bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TreeViewer: Flexible, modular software to visualise and manipulate phylogenetic trees
Authors: Bianchini Giorgio , Sánchez‐Baracaldo Patricia
Published: February 2024

Phylogenetic trees illustrate evolutionary relationships between taxa or genes. Tree figures are crucial when presenting results and data, and by creating clear and effective plots, researchers can describe many kinds of evolutionary patterns. However, producing tree plots can be a time‐consuming task, especially as multiple different programs are often needed to adjust and illustrate all data associated with a tree. We present TreeViewer, a new software to draw phylogenetic trees. TreeViewer is flexible, modular, and user‐friendly. Plots are produced as the result of a user‐defined pipeline, which can be finely customised and easily applied to different trees. Every feature of the program is documented and easily accessible, either in the online manual or within the program's interface. We show how TreeViewer can be used to produce publication‐ready figures, saving time by not requiring additional graphical post‐processing tools. TreeViewer is freely available for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems and distributed under an AGPLv3 licence from https://treeviewer.org. It has a graphical user interface (GUI), as well as a command‐line interface, which is useful to work with very large trees and for automated pipelines. A detailed user manual with examples and tutorials is also available. TreeViewer is mainly aimed at users wishing to produce highly customised, publication‐quality tree figures using a single GUI software tool. Compared to other GUI tools, TreeViewer offers a richer feature set and a finer degree of customisation. Compared to command‐line‐based tools and software libraries, TreeViewer's graphical interface is more accessible. The flexibility of TreeViewer's approach to phylogenetic tree plotting enables the program to produce a wide variety of publication‐ready figures. Users are encouraged to create their own custom modules to expand the functionalities of the program. This sets the scene for an ever‐expanding and ever‐adapting software framework that can easily adjust to respond to new challenges.
Temporal variations in female moose responses to roads and logging in the absence of wolves
Authors: Gagnon Mireille , Lesmerises Frédéric , St‐Laurent Martin‐Hugues
Published: February 2024

Animal movements, needed to acquire food resources, avoid predation risk, and find breeding partners, are influenced by annual and circadian cycles. Decisions related to movement reflect a quest to maximize benefits while limiting costs, especially in heterogeneous landscapes. Predation by wolves (Canis lupus) has been identified as the major driver of moose (Alces alces) habitat selection patterns, and linear features have been shown to increase wolf efficiency to travel, hunt, and kill prey. However, few studies have described moose behavioral response to roads and logging in Canada in the absence of wolves. We thus characterized temporal changes (i.e., day phases and biological periods) in eastern moose (Alces alces americana) habitat selection and space use patterns near a road network in a wolf‐free area located south of the St. Lawrence River (eastern Canada). We used telemetry data collected on 18 females between 2017 and 2019 to build resource selection functions and mixed linear regressions to explain variations in habitat selection patterns, home‐range size, and movement rates. Female moose selected forest stands providing forage when movement was not impeded by snow cover (i.e., spring/green‐up, summer/rearing, fall/rut) and stands offering protection against incidental predation during calving. In winter, home‐range size decreased with an increasing proportion of stands providing food and shelter against harsh weather, limiting the energetic costs associated with movement. Our results reaffirmed the year‐round aversive effect of roads, even in the absence of wolves, but the magnitude of this avoidance differed between day phases, being lower during the “dusk‐night‐dawn” phase, perhaps due to a lower level of human activity on and near roads. Female moose behavior in our study area was similar to what was observed in landscapes where moose and wolves cohabit, suggesting that the risk associated with humans, perceived as another type of predator, and with incidental predators (coyote Canis latrans, black bear Ursus americanus), equates that of wolf predation in heavily managed landscapes.
Transcatheter edge‐to‐edge repair in papillary muscle injury complicating acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Haberman Dan , Estévez‐Loureiro Rodrigo , Czarnecki Andrew , Denti Paolo , Villablanca Pedro , Spargias Konstantinos , Sudarsky Doron , Perl Leor , Fefer Paul , Manevich Lisa , Masiero Giulia , Nombela‐Franco Luis , Poles Lion , Caneiro‐Queija Berenice , Bowers Nicolas , Schiavi Davide , Tarantini Giuseppe , Melillo Francesco , Chrissoheris Michael , Dvir Danny , Maisano Francesco , Taramasso Maurizio , Shuvy Mony
Published: February 2024

Aims

Acute mitral regurgitation (MR) in the setting of myocardial infarction (MI) may be the result of papillary muscle rupture (PMR). This condition is associated with high morbidity and mortality. We aim to evaluate the feasibility of transcatheter edge‐to‐edge mitral valve repair (TEER) in this acute setting.

Methods and results

We analysed data from the International Registry of MitraClip in Acute Mitral Regurgitation following acute Myocardial Infarction (IREMMI) of 30 centres in Europe, North America, and the middle east. We included patients with post‐MI PMR treated with TEER as a salvage procedure, and we evaluated immediate and 30‐day outcomes. Twenty‐three patients were included in this analysis (9 patients suffered complete papillary muscle rupture, 9 partial and 5 chordal rupture). The patients' mean age was 68 ± 14 years. Patients were at high surgical risk with median EuroSCORE II 27% (IQR 16, 28) and 20 out of 23 (87% were in cardiogenic shock). All patients were treated with vasopressors, and 17 out of 23 patients required mechanical support. TEER procedure was performed on the median 6 days after the index MI date IQR (3, 11). Procedural success was achieved in 87% of patients. The grade of MR was significantly decreased after the procedure. MR reduction to 0 or 1 + was achieved in 13 patients (57%), to 2 + in 7 patients (30%), P < 0.01. V‐Wave was reduced from 49 ± 8 mmHg to 26 ± 10 mmHg post‐procedure, P < 0.01. Sixteen out of 23 patients (70%) were discharged from hospital and 5 of them required reintervention with surgical mitral valve replacement. No additional death at 1 year was documented.

Conclusions

TEER is a feasible therapy in critically ill patients with PMR due to a recent MI. TEER may have a role as salvage treatment or bridge to surgery in this population.
Selection of Natural Gas Dehydration Process for Offshore Floating Production Storage and Offloading
Authors: Zhu Jian‐lu , Wang Han , Cao Hang , Zhang Shu‐sen , Li Yu‐xing , Ge Xin‐can , Luo Jia‐qi
Published: February 2024

Based on the oil and gas component data of an offshore gas field in West Africa, the steady‐state models of the triethylene glycol (TEG) dehydration process and the low‐temperature separation dehydration process are established. The adaptability of two kinds of processes to the disturbance of pressure, temperature, and flow of imported natural gas source is studied, and the sensitivity analysis is carried out. In addition, the investment cost and operating cost of the two types of processes are compared. The low temperature separation dehydration process is more adaptable to the disturbance of inlet gas source than the TEG dehydration process. The former is more expensive to build than the latter, but less expensive to run. The low temperature separation dehydration is preferred as the natural gas dehydration process which is more suitable for floating production storage and offloading.
Fetch‐driven aeolian sediment transport on a sandy beach: A new study
Authors: Strypsteen Glenn , Delgado‐Fernandez Irene , Derijckere Jennifer , Rauwoens Pieter
Published: February 2024

This study examines the effect of fetch distance on aeolian sediment transport and the corresponding growth rate of aeolian transport rate on a sandy beach under varying wind speeds. Eight experiments were conducted on both dry and intertidal beach areas, with wind speeds ranging from 9 to 17 m/s. Vertically stacked sand traps were used to measure transport rates over distances up to 100 m, with experiments lasting 20–40 minutes. Results indicate an initial increase in transport rate until the critical fetch distance, followed by a subsequent decrease in sediment transport with further fetch distance. Critical fetch distances, corresponding to maximum transport rates, ranged from 23.8 to 103.5 m. A strong linear correlation was observed between wind speed and critical fetch distance, suggesting that higher wind speeds necessitate longer fetch distances for maximum transport. Furthermore, established formulations by van Rijn and Strypsteen are tested to estimate maximum sediment transport and critical fetch distance based on grain‐related shear velocity. Combining all experiments showed that the growth rate in transport up to the point of critical fetch can be best described by a trigonometric function. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the fetch effect on aeolian sediment dynamics in coastal sandy environments.
Digital accounting system and its effect on corporate governance: An empirical investigation
Authors: Al‐Hattami Hamood Mohammed , Almaqtari Faozi A. , Abdullah Abdulwahid Ahmed Hashed , Al‐Adwan Ahmad Samed
Published: February 2024

This empirical investigation explores the impact of the digital accounting system (DAS) on corporate governance (CG). The rapid advancement of technology has revolutionized various aspects of business operations, including accounting processes. The transition from traditional manual accounting systems to digital platforms has been accompanied by significant changes in corporate governance practices. This study aims to investigate the influence of DAS effectiveness (bookkeeping system, DAS security, IFRS adoption, and budgeting system) and the success of DAS (system quality, information quality, and service quality) on CG. The study determined the relationship by conducting a questionnaire survey of 264 senior managers, accountants, and department heads of pharmaceutical companies in Yemen. Partial Least Squares (PLS) was used for data analysis. The results supported all assumed relationships except the relationship between the budgeting system and CG. Specifically, unlike all supposed relationships, the budgeting system had no significant impact on CG. Despite the fact that prior studies have investigated these issues from different aspects in developed countries, the evidence in less developed countries is still unknown. Further, revisiting DAS and CG aspects with different new insights and measures, particularly bookkeeping system, DAS security, IFRS adoption, budgeting system, system quality, information quality, and service quality, has not been the subject of prior studies. As a result, the present study bridges a serious gap in the existing stock of knowledge in DAS and CG studies. Moreover, this piece of research has useful implications for managers, investors, practitioners, academicians, and decision‐makers.
Enhancing oil–water emulsion separation using improved styrene–acrylonitrile copolymer membrane: Experimental and thermodynamic study of the impact of solvent mixtures
Authors: Mohamadbeiki Ahmadreza , Ashtiani Farzin Zokaee , Karimi Mohammad , Hamta Afshin
Published: February 2024

This study investigated the fabrication of styrene–acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN) membrane using the nonsolvent‐induced phase separation (NIPS) method with a combination of solvents, namely N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) and dimethylformamide (DMF) and water as the nonsolvent. Since the impact of varying solvent ratios on SAN membrane performance remained unexplored, this study aimed to address this knowledge gap in the context of oil–water emulsion separation. Experimental results demonstrated that employing a solvent mixture, rather than a pure solvent, led to improved membrane performance. The primary objective of this work was to experimentally determine the optimal solvent ratio for enhancing SAN copolymer membrane performance. Additionally, the Flory–Huggins thermodynamic model was applied to investigate the possibility of predicting membrane binodal data. The thermodynamic analysis revealed a strong agreement between calculated and experimental binodal data, with an error of less than 3.8%. Notably, membranes produced with an equal solvent ratio exhibited the most hydrophilic properties, resulting in increased permeability. The permeate flux for distilled water reached 320 L/(m2 h) (LMH), and water contact angle of the membrane was 22°. Furthermore, mechanical resistance increased up to 50%. These results highlight the promising potential of fabricating SAN membrane using solvent mixtures for oil–water emulsion separation.
Salinity inhibits seed germination and embryo growth by reducing starch mobilization efficiency in barley
Authors: Xiong Min , Xu Jian , Zhou Zhou , Peng Bin , Shen Yuxiang , Shen Huiquan , Xu Xiao , Li Changya , Deng Lina , Feng Gongneng
Published: February 2024

Barley is one of the world's earliest domesticated crops, which is widely used for beer production, animal feeding, and health care. Barley seed germination, particularly in increasingly saline soils, is key to ensure the safety of crop production. However, the mechanism of salt‐affected seed germination in barley remains elusive. Here, two different colored barley varieties were used to independently study the regulation mechanism of salt tolerance during barley seed germination. High salinity delays barley seed germination by slowing down starch mobilization efficiency in seeds. The starch plate test revealed that salinity had a significant inhibitory effect on α‐amylase activity in barley seeds. Further, NaCl treatment down‐regulated the expression of Amy1, Amy2 and Amy3 genes in germinated seeds, thereby inhibiting α‐amylase activity. In addition, the result of embryogenic culture system in vitro showed that the shoot elongation of barley was significantly inhibited by salt stress. These findings indicate that it is a feasible idea to study the regulation mechanism of salinity on barley seed germination and embryo growth from the aspect of starch‐related source‐sink communication.
Adaptive liquid crystal polymers based on dynamic bonds: From fundamentals to functionalities
Authors: Lan Ruochen , Hu Xiang‐Guo , Chen Jingyu , Zeng Xingping , Chen Xinyu , Du Tongji , Song Xinyue , Yang Huai
Published: February 2024

Liquid crystal polymers (LCPs) have gained tremendous attention in recent years due to their great potentials from fabrication of responsive actuators and sensors to construction of intelligent soft robotic and light modulators. However, conventional LCPs with permanent cross‐links present tedious and unmodifiable stimuli‐responsiveness. Recently, dynamic bonds capable to reversibly break and reform have been integrated into LCP, imparting intrinsic dynamic characteristics. The dynamic LCP possesses unprecedented diverse functionalities including reprogrammability, recyclability, and self‐healing ability, becoming much more adaptive to surrounding environmental changes compared with the conventional counterpart. In this review, recent progress of dynamic bond‐based LCPs is summarized. The mechanism, preparation, and functionalities of dynamic LCPs based on dynamic noncovalent bond (DNCB) and dynamic covalent bond (DCB) are poised to be discussed, followed by introducing emergent LCPs combining both of DNCB and DCB. Consequently, the unique functionalities of dynamic bond‐based LCPs will be given. Finally, outlooks of development of the dynamic bond‐based LCPs are presented.
Cutaneous Manifestations of Myelodysplastic Syndrome: A Systematic Review
Authors: Tan Xiang Li , Vatopoulou Theodora , Siddique Amana , Kolovos Athena , Lamb Ruth C. , Fleming Charlotte , Ferguson Leila , Akhras Victoria , Jiyad Zainab
Published: February 2024

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) may present with specific skin lesions, such as leukaemia cutis, which is a well known poor prognostic marker of leukaemia with a high risk of acute leukaemic transformation. However, less is known regarding non-specific cutaneous manifestations of MDS including the prevalence, types and their prognostic and therapeutic significance, which we aimed to determine through this systematic review. We searched electronic databases (PubMed, Medline and EMBASE) from inception up to 26 January 2023 for studies reporting cutaneous manifestations of MDS. Eighty eight articles (case reports n = 67, case series n = 21), consisting of 134 patients were identified. We identified 6 common cutaneous manifestations: neutrophilic dermatoses (n = 64), vasculitis (n = 21), granulomatous (n = 8), connective tissue disease (CTD) (n = 7; composed of dermatomyositis (n = 5), cutaneous lupus erythematosus (n = 1), and systemic sclerosis (n = 1)), panniculitis (n = 4), immunobullous (n = 1), and other (n = 29). Cutaneous features either occurred at time of MDS diagnosis in 25.3%, preceding the diagnosis in 34.7% (range 0.5–216 months), or after diagnosis in 40.0% (range 1–132 months). Prognosis was poor (40.2% death) with 34.1% progressing to acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). 50% of those with MDS who progressed to AML had neutrophilic dermatoses (p = 0.21). Myelodysplastic syndrome was fatal in 39.2% of neutrophilic dermatoses (median time from onset of cutaneous manifestation: 12 months), 50% of vasculitis (7.5 months), 62.5% of granulomatous (15.5 months) and 14.3% of CTD (7 months). Recognition of patterns of cutaneous features in MDS will improve early diagnosis and risk stratification according to subtype and associated prognosis.
State of the Art in Actuation of Micro/Nanorobots for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Elnaggar Ahmed , Kang Seungyeop , Tian Mingzhen , Han Bing , Keshavarz Meysam
Published: February 2024

The emergence of micro/nanorobotics stands poised to revolutionize various biomedical applications, given its potential to offer precision, reduced invasiveness, and enhanced functionality. In the face of such potential, understanding the mechanisms that drive these tiny robots, especially their actuation techniques, becomes critical. Although there is a surge in research dedicated to micro/nanorobotics, there exists a gap in consolidating the diverse actuation strategies and their suitability for biomedical applications. This comprehensive review seeks to bridge this gap by providing an in‐depth evaluation of the current actuation techniques employed by micro/nanorobots, particularly emphasizing their relevance and potential for clinical translation. The discussion starts by elucidating the different actuation strategies, ranging from magnetic, electric, acoustic, light‐based, to chemical and biological mechanisms. Then, various examples and meticulous assessment of each technique are offered, spotlighting their respective merits and limitations within a biomedical context. This review illuminates the transformative capabilities of these actuation methods in medicine. It not only highlights the progress made in this burgeoning field but also underscores the areas that require further exploration and development.
Development and Application of On‐Line Solution Annealing Process for 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel
Authors: Zhao Jiankang , Li Haijun , Han Bo , Liu Yakun , Wang Guodong
Published: February 2024

After hot rolling, 304 austenitic stainless steel requires a solution annealing treatment to prevent intergranular corrosion and eliminate work hardening effects. Compared to traditional offline processes, on‐line solution annealing offers advantages in terms of cost and time savings. However, both recrystallization behavior and M23C6 carbide precipitation behavior are significantly influenced by the cooling process after rolling, which poses conflicting requirements. This study investigates the precipitation behavior of M23C6 carbides and the recrystallization softening behavior during the continuous cooling process of hot‐rolled samples. The kinetics equations are derived using the Scheil's additivity rule. The temperature profiles in different regions of the plate are studied using finite element analysis. A practical approach for online solution annealing is proposed and applied in industrial testing.
Reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography methodology for film‐forming mafenide spray: Compatibility, assay, and in‐vitro release evaluation using Franz vertical diffusion cell apparatus
Authors: Mahajan Rupali , Chandragiri Sai Teja , Borse Vivek , Samanthula Gananadhamu , Asthana Amit
Published: February 2024

This paper described a short and precise reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for quantifying mafenide in a film‐forming spray and preliminary in‐vitro release study. Following the International Council for Harmonization guidelines Q2 (R1), the method was validated. The chromatographic separation was achieved using a 10 mM potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution (mobile phase A) mixed with HPLC‐grade methanol (mobile phase B) in an 85:15 v/v ratio. Inert Sustain C8 (4.6 × 250 mm), 5 μm column was selected as the stationary phase. The flow rate was set as 0.8 mL/min, and detection was carried out at a wavelength of 222 nm. The developed HPLC method showed an accuracy between 98% and 102%. The primary diffusion study of film‐forming spray was performed using the Franz vertical diffusion cell apparatus. It was observed that an average of 26.94% of drug releases at 24 h. This indicates the drug has a slower release rate and shows local pharmacological action. The Weibull dissolution model was more fitting with regression square 0.9953. Furthermore, the drug excipient compatibility study revealed no interactions as the only drug peak was found in the chromatographic method, indicating that the chosen excipients were appropriate for a stable formulation.
Exploring the Effect of Corpus‐Based Writing Instruction on Learner‐Corpus Interaction in L2 Revision: A Study of Chinese EFL Disciplinary Writers
Authors: Qiu Xixin
Published: February 2024

The use of academic corpora in second language (L2) writing pedagogy has gained popularity in recent decades, particularly in genre‐specific contexts for graduate‐level L2 students (Charles, 2007; Lee & Swales, 2006). However, its overall effectiveness is mainly observed within classroom contexts, influenced by various contextual and participant‐related factors (Vyatkina & Boulton, 2017). Moreover, these investigations have predominantly relied on retrospective data useful for understanding learners' perception of corpus‐analysis experiences, but not for how learners strategically integrate corpora into personal toolkits for self‐directed writing tasks. Addressing these gaps, this study tracks five Chinese EFL graduate students' corpus use through a 5‐week concept‐ and corpus‐based tutoring intervention and investigates how they navigated a discipline‐specific corpus alongside other digital resources during post‐intervention self‐directed revisions. By triangulating screen recordings with retrospective data (questionnaires, interviews, draft revisions, and stimulated recalls), the results showed that while participants were generally favorable toward the specialized corpus and its complementary role to personal toolkits, individual problem‐solving patterns in revision revealed less overall reliance on the corpus and its effectiveness primarily in addressing known linguistic problems. Implications for a relational understanding of digital tools support and the integration of other pedagogical activities in L2 writing instruction are discussed.
Social Welfare ‘Schemes’ to an Economic Security ‘System’
Authors: Rahman Andaleeb , Pingali Prabhu
Published: February 2024

This chapter synthesizes our arguments with a discussion on how to re-organize the ideas and praxis of social welfare policy in India with a perspective into the future. We argue that fostering development resilience—as the scope of social welfare programs—requires a stronger citizen-state social contract, a pact which recognizes human deprivation not only as material poverty but also along multiple dimensions of well-being. Social welfare programs, therefore, must be thought of as multiple forms of support—with a focus on deprivations along the life-cycle—which together comprise a risk absorbing social welfare ‘system.’ The ability to foster a resilient development process in the future would require this system to be complemented with strong public systems—infrastructure and citizen empowerment—which enable citizens to attain their human capabilities once the risks are taken care of. Building such a welfare system would not only require greater fiscal space—through tax revenues, resources, and rationalization of subsidies—and strengthened state capacity to improve last-mile delivery, but also a prescient understanding of the newer risks and vulnerabilities in the context of rapid economic and social change.
India’s Economic Development and Social Safety Nets
Authors: Rahman Andaleeb , Pingali Prabhu
Published: February 2024

Food transfers, employment generation through public works programs, supplemental nutritional assistance to pregnant mother and infant children, old age pensions, and school meals are among the major social safety nets that constitute India’s social welfare architecture. In this chapter, we review these schemes along with some of the newer programs and their performance in the light of India’s developmental trajectory over the past seven decades. We argue that to facilitate a resilient development process in the future, these programs must be attuned to the changing economic and demographic transformation of the economy.
Early Life Interventions for Intergenerational Prosperity
Authors: Rahman Andaleeb , Pingali Prabhu
Published: February 2024

Investing in early childhood development is paramount to building development resilience. Children born to poor parents are less likely to be well nourished, finish school, earn less, and live in poverty, and give birth to malnourished children. Early life interventions—in utero, and in childhood—therefore provide a suitable window of opportunity to stem disparities in human development and intergenerational persistence of poverty. Through a range of programs with multiple scope—institutional birth delivery, nutritional assistance for pregnant and lactating mothers, and reducing classroom hunger—and an explicit focus on children and women, Indian government attempts to address inequalities which develop early in life. While these programs have been effective in achieving the purported goals, there is a significant room of improvement to achieve transformational gains. In this chapter, we argue for further strengthening of these programs through better implementation of the program, enhancements in the quality of services offered, greater synergy across programs, and a sustained commitment to improving maternal and child healthcare.
Public Health Insurance: Reducing Poverty or Access to Equitable Health Care?
Authors: Rahman Andaleeb , Pingali Prabhu
Published: February 2024

Tax-financed public health insurance programs are a newer, but increasingly important form of social policy across developing countries, including India. With the scope of stemming the flow of people into poverty, public health insurance focuses on the vulnerable and provides them an avenue to seek quality health care without incurring exorbitant costs. Although enrollment in the program and its effectiveness in reducing out-of-pocket health expenditures remain low, it is expected that the importance of health insurance will increasingly become recognized everywhere. As the demand for health care increases, the key to its effectiveness could reside in the prioritizing of health as an important policy goal—recognizing health as a citizenship “right,” increasing budgetary allocation for health, improving the quality of health care infrastructure, and putting into place effective regulations to check unscrupulous practices by private health care providers—with the scope of equitable access to universal health care and overall improved health outcomes.
Incommensurate Welfare Gains: The Role of Ideas, Institutions, and Interests
Authors: Rahman Andaleeb , Pingali Prabhu
Published: February 2024

Despite the presence of various social safety net programs, Indian households are not resilient to daily risks and exogenous shocks. To understand the incommensurate success of Indian social welfare programs in improving resilience, we focus on key elements of the policymaking process—ideas, interests, and institutions—in this chapter. We deliberate upon the ideas which motivate social welfare programs, the institutions responsible for delivering welfare benefits, and the political interests which shape program design and effectiveness in the country. Building upon arguments around policymaking process and the implementational hurdles, we highlight the importance of citizen-state social contract, local institutions, subnational politics, civil society activism, and state capacity in shaping the focus, form, and scope of social welfare policies.
Einleitung: Kulturproduktion als Zentrum gegenwärtiger Gesellschaften
Authors: Schwegler Guy
Published: February 2024

Das Kapitel führt in die Perspektive der Arbeit ein, indem es eine doppelte Ausgangslage vorstellt: einerseits die Kulturalisierung der Gesellschaften und andererseits ihre Verwissenschaftlichung, insbesondere durch die Kultur- und Sozialwissenschaften. Die Rolle dieser Disziplinen, so die Grundthese, ermöglicht es, die aktuelle Bedeutung der Kulturproduktion zu verstehen. Dementsprechend werden einige Betrachtungsweisen der Verwendung soziologischen Wissens in der Gesellschaft vorgestellt, bevor die Perspektive der Arbeit erläutert wird. Diese zielt auf die Performativität kultur- und sozialwissenschaftlicher Theorien.
Performativität und Valorisierung: Wertigkeitskonstruktion durch Theorien
Authors: Schwegler Guy
Published: February 2024

In diesem Kapitel wird die umfassende theoretische Perspektive der Arbeit in Bezug auf Performativität dargestellt. Nach der Einführung des entsprechenden wirtschaftssoziologischen Konzepts kann die Perspektive auf die kultur- und sozialwissenschaftliche Theorien übertragen werden, woraus ein Modell performativer Effekte resultiert. Die Betrachtung von Valorisierungsprozessen verdeutlicht dann, dass im gegenwärtigen Kulturkapitalismus Theorien eine „Berechenbarkeit“ ermöglichen. Abschließend zeigt das Kapitel in drei Bereichen, wie kultur- und sozialwissenschaftliches Wissen diffundiert. Damit wird noch einmal deutlich, dass die Performativität dieser Disziplinen als ein weitreichendes Phänomen zu betrachten ist.
Die Veränderung der Kulturproduktion
Authors: Schwegler Guy
Published: February 2024

In diesem Kapitel werden die Ergebnisse der empirischen Arbeit anhand von drei Situationen dargestellt. Die Situation der Intermediation verdeutlicht zunächst, warum es für die Akteur*innen grundsätzlich Sinn macht, kultur- und sozialwissenschaftliche Theorien zu verwenden. Anhand der Situation der Verwendung wird im Detail erläutert, wie die Kulturproduktion durch performative Effekte verändert wird. Die letzte Situation gibt einen Überblick über die umfassenderen neuen Prozesse, die mit der Performativität in den sozialen Welten entstehen. Diese Ausführungen werden vor allem anhand eines zentralen empirischen Beispiels dargestellt: der experimentellen elektronischen Musik. Diese Kulturwelt wird ganz zu Beginn des Kapitels über eine feldtheoretische Perspektive eingeführt. Anschließend ermöglichen drei Exkurse innerhalb der Unterkapitel zu den Situationen weitere Einblicke: So wird auch am Beispiel von Design, Informatik und Tanz erläutert, wie sich die Performativität der Kultur- und Sozialwissenschaften äußert.
Fazit: Änderungen in den Wertigkeiten von Kulturproduktion
Authors: Schwegler Guy
Published: February 2024

Das Fazit leistet einerseits eine Systematisierung der erarbeiteten Konzeptualisierungen zur Performativität der Kultur- und Sozialwissenschaften. Andererseits wird eine dadurch eröffnete Kritik formuliert. Die Systematisierung erfolgt zuerst im Sinne einer gesellschaftstheoretischen Diagnose, die verschiedene Aspekte miteinander in Beziehung setzt, anhand derer die Verwendung der Theorien in der gegenwärtigen Kulturproduktion nachvollzogen werden kann. Anschließend wird eine Systematisierung der konkreten performativen Effekte im Rahmen eines Modells vorgestellt. Den Abschluss bildet die kritische Diskussion der Bedeutung gegenwärtiger Kulturproduktion vor dem Hintergrund der Rolle der Kultur- und Sozialwissenschaften.
Fazit
Authors: Merten Moritz
Published: February 2024

Zum Abschluss der Arbeit wird im siebten Kapitel ein übergreifendes Fazit gezogen. Zentrale Erkenntnisse werden noch einmal zusammengefasst und mit Bezug auf die Forschungsfragen diskutiert. Dabei wird auch der Mehrwert der Ergebnisse für die Diskussion um die Sozialisationsbedingungen in einer zunehmend segregierten Stadt herausgearbeitet. Die aufgestellten Hypothesen und angewandten Methoden werden im Hinblick auf notwendige zukünftige Forschung zum räumlichen Freizeitverhalten reflektiert.
Introduction
Authors: Damrau Milena
Published: February 2024

In this introductory chapter, the author highlights the significance of the topic based on previous research and thoroughly identifies the gap in the literature. The main goals of the present study and how they were achieved are then described in detail. Lastly, the author provides an overview of the present thesis’ structure and the content of each chapter.
A principle of maximum ignorance for semiclassical gravity
Authors: de Boer Jan , Liska Diego , Post Boris , Sasieta Martin
Published: February 2024

Abstract

The principle of maximum ignorance posits that the coarse-grained description of a system is maximally agnostic about its underlying microscopic structure. We briefly review this principle for random matrix theory and for the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis. We then apply this principle in holography to construct ensembles of random mixed states. This leads to an ensemble of microstates which models our microscopic ignorance, and which on average reproduces the effective semiclassical physics of a given bulk state. We call this ensemble the state-averaging ansatz. The output of our model is a prediction for semiclassical contributions to variances and higher statistical moments over the ensemble of microstates. The statistical moments provide coarse-grained — yet gravitationally non-perturbative — information about the microstructure of the individual states of the ensemble. We show that these contributions exactly match the on-shell action of known wormhole configurations of the gravitational path integral. These results strengthen the view that wormholes simply parametrize the ignorance of the microstructure of a fundamental state, given a fixed semiclassical bulk description.
Cardiovascular responses of adult male Sprague–Dawley rats following acute organophosphate intoxication and post-exposure treatment with midazolam with or without allopregnanolone
Authors: Pan Shiyue , Bruun Donald A. , Lein Pamela J. , Chen Chao-Yin
Published: February 2024

Recent experimental evidence suggests combined treatment with midazolam and allopregnanolone is more effective than midazolam alone in terminating seizures triggered by acute organophosphate (OP) intoxication. However, there are concerns that combined midazolam and allopregnanolone increases risk of adverse cardiovascular events. To address this, we used telemetry devices to record cardiovascular responses in adult male Sprague–Dawley rats acutely intoxicated with diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP). Animals were administered DFP (4 mg/kg, sc), followed immediately by atropine (2 mg/kg, i.m.) and 2-PAM (25 mg/kg, i.m.). At 40 min post-exposure, a subset of animals received midazolam (0.65 mg/kg, im); at 50 min, these rats received a second dose of midazolam or allopregnanolone (12 mg/kg, im). DFP significantly increased blood pressure by ~ 80 mmHg and pulse pressure by ~ 34 mmHg that peaked within 12 min. DFP also increased core temperature by ~ 3.5 °C and heart rate by ~ 250 bpm that peaked at ~ 2 h. Heart rate variability (HRV), an index of autonomic function, was reduced by ~ 80%. All acute (within 15 min of exposure) and two-thirds of delayed (hours after exposure) mortalities were associated with non-ventricular cardiac events within 10 min of cardiovascular collapse, suggesting that non-ventricular events should be closely monitored in OP-poisoned patients. Compared to rats that survived DFP intoxication without treatment, midazolam significantly improved recovery of cardiovascular parameters and HRV, an effect enhanced by allopregnanolone. These data demonstrate that midazolam improved recovery of cardiovascular and autonomic function and that the combination of midazolam and allopregnanolone may be a better therapeutic strategy than midazolam alone.
Cleavage of natural rubber by rubber oxygenases in Gram-negative bacteria
Authors: Prakash Tulika , Yadav Sandhya R. , Bürger Marius , Jendrossek Dieter
Published: February 2024

Bacterial degradation of natural rubber (NR) in an oxic environment is initiated by oxidative cleavage of double bonds in the NR-carbon backbone and is catalyzed by extracellular haem-containing rubber oxygenases. NR-cleavage products of sufficiently low molecular mass are taken up by the cells and metabolized for energy and biomass formation. Gram-negative and Gram-positive NR-degrading bacteria (usually) employ different types of rubber oxygenases such as RoxA and/or RoxB (most Gram-negative NR-degraders) or latex clearing protein Lcp (most Gram-positive NR-degraders). In order to find novel orthologues of Rox proteins, we have revisited databases and provide an update of Rox-like proteins. We describe the putative evolution of rubber oxygenases and confirm the presence of a third subgroup of Rox-related proteins (RoxCs), the biological function of which remains, however, unclear. We summarize the knowledge on the taxonomic position of Steroidobacter cummioxidans 35Y and related species. Comparison of genomic and biochemical features of strain 35Y with other species of the genus Steroidobacter suggests that strain 35Y represents a species of a novel genus for which the designation Aurantibaculum gen. nov. is proposed. A short summary on the capabilities of NR-degrading consortia, that could be superior in biotechnological applications compared to pure cultures, is also provided.

Key points

• Three types of rubber oxygenases exist predominantly in Gram-negative microbes

• S. cummioxidans 35Y contains RoxA and RoxB which are superior in activity

• S. cummioxidans 35Y represents a species of a novel genus
Bacterial crude oil and polyaromatic hydrocarbon degraders from Kazakh oil fields as barley growth support
Authors: Yessentayeva Kuralay , Reinhard Anne , Berzhanova Ramza , Mukasheva Togzhan , Urich Tim , Mikolasch Annett
Published: February 2024

Bacterial strains of the genera Arthrobacter, Bacillus, Dietzia, Kocuria, and Micrococcus were isolated from oil-contaminated soils of the Balgimbaev, Dossor, and Zaburunye oil fields in Kazakhstan. They were selected from 1376 isolated strains based on their unique ability to use crude oil and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as sole source of carbon and energy in growth experiments. The isolated strains degraded a wide range of aliphatic and aromatic components from crude oil to generate a total of 170 acid metabolites. Eight metabolites were detected during the degradation of anthracene and of phenanthrene, two of which led to the description of a new degradation pathway. The selected bacterial strains Arthrobacter bussei/agilis SBUG 2290, Bacillus atrophaeus SBUG 2291, Bacillus subtilis SBUG 2285, Dietzia kunjamensis SBUG 2289, Kocuria rosea SBUG 2287, Kocuria polaris SBUG 2288, and Micrococcus luteus SBUG 2286 promoted the growth of barley shoots and roots in oil-contaminated soil, demonstrating the enormous potential of isolatable and cultivable soil bacteria in soil remediation.

Key points

• Special powerful bacterial strains as potential crude oil and PAH degraders.

• Growth on crude oil or PAHs as sole source of carbon and energy.

• Bacterial support of barley growth as resource for soil remediation.
UGT1A4 Polymorphism is not Associated with a Clinically Relevant Change in Giredestrant Exposure
Authors: Malhi Vikram , Nowicka Malgorzata , Chen Ya-Chi , Agarwal Priya , Waldvogel Marie , Lien Yi Ting Kayla , Hafner Marc , Perez-Moreno Pablo , Moore Heather M. , Yu Jiajie
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Giredestrant is a potent, orally bioavailable, small-molecule selective estrogen receptor antagonist and degrader (SERD) that is being developed for the treatment of patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer. In vitro, giredestrant was primarily metabolized by UGT1A4. The goal of this study was to investigate if UGT1A4 polymorphism had a clinically relevant impact on giredestrant exposure.

Methods

Genotyping and pharmacokinetic data were obtained from 118 and 61 patients in two clinical studies, GO39932 [NCT03332797] and acelERA Breast Cancer [NCT04576455], respectively.

Results

The overall allelic frequencies of UGT1A4*2 and UGT1A4*3 were 3.3% and 11%, respectively. Giredestrant exposure was consistent between patients with wild-type UGT1A4 and UGT1A4*2 and *3 polymorphisms, with no clinically relevant difference observed. In addition, haplotype analysis indicated that no other UGT1A4 variants were significantly associated with giredestrant exposure.

Conclusion

Therefore, this study indicates that UGT1A4 polymorphism status is unlikely a clinically relevant factor to impact giredestrant exposure and giredestrant can be administered at the same dose level regardless of patients’ UGT1A4 polymorphism status.
CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of NYC1 gene enhances chlorophyll retention and reduces tillering in Zoysia matrella (L.) Merrill
Authors: Ng Hwan May , Gondo Takahiro , Tanaka Hidenori , Akashi Ryo
Published: February 2024

Key Message

Genome editing by CRISPR/Cas9 can be applied to Z. matrella ‘Wakaba’, and knockout mutants of ZmNYC1 gene exhibited stay-green phenotype and reduced tillering.

Zoysia matrella is a widely used C4 warm-season turfgrass for landscaping, golf courses, and sports fields. Here, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to target the Non-Yellow Coloring1 (ZmNYC1) gene in the highly heterozygous allotetraploid Z. matrella ‘Wakaba’, aiming to generate a novel stay-green variety. Of 441 Agrobacterium-infected calli, 22 (5.0%) were transformed, and 14 of these (63.6%) showed targeted mutations through cleaved amplified polymorphic sequences analysis. Sequencing analysis revealed mutations mostly consisting of 1 or 2 bp indels, occurring 2 to 4 bp upstream of the PAM sequence. Regenerated plants exhibited five ZmNYC1 target locus genotypes, including homozygous mutants with a complete knockout of all four alleles in the T0 generation. Under dark treatment, ZmNYC1-mutated plants displayed suppressed chlorophyll b (Chl b) degradation, leading to higher chlorophyll content and Chl b, with a lower chlorophyll a/chlorophyll b ratio compared to the wild type (WT). However, the ZmNYC1 mutation also inhibited plant growth in homozygous mutant genotypes, exhibiting reduced tillering compared to WT. Additionally, during winter simulation, mutant with a complete knockout retained greenness longer than the WT. This is the first successful use of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in zoysiagrass. The mutants of the ZmNYC1 gene would serve as valuable breeding material for developing improved zoysiagrass varieties that can maintain their green color for longer periods, even during winter dormancy.
Avian migration clocks in a changing world
Authors: Helm Barbara , Liedvogel Miriam
Published: February 2024

Avian long-distance migration requires refined programming to orchestrate the birds’ movements on annual temporal and continental spatial scales. Programming is particularly important as long-distance movements typically anticipate future environmental conditions. Hence, migration has long been of particular interest in chronobiology. Captivity studies using a proxy, the shift to nocturnality during migration seasons (i.e., migratory restlessness), have revealed circannual and circadian regulation, as well as an innate sense of direction. Thanks to rapid development of tracking technology, detailed information from free-flying birds, including annual-cycle data and actograms, now allows relating this mechanistic background to behaviour in the wild. Likewise, genomic approaches begin to unravel the many physiological pathways that contribute to migration. Despite these advances, it is still unclear how migration programmes are integrated with specific environmental conditions experienced during the journey. Such knowledge is imminently important as temporal environments undergo rapid anthropogenic modification. Migratory birds as a group are not dealing well with the changes, yet some species show remarkable adjustments at behavioural and genetic levels. Integrated research programmes and interdisciplinary collaborations are needed to understand the range of responses of migratory birds to environmental change, and more broadly, the functioning of timing programmes under natural conditions.
Causes of recurrence of paediatric inguinal hernia after single-port laparoscopic closure
Authors: He Chao-Sheng , Su Yi , Liu Ming-Xue , Qin Yu-Bing , Ji Yan-Hui , Huang Wen-Qian , Huang Gui-Zhen , Yang Guo-Zhu , Hu Zeng-Long , Li Suo-Lin
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This paper explores the causes of paediatric inguinal hernia (PIH) recurrence after single-port laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure (SPLPEC).

Method

From January 2015 to December 2020, the clinical data of 3480 children with PIHs who underwent SPLPEC were retrospectively reviewed, including 644 children who underwent SPLPEC with a homemade single-hook hernia needle from January 2015 to December 2016 and 2836 children who underwent the SPLPEC with a double-hook hernia needle and hydrodissection from January 2017 to December 2020. There were 39 recurrences (including communicating hydrocele) during the 2–5 years of follow-up. The findings of redo-laparoscopy were recorded and correlated with the revised video of the first operation to analyse the causes of recurrence.

Result

Thirty-three males and 6 females experienced recurrence, and 8 patients had a unilateral communicating hydrocele. The median time to recurrence was 7.1 months (0–38). There were 20 cases (3.11%) in the single-hook group and 19 cases (0.67%) in the double-hook group. Based on laparoscopic findings, recurrence most probably resulted from multiple factors, including uneven tension of the ligation (10 cases), missing part of the peritoneum (14 cases), loose ligation (8 cases), broken knot (5 cases), and knot reaction (2 cases). All children who underwent repeat SPLPEC were cured by double ligations or reinforcement with medial umbilical ligament.

Conclusion

The main cause of recurrence is improper ligation. Tension-free and complete PIH ligation are critical to the success of surgery, which requires avoiding the peritoneum skip area and the subcutaneous and muscular tissues. Redo-laparoscopic surgery was suitable for the treatment of recurrent inguinal hernia (RIH). For giant hernias, direct ligation of the internal ring incorporating the medial umbilical ligament (DIRIM) may be needed.