bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early response monitoring during [177Lu]Lu-PSMA I&T therapy with quantitated SPECT/CT predicts overall survival of mCRPC patients: subgroup analysis of a Swiss-wide prospective registry study
Authors: Neubauer Moritz C. , Nicolas Guillaume P. , Bauman Andreas , Fani Melpomeni , Nitzsche Egbert , Afshar-Oromieh Ali , Forrer Flavio , Rentsch Cyril , Stenner Frank , Templeton Arnoud , Schäfer Niklaus , Wild Damian , Chirindel Alin ,   all investigators on behalf of the SSNM Therapy Working Group
Published: December 2023

Purpose

To assess early tumor response with quantitated SPECT/CT and to correlate it with clinical outcome in metastatic castration–resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients treated with 177Lutetium-PSMA I&T therapy.

Methods

Single-center, observational study, part of the prospective Swiss national cancer registry study investigating the safety and efficacy of [177Lu]Lu-PSMA I&T (EKNZ: 2021–01271) in mCRPC patients treated with at least two cycles of [177Lu]Lu-PSMA I&T 6-weekly. After the first and second cycle quantitated SPECT/CT (Symbia Intevo, Siemens) was acquired 48 h after injection (three fields of view from head to thigh, 5 s/frame) and reconstructed using xQuant® (48i, 1 s, 10-mm Gauss). Image analysis: The PSMA-positive total tumor volumes (TTV) were semi-automatically delineated using a SUV threshold of 3 with MIMencore® (version 7.1.3, Medical Image Merge Software Inc.). Changes in TTV, highest tumor SUVmax, and total tumor SUVmean between cycles 1 and 2 were calculated and grouped into a) stable or decrease and b) increase. Serum PSA levels were assessed at each therapy cycle and at follow-up until progression or death. Changes in TTV, PSA, SUVmax, and SUVmean were correlated with PSA-progression-free survival (PSA-PFS) and the overall survival (OS) using the Kaplan–Meier methodology (log-rank test).

Results

Between 07/2020 and 04/2022, 111 patients were screened and 73 finally included in the data analysis. The median follow-up was 8.9 months (range 1.4–26.6 months). Stable or decreased TTV at cycle 2 was associated with longer OS (hazard ratio (HR) 0.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.09–0.86, p < 0.01). Similar, stable, or decreased PSA was associated with longer OS (HR 0.21; CI 0.07–0.62, p < 0.01) and PSA-PFS (HR 0.34; 95% CI 0.16–0.72, p < 0.01). Combining TTV and PSA will result in an augmented prognostic value for OS (HR 0.09; CI 0.01–0.63; p < 0.01) and for PSA-PFS (HR 0.11; CI 0.02–0.68; p < 0.01). A reduction of SUVmax or SUVmean was not prognostically relevant, neither for OS (p 0.88 and 0.7) nor for PSA-PFS (p 0.73 and 0.62, respectively).

Conclusion

Six weeks after initiating [177Lu]Lu-PSMA I&T, TTV and serum PSA appear to be good prognosticators for OS. Combined together, TTV + PSA change demonstrates augmented prognostic value and can better predict PSA-PFS. Larger studies using TTV change prospectively as an early-response biomarker are warranted for implementing management change towards a more personalized clinical practice.
Superinfection and the hypnozoite reservoir for Plasmodium vivax: a general framework
Authors: Mehra Somya , McCaw James M. , Taylor Peter G.
Published: December 2023

A characteristic of malaria in all its forms is the potential for superinfection (that is, multiple concurrent blood-stage infections). An additional characteristic of Plasmodium vivax malaria is a reservoir of latent parasites (hypnozoites) within the host liver, which activate to cause (blood-stage) relapses. Here, we present a model of hypnozoite accrual and superinfection for P. vivax. To couple host and vector dynamics for a homogeneously-mixing population, we construct a density-dependent Markov population process with countably many types, for which disease extinction is shown to occur almost surely. We also establish a functional law of large numbers, taking the form of an infinite-dimensional system of ordinary differential equations that can also be recovered by coupling expected host and vector dynamics (i.e. a hybrid approximation) or through a standard compartment modelling approach. Recognising that the subset of these equations that model the infection status of the human hosts has precisely the same form as the Kolmogorov forward equations for a Markovian network of infinite server queues with an inhomogeneous batch arrival process, we use physical insight into the evolution of the latter process to write down a time-dependent multivariate generating function for the solution. We use this characterisation to collapse the infinite-compartment model into a single integrodifferential equation (IDE) governing the intensity of mosquito-to-human transmission. Through a steady state analysis, we recover a threshold phenomenon for this IDE in terms of a parameter $$R_0$$

R
0

expressible in terms of the primitives of the model, with the disease-free equilibrium shown to be uniformly asymptotically stable if $$R_0<1$$

R
0

<
1

and an endemic equilibrium solution emerging if $$R_0>1$$

R
0

>
1

. Our work provides a theoretical basis to explore the epidemiology of P. vivax, and introduces a strategy for constructing tractable population-level models of malarial superinfection that can be generalised to allow for greater biological realism in a number of directions.
Collagenase-producing bacteria are common in anastomotic leakage after colorectal surgery: a systematic review
Authors: Jørgensen Anders Bech , Jonsson Isabella , Friis-Hansen Lennart , Brandstrup Birgitte
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Some gut bacteria can produce enzymes (collagenases) that can break down collagen in the intestinal wall. This could be a part of the pathophysiology of anastomotic leakage (AL). This systematic review aimed to investigate if such bacteria were present more frequently in AL patients versus non-AL patients following colorectal surgery.

Methods

This systematic review was reported according to the PRISMA and AMSTAR guidelines. Before the literature search, a study protocol was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42022363454). We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Cochrane CENTRAL on April 9th, 2023, for randomized and observational human studies of AL following colorectal surgery with information on gastrointestinal bacteria. The primary outcome was bacteria with the potential to produce collagenase. The risk of bias was assessed with the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale, as all studies were observational.

Results

We included 15 studies, with a total of 52,945 patients, of which 1,747 had AL, and bacteriological information from feces, mucosa, the resected specimen, or drain fluid was presented. In 10 of the 15 studies, one or more collagenase-producing bacteria were identified in the patients with AL. Neither the bacteria nor the collagenase production were quantified in any of the studies. The studies varied greatly in terms of sample material, analytical method, and time of collection. Studies using DNA sequencing methods did not report findings of collagenase-producing bacteria.

Conclusion

Collagenase-producing bacteria are more common in patients with AL following colorectal surgery than in patients without AL, but the significance is unclear. From the current studies, it is not possible to determine the pathogenicity of the individual gut bacteria.
Resilient Livelihood Styles: An enriched perspective on household livelihood resilience in the sensitive natural environments of Indonesia
Authors: Kuipers Kimberly , de Jong Edwin B. P.
Published: December 2023

Livelihood resilience has rapidly gained relevance in discussions and policies concerning groups and communities challenged by diverse natural and man-made adversities. Most studies seeking to understand how people respond, recover and adapt to shocks and stresses focus on changes in material or financial resources on the community or larger scales. They thereby often disregard differences in household-level practices and the influence of social-cultural structures in building livelihood resilience. We adopt the concept of livelihood styles to explore a more differentiated and ‘subjective’ conceptualisation of resilient livelihoods. By applying a mixed-methods approach, we scrutinised the ways in which various livelihood styles have evolved to adapt to their changing environment in the Maninjau caldera, Indonesia. We found that different livelihood styles show differing levels of adaptability in terms of resilience. This is largely due to the historic evolvement of styles and the way in which they are embedded in social structures. Styles that show higher levels of resilience to changes in the natural environment also appear to be more contumacious towards development interventions that are geared towards new forms of living with the objective of raising people’s income. As such, we show that a resilient livelihood styles perspective offers a way of identifying and interrogating the characteristics that build resilience of household livelihoods that better reflect the reality of local households. It can contribute to the development of more inclusive interventions and policymaking in ecologically sensitive areas that take account of and anticipate transformational environmental changes and the creation of sustainable livelihoods.
A review on digital twins for power generation and distribution
Authors: Heluany Jessica B. , Gkioulos Vasileios
Published: December 2023

This paper presents a systematic literature review on the application of digital twins in the energy sector. Initially, we generated an overview through a survey of prior reviews, independent of market vertical, then followed by a more detailed review concentrating on the power production and distribution domains, as per the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) smart grid standard. We implemented a rigorous method, which included seven stages, beginning with the collection of 2238 articles. We observed that the energy sector range was too broad and filtered by generation and distribution during the practical screening, resulting in 275 for further screening. This amount was then condensed to 81 papers that matched the quality screening criteria for synthesis and examination. In summary, digital twin architectures and frameworks include five components: the physical entity, bidirectional communication, the virtual entity (with modeling and simulation), data management, and services. Our study contributed by determining that distribution management is the most pertinent application of digital twins in the distribution domain and fault diagnosis in the generation domain. Furthermore, we found that digital twins involve multiple stakeholders whose role is rarely discussed in studies, and we identified a similar absence of emphasis for security. Research on security often presents the digital twin as an additional layer of protection, yet rarely investigates the security of the digital twin by itself. The potential limitations of our study to answer some of the technical research questions may be because of the criteria for the selection of papers. However, as the emphasis of this study is on the energy sector, it enabled domain-specific findings for generation and distribution.
Efficient Random Walks on Riemannian Manifolds
Authors: Schwarz Simon , Herrmann Michael , Sturm Anja , Wardetzky Max
Published: December 2023

According to a version of Donsker’s theorem, geodesic random walks on Riemannian manifolds converge to the respective Brownian motion. From a computational perspective, however, evaluating geodesics can be quite costly. We therefore introduce approximate geodesic random walks based on the concept of retractions. We show that these approximate walks converge in distribution to the correct Brownian motion as long as the geodesic equation is approximated up to second order. As a result, we obtain an efficient algorithm for sampling Brownian motion on compact Riemannian manifolds.
Opportunities to develop student’s math-related agency in primary education: the role of teacher beliefs
Authors: Leijen Äli , Baucal Aleksandar , Pikk Kristi , Uibu Krista , Pajula Liisi , Sõrmus Maarja
Published: December 2023

Teacher beliefs and practices related to them could provide varying opportunities for students to develop their agency related to learning math. The aim of the current paper is to explore how different math teacher beliefs (concerning the nature of mathematics, constructivist beliefs, and self-efficacy) relate to different dimensions of student agency in primary education. A two-level multilevel model was analyzed to find out to what extent selected teacher beliefs are associated with student math competence and agency dimensions. The study was conducted in Estonia and data from 3rd and 4th grade students (N = 1557) and their teachers (N = 121) was included in the analysis. The results showed that teacher self-efficacy beliefs, constructivist beliefs, and static views on the nature of mathematics were related to students’ agency dimensions. Possible explanations and directions for further studies are discussed.
Sustainable valorization of waste glycerol into bioethanol and biodiesel through biocircular approaches: a review
Authors: Elsayed Mahdy , Eraky Mohamed , Osman Ahmed I. , Wang Jing , Farghali Mohamed , Rashwan Ahmed K. , Yacoub Ibrahim H. , Hanelt Dieter , Abomohra Abdelfatah
Published: December 2023

Liquid biofuels like biodiesel and bioethanol are crucial in the transition to low-carbon and high-energy alternatives to fossil fuels. One significant by-product of biodiesel production is glycerol, which accounts for about 10% of the total conversion output. While waste glycerol poses challenges due to its impurities and contaminants, it also holds potential as a metabolic resource for essential cellular components in microorganisms. Crude glycerol production is reviewed, highlighting relevance in current biodiesel technologies and its biochemical composition. To efficiently utilize waste glycerol, co-valorization with low-cost substrates through biocircular platforms using various microorganisms or insects for second and third-generation oxy-biofuels has been explored. Among these, the black soldier fly larvae have demonstrated higher competitiveness for lipid contents (35–43%), making them a promising organism for recycling waste glycerol into biodiesel production, alongside microalgae and oleaginous yeast. The microbial biodiesel productivity from oleaginous yeast is notably higher (3546 kg ha−1 y−1) than soybean biodiesel (562 kg ha−1 y−1), while microalgal biodiesel productivity surpasses palm biodiesel by more than 25 times. Remarkably, black soldier fly larvae biodiesel productivity was reported to be ~ 1.7 times higher than microalgae and an impressive ~ 43 times higher than palm biodiesel. Despite their potential for biodiesel production, waste glycerol from biodiesel industry still represents a challenge because of high impurities, high viscosity, and limited direct applications in existing processes. To further enhance energy sustainability and address the challenge of waste glycerol, biocircular platforms are discussed for waste glycerol utilization with domestic wastewater sludge, lignocellulosic biomass, and protein-rich wastes. These platforms offer opportunities to create other sustainable agricultural products while minimizing their environmental footprint.
Detransition and Desistance Among Previously Trans-Identified Young Adults
Authors: Littman Lisa , O’Malley Stella , Kerschner Helena , Bailey J. Michael
Published: December 2023

Persons who have renounced a prior transgender identification, often after some degree of social and medical transition, are increasingly visible. We recruited 78 US individuals ages 18–33 years who previously identified as transgender and had stopped identifying as transgender at least six months prior. On average, participants first identified as transgender at 17.1 years of age and had done so for 5.4 years at the time of their participation. Most (83%) participants had taken several steps toward social transition and 68% had taken at least one medical step. By retrospective reports, fewer than 17% of participants met DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Gender Dysphoria in Childhood. In contrast, 53% of participants believed that “rapid-onset gender dysphoria” applied to them. Participants reported a high rate of psychiatric diagnoses, with many of these prior to trans-identification. Most participants (N = 71, 91%) were natal females. Females (43%) were more likely than males (0%) to be exclusively homosexual. Participants reported that their psychological health had improved dramatically since detransition/desistance, with marked decreases in self-harm and gender dysphoria and marked increases in flourishing. The most common reason given for initial trans-identification was confusing mental health issues or reactions to trauma for gender dysphoria. Reasons for detransition were more likely to reflect internal changes (e.g., the participants’ own thought processes) than external pressures (e.g., pressure from family). Results suggest that, for some transgender individuals, detransition is both possible and beneficial.
Personality Moderates Intra-Individual Variability in EEG Microstates and Spontaneous Thoughts
Authors: Tomescu Miralena I. , Papasteri Claudiu , Sofonea Alexandra , Berceanu Alexandru I. , Carcea Ioana
Published: December 2023

Variability in brain activity that persists after accounting for overt behavioral and physiological states is often considered noise and controlled as a covariate in research. However, studying intra-individual variability in brain function can provide valuable insights into the dynamic nature of the brain. To explore this, we conducted a study on 43 participants analyzing the EEG microstate dynamics and self-reported spontaneous mental activity during five-minute resting-state recordings on two separate days with a twenty days average delay between recordings. Our results showed that the associations between EEG microstates and spontaneous cognition significantly changed from one day to another. Moreover, microstate changes were associated with changes in spontaneous cognition. Specifically, inter-day changes in Verbal thoughts about Others and future Planning were positively related to bottom-up sensory network-related microstate changes and negatively associated with top-down, attention, and salience network-related microstates. In addition, we find that personality traits are related to inter-day changes in microstates and spontaneous thoughts. Specifically, extraversion, neuroticism, agreeableness, and openness to experience moderated the relationship between inter-day changes in EEG microstates and spontaneous thoughts. Our study provides valuable information on the dynamic changes in the EEG microstate-spontaneous cognition organization, which could be essential for developing interventions and treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders.
Nanodiamond-treated flax: improving properties of natural fibers
Authors: Hinzmann Carsten , Parsons Drew F. , Fiedler Johannes , Zalieckas Justas , Holst Bodil
Published: December 2023

Synthetic fibers are used extensively as reinforcement in composite materials, but many of them face environmental concerns such as high energy consumption during production and complicated decommissioning. Natural fibers have been considered as an attractive solution for making composites more sustainable. However, they are generally not as strong as synthetic fibers. It is therefore of interest to investigate ways to improve the properties of natural fibers without compromising environmental issues. Here, we present a study of the moisture absorption and mechanical properties of flax that has been exposed to hydrogenated nanodiamonds through an ultrasonic dispersion treatment. Nanodiamonds are known to be non-toxic, unlike many other carbon-based nanomaterials. We show that nanodiamond-treated flax fabric has a lower moisture content (~ −18%), lower moisture absorption rate and better abrasion resistance (~ +30%). Single yarns, extracted from the fabric, show higher tensile strength (~ +24%) compared to untreated flax. Furthermore, we present a theoretical model for the nanodiamond fiber interaction, based on the Derjgauin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek (DLVO) theory of colloid interactions. The simulations indicate that the mechanical properties improve due to an enhancement of the electrolytic force, dispersion force and hydrogen bonding of nanodiamond-treated fibers, which strengthens the cohesion between the fibers. We also apply the model to nanodiamond-treated cotton. The lower zeta potential of cotton increases the electrolytic force. Comparing the results to experimental data of nanodiamond-treated flax and nanodiamond-treated cotton suggests that the fiber’s zeta potential is critical for the improvements of their mechanical properties.

Graphical abstract
Phase I/II trial of BMS-986,205 and nivolumab as first line therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Huynh Jasmine C. , Cho May , Monjazeb Arta , Al-Obeidi Ebaa , Singh Amisha , Tam Kit , Lara Frances , Martinez Anthony , Garcia Leslie , Kim Edward J.
Published: December 2023

Background

Indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) helps orchestrate immune suppression and checkpoint inhibitor resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). BMS-986,205 is a novel oral drug that potently and selectively inhibits IDO. This Phase I/II study evaluated the safety and tolerability of BMS-986,205 in combination with nivolumab as first-line therapy in advanced HCC.

Methods

Adults with untreated, unresectable/metastatic HCC received BMS-986,205 at two dose levels (50–100 mg orally daily) in combination with fixed dose nivolumab (240mg/m2 IV on Day 1 of each 14-day cycle). The primary objective was to determine the safety and tolerability of this combination; secondary objectives were to obtain preliminary efficacy.

Results

Eight patients received a total of 91 treatment cycles in the dose escalation phase. All patients were Child Pugh A and 6 patients had underlying viral hepatitis. In the 6 evaluable patients, no dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were observed. The most common treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) elevation (3 patients) and diarrhea, maculopapular rash and increased alkaline phosphatase (2 patients each). Grade 3 events were diarrhea and AST elevation (1 patient), and hyperglycemia and pancreatitis requiring treatment discontinuation (1 patient). No grade 4–5 events occurred. Partial response was observed in 1 patient (12.5%) and stable disease in 3 patients (37.5%), yielding a disease control rate of 50%. Median PFS was 8.5 weeks; median OS was not reached.

Conclusion

Combination BMS-986,205 and nivolumab showed a manageable safety profile with durable benefit as first-line therapy in a meaningful subset of advanced HCC patients.
Forecasting returns instead of prices exacerbates financial bubbles
Authors: Hanaki Nobuyuki , Hommes Cars , Kopányi Dávid , Kopányi-Peuker Anita , Tuinstra Jan
Published: December 2023

Expectations of future returns are pivotal for investors’ trading decisions, and are therefore an important determinant of the evolution of actual returns. Evidence from individual choice experiments with exogenously given time series of returns suggests that subjects’ return forecasts are substantially affected by how they are elicited and by the format in which subjects receive information about past asset performance. In order to understand the impact of these effects found at the individual level on market dynamics, we consider a learning to forecast experiment where prices and returns are endogenously determined and depend directly upon subjects’ forecasts. We vary both the variable (prices or returns) subjects observe and the variable (prices or returns) they have to forecast, with the same underlying data generating process for each treatment. Although there is no significant effect of the presentation format of past information, we do find that markets are significantly more unstable when subjects have to forecast returns instead of prices. Our results therefore show that the elicitation format may exacerbate, or even create, bubbles and crashes in financial markets.
Development and Implementation of a Preventive Intervention for Youth with Concerns About Their Sexual Thoughts and Behaviors: A Practitioner Narrative
Authors: Bright Melissa , Gordon Brittany , Bodi Csenge , Ortega Diana , Coleman Jennifer
Published: December 2023

This practitioner narrative describes the development of an innovative, primary and secondary prevention resource to provide confidential resources to youth with questions about potentially problematic sexual interests and behaviors. WhatsOK is a website and free confidential helpline for youth who are potentially at risk to sexually harm or have harmed someone in the past. By encouraging self-efficacy, helpline counselors respond to these inquires in order to prevent harmful events or lessen the impact. This practitioner narrative begins with an explanation of the planning process, then describes the implementation, piloting and refining the resource, and, finally, explains how evaluation was incorporated. The development of the WhatsOK helpline services was conducted with the goal of creating an evidence-informed resource for youth with concerns about sexual thoughts and behaviors.
Trajectories of unrealistic optimism in grade expectation: A latent growth mixture model
Authors: Lee J. Hannah , Park Junsang , Ju Hyun-Ju , Cho Kyoungmin , Lim Seoyoung
Published: December 2023

This study examined the heterogeneity in temporal shifts of unrealistic optimism (UO) by analyzing students’ grade expectation throughout a semester. UO was defined as the gap between students’ estimated and current course grades, with a larger gap indicating higher UO. Final course grades were viewed as the outcome of UO. A total of 206 participants completed baseline measures of personal factors during the first week of the semester and repeated measurements at five subsequent time points. Using person-centered trajectory analysis (e.g., latent growth mixture models), we identified three distinct UO trajectories: UO-Persistent (6.8%; consistently high UO), UO-Decreasing (26.2%; diminishing UO), and Realistic (67.0%; consistently low UO). High perfectionistic standards and dysphoria predicted UO-Persistent group membership, while perfectionistic discrepancy, self-efficacy, and belief in optimism's power did not. The Realistic group achieved higher final grades than the UO-Decreasing group. Unexpectedly, no difference was found in final grades between the strongest UO group (i.e., UO-Persistent) and other two groups. These findings suggest that UO's temporal shift is not a unitary construct, and distinct UO patterns may be associated with different academic outcomes. This study underscores the significance of comprehending temporal shifts and employing person-centered analysis in UO related to academic achievement. The discussion addresses both research and practical implications.
Shuangshi Tonglin Capsule treats benign prostatic hyperplasia through the ROS/NLRP3 signaling pathway
Authors: Wang Ziqiang , Mao Qian , Yuan Yong , Wang Chuan , Wei Hao
Published: December 2023

Objective

To explore the effects of the SSTL on BPH and clarify the therapeutic mechanisms.

Methods

Animal model of BPH was established by castration and subcutaneous injection of TP into SD rats; rats were orally administered SSTL for 28 days while modeling. Detection of PI, LI and RI in rats, to observe histopathological changes and collagen deposition in the prostate tissue. Detects levels of sex hormones and inflammatory factors in serum and tissues of rats, the test kit detects levels of lipid peroxides and antioxidants in serum and tissues. Fluorescent staining analysis of tissue ROS; the expression of NLRP3 inflammatory vesicles was observed by immunohistochemistry; Western blotting detected the expression of NOX4, NOX2, NLRP3 inflammatory vesicles, ASC, Cleaved Caspase-1, Caspase-1, IL-1β.

Results

After SSTL capsule treatment, the PI and RI of the rats decrease. HE and Masson staining showed that SSTL ameliorated the pathological damage and reduced collagen deposition in the prostate tissue of BPH rats; ELISA results showed that SSTL was able to reduce T, DHT, TNF-α, IL-1β levels in BPH rats. The test kit showed that SSTL made the levels of MDA, CAT and GSH-Px in the serum and prostate tissue of rats and increased the activity of SOD. The results of ROS fluorescence showed that the ROS level was reduced in SSTL group; Western blotting showed that SSTL could cause down-regulation of NOX4, NOX2, NLRP3, ASC, Cleaved Caspase-1, IL-1β protein expression.

Conclusion

SSTL can reduce the PI and RI in BPH rats, it can also inhibit the level of sex hormones and inflammatory factors in BPH rats, which thereby reducing the histopathological damage of prostate gland in BPH rats, and can treat BPH in rats through ROS/NLRP3 pathway.
Novel Aspects in Pattern Formation Arise from Coupling Turing Reaction–Diffusion and Chemotaxis
Authors: Fraga Delfino Kunz Camile , Gerisch Alf , Glover James , Headon Denis , Painter Kevin John , Matthäus Franziska
Published: December 2023

Recent experimental studies on primary hair follicle formation and feather bud morphogenesis indicate a coupling between Turing-type diffusion driven instability and chemotactic patterning. Inspired by these findings we develop and analyse a mathematical model that couples chemotaxis to a reaction–diffusion system exhibiting diffusion–driven (Turing) instability. While both systems, reaction–diffusion systems and chemotaxis, can independently generate spatial patterns, we were interested in how the coupling impacts the stability of the system, parameter region for patterning, pattern geometry, as well as the dynamics of pattern formation. We conduct a classical linear stability analysis for different model structures, and confirm our results by numerical analysis of the system. Our results show that the coupling generally increases the robustness of the patterning process by enlarging the pattern region in the parameter space. Concerning time scale and pattern regularity, we find that an increase in the chemosensitivity can speed up the patterning process for parameters inside and outside of the Turing space, but generally reduces spatial regularity of the pattern. Interestingly, our analysis indicates that pattern formation can also occur when neither the Turing nor the chemotaxis system can independently generate pattern. On the other hand, for some parameter settings, the coupling of the two processes can extinguish the pattern formation, rather than reinforce it. These theoretical findings can be used to corroborate the biological findings on morphogenesis and guide future experimental studies. From a mathematical point of view, this work sheds a light on coupling classical pattern formation systems from the parameter space perspective.
Nitrogen Control in Production of N-Alloyed Stainless Steels in AOD Converter: Application of Sieverts’ Law
Authors: Pitkälä Jyrki , Holappa Lauri , Jokilaakso Ari
Published: December 2023

In numerous stainless steels, nitrogen is used as an alloying element to improve mechanical and corrosion properties. The typical nitrogen content is up to 0.5 pct. A common method for alloying is to blow nitrogen gas into an Argon Oxygen Decarburization (AOD) converter. Depending on the steel composition, operating practice, and process conditions, the hitting grade of the N content can be a problem. According to Sieverts’ law, nitrogen solubility depends on the nitrogen partial pressure. In this study, the applicability of Sieverts’ law to control the nitrogen content in stainless steels was investigated by test trials in an industrial AOD converter using N2–Ar mixtures. The validity was established in a wide range of nitrogen content (0.1–0.4 pct) and large variety of alloying (Cr, Ni, Mo, Mn) with considerable influence on N solubility. The validity was well established by approaching the equilibrium N content both from above and below. As a conclusion, the nitrogen content can be controlled by regulating the partial pressure of nitrogen in the blowing gas mixture. For practical purposes, the final nitrogen content can be predicted in different situations and guide graphs were drawn to determine the required N2–Ar ratio. These tools can be utilized when designing blowing practices for the AOD converter for nitrogen-alloyed stainless steels.
Executive functioning, ADHD symptoms and resting state functional connectivity in children with perinatal stroke
Authors: Meghji Suraya , Hilderley Alicia J. , Murias Kara , Brooks Brian L. , Andersen John , Fehlings Darcy , Dlamini Nomazulu , Kirton Adam , Carlson Helen L.
Published: December 2023

Perinatal stroke describes a group of focal, vascular brain injuries that occur early in development, often resulting in lifelong disability. Two types of perinatal stroke predominate, arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) and periventricular venous infarction (PVI). Though perinatal stroke is typically considered a motor disorder, other comorbidities commonly exist including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and deficits in executive function. Rates of ADHD symptoms are higher in children with perinatal stroke and deficits in executive function may also occur but underlying mechanisms are not known. We measured resting state functional connectivity in children with perinatal stroke using previously established dorsal attention, frontoparietal, and default mode network seeds. Associations with parental ratings of executive function and ADHD symptoms were examined. A total of 120 participants aged 6–19 years [AIS N = 31; PVI N = 30; Controls N = 59] were recruited. In comparison to typically developing peers, both the AIS and PVI groups showed lower intra- and inter-hemispheric functional connectivity values in the networks investigated. Group differences in between-network connectivity were also demonstrated, showing weaker anticorrelations between task-positive (frontoparietal and dorsal attention) and task-negative (default mode) networks in stroke groups compared to controls. Both within-network and between-network functional connectivity values were highly associated with parental reports of executive function and ADHD symptoms. These results suggest that differences in functional connectivity exist both within and between networks after perinatal stroke, the degree of which is associated with ADHD symptoms and executive function.
From Intimate Exams to Ritual Nicking: Interpreting Nonconsensual Medicalized Genital Procedures as Sexual Boundary Violations
Authors: Buckler Max , Bruce Lori , Earp Brian D.
Published: December 2023

Purpose of Review

This review seeks to integrate scholarly discussions of nonconsensual medicalized genital procedures, combining insights from the literature on obstetric violence with critiques based on children’s rights. In both literatures, it is increasingly argued that such interventions may constitute, or be experienced as, violations of patients’ sexual boundaries, even if performed without sexual intent.

Recent Findings

Within the literature on obstetric violence, it is often argued that clinicians who perform unconsented pelvic exams (i.e., for teaching purposes on anesthetized patients), or unconsented episiotomies during birth and labor, thereby violate patients’ bodily integrity rights. Noting the intimate nature of the body parts involved and the lack of consent by the affected individual, authors increasingly characterize such procedures, more specifically, as sexual boundary violations or even “medical sexual assault.” Separately, critics have raised analogous concerns about medically unnecessary, nonconsensual genital cutting or surgery (e.g., in prepubescent minors), such as ritual “nicking” of the vulva for religious purposes, intersex genital “normalization” surgeries, and newborn penile circumcision. Across literatures, critics contend that the fundamental wrong of such procedures is not (only) the risk of physical or emotional harm they may cause, nor (beliefs about) the good or bad intentions of those performing or requesting them. Rather, it is claimed, it is wrong as a matter of principle for clinicians to engage—to any extent—with patients’ genital or sexual anatomy without their consent outside of certain limited exceptions (e.g., is not possible to obtain the person’s consent without exposing them to a significant risk of serious harm, where this harm, in turn, cannot feasibly be prevented or resolved by any less risky or invasive means).

An emerging consensus among scholars of obstetric violence and of children’s rights is that it is unethical for clinicians to perform any medically unnecessary genital procedures, from physical examination to cutting or surgery, without the explicit consent of the affected person. “Presumed” consent, “implied” consent, and “proxy” consent are thus argued to be insufficient.
Electricity generation potential from natural gas pressure reduction turbines in Brazil
Authors: Condessa Gabriela Ávila , Ismail Kamal Abdel Radi , Hunt Julian David , Ponce Júnior Nelson , Velásquez Roberto M. G. , Borges Valério Luiz , Tomé Fernanda M. C. , de Souza Cristiano Luiz , Gazoli Jonas Rafael , Bindemann Fabio Tales
Published: December 2023

This paper addresses the urgent need to meet increasing energy demand while avoiding greenhouse gas emissions by improving energy efficiency. One significant challenge is the energy losses that occur during gas pressure reduction at city gates in natural gas distribution systems. To tackle this issue, this study proposes installing pressure reduction turbines (PRTs) parallel to existing reduction valves, which can generate electricity and enhance system efficiency. This research mainly focuses on Brazil’s natural gas supply, where the potential for installing PRTs is evaluated. The methodology analyzes the country’s distribution network and estimates the electricity generation capacity achievable from PRTs. The results indicate a potential power generation of 66 MW, capable of avoiding the emission of 235,800 tons of CO2 annually and generating 333 GWh/year of electricity, all at a LCOE of $27/MW. These contribute to the environment using the energy efficiency achieved through the installation of PRTs, consequently, Brazil can help to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.
What is the Relationship Between the Perceived Quality of Neighbourhood and the Self-reported Life Satisfaction in Immigrants Versus Natives in Europe?
Authors: Ambrosetti Elena , Paparusso Angela
Published: December 2023

Subjective well-being (SWB) is emerging as an important measure of individual and societal progress. Among the many individual factors associated with SWB, the quality of the neighbourhood is recently receiving growing attention as a factor shaping self-reported life satisfaction in contemporary societies. However, to the best of our knowledge, studies focusing on the perceived quality of the neighbourhood are still scant. We aim to fill this gap, comparing self-reported life satisfaction of different population groups (i.e., immigrants and natives) living in European countries, and to analyse the association between self-reported life satisfaction and the perceived quality of the neighbourhood, controlling for individual socio-demographic and human capital variables and socio-economic characteristics of the country of residence. The data are drawn from the cross-sectional European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS) of 2016. Our findings reveal that first and second-generation immigrants report lower self-reported life satisfaction compared to natives. Moreover, our findings show that the positive subjective evaluation of the characteristics and services available in the immediate neighbourhood where people live is positively associated with self-reported life satisfaction. There is also a positive relationship between contacts and social networks in the neighbourhood and self-reported life satisfaction. Finally, the characteristics of the country of residence matter for both native and immigrants’ life satisfaction, with immigrants being more satisfied in countries with higher quality of life captured by country gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, life expectancy and unemployment rate.
Bioarchaeological approaches to understanding the long-term development of mountain societies
Authors: Walsh Kevin , Knockaert Juliette , Dulias Katharina , Giguet-Covex Charline , Unsain Dianne , Burri Sylvain , Magniez Pierre , Pike Alistair , Orton David , Mocci Florence
Published: December 2023

Archaeologists do not always differentiate between human activities, practices and techniques within landscape archaeology. This problem is reflected in some research into the development of pastoralism in the Alps. Here, we develop a framework within a “position paper” that engages with these different processes by assessing recent developments in bioarchaeological and palaeoenvironmental methods. Over the last two decades, alpine research has moved beyond the mere characterisation of human activities toward the classification and interpretation of specific practices and techniques, changing how we study the development of alpine pastoralism. Research into the development of mid-/long-distance transhumance from the Provencal plains to the Western Alps has generated considerable interest over the last 20 years. Therefore, the PATHWAy (Pastoralism, TransHumance in the Western Alps) project focuses on studying the Iron Age to Medieval pastoral systems in the Western Alps and south-eastern France, which is today one of the main regions in Europe where transhumant pastoralism still takes place. Finally, this contribution aims to review how bioarchaeological methods, combined with “cultural” archaeology, inform detailed quotidian aspects of lifeways rather than impactful, mediatised generalising statements, such as mass population movements or simplistic generalisations about past diet.
Occurrence of ochratoxin A in breast milk and urine samples of nursing mothers in Bangladesh
Authors: Das Trisha Aporajita , Hafsa Jaasia Momtahena , Hasan Akibul , Habib Ahsan , Tuba Humaira Rashid , Degen Gisela H. , Ali Nurshad
Published: December 2023

The mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OTA) is a potent nephrotoxin with carcinogenic properties and, thus, of concern as a food contaminant. Since food contaminant data are scarce in Bangladesh, we applied human biomonitoring to gain more insights into OTA exposure in the country’s population. OTA concentrations in human milk and urine samples of nursing mothers were determined with the aim to assess also exposure to this mycotoxin in breastfed infants. Breastfeeding mothers (n = 74) from three districts of Bangladesh (Sylhet, Cumilla, and Mymensingh region) participated in this study. They provided demographic data, along with breast milk and urine samples. OTA levels were measured by a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a detection limit of 60 ng/L for milk and 30 ng/L for urine.

OTA was detected in 62.2% of all breast milk samples (mean 74.8 ± 49.0 ng/L, range < LOD–243.3 ng/L) and in 51.4% of all urine samples (mean 44.3 ± 63.5 ng/L, range < LOD–519.3 ng/L). The differences observed between regions for mean breast milk or for urinary OTA levels were relatively small. No significant correlation was observed between OTA levels in breast milk and food consumption patterns among nursing mothers. Regarding infant exposure, the estimated average daily intake of OTA for all was 15.0 ng/kg bw/day (range 4.5–45 ng/kg bw/day). In 34.5% of these infants, their estimated daily OTA intake exceeded a preliminary TDI value set by EFSA (17 ng/kg bw/day). The mean OTA intake was slightly higher (16.2 ± 7.8 ng/kg bw/day) in 1–2 months babies than in older infants (< 2 to 12 months), although the difference was not significant. Presence of OTA in most milk and urine samples of nursing mothers documents their widespread dietary mycotoxin exposure. Although based on a relatively small number of participants, the present analysis indicates non-negligible exposure of some nursed infants in Bangladesh. Therefore, further biomonitoring studies and investigations on major sources of OTA in food commodities are encouraged.
Vertical Displacement Measurement in a Slow-Moving Sinkhole Using BOTDA
Authors: Sevillano Pascual , Preciado-Garbayo Javier , Sevil Jorge , Gutiérrez Francisco , Martínez Juan J. , Martín-López Sonia , González-Herráez Miguel
Published: December 2023

The effectiveness of monitoring and early-warning systems for ground deformation phenomena, such as sinkholes, depends on their ability to accurately resolve the ongoing ground displacement and detect the subtle deformation preceding catastrophic failures. Sagging sinkholes with a slow subsidence rate and diffuse edges pose a significant challenge for subsidence monitoring due to the low deformation rates and limited lateral strain gradients. In this work, we satisfactorily illustrate the practicality of the Brillouin optical time domain analysis (BOTDA) to measure the spatial-temporal patterns of the vertical displacement in such challenging slow-moving sagging sinkholes. To assess the performance of the approach, we compare the strain recorded by the distributed optical fiber sensor with the vertical displacement measured by high-precision leveling. The results show a good spatial correlation with the ability to identify the maximum subsidence point. There is also a good temporal correlation with the detection of an acceleration phase in the subsidence associated with a flood event.
Investigation of Quantum Dot Color Filter Micro-LED Display
Authors: Peng Xuhui , Zeng Yang , Huo Sitao , Yang Zhenyuan , Huang Xiaoping , Zhao Qing
Published: December 2023

In this work, we present the investigation of the quantum dot color filter (QDCF) micro-light emitting diode (micro-LED) display. Green and red quantum dot photoresist (QDPR) materials are patterned into a pixelated array and precisely bonded with an all-blue micro-light emitting diode (micro-LED) substrate, forming a red, green, and blue (RGB) full color display through color conversion. A few factors that influence the achievable color gamut are further investigated. The resulting 1.1-inch 228-pixels per inch (ppi) display demo shows the good performance. The findings in this paper pave a way to the future industrialization of the micro-LED display.
Accurate Analysis of Multi-Mode Interferometric Optical Fiber Sensor
Authors: Li Lijun , Jia Congying , Ma Qian , Xu Tianzong
Published: December 2023

In view of the problem that the sensing characteristics of the multi-mode interferometric fiber sensors cannot be accurately analyzed, an analysis method based on the fast Fourier transform (FFT) and inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) is proposed and demonstrated theoretically and experimentally. The suitabilities of the rectangular window function with the narrow main lobe (high spectrum resolution) and low side lobe (high main mode energy leakage) and the Hanning window function with the wide main lobe (low spectrum resolution) and high side lobe (high energy concentration) in this kind of sensor analysis are discussed, respectively. This method can not only realize the sensing performance analysis of the various modes, but also overcome the inconsistency of the different interference wavelength (dip) sensing characteristics in the conventional analysis methods. At the same time, this method is also beneficial to solve the repetitive problem of such sensors.