bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of an Automatic Chronological Record Creation System Using Voice AI to Facilitate Information Aggregation and Sharing in the Event of a Disaster
Authors: Tsujiguchi Takakiyo , Imai Masashi , Kimura Shota , Koiwa Tomoki , Naraoka Masato , Hanada Hiroyuki , Yamanouchi Kanako , Kashiwakura Ikuo , Ito Katsuhiro
Published: December 2023

Objective:

In the event of a disaster, the chain of command and communication of each relevant agency is important. In this study, a chronological record creation system using voice AI (V-CRS) was developed, and an experiment was conducted to determine whether the obtained information could be quickly and easily summarized in chronological order.

Methods:

After a lecture by Japanese Disaster Medical Assistant (DMAT) Team members and 8 medical clerks on how to use the developed tool, a comparison experiment was conducted between manual input and V-CRS utilization of the time to compile disaster information.

Results:

Results proved that V-CRS can collect information gathered at headquarters more quickly than handwriting. It was also suggested that even medical clerks who have never been trained to record information during disasters could record information at the same speed as trained DMAT personnel.

Conclusion:

V-CRS can transcribe audio information even in situations where technical terms and physical units must be recorded, such as radiation disasters. It has been proven that anyone can quickly organize information using this method, to some extent.
Evaluation of computerized clinical decision support system to reduce unnecessary nasal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing
Authors: Huynh Duc N. , Shah Punit J. , Greenlee Sage B. , Long S. Wesley , Alsafadi Muhammad Yasser
Published: December 2023

Our health system implemented a novel clinical decision-support system to reduce unnecessary duplicate nasal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) orders. In an 8-month period, the rate of duplicate MRSA PCR orders within 7 days declined from 4.7% (370 of 7,861) to 1.2% (120 of 9,833).
Taylor dispersion in arbitrarily shaped axisymmetric channels
Authors: Chang Ray , Santiago Juan G.
Published: December 2023

Advective dispersion of solutes in long thin axisymmetric channels is important to the analysis and design of a wide range of devices, including chemical separation systems and microfluidic chips. Despite extensive analysis of Taylor dispersion in various scenarios, most studies focus on long-term dispersion behaviour and cannot capture the transient evolution of the solute zone across the spatial variations in the channel. In the current study, we analyse the Taylor–Aris dispersion for arbitrarily shaped axisymmetric channels. We derive an expression for solute dynamics in terms of two coupled ordinary differential equations, which allow prediction of the time evolution of the mean location and axial (standard deviation) width of the solute zone as a function of the channel geometry. We compare and benchmark our predictions with Brownian dynamics simulations for a variety of cases, including linearly expanding/converging channels and periodic channels. We also present an analytical description of the physical regimes of transient positive versus negative axial growth of solute width. Finally, to further demonstrate the utility of the analysis, we demonstrate a method to engineer channel geometries to achieve desired solute width distributions over space and time. We apply the latter analysis to generate a geometry that results in a constant axial width and a second geometry that results in a sinusoidal axial variance in space.
Religion, Resistance, and Rights in Guatemala
Authors: Way J. T.
Published: December 2023

This essay reviews the following works:

Dealing with Peace: The Guatemalan Campesino Movement and the Post-Conflict Neoliberal State. By Simon Granovsky-Larsen. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2019. Pp. viii + 275. $70.00 hardcover. ISBN: 9781487501433.

Ladina Social Activism in Guatemala City, 1871–1954. By Patricia Harms. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico, 2020. Pp. xii + 409. $75.00 hardcover. ISBN: 9780826361455.

Religious Transformation in Maya Guatemala: Cultural Collapse and Christian Pentecostal Revitalization. Edited by John P. Hawkins. Santa Fe, NM: School for Advanced Research, 2021. Pp. xxv + 448. $65.00 hardcover. ISBN: 9780826362254.

Human and Environmental Justice in Guatemala. Edited by Stephen Henighan and Candace Johnson. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2018. Pp. v + 263. $36.95 paper. ISBN: 9781487522971.

Guatemala’s Catholic Revolution: A History of Religious and Social Reform, 1920–1968. By Bonar L. Hernández Sandoval. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 2018. Pp. xiv + 254. $50.00 hardcover. ISBN: 9780268104412.

Cuando el indio tomó las armas: La vida de Emeterio Toj Medrano. By Emeterio Toj Medrano and Rodrigo Véliz Estrada. Mexico City: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 2021. Pp. 504. $354.00 paper. ISBN: 9786073043175.
Cooperation through collective punishment and participation
Authors: Duell Dominik , Mengel Friederike , Mohlin Erik , Weidenholzer Simon
Published: December 2023

We experimentally explore the role of institutions imposing collective sanctions in sustaining cooperation. In our experiment, players only observe noisy signals about individual contributions in finitely repeated public goods game with imperfect monitoring, while total output is perfectly observed as it is often the case in collective action problems in society. We consider sanctioning mechanism that allows agents to commit to collective punishment in case the level of cooperation among members of society falls short of a target. We find that cooperation is higher with collective punishment compared to both no punishment or punishment targeting individuals. Importantly, our results indicate that it is the combination of making a commitment to be punished and the collective nature of punishment which induces cooperation. Our findings show that punishing a group collectively for misbehavior of some of its members induces cooperation when individuals participate in setting up the sanctioning institution. The study contributes to the literature on institutional legitimacy and how to ensure good government performance when dealing with collective action problems, and, by considering commitment, improves enforcement methods criticized for their detrimental effects on some societal groups.
Seasonality of C4 plant growth and carbonate precipitation in the Chinese Loess Plateau may cause positive carbon isotope anomalies in pedogenic carbonates
Authors: Fu Yang , Guo Zhengtang , Wang Guoan
Published: December 2023

Carbon isotope analysis of pedogenic carbonate (δ13CCarb) and soil organic matter (δ13CTOC) is widely applied in reconstructions of terrestrial paleovegetation. The δ13C of different archives is considered well matched and equally reflects the proportion of C3/C4 plant biomass covering the soil profile. However, modern soil and paleosol sequences provide substantial evidence that δ13CCarb and δ13CTOC do not always match, raising doubts about the accuracy of quantitative C4 plant reconstructions. Here we report paired δ13C records of pedogenic carbonates and organic matter occluded within carbonate nodules from the Shaozhai section in the central Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP). The δ13CCarb record exhibits a positive anomaly and exceeds the theoretical fractionation range with the coexisting δ13CTOC record during the expansion of C4 plants. The possibility of contamination by detrital carbonates and atmospheric CO2 affecting δ13CCarb was ruled out based on the morphological features, mineral fractions, and geochemical composition of carbonate nodules. Our study suggests that the enhanced respiration of C4 plants during pedogenic carbonate precipitation may have caused positive shifts in δ13CCarb records, supporting the hypothesis that the discrepancy in carbon sources explains the δ13CCarb positive anomaly. Thus, the δ13CCarb could reflect the maximum relative abundance of C4 plants during their metabolic peaks.
‘When There Is a Ban, There Is a Way’: Everyday Gambling and the Nigerian Political Economy, 1977–83
Authors: Ajibade Folarin
Published: December 2023

This article focuses on the gambling milieu in Nigeria between the late 1970s and early 1980s. I consider the moment when the Federal Military Government (FMG) banned gambling nationwide, and ask why it became such a divisive issue during this tenuous period in Nigeria's history. I argue that amid impending transitional elections to a democratic regime, gambling embodied three key tensions that saturated Nigerian political and civil society during this period: job creation, the state's relationship with private capital, and the division of political power. Additionally, I propose that examining gambling's recreational value alongside its functional significance opens new avenues for the study of the gambling phenomenon in Africa that move beyond ethical considerations.
Derivation of high-contracted topology graphs for the type synthesis of complex closed robotic mechanisms with more mechanical advantages
Authors: Lu Yang , Lu Yi
Published: December 2023

Challenges/shortages of existing research: Both a topology graph TG and a contracted graph CG are the important tool for the type synthesis of mechanisms and have been studied. Let (b, t, q, p, h) be (binary, ternary, quaternary, pentagonal, hexagonal) link, respectively. Existing TG may include (b, t, q, p, h, …), and existing CG may include (t, q, p, h, …) and exclude b. Therefore, their derivation and isomorphism identification are quite complicated.

The significance of this research: A novel high-contracted topology graph Gj/i including n (q, p, h, …) is proposed in this paper. Since Gj/i excludes (b, t), Gj/i must be more simple than complex TG and CG, and the derivation and isomorphism identification of various Gj/i must be more easily than that of the complex TG and CG.

This paper focuses on the derivation and isomorphism identification of various Gj/i for deriving TG and type synthesis of the complex closed robotic mechanisms with more mechanical advantages and useful functions. First, the conceptions for deriving Gj/i and the relations between Gj/i and the basic links are explained, the relative rules are determined for representing Gj/i and reducing isomorphism of Gj/i using the character strings and the digit groups, and many different Gj/i are represented based on determined rules. Second, many different Gj/i (j = 0, …, 17) are constructed using a circle, several composite curves, and vertex points on the circle based on the character strings and the digit groups. Third, a condition for identifying isomorphism Gj/i is discovered and proved using the composite curves and their connections in Gj/i. Some isomorphism Gj/i are identified from constructed different Gj/i. Finally, different Gj/i (G7/7, G11/11) are illustrated to derive TGs, several complex closed robotic mechanisms are synthesized using derived TGs for creating robotic gripper, a long-stroke robotic pumping unit, and a tunnel robotic excavator.
The animal model of human disease as a core concept of medical research: Historical cases, failures, and some epistemological considerations
Authors: Roelcke Volker
Published: December 2023

Argument

This article uses four historical case studies to address epistemological issues related to the animal model of human diseases and its use in medical research on human diseases. The knowledge derived from animal models is widely assumed to be highly valid and predictive of reactions by human organisms. In this contribution, I use three significant historical cases of failure (ca. 1890, 1960, 2006), and a closer look at the emergence of the concept around 1860/70, to elucidate core assumptions related to the specific practices of animal-human knowledge transfer, and to analyze the explanations provided by historical actors after each of the failures. Based on these examples, I argue that the epistemological status of the animal model changed from that of a helpful methodological tool for addressing specific questions, but with precarious validity, to an obligatory method for the production of strong knowledge on human diseases. As a result, there now exists a culture of biomedical research in human disease that, for more than a century, has taken the value of this methodological tool as self-evident, and more or less beyond question.
The Global Financial Crisis – risk transfer, insurance layers, and (lack of?) reinsurance culture
Authors: Fackler Michael
Published: December 2023

The Global Financial Crisis of 2007–2008 has elicited various debates, ranging from ethics over the stability of the banking system to subtle technical issues regarding the Gaussian and other copulas. We want to look at the crisis from a particular perspective. Credit derivatives have much in common with treaty reinsurance, including risk transfer via pooling and layering, scarce data, skewed distributions, and a limited number of specialised players in the market. This leads to a special mixture of mathematical/statistical and behavioural challenges. Reinsurers have been struggling to cope with these, not always successfully, but they have learned some lessons over the course of more than one century in business. This has led to certain rules being adopted by the reinsurance market and to a certain mindset being adopted by the individuals working in the industry. Some cultures established in the reinsurance world could possibly inspire markets like the credit derivatives market, but the subtle differences between the two worlds matter. We will see that traditional reinsurance has built-in incentives for (some) fairness, while securitisation can foster opportunism.
Lexical tone as a cue in statistical word learning from bilingual input
Authors: Li Ye , Benitez Viridiana L.
Published: December 2023

Learners can track word-referent co-occurrences across individually-ambiguous naming events to form correct word-referent mappings, termed statistical word learning (SWL). Prior research largely focuses on learning from a single language input, where a referent co-occurs with a single word (1:1 mapping). Here, we tested adults’ SWL from a simulated bilingual environment, where one referent co-occurred with two words (2:1 mapping) and the two words were either differentiated by a linguistic cue (Mandarin lexical tones, Cued condition) or not (Uncued condition). Results showed that in the Cued condition, Chinese–English bilinguals (N = 38) outperformed Spanish–English bilinguals (N = 56) and English monolinguals (N = 55), while Spanish–English bilinguals and English monolinguals performed similarly. The three groups did not differ in the Uncued condition. Self-reported learning confidence and strategies showed limited conscious awareness of learning. Results demonstrate that familiarity with a linguistic cue boosts overall statistical word learning from bilingual input.
Mammal Droppings Preserve Human and Climate History on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Tripathy-Lang Alka
Published: December 2023

Geochemical signatures in sediment, which includes organic molecules from human and animal poop, help scientists track the rise and fall of the Tibetan Empire.
Weather Systems Connecting Modes of Climate Variability to Regional Hydroclimate Extremes
Authors: Chen Xiaodong , Leung L. Ruby , Sun Ning
Published: December 2023

Weather system clustering provides a high‐level summary of regional meteorological conditions. Most quantitative clustering schemes focus on precipitation alone, which does not sufficiently describe the meteorological conditions driving hydroclimate variability. This study presents the Weather Anomaly Clustering (WAC‐hydro), which extends the existing capability of predicting weather systems to predicting hydroclimate variability. Focusing on both precipitation and temperature predictions, WAC‐hydro identifies 12 clusters of daily weather anomaly modes in the US Pacific Northwest Puget Sound region during 1981–2020. The influence of El Niño‐Southern Oscillation and Madden‐Julian Oscillation on regional precipitation can be well approximated by their modulation on the weather clusters. Within each weather cluster, local factors such as topography only play a secondary role in the hydrologic variability. The weather clusters highlight two types of flood‐inducing regional weather conditions, one causing floods by inducing positive precipitation anomalies and the other causing floods through combined precipitation and temperature‐induced rain‐on‐snow effect.
The Key Role of the Vertical Structure of the Stratospheric Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation in the Variations of Asian Precipitation in Summer
Authors: Luo Fuhai , Luo Jiali , Xie Fei , Tian Wenshou , Hu Yihang , Yuan Leiye , Zhang Ruhua , Wang Tao
Published: December 2023

Based on observations and numerical simulations, this study explores the responses of Asian precipitations in summer to the vertical structure of Stratospheric quasi‐biennial oscillation (QBO), and the relevant mechanisms. Compared to the QBO phase defined by a particular level traditionally, considering QBO's vertical structure leads to more significant precipitation responses. When the tropical zonal winds exhibit easterlies (westerlies) at 70 hPa and westerlies (easterlies) at both 30 and 50 hPa, there are downwellings (upwellings) over tropics and upwellings (downwellings) over mid‐latitudes in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. The meridional movement of the subtropical westerly jet is related to this secondary circulation, accompanied by anomalies of the South Asian High. These circulation anomalies lead to anomalous lower tropospheric circulations, causing abnormal vertical velocities and moisture transports, resulting in increased precipitation over South Asia and decreased precipitation in the Yangtze River basin.
Deep Learning‐Based Sea Surface Roughness Parameterization Scheme Improves Sea Surface Wind Forecast
Authors: Fu Shu , Huang Wenyu , Luo Jingjia , Yang Zifan , Fu Haohuan , Luo Yong , Wang Bin
Published: December 2023

Accurate offshore surface wind forecasting is crucial for navigation safety and disaster prevention. However, significant biases exist in forecasting sea surface winds due to the uncertainties in estimating sea surface roughness. In this study, we propose a deep learning‐based scheme (DL2023) for estimating sea surface roughness and integrate it into a regionally coupled ocean‐atmosphere‐wave model. Single‐point experiments demonstrate that DL2023 achieves a remarkable 50% reduction in the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) compared to the four traditional schemes. During five typhoon cases in August 2020, compared to the four traditional schemes, the RMSEs of forecasted surface winds using DL2023 are reduced by 6.02%–14.75%, 11.17%–18.30%, and 11.91%–19.46% at lead times of 24, 48, and 72 hr, respectively. Thus, the DL2023 scheme, trained using data from the Atlantic Ocean, successfully improves the forecast of surface winds over the Northwest Pacific Ocean.
Phase Transformation Under High Pressure Radiates as a Double Couple Deep Earthquake
Authors: Markenscoff Xanthippi
Published: December 2023

Deep‐focus earthquakes (DFEs) originating at the Mantle‐Transition‐Zone (MTZ) (400–700 km) have a Double Couple (DC) radiation pattern similar to crustal earthquakes; however, their mechanism is different and governed by high pressures (15–25 GPa) at nucleation depths. We present a model of nucleation and growth of regions of phase transformation, undergoing a sudden reduction in volume (5%–10%), “volume collapse.” Successive symmetry‐breaking instabilities minimize the energy spent to move the boundary of phase discontinuity and a collapsing volume expands as a flattened pancake‐like self‐similarly expanding Eshelby ellipsoidal inclusion. At the vanishing of the M integral, expressing the balance of flows of energy across the inclusion boundary, at a critical value of the pressure, an arbitrarily small inclusion nucleates and grows at constant potential energy driven by the pressure acting on the change in volume. The inclusion develops shear eigenstrains that decompose into two DC, placing one on the basal plane to radiate without energy losses. The symmetric volume collapse radiates out as an anti‐symmetric DC, and the radiated energy is obtained as the “excess energy,” of the ambient pressure acting on the “volume collapse,” reduced by the energy consumed for the growth of the pancake surfaces, with a “pressure drop” (p0 − pcr) driving the expansion emitting a DC, even under full isotropy. The solution explains some features of the DFEs, (a) the DC radiation, (b) their large energies (the Mw 8.3 Okhotsk earthquake [2013]), (c) the absence of volumetric radiation, and (d) why they can originate in the MTZ, a long‐standing open problem.
Lateral Variations in Teleseismic Attenuation of the Conterminous U.S. and New Insights Derived From Its Relationship to Mantle Seismic Velocity
Authors: Bezada M. J. , Byrnes J. S. , Zhu Z. , Lee H.
Published: December 2023

Much of our knowledge of the North American lithosphere comes from imaging seismic velocities. Additional constraints on the subsurface can be gained by studying seismic attenuation, which has different sensitivity to physical properties. We produce a model of lateral variations in attenuation across the conterminous U.S. by analyzing data recorded by the EarthScope Transportable Array. We divide the study area into 12 overlapping tiles and differential attenuation is measured in each tile independently; and twice for four of the tiles. Measurements are combined into a smooth map using a set of linear inversions. Comparing results for adjacent tiles and for repeated tiles shows that the imaged features are robust. The final map shows generally higher attenuation west of the Rocky Mountain Front than east of it, with significant small length scale variations superimposed on that broad pattern. In general, there is a strong anticorrelation between differential attenuation and shear wave velocities at depths of 80–250 km. However, a given change in velocity may correspond to a large or small change in attenuation, depending on the area; suggesting that different physical mechanisms are operating. In the western and south‐central U.S., as well as the Appalachians, velocity variations are large compared to attenuation changes, while the opposite is true in the north‐central and southeastern U.S. Calculations with the Very Broadband Rheology calculator show that these results are consistent with the main source of heterogeneity being temperature and melt fraction in the former regions and grain size variability in the latter ones.
Methane and Nitrous Oxide Emissions From an Anthropogenically Transformed Lake (Lake Licheńskie, Poland)
Authors: Woszczyk M. , Schubert C. J.
Published: December 2023

For over 50 years Lake Licheńskie (LLi), central Poland, has been involved in the cooling system of two power plants (PP). Owing to the discharge of cooling waters the lake was prone to considerable environmental changes which involved its thermal structure, mixing regime and water parameters. In this study we investigated how the man‐made transformations affected greenhouse gas emissions (GHG; CH4 and N2O) from the lake. The GHG emissions in Lake Licheńskie were monitored at the deepest site from December 2014 to November 2015 and between March 2022 and February 2023. The values obtained were compared to reference lakes encompassing 10 natural and undisturbed inland and coastal lakes in Poland. Our results revealed that LLi was a net source of CH4 and N2O to the atmosphere but the fluxes were low. The mean annual diffusive fluxes were 0.21–0.38 mmol·m−2 d−1 for CH4 and 4.90–7.40 μmol·m−2 d−1 for N2O. The CH4 emissions were significantly lower than in most of reference lakes, while the N2O emissions were comparable. Therefore, the human intervention resulted in reduction of CH4 release from LLi but it had minor effect on the N2O. The most likely reason for the low direct fluxes of GHGs from the surface waters was the high flushing rate of the lake and export of dissolved gases to adjacent lakes and canals. Hence, the overall emission from the connected lake and canal system was not mitigated by the man‐made changes to the lake system.
Compost Amendment to a Grazed California Annual Grassland Increases Gross Primary Productivity Due To a Longer Growing Season
Authors: Fenster Tommy L. D. , Torres Isabel , Zeilinger Adam , Chu Housen , Oikawa Patty
Published: December 2023

Compost amendment to rangelands is a proposed nature‐based climate solution to increase plant productivity and soil carbon sequestration. However, it has not been evaluated using quasicontinuous ecosystem‐scale measurements. Here, we present the first study to utilize eddy covariance and footprint partitioning to monitor carbon exchange in a grassland with and without compost amendment, monitoring for 1 year before and 1 year after treatment. Compost amendment to an annual California grassland was found to enhance net ecosystem removal of carbon. Our study confirmed that compost‐amended grasslands, similar to nonamended grasslands, are net carbon sources to the atmosphere; however, the amendment appears to be slowing down the rate at which these ecosystems lose carbon by 0.71 Mg C ha−1 per growing season. Digital repeated imagery of the canopy revealed that compost‐amended grasslands experienced an earlier green‐up, resulting in an overall longer growing season by >60 days. Notably, we did not detect significantly higher amounts of soil carbon in compost‐amended soils. High variability in soil carbon demands greater sampling replication in future studies. A longer growing season and higher productivity are hypothesized to be a result of greater availability of macronutrients and micronutrients in the top layer of soil (specifically nitrogen, phosphorus, and zinc).
Mother-newborn couplet care: Nordic country experiences of organization, models and practice
Authors: Klemming Stina , Lilliesköld Siri , Arwehed Sofia , Jonas Wibke , Lehtonen Liisa , Westrup Björn
Published: December 2023

Mother-Newborn Couplet Care is a concept and is defined as the provision of care for a sick or preterm newborn in close proximity to and coupled with the care for the mother from the birth of the infant and for as long as the mother needs hospital care. This concept of care requires system change in both obstetrics and pediatrics in terms of the planning and organization of care, equipment and design of units. Accordingly, strong leadership setting clear goals and emphasizing a culture of cohesive care, supported by targeted education and training is crucial to ensure high-quality care of all mother-newborn dyads without separation. We describe various organizational models of Mother-Newborn Couplet Care used in Sweden and Finland and implementation processes. We envision a future where newborns and mothers are always together, irrespective of medical needs, and form an inseparable center around which healthcare services and providers are organized.
Rare, but potentially risky, high individual increase of self-reported sexual arousal in men, who have committed sexual offenses against children, while being confronted with experimental sexual stimuli — a retrospective data analysis
Authors: Jordan Kirsten , Fromberger Peter , Müller Isabel , Wild Tamara Sheila Nadine , Müller Jürgen Leo
Published: December 2023

This data analysis was initiated to further understand the infrequent yet intense instances of sexual arousal and signs of decompensation that emerge after exposing men who have committed sexual offenses against children to experimental sexual stimuli. We analyzed retrospectively and exploratory data of a self-developed sexual arousal questionnaire (“Current-State-of-Emotions-Questionnaire”, CSEQ) with the following objectives: (i) examine subjective sexual arousal changes elicited during confrontation with experimental sexual stimuli, (ii) analyze these sexual arousal changes at an individual level to detect large responses, and (iii) ask for associations between large responses in sexual arousal and individual characteristics of participants, e.g., demographic, clinical, and criminological parameters. The sample consisted of 241 adult, male Germans, comprising four groups: Ten individuals who have committed sexual offenses against children and have been placed in forensic psychiatric facilities (ISOCFP), 31 non-hospitalized individuals with sexual interest in children (ISIC), eight individuals who have committed other offenses and have been placed in forensic psychiatric facilities (IOFP), and 192 individuals without sexual interest in children and offense histories (IWO). We found a significant increase in subjective sexual arousal after confrontation with sexual stimuli (three experiments: initial orientation: Z = −4.819, p < .001, sexual distractor task: Z = −2.954, p = .003, stimulus rating: Z = −6.899, p < .001). Up to 14.3% of participants indicated high sexual arousal values before, but mainly after the experiments, with 20.0% of ISOCFP, 12.9% of ISIC, 12.5% of IOFP, and 14.6% of IWO. ISOCFP and ISIC with high sexual arousal were more likely to be diagnosed with paraphilia (pedophilia) and/or affective disorders, and to receive anti-depressive treatment. We assume a higher emotional lability or/and reduced emotion regulation abilities in those individuals. A careful weighing up of anticipated scientific knowledge gain and a potentially, though rare, increased risk of recidivism or decompensation seems indispensable.
SARS-CoV-2 vaccination may improve anxious, insomnia and depressive symptoms among Chinese population aged 18–75 years during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Zhang Xiaobo , Yue Qiang , Li Mingxia , Wu Chaoping , Zhou Lu , Cai Yang , Xu Jian
Published: December 2023

Previous studies have reported significant decreases in the incidence of mental health problems following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. However, less relevant studies are published in China. We conducted a cross-sectional study involving Chinese adults aged 18–75 years with no known psychiatric diseases. The study used data from mental health of SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated and unvaccinated participants from May 2020 to July 2021.Three standardized scales, namely, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) for anxious symptoms, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depressive symptoms and Athens Insomnia Score-8 (AIS-8) for insomnia symptoms, as well as basic demographic questions were used. The hierarchical regression method was used for multivariate logistic regression analysis to explore the effects of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on anxious, insomnia, and depressive symptoms. The results confirmed first that vaccinated participants experienced significantly lower anxious, insomnia, and depressive symptoms scores (P < 0.001) compared with unvaccinated participants. Second that vaccinated participants had a lower prevalence of anxious, insomnia, and depressive symptoms (P < 0.001). Third, after adjusting for potential confounders, we still observed a good correlation between vaccination and a reduced risk of anxious, insomnia, and depressive symptoms. The current study showed that SARS-CoV-2 vaccination may be helpful in improving anxious, insomnia, and depressive symptoms.
SIRT6 promotes metastasis and relapse in HER2-positive breast cancer
Authors: Andreani Cristina , Bartolacci Caterina , Persico Giuseppe , Casciaro Francesca , Amatori Stefano , Fanelli Mirco , Giorgio Marco , Galié Mirco , Tomassoni Daniele , Wang Junbiao , Zhang Xiaoting , Bick Gregory , Coppari Roberto , Marchini Cristina , Amici Augusto
Published: December 2023

The histone deacetylase sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) has been endowed with anti-cancer capabilities in many tumor types. Here, we investigate the impact of SIRT6-overexpression (SIRT6-OE) in Delta16HER2 mice, which are a bona fide model of HER2-positive breast cancer. After an initial delay in the tumor onset, SIRT6-OE induces a more aggressive phenotype of Delta16HER2 tumors promoting the formation of higher number of tumor foci and metastases than controls. This phenotype of SIRT6-OE tumors is associated with cancer stem cell (CSC)-like features and tumor dormancy, and low senescence and oxidative DNA damage. Accordingly, a sub-set of HER2-positive breast cancer patients with concurrent SIRT6-OE has a significant poorer relapse-free survival (RFS) probability than patients with low expression of SIRT6. ChIP-seq, RNA-seq and RT-PCR experiments indicate that SIRT6-OE represses the expression of the T-box transcription factor 3 (Tbx3) by deacetylation of H3K9ac. Accordingly, loss-of-function mutations of TBX3 or low TBX3 expression levels are predictive of poor prognosis in HER2-positive breast cancer patients. Our work indicates that high levels of SIRT6 are indicative of poor prognosis and high risk of metastasis in HER2-positive breast cancer and suggests further investigation of TBX3 as a downstream target of SIRT6 and co-marker of poor-prognosis. Our results point to a breast cancer subtype-specific effect of SIRT6 and warrant future studies dissecting the mechanisms of SIRT6 regulation in different breast cancer subtypes.
Influence of dynamic load and water on energy accumulation and dissipation in sandstone
Authors: Yang Yang , Xing Yulong , Fang Kailun , Wu Chao , Yang Kaiping , Xie Zhifeng , Wang Xianpeng , Sergey Nikolayevich Leonovich
Published: December 2023

In various engineering projects such as mineral extraction, hydropower resource utilization, railway construction, and geological hazard mitigation, rock engineering is often encountered. Furthermore, dynamic loads and moisture content exert notable influence on the energy transformation processes within rocks. Yet, the specific interplay of dynamic loading and water's impact on the energy conversion mechanism within the sandstone remains unexplored. To address this gap, this study conducted impact loading experiments on sandstone, elucidating the rock’s mechanical response under these conditions and unraveling the underlying energy conversion mechanisms. It was observed that the strength of sandstone exhibits a direct correlation with impact velocity. Moreover, employing energy calculation principles, we established a connection between moisture content and the sandstone’s internal energy conversion properties. The study also delved into the microscopic fracture mechanisms within the sandstone, ultimately concluding that both water content and dynamic loading have a significant impact on these microscopic fracture mechanisms.
Synergistic impact of arbutin and kaempferol-7-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside from Nephelium lappaceum L. on whitening efficacy and stability of cosmetic formulations
Authors: Siridechakorn Ittipon , Pimpa Junsuda , Choodej Siwattra , Ngamrojanavanich Nattaya , Pudhom Khanitha
Published: December 2023

Four flavonoid glycosides, namely quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside (1), kaempferol-3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl (2), kaempferol-7-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (3), and kaempferol-3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-7-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (4), from Nephelium lappaceum L. seeds were evaluated for their efficacy against melanin inhibition in B16F10 melanoma cells and tyrosinase inhibition. Among them, kaempferol-7-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (3) displayed the highest potency in both activities without any significant cytotoxicity. The combination of compound 3 and arbutin in specific proportions demonstrated a synergistic effect (CI < 1) in inhibiting melanin production in B16F10 cells and tyrosinase inhibition. Additionally, a cosmetic formulation containing compound 3 and arbutin as active ingredients exhibited favorable stability under accelerated storage conditions. Quantitative analysis indicated that compound 3 and arbutin levels in the formulation were above 90% after one month of storage. Determination of the formulation's shelf life using the Q10 method, estimating it to be around 5.2 months from the date of manufacture. The synergy between arbutin and kaempferol-7-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (3) extracted from N. lappaceum substantially enhances both the whitening effectiveness and the stability of cosmetic formulations.
Association between elasticity of tissue and pain pressure threshold in the tender points present in subjects with fibromyalgia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Navarro-Ledesma Santiago , Aguilar-García María , González-Muñoz Ana , Casas-Barragán Antonio , Tapia-Haro Rosa María
Published: December 2023

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a multicomponent illness and despite its worldwide prevalence, a complete understanding of its aetiology and pathogenesis remains unclear. The goal of the study is to analyze the level of association between elastic properties of tissue measured by strain elastography (SEL) and pain pressure threshold (PPT) in the characteristic painful points described in patients suffering from FM. This was a cross-sectional, observational study. A sample comprised of 42 subjects with FM was recruited from a private care centre. The occiput, low cervical, trapezius, supraspinatus, paraspinous, lateral pectoral, second rib, lateral epicondyle, medial epicondyle, gluteus, greater trochanter, knee, and anterior tibial PPTs were bilaterally assessed using a standard pressure algometer and elastic properties of tissue were evaluated by SEL. Linear regression analysis showed significant associations between SEL and dominant trapezius PPT (β = 0.487, 95% CI [0.045, 0.930], p = 0.032) after adjustments for the age, body mass index, and menopause status (higher SEL and higher pain sensitivity). No significant associations between SEL and the other PPTs variables were found in women diagnosed with FM. The PPT of the dominant trapezius is associated with SEL measurements in subjects suffering from FM. More studies are required to fully explain the underlying mechanisms.
Palladium-catalyzed carbomonofluoromethylation of unactivated alkenes: rapid access to γ-monofluoromethyl carboxylic acid derivatives
Authors: Liu Xiao-Li , Ji Shun-Jun , Cai Zhong-Jian
Published: December 2023

Palladium-catalyzed regioselective carbomonofluoromethylation of unactivated alkenes for rapid access to γ-monofluoromethyl carboxylic acid derivatives is described.
Single crystal ferroelectric AlScN nanowires
Authors: Zhang Xiaoman , Xu Wangwang , Meng W. J. , Meng Andrew C.
Published: December 2023

Single crystal ferroelectric AlScN nanowires.
The microstructure and electrical and optical properties of Ge–Cu–Te phase-change thin films
Authors: Wang Ming , Chen Leng
Published: December 2023

The grain orientation of Ge–Cu–Te films evolves from the {111} texture with favorable carrier mobility into a random distribution with improved optical reflectivity as the annealing temperature increases.
Element screening of metal sites in Fe-based Prussian blue framework materials for ammonium ion battery applications: a first-principles study
Authors: Zhang Yu , Xing Junjie , Zhang Bo , Tong Likai , Fu Xiuli
Published: December 2023

Considering the regulating effect of different metal elements on the electronic structures of PBAs, MgFe and ZnFe PBAs are expected to show excellent performance for NH4+ batteries in organic electrolytes.
In silico strategy to design an efficient organic photoswitch based on excited-state cation transfer
Authors: de Thieulloy Laure , Mongin Cédric , Leray Isabelle , Guerrin Clément , Buntinx Guy , Aloïse Stéphane , Perrier Aurélie
Published: December 2023

This study provides a guide for the conception of efficient “Excited State Cation Transfer” photoswitches.
High-pressure stabilization of open–shell bromine fluorides
Authors: Dalsaniya Madhavi H. , Upadhyay Deepak , Jan Kurzydłowski Krzysztof , Kurzydłowski Dominik
Published: December 2023

Open–shell BrF2 and BrF6 are predicted to become thermodynamically stable at high pressure. Bromine difluoride should form a molecular crystal containing (BrF2)3 trimers held by a 3e-3c bond.
The role of the terminal cysteine moiety in a metallopeptide mimicking the active site of the NiSOD enzyme
Authors: Bonczidai-Kelemen Dóra , Tóth Klaudia , Fábián István , Lihi Norbert
Published: December 2023

The wtCC peptide exhibits a high metal binding ability. The catalytic activity of the nickel(ii) complex is similar to that of the nickel complex of the native NiSOD fragment.
Enhanced nitrate reduction via the Ag–Cu–P catalyst for sustainable ammonia generation under ambient conditions
Authors: Wen Xinwei , Zhao Yue , Fan Puyang , Wu Jiajie , Xiong Kai , Liu Chang , Qu Qing , Li Lei
Published: December 2023

The Ag–Cu–P catalyst efficiently electrocatalyzes nitrate conversion to ammonia, lowering the energy barrier by modifying the electronic structure. This enhancement promotes the conversion of intermediate nitrite into ammonia production.
3D printed porous membrane integrated devices to study the chemoattractant induced behavioural response of aquatic organisms
Authors: Kalathil Balakrishnan Hari , Schultz Aaron G. , Lee Soo Min , Alexander Richard , Dumée Ludovic F. , Doeven Egan H. , Yuan Dan , Guijt Rosanne M.
Published: December 2023

3D printing of membrane-integrated devices for chemotaxis studies of aquatic animals.
Electrochemical assembly of flexible PPy/Bi–Te alloy/PPy thermoelectric composite films with a sandwich-type structure
Authors: Li Yang , Chen Zhi-Ping , Gao Cai-Yan , Li Hui-Ping , Fan Xin-Heng , Cao Xingbo , Yang Lian-Ming
Published: December 2023

An array of PPy/Bi–Te/PPy nanocomposite films with a sandwich-type structure were successfully prepared through a layer-by-layer electrochemical assembly, and achieved a maximum power factor of as high as 243 ± 6 μW m−1 K−2.
Conversion of amino-terephthalonitriles to multi-substituted single benzene fluorophores with utility in bioimaging
Authors: Raghava Tanya , Chattopadhyay Anjan , Banerjee Subhadeep , Sarkar Nivedita
Published: December 2023

Amine substitution of two ortho fluorine atoms of tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile through SNAr chemistry is easily achievable. But further fluorine substitution is only possible under forcing conditions, yielding valuable fluorophores for bioimaging.
Modeling the competition between phase separation and polymerization under explicit polydispersity
Authors: Jeong Hyeonmin , Gu Junsi , Mwasame Paul , Patankar Kshitish , Yu Decai , Sing Charles E.
Published: December 2023

The dynamics of polymerization-induced phase separation are modeled for polydisperse polymer blends, demonstrating the competition between phase separation dynamics and linear step-growth polymerization kinetics.
Advances in bismuth-based anodes for potassium-ion batteries
Authors: Jia Jian Hui , Lu Xiao Feng , Yang Chun Cheng , Jiang Qing
Published: December 2023

Bi-based materials with low cost, high capacity and suitable operating voltage are promising candidates for potassium-ion battery anodes. Rational optimization strategies are expected to bring them from laboratory to commercial applications.
Tuning the number and position of triphenylamine substituents on a benzo[b]furan core to achieve high-efficiency deep-blue and blue emitters
Authors: Luo MeiTing , Wu MingXin , Zhang BoHua , Wang XinYe , Chen Yi , Jia QingYu , Wang Dongdong , Gou Lei , Wu Zhaoxin
Published: December 2023

The deep-blue to blue emitters, 56dTPA-BF, 356tTPA-BF and 2356fTPA-BF were successfully achieved by using benzo[b]furan as central skeleton. The 2356fTPA-BF shows the maximum EQE of 5.32/3.42% with emission peak of 448 nm in doped/non-doped devices.
Cyclic secondary amine functionalized perylene diimide polymers for solution processed electrochromic devices
Authors: Park Irene E. , Hoff Anderson , Beaumont Catherine , Gelfand Benjamin S. , Pettipas Richard D. , Welch Gregory C.
Published: December 2023

Two new conjugated polymers are reported based upon the novel cyclic 2° amine functionalized perylene diimide building block. The polymers exhibit intense blue green colours as thin films and are used as active layers in electrochromic devices.
MicroRNA, miR-501 regulate the V(D)J recombination in B cells
Authors: Kumari Rupa , Roy Urbi , Desai Sagar , Mondal Arannya S. , Nair Rajshree R. , Nilavar Namrata , Choudhary Bibha , Raghavan Sathees C.
Published: December 2023

The stringent regulation of RAGs (Recombination activating genes), the site-specific endonuclease responsible for V(D)J recombination, is important to prevent genomic rearrangements and chromosomal translocations in lymphoid cells. In the present study, we identify a microRNA, miR-501, which can regulate the expression of RAG1 in lymphoid cells. Overexpression of the pre-miRNA construct led to the generation of mature miRNAs and a concomitant reduction in RAG1 expression, whereas inhibition using anti-miRs resulted in its enhanced expression. The direct interaction of the 3′UTR of miR-501 with RAG1 was confirmed by the reporter assay. Importantly, overexpression of miRNAs led to inhibition of V(D)J recombination in B cells, revealing their impact on the physiological function of RAGs. Of interest is the inverse correlation observed for miR-501 with RAG1 in various leukemia patients and lymphoid cell lines, suggesting its possible use in cancer therapy. Thus, our results reveal the regulation of RAG1 by miR-501-3p in B cells and thus V(D)J recombination and its possible implications on immunoglobulin leukemogenesis.
Speech-Language Pathologists' Approach to Alternative Access for Augmentative and Alternative Communication for Children With Motor Impairments
Authors: Sowers Dawn J. , Wilkinson Krista M.
Published: December 2023

Purpose:

This study examined the processes that speech-language pathologists (SLPs) use during an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) assessment with children with motor impairments to determine alternative access solutions. These children often are the most vulnerable to a poor fit of their AAC system, which alternative access is an integral part. Although there is an abundance of information as to what types of considerations should be made during these assessments, there is no guidance as to how the assessment is completed. The goal of this study is to build evidence about the process.

Method:

A collective case design was used to gain detailed insights into the decision-making process. Interviews and vignette responses were two components of the data collection. Each of the five SLPs, or cases, who participated in the study transcripts was analyzed in isolation as part of a within-case analysis. Once each SLP's process was understood, a cross-case comparison was completed to ascertain similarities or differences across the five.

Results:

The cross-case assertions are presented in this article. Although the SLPs individually reported a lack of defined process, a clear systemization became evident when considered collectively. The SLPs all focused on the child, isolated motor access skills, and used a process of experimentation over time to build their final recommendations.

Conclusions:

These results have implications for SLPs working with children with motor impairments who may benefit from AAC intervention. The shared framework can serve as a roadmap to other SLPs, especially those with less experience with these types of complex cases. The varying teaming approaches to support these cases are also discussed.