bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Mobilization of Trapped Mass of Emulsions Flowing in an Idealized Pore Using the Lattice Boltzmann Method
Authors: Miliani Stefano , La Rocca Michele , Montessori Andrea , Prestininzi Pietro
Published: June 2023

In this work, a Lattice Boltzmann model for multi-component fluids augmented with repulsive near-contact interactions is employed to simulate the dynamics of flowing emulsions within idealized pores. The model is firstly tested on experimental data of droplets’ self-assembly in diverging-converging micro-channels from literature and then used to investigate the trapping/mobilization of the dispersed phase of an emulsion in an idealized series of pores, as influenced by both the Capillary number and the solid walls wettability. Both parameters may vary as the result of an injection of surfactants, a procedure commonly adopted in soil remediation and Enhanced Oil Recovery applications. The analysis shows that the proposed model is able to reproduce correctly the experimental data and gives interesting insights on the trapping/mobilization phenomenon resulting from a modification of the flow conditions caused by the injection of surfactants.
Immunohistochemical expression of CD117/KIT, HER2, and Erβ in schistosomal and non-schistosomal urothelial carcinoma of Egyptian patients
Authors: Khalifa Sara E.
Published: June 2023

Bladder carcinoma is an endemic problem in Egypt with schistosomiasis being an additional risk factor. Due to gender disparities, Erβ investigation and its role in modulating chemosensitivity are studied. CD117/KIT expression is also considered since the emergence of the targets of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib mesylate (Gleevec). HER2 is one of the established therapeutic targets in many cancers. We aimed to investigate CD117/KIT immunoexpression in schistosomal and non-schistosomal urothelial carcinoma of Egyptian patients and its relationship with HER2 and Erβ expressions, correlating it with pertinent variables that will help to provide better treatment options of possible combined targeted and hormonal therapy that might be effective against this aggressive malignancy. Sixty cases of bladder carcinoma were tested. Depending on the schistosomiasis association status of each case, two groups have been established with 30 cases each. CD117/KIT, HER2, and ERβ immunostaining were done and correlated with clinico- immuno-pathological parameters. CD117/KIT expression was seen in 71.7% of cases that correlated significantly with schistosomiasis (P = 0.01). In addition, a positive correlation was detected between schistosomiasis association and the percentage of immunostained cells and intensity score of CD117/KIT with P = 0.027, 0.01, respectively. 30% and 61.7% of cases were positively stained with HER2 and Erβ, respectively, with no significant relation with schistosomiasis. Due to the high expression, we found further clinical trials are needed to offer individualized targeted therapeutic options in urothelial tumors using anti-CD117/KIT, HER2, and ERβ other than limited traditional chemo- and nontargeted therapies.
Febuxostat attenuates aluminum chloride-induced hepatorenal injury in rats with the impact of Nrf2, Crat, Car3, and MNK-mediated apoptosis
Authors: Sedik Ahmed A. , Hassan Soha A. , Shafey Heba I. , Khalil Wagdy K. B. , Mowaad Noha A.
Published: June 2023

Aluminum (Al) is a ubiquitous xenobiotic with known toxicity for both humans and animals. Our study was conducted to investigate the protective role of febuxostat (Feb) against aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced hepatorenal injury in rats. Hepatorenal injury was induced by oral administration of AlCl3 (40 mg/kg b.w.), for 2 months. Twenty-four male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly allocated into four groups (six rats/group). The first group received the vehicle thought the experiment. The second group was considered as a control positive group. The third and fourth groups received oral treatment of Feb (10 mg/kg.b.w.) and (15 mg/kg.b.w.), respectively with AlCl3, concurrently for 2 months. Twenty-four hours, after the last treatment, serum biochemical, molecular, histopathology, and immunohistochemical studies were evaluated. Our findings showed that rats intoxicated with Alcl3 had disturbed biochemical picture. In addition, intoxication with AlCl3 increased oxidative stress and apoptosis, as demonstrated by an increase in malodialdeyde (MDA), carnitine o-acetyltransferase (Crat), and carbonic anhydrase (Car3) with a decrease in glutathione (GSH), MAP kinase-interacting serine/threonine kinase (MNK) and nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) mRNA expression. Furthermore, the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and the levels of caspase-3 were elevated with sever hepatic and renal pathological changes. Conversely, Feb (15 mg/kg.b.w.) could improve the serum biochemical indices and repressed MDA, Crat, and Car3 levels, whereas it increased GSH, MNK, and Nrf2 levels. Feb inhibited the apoptotic effect of AlCl3 in the liver and kidney by decreasing caspase-3 and TNF-α expression. The protective effect of Feb against AlCl3 toxicity was confirmed by histopathological findings. Moreover, molecular docking studies supported the anti-inflammatory effect of Feb due to its significant binding interactions with cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), NF-kappa-B-inducing kinase (NIK), and mitogen-activated protein kinases-p38 (MAPK-p38). The findings suggest that Feb system Feb can avert Alcl3-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity by enhancing the antioxidant defense system, and inhibiting the inflammatory cascade and apoptosis.
Investigating the associations between upper limb motor function and cognitive impairment: a scoping review
Authors: Rudd Kaylee D. , Lawler Katherine , Callisaya Michele L. , Alty Jane
Published: June 2023

Upper limb motor function is a potential new biomarker of cognitive impairment and may aid discrimination from healthy ageing. However, it remains unclear which assessments to use. This study aimed to explore what methods have been used and to describe associations between upper limb function and cognitive impairment. A scoping review was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL and Web of Science. A systematic search was undertaken, including synonyms for key concepts ‘upper limb’, ‘motor function’ and ‘cognitive impairment’. Selection criteria included tests of upper limb motor function and impaired cognition in adults. Analysis was by narrative synthesis. Sixty papers published between 1998 and 2022, comprising 41,800 participants, were included. The most common assessment tasks were finger tapping, Purdue Pegboard Test and functional tasks such as writing. Protocols were diverse in terms of equipment used and recording duration. Most participants were recruited from clinical settings. Alzheimer’s Disease was the most common cause of cognitive impairment. Results were mixed but, generally, slower speed, more errors, and greater variability in upper limb movement variables was associated with cognitive impairment. This review maps the upper limb motor function assessments used and summarises the available evidence on how these associate with cognitive impairment. It identifies research gaps and may help guide protocols for future research. There is potential for upper limb motor function to be used in assessments of cognitive impairment.
Specific nasopharyngeal Corynebacterium strains serve as gatekeepers against SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Szabo Dora , Ostorhazi Eszter , Stercz Balazs , Makra Nora , Penzes Kinga , Kristof Katalin , Antal Istvan , Rethelyi Janos M. , Zsigmond Reka I. , Birtalan Ede , Merkely Bela , Tamas Laszlo
Published: June 2023

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is still causing a worldwide problem. The virus settles primarily on the nasal mucosa, and the infection and its course depend on individual susceptibility. Our aim was to investigate the nasopharynx composition’s role in the individual susceptibility. During the first phase of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, nasopharyngeal microbiome samples of close contact unvaccinated patients were investigated by 16S rRNA analysis and by culturing. The whole genome of cultured Corynebacteria was sequenced. The relative expression of ACE2, TMPRSS2, and cathepsin L on Caco-2 cells and the strength of S1-ACE2 binding were determined in the presence of Corynebacteria. From 55 close contacts exposed to identical SARS-CoV-2 exposure, 26 patients became infected and 29 remained uninfected. The nasopharyngeal microbiome analysis showed significantly higher abundance of Corynebacteria in uninfected group. Corynebacterium accolens could be cultivated only from uninfected individuals and Corynebacterium propinquum from both infected and uninfected. Corynebacteria from uninfected patient significantly reduced the ACE2 and cathepsin L expression. C. accolens significantly reduced the TMPRSS2 expression compared to other Corynebacteria. Furthermore, Corynebacterium spp. weakened the binding of the S1-ACE2. Most C. accolens isolates harbored the TAG lipase LipS1 gene. Based on these results, the presence of Corynebacterium spp. in the nasopharyngeal microbiota, especially C. accolens strains, could reduce the individual susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection by several mechanisms: by downregulation the ACE2, the TMPRSS2 receptors, and cathepsin L in the host; through the inhibition of S1-ACE2 binding; and lipase production. These results suggest the use of C. accolens strains as probiotics in the nasopharynx in the future.
An experimental study on root-reinforced soil strength via a steel root analogue in unsaturated silty soil
Authors: Zhu Jiale , El-Zein Abbas , Airey David W. , Miao Guien
Published: June 2023

Landslides due to catastrophic weather events, especially heavy rainfall, have risen significantly over the last several decades, causing significant damage and affecting the health and livelihoods of millions of people. Using tree roots to bio-engineer shallow slopes has been proven to be a cost-effective, sustainable measure and thus has gained increasing popularity. As slope failure often occurs under heavy precipitation, it is important to understand the mechanical interactions in the soil matrix surrounding a root to better estimate the reinforcement capacity of a root system, especially as the soil undergoes wetting from drier conditions. However, very few studies of root reinforcements have considered the effects of degree of saturation on behaviour. In this study, steel wires are used as a root analogue to explore the impact of root geometry, soil dilation and soil saturation on the pull-out behaviour of a root and three commonly used unsaturated soil strength models have been used to interpret the pull-out results. It was found that roots with larger diameter did not contribute to additional resistance. Also, a linear relationship between degree of saturation and pull-out strength was identified over a large range of suctions and one of the unsaturated soil strength models seemed to provide a more reasonable interpretation. The results will help future bioengineering slope design by improving the understanding of soil-root interface behaviour, including the effect of root diameter in slippage failure and greater emphasis on the importance of taking degree of saturation into account in unsaturated soil strength models.
Single-trial neurodynamics reveal N400 and P600 coupling in language comprehension
Authors: Aurnhammer Christoph , Crocker Matthew W. , Brouwer Harm
Published: June 2023

Theories of the electrophysiology of language comprehension are mostly informed by event-related potential effects observed between condition averages. We here argue that a dissociation between competing effect-level explanations of event-related potentials can be achieved by turning to predictions and analyses at the single-trial level. Specifically, we examine the single-trial dynamics in event-related potential data that exhibited a biphasic N400–P600 effect pattern. A group of multi-stream models can explain biphasic effects by positing that each individual trial should induce either an N400 increase or a P600 increase, but not both. An alternative, single-stream account, Retrieval-Integration theory, explicitly predicts that N400 amplitude and P600 amplitude should be correlated at the single-trial level. In order to investigate the single-trial dynamics of the N400 and the P600, we apply a regression-based technique in which we quantify the extent to which N400 amplitudes are predictive of the electroencephalogram in the P600 time window. Our findings suggest that, indeed, N400 amplitudes and P600 amplitudes are inversely correlated within-trial and, hence, the N400 effect and the P600 effect in biphasic data are driven by the same trials. Critically, we demonstrate that this finding also extends to data which exhibited only monophasic effects between conditions. In sum, the observation that the N400 is inversely correlated with the P600 on a by-trial basis supports a single stream view, such as Retrieval-Integration theory, and is difficult to reconcile with the processing mechanisms proposed by multi-stream models.
Quantifying the Digital Divide: Associations of Broadband Internet with Tele-mental Health Access Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: O’Shea Amy M. J. , Howren M. Bryant , Mulligan Kailey , Haraldsson Bjarni , Shahnazi Ariana , Kaboli Peter J.
Published: June 2023

Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine quickly expanded. Broadband speeds may impact equitable access to video-based mental health (MH) services.

Objective

To identify access disparities in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) MH services based on broadband speed availability.

Design

Instrumental variable difference-in-differences study using administrative data to identify MH visits prior to (October 1, 2015–February 28, 2020) and after COVID-19 pandemic onset (March 1, 2020–December 31, 2021) among 1176 VHA MH clinics. The exposure is broadband download and upload speeds categorized as inadequate (download  ≤25 Megabits per second - Mbps; upload  ≤3 Mbps), adequate (download  ≥25 Mbps and  <100 Mbps; upload  ≥5 Mbps and  <100 Mbps), or optimal (download and upload  ≥100/100 Mbps) based on data reported to the Federal Communications Commission at the census block and spatially merged to each veteran’s residential address.

Participants

All veterans receiving VHA MH services during study period.

Main Measures

MH visits were categorized as in-person or virtual (i.e., telephone or video). By patient, MH visits were counted quarterly by broadband category. Poisson models with Huber-White robust errors clustered at the census block estimated the association between a patient’s broadband speed category and quarterly MH visit count by visit type, adjusted for patient demographics, residential rurality, and area deprivation index.

Key Results

Over the 6-year study period, 3,659,699 unique veterans were seen. Adjusted regression analyses estimated the change after pandemic onset versus pre-pandemic in patients’ quarterly MH visit count; patients living in census blocks with optimal versus inadequate broadband increased video visit use (incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.45–1.59; P < 0.001) and decreased in-person visits (IRR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.90–0.94; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

This study found patients with optimal versus inadequate broadband availability had more video-based and fewer in-person MH visits after pandemic onset, suggesting broadband availability is an important determinant of access-to-care during public health emergencies requiring remote care.
A Sanctioned Encampment as a Strategy for Increasing Homeless Veterans’ Access to Housing and Healthcare During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Kalofonos Ippolytos , McCoy Matthew , Altman Lisa , Gelberg Lillian , Hamilton Alison B. , Gabrielian Sonya
Published: June 2023

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic intersected with a housing crisis for unsheltered Veterans experiencing homelessness (VEHs); congregate settings became high risk for viral spread. The VA Greater Los Angeles responded by creating the Care, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Service (CTRS), an outdoor, low-barrier-to-entry transitional housing program on VA grounds. This novel emergency initiative offered a protected outdoor environment (“sanctioned encampment”) where VEHs lived in tents and had access to three meals a day, hygiene resources, and health and social services.

Objective

To identify contextual factors that supported and impeded CTRS participants’ access to healthcare and housing services.

Design

Multi-method, ethnographic data collection.

Participants

VEHs residing at CTRS, CTRS staff.

Approach

Over 150 hours of participant observation were conducted at CTRS and at eight town hall meetings; semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 VEHs and 11 staff. Rapid turn-around qualitative analysis was used to synthesize data, engaging stakeholders in iterative participant validation. Content analysis techniques were used to identify key factors that impacted access to housing and health services among VEHs residing in CTRS.

Key Results

Staff varied in their interpretation of CTRS’ mission. Some conceptualized access to health services as a central tenet, while others viewed CTRS as an emergency shelter only. Regardless, staff burnout was prevalent, which lead to low morale, high turnover, and worsened access to and quality of care. VEHs endorsed trusting, long-term relationships with CTRS staff as paramount for facilitating access to services. Though CTRS addressed basic priorities (food, shelter, etc.) that traditionally compete with access to healthcare, some VEHs needed on-site healthcare services, at their tents, to access care.

Conclusions

CTRS provided VEHs access to basic needs and health and housing services. To improve access to healthcare services within encampments, our data suggest the value of longitudinal trusting relationships, adequate staff support, and on-site health services.
Travel Burden as a Measure of Healthcare Access and the Impact of Telehealth within the Veterans Health Administration
Authors: Hahn Zachary , Hotchkiss John , Atwood Charles , Smith Connor , Totten Annette , Boudreau Eilis , Folmer Robert , Chilakamarri Priyanka , Whooley Mary , Sarmiento Kathleen
Published: June 2023

Background

Travel is a major barrier to healthcare access for Veteran Affairs (VA) patients, and disproportionately affects rural Veterans (approximately one quarter of Veterans). The CHOICE/MISSION acts’ intent is to increase timeliness of care and decrease travel, although not clearly demonstrated. The impact on outcomes remains unclear. Increased community care increases VA costs and increases care fragmentation. Retaining Veterans within the VA is a high priority, and reduction of travel burdens will help achieve this goal. Sleep medicine is presented as a use case to quantify travel related barriers.

Objective

The Observed and Excess Travel Distances are proposed as two measures of healthcare access, allowing for quantification of healthcare delivery related to travel burden. A telehealth initiative that reduced travel burden is presented.

Design

Retrospective, observational, utilizing administrative data.

Subjects

VA patients with sleep related care between 2017 and 2021. In-person encounters: Office visits and polysomnograms; telehealth encounters: virtual visits and home sleep apnea tests (HSAT).

Main Measures

Observed distance: distance between Veteran’s home and treating VA facility. Excess distance: difference between where Veteran received care and nearest VA facility offering the service of interest. Avoided distance: distance between Veteran’s home and nearest VA facility offering in-person equivalent of telehealth service.

Key Results

In-person encounters peaked between 2018 and 2019, and have down trended since, while telehealth encounters have increased. During the 5-year period, Veterans traveled an excess 14.1 million miles, while 10.9 million miles of travel were avoided due to telehealth encounters, and 48.4 million miles were avoided due to HSAT devices.

Conclusions

Veterans often experience a substantial travel burden when seeking medical care. Observed and excess travel distances are valuable measures to quantify this major healthcare access barrier. These measures allow for assessment of novel healthcare approaches to improve Veteran healthcare access and identify specific regions that may benefit from additional resources.
P3HT-Based Semi-Conductive Electrospun Nanocomposite Fibrous Emitters Doped with CsPbBr3 Perovskite Quantum Dots
Authors: Papaparaskeva Georgia , Ioannides Maria Lydia , Lambride Chryso , Tanasă Eugenia , Krasia-Christoforou Theodora
Published: June 2023

Poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT)-based semiconducting electrospun nanocomposite fibrous emitters were successfully fabricated by combining P3HT with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and commercially available CsPbBr3 perovskite quantum dots (PQDs). The latter were employed as a synergistic photoluminescence emitter of high efficiency within the P3HT/PEO blended polymer matrix, while PEO was used as an auxiliary polymer to assist the electrospinnability of P3HT. The produced materials were characterized with respect to their chemical composition and morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy/energy-dispersive x-ray analysis (TEM/EDX) whereas fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy were employed to study their optical properties. Based on the obtained results, it was confirmed that the PQDs were successfully encapsulated within the electrospun fibers at a high percentage (10 wt.%), retaining at the same time their optical properties and nanoscale dimensions. Moreover, the experimental data obtained suggested the existence of inter-material interactions between P3HT and PQDs. Consequently, this study creates new pathways in the development of innovative fibrous nanocomposites with unique optoelectronic features, rendering them highly interesting in light-harvesting, sensing and optoelectronic applications.

Graphic Abstract
Association of TyG index with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in American men: results from NHANES, 2003–2010
Authors: Zhang Mengyu , Zhang Jiankang , Xing Zengshu
Published: June 2023

Background

In recent years, triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) was a new indicator of insulin resistance, and it has been widely reported that it may be associated with serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentrations.

Aims

We intended to investigate the possible connection between serum PSA concentration and the TyG index.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study of adults with complete data on TyG and serum PSA concentrations (ng/ml) from the NHANES, 2003–2010. The TyG index is obtained by the formula below: TyG = Ln [triglycerides (mg/dL) × fasting glucose(mg/dL)/2]. Multivariate regression analysis and subgroup analysis were used to examine the connection between the TyG index and serum PSA levels.

Results

Multiple regression analysis of the weighted linear model showed that individuals with a higher TyG index had lower PSA levels. Subgroup analyses and interaction tests showed no apparent dependence on age, race/ethnicity, BMI, household income ratio, education level, and marital status on this negative association (all interactions p > 0.05).

Conclusions

TyG index is related to lower serum PSA concentrations in adult men from the USA. Further comprehensive prospective studies are needed to confirm our findings.
In-cell NMR: recent progresses and future challenges
Authors: Luchinat Enrico , Banci Lucia
Published: June 2023

In-cell NMR, i.e., NMR spectroscopy applied to studying specific macromolecules within living cells, is becoming the technique of choice for the structural and mechanistic description of proteins and nucleic acids within increasingly complex cellular environments, as well as of the temporal evolution of biological systems over a broad range of timescales. Furthermore, in-cell NMR has already shown its potentialities in the early steps of drug development. In this Perspective, we report some of the most recent methodological advancements and successful applications of in-cell NMR spectroscopy, focusing particularly on soluble proteins. We show how the combination of the atomic-level characterization of NMR with its application to a cellular context can provide crucial insights on cellular processes and drug efficacy with unprecedented level of detail. Finally, we discuss the main challenges to overcome and share our vision of the future developments of in-cell NMR and the applications that will be made possible.
Semiclassical Estimates for Eigenvalue Means of Laplacians on Spheres
Authors: Buoso Davide , Luzzini Paolo , Provenzano Luigi , Stubbe Joachim
Published: June 2023

We compute three-term semiclassical asymptotic expansions of counting functions and Riesz-means of the eigenvalues of the Laplacian on spheres and hemispheres, for both Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions. Specifically for Riesz-means we prove upper and lower bounds involving asymptotically sharp shift terms, and we extend them to domains of$${\mathbb {S}}^d$$Sd. We also prove a Berezin–Li–Yau inequality for domains contained in the hemisphere$${\mathbb {S}}^2_+$$S+2.
How procedural and economic performance shape political trust: Affective and cognitive foundations of the performance-trust nexus
Authors: Schnaudt Christian , Popa Sebastian A.
Published: June 2023

In which ways and under what conditions do the procedural and economic performance of political systems matter for citizens’ political trust? While this question has been a recurring theme in research on political support, we still lack a clear understanding of the conditional nature of the performance-trust nexus. In this study, we focus on the affective and cognitive foundations of the performance-trust nexus, arguing that the impact of objective procedural and economic performance on political trust is conditioned by citizens’ political allegiances (i.e., status as electoral winner or loser) and political sophistication (i.e., political knowledge and political interest). Our empirical analysis using comparative survey data from two European high-quality surveys (European Election Study 2014 and European Social Survey 2002–2018) shows that procedural and economic performance feature particularly prominently in the trust calculus of politically more knowledgeable and interested citizens as well as electoral losers, while being less relevant for the political trust of less sophisticated citizens and electoral winners. Moreover, the analysis provides evidence that cognitive orientations are overall more important than affective ones in moderating the performance-trust nexus. These findings offer important implications concerning the nature and meaning of feelings of disenchantment and distrust in contemporary democracies.
Lhbtq-jongeren en suïcidaliteit: ontstaan en hulpbehoeften
Authors: de Lange Jennifer , van Bergen Diana , Bosker Roel , Bos Henny
Published: June 2023

Samenvatting

Lesbische, homoseksuele, biseksuele, transgender en queer (lhbtq) jongeren en jongvolwassenen kunnen te maken krijgen met minderheidsstressoren, zoals discriminatie en afwijzing vanwege hun seksuele oriëntatie of genderidentiteit. Onderzoeken laten zien dat er een verband is tussen minderheidsstressoren en suïcidale gedachten en suïcidepogingen onder lhbtq-jongeren. Tot op heden sluit psychologische hulpverlening nog niet aan op de behoeften van lhbtq-personen met suïcidale gedachten. Het is van belang dat de hulpverlening aan lhbtq-personen inclusiever wordt en dat hulpverleners leren om suïcidaliteit te herkennen en bespreekbaar te maken.
Experimental set-up of a thermal vacuum chamber for thermal model in-house correlation and characterization of the HYPSO hyperspectral imager
Authors: Navarro-Medina Fermin , Oudijk Adriënne Esmeralda , Henriksen Marie Bøe , Gjersvik Amund , Grønvold Fredrik Sommerfelt , Johansen Tor Arne
Published: June 2023

Space environment with changing temperatures and vacuum can affect the performance of optics instruments onboard satellites. Thermal models and tests are typically done to understand the optics performance within large space projects, but less often in nanosatellites projects. It is even more rarer for an optics payload inside a CubeSat platform, made by a third provider, to do functional tests on their optics during space environment test campaign. In this research, an in-house made vacuum chamber with the possibility to warm up (TVAC) the devices under tests, and wall-through transparency for optics experiments is set-up. In parallel, a thermal model of the HYPerspectral Small satellite for ocean Observation (HYPSO) Hyperspectral Imager (HSI) is developed. The HSI, which is a transmissive grating hyperspectral instrument ranged in the visible to near infrared wavelength, has been tested in TVAC. As thermal control is based on heating the device under test, a new method for fitting the thermal models inside vacuum chambers with only heating capability is proposed. Finally, the TVAC set-up and the thermal model fitting method have been demonstrated to be appropriate to validate the HSI thermal model, and to characterize the optics performance of HSI in vacuum and in the range of temperatures found inside the in-orbit HYPSO-1 CubeSat.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automation in Administrative Procedures: Potentials, Limitations, and Framework Conditions
Authors: Parycek Peter , Schmid Verena , Novak Anna-Sophie
Published: June 2023

Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) systems into administrative procedures can revolutionize the way processes are conducted and fundamentally change established forms of action and organization in administrative law. However, implementing AI in administrative procedures requires a comprehensive evaluation of the capabilities and limitations of different systems, including considerations of transparency and data availability. Data are a crucial factor in the operation of AI systems and the validity of their predictions. It is essential to ensure that the data used to train AI algorithms are extensive, representative, and free of bias. Transparency is also an important aspect establishing trust and reliability in AI systems, particularly regarding the potential for transparent representation in rule-based and machine-learning AI systems. This paper examines the potential and challenges that arise from integrating AI into administrative procedures. In addition, the paper offers a nuanced perspective on current developments in artificial intelligence and provides a conceptual framework for its potential applications in administrative procedures. Beyond this, the paper highlights essential framework conditions that require continuous monitoring to ensure optimal results in practice.
The effect of reservoir geometry on the critical submergence depth in hydroelectric power plants intake
Authors: Roshan Reza , Ghobadian Rasool
Published: June 2023

The most important design index of water intakes is critical submergence depth of the intake. The depth at which the air core formed by the vortex is about to enter the intake. The emergence of a vortex and air entry into the intake increase head loss and decrease discharge coefficient. The reservoir geometric asymmetry, presence of unevenness in the bottom of the reservoir and angle of approach flow are among the factors that influence formation of the vortex and critical submergence depth. In this research, a physical model has been used to investigate the effect of reservoir geometry on the critical submergence depth. This model is designed in such a way that it can produce the strongest type of vortices with air core and with different strengths. The results showed that by creating asymmetry in the flow approaching the water intake (with side blockage in upstream), the presence of even 10% side blockage can have a great effect on the formed vortex and increase the critical submergence depth by about two times. To create uneven conditions on the reservoir bottom, blockages were created on the bottom of the reservoir upstream of the intake. The results showed that the blockage up to half of the height below the intake caused an increase of about 10–25% of the critical submergence depth, in low and high Froude numbers, respectively. However, in blockages more than half of the height below the intake, this effect increases about 60% of the critical submergence depth. In addition, the effect of the slope of the intake head wall on the order (type) of the vortex and its stability and instability was studied, and it was found that the order of the vortex decreases with the increase in the slope of the head wall toward the vertical position. Also, by increasing the slope of the head wall, the vortices form in an unstable manner. The vertical head wall can act as an anti-vortex structure and cause a reduction in critical submergence depth.
Lie symmetry analysis and some new exact solutions of the Fokker–Planck equation
Authors: Al-Nassar Samar , Nadjafikhah Mehdi
Published: June 2023

The classical symmetry method is often employed to find precise solutions to differential equations. This method has yielded several new symmetry reductions and exact solutions for numerous theoretically and physically relevant partial differential equations. These results, as well as the symmetries of a variety of specific cases of the Fokker–Planck equation, were presented in this study using the classical Lie symmetry approach. New exact solutions to the Fokker–Planck equations are provided for each of the six cases.
AI and IP: Theory to Policy and Back Again – Policy and Research Recommendations at the Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property
Authors: Picht Peter Georg , Thouvenin Florent
Published: June 2023

The interaction between artificial intelligence and intellectual property rights (IPRs) is one of the key areas of development in intellectual property law. After much, albeit selective, debate, it seems to be gaining increasing practical relevance through intense AI-related market activity, an initial set of case law on the matter, and policy initiatives by international organizations and lawmakers. Against this background, Zurich University’s Center for Intellectual Property and Competition Law is conducting, together with the Swiss Intellectual Property Institute, a research and policy project that explores the future of intellectual property law in an AI context. This paper briefly describes the AI/IP Research Project and presents an initial set of policy recommendations for the development of IP law with a view to AI. The recommendations address topics such as AI inventorship in patent law; AI authorship in copyright law; the need for sui generis rights to protect innovative AI output; rules for the allocation of AI-related IPRs; IP protection carve-outs in order to facilitate AI system development, training, and testing; the use of AI tools by IP offices; and suitable software protection and data usage regimes.
Is there any correlation between otitis media and dental malocclusion in children? A systematic review
Authors: Bardellini E. , Amadori F. , Garo M. L. , Majorana A. , Conti G.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate whether there is a correlation between otitis and dental malocclusions.

Methods

Electronic databases were searched for observational studies published until July 2021 without language or time restrictions. PROSPERO: CRD42021270760. Observational studies on children with and without OM and/or malocclusion were included. After removing duplicates and excluding not-eligible articles, two reviewers screened relevant articles independently. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed data quality and validity through the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) quality assessment tool for non-randomized studies.

Results

Five studies met the selection inclusion criteria and were included in the studies for a total of 499 patients. Three studies investigated the relationship between malocclusion and otitis media, while the remaining two studies analyzed the inverse relationship and one of them considered eustachian tube dysfunction as a proxy of OM. An association between malocclusion and otitis media and vice versa emerged, although with relevant limitations.

Conclusion

There is some evidence that there is an association between otitis and malocclusion; however, it is not yet possible to establish a definitive correlation.
A Qualitative Analysis on the Effectiveness of Peer Feedback in Team-Based Learning
Authors: Lerchenfeldt Sarah , Kamel-ElSayed Suzan , Patino Gustavo , Loftus Stephen , Thomas David M.
Published: June 2023

Introduction

There is limited information on medical students’ perceptions of peer feedback in team-based learning (TBL), both in terms of its value and how it has affected them as they move forward in their careers. The primary goals of this study were to examine students’ perceptions about their peer feedback experiences throughout medical school and into residency and to identify areas for improvement to develop a more valuable experience.

Materials and Methods

This study utilized exploratory qualitative research. A total of six focus group sessions were conducted, in which each group consisted of medical students or residents. All participants were asked for their thoughts about peer feedback using semi-structured interviews. The sessions were transcribed and thematic analysis of student responses was completed by independent reviewers.

Results

A total of 11 first-year, 12 second-year, 12 rising third-year, and 10 rising fourth-year medical students participated in the focus groups. In addition, three graduates participated in the study. Overall, four key themes were identified regarding the peer feedback experience. These included (1) preparation and training, (2) procedure and implementation, (3) evaluation of student feedback, and (4) student considerations.

Discussion

The participants indicated that the idea of providing and receiving effective peer feedback throughout the medical school curriculum was a valuable experience. This analysis raised awareness about several potential areas of difficulty for students in regard to the peer feedback process used in TBL. Quality improvement initiatives may include educating students about the use of constructive feedback, adding self-reflection, or using oral instead of written feedback.
Investigation of the Behavior of Steel Plate Shear Walls Considering Double Corrugated Low-Yield-Point Steel Infill Plate
Authors: Hosseinzadeh Leila , Kontoni Denise-Penelope N. , Babaei Behnam
Published: June 2023

During the last three decades, interest in the application of steel shear walls has increased worldwide. Steel shear walls are used as stiffened and unstiffened walls. One of the main shortcomings of the steel plate shear wall (SPSW) is the infill plate buckling mainly under lateral wind and seismic loads. One of the useful solutions to prevent lateral buckling is the use of walls with corrugated plates. In this research, the behavior of a steel shear wall consisting of two corrugated plates was investigated in the two material cases of the conventional ASTM A36 steel and the low-yield-point (LYP) steel. The use of steel with low yield strength improves the seismic performance of the steel shear wall system. In this study, the effect of the corrugation angle and aspect ratio of the plate were investigated. The results showed that the effect of corrugation angle on the structural parameters of walls with LYP steel is greater than that of walls with A36 steel. By increasing the corrugation angle from 30° to 60°, the elastic stiffness of A36 and LYP walls decreased about 24 and 36%, respectively, and the response modification factor (Ru) of A36 and LYP walls decreased by about 24 and 56%. The corrugation angle has a lower effect on the ultimate strength and energy absorption. Investigating the effect of aspect ratio showed that increasing the aspect ratio improves the seismic performance of the wall.
Experimental investigation and beam-theory-based analytical model of cross-laminated timber panels buckling behavior
Authors: Fabrizio Cristiano , Sciomenta Martina , Spera Luca , De Santis Yuri , Pagliaro Stefano , Di Egidio Angelo , Fragiacomo Massimo
Published: June 2023

This paper investigates the buckling behavior of three-layered cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels, from both the experimental and analytical standpoints. Two different series of specimens are considered: the homogeneous ones, which are entirely made of beech, and the hybrid ones, whose inner layers are made of Corsican pine. The experimental tests aim to evaluate the failure limit loads of the specimens, when loaded by an increasing compression tip force. The analytical formulation is first obtained for a panel with a generic number of layers and after it is specialized for a three-layered panel. Timber layers are modeled as internally constrained planar Timoshenko beams linked together by adhesive layers, which are modeled as a continuous distribution of normal and tangential elastic springs. A closed-form solution of the buckling problem is obtained. The achieved Eulerian critical load of CLT panels depends on two parameters, which account for (1) the interaction between timber layers (due to the glue tangential stiffness) and (2) the rolling shear stiffness of the inner layer. Three different failure criteria are introduced to estimate the limit load. Finally, the analytical limit loads and the experimental ones are compared.
Ethical considerations in working with ChatGPT on a questionnaire about the future of work with ChatGPT
Authors: Konstantis Konstantinos , Georgas Antonios , Faras Antonis , Georgas Konstantinos , Tympas Aristotle
Published: June 2023

The prospect of the use of Large Language Models, like ChatGPT, in work environments raises important questions regarding both the potential for a dramatic change in the quality of jobs and the risk of unemployment. The answers to these questions, but, also, the posing of questions to be answered, may involve the use of ChatGPT. This, in turn, may give rise to a series of ethical considerations. The article seeks to identify such considerations by presenting a research on a questionnaire that was developed by means of ChatGPT before it was answered, first, by a group of humans (H) and, then, through the use of a machine (M), ChatGPT. The language model was actually used to respond to the questionnaire twice. First, based on its data (M1), and, second, based on it being asked to imitate a human (M2). Based on the significant differences between the H and M answers, and, further, on the noticeable differences occurring within the M answers (the differences between the M1 and M2 answers), the article concludes by registering a cluster of three ethical considerations.
Orienteering with One Endomorphism
Authors: Arpin Sarah , Chen Mingjie , Lauter Kristin E. , Scheidler Renate , Stange Katherine E. , Tran Ha T. N.
Published: June 2023

In supersingular isogeny-based cryptography, the path-finding problem reduces to the endomorphism ring problem. Can path-finding be reduced to knowing just one endomorphism? It is known that a small degree endomorphism enables polynomial-time path-finding and endomorphism ring computation (in: Love and Boneh, ANTS XIV-Proceedings of the Fourteenth Algorithmic Number Theory Symposium, volume 4 of Open Book Ser. Math. Sci. Publ., Berkeley, 2020). An endomorphism gives an explicit orientation of a supersingular elliptic curve. In this paper, we use the volcano structure of the oriented supersingular isogeny graph to take ascending/descending/horizontal steps on the graph and deduce path-finding algorithms to an initial curve. Each altitude of the volcano corresponds to a unique quadratic order, called the primitive order. We introduce a new hard problem of computing the primitive order given an arbitrary endomorphism on the curve, and we also provide a sub-exponential quantum algorithm for solving it. In concurrent work (in: Wesolowski, Advances in cryptology-EUROCRYPT 2022, volume 13277 of Lecture Notes in Computer Science. Springer, Cham, 2022), it was shown that the endomorphism ring problem in the presence of one endomorphism with known primitive order reduces to a vectorization problem, implying path-finding algorithms. Our path-finding algorithms are more general in the sense that we don’t assume the knowledge of the primitive order associated with the endomorphism.
Learning State Transition Rules from High-Dimensional Time Series Data with Recurrent Temporal Gaussian-Bernoulli Restricted Boltzmann Machines
Authors: Watanabe Koji , Inoue Katsumi
Published: June 2023

Understanding the dynamics of a system is crucial in various scientific and engineering domains. Machine learning techniques have been employed to learn state transition rules from observed time-series data. However, these data often contain sequences of noisy and ambiguous continuous variables, while we typically seek simplified dynamics rules that capture essential variables. In this work, we propose a method to extract a small number of essential hidden variables from high-dimensional time-series data and learn state transition rules between hidden variables. Our approach is based on the Restricted Boltzmann Machine (RBM), which models observable data in the visible layer and latent features in the hidden layer. However, real-world data, such as video and audio, consist of both discrete and continuous variables with temporal relationships. To address this, we introduce the Recurrent Temporal Gaussian-Bernoulli Restricted Boltzmann Machine (RTGB-RBM), which combines the Gaussian-Bernoulli Restricted Boltzmann Machine (GB-RBM) to handle continuous visible variables and the Recurrent Temporal Restricted Boltzmann Machine (RT-RBM) to capture time dependencies among discrete hidden variables. Additionally, we propose a rule-based method to extract essential information as hidden variables and represent state transition rules in an interpretable form. We evaluate our proposed method on the Bouncing Ball, Moving MNIST, and dSprite datasets. Experimental results demonstrate that our approach effectively learns the dynamics of these physical systems by extracting state transition rules between hidden variables. Moreover, our method can predict unobserved future states based on observed state transitions.
The Catalan Centre for Business and Human Rights: Addressing Extraterritorial Corporate Human Rights Abuses at the Subnational Level
Authors: Iglesias Márquez Daniel
Published: June 2023

This piece aims to assess the potential contribution and the scope and structure of a Catalan Centre for Business and Human Rights to supervise the fulfilment of the corporate responsibility to respect human rights and to hold businesses operating in Catalonia accountable for human rights abuses within the autonomous community and abroad. It also examines how this proposal fits into the regional and national regulatory landscape for mandatory human rights due diligence.