bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mucosa‐Interfacing Capsule for In Situ Sensing the Elasticity of Biological Tissues
Authors: Kim Kiyoung , Edwards Steven , Fuxa Kyle , Lin Honglu , Shrestha Shreya , Fan Hanwen , Diaz Nick , Berinstein Joel , Naik Rishi , Zhou Yuxiao , Dong Xiaoguang
Published: December 2024

Monitoring the elasticity of soft biological tissues in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract with minimal invasion holds promise for early diagnosis of intestinal fibrosis, colorectal cancer, and other diseases featuring abnormal elasticity. However, existing methods of sensing tissue elasticity have drawbacks such as insufficient resolution for elastography, and discomfort or the requirement of risky anesthesia for flexible endoscopes or implantable devices. Here a wirelessly actuated palpation mechanism is presented, integrated into a swallowable capsule device, offering in situ tissue elasticity measurement with minimal invasiveness. The approach employs a magnetic soft cantilever beam actuated by external magnetic fields to gently press against soft tissues. Mechanical stress and strain are monitored by an onboard magnetic sensor and a strain gauge, allowing for an accurate assessment of tissue elasticity. Additionally, wireless modules utilizing Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) and powered by a battery facilitate real‐time communication. The device operates under external magnetic field control, which can move freely over soft tissues during examinations and palpate suspicious areas. The elasticity sensing mechanism is validated and assessed on both phantom structures and ex vivo porcine colon tissues. The capsule device holds significant promise for assessing tissue physiological conditions and facilitating early disease diagnosis in hard‐to‐reach areas of the body.
Enhancing Reverse Intersystem Crossing with Extended Inverted Singlet–Triplet (X−INVEST) Systems
Authors: Ricci Gaetano , Landi Alessandro , Sancho‐García Juan Carlos , Olivier Yoann
Published: December 2024

The discovery of triangular‐shaped molecules displaying an inverted singlet–triplet (INVEST) energy gap between their lowest singlet (S1) and triplet (T1) states opened the way for a new strategy to increase the internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs), enhancing the reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) thanks to a downhill process. However, the compounds showing a negative ΔEST suffer from both a vanishing spin–orbit coupling (SOC) between these excited states and high energy differences with higher‐lying singlets and triplets, therefore limiting their involvement in the spin conversion process. Here, we proposed a new design strategy entailing the extension of the triangulene cores by connecting two INVEST triangulene units to form Uthrene‐ and Zethrene‐like systems, doped with N and B. The inspection of the resulting molecular orbitals (MOs) distribution allowed rationalizing the electronic structure properties obtained from wavefunction‐based methods, showing how the Uthrene‐like architecture can lead to the quasi‐resonance between S1 and T1, in some cases provoking their inversion. By feeding a kinetic model with the non‐radiative rate constants, calculated from first principles, we showed how the extended INVEST (X−INVEST) design strategy can open new pathways to boost the spin conversion process and the population of the emissive S1.
Detection of E‐coli Bacteria Utilizing High Performance Ag‐BaTiO3 Heterostructure Based Plasmonic Sensor
Authors: Mishra Adarsh Chandra , Sharma Anuj K. , Lohia Pooja , Dwivedi D. K.
Published: December 2024

A systematic investigation of the performance of CaF2‐Ag‐BaTiO3 heterostructure based SPR sensor has been performed. The article focuses on the point that a suitable dielectric layer and precise optimization process can lead to high performance. E‐coli bacterial is considered as analyte medium. The sensor design is optimized by simultaneous varying the thickness of Ag (dM) and BaTiO3 (dA) at wavelength (λ) = 1000 nm which provided an optimized figure of merit (FOM) of 4510 RIU−1 at dM = 48.1 and dA = 3.2 nm. Further, FOM is again enhanced by simultaneous optimization of wavelength and thickness of BaTiO3 which provided an FOM of 9108 RIU−1 at λ = 992 and dA = 3.3 nm at fixed dM = 48.1 nm. This is designated as final optimum radiation damping (ORD) condition for the proposed sensor design. The power loss curve and normalized electric field are plotted at ORD condition leads to the FWHM of 0.0200° and sensitivity of 182.17 deg. RIU−1 with power loss ratio of 2.59 and field enhancement factor of 1.06. The combined performance factor (CPF) at optimized parameters is 24276.79 µm4/RIU which enables the realization of sensor more practically.
Digital supply chain: An industrial perspective
Authors: Wassick John M. , Perez Hector D.
Published: December 2024

This perspectives article outlines and discusses the future of supply chains. The existing challenges and flaws in supply chains design and management are described, motivating the need for the next‐generation supply chains. We present a holistic paradigm for viewing and analyzing supply chains as networks of networks with various dimensions, hierarchies, and players with their various forms of decision‐making. Cyber‐Physical Systems is offered as a key enabler to obtain a digital supply chain exhibiting the features of heterogeneity, interoperability, modularity, customizability, decentralization, autonomy, and cooperativity. The role of virtual assistants is described, along with research directions to create the technology for establishing true digital supply chains. The role of Process Systems Engineering (PSE) is outlined with the hope that the ideas discussed will motivate the PSE community to become active participants in attaining the next‐generation supply chains.
Genetic Insights Into Epidermolysis Bullosa: Identification of Novel Variants in Tunisian Patients
Authors: El Mabrouk Haifa , Othman Houcemeddine , Boussofarra Lobna , Gribaa Moez , Saad Ali , Denguezli Mohamed , Has Cristina , H'mida Dorra
Published: December 2024

Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) is a group of genetic skin disorders characterized by extreme skin fragility and blistering. In North African countries, including Tunisia, complex genetic and phenotypic diversity is entangled with a scarcity of scientific research on EB. This lack of knowledge presents a distinct challenge in terms of diagnostic accuracy and patient care. Our study cohort includes 10 Tunisian patients with EB whose genetic profiles were investigated by exome sequencing. In silico analysis was conducted to determine the functional impact of three novel variants. We revealed ten genetic variants, including three novel ones within the COL7A1 and DST genes. The in silico analysis shed light on the potential structural and functional implications of these novel variants. By establishing the correlation between clinical features and genetic alterations, we have expanded the existing database of disease‐causing variants associated with EB in Northern Africa. Our study fills a critical knowledge gap in the North African context, where the scarcity of clinical database and genetic testing in addition to the genetic diversity necessitates comprehensive research. Our findings have the potential to improve diagnosis and management strategies for EB patients in low and middle‐income countries across the region, especially through the integration of exome sequencing and in silico analysis.
Bioenergy and bioproducts from cashew apple bagasse: a scientometric overview and strategies for sustainable utilization
Authors: Barroso Tiago Linhares Cruz Tabosa , Ferreira Vanessa Cosme , Castro Luiz Eduardo Nochi , da Rosa Rafael Gabriel , de Souza Luiz Gustavo Antonio , Goldbeck Rosana , Forster‐Carneiro Tânia
Published: December 2024

The potential of cashew apple bagasse in advancing a circular bioeconomy is being recognized increasingly. Traditionally viewed as a mere byproduct, this agroindustrial residue is acknowledged for its value in producing biofuels and bioproducts through innovative processes. This review highlights the growing research on cashew apple bagasse, emphasizing its nutritional potential and versatility as a biomass platform for generating products. Advances in pretreatment and fermentation strategies have enhanced bioprocess efficiency and aligned these processes with sustainability goals by utilizing residual materials and reducing environmental impacts. Cashew apple bagasse has also demonstrated considerable promise for enzymatic applications, including enzyme immobilization and biopolymer production, such as polylactic acid. These applications offer eco‐friendly alternatives to conventional petroleum‐based products. Emerging trends in bioenergy research underscore the importance of overcoming technical challenges related to biomass pretreatment, carbon capture, and sustainable production technologies. Innovations in digital financing, artificial intelligence, and hydrogen production are pivotal for the commercial viability of biorefineries. Overall, the promising findings from studies on cashew apple bagasse highlight its crucial role in renewable energy and bioproducts, reinforcing its potential to contribute significantly to a sustainable and circular economy.
Instandsetzung und Verstärkung von Bestandsbrücken mit UHFB‐Aufbeton in den Niederlanden
Authors: Buitelaar Peter , Oettel Vincent
Published: December 2024

Ultrahochfester Beton (UHFB) wird in den Niederlanden seit den 1980er‐Jahren zur Instandsetzung und Verstärkung von z. B. Industrieböden und ‐belägen eingesetzt. Bei diesem als Compact‐Reinforced‐Composite‐(CRC‐)Prinzip bezeichneten Verfahren wird eine dünne UHFB‐Schicht auf den jeweiligen Untergrund aufgebracht. Dies ermöglicht eine schnelle Sanierung und Wiederinbetriebnahme der Flächen. Da viele der zwischen 1960 und 1980 errichteten Brücken in den Niederlanden Defizite hinsichtlich Tragfähigkeit und Dauerhaftigkeit aufweisen, wurde der Einsatz von UHFB im Brückenbau nach dem CRC‐Prinzip bereits in den 1990er‐Jahren von Rijkswaterstaat (niederländisches Ministerium für Infrastruktur und Wasserwirtschaft) untersucht und eine hybridbewehrte UHFB‐Aufbetonschicht als Standardlösung für die Instandsetzung und Verstärkung von Stahlbeton‐ und Spannbetonbrücken entwickelt. Inzwischen wurden in den Niederlanden zahlreiche Brückeninstandsetzungen und ‐verstärkungen mit diesem Verfahren durchgeführt. In diesem Beitrag wird die hybridbewehrte UHFB‐Aufbetonschicht zunächst kurz vorgestellt und anschließend ausführlich über ihre Anwendung am Beispiel der Voorster Brücke berichtet.
Shades of Feeling: How Facial Color Variations Influence Emotional and Health Perception
Authors: Heydari Faeze , Khalili‐Ardali Majid , Yoonessi Ali
Published: December 2024

This study investigated how color variations in facial expressions influence our perception of emotions and health. Participants viewed color‐manipulated (CIE LAB color space) face images depicting seven emotional states and indicated their perceptions of each image's emotion and health. Our results suggest that facial color influences the perception of threat‐related emotions such as anger and disgust, as well as health perception. Increasing facial redness intensified the perception of anger, while increasing yellowness and lightness heightened the perception of disgust. Lightness affected perceptions of happiness and sadness, with lighter happy faces appearing happier and lighter sad faces appearing sadder. Additionally, enhancing redness and yellowness on faces led participants to perceive them as healthier. Our findings add to the existing literature and provide important insights into the role of colors in perceiving different emotions and health. These insights may significantly impact social interaction and communication, especially in situations where facial expressions play a critical role.
Gut‐microbiota‐brain Axis and post‐traumatic epilepsy
Authors: Mazarati Andrey
Published: December 2024

There has been growing evidence that perturbations in gut‐microbiota‐brain axis (GMBA) are involved in mechanisms of chronic sequelae of traumatic brain injury (TBI). This review discusses the connection between GMBA and post‐traumatic epilepsy (PTE), the latter being a common outcome of TBI. The focus is on two aspects of post‐TBI GMBA dysfunction that are relevant to epilepsy. First are impairments in intestinal permeability with subsequent translocation of gut bacteria into the bloodstream. Specifically, endotoxemia following TBI may have a serendipitous protective effect against PTE through lipopolysaccharide conditioning, which may be leveraged for the development of therapeutic interventions. Second are changes in microbial composition (i.e., dysbiosis). Here, the GMBA‐PTE connection is explored from predictive biomarker perspective, whereby the risk of PTE can be stratified based on specific microbial profiles. Finally, microbiota transplantation is discussed both as a tool to examine the role of gut microbiota in PTE and as a prelude to novel approaches for PTE therapy and prevention.
Impact of Kombucha Fermentation on the Flavor and Physicochemical Properties of Tea (Camellia sinensis) Flower Infusions
Authors: Wang Leyu , Sun Panjie , Huang Mengxin , Han Ziyi , Yu Haonan , Wang Kaixi , Liu Junsheng , Wu Yuanyuan , He Puming , Tu Youying , Li Bo
Published: December 2024

Tea (Camellia sinensis) flower is a nutritious and affordable raw material for beverages. However, the taste of infusions brewed directly from tea flowers with hot water is not very appealing. In the work, the effects of kombucha fermentation on the sensory quality and chemical profiles of tea flower infusions were investigated. During the 5‐day fermentation experiment, the samples fermented for 1 day exhibited the best overall flavor characteristics. The flavor of this sample was significantly improved, with a marked increase in sweet aromas and a noticeable enhancement of fruity, sweet, and sour tastes. PacBio sequencing revealed that four Komagataeibacter spp. (88.64%), Novacetimonas hansenii (7.09%), and Zygosaccharomyces bisporus (97.55%) were the dominant bacterial and fungal species in the used Kombucha. A total of 80 volatiles were detected in all samples, and relative odor activity value (ROAV) analysis showed that alpha‐ionone, linalool, beta‐ionone, decanal, and 1‐octen‐3‐ol were the major contributors to the aroma perception. The pH value and the contents of caffeine, total catechins, amino acids, and proteins decreased, while the contents of total soluble sugars and 21 compounds including sugar derivatives, organic acids, and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (c‐AMP) significantly increased. These results provided new insights into the development of tea flower‐based kombucha beverage.
Prognostic Effect of Patterns of Local Extension and Satellitosis in cT3 Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Tongue: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Montalto Nausica , Battocchio Simonetta , Contro Giacomo , Gaudioso Piergiorgio , Mularoni Francesca , Ruaro Alessandra , Ramacciotti Giulia , Cazzador Diego , Spinato Giacomo , Carobbio Andrea Luigi Camillo , Taboni Stefano , Zanoletti Elisabetta , Piazza Cesare , Nicolai Piero , Ferrari Marco
Published: December 2024

Introduction

The anatomy of the tongue is three‐dimensionally complex and is thought to play a central role in the local growth of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC). Understanding patterns of tumor extension could improve a multimodal therapeutic approach. Thus, the main aim of this study was to provide a histological and microanatomical analysis of surgical specimens after compartmental surgery for OTSCC.

Materials and Methods

The present prospective observational study included primary cT3 OTSCC (according to the eighth edition of the TNM classification) treated in an academic tertiary referral center with curative compartmental surgery, from July 2016 to July 2019. Analysis of histologic macrosections allowed assessment of standard pathologic parameters as well as a detailed analysis of the position of OTSCC cells from microanatomic and topographic standpoints.

Results

Of the 28 patients included, 71.4% were males, with a mean age of 64.9 years. Nine (32.1%) patients presented satellitosis, which was always located within the T‐N tract. OTSCCs displaying satellitosis had a significantly higher median pathologic depth of invasion (DOI). A radiologic and pathological DOI > 15 mm significantly predicted the presence of satellites. There was a significant relationship between the presence of satellites and both positive lymph nodes and distant metastases.

Conclusion

Approximately one‐third of cases of intermediate‐to‐advanced OTSCC are characterized by tumor satellites located in the T‐N tract. DOI exceeding 15 mm and the presence of clinically appreciable nodal metastases best predict the presence of satellitosis. Satellite‐bearing OTSCC behave more aggressively, with an increased risk of distant metastasis and reduced survival.
Investigating the Association Between Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and Papillary Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Báez Berríos Adriana I. , Monaghan Mathilda , Brandwein‐Weber Margaret , van Gerwen Maaike
Published: December 2024

Background

Hashimoto's thyroiditis' (HT) impact on the aggressive lymph node (ALN) status of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remains understudied.

Methods

Univariate and multivariate analyses assessed PTC aggressiveness markers, comparing PTC + HT to PTC alone from a single center retrospectively. ALN categorization included > 5 positive, ≥ 1 > 3 cm, and/or ≥ 4 with extranodal extension lymph nodes.

Results

Of 533 patients with PTC, 19.1% concurrently had HT. Compared to PTC alone, PTC + HT patients were predominantly female (p < 0.001), younger (p = 0.034), non‐smokers (p = 0.035), and had more pN0 stage tumors (p < 0.001). PTC + HT was associated with lower odds of pN1 stage (ORadj, 0.50) and lymphatic invasion (ORadj, 0.53). No significant differences were observed in ALN status, pT stage, lymphatic and perineural invasion, gross ETE, margin, and focality.

Conclusion

ALN status does not differ between PTC with or without HT.
Lymphomas of the Parotid Gland in Denmark: A Nationwide Cohort Study
Authors: Al‐Shahrestani Fahd , Al‐Khafaf Ahmed Ehsan , Asheer Zain , Jelicic Jelena , Chanchiri Iman , Blocher Catharina E. , Aalling Sørensen Anne Kathrine , Møller Pedersen Lars , Gjerdrum Lise Mette Rahbek , Heegaard Steffen , Homøe Preben
Published: December 2024

Objective

We examined the epidemiology of parotid gland lymphomas (PGL), the incidence, survival rates, clinical features, and association with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS).

Methods

This retrospective nationwide cohort study analyzed data from Danish patients diagnosed with PGL between 2000 and 2020. Data were collected from medical records, the National Pathology Register, and the Danish lymphoma database. Statistical analyses included Kaplan–Meier curves, log‐rank tests, and Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

A total of 433 patients were included. The incidence rate was 0.39 per 100,000 person‐years, with PGL constituting 1.9% of all non‐Hodgkins lymphoma in Denmark. The average annual incidence was 2.7% (incidence rate ratio = 1.027, p < 0.01). Follicular lymphoma (FL) was the most common subtype with 154 cases (35.6%), followed by large B‐cell lymphoma (LBCL) with 119 cases (27.5%), and extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (EMZL) with 84 cases (19.4%). The median overall survival (OS) for FL was 9.5 years (95% CI 6.9–10.2), with 5‐year and 10‐year OS rates of 70% and 44%, respectively. For LBCL, the median OS was 7.8 years (95% CI 5.0–8.8), with 5‐year and 10‐year OS rates of 59% and 33%. EMZL had a median OS of 12.8 years (95% CI 9.0–16.3), with 5‐year and 10‐year OS rate of 83% and 55%. EMZL was significantly associated with pSS, relative risk 21.97 (95% CI 2.81–171.53). Advanced age, B symptoms, and elevated LDH levels were significantly linked to poorer overall survival.

Conclusion

This study offers new epidemiological, clinical, and prognostic insights, with a focus on their association with pSS.

Level of Evidence

3 Laryngoscope, 2024
Longitudinal in silico imaging study comparing digital mammography and digital breast tomosynthesis systems
Authors: Lago Miguel A. , Badano Aldo
Published: December 2024

Background

In silico clinical trials are becoming more sophisticated and allow for realistic assessment and comparisons of medical image system models. These fully computational models enable fast and affordable trial designs that can closely capture trends seen on real clinical trials.

Purpose

To evaluate three breast imaging system models for digital mammography (DM) and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) in a fully‐in‐silico longitudinal study.

Methods

We developed in silico models for three different breast imaging systems by modeling relevant characteristics such as detector technology, pixel size, number of projections, and angular span. We use a computational image reader to detect masses at different growing stages to compute the relative system performance. Similarly, we compare calcification cluster detectability across systems. The Detectability area under the ROC curve (AUC) was calculated for each combination of breast density, device model, lesion size and type, and search area. We compared the absolute and relative AUC values for DM and DBT. The trial consisted of 45 000 simulated images corresponding to 750 virtual digital patient models.

Results

We observed proportional AUC values with increasing mass size. On the other hand, higher breast densities showed lower AUC values. For masses, we found significant performance differences between device models. The highest average AUC difference between DBT and DM was 0.109, benefiting DBT. For calcifications, DM showed higher performance than DBT, especially in highly dense breasts. The highest AUC difference on a model was –0.055, benefiting DM.

Conclusions

In this fully‐in‐silico imaging trial, we compared three imaging systems with different detector technologies on the same cohort of virtual digital patient models. We found that breast device systems can lead to visibility differences in masses and calcifications. Our longitudinal, multi‐device in silico study was possible because of the versatility and flexibility of in silico methods. This study shows the advantages of this in silico methodology in lowering the resources needed for device development, optimization, and regulatory evaluation.
Mycology in the agriscience classroom: A curriculum based on wild foraged mushroom certification
Authors: Kratz Carley , McKim Aaron , Bonito Gregory
Published: December 2024

The overarching goal of this impact project is to make mycology accessible to more agriscience educators and students. Lesson plans were prepared to link core competencies and science standards to the Wild‐Foraged Mushroom certification. Incorporating mycology into the classroom has many benefits, including discussions on food safety and regulation, the role of ecology in agroecosystems, and taxonomic identification skills. Fungi also play many different roles in the ecosystem, including decomposers, mutualists, and parasites. Lesson plans in three topic areas were produced: mushroom identification and fungal ecology, mushroom growth and food safety, and mushrooms as a renewable resource. Examples of hands‐on learning and connections to the Wild‐Foraged Mushroom certification are provided. This certification is available in the state of Michigan; however, lessons could be adapted for use in other regions of the United States. Looking at taxonomy, ecology, food science, and economics through the lens of mycology is an engaging way to motivate students while potentially helping them earn a certification.
‘Attitude Problems’: Racializing Hierarchies of Affect in Post‐Brown U.S. Science Education
Authors: Kirchgasler Kathryn L.
Published: December 2024

Attending to the affect of minoritized students now appears crucial to promoting just and dignity‐affirming science education. Yet, elevating affect as an objective of science learning has a history that predates equity reforms. This study explores the politics of scientific uptakes of affect that have long served to mark hierarchical differences between students. As part of the special issue Centering Affect and Emotion Toward Justice and Dignity in Science Education, this paper investigates how U.S. science classrooms became sites of affective intervention, especially aimed at Black, Mexican American, Puerto Rican, and Indigenous students. As a history of the present, the study examines research journals and curricular reform materials between the 1954 Brown desegregation ruling and a 1989 equity report. The analysis suggests that shifts in post‐Brown U.S. science education made it possible to order students along affective hierarchies that: (1) established differential emotional regimes for those classified as ‘culturally deprived’ versus ‘gifted’; (2) equated human dignity with developing a depoliticized scientific self; and (3) evaded questions of racism and cultural imposition, while enforcing onto‐epistemic hierarchies. The study explores implications for current science education scholarship by considering how three extant concerns—deficit discourses, the dichotomization of science from political activism, and assimilationist models of scientist‐like affect—stem in part from the field's own responses to racial desegregation and civil rights demands. The purpose of historicizing affect in science education is to unsettle the racializing premises, normalizing constructs, and depoliticizing effects of social science techniques inherited from our not‐so‐distant past.
Melting Separation of Metalized Pellets of Vanadium–Titanium Magnetite
Authors: Tang Jue , Li Sinan , Feng Jinge , Zhao Zichuan , Tian Hongyu , Chu Mansheng
Published: December 2024

To realize the efficient and clean comprehensive utilization of vanadium–titanium magnetite in the Baima mining area of Panzhihua, an innovative hydrogen‐based shaft furnace direct reduction followed by a melting separation process is proposed. In this study, the melting separation behaviors of vanadium–titanium magnetite affected by the temperature, time, basicity, and C/O (mole ratio of carbon to reducible oxygen) are systematically investigated. The chemical composition, phase composition, and microstructure of slag using modern analytical techniques such as X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy are also revealed. The results revealed that under the optimization conditions including the melting temperature of 1600 °C for 30 min, basicity of 0.50, and C/O of 1.10, the corresponding separation rates of Fe and V in pig iron are 99.31% and 89.73%, and the separation rate of TiO2 in slag is 92.83%, Meanwhile, a preferable characteristic of slag with viscosity of 0.116 Pa s and melting temperature of 1374.54 °C was obtained. The directed migration of valuable elements in vanadium–titanium magnetite is successfully realized.
From Tourists' Interpretation to National Identity in National Parks: A Semiotic Analysis
Authors: Dai Jianchi , Meng Xusheng , Pan Ruixi Paris , Chen Xinzhi , Liu Xiaoyuan
Published: December 2024

National park tourism is a critical factor in strengthening national identity. This study explores the construction process of national identity within the context of national parks through tourists' online comments on the Three‐River Source National Park. A semiotic structure—triadic relation—is adopted to explain the signification of national park landscapes. In the first semiotic relationship, the object of the national park landscape refers to a referential symbol. Through abduction, historical associations, object‐related authenticity, and the nationalization of nature are related to each other. In the second relationship, the object in the national park landscape refers to a condensation symbol. Through induction, romantics, existential authenticity, and the naturalization of the nation are related. Finally, we identified two types of landscapes that could interfere with tourists' interpretations: disqualified landscapes and repeated stimuli. These two landscapes were created as noise. We then discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.
Qualified by Virtue of Experience? Professional Youth Work in Britain 1960–1989
Authors: Clements Charlotte
Published: December 2024

This chapter explores the role of experiential expertise in the professionalisation of youth work following the influential Albemarle Report in 1960. It argues that this form of knowledge was valued and fully integrated into the recruitment, training and practice of youth workers in South London and Liverpool after 1960. The model of youth work at this time joined together academic and theoretical underpinnings with reflective practice and the expertise of experience. The youth workers who came into practice at this time also brought their experience of post-war welfare cultures, broadly speaking, and within youth work itself, to their roles in the Youth Service. The chapter considers c how the local experiences that youth workers shared with young people, and the lived experience of having grown up in the same social contexts and localities, shaped youth work to include or indeed sometimes be centred on a variety of forms of activism. While youth work did professionalise between 1960 and 1989, this process was incomplete and youth work struggled to gain the same status as other educational and welfare professions.
Quaker Women in Humanitarian and Social Action: Faith, Learning and the Authority of Experience
Authors: Roberts Siân
Published: December 2024

This chapter focuses on a group of Quaker women in Birmingham who participated in social, educational and humanitarian action locally, nationally and transnationally in the first half of the twentieth century. Motivated by a faith-inspired witness for peace and social justice, they sought to enable women and children in Birmingham, and in international theatres of war, to “fare well” in a more peaceful and equitable society. The chapter adopts a prosopographical approach to argue that their authority to act was founded on claims to knowledge and expertise that were underpinned by personal experience. As Quakers, their experiential faith provided a significant context for their understanding of experience as a valid way of knowing the social world. Drawing on their published writings and unpublished archival materials, the chapter explores how they constructed and performed their experiential expertise through autobiographical narratives. The emphasis then shifts to consider the ways in which they shared and validated their expertise as a community of experience and drew on a genealogy of earlier Quaker female experience to evolve an experiential pedagogy of social action. The chapter concludes with reflections on how they negotiated the limitations of experiential knowledge that was constrained by privileged class positions.
Conclusions
Authors: Radovich Violeta S.
Published: December 2024

The sea is often observed from the perspective of its chemical or physical composition. There is a lack of a social and cultural approach to the sea, as proposed with the concept of “oceanity” (IMPAC3, 2013), which aims to highlight the relationship between human beings and the ocean. In this sense, the integrated management of the sea proposes a comprehensive vision as opposed to a sectorized one. The concept of “integration”, described in the preamble of the UNCLOS, states that the problems of the sea are interrelated and should be considered as a whole.
International Regulation on Marine Platforms
Authors: Radovich Violeta S.
Published: December 2024

This chapter further analyses international conventions’ bills on the subject that have not entered into force. It uses the concept of normative integration as a methodological approach, critically assessing the interaction between the law of the sea, maritime law, environmental law and human rights law in the field of study. Contributions from maritime law have been focused on safety measures and monetary compensation of damage as a response to maritime disasters through different international conventions. Environmental law has caused a paradigm shift with the introduction of the precaution principle in Rio Declaration. As regards Law of the Sea, ITLOS has concluded that the precaution principle is a hard law principle. Human Rights Internartional Law contributions will also be studied. Finally, the Offshore Protocol to the Barcelona Convention will be analysed.
The Role of Feedback Type and Task Performance on Concurrent Emotions and Interest During Game-Based Learning
Authors: Cloude Elizabeth B. , Kormann Eva , Steiner Marco , Lindstedt Antero , Kiili Kristian , Ninaus Manuel
Published: December 2024

Building adaptive game-based learning (GBL) interventions (e.g., immediate feedback) has been a recent effort to maximize learning effectiveness. State-of-the-art algorithms often overlook the concurrent emotions and motivation of individuals and its impact on GBL interventions. This pilot study utilized a 3 (feedback type: results, elaborative, attribution) x 2 (graph type: misleading, non-misleading) within-subjects design with MediaWatch, a GBL environment built to improve critical graph literacy. At an Austrian university, 41 students’ concurrent emotions and motivation were measured using validated surveys immediately after different types of feedback on tasks during GBL. Results showed a significant improvement in graph literacy after GBL. Different types of feedback and task performance influenced concurrent emotions and interest, but individual differences accounted for the largest variability explained in emotions and interest. The findings suggest that within-subject variability is crucial for understanding concurrent emotions and motivation to feedback types and task performance during GBL.
A More Perfect Union
Authors: Livestro Joshua
Published: December 2024

This book tells the history of the 'federal union', a concept that may be traced from the early Renaissance to the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community (1951) - the predecessor of today's European Union. It is a story of three federal canons: of greater and lesser thinkers, of utopian peace plans, and of practical experiences with federal unions. Together they shaped the concepts that created the ECSC.

This book unlocks the past of the EU - a union that always thought it didn't have a past, but was, on the contrary, 'sui generis', without examples or predecessors. Although there was nothing inevitable about the founding of the EU, A More Perfect Union shows that it was plausible and perhaps even predictable that such a union would be formed at some point - and that the aftermath of the Second World War was exactly the kind of founding moment about which federal theorists in previous centuries had speculated.
Permafrost and ground-ice conditions in the Untersee Oasis, Queen Maud Land, East Antarctica
Authors: Lacelle Denis , Verret Marjolaine , Faucher Benoit , Fisher David , Gaudreau Adam , Pellerin André , Ecclestone Miles , Andersen Dale T.
Published: December 2024

Knowledge of Antarctic permafrost is mainly derived from the Antarctic Peninsula and Victoria Land. This study examines the 2019–2023 temperature and humidity conditions, distribution and development of polygonal terrain and the origin of ground ice in soils of the Untersee Oasis. In this region, the surface offset (MAAT ≅ MAGST) and the thermal offset (MAGST ≤ TTIT) reflect the lack of vegetation, absence of persistent snow and a dry soil above the ice table. The mean annual vapour pressure at the ground surface is approximately ~2× higher than in the air but is ~0.67× lower than at the ice table. The size of polygons appears to be in equilibrium with the ice-table depth, and numerical modelling suggests that the depth of the ice table is in turn in equilibrium with the ground surface temperature and humidity. The ground ice at the ice table probably originates from the partial evaporation of snowmelt that infiltrated the dry soil column. As such, the depth of the ice table in this region is set by the water vapour density gradient between the ground surface and the ice-bearing ground, but it is recharged periodically by evaporating snowmelt.
Life in ruins: DNA metabarcoding contributes to the history of Whalers Bay wooden structures at Deception Island, South Shetland Islands
Authors: Câmara Paulo E.A.S. , Lopes Fabyano A. , Bones Fábio L.V. , Carvalho-Silva Micheline , Convey Peter , De Souza Láuren , Coelho Lívia , Rosa Luiz
Published: December 2024

Deception Island is an Antarctic Specially Managed Area that houses historically important sites such as the remains of historical wooden buildings. The impacts of fungal communities on wood in polar historical sites have been investigated, but little is known of the impacts of other eukaryote groups. In the current study we used high-throughput sequencing to investigate the diversity of non-fungal eukaryotic organisms present in wood samples from Whalers Bay. Four sites were sampled, and DNA sequences representing three kingdoms (Chromista, Protozoa and Viridiplantae) and four phyla (Ciliophora, Perclozoa, Chlorophyta and Magnoliophyta) were identified, representing a total of 43 taxa. Biscoe House Annex hosted the richest diversity, with 20 taxa, followed by the whaling boat, Biscoe House and the Hunting Lodge, with 16, 15 and 12 taxa, respectively. The most frequently detected sequences were assigned to the ciliate group Sporadotrichida, some of which are known to play a role in cellulose degradation. Among the Chlorophyta, the sequences detected included common taxa previously recorded, but the flowering plant data represented only exotic taxa, probably associated with human activity or airborne transfer. The use of high-throughput sequencing provided valuable data on communities associated with anthropogenically sourced and now decaying wood in Antarctica.
Climate Change Is Driving Dangerous Bacteria Farther North
Authors: Schneider Lauren
Published: December 2024

Satellite data could help address rising rates of vibriosis infections, often the result of eating undercooked seafood, along the East Coast of the United States.
Sturzprävention
Authors: Groß Michaela
Published: December 2024

In Deutschland veröffentlicht die Bundesinitiative Sturzprävention (BIS, www.bundesinitiative-sturzpraevention.de)
evidenz- und konsensbasierte Empfehlungen zur Identifizierung und Prävention des Sturzrisikos bei
älteren, zu Hause lebenden Menschen. Ziel der Empfehlungen ist eine möglichst einheitliche und
wissenschaftlich abgesicherte Einrichtung und Förderung von Sturzpräventionsangeboten für ältere Menschen
in Deutschland.
An integrated framework for habitat restoration in fire-prone areas: part 1 – co-creation of land management scenarios
Authors: Maia P. , Corticeiro S. , Vaz R. , Fernandes P. M. , Valente S. , Keizer J. , Pereira S. C. , Carvalho D.
Published: December 2024

Background Recent policy instruments for integrated landscape management in Portugal provide an opportunity to develop strategies that optimise the implementation of global policies at a local scale. Aims The main objective was to create and define a thorough framework that combines restoration of natural habitats and fire hazard management, to contribute to landscape resilience to fire under climate change. Methods Ecological modelling was the basis to propose restoration of natural habitats in the area. A participatory approach was developed for the co-creation of alternative land management scenarios, described through Northern Forest Fire Laboratory (NFFL) fuel model maps expressing modified forest cover types. Results The proposed framework, applied to integrate stakeholders’ perceived challenges and opportunities in the land management scenarios, resulted in a decrease in fuel load in forest areas, compared with simulated restoration of native habitats only, without subsequent management. Conclusions The management of forest structure achieved through forest cover type modification suggests a reduction in wildfire propagation potential, progressively more noticeable with the cumulative management of new and pre-existing forests. Implications The framework can be used as part of a decision-support tool for forest management and may be implemented in other places where habitat conservation and fire hazard are management concerns.
The impact of treatment strategies on the epidemiological dynamics of plasmid-conferred antibiotic resistance
Authors: Muetter Malte , Angst Daniel C. , Regoes Roland R. , Bonhoeffer Sebastian
Published: December 2024

The issue of antibiotic resistance is a critical concern for public health, prompting numerous investigations into the impact of treatment strategies on preventing or slowing down the emergence of resistance. While existing studies have predominantly focused on chromosomal resistance mutations, the consequences of often clinically more relevant plasmid-conferred resistance remain insufficiently explored. To address this gap, we conducted three extensive in vitro experiments utilizing a liquid-handling platform. These experiments evaluated the efficacy of five distinct treatment strategies using two antibiotics (tetracycline and ceftazidime) along with two horizontally transmissible clinical resistance plasmids conferring the respective resistances. Among the experimentally investigated treatment strategies, combination therapy proved to be the most effective in preventing the emergence of double resistance while minimizing the number of infections. To verify the reliability of these findings, we constructed a computational model of our experiments that we parameterized using the experimental data. We employed this model to augment the experimental data by conducting an in silico parameter sensitivity analysis. The sensitivity analysis corroborated our experimental results, demonstrating that combination therapy consistently outperformed other treatment strategies across a range of parameter values.
Internal feedback circuits among MEX-5, MEX-6, and PLK-1 maintain faithful patterning in the
Caenorhabditis elegans
embryo
Authors: Vaudano Alexandre Pierre , Schwager Françoise , Gotta Monica , Barbieri Sofia
Published: December 2024

Proteins become asymmetrically distributed in the one-cell
Caenorhabditis elegans
embryo thanks to reaction–diffusion mechanisms that are often entangled in complex feedback loops. Cortical polarity drives the enrichment of the RNA-binding proteins MEX-5 and MEX-6 in the anterior cytoplasm through concentration gradients. MEX-5 and MEX-6 promote the patterning of other cytoplasmic factors, including that of the anteriorly enriched mitotic polo-like kinase PLK-1, but also contribute to proper cortical polarity. The gradient of MEX-5 forms through a differential-diffusion mechanism. How MEX-6 establishes a gradient and how MEX-5 and MEX-6 regulate cortical polarity is not known. Here, we reveal that the two MEX proteins develop concentration asymmetries via similar mechanisms, but despite their strong sequence homology, they differ in terms of how their concentration gradients are regulated. We find that PLK-1 promotes the enrichment of MEX-5 and MEX-6 at the anterior through different circuits: PLK-1 influences the MEX-5 gradient indirectly by regulating cortical polarity while it modulates the formation of the gradient of MEX-6 through its physical interaction with the protein. We thus propose a model in which PLK-1 mediates protein circuitries between MEX-5, MEX-6, and cortical proteins to faithfully establish and maintain polarity.
Instrumentation
Authors: Pazhenkottil Aju P. , Verberne Hein J. , Buechel Ronny R.
Published: December 2024

Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging provides cross-sectional images of single photon-emitting radiotracer distribution. In such tracers, one or more photons are emitted during the nuclear decay. A gamma camera is used to acquire the data. Traditionally, a gamma camera uses a lead collimator, a sheet of sodium iodide (NaI) scintillator, and an array of photomultiplier tubes. Recently, dedicated cardiac gamma cameras have been designed that use the semiconductor material cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) in place of NaI and photomultiplier tubes. In contrast to SPECT, in positron emission tomography (PET), the positron-emitting radionuclides produce positrons which will annihilate with a nearby electron to create pairs of high-energy 511-keV photons emitted in opposite directions. Detection of the two photons within a narrow time window is called a coincidence event. A PET scanner collects many such coincidence events within the field of view. Hybrid cardiac imaging, combining SPECT and PET with computed tomography (CT) and, more recently, with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), provides a combination of anatomical and functional information, increasing sensitivity and specificity of the single modalities, thus making the integrated approach a more accurate test. This chapter provides an overview on important aspects of camera technology and instrumentation, including SPECT, PET, and hybrid imaging.
Western Diet and Inflammatory Mechanisms in African American Adults With Heart Failure
Authors: Davis Erica , Dunbar Sandra B. , Higgins Melinda K. , Wood Kathryn , Ferranti Erin , Morris Alanna A. , Butts Brittany
Published: December 2024

Background

Black adults have a higher risk for heart failure (HF) than others, which may be related to higher cardiovascular risk factors and also inflammatory dietary patterns. The Western diet is associated with inflammation and contributes to HF. Trimethylamine N-oxide is a diet-linked metabolite that contributes to inflammation and is associated with higher tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels, especially in HF populations. The dietary inflammatory index score measures a diet’s inflammatory potential and food’s inflammatory effects.

Objective

The purpose of this pilot study was to explore associations between the Western diet, dietary inflammatory index, trimethylamine N-oxide, relevant covariates and variables, and TNF-α in Black persons with HF.

Methods

Thirty-one Black participants (mean age = 55 years, 68% women) with HF were enrolled. Trimethylamine N-oxide and TNF-α levels were analyzed using immunoassays. A food frequency questionnaire was completed, and dietary inflammatory index scores and food groups were calculated. Analyses included correlations and I-test statistics.

Results

Mean dietary inflammatory index score was −0.38, noting an anti-inflammatory diet with slightly higher inflammatory diet scores in men compared to women. The dietary inflammatory index score showed a negative association with dietary choline but not with trimethylamine N-oxide or TNF-α. Trimethylamine N-oxide and age were positively correlated, along with the correlation for TNF-α with a moderate effect size. No relationship was found among dietary inflammatory index, TNF-α, and trimethylamine N-oxide variables.

Discussion

A greater understanding of intake of inflammatory foods and relationships with immune factors is warranted to inform intervention development. In Black adults with HF, it is important to consider the intake of inflammatory foods as increased age may affect the retention of dietary metabolites. Metabolites may also increase the levels of inflammation. Knowledge about these relationships could lead to tailored dietary interventions based on diet, age, and culture patterns.