bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Melanocortin 1 receptor mediates melanin production by interacting with the BBSome in primary cilia
Authors: Tian Xiaoyu , Wang Hanyu , Liu Song , Liu Wei , Zhang Kaiyue , Gao Xiaohan , Li Qingchao , Zhao Huijie , Zhang Liangran , Liu Peiwei , Liu Min , Wang Youjun , Zhu Xueliang , Cui Rutao , Zhou Jun
Published: December 2024

Production of melanin pigments is a protective mechanism of the skin against ultraviolet (UV)-induced damage and carcinogenesis. However, the molecular basis for melanogenesis is still poorly understood. Herein, we demonstrate a critical interplay between the primary cilium and the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) signaling. Our data show that UV and α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) trigger cilium formation in human melanocytes and melanoma cells. Deficiency of MC1R or the presence of its red hair color (RHC) variations significantly attenuates the UV/α-MSH-induced ciliogenesis. Further investigation reveals that MC1R enters the cilium upon UV/α-MSH stimulation, which is facilitated by the interaction of MC1R with the BBSome and the palmitoylation of MC1R. MC1R interacts with the BBSome through the second and third intercellular loops, which contain the common RHC variant alleles (R151C and R160W). These RHC variants of MC1R exhibit attenuated ciliary localization, and enforced ciliary localization of these variants elevates melanogenesis. Ciliary MC1R triggers a sustained cAMP signaling and selectively stimulates Sox9, which appears to up-regulate melanogenesis-related genes as the transcriptional cofactor for MITF. These findings reveal a previously unrecognized nexus between MC1R and cilia and suggest an important mechanism for RHC variant-related pigmentary defects.
Image-based force inference by biomechanical simulation
Authors: Vanslambrouck Michiel , Thiels Wim , Vangheel Jef , van Bavel Casper , Smeets Bart , Jelier Rob
Published: December 2024

During morphogenesis, cells precisely generate forces that drive cell shape changes and cellular motion. These forces predominantly arise from contractility of the actomyosin cortex, allowing for cortical tension, protrusion formation, and cell division. Image-based force inference can derive such forces from microscopy images, without complicated and time-consuming experimental set-ups. However, current methods do not account for common effects, such as physical confinement and local force generation. Here we propose a force-inference method based on a biophysical model of cell shape, and assess relative cellular surface tension, adhesive tension between cells, as well as cytokinesis and protrusion formation. We applied our method on fluorescent microscopy images of the early C. elegans embryo. Predictions for cell surface tension at the 7-cell stage were validated by measurements using cortical laser ablation. Our non-invasive method facilitates the accurate tracking of force generation, and offers many new perspectives for studying morphogenesis.
Thiamin (vitamin B1, thiamine) transfer in the aquatic food web from lower to higher trophic levels
Authors: Hylander Samuel , Farnelid Hanna , Fridolfsson Emil , Hauber Marc M. , Todisco Vittoria , Ejsmond Maciej J. , Lindehoff Elin
Published: December 2024

Micronutrients such as vitamins are transferred from lower to higher trophic levels, but no general ecological concept describes the factors regulating this process. Here, we investigated thiamin (thiamine, vitamin B1), which is an example of a metabolically important water-soluble micronutrient. Thiamin is produced by organisms such as bacteria and phytoplankton, and all consumers, such as zooplankton and fish, rely on a continuous intake of thiamin through their diet and possibly from de novo-synthesized thiamin by gut microbiota. A deficiency in thiamin negatively affects reproduction in fish and bird populations worldwide. The aim of this study was to quantify thiamin transfer in a planktonic food web in response to thiamin and/or nutrient addition, using an outdoor mesocosm system (an approximately 1.9 m3 bag submerged in sea water). These estimates were then compared with literature data on thiamin concentrations at different trophic levels. The results showed that thiamin was rapidly taken up by phytoplankton in both the ambient and nutrient-amended treatments. However, large differences in thiamin concentrations in phytoplankton did not lead to any significant changes in community composition or abundance. Nitrogen addition led to changes in the abundance and community composition of picoplankton and phytoplankton but there were no additional major effects of thiamin addition. Differences in thiamin concentrations in phytoplankton were not detected at the next trophic level in zooplankton. Although the concentrations did not change, a greater abundance of some zooplankton taxa were developed in the thiamin treatments. Comparing the mesocosm results with literature data demonstrated a gradual reduction in thiamin concentrations along the food chain, with six percent of the concentration in producers occurring in top consumers (i.e., piscivorous fish). Overall, these observations illustrate the concept of trophic dilution of micronutrients where concentrations decrease along the food web from phytoplankton via zooplankton and planktivorous fish to piscivorous fish.
miR-379-5p affects breast cancer cell behavior by targeting UBE2E3 ubiquitin conjugating enzyme
Authors: Schroder Araya K. , Loy Conor J. , Aiala Fernanda , Rafique Jazmyn , Ghosh Arnob , Yoo Lina I.
Published: December 2024

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an increasingly recognized role in modulating cancer development. Due to their function in regulating gene expression, miRNAs can suppress or promote tumorigenesis. miR-379-5p expression is downregulated in multiple human cancers, including breast and bladder cancers. However, the mRNAs targeted by miR-379-5p that promote cancer development have not been fully identified. Our goal was to identify a gene whose expression is regulated by miR-379-5p, and which may contribute to cancer development in cells where miR-379-5p expression is reduced. Bioinformatics analysis showed the UBE2E3 ubiquitin conjugating enzyme gene to be a potential target for miR-379-5p. To verify that UBE2E3 is a target, we transfected normal human epithelial mammary cells and breast adenocarcinoma cell lines with a miR-379-5p mimic. The mimic reduced UBE2E3 mRNA and protein levels, as would be predicted for a miR-379-5p target. To determine if UBE2E3 is a direct target of miR-379-5p, we engineered two luciferase reporter gene constructs to contain either a wild-type putative miR-379-5p binding sequence isolated from the 3’UTR of the UBE2E3 gene, or a scrambled sequence. The luciferase assay showed that the miR-379-5p mimic suppressed luciferase activity for the WT binding sequence reporter, but not for the scrambled reporter, showing that the effect of miR-379-5p on UBE2E3 expression is likely to be direct. Finally, to determine if the effect of miR-379-5p on UBE2E3 is related to cellular behaviors that play a role in cancer development, we measured cell viability by resazurin assay, cell proliferation by BrdU assay, and apoptosis by caspase 3/7 activation assay. The miR-379-5p mimic and silencing UBE2E3 expression both resulted in significantly diminished cell viability, while silencing UBE2E3 demonstrated both higher proliferation and apoptotic rates. Overall, these results suggest that while the overall effect of miR-379-5p is to inhibit breast cell viability and proliferation, the effect of silencing its target UBE2E3 is more complex because it induces both cell proliferation and apoptosis.
The World Smarts STEM Challenge: A promising approach to fostering STEM and global competence skills for adolescents in the US and Ghana
Authors: Kim Esther , Batul Martha , Bever Sarah , Mohammed Amaris , Nepomunceno Amanda , Owusu Harrison , Hartstone-Rose Adam , Mulvey Kelly Lynn
Published: December 2024

Given the increasingly global nature of work, the global workforce needs STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) workers who have both STEM content knowledge and intercultural competence. This study reports on findings from a 10-week bi-national virtual STEM challenge, the World Smarts STEM Challenge, that brought adolescents in the United States and Ghana together to complete a STEM learning program. There were 114 participants from Ghana (female = 56%) and 95 from the US (female = 48%); Mage = 16.21 years, SD = 1.65. In Ghana 100% of participants identified as ethnically Ghanaian and in the US participants identified as Black/African-American (50%), Latino/a/x or Hispanic (23.9%), Asian/Asian-American (7.6%), White/European-American (7.6%), bi-racial or multi-racial (7.6%), and “other” (3.3%). After the Challenge, participants increased in awareness of global issues, and engagement with others, but also showed a small but significant decrease in respect for people from other cultural backgrounds. Girls demonstrated an increase in global-mindedness in both countries and Ghanaian participants reported an increase in self-efficacy for global issues and demonstrated significant growth in both STEM ability self-concept and STEM activism orientation. Findings suggest the value of virtual STEM Challenges for building both STEM and global competence skills.
Understanding the underestimation of self-report weight: The roles of narcissism and accountability
Authors: Price Menna , Douglas Laura , Hepper Erica G. , Wilkinson Laura L.
Published: December 2024

Self-reported height and weight is widely used to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI) and yet little is known about factors that affect accuracy. This study investigated the motivational characteristics–narcissism and social desirability—that influence the accuracy of self-reported weight and how they interact with accountability (telling participants that their weight will be verified). A two-way between-subjects design was used (accountable vs not accountable) with motivational moderators (narcissism and social desirability). Participants (N = 80; Mean Age = 34.63; 58.8% Female) were randomly allocated to accountable (told that their weight would be verified in a follow-up lab session) or not-accountable (no information given) conditions. In Session 1, participants self-reported motivational (social desirability and narcissism) and anthropometric (height and weight) measures online. In Session 2 (24 hours later), objective measures of height and weight were taken in the lab. There was a significant interaction between condition and maladaptive narcissism level. Being told that weight would be later verified improved accuracy of self-reported weight, but only for those low in maladaptive narcissism. Accountability improves the accuracy of self-report weight data, but not for individuals high in narcissism. Though based on a modest sample, these findings suggest that the under-estimation of self- report weight serves a self-protective function and maladaptive narcissism may be a useful covariate to include in research using self-report weight estimates.
BS-CP: Efficient streaming Bayesian tensor decomposition method via assumed density filtering
Authors: Liu Jiaqi , Wu Qiwu , Jiang Lingzhi , Zhan Renjun , Zhao Xiaochuan , Wu Husheng , Tan Weicong
Published: December 2024

Tensor data is common in real-world applications, such as recommendation system and air quality monitoring. But such data is often sparse, noisy, and fast produced. CANDECOMP/PARAFAC (CP) is a popular tensor decomposition model, which is both theoretically advantageous and numerically stable. However, learning the CP model in a Bayesian framework, though promising to handle data sparsity and noise, is computationally challenging, especially with fast produced data streams. The fundamental problem addressed by the paper is mainly tackles the efficient processing of streaming tensor data. In this work, we propose BS-CP, a quick and accurate structure to dynamically update the posterior of latent factors when a new observation tensor is received. We first present the BS-CP1 algorithm, which is an efficient implementation using assumed density filtering (ADF). In addition, we propose BS-CP2 algorithm, using Gauss–Laguerre quadrature method to integrate the noise effect which shows better empirical result. We tested BS-CP1 and BS-CP2 on generic real recommendation system datasets, including Beijing-15k, Beijing-20k, MovieLens-1m and Fit Record. Compared with state-of-the-art methods, BS-CP1 achieve 31.8% and 33.3% RMSE improvement in the last two datasets, with a similar trend observed for BS-CP2. This evidence proves that our algorithm has better results on large datasets and is more suitable for real-world scenarios. Compared with most other comparison methods, our approach has demonstrated an improvement of over 10% and exhibits superior stability.
Sorting out assortativity: When can we assess the contributions of different population groups to epidemic transmission?
Authors: Geismar Cyril , White Peter J. , Cori Anne , Jombart Thibaut
Published: December 2024

Characterising the transmission dynamics between various population groups is critical for implementing effective outbreak control measures whilst minimising financial costs and societal disruption. While recent technological and methodological advances have made individual-level transmission chain data increasingly available, it remains unclear how effectively this data can inform group-level transmission patterns, particularly in small, rapidly saturating outbreak settings. We introduce a novel framework that leverages transmission chain data to estimate group transmission assortativity; this quantifies the extent to which individuals transmit within their own group compared to others. Through extensive simulations mimicking nosocomial outbreaks, we assessed the conditions under which our estimator performs effectively and established guidelines for minimal data requirements in small outbreak settings where saturation may occur rapidly. Notably, we demonstrate that detecting and quantifying transmission assortativity is most reliable when at least 30 cases have been observed in each group, before reaching their respective epidemic peaks.
Panel estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR): Statistical considerations for maximizing accuracy in diverse clinical populations
Authors: Fino Nora F. , Inker Lesley A. , Greene Tom , Adingwupu Ogechi M. , Coresh Josef , Seegmiller Jesse , Shlipak Michael G. , Jafar Tazeen H. , Kalil Roberto , Costa e Silva Veronica T. , Gudnason Vilmundur , Levey Andrew S. , Haaland Ben
Published: December 2024

Assessing glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is critical for diagnosis, staging, and management of kidney disease. However, accuracy of estimated GFR (eGFR) is limited by large errors (>30% error present in >10–50% of patients), adversely impacting patient care. Errors often result from variation across populations of non-GFR determinants affecting the filtration markers used to estimate GFR. We hypothesized that combining multiple filtration markers with non-overlapping non-GFR determinants into a panel GFR could improve eGFR accuracy, extending current recognition that adding cystatin C to serum creatinine improves accuracy. Non-GFR determinants of markers can affect the accuracy of eGFR in two ways: first, increased variability in the non-GFR determinants of some filtration markers among application populations compared to the development population may result in outlying values for those markers. Second, systematic differences in the non-GFR determinants of some markers between application and development populations can lead to biased estimates in the application populations. Here, we propose and evaluate methods for estimating GFR based on multiple markers in applications with potentially higher rates of outlying predictors than in development data. We apply transfer learning to address systematic differences between application and development populations. We evaluated a panel of 8 markers (5 metabolites and 3 low molecular weight proteins) in 3,554 participants from 9 studies. Results show that contamination in two strongly predictive markers can increase imprecision by more than two-fold, but outlier identification with robust estimation can restore precision nearly fully to uncontaminated data. Furthermore, transfer learning can yield similar results with even modest training set sample size. Combining both approaches addresses both sources of error in GFR estimates. Once the laboratory challenge of developing a validated targeted assay for additional metabolites is overcome, these methods can inform the use of a panel eGFR across diverse clinical settings, ensuring accuracy despite differing non-GFR determinants.
Anti-necroptotic effects of human Wharton’s jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells in skeletal muscle cell death model via secretion of GRO-α
Authors: Park Sang Eon , Kwon Soo Jin , Kim Sun Jeong , Jeong Jang Bin , Kim Min-Jeong , Choi Suk-joo , Oh Soo-young , Ryu Gyu Ha , Jeon Hong Bae , Chang Jong Wook
Published: December 2024

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have therapeutic applications and potential for use in regenerative medicine. However, the use of hMSCs in research and clinical medicine is limited by a lack of information pertaining to their donor-specific functional attributes. In this study, we compared the characteristics of same-donor derived placenta (PL) and Wharton’s jelly (WJ)-derived hMSCs, we also compared their mechanism of action in a skeletal muscle disease in vitro model. The same-donor-derived hWJ- and hPL-MSCs exhibited typical hMSC characteristics. However, GRO-α was differentially expressed in hWJ- and hPL-MSCs. hWJ-MSCs, which secreted a high amount of GRO-α, displayed a higher ability to inhibit necroptosis in skeletal muscle cells than hPL-MSCs. This demonstrates the anti-necroptotic therapeutic effect of GRO-α in the skeletal muscle cell death model. Furthermore, GRO-α also exhibited the anti-necroptotic effect in a Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) mouse model. Considering their potential to inhibit necroptosis in skeletal muscle cells, hWJ-MSCs and the derived GRO-α are novel treatment options for skeletal muscle diseases such as DMD.
Exploring the metabolic changes of Ceratitis capitata Vienna 8 strain across three developmental stages through probiotic larval diet supplementation
Authors: Msaad Guerfali M. , Charaabi K. , Hamden H. , Zidi O. , Hamdi M. , Fadhl S. , Kouidhi S. , Cherif A. , Mosbah A.
Published: December 2024

The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is revolutionizing pest control through its environmentally friendly approach, which involves rearing and sterilizing male insect pests using ionizing radiation and subsequently releasing them into the field to mate with wild females without producing offspring. Recent research has unveiled a groundbreaking enhancement in the quality of released Ceratitis capitata (medfly) males through the addition of probiotics to their larval diet. To thoroughly examine the impact of probiotic supplementation on the medfly larval diet, we conducted an in-depth analysis with GC-MS from medfly extract supplemented with probiotic Enterobacter sp. strain. The supplementation revealed a notable difference in the metabolomic signature compared to non-supplemented extract across all medfly life stages. We identified 37 known metabolites for all the stages, 12 of them were identified as biomarkers for the larval stage, 12 for the pupal stage, and 13 for the adult stage exhibiting crucial activities such as anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and sexual and aggregation pheromone. These findings underscore the considerable potential of SIT combined with probiotic supplementation for enhancing sustainable pest control strategies worldwide.
Planar compact four port MIMO antenna for Ultra Wideband applications
Authors: Thanki Poonam , Upadhyaya Trushit , Patel Upesh , Sorathiya Vishal , Khishe Mohammad
Published: December 2024

This work presents a small four-port multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna for Ultra Wideband (UWB) applications. Four monopole radiating components make up the suggested antenna. Every monopole is positioned perpendicularly to the components that surround it. This compact antenna, 40 mm × 40 mm, is printed on a single layer substrate (FR4) with a thickness of 1.6 mm and an εr = 4.4. This antenna features an isolation of less than −14 dB and an impedance bandwidth (S11 < −10 dB) of 2.57–12.20 GHz. The average gain is 4.7 dBi and the envelope correction coefficient (ECC) is less than 0.15. The suggested antenna is a good option for UWB applications because of its Ultra Wide bandwidth and small footprint.
New profit models for property management in the post-pandemic era: A study on consumer attitudes towards community value-added services
Authors: Lin Meng , Li Weidong , Cao Yukun , Gao Yujuan
Published: December 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic, which emerged in 2020, has had a tremendous impact on various industries and the daily lives of the general populace, thereby contributing to increasing uncertainty in business competition. Property management enterprises, despite witnessing a mostly stagnant expansion and enhancement of their existing operations, have, owing to the unique nature of their services, continued to experience a relatively positive competitive environment. Notably, the recent emphasis in property management companies has been on the development of value-added services at the community level, which represents a critical avenue for securing a competitive edge by addressing consumer demands. This study, grounded in the ABC theory and the theory of planned behavior, seeks to analyze consumer attitudes towards the provision of value-added services by property management firms, including facets such as community healthcare services, community lifestyle amenities, community educational offerings, and personalized services. Moreover, the study delves into the mediating role played by satisfaction with fundamental property management services. The empirical findings emphasize the significant enhancement in consumer receptivity to property management firms’ value-added services, particularly in the domains of community healthcare, lifestyle amenities, education, and personalized services. In addition, it highlights the indirect effect of property owners’ contentment with essential property management services on their perspectives concerning the delivery of value-added services by property management firms. The implications of these research conclusions bear significant relevance for organizations engaged in offering such services.
Hematological ratios as an indicator of severity in alopecia areata: A retrospective nationwide study
Authors: Andre Nicolas , Weissmann Sarah , Cohen Bracha , Gordon Chaya Bracha , Nassar Majd , Kestenbom Inbal , Golan-Tripto Inbal , Horev Amir
Published: December 2024

Background

Alopecia Areata (AA) is an autoimmune condition where the activation of Th1, Th2, and Th17 responses is known to stimulate other white blood cells, potentially affecting hematopoietic lineages. However, previous studies on AA have found no utility in hematological ratios. Our goals were to compare neutrophils-to-lymphocytes ratio (NLR), platelets-to-lymphocytes ratio (PLR), eosinophils-to-lymphocytes ratio (ELR), eosinophils-to-neutrophils ratio (ENR), and eosinophils-to-monocytes ratio (EMR) between patients with AA and controls, as well as between mild and moderate-severe AA cases.

Methods and findings

We performed a retrospective, population-based cohort study involving adult patients enrolled in the largest national health maintenance organization in Israel. The study comprised 147,020 AA patients and 141,598 healthy controls. AA patients exhibited a higher likelihood of elevated NLR and ELR compared to controls. Upon further classification based on severity, moderate-severe AA patients displayed higher values of NLR, PLR, ELR, and EMR compared to mild AA individuals OR = 1.11 [1.09–1.1], P<0.001; OR = 1.09 [1.05–1.13], P<0.001; OR = 2.06 [1.67–2.53], P<0.001; OR = 1.07 [1.03–1.07)], P<0.001, respectively). Similar trends were observed 12 to 18 months before diagnosis.

Conclusion

Our results not only deviate from the current literature but also offer a cost-effective, accessible, and efficient tool for enhanced disease prediction and management.
Mapping retracted articles and exploring regional differences in China, 2012–2023
Authors: Shi Liping , Zhang Xue , Ma Xiaojun , Sun Xian , Li Jiangping , He Shulan
Published: December 2024

Background

China is one of the top countries with the most significant number or proportion of retracted publications, which has garnered significant attention.

Methods

Using the Retraction Watch Database, we collected retracted articles written by Chinese authors from 31 provinces in mainland China, spanning the period between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2023. We used Geographical Information Science to analyze spatial distribution characteristics of retracted articles by Chinese authors and identify high-risk clusters of retracted areas.

Results

A total of 14,445 retracted articles authored by researchers from 31 provinces in China between 2012 and 2023 were analyzed. The Spatial trend surface analysis and Gravity center movement indicated a gradual increase in the number of retracted articles from the west to the east. The spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that revealed significant spatial clustering in the distribution of retracted articles across the 31 provinces. The results of the spatial-temporal clustering analysis showed that the hotspots were primarily concentrated in Shandong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Henan, and Anhui.

Conclusion

There is a discernible spatial clustering among these retractions, with a gradual increase in the number of retracted articles from west to east. Shandong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Henan, and Anhui are the hotspots for retractions.
Fashion journalism ethics and the pursuit of a responsible fashion system
Authors: Jones Katie Baker , Jones Joseph P.
Published: December 2024

What are the ethical obligations of a fashion journalist? We argue fashion journalists have a central role to play in addressing the industry’s most pressing issues, including but not limited to environmental degradation, worker exploitation and social justice. Moreover, we argue fashion journalists are in a unique position to help co-constitute the ‘good life’ as it pertains to our fashionable selves and societies. However, without a clearly articulated ethic of fashion journalism, we cannot hope to have an ethical and responsible fashion industry with which to build such a life. We contend that this must be done not through prioritizing a consumer identity for readership – the default subject position in lifestyle journalism – but through the readership’s subject position as citizen and moral agent. In the broadest critique we offer here, we posit that fashion journalism and journalists have been exempted from the traditional ethical obligation of a press responsible to a public, and we seek to recentre the fashion journalist as a key agent in the work towards a more just and caring society.
On Felt Structures: Weather and Embodiment. The Generation of Short Form.
Authors: Linklater Tanya Lukin
Published: December 2024

This writing that builds on the intellectual labor of Alutiiq/Sugpiaq and Yup’ik Elders, writers, and cultural workers proposing the analytic of felt structures. Bundling Sugpiaq concepts of lla (weather, atmosphere, universe) and anerneq una (breath, energetic body), felt structures are potentially reparative and liberatory. Practically, the method is short form: a performance, a text, a sculpture, a breath, a stitch, a garment, or a song. In the brevity of short form, opacity is deployed. Short forms (gesturing towards cultural practices) gather over time, building towards insistence.
In the Lost & Find Museum
Authors: Leman Dilys
Published: December 2024

“In the lost & find museum” emerged as an ekphrastic response to ephemeral and embodied modes of awareness articulated in two essays which appear in this issue: “Humans in a Bottle” by Soft Turns and “On Felt Structures” by Tanya Lukin Linklater, both of which also appear in this issue.
Breathing in Disaster: Christina Battle’s Forecast
Authors: Sihra Jasmine
Published: December 2024

How do we breathe in/ breathe in disaster? Artist Christina Battle’s Forecast series (2020—ongoing) explores what it means to breathe in climate disaster, using prompts and observations to encourage its participants to sense and anticipate the drastically changing weather around them. Critiquing environmental racism, Battle’s work highlights the “unequal distribution of air pollutants,” activating Forecast with communities in Newfoundland, Toronto, and Edmonton in works like the air we breathe (2022) and Learning the Signals/Change is Coming (2022/2023). This exhibition review of Forecast presented at Gallery 1C03 (Treaty 1 Territory) highlights the significance of community-oriented, intimate actions of breathing and observation to grasp how environmental catastrophes are felt differently across geographies. This essay is rooted in the author’s ongoing conversations with Battle, and takes cues from Christina Sharpe’s idea of weather, Kristin Simmons’ notion of settler atmospherics and adrienne marée brown’s principles of emergent strategy.
In No Small Measure
Authors: Turner Raewyn , Harris Brian
Published: December 2024

In No Small Measure captures and expresses changes in atmospheric humidity. Five towers made from plum tree branches and human hair speak to each other as a community of fragile sentinels responding to humidity and building, when undisturbed, chords of sound.
Fogscapes: Notes on Fujiko Nakaya’s Sculptural Practice
Authors: Bronstein Noa
Published: December 2024

This article focuses on renowned artist Fujiko Nakaya’s fog sculptures and the means by which they offer meditative considerations for place and embodied experience. Following Nakaya’s requirements for her first fog sculpture for Expo ’70 in Osaka, the article explores the artist’s practice via three main areas: visibility, tangibility and vulnerability.
Alexis Kyle Mitchell: The Treasury of Human Inheritance (2024)
Authors: Sanader Daniella
Published: December 2024

In this review of Alexis Kyle Mitchell’s recent feature-length film, The Treasury of Human Inheritance (2024), screened alongside the second Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto triennial, I consider the artist’s experimental engagements with sound, analogue film processing, and the human voice to narrate her family’s experiences with grief and disability. I also connect these inter-personal dynamics to broader urgencies, positing that the film asks us to be mindful of how we hold responsibility for one another, amidst interconnected global crises.
Richard Mosse: Broken Spectre
Authors: Victor Carmen
Published: December 2024

An exhibition review of Richard Mosse: Broken Spectre at Centre Phi, Montreal which considers the activist intent of the work. The 74-minute film represents human-scale, microscopic scale, and macroscopic scale sequences, including black-and-white solarized footage and multi-spectral drone imagery, to depict the devastation of the Amazon rainforest. While praised for its innovation, critics have argued the work risks aestheticizing suffering and diluting engagement with geopolitical issues. Mosse platforms Indigenous voices who urge viewers to act against the Amazon’s exploitation, but questions remain about art’s ability to motivate tangible political action.
Asymptotically Minimal Contractors Based on the Centered Form
Authors: Jaulin Luc
Published: December 2024

This paper proposes a new interval-based contractor for
nonlinear equations which is minimal when dealing with
narrow boxes. The method is based on the centered form
classically used by interval algorithms combined with a
Gauss Jordan band diagonalization preconditioning. As an
illustration in stability analysis, we propose to
compute the set of all parameters of a characteristic
function of linear time-delayed equations which have at
least one zero in the imaginary axis. Our approach is
able compute a guaranteed and accurate enclosure of the
solution set faster than existing approaches.
RISC-V Based Hardware Acceleration of Interval Contractor Primitives in the Context of Mobile Robotics
Authors: Pierre Filiol  , Bollengier Theotime , Jaulin Luc , Le Lann Jean-Christophe
Published: December 2024

Localization tasks, generally modeled as Constraint
Satisfaction Problem (CSP), are recurring problems in
mobile robotics. Known approaches rely on software
libraries which all have their advantages but also their
limitations, among which non-optimal computing
performances. This paper proposes a different approach
which consists in extending the RISC-V ISA to provide
hardware support for interval primitives.
GPU-Accelerated, Interval-Based Parameter Identification Methods Illustrated Using the Two-Compartment Problem
Authors: Gillner Lorenz , Auer Ekaterina
Published: December 2024

Interval methods are helpful in the context of
scientific computing for reliable treatment of problems
with bounded uncertainty. Most traditional interval
algorithms, however, were designed for sequential
execution while internally depending on
processor-specific instructions for directed rounding.
Nowadays, many-core processors and dedicated hardware
for massively parallel data processing have become the
de facto standard for high-performance computers.
Interval libraries have yet to adapt to this
heterogeneous computing paradigm. In this article, we
investigate the parallelization of interval methods with
an emphasis on modern graphics processors. Using a
parameter identification scenario in combination with
newly developed or enhanced GPU-based interval software,
we evaluate different methods for reducing the size of
large interval search domains. For the first time,
algorithmic differentiation can be used with intervals
on the GPU. Different versions of interval optimization
algorithms are compared wrt. their functionality, run
times, and energy consumption.
A Educação Inclusiva: Buscando promover a valorização e a diversidade no ambiente escolar
Authors: Monteiro Magda Crerynna Nunes , Alves Francisca Ivoneide Benicio Malaquias , Oliveira Debora Benicio Alves , Bringel Maricélia Félix Andrade
Published: December 2024

Este estudo investigou como a escola pode se tornar um espaço mais inclusivo para a diversidade. A pesquisa, realizada em uma escola municipal de Salgueiro (PE), analisou a percepção dos professores sobre a educação inclusiva e a formação que possuem para atender às necessidades de alunos diversos. Concluiu-se que a escola tem um papel crucial na promoção da inclusão e da diversidade, mas que é necessário um esforço conjunto de todos os envolvidos no processo educativo para que isso se torne realidade. A formação continuada dos professores, o investimento em recursos pedagógicos e a criação de um ambiente escolar acolhedor são elementos essenciais para garantir o sucesso da educação inclusiva.
Symptomatic Improvement in Adults and Adolescents With Eosinophilic Esophagitis Requires Higher Systemic Dupilumab Exposure Than Histologic Response
Authors: Dellon Evan S. , Kosloski Matthew P. , Shabbir Arsalan , Glotfelty Lila , Xu Christine , Kamal Mohamed A.
Published: December 2024

INTRODUCTION:

We assessed potential mechanisms behind the requirement for more frequent dupilumab dosing in eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) compared with other approved indications.

METHODS:

Results for the phase 3 LIBERTY EoE TREET study coprimary endpoints (proportion of patients achieving a peak intraepithelial eosinophil count of ≤6 eosinophils per high-power field and absolute change from baseline in Dysphagia Symptom Questionnaire total score) were pooled in exposure–response analyses.

RESULTS:

A steep initial relationship then plateau was observed between higher dupilumab steady-state trough concentrations and decreased eosinophilic infiltration at week 24, whereas a graded exposure–response relationship was observed for symptomatic improvement at week 24. Patients with the highest exposures were more likely to achieve greater symptomatic benefit, independent of strictures or history of dilation.

DISCUSSION:

The dupilumab 300 mg weekly regimen approved for adults and adolescents with EoE weighing ≥ 40 kg is supported by dose– and exposure–response relationships.
Experimental and computational investigation of GLT beams exposed to fire
Authors:   , Keřková Kucíková Lucie
Published: December 2024

Knowledge of the wood behaviour during fire and its impact on material properties is a necessary prerequisite for the correct design of a building structure. This work provides a comprehensive study of glued laminated timber (GLT) beams made of Norway spruce and their mechanical properties when exposed to temperatures exceeding 600°C. The temperature evolution in time within the beam cross section was measured for one beam out of two in each test, whereas the amount of charred wood was determined for both. The charring is usually described by the charring rate β, which was evaluated by four approaches based on conducted experiments. The fire tests were supported by additional mechanical tests performed before and after the fire tests. These tests comprise indentation via Pilodyn, where the indentation depth slightly increased after the fire test suggesting the reduction of Young's modulus in the longitudinal direction. The results obtained from the small-scale tensile tests indicate that the wood variability and the effect of growth discontinuities are probably more significant than the effect of elevated temperature. Half of the burnt beams were tested in three-point bending showing the decreasing trend of the ultimate load with increasing fire test duration. The three-point bending test was further simulated employing Ansys® software, where part of the material data for simulation were obtained from the compression tests, offering elastic as well as plastic material parameters of wood not exposed to elevated temperatures. Altogether 18 individual models combining different geometries and materials were tested to choose one providing the best approximation while limiting the response to elasticity. The selected model was further extended by plasticity employing the bilinear isotropic hardening model and the Hill yield criterion. However, the presented models require several improvements such as the material model calibration to suit better all tested samples and to reduce rather large differences between the measured and computed values. The observed sudden drops of the force appearing on load vs. displacement curves of three-point bending tests were probably triggered by local defects. To better predict such a behaviour may call for an extension of the present approach to advance the material model in the light of damage mechanics as well as to extend the geometrical model by introducing discontinuities.
Influence of Migration on Efficacy and Efficiency of Parallel Evolutionary Computing
Authors: Biełaszek Sylwia , Rutkowski Leszek , Byrski Aleksander
Published: December 2024

Metaheuristics, such as evolutionary algorithms (EAs) have been proven to be (also theoretically, see, for example, the works of Michael Vose [1]) universal optimization methods. Previous works (Zbigniew Skolicki and Kenneth De Jong [2]) investigated impact of migration intervals on island models of EA’s in their works. Here we explore different migration intervals and amounts of migrating individuals, complementing Skolicki and DeJong’s research. In our experiments we use different ways of selecting migrants and pave the way for further research, e.g. involving different topologies and neighborhoods. We present the idea of the algorithm, show experimental results.
Mutual Inductance Model of the Mechanical Stress Sensitivity of the Power Transformer Functional Parameters
Authors: Rękas Paweł , Szewczyk Roman , Szumiata Tadeusz , Nowicki Michał
Published: December 2024

The mutual inductance model enables testing the behavior of power transformers under different operation conditions, especially under the environmental influences on the transformer’s core. This paper presents the investigation results of the stress dependence of the magnetic relative permeability of the power transformer. It was observed that under tensile mechanical stresses up to 98 MPa applied to the core, the transformer input current amplitude increases by almost 67%, whereas the transformer's reactive power increases by 53%. In industrial systems, such changes can potentially lead to unwanted power system shutdowns due to overloading. This effect should be considered during the development of critical power systems.
Nonlinear Optimal and Multi-Loop Flatness-Basedcontrol of Omnidirectional 3-Wheel Mobile Robots
Authors: Rigatos Gerasimos , Abbaszadeh Masoud
Published: December 2024

In this article, the control problem for omnidirectional 3-wheel autonomous  mobile robots is solved with the use of (i) a nonlinear optimal control method (ii) a flatness-based control approach which is implemented in successive loops. To apply method (i) that is nonlinear optimal control, the dynamic model of the omnidirectional 3-wheel autonomous  mobile robots undergoes approximate linearization at each sampling instant with the use of first-order Taylor series expansion and through the computation of the associated Jacobian matrix. The linearization point is defined by the present value of the system's state vector and by the last sampled value of the control inputs vector. To compute the feedback gains of the optimal controller an algebraic Riccati equation is repetitively solved at each time-step of the control algorithm. The global stability properties of the nonlinear optimal control method are proven through Lyapunov analysis. To implement control method (ii), that is flatness-based control in successive loops, the state-space model of the omnidirectional 3-wheel autonomous  mobile robot is separated into chained subsystems, which are connected in cascading loops. Each one of these subsystems can be viewed independently as a differentially flat system and control about it can be performed with inversion of its dynamics as in the case of input-output linearized flat systems. The state variables of the preceding (i-th) subsystem become virtual control inputs for the subsequent (i+1-th) subsystem. In turn, exogenous control inputs are applied to the last subsystem. The whole control method is implemented in successive loops and its global stability properties are also proven through Lyapunov stability analysis. The proposed method achieves trajectory tracking and autonomous navigation for the omnidirectional 3-wheel autonomous  mobile robots without the need of diffeomorphisms and complicated state-space model transformations.
Die sozialen Dimensionen von Klimawandelfolgen
Authors: Fischer Julius , Aufterbeck Margit , Gussmann Geronimo , Schipperges Michael , Schneider Alexandra
Published: December 2024

Der Klimawandel betrifft verschiedene Bevölkerungsgruppen in Deutschland unterschiedlich stark, wobei soziale Ungleichheiten die Vulnerabilität beeinflussen. Um soziale Gerechtigkeit zu erreichen, sind gezielte, handlungsfeldübergreifende Maßnahmen nötig, die besonders auf diese Gruppen eingehen.
Wie Stadtregionen den Weg zur nachhaltigen Ernährung ebnen
Authors: Walthall Beatrice
Published: December 2024

Wie können Stadtregionen durch innovative­ Governance-Ansätze zum Wandel in Ernährungssystemen beitragen? Anhand von Praxis-Erfahrungen aus Avignon, Berlin und Braşov können Empfehlungen abgeleitet werden, wie Governance-Leuchttürme als Vorbilder für die Gestaltung einer nachhaltigen Zukunft im Ernährungssystem­ dienen können.
Energy efficient weed control in high density planting rainfed cotton
Authors: Sriram J , Kannan SV , Ragavan T , Sheeba S , Sivasankari B
Published: December 2024

An experiment utilizing a split-plot design was done to ascertain the optimal plant population and weed management strategies for enhancing yield, net income, and energy efficiency in high-density rainfed cotton cultivation. The primary plot treatments comprised three spacing configurations: 100x10 cm, 150x50x10 cm, and 175x50x10 cm. Six weed management approaches were evaluated as subplot treatments, with each treatment replicated three times throughout the 2023-24 rabi season. These practices included power weeding on 20 and 45 days after sowing (DAS), intercropping with black gram, hand weeding on 20 and 45 DAS, herbicide application of Metolachlor (pre-emergence) on 5 DAS, and a combination of Pyrithiobac sodium plus Quizalofop ethyl (post-emergence) on 20 DAS, along with weedy check and weed-free check.
The 100 x 10 cm spacing combined with power weeding proved superior, achieving higher yield parameters, greater yield, increased income (Rs. 67238/ha), a benefit-cost ratio of 2.27, energy productivity of 0.38 Kg/MJ, net energy productivity of 30334 MJ/ha, and an energy use efficiency of 4.0 in high-density planting. The narrow-row spacing (100x10 cm) with power weeding also optimized plant population and enhanced per-plant productivity. This configuration also supported proper soil tilling and aeration, enabling a higher uptake of inputs with minimum energy expenditure for weeding, leading to improved overall performance.
Effect of lipid-polysaccharide edible coatings on enhancing shelf life and quality of guava (Arka Kiran)
Authors: Jamuna P , Vijayalatha KR , Devi AN , Jegadeeswari V , Geetha K , Suresh J
Published: December 2024

The physicochemical properties of guava (Arka Kiran) fruits were examined in relation to pre- and post-harvest treatments, both individually and in combination, using various edible compounds, including hexanal, chitosan, and salicylic acid. The fruits were treated with different concentrations of hexanal (2%), chitosan (1%), and salicylic acid (500 ppm) and assessed for various physico–chemical parameters. In the storage study, guava fruits treated with these edible compounds were stored under both ambient conditions (30°C ± 1°C) and cold storage conditions (10 ± 2°C). The fruits treated with 2% hexanal demonstrated the most significant improvements in quality-related parameters under cold storage and ambient conditions. The combination of pre-harvest spray and post-harvest treatments using 2% hexanal in cold storage significantly delayed physiological weight loss (24.55%), preserved total soluble solids (10.25 ºBrix), and maintained ascorbic acid content (135.05µg) by the 18th day of the storage period. Furthermore, pre-and post-harvest treatment with chitosan under cold storage conditions significantly enhanced the retention of antioxidant activity and phenolic content in guava fruit. Overall, the treatment with 2% hexanal proved to be the most effective in regulating physicochemical changes and improving the storage quality of guava fruits.
Ugaritian Labourers
Authors: Vita Juan-Pablo
Published: December 2024

According to some authors, the archives of Ugarit have preserved a small group of texts that could be classified as ‘censuses’. Other authors, however, have argued that these texts record people who were able to work in some way. This article examines the clearest examples of this type of text, the two Ugaritic administrative documents RS 17.312 (KTU 4.295) and RS 18.258 (KTU 4.417). The analysis is carried out in conjunction with the Akkadian letter RS 94.2524, which may provide a better understanding of the nature of the two Ugaritic texts. The discussion also includes a third Ugaritic administrative text, RS 18.026 (KTU 4.339), which seems to complete the process described in both RS 17.312 and RS 18.258. In our view, the four texts provide further evidence of the control that the Ugaritian administration exercised over the population of the kingdom in order to mobilise them for labour purposes.