bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTCAL DATABASE
Authors: Bronk Ramsey Christopher , Adolphi Florian , Austin William , Bard Edouard , Bayliss Alex , Blaauw Maarten , Cheng Hai , Edwards R. Lawrence , Friedrich Michael , Heaton Timothy , Hogg Alan , Hua Quan , Hughen Konrad , Kromer Bernd , Manning Sturt , Muscheler Raimund , Palmer Jonathan , Pearson Charlotte , Reimer Paula , Reimer Ron , Richards David , Scott Marian , Southon John , Turney Chris , Wacker Lukas
Published: July 2023

The IntCal family of radiocarbon (14C) calibration curves is based on research spanning more than three decades. The IntCal group have collated the 14C and calendar age data (mostly derived from primary publications with other types of data and meta-data) and, since 2010, made them available for other sorts of analysis through an open-access database. This has ensured transparency in terms of the data used in the construction of the ratified calibration curves. As the IntCal database expands, work is underway to facilitate best practice for new data submissions, make more of the associated metadata available in a structured form, and help those wishing to process the data with programming languages such as R, Python, and MATLAB. The data and metadata are complex because of the range of different types of archives. A restructured interface, based on the “IntChron” open-access data model, includes tools which allow the data to be plotted and compared without the need for export. The intention is to include complementary information which can be used alongside the main 14C series to provide new insights into the global carbon cycle, as well as facilitating access to the data for other research applications. Overall, this work aims to streamline the generation of new calibration curves.
UNRAVELLING THE HISTORY OF A VENETIAN ANTIPHONARY
Authors: Rzadeczka-Juga Izabela , Nadeau Marie-Josée , Juga Pjotr , Zurbach Damaris , Grootes Pieter M , Svarva Helene , Seiler Martin
Published: July 2023

We present the results of a multifaceted study of an antiphonary—liturgical song book—presumably made in Venice in 1607, now in the Ringve, National Music Museum of Norway in Trondheim1. The book is hand-sewn on raised cords, bound in full leather on cardboard covers, originally with metal clamps. The paper block consists of pages printed in black and red that include both song texts and music scores. The red ink is based on vermillion and red lead while the black ink is carbon based. The treads and cords were made of flax. The leather used was made from goat skin. Radiocarbon results confirmed the printing date. The antiphonary shows several signs of repair including the possibility of re-binding. Animal-based glue was used for the repairs as well as for the sizing of both original and repair paper. Two potential periods were identified for reparations, 1670–1710 AD and 1782–1830 AD. This case study was conducted prior to the opening of a new permanent exhibition, Soundtracks, at the Ringve Museum where the book is displayed.
Rapid cold hardening and cold acclimation promote cold tolerance of oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) by physiological substances transformation and cryoprotectants accumulation
Authors: Xie Zifei , Xu Luchen , Zhao Jie , Li Na , Qin Deqiang , Xiao Chun , Lu Yongyue , Guo Zijun
Published: July 2023

Insect response to cold stress is often associated with adaptive strategies and chemical variation. However, low-temperature domestication to promote the cold tolerance potential of Bactrocera dorsalis and transformation of main internal substances are not clear. Here, we use a series of low-temperature exposure experiments, supercooling point (SCP) measurement, physiological substances and cryoprotectants detection to reveal that pre-cooling with milder low temperatures (5 and 10°C) for several hours (rapid cold hardening) and days (cold acclimation) can dramatically improve the survival rate of adults and pupae under an extremely low temperature (−6.5°C). Besides, the effect of rapid cold hardening for adults could be maintained even 4 h later with 25°C exposures, and SCP was significantly declined after cold acclimation. Furthermore, content of water, fat, protein, glycogen, sorbitol, glycerol and trehalose in bodies were measured. Results showed that water content was reduced and increased content of proteins, glycogen, glycerol and trehalose after two cold domestications. Our findings suggest that rapid cold hardening and cold acclimation could enhance cold tolerance of B. dorsalis by increasing proteins, glycerol, trehalose and decreasing water content. Conclusively, identifying a physiological variation will be useful for predicting the occurrence and migration trend of B. dorsalis populations.
“I Confided in My Mother and She Called the Archdiocese”: Parents and Clergy Sex Abuse
Authors: McDannell Colleen
Published: July 2023

Scholars have acknowledged that there is a systemic aspect to Catholic clerical sex abuse that acts as a type of grammar structuring behaviors and responses. Feminist critics in particular stress the patriarchal nature of the abuse that connects bishops, priests, and boys together. This essay argues that in addition to public systems dominated by men, there are also private structures that facilitate abuse. Using the extensive primary documentation assembled by BishopAccountability.org, I focus on the space of the home and the unique orientations of mothers and fathers to better understand the dynamics of clerical sex abuse in the American Catholic church. The essay begins with the abuse of a Milwaukee priest who tormented his parishioners from 1945 until his forced “retirement” in 1970. Drawing on themes found in this case, I examine other abuse narratives—focusing on how the Catholic understanding of alter Christus and mid-twentieth-century gender roles made the “good Catholic home” a particularly vulnerable place for abuse. Since public and private systems overlap, it is essential that the domestic aspects of clergy sex abuse also receive a full analysis.
EARLY TRACES OF THE GREEK QUESTION MARK
Authors: Nünlist René
Published: July 2023

According to the standard view on the issue, the habit of marking questions with a particular typographical sign in Greek and Latin script does not arise prior to the eighth or ninth century. This period is generally credited with the ‘invention’ of the question mark (excepting Syriac evidence, which points to the fifth and sixth centuries). The purpose of the present article is to correct this view. It argues that the first indication for the use of a typographical sign that marks questions can actually be detected no later than during the reign of Emperor Hadrian (a.d. 117–38), that is, more than half a millennium before the traditional date of the invention. The chief witness is Nicanor of Alexandria, who does not seem to have used question marks himself, but criticizes the misappropriation of another punctuation mark to that purpose. He thus indirectly testifies to the existence of question marks. Comparable traces can also be found later in the exegetical works of some Christian commentators.
“Filling in the Blanks”: Jaffa's Oranges, an English Suit, and the Rememorying of Palestinian History
Authors: LeVine Mark
Published: July 2023

Like great port cities throughout history, Jaffa has always welcomed strangers; enough of them to earn its sobriquet “mother of strangers” (umm al-gharīb). The gateway to Palestine and the Levant since ancient times, Jaffa is not only the site of multiple events of biblical or broader religious significance. With the incorporation of Palestine in the late 18th century into the still developing modern world system, Jaffa became a city of culture and commerce, with winding casbahs and tree-lined boulevards, Turkish baths and Jewish bordellos, sand dunes and orange orchards—lots of them, as we'll see—and some of the most striking architecture, never mind coastline, of the Eastern Mediterranean. North African Jews, Haurani Bedouins, Afghan traders, rabbis from Beirut, troubadours from Jerusalem, divas from Mansoura, and more than a few European Christian and Jewish pilgrims, all made their way to and through Jaffa over the centuries, joining a local population that septupled to over 17,000 during the course of the 19th century. They were joined by tens of thousands of Jews for whom Jaffa was a port of entry to Palestine with the onset of Zionist colonization. Jaffa, in other words, is the perfect locale for a novel, especially when, as with award-winning architect and writer Suad Amiry's first novel, Mother of Strangers, most of it happens to be rooted in truth.
City Women: Managers and Leading Ladies at the City of London Theatre, 1837–1848
Authors: Ridgwell Stephen
Published: July 2023

In the 1830s and 1840s, the female management of London theatres, conducted singly or in partnership, was surprisingly common. Charismatic actress-managers such as Madame Vestris and Mrs Keeley have long been familiar to students of British theatre, as too the establishments they managed. Much less well known is the City of London Theatre in Norton Folgate, one of several minor playhouses then active in the East End. Opened in the year that Victoria came to the throne (1837), during its first decade the City was unrivalled as a home for the so-called ‘wo-manager’. Although largely forgotten today, Lucy Honey, Eliza Vincent, Harriett Lacy, and Maria Honner added much to the cultural vibrancy of an important theatre district at a moment of significant social change. Stephen Ridgwell here explores an under-researched world of theatre enterprise, and argues that the marginality subsequently conferred upon these women in no way reflects their contemporary visibility and standing. The article also highlights the importance of Eliza Vincent’s collaborations with George Dibdin Pitt, a dramatist of growing interest to scholars across a range of fields, and proposes that further consideration of this partnership might usefully be undertaken.
Shimella Community Theatre of Israeli-Ethiopian Jews
Authors: Shem-Tov Naphtaly
Published: July 2023

Shimella (‘stork’ in Amharic) is an Israeli community theatre of Ethiopian Jews residing in Netanya and directed by Chen Elia. Shimella was founded in 2010, and has produced four different performances focusing on the Ethiopian Jewish community in Israel. Ethiopian Jews suffer from racism and discrimination in all areas of life, including housing, employment, education, and healthcare. These issues surfaced in Shimella’s performances, and the political aspect of Shimella’s performances therefore ranges from performing critical protest against the attitudes of the Israeli state and society toward Ethiopians, to a utopian performative moment, which emotionally and physically dramatizes the community’s desired future.
From Sideshow to Centre Ring: The Historiography of Popular Entertainment
Authors: Senelick Laurence
Published: July 2023

The academic interest in popular entertainment was long retarded by a class attitude that regarded it as a cultural phenomenon of inferior quality. Those who researched it were collectors and enthusiasts rather than professional scholars. The disdain of the Frankfurt School was also a factor. In the 1960s, with the rise of leisure studies and a Marxist-inflected interest in working-class culture, this began to change. The study of popular forms is now an accepted, even dominant part of the humanities curriculum, though still occasionally tinged with apology.
Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and associated risk factors for infection in the Netherlands: third cross-sectional national study
Authors: van den Berg Oda E. , Stanoeva Kamelia R. , Zonneveld Rens , Hoek-van Deursen Denise , van der Klis Fiona R. , van de Kassteele Jan , Franz Eelco , Opsteegh Marieke , Friesema Ingrid H. M. , Kortbeek Laetitia M.
Published: July 2023

A third nationally representative serosurvey was performed to study the changes in Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) seroprevalence in the Netherlands over a 20-year time span and to identify and confirm risk factors for acquired toxoplasmosis. This cross-sectional study (conducted in 2016/2017) was designed similarly to the previous two studies (1995/1996 and 2006/2007) and included a questionnaire and serum sampling among Dutch residents. Factors associated with seropositivity for T. gondii were determined using multivariable analysis of the questionnaire-derived data. The earlier observed decrease in T. gondii seroprevalence between 1995/1996 and 2006/2007 (from 40.5% to 26.0%) did not continue into 2016/2017 (29.9%). Similarly to the previous studies, the seroprevalence increased with age and varied among regions. In all studies, higher T. gondii seropositivity was associated with increasing age, lower educational level, not living in the Southeast, and eating raw or semi-cooked pork. The incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis was estimated at 1.3/1000 (95% CI 0.9–1.8) live-born children in 2017. As the seroprevalence of T. gondii in the Netherlands did not decrease over the last decade, an increase in public health awareness is needed and prevention measures may need to be taken to achieve a further reduction in T. gondii infections in the Netherlands.
Leaf morphology, genetic analysis and low temperature requirement for flowering of Verbascum blattaria
Authors: Kim Hyun Min , Roh Mark S. , Yoo Yong Kwon , Yoo Kil Sun , Joung Young Hee
Published: July 2023

Verbascum blattaria L., commonly known as moth mullein, naturalized in the USA that produces white or yellow flowers could be considered as a potential ornamental plant. However, genetic characterization using molecular markers and leaf morphology, colourimetric analysis and flowering of V. blattaria influenced by low temperature treatments was not investigated to evaluate as a potential horticultural and landscape plant use. The basal leaves developed during the rosette-growth stage were oblanceolate with an obtuse leaf apex and incisions at the margin. Leaves produced on the stem during the reproductive development were ovate or lanceolate with an obtuse or acute leaf apex. Regardless of the colour of the petiole and leaf blade during the rosette-growth stage, there were no differences in the sequences of nuclear ribosomal ITS and chloroplast interspacer. All plants produced creamy white flowers with a purplish base corolla. All leaves formed during the vegetative and reproductive development were glabrous. Numerous stalked glandular trichomes were observed in the sepal, pedicel and bracts. Seeds started to germinate in 10 days at 25°C and reached the plateau in 30 days after sowing. The earliest flowering occurred in 131 days when the plants received 20 days of low temperature treatment (CD) (20 CD), producing 76 flowers, the highest number compared to the number of flowers produced by plants that received 0, 40 and 60 CD. Plants that received 20 CD exhibited early flowering, probably because of the early transition from vegetative growth to reproductive development, as judged by the short stem to the first flower.
Interactions With Technology in the Cockpit
Authors: Walmsley Stephen , Gilbey Andrew
Published: July 2023

Abstract: Technological advancements have resulted in significant safety benefits in commercial aviation; however, in general aviation their adoption has been somewhat slow. It is therefore important to understand how pilots interact with technology, particularly in general aviation. This study explored whether the affect heuristic influenced pilots’ perceptions of the benefits and risks of five cockpit technologies available in general aviation, with a particular focus on technologies that may assist weather-related decision-making. Evidence from a series of scenario-based tasks suggests that the perceived risks and benefits of the technology were associated with pilot affect, whereby positive feelings toward a given technology were associated with a lower perceived risk, such as accidentally flying into adverse weather, and higher perceived benefits, such as helping to maintain control while completing concurrent tasks. Findings also suggest that affect and perceived risks can be manipulated by negatively framed prior information. The practical implications of the effect of the affect heuristic on the successful introduction of new technologies and the promotion of safety initiatives in general are discussed.
Weakened Sea‐Land Breeze in a Coastal Megacity Driven by Urbanization and Ocean Warming
Authors: Xiao Yunting , Yang Jianbo , Cui Lehui , Deng Junjun , Fu Pingqing , Zhu Jialei
Published: July 2023

The sea‐land breeze (SLB) occurs regularly in coastal areas and influences the local climate and atmospheric environment. Fifteen‐year observations (2005–2019) from urban, coastal, and marine stations were collected to examine the trend in the number of SLB days (SLBD) in Tianjin, a coastal megacity in China. The number of SLBD in Tianjin generally showed a decreasing trend with an annual average decline rate of 3.89%. The average land breeze speed decreased by 0.20 m·s−1 and sea breeze speed decreased by 0.69 m·s−1 in the examined 15 years. Simultaneously, the distance of influence of SLB in summer was reduced by ∼30 km. The Weather Research and Forecasting model developed with high‐resolution land use data and variations in the sea surface temperature (SST) was applied to investigate the mechanisms leading to the weakening of SLB. The increasing SST led to a reduction in the temperature difference between sea and land, which was found to be the dominant factor driving the weakening of SLB in summer. The changes in the density and height of buildings due to urbanization altered the wind direction in the coastal areas, which in turn drive the reduction of the sea breeze during fall, while increased surface temperature at night in urban areas led to the reduction of the land breeze. With projections indicating ocean warming and increasing urbanization, the SLB will become weaker and occur less frequently in the future, probably leading to more frequent air pollution due to poor ventilation in coastal cities.
QBO Phase Synchronization in CMIP6 Historical Simulations Attributed to Ozone Forcing
Authors: Butchart Neal , Andrews Martin B. , Jones Chris D.
Published: July 2023

Tropical stratospheric variability is investigated in ensembles of historical simulations performed by nine models for the sixth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). Realizations from all the models feature a reasonable quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO). Variability in the zonal mean zonal winds at the equator is found to be coherent among realizations when a model prescribes the CMIP6 ozone forcing. No such coherence is found when a model simulates ozone. The coherence results in an ensemble mean QBO signal with amplitude, depending on the model, 50%–80% of the mean QBO amplitude from a single realization from the same model. The ensemble mean signal is due to synchronization of QBO phases, attributed to the CMIP6 protocol including a QBO signal in the ozone forcing. Coherence in models using the CMIP6 ozone is, therefore, artificial and individual realizations from these models are not completely independent.
Dynamics of Thermospheric Traveling Atmospheric Disturbance During a Geomagnetic Storm
Authors: Liu Bowei , Liu Jing , Liu Xuanqing , Zhong Jiahao , Li Shuhan , Li Qiaoling
Published: July 2023

Traveling atmospheric disturbance (TAD) plays an important role in the energy and momentum transfer from the lower atmosphere to the upper atmosphere, and from high‐ to low‐latitudes. It is common to observe TADs propagating toward low latitudes because of enhanced Joule heating and/or the Lorentz force at the high‐latitude ionosphere during storm time. However, energy or momentum variation associated with their equatorward propagation remains unclear. Two geomagnetic storms occurred on 7–8 September 2017 and upper atmospheric disturbances are observed by the Swarm satellites and the Global Navigation Satellite System Total Electron Content network. We conduct a model simulation and term analysis of the energy equation to investigate the dominant terms of TAD. Adiabatic heating, conduction heating, and advection heating dominate the energy budget of TAD. Adiabatic heating plays an important role in the energy budget by transferring the most energy of TAD. An anti‐phase relationship between adiabatic and conduction heating is found in the propagation of these TADs. An in‐phase relationship between adiabatic and advection heating is also found. Physical processes behind these anti‐phase and in‐phase relationships are illustrated with a schematic. Finally, based on the dominant terms and the relationships between them, the whole process of generation, propagation, and dissipation of TAD is given.
Separation of an Upwelling Current Bounding the Juan de Fuca Eddy
Authors: Klymak Jody M. , Allen Susan E. , Waterman Stephanie
Published: July 2023

Observations of temperature, salinity, and oxygen on the southern Vancouver Island shelf show a large‐scale exchange of shelf water with offshore water, just offshore of a semi‐permanent recirculation, often termed the Juan de Fuca Eddy. The Eddy occupies a region where the shelf widens abruptly in the lee of a bank. The water in this Eddy is a mixture of offshore water and water from a buoyant coastal current. This water is well‐mixed along a mixing line in temperature‐salinity space, though it retains stratification, and is either rapidly mixed or has a long residence time. There is a less than 1 km wide temperature‐salinity front on the offshore side of this well‐mixed water that has no sign of instabilities. The clearest evidence of cross‐front transport is found during a tidally resolved survey over a bank. The transport is due to flows in the cross‐bank direction that also drive 50 m tall hydraulic jumps. Upstream of the Eddy, there is an along‐shelf current flowing equatorward. However, the whole current separates from the shelf before reaching the Eddy, in the lee of a bank, and is replaced by water from offshore. The separation event was also seen in sea‐surface temperatures from satellite images as a tongue of cool coastal water that is ejected offshore.
Local and Remote Storm Surge Contributions to Total Water Levels in the Gulf of St. Lawrence During Hurricane Fiona
Authors: Mulligan R. P. , Swatridge L. , Cantelon J. A. , Kurylyk B. L. , George E. , Houser C.
Published: July 2023

Post‐tropical Hurricane Fiona generated a large storm surge that resulted in pronounced flooding and coastal erosion in Atlantic Canada in September 2022. In this study we apply a regional barotropic storm surge model in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, a semi‐enclosed sea, to demonstrate a method of evaluating different contributions to the total water levels. These include the surge generated over the ocean, the surge generated by the cyclonic winds over the gulf, and the tides. The results indicate that the highest storm surge occurred in the southeastern region, a combination of locally and remotely generated components. The surge that entered from the ocean was greater than the surge generated over the gulf; however, these were not in phase. To investigate the case where the local and remote surges are coincident, we shift the wind field relative to the timing of the boundary conditions and find the near “perfect storm” with significantly higher storm surge elevations. These findings highlight the importance of basin morphology and storm conditions in controlling the interactions of surge components, and this approach can be applied to simulate a range of storm‐driven hazard outcomes for future extreme events.
Optimizing and extending ion dielectric polarizability database for microwave frequencies using machine learning methods
Authors: Qin Jincheng , Liu Zhifu , Ma Mingsheng , Li Yongxiang
Published: July 2023

Permittivity at microwave frequencies determines the practical applications of microwave dielectric ceramics. The accuracy and universality of the permittivity prediction by Clausius–Mossotti equation depends on the dielectric polarizability (αD) database. The most influential αDdatabase put forward by Shannon is facing three challenges in the 5 G era: (1) Few data, (2) Simplistic relation and (3) Low frequency (kHz–MHz) oriented. Here, we optimized and extended the Shannon’s database for microwave frequencies by the four-stage multiple linear regression and support vector machine model. In comparison with the conventional database, the optimized and extended databases achieved higher accuracy and expanded the amount of data from 60 to more than 900. Besides, we analyzed the relationships between αDand ion characteristics, including ionic radius (IR), atomic number (N), valence state (V) and coordination number (CN). We found that the positive cubic law of “αD ~ IR3” discussed in Shannon’s work was valid for the IR changed by the N, but invalid for the change caused by the CN.
Molecular modeling study of micro and nanocurcumin with in vitro and in vivo antibacterial validation
Authors: Othman Amal S. , Shamekh Israa M. , Abdalla Mohnad , Eltayb Wafa A. , Ahmed Nashwa A.
Published: July 2023

Repurposing natural compounds as inhibitory targets to combat bacterial virulence is an important potential strategy to overcome resistance to traditional antibiotics, in the present study, the antibacterial activity of micro-curcumin and nano-sized curcumin was investigated against four predominant bacterial pathogens, namely,Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus,andBacillus subtilis.Curcumin bactericidal susceptibility could be summarized as the order,P. aeruginosa > B. subtilis > S. aureus > E. coli. Molecular docking analysis was conducted to confirm the impact of curcumin on the most vital and positively identified quorum-sensing pathway signaling proteins SecA-SecY, LsrR, PqsR (MvfR), AgrA which act as key players in the bacterial communication systems. The in silico physicochemical properties revealed that curcumin as a nutraceutical can be classified as a drug-like compound. An in vivo infected wound model was employed in four groups of albino rats. Topical application of nano-curcumin lotion showed a marked reduction in wound area (98.8%) as well as nearly 100% reduction in total bacterial viable count compared to the control group, on the fifteenth day post-treatment post-injury. The obtained data suggested that curcumin nanoparticles exhibited superior antibacterial activity and may possess clinical utility as a novel topical antimicrobial and wound healing agent.
Quantum computing for transport network design problems
Authors: Dixit Vinayak V. , Niu Chence
Published: July 2023

Transport network design problem (TNDP) is a well-studied problem for planning and operations of transportation systems. They are widely used to determine links for capacity enhancement, link closures to schedule maintenance, identify new road or transit links and more generally network enhancements under resource constraints. As changes in network capacities result in a redistribution of demand on the network, resulting in changes in the congestion patterns, TNDP is generally modelled as a bi-level problem, which is known to be NP-hard. Meta-heuristic methods, such as Tabu Search Method are relied upon to solve these problems, which have been demonstrated to achieve near optimality in reasonable time. The advent of quantum computing has afforded an opportunity to solve these problems faster. We formulate the TNDP problem as a bi-level problem, with the upper level formulated as a Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) problem that is solved using quantum annealing on a D-Wave quantum computer. We compare the results with Tabu Search. We find that quantum annealing provides significant computational benefit. The proposed solution has implications for networks across different contexts including communications, traffic, industrial operations, electricity, water, broader supply chains and epidemiology.
Examining changes in vascular function, arterial stiffness and systemic inflammation during hospitalization and recovery from an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Fuhr Desi P. , Brotto Andrew R. , Rowe Brian H. , Bhutani Mohit , Rosychuk Rhonda J. , Stickland Michael K.
Published: July 2023

An acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) events. The elevated risk during an AECOPD may be related to changes in vascular function, arterial stiffness, and systemic inflammation; the time course of these measures and their corresponding recovery are poorly understood. Further, physical activity is reduced during an AECOPD, and physical activity may influence the cardiovascular responses to an AECOPD. The purpose of the study was to examine the acute impact of an AECOPD requiring hospitalization on vascular function, arterial stiffness, and systemic inflammation and examine whether physical activity modulates these variables during recovery. Patients hospitalized for an AECOPD were prospectively recruited and compared to control patients with stable COPD. Vascular function, arterial stiffness, and systemic inflammation (CRP, IL-6) were measured at hospital admission, hospital discharge and within 14 days of discharge. Physical activity was electronically tracked daily while in hospital and for 7 days following discharge using a Fitbit. One hundred and twenty-one patients with an AECOPD requiring hospitalization and 33 control patients with stable COPD were enrolled in the study. Vascular function was significantly lower, and systemic inflammation higher at hospital admission in patients with an AECOPD compared to stable COPD. Significant improvements in vascular function and inflammation were observed within 14 days of hospital discharge; however, vascular function remained lower than stable COPD. Physical activity was low at admission and increased following discharge; however, physical activity was unrelated to measures of vascular function or inflammation at any time point. An AECOPD requiring hospitalization is associated with impaired vascular function that persists during recovery. These findings provide a mechanistic link to help explain the enduring increase in CV risk and mortality following a severe AECOPD event.

Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT01949727; Registered: 09/20/2013.
Examining factors for the adoption of silvopastoral agroforestry in the Colombian Amazon
Authors: Alvarado Sandino C. O. , Barnes A. P. , Sepúlveda I. , Garratt M. P. D. , Thompson J. , Escobar-Tello M. P.
Published: July 2023

Current land use systems in the Amazon largely consist of extensive conventional productivist livestock operations that drive deforestation. Silvopastoral systems (SPS) support a transition to low carbon production if they intensify in sympathy with the needs of biophysical and socio-economic contexts. SPS have been promoted for decades as an alternative livestock production system but widespread uptake has yet to be seen. We provide a schema of associating factors for adoption of SPS based on past literature in tropical agriculture and apply this to a bespoke survey of 172 farms in the Caquetá region of the Colombian Amazon. We find a number of factors which do not apply to this region and argue for a context specific approach. The impact of managing increased market access and opportunities for SPS producers are crucial to avoiding additional deforestation. Further understanding of the underlying antecedents of common factors, such as perceptions of silvopastoral systems, would reduce the risk of perverse policy outcomes.
Final results of the real-life observational VICTOR-6 study on metronomic chemotherapy in elderly metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients
Authors: Trevisan B. , Pepe F. F. , Vallini I. , Montagna E. , Amoroso D. , Berardi R. , Butera A. , Cagossi K. , Cavanna L. , Ciccarese M. , Cinieri S. , Cretella E. , De Conciliis E. , Febbraro A. , Ferraù F. , Ferzi A. , Baldelli A. , Fontana A. , Gambaro A. R. , Garrone O. , Gebbia V. , Generali D. , Gianni L. , Giovanardi F. , Grassadonia A. , Leonardi V. , Sarti S. , Musolino A. , Nicolini M. , Putzu C. , Riccardi F. , Santini D. , Sarobba M. G. , Schintu M. G. , Scognamiglio G. , Spadaro P. , Taverniti C. , Toniolo D. , Tralongo P. , Turletti A. , Valenza R. , Valerio M. R. , Vici P. , Clivio L. , Torri V. , Cazzaniga M. E. ,   The VICTOR Study Group
Published: July 2023

Nowadays, treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) has been enriched with novel therapeutical strategies. Metronomic chemotherapy (mCHT) is a continuous and frequent administration of chemotherapy at a lower dose and so whit less toxicity. Thus, this strategy could be attractive for elderly MBC patients. Aim of this analysis is to provide insights into mCHT’s activity in a real-life setting of elderly MBC patients. Data of patients ≥ 75 years old included in VICTOR-6 study were analyzed. VICTOR-6 is a multicentre, Italian, retrospective study, which collected data on mCHT in MBC patients treated between 2011 and 2016. A total of 112 patients were included. At the beginning of mCHT, median age was 81 years (75–98) and in 33% of the patients mCHT was the first line choice. Overall Response Rate (ORR) and Disease Control Rate (DCR) were 27.9% and 79.3%, respectively. Median PFS ranged between 7.6 and 9.1 months, OS between 14.1 and 18.5 months. The most relevant toxicity was the hematological one (24.1%); severe toxicity (grade 3–4) ranged from 0.9% for skin toxicity up to 8% for hematologic one. This is a large study about mCHT in elderly MBC patients, providing insights to be further investigated in this subgroup of frail patients.
A portable geometry-independent tomographic system for gamma-ray, a next generation of nuclear waste characterization
Authors: Tortajada Salvador , Albiol Francisco , Caballero Luis , Albiol Alberto , Leganés-Nieto José Luis
Published: July 2023

One of the main activities of the nuclear industry is the characterisation of radioactive waste based on the detection of gamma radiation. Large volumes of radioactive waste are classified according to their average activity, but often the radioactivity exceeds the maximum allowed by regulators in specific parts of the bulk. In addition, the detection of the radiation is currently based on static detection systems where the geometry of the bulk is fixed and well known. Furthermore, these systems are not portable and depend on the transport of waste to the places where the detection systems are located. However, there are situations where the geometry varies and where moving waste is complex. This is especially true in compromised situations.We present a new model for nuclear waste management based on a portable and geometry-independent tomographic system for three-dimensional image reconstruction for gamma radiation detection. The system relies on a combination of a gamma radiation camera and a visible camera that allows to visualise radioactivity using augmented reality and artificial computer vision techniques. This novel tomographic system has the potential to be a disruptive innovation in the nuclear industry for nuclear waste management.
Genetic polymorphisms in interleukin-1β (rs1143634) and interleukin-8 (rs4073) are associated with survival after resection of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Lurje Isabella , Gaisa Nadine Therese , Dahl Edgar , Knüchel Ruth , Strnad Pavel , Trautwein Christian , Tacke Frank , Neumann Ulf Peter , Czigany Zoltan , Lurje Georg
Published: July 2023

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is a rare, understudied primary hepatic malignancy with dismal outcomes. Aiming to identify prognostically relevant single-nucleotide polymorphisms, we analyzed 11 genetic variants with a role in tumor-promoting inflammation (VEGF, EGF, EGFR, IL-1B, IL-6, CXCL8 (IL-8), IL-10, CXCR1, HIF1A and PTGS2 (COX-2) genes) and their association with disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients undergoing curative-intent surgery for iCCA. Genomic DNA was isolated from 112 patients (64 female, 48 male) with iCCA. Germline polymorphisms were analyzed with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism protocols. The IL-1B +3954 C/C (73/112, hazard ratio (HR) = 1.735, p = 0.012) and the IL-8 -251 T/A or A/A (53/112 and 16/112, HR = 2.001 and 1.1777, p = 0.026) genotypes were associated with shorter OS in univariable and multivariable analysis. The IL-1B +3954 polymorphism was also associated with shorter DFS (HR = 1.983, p = 0.012), but this effect was not sustained in the multivariable model. A genetic risk model of 0, 1 and 2 unfavorable alleles was established and confirmed in multivariable analysis. This study supports the prognostic role of the IL-1B C+3954T and the IL-8 T-251A variant as outcome markers in iCCA patients, identifying patient subgroups at higher risk for dismal clinical outcomes.
A novel method intersecting three-dimensional motion capture and medial elbow strength dynamometry to assess elbow injury risk in baseball pitchers
Authors: Yanai Toshimasa , Onuma Kengo , Crotin Ryan L. , Monda Daisuke
Published: July 2023

In baseball pitching, resultant elbow varus torque reaches the peak value of 50–120 N m, exceeding the joint failure limit that risks damage to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). In-vivo methodology is lacking to assess whether pitchers have sufficient muscular strength to shield UCL and how strongly the elbow musculature must contract to minimize valgus loading on UCL. This study introduces a method to assess relative percentages of muscular varus strength required to unload the UCL. The maximum voluntary isometric varus strength (MVIVS) produced by the medial elbow musculature and the maximum resultant varus torques at elbow in pitching fastballs and other types were measured for two professional pitchers. Simulation was conducted to determine the relative percentages of MVIVS required to unload the UCL to varying degrees and the impact of athletes’ previous UCL reconstruction on the relative percentages was examined. The maximum resultant varus torque in pitching was found to range 72–97%MVIVS depending on the type of pitch. The elbow musculature had to produce 21–49%MVIVS to avoid acute failure of intact UCL whereas the corresponding requirements were 39–63%MVIVS for UCL reconstructed joint. The method offers new insight into baseball pitcher’s training/rehabilitation and physical assessment to reduce the risk of UCL injury.
Cardiovascular complications are resolved by tuna protein hydrolysate supplementation in rats fed with a high-fat diet
Authors: Maneesai Putcharawipa , Wattanathorn Jintanaporn , Potue Prapassorn , Khamseekaew Juthamas , Rattanakanokchai Siwayu , Thukham-Mee Wipawee , Muchimapura Supaporn , Pakdeechote Poungrat
Published: July 2023

This study is aimed to investigate whether tuna protein hydrolysate (TPH) supplementation could alleviate cardiovascular complications induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) in rats. Rats were fed a HFD for 16 weeks and given TPH (100 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg, or 500 mg/kg) or metformin (100 mg/kg) (n = 8) for the last four weeks. TPH had the following effects: resolved their impaired glucose tolerance, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, obesity, and hypertension (p < 0.05); alleviated left ventricular dysfunction and hypertrophy (p < 0.05), and vascular dysfunction and hypertrophy (p < 0.05); adipocyte hypertrophy; increases in circulating leptin and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) were mitigated (p < 0.05); increased renin-angiotensin system (RAS), oxidative stress, and decreased nitric oxide metabolites were modulated (p < 0.05). TPH restored the expression of angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1R)/NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ)/the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) protein in cardiovascular tissue (p < 0.05). In metabolic syndrome (MS) rats, metformin and TPH had comparable effects. In conclusion, TPH alleviated cardiovascular complications related to MS. It suppressed RAS, oxidative stress, and inflammation that were associated with modulation of AT1R/NOX2, eNOS, Nrf2/HO-1, and PPARγ/NF-κB expression.
Identification of genotype–biochemical phenotype correlations associated with fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase deficiency
Authors: Sakuma Ikki , Nagano Hidekazu , Hashimoto Naoko , Fujimoto Masanori , Nakayama Akitoshi , Fuchigami Takahiro , Taki Yuki , Matsuda Tatsuma , Akamine Hiroyuki , Kono Satomi , Kono Takashi , Yokoyama Masataka , Nishimura Motoi , Yokote Koutaro , Ogasawara Tatsuki , Fujii Yoichi , Ogawa Seishi , Lee Eunyoung , Miki Takashi , Tanaka Tomoaki
Published: July 2023

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) deficiency, caused by an FBP1 mutation, is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by hypoglycemic lactic acidosis. Due to the rarity of FBPase deficiency, the mechanism by which the mutations cause enzyme activity loss still remains unclear. Here we identify compound heterozygous missense mutations of FBP1, c.491G>A (p.G164D) and c.581T>C (p.F194S), in an adult patient with hypoglycemic lactic acidosis. The G164D and F194S FBP1 mutants exhibit decreased FBP1 protein expression and a loss of FBPase enzyme activity. The biochemical phenotypes of all previously reported FBP1 missense mutations in addition to G164D and F194S are classified into three functional categories. Type 1 mutations are located at pivotal residues in enzyme activity motifs and have no effects on protein expression. Type 2 mutations structurally cluster around the substrate binding pocket and are associated with decreased protein expression due to protein misfolding. Type 3 mutations are likely nonpathogenic. These findings demonstrate a key role of protein misfolding in mediating the pathogenesis of FBPase deficiency, particularly for Type 2 mutations. This study provides important insights that certain patients with Type 2 mutations may respond to chaperone molecules.
Cheese Manufacture
Authors: Li Bozhao , Kelly Alan L. , Mcsweeney Paul L. H.
Published: July 2023

The principles of the manufacture and ripening of rennet- and acid-coagulated cheese are discussed in this chapter. Rennet or acid coagulation is essential for the manufacture of cheese, and various methods can be applied to study the coagulation properties of milk. In cheese manufacture, many processes are used to concentrate the casein and fat content of milk in the form of cheese. Membrane filtration processes are a relatively novel technology that alters the cheesemaking properties and composition of milk; cheese manufacture with membrane filtration processes has the potential to allow manufacture of cheese with tailored functionalities.
Chemistry of Cheese Ripening
Authors: Tunick Michael H.
Published: July 2023

When cheesemakers add starter cultures and rennet to milk, a myriad of chemical reactions begin. The carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids break down into compounds that result in the characteristic flavours of the cheese variety. The proteolytic degradation of the casein matrix also generates the distinctive texture of the product. This chapter will deal with the enzymatic and chemical breakdown of these major components of cheese during ripening.
Cheese Microstructure
Authors: Swamy G. , Muthukumarappan K.
Published: July 2023

Cheese is a nutrient rich dairy product, and it is of great significance to fully describe its textural, functional, and flavour properties that impact its quality. These properties are extensively influenced by the microstructure. For instance, the functional properties are particularly important for cheeses used in pizza, i.e., stretching, melting, browning, free oil development, and expressible moisture. The prediction and consequent control of these properties demands knowledge of the spatial distribution of the components of cheese and how they interact and change during ripening. This chapter reviews the study of the microstructure of cheeses and the recent advancements in visualization technologies.
Artisanal Cheese Chemistry
Authors: Vallejo-Cordoba B. , Reyes-Díaz R. , Beltrán-Barrientos L. M. , González-Córdova A. F. , Hernández-Mendoza A.
Published: July 2023

Artisanal raw milk cheeses develop a more distinctive and intense flavour than pasteurized milk cheeses because of a more diverse raw milk microflora, differences in proteolysis patterns, higher lipolysis, and a larger concentration of volatiles due to the action of non-microbial and microbial enzymes. These chemical changes result in particular and typical sensory characteristics that elicit consumer preferences. Although European artisanal changes are well documented, artisanal Latin American cheeses are the least reported, particularly Mexican cheeses. Thus, in this chapter, the chemical composition of the most representative and unique artisanal Mexican cheeses as determined by the manufacturing process and their microbiological composition are presented. Additionally, their potential use as functional foods due to the rich variety of bioactive compounds generated through artisanal fermentation is reviewed.
Non-dairy Cheese
Authors: Tunick Michael H.
Published: July 2023

Non-dairy cheeses, in which plant products substitute for milk, have been increasing in popularity in recent years, and their market is expected to grow. Various grains, legumes, and nuts are processed into oil-based or protein- and starch-based products with a wide range of properties, nutritional profiles, and sensory attributes. Further research into manufacturing techniques will lead to higher levels of consumer acceptability of these products.
Fabrication of conifer-like TiSnO2 nanorods for sensing H2S gas at room temperature
Authors: Su Pi-Guey , Chen Yan-Han
Published: July 2023

Conifer-like TiSnO2 nanorods was synthesized via the one-pot polyol method using ethylene glycol, poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride), tin(ii) chloride dihydrate, and titanium(iv)-ethylhexanoate, for sensing H2S gas at room-temperature.
Recent advancements of fluorescent tin(iv) complexes in biomedical molecular imaging
Authors: Sahu Gurunath , Patra Sushree Aradhana , Pattanayak Pratikshya Das , Dinda Rupam
Published: July 2023

This feature article summarizes the discussion of the fundamental photophysical properties of fluorescent tin metal complexes focusing on their recent advances in “biomedical molecular imaging” as bioimaging probes and anticancer agents.
Strong metal-support interactions for high sintering resistance of Ru-based catalysts toward the HER and ORR
Authors: Sun Xuzhuo , Wu Baofan , Li Bo , Zhao Jiashou , Li Shanshan , Zheng Mai , Chen Jing , Zhang Haibo
Published: July 2023

Strong metal-support interactions activated by dual-doping B and N for improving sintering resistance and enhancing HER and ORR catalytic performances.
Solvent-induced luminescence behavior of NH2-MIL-53(Fe) in H2O and D2O: a potential approach for D2O detection
Authors: Guo Zhiqiang , Fan Xiaoxuan , Wen Xiaokun , Liu Wen , Guan Baijie , Hong Xia , Wang Kexin , Wang Jiwei
Published: July 2023

An anomalous solvent-induced luminescence quenching of NH2-MIL-53(Fe) in D2O is reported.
Real-time tracking of the intracellular delivery of a 2D nanosystem using a progressively activatable fluorescence platform for cancer diagnosis
Authors: Zhong Xianghua , Fu Qin , Liu Xinchao , Shi Peng
Published: July 2023

A smart nanoplatform responding to multiple biomarkers has been developed for the real-time tracking of the intracellular delivery of a 2D nanosystem for cancer diagnosis.
3D cauliflower-like Ni foam: a high-efficiency electrocatalyst for ammonia production via nitrite reduction
Authors: Li Ye , He Xun , Chen Jie , Fan Xiaoya , Yao Yongchao , Ouyang Ling , Luo Yonglan , Liu Qian , Sun Shengjun , Cai Zhengwei , Alfaifi Sulaiman , Du Juan , Zheng Baozhan , Sun Xuping
Published: July 2023

A 3D cauliflower-like Ni foam on a titanium plate (Ni foam/TP) acts as an outstanding catalyst for electrochemical NO2−-to-NH3 conversion, attaining a large NH3 yield of 742.7 μmol h−1 cm−2 and a high NH3 faradaic efficiency of 95.9%.