bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metabolic Mechanism of Osteogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cell Regulated by Magnetoelectric Microenvironment
Authors: Zhao Han , Zhu Fangyu , Guo Yusi , Deng Xuliang , Liu Wenwen
Published: December 2024

Conventional methods to stimulate the metabolism of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) for osteogenic differentiation typically involve systemic mobilization, which faces challenges including limited in vivo half‐life, lack of selectivity, and potential side‐effects. Therefore, localized modulation of BMSCs represents a more efficient and safer alternative. However, few studies have explored the regulation of a localized stimuli‐responsive microenvironment to activate osteogenic differentiation via mitochondrial pathways and clarified its underlying mechanisms. Herein, a novel strategy to accelerate the metabolic switch of BMSCs in tissue defects through targeted modulation using built‐in magnetoelectric biomaterials is proposed. BMSCs cultured in the magnetoelectric microenvironment exhibited an increased mitochondrial membrane potential, the highest oxygen consumption rate and enhanced adenosine triphosphate production. Furthermore, BMSCs in the magnetoelectric microenvironment demonstrated a successful metabolic switch  of energy resource from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation, indicating a strong tendency toward osteogenic differentiation. The highest multiclass metabolite profile, indicating the most active metabolic state, was shown in rats cranial defect model treated with magnetoelectric microenvironment. This research introduces a novel approach to accelerate bone defect repair by targeted modulation of BMSC mitochondria with magnetoelectric microenvironment and provides a promising direction for exploring the intrinsic mechanisms through which the magnetoelectric microenvironment promotes bone regeneration.
Highly Stretchable, Transparent Hydrogel for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding
Authors: Lian Yanghang , Wang Huagao , Liu Lulu , Guan Li , Lin Mengmeng , Li Quanlin , Guo Xiaoqin , Liu Zhen , Chen Peng , Zhao Biao , Zhang Rui
Published: December 2024

The demand for transparent electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials has intensified, driven by the shortcomings of conventional transparent shielding materials, which exhibit limited light transmittance properties and struggle to perform effectively in complex environments. Herein, a conductive, stretchable, and adaptable P(AM‐co‐AA) hydrogel is developed by cross‐linking acrylamide (AM) with acrylic acid (AA). The hydrophilic groups contained in AA and AM endow the hydrogels a light transmission of over 80%. The introduction of carboxyl group and acyl amino group provides a good hydrogen bonding environment, and the rich polymer network structure formed by appropriate monomer ratio is more conducive to the mechanical properties and EMI shielding properties of hydrogels. The P(AM‐co‐AA) hydrogel demonstrates favorable mechanical properties, boasting a maximum strain at break of 1322%. Additionally, the EMI shielding performance of the hydrogel is as high as 37 dB. Even when subjected to external forces, the hydrogel maintains a total shielding effectiveness of 20 dB at a strain level of 150%. In this work, ideas are provided to prepare stretchable and transparent hydrogel with excellent EMI performance for complex application environment.
First case report of intraosseous lipoma in a sheep and a literature review
Authors: Akbari‐Shahkhosravi Nafis , Mohajeri Daryoush , Babaei Navid , Javadi Afshin
Published: December 2024

Intraosseous lipomas are rare benign tumours of the bone. The current report describes a large intraosseous lipoma located in the right rib cage of a 4‐year‐old, female Absheron sheep, observed during a pre‐mortem inspection at an abattoir. This represents the first documented case of intraosseous lipoma in sheep and the sixth reported case in animals overall. The mass exhibited a lobulated structure and firm consistency, with a greasy appearance. Histopathological examinations, in conjunction with macroscopic features, suggested the diagnosis of osteolipoma, characterised by mature yellow adipocytes and residual bony trabeculae.
Derivation of a two‐phase flow model accounting for surface tension
Authors: Mathis H.
Published: December 2024

This paper presents the derivation of a two‐phase flow model that incorporates surface tension effects using Hamilton's principle of stationary action. The Lagrangian functional, which defines the action consists of kinetic energy–accounting for interface characteristics–and potential energy. A key feature of the model is the assumption that the interface separating the two phases possesses its own internal energy, which satisfies a Gibbs form that includes both surface tension and interfacial area. Consequently, surface tension is considered in both the kinetic and potential energy terms that define the Lagrangian functional. By applying the stationary action principle, a set of partial differential equations (PDEs) governing the dynamics of the two‐phase flow is derived. This includes evolution equations for the volume fraction and interfacial area, incorporating mechanical relaxation terms. The final model is proven to be well‐posed, demonstrating hyperbolicity and satisfying Lax entropy conditions.
Symmetries of the gravitational scattering in the absence of peeling
Authors: Geiller Marc , Laddha Alok , Zwikel Céline
Published: December 2024

Abstract

The symmetries of the gravitational scattering are intimately tied to the symmetries which preserve asymptotic flatness at null infinity. In Penrose’s definition of asymptotic flatness, a central role is played by the notion of asymptotic simplicity and the ensuing peeling behavior which dictates the decay rate of the Weyl tensor. However, there is now accumulating evidence that in a generic gravitational scattering the peeling property is broken, so that the spacetime is not asymptotically-flat in the usual sense. These obstructions to peeling can be traced back to the existence of universal radiative low frequency observables called “tails to the displacement memory”. As shown by Saha, Sahoo and Sen, these observables are uniquely fixed by the initial and final momenta of the scattering objects, and are independent of the details of the scattering. The universality of these tail modes is the statement of the classical logarithmic soft graviton theorem. Four-dimensional gravitation scattering therefore exhibits a rich infrared interplay between tail to the memory, loss of peeling, and universal logarithmic soft theorems.

In this paper we study the solution space and the asymptotic symmetries for logarithmically-asymptotically-flat spacetimes. These are defined by a polyhomogeneous expansion of the Bondi metric which gives rise to a loss of peeling, and represent the classical arena which can accommodate a generic gravitational scattering containing tails to the memory. We show that while the codimension-two generalized BMS charges are sensitive to the loss of peeling at $$ \mathcal{I} $$
I
+, the flux is insensitive to the fate of peeling. Due to the tail to the memory, the soft superrotation flux contains a logarithmic divergence whose coefficient is the quantity which is conserved in the scattering by virtue of the logarithmic soft theorem. In our analysis we also exhibit new logarithmic evolution equations and flux-balance laws, whose presence suggests the existence of an infinite tower of subleading logarithmic soft graviton theorems.
Multiscalar critical models with localised cubic interactions
Authors: Harribey Sabine , Pannell William H. , Stergiou Andreas
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Interface localised interactions are studied for multiscalar universality classes accessible with the perturbative ε expansion in 4 – ε dimensions. The associated beta functions at one loop and partially at two loops are derived, and a wide variety of interface conformal field theories (CFTs) is found, even in cases where the bulk universality class is free or as simple as the Wilson-Fisher description of the O(N) model. For up to three scalar fields in the bulk, interface fixed points are classified for all bulk universality classes encountered in this case. Numerical results are obtained for interface CFTs that exist for larger numbers of multiscalar fields. Our analytic and numerical results indicate the existence of a vast space of interface CFTs, much larger than the space of defect CFTs found for line and surface defect deformations of multiscalar models in 4 − ε dimensions. In this vast space, stable interfaces found for free and O(N) bulks belong to the F4 family, with global symmetries SO(3), SU(3), Sp(6) and F4, realised with N = 5, 8, 16, 24 scalar fields, respectively.
Placeboeffekte bei der Therapie mit Antidepressiva
Authors: Rief Winfried , Kube Tobias
Published: December 2024

Hintergrund

Verblindete Placebobehandlungen in klinischen Studien erreichen oft bis zu 80 % der klinischen Verbesserungen der Verumgruppen. Offensichtlich ist der größte Teil der Wirkung, die in klinischen Studien in den Antidepressivagruppen gefunden wird, auf Faktoren zurückführen, die nicht spezifisch für die Antidepressivatherapie sind. Im Artikel wird dargelegt, welche Faktoren zu dieser hohen Effektivität von Placebointerventionen bei Antidepressiva beitragen.

Methodik

Es wird ein narrativer Literaturüberblick mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Placeboeffekte in Studien zu Antidepressiva vorgestellt.

Ergebnisse

Bei Depressionen findet sich auch im Vergleich zu anderen psychischen Störungen ein besonders starker Placeboeffekt. Die Stärke dieses Effekts lässt sich modulieren durch hilfreiche vs. nichthilfreiche Instruktionen, durch Beteiligung der Patienten am Entscheidungsprozess, aber auch durch persönliche Zuwendung, insbesondere wenn die Behandler als kompetent und warmherzig wahrgenommen werden. Auch das Auftreten dezenter Nebenwirkungen kann Placeboeffekte verstärken. Placeboeffekte zeigen sich dabei nicht nur in subjektiven Patientenberichten, sondern auch durch nachweisbare neurochemische Veränderungen im Körper.

Schlussfolgerung

Behandler tragen durch ihr eigenes Verhalten wesentlich zur Effektivität antidepressiver Behandlungen bei. Gleichzeitig muss der insgesamt doch eher geringe Abstand zwischen Verum- und Placebobehandlungen bei Depressionen eine kritische Beleuchtung der Bewertung des Kosten-Nutzen-Verhältnisses am Einzelfall nach sich ziehen. Studiendesigns zur Evaluation von Antidepressiva sind gefordert, die die komplexen Wechselwirkungen zwischen der eigentlichen Medikamentenwirkung und Placeboeffekten besser darstellen.
Adaptive foraging strategies of Adélie penguins in the Ross Sea Region: balancing chick feeding and body condition in changing marine environments
Authors: Kim Youmin , Kim Jong-U , Oh Younggeun , Park Jinku , Lee Kyungho , Kim Hyun-Cheol , Kim Jeong-Hoon
Published: December 2024

Breeding seabirds are required to balance between feeding their chicks and maintaining their body condition. Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae), a keystone species of the Antarctic ecosystem, have foraging behavioral flexibility that depends on the marine environment and own body condition. This study collected tracking data and weight measurements from 47 brooding penguins during two breeding seasons at Cape Hallett (72°19´S, 170°12´E), Ross Sea. In 2021, the breeding season with a high sea ice concentration, penguins had lower body weights during the early guarding period compared to the body weights of the penguins in 2022. Penguins performed three types of foraging trips - ice hole trips, ice edge trips, and pack ice trips—during the 2021 breeding season. However, in the season characterized by a low sea ice concentration (2022), most of the foraging trips were pack ice trips. Furthermore, penguins performed relatively shorter pack ice trips and had lower foraging efforts than they did in 2021. On the other hand, we found that penguins with higher initial weights lost more weight, where for every additional 1 kg of weight, individuals lost 360 g more during the tracking period. We suggest that penguins use selective foraging strategies to adapt to their situation. Additionally, they regulate their food intake for raising chicks based on their body condition. In summary, our findings suggest how Adélie penguins determine foraging strategies and allocating food according to the marine environment and their body condition.
Radiomics-driven spectral profiling of six kidney stone types with monoenergetic CT reconstructions in photon-counting CT
Authors: Hertel Alexander , Froelich Matthias F. , Overhoff Daniel , Nestler Tim , Faby Sebastian , Jürgens Markus , Schmidt Bernhard , Vellala Abhinay , Hesse Albrecht , Nörenberg Dominik , Stoll Rico , Schmelz Hans , Schoenberg Stefan O. , Waldeck Stephan
Published: December 2024

Objectives

Urolithiasis, a common and painful urological condition, is influenced by factors such as lifestyle, genetics, and medication. Differentiating between different types of kidney stones is crucial for personalized therapy. The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) in combination with radiomics and machine learning to develop a method for automated and detailed characterization of kidney stones. This approach aims to enhance the accuracy and detail of stone classification beyond what is achievable with conventional computed tomography (CT) and dual-energy CT (DECT).

Materials and methods

In this ex vivo study, 135 kidney stones were first classified using infrared spectroscopy. All stones were then scanned in a PCCT embedded in a phantom. Various monoenergetic reconstructions were generated, and radiomics features were extracted. Statistical analysis was performed using Random Forest (RF) classifiers for both individual reconstructions and a combined model.

Results

The combined model, using radiomics features from all monoenergetic reconstructions, significantly outperformed individual reconstructions and SPP parameters, with an AUC of 0.95 and test accuracy of 0.81 for differentiating all six stone types. Feature importance analysis identified key parameters, including NGTDM_Strength and wavelet-LLH_firstorder_Variance.

Conclusion

This ex vivo study demonstrates that radiomics-driven PCCT analysis can improve differentiation between kidney stone subtypes. The combined model outperformed individual monoenergetic levels, highlighting the potential of spectral profiling in PCCT to optimize treatment through image-based strategies.

Key Points

QuestionHow can photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) combined with radiomics improve the differentiation of kidney stone types beyond conventional CT and dual-energy CT, enhancing personalized therapy?

FindingsOur ex vivo study demonstrates that a combined spectral-driven radiomics model achieved 95% AUC and 81% test accuracy in differentiating six kidney stone types.

Clinical relevanceImplementing PCCT-based spectral-driven radiomics allows for precise non-invasive differentiation of kidney stone types, leading to improved diagnostic accuracy and more personalized, effective treatment strategies, potentially reducing the need for invasive procedures and recurrence.

Graphical Abstract
Kriterien für die Weiterbildungsbefugnis zur Facharztkompetenz Innere Medizin und Rheumatologie – ein Positionspapier der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Rheumatologie und Klinische Immunologie
Authors: Pfeil Alexander , Fleck Martin , Aringer Martin , Baraliakos Xenofon , Ernst Diana , Haase Isabell , Hillebrecht Christiana , Hoyer Bimba Franziska , Keyßer Gernot , Kötter Ina , Krause Andreas , Krusche Martin , Lorenz Hanns-Martin , Proft Fabian , Schuch Florian , Vossen Diana , Voormann Anna , Wagner Ulf , Wollenhaupt Jürgen , Specker Christof ,   Vorstand der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Rheumatologie und Klinische Immunologie,   Kommission Fort- und Weiterbildung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Rheumatologie und Klinische Immunologie
Published: December 2024

Die Musterweiterbildungsordnung definiert die Weiterbildungsinhalte zur Erlangung der Facharztbezeichnung Innere Medizin und Rheumatologie. Kriterien zur Erteilung der Weiterbildungsbefugnis liegen nicht vor. Das Positionspapier beschreibt die von der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Rheumatologie und Klinische Immunologie (DGRh) vorgeschlagenen Kriterien, die bei der Erteilung einer Weiterbildungsbefugnis im Gebiet Innere Medizin und Rheumatologie und für die Bemessung ihres zeitlichen Umfangs zugrunde gelegt werden sollten. Dabei fungieren die Musterweiterbildungsordnung 2018 und der fachlich empfohlene Weiterbildungsplan als Basis. Anhand der Kriterien kann die Weiterbildungsbefugnis zur Facharztweiterbildung Innere Medizin und Rheumatologie standardisiert, abgestuft und transparent im gesamten Bundesgebiet vergeben werden. So wird eine qualitätsoptimierte Weiterbildung in der Rheumatologie ermöglicht, die an zukünftige Entwicklungen des Faches angepasst werden kann.
Articular impactions in acetabular fractures
Authors: Gänsslen Axel , Freude Thomas , Lindahl Jan , Krappinger Dietmar
Published: December 2024

Impactions of the articular surface are relevant prognostic parameters in the treatment of acetabular fractures. Posterior marginal impactions and acetabular dome impactions may occur depending on the direction of the force vectors during trauma. Posterior marginal impactions are mainly observed in posterior fracture dislocations, while acetabular dome impactions are frequently seen in the elderly with the hip joint in extension during trauma. Femoral head impactions are also frequently associated with acetabular fractures, mainly in fracture dislocations and transverse acetabular fractures. CT scans using thin slices are mandatory in order to preoperatively identify acetabular and femoral head impactions. Intraoperatively, the reduction techniques depend on the type of marginal impaction. Posterior impactions are usually addressed via a posterior approach by applying femoral traction under direct visualization or even by performing surgical hip dislocation. Acetabular dome impactions may be reduced using the fracture lines or by creating a cortical window. Reduction is followed by filling the void with bone or bone substitutes supported by raft screws. No clear treatment recommendations for femoral head impactions are given in the literature.
Mid-term outcomes of compaction autologous bone grafting in uncemented primary total hip replacement stems
Authors: Abe Satomi , Inoue Masahiro , Mikami Takashi , Honke Hidefumi , Suzuki Masahiro , Kanno Taiki , Masuda Takeshi
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Fixation and long-term stability of collared, uncemented stems, such as the CORAIL® collared stem, in total hip arthroplasty (THA), depend on a strong cancellous bone sleeve and subsequent osseointegration. This study aimed to investigate bone reaction and mid-term outcomes following compaction autologous bone grafting in uncemented stems in primary THA.

Materials and methods

This study retrospectively reviewed patients with primary THA using CORAIL® collared stem and having ≥ 5 years follow-up. Patients were divided into the bone graft and control groups based on the use of compaction autologous bone grafting. Demographic characteristics, fracture risk, operation time, complications, revisions, and radiologic measures, such as stress shielding and reactive lines were compared between the groups.

Results

A total of 140 cases (85% women, mean age: 63 years, mean follow-up: 72 months) were included. Autologous bone graft was used in 32 (23%) cases. No significant differences in terms of age, sex, diagnoses, follow-up duration, or operation time were observed between the groups. Stress shielding frequency remained stable at 9.4% between 1y and 5y in the bone graft group, but increased from 13.9 to 28.7% in the control group, resulting in the latter having a higher 5-y frequency than the bone graft group (p = 0.0004). Reactive lines increased from 1y to 5y in both groups (bone graft: 6.3–37.5%, p = 0.0015; control: 4.6–26.9%, p < 0.001) with no significant differences between groups. There were no instances of stem subsidence/loosening or stem revision in either group.

Conclusions

Autologous compaction bone grafting achieved satisfactory fixation of the uncemented CORAIL® collared stem without requiring distal fixation and mitigated stress shielding. Larger, prospective studies with longer follow-ups are needed to confirm the clinical implications of these mid-term results in primary THA.
Clinical features and treatment of stroke-like episodes in mitochondrial disease: a cohort-based study
Authors: Mickelsson Nora , Hirvonen Jussi , Martikainen Mika H.
Published: December 2024

Background

Stroke-like episode (SLE) is a subacute evolving brain syndrome in patients with primary mitochondrial diseases. Despite previous research, the understanding of the clinical spectrum, treatment, and outcomes of mitochondrial SLEs is far from complete. In this single centre study, we report the clinical symptoms and radiological findings as well as the medical treatment and outcomes of SLEs in patients with mitochondrial disease.

Methods

This retrospective, observational study during years 2000–2023 was based on a cohort of patients diagnosed with mitochondrial disease at Turku University Hospital (TUH; Turku, Finland) in the region of Southwest Finland. Data were obtained from the hospital electronic medical record system.

Results

The investigated cohort consisted of 76 patients (37 men, 39 women) with a diagnosis of mitochondrial disease. Among these, 12 patients had a history of at least one SLE; the total number of SLEs was 20. The most common genetic aetiology among patients with SLEs was m.3243A > G (N = 7). The mean age at first SLE was 40 years (range: 5–66 years), and the mean interval between episodes was 4.8 years (range: 4 months—10 years). The duration of episodes varied between 1 and 193 days (median 14 days, mean 37 days); 10 patients needed intensive care unit (ICU) treatment. The mean survival time between the first SLE and death was 3.6 years (range: 0–16 years).

Conclusion

Our study highlights the importance of early recognition and prompt management of SLE symptoms, especially epileptic seizures, in this life-threatening entity.
Single-step 3D printing aided cranio-orbital reconstruction with patient specific polyetheretherketone implants after resection of benign spheno-orbital tumors
Authors: Rezai Arwin , Pöppe Johannes P. , Gaggl Alexander , Griessenauer Christoph J. , Schwartz Christoph , Krainz Herbert , Ueberschaer Moritz , Mercea Petra A. , Enzinger Simon
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) techniques have paved the way for single-step resections and cranio-orbital reconstructions with patient specific implants in spheno-orbital tumors. Here, we present our interdisciplinary maxillofacial and neurosurgical workflow and a case series of patients treated with this integrated approach.

Methods

Patients, who underwent single-step resection of benign spheno-orbital tumors and cranio-orbital reconstruction with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) patient specific implants (PSI) from 2019 to 2024 in our institution were included. Three dimensional models of the tumor, the skull, the implants and the cutting guides were integrated into intraoperative neuronavigation and 3D printed at the point of care (POC) for surgical planning. Clinical data was retrospectively analyzed, pre- and postoperative Exophthalmic index (EI) was radiologically determined.

Results

Eleven patients met inclusion criteria. Meningioma WHO grade 1 was the most common tumor entity (81.8%). In a majority of patients, exophthalmos was the presenting sign (63.6%). Postoperative cranial imaging revealed an optimal position of the PEEK implants with regredient EI in 88.9%. Four (36.4%) patients, of whom two (50%) had undergone prior tumor resections, suffered from surgical complications. The most commonly recorded complication was impaired wound healing (n = 2). Tumor recurrence was observed in one (9.1%) patient at six months follow-up.

Conclusions

Single-step resection and reconstruction in spheno-orbital tumors with PEEK PSIs is feasible and combines surgical expertise, virtual implant design and 3D printing techniques. Favorable aesthetical, visual and oncological outcomes were achieved in this cohort, despite a significant risk for postoperative complications.
Direct TaqMan assay for the detection and genotyping of bovine viral diarrhea virus types 1 and 2
Authors: Ullah Shakir , Notsu Kosuke , Saito Akatsuki , Okabayashi Tamaki , Mekata Hirohisa , Isoda Norikazu , Sekiguchi Satoshi
Published: December 2024

Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), caused by bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), has a significant economic impact on affected farms worldwide. For effective disease control, it is crucial to select an appropriate vaccine based on the specific genotype of BVDV. Therefore, developing a rapid and reliable assay to detect and genotype BVDV is imperative for controlling the spread of disease. In this study, we developed a TaqMan assay to detect and genotype BVDV types 1 and 2 directly in bovine serum without extraction of RNA. The direct BVDV TaqMan assay effectively detected both BVDV1 and BVDV2 with confirmed specificity and showed no cross-reactivity with any of the other viruses tested, including bovine respiratory syncytial virus, bovine coronavirus, Akabane virus, bovine herpesvirus 1, bovine parainfluenza virus 3, bovine immunodeficiency virus, and bovine leukemia virus. The assay could detect the virus in serum samples with a titer as low as 102 TCID50/mL in two out of three trials for BVDV1 and all three trials for BVDV2, indicating that its sensitivity is equivalent to that of virus isolation. Our findings represent a significant advancement in BVDV detection and typing directly from bovine serum.
Nephrotic syndrome induces the upregulation of cell proliferation-related genes in tubular cells in mice
Authors: Suzuki Yuya , Kaseda Ryohei , Nakagawa Yusuke , Watanabe Hirofumi , Otsuka Tadashi , Yamamoto Suguru , Kaneko Yoshikatsu , Goto Shin , Matsusaka Taiji , Narita Ichiei
Published: December 2024

Background

Massive proteinuria, dyslipidemia, and hypoalbuminemia induced by nephrotic syndrome (NS) secondarily affect tubular cells. We conducted an RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis using a mouse model of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis to clarify the impact of NS on tubular cells.

Methods

We used transgenic mice expressing hCD25 in podocytes (Nep25) to induce NS by injecting human CD25-specific immunotoxin (LMB2) at a dose of 0.625 ng/g body weight. Seven days after LMB2 injection, we extracted RNA from the whole kidney and conducted an RNA-seq analysis. Subsequently, we conducted multiple immunostaining and in situ hybridization (ISH) of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) to identify their locations and associated cell types. We also investigated the expression levels of DEGs in an additional mouse model of NS induced by adriamycin.

Results

After NS induction, 562 upregulated and 430 downregulated DEGs were identified using RNA-seq. An enrichment analysis revealed the upregulation of cell proliferation-related genes. We observed significant upregulation of Foxm1, a transcription factor linked to cell proliferation. Immunostaining and ISH showed that various tubular cells expressed Mki67 and Foxm1 during NS development. The adriamycin-induced NS model also demonstrated the upregulation of Mki67 and Foxm1 in tubular cells.

Conclusions

NS induced the upregulation of cell proliferation-related genes in tubular cells without detectable renal dysfunction. Our findings may contribute to understanding the pathological effects of nephrotic syndrome on tubular cells.
Modeling nonlinear dynamics from videos
Authors: Yang Antony , Axås Joar , Kádár Fanni , Stépán Gábor , Haller George
Published: December 2024

We introduce a method for constructing reduced-order models directly from videos of dynamical systems. The method uses non-intrusive tracking to isolate the motion of a user-selected part in the video of an autonomous dynamical system. In the space of delayed observations of this motion, we reconstruct a low-dimensional attracting spectral submanifold (SSM) whose internal dynamics serves as a mathematically justified reduced-order model for nearby motions of the full system. We obtain this model in a simple polynomial form that allows explicit identification of important physical system parameters, such as natural frequencies, linear and nonlinear damping and nonlinear stiffness. Beyond faithfully reproducing attracting steady states and limit cycles, our SSM-reduced models can also uncover hidden motion not seen in the video, such as unstable fixed points and unstable limit cycles forming basin boundaries. We demonstrate all these features on experimental videos of five physical systems: a double pendulum, an inverted flag in counter-flow, water sloshing in tank, a wing exhibiting aeroelastic flutter and a shimmying wheel.
A survey on deep learning-based algorithms for the traveling salesman problem
Authors: Sui Jingyan , Ding Shizhe , Huang Xulin , Yu Yue , Liu Ruizhi , Xia Boyang , Ding Zhenxin , Xu Liming , Zhang Haicang , Yu Chungong , Bu Dongbo
Published: December 2024

This paper presents an overview of deep learning (DL)-based algorithms designed for solving the traveling salesman problem (TSP), categorizing them into four categories: end-to-end construction algorithms, end-to-end improvement algorithms, direct hybrid algorithms, and large language model (LLM)-based hybrid algorithms. We introduce the principles and methodologies of these algorithms, outlining their strengths and limitations through experimental comparisons. End-to-end construction algorithms employ neural networks to generate solutions from scratch, demonstrating rapid solving speed but often yielding subpar solutions. Conversely, end-to-end improvement algorithms iteratively refine initial solutions, achieving higher-quality outcomes but necessitating longer computation times. Direct hybrid algorithms directly integrate deep learning with heuristic algorithms, showcasing robust solving performance and generalization capability. LLM-based hybrid algorithms leverage LLMs to autonomously generate and refine heuristics, showing promising performance despite being in early developmental stages. In the future, further integration of deep learning techniques, particularly LLMs, with heuristic algorithms and advancements in interpretability and generalization will be pivotal trends in TSP algorithm design. These endeavors aim to tackle larger and more complex real-world instances while enhancing algorithm reliability and practicality. This paper offers insights into the evolving landscape of DL-based TSP solving algorithms and provides a perspective for future research directions.
Schwerpunkt: Wahljahr 2024
Authors: Schäfer Karsten
Published: December 2024

Das Wahljahr 2024 ist ein bedeutsames. Mit der Europawahl im Juni sowie den drei Landtagswahlen in Sachsen, Thüringen und Brandenburg im September fanden vier Wahlen statt, aus denen sich Erkenntnisse hinsichtlich der sich wandelnden Parteienwettbewerbsstrukturen in Deutschland gewinnen lassen. Der vorliegende ZPol-Focus liefert Analysen und Befunde zu den genannten Wahlen und setzt sich außerdem mit den Folgen der Wahlergebnisse auseinander.
Recent Advances in Electrodeposition of Nickel-Based Nanocomposites Enhanced with Lubricating Nanoparticles
Authors: Guan Tianyu , Zhang Nan
Published: December 2024

Recently, nanomaterials such as graphene, polytetrafluoroethylene, WS2, and MoS2 have emerged as pioneering additives and fillers in metal nanocomposite electrodeposition, offering innovative solutions for lubrication and tribological enhancement. Electrodeposition, known for its high efficiency, reliability, operational simplicity, and cost-effectiveness, has become a preferred method for the protection of industrial components from excessive wear or abrasion. In particular, nickel (Ni) matrix composites fabricated via electrodeposition function as an environmentally friendly substitute for coatings such as hard chromium. These Ni-based composites exhibit multifunctional properties, including enhanced hardness, modified surface wettability, improved anti-friction/wear performance, and lubrication properties. This review begins by explaining the principles and mechanisms of electrodeposition, along with the chemical structures and properties of lubricating nanoparticles. It discusses dispersion methodologies of these nanoparticles in the electrolyte solution to address aggregation problems. In addition, it introduces codeposition models for Ni/nanomaterials and examines the key parameters that influence this codeposition process. This review systematically explores the mechanical properties, tribological performance, and surface wettability of resulting Ni-based nanocomposites, along with their potential applications and practical advantages. Finally, it discusses the opportunities and challenges associated with nanomaterial-enhanced metal composites, aiming to introduce new avenues for their utilization in electrodeposition.
Investigation on microstructure, mechanical properties, and tribological behaviors of spray-formed high-vanadium high-speed steel after heat treatment
Authors: Wang Yujie , Xia Haochun
Published: December 2024

A spray-formed high-vanadium high-speed steel (HVHSS) was subjected to various heat treatment procedures, and the resulting microstructural evolution and mechanical properties were thoroughly investigated. Additionally, the influence of applied loads on the tribological behavior of HVHSS was examined. The experimental results showed that the microhardness and bending strength of HVHSS initially increased and then decreased with rising quenching temperatures, reaching their maximum values at 1150 °C. In contrast, impact toughness exhibited a steady decline. Wear tests indicated that higher applied loads resulted in larger wear volumes and specific wear rates, although the coefficient of friction decreased. Using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF–SIMS), the wear mechanisms of HVHSS were identified as abrasive wear, adhesive wear, and mild oxidative wear. These findings provide valuable insights into the composition design, post-heat treatment processes, and anti-wear behavior mechanisms of spray-formed HVHSS.
Qualitative screening of emerging contaminants in urban and natural waters of Mangaung District of the Free State province of South Africa
Authors: Oke Saheed Adeyinka , Mugudamani Innocent , Kemp Gabre
Published: December 2024

Chemicals enable the development of new technologies while also raising living standards and quality of life. Although chemicals are used in many aspects of daily life, such as the advance of innovative technologies and the improvement of living values, many of them are discharged into the aqueous environment which may lead to negative environmental health effects such as endocrine disorders, reduced reproductive rates, reduced life expectancy and insomnia. In this study, a high performance liquid chromatography connected to hybrid triple quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer was used for qualitative non-target screening of emerging contaminants in water sources. The analytes were detected in five rivers, five dams, three wastewater treatment works and two drinking water treatment plants. The qualitative screening of emerging contaminants in these urban and natural water sources revealed 32 analytes under pharmaceutical and pesticide groups. From these groups, stimulants and herbicides were the most dominant. Among the analytes found in urban and natural waters of Mangaung District, three stimulants (ephedrine, nicotine, and metformin) and two herbicides (terbuthylazine, and sebuthylazine) were mostly detected. High number of these analytes (diphenhydramine, orphenadrine, cyclicine, paracetamol, sulfamethoxazol, metformin, bezafibrate, lamivudine, THC-COOH, methamphetamine, nicotine, ephedrine, theophylline, hordenine, sebuthylazine, atrazine, simazine, terbuthylazine, metolachlor, carbendazim, diazinon, and simazine) was observed in river samples and least in treated drinking water. Most notable was the detection of terbuthylazine in all samples collected in dams, effluent and treated drinking water. The ubiquitous presence of terbuthylazine in water sources may possibly lead to some environmental health risks. The findings of this study may be used for target analysis of these chemicals in future monitoring and risk assessment studies in the Free State region, where emerging contaminants research is limited. Furthermore, it may assist water managers and policymakers in assessing water quality and managing pollution more effectively.
Corrosion inhibition potential of aqueous extract of Trifolium repens plant leaves on carbon steel in hydrochloric acid medium (TRPL)
Authors: Banumathi R. , Abuthahir S. S. Syed , Sheit H. Mohamed Kasim , Mohan K. S. , Mohandas T. , Vijaya K.
Published: December 2024

This research explores the effectiveness of a liquid extract derived from the leaves of Trifolium repens as a corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in a 1N hydrochloric acid environment. Corrosion poses significant challenges in industrial applications, and this study aims to provide an eco-friendly solution by leveraging plant extracts. The experiment demonstrated that the application of the Trifolium repens extract substantially reduced the weight loss of carbon steel, indicating its efficacy in mitigating corrosion. Inhibition efficiency was quantified through systematic weight loss measurements, revealing a clear inverse relationship between the concentration of the extract and the corrosion rate. As the concentration of the inhibitor increased, the rate of corrosion correspondingly decreased, underscoring the extract's potential for effective corrosion prevention. The mechanism of inhibition was further elucidated through electrochemical techniques. Potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) tests and alternating current impedance spectroscopy were employed to assess the electrochemical behaviour of carbon steel in the presence of the extract. These analyses confirmed the formation of a protective layer on the steel surface, which effectively blocks active corrosion sites, thereby enhancing the material's resistance to acidic attack. To gain deeper insights into the surface modifications caused by the inhibitor, the surface characteristics of the carbon steel samples were analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This technique allowed for the observation of differences in morphology between unprotected, corroded, and inhibited steel surfaces. Additionally, atomic force microscopy (AFM) was utilized to evaluate the roughness of the surface layer, providing quantitative data on the changes induced by the inhibition process. Overall, the findings indicate that the Trifolium repens extract not only acts as a potent corrosion inhibitor but also contributes to the formation of a protective barrier on carbon steel, thereby extending its lifespan in corrosive environments. This study highlights the potential for utilizing natural extracts as sustainable alternatives for corrosion prevention in industrial applications.
Groups
Authors: Napier Rodney W. , Quinn Floyd F. , Gershenfeld Matti
Published: December 2024

Retaining the broad yet practical approach of previous editions, this popular textbook has been fully updated with research and theory from the last two decades to guide students through the concepts and principles of group dynamics. It now includes a brand-new introductory chapter, three new chapters on diversity and inclusion, creativity and design, and virtual groups, and dedicated chapters on communication and perception. Each chapter features in-class 'Try this!' activities that promote understanding of practical applications, new case examples from real-world organizations, and enhanced learning objectives to guide readers' learning experience. Hundreds of new studies have been added throughout, and examples consider the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote working, the MeToo movement, social media, climate change, and political polarization. Suitable for both undergraduates and first-year graduates, this textbook is supported by an online test bank, PowerPoint lecture slides, activity worksheets, and suggested additional resources.
Guilt by Location
Authors: Lichtenheld Adam
Published: December 2024

Population displacement is a devastating feature of contemporary conflict with far-reaching political and humanitarian consequences. This book demonstrates the extent to which displacement is a deliberate strategy of war, not just a consequence of it. Moving beyond instances of ethnic cleansing, Adam Lichtenheld draws on field research in Uganda and Syria; case studies from Burundi, Indonesia, and Vietnam; and an original dataset of strategic displacement in 166 civil wars to show that armed groups often uproot civilians to sort the targeted population, not to get rid of it. When lacking information about opponents' identities and civilians' loyalties, combatants use human mobility to infer wartime affiliations through 'guilt by location'. Different displacement strategies occur in different types of civil wars, with some relying on spatial profiling, rather than ethnic profiling. As displacement reaches record highs, Lichtenheld's findings have important implications for the study of forced migration and policy responses to it.
An Encroaching Sea
Authors: Shankar Devika
Published: December 2024

Ecological and political instability have time and again emerged as catalysts for risky development projects along India's south-west coastline. Devika Shankar probes this complicated relationship between crisis and development through a focus on a port development project executed in Cochin in the first quarter of the twentieth century amidst significant political and ecological uncertainty. While ecological concerns were triggered by increasing coastal erosion, a political crisis was precipitated by a neighbouring princely state's unprecedented attempt to extend its sovereignty over the British port. This integrative environmental, legal, and political history brings together the history of British India and the princely states to show how these anxieties ultimately paved the way for an ambitious port development project in the final years of colonial rule. In the process it deepens our understanding of environmental transformations and development in modern South Asia and the uneven nature of colonial sovereignty.
A Federalist Alternative for European Governance
Authors: Fabbrini Sergio
Published: December 2024

How did the European Union (EU) deal with the crises of the 2010s and 2020s? These crises arose in policy realms that were the province of national governments, so the European Council was the driving institution for managing them. National governments were able to take decisions, but their decisions were contradictory and unaccountable, and regularly hindered by divisions between them. In order to manage a policymaking process dominated by the claims of national and sub-regional governments, Sergio Fabbrini argues that intergovernmental governance has had to transform the EU into an international organization. Fabbrini shows that differentiated integration would further distance the EU from the project of an 'ever closer union' and, on the basis of a comparative federalism approach, he proposes an alternative paradigm of a multi-tier Europe with a federalist core to balance national sovereignties and supranational authority.
Managing Mobility
Authors: Harling Philip
Published: December 2024

Between 1840 and 1860 the British Empire expanded rapidly in scale, with rampant annexation of territory and ruthless suppression of rebellion. These decades also witnessed an unprecedented movement of people across the Empire and around the world, with over 2.6 million emigrants leaving Britain in the 1850s alone. Managing Mobility examines how the British imperial state facilitated the mass migration of its impoverished subjects as labor assets, shipped across vast expanses of ocean to contribute to the economy of the Empire. Philip Harling analyzes the ideological framework which underpinned these interventions and discusses the journeys taken by emigrants across four continents, considering the varied outcomes of these significant projects of social engineering. In doing so, this study demonstrates how the British imperial state harnessed migration to ensure and maintain a racialised global economic order in the decades after Emancipation.
The Archaeology of Han China
Authors: Yao Alice , Lam Wengcheong
Published: December 2024

The Han Dynasty, which ruled from 202 BCE to 212 CE, is often taken as a reference point and model for Chinese identity and tradition. Covering a geographical expanse comparable to that of the People's Republic of China, it is foundational to understanding Chinese culture and politics, past and present. This volume offers an up-to-date overview of the archaeology of the Han Empire. Alice Yao and Wengcheong Lam study the period via an interdisciplinary approach that combines textual and archaeological evidence. Exploring the dynamics of empire building in East Asia, Yao and Lam draw on recent archaeological discoveries to recast Western Han imperialism as a series of contingent material projects, including the organization of spatial orders, foodways, and the expansion of communication and ritual activities. They also demonstrate how the archaeology of everyday life offers insights into the impact of social change, and how people negotiated their identities and cultural affiliations as individuals and imperial subordinates.
Hindered settling of a log-normally distributed Stokesian suspension
Authors: Li Heng , Botto Lorenzo
Published: December 2024

Settling velocity statistics for dilute, non-Brownian homogeneous suspensions of polydisperse spheres having a log-normal size distribution are generated from Stokesian dynamics simulations, as a function of the total volume fraction

$\phi$

and normalised width

$\alpha$

of the particle size distribution. Several hundred instantaneous configurations are averaged to obtain reliable statistics. The paper reports data for the average and fluctuating settling velocity of each particle class in a suspension that is widely polydisperse – previous work was limited to only two or three classes, and the average settling velocity of each particle class was in most cases not reported – and provides an assessment of the accuracy of the analytical models proposed by Batchelor, Richardson & Zaki, Davis & Gecol and Masliyah–Lockett–Bassoon in predicting the simulation data. A limited comparison with dynamic simulations in which the particle microstructure is allowed to evolve in time is also included.