bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Uncertain Benefits of Using Remotely Sensed Evapotranspiration for Streamflow Estimation—Insights From a Randomized, Large-Sample Experiment
Authors: Do Hong Xuan , Nguyen Hung T.T. , Tran Vinh Ngoc , Le Manh-Hung , Nguyen Binh Quang , Pham Hung T. , Le Tu Hoang , Van Binh Doan , Dang Thanh Duc , Tran Hoang , Nguyen Tam V.
Published: April 2024

Remotely sensed evapotranspiration (ETRS) shows promise for enhancing hydrological models, especially in regions lacking in situ streamflow observations. However, model calibration studies showed conflicting results regarding the ability of ETRS products to improve streamflow simulation. Rather than relying on model calibration, here we produce the first randomized experiment that explores the full streamflow–ET skill distribution, and also the first probabilistic assessment of the value of different global ETRS products for streamflow simulation. Using 280,000 randomized SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model runs across seven catchments and four ETRS products, we show that the relationship between ET and streamflow skills is complex, and simultaneous improvement in both skills is only possible in a limited range. Parameter sensitivity analysis indicates that the most sensitive parameters can have opposite contributions to ET and streamflow skills, leading to skill trade-offs. Conditional probability assessment reveals that models with good ET skills are likely to produce good streamflow skills, but not vice versa. We suggest that randomized experiments such as ours should be performed before model calibration to determine whether using ETRS is worthwhile, and to help in interpreting the calibration results.
Genome-wide analysis of hepatic DNA methylation reveals impact of epigenetic aging on xenobiotic metabolism and transport genes in an aged mouse model
Authors: Abudahab Sara , Kronfol Mohamad M. , Dozmorov Mikhail G. , Campbell Thomas , Jahr Fay M. , Nguyen Jasmine , AlAzzeh Ola , Al Saeedy Dalia Y. , Victor Ashley , Lee Sera , Malay Shravani , Lapato Dana M. , Halquist Matthew S. , McRae MaryPeace , Deshpande Laxmikant S. , Slattum Patricia W. , Price Elvin T. , McClay Joseph L.
Published: April 2024

Hepatic xenobiotic metabolism and transport decline with age, while intact xenobiotic metabolism is associated with longevity. However, few studies have examined the genome-wide impact of epigenetic aging on these processes. We used reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) to map DNA methylation changes in liver DNA from mice ages 4 and 24 months. We identified several thousand age-associated differentially methylated sites (a-DMS), many of which overlapped genes encoding Phase I and Phase II drug metabolizing enzymes, in addition to ABC and SLC classes of transporters. Notable genes harboring a-DMS were Cyp1a2, Cyp2d9, and Abcc2 that encode orthologs of the human drug metabolizing enzymes CYP1A2 and CYP2D6, and the multidrug resistance protein 2 (MRP2) transporter. Cyp2d9 hypermethylation with age was significantly associated with reduced gene expression, while Abcc2 expression was unchanged with age. Cyp1a2 lost methylation with age while, counterintuitively, its expression also reduced with age. We hypothesized that age-related dysregulation of the hepatic transcriptional machinery caused down-regulation of genes despite age-related hypomethylation. Bioinformatic analysis of hypomethylated a-DMS in our sample found them to be highly enriched for hepatic nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4α) binding sites. HNF4α promotes Cyp1a2 expression and is downregulated with age, which could explain the reduction in Cyp1a2 expression. Overall, our study supports the broad impact of epigenetic aging on xenobiotic metabolism and transport. Future work should evaluate the interplay between hepatic nuclear receptor function and epigenetic aging. These results may have implications for studies of longevity and healthy aging.
A classification tool to foster self-regulated learning with generative artificial intelligence by applying self-determination theory: a case of ChatGPT
Authors: Chiu Thomas K. F.
Published: April 2024

Generative AI such as ChatGPT provides an instant and individualized learning environment, and may have the potential to motivate student self-regulated learning (SRL), more effectively than other non-AI technologies. However, the impact of ChatGPT on student motivation, SRL, and needs satisfaction is unclear. Motivation and the SRL process can be explained using self-determination theory (SDT) and the three phases of forethought, performance, and self-reflection, respectively. Accordingly, a Delphi design was employed in this study to determine how ChatGPT-based learning activities satisfy students’ each SDT need, and foster each SRL phase from a teacher perspective. We involved 36 SDT school teachers with extensive expertise in technology enhanced learning to develop a classification tool for learning activities that affect student needs satisfaction and SRL phases using ChatGPT. We collaborated with the teachers in three rounds to investigate and identify the activities, and we revised labels, descriptions, and explanations. The major finding is that a classification tool for 20 learning activities using ChatGPT was developed. The tool suggests how ChatGPT better satisfy SDT-based needs, and fosters the three SRL phrases. This classification tool can assist researchers in replicating, implementing, and integrating successful ChatGPT in education research and development projects. The tool can inspire teachers to modify the activities using generative AI for their own teaching, and inform policymakers on how to develop guidelines for AI in education.
Development and Validation of a Simple Risk Calculator for Alcohol-Related Adverse Outcomes: Results from a Composite Scale Approach in a Nationally Representative Sample
Authors: Hoertel Nicolas , Dosquet Marie , Sánchez-Rico Marina , Godino-Cruz Jesús , Blanco Carlos , Aubin Henri-Jean , Ducoutumany Géraldine , Gorwood Philip , Leleu Henri , Airagnes Guillaume , Lemogne Cédric , Rezaei Katayoun , Peyre Hugo , Limosin Frédéric
Published: April 2024

We tested how 5 simple variables, routinely collected in primary care (i.e., the 3 AUDIT-C items, age, and sex), could constitute a clinician-friendly risk calculator tool of the 3-year risk of several alcohol-related adverse outcomes (i.e., alcohol use disorder, withdrawal symptoms, occurrence of tremors or seizures, and alcohol related interpersonal relationship problems, legal problems, and psychological problems) among non-alcohol-dependent individuals consuming alcohol. Data were drawn from a nationally representative sample of US adults, the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (wave 1, 2001–2002; wave 2, 2004–2005). We used scaled and rounded composite scoring systems to combine information derived from these predictors and quantify the risks for each subject. Analyses were limited to 16,710 respondents without a lifetime history of alcohol use disorder who completed both interviews and had consumed alcohol during the year prior to wave 1 (development sample N = 8355, validation sample N = 8355). The risk equations calibrated well (Hosmer and Lemeshow test p values ≥ 0.072) and showed good predictive values (C indices ranging from 0.727 to 0.872) in the validation sample. This risk calculator can be clinically useful in primary care for identification of at-risk individuals, encourage respondents to reduce their drinking, and improve prevention.
Multimodal semi-supervised learning for online recognition of multi-granularity surgical workflows
Authors: Yamada Yutaro , Colan Jacinto , Davila Ana , Hasegawa Yasuhisa
Published: April 2024

Purpose Surgical workflow recognition is a challenging task that requires understanding multiple aspects of surgery, such as gestures, phases, and steps. However, most existing methods focus on single-task or single-modal models and rely on costly annotations for training. To address these limitations, we propose a novel semi-supervised learning approach that leverages multimodal data and self-supervision to create meaningful representations for various surgical tasks. Methods Our representation learning approach conducts two processes. In the first stage, time contrastive learning is used to learn spatiotemporal visual features from video data, without any labels. In the second stage, multimodal VAE fuses the visual features with kinematic data to obtain a shared representation, which is fed into recurrent neural networks for online recognition. Results Our method is evaluated on two datasets: JIGSAWS and MISAW. We confirmed that it achieved comparable or better performance in multi-granularity workflow recognition compared to fully supervised models specialized for each task. On the JIGSAWS Suturing dataset, we achieve a gesture recognition accuracy of 83.3%. In addition, our model is more efficient in annotation usage, as it can maintain high performance with only half of the labels. On the MISAW dataset, we achieve 84.0% AD-Accuracy in phase recognition and 56.8% AD-Accuracy in step recognition. Conclusion Our multimodal representation exhibits versatility across various surgical tasks and enhances annotation efficiency. This work has significant implications for real-time decision-making systems within the operating room.
Criminalisation as a Speech-Act: Saying Through Criminalising
Authors: Fassnidge J. P.
Published: April 2024

The act of criminalising conduct has been understood by many theorists as a form of communication. This paper proposes a model, based on speech-act theory, for understanding how that act of communication works. In particular, it focuses on analysing how and where wrongfulness can appear in this speech-act, if one were to argue, as many theorists do, that part of what is being communicated through criminalisation is the wrongfulness of the target conduct. I argue that the act of criminalisation is best understood as an indirect speech-act, which both asserts and declares normative facts, the utterance of which makes it the case that a conduct is now criminalised. Within this speech-act, wrongfulness can appear as an implicit assertion of the wrongness of the conduct, which has to be inferred by hearers from the context of utterance. The paper then briefly discusses the upshots of this model, mainly that it allows a clearer picture of how criminalisation conveys meanings, as well as leaving open the question as to whether it makes sense to think that the wrongfulness being conveyed is specifically of a moral kind.
Crime, Character, and the Evolution of the Penal Message
Authors: Zimran Adiel , Dagan Netanel
Published: April 2024

Scholars depict punishment as a moral dialogue between the community and the offender, which addresses both the offender’s crime and character. However, how the penal message evolves vis a vis that crime and character as it passes through the different stages of the criminal process has remained under-theorized. This article, building on communicative theory, explores the interrelation between crime and character along the penal process, from sentencing, through prison, to parole release. We argue that in the penal dialogue the relationship between crime and character evolves in a dynamic way through three phases: separateness (sentencing), fusion (prison), and re-distinction (parole) of crime and character. The proposed analysis develops the communicative meaning of the penal process, provides a normative account of the work of punishment administration authorities, and explores applications of our proposed normative analysis for the administration of the punishment.
Public management of digitalization into the Spanish tourism services: a heterodox analysis
Authors: Sánchez-Bayón Antonio , Sastre F. Javier , Sánchez Luis Isasi
Published: April 2024

This study is a critical review of public intervention and its management of change with digitalization, applied to Spanish tourism services, as ones of the largest case and most required of attention into the European Union. In comparison with other mainstream papers, this heterodox review is based on the combination of Austrian Economics and Neo-Institutional approaches (Cornucopists), with their common theoretical and methodological frameworks. Thus, it is possible to analyze failures and paradoxes in the public intervention, especially with post-COVID recovery policies. The case of the Spanish tourism sector highlights the effect of double bureaucracy, from European institutions and the Spanish Government, affecting its competitiveness and revealing the confirmation of heterodox theorems. Faced with mainstream public intervention guidelines, which usually involve expansive spending and more debt (and New-Malthusian measures), a heterodox mainline solution is offered here, based on the revival of the original sustainability principle, the readjustment effect and the promotion of geek'n'talent education, to facilitate the transition to the Knowledge Economy, where the tourism sector is capable of offering personalized travel experiences due to digitalization.
Quetiapine Versus Haloperidol in the Management of Hyperactive Delirium: Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Zakhary Tamer , Ahmed Islam , Luttfi Ibrahim , Montasser Mina
Published: April 2024

Background

In the population of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), most studies compared the use of atypical antipsychotics, such as quetiapine, with the use of traditional haloperidol in patients with delirium of various forms and etiologies. The role of such agents in patients with hyperactive delirium is not fully understood. This study compares the effectiveness of quetiapine with haloperidol in treating the hyperactive form of delirium in terms of their effects on the Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 (DRS-R-98), length of stay in the ICU, and mortality in critically ill patients.

Methods

One hundred adult patients diagnosed with hyperactive delirium were randomly assigned to receive either oral quetiapine (25–50 mg/day) or haloperidol (1–2 mg/day). The response, defined as “a DRS-R-98 severity score reduction from baseline of 50% or more” and a DRS-R-98 severity score of 12 or less without relapse, was the primary outcome.

Results

The mean age of all patients was 68 ± 6 years. The study population’s overall response rate was 92%. Response rates for the two groups were remarkably equal (p = 0.609). Secondary outcomes were comparable in both groups, such as ICU mortality (p = 0.496), in-hospital mortality (p = 0.321), in-hospital stay (p = 0.310), and the need for mechanical ventilation (p > 0.99). But the quetiapine group showed a statistically reduced mean ICU stay (10.1 ± 2.0 vs. 11.7 ± 2.6 days, p = 0.018) and increased sleeping hours per night (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Quetiapine may be equally as effective as haloperidol in treating the symptoms of hyperactive delirium in critically ill patients, with no mortality benefit.
Receptor-Assisted Nanotherapeutics for Overcoming the Blood–Brain Barrier
Authors: Mhaske Akshada , Shukla Shalini , Ahirwar Kailash , Singh Kamalinder K. , Shukla Rahul
Published: April 2024

Blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a distinguishing checkpoint that segregates peripheral organs from neural compartment. It protects the central nervous system from harmful ambush of antigens and pathogens. Owing to such explicit selectivity, the BBB hinders passage of various neuroprotective drug molecules that escalates into poor attainability of neuroprotective agents towards the brain. However, few molecules can surpass the BBB and gain access in the brain parenchyma by exploiting surface transporters and receptors. For successful development of brain-targeted therapy, understanding of BBB transporters and receptors is crucial. This review focuses on the transporter and receptor–based mechanistic pathway that can be manoeuvred for better comprehension of reciprocity of receptors and nanotechnological vehicle delivery. Nanotechnology has emerged as one of the expedient noninvasive approaches for brain targeting via manipulating the hurdle of the BBB. Various nanovehicles are being reported for brain-targeted delivery such as nanoparticles, nanocrystals, nanoemulsion, nanolipid carriers, liposomes and other nanovesicles. Nanotechnology-aided brain targeting can be a strategic approach to circumvent the BBB without altering the inherent nature of the BBB.
Effects of Confinement on Opposed-Flow Flame Spread over Cellulose and Polymeric Solids in Microgravity
Authors: Sharma Ankit , Li Yanjun , Liao Ya-Ting T. , Ferkul Paul V. , Johnston Michael C. , Bunnell Charles
Published: April 2024

Opposed-flow flame spread over solid materials has been investigated in the past few decades owing to its importance in fundamental understanding of fires. These studies provided insights on the behavior of opposed-flow flames in different environmental conditions (e.g., flow speed, oxygen concentration). However, the effect of confinement on opposed-flow flames remains under-explored. It is known that confinement plays a critical role in concurrent-flow flame spread in normal and microgravity conditions. Hence, for a complete understanding it becomes important to understand the effects of confinement for opposed-flow flames. In this study, microgravity experiments are conducted aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to investigate opposed-flow flame spread in different confined conditions. Two materials, cotton-fiberglass blended textile fabric (SIBAL) and 1 mm thick polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) slab are burned between a pair of parallel flow baffles in a small flow duct. By varying the sample-baffle distance, various levels of confinement are achieved (H = 1–2 cm). Three types of baffles, transparent, black, and reflective, are used to create different radiative boundary conditions. The purely forced flow speed is also varied (between 2.6 and 10.5 cm/s) to investigate its interplay with the confinement level. For both sample materials, it is observed that the flame spread rate decreases when the confinement level increases (i.e., when H decreases). In addition, flame spread rate is shown to have a positive correlation with flow speed, up to an optimal value. The results also indicate that the optimal flow speed for flame spread can decrease in highly confined conditions. Surface radiation on the confinement boundary is shown to play a key role. For SIBAL fabric, stronger flames are observed when using black baffles compared to transparent. For PMMA, reflective baffles yield stronger flames compared to black baffles. When comparing the results to the concurrent-flow case, it is also noticed that opposed-flow flames spread slower and blow off at larger flow speeds but are not as sensitive to the flow speed. This work provides unique long-duration microgravity experimental data that can inform the design of future opposed-flow experiments in microgravity and the development of theory and numerical models.
The Ethical Dimensions of Mindfulness in Public Health
Authors: Berryman Kevin
Published: April 2024

This commentary on “Mindfulness for global public health: Critical analysis and agenda” seeks to add to the discussion by considering, what are the moral or ethical implications of introducing mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) into public health? An open question should be asked: Do MBIs promote “moral health,” a type of mental well-being based on moral integrity? Currently, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the moral influences of MBIs on individuals, but more concerning is the complete absence of population or collective-based data. Moreover, the data on the moral influences of MBIs originate from neurotypical, socially advantaged, and homogeneous demographics, so caution is warranted regarding the potential impact on general public’s moral functioning before proceeding. This commentary briefly reviews the existing literature on the relationship between moral functioning and MBIs, then addresses why the unknown effects of moral functioning from mindfulness on a social level are a concern for public health. Following many of Oman’s proposed axes, it then raises questions about what MBIs could do to the moral functioning of certain populations with mental health issues, diverse and disadvantaged populations, and various multi-sector levels throughout society. In some cases, MBIs might need to include ethical adaptations, which add components that explicitly encourage moral development. These adaptations could support protective measures or mitigate moral risk factors. The commentary concludes by suggesting that ethical motivation could be an added axis to Oman’s scheme, as there is an alignment between mindfulness and public health. Nonetheless, it cautions that more research is needed at the population level on the moral influences from MBIs before their widespread implementation in public health.
Circulating tumor cells clusters and their role in Breast cancer metastasis; a review of literature
Authors: Sayed Zeinab S. , Khattap Mohamed G. , Madkour Mostafa A. , Yasen Noha S. , Elbary Hanan A. , Elsayed Reem A. , Abdelkawy Dalia A. , Wadan Al-Hassan Soliman , Omar Islam , Nafady Mohamed H.
Published: April 2024

Breast cancer is a significant and deadly threat to women globally. Moreover, Breast cancer metastasis is a complicated process involving multiple biological stages, which is considered a substantial cause of death, where cancer cells spread from the original tumor to other organs in the body—representing the primary mortality factor. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are cancer cells detached from the primary or metastatic tumor and enter the bloodstream, allowing them to establish new metastatic sites. CTCs can travel alone or in groups called CTC clusters. Studies have shown that CTC clusters have more potential for metastasis and a poorer prognosis than individual CTCs in breast cancer patients. However, our understanding of CTC clusters' formation, structure, function, and detection is still limited. This review summarizes the current knowledge of CTC clusters' biological properties, isolation, and prognostic significance in breast cancer. It also highlights the challenges and future directions for research and clinical application of CTC clusters.
Averting Depletion in a Two-Player Common Pool Resource Game: Being Seen, the Expectation of Future Encounters, and Biophilia Play a Role in Cooperation
Authors: Bonfrisco Mario , Russell Yvan I. , Broom Mark , Spencer Robert
Published: April 2024

Using a two-player common pool resource game, we investigated the influence of multiple factors on cooperation: (1) probability of future rounds, (2) visibility of other participants, (3) biophilia, (4) future discounting, and (5) life history. In each round, participants simultaneously and independently (without conferring) decided how much of the common pool to consume. Participants (n = 116) were informed that the shared resource would be fully replenished in the next round—but only if—both players together consumed ≤ 50% of the common pool in the current round. Additionally, participants were told the probability (0–100%) of further rounds of play with the same player (this probability was not real; it was purely to manipulate the player’s expectations). To assess the effect of the probability of future rounds, we developed a mathematical model to predict the threshold that would permit a Nash Equilibrium of Conditional Cooperation (CC). To manipulate visibility, half the pairs were tested in the same room (seen condition) and half in separate rooms (unseen condition). To measure biophilia, the “Nature Relatedness” (NR) scale was used. To measure future discounting, the “consideration of future consequences” (CFC) scale was used. To measure life history, the participant’s UK postcode was obtained (indicating possible residence in a deprived neighbourhood). Participants in our study were not paid. In our results, there was a significant effect showing more cooperation in the visible than not visible condition, but no significant effects of NR, CFC, nor postcodes (but NR was significant in interaction with visibility). For predictability of future rounds, we found a number of significant effects using different tests. A notable result was that there was significantly more CC when the probability of future rounds was ≥ 69% (congruent with one of our model predictions).
Immunomodulatory potential of rapamycin-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles: pore size-dependent drug loading, release, and in vitro cellular responses
Authors: Pérez-Moreno Ana M. , Aranda Carlos J. , Torres María José , Mayorga Cristobalina , Paris Juan L.
Published: April 2024

Rapamycin is a potent immunosuppressive drug that has been recently proposed for a wide range of applications beyond its current clinical use. For some of these proposed applications, encapsulation in nanoparticles is key to ensure therapeutic efficacy and safety. In this work, we evaluate the effect of pore size on mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) as rapamycin nanocarriers. The successful preparation of MSN with 4 different pore sizes was confirmed by dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, transmission electron microscopy and N2 adsorption. In these materials, rapamycin loading was pore size-dependent, with smaller pore MSN exhibiting greater loading capacity. Release studies showed sustained drug release from all MSN types, with larger pore MSN presenting faster release kinetics. In vitro experiments using the murine dendritic cell (DC) line model DC2.4 showed that pore size influenced the biological performance of MSN. MSN with smaller pore sizes presented larger nanoparticle uptake by DC2.4 cells, but were also associated with slightly larger cytotoxicity. Further evaluation of DC2.4 cells incubated with rapamycin-loaded MSN also demonstrated a significant effect of MSN pore size on their immunological response. Notably, the combination of rapamycin-loaded MSN with an inflammatory stimulus (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) led to changes in the expression of DC activation markers (CD40 and CD83) and in the production of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α compared to LPS-treated DC without nanoparticles. Smaller-pored MSN induced more substantial reductions in CD40 expression while eliciting increased CD83 expression, indicating potential immunomodulatory effects. These findings highlight the critical role of MSN pore size in modulating rapamycin loading, release kinetics, cellular uptake, and subsequent immunomodulatory responses.

Graphical abstract
Promoting Success in College: A Scoping Review of Autistic Students’ Postsecondary Education Experiences
Authors: Wolpe Samara M.
Published: April 2024

Objective

To identify and analyze peer-reviewed qualitative or mixed methods studies published in the last 10 years that examined autistic individuals’ perspectives on their postsecondary experiences.

Data Sources

A scoping review was conducted in the PsycInfo, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases for studies published between January 2013 and March 2023 in the USA for studies focusing on the experiences of autistic college students. Studies were excluded from consideration if they did not include autistic individuals as participants, were not published in the USA, were case studies, review articles, or experimental designs testing an intervention.

Data Synthesis

Twenty-two studies were included in this scoping review. The main themes were: availability in services and service gaps, mental and physical health, individual characteristics, strategies for success, identity and disclosure, and social environment/supports. Across numerous studies, many students reported that the services they received were either inappropriate to their needs or inadequate to promote academic and social success in a postsecondary educational environment. However, many participants in the articles reviewed mention college as a fruitful environment for finding special interest clubs and bonding with other students with similar interests, indicating that college can be a conducive environment for expanding social horizons and finding social support.

Conclusions

Findings from the articles reviewed above indicate that, while many autistic college students have positive experiences with campus life and certain services received through disability supports and other campus resources, there is still much to be desired in the college experiences of many autistic students. Despite the needs of this population, the extant literature is scant and sample sizes are small. With more autistic young adults heading to college than ever before, it is critical to understand the experiences of these students.
The Impact of COVID-19 on the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Children with Special Education Needs and Disabilities: A Systematic Review
Authors: Castle Victoria E. , Sideropoulos Vassilis , Jones Cat , Zhang Dixiao , Van Herwegen Jo , Palikara Olympia
Published: April 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted greatly the mental health of children. We performed a systematic review to better understand the impact of the pandemic on children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) across different SEND categories. Following PRISMA guidelines, of 1699 search results, 66 studies were included in our analysis as they met our inclusion criteria concerning: a) children with SEND; b) focus on COVID-19; c) longitudinal or cross-sectional design; d) quantitative or qualitative measures; and e) mental health or well-being outcomes. Our review suggests that there was a typically negative impact on mental health and well-being for children with SEND, yet experiences varied on the basis of individual differences, rather than category of SEND. Findings highlight the need for interventions and policy implementations to improve the everyday mental well-being of this population.
Effectiveness of binaural beat music combined with rhythmical photic stimulation on older people with depressive symptoms in long-term care institution: a quasi-experimental pilot study
Authors: Yang Shang-Yu , Lin Pin-Hsuan , Wang Jiun-Yi , Fu Shih-Hau
Published: April 2024

Background

Many older adults residing in long-term care often face issues like poor sleep, reduced vitality, and depression. Non-pharmacological approaches, specifically Binaural Beat Music (BBM) and Rhythmic Photic Stimulation (RPS), may alleviate these symptoms, yet their efficacy in this demographic has not been extensively explored.

Aims

This study investigated the effects of combined BBM and RPS interventions on sleep quality, vitality, and depression among older residents with depressive symptoms in long-term care facilities.

Methods

Using a quasi-experimental design, a total of 88 older adults with depressive symptoms from Taiwanese daytime care centers were divided into the BBM with RPS, and Sham groups (44 each). They underwent 20-minute daily sessions of their assigned treatment for two weeks. The BBM with RPS group listened to 10 Hz binaural beat music with 10 Hz photic stimulation glasses, and the Sham group received non-stimulating music and glasses.

Results

After the intervention, participants in the BBM with RPS groups showed significant improvements in vitality and depressive mood, with a notable increase in sympathetic nervous system activity. Conversely, the Sham group exhibited significant deterioration in vitality and mental health, with a significant increase in parasympathetic activity. Additionally, compared with the Sham group, the BBM and RPS groups showed significant improvements in vitality, mental health, and depression, with a significant increase in sympathetic nervous activity.

Conclusion

The two-week intervention suggests that the combination of BBM and RPS, as a non-invasive intervention, can potentially improve vitality, mental health, and depressive mood among older adults in long-term care institutions.
Thermal properties and calcium-magnesium-alumino-silicate (CMAS) interaction of novel γ-phase ytterbium-doped yttrium disilicate (γ-Y1.5Yb0.5Si2O7) environmental barrier coating material
Authors: Zhang Buhao , Zhang Hangfeng , Bai Mingwen , Du Aochen , Owusu Ebenezer B. , Lynam Alex , Romero Acacio Rincon , Curry Nicholas , Hussain Tanvir
Published: April 2024

Rare-earth disilicates are promising candidates for thermal and environmental barrier coatings (TEBC) in gas turbines that safeguard SiCf/SiC ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) from thermal degradation and environmental attacks. Here, we report a systematic investigation on novel TEBC material, γ-Y1.5Yb0.5Si2O7. The γ-phase quarter molar ytterbium–doped yttrium disilicate exhibited low thermal conductivity (1.72 W·m−1·K−1 at 1200 °C) and reduced intrinsic thermal expansion (3.17 ± 0.22 × 10−6 K−1 up to 1000 °C), ensuring promisingly effective thermal insulation and minimized thermal stress with CMC substrates. Using density functional theory (DFT), the heat capacity of γ-Y1.5Yb0.5Si2O7 was predicted higher than that of undoped γ-Y2Si2O7. Comparing these predictions to results calculated using the Neumann–Kopp (NK) rule revealed only minor variations. A metastable CMAS interaction byproduct, cyclosilicate phase Ca3RE2(Si3O9)2, was identified based on energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) techniques, appearing at 1300 °C but disappearing at 1400 °C. The γ-Y1.5Yb0.5Si2O7 exhibited good CMAS resistance on both dense pellets and sprayed coatings, forming a protective apatite (Ca2RE8(SiO4)6O2) interlayer that effectively hindered CMAS infiltration at evaluated temperatures. The relatively higher Y:Yb atomic ratio (> 3) in the apatite grains indicate differential reactivity with molten CMAS and provides crucial insights into the CMAS corrosion mechanism. These findings highlight the potential of γ-Y1.5Yb0.5Si2O7 as a CMC coating material, emphasizing the need for tailored microstructural optimization as a thermal sprayed coating to enhance long-term performance in extreme gas turbine environments.
Online citizen dialogue for SDGs: a Finland-Japan cross-cultural deliberation
Authors: Nakamura Hidenori , Rask Mikko , Ueno Fuki , Sugita Satoru , Fukui Hiromichi
Published: April 2024

This study explores the potential of cross-border citizen dialogues on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for uncovering cultural barriers and catalysts in sustainability transformations. We utilised a form adapted from the Open Dialogue approach, originally developed in Finnish mental health care, now refined for broader applications in facilitating open citizen dialogues on gender equality (Goal 5) and biodiversity conservation (Goals 14 and 15). Indicators were developed and used to assess attitudinal shifts post-dialogue. The dialogues increased the sense of urgency and importance of gender equality and biodiversity conservation, particularly among the Japanese participants, who initially displayed less engagement than their Finnish counterparts. The dialogue also expanded the scope of collaboration among the Japanese participants, reflected in a heightened sense of global citizenship, as measured by trust scores. Both Finnish and Japanese participants showed a moderate increase in recognising cultural influences on sustainability. Further research is necessary to understand how cross-cultural dialogues can enhance reflection on sustainability at the group level. Additionally, integrating such dialogues into decision-making processes may bolster collective reflexivity.
The Unfolding Story of Judicial Dialogue in the EU: The Coercive and Persuasive Motives Behind the Participation of Belgian Highest Courts in the Preliminary Ruling Procedure
Authors: Jaremba Urszula , Kappé Marleen
Published: April 2024

The story of national judges’ participation in the process of dialogue with the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) pursuant to Article 267 TFEU is a well-known one. There have been many scholarly efforts to explain and theorize the—lack of—participation of national courts in the mechanism. Indeed, various constitutional, institutional, procedural, cultural, political, and individual factors are pointed out to explain this engagement. Yet, it may come as a surprise that still much remains unknown. The available empirical data concerning the potential causes of the national judges’—non—participation is limited to a number of EU member states and is mostly confined to lower courts judges. It is the aim of this Article to partly fill the void in the literature and to provide novel empirical data gained in the course of semi-structured interviews among judges and court référendaires of three Belgian highest courts. The interviews provide insight into the possible factors driving concerned national judges when deciding (not) to refer preliminary questions, including the role and significance of the obligation to refer which is to be found in Article 267 TFEU and the Cilfit-criteria.
Effects of surface roughness on the drag coefficient of spheres freely rolling on an inclined plane
Authors: Nanayakkara S.D.J.S. , Zhao J. , Terrington S.J. , Thompson M.C. , Hourigan K.
Published: April 2024

An experimental investigation identifying the effects of surface roughness on the drag coefficient (

$C_{D}$

) of freely rolling spheres is reported. Although lubrication theory predicts an infinite drag force for an ideally smooth sphere in contact with a smooth wall, finite drag coefficients are obtained in experiments. It is proposed that surface roughness provides a finite effective gap (

$G$

) between the sphere and panel, resulting in a finite drag force while also allowing physical contact between the sphere and plane. The measured surface roughnesses of both the sphere and panel are combined to give a total relative roughness (

$\xi$

). The measured

$C_{D}$

increases with decreasing

$\xi$

, in agreement with analytical predictions. Furthermore, the measured

$C_{D}$

is also in good agreement with the combined analytical and numerical predictions for a smooth sphere and wall, with a gap approximately equal to the root-mean-square roughness (

$R_q$

). The accuracy of these predictions decreases for low mean Reynolds numbers (

$\overline {Re}$

), due to the existence of multiple scales of surface roughness that are not effectively captured by

$R_{q}$

. Experimental flow visualisations have been used to identify critical flow transitions that have been previously predicted numerically. Path tracking of spheres rolling on two panels with different surface roughnesses indicates that surface roughness does not significantly affect the sphere path or oscillations. Analysis of sphere Strouhal number (

$St$

) highlights that wake shedding and sphere oscillations are coupled at low

$\overline {Re}$

but with increasing

$\overline {Re}$

, the influence of wake shedding on the sphere path diminishes.
Asymmetrical wakes over anisotropic bathymetries
Authors: Euvé Léo-Paul , Maurel Agnès , Petitjeans Philippe , Pagneux Vincent
Published: April 2024

The study investigates the impact of a vertically layered bathymetry, consisting of submerged vertical plates, on a ship wake through theoretical analysis and experimental realization. For subwavelength distances between the plates, the analysis relies on a homogenized model that provides an effective, anisotropic, dispersion relation for the propagation of water waves. Our findings reveal that a highly asymmetric wake can be achieved, with the degree of asymmetry contingent upon the ship propagation direction in relation to the plate orientation. This anisotropy is characterized with respect to water depth and to ship length using the dimensionless depth and hull Froude numbers. Laboratory experiments align closely with theoretical predictions, confirming that the asymmetry of the wake can indeed be managed through manipulation of bathymetric conditions.
Banning Islamic Veils: Is Social Cohesion (or Living Together) a Valid Argument?
Authors: Paul Kaushik
Published: April 2024

Islamic veiling has attracted a remarkable degree of international and domestic attention in the current political climate. In the popular and political climate, the argument for social cohesion (or living together) is frequently invoked to justify bans on wearing Islamic veils. For example, the social cohesion argument was widely used in parliamentary debates leading up to the bans on wearing Islamic full-face veils (such as burqa or niqab) in France and Belgium. In response to the French and Belgian bans, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that a ban on wearing Islamic full-face veils is justified on the grounds of living together, rulings that many academic circles have criticized. Yet in this extensive commentary on the bans of Islamic veiling, one important question remains unanswered: Is social cohesion (or living together) a valid argument for banning the wearing of Islamic veils? The author explores this question through the lens of the European human rights framework and analyzes the ECtHR’s approach to French and Belgian anti-veil legislation enacted on the grounds of social cohesion.
Exploring the epigenetic landscape: The role of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in neurodevelopmental disorders
Authors: Khoodoruth Mohamed Adil Shah , Chut-kai Khoodoruth Widaad Nuzhah , Al Alwani Rafaa
Published: April 2024

Recent advances in genetic and epigenetic research have underscored the significance of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID), revealing its potential as both a biomarker for early detection and a target for novel therapeutic strategies. This review article provides a comprehensive analysis of the role of 5hmC in NDDs by examining both animal models and human studies. By examining mouse models, studies have demonstrated that prenatal environmental challenges, such as maternal infection and food allergies, lead to significant epigenetic alterations in 5hmC levels, which were associated with NDDs in offspring, impacting social behavior, cognitive abilities and increasing ASD-like symptoms. In human studies, researchers have linked alterations in 5hmC levels NDDs through studies in individuals with ASD, fragile X syndrome, TET3 deficiency and ID, specifically identifying significant epigenetic modifications in genes such as GAD1, RELN, FMR1 and EN-2, suggesting that dysregulation of 5hmC played a critical role in the pathogenesis of these disorders and highlighted the potential for targeted therapeutic interventions. Moreover, we explore the implications of these findings for the development of epigenetic therapies aimed at modulating 5hmC levels. The review concludes with a discussion on future directions for research in this field, such as machine learning, emphasizing the need for further studies to elucidate the complex mechanisms underlying NDDs and to translate these findings into clinical practice. This paper not only advances our understanding of the epigenetic landscape of NDDs but also opens up new avenues for diagnosis and treatment, offering hope for individuals affected by these conditions.
Tropical graph curves
Authors: Manjunath Madhusudan
Published: April 2024

We study tropical line arrangements associated to a three-regular graph

$G$

that we refer to as tropical graph curves. Roughly speaking, the tropical graph curve associated to

$G$

, whose genus is

$g$

, is an arrangement of

$2g-2$

lines in tropical projective space that contains

$G$

(more precisely, the topological space associated to

$G$

) as a deformation retract. We show the existence of tropical graph curves when the underlying graph is a three-regular, three-vertex-connected planar graph. Our method involves explicitly constructing an arrangement of lines in projective space, i.e. a graph curve whose tropicalization yields the corresponding tropical graph curve and in this case, solves a topological version of the tropical lifting problem associated to canonically embedded graph curves. We also show that the set of tropical graph curves that we construct are connected via certain local operations. These local operations are inspired by Steinitz’ theorem in polytope theory.
The Evolution of International Policing against “Gypsies” in Central Europe: 1870–1945
Authors: Kurda Charissa
Published: April 2024

This article explores the rise of international cooperation and policing in solving the so-called “Gypsy question” between 1870 and 1945. Situating this issue within a broader phenomenon of illiberal internationalism, it demonstrates how the central European powers often pursued international action to serve their own national agendas. In doing so, this study shows how the shared concern of cross-border Gypsy itinerancy and migration in central Europe prompted several international policing initiatives that eventually crystallized under the International Criminal Police Commission (or ICPC) in 1931 into a transnational framework for controlling Gypsies. Against this background, the article also investigates whether the role of Switzerland and Austria as major frontrunners for anti-Gypsy international measures changed once the ICPC was under Nazi control. By closely examining critical activities and antiziganist ICPC discourse between 1933 and 1945, it reveals how the ICPC created a matrix of surveillance that eased the way toward the Gypsy genocide.
Towards an Energetics of Class: Comparing Energy Protests in India and the United States
Authors: Chatterjee Elizabeth
Published: April 2024

From Iran and Mozambique to France’s Gilets jaunes, consumer energy protests are ubiquitous today. Little historical scholarship has so far explored such “fuel riots,” the problematic moniker bestowed by contemporary policy scholars. This article argues for disaggregating the homogenous crowd of so-called rioters, instead analyzing why particular socioeconomic groups persistently take to the streets. To do this, it sketches an energy-centered approach to class with both structural and subjective axes. This analytic is applied to a comparative history of two of the best-documented energy protests of the last half-century. During the 1970s, independent truckers blocked American highways to protest the high price of motor fuel. A decade later, half a million North Indian farmers mobilized to demand cheaper and more reliable electricity. Half a world apart, the two movements shared key characteristics. They were the expression of specific class fractions whose material interests were conditioned by heavy dependence on state-mediated energy supplies. Awkwardly located between big capital and wage labor, both truckers and farmers owned stakes in the carbon-intensive means of production that left them exposed to volatility in energy quality and pricing. Both mobilized in reaction to perceived breaches of state-centered moral economies of energy which threatened this dependence, leveraging their power to interrupt supplies within the circulatory systems of fossil fuel society. Even as both movements failed in their own terms, their political resistance helped to lock in place consumer subsidies for cheap carbon-intensive energy. Such energy protests deserve a central role in our environmental histories of fossil fuel society.