bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘But you’re ok…’ British South Asians and Regulatory Barriers to Participation in Sport
Authors: Patel Seema
Published: June 2024

This chapter employs ethnographical research to examine the regulatory barriers to participation in the particular context of British South Asian athletes in sport. Recent racial tensions in English cricket have not only raised important regulatory questions about addressing discrimination and inequality in sport and beyond, but also emphasizes the limited coverage of British South Asian voices in sport. Adopting an ethnographic approach, this chapter centralizes the author’s lived experiences as a British South Asian female, to evaluate their intersectional identity. Alongside this, with two decades of academic research into discrimination in sport, the chapter provides a British South Asian academic view on the role of the law and sport regulation as both a barrier and an effective tool for the protection of marginalized groups in sport. Although it may be difficult to shift entrenched societal thinking about race, the chapter argues for a holistic collaboration between law and regulation, government, sport and society to apply pressure, alter behavior, and create conditions for effective anti-racism reforms. Change can also be achieved through improved engagement with ethnographic research in law to better understand intersectional identity and the true impact of law and regulation upon marginalized individuals and groups.
Athlete Activism at the Olympics: Challenging the Legality of Rule 50 as a Restriction on Freedom of Expression
Authors: James Mark , Osborn Guy
Published: June 2024

Since Colin Kaepernick began taking the knee during the American national anthem to protest social injustice and inequality in the USA in 2016, athletes across a range of sports and from diverse national backgrounds have used their high media profiles to draw attention to the causes that they support. The International Olympic Committee, however, has maintained its stance that politics and sport should not mix, and that human rights should not be used as a tool to undermine the political autonomy of sport. Rule 50(2) of the Olympic Charter states that, “No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas”. Anyone in breach of this provision may be disqualified from their event and have their Olympic accreditation removed, a position that was reinforced by the guidance issued to athletes prior to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Using examples of athlete activism at Tokyo 2020 as case studies, this chapter will analyze whether any of these exercises of the right to freedom of expression were in breach of Rule 50(2). It will then examine whether the application of Rule 50(2) at Tokyo 2020 is compatible with Article 10 European Convention of Human Rights and the likely outcome of any challenge before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the Swiss Federal Tribunal, and the European Court of Human Rights. It concludes by arguing for a complete overhaul of Rule 50(2) so that it promotes, rather than prohibits, freedom of expression.
Non-relativistic M2-branes and the AdS/CFT correspondence
Authors: Lambert Neil , Smith Joseph
Published: June 2024

Abstract

A non-relativistic limit of the AdS/CFT correspondence is studied in the context of M2-branes. On the field theory side this corresponds to a near-BPS limit of ABJM that localises onto solutions of Hitchin’s equations. It is shown that the symmetries of the theory include an infinite-dimensional enhancement of the spatial symmetry algebra corresponding to time-dependent holomorphic transformations. Taking the limit of the gravitational dual splits the geometry into three ‘large’ directions and eight ‘small’ directions and corresponds to the Membrane-Newton-Cartan limit of eleven-dimensional supergravity. This has the effect of reducing the AdS4 factor to an AdS2 factor for the near-horizon limit of the M2-brane metric. Evidence is presented that the duality is maintained after the limit.
A positive metric over DGKT vacua
Authors: Palti Eran , Petri Nicolò
Published: June 2024

Abstract

We study the notion of a metric over the space of AdS solution in string theory, leading to an associated distance between them. Such a distance is the idea underlying the AdS distance conjecture. We utilise the previously developed prescription for extracting such a metric: taking an off-shell quadratic variation of the string theory effective action and then evaluating it over the space of on-shell solutions. It was shown that this prescription leads to a well-defined positive metric over M-theory Freund-Rubin vacua. In this work, we use the same prescription to calculate the metric over type IIA DGKT vacua. These are much more involved, they have multiple flux parameters and exhibit scale separation. While it remains an open question whether these vacua exist as fully localised solutions of string theory, they are well-defined within the four-dimensional effective theory, which is all that is required for the calculation. We find that they also have a positive metric over them. Interestingly, this metric turns out to be independent of the many flux parameters in the solution, similarly to what happens for metrics over scalar field spaces. This non-trivial flux cancellation, as well as results from explicit vacua, lead us to propose a Swampland condition: that the metric over the space of vacua in quantum gravity, as defined by the above prescription, is always positive.
Supersymmetry and trace formulas. Part I. Compact Lie groups
Authors: Choi Changha , Takhtajan Leon A.
Published: June 2024

Abstract

In the context of supersymmetric quantum mechanics we formulate new supersymmetric localization principle, with application to trace formulas for a full thermal partition function. Unlike the standard localization principle, this new principle allows to compute the supertrace of non-supersymmetric observables, and is based on the existence of fermionic zero modes. We describe corresponding new invariant supersymmetric deformations of the path integral; they differ from the standard deformations arising from the circle action and require higher derivatives terms. Consequently, we prove that the path integral localizes to periodic orbits and not only on constant ones. We illustrate the principle by deriving bosonic trace formulas on compact Lie groups, including classical Jacobi inversion formula.
Lightweight Asynchronous Verifiable Secret Sharing with Optimal Resilience
Authors: Shoup Victor , Smart Nigel P.
Published: June 2024

We present new protocols for Asynchronous Verifiable Secret Sharing for Shamir (i.e., threshold $$t<n$$

t
<
n

) sharing of secrets. Our protocols:

Use only “lightweight” cryptographic primitives, such as hash functions;

Can share secrets over rings such as $${\mathbb {Z}}/(p^k)$$

Z
/
(

p
k

)

as well as finite fields $$\mathbb {F}_q$$

F
q

;

Provide optimal resilience, in the sense that they tolerate up to $$t < n/3$$

t
<
n
/
3

corruptions, where n is the total number of parties;

Are complete, in the sense that they guarantee that if any honest party receives their share then all honest parties receive their shares;

Employ batching techniques, whereby a dealer shares many secrets in parallel and achieves an amortized communication complexity that is linear in n, at least on the “happy path”, where no party provably misbehaves.
The Fan Theorem, its strong negation, and the determinacy of games
Authors: Veldman Wim
Published: June 2024

In the context of a weak formal theory called Basic Intuitionistic Mathematics

$$\textsf{BIM}$$

BIM

, we study Brouwer’s Fan Theorem and a strong negation of the Fan Theorem, Kleene’s Alternative (to the Fan Theorem). We prove that the Fan Theorem is equivalent to contrapositions of a number of intuitionistically accepted axioms of countable choice and that Kleene’s Alternative is equivalent to strong negations of these statements. We discuss finite and infinite games and introduce a constructively useful notion of determinacy. We prove that the Fan Theorem is equivalent to the Intuitionistic Determinacy Theorem. This theorem says that every subset of Cantor space

$$2^\omega $$

2
ω

is, in our constructively meaningful sense, determinate. Kleene’s Alternative is equivalent to a strong negation of a special case of this theorem. We also consider a uniform intermediate value theorem and a compactness theorem for classical propositional logic. The Fan Theorem is equivalent to each of these theorems and Kleene’s Alternative is equivalent to strong negations of them. We end with a note on ‘stronger’ Fan Theorems. The paper is a sequel to Veldman (Arch Math Logic 53:621–693, 2014).
A balanced outflow boundary condition for swirling flows
Authors: Douglas Christopher M.
Published: June 2024

In open flow simulations, the dispersion characteristics of disturbances near synthetic boundaries can lead to unphysical boundary scattering interactions that contaminate the resolved flow upstream by propagating numerical artifacts back into the domain interior. This issue is exacerbated in flows influenced by real or apparent body forces, which can significantly disrupt the normal stress balance along outflow boundaries and generate spurious pressure disturbances. To address this problem, this paper develops a zero-parameter, physics-based outflow boundary condition (BC) designed to minimize pressure scattering from body forces and pseudo-forces and enhance transparency of the artificial boundary. This “balanced outflow BC” is then compared against other common BCs from the literature using example axisymmetric and three-dimensional open swirling flow computations. Due to centrifugal and Coriolis forces, swirling flows are known to be particularly challenging to simulate in open geometries, as these apparent forces induce non-trivial hydrostatic stress distributions along artificial boundaries that cause scattering issues. In this context, the balanced outflow BC is shown to correspond to a geostrophic hydrostatic stress correction that balances the induced pressure gradients. Unlike the alternatives, the balanced outflow BC yields accurate results in truncated domains for both linear and nonlinear computations without requiring assumptions about wave characteristics along the boundary.
Uncertainties associated with integral-based solutions to geodetic boundary-value problems
Authors: Novák Pavel , Eshagh Mehdi , Pitoňák Martin
Published: June 2024

Physical geodesy applies potential theory to study the Earth’s gravitational field in space outside and up to a few km inside the Earth’s mass. Among various tools offered by this theory, boundary-value problems are particularly popular for the transformation or continuation of gravitational field parameters across space. Traditional problems, formulated and solved as early as in the nineteenth century, have been gradually supplemented with new problems, as new observational methods and data are available. In most cases, the emphasis is on formulating a functional relationship involving two functions in 3-D space; the values of one function are searched but unobservable; the values of the other function are observable but with errors. Such mathematical models (observation equations) are referred to as deterministic. Since observed data burdened with observational errors are used for their solutions, the relevant stochastic models must be formulated to provide uncertainties of the estimated parameters against which their quality can be evaluated. This article discusses the boundary-value problems of potential theory formulated for gravitational data currently or in the foreseeable future used by physical geodesy. Their solutions in the form of integral formulas and integral equations are reviewed, practical estimators applicable to numerical solutions of the deterministic models are formulated, and their related stochastic models are introduced. Deterministic and stochastic models represent a complete solution to problems in physical geodesy providing estimates of unknown parameters and their error variances (mean squared errors). On the other hand, analyses of error covariances can reveal problems related to the observed data and/or the design of the mathematical models. Numerical experiments demonstrate the applicability of stochastic models in practice.
Prospects of GENESIS and Galileo joint orbit and clock determination
Authors: Kur Tomasz , Sośnica Krzysztof , Kalarus Maciej
Published: June 2024

The European Space Agency (ESA) is preparing a satellite mission called GENESIS to be launched in 2027 as part of the FutureNAV program. GENESIS co-locates, for the first time, all four space geodetic techniques on one satellite platform. The main objectives of the mission are the realization of the International Terrestrial Reference Frames and the mitigation of biases in geodetic measurements; however, GENESIS will remarkably contribute to the determination of the geodetic parameters. The precise GENESIS orbits will be determined through satellite-to-satellite tracking, employing two GNSS antennas to observe GPS and Galileo satellites in both nadir and zenith directions. In this research, we show results from simulations of GENESIS and Galileo-like constellations with joint orbit and clock determination. We assess the orbit quality of GENESIS based on nadir-only, zenith-only, and combined nadir–zenith GNSS observations. The results prove that GENESIS and Galileo joint orbit and clock determination substantially improves Galileo orbits, satellite clocks, and even ground-based clocks of GNSS receivers tracking Galileo satellites. Although zenith and nadir GNSS antennas favor different orbital planes in terms of the number of collected observations, the mean results for each Galileo orbital plane are improved to a similar extent. The 3D orbit error of Galileo is improved from 27 mm (Galileo-only), 23 mm (Galileo + zenith), 16 mm (Galileo + nadir), to 14 mm (Galileo + zenith + nadir GENESIS observations), i.e., almost by a factor of two in the joint GENESIS + Galileo orbit and clock solutions.
Metabolism of alcohol ethoxylates (AEs) in rat, hamster, and human hepatocytes and liver S9: a pilot study for metabolic stability, metabolic pathway, and metabolites identification in vitro and in silico
Authors: Shi Quan , Moors Stefan , Dawick James , Kavanagh Lauren , Neely Theresa , Tian Yuan , Dreeßen Birte , Carrillo Juan-Carlos , Hein Holger , Boogaard Peter J.
Published: June 2024

Alcohol ethoxylates (AEs) are a well-known class of non-ionic surfactants widely used by the personal care market. The aim of this study was to evaluate and characterize the in vitro metabolism of AEs and identify metabolites. Five selected individual homologue AEs (C8EO4, C10EO5, C12EO4, C16EO8, and C18EO3) were incubated using human, rat, and hamster liver S9 fraction and cryopreserved hepatocytes. LC–MS was used to identify metabolites following the incubation of AEs by liver S9 and hepatocytes of all three species. All AEs were metabolized in these systems with a half-life ranging from 2 to 139 min. In general, incubation of AE with human liver S9 showed a shorter half-life compared to rat liver S9. While rat hepatocytes metabolized AEs faster than human hepatocytes. Both hydrophobic alkyl chain and hydrophilic EO head group groups of AEs were found to be target sites of metabolism. Metabolites were identified that show primary hydroxylation and dehydrogenation, followed by O-dealkylation (shortening of EO head groups) and glucuronidation. Additionally, the detection of whole EO groups indicates the cleavage of the ether bond between the alkyl chain and the EO groups as a minor metabolic pathway in the current testing system. Furthermore, no difference in metabolic patterns of each individual homologue AE investigated was observed, regardless of alkyl chain length or the number of EO groups. Moreover, there is an excellent agreement between the in vitro experimental data and the metabolite profile simulations using in silico approaches (OECD QSAR Toolbox). Altogether, these data indicate fast metabolism of all AEs with a qualitatively similar metabolic pathway with some quantitative differences observed in the metabolite profiles. These metabolic studies using different species can provide important reference values for further safety evaluation.
Costs are a major driver of antibacterial drug prescriptions in Germany: market analysis from 1985 to 2022
Authors: Bindel Lilly Josephine , Seifert Roland
Published: June 2024

In recent years, several threatening developments regarding antibacterial drugs, such as rising bacterial resistance and delivery bottlenecks, have occurred. Since antibacterial drugs are crucial for modern medicine, understanding events and influencing factors relevant for long-term developments is essential. Therefore, we analyzed the number of prescriptions and costs, defined daily dose (DDD) and DDD costs of antibacterial drugs in Germany, based on the Arzneiverordnungsreport (AVR, Drug description report) between 1985 and 2022. Based on prescription rates in 2022, we selected the TOP15 and TOP5. For a more in-depth analysis, we analyzed data from the wissenschaftliches Institut der AOK (WidO, scientific institute of the AOK). The number of prescriptions increased between 1985 and 2013, but since 2014, there has been a declining trend with a noticeable COVID-related dip. Over the years, a shift in drug classes occurred. Once very popular drugs like penicillins and tetracyclines are no longer as important. Conversely, aminopenicillins and cephalosporins have become more relevant. Particularly, the TOP5 drugs have seen an increasing proportion. DDD costs have decreased in most substance classes over time. There is a strong association between decreasing costs and rising prescriptions. Falling costs have a stronger immediate impact on prescriptions that rising costs. When costs are very low, drugs might be prescribed excessively. Supply bottlenecks can also result. The main prescribers are mainly in primary care. Their share of prescription has changed little over the years, but is decreasing regarding total consumption. In comparison to other European countries, Germany ranks in the lower third regarding prescriptions. In most countries, the COVID pandemic has led to a reduced prescription of antibacterial drugs. In conclusion, we provided a comprehensive overview of the antibacterial drug market in Germany over the past four decades and identified costs as a major driver of antibacterial drug prescriptions. Increased costs may reduce uncritical prescription of antibacterial drugs, development of bacterial resistance, supply shortages and occurrence of adverse effects.
The excitability of ipsilateral motor evoked potentials is not task-specific and spatially distinct from the contralateral motor hotspot
Authors: Seusing Nelly , Strauss Sebastian , Fleischmann Robert , Nafz Christina , Groppa Sergiu , Muthuraman Muthuraman , Ding Hao , Byblow Winston D. , Lotze Martin , Grothe Matthias
Published: June 2024

Objective

The role of ipsilateral descending motor pathways in voluntary movement of humans is still a matter of debate, with partly contradictory results. The aim of our study therefore was to examine the excitability of ipsilateral motor evoked potentials (iMEPs) regarding site and the specificity for unilateral and bilateral elbow flexion extension tasks.

Methods

MR-navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation mapping of the dominant hemisphere was performed in twenty healthy participants during tonic unilateral (iBB), bilateral homologous (bBB) or bilateral antagonistic elbow flexion-extension (iBB-cAE), the map center of gravity (CoG) and iMEP area from BB were obtained.

Results

The map CoG of the ipsilateral BB was located more anterior-laterally than the hotspot of the contralateral BB within the primary motor cortex, with a significant difference in CoG in iBB and iBB-cAE, but not bBB compared to the hotspot for the contralateral BB (each p < 0.05). However, different tasks had no effect on the size of the iMEPs.

Conclusion

Our data demonstrated that excitability of ipsilateral and contralateral MEP differ spatially in a task-specific manner suggesting the involvement of different motor networks within the motor cortex.
A lipase from Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus IDCC 3201 with thermostability and pH resistance for use as a detergent additive
Authors: Kang Mi Dan , Choi Go Eun , Jang Jeong Hwa , Hong Sung-Chul , Park Hee-Soo , Kim Dong Hyun , Kim Won Chan , Murphy Natasha P. , Jung Young Hoon
Published: June 2024

Lipases are important biocatalysts and ubiquitous in plants, animals, and microorganisms. The high growth rates of microorganisms with low production costs have enabled the wide application of microbial lipases in detergent, food, and cosmetic industries. Herein, a novel lipase from Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus IDCC 3201 (Lac-Rh) was isolated and its activity analyzed under a range of reaction conditions to evaluate its potential industrial application. The isolated Lac-Rh showed a molecular weight of 24 kDa and a maximum activity of 3438.5 ± 1.8 U/mg protein at 60 °C and pH 8. Additionally, Lac-Rh retained activity in alkaline conditions and in 10% v/v concentrations of organic solvents, including glycerol and acetone. Interestingly, after pre-incubation in the presence of multiple commercial detergents, Lac-Rh maintained over 80% of its activity and the stains from cotton were successfully removed under a simulated laundry  setting. Overall, the purified lipase from L. rhamnosus IDCC 3201 has potential for use as a detergent in industrial applications.

Key points

• A novel lipase (Lac-Rh) was isolated from Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus IDCC 3201

• Purified Lac-Rh exhibited its highest activity at a temperature of 60 °C and a pH of 8, respectively

• Lac-Rh remains stable in commercial laundry detergent and enhances washing performance
Silencing of the DNA damage repair regulator PPP1R15A sensitizes acute myeloid leukemia cells to chemotherapy
Authors: Bouchla Anthi , Sotiropoulou Christina D. , Esteb Christopher , Loupis Theodoros , Papageorgiou Sotirios G. , Deliconstantinos Georgia G. , Pagoni Maria , Hatzimichael Eleftheria , Dellatola Maria , Kalomoiri Smaragdi , Apostolidou Elisavet , Kontos Christos K. , Thomopoulos Thomas P. , Karantanos Theodoros , Pappa Vasiliki
Published: June 2024

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a life-threatening disease whose induction treatment consists of combination chemotherapy with Idarubicin and Cytarabine for fit patients. Treatment failures are frequent, urging the need for novel treatments for this disease. The DNA Damage Response Mechanism (DDR) comprises numerous molecules and pathways intended to arrest the cell cycle until DNA damage is repaired or else drive the cell to apoptosis. AML-derived cell lines after treatment with Idarubicin and Cytarabine were used for studying the expression profile of 84 DDR genes, through PCR arrays. Utilizing de novo AML patient and control samples we studied the expression of PPP1R15A, CDKN1A, GADD45A, GADD45G, and EXO1. Next, we performed PPP1R15A silencing in AML cell lines in two separate experiments using siRNA and CRISPR-cas9, respectively. Our findings highlight that DDR regulators demonstrate increased expression in patients with high cytogenetic risk possibly reflecting increased genotoxic stress. Especially, PPP1R15A is mainly involved in the recovery of the cells from stress and it was the only DDR gene upregulated in AML patients. The PPP1R15A silencing resulted in decreased viability of Idarubicin and Cytarabine-treated cell lines, in contrast to untreated cells. These findings shed light on new strategies to enhance chemotherapy efficacy and demonstrate that PPP1R15A is an important DDR regulator in AML and its downregulation might be a safe and effective way to increase sensitivity to chemotherapy in this disease.
Kognitive Verhaltenstherapie mit Herzratenvariabilitäts-Biofeedback bei chronischen Schmerzen
Authors: Wünsche Sarah , Krempel Laura , Martin Alexandra
Published: June 2024

Hintergrund

Bei chronischen Schmerzen zählt die kognitive Verhaltenstherapie (KVT) zu den empfohlenen Behandlungsansätzen, wobei die Effekte im Durchschnitt klein sind. Die KVT adressiert jedoch hauptsächlich psychobehaviorale und kaum physiologische Prozesse. Eine Möglichkeit zur Erweiterung der KVT könnte das Herzratenvariabilitäts-Biofeedback (HRV-BF) darstellen. Frühere Studien stellten eine reduzierte HRV bei chronischen Schmerzen und ihre Verbesserung nach HRV-BF fest. Demnach erscheint gerade die Kombination beider Therapien aussichtsreich.

Ziel der Arbeit

In der vorliegenden Arbeit soll die Entwicklung eines Kombinationsmanuals aus KVT und HRV-BF beschrieben werden. Eine Überprüfung der Machbarkeit erfolgt im Rahmen einer aktuell stattfindenden randomisierten kontrollierten Pilotstudie.

Materialien und Methode

Die Methode basiert auf einer Integration ausgewählter Techniken der KVT mit HRV-BF-Elementen, die auf ihre Synergieeffekte und die Machbarkeit hin überprüft werden. Die Pilotstudie soll an 20 Patient*innen mit chronischen muskuloskelettalen Schmerzen (gemäß der 11. Version der Internationalen statistischen Klassifikation der Krankheiten und verwandter Gesundheitsprobleme [ICD-11]) bei Vorliegen einer somatischen Belastungsstörung (gemäß der 5. Auflage des Diagnostischen und Statistischen Manuals Psychischer Störungen [DSM-5]) durchgeführt werden.

Ergebnis

Die entwickelte Kurzzeittherapie besteht aus 12 Sitzungen. Therapieziele sind z. B. der Aufbau adaptiver Verhaltensweisen, die Umstrukturierung maladaptiver Kognitionen sowie Verbesserungen der Emotionsregulation und der HRV-Selbstregulation.

Diskussion

Durch die integrierte Kurzzeittherapie können über psychobehaviorale Prozesse hinaus auch potenziell relevante psychophysiologische Prozesse adressiert werden. Obwohl es bereits Erkenntnisse zur Wirksamkeit sowohl der KVT als auch von HRV-BF gibt, steht die Bewertung des Nutzens ihrer gemeinsamen Anwendung noch aus.
Improving thermal stability of starches native cross-linked with citric acid as a compatibilizer for thermoplastic starch/polylactic acid blends
Authors: Martínez-Villadiego Keydis , Arias-Tapia Mary Judith , Jaramillo Andrés F.
Published: June 2024

This study aimed to enhance compatibility and thermal stability between thermoplastic starch (TPS) and polylactic acid (PLA) by incorporating citric acid-grafted starch (CA–Starch) at different concentrations (1 and 5%) with varying degrees of substitution for starch derived from sweet potatoes and yams (DY). Blends were produced using a constant TPS/PLA weight ratio of 60:40, both with and without a compatibilizer. The blending process was carried out using a torque rheometer under two distinct conditions. The results exhibited reduced particle sizes in TPS60/PLA40/CA–Starch blends, as evidenced by SEM images displaying improved interaction and smoother surfaces. Significantly, one of the properties that experienced substantial improvement was the compatibility between TPS and PLA, as indicated by reduced phase segregation within the blends. This improvement manifested in enhanced surface morphology, smaller particle sizes, and greater homogeneity in the blends. Additionally, an enhancement in thermal properties, particularly thermal stability, was observed with higher CA content. This study underscores that the incorporation of CA–Starch not only enhances compatibility but also improves thermal stability in TPS60/PLA40 blends, offering potential for the development of biocompatible materials with superior performance.

Graphical abstract
Synthesis, photopolymerization and evaluation of electrical properties of epoxidized castor oil-based acrylates
Authors: Çayli Gökhan , Cekli Serap , Uzunoğlu Cengiz Polat
Published: June 2024

In this study, synthesis, characterization and photopolymerization of new type of castor oil-based monomer family are studied. Electrical properties of the synthesized polymers are also evaluated. The synthesis of these materials consists of two steps. Acrylation of the castor oil and methyl ricinoleate occur in the first step and epoxidation is then followed. Epoxidized acrylated castor oil (EACO) and epoxidized acrylated methyl ricinoleate (EAMR) are synthesized at the end of the reactions. FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) and 1H NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy techniques are used to characterize of the starting materials and monomers. When acrylate groups are introduced to castor oil and methyl ricinoleate, a characteristic peak at 1722 cm−1 is observed in FTIR spectrum and peaks of acrylate hydrogens at 5.7, 6.0 and 6.3 are observed in 1H NMR spectrum. After epoxidation, a small peak is detected at 840 cm−1 in FTIR spectrum and new peaks appear at 2.5 and 3.0 ppm in 1H NMR spectrum. Photopolymerization of the synthesized materials are performed with DMPA (2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone) and AIBN (azobisisobutyronitrile) catalyst. It is found that DMPA catalyst is more effective than AIBN. EACO samples’ DC (direct current) resistance and conductance values are measured as 146.4 MΩm and 6.83 nS/m, respectively, whereas EAMR samples’ DC resistance and conductance values are calculated as 96 MΩm and 10.42 nS/m, respectively. AC (alternative current) analysis is conducted by using LCR meter for the polymeric samples where EACO samples’ capacitances varies from 4.88 to 3.29 pF (picofarads) with respect to frequency (10 Hz–300 kHZ). On the other hand, EAMR samples’ capacitances varies from 14.7 to 6.49 pF with respect to frequency. Impedance values of the EACO samples with respect to frequency are measured as 4.24 GΩ and 165 kΩ, respectively. Impedance values of the EAMR samples with respect to frequency are measured as 1.19 GΩ and 82 kΩ, respectively.
Role of cardiac magnetic resonance in stratifying arrhythmogenic risk in mitral valve prolapse patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Gatti Marco , Santonocito Ambra , Papa Francesco Pio , D’Ascenzo Fabrizio , De Filippo Ovidio , Gallone Guglielmo , Palmisano Anna , Pistelli Lorenzo , De Ferrari Gaetano Maria , Esposito Antonio , Giustetto Carla , Fonio Paolo , Faletti Riccardo
Published: June 2024

Objectives

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies investigating the diagnostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) features for arrhythmic risk stratification in mitral valve prolapse (MVP) patients.

Materials and methods

EMBASE, PubMed/MEDLINE, and CENTRAL were searched for studies reporting MVP patients who underwent CMR with assessment of: left ventricular (LV) size and function, mitral regurgitation (MR), prolapse distance, mitral annular disjunction (MAD), curling, late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), and T1 mapping, and reported the association with arrhythmia. The primary endpoint was complex ventricular arrhythmias (co-VAs) as defined by any non-sustained ventricular tachycardia, sustained ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, or aborted sudden cardiac death. Meta-analysis was performed when at least three studies investigated a CMR feature. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023374185.

Results

The meta-analysis included 11 studies with 1278 patients. MR severity, leaflet length/thickness, curling, MAD distance, and mapping techniques were not meta-analyzed as reported in < 3 studies. LV end-diastolic volume index, LV ejection fraction, and prolapse distance showed small non-significant effect sizes. LGE showed a strong and significant association with co-VA with a LogORs of 2.12 (95% confidence interval (CI): [1.00, 3.23]), for MAD the log odds-ratio was 0.95 (95% CI: [0.30, 1.60]). The predictive accuracy of LGE was substantial, with a hierarchical summary ROC AUC of 0.83 (95% CI: [0.69, 0.91]) and sensitivity and specificity rates of 0.70 (95% CI: [0.41, 0.89]) and 0.80 (95% CI: [0.67, 0.89]), respectively.

Conclusions

Our study highlights the role of LGE as the key CMR feature for arrhythmia risk stratification in MVP patients. MAD might complement arrhythmic risk stratification.

Clinical relevance statement

LGE is a key factor for arrhythmogenic risk in MVP patients, with additional contribution from MAD. Combining MRI findings with clinical characteristics is critical for evaluating and accurately stratifying arrhythmogenic risk in MVP patients.

Key Points

MVP affects 2–3% of the population, with some facing increased risk for arrhythmia.

LGE can assess arrhythmia risk, and MAD may further stratify patients.

CMR is critical for MVP arrhythmia risk stratification, making it essential in a comprehensive evaluation.
A new fully projective O(lg N) line convex polygon intersection algorithm
Authors: Skala Vaclav
Published: June 2024

Intersecting algorithms, especially line clipping in

$${E^{2}}$$

E
2

and

$${E^{3}}$$

E
3

in computer graphics, have been studied for a long time. Many different algorithms have been developed. The simplest case is a line clipping by a convex polygon in

$${E^{2}}$$

E
2

with O(N) computational complexity and with known polygon edges orientation. This contribution presents a new algorithm for a line clipping by a convex polygon in E

$$^{2}$$

2

with O(lg N) complexity, which is based on the point-in-half plane test. The proposed algorithm does not require prior knowledge of the polygon edge orientation. The vertices of the convex polygon and the clipped line can be given in projective space using homogeneous coordinates. The algorithm uses vector–vector operations for efficient implementation with SSE or AVX vector–vector instructions or on GPUs. It is simple and robust.
Response of atmospheric pCO$$_2$$ to a strong AMOC weakening under low and high emission scenarios
Authors: Boot Amber A. , von der Heydt Anna S. , Dijkstra Henk A.
Published: June 2024

The Earth System is warming due to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions which increases the risk of passing a tipping point in the Earth System, such as a collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). An AMOC weakening can have large climate impacts which influences the marine and terrestrial carbon cycle and hence atmospheric pCO$$_2$$

2

. However, the sign and mechanism of this response are subject to uncertainty. Here, we use a state-of-the-art Earth System Model, the Community Earth System Model v2 (CESM2), to study the atmospheric pCO$$_2$$

2

response to an AMOC weakening under low (SSP1-2.6) and high (SSP5-8.5) emission scenarios over the years 2015–2100. A freshwater flux anomaly in the North Atlantic strongly weakens the AMOC, and we simulate a weak positive pCO$$_2$$

2

response of 0.45 and 1.3 ppm increase per AMOC decrease in Sv for SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5, respectively. For SSP1-2.6 this response is driven by both the oceanic and terrestrial carbon cycles, whereas in SSP5-8.5 it is solely the ocean that drives the response. However, the spatial patterns of both the climate and carbon cycle response are similar in both emission scenarios over the course of the simulation period (2015–2100), showing that the response pattern is not dependent on cumulative CO$$_2$$

2

emissions up to 2100. Though the global atmospheric pCO$$_2$$

2

response might be small, locally large changes in both the carbon cycle and the climate system occur due to the AMOC weakening, which can have large detrimental effects on ecosystems and society.
Coherent solvus of disordered alkali feldspar: experiment, atom probe tomography and thermodynamic model
Authors: Heuser D. , Dubosq R. , Petrishcheva E. , Bian G. , Rentenberger C. , Lengauer C. L. , Gault B. , Habler G. , Abart R.
Published: June 2024

At temperatures above about 600 °C, alkali feldspar forms a continuous solid solution between the Na and K end members. Towards lower temperatures a miscibility gap opens, and alkali feldspar of intermediate composition exsolves, forming an intergrowth of relatively more Na-rich and K-rich lamellae. During exsolution, the crystal structure usually remains coherent across the lamellar interfaces, a feature that may be preserved over geological times. Due to the compositional dependence of the lattice parameters, coherent intergrowth requires that the lamellae are elastically strained. The associated elastic strain energy counteracts exsolution, and the solvus delimiting the misciblity gap for coherent intergrowth lies below the solvus for strain free phase equilibria. To determine the coherent solvus, homogeneous gem quality alkali feldspar of intermediate composition was annealed at conditions falling into the two-phase region of the phase diagram. Thereby a coherent intergrowth of approximately 10–20 nanometers wide lamellae was produced. Lamellar compositions were determined with atom probe tomography defining points on the coherent solvus. In parallel, the coherent solvus was calculated using a thermodynamic mixing model calibrated on the same alkali feldspar as used for the exsolution experiments and accounting for the elastic strain energy associated with coherent lamellar intergrwoth. The experimentally determined and the calculated coherent solvus are in excellent agreement indicating that phase equilibria in coherent lamellar intergrowth of alkali feldspar are adequately described, providing a sound basis for the interpretation of phase relations in coherently exsolved alkali feldspar.
Prognostic implications of TOR1B expression across cancer types: a focus on basal-like breast cancer and cellular adaptations to hypoxia
Authors: Zhang Yan , Cai Zhongfu , Chen Wen , Ye Lei , Wu Xinquan
Published: June 2024

The TOR1B gene is known to play a pivotal role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and responding to endoplasmic reticulum stress. However, its involvement in cancer remains relatively understudied. This study seeks to explore the prognostic implications of TOR1B across various cancers, with a specific focus on Basal-like Breast Cancer (BLBC) and its underlying cellular mechanisms. Through comprehensive analysis of data from TCGA, TARGET, GEO, and GTEx, we investigated TOR1B expression and its correlation with patient outcomes. Furthermore, in vitro experiments conducted on BLBC cell lines examined the impact of TOR1B modulation on cell viability, apoptosis, and metabolic activity under varying oxygen levels. Our statistical analysis encompassed differential expression analysis, survival analysis, and multivariate Cox regression. Our findings indicate that TOR1B is overexpressed in BLBC and other cancers, consistently correlating with poorer prognosis. Elevated TOR1B levels were significantly associated with reduced overall and disease-free survival in BLBC patients. In vitro experiments further revealed that TOR1B knockdown augmented apoptosis and influenced metabolic activity, particularly under hypoxic conditions, highlighting its potential role in cancer cell adaptation to stress. Overall, our study underscores the importance of TOR1B in cancer progression, particularly in BLBC, where it serves as a notable prognostic indicator. The interaction between TOR1B and metabolic pathways, as well as its regulation by HIF-1α, suggests its significance in adapting to hypoxia, thereby positioning TOR1B as a promising therapeutic target for aggressive breast cancer subtypes.
SRSF9 promotes cell proliferation and migration of glioblastoma through enhancing CDK1 expression
Authors: Luo Chunyuan , He Juan , Yang Yang , Wu Ke , Fu Xin , Cheng Jian , Ming Yue , Liu Wenrong , Peng Yong
Published: June 2024

Background

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive and prevalent brain tumor that poses significant challenges in treatment. SRSF9, an RNA-binding protein, is essential for cellular processes and implicated in cancer progression. Yet, its function and mechanism in GBM need clarification.

Methods

Bioinformatics analysis was performed to explore differential expression of SRSF9 in GBM and its prognostic relevance to glioma patients. SRSF9 and CDK1 expression in GBM cell lines and patients’ tissues were quantified by RT-qPCR, Western blot or immunofluorescence assay. The role of SRSF9 in GBM cell proliferation and migration was assessed by MTT, Transwell and colony formation assays. Additionally, transcriptional regulation of CDK1 by SRSF9 was investigated using ChIP-PCR and dual-luciferase assays.

Results

The elevated SRSF9 expression correlates to GBM stages and poor survival of glioma patients. Through gain-of-function and loss-of-function strategies, SRSF9 was demonstrated to promote proliferation and migration of GBM cells. Bioinformatics analysis showed that SRSF9 has an impact on cell growth pathways including cell cycle checkpoints and E2F targets. Mechanistically, SRSF9 appears to bind to the promoter of CDK1 gene and increase its transcription level, thus promoting GBM cell proliferation.

Conclusions

These findings uncover the cellular function of SRSF9 in GBM and highlight its therapeutic potential for GBM.
Assessment of volume status of pediatric hemodialysis patients
Authors: Fadel Fatina I. , Salah Doaa M. , Mawla Mohamed A. Abdel , Galal Eman , Sayed Shaimaa
Published: June 2024

Background

Accurate volume status assessment and dry weight achievement are the most challenging goals for a nephrologist. We aimed to evaluate the role of ultrasonographic parameters including lung ultrasound and inferior vena cava (IVC) measurements as practical methods of volume status assessment in children on hemodialysis by comparing them with established techniques, such as clinical evaluation and bioimpedance spectroscopy.

Methods

A prospective cross-sectional study compared pre- and post-dialysis volume status using bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) parameters and clinical data with ultrasonographic lung B-lines and IVC parameters in children on regular hemodialysis.

Results

A total 60 children (mean age 9.4 ± 2.8 years) were enrolled. Twenty patients (33.3%) were clinically overloaded to varying degrees (17 patients had mild to moderate signs of fluid overload and 3 patients had moderate to severe signs of fluid overload). All other patients (66.7%) were clinically euvolemic. Sonographic parameters were significantly lower post-dialysis than pre-dialysis, including lung B-line count and IVC diameter. IVC collapsibility index mean was significantly higher post-dialysis than pre-dialysis. There was a significant correlation between the lung B-line count, IVC parameters, and BIS-measured overhydration both before and after hemodialysis. Nine patients had ≥ 8 B-lines post-dialysis, only three of them were hypertensive.

Conclusions

Clinical criteria alone are not specific for determining accurate fluid status in pediatric hemodialysis patients. Lung B-line score, IVC parameters, and BIS may be complementary to each other and to clinical data. Lung B-lines outperform IVC measurements and BIS in subclinical volume overload detection in pediatric hemodialysis patients.

Graphical abstract
AutYOLO-ATT: an attention-based YOLOv8 algorithm for early autism diagnosis through facial expression recognition
Authors: Hosney Reham , Talaat Fatma M. , El-Gendy Eman M. , Saafan Mahmoud M.
Published: June 2024

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition resulting from abnormalities in brain structure and function, which can manifest as communication and social interaction difficulties. Conventional methods for diagnosing ASD may not be effective in the early stages of the disorder. Hence, early diagnosis is crucial to improving the patient's overall health and well-being. One alternative and effective method for early autism diagnosis is facial expression recognition since autistic children typically exhibit distinct facial expressions that can aid in distinguishing them from other children. This paper provides a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN)-based real-time emotion recognition system for autistic kids. The proposed system is designed to identify six facial emotions, including surprise, delight, sadness, fear, joy, and natural, and to assist medical professionals and families in recognizing facial expressions in autistic children for early diagnosis and intervention. In this study, an attention-based YOLOv8 (AutYOLO-ATT) algorithm for facial expression recognition is proposed, which enhances the YOLOv8 model's performance by integrating an attention mechanism. The proposed method (AutYOLO-ATT) outperforms all other classifiers in all metrics, achieving a precision of 93.97%, recall of 97.5%, F1-score of 92.99%, and accuracy of 97.2%. These results highlight the potential of the proposed method for real-world applications, particularly in fields where high accuracy is essential.
BIDGCN: boundary-informed dynamic graph convolutional network for adaptive spline fitting of scattered data
Authors: Giannelli Carlotta , Imperatore Sofia , Mantzaflaris Angelos , Scholz Felix
Published: June 2024

Surface reconstruction from scattered point clouds is the process of generating surfaces from unstructured data configurations retrieved using an acquisition device such as a laser scanner. Smooth surfaces are possible with the use of spline representations, an established mathematical tool in computer-aided design and related application areas. One key step in the surface reconstruction process is the parameterization of the points, that is, the construction of a proper mapping of the 3D point cloud to a planar domain that preserves surface boundary and interior points. Despite achieving a remarkable progress, existing heuristics for generating a suitable parameterization face challenges related to the accuracy, the robustness with respect to noise, and the computational efficiency of the results. In this work, we propose a boundary-informed dynamic graph convolutional network (BIDGCN) characterized by a novel boundary-informed input layer, with special focus on applications related to adaptive spline approximation of scattered data. The newly introduced layer propagates given boundary information to the interior of the point cloud, in order to let the input data be suitably processed by successive graph convolutional network layers. We apply our BIDGCN model to the problem of parameterizing three-dimensional unstructured data sets over a planar domain. A selection of numerical examples shows the effectiveness of the proposed approach for adaptive spline fitting with (truncated) hierarchical B-spline constructions. In our experiments, improved accuracy is obtained, e.g., from 60% up to 80% for noisy data, while speedups ranging from 4 up to 180 times are observed with respect to classical algorithms. Moreover, our method automatically predicts the local neighborhood graph, leading to much more robust results without the need for delicate free parameter selection.