bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Too Scared to Fight Back? Affective Job Insecurity as a Boundary Condition Between Workplace Incivility and Negative Mood States in Temporary Agency Workers
Authors: Gahrmann Caroline , Kößler Franziska J. , Mytrofanova Maryna , Klumb Petra L.
Published: September 2024

Blue-collar temporary agency workers may confront daily workplace incivility, based on their status as outsiders in the user company, and affective job insecurity, based on their unstable employment situation. Building on the employment-health dilemma (Kößler, F. J., Wesche, J. S., & Hoppe, A. (2023). In a no-win situation: The employment–health dilemma. Applied Psychology, 72(1), 64–84) and the cognitive appraisal theory of emotion (Lazarus, R. S. (1991). Emotion and adaptation. Oxford University Press), we examine how these factors jointly shape workers’ daily affective experiences. We assume that workers with high levels of affective job insecurity feel less capable to fight back against workplace incivility. Consequently, we hypothesize that these workers are less likely to respond to daily workplace incivility with angry mood and more likely to respond with sad mood. To address our hypotheses, we conducted a daily diary study in Switzerland with 95 blue-collar temporary agency workers. As expected, affective job insecurity weakened the link between daily workplace incivility and angry mood, whereas it strengthened the link between daily workplace incivility and sad mood. In sum, our findings suggest that worries and fears related to keeping one’s job can alter how workers respond to daily workplace incivility. We discuss our findings in the context of temporary agency work.
Analyzing the trends and hotspots of biochar’s applications in agriculture, environment, and energy: a bibliometrics study for 2022 and 2023
Authors: Wu Ping , Fu Yingdong , Vancov Tony , Wang Hailong , Wang Yujun , Chen Wenfu
Published: September 2024

Biochar, produced from the thermochemical conversion of biomass waste, has various applications owing to its broad utility and advantageous properties. This study employs a scientometric approach to comprehensively assess the advancements in biochar application from 2022 to 2023. Utilizing 13,357 bibliographic records sourced from the Web of Science Core Collection with the search term “biochar”, the analysis focuses on authorship, national contributions, and keyword trends. Findings demonstrate a continual rise in annual publications since 2009, albeit with a moderated growth rate in 2023. China leads in publication outputs, followed by USA and India, with Hailong Wang emerging as a prominent figure in biochar research. Keyword co-occurrence analyses identify key research themes such as biochar’s role in climate change mitigation, easing salinity and drought stress, immobilizing toxic metals, degrading organic pollutants, serving as additives in anaerobic digestion, and functioning as electrodes in microbial fuel cells. Among these, biochar’s application for global climate change mitigation gains significant attention, while its utilization as electrodes in microbial fuel cells emerges as a promising research frontier, indicating the growing need for sustainable energy sources. The study also outlines critical research gaps and future priorities for enhancing biochar application. Overall, it highlights the diverse applicability of biochar and offers valuable insight into research progression and forthcoming directions in biochar studies.

Graphical Abstract
JG26 attenuates ADAM17 metalloproteinase-mediated ACE2 receptor processing and SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro
Authors: Gentili Valentina , Beltrami Silvia , Cuffaro Doretta , Cianci Giorgia , Maini Gloria , Rizzo Roberta , Macchia Marco , Rossello Armando , Bortolotti Daria , Nuti Elisa
Published: September 2024

Background

ADAM17 is a metalloprotease implicated in the proteolysis of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), known to play a critical role in the entry and spread of SARS-CoV-2. In this context, ADAM17 results as a potential novel target for controlling SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods

In this study, we investigated the impact on ACE2 surface expression and the antiviral efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 infection of the selective ADAM17 inhibitor JG26 and its dimeric (compound 1) and glycoconjugate (compound 2) derivatives using Calu-3 human lung cells.

Results

None of the compounds exhibited cytotoxic effects on Calu-3 cells up to a concentration of 25 µM. Treatment with JG26 resulted in partial inhibition of both ACE2 receptor shedding and SARS-CoV-2 infection, followed by compound 1.

Conclusion

JG26, an ADAM17 inhibitor, demonstrated promising antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 infection, likely attributed to reduced sACE2 availability, thus limiting viral dissemination.
Correlative electron microscopy of discontinuous precipitation
Authors: Opara Jarosław , Zięba Paweł
Published: September 2024

This paper presents a comprehensive study on discontinuous precipitation (DP) in Al-22 at.% Zn alloy, leveraging the correlative and synergic effects of advanced microscopy and modelling techniques. The study is structured into three pivotal steps: in-situ scanning electron microscopy combined with an energy backscattered diffraction analysis for real-time monitoring and an analysis of DP reaction kinetics and grain boundary misorientations; transmission electron microscopy and an energy X-ray dispersive microanalysis for detailed observation of solute-depleted α and solute-rich β lamellae, offering insights into the kinetics of the reaction front (RF) and solute concentration profiles; and a sophisticated modelling approach addressing the limitations of direct observation methods by simulating solute concentration changes within αphase lamellae during RF go-and-stop cycles. This multifaceted approach elucidates the nuances of DP mechanisms, from the nucleation and growth of precipitates to the estimation of instantaneous RF velocity and the impact of grain boundary misorientations. The integration of these methodologies enhances our understanding of DP kinetics and morphology at both meso- and nanoscales, highlighting the significant role of correlative microscopy in metallurgical research. The findings not only deepen our grasp of the fundamental mechanisms driving DP reactions but also provide a valuable comparison framework for experimental data, potentially guiding the development and optimization of metallurgical processes.
Date palm: a potential nutraceutical and phytomedicine in most frequent aging associated diseases
Authors: Albishi Tasahil Salih
Published: September 2024

Senescence, often known as ageing, is a condition of decline that shows itself as a decrease in fertility and survival at older ages. Ageing theory suggests that ageing evolves as a function of life history optimization or because of mutation pressure, depending on the degree of externally imposed mortality and shocks to fertility. An important key factor to many aging-related disorders (ARDs), such as hypertension, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, is ageing, a process influenced by countless biological and genetic pathways. While there have been significant advancements in therapeutics for age-related disorders, nutritional therapy, encasing various products from natural sources is recommended for durable and fruitful treatment. Numerous health advantages of the date palm, Phoenix dactylifera, have been well-documented. These include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective activity. Phytochemical analysis of date palm demonstrates a lot of beneficial nutraceuticals that can ameliorate ARDs like polyphenols, phytosterols, carotenoids, flavonoids, terpenoids, fatty acids, carbohydrates, vitamins, and amino acids etc. The major signaling and molecular pathways by which these phytoconstituents exert their anti-ageing effects include terminating inflammation by blocking the release in of IL-6, TNF-α and clearance of Aβ plaques for neurodegenerative diseases; blocking ACE-II and HMG-CoA for cardio-protection; regulating RANK, p38MAPK-Runx2 pathways, and insulin-growth factor-1 (IGF-1) for osteoporosis. However, research on the benefits of date palm is still lacking. The purpose of this review is to shed light on the various biological activities of date palm in ARDs and to explore its remedial mechanisms.
Prevalence of Functional Difficulty Among School-Aged Children and Effect on School Enrolment in Rural Southern India: A Cross-Sectional Analysis
Authors: Chandy Bobeena Rachel , Davey Calum , Oswald William E. , Kaliappan Saravanakumar Puthupalayam , Aruldas Kumudha , Banks Lena Morgon , Jasper Smitha , Nagarajan Guru , Galagan Sean , Kennedy David S. , Walson Judd L. , Koshy Beena , Ajjampur Sitara S. R. , Kuper Hannah
Published: September 2024

Despite the large number of children in India, there is little information on the impact of children’s disability on school enrolment, and how this differs by population. We estimated the prevalence of childhood disability in two sites in Tamil Nadu, southern India, and the effect of functional difficulty on school enrolment. We used a parent-reported survey containing the UNICEF-Washington Group questions to identify children aged 5 to 17 years with functional difficulty during a census conducted for an ongoing trial. We estimated pooled- and gender-specific prevalence of functional difficulty among 29,044 children. We fitted regression models to identify subgroups with higher rates of functional difficulty and the effect of functional difficulty on reported school enrolment. We estimated the modification of the effect of functional difficulty by age, gender, socioeconomic status, household education, and sub-site, on additive and multiplicative scales. We found of 29,044 children, 299 (1.0%) had any functional difficulty, equal among boys and girls. Being understood (0.5%) and walking (0.4%) were the most common difficulties. Functional difficulty was strongly associated with non-enrolment in school (Prevalence ratio [PR] 4.59, 95% CI: 3.87, 5.43) after adjusting for age, gender, and site. We show scale-dependent differences between age and socioeconomic groups in the effect of functional difficulty on enrolment. This study shows that at least one in a hundred children in this region have severe functional difficulties and nearly half of these children are not enrolled in school, highlighting the need for further efforts and evidence-based interventions to increase school enrolment among these groups.
Prevalence and Trends of Not Receiving a Dose of DPT-Containing Vaccine Among Children 12–35 Months: An Analysis of 81 Low- And Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Karlsson Omar , Rajpal Sunil , Johri Mira , Kim Rockli , Subramanian SV
Published: September 2024

Not receiving a DPT-containing vaccine in early childhood indicates an absence of routine immunization, which puts children at an elevated risk of mortality, morbidity, and worse human development over the life course. We estimated the percentage of children 12–35 months who did not receive a dose of DPT-containing vaccine (termed zero-dose children) using household surveys from 81 low- and middle-income countries conducted between 2014 and 2023. For 68 countries with more than one survey (with the earlier survey conducted 2000–2013), we estimated the average annual percentage point change in prevalence of zero-dose children between the earliest and latest surveys. We also explored the association of zero-dose prevalence with postneonatal and child mortality, health expenditure, and Gavi-eligibility. Overall, 16% of children in our pooled sample had not received a dose of DPT-containing vaccine. There was a 0.8% point decline in zero-dose prevalence per year on average across the period studied. A single percentage point average annual decline in zero-dose prevalence was associated with an average annual decrease of 1.4 deaths in the postneonatal and childhood period per 1000 live births. Gavi-eligible countries had a much faster decline in zero-dose prevalence than other countries. Large gains have been made in reducing the percentage of children who did not receive a DPT-containing vaccine. Efforts to reduce the number of zero-dose children should focus on countries with high prevalence to achieve the Immunization Agenda 2030. Healthcare spending could be prioritized so that the prevalence of zero-dose children is reduced.
Enhancing student engagement in online education: the role of self-regulation and teacher support in Zambia
Authors: Kangwa Daniel , Msafiri Msambwa Mgambi , Wan Xiulan , Fute Antony
Published: September 2024

This study examined the opportunities and difficulties of online learning in Zambia’s higher education system, emphasizing the effects of self-regulation as a mediator between teacher-scaffolded online interactions and student learning engagement. Students and teachers frequently encounter significant challenges, such as low motivation, engagement, and self-regulation, despite the growing popularity of online learning. Hence, there was a need to explore how these can be mitigated through enhanced self-regulation and contribute to better educational outcomes and the broader context of pedagogical innovation. Data was gathered from an online survey of 1323 undergraduate students who took online courses in blended learning environments at four higher education institutions in Zambia. The results show a substantial mediating effect of self-regulation on student learning engagement and teacher-scaffolded online interactions. Findings underscore the need for comprehensive strategies to enhance online learning experiences, including constructive feedback, conducive learning environments, and continuous professional development programs for teachers. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the importance of interactive online learning activities to improve students’ learning management skills and promote self-discipline in online learning. It highlights the vital role of self-regulation, active learning engagement, and teacher-scaffolded online interactions and calls on educators and administrators to develop innovative ways to make participating in online learning smoother.
Network impact analysis on the performance of Secure Group Communication schemes with focus on IoT
Authors: Prantl Thomas , Amann Patrick , Krupitzer Christian , Engel Simon , Bauer André , Kounev Samuel
Published: September 2024

Secure and scalable group communication environments are essential for many IoT applications as they are the cornerstone for different IoT devices to work together securely to realize smart applications such as smart cities or smart health. Such applications are often implemented in Wireless Sensor Networks, posing additional challenges. Sensors usually have low capacity and limited network connectivity bandwidth. Over time, a variety of Secure Group Communication (SGC) schemes have emerged, all with their advantages and disadvantages. This variety makes it difficult for users to determine the best protocol for their specific application purpose. When selecting a Secure Group Communication scheme, it is crucial to know the model’s performance under varying network conditions. Research focused so far only on performance in terms of server and client runtimes. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to perform a network-based performance analysis of SGC schemes. Specifically, we analyze the network impact on the two centralized SGC schemes SKDC and LKH and one decentralized/contributory SGC scheme G-DH. To this end, we used the ComBench tool to simulate different network situations and then measured the times required for the following group operations: group creation, adding and removing members. The evaluation of our simulation results indicates that packet loss and delay influence the respective SGC schemes differently and that the execution time of the group operations depends more on the network situations than on the group sizes.
Aerodynamic and aeroacoustic sensitivities of contra-rotating open rotors to operational parameters
Authors: Stratikis I. , Protopapadakis G.E. , Katsapoxaki P. , Gkoutzamanis V.G. , Ghorbaniasl G. , Kalfas A.
Published: September 2024

Open rotors can play a critical role towards transitioning to a more sustainable aviation by providing a fuel-efficient alternative. This paper considers the sensitivity of an open-rotor engine to variations of three operational parameters during take-off, focusing on both aerodynamics and aeroacoustics. Via a sensitivity analysis, insights to the complex interactions of aerodynamics and aeroacoustics can be gained. For both the aerodynamics and aeroacoustics of the engine, numerical methods have been implemented. Namely, the flowfield has been solved using unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes and the acoustic footprint of the engine has been quantified through the Ffowcs Williams-Hawking equations. The analysis has concluded that the aerodynamic performance of the open rotor can decisively be impacted by small variations of the operational parameters. Specifically, blade loading increased by 9.8% for a 5% decrease in inlet total temperature with the uncertainty being amplified through the engine. In comparison, the aeroacoustic footprint of the engine had more moderate variations, with the overall sound pressure level increasing by up to 2.4dB for a microphone lying on the engine axis and aft of the inlet. The results signify that there is considerable sensitivity in the model and shall be systematically examined during the design or optimisation process.
Companies Operating in Conflict-Affected Environments Without Impacting the Conflict: Between Regular and Heightened Human Rights Due Diligence
Authors: Nagaivska Daria , Uvarova Olena
Published: September 2024

The concept of heightened human rights due diligence (hHRDD) is often used to address corporate responsibilities in situations of armed conflict. For companies in these contexts, the first step is to assess whether their activities impact the conflict and its dynamics, and, as a result, whether they are involved in conflict-related human rights abuses. However, companies often find that they have no impact on the conflict. Should companies in these scenarios just focus on regular human rights due diligence (HRDD)? This piece aims to illustrate, based on the example of Ukraine, the human rights challenges that emerge during a war which companies with no influence on the conflict still face and to respond to the question of whether in such situations companies should still engage in hHRDD or continue to conduct HRDD as usual.
Valorization and biorefinery of local agricultural and textile wastes through mycelium composites for structural applications
Authors: Ruiz Alejandra , Cogdell Christina , Mak Jacques , Rowe Allison , Wan Shuhao , La Saponara Valeria
Published: September 2024

Manufacturing of mycelium-based composites is an emerging biorefinery technology toward the development of environmentally positive materials within the circular economy: it benefits from waste and industrial by-products upcycling while excelling in biodegradability. This study investigates the compressive behavior of materials repurposed from local agricultural wastes (tree nuts and crop wastes in California’s Central Valley), using the fungal mycelium of Pleurotus ostreatus and Ganoderma lucidum, well-known edible and medicinal species. We also explore the hybridization of these mycelium-based composites with local textile waste fibers as reinforcements. Following guidelines from several ASTM standards, the compressive behavior of these composites is analyzed to determine the impact of biomass processing, composition, fungal species used, and post-processing strategy. We propose a post-processing strategy based on a short exposure to sodium chloride solutions in ambient conditions, to de-activate mycelium and prevent its fruiting, replacing the established energy-intensive heat-based post-processing. This work aims at contributing to the decarbonization of the built environment and the construction industry in particular, through materials designed with upcycled waste (agricultural and textile), fungal mycelium and low-carbon footprint processes.
Parametric oscillations of the sessile drop
Authors: Ding D. , Sayyari M.J. , Bostwick J.B.
Published: September 2024

Waves are formed on the surface of a sessile drop driven through substrate vibrations oriented at a slanting angle from the normal. A mathematical model is derived, which leads to an infinite system of coupled Mathieu equations governing the wave dynamics that are solved using Floquet theory. The spatial structure of the waves is described by the mode number pair

$[\ell,m]$

, where

$\ell$

and

$m$

are the polar and azimuthal mode numbers, respectively. Limiting cases corresponding to horizontal and vertical vibrations are discussed with predictions agreeing well with prior literature. We focus our results on three drop motions – (1) harmonic

$[1,1]$

rocking mode, (2) harmonic

$[2,0]$

pumping mode, and (3) subharmonic rocking

$[1,1]$

mode – as they depend upon the slanting angle, static contact angle, and contact-line conditions, which we assume to be either pinned or freely moving with fixed contact angle. New theoretical predictions are tested through experiments over a range of parameters, showing good agreement.
Detachment of leading-edge vortex enhances wake capture force production
Authors: Li Hao , Nabawy Mostafa R.A.
Published: September 2024

During stroke reversals, insect wings interact with their own wake flow from the preceding half-stroke, resulting in an unsteady aerodynamic mechanism known as ‘wing–wake interaction’ or ‘wake capture’. To better elucidate this mechanism, we numerically solved the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations at Reynolds numbers

$10^2$

and

$10^3$

. Simulations were conducted for wing planforms defined using the beta function distribution with varying aspect ratios (

$AR=2\unicode{x2013}6$

) and radial centroid locations (

$\hat {r}_1=0.4\unicode{x2013}0.6$

), whilst employing representative normal hovering kinematics. The wake development from the considered flapping wing planforms was investigated, and the wake capture contribution to aerodynamic force production was quantified by comparing the force generation between the fifth and first stroke cycles at multiple sections along the wingspan. Our results revealed that on the inboard wing region experiencing an attached leading-edge vortex (LEV) structure, wing–wake interaction is dominated by an unsteady downwash effect, resulting in a reduction in local force production. However, in regions closer to the wingtip experiencing detachment of the LEV, wing–wake interaction is dominated by an unsteady upwash effect, leading to an increase in local force production. Consequently, the global wake capture force production is controlled by the extent of LEV detachment, which primarily increases with the increase of wing aspect ratio. This suggests that for normal hovering flapping wings, the typical loss in translational force production due to wingtip stall is partially mitigated by wake capture effects.
Tools to improve mine closure: 10 years of research in integration of environment in the mine life cycle
Authors: Demers Isabelle
Published: September 2024

Mine closure can be approached by several points of view, from the technical, engineering, ecological, up to social and governance aspects. The definition of a good mine closure should cover most, if not all, of these aspects. This article provides a review of technical and engineering-oriented research work as a partial answer to the question ‘what is good mine closure’. The article presents a ten-year research program realized in the framework of a Canada Research Chair in integration of environment in the mine life cycle. Research projects aimed at better planning mine closure and mine site reclamation from the early stages of a mining project life cycle are exposed as possible steps to strive for optimal mine waste management. At the exploration stage, geo-environmental characterization and modeling are proposed as tools to improve mine waste management planification. During mine operations, environmental desulfurization is suggested as a method to reduce environmental risks associated with sulfidic tailings and waste rock. Indeed, research has shown that acid mine drainage and metal leaching can be significantly limited via desulfurization. At the closure stage, desulfurized tailings can be used to replace at least part of natural materials used for reclamation cover systems. Research work done on other types of mine waste, such as waste rock and water treatment sludge, also show good potential for their reuse as closure material. All these tools can be integrated into the mine life cycle to better plan for closure, which ultimately will make mine closure more sustainable.
Marvellous Maastrichtian miners – bioerosional trace fossils as natural casts from the type area of the Maastrichtian Stage, the Netherlands
Authors: Vallon Lothar H. , Jagt John W.M. , Milàn Jesper , Bromley Richard G.
Published: September 2024

Over recent decades, the type area of the Maastrichtian Stage in southern Limburg (the Netherlands) and contiguous Belgian territory, and the former ENCI-HeidelbergCement Group quarry (Sint-Pietersberg, Maastricht) in particular, has yielded an exquisitely preserved ichnocoenosis of bioerosional trace fossils, mainly preserved as natural casts in scleractinian corals. More than 20 ichnospecies are here documented, the majority from the type Maastrichtian for the first time. These ichnotaxa constitute a good record of successive colonisation sequences; the present bioerosional ichnocoenosis is regarded to belong to the Entobia ichnofacies.
Kautsky’s Unexpected Comeback: Understanding the Re-emergence of the Second International in Contemporary Debates
Authors: Poy Lucas
Published: September 2024

In the history of the left, the conjuncture 1914–1917 is the “bifurcation point” per definition. Leaving an enduring mark on the labor movement, it also shaped subsequent historiographies. For the pro-Bolshevik left, 1914 epitomized the betrayal of a group of reformist leaders. Conversely, anti-communist social democrats regarded the Second International as an uncomfortable political heritage. Despite irreconcilable disputes, both traditions shared a lack of interest in defending the period 1889–1914, let alone delving into its history. The real take-off of Second International historiography came later and coincided with the outset of the Cold War, experiencing a “golden age” in the 1960s and 1970s. Studies of socialism lost momentum from the 1980s onwards, but the last 15 years have seen a resurgence of interest in the Second International and even a popular reappraisal of Karl Kautsky. Linking historiography to wider social and political phenomena, this article reflects on this new interest in the Second International in both activist and academic circles. The first section summarizes the historical significance of the International and examines how the crisis of 1914 became a crucial “bifurcation point” with significant political and historiographical impact. The second section explores recent trends in scholarly research on the subject. The third section provides an analysis of the vindication of Karl Kautsky among radicals and socialists in the United States over the past 10 years. The conclusion summarizes the main arguments and reflects on the contribution this analysis can make to a discussion about the “long cycle” of socialism.
Industrial policy and the green state: Forging a world after growth
Authors: Allan Bentley B.
Published: September 2024

The resurgence of industrial policy is reshaping the global political economy and creating emergent formations that could help create green states. Such green states can seed a world after growth. Growth is often taken for granted as a natural purpose of states and an appropriate basis of public policy. However, it has a recent political-economic and cosmological history. This suggests that an age after growth is not only possible but likely. In the current conjuncture of crises and challenges, industrial strategies that bring together environmental, social justice, and pro-growth coalitions offer the best chance to meet climate goals and improve the prospects for inclusive prosperity globally. In addition, there is evidence that industrial policy is providing a platform to build active states, rebalance state–business relations, forge new systems of calculation, and gather cosmological resources for new action.
An application of natural matrices to the dynamic balance problem of planar parallel manipulators
Authors: Gallardo-Alvarado Jaime
Published: September 2024

This paper introduces a simplified matrix method for balancing forces and moments in planar parallel manipulators. The method resorts to Newton’s second law and the concept of angular momentum vector, yet it is not necessary to perform the velocity and acceleration analyses, tasks that were normally unavoidable in seminal contributions. With the introduction of natural matrices, the proposed balancing method is independent of the time and the trajectory generated by the moving links of parallel manipulators. The effectiveness of the method is exemplified by balancing two planar parallel manipulators.
Control of stance-leg motion and zero-moment point for achieving perfect upright stationary state of rimless wheel type walker with parallel linkage legs
Authors: Asano Fumihiko , Kawai Mizuki
Published: September 2024

The authors have studied models and control methods for legged robots without having active ankle joints that can not only walk efficiently but also stop and developed a method for generating a gait that starts from an upright stationary state and returns to the same state in one step for a simple walker with one control input. It was clarified, however, that achieving a perfect upright stationary state including zero dynamics is impossible. Based on the observation, in this paper we propose a novel robotic walker with parallel linkage legs that can return to a perfect stationary standing posture in one step while simultaneously controlling the stance-leg motion and zero-moment point (ZMP) using two control inputs. First, we introduce a model of a planar walker that consists of two eight-legged rimless wheels, a body frame, a reaction wheel, and massless rods and describe the system dynamics. Second, we consider two target control conditions; one is control of the stance-leg motion, and the other is control of the ZMP to stabilize zero dynamics. We then determine the control input based on the two conditions with the target control period derived from the linearized model and consider adding a sinusoidal control input with an offset to correct the resultant terminal state of the reaction wheel. The validity of the proposed method is investigated through numerical simulations.
Cumulative risk and adolescent emotional distress: A longitudinal moderated mediation analysis focusing on perceived stress and social support
Authors: Deniz Emre , Humphrey Neil , Demkowicz Ola , Lereya Suzet Tanya , Deighton Jessica
Published: September 2024

This study provides insights into the roles played by perceived stress and social support in the relationship between cumulative risk exposure (CRE) and adolescent emotional distress. Preregistered longitudinal moderated mediation analyses were used to test hypotheses relating to the association between CRE and later emotional distress; the mediating role of perceived stress in the relationship between CRE and later emotional distress; and, the moderating effects of peer and adult-level family support on the relationship between CRE and later perceived stress, among N = 19,159 adolescents over three annual waves (at ages 11/12, 12/13, 13/14). Analyses revealed that CRE significantly predicted later adolescent emotional distress. This relationship was partially mediated by perceived stress. Both peer and adult-level family support significantly moderated the impact of CRE on later perceived stress (i.e., adolescents reporting higher levels of support perceived significantly lower levels of stress resulting from CRE compared to those reporting lower levels of support). These findings provide critical empirical evidence of the roles played by perceived stress and social support in the relationship between CRE and adolescent emotional distress, with consequent implications for intervention.
Comparing and linking the Mini-Mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment in the Amsterdam Dementia Cohort
Authors: Dubbelman Mark A. , van de Beek Marleen , van Gils Aniek M. , Leeuwis Anna E. , van der Vlies Annelies E. , Pijnenburg Yolande A.L. , Ponds Rudolf , Sikkes Sietske A.M. , van der Flier Wiesje M.
Published: September 2024

Objectives:

We aimed to compare and link the total scores of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), two common global cognitive screeners.

Methods:

2,325 memory clinic patients (63.2 ± 8.6 years; 43% female) with a variety of diagnoses, including subjective cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia due to various etiologies completed the MMSE and MoCA concurrently. We described both screeners, including at the item level. Then, using linear regressions, we investigated how age, sex, education, and diagnosis affected total scores on both instruments. Next, in linear mixed models, we treated the two screeners as repeated measures and analyzed the influence of these characteristics on the relationship between the instruments’ total scores. Finally, we linked total scores using equipercentile equating, accounting for relevant patient characteristics.

Results:

MMSE scores (mean ± standard deviation: 25.0 ± 4.6) were higher than MoCA scores (21.2 ± 5.4), and MMSE items generally showed less variation than MoCA items. Both instruments’ scores were individually influenced by age, sex, education, and diagnosis. The relationship between the screeners was moderated by age (estimate = −0.01, 95% confidence interval = [−0.03, −0.00]), education (0.14 [0.10, 0.18]), and diagnosis. These were accounted for when producing crosswalk tables based on equipercentile equating.

Conclusions:

Accounting for the influence of patient characteristics, we created crosswalk tables to convert MMSE scores to MoCA scores, and vice versa. These tables may facilitate collaboration between clinicians and researchers and could allow larger, pooled analyses of global cognitive functioning in older adults.
The Malacca dilemma of the Raj: the Indian Uprising of 1857, the Second Opium War, and the British proposal of a Kra passage
Authors: Cao Yin
Published: September 2024

In the late 1850s and early 1860s, the idea of building a passage through the Isthmus of Kra in the Malay Peninsula was hotly debated amongst British officials, merchants, and investors. This study finds that the British East India Company's rule over the Straits of Malacca had been a dilemma for itself and British merchants in China. The Second Opium War and the Indian Revolt of 1857 exacerbated the dilemma and pushed some British policymakers and investors to seek an alternative route between India and China. The proposal of the Kra passage was the response and solution to the Malacca dilemma. In historicising the Kra passage proposal and putting it in the context of the British empire's simultaneous crises in Asia in the mid-nineteenth century, the case of the proposed Kra passage reveals the complex relations between different actors within the British empire and the challenges of integrating multiple imperial interests into a British world system
Social security and retirement around the world: lessons from a long-term collaboration
Authors: Coile Courtney , Wise David , Börsch-Supan Axel , Gruber Jonathan , Milligan Kevin , Woodbury Richard , Baker Michael , Banks James , Behaghel Luc , Ben Salem Melika , Bingley Paul , Blanchet Didier , Blundell Richard , Boldrín Michele , Bozio Antoine , Brugiavini Agar , Bucher-Koenen Tabea , Buia Raluca Elena , Caroli Eve , Debrand Thierry , Dellis Arnaud , Desmet Raphaël , de Vos Klaas , Diamond Peter , Emmerson Carl , Ferrari Irene , Fraikin Anne-Lore , Fujii Mayu , García-Gómez Pilar , Garcia-Mandicó Sílvia , Goll Nicolas , Gupta Nabanita Datta , Jiménez-Martín Sergi , Johansson Per , Johnson Paul , Jørgensen Michael , Jousten Alain , Jürges Hendrik , Kallestrup-Lamb Malene , Kalwij Adriaan , Kapteyn Arie , Kohnz Simone , Laun Lisa , Lefebvre Mathieu , Mahieu Ronan , Mastrobuoni Giovanni , Meghir Costas , Oishi Akiko , Oshio Takashi , Palme Mårten , Pasini Giacomo , Pedersen Peder , Pelé Louis-Paul , Peracchi Franco , Perelman Sergio , Pestieau Pierre , Prost Corinne , Rabaté Simon , Rausch Johannes , Roger Muriel , Schirle Tammy , Schnabel Reinhold , Schuth Morten , Shimizutani Satoshi , Smith Sarah , Stijns Jean-Philippe , Sturrock David , Svensson Ingemar , Tetlow Gemma , Thiel Lars , Tô Maxime , Tréguier Julie , Usui Emiko , Vall-Castelló Judit , Walraet Emmanuelle , Weber Guglielmo , Yashiro Naohiro
Published: September 2024

Declining labor force participation of older men throughout the 20th century and recent increases in participation have generated substantial interest in understanding the effect of public pensions on retirement. The National Bureau of Economic Research's International Social Security (ISS) Project, a long-term collaboration among researchers in a dozen developed countries, has explored this and related questions. The project employs a harmonized approach to conduct within-country analyses that are combined for meaningful cross-country comparisons. The key lesson is that the choices of policy makers affect the incentive to work at older ages and these incentives have important effects on retirement behavior.
Value, Price, and Economic Reform in the Polish People's Republic
Authors: Porter-Szűcs Brian
Published: September 2024

Marxists have long argued about the viability of “market socialism.” That model was dominant among professional economists in the Polish People’s Republic after the fall of Stalinism in 1956, even though they were never able to fully implement its principles. This article explores the debates over this concept in communist Poland, identifying the central issue as an attempt to combine socialist goals with neoclassical methodological principles and theoretical assumptions, particularly regarding price formation. Advocates of central planning always claimed that this mixture was unsustainable, destined to slide towards a restoration of capitalism. They were probably right.
Martian Impact Fracturing Pervasively Influences Habitability
Authors: Cockell C. S. , Collins G. S. , Basu S. , Grant E. , McMahon S.
Published: September 2024

On Mars, the lack of either plate tectonics or a prominent erosional hydrological cycle since the Noachian means geological changes caused by asteroid and comet impact events have been preserved. On Earth, surviving impact‐induced fractures are localized to the relatively few preserved craters on the planet. We estimate that the shell of impact‐fractured rock on Mars (the “impact‐sphere”) could provide between 9,200 times the surface area of a Mars radius sphere and up to 100 times this value, depending on the assumptions made, as potential microbially accessible space. Although >93% of craters we consider are smaller than 10 km in diameter, they contribute only about 5% of the total fracture surface area generated by all craters, making complex craters the dominant process for potential habitat formation. Microbiological data from terrestrial impact craters suggest that these fractures could have significantly enhanced local habitability by providing pathways for fluid flow, and thus nutrients and energy. However, unlike on Earth, the geological history of Mars means that pervasive impact fractures may also have provided pathways for Hesperian and Amazonian brines to infiltrate the subsurface and locally reduce habitability. Combining the fracture data with previous microbiological observations provides testable hypotheses for Martian drilling missions.
High‐Pressure Melting Experiments of Fe3C and a Thermodynamic Model of Fe‐C Liquids for the Earth's Core
Authors: Komabayashi T. , McGuire C. , Thompson S. , Bromiley G. D. , Bravenec A. , Pakhomova A.
Published: September 2024

Melting experiments of Fe3C were conducted to 85 GPa in laser‐heated diamond anvil cells with in situ X‐ray diffraction and post‐experiment textural observation. From the determined pressure‐temperature conditions of the melting curve for Fe3C, together with literature data on the melting point of diamond and eutectic point of the system Fe‐Fe3C/Fe7C3 under high pressures, we established a self‐consistent thermodynamic model for high‐pressure melting of the system Fe‐C including the mixing parameters for liquids. The results show that mixing of Fe and C liquids is negatively nonideal from 1 bar to the pressure at the center of the Earth. The departure from ideal mixing becomes progressively larger with increasing pressure, which leads to greatly stabilized liquids under core pressures. The modeled carbon content in eutectic melts under core pressures is 3.3–4.4 wt%. From the Gibbs free energy, we derived an internally consistent parameters for Fe‐C outer cores which included the crystallizing points at their bottoms, isentropic thermal profiles, and densities and longitudinal seismic wave speeds (Vp). While the addition of carbon in excess of the eutectic melt composition effectively reduces the density of iron liquid, the Vp of iron liquid is not greatly changed. Therefore, the low density and high Vp of PREM relative to pure iron cannot be reconciled by an Fe‐C liquid. Therefore, the Earth's core cannot be approximated by the system Fe‐C and should include another light element.
Selective degradation of mutant FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3 requires BIM-dependent depletion of heat shock proteins
Authors: Halilovic Melisa , Abdelsalam Mohamed , Zabkiewicz Joanna , Lazenby Michelle , Alvares Caroline , Schmidt Matthias , Brenner Walburgis , Najafi Sara , Oehme Ina , Hieber Christoph , Zeyn Yanira , Bros Matthias , Sippl Wolfgang , Krämer Oliver H.
Published: September 2024

Internal tandem duplications in the FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3-ITD) are common mutations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) that induce proteasomal degradation of mutated FLT3 emerge as innovative pharmacological approach. Molecular mechanisms that control targeted proteolysis beyond the ubiquitin-proteasome-system are undefined and PROTACs are the only known type of FLT3 degraders. We report that the von-Hippel-Lindau ubiquitin-ligase based FLT3 PROTAC MA49 (melotinib-49) and the FLT3 hydrophobic tagging molecule MA50 (halotinib-50) reduce endoplasmic reticulum-associated, oncogenic FLT3-ITD but spare FLT3. Nanomolar doses of MA49 and MA50 induce apoptosis of human leukemic cell lines and primary AML blasts with FLT3-ITD (p < 0.05-0.0001), but not of primary hematopoietic stem cells and differentiated immune cells, FLT3 wild-type cells, retinal cells, and c-KIT-dependent cells. In vivo activity of MA49 against FLT3-ITD-positive leukemia cells is verified in a Danio rerio model. The degrader-induced loss of FLT3-ITD involves the pro-apoptotic BH3-only protein BIM and a previously unidentified degrader-induced depletion of protein-folding chaperones. The expression levels of HSP90 and HSP110 correlate with reduced AML patient survival (p < 0.1) and HSP90, HSP110, and BIM are linked to the expression of FLT3 in primary AML cells (p < 0.01). HSP90 suppresses degrader-induced FLT3-ITD elimination and thereby establishes a mechanistically defined feed-back circuit.
Neural stimulation and modulation with sub-cellular precision by optomechanical bio-dart
Authors: Zhu Guoshuai , Xiong Jianyun , Li Xing , He Ziyi , Zhong Shuhan , Chen Junlin , Shi Yang , Pan Ting , Zhang Li , Li Baojun , Xin Hongbao
Published: September 2024

Neural stimulation and modulation at high spatial resolution are crucial for mediating neuronal signaling and plasticity, aiding in a better understanding of neuronal dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases. However, developing a biocompatible and precisely controllable technique for accurate and effective stimulation and modulation of neurons at the subcellular level is highly challenging. Here, we report an optomechanical method for neural stimulation and modulation with subcellular precision using optically controlled bio-darts. The bio-dart is obtained from the tip of sunflower pollen grain and can generate transient pressure on the cell membrane with submicrometer spatial resolution when propelled by optical scattering force controlled with an optical fiber probe, which results in precision neural stimulation via precisely activation of membrane mechanosensitive ion channel. Importantly, controllable modulation of a single neuronal cell, even down to subcellular neuronal structures such as dendrites, axons, and soma, can be achieved. This bio-dart can also serve as a drug delivery tool for multifunctional neural stimulation and modulation. Remarkably, our optomechanical bio-darts can also be used for in vivo neural stimulation in larval zebrafish. This strategy provides a novel approach for neural stimulation and modulation with sub-cellular precision, paving the way for high-precision neuronal plasticity and neuromodulation.
Role of dorsal striatum circuits in relapse to opioid seeking after voluntary abstinence
Authors: Ma Zilu , Duan Ying , Fredriksson Ida , Tsai Pei-Jung , Batista Ashley , Lu Hanbing , Shaham Yavin , Yang Yihong
Published: September 2024

High relapse rate during abstinence is a defining characteristic of drug addiction. We previously found that opioid seeking progressively increases after voluntary abstinence induced by adverse consequences of oxycodone seeking (crossing an electric barrier). Functional MRI revealed that this effect is associated with changes in functional connectivity within medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC)- and dorsomedial striatum (DMS)-related circuits. Here, we used a pharmacological manipulation and fMRI to determine the causal role of mOFC and DMS in oxycodone seeking after electric barrier-induced abstinence. We trained rats to self-administer oxycodone (6 h/day, 14 days). Next, we induced voluntary abstinence by exposing them to an electric barrier for 2 weeks. We inactivated the mOFC and DMS with muscimol+baclofen (GABAa and GABAb receptor agonists) and then tested them for relapse to oxycodone seeking on abstinence days 1 or 15 without the electric barrier or oxycodone. Inactivation of DMS (p < 0.001) but not mOFC decreased oxycodone seeking before or after electric barrier-induced abstinence. Functional MRI data revealed that DMS inactivation decreased cerebral blood volume levels in DMS and several distant cortical and subcortical regions (corrected p < 0.05). Furthermore, functional connectivity of DMS with several frontal, sensorimotor, and auditory regions significantly increased after DMS inactivation (corrected p < 0.05). Finally, an exploratory analysis of an existing functional MRI dataset showed that DMS inactivation restored voluntary abstinence-induced longitudinal changes in DMS functional connectivity with these brain regions (p < 0.05). Results indicate a role of DMS and related brain circuits in oxycodone seeking after voluntary abstinence, suggesting potential targets for intervention.