations by fully exploiting node attributes, graph structure, and evolutionary patterns in dynamic attributed graphs.
Historical Mapping vs. Archaeology: Rethinking Fort Sancti Spiritus (1527–1529)
Authors: Sánchez-Pinto Iban
Published: December 2022

The first cartographic representations of the Paraná delta have been used to characterize the elements that comprised the archaeological site of Fort Sancti Spiritus, an iconic place in the beginnings of the colonization process initiated by the crown of Castile in the southern sector of the Plata drainage basin. The maps of Sebastian Cabot, Sancho Gutiérrez, and Ruy Díaz de Guzmán are compared with written documentation, other maps from the same time, and the information obtained in the latest archaeological studies. This comparative analysis demonstrates the potential of historical cartography as a primary source to enlarge on or nuance knowledge of the initial stages of the conquest and colonization of this region.
Communicative Musicality, Learning and Energy: A Holographic Analysis of Sound Online and in the Classroom
Authors: Johnson Mark William , Alavi Karen , Holm-Janas Viktor
Published: December 2022

The sonic environment of learning presents an opportunity to study the space of social relations as energetic dynamics. Like all communication, sound requires energy both to create and to process. In recent years, the field of ‘communicative musicality’ — an interdisciplinary field connecting ethology, sociology, and psychology — examines social relations in their sonic context. Analysing the sonic environment has become more important (and more feasible) with increasing activities online during the pandemic. We present a comparative analysis of the sonic environment considering the sonic differences between face-to-face encounters, Zoom lectures, and online gaming. Our analysis measures the Shannon entropy of Fourier transforms of the sound spectrum to produce fractal representations of sonic episodes from contrasting educational situations. We consider how these fractals connect the physics of the environment with physiology of individuals observing and acting with each other in techno-educational contexts. As an index of the ‘between-ness’ of observing systems, our analysis points to a correlation between the coherence of patterning in sound and learning experiences. With its focus on social relations and technology’s environmental effects, this analysis well-suits postdigital concerns for the contingencies and uncertainties surrounding socio-technical systems in education.
Regulatory Pathways Supporting Expedited Drug Development and Approval in ICH Member Countries
Authors: Franco Pedro , Jain Ritesh , Rosenkrands-Lange Elizabeth , Hey Claudia , Koban Marén U.
Published: December 2022

Regulators and pharmaceutical companies across the world are intensifying efforts to get increasingly complex and innovative drugs to patients with high unmet medical need in the shortest possible time frame. This article reviews pathways to expedite drug development and approval available in member countries of the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use and Australia. It is concluded that the increasing availability of expedited regulatory pathways and associated modernisation of regulatory systems changes the current regulatory paradigm and requires sponsors to rethink drug development and regulatory strategy. A transformation of the current sequence of regulatory submissions, favouring those countries/collaborations that are best regulatory equipped to make innovative medical need drugs available to patients in the shortest time frame is imminent.
Modulational Instability and Location Controllable Lump Solutions with Mixed Interaction Phenomena for the (2+1)-Dimensional Myrzakulov-Lakshmanan-IV Equation
Authors: Cui Xiao-Qi , Wen Xiao-Yong , Zhang Bing-Jiang
Published: December 2022

Under consideration is a $$(2+1)$$

(
2
+
1
)

-dimensional spin nonisospectral Myrzakulov-Lakshmanan-IV (ML-IV) equation, which has close relation with the celebrated nonlinear Schrödinger equation. In the first place we study the modulational instability (MI) for this equation and deduce its formation mechanism for diverse localized waves from the plane wave background. Secondly, in view of the known nonisospectral Lax pair of this equation, we first successfully extend the generalized $$(n, N-n)$$

(
n
,
N
-
n
)

-fold Darboux Transformation (DT) from $$(1+1)$$

(
1
+
1
)

-dimensional equation to this $$(2+1)$$

(
2
+
1
)

-dimensional equation. As an application of the resulting DT, we derive some location controllable dark and bright lump, periodic wave and mixed breather-lump solutions, it is shown that the position of these localized waves can be controlled by some special parameters, so that we can move them to the positions we want. Especially, the dynamical behaviors of these localized waves are illustrated graphically. These results may have potential value for the study of applied ferromagnetism and nano magnetism.
The Unification Church Movement
Authors: Mickler Michael L.
Published: December 2022

This Element recounts the tumultuous history of the Unification Church Movement, deriving from the messianic ministry of MOON Sun Myung (1920–2012). It begins with the UCM's origins in Korea and traces its development into a global conglomerate of churches, related nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses. Known for its mass marriages, or 'International Marriage Blessings,' the UCM has been one of the most controversial new religious movements throughout the world, particularly in Japan and the West. Moon fit Weber's classic definition of the charismatic leader. The post-Moon UCM is a textbook case of a new religious movement transitioning from its founding to succeeding generations. Utilizing both external documents and internal UCM sources, the account highlights the leading personalities, organizations, and circumstances which facilitated the UCM's rise, its present challenges, and future development.
Southeast Asian Interconnections
Authors: Heng Derek
Published: December 2022

Since the late first millennium CE, Maritime Southeast Asia has been an inter-connected zone, with its societies and states maintaining economic and diplomatic relations with both China and Japan on the east, and the Indian Sub-Continent and Middle East on the west. This global connectedness was facilitated by merchant and shipping networks that originated from within and outside Southeast Asia, resulting in a trans-regional economy developing by the early second millennium CE. Sojourning populations began to appear in Maritime Southeast Asia, culminating in records of Chinese and Indian settlers in such places as Sumatra, Malay Peninsula and the Gulf of Siam by the mid-first millennium CE. At the same time, information of products that were harvested in Southeast Asia began to be appropriated by pockets of society in China, the India and the Middle East, resulting in the production of new knowledge and usages for these products in these markets.
Platter Humor oder doch der Weisheit letzter Schluss? – Lk 18 als jüdische und pagane „Doppelkodierung“
Authors: Sommer Michael
Published: December 2022

German abstract

Aus dem direkten Vergleich der beiden möglichen Leseweisen lässt sich ein Fazit formulieren. Die Technik der „Doppelkodierung“ (R. Feldmeier) zeigt sich darin, dass Lk 18,1–8 eine Alltagsepisode mit einem Moment des spöttelnden, vielleicht sogar stumpfen Humors erzählt und dabei eine Semantik benutzt, die auch in den Schriften Israels beheimatet ist. Auch wenn die „jüdische“ Denkwelt der Weisheitsliteratur in Lk 18,1–8 auf den ersten Blick keine Rolle zu spielen scheint, so wird sie dann für die Folgeszene in Lk 18,9–14 relevant. Lk 18,1–8 ist keine Relecture der Weisheitsliteratur, sondern mutet mehr wie eine Hommage an. Es klingt hier sprachlich bereits etwas an, das erst in der nächsten Perikope inhaltlich sichtbar verarbeitet wird. M.E. handelt es sich bei dieser Technik nicht um ein Zufallsprodukt, sondern um eine bewusste Entscheidung. Lukas ging so souverän mit den Schriften um, dass er sie kreativ mit hellenistisch anmutenden Erzähletappen verschmelzen konnte. Ebenso zeigt sich, dass er in den Schriften nicht nur Dekoration sah, sondern mit Hilfe der Frömmigkeitskritik arbeitete, um daraus für die Völkerwelt geöffnete, „jüdische“ Ideen über Gerechtigkeit und Glaubenspraxis entstehen zu lassen. Vor dem Hintergrund der Lektüre zeigt sich eine Unsicherheit, ob die Kategorien „Judenchrist“ und „Heidenchrist“ bei Lukas wirklich funktionieren.
Enhancing Earthquake Detection from Orbit
Authors: Stanley Sarah
Published: December 2022

A new application of machine learning boosts scientists’ ability to use data from satellite navigation systems to detect and warn of earthquakes.
Consistent Timing of Arctic Permafrost Loss Across the CESM1 Large Ensemble
Authors: McSweeney Killian , Kooperman Gabriel J.
Published: December 2022

The Arctic is especially vulnerable to climate change and is warming faster than the global average. Changes in this region pose a heightened threat due to the immense amount of carbon frozen as organic material in the soil. When permafrost thaws, organic material decays and releases as greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to further warming. A better understanding of the processes that influence permafrost degradation is needed to inform climate adaptation and mitigation planning. This study assesses changes to Arctic permafrost across 35 ensemble member simulations from the Community Earth System Model 1 Large Ensemble Project, under the Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 21st century scenario. Most Arctic near‐surface permafrost is lost by 2100, but timing varies across regions and with soil depth. Internal climate variability, represented by differences between ensemble members, has a constrained influence on degradation timing due to relative consistency of summer temperature increases and insulation by winter snow cover.
Characterize Basin‐Scale Subsurface Using Rocket‐Triggered Lightning
Authors: Wang Yu‐Li , Yeh Tian‐Chyi Jim , Liu Fei , Wen Jet‐Chau , Wang Wenke , Hao Yonghong
Published: December 2022

This paper exploits triggered lightning as a point source for the basin‐scale electromagnetic tomographic survey to image 3‐D subsurface electrical properties in basins. This paper further develops a new temporal moment approach, overcoming the difficulties in forward and inverse modeling of 3‐D Maxwell’s equations with heterogeneous parameter fields. Using this approach, we find that the influence of a single triggered lightning strike covers a radius of 20–70 km with detectable signals. The cross‐correlation analysis between the moment difference of the electric and electric/magnetic property field indicates that the approach is suitable for mapping subsurface electric conductivity () heterogeneity. A numerical experiment with 3‐D spatially random parameter fields demonstrates that the method captures the spatial distribution of electric conductivity over large areas with a sparse monitoring network. It reveals the potential of using triggered lightning as a basin‐scale electric/magnetic tomography survey.
Electron Behavior Around the Onset of Magnetic Reconnection
Authors: Spinnangr Susanne F. , Hesse Michael , Tenfjord Paul , Norgren Cecilia , Kolstø Håkon M. , Kwagala Norah K. , Jørgensen Therese Moretto , Phan Tai
Published: December 2022

We investigate the onset of magnetic reconnection, utilizing a fully kinetic Particle‐In‐Cell (PIC) simulation. Characteristic features of the electron phase‐space distributions immediately before reconnection onset are identified. These include signatures of pressure non‐gyrotropy in the velocity distributions, and lemon shaped distributions in the in‐plane velocity directions. Further, we explain how these features form through particle energization by the out‐of‐plane electric field. Identification of these features in the distributions can aid in analysis of data where clear signatures of ongoing reconnection are not yet present.
Impacts of Model Horizontal Resolution on Mean Sea Surface Temperature Biases in the Community Earth System Model
Authors: Xu Gaopeng , Chang Ping , Ramachandran Sanjiv , Danabasoglu Gokhan , Yeager Stephen , Small Justin , Zhang Qiuying , Jing Zhao , Wu Lixin
Published: December 2022

Impacts of model horizontal resolution on sea surface temperature (SST) biases are studied using high‐resolution (HR) and low‐resolution (LR) simulations with the Community Earth System Model (CESM) where the nominal resolutions are 0.1° for ocean and sea‐ice and 0.25° for atmosphere and land in HR, and 1° for all component models in LR, respectively. Results show that, except within eastern boundary upwelling systems, SST is warmer in HR than LR. Globally averaged surface ocean heat budget analysis indicates that 1°C warmer global‐mean SST in HR is mainly attributable to stronger nonlocal vertical mixing and shortwave heat flux, with the former prevailing over the latter in eddy‐active regions. In the tropics, nonlocal vertical mixing is slightly more important than shortwave heat flux for the warmer SST in HR. Further analysis shows that the stronger nonlocal mixing in HR can be attributed to differences in both the surface heat flux and shape function strength used in the parameterization. In addition, the shape function shows a nonlinear relationship with surface heat flux in HR and LR, modulated by the eddy‐induced vertical heat transport. The stronger shortwave heat flux in HR, on the other hand, is mainly caused by fewer clouds in the tropics. Finally, investigation of ocean advection reveals that the improved western boundary currents in HR also contribute to the reduction of SST biases in eddy‐active regions.
Stresses in the Lunar Interior: Insights From Slip Directions in the A01 Deep Moonquake Nest
Authors: Turner A. R. , Hawthorne J. C. , Gaddes M.
Published: December 2022

We probe the present‐day stresses in the lunar interior by examining the slip directions of moonquakes in the A01 nest. In this nest, some deep moonquakes appear to slip “backwards,” in the opposite direction to other events. We assess whether these changes in slip direction result from a spatial variation in the tectonic stress or from a temporal variation in the tidal stress. To test these two options, we first show that a dominant tectonic stress implies deep moonquakes can only slip in one direction: forwards and backwards, while a dominant tidal stress could allow moonquakes to slip in more directions: any combination of forwards, backwards, left, and right. Then we look for the number of slip directions; we separate the deep moonquake waveforms into slip directions using a principal component analysis technique. We find two slip directions present in the A01 deep moonquake nest. The moonquakes slip in a variety of directions as time evolves. This observation implies that the tidal stresses drive deep moonquakes. Additionally, these results place a new constraint on the magnitude of the tectonic stresses at depth; they must be smaller than the modeled tidal stress of ∼0.1 MPa.
ASK1-ER stress pathway-mediated fibrotic-EV release contributes to the interaction of alveolar epithelial cells and lung fibroblasts to promote mechanical ventilation-induced pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Tang Ri , Mei Shuya , Xu Qiaoyi , Feng Jinhua , Zhou Yang , Xing Shunpeng , He Zhengyu , Gao Yuan
Published: December 2022

Recent clinical research has revealed that mechanical ventilation (MV) can initiate pulmonary fibrosis and induce mechanical ventilation-induced pulmonary fibrosis (MVPF). However, the underlying mechanism remains largely uncharacterized. Based on a mouse model of MVPF and an alveolar epithelial cell cyclic strain model, the present study explores the possible mechanism of MVPF. Single-cell RNA-sequencing and EV RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that MV promoted apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1)-mediated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathway activation and extracellular vesicle (EV) release from alveolar epithelial cells. Furthermore, the ASK1-ER stress pathway was shown to mediate mechanical stretch (MS)- or MV-induced EV release and lung fibroblast activation in vivo and in vitro. These processes were suppressed by ER stress inhibitors or by silencing ASK1 with ASK1- short hairpin RNA (shRNA). In addition, MVPF was suppressed by inhibiting ASK1 and ER stress in vivo. Therefore, the present study demonstrates that ASK1-ER stress pathway-mediated fibrotic-EV release from alveolar epithelial cells contributes to fibroblast activation and the initiation of pulmonary fibrosis during MV. The inhibited release of EVs targeting the ASK1-ER stress pathway might be a promising treatment strategy for MVPF.
Preventative interventions that target cardiovascular dysfunction in children and young people: a systematic review of their effectiveness and an investigation of sexual dimorphism
Authors: Edwards Sophie , Foster Murray , Ahmed S. Faisal , Lucas-Herald Angela K.
Published: December 2022

Given that cardiovascular diseases remain a primary cause of mortality and morbidity, there is a need to consider preventative strategies to improve vascular function from early in life. The aims of this study were therefore to investigate which interventions may improve endothelial function, intima media thickness and arterial stiffness in children and young people and to assess whether these interventions differ in boys and girls. A systematic literature search of Science Direct, Pubmed, Google Scholar and the Cochrane Library by two independent reviewers was performed to source articles. Inclusion criteria were any studies including any child ≤18 years of age receiving an intervention, which measured vascular function other than blood pressure. Exclusion criteria were studies assessing children with chronic medical conditions. A total of 72 studies were identified, which met the inclusion criteria. A measurable change in outcome was more likely to be reported in studies investigating endothelial function (p = 0.03). Interventions which improved vascular function included physical activity and dietary programmes. Under 10% of studies considered sex differences. In conclusion, school-based physical activity interventions are most likely to result in improvements in vascular function. Endothelial function may be the first variable of vascular function to change secondary to an intervention. Standardisation of reporting of differences between the sexes is essential to be able to ensure interventions are equally effective for boys and girls.