bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seismic vulnerability of a pre-code, reinforced concrete, apartment-block building
Authors: Parizat Shir , Kamai Ronnie , Shaked Yehezkel , Shmerling Assaf
Published: November 2024

This research studies the Damage State Probability of a pre-code reinforced concrete apartment block building designed for gravity loads only. The study refers to the moderate damage state associated with apparent cracking and the onset of concrete spalling that exposes the transverse reinforcement. This damage state is chosen for the analysis because it is highly correlated with the number of displaced households in the case of a damaging earthquake. We analyze the structural inelastic earthquake response using 50 ground acceleration records to create the fragility curve function for four ground motion intensity measures. From the four intensity measures used in this study, the peak-ground velocity is found to be most highly correlated to the damage state probability of the analyzed structure. Because this structural type is very common throughout Israel, including in towns close to the active Dead Sea fault, near-fault effects are considered in the analysis but are found to be relatively insignificant due to the dynamic properties of the analyzed building. Finally, a potential retrofit solution is proposed, incorporating financial and serviceability limitations. The proposed retrofit effectiveness is made clear by comparing the fragility curves with and without the suggested retrofit. For example, the horizontal peak acceleration required for a 50% probability of achieving the damage state is increased from 0.18 g to 0.32 g for the original and retrofitted building, respectively. The analysis also shows that the generic curves currently in the Hazus platform, which is widely used for national risk analysis in Israel, overestimate the earthquake resilience of the addressed building and should, therefore, be updated and replaced with more accurately obtained curves.
Improvement of the properties of nanocellulose suspensions and films by the presence of residual lignin
Authors: Almeida Ricardo O. , Ramos Ana , Kimiaei Erfan , Österberg Monika , Maloney Thaddeus C. , Gamelas José A. F.
Published: November 2024

The effect of lignin on several properties of nanocellulose suspensions and films, such as degree of mechanical fibrillation, optical transparency, and gas barrier properties is still a matter of study. In the present work, it was investigated the influence of residual lignin on the efficiency of cationization and enzymatic pretreatments to produce lignin-containing nanocelluloses (LCNFs) from unbleached kraft pulps, and, on the properties (mechanical, gas barrier, transparency, antioxidant activity and thermal stability) of the corresponding films. The overall efficiency of the pretreatments was not negatively affected by the presence of lignin (3–4 wt%) in the starting pulps, as measured by the degree of fibrillation, degree of polymerization of cellulose, optical transmittance, and cationic group content (cationization). On the contrary, lignin could even enhance the mechanical fibrillation and the optical transmittance (transparency) of the cationic and enzymatic LCNF suspensions compared to the reference lignin-free nanocelluloses (CNFs) prepared from bleached pulp. Lignin could also improve the optical transparency of the films, which is an important finding of the present work: 64.8% for LCNF-Cationic (-Cat) vs. 56.9% for CNF-Cat, and 74.5% for LCNF-Enzymatic (-Enz) vs. 64.5% for CNF-Enz. Moreover, films with lignin demonstrated higher antioxidant activity, UV-light absorption capacity, larger char residue, and even improved oxygen barrier compared to the analogous CNF films. A remarkable oxygen barrier performance was exhibited by the LCNF-Enz film (oxygen transmission rate below 2 cm3/m2.day). Overall, the presence of residual lignin in the cellulose micro/nanofibril production can improve some of the suspension and film properties, particularly the optical transparency.
Settling for a “good enough” school: contradictions of middle class reproduction in a small town in illiberal Hungary
Authors: Szőke Alexandra , Kovai Cecília , Geambașu Réka
Published: November 2024

The politics of the Orbán regime, in power in Hungary since 2010, are reshaping the possibilities for middle class reproduction and social mobility, as revealed through our analysis of parental dilemmas around school choice and future aspirations in a peripheral small town. As the main targets of re-industrialization and an important voter base for the regime, small towns are particularly relevant localities for studying the transformations of middle-class reproduction. Globally, anxieties over class reproduction pushes parents to invest more intensely in their children’s education, whereas increasingly worrying about the detrimental effects of related pressures on their child’s well-being. In small towns in the global semi-periphery, parental dilemmas around schooling appear in a particularly acute form due to the limited possibilities for social advancement, the high financial and emotional costs that mobility requires, and the racialised dimension of localised class relations. We contend that policies of the Orbán regime, such as the ‘churchification’ of education and the privileging of technical middle schools, have further reshaped local possibilities and routes of advancement. The tension between the pervasive promise of middle-class advancement through education and the locally rooted assessment of realistic employment possibilities exposes the contradictions of the current regime and helps to grasp the localised consequences of its socio-economic re-engineering. As in the studied context class is strongly racialised, we examine the strategies and dilemmas of middle class parents of the ethnic majority, and Roma parents who aspire to become middle class in a relational way, revealing how ethnicity further complicates middle class reproduction in Hungarian peripheral small towns.
Perceptions of Conditions that Characterize Projects as a Development Strategy: A Phenomenographical Study of Eleven Swedish Preschool Development Projects
Authors: Damber Ulla , Randevåg Lena
Published: November 2024

The present study focuses joint school and university development work in preschool-projects try to increase educational quality. The aim of this study was to explore perceived conditions and perceptions of projects among participants in development projects in eleven preschools. In addition, we were interested in the perceived outcomes of the projects. All projects were aimed at strengthening the preschool principal’s and staff’s competence regarding children’s language and emergent literacy development. The studied projects lasted up to three years. The results are based on phenomenographical analyses of thirteen focus group interviews with principals and staff, including eighty-eight participants, during the project period. Follow-up interviews were conducted with twenty-four representatives from the participating preschools one year after the closure of the projects. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed. Field notes from visits in the preschools contributed to the empirical material. Our findings indicate that the perceptions of a project, contributed to the understanding of a project as loaded with expectations that the development project is limited in time and that it will add extra-curricular work demanding extra resources, which led to the perception that when the project is over, development work is over. The word project, thus, per se functioned as a limiting factor, if on-going development work, was aimed for. Lack of anchoring the development work in the local context was perceived as problematic, with effects for the participants’ experience of agency. Furthermore, difficulties in managing large staff turnover during the project was perceived to cause the development work to come to a stand-still. Active leadership, and shared responsibility were perceived as favorable factors for the progress of the development work. Our conclusions encompass participants’ perceptions of adjustment to the local context, shared responsibility and seeing development work as exceeding time limits as vital components of successful development work.
How do ML practitioners perceive explainability? an interview study of practices and challenges
Authors: Habiba Umm-e- , Habib Mohammad Kasra , Bogner Justus , Fritzsch Jonas , Wagner Stefan
Published: November 2024

Explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) is a field of study that focuses on the development process of AI-based systems while making their decision-making processes understandable and transparent for users. Research already identified explainability as an emerging requirement for AI-based systems that use machine learning (ML) techniques. However, there is a notable absence of studies investigating how ML practitioners perceive the concept of explainability, the challenges they encounter, and the potential trade-offs with other quality attributes. In this study, we want to discover how practitioners define explainability for AI-based systems and what challenges they encounter in making them explainable. Furthermore, we explore how explainability interacts with other quality attributes. To this end, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 14 ML practitioners from 11 companies. Our study reveals diverse viewpoints on explainability and applied practices. Results suggest that the importance of explainability lies in enhancing transparency, refining models, and mitigating bias. Methods like SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) and Local Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanation (LIME) are frequently used by ML practitioners to understand how models work, while tailored approaches are typically adopted to meet the specific requirements of stakeholders. Moreover, we have discerned emerging challenges in eight categories. Issues such as effective communication with non-technical stakeholders and the absence of standardized approaches are frequently stated as recurring hurdles. We contextualize these findings in terms of requirements engineering and conclude that industry currently lacks a standardized framework to address arising explainability needs.
Exploring carbon neutrality scenarios through the life cycle assessment lens: a review of literature and methodological challenges
Authors: Caiardi Fanny , Azzaro-Pantel Catherine , Le-Boulch Denis
Published: November 2024

National carbon neutrality scenarios usually focus on territorial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Their implementation could thus possibly result in some impact transfers to life cycle steps outside the territory or to other environmental issues. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) could help to assess comprehensively these scenarios. In this perspective, this article provides a comprehensive review of the current state of the art regarding the combination of LCA and carbon neutrality. An analysis of the identified articles covers general characteristics and methods, including the definition of carbon neutrality, the functions and boundaries of LCA, the life cycle inventory, the impact assessment, and the choices of LCA modelling. The findings indicate an increasing interest in the environmental assessment of decarbonisation options, particularly in energy transition scenarios. However, carbon neutrality strategies extend beyond energy transformation alone. They require modifications in agriculture, industrial processes, and waste treatment, among other sectors. According to the evidence collected from this research, there are very few articles that incorporate LCA within a national carbon neutrality strategy, encompassing all GHG-emitting sectors. Valuable insights can be gleaned from the identified publications that evaluate complex systems with LCA, such as policies, scenarios, cities, and other macroscopic objects, relying on advanced LCA methodologies. Some challenges are still to be found, and future work will focus on the application of LCA to a specific national scenario aiming at reaching carbon neutrality on a territory for 2050.
Dynamic pricing with multiple consumers and alternating offers under retailer competition: theory and experiment
Authors: Rapoport Amnon , Gisches Eyran J. , Mak Vincent , Zwick Rami
Published: November 2024

We introduce and test a stylized model of dynamic pricing under duopolistic competition. In our model, a consumer receives alternating price offers between two retailers over an indefinite number of periods so that the game or “season” terminates with a fixed probability after each period. The two retailers do not know the valuation of the consumer for the good they are competing to sell to the consumer, but they have common knowledge about the probability distribution of the valuation. Our equilibrium analysis suggests that price offers decrease exponentially across periods over the season. Moreover, when there are multiple consumers in the game, as long as their valuations are ex ante independently and identically distributed, the equilibrium predictions are the same regardless of the number of consumers. An experiment on the model showed that subjects acting as retailers often overpriced relative to equilibrium predictions. In addition, the theoretical invariance with respect to the number of consumers did not hold: consumers seemed to be more prone to strategic waiting in the first period of the season when there were multiple consumers (compared with when there was only a single consumer), leading to a decrease in the per-consumer payoff of the retailer who made the price offer in the first period and a corresponding increase in per-consumer payoff of the other retailer. There is also evidence of within-session evolution that led to lower retailer prices that were closer to equilibrium predictions, and higher tendency for consumer strategic waiting, as the session progressed.
Weight Stigma in the Development, Maintenance, and Treatment of Eating Disorders: A Case Series Informing Implications for Research and Practice
Authors: Kramer Rachel , Drury Catherine R. , Forsberg Sarah , Bruett Lindsey D. , Reilly Erin E. , Gorrell Sasha , Singh Simar , Hail Lisa , Yu Kimberly , Radin Rachel M. , Keyser Jessica , Le Grange Daniel , Accurso Erin C. , Huryk Kathryn M.
Published: November 2024

Weight-centric health practices are based on the principle that excess weight predicts chronic disease, informing a growing sociopolitical movement to address an “obesity epidemic.” This hyper-focus on preventing obesity may contribute to weight stigma (i.e., the devaluation and discrimination of individuals based on body size) and other iatrogenic outcomes for youth, including the development and maintenance of eating disorders (EDs). Current evidence-based treatments for EDs include language and practices that may reinforce fears of fatness, body shame, and unhealthy dietary restriction without guidance on addressing weight stigma. Here, we present case examples from three adolescent patients across ED presentations and body sizes to (1) elucidate the role of weight stigma in ED development, (2) highlight the ubiquity and harms of weight stigma within ED treatments, and (3) outline thoughtful protocol adaptations to avoid further harm and facilitate recovery. We conclude with a call for immediate action to advance research characterizing the harms of weight-centric approaches in existing ED interventions to reduce the risk of iatrogenic effects on youth with EDs and advance weight-inclusive approaches to ED treatment.
Micromechanical testing and microstructure analysis of as-welded and post-weld heat-treated Ti-6Al-4V alloy
Authors: Lu Yu , Turner Richard , Fang Chizhou , Wang Feng , Brooks Jeffery , Cai Biao , Basoalto Hector
Published: November 2024

The microstructural evolutions and variations in mechanical performance of electron beam welded (EBW) Ti-6Al-4V (Ti64) alloy have been investigated. The effects of heat treatment on the microstructure of welded samples have been studied after post-welding solution treatment and ageing. The martensitic phase $${\alpha }{\prime}$$

α
′

has been confirmed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) has been used to investigate the phase and grain morphology. Results showed that the martensitic α′ phase coarsened, the size of heat-affected zone (HAZ) changed and grains in the base materials (BMs) had grown after the post-weld heat treatments (PWHT). The tensile behaviour of electron beam welded Ti64 has been investigated using in situ tensile testing monitored by optical microscopy. The deformation and failure were directly revealed during the in situ tensile process. Results showed that the EBW Ti64 samples have different failure locations after receiving different post-weld heat treatments. The relationship between the post-weld heat treatments, microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of EBW Ti64 were investigated. Thermodynamic databases were used to predict mechanical properties—including the yield strengths—of the titanium alloy for different grain sizes, representing different post-weld heat treatment operations, and these were embedded into a finite element modelling framework to simulate the tensile testing specimens to understand the mechanical fields experienced such as stresses and strains, just prior to failure.
Influence of oxygen impurities in generating ferromagnetism in GaN doped with Mn, Fe, and Cr
Authors: Mendoza-Rodarte Jonathan A. , Maestre David , Camacho-López Santiago , Guimarães Marcos H. D. , Guerrero-Sánchez Jonathan , Herrera-Zaldivar Manuel
Published: November 2024

We report the influence of oxygen impurities in generating ferromagnetism in GaN doped with Mn, Fe, and Cr through superexchange involving Mn–O–Mn, Fe–O–Fe, and Cr–N–Cr atomic configurations. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations demonstrated that these configurations originate within $${V}_{\text{Ga}}-{O}_{\text{N}}$$

V
Ga

-

O
N

complex defects by incorporating Mn2+, Fe2+, and Cr3+ ions into gallium vacancies ($${V}_{\text{Ga}}$$

V
Ga

) sites promoted by the presence of oxygen as a substitutional impurity ($${O}_{\text{N}}$$

O
N

). These co-doped GaN microstructures were synthesized using the thermal evaporation method. Cathodoluminescence (CL) and photoluminescence (PL) measurements confirmed the presence of $${V}_{\text{Ga}}-{O}_{\text{N}}$$

V
Ga

-

O
N

complex defects in all GaN-grown samples. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements confirmed the successful incorporation of Mn2+, Fe2+, and Cr3+ ions in GaN samples. SQUID measurements demonstrated room-temperature ferromagnetism with respective saturation magnetization (Ms) and coercive field (Hc) values of ± 1.5 × 10−5 emu and 4 mT for GaN:O,Mn, ± 4.4 × 10−5 emu and 2.6 mT for GaN:O,Fe, and ± 1.7 × 10−5 emu and 2.6 mT for GaN:O,Cr.
Remediation of uranium with treated neem (Azadirachta indica) bark from environmental waters
Authors: Kumar G. Kiran , Sounderajan Suvarna , Kumar Sanjukta A.
Published: November 2024

Use of biomaterials is cost-effective and eco-friendly process with minimal waste generation, making it a sustainable alternative for metal remediation.The present study emphasizes the remediation of uranium using treated neem bark (TNB). TNB has been investigated for uranium sorption and parameters, such as pH, initial uranium concentration, equilibration time and temperature were optimized. The experimental results were evaluated for sorption kinetics and mechanism. It follows a pseudo second-order kinetics and Langmuir model of isotherm indicating monolayer sorption. The maximum sorption capacity at a pH 7.0 and temperature 27 °C for the remediation of uranium using TNB was 10.42 mg g−1.
What is “Dialogue” in Public Engagement with Science and Technology? Bridging STS and Deliberative Democracy
Authors: Goñi Julian Iñaki
Published: November 2024

This article provides a narrative review on the concept of dialogue within STS and Deliberative Democracy academic literature. Through this review I find that dialogue has been used in unsystematic, conflicting and sometimes even misleading ways that conflate dialogue and deliberation. Dialogue is used flexibly as an epistemological standpoint, an interactional format, a tradition and format of public engagement, an interactional phenomenon and an idealised moment. I provide a characterisation and theorisation of dialogue that seeks to integrate critical and historical accounts of dialogue, while introducing analytical dimensions that can be leveraged for further research. By bridging STS and Deliberative Democracy, I advance a definition of dialogue as a public technology.
Inhibitory Potential of the Truncated Isoforms on Glutamate Transporter Oligomerization Identified by Computational Analysis of Gene-Centric Isoform Maps
Authors: Karagöl Alper , Karagöl Taner , Li Mengke , Zhang Shuguang
Published: November 2024

Objective

Glutamate transporters play a key role in central nervous system physiology by maintaining excitatory neurotransmitter homeostasis. Biological assemblies of the transporters, consisting of cyclic homotrimers, emerge as a crucial aspect of glutamate transporter modulation. Hence targeting heteromerization promises an effective approach for modulator design. On the other hand, the dynamic nature of transcription allows for the generation of transporter isoforms in structurally distinct manners.

Methods

The potential isoforms were identified through the analysis of computationally generated gene-centric isoform maps. The conserved features of isoform sequences were revealed by computational chemistry methods and subsequent structural analysis of AlphaFold2 predictions. Truncated isoforms were further subjected to a wide range of docking analyses, 50ns molecular dynamics simulations, and evolutionary coupling analyses.

Results

Energetic landscapes of isoform-canonical transporter complexes suggested an inhibitory potential of truncated isoforms on glutamate transporter bio-assembly. Moreover, isoforms that mimic the trimerization domain (in particular, TM2 helices) exhibited stronger interactions with canonical transporters, underscoring the role of transmembrane helices in isoform interactions. Additionally, self-assembly dynamics observed in truncated isoforms mimicking canonical TM5 helices indicate a potential protective role against unwanted interactions with canonical transporters.

Conclusion

Our computational studies on glutamate transporters offer insights into the roles of alternative splicing on protein interactions and identifies potential drug targets for physiological or pathological processes.
Expression interplay of genes coding for calcium-binding proteins and transcription factors during the osmotic phase provides insights on salt stress response mechanisms in bread wheat
Authors: Duarte-Delgado Diana , Vogt Inci , Dadshani Said , Léon Jens , Ballvora Agim
Published: November 2024

Bread wheat is an important crop for the human diet, but the increasing soil salinization is reducing the yield. The Ca2+ signaling events at the early stages of the osmotic phase of salt stress are crucial for the acclimation response of the plants through the performance of calcium-sensing proteins, which activate or repress transcription factors (TFs) that affect the expression of downstream genes. Physiological, genetic mapping, and transcriptomics studies performed with the contrasting genotypes Syn86 (synthetic, salt-susceptible) and Zentos (elite cultivar, salt-tolerant) were integrated to gain a comprehensive understanding of the salt stress response. The MACE (Massive Analysis of cDNA 3ʹ-Ends) based transcriptome analysis until 4 h after stress exposure revealed among the salt-responsive genes, the over-representation of genes coding for calcium-binding proteins. The functional and structural diversity within this category was studied and linked with the expression levels during the osmotic phase in the contrasting genotypes. The non-EF-hand category from calcium-binding proteins was found to be enriched for the susceptibility response. On the other side, the tolerant genotype was characterized by a faster and higher up-regulation of genes coding for proteins with EF-hand domain, such as RBOHD orthologs, and TF members. This study suggests that the interplay of calcium-binding proteins, WRKY, and AP2/ERF TF families in signaling pathways at the start of the osmotic phase can affect the expression of downstream genes. The identification of SNPs in promoter sequences and 3ʹ -UTR regions provides insights into the molecular mechanisms controlling the differential expression of these genes through differential transcription factor binding affinity or altered mRNA stability.
Convergence in House Price Cycles across the US: Recent Developments and the Impact of Covid
Authors: Miles William , Zhu Xiaoyang
Published: November 2024

The co-movement of house prices across different regional markets has important implications for portfolio management, the conduct of monetary policy and labor mobility. Previous research examining several decades of co-movement has found price cohesion between US regions rising steadily from the mid-1990s or mid-2000s. Using a more recent data set, and applying more recently developed filters than previous studies employed, we find instead that by one filter cyclical co-movement has dropped since the early 1980s, and although it has fluctuated has displayed no sustained upward trend since. A second filter leads to a measure showing that co-movement did drop in the mid-1980s, and recovered in the mid-1990s. However, this recovery has not been steady, and has been marked by a number of declines in cohesion. Indeed, both filters show a drop in cohesion over the covid quarters and an increase in the variation between regions regarding how closely housing markets co-move. This was due to more extreme dispersion in house price movements across regions compared with what had prevailed in previous years. We note that the Pacific region, which had the fastest-growing prices in the US since the 1970s, grew the least of any market after the first year of the pandemic, while lower-cost regions experienced more rapid price increases during this period. These results are consistent with studies which have found covid led to a “flattening” of the gradient between neighborhoods with high and low-cost housing. We find some evidence that regions with a higher percentage of their workforces working-from-home experienced lower house price growth relative to other regions post-pandemic.
Bureaucracy, work organization, and the transition to entrepreneurship
Authors: Holm Jacob Rubæk , Nielsen Kristian , Timmermans Bram
Published: November 2024

Empirical studies have often established a negative relationship between the size of a firm where an individual is employed and the probability of that individual subsequently founding a business. This literature suggests that size captures work organization—particularly bureaucracy—and that bureaucracy affects the transition to entrepreneurship. However, many studies find that firm size is a poor proxy of work organization and, therefore, calls for empirical research exploring the link between specific measures of work organization and the transition to entrepreneurship. We create a measure of work organization from survey data—ranging from bureaucracy to adhocracy. We then combine this with longitudinal matched employer–employee register data and investigate different types of entrepreneurial transitions for individuals triggered by a mass worker displacement event. We find that work organization significantly affects several measures of transition, with possible implications for the policies and institutional settings that condition firms’ organization of work.
Transgender Knowledge Mediates U.S. Political Differences in Prejudice and Support for Trans-inclusive Policies
Authors: Zell Ethan , Burnett Meriel I.
Published: November 2024

There are sharp U.S. political differences in transgender attitudes, with liberals expressing much more favorable attitudes and support for trans-inclusive policies than conservatives. Transgender attitudes likely contribute to numerous public policies that are being passed or considered, including policies that impact transgender health, safety, and well-being. Thus, it is imperative to understand why vast partisan differences in transgender attitudes occur. Here we present two preregistered studies examining whether transgender knowledge (i.e., knowledge about transgender identities, experiences, causes, and health care) differs in Democrats versus Republicans, and whether knowledge mediates political differences in attitudes and policy support (N = 439, Prolific). Participants completed a transgender quiz, followed by measures of transgender prejudice and support for trans-inclusive policies. Democrats had superior transgender knowledge compared to Republicans (ds > 1.39). Further, as predicted, transgender knowledge significantly mediated political differences in transgender prejudice and policy support. Exploratory analyses found that the predicted mediation effects held when knowledge was operationalized in different ways and after adjusting for demographic covariates. These data suggest that knowledge gaps help to explain political differences in transgender attitudes and may stimulate additional work on how to improve such knowledge.
The polytope of optimal approximate designs: extending the selection of informative experiments
Authors: Harman Radoslav , Filová Lenka , Rosa Samuel
Published: November 2024

Consider the problem of constructing an experimental design, optimal for estimating parameters of a given statistical model with respect to a chosen criterion. To address this problem, the literature usually provides a single solution. Often, however, there exists a rich set of optimal designs, and the knowledge of this set can lead to substantially greater freedom to select an appropriate experiment. In this paper, we demonstrate that the set of all optimal approximate designs generally corresponds to a polytope. Particularly important elements of the polytope are its vertices, which we call vertex optimal designs. We prove that the vertex optimal designs possess unique properties, such as small supports, and outline strategies for how they can facilitate the construction of suitable experiments. Moreover, we show that for a variety of situations it is possible to construct the vertex optimal designs with the assistance of a computer, by employing error-free rational-arithmetic calculations. In such cases the vertex optimal designs are exact, often closely related to known combinatorial designs. Using this approach, we were able to determine the polytope of optimal designs for some of the most common multifactor regression models, thereby extending the choice of informative experiments for a large variety of applications.
Taxonomic revision of the genus Sarcosphaera (Ascomycota: Pezizales) in Europe and North America revealed unexpected diversity
Authors: Borovička Jan , Kolařík Miroslav , Halasů Viktorie , Perini Claudia , Parker Andrew D. , Gryndler Milan , Cohen Joseph D. , Hršelová Hana , Pastorino Ron , Žigová Anna , Parra Sánchez Luis Alberto
Published: November 2024

Sarcosphaera (Ascomycota: Pezizales) is a genus of rare spring fungi, currently encompassing a single species, S. coronaria, which is red-listed in many European countries. The genus is characterized by large bright-colored fruit-bodies and high arsenic content. This study investigates the genetic diversity across Europe and North America. Using integrated molecular techniques, including ITS and 28S rDNA sequencing, we aimed to resolve the taxonomic ambiguities and assess their arsenic hyperaccumulation capabilities, a rare trait among fungi. We identified the presence of two species in the Western Palearctic (S. coronaria, S. crassa) and at least 12 additional lineages in North America, indicating a more complex taxonomic structure than previously recognized. To consolidate the taxonomy and nomenclature of these fungi, we selected reference specimens for S. coronaria and S. crassa and discussed their morphological and ecological differences. Two genera, Caulocarpa (C. montana) and Hydnotryopsis (H. setchellii), a genus comprising hypogeous fungi, are newly placed in the genus Sarcosphaera. Sarcosphaera is thus another genus where the rapid evolution of hypogeous forms from their above-ground ancestors took place. Furthermore, two new Sarcosphaera species, S. columbiana and S. pacifica, are described from the Pacific Northwest. Investigation of arsenic content of Sarcosphaera species revealed that arsenic mass fractions in ascocarps vary significantly between species and even within species across different geographical locations. Our findings have important implications for the taxonomy and conservation of the S. coronaria species complex and also point to future directions for further research in the taxonomy, geomycology, and toxicology of this group of fungi.
Prospects of Direct Microbial Conversion of Sugars to Acrylic Acid in a Sugarcane Biorefinery: Techno-Economic and Environmental Comparison of Conventional and Extractive Fermentation
Authors: Sikazwe Manasseh K. , Louw Jeanne , Görgens Johann F.
Published: November 2024

Production of acrylic acid (AA) via direct microbial conversion of sugars may offer substantial economic and environmental benefits compared to indirect sugars conversion via chemical intermediates. However, further improvements to the performances of direct microbial bioconversions are required to allow industrial large-scale implementation. The benefits in terms of minimum selling price (MSP) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with such improvements to bioprocess performances were assessed through a Full-factorial (FF) assessment. Aspen Plus® simulations of direct sugars conversion to AA in a biorefinery retrofitted to a typical sugarcane mill were built using either conventional fermentation (S1-AA-CF) or extractive fermentation (S2-AA-EF). At current-best performances the MSP of S2-AA-EF is 25 times lower than for S1-AA-CF, while having 97.5% fewer GHG emissions. The lowest achievable MSPs from feasible improvements to microbe and bioprocess performances for S1-AA-CF and S2-AA-EF were 65.4% and 29.6% below the fossil-based price, respectively. The desired performance of the conventional fermentation route is dependent on strain engineering to alleviate AA product-inhibition, allowing for titres of 52 gAA. L−1 or more to be achieved in a fed-batch bioprocess. Thus, extractive fermentation is recommended as the preferred route for direct microbial conversion of sugars to AA.

Graphical Abstract
Factors influencing pregnant women’s decision to accept or decline prenatal screening and diagnosis – a qualitative study
Authors: Ternby Ellen , Axelsson Ove , Ingvoldstad Malmgren Charlotta , Georgsson Susanne
Published: November 2024

Background and Objective: Prenatal diagnosis for chromosomal anomalies is frequently used worldwide. It is important that pregnant women receive adequate counselling to make informed decisions regarding prenatal diagnosis. The aim of this study was to explore what factors influence pregnant women’s decision-making process when accepting or declining prenatal screening and diagnosis.  Methods: A qualitative study using inductive qualitative content analysis. Individual, semi-structured phone interviews were carried out during a five-month period in 2016–2017 with 24 pregnant women in the first trimester, living in a medium-sized Swedish city. Findings: Two main themes emerged: (1)“Individual factors - The women’s experiences, perceptions and values” with three categories “Attitude towards anomalies”, “Worry and need for reassurance”, “Self-perceived risk” and (2)“External factors - The women’s perception of the test and others’ views” with two categories “Test characteristics” and “Influence from others”.  Conclusions: Pregnant women’s decision-making process regarding prenatal tests is multidimensional, affected by both individual factors such as experiences, perceptions and values, and external factors such as test characteristics and influence from others. Information about both test characteristics and the conditions tested is of help pregnant women in the decision-making process since it provides a better understanding of how having a child with the condition in question can affect them and their family. It is important that healthcare professionals giving information about and offering prenatal tests for chromosomal anomalies are aware of how their attitudes can influence women’s decisions.
Depiction of Drought Over Africa in the Light of Changing Climate from CMIP6 Models
Authors: Yahaya Ibrahim , Zhou Jian , Jiang Shan , Xu Runhong H. , Huang Jinlong , Su Buda , Jing Cheng , Qiu Fangdao , Jiang Tong
Published: November 2024

Drought stands as a prevalent weather-related natural climatic disaster on a global scale. This study employs twenty GCMs from CMIP6 to investigate hydrological drought characteristics (frequency, duration, and intensity) across Africa under four SSPs (shared socioeconomic pathway) scenarios: SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5 spanning three designated periods: 2021–2040 (near-term), 2041–2060 (mid-term), and 2081–2100 (long-term). The (SPEI) at a 12-month scale and employs bias correction on the multi-model ensemble mean extracted from GCMs of the CMIP6 project via cumulative distribution function (CDF). Mann–Kendall approach was implemented for trend and the SPEI-12-based drought trend from 1979 to 2014 displays a negative trajectory of − 0.05/a for Africa, with similar figures for specific regions: Northern Africa (NAF) at − 0.06/a, Sahara (SAH) at − 0.05/a, Western Africa (WAF) at − 0.01/a, Central Africa (CAF) at − 0.02/a, Eastern Africa (EAF) at − 0.06/a, and Southern Africa (SAF) at − 0.03/a. Notably, the severe drought characteristics are manifested as a 6-month duration, 12 occurrences, and an intensity of − 1.9 events over Africa. The highest duration and frequency are observed over NAF at 7.5-month and 15.1 occurrences, respectively, while the most extreme intensity of − 2.3 events is noted over SAH. In addition, future droughts are expected to be lower frequency, extended duration, and more intense. Extreme scenarios indicate values of − 2.1, − 2.2, and − 2.6 events for Africa in the periods 2021–2040, 2041–2060, and 2081–2100, respectively, compared to − 1.99 in the historical period. The intensity of the drought is expected to increase across all sub-regions, with SAH and NAF projecting the worst conditions with − 2.4, − 2.8, and − 3.0 events respectively for SAH and − 2.2, − 2.7, and − 3.0 events for NAF. Africa’s droughts are predicted to last 6, 8, and 13 months, significantly longer than the usual 4-month period. As the historical events of 17 times is anticipated to drop to 6, 5, and 3 times, respectively. The insights derived from this study could provide a foundational basis for devising effective drought adaptation strategies in Africa. Given the anticipated severity of drought events, prioritizing plans to cope with such challenges is of paramount importance.
Investigation of Uncovering Molecular Mechanisms of Alcohol-Induced Female Infertility—A Rational Approach
Authors: Lubau Natasha Sura Anak , Chengebroyen Neevashini , Subramaniyan Vetriselvan
Published: November 2024

This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which chronic alcohol consumption impacts female infertility, highlighting significant societal implications. By conducting a comprehensive literature review, we examined existing evidence on the association between long-term alcohol use and female reproductive health. Relevant studies were identified through systematic searches of electronic databases and key journals. We synthesized information on the molecular pathways affected by alcohol consumption, with particular emphasis on oxidative stress, inflammation, and hormonal disruptions. Additionally, we reviewed efforts to address alcohol-related health issues, including public health interventions, regulatory measures, and educational initiatives. Our study found strong evidence linking chronic alcohol consumption to increased mortality rates and a range of preventable diseases globally. Alcohol's effects extend beyond physiological consequences to psychological, social, and economic burdens. Chronic alcohol consumption disrupts hormonal balance and reproductive function, contributing to female infertility. Future research should focus on quantifying mortality risks associated with alcohol consumption, understanding gender-specific patterns in alcohol-related health outcomes, and elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying female infertility. Addressing these gaps will inform strategies to mitigate the burden of alcohol-induced health issues and promote overall well-being. Collaborative efforts among diverse stakeholders are essential for advancing research agendas and translating findings into effective interventions.
Achieving microstructural homogeneity in the stir zone across thick AA6061 welds using self-reacting bobbin tool friction stir welding
Authors: Mishra Aishwary , Patel Md Saad , Hussain Ilyas , Tripathi Gaurav Chandra , Choudary Atul Kumar , Chakravarthy P. , Jain Rahul , Immanuel R. Jose
Published: November 2024

This study focuses into strategizing the usage of self-reacting bobbin tool friction stir welding (SRBT-FSW) to obtain consistent microstructural homogeneity along the thickness of AA6061 aluminium alloy (AA) thick plates during welding. The SRBT-FSW technology, distinguished by its dual-shoulder design, represents a significant step forward in FSW by eliminating the requirement for a backing anvil and promoting balanced heat distribution. This study seeks to address the issues of maintaining uniform microstructural characteristics throughout the weld zone, which is crucial for the mechanical performance and durability of welded joints in structural applications. The experimental study entails the systematic welding of AA6061 plates of 6 mm thickness using a self-reacting bobbin tool under a fixed processing condition. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) was used to characterize the grain structure and phase distribution over the weld. Mechanical parameters like as tensile strength and hardness were determined to establish correlations between microstructure and mechanical performance. The results demonstrated that SRBT-FSW significantly enhances microstructural homogeneity across the weld zone, leading to improved mechanical properties. In the Bottom Zone (BZ), a refined grain structure with an average grain size (AGS) of 3.53 µm and a random or weak texture was observed, contributing to enhanced hardness and mechanical performance, with an ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 220 MPa. In contrast, the Top Zone (TZ) exhibited a coarser AGS of 4.33 µm with a pronounced {111} crystallographic texture, resulting in a slightly lower UTS of 205 MPa. The Middle Zone (MZ), influenced by the greater heat input from both the TZ and BZ, showed an intermediate AGS of 3.99 µm, predominantly oriented along the {101} plane, and achieved a UTS of 194 MPa, with a slight reduction in ductility. This study highlights the potential of self-reacting bobbin tool friction stir welding as a reliable method for making high-quality, homogeneous welds in thick aluminium plates and paving way for their wider application in the aerospace, automotive, and shipbuilding industries, where homogeneous microstructural qualities are of significant importance.
Automatic detection of landslide impact areas using Google Earth Engine
Authors: Yang Yu-En , Yu Teng-To , Chen Chun-Yuan
Published: November 2024

This research introduces an effective framework for automatically detecting landslide impact areas using Google Earth Engine (GEE). The Asia–Pacific region frequently experiences earthquakes and heavy rainfall, leading to frequent landslides that cause loss of life and property. Focusing on landslide catalogues from Taiwan and Japan, the study proposes an automatic landslide detection process using a new method termed multi-bitemporal images (MBTIs), which involves the collection of accumulated changes over time. First, set the event date and collect all images before and after the event. Second, analyse the change pixels in bi-temporal images. Third, review all change pixels to determine the total amount of accumulated changes. This method includes all bi-temporal image sets in the analysis, unlike traditional methods that only use single pairs of bi-temporal images. Clouds are filtered using a pixel-based approach and machine learning techniques. The landslide areas are analysed statistically, and appropriate thresholds for automatic landslide detection are suggested. Using reproducibility, which indicates the percentage of bi-temporal images that detect vegetation loss in mountainous areas, the proposed method achieves a 99% reduction in false positives with a reproducibility requirement of 24.21%, while maintaining true positives at 66.89%. This study analyzed 28–720 bi-temporal image sets from various regions using Sentinel-2 data, revealing that subsequent landslides can be 7–293 times larger than co-seismic landslides. In comparison, subsequent landslides were found to be 3–12 times larger than rainfall-induced landslides. Additionally, the impact of earthquake event on subsequent landslides is 2.3–24.4 times greater than that of rainfall-induced event. By using GEE, the accumulation of hundreds of satellite images can be completed within 15 min, depending on the processing requirements.
Impact of online learning on student's performance and engagement: a systematic review
Authors: Akpen Catherine Nabiem , Asaolu Stephen , Atobatele Sunday , Okagbue Hilary , Sampson Sidney
Published: November 2024

The rapid shift to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly influenced educational practices worldwide and increased the use of online learning platforms. This systematic review examines the impact of online learning on student engagement and performance, providing a comprehensive analysis of existing studies. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guideline, a thorough literature search was conducted across different databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, and JSTOR for articles published between 2019 and 2024. The review included peer-reviewed studies that assess student engagement and performance in online learning environments. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 18 studies were selected for detailed analysis. The analysis revealed varied impacts of online learning on student performance and engagement. Some studies reported improved academic performance due to the flexibility and accessibility of online learning, enabling students to learn at their own pace. However, other studies highlighted challenges such as decreased engagement and isolation, and reduced interaction with instructors and peers. The effectiveness of online learning was found to be influenced by factors such as the quality of digital tools, good internet, and student motivation. Maintaining student engagement remains a challenge, effective strategies to improve student engagement such as interactive elements, like discussion forums and multimedia resources, alongside adequate instructor-student interactions, were critical in improving both engagement and performance.