bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanical, UV protection, and antibacterial properties of poly(vinyl alcohol)/marine mucilage biocomposite films
Authors: Soydan Nazli , Gumus Omer Yunus , Yilmaz Mete
Published: November 2023

The mucilage that accumulated in the Sea of Marmara in 2021 turned into an environmental disaster that threatened not only marine life but also the shipping and tourism industries. However, because of the partially organic structure of marine mucilage, it has the potential to be used as an additive for polymer films. In this study, bioplastic films were prepared from PVA with a series of mucilage content from 0% to 50% by mass, and their properties were investigated. The FT‐IR spectra revealed a shift in hydroxyl peaks, suggesting an interaction between the mucilage and PVA. SEM images showed the formation of crystal forms at the higher mucilage content of 20%, indicating ionic saturation of the PVA matrix. EDX and XRD analyses revealed that the crystal was NaCl coming from the mucilage composition. The tensile strength of the neat PVA film was measured as 9.86 MPa and improved to 14.56 MPa with 5% mucilage content, which is attributed to the ionic cross‐linking. The tensile properties were preserved up to 20% of the mucilage content, and then sudden decrements were observed. The transmittance percentage (T%) of the neat PVA film in UV–Vis spectra (800–200 nm) was detected as 75% at 500 nm and decreased down to 39% with increased mucilage content up to 50%. Furthermore, a rising limit of linearity (LOL) of the spectrums was observed from 350 to 580 nm, with increasing mucilage content from 5% to 50%. The biofilms showed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Hence, a robust and biodegradable film having UV protection and antibacterial activity was developed from the marine mucilage bio‐waste.

Highlights

Poly(vinyl alcohol)/marine mucilage biocomposite films were prepared.

Biocomposite films showed increased UV‐A, UV‐B, and UV‐C protection with increased mucilage content.

Enhanced tensile strength of biocomposite films up to 20 wt% mucilage content was determined due to ionic crosslink formed by NaCl salt ions.

Biocomposite exhibited antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
Heat transport from atmosphere through the subsurface to drinking‐water supply pipes
Authors: Nissler Elisabeth , Scherrer Samuel , Class Holger , Müller Tanja , Hermannspan Mark , Osmancevic Esad , Haslauer Claus
Published: November 2023

Drinking‐water quality in supply pipe networks can be negatively affected by high temperatures during hot summer months due to detrimental bacteria encountering ideal conditions for growth. Thus, water suppliers are interested in estimating the temperature in their distribution networks. We investigate both experimentally and by numerical simulation the heat and water transport from ground surface into the subsurface, (i.e., above drinking‐water pipes). We consider the meteorological forcing functions by a sophisticated approach to model the boundary conditions for the heat balance at the soil–atmosphere interface. From August to December 2020, soil temperatures and soil moisture were measured dependent on soil type, land‐use cover, and weather data at a pilot site, constructed specifically for this purpose at the University of Stuttgart with polyethylene and cast‐iron pipes installed under typical in situ conditions. We included this interface condition at the atmosphere–subsurface boundary into an integrated non‐isothermal, variably saturated (Richards') the numerical simulator DuMux 3. This allowed, after calibration, to match measured soil temperatures with ±2°C accuracy. The land‐use cover influenced the soil temperature in 1.5 m more than the soil material used for back‐filling the trench above the pipe.
Endocrine Disruptors and Cancers in Women
Authors: Scharschmidt Lea , Scheffler Florence , Vandecandelaere Albane , Bosquet Dorian , Lefranc Elodie , Bouquet De La Jolinière Jean , Benkhalifa Moncef , Feki Anis , Cabry-Goubet Rosalie
Published: November 2023

Cancers of the female reproductive system are frequent in the general population and have been the subject of numerous studies for several years, which made evident the existence of several risk factors with different degrees of impact.

The often hormone-sensitive nature of these cancers raises the question of the possible involvement of endocrine disruptors (EDs) in the onset of the diseases.

This work reviews the scientific studies that have questioned the potential promoting effect of certain families of endocrine disruptors on cancers in women, in particular breast cancer. The article research was carried out on PubMed, and articles published from 2000 onward were selected.
Modeling Organogenesis from Biological First Principles
Authors: Montévil Maël , Soto Ana M.
Published: November 2023

Unlike inert objects, organisms and their cells have the ability to initiate activity by themselves and thus change their properties or states even in the absence of an external cause. This crucial difference led us to search for principles suitable for the study organisms. We propose that cells follow the default state of proliferation with variation and motility, a principle of biological inertia. This means that in the presence of sufficient nutrients, cells will express their default state. We also propose a principle of variation that addresses two central features of organisms, variation and historicity. To address interdependence between parts, we use a third principle, the principle of organization, more specifically, the notion of the closure of constraints. Within this theoretical framework, constraints are specific theoretical entities defined by their relative stability with respect to the processes they constrain. Constraints are mutually dependent in an organized system and act on the default state.

Here we discuss the application and articulation of these principles for mathematical modeling of morphogenesis in a specific case, that of mammary ductal morphogenesis, with an emphasis on the default state. Our model has both a biological component, the cells, and a physical component, the matrix that contains collagen fibers. Cells are agents that move and proliferate unless constrained; they exert mechanical forces that act (i) on collagen fibers and (ii) on other cells. As fibers are organized, they constrain the cells’ ability to move and to proliferate. This model exhibits a circularity that can be interpreted in terms of the closure of constraints. Implementing our mathematical model shows that constraints to the default state are sufficient to explain the formation of mammary epithelial structures. Finally, the success of this modeling effort suggests a stepwise approach whereby additional constraints imposed by the tissue and the organism can be examined in silico and rigorously tested by in vitro and in vivo experiments, in accordance with the organicist perspective we embrace.
Judging Organization: A Plea for Transcendental Logic in Philosophy of Biology
Authors: Van de Vijver Gertrudis , Haeck Levi
Published: November 2023

Even if the concept of organization is increasingly recognized as crucially important to (philosophy of) biology, the fear of thereby collapsing into vitalism, understood as the metaphysical thesis that “life” involves special principles irreducible to (and that perhaps even run counter to) the principles governing the physical order, has persisted. In trying to overcome this tension, Georges Canguilhem endorsed an attitudinal form of vitalism. This “attitudinal stance” (a term coined by Charles Wolfe) shifts the issue of organization away from ontological commitments regarding the nature of things as they are in themselves, in favor of epistemological issues concerning the stance of the knowing subject. However, it is based on some epistemological tenets that deserve further examination. Firstly, in spite of its anti-Cartesian spirit, the attitudinal stance implicitly relies on a Cartesian perspective on the relation between subject and object. Secondly, it rests on the idea that some objects can meaningfully be identified as persisting individuals—living organisms—in a way in which others cannot, even if it denies that the capacity to be meaningfully identified as such reflects an actual property of them. This chapter outlines a possible alternative viewpoint that takes these challenges to heart by developing a co-constitutive picture of the relation between subject and object—a picture based on Georges Canguilhem’s own theory of judgment, but supplemented by Immanuel Kant’s transcendental logic. Most fundamentally, it is argued that the (self-)organization of living beings draws attention to and is structurally intertwined with the (self-)organization of the thinking subject’s rational (i.e., logical, conceptual, judging) capacities.
The Fourth Perspective: Evolution and Organismal Agency
Authors: Jaeger Johannes
Published: November 2023

This chapter examines the deep connections between biological organization, agency, and evolution by natural selection. Using Griesemer’s account of the reproducer, I argue that the basic unit of evolution is not a genetic replicator, but a complex hierarchical life cycle. Understanding the self-maintaining and self-proliferating properties of evolvable reproducers requires an organizational account of ontogenesis and reproduction. This leads us to an extended and disambiguated set of minimal conditions for evolution by natural selection—including revised or new principles of heredity, variation, and ontogenesis. More importantly, the continuous maintenance of biological organization within and across generations implies that all evolvable systems are agents or contain agents among their parts. This means that we ought to take agency seriously—to better understand the concept and its role in explaining biological phenomena—if we aim to obtain an organismic theory of evolution in the original spirit of Darwin’s struggle for existence. This kind of understanding must rely on an agential perspective on evolution, complementing and succeeding existing structural, functional, and processual approaches. I sketch a tentative outline of such an agential perspective and present a survey of methodological and conceptual challenges that will have to be overcome if we are to properly implement it.
On the Evolutionary Development of Biological Organization from Complex Prebiotic Chemistry
Authors: Ruiz-Mirazo Kepa , Moreno Alvaro
Published: November 2023

In this chapter we offer a critical analysis of organizational models about the process of origins of life and, thereby, a reflection about life itself (understood in a general, minimal sense). We begin by demarcating the idea of organization as an explanatory construct, linking it to the complex relationships and transformations that the material parts of (proto-)biological systems establish to maintain themselves under non-equilibrium dynamic conditions. The diverse ways in which this basic idea has been applied within the prebiotic field are then reviewed in relative detail. We distinguish between “network” and “protocell” approaches, discussing their specific implications and explaining the greater relevance of the latter in the current state of affairs. Despite the key role that such organizational approaches play (and should keep playing) to advance on the problem of primordial biogenesis, the second half of our contribution is devoted to argue that they must be combined with other explanatory accounts, which go beyond the physiology of any single (proto-)organism. With that aim, we underline the fundamental differences between the autonomous, metabolic dynamics that individual (proto-)cells perform and the evolutionary and ecological dynamics that take place in a collective and trans-generational dimension. Apart from obvious gaps in the characteristic temporal and spatial scales involved, the corresponding causal and interactive regimes also reveal themselves as neatly distinct, what is reflected in the unpaired functional integration and the agent behavior displayed by biological individuals. Nevertheless, any living organism (and life in a wider, general sense) derives from the deep interweaving of those two phenomenological domains: namely, the “individual-metabolic” and the “collective-evolutionary” domains. At the end of the chapter, we propose the principle of dynamical decoupling as the core idea to develop a more comprehensive theoretical framework to understand how this intricate, causally asymmetric connection must be articulated during the actual process of biogenesis (as it happened here on Earth or anywhere else in the universe), so that life’s minimal complexity threshold is reached.
‘Everything is Bridgeable’ in a Post-Conflict Situation? The Situation of Local Government in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Woelk Jens
Published: November 2023

After a brief overview of the post-conflict transition of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the chapter illustrates local self-government in the two entities before addressing some common and fundamental problems. This analysis is followed by the case of the city of Mostar, which concentrates all the difficulties of local self-government in BiH in one single case. Despite the separate and different systems, local authorities in both entities face similar challenges: an ageing and shrinking population, the decline of smaller towns and an increasing divide between urban centres and rural areas, fragmented and often expensive local administration, debt burdens, disputes over the allocation of resources (especially in FBH), insufficient cooperation. Therefore, according to a large majority of local politicians and mayors, fundamental reforms are needed. However, despite the clear results of the analysis and the unanimous opinion of many local politicians, a real reform momentum or change from below is hardly to be seen or expected any time soon.
Potential benefits of synchronous action observation and motor imagery: a commentary on Eaves et al. 2022
Authors: Azaad Shaheed , Sebanz Natalie
Published: November 2023

In a recent Psychological Research article, Eaves et al. (2022) review the literature on how motor imagery (MI) practice combined with action observation (AO) enhances motor performance. The authors propose that the synchronous form of AO and MI (AOMI) affords unique benefits to performance that are not possible when the two interventions are performed asynchronously. We discuss three questions raised by Eaves et al.’s review: (1) are there any clear advantages to synchronous AOMI? (2) Are there super-additive benefits to AOMI, and if so, are they unique to synchronous AOMI? (3) How might coordinative AOMI, in which people imagine complementary actions, facilitate joint actions?
Outcome of COVID-19 patients treated with VV-ECMO in Tyrol during the pandemic
Authors: Peer Andreas , Perschinka Fabian , Lehner Georg , Mayerhöfer Timo , Mair Peter , Kilo Juliane , Breitkopf Robert , Fries Dietmar , Joannidis Michael
Published: November 2023

Introduction

A small percentage of patients infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV‑2) showed severe respiratory deterioration requiring treatment with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). During the pandemic surges availability of ECMO devices was limited and resources had to be used wisely. The aim of this analysis was to determine the incidence and outcome of venovenous (VV) ECMO patients in Tyrol, when criteria based on the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) guidelines for VV-ECMO initiation were established.

Methods

This is a secondary analysis of the Tyrol-CoV-ICU-Reg, which includes all patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Tyrol. Of the 13 participating departments, VV-ECMO was performed at 4 units at the University Hospital Innsbruck.

Results

Overall, 37 (3.4%) of 1101 patients were treated with VV-ECMO during their ICU stay. The hospital mortality rate was approximately 40% (n = 15). Multiorgan failure due to sepsis was the most common cause of death. No significant difference in survival rates between newly initiated and experienced centers was observed. The median survival time of nonsurvivors was 27 days (interquartile range, IQR: 22–36 days) after initiation of VV-ECMO. Acute kidney injury meeting the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria occurred in 48.6%. Renal replacement therapy (RRT) was initiated in 12 (32.4%) patients after a median of 18 days (IQR: 1–26 days) after VV-ECMO start. The median length of ICU and hospital stays were 38 days (IQR: 30–55 days) and 50 days (IQR: 37–83 days), respectively.

Discussion

Despite a rapidly increased demand and the resulting requirement to initiate an additional ECMO center, we could demonstrate that a structured approach with interdisciplinary collaboration resulted in favorable survival rates similar to multinational reports.
Growth and remodeling of the dissected membrane in an idealized dissected aorta model
Authors: Gheysen Lise , Maes Lauranne , Famaey Nele , Segers Patrick
Published: November 2023

While transitioning from the acute to chronic phase, the wall of a dissected aorta often expands in diameter and adaptations in thickness and microstructure take place in the dissected membrane. Including the mechanisms, leading to these changes, in a computational model is expected to improve the accuracy of predictions of the long-term complications and optimal treatment timing of dissection patients. An idealized dissected wall was modeled to represent the elastin and collagen production and/or degradation imposed by stress- and inflammation-mediated growth and remodeling, using the homogenized constrained mixture theory. As no optimal growth and remodeling parameters have been defined for aortic dissections, a Latin hypercube sampling with 1000 parameter combinations was assessed for four inflammation patterns, with a varying spatial extent (full/local) and temporal evolution (permanent/transient). The dissected membrane thickening and microstructure was considered together with the diameter expansion over a period of 90 days. The highest success rate was found for the transient inflammation patterns, with about 15% of the samples leading to converged solutions after 90 days. Clinically observed thickening rates were found for 2–4% of the transient inflammation samples, which represented median total diameter expansion rates of about 5 mm/year. The dissected membrane microstructure showed an elastin decrease and, in most cases, a collagen increase. In conclusion, the model with the transient inflammation pattern allowed the reproduction of clinically observed dissected membrane thickening rates, diameter expansion rates and adaptations in microstructure, thus providing guidance in reducing the parameter space in growth and remodeling models of aortic dissections.
Evaluating the performance of propagation models of flow-like landslides at regional scale
Authors: Crescenzo L. , Guthrie R. , Calvello M.
Published: November 2023

Propagation models of flow-like landslides can be calibrated by comparing on-site evidence of past occurrences with the propagation paths and the deposition zones resulting from numerical simulations of the phenomena. Most typically, the performance of these models is evaluated considering the events independently from one another and, heuristically, i.e., subjectively assessing the fit between numerical results and available on-site data. At regional scale, however, storms often trigger, within a given area, multiple landslides of the flow type that occur more or less simultaneously. At this scale, a procedure that objectively quantifies the success, or the errors, of the numerical simulations of multiple landslides is lacking. In this study, such a quantitative calibration procedure is proposed, and assessed, considering the debris flows that occurred in Sarno in 1998 (Italy). The numerical model used is called Debris Flow Predictor (DFP), which is able to simulate the propagation paths and the accumulation depths of multiple debris flows, at regional scale, from a series of predefined triggering areas. The model employs a cellular automata method with a probabilistic behavioral rule, which is a function of the adopted digital elevation model and a series of parameters related to the erosional, the depositional, and the spreading capacity of the propagating soil mass. The numerical simulations were evaluated over the study area considering the entire set of debris flow events, as well as the individual debris flows, following a preliminary discretization of both the mapped footprints and the remaining portion of the territory. The relative and total operator characteristic curves, in addition to 6 indicators derived from a confusion matrix, have been used to quantify the performance of the simulations. The results show that the quantitative evaluation of the numerical results is essential to properly calibrate the adopted model, i.e., to discriminate among different simulations arising from different sets of model parameters.
Investigation of the Density Dependence of the Influence Parameter
Authors: Mühlegger Eva , Langenbach Kai
Published: November 2023

In chemical engineering, interfacial properties play an important role in the design of thermal separation units and also in product design. Two important surface properties are the surface tension between fluid phases and the adsorption of fluids on solids. Of the various ways of describing and calculating these properties, density gradient theory (DGT) is by far the least computationally demanding. However, while surface tension is well described by DGT, adsorption is typically not. One possible reason for this is the constant known as the influence parameter of DGT. This parameter has a real physical meaning—it is the second moment of the direct correlation function—and should therefore depend on the density. In this contribution the density dependence of the influence parameter is investigated. Both, the surface tension between liquid and vapor and the adsorption of vapor or gas on solids of the Lennard–Jones truncated and shifted fluid, are calculated and compared with molecular simulation data. A functional form is identified which retains most of the accuracy of the surface tension while greatly improving the description of the adsorption.
Turning a linear geometry force-balance accelerometer to a broadband seismometer: design, modeling, and evaluation
Authors: Germenis Nikos , Dimitrakakis Georgios , Sokos Efthimios , Nikolakopoulos Pantelis
Published: November 2023

A new, improved approach in the design of broadband seismometers is presented. The design results in the implementation of a high performance, low cost, and simple-to-operate instrument. The proposed seismometer is based on a modified accelerometer followed by a continuous time integrator for providing velocity voltage output. It has a broadband response, flat in velocity from 120 s to 75 Hz, high sensitivity 1200 V/(m/s), and 40 Vpp differential output range. The acceleration integration method provides high performance at low frequencies, with self-noise well below the New Low Noise Model at the range 80 s–16 Hz. The mechanical system provides a perfectly linear response of its displacement sensing system. Evaluation, classification, and noise determination of the presented instrument are performed in terms of direct experimental measurements, simulations, and calculations based on raw data from the proposed sensor and from a commercial product with approximately equivalent performance. Its technical features and performance specifications guarantee accurate sensing of local events, with maximum power at the frequency range of 5 to 10 Hz, but also make it ideal for the recording of distant tectonic activity, where extremely weak motions at long periods are expected. The whole design is robust, lightweight, and weatherproof, comprising in this way a useful tool to geoscientists.
Safety of microneurosurgical interventions for superficial and deep-seated brain metastases: single-center cohort study of 637 consecutive cases
Authors: Voglis Stefanos , Padevit Luis , van Niftrik Christiaan Hendrik Bas , Kälin Vincens , Beyersdorf Benjamin , Da Mutten Raffaele , Stumpo Vittorio , Bellomo Jacopo , Sarnthein Johannes , Staartjes Victor Egon , Carretta Alessandro , Krayenbühl Niklaus , Regli Luca , Serra Carlo
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Microneurosurgical techniques have greatly improved over the past years due to the introduction of new technology and surgical concepts. To reevaluate the role of micro-neurosurgery in brain metastases (BM) resection in the era of new systemic and local treatment options, its safety profile needs to be reassessed. The aim of this study was to analyze the rate of adverse events (AEs) according to a systematic, comprehensive and reliably reproducible grading system after microneurosurgical BM resection in a large and modern microneurosurgical series with special emphasis on anatomical location.

Methods

Prospectively collected cases of BM resection between 2013 and 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Number of AEs, defined as any deviations from the expected postoperative course according to Clavien–Dindo-Grade (CDG) were evaluated. Patient, surgical, and lesion characteristics, including exact anatomic tumor locations, were analyzed using uni- and multivariate logistic regression and survival analysis to identify predictive factors for AEs.

Results

We identified 664 eligible patients with lung cancer being the most common primary tumor (44%), followed by melanoma (25%) and breast cancer (11%). 29 patients (4%) underwent biopsy only whereas BM were resected in 637 (96%) of cases. The overall rate of AEs was 8% at discharge. However, severe AEs (≥ CDG 3a; requiring surgical intervention under local/general anesthesia or ICU treatment) occurred in only 1.9% (n = 12) of cases with a perioperative mortality of 0.6% (n = 4). Infratentorial tumor location (OR 5.46, 95% 2.31–13.8, p = .001), reoperation (OR 2.31, 95% 1.07–4.81, p = .033) and central region tumor location (OR 3.03, 95% 1.03–8.60) showed to be significant predictors in a multivariate analysis for major AEs (CDG ≥ 2 or new neurological deficits). Neither deep supratentorial nor central region tumors were associated with more major AEs compared to convexity lesions.

Conclusions

Modern microneurosurgical resection can be considered an excellent option in the management of BM in terms of safety, as the overall rate of major AEs are very rare even in eloquent and deep-seated lesions.
Assessing the dynamic performance of water companies through the lens of service quality
Authors: Sala-Garrido Ramon , Mocholi-Arce Manuel , Molinos-Senante Maria , Maziotis Alexandros
Published: November 2023

The measurement of performance within the water industry holds significant importance for policymakers, as it can help guide decision-making for future development and management initiatives. In this study, we apply data envelopment analysis (DEA) cross-efficiency techniques to evaluate the productivity change of the Chilean water industry during the years 2010–2018. Water leakage and unplanned interruptions are included in the analysis as quality of service variables. Moreover, we use cluster analysis and regression techniques to better understand what drives productivity change of water companies. The results indicate that the Chilean water industry is characterized by considerable high levels of inefficiency and low levels of productivity change. This is due to the existence of technical regress whereas gains in efficiency were small. Concessionary water companies were found to be more productive than full private and public water companies. Best and worst performers need to make efforts to reduce production costs and improve service quality. Other factors such as customer density and ownership type statistically affect productivity.
Reduction in metabolic noise reveals rejuvenation following transient severe caloric restriction
Authors: Levkovich Guy , Bendikov-Bar Inna , Malitsky Sergey , Itkin Maxim , Rusal Mark , Lokshtanov Dmitri , Shinder Dmitry , Sagi Dror
Published: November 2023

Among land vertebrates, the laying hen stands out due to its great reproductive efficiency: producing an egg daily all year long. This production rate makes the laying hen a special model animal to study the general process of reproduction and aging. One unique aspect of hens is their ability to undergo reproductive plasticity and to rejuvenate their reproductive tract during molting, a standard industrial feed restriction protocol for transiently pausing reproduction, followed by improved laying efficiency almost to peak production. Here we use longitudinal metabolomics, immunology, and physiological assays to show that molting promotes reproduction, compresses morbidity, and restores youthfulness when applied to old hens. We identified circulating metabolic biomarkers that quantitatively predict the reproduction and age of individuals. Lastly, we introduce metabolic noise, a robust, unitless, and quantifiable measure for heterogeneity of the complete metabolome as a general marker that can indicate the rate of aging of a population. Indeed, metabolic noise increased with age in control hens, whereas molted hens exhibited reduced noise following molting, indicating systemic rejuvenation. Our results suggest that metabolic noise can be used as a quick and universal proxy for assessing successful aging treatments, accelerating the timeline for drug development.
Effectiveness of Electronic Service-Learning (e-SL) in Primary School Children in China during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Li Xiang , Shek Daniel T. L. , Mok Betty P. W. , Shek Esther Y. W. , Bai Yun Peng
Published: November 2023

In recent years, Service-Learning (SL) has become a popular pedagogy in higher education, especially in Asian societies such as Hong Kong. However, although prior studies have generally showed positive effects of SL for service providers (university students in particular), there is limited evidence of the benefits of SL for the service recipients. Additionally, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some SL programs have shifted from a traditional in-person mode to an online mode, thereby creating the need to evaluate e-Service Learning (e-SL) projects. In this study, we evaluated changes among 422 primary school students as service recipients (50.6% male; 49.4% female; Mage = 11.53) joining an e-SL program conducted in mainland China by 85 undergraduate students from a public university in Hong Kong. Using a single-group pretest and posttest design with data collected before and after the e-SL program, which focused on leadership and personal development outcomes, we found that the service recipients showed significant improvements in positive youth development (PYD) attributes, leadership qualities, psychological well-being, and academic performance. We also found gender differences in most of the developmental outcomes, with male participants showing more positive improvements than female participants. These pioneering findings underscore the effectiveness of e-SL program in terms of promoting the holistic development of service recipients. This study also reveals gender differences in the benefits derived from e-SL programs.
Genomic Exploration of the Brain in People Infected with HIV—Recent Progress and the Road Ahead
Authors: Plaza-Jennings Amara , Akbarian Schahram
Published: November 2023

Purpose of Review

The adult human brain harbors billions of microglia and other myeloid and lymphoid cells highly susceptible to HIV infection and retroviral insertion into the nuclear DNA. HIV infection of the brain is important because the brain is a potentially large reservoir site that may be a barrier to HIV cure strategies and because infection can lead to the development of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder. To better understand both the central nervous system (CNS) reservoir and how it can cause neurologic dysfunction, novel genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic approaches need to be employed. Several characteristics of the reservoir are important to learn, including where the virus integrates, whether integrated proviruses are intact or defective, whether integrated proviruses can be reactivated from a latent state to seed ongoing infection, and how this all impacts brain function.

Recent Findings

Here, we discuss similarities and differences of viral integration sites between brain and blood and discuss evidence for and against the hypothesis that in the absence of susceptible T-lymphocytes in the periphery, the virus housing in the infected brain is not able to sustain a systemic infection. Moreover, microglia from HIV + brains across a wide range of disease severity appear to share one type of common alteration, which is defined by downregulated expression, and repressive chromosomal compartmentalization, for microglial genes regulating synaptic connectivity.

Therefore, viral infection of the brain, including in immunocompetent cases with near-normal levels of CD4 blood lymphocytes, could be associated with an early disruption in microglia-dependent neuronal support functions, contributing to cognitive and neurological deficits in people living with HIV.
Do Not Keep Calm and Carry on: School-Based Mindfulness Programmes Should Test Making Mindfulness Practice Available in the School Day
Authors: Strohmaier Sarah , Bailey Neil W.
Published: November 2023

Recently, the largest test of a school-based mindfulness programme to date, the My Resilience In Adolescence (MYRIAD) trial, found that participating in weekly mindfulness lessons did not improve students’ well-being compared to teaching as usual, with low uptake of recommended home mindfulness practice. One potential explanation for the null result and low uptake is that adolescents might be unlikely to adhere to home mindfulness practice recommendations when choosing between mindfulness and their graded homework or more stimulating activities. Indeed, many studies of school-based mindfulness programmes have reported low adherence to home practice recommendations. Home practice recommendations also create equity issues, as many students may find it difficult to make the time for home mindfulness practice, a factor that is more likely to affect students who are disadvantaged. As such, we argue in this article that research needs to test whether school-based mindfulness programmes that make mindfulness practice time available in the school day result in higher adherence to mindfulness practice recommendations, and whether these programmes are effective at improving student mental health. Unfortunately, very little research has examined how much mindfulness practice is required to obtain meaningful effects. We summarise the small volume of mindfulness dose-response literature to provide guidelines for how much school-based mindfulness practice might be sufficient and provide suggestions for further testing. While making mindfulness practice time available in the school day may be difficult to implement, its efficacy is currently untested. Youth mental health remains a critical issue, providing strong justification for testing whether mindfulness practice made available in the school day results in better outcomes, despite the challenges posed in pursuing this research avenue.
Long-Term Course of Circulating Elastin, Collagen Type I, and Collagen Type III in Patients with Spontaneous Cervical Artery Dissection: a Prospective Multicenter Study
Authors: Zimmermann Silke , Weißenfels Markus , Krümmer Norma , Michalski Dominik , Weise Gesa , Branzan Daniela , Pelz Johann Otto
Published: November 2023

An impaired integrity of vascular elements and the extracellular matrix (ECM) has been discussed to play a critical role in the pathophysiology of spontaneous cervical artery dissection (sCAD). This study aimed to explore the temporal course of circulating elastin, collagen type I, and collagen type III in patients with sCAD and evaluated their eligibility as diagnostic biomarkers. Patients with sCAD were prospectively enrolled in four German stroke centers. Blood samples were collected at baseline (acute phase), at day 10 ± 3 (subacute phase), and after 6 ± 1 months (chronic phase). Patients with acute ischemic stroke not related to sCAD, healthy probands, and patients undergoing thromboendarterectomy of the carotid artery served as control groups. Serum levels of elastin and collagen types I and III were determined by ELISAs. Fifty-seven patients with sCAD were enrolled. Compared to all three control groups, patients with sCAD had significantly lower levels of elastin and collagen type III at baseline and after 6 months. Compared to healthy probands, patients with sCAD showed similar collagen type I levels at baseline and in the subacute phase, but significantly increased levels after 6 months. As serum levels of elastin, collagen types I and III were not elevated in the acute phase, they do not appear eligible as biomarkers for the diagnosis of sCAD. Persisting low serum levels of elastin and collagen type III towards the chronic phase of sCAD strengthens the hypothesis of a subtle, in most cases clinically inapparent affection of the ECM in patients with sCAD.
Dissertation Abstract: Taming Exact Inference in Temporal Probabilistic Relational Models
Authors: Gehrke Marcel
Published: November 2023

Processes in our world are of a temporal probabilistic relational nature. An epidemic is an example of such a process. This dissertation abstract uses the scenario of an epidemic to illustrate the lifted dynamic junction tree algorithm (LDJT), which is a temporal probabilistic relational inference algorithm. More specifically, we argue that existing propositional temporal probabilistic inference algorithms are not suited to model an epidemic, i.e., without accounting for the relational part, and present how LDJT uses the relational aspect. Additionally, we illustrate how LDJT preserves groups of indistinguishable objects over time and have a look at LDJT from a theoretical side.
COVID-19 Vaccination Messengers, Communication Channels, and Messages Trusted Among Black Communities in the USA: a Review
Authors: Rabin Yael , Kohler Racquel E.
Published: November 2023

Black and African American adults exhibited higher levels of mistrust and vaccine hesitancy and lower levels of vaccination throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccination and booster uptake remains disproportionately low among Black adults. We conducted a systematic review of empirical research published between February 2021 and July 2022 from five electronic databases and the grey literature. We screened studies that assessed COVID-19 vaccination information needs and preferences as well as communication strategies among Black adults in the USA. We extracted data, then analyzed and synthesized results narratively. Twenty-two articles were included: 2 interventions, 3 experimental surveys, 7 observational surveys, 8 qualitative inquiries, and 2 mixed methods studies. Studies reported credible and preferred COVID-19 vaccination information sources/messengers, channels, and content. Commonly trusted messengers included personal health care providers, social network connections, and church/faith leaders. Electronic outreach (e.g., email, text messages), community events (e.g., forums, canvassing), and social media were popular. Black communities wanted hopeful, fact-based messages that address racism and mistrust; persuasive messages using collective appeals about protecting others may be more influential in changing behavior. Future communication strategies aiming to increase vaccine confidence and encourage COVID-19 booster vaccination among Black communities should be developed in partnership with community leaders and local health care providers to disseminate trauma-informed messages with transparent facts and collective action appeals across multiple in-person and electronic channels.
Investigating the effect of selective exposure, audience fragmentation, and echo-chambers on polarization in dynamic media ecosystems
Authors: Rabb Nicholas , Cowen Lenore , de Ruiter Jan P.
Published: November 2023

The degree of polarization in many societies has become a pressing concern in media studies. Typically, it is argued that the internet and social media have created more media producers than ever before, allowing individual, biased media consumers to expose themselves only to what already confirms their beliefs, leading to polarized echo-chambers that further deepen polarization. This work introduces extensions to the recent Cognitive Cascades model of Rabb et al. to study this dynamic, allowing for simulation of information spread between media and networks of variably biased citizens. Our results partially confirm the above polarization logic, but also reveal several important enabling conditions for polarization to occur: (1) the distribution of media belief must be more polarized than the population; (2) the population must be at least somewhat persuadable to changing their belief according to new messages they hear; and finally, (3) the media must statically continue to broadcast more polarized messages rather than, say, adjust to appeal more to the beliefs of their current subscribers. Moreover, and somewhat counter-intuitively, under these conditions we find that polarization is more likely to occur when media consumers are exposed to more diverse messages, and that polarization occurred most often when there were low levels of echo-chambers and fragmentation. These results suggest that polarization is not simply due to biased individuals responding to an influx of media sources in the digital age, but also a consequence of polarized media conditions within an information ecosystem that supports more diverse exposure than is typically thought.
From co-location patterns to an informal social network of gig economy workers
Authors: Pilatti Gustavo , Candia Cristian , Montini Alessandra , Pinheiro Flávio L.
Published: November 2023

The labor market has transformed with the advent of the gig economy, characterized by short-term and flexible work arrangements facilitated by online platforms. As this trend becomes increasingly prevalent, it presents unique opportunities and challenges. In this manuscript, we comprehensively characterize the social networks of gig economy workers in each of the 15 cities studied. Our analysis reveals a scaling relationship between networks and the city population. In particular, we note the high level of modularity of the networks, and we argue that it results from the natural specialization of couriers along different areas of the cities. Furthermore, we show that degree and betweenness centrality is positively correlated with income but not with tenure. Our findings shed new light on the social organization of the gig economy workers and provide valuable insights for the management and design of gig economy platforms.
Gastroenterologische und hepatologische Versorgung in Österreich – eine Gap-Analyse
Authors: Riedel Monika , Fößleitner Sophie , Koisser Lea , Röhrling Gerald , Czypionka Thomas
Published: November 2023

Hintergrund

Aufgrund der hohen Krankheitslast nimmt die Gastroenterologie und Hepatologie in Österreich eine bedeutende Rolle in der Gesundheitsversorgung ein, dennoch wird sie kaum untersucht und unterliegt keiner Planung. Ziel der Studie ist es, die aktuelle Versorgungssituation zu ermitteln und den zukünftigen Bedarf im Jahr 2030 zu prognostizieren.

Methode

Um Angebot und Nachfrage des aktuellen Versorgungsstand abzubilden, werden Daten aus fünf administrativen Quellen analysiert. Der zukünftige Bedarf wird basierend auf dem aktuellen Angebot und Nachfrage mittels einer Gap-Analyse prognostiziert, bei welcher der aktuelle Stand bis 2030 fortgeschrieben wird. Dies erfolgt anhand eines Stock-flow-Modells auf der Angebotsseite, und auf der Nachfrageseite wird in eine Nachfrage nach ärztlicher Kapazität „übersetzt“.

Ergebnisse

Im Basisjahr 2021 zeigt sich ein hoher Altersdurchschnitt der Ärzteschaft, insbesondere bei jenen im niedergelassenen Bereich (konkret: unter Vertrag bei der Österreichischen Gesundheitskasse, ÖGK). Diese werden bis 2030 teilweise oder zur Gänze ausscheiden, wodurch sich ein hoher Bedarf an Absolventinnen und Absolventen mit einschlägiger fachärztlicher Ausbildung ergibt. Gleichzeitig nimmt die Prognose eine Steigerung der Nachfrage um 0,8 % bis 2,4 % pro Jahr an. Der Gap-Analyse zufolge werden 78 Ärztinnen und Ärzte im intramuralen Bereich (ausschließlich angestellt) bis 2030 benötigt sowie 144 bis 188 mit ÖGK-Vertrag. Weiters gibt es einen Bedarf in unbekannter Höhe an Ärztinnen und Ärzten mit (1) Doppeltätigkeit (angestellt und niedergelassen ohne ÖGK-Vertrag), (2) Vertrag bei anderen Kassen oder (3) ausschließlicher Wahlarzt-Tätigkeit. Im selben Zeitraum werden ca. 240 Absolvierende nachrücken, welche gerade den Bedarf in den beiden berechneten Gruppen decken, nicht aber den Gesamtbedarf.

Schlussfolgerung

Aus der Prognose ergibt sich eine Lücke an Ausgebildeten, um die Versorgung auf heutigem Niveau sicherzustellen. Noch nicht berücksichtigt sind aber Mehrbedarfe durch eine Steigerung der Qualität, zum Beispiel im Sinne der geplanten Vorsorgekoloskopie in ganz Österreich. Eine Attraktivierung des Fachs für junge Medizinerinnen und Mediziner wäre wichtig. Selbst wenn dies gelingt, kann der demografische Wandel aber zu einer Verknappung an Ausbildenden führen.
Quantifying Individual Variability in Neural Control Circuit Regulation Using Single-Subject fMRI
Authors: Kumar Rajat , Strey Helmut H. , Mujica-Parodi Lilianne R.
Published: November 2023

As a field, control systems engineering has developed quantitative methods to characterize the regulation of systems or processes, whose functioning is ubiquitous within synthetic systems. In this context, a control circuit is objectively “well regulated” when discrepancy between desired and achieved output trajectories is minimized and “robust” to the degree that it can regulate well in response to a wide range of stimuli. Most psychiatric disorders are assumed to reflect dysregulation of brain circuits. Yet, probing circuit regulation requires fundamentally different analytic strategies than the correlations relied upon for analyses of connectivity and their resultant networks. Here, we demonstrate how well-established methods for system identification in control systems engineering may be applied to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data to extract generative computational models of human brain circuits. As required for clinical neurodiagnostics, we show these models to be extractable even at the level of the single subject. Control parameters provide two quantitative measures of direct relevance for psychiatric disorders: a circuit’s sensitivity to external perturbation and its dysregulation.