bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Todesrituale im gesellschaftlichen Kontext
Authors: Ruther Lilo
Published: December 2023

Für das Thema der freien Todesrituale ist die Einbettung in den gesellschaftlichen Kontext des Umgangs mit dem Tod in einem umfassenden Sinne wichtig, da die freien Todesrituale direkt an diesen anschliessen und sich von ihm abgrenzen. Es soll zunächst die zeitdiagnostische Einordnung der Verdrängung oder der Wiederkehr des Todes nachgezeichnet werden, die dann in grundlegende Bemerkungen zur sozialen Konstruktion des Todes münden. Dazu sollen die wichtigsten Begriffe und Konzepte erläutert werden, mit denen der Tod bestimmbar gemacht wird.
A Systems Approach to Addressing Human Challenges
Authors: Habbal Fawwaz , Kolmos Anette , Hadgraft Roger G. , Holgaard Jette Egelund , Reda Kamar
Published: December 2023

In Chap. 2, this chapter discusses the nuances of complex systems, accentuating that human communications and technology are integral parts of our social systems. Whenever humans are positioned at the centre of any system, complexity emerges. Interventions in complex systems are very difficult, due to feedback loops and their associated time delays and the presence of many interacting components. Each element within a complex system intertwines with others, making any intervention a precarious act, where intervening in a part of the system invariably affects other parts. Engineering education is a complex system, and it is evolving under the new AI technologies. Interventions are required and the relational dynamics among students, as well as between students and educators, are critical axes around which educational experiences must revolve. The dynamic educational ecosystems, burgeoning with myriad informal and formal, verbal and non-verbal communications,shape the educational experience and outcomes in profound ways. Ensuring that interventions do not inadvertently disrupt or diminish these interactional ecosystems requires an adept understanding of the inherent complexity embedded within the educational systems.
New Competencies for Systems Thinking
Authors: Habbal Fawwaz , Kolmos Anette , Hadgraft Roger G. , Holgaard Jette Egelund , Reda Kamar
Published: December 2023

The growing complexity of technological systems, which has been elaborated upon in previous chapters, has increased the focus on the sociotechnical dimension of engineering, which engineers must increasingly address.
Teaching Practices at Harvard Engineering
Authors: Habbal Fawwaz , Kolmos Anette , Hadgraft Roger G. , Holgaard Jette Egelund , Reda Kamar
Published: December 2023

In the previous chapters, we discussed critical components of effective learning curriculum. We pointed out that problem-solving skills are critical for engineers of this century. In particular, we pointed out the importance of systems thinking as the core of the learning, and the design process as the tool to achieve the goal of addressing large-scale human challenges.
Geodesics on an arbitrary ellipsoid of revolution
Authors: Karney Charles F. F.
Published: December 2023

The algorithms given in Karney (J. Geodesy 87:43–55, 2013), to compute geodesics on terrestrial ellipsoids, are extended to apply to ellipsoids of revolution with arbitrary eccentricity. For the direct and inverse geodesic problems, this entails implementing the formulation in terms of elliptic integrals given by Legendre and Cayley. The integral for the area of geodesic polygons is computed in terms of the discrete sine transform of the integrand. In all cases, accuracy close to full machine precision is achieved. An open-source implementation of these algorithms is available.
Impact of plastic-related compounds on the gene expression signature of HepG2 cells transfected with CYP3A4
Authors: Rosellini Matteo , Omer Ejlal A. , Schulze Alicia , Ali Nadeen T. , Boulos Joelle C. , Marini Federico , Küpper Jan-Heiner , Efferth Thomas
Published: December 2023

The presence of plastic and microplastic within the oceans as well as in marine flora and fauna have caused a multitude of problems that have been the topic of numerous investigations for many years. However, their impact on human health remains largely unknown. Such plastic and microplastic particles have been detected in blood and placenta, underlining their ability to enter the human body. Plastics also contain other compounds, such as plasticizers, antioxidants, or dyes, whose impact on human health is currently being studied. Critical enzymes within the metabolism of endogenous molecules, especially of xenobiotics, are the cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs). Although their importance in maintaining cellular balance has been confirmed, their interactions with plastics and related products are poorly understood. In this study, the possible relationship between different plastic-related compounds and CYP3A4 as one of the most important CYPs was analyzed using hepatic cells overexpressing this enzyme. Beginning with virtual compound screening and molecular docking of more than 1000 plastic-related compounds, several candidates were identified to interact with CYP3A4. In a second step, RNA-sequencing was used to study in detail the transcriptome-wide gene expression levels affected by the selected compounds. Three candidate molecules ((2,2′-methylenebis(6-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol), 1,1-bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)ethane, and 2,2′-methylenebis(6-cyclohexyl-4-methylphenol)) had an excellent binding affinity to CYP3A4 in-silico as well as cytotoxic effects and interactions with several metabolic pathways in-vitro. We identified common pathways influenced by all three selected plastic-related compounds. In particular, the suppression of pathways related to mitosis and ‘DNA-templated DNA replication’ which were confirmed by cell cycle analysis and single-cell gel electrophoresis. Furthermore, several mis-regulated metabolic and inflammation-related pathways were identified, suggesting the induction of hepatotoxicity at different levels. These findings imply that these compounds may cause liver problems subsequently affecting the entire organism.
Risk assessment and optimal scheduling of serial projects
Authors: Zhang Zixuan , Chronopoulos Michail , Dimitrova Dimitrina S. , Kyriakou Ioannis
Published: December 2023

The valuation and planning of complex projects are becoming increasingly challenging with rising market uncertainty and the deregulation of many industries, which have also raised the need for efficient risk management. We take the perspective of a private firm interested in sequential capacity expansion of a project and develop a framework for measuring the downside risk of the serial project and optimising the sequence of the stages. Under general distributional assumptions for the duration of each stage, we present an accurate representation of the project’s net present value (NPV) distribution based on a Pearson curve fit, leading to closed-form expressions for the associated risk measures. We then assess the impact of duration variability on the value at risk and demonstrate its role in stochastic project scheduling. We also account for the trade-off between maximising the expected NPV and minimising the risk exposure, and obtain the optimal schedule for risk-averse decision-makers. It becomes obvious that both the duration variability of each stage and the decision-makers’ risk preferences can significantly affect the optimal sequence of the stages and that high duration variability is not always undesirable, even for risk-averse decision-makers.
Characterization and geophysical evaluation of the recent 2023 Alausí landslide in the northern Andes of Ecuador
Authors: Macías Lucia , Quiñonez-Macías María , Toulkeridis Theofilos , Pastor José Luis
Published: December 2023

The province of Chimborazo located in the northern Andes of Ecuador presents many intrinsic factors, which contribute to the occurrence of mass movements, leaving in many of the cases registered damages of materials and loss of life. The recent landslide of March 26, 2023, in the Alausí canton is an event of great interest due to the magnitude of the occurred destruction and the corresponding fatalities. Therefore, there are two predominant objectives of the current study, of which the first has been to determine the most relevant characteristics of this mass movement by identifying and analyzing the geomorphology of the recorded slope movement and the lithological units involved, by field work and through geophysical surveys. Secondly, we performed a preliminary study of the possible triggers of the movement by means of the historical analysis of the precipitations during the months of January to March of the last decade and the study of the recent seismic series. However, through the obtained analysis, it is determined that the study site is composed of three distinctive lithological units. The observed mass movement is of the rotational type, as result of the intense rainfall that occurred during the first quarter of 2023, being hereby the most probable triggering factor. This corresponds to a 600% increase in the average monthly rainfall compared to the period from 2010 to 2022.
Genetic Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case Control Study
Authors: Ahmad Hosam M. , Zaki Zaki M. , Mohamed Asmaa S. , Ahmed Amr E.
Published: December 2023

Vitamin D effects are mediated by vitamin D receptors (VDRs), which are influenced by various genetic polymorphisms, including ApaI and BsmI. These polymorphisms have been linked to several diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study aimed to compare the frequency and association of VDR ApaI and BsmI gene polymorphisms, serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-(OH)-D) levels, and calcium (Ca) levels between a RA group and a matched healthy control group. In one hundred RA patients and fifty healthy controls, the genotypes of the VDR ApaI and BsmI gene polymorphisms were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP). Both Serum 25-(OH)-D level and calcium level were measured in the two groups. There was no significant difference between the cases and controls regarding the VDR ApaI gene polymorphism (p = 0.89). A significant difference was observed between the cases and controls in terms of the VDR BsmI gene polymorphism (p = < 0.001). The serum levels of 25-(OH)-D and calcium were significantly lower in the RA group compared to the control group (p = 0.04 and < 0.001 respectively). Significantly higher serum vitamin D levels were associated with the aa genotype (p = 0.007). Significantly increased calcium levels were associated with the AA genotype (p = 0.02). No significant difference was found among BsmI polymorphisms regarding vitamin D and Ca levels (p = 0.25 and 0.87 respectively). Vitamin D receptor gene BsmI polymorphism but not ApaI polymorphism could be a marker of RA susceptibility. Vitamin D and Ca levels are negatively affected by RA. Vitamin D receptor gene ApaI polymorphism contributes to vitamin D and Ca levels.
An Egalitarian Perspective on Information Sharing: The Example of Health Care Priorities
Authors: Lindberg Jenny , Broström Linus , Johansson Mats
Published: December 2023

In health care, the provision of pertinent information to patients is not just a moral imperative but also a legal obligation, often articulated through the lens of obtaining informed consent. Codes of medical ethics and many national laws mandate the disclosure of basic information about diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment alternatives. However, within publicly funded health care systems, other kinds of information might also be important to patients, such as insights into the health care priorities that underlie treatment offers made. While conventional perspectives do not take this as an obligatory part of the information to be shared with patients, perhaps through viewing it as clinically “non-actionable,” we advocate for a paradigm shift. Our proposition diverges from the traditional emphasis on actionability. We contend that honoring patients as equal moral agents necessitates, among other principles, a commitment to honesty. Withholding specific categories of information pertinent to patients’ comprehension of their situation is inherently incompatible with this principle. In this article, we advocate for a recalibration of the burden of proof. Rather than requiring special justifications for adding to the standard set of information items, we suggest that physicians should be able to justify excluding relevant facts about the patient’s situation and the underlying considerations shaping health care professionals’ choices. This perspective prioritizes transparency and empowers patients with a comprehensive understanding, aligning with the ethos of respect for the patient as person.
Implementation of ambiguous governance instruments in higher education
Authors: Elken Mari , Borlaug Siri B.
Published: December 2023

The article examines how higher education institutions respond to ambiguous governance instruments. A key focus is how ambiguity is tackled in the interpretation and implementation processes. Building on theoretical perspectives from institutional analysis of organisations, an empirical point of departure is the analysis of ten higher education institutions in Norway and their response on the introduction of development agreements. The findings point out two important dimensions in analysing implementation processes: focusing on the change dynamics and the degree of internal integration. In combination, these point towards distinct patterns in organisational responses to ambiguous policy instruments.
Multiple gene-drug prediction tool reveals Rosiglitazone based treatment pathway for non-segmental vitiligo
Authors: Zhao Sijia , Chen Xi , Dutta Kuheli , Chen Jia , Wang Juan , Zhang Qian , Jia Hong , Sun Jianfang , Lai Yongxian
Published: December 2023

Vitiligo is a skin disease characterized by selective loss of melanocytes, which seriously affects the appearance and causes great psychological stress to patients. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of two vitiligo microarray datasets from the GEO database using bioinformatics tools to identify 297 up-regulated mRNAs and 186 down-regulated mRNAs, revealing important roles for pathways related to melanin synthesis, tyrosine metabolism, and inflammatory factors, such as “PPAR signaling pathway”, “tyrosine metabolism”, “nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) pathway”, “melanogenesis”, and “IL-17 signaling pathway”. Combining the Search Tool for Interacting Chemicals (STITCH) database 5.0 and the drug-gene interaction database 3.0 (DGIdb), we identified that the PPAR-γ agonist rosiglitazone may promote melanin synthesis via EDNRB. Next, we investigated the mechanism of rosiglitazone and PPAR-γ pathway in promoting melanin production. Consistent with the results of bioinformatics analysis, the expression levels of PPAR-γ, EDNRB, and TYR were significantly reduced in human non-segmental vitiligo skin along with the reduction of MITF, a key gene for epidermal melanogenesis. Meanwhile, rosiglitazone increased melanin synthesis capacity in melanocytes and zebrafish by activating PPAR-γ and upregulating TYR, TYRP-1, and TYRP-2. Conversely, treatment of melanocytes with the PPAR-γ antagonist GW resulted in inhibition of melanin synthesis and expression of melanin-related factors. At the same time, simultaneous treatment of rosiglitazone with GW reversed the inhibitory effect of GW on melanin synthesis. In this study, we identified that rosiglitazone, an important insulin sensitizer, promotes melanin synthesis in melanocytes by increasing PPAR-γ activity and upregulating the expression levels of EDNRB and TYR. These findings may provide new ideas for exploring the pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets of non-segmental vitiligo.
Machine-learning based process monitoring for automated composites manufacturing
Authors: Mujtaba Ahmed , Islam Faisal , Kaeding Patrick , Lindemann Thomas , Gangadhara Prusty B.
Published: December 2023

Automated fibre placement (AFP) is an advanced robotic manufacturing technique which can overcome the challenges of traditional composite manufacturing. The interlaminar strength of AFP-manufactured composites depends on the in-situ thermal history during manufacturing. The thermal history is controlled by the choice of processing conditions and improper interfacial temperatures may result in insufficient bonding. Being able to better predict such maintenance issues in real-time is an important focus of smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 to improve manufacturing operations. The data analysis of real-time temperature measurements during AFP composites manufacturing requires the temperature profiles from Finite Element Analysis (FEA) based simulations of the AFP process to better predict the quality of layup. However, the FEA simulations of the AFP process are computationally expensive. This study focuses on developing a digital tool enabling real-time process monitoring and predictive maintenance of the AFP process. The digital tool constitutes a machine learning-based surrogate model based on results from Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulations of the AFP process to predict the in-situ thermal profile during AFP manufacturing. Multivariate Linear Regression, Multivariate Polynomial Regression, Support Vector Machine, Random Forest and Artificial Neural Network (ANN)-based models are compared to conclude that ANN based surrogate model performs best by predicting the important parameters of thermal profiles with a mean absolute percentage error of 1.56% on additional test data and reducing the time by four orders of magnitude as compared to FEA simulations. The predicted thermal profile can be compared with the real-time in-situ temperatures during manufacturing to predict the quality of the layup. A GUI application is developed to provide predicted thermal profiles data for analysis in conjunction with real-time temperatures during manufacturing enabling monitoring and predictive maintenance of the AFP process and paving way for the development of a digital twin of the AFP composites manufacturing process.
The Social Insurance Literacy Questionnaire (SILQ): Development and Psychometric Evaluation
Authors: Ståhl Christian , Karlsson Elin , Wenemark Marika , Sandqvist Jan , Årestedt Kristofer
Published: December 2023

Purpose

For clients to understand social insurance decisions and processes, information from authorities needs to be comprehensible, and clients need sufficient individual abilities. These dimensions are captured by the concept social insurance literacy, which has been operationalized into a measure, the Social Insurance Literacy Questionnaire (SILQ). The aim of this study was to describe the development of the SILQ and evaluate its psychometric properties using Rasch measurement theory.

Methods

The development of the SILQ included a Delphi study and cognitive interviews. A preliminary version, divided on four scales corresponding to the domains of the concept (obtaining information, understanding information, acting on information, and system comprehensibility) was psychometrically evaluated according to Rasch measurement theory, in a survey to a stratified random sample of people on sick leave (n = 1151) sent out in the fall of 2020.

Results

Overall, the items in the final version of the SILQ demonstrated good fit to the Rasch model, and the response scale worked as intended. Unidimensionality was supported for all scales, but minor problems with local dependency was detected for three items. The person separation was 0.80 for the Obtain scale, 0.82 for the Understand scale, 0.68 for the Act scale, and 0.81 for the System scale. Corresponding ordinal alpha values were 0.91, 0.91, 0.86, and 0.91, respectively.

Conclusion

This study is a first step toward exploring literacy in the social insurance field. The SILQ covers individual abilities and systems’ comprehensibility, and the results show that it has acceptable psychometric properties.
Metacognitive effects of instructional visuals: the role of cue use and judgment type
Authors: Jaeger Allison J. , Fiorella Logan
Published: December 2023

Prior research suggests most students do not glean valid cues from provided visuals, resulting in reduced metacomprehension accuracy. Across 4 experiments, we explored how the presence of instructional visuals affects students’ metacomprehension accuracy and cue-use for different types of metacognitive judgments. Undergraduates read texts on biology (Study 1a and b) or chemistry (Study 2 and 3) topics, made various judgments (test, explain, and draw) for each text, and completed comprehension tests. Students were randomly assigned to receive only texts (text-only condition) or texts with instructional visualizations (text-and-image condition). In Studies 1b, 2 and 3, students also reported the cues they used to make each judgment. Across the set of studies, instructional visualizations harmed relative metacomprehension accuracy. In Studies 1a and 2, this was especially the case when students were asked to judge how well they felt they could draw the processes described in the text. But in Study 3, this was especially the case when students were asked to judge how well they would do on a set of comprehension tests. In Studies 2 and 3, students who reported basing their judgments on representation-based cues demonstrated more accurate relative accuracy than students who reported using heuristic based cues. Further, across these studies, students reported using visual cues to make their draw judgments, but not their test or explain judgments. Taken together, these results indicate that instructional visualizations can hinder metacognitive judgment accuracy, particularly by influencing the types of cues students use to make judgments of their ability to draw key concepts.
Harnessing the potential of chestnut shell extract to enhance fresh cheese: a sustainable approach for nutritional enrichment and shelf-life extension
Authors: Ferreira Sara M. , Matos Luís Carlos , Santos Lúcia
Published: December 2023

A novel approach for enhancing the nutritional benefits and shelf-life of fresh cheese, while reducing food industry waste, is adding chestnut shell extract to the cheese. Chestnut shells are a great source of bioactive substances including phenolic compounds, with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant activities. The chestnut shell extract exhibited interesting antioxidant properties, resulting from the presence of catechin and gallic acid, 2.59 and 0.97 mgcompound∙gsample−1, respectively, in its composition. The incorporation of the phenolic extract did not influence the pH value of the cheese, with values within the range of 6.2–6.5. Additionally, the extract decreased the syneresis which is important in terms of stability. Regarding the antioxidant characteristics, incorporating the extract improved this biological property. The results proved that an increase in the extract concentration allows the inhibition of higher percentages of this radical. Cheese with extract exhibited higher acceptance, but visual components need improvement. Hence, incorporating chestnut shell extract into fresh cheese is a promising approach to adding value to dairy products and promoting sustainable food production. This study can be considered innovative and relevant because it allows the utilisation of agro-industrial by-products to increase the shelf life of fresh cheese, an extremely relevant parameter for the producer, promoting the circular economy.
Suboptimal Weight Loss 13 Years After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Is Associated with Blunted Appetite Response
Authors: Nymo Siren , Lundanes Julianne , Eriksen Kevin , Aukan Marthe , Rehfeld Jens Frederik , Holst Jens Juul , Johnsen Gjermund , Græslie Hallvard , Kulseng Bård , Sandvik Jorunn , Martins Catia
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Bariatric surgery remains the most efficient treatment to achieve a sustained weight loss. However, a large proportion of patients experience suboptimal weight loss (SWL). The exact mechanisms involved remain to be fully elucidated, but the homeostatic appetite control system seems to be involved. The aim of this study was, therefore, to compare the plasma concentration of gastrointestinal hormones, and appetite ratings, between those experiencing SWL and optimal weight loss (OWL) after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB).

Materials and Methods

Fifty participants from the Bariatric Surgery Observation Study (BAROBS) experiencing either SWL or OWL (< or ≥ 50% of excess weight loss (EWL), respectively) > 13 years post-RYGB were compared to 25 non-surgical controls. Plasma concentrations of acylated ghrelin (AG), total glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), total peptide YY (PYY), cholecystokinin (CCK), and subjective ratings of hunger, fullness, desire to eat (DTE), and prospective food consumption (PFC) were assessed in the fasting and postprandial (area under the curve (AUC)) states.

Results

Those experiencing OWL presented with higher basal AG and GLP-1 iAUC, and lower AG iAUC compared with SWL and controls. Additionally, both bariatric groups presented with higher PYY and CCK iAUC compared to controls. PFC tAUC was also lower in OWL compared to the SWL group. Total weight loss was positively correlated with GLP-1 tAUC and negatively correlated with fasting and tAUC DTE and PFC tAUC.

Conclusions

SWL > 13 years post-RYGB is associated with lower basal ghrelin, as well as a weaker satiety response to a meal. Future studies should investigate the causality of these associations.

Graphical Abstract
Characterization and chemometric based optimization of bioactive metabolites in Hypoxis hemerocallidea with the aid of UPLC-QqQ-MS/MS
Authors: Shikweni Mbuyelo , Tavengwa Nikita Tawanda , Mokgehle Tebogo Mphatlalala
Published: December 2023

β-sitosterol and solasodine are major bioactive ingredients in Hypoxis hemerocallidea (H. hemerocallidea) with significant pharmacological properties. As a result, developing a simple and efficient extraction method for simultaneous extraction of both analytes is critical. The purpose of this study was to identify and separate β-sitosterol and solasodine from ethanolic extracts of H. hemerocallidea using a modified QuEChERS method and subsequent analysis via UPLC triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Response surface methodology was carried out, which included numerical parameters such as ultrasonication time, centrifugation time, and ultrasonication power. The categorical factors included the type of salt used to facilitate extraction, which was (NH4)2SO4 and Na2SO4. Fitting the response surface model to the experimental data produced a quadratic model with a good fit (R2 = 0.9966 for solasodine and R2 = 0.9857 for β-sitosterol). The optimum conditions for extraction of β-sitosterol and solasodine were an ultrasonication time of 30 min, ultrasonication power of 300 W and centrifugation time of 12 min. The generally higher concentrations of analytes obtained for (NH4)2SO4 indicated that it had a superior salting-out ability compared to Na2SO4. In conclusion, for the first time, β-sitosterol and solasodine were simultaneously extracted using modified QuEChERS with good yields through the salting-out action of (NH4)2SO4 in the presence of environmentally friendly solvents, ethanol and water. This modified QuEChERS technique can potentially be applied on a large scale as a sustainable and quick method for enrichment of therapeutic compounds from natural products.
Diagnosis and Management of Pulmonary Manifestations of Telomere Biology Disorders
Authors: del Valle Kathryn T. , Carmona Eva M.
Published: December 2023

Purpose of Review

Telomere biology disorders (TBD) are a group of genetic disorders characterized by premature shortening of telomeres, resulting in accelerated aging of somatic cells. This often leads to major multisystem organ dysfunction, and TBDs have become increasingly recognized as a significant contributor to numerous disease processes within the past 10–15 years. Both research and clinical practice in this field are rapidly evolving.

Recent Findings

A subset of patients with TBD suffers from interstitial lung disease, most commonly pulmonary fibrosis. Often, the clinical presentation is indistinguishable from other forms of lung fibrosis. There are no pathognomonic radiographic or histological features, and a high level of suspicion is therefore required. Telomere evaluation is thus crucial to establishing the diagnosis.

This review details the clinical presentation, objective evaluation, indicated genetic testing, and recommended management strategies for patients affected by interstitial lung disease associated with TBDs. Our goal is to empower pulmonologists and other healthcare professionals who care for these patients to provide appropriate and personalized care for this population.
An algorithm for calculating the shade created by greenhouse integrated photovoltaics
Authors: Petrakis Theodoros , Thomopoulos Vasileios , Kavga Angeliki , Argiriou Athanassios A.
Published: December 2023

Integration of photovoltaic modules into greenhouse roofs is a novel and intriguing method. The cost of products grown in greenhouses is particularly high because of their high energy consumption for heating and cooling, and at the same time the increase in demand for available land, increasing its cost and creating spatial issues, the integration of photovoltaics on the roof of greenhouses is a highly viable solution. Simultaneously, the use of solar radiation is critical to maintain optimal crop development, while also being a renewable energy source. However, photovoltaics reduce the incoming solar radiation in the greenhouse, due to their shade. Shading can be either beneficial for the crops or not, depending on the crop type, thus it is vital to find the shading caused by photovoltaics both temporally and spatially. In this study, a model calculating the shading in a greenhouse due to roof-integrated photovoltaics is developed, based on the Sun position, the geometry of both the greenhouse and of the roof-integrated photovoltaics and their position on the greenhouse roof. Calculating the coefficient of variation of radiation data, for the shaded and unshaded areas using the proposed algorithm, it was found the coefficient of variation for the shaded areas is lower than that for the unshaded areas for a least 76% of the time. Also, the radiation values under the shaded area are more uniform. The proposed model is a tool for PV designers, operators, and owners, in order to optimize the potential of their solar panel installations.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Effectiveness of Stand-Alone Digital Suicide Preventive Interventions for the Self-Management of Suicidality
Authors: Sutori Sara , Hadlaczky Gergö , Eliasson Emma , Wasserman Danuta , Carli Vladimir
Published: December 2023

Suicide is a global issue accounting for more than 700,000 deaths annually, with low- and middle-income countries being disproportionally affected. Technology-enhanced interventions have been suggested as a preventive method with various benefits—e.g., increased scalability and sustainability, making them relevant for developed and especially for developing nations. However, despite the increasing number of such interventions, their effectiveness is seldom appropriately evaluated. The current review aims to tackle this need by synthetizing the evidence with the goal of answering whether these interventions can be recommended for the self-management of suicidality. A systematic review was carried out across multiple databases (PubMed/Medline, Global Index Medicus, PsychINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), identifying 4520 individual reports up to November 2021. Ten of these were deemed sufficient to inform the evaluation, but only four were included in the meta-analyses. Quality assessment via GRADE reveals some concerns, primarily regarding selection of reported results. Results suggest negligible effect on the outcomes of deaths by suicide, suicide attempts, and a small effect on suicidal ideation—favoring digital interventions over no intervention. Conclusively, there is not enough evidence to allow for the recommendation of digital interventions as stand-alone care, but they are promising if developed on the grounds of evidence-based practices. The review also highlights the challenges of evaluation, by discussing excessive safety procedures and considering parallelly ongoing treatment. Additionally, the need to involve low- and middle-income countries is emphasized as currently these regions are underrepresented, even though they have a high potential for benefiting from stand-alone digital interventions.
Geysers' Dust Dynamics Inside the Hill Sphere of Enceladus
Authors: Flandes Alberto , Mirón‐Enríquez Pedro Elías , Ramírez‐Cabañas Alma Karen
Published: December 2023

In this work, we study the trajectories of the dust particles ejected in the geysers of the moon Enceladus, inside its Hill sphere, where its gravitational influence dominates. Our goal is to determine the properties of the particles that escape from the moon or of those that eventually impact on its surface. The analysis considers the gravity of Enceladus, the Lorentz force due to Saturn's magnetic field and the gas drag from the geysers. The local magnetic field around Enceladus is derived from an interpolation of Cassini data from six flybys. In general, we obtain that grain sizes and launching speeds define whether grains escape, though the launching angle may also play an important role in some cases.
Undulations in Subducted Oceanic Crust Correlate With Shallow Tremor Distribution in the Kuril Trench Off Hokkaido
Authors: Yamaguchi Hiroto , Kodaira Shuichi , Fujie Gou , No Tetsuo , Nakamura Yasuyuki , Shiraishi Kazuya , Seama Nobukazu
Published: December 2023

Recent research has shown that shallow tremors tend to occur in spatial association with heterogeneous conditions, which are formed by seamounts or ridges on the subducted oceanic crust. In the southern Kuril Trench, shallow tremors have been observed on the western side, although no apparent heterogeneity in the subducted oceanic crust has been identified. To investigate structures spatially associated with these shallow tremors, we processed reflection seismic data acquired along seven profiles. We examined structures ranging from the seafloor to the top of the oceanic crust, within a depth of up to 20 km. Our results reveal that undulations observed at the top of the subducted oceanic crust are related to the distribution and number of shallow tremors. The undulations would play a crucial role in the distribution of shallow tremors.
On the Response of Chondrites to Diurnal Temperature Change—Experimental Simulation of Asteroidal Surface Conditions
Authors: Patzek Markus , Rüsch Ottaviano , Molaro Jamie L.
Published: December 2023

Thermal fatigue is a process that degrades rocks and pebbles exposed to space by diurnal cycling. We simulate the diurnal temperature variation at 1 AU of 5 mm‐sized sample cubes using an evacuated cryostat, allowing conditions that are closer to those expected in space. Sample cubes of ordinary, CV, CM2, and C2 chondrites were investigated using scanning electron microscopy and microcomputed tomography scans. In contrast to previous work, the ordinary and CV chondrite samples did not show any cracking. The CM2 chondrites respond with the formation and extension of cracks. Pre‐existing cracks present in the C2 chondrite Tagish Lake closed in the course of cycling to different degrees, which has not been reported before in the context of thermal fatigue driven rock breakdown. Most changes in crack length occur in the initial ∼20 cycles indicating a rapid buildup of strain followed by a rapid release by the formation and extension of cracks when exposed to diurnal temperature variation. The overall cracking rate is comparable to that of previous work on CM2 chondrites and in 15%–20% of the observed cracking occasions they are associated with fine‐grained rims around chondrules implying that the comminution of CM‐like rocks and pebbles is controlled by the abundance of chondrules (and other coarse‐grained components) and their rims. We propose that thermal fatigue‐driven comminution of rocks and especially pebbles on asteroids under the here studied conditions is controlled by the abundance of hydrated minerals. This, in turn, can result in different abundances and natures of finer‐grained material on asteroid surfaces.
Controlling the spin current around the rectangular cavities in two-dimensional topological insulators
Authors: Gao Xiang , Ma Cheng , Li Lei , Zhang Xiaowei , Deng Zhihong , Li Xu , Zhou Zigang
Published: December 2023

Controlling spin current in topological insulators (TIs) is a crucial requirement for applications in quantum computing and spintronics.
A direct comparison between ring-opening copolymerization and polycondensation to produce polyesters using poly(ethylene succinate) as an example
Authors: Xie Rui , Yang Guan-Wen , Zhang Yao-Yao , Lu Chenjie , Li Wei , Wang Jingdai , Wu Guang-Peng
Published: December 2023

A direct comparison between ROCOP and polycondensation to produce polyesters was made using PES, by evaluating the monomer preprocessing, polymerization technique, post-processing, and the properties of the produced polyesters.
A new flame‐based colour space for efficient fire detection
Authors: Giwa Oluwarotimi , Benkrid Abdsamad
Published: December 2023

Computer vision‐based fire detection algorithms have been extensively researched over the past decades as they offer reliable and efficient solutions to early fire detection, as well as economical solutions in outdoor environments. The proposed systems have different levels of complexity; nevertheless, they rely heavily on colour based fire segmentation as the first processing stage using different colour spaces. This paper presents a new flame‐based colour space which accentuates the difference between fire and non‐fire pixel values. The hybrid Artificial Bee Colony‐Teaching Learning‐based Optimisation (ABC‐TLBO) and the k‐medoids clustering algorithm along with a Feature image constructed manually from a wide dataset of fire and non‐fire pixels were used to deduce the optimised colour space conversion matrix. The latter can then be used to transform the RGB pixels from a camera feed into the new Flame‐based colour space for a more efficient fire segmentation. The proposed colour space is capable to separate fire and non‐fire pixels into two intensity classes, whereby the resulting between‐class variance is significantly widened; this maximises the effectiveness of the binary thresholding to separate fire from non‐fire pixels. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed flame‐based colour space provides a superior average qualitative and quantitative performance on benchmark datasets compared to state‐of‐the‐art colour models; a 20% average increase in F1 score demonstrates a better balance between fire detection and false alarm rates. Moreover, the computation time of the fire detection system is faster by 15.6% in average. The proposed system provides a better implementation of the colour‐based fire segmentation processing stage in vision‐based fire detection systems; it vindicates, in this application context, the superiority of flame‐tuned colour space over conventional ones.
Ambulante Leistungen der medizinischen Rehabilitation: Eine neue
sozialrechtliche Perspektive in der psychiatrischen Versorgung
Authors: Konrad Michael , Weinmann Stefan , Becker Thomas , Armbruster Jürgen , Gühne Uta
Published: December 2023

Die Gleichstellung psychisch erkrankter Menschen mit somatisch Erkrankten und die
wohnortnahe Versorgung waren zentrale Themen der Psychiatrie-Enquête.
Für die Leistungen der medizinischen Rehabilitation ist dieser Anspruch
bis zum heutigen Tage nicht umgesetzt. Die durch das Bundesteilhabegesetz (BTHG)
erfolgten Änderungen des neunten Sozialgesetzbuchs (SGB IX)
eröffnen erneut die Möglichkeit, die Leistungen der
medizinischen Rehabilitation in aufsuchender Form auch Menschen mit schweren
psychischen Erkrankungen zugänglich zu machen.
Review of dengue, zika and chikungunya infections in nervous system in endemic areas
Authors: Puccioni-Sohler Marzia , Nascimento Soares Cristiane , Christo Paulo Pereira , Almeida Sérgio Monteiro de
Published: December 2023

Dengue, zika, and chikungunya are arboviruses of great epidemiological relevance worldwide. The emergence and re-emergence of viral infections transmitted by mosquitoes constitute a serious human public health problem. The neurological manifestations caused by these viruses have a high potential for death or sequelae. The complications that occur in the nervous system associated with arboviruses can be a challenge for diagnosis and treatment. In endemic areas, suspected cases should include acute encephalitis, myelitis, encephalomyelitis, polyradiculoneuritis, and/or other syndromes of the central or peripheral nervous system, in the absence of a known explanation. The confirmation diagnosis is based on viral (isolation or RT-PCR) or antigens detection in tissues, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or other body fluids, increase in IgG antibody titers between paired serum samples, specific IgM antibody in cerebrospinal fluid and serological conversion to IgM between paired serum samples (non-reactive in the acute phase and reactive in the convalescent). The cerebrospinal fluid examination can demonstrate: 1. etiological agent; 2. inflammatory reaction or protein-cytological dissociation depending on the neurological condition; 3. specific IgM, 4. intrathecal synthesis of specific IgG (dengue and chikungunya); 5. exclusion of other infectious agents. The treatment of neurological complications aims to improve the symptoms, while the vaccine represents the great hope for the control and prevention of neuroinvasive arboviruses. This narrative review summarizes the updated epidemiology, general features, neuropathogenesis, and neurological manifestations associated with dengue, zika, and chikungunya infection.
Sjogren's syndrome: a neurological perspective
Authors: Barsottini Orlando Grazianni Povoas , Moraes Marianna Pinheiro Moraes de , Fraiman Pedro Henrique Almeida , Marussi Victor Hugo Rocha , Souza Alexandre Wagner Silva de , Braga Neto Pedro , Spitz Mariana
Published: December 2023

Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is a complex autoimmune disease characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of salivary and lacrimal glands, resulting in sicca symptoms. Additionally, SS presents with neurological manifestations that significantly impact the nervous system. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the neurological aspects of SSj, covering both the peripheral and central nervous system involvement, while emphasizing diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.
REM sleep behavior disorder: update on diagnosis and management
Authors: Sobreira-Neto Manoel Alves , Stelzer Fernando Gustavo , Gitaí Lívia Leite Góes , Alves Rosana Cardoso , Eckeli Alan Luiz , Schenck Carlos H.
Published: December 2023

REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is characterized by a loss of atonia of skeletal muscles during REM sleep, associated with acting out behaviors during dreams. Knowledge of this pathology is important to predict neurodegenerative diseases since there is a strong association of RBD with diseases caused by the deposition of alpha-synuclein in neurons (synucleinopathies), such as Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple system atrophy (MSA), and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Proper diagnosis of this condition will enable the use of future neuroprotective strategies before motor and cognitive symptoms. Diagnostic assessment should begin with a detailed clinical history with the patient and bed partner or roommate and the examination of any recorded home videos. Polysomnography (PSG) is necessary to verify the loss of sleep atonia and, when documented, the behaviors during sleep. Technical recommendations for PSG acquisition and analysis are defined in the AASM Manual for the scoring of sleep and associated events, and the PSG report should describe the percentage of REM sleep epochs that meet the criteria for RWA (REM without atonia) to better distinguish patients with and without RBD. Additionally, PSG helps rule out conditions that may mimic RBD, such as obstructive sleep apnea, non-REM sleep parasomnias, nocturnal epileptic seizures, periodic limb movements, and psychiatric disorders. Treatment of RBD involves guidance on protecting the environment and avoiding injuries to the patient and bed partner/roommate. Use of medications are also reviewed in the article. The development of neuroprotective medications will be crucial for future RBD therapy.
An appraisal to Hans Berger by the time of his 150th birthday: the human EEG and tales of blood flow, heat and brain waves
Authors: Caeira Marlon Wycliff , Caboclo Luis Otávio , Paola Luciano de
Published: December 2023

More than 100 years of research have passed by and still the human electroencephalogram (EEG) remains a puzzle to be solved. Starting from his studies on plethysmography until his theories on brain thermodynamics, Hans Berger was able to refine his method of recording cortical signs with the apparatus at his disposal in an ordinary neuropsychiatric yard towards an early account of human EEG. This review is an appraisal of his contribution to the field of modern neurophysiology.
Evolving Barriers to Clinical Trial Enrollment and Clinical Care in Neuro-oncology in the Face of COVID-19
Authors: Grandhi Nikhil , Zhou Alice Y. , Johnson Margaret O. , Butt Omar H.
Published: December 2023

The lack of treatments with durable response in neuro-oncology highlights the critical need for clinical trials to advance patient care. The intersection of relatively low incidence, evolving classification schema, and entrenched community, healthcare provider, and organizational factors have been historic challenges against successful trial enrollment and implementation. The additional need for multidisciplinary, often tertiary-level care, further magnifies latent national and international health inequities with rural and under-served populations. The COVID-19 pandemic both unveiled fundamental weaknesses in historical approaches and prompted the necessity of new approaches and systems for conducting clinical trials. Here, we provide an overview of traditional barriers to clinical trial enrollment in neuro-oncology, the effect of COVID-19 on these barriers, and the discovery of additional systemic weaknesses. Finally, we discuss future directions by reflecting on lessons learned with strategies to broaden access of care and streamline clinical trial integration into clinical practice.
Reperfusion therapy for acute ischemic stroke: where are we in 2023?
Authors: Martins Sheila Cristina Ouriques , Pontes-Neto Octávio Marques , Pille Arthur , Secchi Thaís Leite , Miranda Alves Maramélia Araújo de , Rebello Letícia Costa , Oliveira-Filho Jamary , Lange Marcos Christiano , de Freitas Gabriel R. , de Andrade João Brainer Clares , Rocha Letícia Januzi de Almeida , Bezerra Daniel da Cruz , Souza Ana Claudia de , Carbonera Leonardo Augusto , Nogueira Raul Gomes , Silva Gisele Sampaio
Published: December 2023

Over the last three decades, stroke care has undergone significant transformations mainly driven by the introduction of reperfusion therapy and the organization of systems of care. Patients receiving treatment through a well-structured stroke service have a much higher chance of favorable outcomes, thereby decreasing both disability and mortality. In this article, we reviewed the scientific evidence for stroke reperfusion therapy, including thrombolysis and thrombectomy, and its implementation in the public health system in Brazil.