bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Case study of performance assessment of overlapping shield tunnels with a small curve radius
Authors: Zhang Xu , Luo Bin , Xu Youjun , Zhao Chenxu , Wang Huachuan
Published: December 2023

Due to the network planning of subways and their surrounding structures, increasingly more overlapping shields with a small curve radius have been constructed. A newly constructed upper tunnel partly overlaps a lower one, leading to the extremely complex uplift of the lower tunnel caused by the construction of a new tunnel. Based on the shield‐driven project that runs from the Qinghe Xiaoyingqiao Station to the Qinghe Station in Beijing, which adopts the reinforcement measures of interlayer soil grouting and steel supports on site, in this study, the uplift pattern of the lower tunnel and the stress characteristics of steel supports were investigated through numerical simulations and on‐site monitoring. The study results show that among all tunnel segments, the first segment of the shield witnesses a maximum uplift displacement that increases with the horizontal space between tunnels. On using either interlayer soil grouting or steel‐ring bracing reinforcement, the uplift of the tunnel lining exceeds the control value; by contrast, when these two measures are jointly applied, the uplift of the tunnel lining does not exceed a maximum value of 4.87 mm, which can satisfy the requirements of deformation control. Under these two joint measures, the soil strength between two stacked shield tunnels can be enhanced and the uplift deformation can be restricted with the interlayer soil grouting. Also, the segmental deformation and overall stability of the existing tunnel can be controlled with the temporary steel supports. The deformation of circumferential supports and segments is closely related to each other, and the segmental uplift is controlled by H‐shaped steel supports. With the increase in the horizontal space between twin shields, the effect of the construction would gradually weaken, accompanied by a gradual reduction of the stresses of steel supports. These findings provide a valuable reference for the engineering design and safe construction of overlapping shield tunnels with a small curve radius.
A new perspective for evaluating the efficacy of tACS and tDCS in improving executive functions: A combined tES and fNIRS study
Authors: Lu Hongliang , Zhang Yajuan , Qiu Huake , Zhang Zhilong , Tan Xuanyi , Huang Peng , Zhang Mingming , Miao Danmin , Zhu Xia
Published: December 2023

Background

Executive function enhancement is considered necessary for improving the quality of life of patients with neurological or psychiatric disorders, such as attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder, obsessive‐compulsive disorder and Alzheimer's disease. Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) has been shown to have some beneficial effects on executive functioning, but the quantification of these improvements remains controversial. We aimed to explore the potential beneficial effects on executive functioning induced by the use of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS)/transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and the accompanying brain function variations in the resting state.

Methods

We recruited 229 healthy adults to participate in Experiments 1 (105 participants) and 2 (124 participants). The participants in each experiment were randomly divided into tACS, tDCS, and sham groups. The participants completed cognitive tasks to assess behavior related to three core components of executive functions. Functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to monitor the hemodynamic changes in crucial cortical regions in the resting state.

Results

Inhibition and cognitive flexibility (excluding working memory) were significantly increased after tACS/tDCS, but there were no significant behavioral differences between the tACS and tDCS groups. fNIRS revealed that tDCS induced decreases in the functional connectivity (increased neural efficiency) of the relevant cortices.

Conclusions

Enhancement of executive function was observed after tES, and the beneficial effects of tACS/tDCS may need to be precisely evaluated via brain imaging indicators at rest. tDCS revealed better neural benefits than tACS during the stimulation phase. These findings might provide new insights for selecting intervention methods in future studies and for evaluating the clinical efficacy of tES.
Balancing medical innovation and affordability in the new healthcare ecosystem in China: Review of pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement policies
Authors: Chen Vivian , Shao Wenbin
Published: December 2023

The China Basic Medical Insurance Program was created in 1999 with three objectives: equal accessibility, affordability, and quality. Today, it has become the biggest medical insurance program in the world, covering 95% of China's population. Since 2015, China's healthcare ecosystem has been reshaped by increasing innovation, which has in turn been driven by regulatory reform, enhancement of research and development capability, and capital market development. There has also been improved regulatory efficiency to reduce lags in launching drugs. In 2022, nearly 20% of novel active substances launched globally were from China. China has also risen to become the second biggest contributor to innovation in terms of pipelines. Using a “fast‐follow” strategy, many locally developed innovative drugs can compete with products from multinational companies in their quality and pricing. However, China's pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry will continue to face challenges in pricing and reimbursement, as well as a shortened product lifecycle with rapid price erosion. The government has already accelerated the timeline for updating the drug reimbursement list and is willing to create a high‐quality medical insurance program. However, some obstacles are hard to overcome, including reimbursement for advanced therapies, limited funding and an increasing burden of disease due to an aging population. This article reviews the trajectory of medical innovation in China, including the challenges. Looking forward, balancing affordability and innovation will be critical for China to continue the trajectory of growth. The article also offers some suggestions for future policy reform, including optimizing reimbursement efficiency with a focus on high‐quality solutions, enhancing the value assessment framework, payer repositioning from “value buyer” to “strategic buyer”, and developing alternative market access pathways for innovative drugs.
Investigating catastrophic health expenditure among people living with HIV and AIDS in South Western Nigeria
Authors: Adeniran Adeyinka , Ojo Omobola Y. , Chieme Florence C. , Shogbamimu Yeside , Olowofeso Helen O. , Sidibé Imane , Fisher Oladipupo , Adeleke Monsurat
Published: December 2023

Background

This study aimed to determine the catastrophic healthcare expenditure (CHE) among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Lagos and to identify factors associated with CHE among them.

Methods

The study was a descriptive cross‐sectional survey conducted between January and March 2021 among 578 PLHIVs drawn from various healthcare facilities in Lagos where HIV care and treatment services should be provided free of charge. Data were collected through pretested questionnaires and analyzed using Stata SE 12.

Results

The mean monthly expenditure on food was N29,282 ($53.2), while expenditure on healthcare averaged N8364 ($15.2). Nearly 60% of respondents experienced CHE, while around 30% had to borrow money to pay for some aspect of their medical treatment. Almost all (96%) had no health insurance plan. Respondents' group, personal income, perception of current health status, and the number of people in their households were significantly associated with catastrophic health expenditure p < 0.05. PLHIV in the racial/ethnic minority/migrants' group and those who earned less than ₦30,000 ($55) were statistically significantly associated with CHE at p < 0.001 with OR of 28.7 and 3.15, respectively.

Conclusions

The study, therefore, highlights the widespread financial hardship faced by PLHIV in accessing healthcare, and the need for policies to increase financial risk protection.
The link between Facebook addiction and depression among university students: Evidence from a lower‐middle income country
Authors: Sarker Md. Shamsuddin , Imtiaz Asif , Haque Shejuti , Mahmud Kazi Tanvir
Published: December 2023

Background and Aims

Among all the social media, Facebook is the most popular social networking site among students. That raises a chance of excessive Facebook usage being a form of addiction to hamper students' mental health. The primary goal of this study was to find the association of Facebook addiction with the depression level of university students during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Method

Four hundred ten university students from Bangladesh were selected randomly as samples for this investigation. In this study, the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale and nine‐item Patient Health Questionnaire were used to assess the level of Facebook Addiction and depression status of the students, respectively. Ordered probit models were employed to identify the connection between Facebook addiction and depression. Ordinary least square models were utilized further to check the robustness of the findings.

Results

Ordered probit results confirm that Facebook addiction increases the likelihood of having heightened depression among university students. Besides, sex, household income, and history of being infected by COVID‐19 also appeared to be correlated with the depression level of the students.

Conclusion

Creating opportunities for students to participate in more physically demanding outdoor activities should be prioritized as it could ultimately enhance their capacity to mitigate depression. Appropriate measures must be taken to increase the number of recreational facilities on the campus for students, considering their age, gender, and preferences.
Optimal timing for intubation in patients on non‐invasive ventilation: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Abe Tatsuhiko , Takagi Toshishige , Takahashi Kazunari , Yagi Kosuke , Tsuge Ai , Fujii Tomoko
Published: December 2023

Background and Aims

The timing of transition from non‐invasive ventilation (NIV) to invasive ventilation in the intensive care unit (ICU) is uncertain due to a lack of clinical evidence. This study aimed to identify the optimal timing of intubation in patients with respiratory failure managed with NIVs.

Methods

A single‐center observational study was conducted in Tokyo, Japan. Patients in the ICU managed with NIV between 2013 and 2022 were screened. The primary outcome was 28‐day invasive ventilator‐free days. Statistical analyses used locally estimated scatter plot smoothing (LOESS) and generalized linear mixed models to estimate the association between the timing of transition and prolonged intubation duration.

Results

During the study period, 139 of 589 adult ICU patients receiving NIV transitioned to invasive ventilation. The LOESS curve indicated the longest 28‐day ventilator‐free days around 24 h after NIV initiation, after which the primary outcome decreased linearly. Late intubation after 24 h of NIV initiation was associated with fewer 28‐day ventilator‐free days (adjusted mean difference: −0.22 days [95% confidence interval: −0.31, −0.13]).

Conclusion

We identified a non‐linear association between the timing of intubation and 28‐day invasive ventilator‐free days. The critical 24‐h time window for patients on NIV was associated with longer 28‐day invasive ventilator‐free days.
Movement through motherhood: Exploring mood, wellbeing, and prenatal emotional availability (EA) through EA‐based dance intervention
Authors: Branson Dame Katelyn , Jazz Harvey Madeline , Aichele Stephen , Kralewski Van Denburg Ann , Hoyer Lillian , Joslin Steffany , McKenna Alexandria , Lincoln Michael , Closson Lia , Flykt Marjo , Salo Saara , Harvey Ashley , Biringen Zeynep
Published: December 2023

Emotional availability (EA) is a construct that describes the observed emotional connection in parent‐child relationships. During pregnancy, EA is assessed only using caregiver sensitivity and nonhostility. We used the nonverbal aspects of these qualities to create a new dance/movement intervention (“EA‐Based Dance Intervention”). Given the scarcity of pregnancy interventions, we provided training to participants on how to be emotionally engaged with their unborn babies through dance/movement. The EA‐Based Dance Intervention alone comprised the first intervention arm (n = 12). A second intervention arm involved the combination of EA‐Based Dance Intervention with brief psychoeducation (n = 10). The third arm was a control group, which received only the assessments (n = 7). Measures of self‐reported symptoms of depression and anxiety, emotional expressivity, flourishing, and the (newly developed) self‐reported prenatal EA were used at pre‐ and posttest. The measure of observed prenatal EA was used to compare intervention versus control at posttest only. In this pilot study, we found that participants receiving the EA‐Based Dance Intervention alone or combined with psychoeducation, self‐reported improved anxiety symptoms and self‐reported higher prenatal EA. When compared with the control group, those experiencing EA‐Based Dance Intervention reported fewer depressive symptoms from pre‐ to posttest.
Enhanced osteogenicity of the demineralized bone‐dermal matrix composite by the optimal partial demineralization for sustained release of bioactive molecules
Authors: Ma Tong , Ren Dangli , Wang Jingjing , Fu Feng , Sun Wendell Q. , Sun Hongtao
Published: December 2023

Allogenic demineralized bone matrix (DBM), processed to expose bioactive proteins imbedded by calcium salts, is widely used for bone repair and regeneration as an alternative to the autologous bone graft. However, demineralized bone matrices from tissue banks vary significantly in residual calcium content and osteogenicity for clinical bone regeneration. The present study produced DBM with various residual calcium contents by partial demineralization using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium (EDTA) and hydrochloric acid. Compositional analysis reveals that, as the percent weight loss of bone materials increases from 0% to 74.9% during demineralization, the residual calcium content of DBM decreases from 24.8% to 0.2% and collagen content increases from 29.7% to 92.6%. Calorimetrical analysis and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis demonstrated that demineralization to the residual calcium content of <4% enables the complete exposure and/or release of bone collagen fibers and other bioactive molecules. In order to evaluate the relationship between the extent of demineralization and the osteogenicity of DBM, DBM particles were fabricated with the aid of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) microfibers to form flexible foam‐like DBM/ADM composites. Proteomic analysis identified various type collagens and bone formation‐related bioactive molecules in both ADM and DBM. Using the rat bilateral Φ = 5 mm calvarium defect repair model, the study had shown that the DBM/ADM composite with ~20% DBM residual calcium (e.g., ~40% calcium being removed) maximized the osteogenicity for bone defect repair after 4 and 8 weeks. DBM with ~40% calcium removal had the maximal osteogenicity presumably through the sustained release of bioactive molecules during the process of bone regeneration.
Asperosaponin VI facilitates the regeneration of skeletal muscle injury by suppressing GSK‐3β‐mediated cell apoptosis
Authors: Yang Xinru , Liang Jian , Shu Yue , Wei Linlin , Wen Cailing , Luo Hui , Ma Liqing , Qin Tian , Wang Bin , Zeng Siyu , Liu Ying , Zhou Chun
Published: December 2023

Asperosaponin VI (ASA VI) is a bioactive triterpenoid saponin extracted from Diptychus roots, of Diptyl, and has previously shown protective functions in rheumatoid arthritis and sepsis. This study investigates the effects and molecular mechanisms of ASA VI on skeletal muscle regeneration in a cardiotoxin (CTX)‐induced skeletal muscle injury mouse model. Mice were subjected to CTX‐induced injury in the tibialis anterior and C2C12 myotubes were treated with CTX. Muscle fiber histology was analyzed at 7 and 14 days postinjury. Apoptosis and autophagy‐related protein expression were evaluated t s by Western blot, and muscle regeneration markers were quantified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Docking studies, cell viability assessments, and glycogen synthase kinase‐3β (GSK‐3β) activation analyses were performed to elucidate the mechanism. ASA VI was observed to improve muscle interstitial fibrosis, remodeling, and performance in CTX‐treated mice, thereby increased skeletal muscle size, weight, and locomotion. Furthermore, ASA VI modulated the expression of apoptosis and autophagy‐related proteins through GSK‐3β inhibition and activated the transcription of regeneration genes. Our results suggest that ASA VI mitigates skeletal muscle injury by modulating apoptosis and autophagy via GSK‐3β signaling and promotes regeneration, thus presenting a probable therapeutic agent for skeletal muscle injury.
Investigating inclusive professional engineering identity developmental patterns of first‐year engineering majors: A person‐centered approach
Authors: Lockhart Mary Elizabeth , Rambo‐Hernandez Karen , Atadero Rebecca
Published: December 2023

Background

The lack of diversity within engineering degree programs and occupations has been an ongoing concern for decades. National engineering programs have placed a high priority on broadening participation in engineering and making the engineering culture more inclusive. Specifically, the cultivation of engineering students' inclusive professional engineering identities (IPEIs)—or the value these individuals place on diversity and their willingness to act inclusively within engineering contexts—might be one way to address this long‐standing lack of representation.

Purpose

Rooted in theoretical contexts regarding professional identity development, the purpose of this study is to uncover developmental patterns of first‐year engineering students' IPEIs and factors that influence IPEI cultivation.

Methods

This study built upon the previous variable‐centered research findings regarding IPEI development. Specifically, the person‐centered approach of random intercept latent transition analysis (RI‐LTA) was utilized. RI‐LTA allows for the detection of different meaningful groups of individuals demonstrating similarities on the construct and investigating these groups for probabilistic changes over time.

Results

Four IPEI groups of students emerged with IPEI developmental patterns that were not always stable. Student IPEI classifications differed significantly across gender and students' levels of engineering identity. Furthermore, a series of intervention experiences instigated an even more malleable nature to student IPEIs.

Conclusions

Engineering students' IPEIs demonstrate some likelihood to change over time, with intervention experiences enhancing the likelihoods for changes to occur. Continuing to investigate factors influencing the positive cultivation of students' IPEIs is fundamental to broadening participation in engineering and making the engineering culture more inclusive.
Central regulation of reproduction in amphibians
Authors: Hasunuma Itaru
Published: December 2023

This review article includes a literature review of synteny analysis of the amphibian gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) genes, the distribution of GnRH 1 and GnRH2 neurons in the central nervous system of amphibians, the function and regulation of hypophysiotropic GnRH1, and the function of GnRH1 in amphibian reproductive behaviors. It is generally accepted that GnRH is the key regulator of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. Three independent GnRH genes, GnRH1, GnRH2, and GnRH3, have been identified in vertebrates. Previous genome synteny analyses suggest that there are likely just two genes, gnrh1 and gnrh2, in amphibians. In three groups of amphibians: Anura, Urodela, and Gymnophiona, the distributions of GnRH1 and GnRH2 neurons in the central nervous system have also been previously reported. Moreover, these neuronal networks were determined to be structurally independent in all species examined. The somata of GnRH1 neurons are located in the terminal nerve, medial septum (MS), and preoptic area (POA), and some GnRH1 neurons in the MS and POA project into the median eminence. In contrast, the somata of GnRH2 neurons are located in the midbrain tegmentum. In amphibians, GnRH1 neurons originate from the embryonic olfactory placode, while GnRH2 neurons originate from the midbrain. The characterization and feedback regulation mechanisms of hypophysiotropic GnRH1 neurons in amphibians, the involvement of GnRH1 in amphibian reproductive behavior, and its possible mechanism of action should be elucidated in future.
Partitioning kite‐free planar graphs into two forests
Authors: Wang Yang , Wang Yiqiao , Lih Ko‐Wei
Published: December 2023

A kite is a complete graph on four vertices with one edge removed. It is proved that every planar graph without a kite as subgraph can be partitioned into two induced forests. This resolves a conjecture of Raspaud and Wang in 2008.
Low neutralization of SARS‐CoV‐2 Omicron BA.5.2.48, BF.7.14, XBB.1 subvariants by homologous or heterologous booster
Authors: Li Jianhua , Mao Haiyan , Song Wanchen , Chen Yin , Feng Yan , Li Jiaxuan , Su Lingxuan , Li Xiaoyan , Shi Wen , Wu Yutong , Huang Chen , Zhang Yanjun , Chen Keda
Published: December 2023

The recently mutated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variant Omicron has very high infectivity and a strong ability to evolve and evade immunity. We collected six sets of sera from uninfected individuals and individuals recovering from breakthrough infections who completed homologous or heterologous booster immunization and assessed their susceptibility against the BA.5.2.48, BF.7.14, XBB.1.5, XBB.1.5.4, and XBB.1.16 subvariants. The results demonstrated that the Omicron variants possess an exceptional potential to evade the immune barriers strengthened by vaccine administration and natural infections in the population, particularly XBB.1.16, and showed that heterologous boosters exhibit higher vaccine efficacy compared with homologous boosters.
Radar‐based heavy precipitation events in Germany and associated circulation patterns
Authors: Palarz Angelika , James Paul , Junghänel Thomas , Ostermöller Jennifer , Walawender Ewelina , Deutschländer Thomas
Published: December 2023

As projected by multiple climate models, short‐duration heavy precipitation events (SDHPEs) are expected to intensify particularly quickly under the changing climate posing substantial risk to natural and human systems. Yet over the years, SDHPEs have received less scientific attention than long‐duration heavy precipitation events (LDHPEs), mainly due to the limitations of measurement systems. Our aim is to provide insight into spatial and temporal variability of SDHPEs detected by the radar network of the Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) in Germany from 2001 to 2020 as well as to explore their links to circulation patterns (CPs). The study is based on the Catalogue of Radar‐based heavy Rainfall Events (CatRaRE) generated using reprocessed gauge‐adjusted data of the DWD radar network as well as a new numerical method for classifying CPs over Central Europe called “Großwetterlagen for Reanalyses” (GWL‐REA). The results have demonstrated that SDHPEs, which are defined based on either locally valid precipitation values with a return period of 5 years (CatRaRE T5) or absolute precipitation values equal to DWD Warning Level 3 (CatRaRE W3), are common phenomena occurring most frequently in the afternoon hours of the summer season. They constitute up to 90% of all heavy precipitation events included in the catalogues covering relatively small areas—the median area of SDHPEs ranges from 22 km2 (CatRaRE T5) to 24 km2 (CatRaRE W3), while the median area of LDHPEs ranges from 175 km2 (CatRaRE W3) to 184 km2 (CatRaRE T5). As compared to LDHPEs, SDHPEs are generated by a wider spectrum of circulation conditions, including not only cyclonic but also anticyclonic CPs. In the warm season, the anticyclonic CPs, often accompanied by air mass advection from the south, can induce high thermal instability leading to the development of relatively small, isolated convective cells, which often cannot be captured by rain gauge stations.
Impact of perceived overqualification on knowledge hiding and service delivery performance: The moderating role of occupational instrumentality
Authors: Almagharbeh Bashar Khaled Anayzan , Hamouche Salima , Shamout Mohamed Dawood
Published: December 2023

The problem of perceived overqualification (POQ) and the importance of occupational instrumentality have been acknowledged in the literature. Drawing on equity theory, we built a model that explains how and why occupational instrumentality moderates the mediatory role of knowledge hiding on the relationship between POQ and service delivery performance in the tourism and hospitality industry. Underlying this model is the notion that employees' POQ is the cause of knowledge hiding and poor service delivery performance and occupational instrumentality is the diffuser in the tourism and hospitality context. Data were obtained from employees in the aviation sector and analyzed with the PLS‐SEM technique. The findings indicate that POQ directly influences employees' knowledge hiding behavior, but this behavior does not significantly impact their service delivery performance. Knowledge hiding does not act as a mediating factor between POQ and service delivery performance. In other words, knowledge hiding does not explain the link between feeling overqualified and poor service delivery performance. Interestingly, it was observed that the effect of POQ on knowledge hiding is stronger when employees have a strong sense of occupational instrumentality. This suggests that even when employees value the contributions of their current role to their future occupation and career, they are still inclined to resort to knowledge hiding as a response to POQ. Our study results extend theorizing on the themes of interest and offer valuable practical insights.
Where are the carrots? A proposal to start crediting peer reviewers for their contribution to science
Authors: Laxdal Aron , Haugen Tommy
Published: December 2023

Key points

The peer review system is viewed by many as being flawed and antiquated.

While it is unlikely that the system will be overhauled completely, some changes seem to be warranted.

Our proposal is to change the incentives to do peer review by making reviews a part of the tenure criteria and valuing reviews as a contribution to the literature.

The proposal would require more transparency than is currently the industry norm to prevent unwanted effects.

We believe these changes would not only increase willingness to review, but also lead to shorter turnaround times and increase the quality of reviews.
Fractional calculus of the Lerch zeta function – part II
Authors: Guariglia Emanuel
Published: December 2023

This paper concerns the fractional derivative of the Lerch zeta function. The author already dealt with its functional equation. He reduced its computational cost and proved an approximate functional equation for this fractional derivative. Here, we study the mean square of this fractional derivative. Moreover, we deal with the distribution of zeros, showing some zero‐free regions.
A literature synthesis of curriculum‐based measurement in writing for English learners
Authors: Alex Smith R. , Allen Abigail A. , Alley Jessica
Published: December 2023

The purpose of this article is to systematically examine the literature around Curriculum Based Measurement in Writing (CBM‐W) for English learners (ELs) in English. We reviewed the literature to identify published research studies examining CBM‐W that disaggregated data for ELs. We identified six published studies examining the technical adequacy of CBM‐W specifically for ELs. The studies examined a variety of types of CBM‐W across diverse populations of ELs but all were restricted to stage 1 of CBM research. Only one study included ELs participating in a bilingual model of instruction and their findings contrasted with other studies including ELs participating in English‐only models of instruction. While there is emerging evidence of the technical adequacy for ELs across a variety of CBM‐W types for screening purposes, there is little evidence to currently support their use for progress‐monitoring or for ELs participating in bilingual models of instruction. Suggestions for current practice and future research are described.
Supplementing clinical lactation studies with PBPK modeling to inform drug therapy in lactating mothers: Prediction of primaquine exposure as a case example
Authors: Pan Xian , Abduljalil Khaled , Almond Lisa M. , Pansari Amita , Yeo Karen Rowland
Published: December 2023

Evaluating the safety of primaquine (PQ) during breastfeeding requires an understanding of its pharmacokinetics (PKs) in breast milk and its exposure in the breastfed infant. Physiologically‐based PK (PBPK) modeling is primed to assess the complex interplay of factors affecting the exposure of PQ in both the mother and the nursing infant. A published PBPK model for PQ describing the metabolism by monoamine oxidase A (MAO‐A; 90% contribution) and cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6; 10%) in adults was applied to predict the exposure of PQ in mothers and their breastfeeding infants. Plasma exposures following oral daily dosing of 0.5 mg/kg in the nursing mothers in a clinical lactation study were accurately captured, including the observed ranges. Reported infant daily doses based on milk data from the clinical study were used to predict the exposure of PQ in breastfeeding infants greater than or equal to 28 days. On average, the predicted exposures were less than or equal to 0.13% of the mothers. Furthermore, in simulations involving neonates less than 28 days, PQ exposures remain less than 0.16% of the mothers. Assuming that MAO‐A increases slowly with age, the predicted relative exposure of PQ remains low in neonates (<0.46%). Thus, the findings of our study support the recommendation made by the authors who reported the results of the clinical lactation study, that is, that when put into context of safety data currently available in children, PQ should not be withheld in lactating women as it is unlikely to cause adverse events in breastfeeding infants greater than or equal to 28 days old.
Tailoring Resin–Metal Adhesion by Femtosecond Laser Surface Texturing
Authors: Rathnayaka Shashini , Kietzig Anne-Marie
Published: December 2023

Epoxy resin wettability and adhesion on metal surfaces are of interest to composite manufacturing processes in two aspects: while higher adhesion is desired for composite to metal part bonding, lower adhesion is expected for metal tools used in the composite fabrication process. Among several surface modification techniques to achieve such increased/decreased adhesion strengths, femtosecond laser micromachining is a sustainable and scalable technique. Therefore, this study aims to explore epoxy resin adhesion behavior against femtosecond laser micromachined aluminum surfaces as a function of different microscale topographies. The texture types include microscale hexagonal and cylindrical hole patterns with different solid/air surface fractions and comparatively smaller‐scale laser‐induced periodic surface structures. Based on polished metal contact angle results, desired texture geometries are selected in a range to theoretically favor or inhibit resin penetration into microcavities. Theoretical predictions are derived from the capillary effect and Gibb's energy difference. The adhesion strength of resin to metal is examined by tensile tests. All the laser‐textured surfaces show considerably increased adhesion strengths compared to polished surfaces. Scanning electron microscopy and laser profilometry analysis on failed surfaces confirm resin penetration into all textures. Nevertheless, hexagonal holes, which exhibit the highest microcavity volume, show potential for air trapping.
An ab‐initio study of structural, opto‐electronic and thermoelectric aspects of zinc sulfide and zinc telluride
Authors: Erum Nazia , Ahmad Zubair , Okla Mohammad K.
Published: December 2023

In this study, structural, electronic, optical and thermoelectric aspects of Zinc Sulfide (ZnS) and Zinc Telluride (ZnTe) have been explored in detail. These calculations have been done by utilizing FP‐LAPW method via Density Functional Theory (DFT). In order to attain accurate band gaps, opto‐electronic properties are evaluated with modified Becke Johnson potential (mBJ). From band structure plots, both ZnS and ZnTe reveals direct (Γv–ΓC) band gap semiconductors in nature with bandgap value equal to 3.5 and 2.3 eV while in Density Of States (DOS) major influence is observed due to p states of S/Te and d state of Zn. Prominent variation of optical responses such as high values of imaginary dielectric constants 𝜀1 (ω) and n (ω) refractive index suggests that ZnS and ZnTe are applicant materials for future photonics and microelectronic devices. The thermoelectric aspects were explored by Boltz Trap code to determine electrical and thermal conductivities, Seebeck coefficients, power factors and figure of merit. The figure of merits is closer to 1 while compared with p‐type ZnS and ZnTe, n‐type ZnS and ZnTe has good thermoelectric properties, which are attributed to low thermal conductivity of the hole and larger effective mass. The goal of this research is to investigate not only the detailed physical aspects but also to provide an overview of its future applications in optoelectronics, displays, sensors and microelectronic industry.
Health insurance uptake, poverty and financial inclusion in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Nyamugira Alexis Biringanine , Flessa Steffen , Richter Adrian
Published: December 2023

This study estimates the prevalence of health insurance coverage and associated socioeconomic factors in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Using the nationally representative household survey of the 2017/2018 DRC Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), we applied weighted logistic regression models to identify regions and subgroups with low health insurance coverage. The study's findings revealed a low insurance coverage of less than 5%, with significant disparities across provinces and socioeconomic status. Additionally, three factors were strongly associated with the low health insurance coverage rates: education, wealth, and financial inclusion proxied by bank account ownership. Consequently, we recommend that the government, the private sector, and donors prioritize programs targeting provinces with less coverage and individuals without formal education to increase health insurance coverage. This study encourages the government to establish national programs to improve financial inclusion, which could positively impact poverty reduction and health insurance coverage. We also propose that the government initiates pilot projects for premium exemptions and through subsidies for vulnerable populations in the short term, and ensure formal employment for the majority of the population in the long term to facilitate the proper collection of premiums for individuals. Overall, this study contributes to the literature on health insurance in the DRC and sub‐Saharan Africa by identifying the socioeconomic factors that explain the prevalence of health insurance coverage. The findings of this study have important policy implications for the government, the private sector, and donors to promote health insurance coverage and achieve universal health coverage.
Heterometallic Cu−Ca/Ba MOFs of 2‐Mercaptonicotinic Acid for Fast Sensing of Fe3+, Cr2O72−/CrO42− in Water
Authors: Xu Yan , Gong Han , Wei Yongqin , Zhang Manbo
Published: December 2023

Two heterometallic Cu−Ca/Ba metal organic frameworks (MOFs), {[Ca(H2O)6][Cu6Ca2(mna)6(H2O)6] ⋅ 6H2O}n (1) and {[(Cu6Ba3(mna)6(H2O)8] ⋅ 6H2O}n (2), were synthesized by using 2‐mercaptonicotinic acid (H2mna) as ligand via liquid‐liquid diffusion method. The frameworks of compounds 1 and 2 are both adopts hexanuclear copper cluster of [Cu6(mna)6]6− as building units. In 1, the two‐dimensional (2D) structure is formed by the linkage between [Cu6(mna)6]6− and monomeric Ca2+, while the three‐dimensional (3D) framework of 2 is constructed by [Cu6(mna)6]6− and trimer of Ba2+. Furthermore, compounds 1 and 2 show excellent photoluminescence with red emitting around 700 nm. Luminescent studies reveal that 1 can serve as a probe for the rapid detection of Fe3+, Cr2O72− and CrO42− ions in water with remarkable selectivity even in the presence of other analogous ions.
Torque Modeling and Verification of Permanent Magnet Toroidal Motor with Air Gap Deformation
Authors: Zhang Yuting , Liu Xin , Wang Xiaoyuan
Published: December 2023

Permanent magnet toroidal motor (PMTM) is a novel spatial motor which integrates permanent magnet motor and worm‐planet transmission. The planet eccentricity (PE) and planet carrier rotor eccentricity (PCRE) are two main causes of air gap deformation in PMTM, which results in abnormal rotation of planet and electromagnetic torque fluctuation. In this paper, the air gap deformation in PMTM is classified and analyzed with its mechanism. Based on spatial force analysis for planet, the electromagnetic torque model of PMTM with PE and PCRE are established. The rotation torque with PE is studied from different eccentric distances and angles, which is verified by finite element model (FEM). Simultaneously, the cogging torque of planet rotation with PE is discussed. In addition, the torque experiments are conducted for testing output torque and cogging torque of planet carrier rotor rotation. The variation tendency reflected from proposed torque model is verified by prototype experiment. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Effectiveness of novel artificial seabird nest modules for reducing ambient temperature transfer in a warming climate
Authors: Johns Michael E. , Bradley Russell W. , Warzybok Pete , Hester Michelle M. , Lynch Nathan , Jahncke Jaime
Published: December 2023

Artificial habitat for cavity nesting birds can provide excellent opportunities for research and conservation efforts but may expose species to the negative impacts of warming ambient temperatures with climate change. Artificial nest boxes have been successfully used to monitor the breeding activity of the Cassin's auklet (Ptychoramphus aleuticus), a small burrow‐nesting seabird, on Southeast Farallon Island (SEFI) since 1971. Mean monthly ambient air temperatures on SEFI during the summer months have increased at an annual rate of roughly 0.03°C from 1971 to 2022, along with an increase in the number of extreme heat days and average maximum temperature, confirming a warming trend at this seabird colony. Given a projected increase in global temperature, we assessed the effectiveness of traditional wooden nest boxes vs. newer ceramic modules at buffering external ambient air temperatures in normal and extreme heat days across a gradient of microclimates on SEFI. Results from fitting linear mixed effects models indicated that, on average, internal temperatures of wooden and ceramic nests (of comparable size and shape) exhibited similar rates of deviation from ambient air temperature of approximately 0.15°C, even during extreme heat events. Ceramic modules did keep nest chambers cooler by approximately 1.2°C than wooden boxes during extreme events at the warmer, drier southern location of the island. Our results can help guide future efforts to design artificial nests that can effectively provide habitat for seabirds as ambient temperatures increase.
Computational modeling of angiogenesis: The importance of cell rearrangements during vascular growth
Authors: Stepanova Daria , Byrne Helen M. , Maini Philip K. , Alarcón Tomás
Published: December 2023

Angiogenesis is the process wherein endothelial cells (ECs) form sprouts that elongate from the pre‐existing vasculature to create new vascular networks. In addition to its essential role in normal development, angiogenesis plays a vital role in pathologies such as cancer, diabetes and atherosclerosis. Mathematical and computational modeling has contributed to unraveling its complexity. Many existing theoretical models of angiogenic sprouting are based on the “snail‐trail” hypothesis. This framework assumes that leading ECs positioned at sprout tips migrate toward low‐oxygen regions while other ECs in the sprout passively follow the leaders' trails and proliferate to maintain sprout integrity. However, experimental results indicate that, contrary to the snail‐trail assumption, ECs exchange positions within developing vessels, and the elongation of sprouts is primarily driven by directed migration of ECs. The functional role of cell rearrangements remains unclear. This review of the theoretical modeling of angiogenesis is the first to focus on the phenomenon of cell mixing during early sprouting. We start by describing the biological processes that occur during early angiogenesis, such as phenotype specification, cell rearrangements and cell interactions with the microenvironment. Next, we provide an overview of various theoretical approaches that have been employed to model angiogenesis, with particular emphasis on recent in silico models that account for the phenomenon of cell mixing. Finally, we discuss when cell mixing should be incorporated into theoretical models and what essential modeling components such models should include in order to investigate its functional role.

This article is categorized under:

Cardiovascular Diseases > Computational Models

Cancer > Computational Models
Writing “In Transit”: Literary Constructions of Sovereignty in Julia Alvarez’s Afterlife
Authors: Myers Megan Jeanette
Published: December 2023

The 2013 Tribunal Court ruling (TC-0168-13), known in the Dominican Republic simply as la sentencia, effectively stripped the citizenship of an approximate 200,000 Dominicans of Haitian descent. The ruling, from the Dominican Republic’s highest court, reinterpreted the constitutional use of the word “in transit” to claim that the term describes the descendants of any undocumented residents in the country, thus thrusting these individuals into statelessness. This chapter focuses on an analysis of Dominican American Julia Alvarez’s Afterlife (2020), examining how the novel reinterprets and radically remaps terms such as “in transit” to arrive to a nuanced understanding of global sovereignty and belonging. It considers different representations of migration in Alvarez’s novel and applies Katherine Zien’s framing of “sovereign acts” in her analysis of Panamanian literature and performative acts to this Hispaniola-rooted, diasporic text. The chapter critically approaches how Afterlife both centers and decenters global sites of “contested sovereignty” and how the various interpretations of Dominican (American) women as well as undocumented workers in Vermont relate to gendered constructions of nation and citizenship. A close reading of the novel enables an in-depth consideration of the Caribbean tropes of femininity that travel to and in diasporic spaces; Alvarez gives space to female voices to enable or inhibit “sovereign acts” and offers a unique and diverse female-led depiction of Hispaniola’s female “in transit” subjects both on- and off-island.
Re-mapping the Caribbean Gothic in Nalo Hopkinson’s Sister Mine and Shani Mootoo’s He Drown She in the Sea
Authors: Halloran Vivian Nun
Published: December 2023

As Caribbean Canadian immigrant novelists, Nalo Hopkinson and Shani Mootoo construct narrative circumstances that bring together Caribbean, diasporic, and Canadian-born characters. Hopkinson’s Sister Mine (2013) is a supernatural fantasy caper, whereas Mootoo’s He Drown She in the Sea (2005) tells a postcolonial, neo-Gothic love story. Both novels use water imagery to convey the diasporic connections linking Caribbean and Canadian life; these novels discuss Canadian lakes rather than the Caribbean Sea or the Atlantic Ocean thereby challenging the prevailing concept of tidalectics, a term coined by Kamau Brathwaite to describe the shared experience of oceanic connections linking various parts of the world together. Hopkinson and Mootoo infuse their shared traditions of Caribbean and Canadian Gothic with a political engagement with feminism and self-determination that breaks with the stranglehold that Indo- and Afro-Caribbean family traditions can place on their female family members to arrive at a new Caribbean Canadian Gothic. Both novels reject the misogynistic traditions that require a woman’s complicity in her own disempowerment, like remaining in a loveless marriage or acquiescing to an overbearing mother-in-law’s unreasonable demands. In their evocation of Canadian freshwater landscapes, both texts imagine woman-led futures that treat their desires for romantic love or familial connections seriously.
Background
Authors: Schauer Gila A.
Published: December 2023

In this chapter, I discuss terms and concepts relevant to pragmatics and intercultural competence to provide a foundation for the upcoming chapters. I begin with different definitions of pragmatics before defining subfields of pragmatics that are relevant to the present study (cross-cultural pragmatics, variational pragmatics, and interlanguage, L2 or second language pragmatics) and discussing pragmatic competence. This is followed by a discussion of various conceptualizations of culture and the relationship between culture, language and pragmatics. The final part of this chapter focuses on intercultural (communicative) competence and how it relates to pragmatics.
Results: Intercultural Competence in Modern Foreign Language Teacher Education
Authors: Schauer Gila A.
Published: December 2023

In this chapter, I address research questions 9a and 9b on the survey given to language teachers, which focus on the MFL teachers’ background knowledge about intercultural competence. Question 9a asked: Was intercultural competence addressed during your university studies? The teachers had four answer options: yes, no, don’t know and no comment. Question 9b asked: Do you associate particular scholars with intercultural competence? Teachers were provided with the names of five well-known intercultural competence scholars (Byram, Fantini, Savignon, Spencer-Oatey and Ting-Toomey) and could also type in their own choice of names in a free-text field. They were welcome to choose as many names as they liked and also to add as many additional names as they wished.
Conclusion
Authors: Schauer Gila A.
Published: December 2023

In this chapter, I first provide a summary of the findings that were presented and discussed in Chaps. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, based on the survey about intercultural competence and pragmatics that was given to the modern foreign language teachers. I then address the limitations of the present study. The final section of this chapter focuses on the implications of the research project. In this part, I also present a three-tier representation of intercultural competence components based on the language teachers’ responses to the survey and introduce my model of intercultural competence, based on the results of the study.
Convergence of operators with deficiency indices (k, k) and of their self-adjoint extensions
Authors: Bjerg August
Published: December 2023

We consider an abstract sequence $$\{A_n\}_{n=1}^\infty $$

{

A
n

}

n
=
1

∞

of closed symmetric operators on a separable Hilbert space $${\mathcal {H}}$$
H
. It is assumed that all $$A_n$$

A
n

’s have equal deficiency indices (k, k) and thus self-adjoint extensions $$\{B_n\}_{n=1}^\infty $$

{

B
n

}

n
=
1

∞

exist and are parametrized by partial isometries $$\{U_n\}_{n=1}^\infty $$

{

U
n

}

n
=
1

∞

on $${\mathcal {H}}$$
H
according to von Neumann’s extension theory. Under two different convergence assumptions on the $$A_n$$

A
n

’s we give the precise connection between strong resolvent convergence of the $$B_n$$

B
n

’s and strong convergence of the $$U_n$$

U
n

’s.