bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interspecific variation in the defensive responses of brown frogs to alien predators
Authors: Gazzola Andrea , Balestrieri Alessandro , Martinelli Mattia , Rocchetta Sara , Iori Alberto , Pellitteri-Rosa Daniele
Published: June 2024

Alien species impact native amphibians through various direct effects, including predation, and pose a significant threat to naïve prey populations. In this study, we exposed tadpoles of three brown frog species (Rana dalmatina, Rana latastei, and Rana temporaria) to the olfactory cues of two alien predators, the pond slider (Trachemys scripta) and red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), and compared their responses to those induced by the aquatic larvae of a widespread native predator, the Southern hawker (Aeshna cyanea). We recorded two tadpole defensive behaviors, the proportion of time they were active and the number of freezing events. Both agile frog species, R. dalmatina and R. latastei, showed moderate responses to red swamp crayfish kairomones and strong responses to both odonate larvae and pond sliders. In contrast, the common frog (R. temporaria) displayed a less intense response to crayfish with respect to odonate larvae, and a negligible response to pond sliders. Long-lasting coexistence with either European pond turtles or pond sliders may explain the strength of agile frogs’ response toward the alien species; while, the historical range of the white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) overlapped that of the common frog, enhancing the co-option of alien crayfish cues by this anuran species.
Intraoperative variability of corneal epithelium thickness in photorefractive keratectomy
Authors: Barequet Dana , Levinger Eliya , Rosenblatt Amir , Levinger Samuel , Barequet Irina S.
Published: June 2024

Purpose

To evaluate the intraoperative central corneal epithelial thickness (ET) as measured by optical coherence pachymetry (OCP) in myopic eyes undergoing alcohol-assisted photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

Methods

A retrospective review of patients who underwent alcohol-assisted PRK was performed. Data were abstracted on age, gender, contact lens (CL) wear, preoperative refractive errors, keratometry, topographic and ultrasonic pachymetry, and intraoperative OCP measurements before and after epithelium removal. The central ET was calculated by subtracting OCP measurement after epithelium removal from the OCP measurement prior to epithelium removal.

Results

The study comprised of 162 consecutive eyes from 81 patients. Mean age was 26.73 ± 6.47 years, 50.6% were males. CL was used in 92 eyes (56.8%). The mean sphere and spherical equivalent were −3.60 ± 1.84 D and −3.26 ± 1.85D, respectively. The mean intraoperative ET was 58.22 ± 17.53 µm (range, 15–121µm). Fifty-five percent of the eyes had an ET measurement above or below the range of 40-60µm. ET was significantly higher in the second operated eye compared to the first operated eye (p = 0.006), and an association was found to CL-wear (p = 0.03). There was no significant difference in thickness between genders (p = 0.62), and no correlation to patient age (p = 0.45, rp = 0.06), refractive errors (p > 0.30,rp=−0.07–0.08), nor keratometry(p > 0.80, rp=−0.01− (−0.02)).

Conclusion

The intraoperative assessment of ET in alcohol-assisted PRK showed a high variability of the central corneal epithelium, with a significant difference between the first and second operated eyes. This difference may have implications when the epithelium is not included in the surgical planning in surface ablation.
Switch to faricimab after initial treatment with aflibercept in eyes with diabetic macular edema
Authors: Pichi Francesco , Abdi Abdulhamid , Aljneibi Shaikha , El Ghrably Ibraheem , Agarwal Aniruddha , Ghazi Nicola G.
Published: June 2024

Purpose

To assess the effectiveness of a switch to faricimab in individuals affected by DME and previously treated with aflibercept.

Methods

In this retrospective, single-center study, DME patients previously treated with at least 3 injections of aflibercept then switched to faricimab were enrolled. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central subfield thickness (CST) were recorded at baseline, at the time of the switch and at 6 months follow-up. At transition to faricimab, patients were categorized as "good visual responders" (≥ 5 letters from baseline) or "poor visual responders" (< 5 letters), and as "good anatomical responders" (any reduction in edema compared to baseline) or "poor anatomical responders" (no reduction or worsening of edema). Changes in BCVA and CST were recorded at 6 months after the switch to faricimab.

Results

100 eyes of 100 patients (61 female, 61%) were switched to faricimab after a mean of 6.8 ± 3.3 aflibercept injections. At the 6 months follow-up, only “poor visual responders” (N = 62) demonstrated a meaningful increase in BCVA (Δswitch-6M =  + 5 letters;P = 0.007), coupled with a reduction in CST (Δswitch-6M = − 67.9 µm;P = 0.004); participants with “poor anatomical response” upon transitioning exhibited a significant functional gain (Δswitch-6M =  + 4.5 letters;p = 0.05) but limited CST enhancements (Δswitch-6M = − 95.1 µm;p = 0.05).

Conclusions

Faricimab shows a positive impact on anatomical and functional metrics in DME cases refractory to aflibercept.
Exploiting Shared Sub-Expression and Materialized View Reuse for Multi-Query Optimization
Authors: Gurumurthy Bala , Bidarkar Vasudev Raghavendra , Broneske David , Pionteck Thilo , Saake Gunter
Published: June 2024

Querying in isolation lacks the potential of reusing intermediate results, which ends up wasting computational resources. Multi-Query Optimization (MQO) addresses this challenge by devising a shared execution strategy across queries, with two generally used strategies: batched or cached. These strategies are shown to improve performance, but hardly any study explores the combination of both. In this work we explore such a hybrid MQO, combining batching (Shared Sub-Expression) and caching (Materialized View Reuse) techniques. Our hybrid-MQO system merges batched query results as well as caches the intermediate results, thereby any new query is given a path within the previous plan as well as reusing the results. Since caching is a key component for improving performance, we measure the impact of common caching techniques such as FIFO, LRU, MRU and LFU. Our results show LRU to be the optimal for our usecase, which we use in our subsequent evaluations. To study the influence of batching, we vary the factor - - which represents the similarity of the results within a query batch. Similarly, we vary the cache sizes to study the influence of caching. Moreover, we also study the role of different database operators in the performance of our hybrid system. The results suggest that, depending on the individual operators, our hybrid method gains a speed-up between 4x to a slowdown of 2x from using MQO techniques in isolation. Furthermore, our results show that workloads with a generously sized cache that contain similar queries benefit from using our hybrid method, with an observed speed-up of 2x over sequential execution in the best case.
Deep-level transient spectroscopy analysis of interface defects in Ce:ZnO/p-Si heterostructures
Authors: Öztel Halim Onur , Akçay Namık , Algün Gökhan
Published: June 2024

This study reports the investigation of the effect of cerium (Ce) dopant concentration on defect levels in Ce-doped ZnO/p-type Si (p-Si) heterojunctions (HJs) by deep-level transient spectroscopy (DLTS). Undoped ZnO (uZnO) and Ce-doped ZnO (Ce:ZnO) were synthesized at different molar ratios using the sol–gel method, and n-Ce:ZnO/p-Si heterojunctions were fabricated on p-Si via spin coating. According to energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) data, no foreign atoms are present in the synthesized nanoparticles. A critical observation is that the oxygen content increases with Ce doping. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed uniform spherical grains, with a decrease in grain size as Ce dopant concentration increased. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed a hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure for all nanostructures. I–V measurements documented that the structures have a good rectifying behavior and that the structure exhibiting the best diode character is the Ce:ZnO/p-Si heterostructure containing 2 mol% Ce with an ideality factor of 3.36. DLTS revealed that Ce doping deepened defect levels below the conduction band edge (Ec), with trap level positions calculated as Ec − 0.079, Ec − 0.311, Ec − 0.290, and Ec − 0.386 eV for undoped, 1, 2, and 5 mol% Ce-doped ZnO/p-Si, respectively. The trap concentration decreases with the addition of Ce into the ZnO lattice. The study underlines the tunability of the electrical properties of ZnO/p-Si HJs through Ce doping and the optimizability of their efficiency.
Evidence for regional-scale declines in carabid beetles in old lowland beech forests following a period of severe drought
Authors: Weiss Fabio , Winter Susanne , Pflugmacher Dirk , Kolling Thomas , Linde Andreas
Published: June 2024

Context

Evidence for declines in insect populations is growing with climate change being one suspected driver. Forests, however, are still underrepresented in the relevant research. Recent droughts (2018–2020) have severely affected forests in Central Europe and have been linked to declines in carabid abundance, biomass as well as changes in species traits at the local scale.

Objective

We tested drought effects on forest carabids at regional scale. We additionally investigated whether variability in drought effects could be explained with the initial community composition and the local environmental context.

Methods

We used generalized linear mixed models to compare data from 1999 to 2001 and 2020 to 2022 across eleven old beech forest sites of high conservation interest in North-East Germany and investigated changes in carabid abundance, biomass, Hill numbers and selected species traits. We then tested additional community-related and environmental predictors to explain spatial variability in changes in biomass.

Results

We found significant declines in biomass of 65% and in abundance of 51%. There were no significant changes in Hill numbers. We found consistent evidence that declines affected especially larger and less mobile species. Declines and changes in species traits also occurred in strictly protected old-growth beech forests. Among environmental predictors, landscape composition explained local variability in biomass declines best with stronger decline at forest sites with less forest area in their vicinity.

Conclusions

Our findings reveal large-scale declines in forest carabids in the context of recent droughts and highlight the exceptional role of landscape composition in this regard. Future insect conservation strategies need to incorporate the landscape context and potential exposure to extreme weather.
Spatio-temporal dynamics of fairy circles in Namibia are driven by rainfall and soil infiltrability
Authors: Getzin Stephan , Holch Sönke , Ottenbreit Johanna M. , Yizhaq Hezi , Wiegand Kerstin
Published: June 2024

Context

Namibia’s fairy circles (FCs) form an extraordinary vegetation pattern along the Namib Desert. Recent evidence from multiple fieldwork activities is increasingly supporting the view that FCs result from biomass-water feedbacks and plant self-organization.

Objectives

To shed light on these biomass-water feedbacks, we focused here on a temporal analysis of the spatial FC patterns with regard to vegetation response after rainfall events.

Methods

We analyzed the distribution of FCs in 10 drone-mapped study plots of the Namib and related their spatial patterns to the soil infiltrability. Additionally, we mapped three plots repeatedly during the rainfall seasons 2020–2023 to assess how the emerging grasses within FCs changed the FC patterns after rainfall.

Results

We found that the most regular, spatially periodic, FCs occurred in areas with deep aeolian sands where rain water infiltrates very quickly and homogenously across the study plot, which enables the most symmetric competitive interactions between the grasses. After ample rainfall following a drought period, between 58 and 34% of all mature FCs revegetated. These 1092 closing FCs were 73 times more than the 15 new FCs that formed during the same time. The closing FCs occurred in areas where there was locally a higher density of FCs, which act as underground water sources for the surrounding grasses.

Conclusions

Our study shows that the dynamic vegetation response to rainfall and soil water is the key driver of the FC patterns. Overall, the research underlines that Namibia’s fairy circles are a self-organized emergent vegetation pattern that is driven by biomass-water feedbacks and the competition of grasses for limiting water resources.
Comparison of deacclimation and reacclimation of silver birch, Norway spruce and Scots pine seedlings during winter warm and cold spells in Nordic boreal conditions
Authors: Luoranen Jaana , Kivimäenpää Minna , Riikonen Johanna
Published: June 2024

Climate change means that in many areas in boreal region, the duration and thickness of the winter snow cover is decreasing. Young seedlings are exposed to fluctuating winter temperatures in the absence of protecting snow cover. Responses to winter warm and cold spells were studied with Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.), and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karts.) container seedlings in Finland. The frost hardiness of whole seedlings and buds was determined for seedlings sampled directly from outdoor overwintering conditions, after 7-day deacclimation (+5 °C; +7 °C in late March) and deacclimation combined with 7-day reacclimation ( − 7 °C) treatments between January and late March. The frost hardiness of buds and whole seedlings in Scots pine was between  − 40 and  − 30 °C from January to early March. Norway spruces tolerated at least  − 50 °C in midwinter, but their frost hardiness in outdoor conditions decreased more rapidly in March than that of Scots pines. Silver birch tolerated  − 30 °C in February. During simulated warm spells, the Scots pine and silver birch deacclimated without an ability to reacclimate during simulated cold spells. The buds and whole seedlings of Norway spruces also deacclimated, but they had some ability to reacclimate in February and early March, but not in late March. In Nordic boreal conditions, one-year-old Scots pines and silver birches respond strongly to fluctuating winter temperatures during snowless winters, whereas Norway spruces can tolerate typical winter temperatures in midwinter, but their frost hardiness may reduce during warm spells in March.
Understanding flood risk in urban environments: spatial analysis of building vulnerability and hazard areas in the Lisbon metropolitan area
Authors: Santos Pedro Pinto , Pereira Susana , Zêzere José Luís , Reis Eusébio , Oliveira Sérgio Cruz , Garcia Ricardo A. C. , Ferreira Tiago Miguel
Published: June 2024

Climate change has brought about new risks while exacerbating existing ones, with floods now accounting for about 45% of global disasters. This trend indicates that the exposure to floods and resulting damages will continue to rise. This paper aims to contribute to the global efforts to enhance flood resilience in urban areas by introducing a physical vulnerability index for buildings in flood-prone urban areas and exploring its connection with flood hazard, as defined by the European Union Directive 2007/60/EC. An index-based methodology is proposed to assess the physical vulnerability of buildings to flooding, utilising the Portuguese Census and Georeferenced Buildings Database, collected on a nationwide scale. The physical vulnerability of buildings is evaluated in the context of the Lisbon metropolitan area (LMA) in Portugal, and the results are compared across different scales, contrasting flood hazard information for the entire LMA with the areas identified under the Flood Directive as having significant potential flood risk. Using cluster analysis, spatial patterns of flood risk are identified, highlighting areas where high flood depth and flood velocity overlap the high vulnerability of buildings. Lastly, potential adaptation paths are discussed, considering the diverse nature of the flood hazard and the lessons learnt from other flood events.
Optimizing soil core fine root collection and characterization: significant time reduction with a sub-sampling approach
Authors: Pardi Raimondo , Gargano Maria Letizia , Lasorella Cecilia , Terzaghi Mattia
Published: June 2024

Background and aims

The quantification of plant roots from soil represents a pivotal step in many studies in plant ecology and soil science. However, the substantial time investment required for this process often represents a considerable impediment to research progress. The objective of this study is to evaluate and propose a time-saving method to minimize the time required for collecting roots without compromising data integrity compared to traditional approaches.

Methods

The proposed Sub-sample Approach (SA) requires collecting fine roots from a sub-sample and subsequently leading calculations to estimate total root traits (mass, length, and length distribution among diameters) within the sampled soil core. A comparative analysis was carried out on root harvesting time between meticulous sample cleaning (Conventional Approach, CA) and SA. Moreover, these methods were assessed across different sites including grassland, oak forest, and olive orchard.

Results

The analysis conducted across many sites resulted in high heterogeneity of processing time when employing the CA (ranging from 2.6 to 27.6 h per sample). Conversely, the adoption of SA reduced processing time and resulted in less variation between samples (ranging from 37 to 112 min per sample). Remarkably, root trait data obtained using SA showed similarity to those obtained through the CA.

Conclusion

The SA offers a remarkable advantage over the CA by significantly reducing the time needed for root collection from soil core samples. Moreover, SA exhibits lower variability among different collection sites, while maintaining consistency in qualitative and quantitative data compared to the CA.
Does Twitter Data Mirror the European North–South Family Ties Divide? A Comparative Analysis of Tweets About Family
Authors: Gil-Clavel Sofia , Mulder Clara H.
Published: June 2024

Previous research on the relationship between geographical distance and the frequency of contact between family members has shown that the strength of family ties differs between Northern and Southern Europe. However, little is known about how family ties are reflected in peoples’ conversations on social media, despite research showing the relevance of social media data for understanding users’ daily expressions of emotions and thoughts based on their immediate experiences. This work investigates the question of whether Twitter use patterns in Europe mirror the North–South divide in the strength of family ties by analyzing potential differences in family-related tweets between users in Northern and Southern European countries. This study relies on a longitudinal database derived from Twitter collected between January 2012 and December 2016. We perform a comparative analysis of Southern and Northern European users’ tweets using Bayesian generalized multilevel models together with the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count software. We analyze the association between regional differences in the strength of family ties and patterns of tweeting about family. Results show that the North–South divide is reflected in the frequency of tweets that are about family, that refer to family in the past versus in the present tense, and that are about close versus extended family.
The contribution of innovation to farm-level productivity
Authors: Parikoglou Iordanis , Emvalomatis Grigorios , Läpple Doris , Thorne Fiona , Wallace Michael
Published: June 2024

Innovation is a key driver of productivity growth. This paper proposes a novel methodology in order to explore the impact of farm-level innovations on farm productivity and its components (i.e. technology, efficiency and scale) using representative data from Irish dairy farms. We measure innovation by an index based on employed production practices, continuous innovation activity and knowledge weighted by expert opinions. The results suggest that more innovative Irish dairy farmers are more productive. Specifically, all farmers improve their production technology and efficiency through their use of innovations, but farmers at specific levels of innovativeness may experience a decrease in productivity due to the small scale at which they operate. This indicates that innovation has a non-linear effect on productivity. We discuss the policy implications for reducing the unequal gains of innovation across farmers.
Watching intensity and media franchise engagement
Authors: Ameri Mina , Honka Elisabeth , Xie Ying
Published: June 2024

The rapid adoption of online streaming and over-the-top services has fundamentally changed at-home entertainment media consumption and given rise to new behaviors which are often characterized by a high intensity of watching (e.g., binge-watching). In this paper, we investigate how the watching intensity affects consumers’ engagement with media franchises in two areas: personal and interactive engagement. The former involves consumers’ adoption and consumption of franchise extensions and the latter concerns consumers’ content generation related to a focal media product they watched. Using individual-level data from an online anime (Japanese cartoons) platform, we find inverse U-shaped effects of watching intensity with the largest effects around three to five hours of watching per day on personal engagement and two to four hours a day on interactive engagement. The positive effects of watching intensity are larger for sequels than other types of franchise extensions. For interactive engagement, our results show that conditional on rating submission, higher watching intensity is associated with higher valence of anime ratings, the most prevalent form of UGC on the platform. We interpret this result as evidence that watching intensity can induce liking.
Lower extremity physical function and quality of life in patients with stroke: a longitudinal cohort study
Authors: Ryan Michelle , Rössler Roland , Rommers Nikki , Iendra Laura , Peters Eva-Maria , Kressig Reto W. , Schmidt-Trucksäss Arno , Engelter Stefan T. , Peters Nils , Hinrichs Timo
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Lower extremity physical function (LEPF) is a key component for mobility and is impacted in stroke-related disability. A reduction in LEPF can have a significant impact on an individual’s Quality of Life (QoL). The aim of this study is to characterise the relationship between LEPF and QoL.

Methods

The MOBITEC-Stroke Study is a longitudinal cohort-study including patients with their first occurrence of ischaemic stroke. Using a linear mixed-effects model, the relationship between LEPF (timed up-and-go performance (TUG); predictor) and QoL (Stroke Specific Quality of Life scale (SS-QoL); outcome) at 3 and 12 months post stroke was investigated and adjusted for sex, age, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), fear of falling (Falls Efficacy Scale-International Version, FES-I), and stroke severity (National Institute of Stroke Severity scale, NIHSS), accounting for the repeated measurements.

Results

Data of 51 patients (65 % males, 35% females) were analysed. The mean age was 71.1 (SD 10.4) years, median NIHSS score was 2.0. SS-QoL was 201.5 (SD 20.5) at 3 months and 204.2 (SD 17.4) at 12 months; the mean change was 2.7 (95% CI -2.4 to 7.7), p= 0.293. A positive association was found between baseline TUG performance (estimate log score -13.923; 95% CI -27.495 to -0.351; p=0.048) and change in SS-QoL score in multivariate regression analysis.

Conclusion

Higher LEPF (i.e better TUG performance) at baseline, was associated with an improvement in QoL from 3- to 12-months post stroke. These results highlight the critical role of physical function, particularly baseline LEPF, in influencing the QoL of stroke survivors.
Financial information and diverging beliefs
Authors: Armstrong Christopher S. , Heinle Mirko S. , Luneva Irina
Published: June 2024

Standard Bayesians’ beliefs converge when they receive the same piece of new information. However, when agents initially disagree and have uncertainty about the precision of a signal, their disagreement might instead increase, despite receiving the same information. We demonstrate that this divergence of beliefs leads to a unimodal effect of the absolute surprise in the signal on trading volume. We show that this prediction is consistent with the empirical evidence using trading volume around earnings announcements of U.S. firms. We find evidence of elevated volume following moderate surprises and depressed volume following more extreme surprises, a pattern that is more pronounced when investors hold more distant prior beliefs and are more uncertain about earnings’ precision. The evidence is consistent with the model where investors disagree about stocks’ expected returns and do not know the precision of earnings as a signal about the firm’s value.
Potential Competition and the 2023 Merger Guidelines
Authors: Gilbert Richard J. , Melamed A. Douglas
Published: June 2024

The 2023 Merger Guidelines devote a section to mergers that eliminate potential competition. This is an important contribution because agency guidelines have not discussed the subject in detail for almost 50 years. The new Guidelines follow the traditional distinction that has been upheld in the courts between a merger’s effects on incumbent responses to perceived potential competition and the potential effects of actual entry. Antitrust enforcement should assess both possible aspects of potential competition in an integrated fashion because harm from a merger occurs not infrequently from the elimination of actual potential competition; and when the elimination of perceived potential competition has an effect, it often occurs along with and as a consequence of the elimination of actual potential competition. Economic studies suggest that the benefits of perceived potential competition are less than some courts have assumed and that the benefits of actual potential competition are greater. Rather than focusing solely on the probability of harm from the elimination of a potential entrant, antitrust enforcement should adopt a sliding scale that takes into account the magnitude of the benefits for consumers or suppliers if entry is successful. Mergers with potential and nascent competitors can be harmful even if the probability of actual entry absent the merger is small.
Is Management and Organizational Studies divided into (micro-)tribes?
Authors: Wieczorek Oliver , Hallonsten Olof , Åström Fredrik
Published: June 2024

Many claims have been made in the past that Management and Organization Studies (MOS) is becoming increasingly fragmented, and that this fragmentation is causing it to drift into self-reference and irrelevance. Despite the weight of this claim, it has not yet been subjected to a systematic empirical test. This paper addresses this research gap using the tribalization approach and diachronic co-citation analyses. Based on 22,430 papers published in 14 MOS journals between 1980 and 2019, we calculate local and global centrality measures and the flow of cited articles between co-citation communities over time. In addition, we use a node-removal strategy to test whether only ritualized citations ensure MOS cohesion. Rather than tribalization, our results suggest a center–periphery structure. Furthermore, more peripheral papers are integrated into the central co-citation communities, but the lion's share of the flow of cited papers occurs over time to only a small number of large clusters. An increase of fragmentation and crowding-out of smaller clusters in MOS in seen in the polycentrically organized core 2014–2019.
Exploring the Role of Shrubs in Modulating Heavy Metal Accumulation in Forest Soils in Single-Species Pine Stands
Authors: Kaźmierczak Marzena , Błońska Ewa , Lasota Jarosław
Published: June 2024

Heavy metals accumulate and bind strongly in soil, making them difficult to eliminate. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of alder buckthorn (Frangula alnus) and European hazelnut (Coryllus avellana) admixtures in pine monocultures on the accumulation and vertical distribution of heavy metals in soil surface horizons. Ten sites each of pine stands admixed with alder buckthorn, pine stands admixed with European hazelnut, and pine monocultures in the Rybnik Forest District in southern Poland were selected for each variant. For the study, soil samples were taken from each site from the organic and mineral horizons and analysed for N and C contents, C/N ratio, pHH2O, base cation contents, and heavy metal contents. For all three stand compositions, the organic horizons showed a significant accumulation of heavy metals compared to the mineral horizons. Heavy metal content was correlated with pH, N and C contents, C/N ratio, and base cation contents. The admixture of shrubs, especially European hazelnut, positively affected soil organic matter quality and, consequently, the accumulation of heavy metals. European hazelnut had the most beneficial soil effects on the tested soil, which confirms that this species can be used in planning species composition, particularly in regions prone to heavy pollutant deposition.
Unlocking the potential of Eichhornia crassipes for wastewater treatment: phytoremediation of aquatic pollutants, a strategy for advancing Sustainable Development Goal-06 clean water
Authors: Monroy-Licht Andrea , Carranza-Lopez Liliana , De la Parra-Guerra Ana C. , Acevedo-Barrios Rosa
Published: June 2024

The 2030 Agenda, established in 2015, contains seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at addressing global challenges. SDG-06, focused on clean water, drives the increase in basic sanitation coverage, the management of wastewater discharges, and water quality. Wastewater treatment could contribute to achieving 11 of the 17 SDGs. For this purpose, phytoremediation is a low-cost and adaptable alternative to the reduction and control of aquatic pollutants. The objective of this study is to highlight the role of macrophytes in the removal and degradation of these compounds, focusing on Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, commonly known as water hyacinth. The reported values indicate that this plant has a removal capacity of over 70% for metals such as copper, aluminum, lead, mercury, cadmium, and metalloids such as arsenic. Additionally, it significantly improves water quality parameters such as turbidity, suspended solids, pH, dissolved oxygen, and color. It also reduces the presence of phosphates, and nitrogen compounds to values below 50%. It also plays a significant role in the removal of organic contaminants such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and dyes. This study describes several valuable by-products from the biomass of the water hyacinth, including animal and fish feed, energy generation (such as briquettes), ethanol, biogas, and composting. According to the analysis carried out, E. crassipes has a great capacity for phytoremediation, which makes it a viable solution for wastewater management, with great potential for water ecosystem restoration.

Graphical abstract
Drop–Dry Deposition of SnO2 Using Na2SnO3 and Fabrication of SnO2/NiO Transparent Solar Cells
Authors: Ichimura Masaya , Okada Tetsuya , Fukuda Aoi , Li Tong
Published: June 2024

In this work, SnO2 thin films are deposited by drop–dry deposition (DDD), which is a simple, low-cost chemical technique for thin film deposition. The deposition solution contains Na2SnO3 as the Sn source, and is highly stable without spontaneous reactions in the solution. The solution is dropped on a substrate heated to 60°C on a heater plate. According to Auger electron spectroscopy, the deposit will be stoichiometric SnO2. The film is n-type and transparent in the visible range. The pn heterostructure is fabricated by depositing SnO2 on p-type NiO. The NiO film is also fabricated by DDD. Ni(OH)2 is deposited using a solution containing Ni(NO3)2 and NaOH, and then is converted to NiO by annealing at 400°C. The SnO2/NiO structure is transparent in the visible range and shows clear rectification properties and photovoltaic effects. Thus, a transparent solar cell is successfully fabricated by DDD.
The effectiveness of nurses’ psychosocial interventions for sensory deprivation in intensive care patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Uzun Sevda
Published: June 2024

Objective

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the effectiveness of nurses’ psychosocial interventions for addressing sensory deprivation in intensive care units (ICUs).

Materials and methods

A comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCOhost, Google Scholar, CİNAHL, Embase, Cochrane Library, and YÖK Thesis Center databases was conducted from August 2023 to May 2024, without any temporal restrictions. In addition, a physical search was made in the university library for grey literature.

Results

The study revealed that nurses’ psychosocial interventions significantly improved patients’ level of consciousness (SMD = 1.042, %95 CI = 0.716 to 1.369; Z = 6.25; p < .05) and sleep quality in ICUs (SMD=1.21, 95% CI= 0.232 to 1.810; Z = 2.49; p < .05). The effectiveness of psychosocial interventions varied based on the type of intervention, patient age, ICU type, patient group, and intervention duration. Notably, auditory stimuli and aromatherapy demonstrated particularly high effect sizes, significantly enhancing patients’ levels of consciousness and sleep quality.

Conclusion

In conclusion, psychosocial interventions aimed at reducing sensory deprivation in intensive care units exert beneficial effects on individuals, notably enhancing their level of consciousness and improving sleep quality.
The role of IL-17 in the pathogenesis and treatment of glioblastoma—an update on the state of the art and future perspectives
Authors: Łaszczych Dariusz , Czernicka Aleksandra , Gostomczyk Karol , Szylberg Łukasz , Borowczak Jędrzej
Published: June 2024

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant brain tumor, which, despite significant progress made in the last years in the field of neuro-oncology, remains an incurable disease. GBM has a poor prognosis with a median survival of 12–15 months, and its aggressive clinical course is related to rapid growth, extensive infiltration of adjacent tissues, resistance to chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy, and frequent relapse. Currently, several molecular biomarkers are used in clinical practice to predict patient prognosis and response to treatment. However, due to the overall unsatisfactory efficacy of standard multimodal treatment and the remaining poor prognosis, there is an urgent need for new biomarkers and therapeutic strategies for GBM. Recent evidence suggests that GBM tumorigenesis is associated with crosstalk between cancer, immune and stromal cells mediated by various cytokines. One of the key factors involved in this process appears to be interleukin-17 (IL-17), a pro-inflammatory cytokine that is significantly upregulated in the serum and tissue of GBM patients. IL-17 plays a key role in tumorigenesis, angiogenesis, and recurrence of GBM by activating pro-oncogenic signaling pathways and promoting cell survival, proliferation, and invasion. IL-17 facilitates the immunomodulation of the tumor microenvironment by promoting immune cells infiltration and cytokine secretion. In this article we review the latest scientific reports to provide an update on the role of IL-17 role in tumorigenesis, tumor microenvironment, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of GBM.
Explaining association between interpersonal communication competence and depression through need satisfaction, anxiety, and stress
Authors: Çıkrıkçı Neslihan
Published: June 2024

The cognitive evaluation of the process of interpersonal communication may be a risk factor of depression. Interpersonal communication competence assesses how people display performance on communication and has been proposed to impact directly need satisfaction, indirectly anxiety, stress, and depression. The main purpose of the present cross-sectional study was to examine the mediation roles of need satisfaction, anxiety, and stress in the association between interpersonal communication competence and depression. Correlational and mediation analysis were performed to test conceptual model of depression. Correlational analysis revealed that depression was associated with interpersonal communication competence, anxiety, and stress. Additionally, interpersonal communication competence was associated with need satisfaction, anxiety, and stress. As for mediation analysis, it was concluded that the serial mediation role of need satisfaction, anxiety, and stress in the association between interpersonal communication competence and depression was significant. A new conceptual model provided empirical evidences as to the prodrome of depression. Therefore, it was supposed that these findings would be effective in psychological interventions of depression.
Fast normalized cross-correlation for template matching with rotations
Authors: Almira José María , Phelippeau Harold , Martinez-Sanchez Antonio
Published: June 2024

Normalized cross-correlation is the reference approach to carry out template matching on images. When it is computed in Fourier space, it can handle efficiently template translations but it cannot do so with template rotations. Including rotations requires sampling the whole space of rotations, repeating the computation of the correlation each time.This article develops an alternative mathematical theory to handle efficiently, at the same time, rotations and translations. Our proposal has a reduced computational complexity because it does not require to repeatedly sample the space of rotations. To do so, we integrate the information relative to all rotated versions of the template into a unique symmetric tensor template -which is computed only once per template-. Afterward, we demonstrate that the correlation between the image to be processed with the independent tensor components of the tensorial template contains enough information to recover template instance positions and rotations. Our proposed method has the potential to speed up conventional template matching computations by a factor of several magnitude orders for the case of 3D images.
Aphid adaptation in a changing environment through their bacterial endosymbionts: an overview, including a new major cereal pest (Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch) scenario
Authors: Csorba Artúr Botond , Dinescu Sorina , Pircalabioru Gratiela Gradisteanu , Fora Ciprian G. , Bálint János , Loxdale Hugh D. , Balog Adalbert
Published: June 2024

Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are small, phloem-feeding insects that exhibit remarkable adaptability and resilience to various environmental conditions, including heat stress. Recent research has shed light on the role of bacterial symbionts in influencing the heat tolerance of aphids. Additionally, an intriguing avenue of investigation has explored how aphids can acquire bacterial symbionts through a unique mechanism involving soil nematodes. In this paper, we provide an in-depth overview of the interplay between heat stress, bacterial symbionts, and soil nematodes in the context of aphid biology. In reviewing the existing literature and collating available knowledge, we highlight the mechanisms by which bacterial symbionts contribute to aphid heat stress tolerance and examine the symbiont acquisition process facilitated by soil nematodes. Furthermore, we discuss the implications of these symbiotic associations in relation to the ecology, evolution, and agricultural management of a major globally expanding pest aphid, the corn leaf aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch). Overall, it may be concluded that both primary and secondary bacterial endosymbionts play a significant role in aphid biology with evolutionary consequences. These include adaptations through bacterial symbionts in terms of longevity and fecundity, heat shock tolerance, and resistance to fungal pathogens and primary hymenopterous wasp parasitoids.
Study on seismic characterization and distribution characteristics of effective reservoirs of granite weathering crust in Dongying Sag, Bohai Bay Basin
Authors: Zhu Mao-lin , Liu Zhen , Liu Hui-min , Zhang Peng-fei
Published: June 2024

To solve the problem of low resolution of seismic data from granite weathering crust and difficulty in predicting effective reservoir distribution. Based on the research idea of combining geology and seismology, seismic facies characteristics and effective reservoir distribution of granite weathering crust are studied by means of frequency division reconstruction processing, seismic facies analysis and sensitive attributes interpretation. This method consists of the following four main processes: (1) Using improved Morlet wavelet function for frequency division and reconstruction processing of seismic data; (2) From the perspective of geological evolution, analyzing the geological origin of seismic facies; (3) Based on the results of well- seismic combination, clarifying the types of effective reservoirs and predicting their distribution; (4) Comprehensive research indicating favorable reservoirs distribution. The results indicate that (1) a considerably improved resolution of seismic data processed by frequency division reconstruction is obtained based on the improved Morlet wavelet function. Thus, granite reservoirs then have clearer internal reflection characteristics. (2) Affected by differences in weathering, the seismic facies in granite weathering crusts can be classified as follows: Strong-amplitude facies with amplitudes of 23,700 − 32,800, corresponding to eluvium, represents the late stage of weathering crust evolution with high-intensity weathering. Medium-amplitude facies with amplitudes of 5,250 − 24,000, corresponding to dissolution layer, represents a middle stage of weathering crust evolution with moderate weathering. And weak-amplitude-blank facies with amplitudes of 0–5,330, corresponding to disintegration layer, represents an early stage of weathering crust evolution with weak weathering. (3) Effective reservoirs can be classified according to well-seismic calibrations and combined with reservoir spaces, porosities and permeabilities, and the logging and oil-bearing characteristics of the reservoirs. Type I effective reservoir comprises medium-amplitude facies, with favorable reservoir conditions and high-yield oil-bearing properties; this type is distributed in the western slopes, with an elevation of 1,300-2,500 m. Type II effective reservoir comprises strong-amplitude facies, with poor oil-bearing properties; this type is mainly distributed in the southeast and north slopes of the study area, with a relatively limited range, and the elevation is mostly below 1,500 m. Type III effective reservoir comprises weak-amplitude-blank facies, with poor reservoir conditions and poor oil-bearing properties; this type is widely distributed at various elevations. (4) The areas where medium-amplitude facies have developed are the most favorable reservoir exploration zones for granite in Dongying Sag, Bohai Bay Basin.
Helicopter augmented control laws for ship deck landing: HACLAS ONERA/DLR Joint Team
Authors: Kalra Arti , Binet Laurent
Published: June 2024

Different types of control laws are implemented, tested and compared for maritime operations particularly ship deck landing maneuvers at the flight simulation facilities at both DLR (German Aerospace Center) and ONERA (The French Aerospace Lab). At DLR, “classical” cyclic and collective stick flight controls were used during the piloted simulator trials while active side-sticks were operated at ONERA. A joint maritime scenario for ship deck landing in the simulation environments of both institutes is presented. Test methodologies and assessment techniques to evaluate the ship deck landings are harmonized based on different criteria such as quantitative measures and handling qualities (HQ) ratings to analyze the developed control laws. Simulation results based on pilot studies for an EC135 in the DLR simulator and an EC225 at ONERA are presented.
Reconceptualizing Simulations: Epistemic Objects and Epistemic Practices in Professional Education
Authors: Sellberg Charlott , Solberg Mads
Published: June 2024

This study explores how and why simulation training facilitates professional learning by investigating how simulators and simulations are used and conceptualized in two professional domains, nursing and maritime navigation, and offer a reconceptualization. Our aim is to move beyond past theorizing of simulators and simulations that has mainly centered on representational issues like validity, fidelity, and authenticity. Instead, we approach simulators as epistemic objects and simulations as epistemic practices. These concepts offer a lens to examine the situated and sociomaterial practices that make simulators into simulations and simulations into entry points to the epistemic culture of a profession. As a result, we pinpoint three central mechanisms for transforming the simulation experience into an event that facilitates the enrollment of students into their future profession. The first mechanism involves the instructional practice of “filling in” aspects of the work context that might be missing in the simulator. The second mechanism, sometimes labeled the “as-if” mode of simulations, manifests through the participants’ ongoing commitment to treat the simulation as-if it was a real professional encounter. The third relates to how simulation-based learning activities afford a crucial pedagogical orientation towards defining what constitutes exemplary professional practice in specific training situations.
New-Generation Ferroelectric AlScN Materials
Authors: Zhang Yalong , Zhu Qiuxiang , Tian Bobo , Duan Chungang
Published: June 2024

Ferroelectrics have great potential in the field of nonvolatile memory due to programmable polarization states by external electric field in nonvolatile manner. However, complementary metal oxide semiconductor compatibility and uniformity of ferroelectric performance after size scaling have always been two thorny issues hindering practical application of ferroelectric memory devices. The emerging ferroelectricity of wurtzite structure nitride offers opportunities to circumvent the dilemma. This review covers the mechanism of ferroelectricity and domain dynamics in ferroelectric AlScN films. The performance optimization of AlScN films grown by different techniques is summarized and their applications for memories and emerging in-memory computing are illustrated. Finally, the challenges and perspectives regarding the commercial avenue of ferroelectric AlScN are discussed.
The Nakedness of Prakṛti: A Sāṃkhya-Yoga Reading of Aubrey Menen’s The Space Within the Heart
Authors: Ferrández Raquel
Published: June 2024

In his autobiography The Space within the Heart (1970), the writer Aubrey Menen shares the experiment in self-inquiry he conducted in the 1960s in the Piazza Farnese in Rome. Relying on the reading of two Upaniṣads, he decided to retreat to a room and not abandon the experiment until he had achieved the experience of his true self, the ātman. Employing only intellectual analysis, Menen distances himself, one by one, from all the narratives that make up his empirical identity. In this essay, I propose to interpret his experiment from classical Sāṃkhya philosophy, reading it as a contemporary practice of tattva-abhyāsa that proceeds through a methodic disenchantment and entails a cognitive and emotional nakedness that might be interpreted as the nakedness of prakṛti. This case study raises questions about the application of Sāṃkhya philosophy in contexts other than renunciation and outside of any tradition, as well as on the role that emotions play in the process of the negation (pratiṣedha) of tattva-s, for the latter are not abstract entities, but shape our various empirical identities through emotional knots that the seeker will have to undo in the exercise of coming to affirm their identity as puruṣa.