bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A systematic literature review of the relationship between the rule of law and environmental sustainability
Authors: Atta Nausheen , Sharifi Ayyoob
Published: June 2024

This study aims to synthesize knowledge on the interconnections between the rule of law and environmental sustainability by reviewing existing literature across various contexts. The topic is timely and highly relevant, particularly in the context of climate change, global environmental challenges, and ongoing discourse about the role of the rule of law in promoting sustainable development. We utilized the PRISMA framework for literature search and selection, organizing it into two main themes: one investigating the direct effects of the rule of law on environmental policies and regulations, while another examining its mediated role related to financial development, foreign direct investment, trade openness, equitable resource distribution, human development, and innovation's influence on environmental quality. This review underscores the significance of clear frameworks, fair accountability mechanisms, and stakeholder engagement in preventing institutional collapse and ensuring effective environmental sustainability. A major gap identified in the existing literature is the limited exploration of specific components of both concepts, such as fundamental rights, the justice system, biodiversity, and waste management. These areas present avenues for future research. This review offers insights for policymakers to advance global environmental objectives through a better understanding of the role played by the rule of law in promoting environmental sustainability.
Logics of reciprocity in Denmark: Longing and belonging in a virtuous cycle of welfare
Authors: Spalletta Olivia
Published: June 2024

Nordic welfare states are characterized by universal access to generous welfare services, including education, health care, and developmental support. These benefits are maintained through a shared commitment to economic reciprocity. While the centrality of reciprocity to moral and social life in Scandinavian welfare states is well established, it is less clear how citizens evaluate their own and others' reciprocity in daily life. How do everyday Danes come to know that they are reciprocating properly? What does it mean to ask “too much” of the welfare state? What are the consequences for those seen as unable to reciprocate? In this article, I examine how understandings of reciprocity emerge through welfare access and use. I argue that my Danish interlocutors approach reciprocity as an obligation to use welfare resources for the mutual benefit of citizen and society. This is a lifelong project that involves properly positioning oneself within a virtuous cycle of welfare beginning in childhood. Taking the experiences of parents raising children with Down syndrome in Denmark as an empirical point of departure, I argue that this logic of reciprocity is employed not only to justify one's own welfare use but also as an explanatory model for excluding others from benefits.
Green Synthesis of CuO/ZnO Nanocomposites using Ficus Drupacea: In‐Vitro Antibacterial and Cytotoxicity Analysis
Authors: Fathima Fasna P. H. , Sasi Sreesha , Julie Chandra C. S. , Bindu Sharmila T. K. , Mini Minsa , Kumar Praveen , Ramanathan Hareesh N.
Published: June 2024

With the increasing demand for environmentally friendly and effective biomedical solutions, the synthesis of nanoparticles with enhanced properties has become imperative. This study addresses this demand by employing a green method that utilizes Ficus Drupacea fruit extract to produce ZnO/CuO nanostructures, offering versatile biomedical applications. While several reports exist on the synthesis of nanostructures using plant extracts, this is the primary report on the utilization of Ficus Drupacea fruit extract for creating ZnO/CuO nanostructures. A series of five ZnO/CuO nanostructures (ZC0, ZC25, ZC50, ZC75, and ZC100) were synthesized by varying the proportion of CuO and ZnO. Through comprehensive characterization techniques including XRD (X‐Ray Diffraction), HR‐TEM (High‐Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy), and UV‐Vis spectroscopy, the successful synthesis and tunable properties of the nanostructures were confirmed, with average crystal sizes ranging from 14.32 nm to 38.61 nm. The study unveils the significant cytotoxicity of the synthesized nanostructures against MCF‐7 breast cancer cells, with ZC25 demonstrating the highest activity and an LC50 (Lethal Concentration 50) value below 50 μg/mL. Antimicrobial assays underscore the potent activity of ZC100 against Streptococcus mutans and Acinetobacter baumannii, with MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) values below 1.5 mg/mL. These findings emphasize the potential of these nanostructures for advanced biomedical applications.
Imination of Sterically Unshielded o‐Quinones in the Coordination Sphere of Zinc (II)
Authors: Kocherova Tatiana N. , Martyanov Konstantin A. , Rumyantcev Roman V. , Druzhkov Nikolay O. , Kuropatov Viacheslav A.
Published: June 2024

o‐Iminoquinones bearing unshielded chelating OCCN(R) site were synthesized in high yields in the zinc coordination sphere as the neutral complexes. The stability of one‐electron‐reduced forms of these o‐iminoquinones and the distribution of the unpaired electron density in the corresponding radical anion species were studied using cyclic voltammetry and EPR spectroscopy methods
Hierarchical Self‐Assembly of Water‐Soluble Fullerene Derivatives into Supramolecular Hydrogels
Authors: Rašović Ilija , Piacenti Alba R. , Contera Sonia , Porfyrakis Kyriakos
Published: June 2024

Controlling the self‐assembly of nanoparticle building blocks into macroscale soft matter structures is an open question and of fundamental importance to fields as diverse as nanomedicine and next‐generation energy storage. Within the vast library of nanoparticles, the fullerenes—a family of quasi‐spherical carbon allotropes—are not explored beyond the most common, C60. Herein, a facile one‐pot method is demonstrated for functionalizing fullerenes of different sizes (C60, C70, C84, and C90–92), yielding derivatives that self‐assemble in aqueous solution into supramolecular hydrogels with distinct hierarchical structures. It is shown that the mechanical properties of these resultant structures vary drastically depending on the starting material. This work opens new avenues in the search for control of macroscale soft matter structures through tuning of nanoscale building blocks.
Colloidal Synthesis of Carbon Dot‐ZnSe Nanoplatelet Van der Waals Heterostructures for Boosting Photocatalytic Generation of Methanol‐Storable Hydrogen
Authors: Chen Dechao , Hudson Rohan J. , Tang Cheng , Sun Qiang , Harmer Jeffery R. , Liu Miaomiao , Ghasemi Mehri , Wen Xiaomin , Liu Zixuan , Peng Wei , Yan Xuecheng , Cowie Bruce , Gao Yongsheng , Raston Colin L. , Du Aijun , Smith Trevor A. , Li Qin
Published: June 2024

Methanol is not only a promising liquid hydrogen carrier but also an important feedstock chemical for chemical synthesis. Catalyst design is vital for enabling the reactions to occur under ambient conditions. This study reports a new class of van der Waals heterojunction photocatalyst, which is synthesized by hot‐injection method, whereby carbon dots (CDs) are grown in situ on ZnSe nanoplatelets (NPLs), i.e., metal chalcogenide quantum wells. The resultant organic‐inorganic hybrid nanoparticles, CD‐NPLs, are able to perform methanol dehydrogenation through CH splitting. The heterostructure has enabled light‐induced charge transfer from the CDs into the NPLs occurring on a sub‐nanosecond timescale, with charges remaining separated across the CD‐NPLs heterostructure for longer than 500 ns. This resulted in significantly heightened H2 production rate of 107 µmole·g−1·h−1 and enhanced photocurrent density up to 34 µA cm−2 at 1 V bias potential. EPR and NMR analyses confirmed the occurrence of α‐CH splitting and CC coupling. The novel CD‐based organic‐inorganic semiconductor heterojunction is poised to enable the discovery of a host of new nano‐hybrid photocatalysts with full tunability in the band structure, charge transfer, and divergent surface chemistry for guiding photoredox pathways and accelerating reaction rates.
Interface‐Engineered Atomic Layer Deposition of 3D Li4Ti5O12 for High‐Capacity Lithium‐Ion 3D Thin‐Film Batteries
Authors: Speulmanns Jan , Bönhardt Sascha , Weinreich Wenke , Adelhelm Philipp
Published: June 2024

Upcoming energy‐autonomous mm‐scale Internet‐of‐things devices require high‐energy and high‐power microbatteries. On‐chip 3D thin‐film batteries (TFBs) are the most promising option but lack high‐rate anode materials. Here, Li4Ti5O12 thin films fabricated by atomic layer deposition (ALD) are electrochemically evaluated on 3D substrates for the first time. The 3D Li4Ti5O12 reveals an excellent footprint capacity of 20.23 µAh cm−2 at 1 C. The outstanding high‐rate capability is demonstrated with 7.75 µAh cm−2 at 5 mA cm−2 (250 C) while preserving a remarkable capacity retention of 97.4% after 500 cycles. Planar films with various thicknesses exhibit electrochemical nanoscale effects and are tuned to maximize performance. The developed ALD process enables conformal high‐quality spinel (111)‐textured Li4Ti5O12 films on Si substrates with an area enhancement of 9. Interface engineering by employing ultrathin AlOx on the current collector facilitates a required crystallization time reduction which ensures high film and interface quality and prospective on‐chip integration. This work demonstrates that 3D Li4Ti5O12 by ALD can be an attractive solution for the microelectronics‐compatible fabrication of scalable high‐energy and high‐power Li‐ion 3D TFBs.
Designing efficient patient‐centric smart contracts for healthcare ecosystems with access control capabilities
Authors: Kalita Kausthav Pratim , Boro Debojit , Kumar Bhattacharyya Dhruba
Published: June 2024

Electronic medical records are a patient's digital asset that enhances the information available to doctors for tracking their patients' health. When this information is stored in a secure environment, health examination reports can serve as a dependable repository for thorough observation of a patient's well‐being. However, it is crucial for the owner to have control over access to these repositories. In this scenario, a blockchain ecosystem with appropriate access control mechanisms can help create a distributed and decentralized storage platform to ensure the safety and security of data. Developing cost‐effective smart contracts and creating clear design diagrams to represent them are essential for establishing such an ecosystem. This paper introduces a smart contract for the Ethereum blockchain that allows an owner to maintain control over their data. The paper presents a diagram for visually representing the modules within our smart contract, providing readers with a clearer understanding of the access control techniques utilized in implementing our strategies. Our smart contract offers clinicians a valuable means of accessing historical data to promptly evaluate a patient's health in emergency situations. We showcase its efficacy by illustrating how it streamlines insurance claims, where it verifies the patient's coverage and automatically authorizes medical expense payments. Lastly, a study is presented to showcase an effective method of storing the ingested data within the Ethereum network. The suggested approach allows restrictions on data visibility based on the viewer's accessibility through identity‐based access control achieved using additional structures in smart contracts. These structures store filtered records accessible to users based on their viewing privileges. The simulated test bed results support the efficiency of using smart contracts with additional structures in terms of gas consumption when compared to those that use a single structure for read and write operations.
Effect of Chufa (Cyperus esculentus L.) Flour Added at Different Concentrations on the Bioactive Compounds, Fatty Acid Composition, and Mineral Contents of Flour Cookies
Authors: AlJuhaimi Fahad , Kandil Merve , Mohamed Ahmed Isam Ali , Albakry Zainab , Özcan Mehmet Musa
Published: June 2024

In this study, the antioxidant activity, total phenol, total flavonoid, phenolic component, fatty acid composition, and mineral quantities of cookies produced from cookie dough prepared with a mixture of chufa tubers and wheat flour in different proportions are investigated. The total phenolic quantities of the cookie samples are assessed to be between 28.77 (0% chufa flour) and 110.20 (mg GAE/100 g) (100% chufa flour). The total flavonoid amounts of flour cookies are assigned to be between 34.52 (mg QE/100 g) and 76.43 (mg QE/100 g). The highest antioxidant activity in cookie samples is established as 0.74 (mmol kg−1). The main phenolic components of the cookies with chufa flour added are kaempferol, gallic acid, cinnamic acid, and 3,4‐dihydroxybenzoic acids. While the gallic acid quantities of the samples are depicted between 5.02 mg/100 g (0%) and 0.86 mg/100 g, the 3,4‐dihydroxybenzoic acid amounts of the cookies range from 1.79 mg/100 g (75% chufa flour) to 0.95 mg/100 g (100% chufa flour). The phosphorus quantities of the cookie samples are found to be between 2493 and 3196 mg kg−1, while the magnesium amounts are displayed between 578 and 3210 mg kg−1. The potassium quantities of the cookies are established to be between 599 and 2182 mg kg−1. The predominant fatty acids of the oil extracted from the cookie sample are oleic, linoleic, and palmitic acid. While the oleic acid quantities of cookie oils vary between 32.08% (0% chufa flour) and 42.33% (100% chufa flour), the linolenic acid quantities of cookie oils are determined between 26.78% (100% chufa flour) and 32.94% (0% chufa flour). In the sensory analysis results of flour cookies, 0% and 25% chufa concentrations receive the highest overall approval rating of 4.75.
Spin‐Thermoelectric Generation Associated with Magnetization Dynamics in the Insulator‐Based Generators Fabricated from Liquid Phase Epitaxial Yttrium Iron Garnet, Bi‐Substituted YIG and Bi‐ and Al‐Substituted YIG Films
Authors: Imamura Masaaki , Asada Hironori , Matsuda Ryota , Tashima Daisuke , Kitagawa Jiro
Published: June 2024

An insulator‐based spin‐thermoelectric (STE) generator is composed of a thin paramagnetic metal (PM: Pt) layer for generating the STE voltage VSTE via the inverse spin Hall effect and a ferrimagnetic insulator (FMI) film or slab used for producing spin‐wave spin currents due to a temperature gradient . Yttrium iron garnet (YIG) is a key material used for the FMI of STE generators. We examined in detail the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) properties of YIG (Y3Fe5O12), Bi‐substituted YIG (Y3‐xBixFe5O12) and Bi‐ and Al‐substituted YIG (Y3‐xBixFe5‐yAlyO12) films grown by liquid phase epitaxy (LPE). Bi‐substituted YIG films exhibited the large FMR damping and high STE voltage when the films were incorporated in the STE generator. The LPE‐grown Y2.35Bi0.65Fe5O12 film exhibited the FMR linewidth ΔH of 30 mT and the VSTE of 70 μV for the ∇T of . This paper comprehensively presents the origin of the STE generation in the insulator‐based generators on the basis of the results of FMR and STE measurements. To clarify the origin of STE generation in the generators fabricated from single crystal YIG (YIG, Bi‐substituted YIG and Bi‐ and Al‐substituted YIG) films grown by LPE, three principal factors are explained: (a) thermal energy transfer from the phonon system to the spin system, which strengthens the heat excitation of spin precession, through the spin–orbit coupling enhanced by the growth‐induced magnetic anisotropy of LPE‐grown YIG films, (b) in the YIG films incorporated in the STE generators, the generation of spin‐wave spin currents owing its origin to the ferromagnetic spin exchange interaction acting between neighboring spins due to , and (c) how the spin currents pumped into the Pt layer from the YIG film at the Pt/YIG bilayer interface are affected by the magnetization processes of single crystal YIG films. It is concluded that the STE generation of insulator‐based STE generators can be explained from a viewpoint of the spin dynamics under the effect of in the Pt/YIG bilayer structure. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Determinants of Thoroughbred yearling sales price in the UK
Authors: Mouncey Rebecca R. , Alarcon Pablo , Verheyen Kristien L.
Published: June 2024

Background

Industry‐level figures suggest that up to two‐thirds of Thoroughbred breeding operations in the UK are unprofitable and that around half of sales transactions of Thoroughbred yearlings, commercial breeders’ predominant income source, return a loss. The industry strategy currently endorses investment in stallion covering fee; however, to date, a comprehensive evaluation of sales price determinants in the UK setting is lacking and could better inform economic decision making to improve profitability.

Methods

Sales catalogue and Weatherbys’ stud book data from all Thoroughbred yearlings sold at the 2020 Tattersalls October yearling sale in the UK were used to build a hedonic sales price model. Explanatory variables representing sire, dam, yearling and sales attributes were evaluated. The final model's accuracy was assessed using out‐of‐sample data from all yearlings sold in the equivalent 2021 sale.

Results

In 2020, a total of 1506 catalogued yearlings, representing around 30% of the UK Thoroughbred foal crop, were sold, with a median price of £42,575 (interquartile range 15,750‒105,000; range 840‒3,570,000). The sires’ covering fee, maternal siblings’ race performance attributes, whether the yearling was the dams’ first foal, consignment size, catalogue book and day of sale within book significantly influenced auction price; however, relationships were complex with significant interaction and confounding observed. The mean model forecasting error was £2074. The use of data from only one sale could affect generalisability.

Conclusions

These novel findings can inform breeding decisions to maximise profitability, give context for current industry strategies and can inform valuations of breeding stock.
A Transnational Feminist Approach to Anti-Gender Politics
Authors: Ojeda Tomás , Holzberg Billy , Holvikivi Aiko
Published: June 2024

The introduction to this edited volume outlines a transnational approach to the study of anti-gender politics. It locates anti-gender politics in the structures of coloniality, racial capitalism, and resurgent nationalisms by highlighting connections and convergences in anti-gender politics in Argentina, Chile, China, Germany, the Persian Gulf, Hungary, India, Pakistan, Peru, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, Uganda, the UK, and the US. In doing so, the chapter challenges and further develops taken-for-granted frameworks developed in anti-gender research. Firstly, the focus on transnational anti-gender politics unsettles singular ‘origin stories’ that are in danger of obscuring non-Western locations from scholarly consideration. Secondly, a transnational approach contests the notion that anti-gender politics derive solely from right-wing nationalist and/or conservative religious actors, highlighting instead how anti-gender mobilisations derive from a variety of positions including more centrist, secular, liberal, leftist, and even presumably feminist perspectives. Thirdly, this approach sharpens the conceptual tools available for studying and understanding anti-gender politics by pushing for a more materialist conceptualisation that goes beyond dominant understandings of anti-gender politics as ‘backlash’ or ‘symbolic glue’. Taken together, these challenges open new avenues for building knowledges and solidarities across national contexts to contest the multi-headed hydra that is transnational anti-gender politics.
‘They Put You in a False Dichotomy’: In Search of Conceptual Diversity Through the Spanish ‘Anti-Gender’ Landscape
Authors: Obst Marcel , Ablett Liz
Published: June 2024

What concepts help us to understand ‘anti-gender’ movements that are characterised by contradictory dynamics, varying organisational structures, and often manifest as highly localised yet with fluctuating issues-based alliances and transnational links? Existing concepts like ‘anti-gender’ and ‘antifeminist’ enable productive theorisations about these rapidly evolving phenomena. But there is also a tendency for the people who constitute these movements to disappear from processes of theorisation, with the risk of conflating disparate lived experiences and complex issues for the purpose of neatly fitting an argument. In this chapter, we look at the case of Spain and draw on participant observation and in-depth interviews to suggest that more inductive approaches are needed to make sense of the varied mobilisations and contestations around gender and sexuality. We argue for situated knowledges that emerge from empirical investigations, foregrounding and embracing the messiness of the field. Forms of in-depth qualitative research are particularly useful as they allow us to deepen our understanding of localised complexities, whilst identifying how transnational links operate and are integrated with everyday lives. We are particularly interested in sustained and situated studies which can take a variety of forms, including life stories, ethnography, in-depth interviews, and action research.
Landslide Prediction Model Based Upon Intelligent Processing of Multi-Point Monitoring Information: A Review
Authors: Li Changdong , Long Jingjing , Liu Yong , Huang Dewei
Published: June 2024

The construction of landslide displacement prediction model is crucial and effective in landslide prevention and mitigation. Intelligent processing methods are deeply required owing to the boost of monitoring datasets. Machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) methods are widely applied in landslide prediction. In this paper, aiming at the hydrodynamic pressure-driven landslides with step-like features in China Three Gorges Reservoir (CTGR) area, the improved ensemble learning models integrating the advantages of multifarious algorithms as well as considering the time series are proposed for prediction. Due to the limitations of monitoring sites and data missing, the multi-feature fusing transfer learning (MFTL) method is proposed for landslide prediction. It transfers the knowledge learned form a landslide with enough data to the other landslides with insufficient data. The successful applications in landslide prediction based on intelligent processing of monitoring information provide the efficient ways for further studies.
Stringy evidence for a universal pattern at infinite distance
Authors: Castellano Alberto , Ruiz Ignacio , Valenzuela Irene
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Infinite distance limits in the moduli space of a quantum gravity theory are characterized by having infinite towers of states becoming light, as dictated by the Distance Conjecture in the Swampland program. These towers imply a drastic breakdown in the perturbative regimes of the effective field theory at a quantum gravity cut-off scale known as the species scale. In this work, we find a universal pattern satisfied in all known infinite distance limits of string theory compactifications, which relates the variation in field space of the mass of the tower and the species scale: $$ \frac{\overrightarrow{\nabla}m}{m}\cdotp \frac{\overrightarrow{\nabla}{\Lambda}_{\textrm{sp}}}{\Lambda_{\textrm{sp}}}=\frac{1}{d-2} $$

∇
→

m

m

·

∇
→

Λ
sp

Λ
sp

=

1

d
−
2

in d spacetime dimensions. This implies a more precise definition of the Distance conjecture and sharp bounds for the exponential decay rates. We provide plethora of evidence in string theory in diverse dimensions and with different levels of supersymmetry, and identify some sufficient conditions that allow the pattern to hold from a bottom-up perspective.
The Morse Index for Manifolds with Constant Sectional Curvature
Authors: Şirikçi Nil İpek
Published: June 2024

We compute the Morse index of a critical submanifold of the energy functional on the loop space of a manifold with constant sectional curvature. The case of constant non-positive sectional curvature is a known result and the case of a sphere has been proved by Klingenberg. We adapt Klingenberg’s proof of the case of a sphere to the case of constant sectional curvature, to obtain the possible Morse indices of critical submanifolds of the energy functional.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae β-glucan improves the response of trained macrophages to severe P. aeruginosa infections
Authors: Ciszek-Lenda Marta , Nowak Bernadeta , Majka Grzegorz , Suski Maciej , Walczewska Maria , Fedor Angelika , Golińska Edyta , Górska Sabina , Gamian Andrzej , Olszanecki Rafał , Strus Magdalena , Marcinkiewicz Janusz
Published: June 2024

Objective P. Aeruginosa

(PA), the major pathogen of lung cystic fibrosis (CF), polarizes macrophages into hyperinflammatory tissue damaging phenotype. The main aim of this study was to verify whether training of macrophages with β-glucan might improve their response to P. aeruginosa infections.

Methods

To perform this task C57BL/6 mice sensitive to infections with P. aeruginosa were used. Peritoneal macrophages were trained with Saccharomyces cerevisiae β-glucan and exposed to PA57, the strong biofilm-forming bacterial strain isolated from the patient with severe lung CF. The release of cytokines and the expression of macrophage phenotypic markers were measured. A quantitative proteomic approach was used for the characterization of proteome-wide changes in macrophages. The effect of in vivo β-glucan-trained macrophages in the air pouch model of PA57 infection was investigated. In all experiments the effect of trained and naïve macrophages was compared.

Results

Trained macrophages acquired a specific phenotype with mixed pro-inflammatory and pro-resolution characteristics, however they retained anti-bacterial properties. Most importantly, transfer of trained macrophages into infected air pouches markedly ameliorated the course of infection. PA57 bacterial growth and formation of biofilm were significantly suppressed. The level of serum amyloid A (SAA), a systemic inflammation biomarker, was reduced.

Conclusions

Training of murine macrophages with S. cerevisiae β-glucan improved macrophage defense properties along with inhibition of secretion of some detrimental inflammatory agents. We suggest that training of macrophages with such β-glucans might be a new therapeutic strategy in P. aeruginosa biofilm infections, including CF, to promote eradication of pathogens and resolution of inflammation.
New sirtuin modulators: their uncovering, pharmacophore, and implications in drug discovery
Authors: Chen Pei-Ti , Yeong Keng Yoon
Published: June 2024

Sirtuins are a group of enzymes known as class III histone deacetylases that catalyze the deacetylation reaction and are presented across various species. In humans, they exhibit seven isoforms known as SIRT1–7, localize in distinctive cellular compartments, the nucleus (SIRT1, 6, 7), cytoplasm (SIRT2), and mitochondria (SIRT3, 4, 5). They play crucial roles in metabolism, DNA repair, and rRNA transcription. As research on sirtuins has expanded, there has been increased interest in identifying sirtuin modulators that may hold therapeutic implications in various diseases. Despite the identification of numerous sirtuin modulators, only few have entered clinical trials due to selectivity and safety concerns. Hence, subsequent research is needed to understand their mechanisms and ensure their safety profiles. This review summarizes experimental data and the status of sirtuin modulators reported from 2013 to current, aiming to contribute to the advancement of sirtuin modulation research and the identification of promising candidates for future development.
Tribological behaviour of microindented 100Cr6 steel surfaces in dry contact conditions
Authors: Guglielmi Pasquale , Davoodi Farideh , Palumbo Gianfranco , Carbone Giuseppe
Published: June 2024

In the present work, we studied the dry tribological behaviour of a 100Cr6 steel, the spherical surface of which was texturized with microindentation. The purpose of adopting a mechanical indentation technique on a non-planar surface was to simultaneously evaluate the effectiveness of adopting a fast, deformation-based technique for improving the contact tribological properties. Specifically, dimples were created using an automatic microhardness tester equipped with a Vickers indenter, setting a load of 0.5 N. Friction tests were performed at different speeds considering textured surfaces with two different void ratios (VRs). Textured and untextured surfaces were tested using a ball-on-disc tribometer. In addition, the effect of dimple size was evaluated by producing Vickers indented surfaces at a load of 5 N per each indentation, while keeping the VR values unchanged and testing the frictional properties of such surfaces at a fixed speed of 4.18 mm/s. Textured surfaces were deeply investigated to motivate the improvement of tribological properties. Notably, compared to the untextured samples, the microindented samples exhibited a much lower coefficient of friction (COF), with a friction reduction compared to the untextured case ranging from 45 to 65%, depending on the VR values. The adoption of large dimples allowed the reduction of the COF, already at smaller VR value but, in such a case, the presence of bulges at the edge of the dimple worsens the wear resistance of the counter surface. In addition to reducing the contact area and the capability to trap any debris in the dimples, the local measurement of strength allowed to clarify that the friction reduction is also determined by the work hardening effect produced by the microindentation texturing. Considering the significant improvements recorded in terms of COF and the high ability to indent even non-planar surfaces, the proposed approach can be considered very promising and, therefore, industrially applicable (e.g. using a specifically designed multi-indenter tool) to affect the friction behaviour of components, even locally, during both their use and their production.
Lysins as a powerful alternative to combat Bacillus anthracis
Authors: Nakonieczna Aleksandra , Abramowicz Karolina , Kwiatek Magdalena , Kowalczyk Ewelina
Published: June 2024

This review gathers all, to the best of our current knowledge, known lysins, mainly bacteriophage-derived, that have demonstrated activity against Bacillus anthracis strains. B. anthracis is a spore-forming, toxin-producing bacteria, naturally dwelling in soil. It is best known as a potential biowarfare threat, an etiological agent of anthrax, and a severe zoonotic disease. Anthrax can be treated with antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, penicillin, doxycycline); however, their administration may take up even to 60 days, and different factors can compromise their effectiveness. Bacterial viruses, bacteriophages (phages), are natural enemies of bacteria and use their lytic enzymes, endolysins (lysins), to specifically kill bacterial cells. Harnessing the potential of lysins to combat bacterial infections holds promise for diminishing antibiotic usage and, consequently, addressing the escalating antibiotic resistance in bacteria. In this context, we list the lysins with the activity against B. anthracis, providing a summary of their lytic properties in vitro and the outcomes observed in animal models. Bacillus cereus strain ATCC 4342/RSVF1, a surrogate for B. anthracis, was also included as a target bacteria.

Key points

• More than a dozen different B. anthracis lysins have been identified and studied.

• They fall into three blocks regarding their amino acid sequence similarity and most of them are amidases.

• Lysins could be used in treating B. anthracis infections.
Emergency department utilization by persons with rheumatoid arthritis: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Contreras Dani G. , McLane Patrick , Barber Claire E.H. , Lin Katie , Elliott Meghan J. , Chomistek Kelsey , McQuitty Shanon , Davidson Eileen , Hildebrandt Clare , Katz Steven , Lang Eddy , Holroyd Brian R. , Barnabe Cheryl
Published: June 2024

Some emergency department (ED) visits by persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may be avoidable. This study aims to describe ED use by persons with RA in Alberta, Canada over a 10-year period. Using linked population-based administrative datasets, the annual frequency of ED visits, timing of visits, acuity at presentation assessed (Canadian Triage Acuity Scale (CTAS)), return visits within 72 h, and final disposition were assessed. Most responsible diagnoses assessed by the ED provider were categorized. Between 2008 and 2017, a total of 48,633 persons with RA had 416,964 unique ED visits. There was a 41% relative increase in visits over the study period and within a fiscal year 37% of persons with RA on average attended an ED. Half of the visits were assessed as CTAS 4 ‘Less Urgent’ (31%) and CTAS 5 ‘Non-Urgent’ (19%). No specific diagnosis could be assigned in 36% of visits and RA was listed as the most responsible diagnosis in 2.5% of all visits. Hospital admissions, occurring on average for 14% of ED visits, increased by 15% over the 10 years, and were rare for CTAS 4 (6.4%) and CTAS 5 (1.4%) presentations. Male patients (difference to female 1.2%, 95%CI 0.6, 1.7) and urban patients (difference to rural 8.4%, 95%CI 7.7, 9.2) were more frequently admitted to hospital. Persons with RA have increased ED utilization over time, with a significant volume of less urgent and non-urgent visits. Opportunities for appropriate ambulatory care provision to reduce acute care use should be identified.
The white-capped albatross: a new breeding record for the Diego Ramírez Islands, Chile
Authors: Suazo Cristián G. , Anguita Cristóbal , Letelier Carlos Garcés , Martínez Alexis , Quillfeldt Petra
Published: June 2024

Albatrosses are renowned for their high philopatry, which has been proposed as a major barrier to their dispersal and hybridization with other albatross species. Except for shy-type albatross species from New Zealand, examples of colonization of new breeding sites and interbreeding with closely related species are rare. During the austral summer of 2022, while conducting land-based monitoring of resident Black-browed (Thalassarche melanophris) and Grey-headed (T. chrysostoma) albatross populations on the Diego Ramírez Islands, Chile (56 S), we documented the first (and southernmost) breeding record of a nesting pair of White-capped Albatross (T. steadi), a species endemic to the Auckland Islands, New Zealand (~ 7000 km away). The species identity was confirmed through molecular analysis. This discovery underscores the importance of Diego Ramírez and its surrounding waters as a hotspot for global albatross conservation.
Loss of coral thermotolerance following year-long in situ nursery propagation with a consecutively high summer heat-load
Authors: Alderdice Rachel , Voolstra Christian R. , Lendo C. Isabel Nuñez , Boote Chloë , Suggett David J. , Edmondson John , Goyen Samantha , Haydon Trent , Camp Emma F.
Published: June 2024

Exposure to more frequent ocean warming events is driving the loss of coral reef cover as the window of recovery between episodes of bleaching reduces. Coral propagation via in situ nurseries and subsequent outplanting have increased worldwide to support replenishing coral cover on degraded reefs. However, challenges in identifying fast-growing and bleaching-resistant target corals have limited how informative we can be regarding the resilience of outplanted corals. Here, we employed short-term thermal stress assays using the Coral Bleaching Automated Stress System (CBASS) to assess the thermal threshold of a fast-growing coral pre- and post-propagation on in situ nursery frames. We show that year-long nursery-propagated corals exhibit a statistically significant reduction in thermal thresholds (i.e., ED50s) compared to their corresponding reef-based donor colonies based on dose–response modelling of dark acclimated photosynthetic efficiency. RNA-Seq was then used to assess the underlying drivers of this thermotolerance reduction, identifying that processes involved in metabolic and oxidative stress management were disrupted in nursery versus donor heat-treated corals. Whether trade-offs during potential growth-focused phases (post-fragmentation), nursery conditions, and/or a consecutively high summer heat-load drove the lower thermal capacity remains to be determined. However, nursery corals expressed genes associated with telomere maintenance, which are typically expressed in stress-sensitive fast-growing corals under seasonal environmental stress, suggesting consecutively high summer heat-loading contributed to the observed patterns. Our results highlight that thermal tolerance is (i) variable and (ii) subject to acclimation to varying degrees across colonies. Thus, a path forward for reef practitioners to improve propagation efforts may entail the initial screening of a larger reef population from which thermally superior colonies can be selected for propagation.
Knowledge-based approach to adaptive XR interface design for non-programmers
Authors: Maik Mikołaj , Flotyński Jakub , Walczak Krzysztof
Published: June 2024

Customizing extended reality (XR) interfaces presents a significant challenge, especially for users with limited programming expertise. This paper introduces the method for adaptation of XR interfaces (MAXI-XR), a novel approach to simplify the customization process of XR user interfaces through knowledge technologies. MAXI-XR offers a user-friendly solution for interface design, supporting users with varying levels of technical skills. The basis of MAXI-XR is its Semantic Knowledge Base, which facilitates intelligent adaptations through advanced querying and reasoning, enabling the extraction of user-specific information for context-based XR interface adaptation. The functionality of MAXI-XR is demonstrated by its application in a VR stock market data visualization system. This system demonstrates MAXI-XR’s ability to adapt to complex and data-intensive environments according to user requirements, improving the interaction experience. Furthermore, the method’s scalability and ease of maintenance make it a versatile tool for a wide range of applications beyond stock market visualization, suggesting its potential for broader adoption in various XR domains.
Is there an impact of a video-based patient informed consent in elective hand surgery?
Authors: Osterloh Justus , Müller-Seubert Wibke , Cai Aijia , Arkudas Andreas , Horch Raymund R. E.
Published: June 2024

Background

Patient informed consent is a crucial subject in preoperative care of patients before elective hand surgery, ensuring that patients have the necessary information and a comprehensive understanding to make autonomous decisions. The use of video-based informed consent systems is an innovative concept to enhance the consent process with multimedia tools. In addition to the conventional process, mostly relying on verbal communication and written documents, the video-based approach aims to present information in a standardized and visually appealing format.

Methods

In this study, 33 patients were asked to watch a video on a tablet about the planned elective hand surgery after a conventional pre-treatment consultation including informed consent throughout verbal explanations and paper forms by an attending physician or resident. All patients were asked to complete a questionnaire after watching the video.

Results

An overwhelming majority of participants, specifically 97.0%, stated that the video improved their understanding of the upcoming surgery. 90.9% of the participant would refer the video to other patients undergoing elective hand surgery, while 72.7% of participants indicated that they would have appreciated the opportunity to view an informational video before undergoing different types of surgeries in the past.

Conclusion

The use of a video-based patient information system in elective hand surgery had a positive impact on patient education and satisfaction with the informed consent process. Therefore, it is a powerful tool in preoperative management to guarantee a standardized and educative informed consent.
Prevalence and association of polycystic ovary syndrome and hidradenitis suppurativa in underrepresented groups
Authors: Ch’en Peter Y. , Toker Michelle , Chen Gloria , Hosgood H. Dean , Campton Kristina L. , Cohen Steven R.
Published: June 2024

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is an inflammatory disorder of follicular biology; androgens are believed to be involved in its pathogenesis. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is similarly characterized by hyperandrogenism. Previous studies have found a lasting association of HS and PCOS. Socioeconomic status (SES) has been described as a comorbidity for both HS and PCOS that has not been accounted for in prior studies; we sought to investigate this association while adjusting for this. We also analyzed the prevalence of PCOS among HS patients. Using the All of Us database, female HS patients were stratified by PCOS diagnosis and compared by age, race, and ethnicity. Female HS patients were also nearest-neighbor propensity-score matched to controls at a 4:1 ratio, selecting for race, ethnicity, age, ever smoker, alcohol use disorder, obesity, type II diabetes, Medicaid status, and community deprivation index. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression was conducted to estimate the effect of HS on the presence of PCOS. The distribution of race among HS patients with PCOS was significantly different than HS patients without PCOS. A total of 1,022 female HS patients and 4,088 matched female controls were included. Significantly more patients carried a diagnosis of PCOS compared to controls (8.8% versus 4.3%, p < .001). In multivariable logistic regression, PCOS was significantly associated with HS [OR 1.71 (95% CI 1.34–2.17)]. This is the first study investigating the association of HS and PCOS within the All of Us database. We found that females with HS had a 1.34- to 2.17-fold increased odds of having PCOS, which is consistent with previous analyses. However, our analysis, in addition to controlling for common medical co-morbidities found in both HS and PCOS, also accounts for markers of SES at an individual and community level, further strengthening the association of HS with PCOS.
Dupilumab: a delayed response in asthmatic and atopic patients treated for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
Authors: Tanzini Umberto , Rampi Andrea , Vinciguerra Alessandro , Danè Giulia , Yacoub Mona Rita , Bussi Mario , Trimarchi Matteo
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP) is a common disease, which was previously approached with sinus surgery or systemic corticosteroids. The advent of biological therapies radically changed the approach to this disease. On the other hand, there is scarce scientific evidence of how specific subsets of patients respond to this treatment.

Methods

this is a monocentric, prospective study investigating the long-term efficacy on biweekly 300 mg dupilumab therapy in CRSwNP, prescribed to 61 patients. Patients were evaluated at baseline and every 2 months for the first 6 months, then at 9, 12, 16, 20 and 24 months.

Results

dupilumab proved to be an effective treatment, neatly improving both subjective and objective measurements in CRSwNP. The main finding of the study is the difference between specific subgroups of patients: while the overall response is similar, patients with Th2 comorbidities such as asthma and atopy tend to reach a stable response later, with the improvement ongoing even after 6 months of therapy, while non-asthmatic, non-atopic patients attain an earlier stability in response.

Conclusions

dupilumab provides an excellent long-term control of CRSwNP, but the response in asthmatic and atopic patients appears to be different and delayed when compared to non asthmatic and non atopic ones.
The role of fatigue in patients with complex regional pain syndrome
Authors: Wiemann Matthias , Blendow Sarah-Luis , Zimowski Nikolas , Enax-Krumova Elena , Fleischmann Robert , Penner Iris-Katharina , Grothe Matthias , Strauss Sebastian
Published: June 2024

Background and Purpose

Fatigue affects patients across a variety of neurological diseases, including chronic pain syndromes such as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). In CRPS, fatigue is often underestimated, as the focus lies in the assessment and managing of pain and sensorimotor deficits. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, characteristics, and influence of fatigue on CRPS severity and quality of life in these patients. Such insights could enhance the clinical management of this challenging condition.

Methods

In this prospective study, 181 CRPS patients and 141 age and gender-matched individuals with injury but without chronic pain were interviewed using the Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Function to assess fatigue. Depressive symptoms and quality of life (QoL) were also evaluated as additional outcome measures. Statistical analysis was performed to examine differences in fatigue prevalence between the groups, as well as associations with CRPS severity, pain levels, and clinical phenotype. In addition, best subsets regression was used to identify the primary factors influencing QoL. Fatigue was tested in a mediation analysis as a mediator between pain and depression.

Results

CRPS patients showed significantly higher fatigue levels compared to controls (CRPS: 75 [IQR: 57–85] vs. controls: 39 [IQR: 25–57]). Based on the FSMC, 44.2% in the control group experienced fatigue, while 85% of patients with CRPS experienced fatigue (p < 0.001), of which 6% were mild, 15% moderate, and 67% severe. In CRPS severe fatigue was associated with higher pain intensities compared to no fatigue (pain at rest: p = 0.003; pain during movement: p = 0.007) or moderate fatigue (pain during movement: p = 0.03). QoL in our cohort was mainly influenced by pain (pain during movement: adj.R2 = 0.38; p < 0.001, pain at rest: Δadj.R2 = 0.02, p = 0.007) and depressive symptoms (Δadj.R2 = 0.12, p < 0.001). Subsequent analyses indicated that pain and depressive symptoms primarily impact QoL in CPRS whereas fatigue may exert an indirect influence by mediating the connection between pain and depression (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

This pioneering study investigates the prevalence of fatigue in CRPS patients and its relation to disease characteristics. Our results indicate a high prevalence of severe fatigue, strongly correlated with pain intensity, and its importance in the interaction between pain and depression in CRPS. These findings underscore the significant role of fatigue as a disease factor in CRPS. Therefore, the evaluation of CRPS-related disability should include a standardized assessment of fatigue for comprehensive clinical management.
Spatial transcriptomics in cancer research and potential clinical impact: a narrative review
Authors: Cilento Michael A. , Sweeney Christopher J. , Butler Lisa M.
Published: June 2024

Spatial transcriptomics (ST) provides novel insights into the tumor microenvironment (TME). ST allows the quantification and illustration of gene expression profiles in the spatial context of tissues, including both the cancer cells and the microenvironment in which they are found. In cancer research, ST has already provided novel insights into cancer metastasis, prognosis, and immunotherapy responsiveness. The clinical precision oncology application of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and RNA profiling of tumors relies on bulk methods that lack spatial context. The ability to preserve spatial information is now possible, as it allows us to capture tumor heterogeneity and multifocality. In this narrative review, we summarize precision oncology, discuss tumor sequencing in the clinic, and review the available ST research methods, including seqFISH, MERFISH (Vizgen), CosMx SMI (NanoString), Xenium (10x), Visium (10x), Stereo-seq (STOmics), and GeoMx DSP (NanoString). We then review the current ST literature with a focus on solid tumors organized by tumor type. Finally, we conclude by addressing an important question: how will spatial transcriptomics ultimately help patients with cancer?