bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bewertung von Gärresten als Input für die Kompostierung: Untersuchung von Nähr‑, Ballast- und Schadstoffen
Authors: Vay Benedikt , Binner Erwin , Huber-Humer Marion , Zafiu Christian
Published: July 2024

Gärreste stellen einen wesentlichen Abfallstrom dar, der (gemischt mit strukturreichen Abfällen) kompostiert werden kann und als Kompost gemäß der österreichischen Kompostverordnung Produktstatus erreicht. Gärreste erhöhen den Nährstoffgehalt im Kompost, ein erheblicher Anteil der organischen Ursprungssubstanzen wird durch den Rotteprozess in stabile Huminstoffe umgewandelt.

Beim Inputmaterial in Biogasanlagen handelt es sich jedoch oft um Lebensmittelabfälle, die stark mit Lebensmittelverpackungsrückständen verunreinigt sein können. Kunststoffe stellen eine inerte Verunreinigung des Bioabfalls dar, die zu Problemen bei der Verwertung führen kann. „Große“ Kunststoffteile werden bei der Abfallbehandlung zu Mikrokunststoffen fragmentiert, die nicht mehr aus Gärresten bzw. Komposten entfernt werden können. Dieses Mikroplastik kann über die Anwendung der Komposte oder Gärreste in der Landwirtschaft die Böden über lange Zeiträume kontaminieren, und sogar in die Nahrungskette und ins Grundwasser gelangen.

In der gegenständlichen Studie wurden Masse und Art von Makro- und Mikroplastik > 2 mm in Gärresten aus einer kommunalen Biogasanlage untersucht. Dazu wurden über ein Jahr in Zweimonatsintervallen Gärrestproben entnommen und auf Ballaststoffe, Schwermetall‑, Salz- und Nährstoffgehalte untersucht. Die häufigsten Polymere, die in den Gärresten gefunden wurden, waren Polyolefine, einschließlich der anderen häufig vorkommenden Kunststoffarten, woraus geschlossen werden kann, dass deren Quellen gängige Verpackungsmaterialien sind.

Die Ergebnisse der Studie zeigen, dass kommunale Gärreste vor allem aufgrund der Verunreinigung mit Kunststoffen die Qualität bzw. Anwendbarkeit der daraus hergestellten Komposte stark beeinträchtigen. Schwermetall- und Salzgehalte hingegen lassen einen Anteil von mindestens 40 % (m/m) an der Rotteinputmischung zur Herstellung der Kompostqualitätsklasse A zu.
Chemisches Recycling von Kunststoffabfällen – Aktuelle Entwicklungen und Herausforderungen
Authors: Franke Matthias , Rieger Tobias , Hofmann Alexander , Fehn Thomas
Published: July 2024

Das chemische Recycling umfasst eine Reihe von Technologien, die das etablierte mechanische Recycling komplementär ergänzen können, um die Zirkularität von Kunststoffen zu steigern. Mit den Maßnahmenpaketen des Circular Economy Action Plan wurden wichtige Weichenstellungen für Investitionen in innovative Recyclingtechnologien vorgenommen. Neben vielfältigen technischen Herausforderungen zur Überführung der einzelnen Technologien in den kommerziellen Dauerbetrieb hängt die Zukunft dieser Technologien auch von der Ausgestaltung des regulatorischen Rahmens ab. In dem vorliegenden Beitrag werden die Verfahrenstypen des chemischen Recyclings eingeordnet und die aktuellen technischen und regulatorischen Herausforderungen dafür beschrieben und diskutiert. Darauf aufbauend folgt eine Analyse des Potenzials für das chemische Recycling und der aktuellen Marktsituation.
Targeting the sulfur-containing amino acid pathway in leukemia
Authors: Chen Xiaoyan , Jin Jiahui , Chang Rui , Yang Xing , Li Na , Zhu Xi , Ma Linlin , Li Yanfei
Published: July 2024

sulfur-containing amino acids have been reported to patriciate in gene regulation, DNA methylation, protein synthesis and other physiological or pathological processes. In recent years, metabolism-related molecules of sulfur-containing amino acids affecting the occurrence, development and treatment of tumors have been implicated in various disorders, especially in leukemia. Here, we summarize current knowledge on the sulfur-containing amino acid metabolism pathway in leukemia and examine ongoing efforts to target this pathway, including treatment strategies targeting (a) sulfur-containing amino acids, (b) metabolites of sulfur-containing amino acids, and (c) enzymes and cofactors related to sulfur-containing amino acid metabolism in leukemia. Future leukemia therapy will likely involve innovative strategies targeting the sulfur-containing amino acid metabolism pathway.
Knowledge transfer in lifelong machine learning: a systematic literature review
Authors: Khodaee Pouya , Viktor Herna L. , Michalowski Wojtek
Published: July 2024

Lifelong Machine Learning (LML) denotes a scenario involving multiple sequential tasks, each accompanied by its respective dataset, in order to solve specific learning problems. In this context, the focus of LML techniques is on utilizing already acquired knowledge to adapt to new tasks efficiently. Essentially, LML concerns about facing new tasks while exploiting the knowledge previously gathered from earlier tasks not only to help in adapting to new tasks but also to enrich the understanding of past ones. By understanding this concept, one can better grasp one of the major obstacles in LML, known as Knowledge Transfer (KT). This systematic literature review aims to explore state-of-the-art KT techniques within LML and assess the evaluation metrics and commonly utilized datasets in this field, thereby keeping the LML research community updated with the latest developments. From an initial pool of 417 articles from four distinguished databases, 30 were deemed highly pertinent for the information extraction phase. The analysis recognizes four primary KT techniques: Replay, Regularization, Parameter Isolation, and Hybrid. This study delves into the characteristics of these techniques across both neural network (NN) and non-neural network (non-NN) frameworks, highlighting their distinct advantages that have captured researchers’ interest. It was found that the majority of the studies focused on supervised learning within an NN modelling framework, particularly employing Parameter Isolation and Hybrid for KT. The paper concludes by pinpointing research opportunities, including investigating non-NN models for Replay and exploring applications outside of computer vision (CV).
Political Organisational Silence and the Ethics of Care: EU Migrant Restaurant Workers in Brexit Britain
Authors: Reeves Laura J. , Bristow Alexandra
Published: July 2024

In this paper, we explore the experiences of EU migrants working in UK restaurants in the aftermath of the Brexit vote. We do so through a care ethics lens, which we bring together with the integrative approach to organisational silence to consider the ethical consequences of the organisational policies of political silence adopted by the restaurant chains in our qualitative empirical study. We develop the concept of political organisational silence and probe its ethical dimensions, showing how at the organisational level it falls short of constituting a practice of caring for migrant workers in politically divisive and hostile times. We argue that organisational policies of political silence emphasise the exploitative nature of the business of (im)migration, which prioritises concern for profits over care for the needs of others. Organisations refuse caring responsibility for migrant workers, leaving care to the migrants themselves and their co-workers and managers. Whilst peer-care practices partially fill this politically silent care-vacuum, this leaves individuals to negotiate difficult tensions without institutional support at a time of increased uncertainty, complexity, hostility, violence, and vulnerability. Drawing lessons from our study and its aftermath, we call for a care manifesto to inform the business of (im)migration, which would need to include caring political responsibility towards migrant workers exercised through caring political organisational voice as well as silence.
ADAR1 prevents ZBP1-dependent PANoptosis via A-to-I RNA editing in developmental sevoflurane neurotoxicity
Authors: Yang Huiling , Xu Sen , Hong Xinya , Liu Yusi , Qian Shaojie , Lou Yifei , Wang Wenyuan
Published: July 2024

It is well established that sevoflurane exposure leads to widespread neuronal cell death in the developing brain. Adenosine deaminase acting on RNA-1 (ADAR1) dependent adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing is dynamically regulated throughout brain development. The current investigation is designed to interrogate the contributed role of ADAR1 in developmental sevoflurane neurotoxicity. Herein, we provide evidence to show that developmental sevoflurane priming triggers neuronal pyroptosis, apoptosis and necroptosis (PANoptosis), and elicits the release of inflammatory factors including IL-1β, IL-18, TNF-α and IFN-γ. Additionally, ADAR1-P150, but not ADAR1-P110, depresses cellular PANoptosis and inflammatory response by competing with Z-DNA/RNA binding protein 1 (ZBP1) for binding to Z-RNA in the presence of sevoflurane. Further investigation demonstrates that ADAR1-dependent A-to-I RNA editing mitigates developmental sevoflurane-induced neuronal PANoptosis. To restore RNA editing, we utilize adeno-associated virus (AAV) to deliver engineered circular ADAR-recruiting guide RNAs (cadRNAs) into cells, which is capable of recruiting endogenous adenosine deaminases to promote cellular A-to-I RNA editing. As anticipated, AAV-cadRNAs diminishes sevoflurane-induced cellular Z-RNA production and PANoptosis, which could be abolished by ADAR1-P150 shRNA transfection. Moreover, AAV-cadRNAs delivery ameliorates developmental sevoflurane-induced spatial and emotional cognitive deficits without influence on locomotor activity. Taken together, these results illustrate that ADAR1-P150 exhibits a prominent role in preventing ZBP1-dependent PANoptosis through A-to-I RNA editing in developmental sevoflurane neurotoxicity. Application of engineered cadRNAs to rectify the compromised ADAR1-dependent A-to-I RNA editing provides an inspiring direction for possible clinical preventions and therapeutics.
Extragradient method with feasible inexact projection to variational inequality problem
Authors: Millán R. Díaz , Ferreira O. P. , Ugon J.
Published: July 2024

The variational inequality problem in finite-dimensional Euclidean space is addressed in this paper, and two inexact variants of the extragradient method are proposed to solve it. Instead of computing exact projections on the constraint set, as in previous versions extragradient method, the proposed methods compute feasible inexact projections on the constraint set using a relative error criterion. The first version of the proposed method provided is a counterpart to the classic form of the extragradient method with constant steps. In order to establish its convergence we need to assume that the operator is pseudo-monotone and Lipschitz continuous, as in the standard approach. For the second version, instead of a fixed step size, the method presented finds a suitable step size in each iteration by performing a line search. Like the classical extragradient method, the proposed method does just two projections into the feasible set in each iteration. A full convergence analysis is provided, with no Lipschitz continuity assumption of the operator defining the variational inequality problem.
Is artificial intelligence use related to self-control, self-esteem and self-efficacy among university students?
Authors: Rodríguez-Ruiz Joaquín , Marín-López Inmaculada , Espejo-Siles Raquel
Published: July 2024

The present study aimed to analyse if self-control, self-esteem and self-efficacy are related to the use of artificial intelligence tools. These tools are being incorporated to educational practices, but there is a lack of empirical evidence about the relation between artificial intelligence use by students and their personal and psychological characteristics. Drawing a profile of students concerning their use of artificial intelligence is imperative in order to design effective learning strategies. This was a cross-sectional study including 1 761 undergraduate students enrolled in different degrees related to education and psychology. Data collection was conducted using validated self-reports that showed appropriate psychometric properties. According to linear regression analyses, low levels of self-control were related to a higher frequency of artificial intelligence use. Logistic regression analyses showed that self-control and self-efficacy were associated with using artificial intelligence to solve daily doubts, due to the need of interacting with someone and to do academic tasks instead of the student. Moreover, higher scores in self-esteem decreased the odds of using artificial intelligence due to the need of interacting with someone. Educators should take into account these findings when implementing the use of artificial intelligence in their educational strategies with university students.
Preschool Children’s Agency in Play-activities with Science Content
Authors: Henriksson Anna , Fridberg Marie , Leden Lotta
Published: July 2024

The Swedish preschool educational tradition is based on a holistic view where care, play, learning, and teaching are intertwined. Previous research argues for the need to develop teaching approaches that simultaneously direct attention towards content and children’s perspectives. The aim of this study is to contribute with knowledge about how preschool children’s agency is supported in activities that integrate play and science, with a special focus on the use of representations. The empirical data consists of video-observations of teachers’ and children’s (2-4-years) participation in activities that integrate play and science. In the analysis, the theoretical framework of Play-Responsive Early Childhood Education and Care (PRECEC) is used. Here, teaching and play are understood as a mutual activity. In these mutual activities, teachers and children are constantly shifting back and forth betweenas if(fantasy) andas is(reality) (Pramling et al., 2019). Three narratives have been constructed that exemplify how children’s agency is supported in activities that integrate play and science. These narratives highlight how children’s initiatives are given space to evolve and enrich both play and science; how children’s initiatives become valuable for teachers’ opportunities totriggerand further explore science content and; how teacher’s constantly must respond to children’s different initiatives and balance between them. Implications for preschool teachers and preschool practice are discussed in relation to children’s agency in science teaching in preschool.
Assessing the quality of conceptual knowledge through dynamic constructions
Authors: Vízek Lukáš , Samková Libuše , Star Jon R.
Published: July 2024

In this contribution, we address the gap that has appeared in mathematics education research and practice with the emergence of dynamic geometry environments and build on the opportunities these environments offer to school geometry. In our qualitative empirical study, we investigate how to elaborate on the general model of conceptual knowledge to make it applicable to dynamic geometry tasks, specifically to tasks including dynamic geometric constructions. We present a design of dynamic constructions of quadrilaterals that comply with Euclidean constructions, derive an assessment instrument based on them, and study what information the instrument can provide about the quality of students’ conceptual knowledge. We present the results in the form of an assessment framework consisting of an example of the assessment instrument and an ordered system of qualitative categories serving as an assessment codebook for interpreting students’ responses in terms of the quality of conceptual knowledge. To clarify the relations between the assessment framework and the general model of conceptual knowledge, we establish a system of subdimensions of conceptual knowledge that indicates how conceptual knowledge can be understood in the context of dynamic geometric constructions and identifies the conceptual knowledge needed to achieve individual categories of the assessment framework.
Multivariate Bayesian models with flexible shared interactions for analyzing spatio-temporal patterns of rare cancers
Authors: Retegui Garazi , Etxeberria Jaione , Ugarte María Dolores
Published: July 2024

Rare cancers affect millions of people worldwide each year. However, estimating incidence or mortality rates associated with rare cancers presents important difficulties and poses new statistical methodological challenges. In this paper, we expand the collection of multivariate spatio-temporal models by introducing adaptable shared spatio-temporal components to enable a comprehensive analysis of both incidence and cancer mortality in rare cancer cases. These models allow the modulation of spatio-temporal effects between incidence and mortality, allowing for changes in their relationship over time. The new models have been implemented in INLA using r-generic constructions. We conduct a simulation study to evaluate the performance of the new spatio-temporal models. Our results show that multivariate spatio-temporal models incorporating a flexible shared spatio-temporal term outperform conventional multivariate spatio-temporal models that include specific spatio-temporal effects for each health outcome. We use these models to analyze incidence and mortality data for pancreatic cancer and leukaemia among males across 142 administrative health care districts of Great Britain over a span of nine biennial periods (2002–2019).
Narrative Ability in Autism and First-Degree Relatives
Authors: Nayar Kritika , Landau Emily , Martin Gary E. , Stevens Cassandra J. , Xing Jiayin , Sophia Pirog , Guilfoyle Janna , Gordon Peter C. , Losh Molly
Published: July 2024

Narrative is an important communication skill for sharing personal experiences and connecting with others. Narrative skills are often impacted in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and have important consequences for social interactions and relationships. Subtle differences in narrative have also been reported among first-degree relatives of autistic individuals, suggesting that narrative may also be an etiologically important language-related skill that is influenced by genes associated with ASD. This study examined narrative ability and related visual attention during narration in ASD and first-degree relatives of individuals with ASD (siblings and parents) to understand how narrative and related attentional styles may be variably impacted across the spectrum of ASD genetic influence. Participants included 56 autistic individuals, 42 siblings of autistic individuals, 49 controls, 161 parents of autistic individuals, and 61 parent controls. Narratives were elicited using a wordless picture book presented on an eye tracker to record concurrent gaze. Findings revealed parallel patterns of narrative differences among ASD and sibling groups in the use of causal language to connect story elements and the use of cognitive and affective language. More subtle differences within the domain of causal language were evident in ASD parents. Parallel patterns in the ASD and sibling groups were also found for gaze during narration. Findings implicate causal language as a critical narrative skill that is impacted in ASD and may be reflective of ASD genetic influence in relatives. Gaze patterns during narration suggest similar attentional mechanisms associated with narrative among ASD families.
Predictors of Change in Wellbeing and Mental Health of Parents of Autistic Pre-Schoolers
Authors: Green Cherie C. , Smith Jodie , Bent Catherine A. , Chetcuti Lacey , Uljarević Mirko , Benson Paul R. , Hudry Kristelle
Published: July 2024

Parenting is a rewarding experience but is not without its challenges. Parents of Autistic children face additional challenges, and as a result can experience lower levels of wellbeing and more mental health problems (i.e., depression, anxiety, stress). Previous studies have identified concurrent correlates of wellbeing and mental health. However, few have investigated predictors of subsequent wellbeing and mental health, or of change over time, among parents of pre-school aged autistic children. We examined child-, parent-, and family/sociodemographic factors associated with change in parents’ mental health and wellbeing across three timepoints (spanning approximately one year) among 53 parents of Autistic pre-schoolers (M = 35.48, SD = 6.36 months. At each timepoint, parents reported lower wellbeing and greater mental health difficulties compared to normative data. There was no significant group-level change over time in parent outcomes. However, individual variability in short-term (~ 5 months) wellbeing and mental health change was predicted by a combination of child- and parent-related factors, while variability in medium-term (~ 10 months) change was predicted by parent factors alone. Parents’ description of their child and their relationship predicted change in both wellbeing and mental health. Furthermore, participating in a parent-mediated intervention (available to a subgroup) was a significant predictor of change in wellbeing. Our findings highlight potentially modifiable factors (e.g., learning healthier coping strategies) that may positively impact both short- and medium-term change in parental outcomes.
Memory Efficient Deep Learning-Based Grasping Point Detection of Nontrivial Objects for Robotic Bin Picking
Authors: Dolezel Petr , Stursa Dominik , Kopecky Dusan
Published: July 2024

Picking up non-trivial objects from a bin with a robotic arm is a common task of modern industrial processes. Here, an efficient data-driven method of grasping point detection, based on an attention squeeze parallel U-shaped neural network (ASP U-Net) for the bin picking task, is proposed. The method directly provides all necessary information about the feasible grasping points of objects, which are randomly or regularly arranged in a bin with side walls. Moreover, the method is able to evaluate and select the optimal grasping point among the feasible ones for two types of end effectors, i.e., a vacuum cup and a parallel gripper. The key element of the utilized ASP U-Net neural network is the transformation of a single RGB-Depth image of the bin containing nontrivial objects into a schematic grey-scale frame, where the positions and poses of the grasping points are coded into gradient geometric shapes. The experiments carried out in this study include a comprehensive set of scenes with randomly scattered, ordered, and semi-ordered objects arranged in impeccable or deformed bins. The results indicate outstanding accuracy with more than acceptable computational requirements. Additionally, the scaling possibilities of the method can offer extremely lightweight implementations, applicable, for example, to battery-powered edge-computing devices with low RAM capacity.
Upwind Summation-by-parts Finite Differences: error Estimates and WENO methodology
Authors: Jiang Yan , Wang Siyang
Published: July 2024

High order upwind summation-by-parts finite difference operators have recently been developed. When combined with the simultaneous approximation term method to impose boundary conditions, the method converges faster than using traditional summation-by-parts operators. We prove the convergence rate by the normal mode analysis for such methods for a class of hyperbolic partial differential equations. Our analysis shows that the penalty parameter for imposing boundary conditions affects the convergence rate for stable methods. In addition, to solve problems with discontinuous data, we extend the method to also have the weighted essentially nonoscillatory property. The overall method is stable, achieves high order accuracy for smooth problems, and is capable of solving problems with discontinuities.
Risk assessment of street trees failure by non-experts: a case study from the North of Israel
Authors: Zur Shalhevet Leibovitz , Bahat Shay , Amara Ronza , Farber Yair
Published: July 2024

Street trees are valuable to urban environments, providing environmental, aesthetic, and social benefits. However, local authorities and municipalities are under pressure to cut down street trees because of concerns about fallen trees and broken branches. The problem is that this risk assessment can be done only by agronomists (experts) in some places, which is limiting. The idea is to train the local municipality’s gardeners (non-experts) to conduct risk assessments for street trees using a criteria-defined protocol developed by the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture. In our case study, we compare a risk assessment on street trees done by gardeners to a risk assessment done by an agronomist. The findings showed that most non-experts agreed with every criterion in the protocol. The strength of the relationship between the expert score and the non-experts’ average score was high and significant. Most criteria had a high or complete agreement between the gardeners and the agronomist. The visible risks criterion has a medium agreement, while the height–diameter ratio criterion has the lowest agreement between the gardeners and the agronomist. Local authorities and municipalities have room to rely on their gardeners (after a short training) to assess the risks of street trees falling when a criterion-defining assessment protocol is used.
On imperfective suffixes in Russian
Authors: Biskup Petr
Published: July 2024

This article is concerned with imperfective suffixes in Russian. It argues that there are at least three imperfective suffixes, the progressive morpheme, the iterative marker and the habitual suffix. It is shown that they differ in morphosyntactic and semantic properties. As to their structural properties, the progressive suffix is the lowest marker; the iterative morpheme attaches in a higher position; and the habitual morpheme is structurally the highest element. Thus, the article argues against a unitary approach to the iterative suffix and the habitual morpheme. Semantically, the iterative suffix has a pluractional meaning, whereas the habitual suffix is a vague generic quantifier. As to their phonological properties, the three markers are homophonous; they are spelled out as an -yva- allomorph. In this respect, the suffixes differ from the morphological aspect operator encoding (im)perfectivity in the aspectual head, which is phonologically empty. Further, it is shown that there are certain prefixes in the verbal morphosyntactic structure that are placed between the progressive projection and the iterative projection.
Augmented reality for endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery: evaluating design factors with neurosurgeons
Authors: Higa Jennifer , Nkatha Sonia , Ramirez Herrera Roxana , Marcus Hani , Yoo Soojeong , Blandford Ann , Opie Jeremy
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study investigates the potential utility of augmented reality (AR) in the endoscopic transsphenoidal approach (TSA). While previous research has addressed technical challenges in AR for TSA, this paper explores how design factors can improve AR for neurosurgeons from a human-centred design perspective.

Methods

Preliminary qualitative research involved observations of TSA procedures (

$$n=2$$

n
=
2

) and semi-structured interviews with neurosurgeons (

$$n=4$$

n
=
4

). These informed the design of an AR mockup, which was evaluated with neurosurgeons (

$$n=3$$

n
=
3

). An interactive low-fidelity prototype—the “AR-assisted Navigation for the TransSphenoidal Approach (ANTSA)”—was then developed in Unity 3D. A user study (

$$n=4$$

n
=
4

) evaluated the low-fidelity prototype of ANTSA through contextual interviews, providing feedback on design factors.

Results

AR visualisations may be beneficial in streamlining the sellar phase and reducing intraoperative errors such as excessive or inadequate exposure. Key design recommendations include a lean mesh rendering, an intuitive colour palette, and optional structure highlighting.

Conclusion

This research presents user-centred design guidelines to improve sensemaking and surgical workflow in the sellar phase of TSA, with the goal of improving clinical outcomes. The specific improvements that AR could bring to the workflow are discussed along with surgeons’ reservations and its possible application towards training less experienced physicians.
Zombies ahead: Explaining the rise of low-quality election monitoring
Authors: Bush Sarah Sunn , Cottiero Christina , Prather Lauren
Published: July 2024

The international election monitoring regime has become considerably more complex in the twenty-first century. Although the number of organizations engaged in high-quality election monitoring has plateaued, the number of low-quality monitors—commonly known as zombie monitors—has continued to grow. Low-quality election monitors threaten democracy because they validate flawed elections and undermine the legitimacy of the international election monitoring regime. This article argues that international politics have played a crucial role in the diffusion of low-quality election monitors. It hypothesizes that ties with autocratic powers that promote low-quality observers and membership in authoritarian regional organizations significantly increase the likelihood that a country will host low-quality monitors at its elections. To test the hypotheses, the article draws on original data on international election observation between 2000 and 2020 that identifies the most comprehensive set of groups of election monitors to-date. A statistical analysis of the dataset supports the argument.
Sticking in Shaft Furnace and Fluidized Bed Ironmaking Processes: A Comprehensive Review Focusing on the Effect of Coating Materials
Authors: Wang Rou , Purohit Suneeti , Paymooni Khadijeh , Honeyands Tom
Published: July 2024

Production of direct reduced iron (DRI), particularly with green hydrogen, is a key pathway to the decarbonization of the iron and steel industry. However, the sticking tendency during the production of DRI creates serious operational issues and limits production outputs. Coating inert materials on the surface of iron ores can act as a barrier to effectively prevent the bonding between newly formed iron surfaces, and can interfere with the formation of iron whiskers. However, the principle of coating has not been systematically studied. This review covers the mechanism of sticking in both shaft furnaces and fluidized bed-based gaseous DRI production. The factors that influence the reduction kinetics and morphology, including physical and chemical ore properties, pellet induration conditions, and reduction conditions are summarized as well. Understanding the relationship between these factors and morphology change is critical to eliminating the sticking issues of DRI. Findings from this study suggest that coating with inert additives (e.g., metal oxides) can successfully prevent sticking in both shaft furnaces and fluidized bed processes. The types of additives and coating methods, the stage of reduction where the coating is applied, and reduction temperature will dramatically affect the coating performance. The outlook is discussed as well given the need for further work to improve the performance of coating (methods, timing, and cheaper alternatives), to further de-risk DRI technologies.
The Tobin Coefficient: A Relevant Photodetector Performance Metric for IR Imaging
Authors: Gravrand Olivier , Kerlain Alexandre , Sam-Giao Diane , Soria Maxence , Rothman Johan
Published: July 2024

The well-known Rule07 is a simple thus efficient way to compare available technologies for IR imaging detectors in terms of dark current. The noise is then often estimated using a shot noise approximation on the dark current. Both II–VI and III–V communities use this rule of thumb as a reference for well-performing IR photodiodes. For HOT applications, a dark current close to this rule07 is considered a necessary condition but not a sufficient one to obtain a high-performance IR imager. Indeed, when limited by shot noise, rule07 describes well the noise behavior of the considered device. However, when considering low-frequency noise, it fails to describe the expected performances. In this paper, we focus on another figure-of-merit, dedicated to detector low-frequency noise rather than dark current. Systemic 1/f noise investigation in an IR detector was first reported by Tobin et al. in 1980. There is today a relative consensus on the fact that measured 1/f noise is proportional to the dark current. The ratio between the amplitude of the 1/f noise and the dark current of the same devices may therefore be used as a figure-of-merit for a given technology. This ratio (called the Tobin factor $${\alpha }_{\text{T}}$$

α
T

) therefore appears adequate to compare different technologies as a figure-of-merit qualifying 1/f noise properties. This dimensionless ratio can also be very useful for optimizing a particular technology or process. However, in order to be relevant, this figure-of-merit must be estimated carefully as it appears, for instance, pixel pitch-dependent. Different examples of Tobin coefficient extraction are presented in this paper. We show that, depending on the technologies, the values of the Tobin coefficient can spread over several orders of magnitude. However, only low values result in high-quality IR imagers. Today, the best results we obtained show that $${\alpha }_{\text{T}}={10}^{-5}$$

α
T

=

10

-
5

is a state-of-art value to be compared with.
Responsibility for the Environmental Impact of Data-Intensive Research: An Exploration of UK Health Researchers
Authors: Samuel Gabrielle
Published: July 2024

Concerns about research’s environmental impacts have been articulated in the research arena, but questions remain about what types of role responsibilities are appropriate to place on researchers, if any. The research question of this paper is: what are the views of UK health researchers who use data-intensive methods on their responsibilities to consider the environmental impacts of their research? Twenty-six interviews were conducted with UK health researchers using data-intensive methods. Participants expressed a desire to take responsibility for the environmental impacts of their research, however, they were unable to consolidate this because there were often obstacles that prevented them from taking such role responsibilities. They suggested strategies to address this, predominantly related to the need for regulation to monitor their own behaviour. This paper discusses the implications of adopting such a regulatory approach as a mechanism to promote researchers’ role responsibilities using a neo-liberal critique.
From Rust to High-Tech Hubs: FDI-Led Upgrading of Urban Economies in East Central Europe
Authors: Medve-Bálint Gergő
Published: July 2024

In the semi-peripheral-dependent market economies (DME) of East Central Europe (ECE), foreign investors are major contributors to economic growth and tend to establish low value-added operations. At the same time, they enjoy superior bargaining power over central governments. The domination of FDI constrains domestic agency in shaping economic outcomes, thereby locking DMEs into the semi-periphery. Moving to the sub-national level, this paper challenges these views by arguing that there is considerably more scope for local development agency in DMEs than the comparative political economy literature suggests. Moreover, FDI-led upgrading, defined as multinational companies engaging in high value-added activities, can take place at the local level even without the direct involvement of the state. The paper draws on fieldwork conducted in two formerly declining industrial cities in ECE (Cluj and Gdańsk) that have recently emerged as knowledge-intensive hubs targeted by high value-added FDI. The paper shows that FDI-led upgrading in Gdańsk occurred with the active contribution and cooperation of both local private and public economic actors, whereas in Cluj, upgrading took place with the contribution of local universities and through the forging of business links between foreign capital and local firms established by expatriates and local engineers.
Media’s role in (un)covering organised match-fixing in Brazil
Authors: Graeff Billy , Gutierrez Diego Monteiro , Tobar Felipe , Diverio Rafael Mano , Manoli Argyro Elisavet
Published: July 2024

In this article, we address the subject of the recent appearance and exponential and uncontrollable growth that betting had in the Brazilian sports context, alongside numerous changes in the country’s legislation system. Against the backdrop of this growth, we explore the Operation Penalty Kick organised match-fixing scandal, which unravelled in the country, as the media detailed it. Using media sources and field notes from two actors immersed in the field, we analyse the key actors and the processes of the criminal activity while exploring the ways in which it was organised, drawing parallels with trade-type network structures. Through the analysis, we argue that media are to be questioned on their role in (un)covering details of the criminal activity and key actors, once focusing the narrative away from organised crime and its financing they assist in perpetuating the culture of unpunished corruption in the country.
Three times more than money: generativity, relational goods and life satisfaction
Authors: Becchetti Leonardo , Cermelli Massimo , De Rosa Dalila
Published: July 2024

Generativity and the quality of relational goods are two key drivers of subjective well-being traditionally neglected in the economic literature. By using two different data sources – the European Social Survey (ESS) and the European Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) - we investigate their impact on life satisfaction of two large samples of Italian individuals. Our findings show that the effect is positive and significant and, in both estimates from the two different data sources, a change from the lowest to the highest level of relational life has an impact three times larger than the change from the lowest to the highest income decile.
A Polynomial System of Degree Four with an Invariant Square Containing At Least Five Limit Cycles
Authors: Grau Maite , Szántó Iván
Published: July 2024

We consider a class of polynomial systems of degree four with four real invariant straight lines that form a square, called this an invariant square, and also that contains in its interior at least five small amplitude limit cycles for a certain choice of the parameters. Moreover, we will obtain the necessary and sufficient conditions for the critical point inside the square to be a center.
A novel cancer-associated fibroblast signature for kidney renal clear cell carcinoma via integrated analysis of single-cell and bulk RNA-sequencing
Authors: Lu Ling , Feng Huaguo , Dai Guohua , Liu Shuangquan , Feng Yi , Tan Haoyang , Zhang Xian , Hong Guoqing , Lai Xing
Published: July 2024

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), integral components of the tumor microenvironment, play a pivotal role in tumor proliferation, metastasis, and clinical outcomes. However, its specific roles in Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma (KIRC) remain poorly understood. Employing the established Seurat single-cell analysis pipeline, we identified 21 CAFs marker genes. Subsequently, a prognostic signature consisting of 6 CAFs marker genes (RGS5, PGF, TPM2, GJA4, SEPT4, and PLXDC1) was developed in a cohort through univariate and LASSO Cox regression analyses. The model’s efficacy was then validated in an external cohort, with a remarkable predictive performance in 1-, 3-, and 5-year. Patients in the high-risk group exhibited significantly inferior survival outcomes (p < 0.001), and the risk score was an independent prognostic factor (p < 0.05). Distinct differences in immune cell profiles and drug susceptibility were observed between the two risk groups. In KIRC, the PGF-VEGFR1 signaling pathway displayed a notable increase. PGF expression was significantly elevated in tumor tissues, as demonstrated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. In vitro, transwell assays and CCK8 revealed that recombinant-PGF could enhance the capability of cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in 769P and 786-O cells. This study firstly developed a novel predictive model based on 6 CAFs genes for KIRC. Additionally, PGF may present a potential therapeutic target to enhance KIRC treatment.
Fast pyrolysis of the waste lignocellulosic phloem fraction of Quercus cerris bark in a twin-screw reactor
Authors: Sen Umut , Fonseca Frederico Gomes , Chi Yaxuan , Pereira Helena , Funke Axel
Published: July 2024

Tree bark is among the most important lignocellulosic waste materials with high ash, extractive, and lignin contents. These wastes may be valorized through thermochemical methods. The thermochemical conversion of tree bark via fast pyrolysis is usually not economic due to low bio-oil yields and the challenge to valorize biochar in current industrial installations. However, screw-reactor-based fast pyrolysis is a particularly suitable method for producing bio-oils from high ash-containing and heterogeneous lignocellulosic feedstocks. The lower carrier gas requirement and the efficient recovery of biochar make this method economically attractive for the bark of Turkey oak (Quercus cerris) which is composed largely of phloem tissues. Here we showed that the phloem of Q. cerris can be converted to value-added bio-oils and biochars using the screw reactor without operational problems. The yields of marketable organic liquids and biochars were 32% and 21%, respectively. A process modeling was developed with ASPEN plus software to evaluate the available excess process heat of the fast pyrolysis unit for integration into phloem separation or cork processing units. From an assumed feedstock capacity of 25 MW phloem, 6.8 MW excess heat and 1.5 MW power are supplied in addition to the produced bio-oil. This excess heat can be integrated into bark separation or cork processing operations to save energy and reduce CO2 emissions.
Investigating the Compositional Space of Gas-Phase Synthesized Fayalitic Model Slags Aiming at Cobalt Recovery
Authors: Vollbrecht Manuel , Pramanik Krishnanjan , Colombi Ciacchi Lucio , Mädler Lutz
Published: July 2024

Metallurgical waste streams contain minor yet significant contents of valuable and scarce elements which are commonly lost due to their low concentrations. The necessity of developing efficient recycling methods of these chemically diverse material systems is constantly gaining both public and technological attention since resource demands of high-technology elements are expected to rise drastically in the future. A novel approach to recover diluted elements from slags is the concept of Engineered Artificial Minerals (EnAM) which aims at entrapping target elements in separable crystalline phases. In this study, slag synthesis through flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) and characterization experiments are combined with theoretical density functional theory (DFT) calculations to identify potential EnAM for Co recovery. Upon validating the viability of stoichiometric slag synthesis and the DFT framework, it is shown that the actual occurrence of flame-synthesized phases can be predicted considering their computed enthalpy of formation. The thus-defined compositional space, which is spanned by potentially forming slag compounds, is employed to identify promising additives for EnAM formation. Systematic analysis of the additive effect on crystallization revealed that Co crystallizes in a Fe–Mg-Co–O cubic spinel, making this phase a good EnAM candidate.

Graphical Abstract
Translocase of Outer Mitochondrial Membrane 40, as a Promising Biomarker for the Diagnosis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Pan-Cancer
Authors: Zhang Xin , Zhu Lin , Ma ChenHao , Zhao Shu-Ning , Zhao Chu-Yue , Sun Hui
Published: July 2024

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a metabolic disease that affects the reproductive system, and its pathogenesis remains unresolved. Through the application of bioinformatics and molecular biology techniques, this study has identified a significant association between translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 40 (TOMM40) and both PCOS and pan-cancers. The selection of PCOS biomarkers included TOMM40, which we found to be significantly decreased in the PCOS group both in vitro and in vivo, using molecular biology methods such as Western Blot as well as immunohistochemistry. Over-expression TOMM40 can rescue the effect on apoptosis rate and proliferation suppression induced by DHEA in KGN cells. TOMM40 as a biomarker for the diagnosis of PCOS. The pan-cancer analysis revealed an association between elevated TOMM40 expression in Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma and an unfavorable prognosis, while increased TOMM40 expression in six tumor types was linked to a favorable prognosis. Therefore, TOMM40 can be regarded as a promising biomarker for diagnosing both PCOS and pan-cancer.
Maternal Body Mass Index, Myometrium Contractility and Uterotonic Receptor Expression in Pregnancy
Authors: Lammers Sydney M. , Peczkowski Kyra K. , Patel Niharika , Abdelwahab Mahmoud , Summerfield Taryn L. , Costantine Maged M. , Janssen Paul M. L. , Kniss Douglas A. , Frey Heather A.
Published: July 2024

Pregnant individuals with obesity (body mass index, BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) are more likely to experience prolonged labor and have double the risk of cesarean compared with individuals with normal weight (BMI < 25 kg/m2). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether obesity in pregnancy is associated with reduced spontaneous and oxytocin-stimulated myometrial contractile activity using ex vivo preparations. We also assessed the relationship between maternal BMI and the expression of oxytocin (OXTR) and prostaglandin (FP) receptors in the myometrial tissue. We enrolled 73 individuals with a singleton gestation undergoing scheduled cesarean delivery at term in a prospective cohort study. This included 49 individuals with a pre-pregnancy BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 and 24 with BMI < 25.0 kg/m2. After delivery, a small strip of myometrium was excised from the upper edge of the hysterotomy. Baseline spontaneous and oxytocin stimulated myometrial contractile activity was measured using ex vivo preparations. Additionally, expression of oxytocin and prostaglandin receptors from myometrial samples were compared using qRT-PCR and western blot techniques. Spontaneous and oxytocin-stimulated contraction frequency, duration, and force were not significantly different in myometrial samples from the obese and normal-weight individuals. Myometrial OXTR gene and protein expression was also similar in the two groups. While FP gene expression was lower in the myometrial samples from the obese group, protein expression did not differ. These data help to address an important knowledge gap related to the biological mechanisms underlying the association between maternal obesity and dysfunctional labor.
Business readiness for dual transformation: an analysis of business capabilities for digital and sustainable transformation
Authors: del Socorro Encinas-Grijalva María , Olivieri-Sangiacomo Flavio Arturo , Galván-Vela Esthela , Ravina-Ripoll Rafael
Published: July 2024

In a dynamic business environment, the convergence of Digital Transformation and Sustainable Transformation has emerged as a comprehensive strategy for companies seeking to thrive in the modern era. For this transformation to successfully develop, the appropriate conditions must be present to carry out a process of digitisation and sustainability. Therefore, this research aimed to identify the readiness level of companies established in the city of Tijuana, Mexico, to adopt a dual transformation process. An analysis of the different digital and sustainable transformation models was carried out, and a self-diagnosis model was designed. Then, a quantitative instrument was applied to a sample of 148 small, medium and large companies in Tijuana between 2022 and mid-2023. The analysis consisted of a descriptive analysis of the data and a correlation analysis. It concludes that the elements that most explain the dual transformation are strategy, culture, organisational and technical capabilities. Likewise, the related factors are definition and communication, alignment, and scope of the objectives within the strategy; change management, knowledge and collaboration in the culture; within the organisation: leadership, processes and organisational structure; and finally in the technical capabilities data management, training and systems integration. The results of this research allowed us to identify and propose strategies to implement the dual transformation and increase the scalability and competitiveness of the adopting companies.