bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multigenerational differences in harvesting and use of wild edible fruits and nuts in the South Caucasus
Authors: Faruk Aisyah , Nersesyan Anush , Papikyan Astghik , Galstyan Sona , Hakobyan Emma , Barblishvili Tinatin , Mikatadze‐Pantsulaia Tsira , Darchidze Tamaz , Kuchukhidze Marina , Kereselidze Nona , Kikodze David , Willey Ian , Ryan Philippa , Breman Elinor
Published: September 2023

Societal Impact Statement

Ecosystem services are underpinned by biodiversity, which is rapidly eroding globally, threatening rural livelihoods and culture. Examining the uses of wild edible plants (WEPs) that are important to rural communities gives insight into the value of a biodiverse landscape to local communities. Here, the importance of considering age groups in future ethnobotanical and conservation studies is highlighted, as this can enhance our understanding on the dependence of use within a landscape, informing more inclusive conservation actions.

Wild edible plants (WEP) remain an important aspect of many rural communities across the world, yet the decline in the diversity and knowledge of WEP use is becoming a global concern. In the Biodiversity Hotspot of the Caucasus, there is few cross‐cultural and multigenerational comparisons of plant uses, limiting our knowledge of resource use and dependence within biodiverse landscapes.

Here, we investigate the patterns of use for wild edible fruits and nuts in the South Caucasus, focusing on multigenerational differences in harvesting patterns, diversity and use through semi‐structured interviews in Armenia and Georgia. We calculated use values (UV) for each genera harvested and compared the diversity of genera used between age groups. Pearson chi‐square was used to explore the relationship between age‐groups and genera harvested.

We found 53% of rural population (n = 220) actively harvest from wild populations, with older age groups harvesting the highest diversity of plants. Twenty‐four species from 16 genera are harvested, withBerberis vulgarisL. andRosa caninaL. shared between both communities. The association between age and diversity of harvested genera was significant (χ2[48,N= 506]= 114.75,p < .01), mainly driven by a strong positive association withBerberisspp. L.,Crataegusspp. L. andRibesspp. L. with the under 18s andPrunusspp. L. with under 35s. Young harvesters used WEP for income generation, while medicinal use increases across older age groups.

Foraging activities within South Caucasus' communities remains active; however, the use of WEP is not uniform within and across different communities.
Critical Design Strategies Supporting Optimized Drug Release from Polymer–Drug Conjugates
Authors: Đorđević Snežana , Medel María , Hillaert Justine , Masiá Esther , Conejos‐Sánchez Inmaculada , Vicent María J.
Published: September 2023

The importance of an adequate linking moiety design that allows controlled drug(s) release at the desired site of action is extensively studied for polymer‐drug conjugates (PDCs). Redox‐responsive self‐immolative linkers bearing disulfide moieties (SS‐SIL) represent a powerful strategy for intracellular drug delivery; however, the influence of drug structural features and linker‐associated spacers on release kinetics remains relatively unexplored. The influence of drug/spacer chemical structure and the chemical group available for conjugation on drug release and the biological effect of resultant PDCs is evaluated. A “design of experiments” tool is implemented to develop a liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry method to perform the comprehensive characterization required for this systematic study. The obtained fit‐for‐purpose analytical protocol enables the quantification of low drug concentrations in drug release studies and the elucidation of metabolite presence. and provides the first data that clarifies how drug structural features influence the drug release from SS‐SIL and demonstrates the non‐universal nature of the SS‐SIL. The importance of rigorous linker characterization in understanding structure‐function correlations between linkers, drug chemical functionalities, and in vitro release kinetics from a rationally‐designed polymer‐drug nanoconjugate, a critical strategic crafting methodology that should remain under consideration when using a reductive environment as an endogenous drug release trigger.
Recent Advances in Flexible CNC‐Based Chiral Nematic Film Materials
Authors: Zou Xuyang , Xue Rui , An Zewei , Li Hongwei , Zhang Jiale , Jiang Yan , Huang Lijie , Wu Wei , Wang Shuangfei , Hu Guo‐Hua , Li Robert K.Y. , Zhao Hui
Published: September 2023

Cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) is a renewable resource derived from lignocellulosic materials, known for its optical permeability, biocompatibility, and unique self‐assembly properties. Recent years have seen great progresses in cellulose nanocrystal‐based chiral photonic materials. However, due to its inherent brittleness, cellulose nanocrystal shows limitations in the fields of flexible materials, optical sensors and food freshness testing. In order to solve the above limitations, attempts have been made to improve the flexibility of cellulose nanocrystal materials without destroying their structural color. Despite these progresses, a systematic review on them is lacking. This review aims to fill this gap by providing an overview of the main strategies and the latest research findings on the flexibilization of cellulose nanocrystal‐based chiral nematic film materials (FCNM). Specifically, typical substances and methods used for their preparation are summarized. Moreover, different kinds of cellulose nanocrystal‐based composites are compared in terms of flexibility. Finally, potential applications and future challenges of flexible cellulose nanocrystal‐based chiral nematic materials are discussed, inspiring further research in this field.
Antimicrobial Hydrogels: Potential Materials for Medical Application
Authors: Li Yanni , Han Yujia , Li Hongxia , Niu Xiaohui , Zhang Deyi , Wang Kunjie
Published: September 2023

Microbial infections based on drug‐resistant pathogenic organisms following surgery or trauma and uncontrolled bleeding are the main causes of increased mortality from trauma worldwide. The prevalence of drug‐resistant pathogens has led to a significant increase in medical costs and poses a great threat to the normal life of people. This is an important issue in the field of biomedicine, and the emergence of new antimicrobial materials hydrogels holds great promise for solving this problem. Hydrogel is an important material with good biocompatibility, water absorption, oxygen permeability, adhesion, degradation, self‐healing, corrosion resistance, and controlled release of drugs as well as structural diversity. Bacteria‐disturbing hydrogels have important applications in the direction of surgical treatment, wound dressing, medical device coating, and tissue engineering. This paper reviews the classification of antimicrobial hydrogels, the current status of research, and the potential of antimicrobial hydrogels for one application in biomedicine, and analyzes the current research of hydrogels in biomedical applications from five aspects: metal‐loaded hydrogels, drug‐loaded hydrogels, carbon‐material‐loaded hydrogels, hydrogels with fixed antimicrobial activity and biological antimicrobial hydrogels, and provides an outlook on the high antimicrobial activity, biodegradability, biocompatibility, injectability, clinical applicability and future development prospects of hydrogels in this field.
2D MXenes Nanosheets for Advanced Energy Conversion and Storage Devices: Recent Advances and Future Prospects
Authors: Mateen Abdul , Suneetha Maduru , Ahmad Shah Syed Shoaib , Usman Muhammad , Ahmad Tauqeer , Hussain Iftikhar , Khan Shaukat , Assiri Mohammed A. , Hassan Ahmed M. , Javed Muhammad Sufyan , Han Sung Soo , Althomali Raed H. , Rahman Mohammed M.
Published: September 2023

Since the initial MXenes were discovered in 2011, several MXene compositions constructed using combinations of various transition metals have been developed. MXenes are ideal candidates for different applications in energy conversion and storage, because of their unique and interesting characteristics, which included good electrical conductivity, hydrophilicity, and simplicity of large‐scale synthesis. Herein, we study the current developments in two‐dimensional (2D) MXene nanosheets for energy storage and conversion technologies. First, we discuss the introduction to energy storage and conversion devices. Later, we emphasized on 2D MXenes and some specific properties of MXenes. Subsequently, research advances in MXene‐based electrode materials for energy storage such as supercapacitors and rechargeable batteries is summarized. We provide the relevant energy storage processes, common challenges, and potential approaches to an acceptable solution for 2D MXene‐based energy storage. In addition, recent advances for MXenes used in energy conversion devices like solar cells, fuel cells and catalysis is also summarized. Finally, the future prospective of growing MXene‐based energy conversion and storage are highlighted.
A review of frequently used Kampo prescriptions. Part 3. Yokukansan
Authors: Yamaguchi Hideaki , Yoshino Tetsuhiro , Oizumi Hiroaki , Arita Ryutaro , Nogami Tatsuya , Takayama Shin
Published: September 2023

Background

The source of yokukansan (YKS) is thought to be Baoying‐Jinjiang (Hoeikinkyōroku in Japanese) by Xue Ji. YKS was originally designed for children and indicated for spasms, clenching of teeth, digestive dysfunction due to mental instability, and insomnia.

Key Findings

YKS formula consists of seven types of crude drugs. Clinical studies have revealed that YKS exerts physiological effects including the treatment of behavioral and psychiatric symptoms of dementia (BPSD), preoperative sedation and anxiety, and postoperative delirium. A meta‐analysis showed that YKS could improve BPSD and daily living activities; however, no improvement in cognitive function was observed. Preclinical studies have also reported that YKS modulates neuronal pathways in the central nervous system, including the serotonergic, glutamatergic, GABAergic, and other neurotransmitter pathways. The incidence of adverse events associated with YKS was 5.17%, with the major adverse effect being pseudoaldosteronism. Routine blood sampling is considered for hypokalemia prevention.

Conclusion

YKS is useful for BPSD and perioperative mental instability. The modulation of the serotonergic and glutamatergic neural pathways is one of mechanisms. Pseudoaldosteronism is one of the side effects.
Renal clearable magnetic nanoparticles for magnetic resonance imaging and guided therapy
Authors: Zhang Qinpeng , Yin Rui , Guan Guoqiang , Liu Huiyi , Song Guosheng
Published: September 2023

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non‐invasive, radiation‐free imaging technique widely used for disease detection and therapeutic evaluation due to its infinite penetration depth. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have unique magnetic and physicochemical properties, making them ideal as contrast agents for MRI. However, the in vivo toxicity of MNPs, resulting from metal ion leakage and long‐term accumulation in the reticuloendothelial system (RES), limits their clinical application. To overcome these challenges, there is considerable interest in the development of renal‐clearable MNPs that can be completely cleared through the kidney, reducing retention time and potential toxic risks. In this review, we provide an overview of recent advancements in the development of renal‐clearable MNPs for disease imaging and treatment. We discuss the factors influencing renal clearance, summarize the types of renal‐clearable MNPs, their synthesis methods, and biomedical applications. This review aims to offer comprehensive information for the design and clinical translation of renal‐clearable MNPs.

This article is categorized under:

Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology

Diagnostic Tools > Biosensing
Decision Support for the Optimization of Continuous Processes using Digital Shadows
Authors: Idzik Christian , Hilger Daniel , Hosters Norbert , Kemmerling Marco , Niemietz Philipp , Ortjohann Lucia , Sasse Jana , Serafeim Alexandros , Wang Jing , Wolff Daniel , Hirt Gerhard
Published: September 2023

Decision support systems can provide real-time process information and correlations, which in turn assists process experts in making decisions and thus further increase productivity. This also applies to well-established and already highly automated processes in continuous production employed in various industrial sectors. Continuous production refers to processes in which the produced material, either fluid or solid form, is continuously in motion and processed. As a result, the process can usually not be stopped. It is only possible to influence the running process. However, the highly nonlinear interactions between process parameters and product quality are not always known in their entirety which led to inferior product quality in terms of mechanical properties and surface quality. This requires accurate representations of the processes and the products in real-time, so-called digital shadows.

Therefore, this contribution shows the necessary steps to provide a digital shadow based on numerical, physical models and process data and to couple the digital shadow with data analysis and machine learning to enable automatic decision support. This is exemplified at various stages throughout two different process chains with continuous processes: first, by using a thermoplastic production process called profile extrusion, and second, on the example of a metal processing process chain, from which three processes are described in more detail, namely, hot rolling, tempering, and fine blanking. Finally, the presented approaches and results are summarized.
Changing from Financial Control to Financial Management in the Public Sector: An Introduction to the Changes That Will Be Required
Authors: Hepworth Noel
Published: September 2023

Introducing public financial management and internal control (PFM/IC) is a major organisational reform. It has significant managerial consequences, not least on the relationships between elected and appointed officials. Where the reform has been introduced it has frequently been treated as a financial and budgetary control reform but it has far more wide reaching effects if it is to be properly introduced. Not the least of the benefits is that PFM/IC provides an ability to put substance into the meaning of the terms ‘efficiency and effectiveness’ but that in turn requires significant managerial reform. PFM/IC ought to really be regarded as a managerial reform and it is from this perspective that the reform should be viewed. Managerial reform should be the starting point for implementation. Consequently, to achieve success top management commitment to the reform, by both political and senior appointed officials is essential.
Monitoring the Change from Administration to Management: Demonstrating This Through the Utilisation of a Statement of Internal Control
Authors: Hepworth Noel
Published: September 2023

“As with any reform information should be available about how well the reform is proceeding and what have been the results of the reform. With PFM/IC very often the information about the reform progress is limited to information about the procedural arrangements that have been adopted, that is, the laws and regulations. This tells the observer, who could be a ministry of finance, a parliament, a state auditor or civil society nothing about how effectively the reform has been applied, the level of benefits arising from the reform or indeed the costs. It says nothing about weaknesses which may have emerged or how they have been dealt with. In this chapter a more effective form of reporting is recommended which is called a ‘statement of internal control’. This statement should be prepared by the head of operational management and approved by the political head of the organisation. Examples are given of this statement. Ideally this statement should be published as part of the transparency and accountability arrangements.
Public Sector Reform, Delegation, and PFM/IC
Authors: Hepworth Noel
Published: September 2023

This guide makes clear that the PFM/IC reform should be regarded as much as a management reform as a technical reform. Consequently those involved in the development and application of this reform ought to consider as part of the reform process, those managerial related issues which will affect implementation. One is the structure of the civil service (and by extension, the local government service), another is delegation and sometimes delegation can be inappropriate. A further topic that should be considered is the personnel management arrangements. Are these compatible with a managerial approach to the implementation of the PFM/IC reform. Again, where proposals are made involving public administration reform, these must be compatible with the reforms that are necessary to achieve an effective PFM/IC reform. These are the issues which are discussed in this chapter.
Implementing Public Financial Management and Internal Control (PFM/IC)
Authors: Hepworth Noel
Published: September 2023

Introducing PFM/IC has a wide range of impacts. It requires an appreciation of the separate roles of the politician for policy development, implementation strategy and operational management oversight and that of the appointed official for policy implementation. A feature of PFM/IC is the development of delegation and accountability, although delegation decisions can be complex and depend upon circumstances and personalities. This chapter provides a broad overview of the issues that need to be addressed and which are developed in more detail in the succeeding chapters. Those issues include transparency and the involvement of parliament, changes to the budgetary and accounting arrangements and the development of performance information systems.
The Practical Steps for Initiating a Successful PFM/IC Reform
Authors: Hepworth Noel
Published: September 2023

Given the nature of the PFM/IC reform and the radical managerial changes that it requires, before embarking on the reform a country ought to be clear about the implications of the reform and consequently the impacts that it will have. A primary objective of PFM/IC is to facilitate the achievement of a government’s objectives and to improve the quality of public expenditure, that is enhance public value. It also has other benefits if properly implemented, including enhancing transparency and accountability. Change though has to occur and that change will be quite fundamental. All change has repercussions which may be unacceptable to some and therefore may be resisted. PFM/IC, if implemented properly, changes power structures and such changes can be an important source of resistance. Therefore an important first step before embarking upon the reform should be to carry out a series of tests to assess whether the reform is appropriate at this time, and whether the reform is possible given the scope of the changes that will be required. This chapter sets out those tests. Those advocating the reform should also recognise that this is not a ‘quick fix’ type of reform and that is the reason why wide support is essential.
Risks and Unintended Consequences of the Reform
Authors: Hepworth Noel
Published: September 2023

All reforms carry risks and they may have unintended consequences. This chapter discusses these features of the PFM/IC reform process. It provides some examples of where risks and unintended consequences have occurred. Perhaps the greatest risk and the one most likely to occur is that of a ‘fake’ reform. In the author’s experience this is the one for which there is some evidence because those responsible for implementation tend to be focussed on the bureaucracy associated with the reform, because it provides ‘evidence’ of implementation, but there is no substance. The managerial implications are completely overlooked. The end result is higher costs because of the added bureaucracy but no tangible benefits in terms of improvements in public value. An aim of this guide is to avoid these risks and unintended consequences from occurring.
The Re-allocation of Entrepreneurial Talent During Transition from Socialism to Market Economy: Some Conceptual Thoughts
Authors: Sorgner Alina , Wyrwich Michael
Published: September 2023

One of the stylized facts in the literature is that the level and quality of entrepreneurship is determined by institutional framework conditions—the so-called rules of the game. In this conceptual contribution, we show that this insight is also key to understand the massive surge in start-up activity after the collapse of communism in Central and Eastern Europe. Our contribution draws on recent work analyzing who decided to start a venture in East Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall. In this previous work, it was found that many individuals who demonstrated commitment to the anti-entrepreneurial communist regime in the socialist German Democratic Republic (GDR) launched their own new ventures soon after German re-unification. We argue that the previous commitment to communism of post-socialist entrepreneurs reflects a tendency toward rent-seeking, which is a form of unproductive entrepreneurship. Once institutions changed radically, their entrepreneurial efforts were directed toward start-up activity. In the current contribution, we reflect on this evidence and discuss to which extent it can be generalized beyond the East German context.
From East to West. Modernization in the Western and Northern Territories of Poland (1944–1989)
Authors: Walerski Konrad
Published: September 2023

At the end of World War II (1943–1945), the Soviet Union appropriated the eastern parts of Poland, while part of Germany was incorporated into the remaining Polish territory. This was a revolutionary transformation. The German population of Silesia, Pomerania, and Eastern Prussia was replaced by Poles mainly from the Polish eastern territories. This initiated a process of organizing a new social and economic reality in a socialist way: settlement, reconstruction of towns and villages, industry, administration, education, and encounters of different social groups, regional cultures, and mentalities. Till the end of the 1970s, these regions were seen by Polish sociologists as social laboratory in which the process of “Soviet-inspired modernization” took place at high speed.
Historical Legacies of Regional Innovation Activity: The Case of East and West Germany
Authors: Fritsch Michael , Greve Maria , Wyrwich Michael
Published: September 2023

We investigate how 40 years of a communist regime in East Germany and the subsequent German unification affected innovation activities. The empirical evidence suggests that the benefits of integrating the two innovation systems were much greater in the West than in the East, which has resulted in an increasing gap in innovation activities between the two regions. Innovation activity in East Germany was highly concentrated in a few hot spots that have a tradition of innovation reaching back to the time before the Second World War (WWII). The innovation activities that we observe in Germany today are strongly shaped not only by separation into a socialist and a capitalist part after WWII but also by the shock transformation over the course of rapid reunification, which has had lasting effects.
The Communist New Man Versus the Bourgeois Individual: Family Enterprise in Poland and East Germany
Authors: Kamosiński Sławomir
Published: September 2023

The operation in the Polish People’s Republic and the German Democratic Republic of the non-socialized sector of the economy (the individual sector), in particular the limited number of family firms, was a remarkable phenomenon in the centrally planned economic system that prioritized socialized (‘nationalized’) ownership. The stability of legal rights to own and freely use property is of key importance for the everyday operation of small family firms. Sometimes referred to as ‘business marathon runners’, family firms are organizations of long duration. They draw on past experience and form their individual ritual of cooperation with those around them, based on tradition, ethics, and the so-called ‘principles of the founder’.

This chapter aims to explain the mechanisms that allowed the foundation of family businesses in an economic system that was based mainly on nationalized ownership of the means of production accompanied by central planning and administratively determined prices.
Taking Part, Apart: Inclusion of Researchers from the German Democratic Republic in Their International Scientific Communities
Authors: Gläser Jochen , Laudel Grit
Published: September 2023

In this chapter, we present a discussion of ways in which researchers in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) became recognised members of their international scientific communities by negotiating the interplay of adverse conditions of research in the GDR and field-specific practices of knowledge production. The conditions for research as provided by the GDR and as shaped by the GDR’s international relations enabled and constrained the inclusion of researchers in the knowledge production of their scientific communities. We ask how researchers in two fields—semiconductor physics and molecular biology—managed to become recognised members to their communities’ knowledge production under adverse conditions. Our interviews suggest three partial answers: the right topic at the right time, a partial match between a field’s epistemic practices and the research conditions in the GDR, and the existence of “inclusion mentors” who actively promoted the inclusion of their younger colleagues.
The Question of Legacies: Socialist Elites in Post-Socialist Transformations—East Germany’s Elites from a Comparative Perspective (1990–2020)
Authors: Cordes Charlotta , Felde Mareike zum , Pleines Heiko
Published: September 2023

Today’s knowledge about elites in East Germany since 1990 is still shaped by the convergence perspective, which implicitly defines West Germany as the benchmark of desired development. In this contribution, we challenge existing assumptions by changing the reference frame. To do so, we compare a sample of office holders in politics and the economy (1990–2020) in East Germany with corresponding elite members in selected countries of Eastern Central Europe (N = 2439). We differentiate between two groups within the elite of East Germany defined by the place of their socialisation prior to 1989, which happened either in East Germany or in West Germany. We consider their political learning process, professional background as well as their age and gender. While East Germany’s regional elites are, in many aspects of their social profiles, very similar to the national elites in East Central Europe, our analysis also identifies important differences. Moreover, we argue that for a better understanding of political elites the question of political socialisation and experience should be at the centre of further investigation.
Empathy and the Acquiring of a Caring Perspective
Authors: Camassa Manuel
Published: September 2023

This chapter is dedicated to the theme of caring in ethics. It is here explained how can empathy develop a caring perspective and, by means of that, a moral character. The concept of receptivity (analysed, i.e. by Michael Slote) is demonstrated to be essential for moral behaviour and receives in this chapter further attention that links it inextricably to empathy. Finally, the causal chain that connects empathy with care and care with (moral) action is illustrated in its circularity, which, far from being a weakness, reveals the strength of the ties between empathy, caring, and morality.
Empathy and Virtue
Authors: Camassa Manuel
Published: September 2023

This chapter is dedicated to the in-depth analysis of the link between empathy and virtue. The main claim is that empathy can be considered as a virtue, and to prove that, several topics are dealt with. Firstly, it is illustrated how empathy can be guided by phronesis and, thanks to it, can become a reliable ally of morality and a virtue in the traditional sense of the term. Furthermore, the moral benefits of feeling with (i.e. ‘empathy’) are made visible by means of a comparison with feeling for (i.e. ‘compassion’ or ‘pity’), and finally, the possible role empathy might play within Kantian ethics is here examined in order to demonstrate how even the supporters of a rationalist kind of ethics should not be too hasty in leaving empathy out of the picture.
A Taxonomy of Empathy
Authors: Camassa Manuel
Published: September 2023

‘A Taxonomy of Empathy’ presents a new systematisation for the phenomenon of empathy, based on the difference between what the author calls low-level empathy and high-level empathy. The first one is a form of direct, unmediated, conceptually poor, and intuitive kind of empathy which does not require the use of imagination and is akin to the concept of empathy supported by many phenomenologists, the second one is instead based on the use of imagination, mental simulations, and narratives. Narrative empathy is here represented as a subcategory of high-level empathy. The idea of the author is to overcome the rigid separation between advocates of empathy as perspective-taking and proponents of empathy as an unreflective phenomenon.
Anti-empathism: Jesse Prinz
Authors: Camassa Manuel
Published: September 2023

In this chapter, the criticisms advanced to empathy by Jesse Prinz are taken into account and carefully analysed. In particular the author attempts to trace the structure Prinz gave to his criticisms by dividing them into three: those concerning moral judgement, those concerning moral development, and those concerning moral motivation and conduct. This structure will be of fundamental importance to the work, because it is by tracing this structure that the author will respond to the criticism of empathy and simultaneously present his theories.
Anti-empathism: Paul Bloom
Authors: Camassa Manuel
Published: September 2023

In the chapter ‘Anti-empathism: Paul Bloom’, the author offers a description and an in-depth analysis of the criticisms made to empathy by Paul Bloom, trying to follow the structure Bloom gave to his critiques in his 2016 book about empathy and examining in which sense it is possible to affirm—as Bloom does—that empathy acts as a spotlight, that has many biases and that is corrosive.
The Knowledge Quartet as a Theoretical Lens to Explore Kindergarten Teachers’ Teaching of Mathematics
Authors: Carlsen Martin , Erfjord Ingvald , Hundeland Per Sigurd
Published: September 2023

The aim of this study is to analyse kindergarten teachers’ teaching of mathematical activities for 5-year-olds to characterise the competence on which their teaching is based. The Knowledge Quartet, proposed by Rowland et al. (J Math Teach Educ 8(3):255–281, 2005), is argued to be suitable for analysing the mathematical competence of kindergarten teachers revealed foundational knowledge, knowledge-in-action and knowledge-in-interaction in their teaching. The paper reports an analysis of one kindergarten teacher’s taught activity within the frame of a project where mathematical activities had been designed by researchers. Taking advantage of her competence, the kindergarten teacher nurtures the children’s processes of appropriating the involved mathematical concepts. Some modifications to the Knowledge Quartet as an analytical tool are suggested due to kindergarten particularities.
Kindergarten Professionals’ Perspectives on Observing Children’s Mathematical Competencies
Authors: Benz Christiane , Reuter Friederike , Maier Andrea , Zöllner Johanna
Published: September 2023

Observing on a diagnostic basis allows a qualified view of children’s present and potentially following mathematical competencies and is therefore vital for adaptive learning support processes. Awareness of appropriate support measures is essential for the planning of learning environments, play activities, and individually adequate interaction. The paper reports on the results of a study addressing in-service kindergarten professionals’ selection of and reflection on suitable diagnostic situations and diagnostic tools. First, aspects of professionals’ observing and diagnosing competencies will be reflected, including the use of the concept of diagnosing according to recent competence models for teachers and early childhood educators. Then, different situations suitable for observing and diagnosing children’s competencies in early mathematics education will be discussed as well as different tools for recording. Hypotheses for professional development concerning diagnostic and observation skills will be presented based on reflections and perspectives of professionals attending an in-service project.
The Real World of Toddler Mathematics
Authors: Palmér Hanna , Björklund Camilla
Published: September 2023

The focus of this paper is the expression ‘mathematizing’, which was introduced by the famous Dutch mathematician Hans Freudenthal. His starting point was that mathematics should be taught so that the knowledge becomes useful for the learner, which is why all mathematics teaching should be based on the learner’s world and experiences. He referred to the learner’s world as a context relevant to those who are to learn where the ‘real world’ ought to precede the mathematics. Based on empirical examples, we elaborate in this paper on what ‘real world’ and thus mathematizing may imply in the context of preschool mathematics with the youngest learners in the education system. The results show that ‘real world’ can involve both imagination and play, but mathematization is only noticed when there is a problem that, from the child’s perspective, needs to be solved.
Preschool Teacher Practices During a Collective Play-Related Thinking: Dialectic Between Pretend Play and Mathematics
Authors: Amrar Linda , Clerc-Georgy Anne , Dorier Jean-Luc
Published: September 2023

A broad range of literature discusses the link between pretend play and learning. More specifically, the close link between pretend play and mathematics highlights the urge to develop the mathematical thinking of children through pretend play activities. In this case, collective play-related thinking (CPRT) is used as a tool to promote awareness on the mathematical aspects of a pretend play activity. The aim of this case report is to investigate the practices used by a preschool teacher to seize mathematical teaching opportunities during a CPRT. Results suggest the use of four practices by the teacher: guiding a two-level intersubjectivity, fostering the development of an imaginary situation, raising awareness on challenges, and creating meaning between symbolization in the play and symbolization in a cultural tool. The study contributes to our understanding of the dialectic between play-related thinking and mathematical thinking through a CPRT.
Hydrodynamic and non-hydrodynamic excitations in kinetic theory — a numerical analysis in scalar field theory
Authors: Ochsenfeld Stephan , Schlichting Sören
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Viscous hydrodynamics serves as a successful mesoscopic description of the Quark-Gluon Plasma produced in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. In order to investigate, how such an effective description emerges from the underlying microscopic dynamics we calculate the hydrodynamic and non-hydrodynamic modes of linear response in the sound channel from a first-principle calculation in kinetic theory. We do this with a new approach wherein we discretize the collision kernel to directly calculate eigenvalues and eigenmodes of the evolution operator. This allows us to study the Green’s functions at any point in the complex frequency space. Our study focuses on scalar theory with quartic interaction and we find that the analytic structure of Green’s functions in the complex plane is far more complicated than just poles or cuts which is a first step towards an equivalent study in QCD kinetic theory.
Galectin-9 interacts with Vamp-3 to regulate cytokine secretion in dendritic cells
Authors: Santalla Méndez Rui , Rodgers Furones Andrea , Classens René , Fedorova Kristina , Haverdil Manon , Canela Capdevila Marta , van Duffelen Anne , Spruijt Cornelia G. , Vermeulen Michiel , ter Beest Martin , van Spriel Annemiek B. , Querol Cano Laia
Published: September 2023

Intracellular vesicle transport is essential for cellular homeostasis and is partially mediated by SNARE proteins. Endosomal trafficking to the plasma membrane ensures cytokine secretion in dendritic cells (DCs) and the initiation of immune responses. Despite its critical importance, the specific molecular components that regulate DC cytokine secretion are poorly characterised. Galectin-9, a ß-galactoside-binding protein, has emerged as a novel cellular modulator although its exact intracellular roles in regulating (immune) cell homeostasis and vesicle transport are virtually unknown. We investigated galectin-9 function in primary human DCs and report that galectin-9 is essential for intracellular cytokine trafficking to the cell surface. Galectin-9-depleted DCs accumulate cytokine-containing vesicles in the Golgi complex that eventually undergo lysosomal degradation. We observed galectin-9 to molecularly interact with Vamp-3 using immunoprecipitation-mass-spectrometry and identified galectin-9 was required for rerouting Vamp-3-containing endosomes upon DC activation as the underlying mechanism. Overall, this study identifies galectin-9 as a necessary mechanistic component for intracellular trafficking. This may impact our general understanding of vesicle transport and sheds new light into the multiple roles galectins play in governing cell function.

Graphical abstract
Einarbeitung junger Fachkräfte auf der Intensivstation
Authors: Josuttis David , Regner Frida , Deffner Teresa , Freund Diana , Freund Felix , Cornelius Celina , Beer Angelina , Spieckermann Aileen , Deininger Matthias Manfred
Published: September 2023

Hintergrund

Das Ankommen auf der Intensivstation ist für Fachkräfte entscheidend, um hochqualitative Patient:innenversorgung gewährleisten zu können. Dieser Prozess hängt von der Einarbeitungsqualität ab.

Ziel der Arbeit

Ziel der Arbeit ist die Erfassung von Art und Umfang der Einarbeitung und der Zufriedenheit von jungen Fachkräften auf der Intensivstation.

Material und Methoden

In einer anonymen, berufsgruppenübergreifenden Onlineumfrage wurde die Einarbeitungsstruktur sowie Zufriedenheit untersucht.

Ergebnisse

Von 554 Teilnehmenden kamen etwa zwei Drittel aus dem ärztlichen Bereich. Während bei der Pflege 59 % ein schriftliches Einarbeitungskonzept aufwiesen, lag ein solches nur bei 27 % der Ärzt:innen vor. Pflegefachpersonen gaben im Median 30 Tage als Einarbeitungszeit, Ärzt:innen 7 Tage an. Ein Drittel der Pflegefachpersonen stimmte der Aussage zu, ausreichend durch die Einarbeitung auf die intensivmedizinische Tätigkeit vorbereitet worden zu sein. Im ärztlichen Bereich fühlten sich nur 17 % der Teilnehmenden ausreichend durch die Einarbeitung vorbereitet. Mehr als 42 % der Befragten konnten sich vorstellen, noch länger als 3 Jahre in der Intensivmedizin tätig zu sein.

Diskussion

Evidenzbasierte Methoden zur Strukturierung der Einarbeitung von neuen Fachkräften sind in deutschen Intensivstationen nur gering verbreitet. Die Einarbeitungszeit liegt weit unter publizierten Empfehlungen. Auch wenn bezüglich der materiellen und personellen Ausstattung Defizite wahrgenommen werden, geben die meisten Befragten Zufriedenheit mit Lernzuwachs und interprofessioneller Zusammenarbeit an.
Restoration of preoperative tibial alignment improves functional results after medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty
Authors: Micicoi Lolita , Machado Axel , Ernat Justin , Schippers Philipp , Bernard de Dompsure Régis , Bronsard Nicolas , Gonzalez Jean‐François , Micicoi Grégoire
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The alignment obtained after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) influences the risk of failure. Kinematic alignment after UKA based on Cartier angle restauration is likely to improve clinical outcomes compared with mechanical alignment. The purpose of this study is to analyze the influence of implant alignment and native knee restoration after UKA using the conventional techniques on clinical outcomes.

Methods

This retrospective study included 144 medial UKA patients from 2015 to 2020. Radiographic measurements were performed pre‐ and postoperatively. Outliers were defined as follows: Δ Cartier > 3° (difference between the preoperative and postoperative Cartier angle); Δ MPTA (Medial Proximal Tibial angle) and postoperative TCA (Tibial Coronal component Angle) > 3° (difference between the positioning of the tibial implant and the preoperative proximal tibial deformity). The Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), the International Knee Society (IKS) Function and Knee score, the Forgotten Joint Score (FJS), and the Subjective Knee Value (SKV) were evaluated.

A Student t test or a non‐parametric Wilcoxon test was used for non‐normal data to compare pre‐ and postoperative values for functional scores and angular measurements. The correlation of postoperative angles with functional outcomes was assessed by the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient.

Results

During the inclusion period, 214 patients underwent medial UKA, 71 patients were excluded, and 19 were lost to follow‐up leaving 124 patients with 144 knees (20 bilateral UKA) included for analysis with a mean follow‐up of 54.7 months ± 22.1 (24–95). The Δ Cartier was significantly correlated with IKS function (R2 = 0.06, p < 0.001) and FJS (R2 = 0.05, p < 0.01) scores. The Δ preoperative MPTA–TCA was significantly correlated (p < 0.001) with KOOS (R2 = 0.38), IKS Knee (R2 = 0.17), IKS function (R2 = 0.34), SKV (R2 = 0.08), and FJS (R2 = 0.37) scores. In subgroup analysis, non‐outliers (< 3°) for Δ preoperative MPTA–TCA had better KOOS score (Δ = 23.5, p < 0.001) and IKS Function (Δ = 17.7, p < 0.001) compared to outliers (> 3°) patients.

Conclusion

Functional results after medial UKA can be influenced by implant alignment in the coronal plane with slight clinical improvement when positioning the tibial implant close to the preoperative tibial deformity, rather than by restoring the Cartier angle. This series suggests the interest of a more personalized alignment strategy, but these results will have to be confirmed by other controlled studies.

Level of evidence

IV, retrospective case series.
Development and feasibility of a telemedicine tool for patients with recurrent urinary tract infection: myRUTIcoach
Authors: Pat J. J. , Pape C. C. E. T , Steffens M. G. , Witte L. P. W. , Blanker M. H.
Published: September 2023

Introduction and hypothesis

Patients with recurrent urinary tract infection (rUTI) have limited knowledge of preventive strategies to lower the risk of UTI. We aimed to develop and test the feasibility of an eHealth system for women with rUTI, named myRUTIcoach, and explored the facilitators and barriers related to its adoption.

Methods

We developed myRUTIcoach in a structured iterative process and tested its feasibility among 25 women with rUTI over 2 months. Subsequent questionnaires covered satisfaction, accessibility, and experiences with myRUTIcoach. A random selection of participants and relevant stakeholders took part in semi-structured interviews to explore adoption. Data were analyzed and elaborated using inductive and deductive approaches using the Non-adoption, Abandonment, Spread, Scale-up, and Sustainability (NASSS) framework.

Results

MyRUTIcoach was not only widely accepted but also facilitated communication with health care professionals (HCPs) and contributed to greater knowledge of rUTI. Women graded the system a mean of 8.0 (±0.6) out of 10, with 89% stating that they would recommend it to others. Patients indicated that self-management skills were the major facilitators and barriers related to adoption, whereas HCPs stated that the disconnect between myRUTIcoach and electronic health care records (EHRs) was the major barrier.

Conclusions

This research describes the development and testing of myRUTIcoach for women with rUTI. Patients and HCPs reported high satisfaction and compliance with myRUTIcoach. However, adoption by the intended users is complex and influenced by all examined domains of the NASSS framework. We have already improved linkage to EHRs, but further optimization to meet patient needs may improve the effectiveness of this self-management tool for rUTI.
Involvement of NLRP3 inflammasome pathway in the protective mechanisms of ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid in LPS-induced sickness behavior and neuroinflammation in mice
Authors: Kinra Manas , Ranadive Niraja , Nampoothiri Madhavan , Arora Devinder , Mudgal Jayesh
Published: September 2023

Ferulic acid (FA) and p-coumaric acid (PCA) are abundantly present in commonly consumed food and beverages. Being polyphenolic compounds, they have been explored for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Based on our previous study, we selected these two compounds to further investigate their potential in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sickness behavior and the ensuing neuroinflammation by specifically focusing on the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Male Swiss albino mice were divided into nine groups (n = 6) consisting of Normal Control, LPS, fluoxetine (FLX), FA40, FA160, FA640, PCA40, PCA160, and PCA640 respectively. Each group received respective FA or PCA treatment except Normal Control and LPS, which received the vehicle, carboxymethylcellulose 0.25% w/v. All groups were challenged with LPS 1.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally except the Normal Control group, which received saline. Behavioral assessments were performed between 1–2 h, and the whole brains were collected at 3 h post-LPS administration. LPS-induced sickness behavior was characterized by significantly reduced spontaneous activity and high immobility time. The expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and IL-1β was significantly increased, along with the levels of brain IL-1β suggesting the assembly and activation of NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Furthermore, the major cytokines involved in sickness behavior, IL-6 and TNF-α were also significantly elevated with the accompanied lipid peroxidation. The results of this study emphasize that within the employed dose ranges of both FA and PCA, both the compounds were effective at blocking the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway and thereby reducing the release of IL-1β and the sickness behavior symptoms. There was a prominent effect on cytokine levels and lipid peroxidation as well.

Graphical abstract