bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unveiling the Hidden Struggles: Exploring the Profound Impact of Advanced Stage Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma on Quality of Life
Authors: Ottevanger Rosanne , Feenstra Judith S. , van Vliet Liesbeth M. , van Beugen Sylvia , Evers Andrea W. M. , Kennedy Cees , Willemze Rein , Vermeer Maarten H. , Quint Koen D.
Published: October 2023

Erythrodermic mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome are chronic, relapsing-remitting diseases that greatly impacts patients' quality of life (QoL). Mogamulizumab-kpkc (Mogamulizumab) is a novel therapeutic agent for cutaneous T-cell lymphomas with a notable impact on progression-free survival. Qualitative assessment methods allow a broader exploration and greater insight in individual patient experience than quantitative studies. However, there is limited data on the impact of mogamulizumab on health-related QoL. To investigate the impact of erythrodermic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (E-CTCL) on QoL and the effect of mogamulizumab on the QoL. Semi-structured interview were conducted with seven patients with E-CTCL that were receiving mogamulizumab treatment. Five major themes arose: Diagnosis and the diagnostic delay and uncertainty experienced by participants; Physical functioning due to the high symptom burden; Psychological and social functioning considering the significant impact on daily life; Treatment and the effect of mogamulizumab; and Support by family, friends and health professionals. Mogamulizumab therapy resulted in a significant decrease of symptoms. The small sample size should also be taken into account although data saturation was reached. This study gives a broad insight into the large impact of E-CTCL and the major consequences on the physical functioning as well as on the emotional/psychological and social well-being. Mogamulizumab appears to have a positive effect on symptoms.
Protein Corona Sensor Array Nanosystem for Detection of Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Lee Gha Young , Li Andrew A. , Moon Intae , Katritsis Demos , Pantos Yoannis , Stingo Francesco , Fabbrico Davide , Molinaro Roberto , Taraballi Francesca , Tao Wei , Corbo Claudia
Published: October 2023

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease and represents the leading cause of death in both men and women worldwide. Early detection of CAD is crucial for decreasing mortality, prolonging survival, and improving patient quality of life. Herein, a non‐invasive is described, nanoparticle‐based diagnostic technology which takes advantages of proteomic changes in the nano‐bio interface for CAD detection. Nanoparticles (NPs) exposed to biological fluids adsorb on their surface a layer of proteins, the “protein corona” (PC). Pathological changes that alter the plasma proteome can directly result in changes in the PC. By forming disease‐specific PCs on six NPs with varying physicochemical properties, a PC‐based sensor array is developed for detection of CAD using specific PC pattern recognition. While the PC of a single NP may not provide the required specificity, it is reasoned that multivariate PCs across NPs with different surface chemistries, can provide the desirable information to selectively discriminate the condition under investigation. The results suggest that such an approach can detect CAD with an accuracy of 92.84%, a sensitivity of 87.5%, and a specificity of 82.5%. These new findings demonstrate the potential of PC‐based sensor array detection systems for clinical use.
Multi‐Omics Reveals the Genetic and Metabolomic Architecture of Chirality Directed Stem Cell Lineage Diversification
Authors: Zheng Huimin , Jiang Shengjie , Li Meijun , Liu Jinying , Wang Xiaowei , Liu Minghua , Feng Chuanliang , Wei Yan , Deng Xuliang
Published: October 2023

Chirality‐directed stem‐cell‐fate determination involves coordinated transcriptional and metabolomics programming that is only partially understood. Here, using high‐throughput transcriptional‐metabolic profiling and pipeline network analysis, the molecular architecture of chirality‐guided mesenchymal stem cell lineage diversification is revealed. A total of 4769 genes and 250 metabolites are identified that are significantly biased by the biomimetic chiral extracellular microenvironment (ECM). Chirality‐dependent energetic metabolism analysis has revealed that glycolysis is preferred during left‐handed ECM‐facilitated osteogenic differentiation, whereas oxidative phosphorylation is favored during right‐handed ECM‐promoted adipogenic differentiation. Stereo‐specificity in the global metabolite landscape is also demonstrated, in which amino acids are enriched in left‐handed ECM, while ether lipids and nucleotides are enriched in right‐handed ECM. Furthermore, chirality‐ordered transcriptomic‐metabolic regulatory networks are established, which address the role of positive feedback loops between key genes and central metabolites in driving lineage diversification. The highly integrated genotype‐phenotype picture of stereochemical selectivity would provide the fundamental principle of regenerative material design.
Undiagnosed cardiomyopathy: An incidental finding in a recreational soccer player—A case report and literature review
Authors: Allwood Richard P.
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a genetic disease characterised by progressive fibrofatty tissue replacement of the myocardium. Several arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) phenotypes are now recognised, including right‐dominant, biventricular, and left‐dominant variants, which led to the development of the 2020 International criteria (Padua criteria).

Raising awareness of these variants is crucial as their clinical entity can be concealed. This is particularly important in the athletic population. Exercise can promote the development of the phenotype and accelerate disease progression, resulting in left ventricular (LV) involvement and systolic dysfunction, which can cause ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death.

Case Description

A late adolescent male was escorted by paramedics to an emergency department following a medium‐speed motor vehicle accident. A multimodality approach was implemented involving a 12‐lead electrocardiogram (ECG), transthoracic echocardiography (ECHO) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. An unknown cardiomyopathy was revealed with diagnostic clues suggesting biventricular ACM in a recreational soccer player, when using the Padua criteria.

Conclusion

ACM should be considered in the evaluation of an unexplained cardiomyopathy presenting with possible syncopal events. This case describes the clinical features of an ACM patient, emphasising the utility of ECG, ECHO and CMR in determining biventricular involvement.

CMR is a powerful tool for the diagnosis of ACM and the identification of myocardial fibrosis with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). The use of 12‐lead ECG and 2‐dimensional (2D) strain imaging may also raise suspicion of biventricular phenotypes and predict LV involvement with significant myocardial fibrosis.
Recyclization of 5‐Amino‐ oxazoles as a Route to new Functionalized Heterocycles (Developments of V.P. Kukhar Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and Petrochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine)
Authors: Shablykin Oleh V. , Brovarets Volodymyr S. , Shablykina Olga V.
Published: October 2023

The recyclizations of 5‐amino‐ and 5‐hydrazine‐1,3‐oxazoles mainly with electron‐withdrawing group in 4th position are considered. The chemical behavior of these heterocycles is due to the presence of two hidden amide fragments; therefore, the recyclization processes include a stage of nucleophile attack on 2nd or 5th position of the oxazole cycle. When the nitrile group is present in 4th position, it is often involved in the recyclization forming α‐aminoazoles. 5‐Amino/hydrazine‐1,3‐oxazoles undergo recyclization both in nucleophilic (amines, hydrazine, thionating agents) and electrophilic medium ((trifluoro)acetic acid, other acylating agents). The numerous types of functionalized heterocycles can be easily obtained with the usage of these recyclizations, such as the derivatives of 3‐amino‐6,7‐dihydro‐5H‐pyrrolo[1,2–a]imidazole, imidazolidine‐2,4‐dione, 1H‐pyrazole‐3,4,5‐triamine, 5,6‐diamino‐2,3‐diphenylpyrimidin‐4(3H)‐one, 2‐(2‐R‐7‐oxo‐5‐(trifluoromethyl)oxazolo[5,4–d]pyrimidin‐6(7H)‐yl)acetic acid, 2‐R‐4‐(5‐R′‐1,3,4‐oxadiazol‐2‐yl)oxazol‐5‐amine, (amino(5‐amino‐1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2‐yl)methyl)phosphonate.
Prevalence and molecular identification of gastrointestinal nematodes in Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau of China
Authors: Ai Sitong , Zhang Zhichao , Wang Jinghan , Wang Xiaoqi , Liu Cheng , Duan Ziyuan
Published: October 2023

Background

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) have seriously affected the production and earnings of animal husbandry in various countries, while some species of GINs infect humans. At present, little is known about the species and prevalence of GINs in Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (QTP).

Methods

In this study, 528 fresh faecal samples were collected from typical areas in different altitudes with seven species of livestock in Qinghai, Tibet, Gansu and Yunnan Provinces. ITS‐2 rRNA gene of nematodes was employed to detect by PCR and sequencing analysis. Phylogenetic analysis of related sequences was performed using MEGA 6.0 software.

Results

The overall prevalence of GINs was 80.3% with 20 species of GINs detected, while Teladorsagia circumcincta was the dominant one, and four of which were zoonotic species such as Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Trichostrongylus axei, Trichostrongylus vitrinus and Oesophagostomum stephanostomum.

Conclusion

The study provided panoptic information on the prevalence and species diversity of GINs in QTP area, which is useful and valuable for reference of measure formulation in livestock husbandry and public health concerns. The parasites of T. circumcincta, Cylicocyclus nassatus, Strongylus edentatus, Cylicostephanus longibursatus, Telephlebia brevicauda, Cyathostomum catinatum, Mecistocirrus digitatus, Cooperia punctata, Cylicodontophorus bicoronatus, Nematodirus oiratianus and Oesophagostomum asperum were firstly reported the presence in QTP area. The study also showed that horse could be infected by T. circumcincta, goat could be infected by C. nassatus, cattle could be infected by S. edentatus and C. bicoronatus,and O. stephanostomum could infect yak, cattle and Mongolian sheep in worldwide. Nevertheless, more investigations are needed, such as microscopic examination, to accurately determine the species in the region.
Made-to-Measure: In and Out of Touch with the Old-Growth Forest
Authors: Vola Joonas , Rautio Pasi , Rantala Outi
Published: October 2023

The condition of forests is a major issue when it comes to climate change and biodiversity. One way to define the quality of a forest is by its age. In the cross pressure of socio-economic and ecological guidelines, what qualifies as an old-growth forest is not determined by a mere number but the co-constitution of various measurements, indicators, political ambitions, and the performance of the measured biological ‘units’ themselves. This transdisciplinary chapter studies how old-growth forests are made-to-measure, moving from close proximity encounters with an indicator organism, being-with-beard lichen, to the internationally defined level and timescale of economic activity and (un)management in categorising forest ecology, wherein various compromises in decision-making may also compromise local ecosystems and the vastness of scale in the biosphere. The study heads off to the ‘roots’ of science—definitions, conceptualisations, onto-epistemology, and methodologies—considering how they as active processes are performing the entity of the ‘old-growth forest’ by cutting-together-apart on multiple scales.
Slowing Down with Stinging Nettle
Authors: Kinnunen Veera , Martz Françoise , Rantala Outi
Published: October 2023

In ‘Slowing down with stinging nettle,’ Veera Kinnunen, Françoise Martz, and Outi Rantala seek to develop transdisciplinary knowing methods by gathering around stinging nettle. Due to the rich cultural and biological heritage inscribed in nettle, it provides a fruitful starting point for transdisciplinary theorising about human–plant relations from the local nettle that is simultaneously present around the world. The three authors—a sociologist, a tourism researcher, and a biologist—end up inviting two plant mentors to their conversations, enabling them to attend to situated nettle relations. The plant mentors’ rich situated expertise in utilising nettle enables the authors to pay attention to the material, symbolic, and temporal particularities embedded in making a living with nettle.
Auswirkungen der neuen Mindestmengen in der Viszeralchirurgie auf die Gesundheitsversorgung in Brandenburg aus der Perspektive der Versorger:innen
Authors: Kugler C. M. , Gretschel S. , Scharfe J. , Pfisterer-Heise S. , Mantke R. , Pieper D.
Published: October 2023

Hintergrund

In der Viszeralchirurgie wurden die Mindestmengen (Mm) für komplexe Eingriffe am Ösophagus und Pankreas 2023 bzw. 2025 angehoben. Kliniken, die die Mm nicht erreichen, dürfen diese Eingriffe nicht mehr durchführen und haben keinen Vergütungsanspruch.

Ziel der Arbeit

Die Studie beantwortet die Fragen, welche Auswirkungen die an der Versorgung im Land Brandenburg Beteiligten durch die neuen Mm erwarten und welche Lösungsansätze sie für das dünn besiedelte Flächenland sehen.

Material und Methoden

Es wurden 19 Expert:inneninterviews mit Krankenhausangestellten (Chefärzt:innen, Oberärzt:innen, Pflegedirektor:innen), niedergelassenen Ärzt:innen und Patient:innenvertretungen im Zeitraum 07/2022 bis 01/2023 durchgeführt. Die Datenauswertung erfolgte inhaltsanalytisch.

Ergebnisse

Die Interviewten erwarteten für die operative Versorgung eine Umverteilung in wenige Kliniken (Zentren); hingegen würden mehr Kliniken, die die komplexen Operationen nicht (mehr) durchführen dürfen, die Funktion von „Portalkliniken“ für die Basisversorgung, Diagnostik und Nachsorge übernehmen. Die Umverteilung könnte auch Auswirkungen auf nicht direkt von der Mm-Regelung betroffene Behandlungen haben. Die Erhöhung der Mm habe außerdem Auswirkungen auf die Weiterbildung und Personalgewinnung. Als Lösungsvorschlag wurden insbesondere Kooperationen zwischen verschiedenen Kliniken diskutiert, die strukturell zunächst gefördert werden müssten.

Diskussion

Mm beeinflussen nicht nur Ergebnisqualität und Erreichbarkeit, sondern ziehen eine Vielzahl weiterer Effekte nach sich. Insbesondere für dünn besiedelte Regionen stellen Mm Herausforderungen für den Zugang zu Ösophagus- und Pankreasoperationen sowie die Kommunikation zwischen Zentren und Portalkliniken bzw. ambulanten Versorger:innen dar.
Observations from Australia's National Surgical Mortality Audit
Authors: Hansen Dylan , Itotoh Franca , Helena Kopunic , Aitken R. James ,   the Australian and New Zealand Audit of Surgical Mortality
Published: October 2023

Background

Australia is the only country with a national surgical mortality audit. Every Australian surgical mortality is independently and externally reviewed by another surgeon. Extensive educational feedback to surgeons and hospitals is provided through individual patient reviews, state and national symposia and reports, and the distribution of deidentified informative cases. This study reports a longitudinal analysis of the Australian surgical morality audit.

Methods

The standardised mortality ratio (SMR) was calculated for each state and territory, nine surgical specialties and nationally. The index year used was 2016, or every 5 years for those states with earlier data. Overall data were analysed in three groups—all deaths, postoperative deaths and non‐operative deaths. Overall specialty data were analysed nationally.

Results

There was a consistent progressive fall, usually in excess of 20%, in the SMR in each state and territory and by specialty when compared to the index year. This was statistically significant nationally (p = 0.044). The same change was observed in earlier years in states with longer‐term data.

Conclusion

The period of this observational study has been associated with a nationwide fall in surgical mortality. As other improvements in care will have occurred during this period, the contribution that Australia's national mortality audit made towards the lower surgical mortality cannot be stated with certainty.
Cost optimisation of hybrid institutional incentives for promoting cooperation in finite populations
Authors: Duong M. H. , Durbac C. M. , Han T. A.
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we rigorously study the problem of cost optimisation of hybrid (mixed) institutional incentives, which are a plan of actions involving the use of reward and punishment by an external decision-maker, for maximising the level (or guaranteeing at least a certain level) of cooperative behaviour in a well-mixed, finite population of self-regarding individuals who interact via cooperation dilemmas (Donation Game or Public Goods Game). We show that a mixed incentive scheme can offer a more cost-efficient approach for providing incentives while ensuring the same level or standard of cooperation in the long-run. We establish the asymptotic behaviour (namely neutral drift, strong selection, and infinite-population limits). We prove the existence of a phase transition, obtaining the critical threshold of the strength of selection at which the monotonicity of the cost function changes and providing an algorithm for finding the optimal value of the individual incentive cost. Our analytical results are illustrated with numerical investigations. Overall, our analysis provides novel theoretical insights into the design of cost-efficient institutional incentive mechanisms for promoting the evolution of cooperation in stochastic systems.
On the Maximum of the Sum of the Sizes of Non-trivial Cross-Intersecting Families
Authors: Frankl P.
Published: October 2023

Let $$n \ge 2k \ge 4$$

n
≥
2
k
≥
4

be integers, $${[n]\atopwithdelims ()k}$$

[
n
]

k

the collection of k-subsets of $$[n] = \{1, \ldots , n\}$$

[
n
]
=
{
1
,
…
,
n
}

. Two families $${\mathcal {F}}, {\mathcal {G}} \subset {[n]\atopwithdelims ()k}$$

F
,
G
⊂

[
n
]

k

are said to be cross-intersecting if $$F \cap G \ne \emptyset $$

F
∩
G
≠
∅

for all $$F \in {\mathcal {F}}$$

F
∈
F

and $$G \in {\mathcal {G}}$$

G
∈
G

. A family is called non-trivial if the intersection of all its members is empty. The best possible bound $$|{\mathcal {F}}| + |{\mathcal {G}}| \le {n \atopwithdelims ()k} - 2 {n - k\atopwithdelims ()k} + {n - 2k \atopwithdelims ()k} + 2$$

|
F
|

+

|
G
|

≤

n
k

-
2

n
-
k

k

+

n
-
2
k

k

+
2

is established under the assumption that $${\mathcal {F}}$$
F
and $${\mathcal {G}}$$
G
are non-trivial and cross-intersecting. For the proof a strengthened version of the so-called shifting technique is introduced. The most general result is Theorem 4.1.
Maternal Mental Health in the USA
Authors: Lamar Margaret R. , Donovan Courtney , Forbes Lisa K.
Published: October 2023

Mothers face enormous mental health challenges that need to be addressed by counsellors. Women have higher rates of depression, anxiety, and stress due to environmental, cultural, and biological factors. Findings from a sample of 525 US mothers showed that younger mothers had higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, while mothers with lower incomes showed higher levels of anxiety and depression. Results also indicated that fewer mothers have levels of stress, anxiety, and depression that fall into a normal range than a normal, non-clinical population and that substantially more mothers report extremely severe levels of stress, anxiety, and depression than normal, non-mother populations. Implications for counsellors include making services accessible to low-income mothers, attending to personal gender bias, and assessing clients for anxiety, depression, and stress.
The challenges of implementing antibiotic stewardship in diverse poultry value chains in Kenya
Authors: Hughes Alex , Roe Emma , Wambiya Elvis , Brown James A , Munthali Alister , Ziraba Abdhalah
Published: October 2023

This paper investigates the challenges of implementing antibiotic stewardship – reducing and optimizing the use of antibiotics – in agricultural settings of Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) as a strategic part of addressing the global problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). It does so through analysis of the rapidly transforming yet diverse Kenyan poultry sector, characterized by growing commercial operations alongside traditional smallholder farming. Our research involves interviews with farmers, processors, policymakers, and agro-veterinary stores in these settings. We blend Chandler’s (2019, p. 8) notion of “antibiotics as infrastructure” with value chain frameworks to understand how the structural role of antibiotics in agriculture plays out through contrasting value chains, with different implications for stewardship. Weak regulation and intense market-based pressures are shown to drive widespread antibiotic use in poultry value chains involving small- and medium-sized farms supplying open markets. Antibiotic stewardship through adherence to agricultural and food safety standards is more evident, though unevenly observed, in value chains involving large commercial farms and processors supplying corporate buyers. Our findings reveal the complex structural roles of antibiotics in maintaining producer livelihoods in an intensely competitive and heterogeneous Kenyan poultry sector. This highlights challenges with applying global AMR policy to transforming food systems in LMICs without appropriate translation. We argue that attempts to reduce and optimize the use of antibiotics in agriculture must be informed by nuanced understandings of the roles of antibiotics in food systems in specific places including where very different scales and models of farming and value chain co-exist.
Chasing millimeters: design, navigation and state estimation for precise in-flight marking on ceilings
Authors: Lanegger Christian , Pantic Michael , Bähnemann Rik , Siegwart Roland , Ott Lionel
Published: October 2023

Precise markings for drilling and assembly are crucial, laborious construction tasks. Aerial robots with suitable end-effectors are capable of markings at the millimeter scale. However, so far, they have only been demonstrated under laboratory conditions where rigid state estimation and navigation assumptions do not impede robustness and accuracy. This paper presents a complete aerial layouting system capable of precise markings on-site under realistic conditions. We use a compliant actuated end-effector on an omnidirectional flying base. Combining a two-stage factor-graph state estimator with a Riemannian Motion Policy-based navigation stack, we avoid the need for a globally consistent state estimate and increase robustness. The policy-based navigation is structured into individual behaviors in different state spaces. Through a comprehensive study, we show that the system creates highly precise markings at a relative precision of 1.5 mm and a global accuracy of 5–6 mm and discuss the results in the context of future construction robotics.
Thermo- and pH-responsive cotton gauzes as drug delivery system obtained by gamma radiation and chemical initiator
Authors: Romero-Fierro David , Esquivel-Lozano Y. Aylin , Camacho-Cruz Alejandro , Bucio Emilio
Published: October 2023

The grafting of stimuli-responsive polymers into medical devices to create functional materials has attracted the attention of scientific community. The capacity of these polymers to change its conformation reversibly as function of variables of the environment in which it is applied, is well taken into account to create drug delivery systems. Because cotton gauzes are materials of priority use in biomedical area, and they are susceptible to develop biofilm on its surface contaminating skin wounds. This work proposes the modification of cotton gauze with a dual stimuli-responsive copolymer, composed of two monomers such as methacrylic acid and N-isopropylacrylamide, through a grafting copolymerization induced by chemical initiator and gamma radiation. Experimental conditions were evaluated for each method. Grafting was verified by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) and scanning electron microscopy as well as its thermal behavior was determined through thermogravimetric analysis. Critical pH was confirmed by potentiometric titrations finding a value of 4.7 for grafted cotton gauzes and their critical temperature ranging between 31 and 34 °C, which was determined by water uptake as function of temperature. The loading and release of norfloxacin were tested, finding that grafted gauzes exhibited affinity for this drug and it is released under simulated physiological conditions of temperature and pH. Norfloxacin-loaded gauzes show their efficiency inhibiting Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus growth in a contaminated environment, at different pH values. This improvement of cotton gauzes can serve as barrier to avoid the formation of biofilm in surgical conditions and for wound healing.
Stakeholders’ perceptions of wetland conservation and restoration in Wakiso District, Uganda
Authors: Kadoma Anthony , Perry Mia , Renaud Fabrice G.
Published: October 2023

Natural wetlands are critically important to the lives and livelihoods of many people. Human activities result in the degradation of wetlands globally, and more so in developing countries prioritizing fast economic growth and development. With an increasing population in their immediate surroundings, wetlands in Wakiso District, Uganda, have become over-exploited to meet human needs. Policies, plans and projects have been put in place aiming at wetland conservation and restoration, but with limited stakeholder participation, have achieved limited success. Our research objective was to identify stakeholders, their perceptions, and understand the role these perceptions play in wetland conservation and restoration activities. To achieve these objectives, we used the ecosystem services concept within a qualitative, multi-site case study research approach. Findings show that stakeholders hold divergent perceptions on wetland ecosystem services, perceiving them as source of materials, fertile places for farming, cheap to buy and own, as well as being “God-given”. Furthermore, wetlands as habitats are perceived as not prioritized by central government. Implications for conservation and restoration vary with stakeholders advocating for (1) over-use, wise-use or  not-use of wetlands and their resources, (2) educating and sensitization as well as (3) the implementation of the available laws and policies. This paper explores the findings and important implications for the conservation and restoration of wetlands in Wakiso District, Uganda.
Introduction of a new index to assess pavement functional condition
Authors: Lemonakis Panagiotis , Kopelias Pantelis , Karlaftis Panagiotis
Published: October 2023

For most countries, the construction of the road network is completed to a great extent. As a result, the road operators have focused on the management of the current road constructions. The pavement management systems have been the determinative answer to the above need finding the optimal and more efficient solution which minimizes the maintenance cost. In this context, the present paper aims at the development of an index that assesses sections of road networks based both on the pavement essential demands and surface characteristics. This project presents a model for the rating of highway sections taking into consideration criteria and sub-criteria related to the pavement function. The developed model has been formed based on the opinion of a group of experts. The technique of the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) has been used to mathematically analyze the above opinions and manipulate uncertainty and subjectivity. This method ends up by calculating the weights of significance which are the factors of the index equation. The index is composed in combination with the variables which have come up from the regular measurements of pavement characteristics assessing the pavement functional condition. The results are compared to those of the regular AHP highlighting the degree of influence by the uncertainty of experts’ judgments in some factors of the index. Furthermore, the suitability and ease in the fitting of the FAHP method are verified in pavement management problems. In this project data related to the checks on surface characteristics in the National Highway Network are displayed.
Zooplankton as an indicator of hydrological connectivity of the main channel and the floodplain in a large river system
Authors: Yanygina L. V. , Burmistrova O. S. , Kotovshchikov A. V. , Schletterer M.
Published: October 2023

The connectivity of the river–floodplain system during floods plays a decisive role in organisms/matter contribution to the ecosystems of large lowland rivers. We hypothesized that the direction of water-level trends during flood was crucial for zooplankton release from the floodplain into the river channel. The seven-year study of zooplankton in the large plain Ob river suggest that at the inundated floodplain even a slight water level fall brings to plankton release from the floodplain into the river thus causing its abundance boom in the main channel. At water-level stabilization or rise, zooplankton communities of floodplain become isolated from the channel that ceases the recruits’ inflow from the floodplain and brings to a sharp drop in number of river zooplankton. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account dynamics trends (i.e., fall or rise) in river water level when assessing zooplankton density in large lowland rivers. The analysis of such trends should become the basis for predicting of river zooplankton abundance and assessing changes in feeding conditions of fish during the growing season.
The Role of TiO2 on ZnAl2O4 Spinel Prepared by Direct Coagulation Casting Method: Physico-mechanical, Optical, Structural and Antimicrobial Properties
Authors: Sadek H. E. H. , Reda A. E. , Khattab R. M. , Hessien M. A.
Published: October 2023

This work represents the shaping of alumina–zinc oxide (AZ) samples with the direct coagulation casting method. The effect of zinc oxide (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 wt%) and the firing temperatures on the phase composition, microstructure, physical properties, and mechanical properties of the AZ samples were studied. The effect of titanium oxide (2, 5, and 7 wt%) and the firing temperatures on the phase composition, microstructure, physical properties, and mechanical properties of the AZ sample with 40 wt% of zinc oxide were studied. Furthermore, the optical properties, magnetic properties, and antimicrobial activity were measured. The results indicate that the increase in zinc oxide enhances the formation of zinc aluminate, which has a gahnite phase. Moreover, increasing the zinc oxide increases the apparent porosity and decreases the grain size and bulk density at various firing temperatures. On the other hand, the addition of 5 wt% titanium oxide increases the bulk density to 3.5 g/cm3 compared to 1.72 g/cm3 with no titania. The apparent porosity and compressive strength reached 5% and 69.2 MPa after 5 wt% TiO2 addition; respectively, compared to 59% and 27.2 MPa with no titania addition. The prepared samples show promising optical band gap of 2.98–3.97 eV, a mixed magnetic behavior, and favorable antibacterial activity against E. coli, S. aureus, B. cereus strains.
Experimenting with every American king
Authors: Mankowitz Poppy
Published: October 2023

The standard contemporary semantics for ‘every’ predict the truth of occurrences of sentences with restrictors that denote the empty set, such as ‘Every American king lives in New York’. The literature on empty restrictors has been concerned with explaining a particular violation of this prediction: many assessors consider empty-restrictor sentences to be odd rather than valued, and they are apparently more likely to do so when such sentences include determiners like ‘every’ as opposed to those like ‘no’. Empirical investigation of this issue is overdue, and I present the results of three experimental surveys. The first unexpected outcome is that there is no evidence of a contrast in assessors’ tendencies to judge sentences to be odd based on determiner type. An additional surprising result is that those assessors who assign a truth value to sentences where ‘every’ combines with an empty restrictor overwhelmingly assign the value false. The full results do not fit straightforwardly with any existing account.
Is remembering constructive imagining?
Authors: Sant’Anna André
Published: October 2023

The (dis)continuism debate—the debate over whether remembering is a form of imagining—is a prominent one in contemporary philosophy of memory. In recent work, Langland-Hassan (2021) has argued that this debate is best understood as a dispute over whether remembering is a form of constructive imagining. In this paper, I argue that remembering is not a form of constructive imagining because constructive processes in remembering and imagining are constrained, and hence controlled, in different ways at the level of consciousness. More specifically, I argue that remembering and imagining differ in terms of the interventions we can make on the constructive processes as they unfold. If this is correct, then a form of discontinuism is vindicated: remembering and imagining are, on this view, processes of different kinds.
Science as a counter to the erosion of truth in society
Authors: Collins Harry
Published: October 2023

The role of scientific values has taken on new urgency with recent changes in the politics of Western societies. The threat is the erosion of the distinction between true and false in political circles. This could rapidly lead to democracy sliding into populism thence fascism. In the light of this, philosophy and sociology of science should themselves re-examine their role. The main point of the paper is to argue that science could and should push against the erosion of truth in society. Sociological thinking has sometimes tended to erode the difference between science and ordinary thought but it should no longer ignore the political consequences and should, instead, start to take scientific values as a positive resource in society. The philosophical analysis of scientific values, which I will refer to as ‘scientific value analysis, or ‘SVA’, has championed the impact of societal values on science but should also look at the way scientific values could positively affect societal values.
Securing Moral Authority: A Cross-National Analysis of Protestant Engagement in the Implementation of Morality Policies in Western Europe
Authors: Mettang Olivia , Euchner Eva-Maria , Fischer Lisa , Menzner Jan
Published: October 2023

Churches have a hard time defending their moral values in the political sphere of an ever more secular and liberal Western Europe. A largely neglected means of navigating this crisis is through the Church’s role as a charitable provider during the implementation of morality policies. This paper examines this type of church involvement from a cross-national and cross-sectoral perspective. We describe the activities of Protestant churches in four morality policy areas in three European countries: Germany, England, and Denmark. The variation in religious engagement observed in these areas and countries appear to be driven by the churches’ room to maneuver and their policy congruence with state goals, whereas governance capacities are secondary. Thus, the provision of social services can still serve as a means by which Protestant churches can exert moral authority, especially if these social services are related to moral issues.
From crisis to resilience: strengthening climate action in OECD countries through environmental policy and energy transition
Authors: Ma Rui , Abid Nabila , Yang Suchang , Ahmad Fayyaz
Published: October 2023

Climate change represents a grave challenge to the global economy, environment, and societal well-being, jeopardizing their long-term sustainability. In response to this urgent issue, the study emphasizes the significance of environmental policy and energy transitions as fundamental factors in addressing the climate change crisis. The research draws upon data from OECD countries spanning the period between 1990 and 2020, utilizing robust econometric techniques to assess data properties. The study utilizes a comprehensive CS-ARDL model, incorporating multiple control variables like non-renewable energy GDP, foreign direct investment (FDI), and research and development (R&D). The results show that environmental policy and energy transitions are effective in reducing climate change impacts in the form of CO2 emissions. The non-environmental factors like GDP and FDI are positively associated and thereby accelerate climate change processes, whereas R&D promotes environmental protection by reducing CO2 emissions. Based on these findings, the study advocates for the implementation of rigorous policy measures by OECD economies to strengthen and enforce environmental policies to ensure compliance and foster sustainable practices across sectors. The study also suggests that OECD must promote energy transitions by investing in renewable energy sources at the mass level (micro and macro) and phasing out reliance on non-renewable energy.
Assessing the emissions of short sea international shipping: a case study of the Mytilini–Ayvalik route
Authors: Kelmalis Alexandros , Lekkas Dimitrios F. , Moustakas Konstantinos , Vakalis Stergios
Published: October 2023

Short sea shipping involves transporting passengers and cargo between European ports and coastal countries bordering Europe on enclosed seas. Challenges include aging fleets and environmental concerns, but efforts to reduce emissions are in progress through the use of low-sulfur fuels, hybrid and electric vessels, and improved energy efficiency. This study focuses on emissions from international short shipping routes between Mytilini and Ayvalik, using standardized emission factors to calculate CO2, SO2, NOx, PM, and HC emissions. The research aims to bridge knowledge gaps and provide insights into these emissions, identifying the main commercial ships on the route, analyzing their emissions, and discussing the findings. Overall, six ships completed the route, consuming an average of 60 L of fuel per hour per 100 HP, depending on factors like speed and total load. Notably, NOx emissions are the highest, followed by sulfur oxides, with values exceeding 12.9 and 3.5 tons, respectively. As anticipated, cruising is the shipping practice with the highest energy footprint, amounting to 695 MWh. An essential discovery is that hoteling plays a significant role in energy consumption and emissions, accounting for 152 MWh out of the total 881 MWh consumed across all shipping practices. The potential adoption of hydrogen as a fuel holds the promise of substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, enhancements in air quality, and noise pollution mitigation.
The Ethical Assessment of the Stay-At-Home Order in South Africa in Light of The Universal Declaration of Bioethics And Human Rights (UNESCO)
Authors: Rheeder A. L.
Published: October 2023

The South African government announced the much-discussed stay-at-home order between March 27 and April 30, 2020, during what was known as lockdown level 5, which meant that citizens were not allowed to leave their homes. The objective of this study is to assess the stay-at-home order against the global principles of the UDBHR. It is deducible that, in reference to the UDBHR, the government possessed the right to curtail individual liberty, thereby not infringing on Article 5 of the UDBHR and therefore, in this context, passes the test of the UDBHR. However, it remains uncertain at present whether the limitation of freedom imposed by the South African stay-at-home order was successful in controlling the spread of COVID-19 and protecting individuals from harm. Initial investigations also indicate that individuals who are particularly vulnerable may not have received equitable treatment in accordance with the principle outlined in Article 10, therefore, it can be cautiously and modestly argued that the stay-at-home order does not withstand scrutiny when assessed against the UDBHR. Given the continued discussion about the efficacy of limiting freedom to control the spread of COVID-19, and the growing conviction that the advancement of justice is being called into question, the notion of least restriction ought to be considered seriously. Ten Have (2022) is correct in asserting that global bioethics should also seriously consider other principles beyond an almost exclusive focus on limiting individual freedom. The preliminary conclusion is that the potential implementation of the stay-at-home order in the future must be seriously reconsidered.
The beneficial effect of barley straw extract addition on the growth of two aquatic invasive alien species (Elodea nuttallii and Cabomba caroliniana) under laboratory conditions
Authors: Draga Mateusz , Gąbka Maciej
Published: October 2023

Barley straw has been used around the world for decades as a simple, cost-effective and harmless phytoplankton growth inhibition method. Although the effect of this method on algal blooms is quite well depicted, it has not yet been tested what effect it has on submerged vascular plants and if it could be used to control the spread of alien macrophytes. In this study two highly invasive plant species: Cabomba caroliniana and Elodea nuttallii were exposed to different concentration of the barley straw extract (BSE) in laboratory conditions for a duration of four weeks. In the course of the investigations, responses of 8 traits associated with growth, biomass and chlorophyll concentration of specimens to three dosages (Low, Medium, High) of BSE corresponding to concentrations: 0.03, 0.30 and 1.50 ml l−1 were analysed. The result showed that although dry mass and total length of the plants did not differ significantly between the test groups, increase in tillering and internodes number was observed for certain concentrations of the extract. This shows that if BSE has any effect on submerged macrophytes it is a positive one and thus the method is not suitable for invasive submerged aquatic plant control. Furthermore, it is recommended that before using barley straw for algae bloom control one should make sure that there are no alien aquatic submerged plants in the area that could benefit from such a treatment.
The Role of Liver Transplantation in the Treatment of Liver Metastases from Neuroendocrine Tumors
Authors: Citterio Davide , Coppa Jorgelina , Sposito Carlo , Busset Michele Droz Dit , Virdis Matteo , Pezzoli Isabella , Mazzaferro Vincenzo
Published: October 2023

Opinion statement

Transplant oncology is a new field of medicine referred to the use of solid organ transplantation, particularly the liver, to improve prognosis and quality of life in cancer patients. In unresectable, liver-only metastases from neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of the digestive tract, liver transplantation represents a competitive chance of cure. Due to the limited resource of donated organs, accurate patients’ selection is crucial in order to maximize transplant benefit. Several tumor- and patient-related factors should be considered. Among them, primary tumors with a low grade of differentiation (G1-G2 or Ki67 < 10%), located in a region drained by the portal system and removed before transplantation with at least 3–6 months period of disease stability observed before transplant listing, can be considered for transplantation. In case of NET located in the pancreas, extended lymphadenectomy should complement curative pancreatic resection. A number of other features are described in this review of liver transplantation for NET metastases. Comprehensive approach including various forms of non-surgical treatment and detailed planning and timing of total hepatectomy are discussed. Open issues remain on possible expansion of current criteria while maintaining the same long-term benefit demonstrated with the Milan NET criteria with respect to other non-transplant options, with particular reference to liver resection, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy, and locoregional and systemic treatments.
A Survey Study on Knowledge and Attitude Toward the Ethics Committee and Research Ethical Practices Among Researchers From Kuwait
Authors: Shiju Rashmi , Thankachan Smitha , Akhil Ayesha , Sharma Prem , Bennakhi Abdullah
Published: October 2023

The integrity of research findings and the safety of participants who voluntarily consent to participate in research studies must be assured through ethical approaches. Additionally, ethical guidelines and the ethics committee protect participants from unfair practices by the research team. Therefore, this study aims to assess the knowledge and attitudes toward the ethics committee and research ethical practices among the researchers of a diabetes institute in Kuwait. An anonymous survey was conducted through an online questionnaire using Microsoft Forms. The study had a response rate of 86%. Among the 55 participants in this study, 43 (78%) had ethics training. Researchers involved in more than four research projects were shown to have a much higher awareness of the ethics committee and its role than researchers involved in no projects. Approximately 90% of researchers had training in research ethics and were knowledgeable about informed consent forms and assent, as well as additional protections for vulnerable populations. Ninety-eight percent of respondents were of the view that an ethics committee was necessary. Our study concluded that most of the researchers at the institute were aware of the role of the ethics committee, and ethical principles. However, we recommend that continuous and customized training on research ethics should be provided.
Nachhaltigkeit, Soziale Arbeit und ökosoziale Transformation
Authors: Schmitt Caroline
Published: October 2023

Der Beitrag gibt einen Einblick in die internationale sozialarbeiterische Debatte zu Nachhaltigkeit und befasst sich mit Green Social Work, Ecological Social Work, Environmental Social Work, Deep Ecology Social Work und Ecosocial Work. Er ist getragen von der These, dass Rezeption und Weiterentwicklung dieser Konzepte auch im deutschsprachigen Raum gewinnbringend sind und die Standortbestimmung Sozialer Arbeit im Nachhaltigkeitsdiskurs vorantreiben.
Thermodynamic Evaluation of the Surface Tension and Viscosity of Liquid Quaternary Alloys: The Ti-Al-Cr-Nb System
Authors: Novakovic Rada , Giuranno Donatella , Mohr Markus , Fecht Hans-Jöerg
Published: October 2023

Surface tension and viscosity of complex Ti-based industrial alloys are important for simulation of liquid assisted industrial processes such as casting, joining, crystal growth and infiltration. Modelling of the interface and mass transport during liquid-solid phase transition requires reliable surface tension and viscosity data. Therefore, to obtain accurate predictions of microstructural evolution during solidification related processes, only reliable input data are necessary. In the case of liquid Ti-Al alloys, the experimental difficulties related to high temperature measurements and reactivity of these alloys with supporting materials or containers as well as inevitable presence of oxygen may lead to data gaps including a complete lack of property data. An alternative for container-based methods are containerless processing techniques that offer a significant accuracy improvement and / or make possible to measure temperature and composition dependent thermophysical properties of metallic melts, as in the case of the Ti-Al-Cr-Nb system. Advanced mathematical models and computer simulations, developed in several theoretical frameworks, can be used to compensate the missing data; on the other side, for the validation of theoretical models, the experimental data are used. In the present work, an evaluation of the surface tension and viscosity of liquid Ti-Al-Cr-Nb alloys by means of the predictive models and a comparison to the available experimental data were done. The proposed methodology is a tool to assess the reliability of thermophysical properties data of multicomponent alloy systems.