bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The alteration of apoptosis-related genes in female pelvic supportive tissues with regard to menopausal status
Authors: Saatli Bahadır , Kurt Serap , Çağlıyan Erkan , Kızıldağ Sefa
Published: December 2023

Purpose

We aimed to compare the expression levels of anti-apoptotic and proapoptotic genes in the parametrium, sacrouterine and round ligaments with respect to menopausal status in women presenting without any indication of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). We hypothesized that apoptosis related gene expressions in female pelvic tissues may be altered during menopause.

Methods

The study groups consisted of pre-menopausal (n = 10) and menopausal (n = 10) females who did not have POP symptoms. Three different types of tissue samples (Parametrium, Round Ligament and Sacrouterine Ligament) were obtained and RNA was isolated from these tissues. After purifying and quantifying RNA samples, qPCR was used to determine the expression levels of anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic genes.

Results

BCL-2 gene expression levels were significantly lower in all the tissues of menopausal patients compared to those of premenopausal patients. In comparison to premenopausal patients, the sacrouterine ligament tissue BAD expression level was significantly high (p = 0.035), and the BCL-2/BAD ratio was significantly lower in menopausal patients (p = 0.006).

Conclusion

Apoptosis-related protein levels change during menopause; pro-apoptotic gene expressions decrease and anti-apoptotic gene expressions increase. The significant alteration of BCL-2 and BAD expression in sacrouterine ligament with respect to menopausal status was observed and this suggested that when compared to other pelvic tissues, the sacrouterine ligament, which plays a crucial role for genital organs in restoring normal pelvic anatomy and providing support, could be affected more by menopause.
Creating a treadmill running video game with smartwatch interaction
Authors: Marín-Lora Carlos , Chover Miguel , Martín Micaela Yanet , García-Rytman Linda
Published: December 2023

In recent years, indoor or at-home sports have experienced significant growth. However, monotony is a common challenge in these static physical activities. Exergames, a genre of video games that combines physical activity and entertainment, have emerged as an attractive solution. Nevertheless, running on a treadmill and engaging in other activities simultaneously presents additional challenges. The balance and concentration required during running while interacting with a video game demand a special focus on the design of the Exergame. This paper presents a mobile Exergame designed specifically for treadmill running, utilizing interaction with a smartwatch. The game offers natural environments where, through smartwatch technology, it interprets the player's movements, transforming them into running speed and interactive actions by detecting gestures within the game. The main objective is to provide users with a satisfying gaming experience tailored to the characteristics of treadmill running. Particular emphasis has been placed on prioritizing the playful component of this Exergame, recognizing its relevance in the context of treadmill running. To evaluate the achievement of objectives and the proposed hypothesis, a comparative study was conducted between the proposed Exergame and a treadmill running simulator. Participants experienced both experiences and subsequently completed the Game Experience Questionnaire (GEQ), specifically the In-game GEQ version. The results obtained indicate that participants had a better gaming experience in the Exergame than in the simulator. These findings highlight the importance of prioritizing the playful component in Exergames and provide guidelines for future improvements and developments in the field.
Assessing emerging and priority micropollutants in sewage sludge: environmental insights and analytical approaches
Authors: Rede Diana , Teixeira Ivan , Delerue-Matos Cristina , Fernandes Virgínia Cruz
Published: December 2023

The application of sewage sludge (SS) in agriculture, as an alternative to manufactured fertilizers, is current practice worldwide. However, as wastewater is collected from households, industries, and hospitals, the resulting sludge could contaminate land with creeping levels of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and microplastics, among others. Thus, the sustainable management of SS requires the development of selective methods for the identification and quantification of pollutants, preventing ecological and/or health risks. This study presents a thorough evaluation of emerging and priority micropollutants in SS, through the lens of environmental insights, by developing and implementing an integrated analytical approach. A quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) extraction method, coupled with gas chromatography and liquid chromatography, was optimized for the determination of 42 organic compounds. These include organophosphorus pesticides, organochlorine pesticides, pyrethroid pesticides, organophosphate ester flame retardants, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The optimization of the dispersive-solid phase for clean-up, combined with the optimization of chromatographic parameters, ensured improved sensitivity. Method validation included assessments for recovery, reproducibility, limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantification (LOQ). Recoveries ranged from 59.5 to 117%, while LODs ranged from 0.00700 to 0.271 µg g-1. Application of the method to seven SS samples from Portuguese wastewater treatment plants revealed the presence of sixteen compounds, including persistent organic pollutants. The quantification of α-endosulfan, an organochlorine pesticide, was consistently observed in all samples, with concentrations ranging from 0.110 to 0.571 µg g-1. Furthermore, the study encompasses the analysis of agronomic parameters, as well as the mineral and metal content in SS samples. The study demonstrates that the levels of heavy metals comply with legal limits. By conducting a comprehensive investigation into the presence of micropollutants in SS, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the environmental and sustainable implications associated with SS management.

Graphical Abstract
Intra-urban variability of long-term exposure to PM2.5 and NO2 in five cities in Colombia
Authors: Rodriguez-Villamizar Laura A. , Rojas Yurley , Grisales Sara , Mangones Sonia C. , Cáceres Jhon J. , Agudelo-Castañeda Dayana M. , Herrera Víctor , Marín Diana , Jiménez Juan G. Piñeros , Belalcázar-Ceron Luis C. , Rojas-Sánchez Oscar Alberto , Ochoa Villegas Jonathan , López Leandro , Rojas Oscar Mauricio , Vicini María C. , Salas Wilson , Orrego Ana Zuleima , Castillo Margarita , Sáenz Hugo , Hernández Luis Álvaro , Weichenthal Scott , Baumgartner Jill , Rojas Néstor Y.
Published: December 2023

Rapidly urbanizing cities in Latin America experience high levels of air pollution which are known risk factors for population health. However, the estimates of long-term exposure to air pollution are scarce in the region. We developed intraurban land use regression (LUR) models to map long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the five largest cities in Colombia. We conducted air pollution measurement campaigns using gravimetric PM2.5 and passive NO2 sensors for 2 weeks during both the dry and rainy seasons in 2021 in the cities of Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Bogotá, Cali, and Medellín, and combined these data with geospatial and meteorological variables. Annual models were developed using multivariable spatial regression models. The city annual PM2.5 mean concentrations measured ranged between 12.32 and 15.99 µg/m3 while NO2 concentrations ranged between 24.92 and 49.15 µg/m3. The PM2.5 annual models explained 82% of the variance (R2) in Medellín, 77% in Bucaramanga, 73% in Barranquilla, 70% in Cali, and 44% in Bogotá. The NO2 models explained 65% of the variance in Bucaramanga, 57% in Medellín, 44% in Cali, 40% in Bogotá, and 30% in Barranquilla. Most of the predictor variables included in the models were a combination of specific land use characteristics and roadway variables. Cross-validation suggests that PM2.5 outperformed NO2 models. The developed models can be used as exposure estimate in epidemiological studies, as input in hybrid models to improve personal exposure assessment, and for policy evaluation.
Risikowahrnehmung und Einstellungen bezüglich E-Zigarettenkonsum von jungen Erwachsenen: Ergebnisse aus Fokusgruppen
Authors: Behr Renate U. E. , Schleberger Sarah , Gali Kathleen , Pischke Claudia R.
Published: December 2023

Hintergrund

Der Anstieg des Konsums elektronischer Zigaretten bei jungen Erwachsenen sowie das offensive Marketing an diese Zielgruppe erfordert die Entwicklung von effektiven und nachhaltigen Strategien zur Prävention. Ziele dieser Studie waren daher, Risikowahrnehmung und Einstellungen bezüglich des Konsums von E‑Zigaretten bei jungen Erwachsenen zu untersuchen sowie aus Sicht der Zielgruppe und Akteur:innen der Suchtprävention wirksame Kommunikationskanäle und -inhalte für präventive Angebote zu identifizieren.

Methoden

Es wurden zwei Fokusgruppen mit jungen Erwachsenen an einem Berufskolleg durchgeführt, unterteilt in Nutzer:innen von E‑Zigaretten (n = 5) und Nicht-Nutzer:innen (n = 7) sowie eine Fokusgruppe mit Akteur:innen der Suchtprävention (n = 5). Eine inhaltsstrukturierende qualitative Inhaltsanalyse wurde vorgenommen, um die Ergebnisse zusammenzufassen.

Ergebnisse

Unabhängig von Alter, Nutzerstatus und sozialer Stellung beschrieben die Schüler:innen die Verfügbarkeit einer Vielzahl von aromatischen Flüssigkeiten und E‑Zigarettenprodukten als positive Aspekte des Konsums und hielten E‑Zigaretten für weniger schädlich als Tabakrauch. Soziale Motive wurden als wichtige Triebkräfte für Einstieg und Konsum genannt, insbesondere im schulischen Umfeld. Nutzer:innen bewerteten soziale Medien als irrelevant für ihren Konsum, während Akteur:innen ihre Schlüsselrolle für die Initiation beschrieben. Beide Gruppen betrachteten jedoch soziale Medien als einen wichtigen Kanal für Präventionsmaßnahmen.

Schlussfolgerung

Weitere Forschung zum E‑Zigarettenkonsum junger Erwachsener mit unterschiedlichem Bildungshintergrund und in unterschiedlichen Settings ist erforderlich, um zielgruppenadäquate und Setting-bezogene Präventionsstrategien zu entwickeln und deren Umsetzung zu prüfen.
Remission in Type 2 Inflammatory Diseases: Current Evidence, Unmet Needs, and Suggestions for Defining Remission in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps
Authors: Caminati Marco , De Corso Eugenio , Ottaviano Giancarlo , Pipolo Carlotta , Schiappoli Michele , Seccia Veronica , Spinelli Francesca Romana , Savarino Edoardo Vincenzo , Gisondi Paolo , Senna Gianenrico
Published: December 2023

Purpose of Review

The development of biological therapies for type 2 inflammatory diseases raises the possibility of addressing remission in those dis-immune conditions. No consensus exists for a definition of remission in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). This review aims to critically evaluate the published data to provide the basis for defining remission in CRSwNP.

Recent Findings

The published evidence has yet to provide an unequivocal definition on remission in type 2 inflammatory diseases, in part reflecting differences in approaches to diagnosis and follow-up. A multidimensional evaluation is necessary when considering complete remission, including clinical, inflammatory, and histologic criteria, but how to combine or tailor the three perspectives according to disease severity at baseline or timing of assessment of treatment category is yet to reach consensus. We suggest defining remission starting from the approach taken in asthma and eosinophilic esophagitis, that is, including the resolution of symptoms and improvements in objective parameters of disease severity and/or inflammatory activity. Future studies and consensuses should provide validated criteria with cutoffs for the day-to-day definition of remission.

The definition of remission in CRSwNP should include the following criteria, to be verified and maintained for a period of ≥ 12 months: absence of symptoms (nasal obstruction, loss of smell, rhinorrhea as the main ones); no impact of symptoms on quality of life; no need of surgery; no chronic or rescue medications (systemic corticosteroids or antibiotics); and recovery of smell function, possibly evaluated by objective test. Assessment of underlying inflammation should also be considered once accurate and feasible biomarkers are available in clinical practice.
Relative Effectiveness of a Radionuclide (210Pb), Surface Elevation Table (SET), and LiDAR At Monitoring Mangrove Forest Surface Elevation Change
Authors: MacKenzie Richard A. , Krauss Ken W. , Cormier Nicole , Eperiam Eugene , van Aardt Jan , Kargar Ali Rouzbeh , Grow Jessica , Klump J. Val
Published: December 2023

Sea-level rise (SLR) is one of the greatest future threats to mangrove forests. Mangroves have kept up with or paced past SLR by maintaining their forest floor elevation relative to sea level through root growth, sedimentation, and peat development. Monitoring surface elevation change (SEC) or accretion rates allows us to understand mangrove response to SLR and prioritizes resilient ecosystems for conservation or vulnerable ecosystems for restoration. We compared three methods to measure SEC and accretion in mangrove forests: 210Pb, surface elevation tables (SETs), and a terrestrial light detection and ranging system (compact biomass LiDAR—CBL). Lead-210 accretion rates were not significantly different than SET SEC rates and differences between the two methods (− 2 to 2 mm/year) were within the error of our measurements. Lead-210 only measures accretion in the upper meter of sediment and cannot capture deeper subsurface processes (e.g., subsidence, compaction) that SETs can. The lack of differences suggests the following: (1) surface processes in the active root zone are influencing forest floor elevation more than subsurface processes, (2) subsurface processes were not large enough to effect elevation, or (3) the SETs were not installed deep enough to capture subsurface processes. CBL SEC rates did not differ significantly from SET SEC rates. The larger spatial scale of the CBL scans resulted in significantly different SEC rates from some of the plots. This was due to the CBL measuring areas missed by the SET. The greater number of points measured by CBL (~ 30,000 vs 36) increased precision and lowered standard error. The traditional SET/rSET method is currently 3–10 × cheaper than the 210Pb or CBL method, respectively, and can accurately track changes in forest floor elevation. Costs of the use of LiDAR are likely to decrease in the future with the advent of newer and more cost-effective technology.
Influence of the Hydrological Variability on Water Quality and Benthic Macroinvertebrates in a Chilean Estuary During a Megadrought
Authors: Torres-Ramírez Patricio , Bustos-Espinoza Luis , Figueroa Sergio , León-Muñoz Jorge , Jerez Rodolfo , Galán Alexander
Published: December 2023

The climate crisis has accelerated the frequency and intensity of droughts in the Mediterranean areas, impacting the hydrology and the ecology of their basins. Maule River is the largest watershed in the Chilean Mediterranean Zone. The growing anthropic and environmental pressure has led to changes in the structure and function of its terrestrial ecosystem. However, little is known about its influence on aquatic ecosystems. The effect of the recent extreme drought on the streamflow and its influence on water quality and the benthic macroinvertebrate community structure were evaluated in the Maule River’s lower section. Beyond temporal and spatial fluctuations, healthy and permanently well-oxygenated waters prevailed in the study area. However, during the megadrought period, evidenced by a significant decrease in both precipitation and river streamflow, a greater salt wedge influence was observed, at least, in the last 7 km of the river. Although with certain asynchrony, a change in the structure of the benthic macroinvertebrate community was observed in the upstream stations. This marinization reveals an increase in the domain of marine taxa associated with the Polychaeta group and a clear decrease in typical freshwater Oligochaeta individuals. This modification in the structure of the benthic community is expected to affect the function of this estuarine system. The results presented here highlight the importance of considering the variability associated with biological components for the management of water resources and related ecosystem services, considering that one of the main problems associated with changes in land use and the pressures caused by the climate crisis is the decrease in the quality and availability of water in this and other Mediterranean basins globally.
Cardiac telerehabilitation: current status and future perspectives
Authors: Brouwers Rutger W. M. , Scherrenberg Martijn , Kemps Hareld M. C. , Dendale Paul , Snoek Johan A.
Published: December 2023

Multidisciplinary cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves the prognosis and quality of life of patients with cardiovascular disease and has therefore received strong recommendations in international guidelines for the treatment of patients with chronic coronary syndromes and chronic heart failure. Aiming to both resolve several barriers that impede participation in CR and to improve the effectiveness of CR, cardiac telerehabilitation (CTR) has emerged as a cost-effective alternative to traditional, centre-based CR. Although the body of evidence for the feasibility and effectiveness of CTR is large and still growing, real-life implementations are scarce, which may be due to insufficient knowledge about CTR interventions and due to the challenges its implementation comes with. Up to now, mainly exercise-related core components of CR and e‑coaching have been investigated in the setting of CTR. Translation of research findings to clinical practice may be hampered by methodological limitations present in most CTR studies, being selection bias of participants, lack of long-term follow-up, heterogeneity of studied interventions and the lack of robust outcome measures. Besides conducting highly needed implementation studies for CTR interventions, their implementation could be facilitated by the development of guideline-based, multidisciplinary and personalised CTR programmes and widespread reimbursement for CTR.
The underuse of AI in the health sector: Opportunity costs, success stories, risks and recommendations
Authors: Pagallo Ugo , O’Sullivan Shane , Nevejans Nathalie , Holzinger Andreas , Friebe Michael , Jeanquartier Fleur , Jean-Quartier Claire , Miernik Arkadiusz
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This contribution explores the underuse of artificial intelligence (AI) in the health sector, what this means for practice, and how much the underuse can cost. Attention is drawn to the relevance of an issue that the European Parliament has outlined as a "major threat" in 2020. At its heart is the risk that research and development on trusted AI systems for medicine and digital health will pile up in lab centers without generating further practical relevance. Our analysis highlights why researchers, practitioners and especially policymakers, should pay attention to this phenomenon.

Methods

The paper examines the ways in which governments and public agencies are addressing the underuse of AI. As governments and international organizations often acknowledge the limitations of their own initiatives, the contribution explores the causes of the current issues and suggests ways to improve initiatives for digital health.

Results

Recommendations address the development of standards, models of regulatory governance, assessment of the opportunity costs of underuse of technology, and the urgency of the problem.

Conclusions

The exponential pace of AI advances and innovations makes the risks of underuse of AI increasingly threatening.

Graphical Abstract
Free fall drag estimation of small-scale multirotor unmanned aircraft systems using computational fluid dynamics and wind tunnel experiments
Authors: Hammer T. , Quitter J. , Mayntz J. , Bauschat J.-M. , Dahmann P. , Götten F. , Hille S. , Stumpf E.
Published: December 2023

New European Union (EU) regulations for UAS operations require an operational risk analysis, which includes an estimation of the potential danger of the UAS crashing. A key parameter for the potential ground risk is the kinetic impact energy of the UAS. The kinetic energy depends on the impact velocity of the UAS and, therefore, on the aerodynamic drag and the weight during free fall. Hence, estimating the impact energy of a UAS requires an accurate drag estimation of the UAS in that state. The paper at hand presents the aerodynamic drag estimation of small-scale multirotor UAS. Multirotor UAS of various sizes and configurations were analysed with a fully unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes approach. These simulations included different velocities and various fuselage pitch angles of the UAS. The results were compared against force measurements performed in a subsonic wind tunnel and provided good consistency. Furthermore, the influence of the UAS`s fuselage pitch angle as well as the influence of fixed and free spinning propellers on the aerodynamic drag was analysed. Free spinning propellers may increase the drag by up to 110%, depending on the fuselage pitch angle. Increasing the fuselage pitch angle of the UAS lowers the drag by 40% up to 85%, depending on the UAS. The data presented in this paper allow for increased accuracy of ground risk assessments.
Submultiplicative norms in $$\mathcal C_{\mathbb C}(\mathcal K)$$ spaces with applications to uniform algebras
Authors: Albiac F. , Blasco O. , Briem E.
Published: December 2023

Certain algebra norms on the algebra of functions on a two-point set are defined and used to construct a new family of parametric algebra norms on the space $$\mathcal C_{\mathbb C}(\mathcal K)$$

C
C

(
K
)

of continuous complex-valued functions on a compact Hausdorff space. As a by-product of our work we transfer our construction to uniform algebras to obtain a new collection of norms with special properties.
Predictive value of the systemic immune inflammation index and systemic inflammatory response index on omalizumab drug survival in chronic spontaneous urticaria
Authors: Fabi Adriano , Milosavljevic Stefan , Lang Claudia C. V. , Guillet Carole , Schmid-Grendelmeier Peter
Published: December 2023

Background

Omalizumab is recommended as adjunctive therapy for antihistamine-refractory chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). However, its long-term effectiveness is understudied. The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and the systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) have shown prognostic value in cancer, strokes, and other diseases.

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of omalizumab in CSU patients while investigating potential associations of SII and SIRI with the drug survival of omalizumab.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted using patient data from the electronic hospital database, including patients with CSU treated with omalizumab between January 2018 and May 2021. Drug survival curves were visualized using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. and Cox regression was utilized to assess potential associations.

Results

A total of 109 CSU treated with omalizumab at the University Hospital of Zurich were included. The mean drug survival was 13.6 ± 10.9 months. The mean SII and SIRI were 796.1 ± 961.3 and 2.1 ± 3.1, respectively. The multivariate model revealed that SIRI (p = 0.098) was a more robust predictor of omalizumab’s drug survival than SII (p = 0.367), while concurrent autoimmune disease or baseline immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels showed no significant impact.

Conclusion

This study suggests the potential utility of SIRI as a superior predictive indicator for omalizumab’s drug survival in CSU patients compared to SII. Concomitant autoimmune disease or baseline IgE levels did not significantly affect the drug’s effectiveness.
Blsnet: a tri-branch lightweight network for gesture segmentation against cluttered backgrounds
Authors: Zhou Guoyu , Cui Zhenchao , Qi Jing
Published: December 2023

Hand gesture segmentation is an essential step to recognize hand gestures for human–robot interaction. However, complex backgrounds and the variety of gesture shapes cause low semantic segmentation accuracy in the existing lightweight methods because of imprecise features and imbalance between branches. To remedy the above problems, we propose a new segmentation structure for hand gestures. Based on the structure, a novel tri-branch lightweight segmentation network (BLSNet), is proposed for gesture segmentation. Corresponding to the structure parts, three branches are employed to achieve local features, boundaries and semantic hand features. In the boundary branch, to extract multiscale features of hand gesture contours, a novel multi-scale depth-wise strip convolution (MDSC) module is proposed based on gesture boundaries for directionality. For hand boundary details, we propose a new boundary weight (BW) module based on boundary attention. To identify hand location, a semantic branch with continuous downsampling is used to address complex backgrounds. We use the Ghost bottleneck as the building block for the entire BLSNet network. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed network, corresponding experiments have been conducted based on OUHANDS and HGR1 datasets, and the experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method is superior to contrast methods.
Cyclic Impact Test with the Hopkinson Bar: Application to Granite
Authors: Isakov M.
Published: December 2023

A laboratory scale cyclic impact loading test was developed by modifying a Hopkinson Bar test setup. The modifications involve placing a special shank piece between the striker and the rest of the setup. The shank transmits the impact loading and enables the use of compressed air for rapid reloading of the striker. The short shank is in direct contact with the specimen, i.e., there is no long input bar. With this configuration residual wave motion and reloading of the specimen is avoided. Behind the striker an output bar and momentum trap bar are placed for specimen loading measurement and removal of the wave motion in the system, respectively. The trap bar is stopped by a pneumatic actuator, which also resets the bars and the specimen before the next impact loading. The compressed air flow driving the striker is controlled by high-speed electropneumatic valves connected to a control unit and operated in simple open-loop control. Numerical simulations of both the striker motion by compressed air and dynamic loading wave propagation during impact were used in the design phase as well as setting up the test parameters. The test setup is able to produce stable cyclic impact loading at a frequency of up to 10 impacts per second with striker velocity up to 9 m/s. The feasibility of the test method is demonstrated by providing data from cyclic Brazilian disc experiments on Balmoral Red granite at both impact and quasi-static cyclic loading.
Rapid assessment of water phase trapping on gas permeability reduction in typical tight gas reservoirs in China
Authors: Tian Jian , Chen Qiang , Kang Yili , Wang Yijun , Qin Chaozhong
Published: December 2023

Water phase trapping (WPT) is one of the primary formation damage issues which can cause a steep drop in tight gas production. This paper presented a rapid assessment of the damage potential of WPT in Daniudi, Nanpu 5th, and Keshen 9th tight gas reservoirs involving shallow to ultra-deep layers in China. Typical core samples of the three tight gas reservoirs were selected to perform water imbibition and drainage experiments to mimic the WPT occurrence. After that, the damage degree to core gas permeability induced by WPT was evaluated. Results showed that, for a 16-h vertical water imbibition experiment, the core samples of Daniudi gas reservoir experienced the fastest water imbibition process while the core samples of Keshen 9th gas reservoir established the highest water saturation. After water removal, the ranges of damage degree to core gas permeability induced by the incremental water saturation were 36.07%–78.13%, 36.06%–56.21%, and 61.00%–76.30% in Daniudi, Nanpu 5th, and Keshen 9th tight gas reservoirs, respectively. It found that with the increasing formation depth, tight gas reservoirs can suffer greater damage from WPT not only because of the decline in rock permeability but also the salting out of high salinity formation water. In general, it holds that strong water capillary imbibition phenomenon, low water removal capacity, and high gas permeability damage degree are found to be the striking features of WPT potential on these typical tight gas reservoirs in China.
Analyze textual data: deep neural network for adversarial inversion attack in wireless networks
Authors: Al Ghamdi Mohammed A.
Published: December 2023

Deep neural networks (DNN) are highly effective in a number of tasks related to machine learning across different domains. It is quite challenging to apply the information gained to textual data because of its graph representation structure. This article applies innovative graph structures and protection techniques to secure wireless systems and mobile computing applications. We develop an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) with DNN and Support Vector Machine (SVM) to identify adversarial inversion attacks in the network system. It employs both normal and abnormal adversaries. It constantly generates signatures, creates attack signatures, and refreshes the IDS signature repository. In conclusion, the assessment indicators, including latency rates and throughput, are used to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the recommended framework with Random Forest. The results of the proposed model (SVM with DNN) based on adversarial inversion attacks were better and more efficient than traditional models, with a detection rate of 93.67% and 95.34% concerning latency rate and throughput. This article also compares the proposed model (SVM with DNN) accuracy with other classifiers and the accuracy comparison for feature datasets of 90.3% and 90%, respectively.
The beneficial effects of the tobacco hydroperoxide lyase pathway in whitefly host adaptation
Authors: Deng Wenhao , Li Ping , Liu Chao , Hu Songshen , Tian Yanzhen , Liu Yinquan
Published: December 2023

Plants respond to herbivore attack by emitting complex mixtures of volatile compounds to repel herbivores or attract predators and parasitoids. In this study, however, we revealed that tobacco green leaf volatiles (GLVs) were beneficial compounds for whitefly adaptation to host plants. Our study indicates that GLVs are closely associated with plant susceptibility to whiteflies. Whitefly infestation elevated the transcript of the hydroperoxide lyase (HPL) gene, one gene responsible for catalyzing the synthesis of C6 or C9 aldehydes from fatty acid hydroperoxides. Overexpression of HPL increased the emission of GLVs (hexanal, 1- hexanal, trans-2- hexanal and cis-3- hexanal) and resulted in improved performance for whiteflies. Exogenous application of GLVs promoted whitefly survival and fecundity and increased the plant's attraction to whiteflies. Thus, our study provides new insights into the role of the HPL pathway and GLVs in influencing herbivore adaptation to host plants.
Going Public
Authors: Kumar Ramya , Birn Anne-Emanuelle
Published: December 2023

This Element highlights the pivotal role of corporate players in universal health coverage ideologies and implementation, and critically examines social innovation-driven approaches to expanding primary care in low-income settings. It first traces the evolving meanings of universal health/healthcare in global health politics and policy, analysing their close, often hidden, intertwining with corporate interests and exigencies. It then juxtaposes three social innovations targeting niche 'markets' for lower-cost services in the Majority World, against three present-day examples of publicly financed and delivered primary healthcare (PHC), demonstrating what corporatization does to PHC, within deeply entrenched colonial-capitalist structures and discourses that normalize inferior care, private profit, and dispossession of peoples.
The Politics of Cross-Border Mobility in Southeast Asia
Authors: Ford Michele
Published: December 2023

This Element explains how cross-border mobility defines diplomatic relationships between Southeast Asian states and social and political dynamics within the region's key destination countries. It begins by providing an historically situated discussion of bordering processes within the region, examining evolving historical conceptions of power and sovereignty, and processes of bordering in colonial and post-colonial times. It then turns to the political, environmental, and economic drivers of contemporary cross-border mobility before examining governments' efforts to manage different kinds of border-crossers and the tensions that these efforts give rise to. Having discussed the politics of cross-border mobility in host communities, the Element returns to the question of why consideration of bordering practices and cross-border mobility is necessary in understanding contemporary Southeast Asia.
Wind tunnel test of full-scale wing-propeller system of a eVTOL aircraft
Authors: Riccobene L. , Grassi D. , Braukmann J.N. , Kerho M. , Droandi G. , Zanotti A.
Published: December 2023

The present paper describes the results of an experimental wind tunnel test campaign aimed at investigating the aerodynamic performance and flow physics related to a wing section equipped with two propellers mounted on a boom. The configuration investigated is meant to be representative of a full-scale eVTOL aircraft in cruise flight condition. The use of full-scale components of an eVTOL aircraft made this setup a quite advanced experiment in the recent literature. Pressure measurements and an infrared thermography technique were used during the test campaign, respectively, to evaluate localised effects induced by the propeller blowing on the wing and to provide a quantitative evaluation of the amount of laminar flow on the wing surface with and without the influence of the propeller at different thrust conditions.
The effects of crew resource management on flight safety culture: corporate crew resource management (CRM 7.0)
Authors: Terzioğlu M.
Published: December 2023

The main purpose of crew resource management (CRM) is to ensure safe flights by preventing possible errors with the effective use of non-technical skills. The aim of the current study is to examine the effects of CRM on flight safety culture (FSC) with the help of the structural equation model with 451 airline pilots. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that there was a significant correlation between CRM and FSC and that CRM has a significant positive effect on FSC. It has been demonstrated that if CRM awareness and skills are used effectively, the perception of FSC will also improve. Furthermore, these findings indicate that there is a need to progress to the corporate CRM phase, i.e., CRM 7.0, to ensure that organisation-wide FSC awareness is established through CRM awareness.
Ecologic analysis of antimicrobial use in South Carolina hospitals during 2020–2022
Authors: Bailey Pamela , Chen Shujie , Al-Hasan Majdi N. , Olatosi Bankole , Li Xiaoming , Zhang Jiajia
Published: December 2023

Background:

Factors influencing excessive antimicrobial utilization in hospitalized patients remain poorly understood, particularly with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods:

In this retrospective cohort, we compared administrative data regarding antimicrobial prescriptions in hospitalized patients in South Carolina from March 2020 through September 2022. The study examined variables associated with antimicrobial use across demographics, COVID status, and length of stay, among other variables.

Results:

Significant relationships were seen with antimicrobial use in COVID-19 positive patients (OR 2.00, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.9–2.1), young adults (OR 1.08, 95% CI: 0.99–1.12, COVID-19 positive Blacks and Hispanics (OR 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01–1.11, OR 1.05, 95% CI: 0.89–1.23), and COVID-19 positive patients with ≥2 comorbid conditions (OR 1.55, 95% CI: 1.43–1.68).

Discussion:

Further analysis in more than one healthcare system should explore these ecologic relationships further to understand if these are common trends to inform ongoing stewardship interventions.
The Anti-Authoritarian Populisms: Ideologies of Democratic Struggle in Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Worldwide
Authors: Paget Dan
Published: December 2023

Many opposition parties in electoral-authoritarian regimes identify as democracy movements. I ask: what ideologies do they publicly express? The first-glance answer is ‘democratic ones’, but there are many theories of liberal democracy, and they say little about living under or indeed confronting authoritarian regimes. I analyse the public messages of two such democracy movements: Chadema (Tanzania) and the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC, in Zimbabwe). I argue that they each articulate a homegrown vision of democracy in which they adapt democratic theory to make sense of their electoral-authoritarian circumstances. They do so by articulating that theory through the ‘populist logic’ conceptualized in the discourse-theoretic perspective. I call them anti-authoritarian (and democratic) populisms. Previous research has overlooked the distinctiveness of these ideologies because it has adopted concept configurations which invisibilize them. I argue that there are reasons to expect there to be a wider body of anti-authoritarian populisms articulated by democracy movements in electoral-authoritarian regimes in Africa, and indeed, worldwide.
Saturation of flames to multiple inputs at one frequency
Authors: Nygård Håkon T. , Ghirardo Giulio , Worth Nicholas A.
Published: December 2023

Existing experimental results show that swirling flames in annular combustors respond with a different gain to acoustic azimuthal modes rotating in either the clockwise or anti-clockwise direction. The ratio

$R$

of these two gains is introduced, with

$R=1$

being the conventional case of flames responding the same to the two forcing directions. To allow a difference in response to the different directions (

$R\neq 1$

), a multiple-input single-output azimuthal flame describing function is successfully implemented in a quaternion valued low-order model of an annular combustion chamber in the current work. Theoretical studies have explored this kind of symmetry breaking between the two acoustic wave directions in the past, but it has not been backed by experimental data. One of the main features of the new model proposed in this work is the potential difference in mode shapes between the acoustic and the heat release rate modes, which has recently been observed experimentally. This results in a gain-dependent equation for the nature of the mode, which has a significant influence on the fixed points of the system. For example, one of the spinning solutions and the standing solution can disappear through a saddle node bifurcation as the parameters are varied. The presence of only a single direction for the spinning solution matches experimental observations better than the conventional models, and the proposed model is shown to qualitatively describe experimental measurements well.
Daughter oil droplet entrainment by oil-coated bubble bursting
Authors: Yang Zhengyu , Ji Bingqiang , Feng Jie
Published: December 2023

Compound bubbles with a liquid coating in another continuous immiscible bulk phase are ubiquitous in a wide range of natural and industrial processes. Their formation, rise and ultimate bursting at the air–liquid interface play crucial roles in the transport and fate of natural organic matter and contaminants. However, the dynamics of compound bubbles has not received considerable attention until recently. Here, inspired by our previous work (Yang et al., Nat. Phys., vol. 19, 2023, pp. 884–890), we investigate the entrainment of daughter oil droplets in bulk water produced by a bursting oil-coated bubble. We document that the size of the entrained daughter oil droplet is affected by the oil coating fraction and the bulk liquid properties. We rationalize this observation by balancing the viscous force exerted by the extensional flow produced by bubble bursting with the capillary force resisting the deformation of the oil coating, and considering the subsequent end-pinching process which finally entrains the daughter oil droplets. We propose a scaling analysis for the daughter oil droplet size that well captures the experimental results for a wide range of oil coating fractions and Ohnesorge numbers of the bulk liquid. In addition, we discuss the non-monotonic variation of daughter droplet size with the Ohnesorge number, and show the eventual absence of daughter droplets because of the strong viscous effect in the high-Ohnesorge-number regime. Our findings may advance the fundamental understanding of compound bubble bursting and provide guidance and modelling constraints for bubble-mediated contaminant transport in liquids.
Marcadores metabólico-nutricionales e infecciosos en la Misión Salesiana “Nuestra Señora de La Candelaria”, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina (siglos diecinueve y veinte)
Authors: García Laborde Pamela , D'Angelo del Campo Manuel Domingo , Valenzuela Luciano Óscar , Salemme Mónica Cira , Guichón Ricardo Aníbal
Published: December 2023

El estudio de la Misión Salesiana (siglos diecinueve y veinte) contribuye al conocimiento del impacto que las misiones religiosas tuvieron en América. Los registros históricos sugieren un cambio en la dieta, hacinamiento y alta frecuencia de enfermedades pulmonares infecciosas, como la tuberculosis. Muchos problemas de salud surgen de desequilibrios dietarios. La insuficiencia nutricional crónica hace que los individuos sean más susceptibles a las enfermedades infecciosas, y esto a su vez reduce la disponibilidad de nutrientes para la persona, creando una retroalimentación positiva. El objetivo de este trabajo es explorar el impacto que tuvo el contacto continuo en Patagonia Austral —específicamente en el caso de la Misión Salesiana— sobre la población originaria, a partir del análisis de marcadores metabólico-nutricionales e infecciosos y teniendo en cuenta el estado nutricional y estilo de vida de los individuos que allí habitaron. Para evaluar el cambio se compararon los resultados de los individuos de la misión con información previamente publicada y nuevas revelaciones de individuos del norte de la Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego. Por un lado, se observó una elevada prevalencia de signos patológicos tales como hiperostosis porótica, cribra orbitalia, hipoplasia del esmalte y caries; por otro, fuentes documentales y estudios de isótopos estables indican un cambio en la dieta que conlleva una reducción en la variedad de alimentos. Los cambios producidos en el estilo de vida y la alta frecuencia de enfermedades infecciosas pudieron actuar sinérgicamente, influyendo en la drástica reducción del número de personas que habitaba dentro de la misión.
RADIOCARBON STEP-COMBUSTION OXIDATION METHOD AND FTIR ANALYSIS OF TRONDHEIM CaCO3 PRECIPITATES OF ATMOSPHERIC CO2 SAMPLES: FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS AND INSIGHTS
Authors: Santos Guaciara M , Leong Christopher A , Grootes Pieter M , Seiler Martin , Svarva Helene , Nadeau Marie-Josée
Published: December 2023

Eight atmospheric carbon dioxide samples (as calcium carbonate—CaCO3—precipitates) from Lindesnes site (58ºN, 7ºE), belonging to 1963 and 1980 (four samples from each year) and stored at the National Laboratory for Age Determination (NTNU), have been reevaluated through radiocarbon (14C) analysis. Previous 14C results indicated the presence of a contaminant, which was not removed through different chemical cleansing procedures (e.g., hydrochloric acid—HCl and/or hydrogen peroxide—H2O2). Here, we present a follow up investigation using 14C step-combustion and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. Results from 14C data indicate unsuccessful removal of the contaminant, while further FTIR analysis displayed the presence of moisture. This finding alludes to the possibility that the contaminant is of ambient air-CO2 deeply embedded in CaCO3 powders (within clogged CaCO3 pores and/or bonded to the lattice). Samples were found exposed to air-CO2 and humidity. These conditions may have lasted for years, possibly even decades, leading to the 14C offsets detected here.
RADIOCARBON, BIG DATA AND INTERNATIONAL HERITAGE
Authors: Griffiths Seren , Brown Lisa , Carlin Neil , Evans Tim , Gaydarska Bisserka , Hannah Emma , McKeague Peter
Published: December 2023

Radiocarbon data are the most commonly used chronometric measurement technique in archaeology. The introduction of the radiocarbon method offered new potential for independent, internationalized research projects. Today millions of radiocarbon measurements exist globally. However, the many strengths of radiocarbon for research in archaeology have also created an internationally significant challenge in heritage practice. How can we attempt to curate huge volumes of radiocarbon “legacy” data in systematic ways that facilitate interdisciplinary, international research? How can we contend with a dataset that is rapidly scalable, and needs to be kept live—updated, validated, curated, and related to existing national archives and data systems—beyond the timescale of any individual project? In this paper we introduce an international project, “Project Radiocarbon; Big Data, integrated cross-national heritage histories”, working across the historic environment sector in Ireland and the United Kingdom, that is developing a solution to these issues. We argue that we need to think critically about how we classify and curate radiocarbon data, to render them interoperable and findable. Such work requires inter-sector approaches to ensure sustainability and scalability, and to anticipate the increasing value of these data into the future.
STABLE ISOTOPE AND RADIOCARBON DATING OF HUMAN SKELETAL REMAINS FROM ISLAMIC SETTLEMENT, KHIRBET AL-SHEIKH HUMAID, NABLUS, PALESTINE
Authors: Abu Alsaud Loay , Al-Qobbaj Amer
Published: December 2023

Khirbet Al-Sheikh Humaid is found 615 m above sea level in the central highlands of Palestine, northwest of the city of Nablus. During rescue excavations carried out at the site, part of a male human skull with a tooth attached was discovered. Accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon (AMS 14C) dating and stable isotope analysis were performed on the tooth at the Hertelendi Laboratory in Debrecen, Hungary. Dating revealed the individual had lived in the time frame 900–1030 AD, which is within the Abbasid period (750–1258 AD). Dietary analysis gave information on the daily life of the inhabitants of the settlement, showing local agriculture provided a diet of legumes and vegetables.