bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the behaviors and social preferences of a large, multigenerational herd of zoo‐housed southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum)
Authors: Williams Brett , Campbell Jennifer , Kendall Corinne , Tuttle Jade , Lynch Emily C.
Published: February 2023

The zoo‐housed southern white rhinoceros (SWR) population is of special concern due to their lack of consistent breeding success. An enhanced understanding of SWR social preferences could better inform management planning by promoting natural social relationships, which can positively affect their well‐being. The large, multigeneration herd housed at the North Carolina Zoo provides an ideal opportunity to examine rhino sociality across different ages, kin types, and social groupings. Eight female rhinos' social and nonsocial behaviors were recorded from November 2020 through June 2021 across 242 h. Activity budget analyses revealed strong seasonal and temporal variations in grazing and resting behaviors, with no stereotypic behaviors recorded. Bond strength calculations suggested that each female maintained strong social bonds with one to two partners. Beyond mother−nursing calf bonds, we found that the strongest social ties were maintained between calf‐less adults and subadults in these dyads. Considering these findings, we recommend that management plans attempt to house immature females with calf‐less adult females, as they may be necessary to the social landscape of immature females and, ultimately, improve their welfare.
From Waste to Value: A Story About Life Cycle Management in the Furniture Industry
Authors: Michelsen Ottar , Skaar Christofer , Fet Annik Magerholm
Published: February 2023

This case focuses on the use of the CapSEM Model by the Norwegian furniture industry, beginning with efforts that raised sustainability awareness through a series of case studies over a period of more than 10 years. It started with a Cleaner Production (CP) programme for a group of furniture companies in a small community. The goal for another case study running in parallel with the CP-project, was to define a common set of Environmental Performance Indicators (EPIs) for reporting purposes for both the companies and the municipality to reduce waste and improve its treatment according to circular principles. While CP is at Level 1, EPIs and reporting is on level 3 and 4 in the CapSEM Model. In the furniture sector, the CP-programme led to capacity building by integrating Level 2 methods such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) into their daily work processes. LCA was used for product improvements based on hot spots detected through the analyses, and also to generate Environmental Performance Declarations (EPDs) for products. The implementation of these new procedures was integrated into the organisation’s strategic work through certified Environmental Management System (EMS). In addition to a demonstration of a gradual shift from Levels 1, 2 and 3, the case also describes the benefits of building cooperative communities (Level 4) that include sectoral, regional, and academic participants. The Level 4 activities were originally initiated by a Norwegian Local Agenda 21 programme.
The Role of Public Sector Buyers: Influencing Systemic Change in the Construction Sector
Authors: Truloff Shannon , de Boer Luitzen , Qiu Xinlu , Fet Annik Magerholm
Published: February 2023

Construction machinery is essential to all construction projects and is also a significant contributor to both air pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Non-Road Mobile Machinery Market (NRMM), otherwise known as the construction machinery market, largely operates using diesel fuel nowadays which has significant negative environmental impacts. It is critical that governmental leaders push suppliers to innovate and implement sustainable solutions in the construction sector. Green Public Procurement (GPP) and Innovation Orientated Public Procurement (IOPP) have emerged as potentially powerful instruments to drive green innovation by providing ‘lead markets’ for new technologies. City municipalities, regions, nations, and supranational government structures such as the European Union (EU) are starting to use public purchasing to achieve cleaner construction and Zero Emission Construction Sites (ZEMCONs). Early Market Dialogues (EMD) prior to the release of procurement documents can be an effective tool for achieving innovative solutions and for creating positive buyer and supplier collaboration. This case illustrates how the CapSEM Model and toolbox can operate from a top-down approach, initiating collaborative approaches amongst multiple actors, across multiple CapSEM Levels.
Transition to Sustainability
Authors: Fet Annik Magerholm , Keitsch Martina
Published: February 2023

Companies are increasingly faced with the challenge of how to implement sustainability strategies in their business performances. This chapter discusses transition processes, presents mechanisms, and clarifies how tools and methodologies from Part II of this book can help companies in the transition process towards more sustainable practices. It further elaborates on how the CapSEM Model contributes to bottom-up approaches to sustainability transition processes as well as the importance of stakeholder collaboration and involvement.
Helping Business Contribute to a Sustainability Transition: Archetypes of Business Models for Sustainability
Authors: Knudson Haley , Keitsch Martina
Published: February 2023

This chapter discusses business models for sustainability (BMfS). The objective for BMfS is to increase positive or decrease negative impacts of business performance on the environment and society, simultaneously providing long-term well-being of the organization and its stakeholders. The chapter looks at BMfS from a systems perspective and analyses how sustainable values are integrated into organizations’ performances. Furthermore, benefits and challenges of BMfS related to capacity building, stakeholder inclusion and the scope of innovations inherent in the models are discussed. Conclusively, the chapter appraises the potential of BMfS to contribute to macro level transition to sustainability.
The Way Forward
Authors: Fet Annik Magerholm , Keitsch Martina
Published: February 2023

This chapter points to the way ahead by introducing five recommendations to meet the requirements set forward by the Stockholm+50 agenda. The requirements identify co-working as vital to addressing the planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, better collaboration and cooperation across all sectors, reinventing to a circular economy meaning decouple economic development from its destructive footprint, accessibility of data, and raising a common awareness for our planet. In response to this potential need, they present five transition options that might facilitate realising the requirements above and recognise a need for: (1) system change, (2) radical interdisciplinarity and trans-disciplinarity, (3) net positive leadership, (4) digitalization for sustainability, and (5) fair and inclusive transitions. Business leaders, their stakeholders and other groups should consider meeting these needs through their work in partnership with other actors.
Higher derivative invariants in four dimensional 𝒩 = 3 Poincaré supergravity
Authors: Hegde Subramanya , Mishra Madhu , Mukherjee Debangshu , Sahoo Bindusar
Published: February 2023

Abstract

In this paper we use the superconformal approach to derive the higher derivative action for 𝒩 = 3 Poincaré supergravity in four space-time dimensions. We first study the coupling of 𝒩 = 3 vector multiplets to conformal supergravity. Thereafter we combine it with the pure 𝒩 = 3 conformal supergravity action and use a minimum of three vector multiplets as compensators to arrive at Poincaré supergravity with higher derivative corrections. We give a general prescription on how to eliminate the auxiliary fields in an iterative manner and obtain the supergravity action order by order in derivatives. We also show that the truncation of the action at fourth order in derivatives is a consistent truncation.
Non-relativistic gravity theories in four spacetime dimensions
Authors: Concha Patrick , Rodríguez Evelyn , Rubio Gustavo
Published: February 2023

Abstract

In this work we present a non-relativistic gravity theory defined in four spacetime dimensions using the MacDowell-Mansouri geometrical formulation. We obtain a Newtonian gravity action which is constructed from the curvature of a Newton-Hooke version of the so-called Newtonian algebra. We show that the non-relativistic gravity theory presented here contains the Poisson equation in presence of a cosmological constant. Moreover we make contact with the Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) approach for gravity by considering a particular ansatz for a given gauge field. We extend our results to a generalized non-relativistic MacDowell-Mansouri gravity theory by considering a generalized Newton-Hooke algebra.
The axion flavour connection
Authors: Darmé Luc , Nardi Enrico , Smarra Clemente
Published: February 2023

Abstract

A local flavour symmetry acting on the quarks of the Standard Model can automatically give rise to an accidental global U(1) which remains preserved from sources of explicit breaking up to a large operator dimension, while it gets spontaneously broken together with the flavour symmetry. Such non-fundamental symmetries are often endowed with a mixed QCD anomaly, so that the strong CP problem is automatically solved via the axion mechanism. We illustrate the general features required to realise this scenario, and we discuss a simple construction based on the flavour group SU(3) × SU(2) × U(1)F to illustrate how mass hierarchies can arise while ensuring at the same time a high quality Peccei-Quinn symmetry.
Construction of the Unruh State for a Real Scalar Field on the Kerr-de Sitter Spacetime
Authors: Klein Christiane K. M.
Published: February 2023

The study of physical effects of quatum fields in black hole spacetimes, which is related to questions such as the validity of the strong cosmic censorship conjecture, requires a Hadamard state describing the physical situation. Here, we consider the theory of a free scalar field on a Kerr-de Sitter spacetime, focussing on spacetimes with sufficiently small angular momentum of the black hole and sufficiently small cosmological constant. We demonstrate that an extension of the Unruh state, which describes the expected late-time behaviour in spherically symmetric gravitational collapse, can be rigorously constructed for the free scalar field on such Kerr-de Sitter spacetimes. In addition, we show that this extension of the Unruh state is a Hadamard state in the black hole exterior and in the black hole interior up to the inner horizon. This provides a physically motivated Hadamard state for the study of free scalar fields in rotating black hole spacetimes.
On the existence of generalized solutions to a spatio-temporal predator–prey system with prey-taxis
Authors: Hömberg Dietmar , Lasarzik Robert , Plato Luisa
Published: February 2023

In this paper we consider a pair of coupled nonlinear partial differential equations describing the interaction of a predator–prey pair including random movement as well as prey-taxis. We introduce a concept of generalized solutions and show the existence of such solutions in all space dimensions with the aid of a regularizing term. Additionally, we prove the weak–strong uniqueness of these generalized solutions and the existence of strong solutions at least locally in time for space dimension two and three.
Simultaneous targeting of mitochondrial Kv1.3 and lysosomal acid sphingomyelinase amplifies killing of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Patel Sameer H. , Bachmann Magdalena , Kadow Stephanie , Wilson Gregory C. , Abdel-Salam Mostafa M. L. , Xu Kui , Keitsch Simone , Soddemann Matthias , Wilker Barbara , Becker Katrin Anne , Carpinteiro Alexander , Ahmad Syed A. , Szabo Ildiko , Gulbins Erich
Published: February 2023

Pancreas ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a malignant tumor with very poor prognosis and low 5-year overall survival. Here, we aimed to simultaneously target mitochondria and lysosomes as a new treatment paradigm of malignant pancreas cancer in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrate that the clinically used sphingosine analog FTY-720 together with PAPTP, an inhibitor of mitochondrial Kv1.3, induce death of pancreas cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The combination of both drugs results in a marked inhibition of the acid sphingomyelinase and accumulation of cellular sphingomyelin in vitro and in vivo in orthotopic and flank pancreas cancers. Mechanistically, PAPTP and FTY-720 cause a disruption of both mitochondria and lysosomes, an alteration of mitochondrial bioenergetics and accumulation of cytoplasmic Ca2+, events that collectively mediate cell death. Our findings point to an unexpected cross-talk between lysosomes and mitochondria mediated by sphingolipid metabolism. We show that the combination of PAPTP and FTY-720 induces massive death of pancreas cancer cells, thereby leading to a substantially delayed and reduced PDAC growth in vivo.

Key messages

FTY-720 inhibits acid sphingomyelinase in pancreas cancer cells (PDAC).

FTY-720 induces sphingomyelin accumulation and lysosomal dysfunction.

The mitochondrial Kv1.3 inhibitor PAPTP disrupts mitochondrial functions.

PAPTP and FTY-720 synergistically kill PDAC in vitro.

The combination of FTY-720 and PAPTP greatly delays PDAC growth in vivo.
Fibroblast growth factor 23 as a biomarker of right ventricular dysfunction in pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Widmann Laila , Keranov Stanislav , Jafari Leili , Liebetrau Christoph , Keller Till , Troidl Christian , Kriechbaum Steffen , Voss Sandra , Arsalan Mani , Richter Manuel J. , Tello Khodr , Gall Henning , Ghofrani Hossein A. , Guth Stefan , Seeger Werner , Hamm Christian W. , Dörr Oliver , Nef Holger
Published: February 2023

Background

Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) has been associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and heart failure. However, its role in right ventricular (RV) remodeling and RV failure is unknown. This study analyzed the utility of FGF-23 as a biomarker of RV function in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH).

Methods

In this observational study, FGF-23 was measured in the plasma of patients with PH (n = 627), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM, n = 59), or LVH with severe aortic stenosis (n = 35). Participants without LV or RV abnormalities served as controls (n = 36).

Results

Median FGF-23 plasma levels were higher in PH patients than in healthy controls (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences between PH, DCM, and LVH patients. Analysis across tertiles of FGF-23 levels in PH patients revealed an association between higher FGF-23 levels and higher levels of NT-proBNP and worse renal function. Furthermore, patients in the high-FGF-23 tertile had a higher pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), mean pulmonary artery pressure, and right atrial pressure and a lower cardiac index (CI) than patients in the low tertile (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). Higher FGF-23 levels were associated with higher RV end-diastolic diameter and lower tricuspid annular plane systolic excursions (TAPSE) and TAPSE/PASP. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed FGF-23 as a good predictor of RV maladaptation, defined as TAPSE < 17 mm and CI < 2.5 L/min/m2. Association of FGF-23 with parameters of RV function was independent of the glomerular filtration rate in regression analysis.

Conclusion

FGF-23 may serve as a biomarker for maladaptive RV remodeling in patients with PH.

Graphic abstract
Radiological long-term follow-up up to 12 years of initially ultrasound unstable hip types D, III and IV after treatment with the Tübingen splint worn as a plaster
Authors: Kubo Hannes , Krauspe Ruediger , Pilge Hakan , Westhoff Bettina
Published: February 2023

Introduction

The treatment of ultrasound unstable hips with the Tübingen splint is currently under discussion. However, there is a lack of long-term follow-up data. This study presents to the best of our knowledge first radiological mid-term to long-term data of the successful initial treatment with the Tübingen splint of ultrasound unstable hips.

Materials and methods

From 2002 to 2022 the treatment of ultrasound unstable hips type D, III and IV (age ≤ 6 weeks, no severe limitation of abduction) with the Tübingen splint worn as a plaster is evaluated. Based on data derived from routine X-rays during the follow-up period, a radiological follow-up (FU) analysis until the age of 12 years was performed. The acetabular index (ACI) and center–edge angle (CEA) were measured and classified according to Tönnis as normal findings (NF), slightly (sliD) or severely dysplastic (sevD).

Results

193 of 201 (95.5%) unstable hips could be successfully treated showing normal findings with an alpha angle > 65°. The few patients showing treatment failures were successfully treated applying a Fettweis plaster (human position) under anesthesia. The radiological FU of 38 hips showed a favorable trend with increase of normal findings from 52.8% to 81.1% and decrease of 38.9% to 19.9% of sliD respectively 8.3% to 0% of sevD hips. The analysis of avascular necrosis of the femoral head showed 2 cases (5.3%) of grade 1 according to Kalamchi and McEwen, which were improving over time in the further course.

Conclusions

The Tübingen splint as alternative to replace a plaster has proven a successful therapeutic option for ultrasound unstable hips type D, III and IV with favorable and over time improving radiological parameter up to the age of 12 years.
Fractional CO2 laser in the treatment of nail psoriasis: how can it help?
Authors: Afify Ahmed Abdelfattah , Shaheen Maha Adel , El-Banna Mahmoud Gamal
Published: February 2023

Treating nail psoriasis is often a time-consuming challenge with an unsecure outcome. Response to the treatment is variable and relapses are common. Systemic treatments have multiple systemic side effects and lack of the patient compliance makes intra-lesional therapies not the best choice for treatment of nail psoriasis. We aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy and side effects of methotrexate versus calcipotriol plus betamethasone two-compound formula when applied topically to psoriatic nails after fractional CO2 laser. This comparative pilot study included 20 patients with nail psoriasis. One side was treated with fractional CO2 laser followed by the application of topical methotrexate (Group A) and the other side with fractional CO2 laser followed by topical (Calcipotriol 0.05 mg/gm + Betamethasone 0.5 mg/gm) (Group B). 4 sessions were done, once every 2 weeks. There was a high statistical significant decrease in total NAPSI score in group A at 1(P = 0.000) and 2 months (P = 0.000). There was a high statistical significant decrease in total NAPSI score in group B at 1(P = 0.001) and 2 months (P = 0.001). There was no statistical significant difference regarding total NAPSI score between both group A and B at 0 (P = 0.271), 1(P = 0.513) and 2 months (P = 0.647). Combined fractional CO2 laser with either topical MTX or topical betamethasone plus calcipotriol two-compound formula is effective treatment for nail psoriasis.
SHAKE and the exact constraint satisfaction of the dynamics of semi-rigid molecules in Cartesian coordinates, 1973–1977
Authors: Macuglia Daniele
Published: February 2023

This essay traces the history of early molecular dynamics simulations, specifically exploring the development of SHAKE, a constraint-based technique devised in 1976 by Jean-Paul Ryckaert, Giovanni Ciccotti and the late Herman Berendsen at CECAM (Centre Européen de Calcul Atomique et Moléculaire). The work of the three scientists proved to be instrumental in giving impetus to the MD simulation of complex polymer systems and it currently underpins the work of thousands of researchers worldwide who are engaged in computational physics, chemistry and biology. Despite its impact and its role in bringing different scientific fields together, accurate historical studies on the birth of SHAKE are virtually absent. By collecting and elaborating on the accounts of Ryckaert and Ciccotti, this essay aims to fill this gap, while also commenting on the conceptual and computational difficulties faced by its developers.
Preparing auditory task switching in a task with overlapping and non-overlapping response sets
Authors: Nolden Sophie , Koch Iring
Published: February 2023

We used a variant of cued auditory task switching to investigate task preparation and its relation to response-set overlap. Previous studies found increased interference with overlapping response sets across tasks relative to non-overlapping motor response sets. In the present experiments, participants classified either pitch or loudness of a simple tone as low or high, hence, both tasks were constructed around common underlying integrated semantic categories ranging from low to high. Manual responses overlapped in both category and modality for both tasks in Experiment 1A, whereas each task was related to a specific response category and response modality (manual vs. vocal) in Experiment 1B. Focusing on the manual responses in both experiments, the data showed that non-overlapping response sets (Experiment 1B) resulted in a decreased congruency effect, suggesting reduced response-based crosstalk and thus better task shielding, but at the same time switch costs were increased, suggesting less efficient switching between task sets. Moreover, varying preparation time (cue-stimulus interval, CSI) showed that long CSI led to better performance overall. Our results thus suggest that when non-overlapping response sets share common semantic categories across tasks, there is no general benefit over overlapping response sets.
Computing the Multicover Bifiltration
Authors: Corbet René , Kerber Michael , Lesnick Michael , Osang Georg
Published: February 2023

Given a finite set $$A\subset {\mathbb {R}}^d$$

A
⊂

R

d

, let $$\text {Cov}_{r,k}$$

Cov

r
,
k

denote the set of all points within distance r to at least k points of A. Allowing r and k to vary, we obtain a 2-parameter family of spaces that grow larger when r increases or k decreases, called the multicover bifiltration. Motivated by the problem of computing the homology of this bifiltration, we introduce two closely related combinatorial bifiltrations, one polyhedral and the other simplicial, which are both topologically equivalent to the multicover bifiltration and far smaller than a Čech-based model considered in prior work of Sheehy. Our polyhedral construction is a bifiltration of the rhomboid tiling of Edelsbrunner and Osang, and can be efficiently computed using a variant of an algorithm given by these authors. Using an implementation for dimension 2 and 3, we provide experimental results. Our simplicial construction is useful for understanding the polyhedral construction and proving its correctness.
Signaling strategies of silver nanoparticles in optical and electrochemical biosensors: considering their potential for the point-of-care
Authors: Beck Franziska , Loessl Michael , Baeumner Antje J.
Published: February 2023

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have long been overshadowed by gold NPs’ success in sensor and point-of-care (POC) applications. However, their unique physical, (electro)chemical, and optical properties make them excellently suited for such use, as long as their inherent higher instability toward oxidation is controlled. Recent advances in this field provide novel strategies that demonstrate that the AgNPs’ inherent capabilities improve sensor performance and enable the specific detection of analytes at low concentrations. We provide an overview of these advances by focusing on the nanosized Ag (in the range of 1-100 nm) properties with emphasis on optical and electrochemical biosensors. Furthermore, we critically assess their potential for point-of-care sensors discussing advantages as well as limitations for each detection technique. We can conclude that, indeed, strategies using AgNP are ready for sensitive POC applications; however, research focusing on the simplification of assay procedures is direly needed for AgNPs to make the successful jump into actual applications.

Graphical abstract
Microglia and microbiome in schizophrenia: can immunomodulation improve symptoms?
Authors: Juckel Georg , Freund Nadja
Published: February 2023

In this overview, influences of microglia activation and disturbances of the microbiome in the devastating disorder schizophrenia are discussed. Despite previous assumptions of a primary neurodegenerative character of this disorder, current research underlines the important autoimmunological and inflammatory processes here. Early disturbances of microglial cells as well as cytokines could lead to weakness of the immunological system in the prodromal phase and then fully manifest in patients with schizophrenia. Measurements of microbiome features might allow identifying the prodromal phase. In conclusion, such thinking would imply several new therapeutic options regulating immune processes by old or new anti-inflammatory agents in patients.
Enzyme-derived deer velvet extract activate the immune response in cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressive mice
Authors: Baek Sinhwa , Park Cho I , Hwang Yun Gyeong , Jeon Hyejin , Kim Seong-Eun , Song Aeri , Park Hyun-Je , Park Ilbum , Kang Jongsoo , Cha Joo Young
Published: February 2023

Deer velvet (DV) is an oriental traditional medicine used to treat various diseases. The present study examined the effect of flavourzyme-derived DV extract (YC-1101) on macrophages and an immunosuppressed mouse model. YC-1101 induced activation of macrophages as measured by nitric oxide production, cell proliferation, and cytokine release via concentration-dependent phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and AKT, and nuclear translocation of p65 in macrophages. In addition, oral YC-1101 administration significantly increased splenocyte proliferation and natural killer cell activity in the immunosuppressed mouse model. Moreover, the levels of immune-related cytokines such as tumor necrotic factor-α, interferon-γ, and interleukin-2 were significantly increased by YC-1101 treatment comparable to the control group. Thus, these results suggest that YC-1101 is an efficient natural ingredient that has an immune-enhancing effect, and it might be a potential functional food for improving immunity.
Oxidation behavior of Ti2AlC MAX-phase foams in the temperature range of 600–1000 °C
Authors: Potoczek Marek , Dąbek Jarosław , Brylewski Tomasz
Published: February 2023

The isothermal oxidation behavior of Ti2AlC gel-cast foams with an almost completely open porosity of 87 vol% was investigated in the temperature range of 600–1000 °C, in static air, and for exposure times of up to 6.5 h. It was found that the oxidation process obeyed the parabolic rate law. The determined parabolic oxidation rate constants were low, indicating that the material’s resistance to oxidation at high temperatures was very good, especially given its highly porous form. The nature of the scale formed on the strut surface of Ti2AlC foams changed significantly with increasing oxidation temperature. After oxidation at 600 °C, gaps/cracks were observed between Ti2AlC layers on the strut surface, and the oxidation products were mixed Ti and Al oxides. At 700–800 °C, the scales were integrated and composed of Ti and Al oxides. At 900–1000 °C, the oxidation products were composed of large elongated plates of TiO2 (rutile) and small, needle-like Al2O3 (corundum) grains.
Multi-phase synthetic contrast enhancement in interventional computed tomography for guiding renal cryotherapy
Authors: Pinnock Mark A. , Hu Yipeng , Bandula Steve , Barratt Dean C.
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Minimally invasive treatments for renal carcinoma offer a low rate of complications and quick recovery. One drawback of the use of computed tomography (CT) for needle guidance is the use of iodinated contrast agents, which require an increased X-ray dose and can potentially cause adverse reactions. The purpose of this work is to generalise the problem of synthetic contrast enhancement to allow the generation of multiple phases on non-contrast CT data from a real-world, clinical dataset without training multiple convolutional neural networks.

Methods

A framework for switching between contrast phases by conditioning the network on the phase information is proposed and compared with separately trained networks. We then examine how the degree of supervision affects the generated contrast by evaluating three established architectures: U-Net (fully supervised), Pix2Pix (adversarial with supervision), and CycleGAN (fully adversarial).

Results

We demonstrate that there is no performance loss when testing the proposed method against separately trained networks. Of the training paradigms investigated, the fully adversarial CycleGAN performs the worst, while the fully supervised U-Net generates more realistic voxel intensities and performed better than Pix2Pix in generating contrast images for use in a downstream segmentation task. Lastly, two models are shown to generalise to intra-procedural data not seen during the training process, also enhancing features such as needles and ice balls relevant to interventional radiological procedures.

Conclusion

The proposed contrast switching framework is a feasible option for generating multiple contrast phases without the overhead of training multiple neural networks, while also being robust towards unseen data and enhancing contrast in features relevant to clinical practice.
Einführung digitaler Technik in Schulen als Anwendungsfall für die sozio-technische Systemgestaltung
Authors: Hardwig Thomas
Published: February 2023

Der pandemiebedingte Digitalisierungsschub hat gezeigt, dass Schulen unterschiedlich erfolgreich sind, digitale Medien zur Verbesserung des Lehrens und Lernens einzusetzen. Beherrschen viele Schulen die Implementierungsprozesse digitaler Medien nicht und benötigen Nachhilfe von der sozio-technischen Systemgestaltung? Diese verfügt über Konzepte zur erfolgreichen Implementierung und Nutzung technischer Systeme in Organisationen. Der Beitrag arbeitet zentrale Erkenntnisse moderner, sozio-technischer Ansätze heraus, um den Nutzen zu identifizieren, den eine systematischere Berücksichtigung haben könnte. Sozio-technische Begriffe und Konzepte spielen in der Literatur zur Schulentwicklung bislang keine Rolle, obwohl die Schulentwicklungsforschung verdeutlicht, dass der Einsatz von digitalen Medien für das Lehren und Lernen ein typischer Anwendungsfall für sozio-technische Konzepte wäre.

Die normative Schulentwicklungsliteratur macht Gestaltungsvorschläge zur Implementierung und Nutzung von neuen Medien durch Schulleitungen, Lehrkräfte und weitere Akteursgruppen. Der Beitrag analysiert, inwieweit diese die zentralen Erkenntnisse sozio-technischer Systemgestaltung berücksichtigen und welche Lücken bestehen. Ergebnis der kritischen Sichtung ist, dass die normative Schulentwicklung zwar wesentliche Erkenntnisse mit sozio-technischen Konzepten teilt, aber durch eine Fokussierung auf pädagogische Aspekte Verkürzungen vornimmt. Eine Berücksichtigung sozio-technischer Ansätze würde dagegen durch das Einbeziehen der Arbeitsrealität von Lehrkräften ein zentrales Hemmnis gegenüber der Techniknutzung in der Schule bearbeitbar machen. Zudem könnte eine Übernahme des Konzepts der wechselseitigen Abhängigkeit von sozialem und technischem System sowie von Erfahrungen mit Systementwicklungsprozessen die Erfolgsbedingungen der Nutzung digitaler Technik in Schulen verbessern. Insofern bietet eine systematische Berücksichtigung sozio-technischer Systemgestaltung sowohl einen integrativen konzeptionellen Rahmen als auch eine wirksamere Unterstützung des digital unterstützte Lehren und Lernens.
Polarisierung oder Verringerung ungleicher Teilnahmechancen? Auswirkungen der COVID-19-Pandemie auf das berufliche Lernen im Erwachsenenalter
Authors: Kleinert Corinna , Zoch Gundula
Published: February 2023

In politischen und wissenschaftlichen Diskursen wird immer wieder betont, wie wichtig das lebenslange Lernen in den heutigen Wissensgesellschaften ist. Gleichzeitig ist die Teilnahme an berufsbezogener Weiterbildung (BWB) aber nach wie vor sozial stratifiziert: Es profitieren vor allem diejenigen, die sowieso schon bessere Voraussetzungen und mehr Ressourcen mitbringen. Obgleich die Corona-Pandemie das Angebot an und die Nachfrage nach Weiterbildung in kurzer Zeit tiefgreifend verändert hat, ist insgesamt noch nicht abzusehen – und empirisch bislang nicht ausreichend untersucht – wie sich die Pandemie auf die Beteiligung an BWB ausgewirkt hat und welche Barrieren und Chancen die Krise für unterschiedliche Beschäftigtengruppen mit sich gebracht hat. Diese Fragen beantworten wir empirisch auf Basis der Daten der NEPS-Startkohorte 6 bei einer Stichprobe Erwachsener, die vor und während der Corona-Krise an den NEPS-Befragungen teilgenommen hat und kurz vor dem Ausbruch der Pandemie erwerbstätig war. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Covid-19-Pandemie in Deutschland mit einem moderaten Rückgang der Teilnahme an berufsbezogenen Kursen und Präsenzveranstaltungen einherging. Die vor der Pandemie stark ausgeprägten sozialen, beruflichen und betrieblichen Differenzen in diesen Beteiligungsformen sind im Zuge der Pandemie ebenfalls leicht zurückgegangen. Wir schließen daraus, dass die Pandemie zumindest in ihrer ersten und zweiten Welle zu einem Rückgang der sozialen Ungleichheit von Weiterbildung geführt hat.
Valuation of student-led agricultural activities at university: comparison of willingness to pay with inferred values
Authors: Sakurai Ryo , Uehara Takuro
Published: February 2023

Agricultural fields in university campuses can improve urban nutrition security, increase greenery, and provide opportunities for students to grow crops and enhance self-management skills. We conducted student surveys among freshmen in two different years (2016 and 2020) to understand their willingness to pay (WTP) for donations toward student-led agricultural activities. In order to mitigate the social desirability bias, we also asked students’ inferred WTP and compared that with conventional WTP. We found that inferred values could determine more conservative and realistic estimations of students’ donations than conventional WTP. Full model regression analysis using logit model estimation showed that students’ interest and engagement in pro-environmental behaviors increased WTP for student-led agricultural activities. In conclusion, such projects are economically feasible through student donations.
Derivation and characterization of new cell line from intestine of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)
Authors: Liu Yiping , Ge Xuefeng , Li Chao , Xue Ting
Published: February 2023

A continuous intestine cell line from turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) designated as SMI was established utilizing the tissue explant technique. Primary SMI cell was cultured at 24 °C in a medium with 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS), then subcultured in 10% FBS after 10 passages. Impacts of medium or temperature on the growth of SMI were examined and the results indicated it grew well in DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS at 24 °C. The SMI cell line was subcultured more than 60 times. Karyotyping, chromosome number, and ribosomal RNA genotyping analysis revealed that SMI had a modal diploid chromosome number of 44 and originated from turbot. After being transfected with pEGFP-N1 and FAM-siRNA, a large number of green fluorescence signals were observed in SMI, indicating that SMI could be used as an ideal platform to explore gene function in vitro. In addition, the expression of epithelium-associated genes such as itga6, itgb4, gja1, claudin1, zo-1, and E-cadherin in SMI suggested the SMI had some characteristics of epidermal cells. The upregulation of immune-associated genes such as TNF-β, NF-κB, and IL-1β in SMI after stimulation with pathogen-associated molecular patterns suggested the SMI might exhibit immune functions similar to the intestinal epithelium in vivo.
Corrosion Behavior of Boronized and Borochromized AISI 4140 Steel After Acid Exposure Evaluated by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy
Authors: Zagkliveris Dimitrios I. , Mavropoulos Azarias , Triantafyllidis Georgios K.
Published: February 2023

Boronizing of steel is a widely used method for superficial protection and strengthening of various components. Although it is an effective solution for most applications, it can be improved by adding metallic elements to enrich the coating with mixed borides that have exceptional properties. In the present study, we investigated the actual upgrade of a boronized AISI 4140 steel after an additional chromizing process in terms of corrosion resistance. Samples of boronized and borochromized steel were immersed in 10% vol. HCl or H2SO4 solutions for 0.5-4 h and assessed with Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy. It is shown by the results that the borochromized specimens started with higher impedance values than the boronized ones, but they gradually degraded by immersion time and tended to approach the values of the boronized specimens, a fact attributed to the weakening of the resistance of the coating due to the corrosion. On the contrary, the boronized samples showed lower but stable values of impedance. The porosity of the boronized specimens did not contribute to their total impedance, as deduced by equivalent electrical circuit analysis. The impedance of the bulk region of both coatings did not decrease significantly during the corrosion. XRD and SEM/EDS measurements supported our findings.
Small area estimation of average compositions under multivariate nested error regression models
Authors: Esteban María Dolores , Lombardía María José , López-Vizcaíno Esther , Morales Domingo , Pérez Agustín
Published: February 2023

This paper investigates the small area estimation of population averages of unit-level compositional data. The new methodology transforms the compositions into vectors of $$R^m$$

R
m

and assumes that the vectors follow a multivariate nested error regression model. Empirical best predictors of domain indicators are derived from the fitted model, and their mean squared errors are estimated by parametric bootstrap. The empirical analysis of the behavior of the introduced predictors is investigated by means of simulation experiments. An application to real data from the Spanish household budget survey is given. The target is to estimate the average of proportions of annual household expenditures on food, housing and others, by Spanish provinces.
Metastasis-Related Signature for Clinically Predicting Prognosis and Tumor Immune Microenvironment of Osteosarcoma Patients
Authors: Zhang Qing , Deng Zhiping , Yang Yongkun
Published: February 2023

Osteosarcoma is the most prevalent clinical malignant bone tumor in adolescents. The prognosis of metastatic osteosarcoma is still very poor. The aim of our study was to investigate the clinical diagnosis and prognostic significance of metastasis related genes (MRGs) in patients with osteosarcoma. Clinical information and RNA sequencing data with osteosarcoma patients were obtained and set as the training set from UCSC databases. GSE21257 were downloaded and chosen as the verification cohort. An eight gene metastasis related risk signature including MYC, TAC4, ABCA4, GADD45GIP1, TNFRSF21, HERC5, MAGEA11, and PDE1B was built to predict the overall survival of osteosarcoma patients. Based on risk assessments, patients were classified into high- and low-risk groups. The high-risk patients had higher risk score and shorter survival time. ROC curves revealed that this risk signature can accurately predict survival times of osteosarcoma patients at the 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 5- year. GSEA revealed that MYC targets, E2F targets, mTORC1 signaling, Wnt /β-catenin signaling and cell cycle were upregulated, and cell adhesion molecules, and primary immunodeficiency were decreased in high-risk group. MRGs were highly linked with the tumor immune microenvironment and ICB response. These results identified that MRGs as a novel prognostic and diagnostic biomarker in osteosarcoma.
HPRT1 Deficiency Induces Alteration of Mitochondrial Energy Metabolism in the Brain
Authors: Vinokurov Andrey Y. , Soldatov Vladislav O. , Seregina Evgenia S. , Dolgikh Angelina I. , Tagunov Pavel A. , Dunaev Andrey V. , Skorkina Marina Y. , Deykin Alexey V. , Abramov Andrey Y.
Published: February 2023

Alterations in function of hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT), one of the major enzymes involved in purine nucleotide exchange, lead to overproduction of uric acid and produce various symptoms of Lesch-Nyhan syndrome (LNS). One of the hallmarks of LNS is maximal expression of HPRT in the central nervous system with the highest activity of this enzyme in the midbrain and basal ganglia. However, the nature of neurological symptoms has yet to be clarified in details. Here, we studied whether HPRT1 deficiency changes mitochondrial energy metabolism and redox balance in murine neurons from the cortex and midbrain. We found that HPRT1 deficiency inhibits complex I-dependent mitochondrial respiration resulting in increased levels of mitochondrial NADH, reduction of the mitochondrial membrane potential, and increased rate of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in mitochondria and cytosol. However, increased ROS production did not induce oxidative stress and did not decrease the level of endogenous antioxidant glutathione (GSH). Thus, disruption of mitochondrial energy metabolism but not oxidative stress could play a role of potential trigger of brain pathology in LNS.
To become ‘ndrangheta in Calabria: organisational narrative criminology and the constitution of mafia organisations
Authors: Sergi Anna
Published: February 2023

The ‘ndrangheta is a mafia group from Calabria, Southern Italy. Considerable efforts have been made to understand the structures and the organisation of this mafia, not only in the province of Reggio Calabria where it originated, but also in other Calabrian provinces and even outside the Calabrian region. Building on judicial data from a recent maxi-trial (Rinascita-Scott) against ‘ndrangheta clans in the province of Vibo Valentia, we build a theoretical approach based on narrative criminology applied to organisational studies of secretive organisations. We find a ‘script of narratives’ emerging from collaborators and affiliates’ stories – about socialisation, discretion, and accreditation - which reveals how recognition and constitution of ‘added’ ‘ndrangheta clans are thought to work. This script helps us understand the constitutive power of narratives in mafias and critically approach the study of such organisations.
Last in, first out? Length of service as a moderator of the relationship between exposure to bullying behaviors and work-related outcomes
Authors: Glambek Mats , Einarsen Ståle Valvatne , Gjerstad Johannes , Nielsen Morten Birkeland
Published: February 2023

In the present study, we proposed and tested a conceptual model of length of service in the organization as a moderator of the relationship between exposure to workplace bullying behaviors and turnover intention, as mediated through job dissatisfaction. Specifically, based on the conservation of resources theory and organizational socialization research, we hypothesized that bullying exposure would be more detrimental to employees relatively new to the organization, and less so to those with a long length of service. We employed a probability sample from the Norwegian workforce (N = 1003), with data collected at two time-points separated by six months. In line with previous research, we found that exposure to workplace bullying behaviors predicts increased levels of stability-adjusted turnover intentions, and, that job dissatisfaction mediates this association. Moreover, the mediation effect was dependent on length of service, such that it only was present at average (50th percentile; 8.5 years) and short employment length (16th percentile; 2.5 years), and was significantly stronger for the latter group. Additionally, a Johnson-Neyman test of significance regions revealed that the moderation effect became non-significant at the 69th percentile (14.6 years of length of service) in the present sample. This indicates that while short length of service represents a risk condition for work-related outcomes of bullying exposure, long length of service may represent a resource relating to individual resilience that accumulates over long time-spans.
Posttraumatic stress, visual working memory, and visual imagery in military personnel
Authors: Russell Brenton , Mussap Alexander J.
Published: February 2023

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by disruptions to cognitive functioning. Two studies were conducted to examine the relevance of military-related PTSD to two cognitive functions – visual working memory and visual imagery. Participants were military personnel who reported their PTSD diagnosis history and completed a self-administered screening tool for PTSD, the PTSD Checklist – Military Version. In Study 1, 138 personnel also completed a memory span task and a 2-back task using colored words in which Stroop interference was introduced via the semantic content of the words. In Study 2, a separate group of 211 personnel completed measures of perceived imagery vividness and spontaneous use of visual imagery. Interference effects on working memory in PTSD-diagnosed military personnel were not replicated. However, ANCOVA and structural equation modelling revealed that PTSD-intrusions were associated with poorer working memory whereas PTSD-arousal was associated with spontaneous use of visual imagery. We interpret these results as evidence that intrusive flashbacks disrupt working memory performance not by limiting memory capacity nor by interfering directly with memory functions such as inhibition, but by adding internal noise in the form of task-irrelevant memories and emotions. Visual imagery appears to be unrelated to these flashbacks but with arousal symptoms of PTSD, perhaps in the form of flashforwards about feared/anticipated threats.
Did the mental health and well-being of young people increase after the COVID-19 vaccination campaign period? A cross-sectional multicentre study in Austria and Turkey
Authors: Özlü-Erkilic Zeliha , Kothgassner Oswald D. , Wenzel Thomas , Goreis Andreas , Chen Anthony , Ceri Veysi , Mousawi Aylin Fakhr , Akkaya-Kalayci Türkan
Published: February 2023

In 2019, the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and associated prevention measures affected the mental health and psychological well-being of young people with and without a migratory background. The present study aimed to compare the mental health and psychological well-being of migrant and non-migrant young people before and after the COVID-19 vaccination campaign period in two countries which had different policies to deal with the pandemic. The “Psychological General Well-being” of young people and their experiences during the pandemic were investigated using an anonymous online survey during two pandemic waves before the vaccination campaign and 6 months after its start. A majority of the 6154 participants (aged between 15 and 25 years in all study groups) reported a decrease of mental health from the time period before the vaccination (BV) to after the vaccination (AV) campaign (b = 0.27, p < .001). This association was higher in females (b = 0.04, p = 0.008) and in youth with financial problems (b = 0.13, p < .001). Furthermore, this decrease was more pronounced in people ≤17 years old (40% to 62%) than in those >17 years (59% to 67%). Contrary to expectation, vulnerable groups such as the economically disadvantaged, younger, and female participants did not experience a significant easing of the pandemic’s psychological burden AV. Vaccination campaigns should continue emphasizing the beneficial effects of COVID-19 vaccination on general well-being, but with an acknowledgement that the road to recovery is still a long one. Concurrently, free access to psychological treatment and financial support should be offered, especially for vulnerable groups.