bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Initial characterization of a transgenic mouse with overexpression of the human D1-dopamine receptor in the heart
Authors: Abella Lina Maria Rayo , Jacob Hannes , Hesse Christin , Hofmann Britt , Schneider Sarah , Schindler Lisa , Keller Max , Buchwalow Igor B. , Jin CongYu , Panula Pertti , Dhein Stefan , Klimas Jan , Hadova Katarína , Gergs Ulrich , Neumann Joachim
Published: January 2024

Dopamine can exert effects in the mammalian heart via five different dopamine receptors. There is controversy whether dopamine receptors increase contractility in the human heart. Therefore, we have generated mice that overexpress the human D1-dopamine receptor in the heart (D1-TG) and hypothesized that dopamine increases force of contraction and beating rate compared to wild-type mice (WT). In D1-TG hearts, we ascertained the presence of D1-dopamine receptors by autoradiography using [3H]SKF 38393. The mRNA for human D1-dopamine receptors was present in D1-TG hearts and absent in WT. We detected by in-situ-hybridization mRNA for D1-dopamine receptors in atrial and ventricular D1-TG cardiomyocytes compared to WT but also in human atrial preparations. We noted that in the presence of 10 µM propranolol (to antagonize β-adrenoceptors), dopamine alone and the D1- and D5-dopamine receptor agonist SKF 38393 (0.1–10 µM cumulatively applied) exerted concentration- and time-dependent positive inotropic effects and positive chronotropic effects in left or right atrial preparations from D1-TG. The positive inotropic effects of SKF 38393 in left atrial preparations from D1-TG led to an increased rate of relaxation and accompanied by and probably caused by an augmented phosphorylation state of the inhibitory subunit of troponin. In the presence of 0.4 µM propranolol, 1 µM dopamine could increase left ventricular force of contraction in isolated perfused hearts from D1-TG. In this model, we have demonstrated a positive inotropic and chronotropic effect of dopamine. Thus, in principle, the human D1-dopamine receptor can couple to contractility in the mammalian heart.
CD204-positive M2-like tumor-associated macrophages increase migration of gastric cancer cells by upregulating miR-210 to reduce NTN4 expression
Authors: Chen Chin-Wang , Wang Hao-Chen , Tsai I-Min , Chen I-Shu , Chen Chang-Jung , Hou Ya-Chin , Shan Yan-Shen
Published: January 2024

Background

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the predominant immune cells in the tumor microenvironment and portend poor prognosis. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the tumor promotion of TAMs have not been fully elucidated.

Methods

Coculture of gastric cancer cells with U937 cells was performed to investigate the impact of TAMs on cancer cell behavior. MicroRNA (miRNA) microarray and bioinformatics were applied to identify the involved miRNAs and the functional target genes. The regulation of the miRNA on its target gene was studied using anti-miRNA and miRNA mimic.

Results

Coculture with CD204+ M2-like TAMs increased proliferation, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of gastric cancer cells. MiR-210 was the most upregulated miRNA in cancer cells identified by miRNA microarray after coculture. In gastric cancer tissues, miR-210 expression was positively correlated with CD204+ M2-like TAM infiltration. Inactivation of miR-210 by antimir attenuated CD204+ M2-like TAMs-induced cancer cell migration. Using pharmacological inhibitors and neutralizing antibodies, CD204+ M2-like TAMs-secreted TNFα was found to upregulate miR-210 through NF-κB/HIF-1α signaling. Bioinformatics analysis showed netrin-4 (NTN4) as a potential target of miR-210 to suppress gastric cancer cell migration. We also found an inverse expression between miR-210 and NTN4 in cancer cells after coculture or in tumor xenografts. Anti-miR-210 increased NTN4 expression, while miR-210 mimics downregulated NTN4 in cancer cells. Reporter luciferase assays showed that MiR-210 mimics suppressed NTN4 3’ untranslated region-driven luciferase activity in cancer cells, but this effect was blocked after mutating miR-210 binding site.

Conclusions

CD204+ M2-like TAMs can utilize the TNF-α/NF-κB/HIF-1α/miR-210/NTN4 pathway to facilitate gastric cancer progression.
A drier Orinoco basin during the twenty-first century: the role of the Orinoco low-level jet
Authors: Correa Isabel C. , Arias Paola A. , Vieira Sara C. , Martínez J. Alejandro
Published: January 2024

This study focuses on the analysis of the simulation of the main climatological features of the Orinoco low-level jet (OLLJ) by a set of models included in the Sixth Phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) and their projected changes under three Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs): SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5. We consider the 1979–2014 period to evaluate the historical simulations using the ERA5 reanalysis as the reference dataset. In general, CMIP6 models are able to capture the activation of the OLLJ during December-January–February (DJF) in the Orinoco basin, as well as the main links between this circulation and low-level moisture transport patterns in northern South America. Regarding the analysis of projections, CMIP6 models suggest a weakening and shrinking of the OLLJ, especially in its exit region, by the end of the twenty-first century, which in turn induces changes in atmospheric moisture transport patterns in the region during DJF. The projected changes of the OLLJ are associated with variations in the regional gradients of mean sea level pressure, near-surface air temperature, and surface sensible heat flux in association with drier conditions in the Orinoco basin. These projections are consistent with previous studies suggesting a drier Orinoco river basin throughout the twenty-first century. Assessing the projected changes of this low-level jet in northern South America improves our understanding of the different phenomena that modulate atmospheric moisture transport in the region, which is particularly important given its high vulnerability to climate change.
Cryptic splicing of stathmin-2 and UNC13A mRNAs is a pathological hallmark of TDP-43-associated Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Agra Almeida Quadros Ana Rita , Li Zhaozhi , Wang Xue , Ndayambaje I. Sandra , Aryal Sandeep , Ramesh Nandini , Nolan Matthew , Jayakumar Rojashree , Han Yi , Stillman Hannah , Aguilar Corey , Wheeler Hayden J. , Connors Theresa , Lopez-Erauskin Jone , Baughn Michael W. , Melamed Ze’ev , Beccari Melinda S. , Olmedo Martínez Laura , Canori Michael , Lee Chao-Zong , Moran Laura , Draper Isabelle , Kopin Alan S. , Oakley Derek H. , Dickson Dennis W. , Cleveland Don W. , Hyman Bradley T. , Das Sudeshna , Ertekin-Taner Nilüfer , Lagier-Tourenne Clotilde
Published: January 2024

Nuclear clearance and cytoplasmic accumulations of the RNA-binding protein TDP-43 are pathological hallmarks in almost all patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and up to 50% of patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer’s disease. In Alzheimer’s disease, TDP-43 pathology is predominantly observed in the limbic system and correlates with cognitive decline and reduced hippocampal volume. Disruption of nuclear TDP-43 function leads to abnormal RNA splicing and incorporation of erroneous cryptic exons in numerous transcripts including Stathmin-2 (STMN2, also known as SCG10) and UNC13A, recently reported in tissues from patients with ALS and FTD. Here, we identify both STMN2 and UNC13A cryptic exons in Alzheimer’s disease patients, that correlate with TDP-43 pathology burden, but not with amyloid-β or tau deposits. We also demonstrate that processing of the STMN2 pre-mRNA is more sensitive to TDP-43 loss of function than UNC13A. In addition, full-length RNAs encoding STMN2 and UNC13A are suppressed in large RNA-seq datasets generated from Alzheimer’s disease post-mortem brain tissue. Collectively, these results open exciting new avenues to use STMN2 and UNC13A as potential therapeutic targets in a broad range of neurodegenerative conditions with TDP-43 proteinopathy including Alzheimer’s disease.
p-tau Ser356 is associated with Alzheimer’s disease pathology and is lowered in brain slice cultures using the NUAK inhibitor WZ4003
Authors: Taylor Lewis W. , Simzer Elizabeth M. , Pimblett Claire , Lacey-Solymar Oscar T. T. , McGeachan Robert I. , Meftah Soraya , Rose Jamie L. , Spires-Jones Maxwell P. , Holt Kristján , Catterson James H. , Koch Henner , Liaquat Imran , Clarke Jonathan H. , Skidmore John , Smith Colin , Booker Sam A. , Brennan Paul M. , Spires-Jones Tara L. , Durrant Claire S.
Published: January 2024

Tau hyperphosphorylation and aggregation is a common feature of many dementia-causing neurodegenerative diseases. Tau can be phosphorylated at up to 85 different sites, and there is increasing interest in whether tau phosphorylation at specific epitopes, by specific kinases, plays an important role in disease progression. The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-related enzyme NUAK1 has been identified as a potential mediator of tau pathology, whereby NUAK1-mediated phosphorylation of tau at Ser356 prevents the degradation of tau by the proteasome, further exacerbating tau hyperphosphorylation and accumulation. This study provides a detailed characterisation of the association of p-tau Ser356 with progression of Alzheimer’s disease pathology, identifying a Braak stage-dependent increase in p-tau Ser356 protein levels and an almost ubiquitous presence in neurofibrillary tangles. We also demonstrate, using sub-diffraction-limit resolution array tomography imaging, that p-tau Ser356 co-localises with synapses in AD postmortem brain tissue, increasing evidence that this form of tau may play important roles in AD progression. To assess the potential impacts of pharmacological NUAK inhibition in an ex vivo system that retains multiple cell types and brain-relevant neuronal architecture, we treated postnatal mouse organotypic brain slice cultures from wildtype or APP/PS1 littermates with the commercially available NUAK1/2 inhibitor WZ4003. Whilst there were no genotype-specific effects, we found that WZ4003 results in a culture-phase-dependent loss of total tau and p-tau Ser356, which corresponds with a reduction in neuronal and synaptic proteins. By contrast, application of WZ4003 to live human brain slice cultures results in a specific lowering of p-tau Ser356, alongside increased neuronal tubulin protein. This work identifies differential responses of postnatal mouse organotypic brain slice cultures and adult human brain slice cultures to NUAK1 inhibition that will be important to consider in future work developing tau-targeting therapeutics for human disease.
Effect of applied cadence in repeated sprint cycling on muscle characteristics
Authors: Klich Sebastian , Michalik Kamil , Pietraszewski Bogdan , Hansen Ernst A. , Madeleine Pascal , Kawczyński Adam
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate physiological responses, muscle–tendon unit properties of the quadriceps muscle, and mechanical performance after repeated sprint cycling at optimal and 70% of optimal cadence.

Methods

Twenty recreational cyclists performed as first sprint performance cycling test and during subsequent sessions two repeated sprint cycling protocols at optimal and 70% of optimal cadence, in random order. The muscle–tendon unit outcome measures on the dominant leg included muscle thickness, fascicle length (Lf), pennation angle (θp), and stiffness for the rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), and vastus medialis muscle (VM) at baseline, immediately after repeated sprint cycling, and 1-h post-exercise.

Results

The results showed an increase in muscle thickness and θp in RF, VL, and VM for both cadences from baseline to immediately after exercise. The Lf decreased in RF (both cadences), while stiffness decreased in RF, VL, and VM at optimal cadence, and in VL at 70% of optimal cadence from baseline to immediately after exercise.

Conclusion

The present study revealed that the alterations in muscle characteristics were more marked after repeated sprint cycling at optimal cadence compared with a lower cadence most likely as a result of higher load on the muscle–tendon unit at optimal cadence.
Acid-sensing ion channels and downstream signalling in cancer cells: is there a mechanistic link?
Authors: Gründer Stefan , Vanek Jakob , Pissas Karolos-Philippos
Published: January 2024

It is increasingly appreciated that the acidic microenvironment of a tumour contributes to its evolution and clinical outcomes. However, our understanding of the mechanisms by which tumour cells detect acidosis and the signalling cascades that it induces is still limited. Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are sensitive receptors for protons; therefore, they are also candidates for proton sensors in tumour cells. Although in non-transformed tissue, their expression is mainly restricted to neurons, an increasing number of studies have reported ectopic expression of ASICs not only in brain cancer but also in different carcinomas, such as breast and pancreatic cancer. However, because ASICs are best known as desensitizing ionotropic receptors that mediate rapid but transient signalling, how they trigger intracellular signalling cascades is not well understood. In this review, we introduce the acidic microenvironment of tumours and the functional properties of ASICs, point out some conceptual problems, summarize reported roles of ASICs in different cancers, and highlight open questions on the mechanisms of their action in cancer cells. Finally, we propose guidelines to keep ASIC research in cancer on solid ground.
On the Wiener chaos expansion of the signature of a Gaussian process
Authors: Cass Thomas , Ferrucci Emilio
Published: January 2024

We compute the Wiener chaos decomposition of the signature for a class of Gaussian processes, which contains fractional Brownian motion (fBm) with Hurst parameter $$H \in (1/4,1)$$

H
∈
(
1
/
4
,
1
)

. At level 0, our result yields an expression for the expected signature of such processes, which determines their law (Chevyrev and Lyons in Ann Probab 44(6):4049–4082, 2016). In particular, this formula simultaneously extends both the one for $$1/2 < H$$

1
/
2
<
H

-fBm (Baudoin and Coutin in Stochast Process Appl 117(5):550–574, 2007) and the one for Brownian motion ($$H = 1/2$$

H
=
1
/
2

) (Fawcett 2003), to the general case $$H > 1/4$$

H
>
1
/
4

, thereby resolving an established open problem. Other processes studied include continuous and centred Gaussian semimartingales.
Ethylamine as new derivatization reagent differentiating reducing from non-reducing saccharides
Authors: Schwack Wolfgang , Heilmann Danny , Morlock Gertrud E.
Published: January 2024

Typical derivatization reagents for saccharides in high-performance thin-layer chromatography, like 2-naphthol sulfuric acid, aniline diphenylamine orthophosphoric acid, or p-aminobenzoic acid, generally detect both reducing and non-reducing saccharides. A new reagent was found with ethylamine, specifically reacting with reducing saccharides on normal-phase silica gel plates, resulting in strongly fluorescent zones after heating the plate at 150 °C for 15 min. In contrast, non-reducing saccharides generally did not reveal fluorescent signals tested with 26 different saccharides. Optimal chromatographic separation was achieved with a mixture of 2-propyl acetate, methanol, and water with 1 mg/mL natural product reagent A when the plate was twofold developed. The high sensitivity of the ethylamine derivatization was shown with mean limits of detection and quantification of 10 and 30 ng per zone, respectively, calculated by different methods for selected mono- and disaccharides. The developed method has exemplarily been used for the digestion control of starch by α-amylase, the determination of lactose in lactose-free milk, and for the quantitative and qualitative study of honey. The analysis of honey gave an excellent example of the advantageous consecutive derivatization with ethylamine and aniline diphenylamine orthophosphoric acid reagent as reagent sequence to detect the coelution of reducing and non-reducing saccharides.
A German version of the Oral Impacts of Daily Performances—reliability and validity
Authors: Klotz Anna-Luisa , Prager Dennis , Rammelsberg Peter , Hassel Alexander Jochen , Zenthöfer Andreas
Published: January 2024

Objective

The Oral Impact of Daily Performances (OIDP) is a dental patient–reported outcome measure (dPROM) for the estimation of oral health–related quality of life (OHRQoL) and takes the frequency as well as the severity of problems into account; however, it is not available in German language. The aim of this study was, therefore, to evaluate the reliability and validity of the German version of the OIDP in patients of a private practice.

Material and methods

Translation of the original OIDP version was performed by a forward–backward process. Reliability was evaluated in terms of construct stability (test–retest) for the single items and the sum scores. The responsiveness to change in oral health status was assessed by pre- and post-treatment comparison, in addition. Validity was assessed as convergent validity in comparison with other dPROMs (OHIP-14; GOHAI) and objective dental findings.

Results

A total of 330 patients participated in this study (mean age: 42.0 (18.0)). The OHRQoL of the participants was relatively high (OIDP score 4.3 (SD 14.3), OHIP score 4.8 (SD 5.3), GOHAI score 54.2 (SD 5.4)). A moderate construct stability for the total OIDP-score (ICC 0.686) was found whilst reliability for the single items varied between 0.179 (social contact) to 0.559 (showing teeth). Significant correlations were found for OIDP and OHIP (p < 0.001; r = 0.361) and OIDP and GOHAI (p < 0.001; r =  − 0.391) indicating moderate validity with a tendency to even stronger correlations for OIDP-s and OIDP-f (r ≥ 0.500).

Conclusions

The German version of the OIDP demonstrated sufficient reliability and validity. OIDP’s general performance should be interpreted cautiously as the outcome was detected in a specifically healthy population.

Clinical relevance

The OIDP is yet the only dPROM that evaluates both severity as well as frequency which makes validation interesting regarding specific target populations.
Evaluation of afforestations for avalanche protection with orthoimages using the random forest algorithm
Authors: Grätz Tina , Vospernik Sonja , Scheidl Christian
Published: January 2024

Afforestations provide cost-effective and environmentally friendly protection against natural hazards, compared to technical measures. In Austria, more than 3000 afforestation sites for hazard protection covering 9000 ha have been established between 1906 and 2017, mainly for snow avalanche protection. The actual protective effect depends on avalanche predisposing factors and land cover, i.e. whether forest is present. In this study, predisposing factors and land cover classes were identified and analysed in selected afforestation sites. The protective effect of forest was attributed to the presence of forest cover and tree species. Using RGB images with a ground resolution of 20 × 20 cm, nine land cover categories have been distinguished by means of supervised classification with the random forest algorithm. Those land cover categories were classified with an overall accuracy of 0.87–0.98 and Kappa-values, ranging between 0.81 and 0.93. Images were filtered using a 3 pixel by 3 pixel majority filter, which assigns each cell in the output grid the most commonly occurring value in a moving window centred on each grid cell. This filter further increased the overall accuracy by removing noise pixels while preserving the fine elements of the classified grid. Our results indicate a protective effect for about half of the analysed afforestation sites. The dominance of the land use class “Meadow” at most sites with little avalanche protection effect suggests grazing as a limiting factor. The spatial information provided with the described method allows to identify critical areas in terms of avalanche protection even years after the initial afforestation.
Degrees of hornification in softwood and hardwood kraft pulp during drying from different solvents
Authors: Hashemzehi Mozhgan , Sjöstrand Björn , Håkansson Helena , Henriksson Gunnar
Published: January 2024

Hornification, a complex phenomenon occurring during drying of lignocellulosic materials because of formation of irreversible chemical bonds, remains a subject of scientific interest. This study aims to shed light on the underlying mechanisms of hornification by investigating interactions between the liquid and solid phases through a solvent exchange treatment. The treatment involved replacing water with various solvents in suspensions of never-dried cellulose samples, including alcohols (methanol, ethanol, isopropanol) capable of forming hydrogen bonds, albeit to a lesser extent than water, as well as non-alcohol solvents (acetone, ethyl acetate, toluene, heptane) that do not possess the ability to form chain of hydrogen bond, and no hydrogen bond between each other. The impact of solvents on the hornification process was evaluated using WRV measurements. Our findings reveal that water, as a solvent, plays a dominant role in the hornification process, primarily due to its excellent capability to form bridges of hydrogen bonds. In comparison, hornification with alcohols was considerably lower than with water, likely attributed to the smaller ability of alcohols to engage in such interactions. Furthermore, our results indicate a tendency for reduced hornification also when using non-hydrogen bond solvents with decreased polarity. This strengthens the hypothesis related to chains of hydrogen bonds. Additionally, the interaction between hydrophobic surfaces on cellulose through hydrophobic interactions could provide another plausible explanation.
Multivariate lognormal mixture for pulp particle characterization
Authors: Lindström Stefan B. , Persson Johan , Ferritsius Rita , Ferritsius Olof , Engberg Birgitta A.
Published: January 2024

We present a method for pulp particle characterization based on a truncated lognormal mixture (TLM) model, as motivated by size statistics of organisms. We use an optical fiber analyzer to measure the length–width distribution of kraft-cooked roundwood or sawmill sources, of chemi-thermomechanical pulp (CTMP) samples from roundwood or sawmill sources, and the same CTMP samples after kraft post-processing. Our results show that bimodal TLMs capture salient features of the investigated pulp particle distributions, by decomposition into a large-particle and a small-particle fraction. However, we find that fibers from sawmill sources, which have not undergone mechanical treatment, cannot be described by TLM, likely due to non-random sampling. Within the confines of our dataset, the TLM characterization predicts laboratory sheet properties more effectively than conventional averaging methods for pulp particle size distributions. The TLM characterization is intended as a tool for controlling the pulp production process towards higher product quality, uniformity, and energy efficiency, pending further mill trials for validation.
Evaluating agreement between evidence from randomised controlled trials and cohort studies in nutrition: a meta-research replication study
Authors: Stadelmaier Julia , Beyerbach Jessica , Roux Isabelle , Harms Louisa , Eble Julian , Nikolakopoulou Adriani , Schwingshackl Lukas
Published: January 2024

This meta-research study aims to evaluate the agreement of effect estimates between bodies of evidence (BoE) from RCTs and cohort studies included in the same nutrition evidence synthesis, to identify factors associated with disagreement, and to replicate the findings of a previous study. We searched Medline, Epistemonikos and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for nutrition systematic reviews that included both RCTs and cohort studies for the same patient-relevant outcome or intermediate-disease marker. We rated similarity of PI/ECO (population, intervention/exposure, comparison, outcome) between BoE from RCTs and cohort studies. Agreement of effect estimates across BoE was analysed by pooling ratio of risk ratios (RRR) for binary outcomes and difference of standardised mean differences (DSMD) for continuous outcomes. We performed subgroup and sensitivity analyses to explore determinants associated with disagreements. We included 82 BoE-pairs from 51 systematic reviews. For binary outcomes, the RRR was 1.04 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.99 to 1.10, I2 = 59%, τ2 = 0.02, prediction interval (PI) 0.77 to 1.41). For continuous outcomes, the pooled DSMD was  − 0.09 (95% CI  − 0.26 to 0.09, PI  − 0.55 to 0.38). Subgroup analyses yielded that differences in type of intake/exposure were drivers towards disagreement. We replicated the findings of a previous study, where on average RCTs and cohort studies had similar effect estimates. Disagreement and wide prediction intervals were mainly driven by PI/ECO-dissimilarities. More research is needed to explore other potentially influencing factors (e.g. risk of bias) on the disagreement between effect estimates of both BoE.

Trial registration: CRD42021278908
Enhancing the bioconversion rate and end products of black soldier fly (BSF) treatment – A comprehensive review
Authors: Siddiqui Shahida Anusha , Süfer Özge , Çalışkan Koç Gülşah , Lutuf Hanif , Rahayu Teguh , Castro-Muñoz Roberto , Fernando Ito
Published: January 2024

Food security remains a pressing concern in the face of an increasing world population and environmental challenges. As climate change, biodiversity loss, and water scarcity continue to impact agricultural productivity, traditional livestock farming faces limitations in meeting the growing global demand for meat and dairy products. In this context, black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) have emerged as a promising alternative for sustainable food production. BSFL possess several advantages over conventional livestock, including their rapid growth, adaptability to various organic waste substrates, and low environmental impact. Their bioconversion rate, the ability to transform organic waste into valuable products, and final product optimization are key factors that enhance their potential as a nutrient-rich protein source, fertilizer, and biofuel. This review explores strategies to enhance the bioconversion rate and improve the end products derived from BSF treatment. It highlights the benefits of using BSFL over other interventions and underscores the significance of optimizing their bioconversion rate to meet the challenges of global food security sustainably. Despite the promising prospects of BSF-derived products, consumer acceptance and regulatory hurdles remain critical aspects to address in realizing their full market potential. The utilization of BSFL as a sustainable source of food and feed can contribute to waste management, reduce environmental pollution, and address the pressing issue of food security in an environmentally responsible manner. However, there is a need for further research and innovation to ensure the safety, quality, and economic viability of BSF-based products for both animal and human consumption.
Determinants of the Innovation Behaviour of Teachers in Higher Education
Authors: Kottmann Andrea , Schildkamp Kim , van der Meulen Barend
Published: January 2024

The study examined what factors determine the use of educational innovations by teachers in higher education. Three sort of factors were compared: teachers’ motivation for the enhancement of education, their contact with or exposure to dissemination of educational innovations and institutional factors, that is, support provided by higher education institutions. Further, teachers were classified regarding their use of educational innovations. The study used survey data collected among academic staff at public Norwegian higher education institutions. Results of the multinominal logistic regression models showed that intrinsic motivation was an important factor for teachers' innovation behaviour in this context. Dissemination and institutional factors exerted little or no significant impact. The assumptions currently underlying research on educational innovations and the design of national and institutional support programmes are discussed against the background of these results.
Heisenberg versus the Covariant String
Authors: Dragon Norbert , Oppermann Florian
Published: January 2024

A Poincaré multiplet of mass eigenstates $$\bigl (P^2 - m^2\bigr )\Psi = 0$$

(

P
2

-

m
2

)

Ψ
=
0

cannot be a subspace of a space with a D-vector position operator $$X=(X_0,\dots X_{D-1})$$

X
=
(

X
0

,
⋯

X

D
-
1

)

: the Heisenberg algebra $$[P^m, X_n] = \textrm{i}\delta ^m{}_n$$

[

P
m

,

X
n

]

=
i

δ
m

n

implies by a simple argument that each Poincaré multiplet of definite mass vanishes. The same conclusion follows from the Stone-von Neumann theorem. In a quantum theory the constraint of an absolutely continuous spectrum to a lower dimensional submanifold yields zero even if Dirac’s treatment of the corresponding classical constraint defines a symplectic submanifold with a consistent corresponding quantum model. Its Hilbert space is not a subspace of the unconstrained theory. Hence the operator relations of the unconstrained model need not carry over to the constrained model. Our argument excludes quantized worldline models of relativistic particles and the physical states of the covariant quantum string. We correct misconceptions about the generators of Lorentz transformations acting on particles.
Shallow vs. Deep Geoethics: Moving Beyond Anthropocentric Views
Authors: Frigo Giovanni , Ifanger Luiz Anselmo , Greco Roberto , Kopnina Helen , Hillerbrand Rafaela
Published: January 2024

At its inception, geoethics was envisioned as a type of professional ethics concerned with the moral implications of geoscientific research, applications, and practices. More recently, however, some scholars have proposed versions of geoethics as public and global ethics. To better understand these developments, this article considers the relationship between geoethics and environmental ethics by exploring different aspects of the human-nature relation (i.e., the moral status and role of humans in relation to the non-human world). We start by noting that the main strains of geoethical thought elaborated so far represent examples of environmental virtue ethics and defend moral weak anthropocentric positions (e.g., “ethical”, “responsible” or “enlightened” anthropocentrism). Some scholars propose that such weak anthropocentric geoethics can synthesize the different positions in environmental ethics and move beyond them toward a novel and distinct approach. We compare the meaning and the use of the term “anthropocentrism” in both environmental ethics and geoethics, stressing that although geoethics is inevitably epistemically anthropocentric (i.e., anthropogenic), it does not need to be morally anthropocentric. We consider the compatibility of non-anthropocentric stances with current geoethical theory and argue for the integration of normative non-anthropocentric accounts (e.g., ecocentric) into geoethical debates and geoscience education.
The Effect of a Quality Improvement Project on Improving Patients’ Willingness to Receive an Influenza Vaccination in the Emergency Department
Authors: German Paola H. , Lazenby Mark , Phillips Susanne , Jun Angela
Published: January 2024

The aim of this project was to increase willingness to receive the influenza vaccine to the optimal rate of ≥ 70%. Low acuity adult patients who visited an Emergency Department (ED) were assessed regarding their willingness to receive the influenza vaccine before and after an educational intervention that included a provider recommendation and an educational handout. A total of seventy-six patients (n = 76) were assessed. Patients’ willingness to receive the influenza vaccine rose from 29% pre-intervention to 72% post-intervention without disrupting the clinical flow in a busy ED. Similar vaccine educational strategies can be applied to influenza and other vaccines in EDs  to increase vaccination willingness in patients, including those who use the ED as a primary point of contact for healthcare, decreasing the burden of influenza illness in the community.
Andreev Hidden Spinor Coordinates: Standard Model, Gravity and $$^3$$He
Authors: Volovik G. E.
Published: January 2024

This paper is prepared for a special memorial issue of J. Low Temp. Phys. dedicated to the Memory of Alexander Andreev. I discuss his ideas devoted to the fundamental problem in modern physics—the origin and validity of the superselection rule, which forbids the superposition of a fermion and a boson state. Andreev suggested extra spin degrees of freedom, due to which the $$2\pi$$

2
π

rotation does not change the sign of the fermionic wave function, and as a result the fermion-boson transmutation becomes possible. Although his approach looks somewhat contradictory from the point of view of the present physics, in principle his ideas can be realized on the more fundamental trans-Planckian level leading to new physics. Different scenarios of the extension of the internal spinor space are considered.
Privacy-Aware Anomaly Detection in IoT Environments using FedGroup: A Group-Based Federated Learning Approach
Authors: Zhang Yixuan , Suleiman Basem , Alibasa Muhammad Johan , Farid Farnaz
Published: January 2024

The popularity of Internet of Things (IoT) devices in smart homes has raised significant concerns regarding data security and privacy. Traditional machine learning (ML) methods for anomaly detection often require sharing sensitive IoT data with a central server, posing security and efficiency challenges. In response, this paper introduces FedGroup, a novel Federated Learning (FL) method inspired by FedAvg. FedGroup revolutionizes the central model’s learning process by updating it based on the learning patterns of distinct groups of IoT devices. Our experimental results demonstrate that FedGroup consistently achieves comparable or superior accuracy in anomaly detection when compared to both federated and non-federated learning methods. Additionally, Ensemble Learning (EL) collects intelligence from numerous contributing models, leading to enhanced prediction performance. Furthermore, FedGroup significantly improves the detection of attack types and their details, contributing to a more robust security framework for smart homes. Our approach demonstrates exceptional performance, achieving an accuracy rate of 99.64% with a minimal false positive rate (FPR) of 0.02% in attack type detection, and an impressive 99.89% accuracy in attack type detail detection.
Radiochemical isolation of 45Ti using ion chromatography
Authors: Strecker J. , Wachten T. , Neumaier B. , Spahn I.
Published: January 2024

45Ti exhibits favorable decay properties for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and can be easily produced by the bombardment of natural scandium (Sc) by protons using the 45Sc(p,n)45Ti nuclear reaction. However, separation of 45Ti from irradiated Sc targets is arduous due to the hydrolytic instability of Ti(IV) complexes, making it a significant bottleneck for routine application of this radionuclide. In the present work, we describe the development and optimization of an ion chromatographic separation method based on trapping of 45Ti on a hydroxamate-functionalized chelating resin and subsequent elution with oxalic acid at pH = 2.8. Under optimized conditions, this method enabled 45Ti-recovery of 61 ± 8% within 7 min. Sc contamination in scaled-up experiments was found to be only 3.0 ± 1.8 µg/mL. The resulting 45Ti-solution was directly used for complexation with CDTA as a model chelator, affording the corresponding [45Ti]Ti(cdta) complex with a radiochemical conversion of 73 ± 3%. Conclusively, this promising method could be transferred to automated synthesis modules and should enable the preparation of 45Ti-labeled compounds for PET imaging.
Liquid–liquid extraction of strontium from acidic solutions into ionic liquids using crown ethers
Authors: Houzar Jan , Cubova Katerina , Semelova Miroslava , Nemec Mojmir
Published: January 2024

90Sr is one of the most monitored fission products. New efficient methods for strontium separation are therefore sought. Over the past 20 years, crown ethers solutions in ionic liquids (ILs) have been confirmed to efficiently extract strontium from acidic solutions. Despite all the work done in this field, the extraction mechanism is still not completely clear. Depending on experimental conditions, the extraction is believed to proceed either in the form of an ion-association complex [Sr·CE·(NO3)2] or via exchange between [Sr·CE]2+ and two IL cations. This work aims to study the influence of several extraction parameters and compare them with the presumed mechanisms.
Physiological roles of propolis and red ginseng nanoplatforms in alleviating dexamethasone-induced male reproductive challenges in a rat model
Authors: Aziz Rabie L. Abdel , Abdel-Wahab Ahmed , Abdel-Razik Abdel-Razik H. , Kamel Shaimaa , Farghali Ahmed A. , Saleh Romaissaa , Mahmoud Rehab , Ibrahim Marwa A. , Nabil Taghred M. , El-Ela Fatma I. Abo
Published: January 2024

Background

Red ginseng and propolis are well-known antioxidants that have been related to a reduction in oxidative stress.

Objective

This study evaluated the efficiency of red ginseng and propolis, either in powder or as nano-forms against dexamethasone—induced testicular oxidative challenges in adult male albino rats.

Methods

Forty rats were divided into 8 equal groups including control negative group that was given vehicle (DMSO), control positive group that was administered dexamethasone in addition to the nano-propolis, nano-ginseng, nano-propolis + dexamethasone, nano ginseng+dexamethasone, propolis+dexamethasone and ginseng + dexamethasone groups. Serum, semen and tissue samples were obtained.

Results

Lower testosterone levels, higher levels of MDA, and lower levels of total antioxidant capacity in serum, as well as impaired semen quality and a disturbed histopathological picture of both the testis and seminal glands, were all observed as significant negative effects of dexamethasone. These findings were confirmed by lower gene expression profiles of CYP11A1, StAR, HSD-3b, Nrf-2 and ACTB-3b in testicular and seminal gland tissues. The most powerful anti-dexamethasone effects were obtained with either propolis in nanoform or conventional ginseng.

Conclusion

Propolis nano-formulation and ginseng in conventional form could be considered excellent candidates to ameliorate the oxidative stress provoked by dexamethasone, however, neither nano-ginseng nor conventional propolis showed such effects.
Long-term exposure to lead nitrate and zinc sulfate Nile tilapia impact the Aeromonas hydrophila treatment
Authors: Sherif Ahmed H. , Okasha Lamiaa A. , Kassab Amina S , Abass Mona E. , Kasem Enas A.
Published: January 2024

Background

Pollution with heavy metals (HMs) is time- and concentration-dependent. Lead and zinc pollute the aquatic environment, causing severe health issues in aquatic animals.

Materials and methods

Nile tilapia, the predominant cultured fish in Egypt, were experimentally exposed to 10% of LC50 of lead nitrate (PbNO3) and zinc sulfate (ZnSO4). Samples were collected in three different periods, 4, 6, and 8 weeks, in addition to a trial to treat the experimental fish infected with Aeromonas hydrophila, with an antibiotic (florfenicol).

Results

Liver enzymes were linearly upsurged in a time-dependent manner in response to HMs exposure. ALT was 92.1 IU/l and AST was 82.53 IU/l after eight weeks. In the eighth week of the HMs exposure, in the hepatic tissue, the levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), and metallothionein (MT) were increased to 117.8 U/mg prot, 72.2 U/mg prot, and 154.5 U/mg prot, respectively. On exposure to HMs, gene expressions of some cytokines were linearly downregulated in a time-dependent manner compared to the control. After four weeks of exposure to the HMs, the oxidative burst activity (OBA) of immune cells was decreased compared to the control 9.33 and 10.3 cells, respectively. Meanwhile, the serum bactericidal activity (SBA) significantly declined to 18.5% compared to the control 32.6% after eight weeks of exposure. Clinical signs of A. hydrophila infection were exaggerated in polluted fish, with a mortality rate (MR) of 100%. The re-isolation rate of A. hydrophila was decreased in fish treated with florfenicol regardless of the pollution impacts after eight weeks of HMs exposure.

Conclusion

It could be concluded that the immune suppression and oxidative stress resulting from exposure to HMs are time-dependent. Clinical signs and post-mortem lesions in polluted fish infected with A. hydrophila were prominent. Infected-Nile tilapia had weak responses to florfenicol treatment due to HMs exposure.
Methodological approach for mapping the flood physical vulnerability index with geographical open-source data: an example in a small-middle city (Ponferrada, Spain)
Authors: Tascón-González Laura , Ferrer-Julià Montserrat , García-Meléndez Eduardo
Published: January 2024

To increase the resilience of communities against floods, it is necessary to develop methodologies to estimate the vulnerability. The concept of vulnerability is multidimensional, but most flood vulnerability studies have focused only on the social approach. Nevertheless, in recent years, following seismic analysis, the physical point of view has increased its relevance. Therefore, the present study proposes a methodology to map the flood physical vulnerability and applies it using an index at urban parcel scale for a medium-sized town (Ponferrada, Spain). This index is based on multiple indicators fed by geographical open-source data, once they have been normalized and combined with different weights extracted from an Analytic Hierarchic Process. The results show a raster map of the physical vulnerability index that facilitates future emergency and flood risk management to diminish potential damages. A total of 22.7% of the urban parcels in the studied town present an index value higher than 0.4, which is considered highly vulnerable. The location of these urban parcels would have passed unnoticed without the use of open governmental datasets, when an average value would have been calculated for the overall municipality. Moreover, the building percentage covered by water was the most influential indicator in the study area, where the simulated flood was generated by an alleged dam break. The study exceeds the spatial constraints of collecting this type of data by direct interviews with inhabitants and allows for working with larger areas, identifying the physical buildings and infrastructure differences among the urban parcels.
Dating in captivity: creativity, digital affordance, and the organization of interaction in online dating during quarantine
Authors: Zhou Kaiting
Published: January 2024

Unprecedented times compel new ways to explore relationships. Using interviews with dating app users quarantined in American cities at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, I show the impacts of digital mediation on the highly scripted interactional patterns in dating. Drawing from the literature on creative action, temporality, digital affordance, and the materiality of cultural objects, I examine how actors access the creative opportunities in digitally mediated interaction. I find that dating partners creatively mobilized the affordances of digital technologies to approximate a dating script in organizing online interactions, which simultaneously allowed them to formulate relational narratives with varying deviation from the scripted temporal structure. I identify three aspects of digital affordances offering creative opportunities: the dissolution of spatial-temporal boundaries, the production and circulation of digital objects, and the connection between contexts. Taking advantage of an extraordinary moment of cultural and interactional rupture that necessitated digital solutions to connect, this article demonstrates how digital technologies unsettle culturally institutionalized interactional patterns and the formation of meaningful relationships.
Sacred Foe: About the Face of Exemplary Evil
Authors: Leone Massimo
Published: January 2024

This essay aims to summarize and explore two issues that, in the exegetical and representational traditions of the biblical text, have triggered a myriad of semiotic intelligences. First, the nature of Cain’s face at the moment of the sacrifice refused him by the Lord, a face variously interpreted as angry, sad, dejected, depressed, dark. Second, the nature of the sign imposed by God on Cain following Abel’s fratricide. After exploring Jewish and Christian exegesis, ancient and modern, with some reference to contemporary narrative versions (and especially to Saramago’s Cain), the reflection will turn to the question of whether this kind of exegetical questioning can be part of the objects of a discipline like semiotics, the modern science of signs.
Exploring the gap between research and practice in human resource management (HRM): a scoping review and agenda for future research
Authors: Negt Philip , Haunschild Axel
Published: January 2024

The call for evidence-based decisions in HR has become a heated debate in recent years. An alleged research-practice gap has been identified by a number of HRM scholars, leading to recommendations for practice. To what extent the assumption of this gap is justified, theoretically or empirically, remains vague, however. Thus, building on a systematic literature search and the formulation of eligibility criteria for articles, we conducted a scoping review of the current research landscape. Our aim was to explore the constituent components, causes and consequences of the gap. Overall, it was found that research activity has so far been heterogeneous, a significant number of articles were conceptually driven, and a large proportion related to knowledge deficits of HR practitioners. A subset of consistent survey-based studies indicated little awareness of empirically supported practices in personnel selection. The qualitative, mixed-method, and content-analysis studies revealed other influences, such as research with limited practical relevance or divergent interests between scholars and practitioners (e.g., employee motivation). Based on the conceptual contributions, three thematic clusters were identified as causes for the gap: (1) communication barriers (e.g., insufficient interfaces), (2) methodological issues (e.g., rigor-relevance tensions), (3) accessibility, visibility, and dissemination of HR research (e.g., oversimplification of practical implications). There was a strong emphasis on presumed causes and their resolution, with less consideration given to the expected consequences of the gap (e.g., poorer organizational outcomes). Despite preliminary empirical indications for the existence of a research-practice gap in particular areas of HRM, many articles tend to focus on overarching recommendations for practice. We conclude that the HRM research-practice gap in itself has not yet been sufficiently empirically investigated. In view of this, we discuss implications and develop an agenda for future research.