bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Navigating the complexities of student understanding: Exploring the coherency of students' conceptions about the greenhouse effect
Authors: Schubatzky Thomas , Haagen‐Schützenhöfer Claudia , Wackermann Rainer , Wöhlke Carina , Wildbichler Sarah
Published: April 2024

The greenhouse effect is a complex scientific phenomenon that plays a crucial role in understanding climate change. Grasping students' understanding of this phenomenon on the content‐specific level but also how students' conceptions are organized is vital for effective climate change education. This study addresses both levels and delves into the relationship between students' frameworks and knowledge pieces of the greenhouse effect through the analysis of multiple‐choice questions, employing Bayesian correlations and multiple logistic regression. We thereby focus on specific types of conceptualizations of the greenhouse effect that have been identified in previous research and furthermore investigate the coherency of them. To do so, we analyzed answers of N = 604 grade 11 students in Austria and Germany and interpreted them from different theoretical perspectives. The findings showed that students hold various ideas about the greenhouse effect that are only seldom coherent, in particular when it comes to adequate ideas about the greenhouse effect. However, especially for a reflection‐based framework of the greenhouse effect, our results demonstrate that students' conceptions show some form of coherency. We argue that our results can inform the development of effective teaching strategies that address students' existing knowledge and alternative conceptions. In terms of practical implications, the findings suggest that teaching strategies should provide opportunities for students to integrate their knowledge pieces into a more coherent understanding of the greenhouse effect. The study highlights the need for further investigation into the relationship between knowledge pieces and frameworks not only for the greenhouse effect, but for science education in general.
The In Vivo Biological Fate of Protein Corona: A Comparative PET Study of the Fate of Soft and Hard Protein Corona in Healthy Animal Models
Authors: Villacorta Angel Martinez , Mielcarek Angelika , Martinez María Gómez , Jorge Helena , Henschke Agata , Coy Emerson , Gomez‐Vallejo Vanessa , Llop Jordi , Moya Sergio E.
Published: April 2024

Radiolabeling and nuclear imaging techniques are used to investigate the biodistribution patterns of the soft and hard protein corona around poly (lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PLGA NPs) after administration to healthy mice. Soft and hard protein coronas of 131I‐labeled BSA or 131I‐labeled serum are formed on PLGA NPs functionalized with either polyehtylenimine (PEI) or bovine serum albumin (BSA). The exchangeability of hard and soft corona is assessed in vitro by gamma counting exposing PLGA NPs with corona to non‐labeled BSA, serum, or simulated body fluid. PEI PLGA NPs form larger and more stable coronas than BSA PLGA NPs. Soft coronas are more exchangeable than hard ones. The in vivo fate of PEI PLGA NPs coated with preformed 18F‐labeled BSA hard and soft coronas is assessed by positron emission tomography (PET) following intravenous administration. While the soft corona shows a biodistribution similar to free 18F BSA with high activity in blood and kidney, the hard corona follows patterns characteristic of nanoparticles, accumulating in the lungs, liver, and spleen. These results show that in vivo fates of soft and hard corona are different, and that soft corona is more easily exchanged with proteins from the body, while hard corona is largely retained on the nanoparticle surface.
Minimizing Voltage Losses via Synergistically Reducing Hetero‐Interface Energy Offset for High Efficiency Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Wang Xinxin , Huang Hao , Wang Min , Lan Zhineng , Yang Yingying , Cui Peng , Du Shuxian , Yan Luyao , Zhang Qiang , Qu Shujie , Zhao Zhiguo , Li Meicheng
Published: April 2024

The open circuit voltage (VOC) losses at multiple interfaces within perovskite solar cells (PSCs) limit the improvements in power conversion efficiency (PCE). Herein, a tailored strategy is proposed to reduce the energy offset at both hetero‐interfaces within PSCs to decrease the VOC losses. For the interface of perovskite and electron transport layer where exists a mass of defects, it uses the pyromellitic acid to serve as a molecular bridge, which reduces non‐radiative recombination and energy level offset. For the interface of perovskite and hole transport layer, which includes a passivator of PEAI, the detrimental effect (negative shift of work function) of PEAI passivation and optimizing the interface energy level alignment are neutralized by incorporating (2‐(4‐(bis(4‐methoxyphenyl)amino)phenyl)‐1‐cyanovinyl)phosphonic acid. Owing to synergistically reduced hetero‐interface energy offset, the PSCs achieve a PCE of 25.13%, and the VOC is increased from 1.134 to 1.174 V. In addition, the resulting PSCs possess enhanced stability, the unencapsulated PSCs can maintain ≈96% and ≈97% of their initial PCE after 2000 h of aging under ambient conditions and 210 h under operation conditions.
The Use of Dress to Navigate Pregnancy and Postpartum in Ghana
Authors: Odoi Elizabeth Yemorkor , Wong Day K. M.
Published: April 2024

The transition to motherhood often involves navigating multiple, often conflicting, identities, which calls for negotiations across various aspects of the self and identity. Apart from collective body management practices in Ghana, different ideals of maternal dress and appearance coexist in the context of globalization. Drawing insight from Goffman's dramaturgical theory, this study explores the role of dress in navigating pregnancy and motherhood and the significance of social interaction and the audience in the negotiations. Through interviews with 42 mothers in Ghana, we identify three primary forms of embodied performances: that of a traditional mother; a fashionable and modern mother; and a productive and professional worker. By focusing on the dynamics of power relations, as well as the strategies that underlie these performances, such as idealization, role distancing, covering, and passing, we obtain a nuanced understanding of maternal performance in the Global South, specifically Ghana.
Schnelles und effizientes Genom-Editieren in Aureobasidium
Authors: Zimmermann Christian
Published: April 2024

The fungus Aureobasidium pullulans is used in the industry to produce pullulan and polymalate and possesses some outstanding properties such as polyextremotolerance and an unusual life cycle. This makes A. pullulans an interesting study object, for which we need an efficient genome editing method. This article describes how CRISPR/Cas can be used for this purpose. In particular, the usage of in vitro assembled ribonucleoproteins proved to be a fast and efficient method for genome editing.
Organisation von Gehirnzellen auf nanostrukturierten Materialien
Authors: Abend Alice , Jahnke Heinz-Georg , Zink Mareike
Published: April 2024

Brain-on-a-chip devices offer great potential to study function and disease of the brain. We employ machine-learning algorithms in combination with fluorescence imaging and adhesion studies of neuronal cells to access the biocompatibility of electrode materials. Multielectrode arrays of nanocolumnar titanium nitride comprise improved electric properties and cell-surface interaction compared to conventional electrode materials important for cell stimulation.
Erforschen der Aortenklappenstenose im mikrophysiologischen System
Authors: Dittfeld Claudia , Sonntag Frank , Tugtekin Sems-Malte
Published: April 2024

Calcific aortic valve disease results in stenosis and patient death if aortic valve (AV) is not replaced by prosthesis. Since conventional 2D valve cell cultures and animal models that, hardly reflect the human situation, are limited, the development of an AV microphysiological tissue culture system offering the possibility to also implement human AV tissue is aim of the research. Monitoring the tissue viability, ECM remodelling and marker expression also for long time culture periods is therefore essential.
Funktionale Hydrogele in mikrofluidischen Nanoreaktoren
Authors: Obst Franziska , Appelhans Dietmar , Gaitzsch Jens
Published: April 2024

The developments of microfluidics and hydrogels are strongly linked to one another. Small micrometer-sized hydrogels, so-called hydrogel-dots, can be placed into the microfluidic channel to fulfil a variety of different purposes. Handling chemical reactions or governing the flow as a valve would be two of the most prominent applications of hydrogel-dots in microfluidic channels. In this article, we will cover which requirements the microfluidic device needs to meet and how hydrogels can be applied for each of the named purposes.
Copy number signatures and CCNE1 amplification reveal the involvement of replication stress in high-grade endometrial tumors oncogenesis
Authors: Marlin Regine , Loger Jean-Samuel , Joachim Clarisse , Ebring Coralie , Robert-Siegwald Guillaume , Pennont Sabrina , Rose Mickaelle , Raguette Kevin , Suez-Panama Valerie , Ulric-Gervaise Sylviane , Lusbec Sylvie , Bera Odile , Vallard Alexis , Aline-Fardin Aude , Colomba Emeline , Jean-Laurent Mehdi
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Managing high-grade endometrial cancer in Martinique poses significant challenges. The diversity of copy number alterations in high-grade endometrial tumors, often associated with a TP53 mutation, is a key factor complicating treatment. Due to the high incidence of high-grade tumors with poor prognosis, our study aimed to characterize the molecular signature of these tumors within a cohort of 25 high-grade endometrial cases.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive pangenomic analysis to categorize the copy number alterations involved in these tumors. Whole-Exome Sequencing (WES) and Homologous Recombination (HR) analysis were performed. The alterations obtained from the WES were classified into various signatures using the Copy Number Signatures tool available in COSMIC.

Results

We identified several signatures that correlated with tumor stage and disctinct prognoses. These signatures all seem to be linked to replication stress, with CCNE1 amplification identified as the primary driver of oncogenesis in over 70% of tumors analyzed.

Conclusion

The identification of CCNE1 amplification, which is currently being explored as a therapeutic target in clinical trials, suggests new treatment strategies for high-grade endometrial cancer. This finding holds particular significance for Martinique, where access to care is challenging.
Self-adaptive Technique with Double Inertial Steps for Inclusion Problem on Hadamard Manifolds
Authors: Abass Hammed Anuoluwapo , Oyewole Olawale Kazeem , Aremu Kazeem Olalekan , Jolaoso Lateef Olakunle
Published: April 2024

In this article, we investigate monotone and Lipschitz continuous variational inclusion problem in the settings of Hadamard manifolds. We propose a forward–backward method with a self-adaptive technique for solving variational inclusion problem. To increase the rate of convergence of our proposed method, we incorporate our iterative method with double inertial steps and establish a convergence result of our iterative method under some mild conditions. Finally, in order to illustrate the computational effectiveness of our method, some numerical examples are also discussed. The result present in this article is new in this space and extends many related results in the literature.
Long-acting exenatide does not prevent cognitive decline in mild cognitive impairment: a proof-of-concept clinical trial
Authors: Dei Cas A. , Micheli M. M. , Aldigeri R. , Gardini S. , Ferrari-Pellegrini F. , Perini M. , Messa G. , Antonini M. , Spigoni V. , Cinquegrani G. , Vazzana A. , Moretti V. , Caffarra P. , Bonadonna R. C.
Published: April 2024

Purpose

According to preclinical evidence, GLP-1 receptor may be an actionable target in neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Previous clinical trials of GLP-1 receptor agonists were conducted in patients with early AD, yielding mixed results. The aim was to assess in a proof-of-concept study whether slow-release exenatide, a long-acting GLP-1 agonist, can benefit the cognitive performance of people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Methods

Thirty-two (16 females) patients were randomized to either slow-release exenatide (n = 17; 2 mg s.c. once a week) or no treatment (n = 15) for 32 weeks. The primary endpoint was the change in ADAS-Cog11 cognitive test score at 32 weeks vs baseline. Secondary endpoints herein reported included additional cognitive tests and plasma readouts of GLP-1 receptor engagement. Statistical analysis was conducted by intention to treat.

Results

No significant between-group effects of exenatide on ADAS-Cog11 score (p = 0.17) were detected. A gender interaction with treatment was observed (p = 0.04), due to worsening of the ADAS-Cog11 score in women randomized to exenatide (p = 0.018), after correction for age, scholar level, dysglycemia, and ADAS-Cog score baseline value. Fasting plasma glucose (p = 0.02) and body weight (p = 0.03) decreased in patients randomized to exenatide.

Conclusion

In patients with MCI, a 32-week trial with slow-release exenatide had no beneficial effect on cognitive performance.

Trial registration number

NCT03881371, registered on 21 July, 2016.
Diophantine equation with weighted k-Fibonacci numbers
Authors: Gueth K. , Szalay L.
Published: April 2024

Assume thatp,q, andkare integers for which the conditions$$1\le p,q\le 10$$1≤p,q≤10and$$2\le k\le 10$$2≤k≤10are satisfied. The initial values$$G_0=0$$G0=0,$$G_1=1$$G1=1, together with the recursive rule$$G_m=kG_{m-1}+G_{m-2}$$Gm=kGm-1+Gm-2define the non-negative integer sequence$$\{G_m\}_{m=0}^\infty$${Gm}m=0∞. In this paper, we solve completely the diophantine equation$$\begin{aligned} G_1^p+2G_2^p+\cdots +\ell G_\ell ^p=G_n^q \end{aligned}$$G1p+2G2p+⋯+ℓGℓp=Gnqin the positive integers$$k,p,q,\ell ,n$$k,p,q,ℓ,nunconditionally for$$\ell$$ℓandn. The method works, at least in theory for arbitrary positive integersp,q, andk.
Interwoven Concepts of Ascetic, God, and Relic: An Iconographical Innovation During Pre-Modern Period in South India
Authors: Rao Nalini
Published: April 2024

This research brings to light a paradoxical phenomenon of mummification and veneration of “whole-body relic” of the ascetic whose remains are enshrined in avṛndāvana. The termvṛndāvanais normally attributed to the garden where Krsna and thegopisdanced in eternal bliss. However, the relic of the ascetic head of a sectarian monastery is termed asvṛndāvanaas well. There are numerous relic memorials in the sectarianVedānta Vaisnava Dvaitamonastery and its branches, where it is worshipped particularly in the state of Karnataka. This paper is an investigation into the rationale for the naming of the whole-body relic memorial asvṛndāvana. Such an attribution in term to a memorial and icon of an ascetic head and a transformation of its meaning is a conundrum. I argue that the rationale for such an adoption lies in the geographical, mythological, metaphysical, and philosophical connections between Krsna’svṛndāvanaand that of the ascetic. The sources that I have used in order to comprehend the traditional concepts and historical context include ancientPūraṇas, archeological and artistic evidence,bhaktipoetry, and discussions with living ascetics. This multidisciplinary exploration reveals the inventive genius ofDvaitamonasteries and the sacred interchangeable concept-status and sacredness, dead and living between the ascetic and God.
The communication and measurement architecture of BDS-3 global operations and services
Authors: Li Gang , Guo Shuren , Gong Wenbin , Han Kai , Gao Weiguang , Shao Fengwei , Wang Wenbin , Tang Chengpan , Zhang Feng
Published: April 2024

This study introduces the third-generation BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS-3) system’s creative global operation and service architecture based on regional stations and Ka-band inter-satellite links (ISLs). The architecture’s contributions to BDS-3 include not only combined orbit determination and time synchronization but also autonomous orbit determination and time synchronization, global operations and services. The BDS-3 on-orbit operation results are being presented in the paper to verify the designed capabilities. Compared with BDS-2, the orbit determination accuracy is improving from 0.6 m to 0.15 m, and the time synchronization accuracy is improving from 6.67 ns to 1.16 ns. Under autonomous orbit determination and time synchronization, the 30-day orbit maintenance accuracy reaches 16 m, and the time synchronization accuracy reaches 3.74 ns. The success rate of data transmission reaches 99%, and the delay is better than 12.9 s. In the future, laser ISLs will be used to enhance the system structure and further improve global operation and service capabilities.
Sustainable development goal 6 and the challenge of pipe-borne water connectivity in a growing tropical city: a case study
Authors: Ogunbode Timothy O. , Esan Vincent I. , Oyebamiji Victor O. , Akande John A.
Published: April 2024

Water dams have been constructed in various regions across the globe to enhance access to potable water. Among these, the Aiba water reservoir, commissioned in 1957, was envisioned as a pivotal source of treated water for Iwo and its environs. Unfortunately, despite its inauguration, the primary objective of ensuring a sustainable and reliable water supply to the community remains unrealized to date. This research seeks to evaluate the accessibility of the study area to pipe-borne water (PBW) and discern the driving forces through the administration of structured questionnaire across 480 respondents out of which 458 were retrieved for analysis. The study utilized both descriptive and inferential statistics, employing Statistical Product for Service Solutions (SPSS) version 23. The respondent demographic revealed that 83.6% were female, and 18.4% claimed paying water tariffs while 76.2% relied on groundwater as their principal source of water. The data showed revealed diverse factors hindering PBW connectivity namely: Administrative bottlenecks (12%), while 57% cited the availability of alternative water sources as a reason for not connecting to PBW; 9% reported poor infrastructure for PBW, and 18% highlighted the unreliability of water supply from Aiba Water Works (AWW). Further analysis through Factor Analysis (FA) pinpointed three salient variables significantly influencing PBW accessibility. These are proximity to the main network (42.557%); cost of connectivity (22.275%); and availability of other sources (14.480%). These findings underscored the critical importance of expanding the PBW network, given the prevalent non-proximity of most residences to the main water pipes. Moreover, the research suggests that capacity building initiatives should be implemented to enhance the economic well-being of citizens, thereby fostering an improved quality of life for the inhabitants of the studied area. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the complexities surrounding water accessibility and offers practical recommendations to realise SDG 6 by 2030.

Graphical Abstract
Fiat G.91
Authors: Landewers Arno
Published: April 2024

The Fiat G.91 was an Italian jet fighter aircraft. It was the winner of the NATO competition in 1953 for a light fighter as standard equipment for Allied air forces. It entered in operational service with the Italian Air Force in 1961, with the West German Luftwaffe in 1962, and later with the Portuguese Air Force.

It was in production for nineteen years. Seven hundred fifty six aircrafts were completed, including the prototypes and pre-production models. The assembly lines were finally closed in 1977. The Fiat G.91 enjoyed a long service life that extended over 35 years. It was widely used by Portugal in the Portuguese Colonial War in Africa.
Whittaker categories of quasi-reductive lie superalgebras and quantum symmetric pairs
Authors: Chen Chih-Whi , Cheng Shun-Jen
Published: April 2024

We show that, for an arbitrary finite-dimensional quasi-reductive Lie superalgebra over

${\mathbb {C}}$

with a triangular decomposition and a character

$\zeta $

of the nilpotent radical, the associated Backelin functor

$\Gamma _\zeta $

sends Verma modules to standard Whittaker modules provided the latter exist. As a consequence, this gives a complete solution to the problem of determining the composition factors of the standard Whittaker modules in terms of composition factors of Verma modules in the category

${\mathcal {O}}$

. In the case of the ortho-symplectic Lie superalgebras, we show that the Backelin functor

$\Gamma _\zeta $

and its target category, respectively, categorify a q-symmetrizing map and the corresponding q-symmetrized Fock space associated with a quasi-split quantum symmetric pair of type

$AIII$

.
Confucian Culture and Democratic Values: An Empirical Comparative Study in East Asia
Authors: Huang Minxuan
Published: April 2024

Many studies have been conducted on the link between Confucianism and democratic values in East Asia, but they have failed to account for the complex character of Confucianism and the possible impact of political systems. This study re-measures Confucian values into four dimensions—authoritarianism, familialism, collectivism, and harmoniousness—based on data from the fourth wave of the Asian Barometer survey. It then uses a multi-layer linear regression model to examine the relationship between the Confucian cultural values and the democratic values held by people in six East Asian societies at both the macro and micro levels. The findings demonstrate an asymmetrical pattern in the relationship between the various dimensions of Confucian cultural values and the democratic values of East Asia, collectivist values do not affect democratic values, while familial and authoritarian values have a significant and negative correlation with democratic values. Harmonious values have a significant and positive correlation with democratic values. In addition, there is a significant positive correlation between democratic institutions and the democratic values, and the relationship between the values of harmoniousness and collectivism and democratic values varies across countries with different political systems. This offers insightful material for reflection as we reconsider the connection between Confucianism and democracy in East Asia.
Flux and estimated spectra from a low-intensity laser-driven X-ray source
Authors: Mix L. Tyler , Maslow James A. , Jaworski Michael A. , Coleman Joshua E.
Published: April 2024

Laser-driven X-rays as probes for high-energy-density physics spans an extremely large parameter space with laser intensities varying by 8 orders of magnitude. We have built and characterized a soft X-ray source driven by a modest intensity laser of 4 × 1013 W/cm2. Emitted X-rays were measured by diamond radiation detectors and a filtered soft X-ray camera. A material-dependence study on Al, Ti, stainless steel alloy 304, Fe, Cu and Sn targets indicated 5-μm-thick Cu foils produced the highest X-ray yield. X-ray emission in the laser direction and emission in the reverse direction depend strongly on the foil material and the thickness due to the opacity and hydrodynamic disassembly time. The time-varying X-ray signals are used to measure the material thinning rate and is found to be ∼1.5 μm/ns for the materials tested implying thermal temperature around 0.6 eV. The X-ray spectra from Cu targets peaks at ∼2 keV with no emission >4 keV and was estimated using images with eight different foil filters. One-dimensional hydrodynamic and spectral calculations using HELIOS-CR provide qualitative agreement with experimental results. Modest intensity lasers can be an excellent source for nanosecond bursts of soft X-rays.
‘Entirely white’? Female immigrants and domestic work in Italy (1960s–1970s)
Authors: Gissi Alessandra
Published: April 2024

Recently, a renewed history of foreign immigration in Italy, focusing on the very first migration flows after the Second World War, has offered a more appropriate periodisation of the phenomenon. Women have been at the forefront of these flows, which were initially determined by the new postcolonial setting of the former Italian colonies (Eritrea, Somalia and Ethiopia). Subsequently, the immigrants came from various other countries (Spain, Cape Verde, Portugal, El Salvador, Peru, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Ceylon, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan). At the same time, the majority of them were employed in a specific sector of the labour market: domestic work. This article focuses on female immigrants who were employed as domestic workers, their presence in public discourse in Italy in the 1960s and 1970s, and government policies in this area. Drawing on statistical data and surveys, press and audiovisual materials, and feminist theory and practices, it aims to analyse the construction of paradigms – visibility, invisibility, subalternity, rights and racialisation – associated with female immigration and domestic work as a specific sector of employment.
Nationalism, Pronatalism, and the Guild of Gynecology: The Complex Legacy of Abortion Regulation in Hungary
Authors: Pető Andrea , Svégel Fanni
Published: April 2024

By tracing the history of abortion politics in Hungary since World War I, this article covers a century of conflict with particular attention to gynecologists’ self-serving professional jockeying and lobbying under very different political regimes. It suggests that nationalism has been a pivotal element of the abortion debates that both government actors and gynecologists have shaped over the last hundred years and argues that abortion rights were differently recognized in eastern and western Europe during the Cold War because of the legacy of mass wartime rapes committed by the Soviet troops in Hungary, among other countries, which determined those countries’ postwar legislation on abortion and reproductive rights. The article introduces the rarely researched contribution of the gynecologist lobby to the debates by examining how they could represent their own interests independently of political regime. Today, Hungary's illiberal regime questions the legitimacy of abortion by normalizing US fundamentalist-Christian discourse because anti-abortion policy fits into its nation-building course.
Editors' Introduction
Authors: Collier Jane , Engel David , Yngvesson Barbara
Published: April 2024

This special issue of the Law & Society Review grows out of a unique intellectual encounter: an attempt by the Association to reach beyond its usual geographical horizons and to listen to and engage in conversation with a group of scholars from a region of the world—Southeast Asia—that has received little attention within the law and society community. This conversation is significant for the Association in several ways. First, as our scholarly community becomes more aware of the globalization of our field and the interconnections between our interests and developments in other regions of the world, it behooves us to make new efforts to broaden our understanding of sociolegal issues that are important to the scholars and peoples of Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and other world regions. Second, if the Association is to realize its aspirations to internationalize its membership, we should at the same time attempt to understand the scholarly interests and commitments of new colleagues with whom we seek to share our community. We must therefore find ways to listen to the voices of scholars in regions of the world whose work may not yet be familiar to the Review's general readership. Third, the infusion of new perspectives, new research issues, and new voices can enrich the dialogue among sociolegal scholars in many ways. Familiar topics—legal pluralism, the family, crime, the environment, civil rights—can be seen in a new light; and topics that now receive somewhat less attention among North American and European sociolegal scholars—indigenous peoples, law and religion, land rights—emerge as fundamentally important and deserving of renewed research interest.
From the Editor
Authors: Munger Frank
Published: April 2024

This Symposium issue of the Review is a satisfying conclusion for my three years as general editor. In her Introduction, Symposium editor Beth Mertz examines the long genealogy in law and society research of the central problem that the Symposium's contributors address, law and the constituting of communities. Community is a dual concept in law and society studies. First, it is a term that is used to refer to an empirical domain within which some research is situated, the boundaries of which simplify the task of description or analysis. Second, it is a normative concept associated with authority and, often, with meaningful action. Particularly in this second sense, community has been an important focus of recent thought and research, both as a foil for critical analysis of legal authority and its constitutive properties and as an element of work on the constitution and reconstitution of action and identity. This Symposium is intended to draw attention to the importance of continuing work on the group concepts that frame, with varying degrees of explicitness, law and society studies of action and identity—race, gender, class, and, overlapping all, community.
Why language revitalization fails: Revivalist vs. traditional ontologies of language in Provence
Authors: Costa James
Published: April 2024

This article asks why the Occitan language revitalization movement, which began in the 1850s, failed to convince the vast majority of Occitan speakers. Traditional explanations focus on social conflict, alienation, and diglossic ideologies. While essential elements, they may not provide a full account. Challenging the idea that patois is just a derogatory term pinned on what is in fact a language, this article proposes to take seriously the claim by traditional speakers that a patois is not a language. Drawing on fieldwork in Provence and historical data, I propose that the divergence is fundamentally ontological, revealing sharp differences that suggest that patois and language are indeed two separate things. The language movement's reduction of the patois/language issue to one of labels helps explain why traditional speakers and language advocates have been talking past each other for 150 years, raising practical questions for language movements worldwide. (Patois, occitan, ontologies of language, language revitalization, linguistic natures)*
Nineteenth-Century Women in Music: MuGI, Sophie Drinker, Art Song Augmented and BID
Authors: VanderHart Chanda
Published: April 2024

This article focuses on four digital resources for researching nineteenth-century women in music. Two are over two decades old and hail from the German-speaking world: Musik(vermittlung) und Gender(forschung) im Internet (MuGI) and the Sophie Drinker Institut online lexicon. The remaining pair are emerging digital resources based in the United States: Art Song Augmented and the Boulanger Initiative Database (BID).
Investigation of management practices to optimize cereal rye cover crop-based weed mitigation in Canadian sweet corn production
Authors: Brackenridge Hayley L. , Bae Jichul , Simard Marie-Josée , Tardif François J. , Bosveld Kerry , Nurse Robert E.
Published: April 2024

Fall-sown cereal rye has gained popularity as a cover crop in vegetable production due to its weed-suppressive capabilities. However, previous research has shown that replacing preemergence and/or postemergence herbicide applications with roller-crimped rye has variable success at controlling weeds and maintaining vegetable cash crop yields. The objective of this research was to determine whether roller-crimped rye can provide season-long weed control and maintain sweet corn yield. Two rye cultivars (early vs. standard maturity) were compared at three seeding rates (150, 300, and 600 seeds m−2) for their effect on weed control and sweet corn yield. The trial was conducted at three locations: Harrow, ON, and St. Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC, from 2019 to 2021; and Agassiz, BC, in 2019 and 2021. Results suggest that although the early-maturing cultivar allowed for earlier roller crimping in some locations, it was inferior at weed control and resulted in lower sweet corn yield than local standard cultivars. The average rye biomass was lower than the current literature recommendations, and the resulting level of weed control was not high enough to prevent sweet corn yield loss in cover crop treatments. Weed control provided by roller-crimped rye peaked between crimping and 8 wk after crimping and was highest in the standard cultivars sown at 300 and 600 seeds m−2. Preliminary testing of supplemental postemergence weed control showed evidence for sweet corn yields comparable to the weed-free no-cover crop check. However, more research is needed. Overall, with the cultivars and seeding rates tested, roller-crimped rye is not a suitable stand-alone weed control option in sweet corn production. Given the benefits of cover crops, further research should evaluate its potential as a component of an integrated weed management program.
Methanogen‐Mediated Precipitation of Mn Carbonates at the Expense of Mn Oxides
Authors: Cai Shixi , Wei Gangjian , Xian Haiyang , Zhu Jianxi , Xu Yi‐Gang
Published: April 2024

Whether Mn carbonates can be used as a proxy for the oxygenation event is debated. Here we examined the Early Cretaceous lacustrine Mn carbonates from North China, which contain abundant microbial fossils. The extremely positive δ13C (up to +15‰ relative to Vienna Peedee belemnite) and micro‐area enrichment of Ni strongly indicate a methanogenic archaea origin of these microorganisms. Transmission electron microscope and electron energy loss spectroscopy show the nanoscale transformation of Mn‐oxides (Mg‐exchanged phyllomanganate) to Mn carbonates (kutnohorite), on extracellular polymeric substances. The reaction of the Mn oxides with organic matter resulted in increasing pH and alkalinity, together with the fluctuating pH, offering a suitable micro‐environment for the transformation processes. These Mn carbonates are therefore indicative of an oxidized, sulfate‐absent environment. The depicted scenario serves as a reference to ocean of the early Earth and provides a referable Mn oxide tracer for determining the emergence of the Great Oxidation Event.
Quality of life and socioeconomic and educational status in patients with congenital hypothyroidism
Authors: Danner Emmi , Sund Reijo , Sintonen Harri , Niuro Laura , Niinikoski Harri , Huopio Hanna , Viikari Liisa A. , Jääskeläinen Jarmo
Published: April 2024

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of primary congenital hypothyroidism (CH) on quality of life, level of education and socioeconomic status (SES).

Methods

Two independent study cohorts, a national and a regional, were collected from Finnish national registers and patient records. Data on social security benefits, SES, marital status, and education were collected from Statistics Finland. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was studied in the regional patient cohort with the standardized 15D and 16D instruments.

Results

There were no statistically significant differences in education level, marital status, or SES between CH patients (n = 40) and their matched controls at the age of 25 years. The mean 15D score was both statistically significantly and clinically importantly lower in CH patients (n = 29) than controls (0.904 vs. 0.953, p = 0.008). CH patients reported significantly lower scores across various dimensions of physical and mental HRQoL, including breathing, sleeping, speech, excretion, mental function, distress, and vitality. The mean 16D score was lower in CH patients compared to controls (0.917, vs. 0.947), but without statistical significance.

Conclusion

SES of CH patients did not differ from matched controls. Thus, most CH patients integrate well into society, but their HRQoL is impaired.

Impact

Most patients with primary congenital hypothyroidism integrate well into society. In the current study, their socioeconomic and marital status did not differ from matched controls at the age of 25 years.

However, health-related quality of life measured using 15D instrument was impaired.

Every fourth patient reported that congenital hypothyroidism influenced everyday life.
A GAN-based genetic algorithm for solving the 3D bin packing problem
Authors: Zhang Boliang , Yao Yu , Kan H. K. , Luo Wuman
Published: April 2024

The 3D bin packing problem is a challenging combinatorial optimization problem with numerous real-world applications. In this paper, we present a novel approach for solving this problem by integrating a generative adversarial network (GAN) with a genetic algorithm (GA). Our proposed GAN-based GA utilizes the GAN to generate high-quality solutions and improve the exploration and exploitation capabilities of the GA. We evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm on a set of benchmark instances and compare it with two existing algorithms. The simulation studies demonstrate that our proposed algorithm outperforms both existing algorithms in terms of the number of used bins while achieving comparable computation times. Our proposed algorithm also performs well in terms of solution quality and runtime on instances of different sizes and shapes. We conduct sensitivity analysis and parameter tuning simulations to determine the optimal values for the key parameters of the proposed algorithm. Our results indicate that the proposed algorithm is robust and effective in solving the 3D bin packing problem. The proposed GAN-based GA algorithm and its modifications can be applied to other optimization problems. Our research contributes to the development of efficient and effective algorithms for solving complex optimization problems, particularly in the context of logistics and manufacturing. In summary, the proposed algorithm represents a promising solution to the challenging 3D bin packing problem and has the potential to advance the state-of-the-art in combinatorial optimization.
Tracing the impact of CO2 on the electrochemical and charge–discharge behavior for Al–Mg alloy in KOH and LiOH electrolytes for battery applications
Authors: El-sayed Abdelrahman , Abdelsamie Mohamed , Elrouby Mahmoud
Published: April 2024

For the first time, it has been found that the electrochemical performance of the Al–Mg alloy as an anode in alkaline batteries has been markedly enhanced in the presence of CO2 and LiOH as an electrolyte. This work compares the electrochemical performance of an Al–Mg alloy used as an anode in Al-air batteries in KOH and LiOH solutions, both with and without CO2. Potentiodynamic polarization (Tafel), charging-discharging (galvanostatic) experiments, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are used. X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) outfitted with an energetic-dispersive X-ray spectroscope (EDX) were utilized for the investigation of the products on the corroded surface of the electrode. Findings revealed that the examined electrode’s density of corrosion current (icorr.) density in pure LiOH is significantly lower than in pure KOH (1 M). Nevertheless, in the two CO2-containing solutions investigated, icorr. significantly decreased. The corrosion rate of the examined alloy in the two studied basic solutions with and without CO2 drops in the following order: KOH > LiOH > KOH + CO2 > LiOH + CO2. The obtained results from galvanostatic charge–discharge measurements showed excellent performance of the battery in both LiOH and KOH containing CO2. The electrochemical findings and the XRD, SEM, and EDX results illustrations are in good accordance.
Assessment of the practical impact of adjusting beta-lactam dosages based on therapeutic drug monitoring in critically ill adult patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials and observational studies
Authors: Gulyás Eszter , Horváth István László , Engh Marie Anne , Bunduc Stefania , Dembrovszky Fanni , Fehérvári Péter , Bánvölgyi András , Csupor Dezső , Hegyi Péter , Karvaly Gellért Balázs
Published: April 2024

An estimated 70% of critically ill patients receive antibiotics, most frequently beta-lactams. The pharmacokinetic properties of these substances in this patient population are poorly predictable. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is helpful in making personalized decisions in this field, but its overall impact as a clinical decision-supporting tool is debated. We aimed to evaluate the clinical implications of adjusting beta-lactam dosages based on TDM in the critically ill population by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis of available investigations. Randomized controlled trials and observational studies were retrieved by searching three major databases. The intervention group received TDM-guided beta-lactam treatment, that is, at least one dose reconsideration based on the result of the measurement of drug concentrations, while TDM-unadjusted dosing was employed in the comparison group. The outcomes were evaluated using forest plots with random-effects modeling and subgroup analysis. Eight eligible studies were identified, including 1044 patients in total. TDM-guided beta-lactam treatment was associated with improved clinical cure from infection [odds ratio (OR): 2.22 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.78–2.76)] and microbiological eradication [OR: 1.72 (CI: 1.05–2.80)], as well as a lower probability of treatment failure [OR: 0.47 (CI: 0.36–0.62)], but the heterogeneity of studies was remarkably high, especially in terms of mortality (70%). The risk of bias was moderate. While the TDM-guided administration of beta-lactams to critically ill patients has a favorable impact, standardized study designs and larger sample sizes are required for developing evidence-based protocols in this field.
Myosteatosis and aortic calcium score on abdominal CT as prognostic markers in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients
Authors: Kim Ahyun , Lee Chul-min , Kang Bo-Kyeong , Kim Mimi , Choi Jong Wook
Published: April 2024

We aimed to examine the relationship between abdominal computed tomography (CT)-based body composition data and both renal function decline and all-cause mortality in patients with non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD). This retrospective study comprised non-dialysis CKD patients who underwent consecutive unenhanced abdominal CT between January 2010 and December 2011. CT-based body composition was measured using semiautomated method that included visceral fat, subcutaneous fat, skeletal muscle area and density, and abdominal aortic calcium score (AAS). Sarcopenia and myosteatosis were defined by decreased skeletal muscle index (SMI) and decreased skeletal muscle density, respectively, each with specific cutoffs. Risk factors for CKD progression and survival were identified using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard regression models. Survival between groups based on myosteatosis and AAS was compared using the Kaplan–Meier curve. 149 patients (median age: 70 years) were included; 79 (53.0%) patients had sarcopenia and 112 (75.2%) had myosteatosis. The median AAS was 560.9 (interquartile range: 55.7–1478.3)/m2. The prognostic factors for CKD progression were myosteatosis [odds ratio (OR) = 4.31, p = 0.013] and high AAS (OR = 1.03, p = 0.001). Skeletal muscle density [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.93, p = 0.004] or myosteatosis (HR = 4.87, p = 0.032) and high AAS (HR = 1.02, p = 0.001) were independent factors for poor survival outcomes. The presence of myosteatosis and the high burden of aortic calcium were significant factors for CKD progression and survival in patients with non-dialysis CKD.
Effect of resistance training plus enriched probiotic supplement on sestrin2, oxidative stress, and mitophagy markers in elderly male Wistar rats
Authors: Mohabbat Majid , Arazi Hamid
Published: April 2024

This study aimed to determine the effects of resistance training combined with a probiotic supplement enriched with vitamin D and leucine on sestrin2, oxidative stress, antioxidant defense, and mitophagy markers in aged Wistar rats. Thirty-five male rats were randomly assigned to two age groups (old with 18–24 months of age and young with 8–12 weeks of age) and then divided into five groups, including (1) old control (OC: n = 5 + 2 for reserve in all groups), (2) young control (YC: n = 5), (3) old resistance training (OR: n = 5), (4) old resistance training plus supplement (ORS: n = 5), and old supplement group (OS: n = 5). Training groups performed ladder climbing resistance training 3 times per week for 8 weeks. Training intensity was inserted progressively, with values equal to 65, 75, and 85, determining rats' maximal carrying load capacity. Each animal made 5 to 8 climbs in each training session, and the time of each climb was between 12 and 15 s, although the time was not the subject of the evaluation, and the climbing pattern was different in the animals. Old resistance plus supplement and old supplement groups received 1 ml of supplement 5 times per week by oral gavage in addition to standard feeding, 1 to 2 h post training sessions. Forty-eight hours after the end of the training program, 3 ml of blood samples were taken, and all rats were then sacrificed to achieve muscle samples. After 8 weeks of training, total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase activity levels increased in both interventions. A synergistic effect of supplement with resistance training was observed for total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, and PTEN-induced kinase 1. Sestrin 2 decreased in intervention groups. These results suggest that resistance training plus supplement can boost antioxidant defense and mitophagy while potentially decreasing muscle strength loss.
Prevalence of impaired renal function among childless men as compared to fathers: a population-based study
Authors: Kitlinski Michael , Giwercman Aleksander , Christensson Anders , Nilsson Peter M. , Elenkov Angel
Published: April 2024

Male reproductive impairment has been linked with an increased risk of numerous non-communicable diseases. Yet, epidemiological data on renal disease among subfertile men is scarce. Therefore, by using male childlessness as a proxy for male infertility, we aimed to investigate its association with renal function. Data was sourced from a population-based cohort including 22,444 men. After exclusion of men aged < 45 years (n = 10,842), the remaining men were divided into two groups: these being childless (n = 5494) and fathers (n = 6108). Logistic regression was applied to explore the association between male childlessness and renal impairment. Childless men as compared to fathers, were more likely to have an estimated-glomerular filtration rate < 60 ml/min/1.73m2 (OR 1.36, 95 CI 1.08–1.70; p = 0.008). After adjustment for age, marital status, smoking habits, diabetes, hypertension and other components of metabolic syndrome, childless men were also more likely to have dipstick proteinuria (OR 1.85, 95 CI 1.16–2.95; p = 0.01). With the growing panorama of disease associated with male reproductive impairment, men with fertility issues may constitute a target population with potential benefit from closer follow-up of their renal function.
Calculation method and evaluation of surrounding rock pressure of vertical shaft
Authors: Tian Zhongxi , Sun Yuanwu , Zhao Qingshuang , Zhang Boliang , Liu Wanrong , Zhang Xutao
Published: April 2024

The surrounding rock pressure of vertical shafts is one of the basic parameters of shaft lining design. Investigating its calculation methods and applicable scopes has great engineering significance. The paper classifies and compares the calculation methods, discusses the application scopes of various calculation methods, and proposes that the axisymmetric layered method is highly consistent with the field monitoring data for the calculation of surrounding rock pressure of vertical shafts in bedrock sections on the basis of practical engineering examples. On the basis of Terzaghi theory, the calculation formula of surrounding rock pressure of vertical shaft in inclined rock strata with single group joints is derived. The formula can reflect the influence of rock strata dip angle and joints.