bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Resource utilization in the sub-sectors of the textile industry: opportunities for sustainability
Authors: Kır Alperen , Ozturk Emrah , Yetis Ulku , Kitis Mehmet
Published: March 2024

It was aimed to determine the specific resource use and reduction potential profiles in various textile sub-sectors (cotton woven fabric dyeing-finishing, wool woven fabric dyeing-finishing, synthetic woven fabric dyeing-finishing, cotton knitted fabric, synthetic knit fabric dyeing-finishing, non-woven fabric, dyeing-finishing of knitted fabric). The main focus was to elucidate opportunities for sustainability in terms of decreasing resource utilization in the textile sector. On-site surveys and detailed data collection studies were carried out at 150 textile facilities. Average specific values for water, auxiliary chemicals, dyestuff, electricity, and steam consumptions, and related reduction potentials were calculated and compared within facilities and sub-sectors. The minimum specific resource consumption values reported in the Best Available Techniques Reference Document (BREF) for the textile industry and data of similar facilities from the literature were evaluated and used. A detailed environmental performance profile of the Turkish textile sector in terms of resource usage and reduction potential was generated. The highest specific water consumption was found in the wool-woven fabric sub-sector (345 ± 262 L/kg product). Although the specific auxiliary chemical consumption shows similarities within sub-sectors, the highest specific auxiliary chemical consumption (397 ± 237 g/kg product) was found in the synthetic woven fabric sub-sector. The sub-sector with the highest specific dyestuff consumption (30 ± 13 g/kg product) was the cotton knitted fabric sub-sector. The wool woven fabric industry had the highest specific electricity (7 ± 5.3 kWh/kg product) and steam (20 ± 11 kg steam/kg product) consumption. In addition, for all the studied sub-sectors country-wide, the lowest and highest reduction potentials in resource uses were 18 ± 15% and 73 ± 13%, respectively, suggesting a need for major full-scale implementations of cleaner production for enhancing sustainability in the textile industry.
Resistance exercise effects on hippocampus subfield volumes and biomarkers of neuroplasticity and neuroinflammation in older adults with low and high risk of mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Vints Wouter A. J. , Šeikinaitė Julija , Gökçe Evrim , Kušleikienė Simona , Šarkinaite Milda , Valatkeviciene Kristina , Česnaitienė Vida J. , Verbunt Jeanine , Levin Oron , Masiulis Nerijus
Published: March 2024

Physical exercise is suggested to promote hippocampal neuroplasticity by increasing circulating neurotrophic and anti-inflammatory factors. Our aim was to explore the interplay between the effect of progressive resistance exercise on blood biomarker levels, hippocampal neurometabolite levels and hippocampal volume in older adults with a low compared to a high risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Seventy apparently healthy male/female older adults (aged 60–85 years old) were randomly allocated to a 12 week lower limb progressive resistance or no intervention, stratified for low (< 26/30) or high (≥ 26/30) Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score, indicating MCI risk. Outcome measures were blood levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) or kynurenine (KYN); hippocampal total and subfield volumes of the cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) and 4 (CA4), subiculum, presubiculum, and dentate gyrus measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); and hippocampus neurometabolites including total N-acetylaspartate (NAA), myo-inositol (mIns), and total creatine (Cr) measured with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). We evaluated the intervention effect, cognitive status effect, their interaction and the bivariate relationship between exercise-induced changes between the outcome measures. Higher kynurenine levels (p = 0.015) and lower subiculum volumes (p = 0.043) were found in older adults with high MCI risk compared to older adults with low MCI risk. Exercise-induced CA1 volume changes were negatively correlated with hippocampal tNAA/mIns level changes (r = -0.605, p = 0.006). This study provides valuable insight in the multifactorial processes related to resistance training in older adults with low or high MCI risk.
Myths and matters of science education: a critical discourse on science and standards
Authors: Dias Beatrice
Published: March 2024

In this forum paper, I grapple with critical questions about our understanding of science as a discipline and the education standards formulated within that framing. My exploration is contextualized in our current socio-political climate and is presented in discourse with Charity Winburn’s Meeting the needs of the individual student in the post-pandemic era: an analysis of the next generation science standards. I draw on Winburn’s astute observations about the narratives and epistemologies that shape our current science standards as a springboard for diving deeper into questions about the ways of knowing and types of knowledge traditions that are uplifted in US science education. Through a dialogic process, I outline a critical analysis of the myth of neutrality, the prioritization of epistemologies, and the standardization of learning ingrained in traditional science curricula. I conclude by building on Winburn’s hopes for science education with my own aspirations for bringing joy into our collective science learning experiences.
Trained innate immunity modulates osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation
Authors: Rahmani N. R. , Belluomo R. , Kruyt M. C. , Gawlitta D. , Joosten L. A. B. , Weinans H. , Croes M.
Published: March 2024

Macrophages are key regulators in bone repair and regeneration. Recent studies have shown that long-term epigenetic changes and metabolic shifts occur during specific immune training of macrophages that affect their functional state, resulting in heightened (trained) or reduced (tolerant) responses upon exposure to a second stimulus. This is known as innate immune memory. Here, we study the impact of macrophages’ memory trait on osteoblast differentiation of human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) and osteoclast differentiation. An in vitro trained immunity protocol of monocyte-derived macrophages was employed using inactivated Candida albicans and Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) to induce a ‘trained’ state and Pam3CSK4 (PAM) and Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) to induce a ‘tolerance’ state. Macrophages were subsequently cocultured with hMSCs undergoing osteogenic differentiation during either resting (unstimulated) or inflammatory conditions (restimulated with LPS). Alkaline phosphatase activity, mineralization, and cytokine levels (TNF, IL-6, oncostatin M and SDF-1α) were measured. In addition, macrophages underwent osteoclast differentiation. Our findings show that trained and tolerized macrophages induced opposing results. Under resting conditions, BCG-trained macrophages enhanced ALP levels (threefold), while under inflammatory conditions this was found in the LPS-tolerized macrophages (fourfold). Coculture of hMSCs with trained macrophages showed mineralization while tolerized macrophages inhibited the process under both resting and inflammatory conditions. While osteoclast differentiation was not affected in trained-macrophages, this ability was significantly loss in tolerized ones. This study further confirms the intricate cross talk between immune cells and bone cells, highlighting the need to consider this interaction in the development of personalized approaches for bone regenerative medicine.

Graphical Abstract
Estrogen promotes fetal skeletal muscle mitochondrial distribution and ATP synthase activity important for insulin sensitivity in offspring
Authors: Kim Soon Ok , Albrecht Eugene D. , Pepe Gerald J.
Published: March 2024

Purpose

We previously showed that offspring delivered to baboons in which levels of estradiol (E2) were suppressed during the second half of gestation exhibit insulin resistance. Mitochondria are essential for the production of ATP as the main source of energy for intracellular metabolic pathways, and skeletal muscle of type 2 diabetics exhibit mitochondrial abnormalities. Mitochondria express estrogen receptor β and E2 enhances mitochondrial function in adults. Therefore, the current study ascertained whether exposure of the fetus to E2 is essential for mitochondrial development.

Methods

Levels of ATP synthase and citrate synthase and the morphology of mitochondria were determined in fetal skeletal muscle obtained near term from baboons untreated or treated daily with the aromatase inhibitor letrozole or letrozole plus E2.

Results

Specific activity and amount of ATP synthase were 2-fold lower (P < 0.05) in mitochondria from skeletal muscle of E2 suppressed letrozole-treated fetuses and restored to normal by treatment with letrozole plus E2. Immunocytochemistry showed that in contrast to the punctate formation of mitochondria in myocytes of untreated and letrozole plus E2 treated animals, mitochondria appeared to be diffuse in myocytes of estrogen-suppressed fetuses. However, citrate synthase activity and levels of proteins that control mitochondrial fission/fusion were similar in estrogen replete and suppressed animals.

Conclusion

We suggest that estrogen is essential for fetal skeletal muscle mitochondrial development and thus glucose homeostasis in adulthood.
Abundance and Distribution of Blue Swimmer Crab in Response to Environmental Variation Across Two Contrasting Estuaries
Authors: Hanamseth Roshan , Schilling Hayden T. , Johnson Daniel. D. , Suthers Iain M. , Taylor Matthew D.
Published: March 2024

Portunid crabs are an iconic, high value species in NSW, but catches are highly variable in space and time. Substantial variation in biomass is observed in both exploited and unfished populations, and environmental effects on distribution and abundance are an important factor contributing to this variability. Predicting and responding to this variability is a challenge for management and sustainability of exploited populations. We examine spatial and temporal variation in Blue Swimmer Crab (Portunus armatus) populations, over a 2.5 year trapping survey in two temperate estuaries that differ in tidal flow and riverine input. Specifically, monthly catch rates and distribution throughout the estuary are examined alongside variation in temperature and conductivity. In Wallis Lake, the shallower estuary with a restricted entrance, both water temperature and conductivity impacted abundance and distribution of crabs but there was no evidence that pulses of freshwater flow had a major impact. For a 10 °C increase in temperature the population on average shifted ~ 700 m closer to the ocean. Males were consistently located slightly further into the estuary compared to females, but there was no convincing evidence of estuarine egression in response to lower salinity. In Port Stephens, the deeper, tidal estuary, water temperature and conductivity also impacted abundance, but while males were more dispersed than females, the distribution of crabs within the estuary did not appear to be influenced by temperature, conductivity or flow. These results highlight the links between nuanced environmental relationships and estuarine geomorphology for Blue Swimmer Crab.
Design of the Steering Feedback Controller of a Steer-by-Wire System Using Admittance Model
Authors: Choi Hyungjeen , Choi Seibum
Published: March 2024

The steer-by-wire (SbW) system is a promising system in the realm of automotive engineering. It substitutes the mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the front road wheels with an electronic signal-based functional connection. The SbW system offers several advantages over conventional steering systems, including weight reduction, reduced vibration, and enhanced steering functionality configuration. However, the absence of a mechanical linkage in the SbW system gives rise to certain challenges. The SbW system requires endowing adequate steering feel such as damping and reaction force using feedback motor, and the road wheel needs robust control of pinion motor for normal load variation by passengers and self-aligning torque as external disturbance. The SbW system is composed of the steering feedback module (SFM) and the road wheel module (RWM). This paper proposes a control approach to generate steering feel for SFM, in which steering feel is generated using an admittance model based on velocity control. A disturbance observer is applied to ensure robustness of velocity control. The steering wheel torque versus steering wheel angle (T–A) curve is used to analyze steering feel characteristic and evaluate steering feel. The proposed steering system is validated through experiments that confirm its ability to provide satisfactory steering feel for vehicles. This work may offer a novel solution for the design of advanced steering systems in the field for the future mobility such as an autonomous driving.
Assistive Robotics Needs for Older Care: Using Authentic Citations to Bridge the Gap between Understanding Older Persons’ Needs and Defining Solutions
Authors: Veling Louise , Villing Rudi
Published: March 2024

Developing an authentic understanding of potential users’ needs and translating these into usable categories as an input to research and development is an open problem. It is generally accepted that genuine knowledge of user needs is essential for the creation of any new technology. For assistive robots, however, this knowledge is even more important for two key reasons. First, because the form and function of these technologies is still in the process of negotiation, and second, because assistive robots are ultimately intended for a vulnerable population. In this paper, we describe a number of existing strategies to address this challenge and discuss some of their shortcomings, including a loss of data richness and context, the stereotyping of users and a lack of transparency and traceability. The primary contribution of this paper is a novel Authentic Citations process for capturing needs which aims to address these shortcomings. This process involves a thematic analysis of complex qualitative data to derive robotics needs for older people, which emphasises the retention of the original situated description, or ‘authentic citation’, for ongoing sensitising and grounding at all stages of the research and development cycle, and by various stakeholders. The Authentic Citations process adds additional rigour to a process that can be tacit and opaque and can be used by robotics researchers to analyse and translate qualitative research into usable categories. An additional contribution of this paper is an initial outline of a taxonomy of assistive robotics needs for older people, which contributes to improving the understanding of the user as a situated and complex person and can be used as an input to design.
Promising Directions: A Systematic Review of Psychosocial and Behavioral Interventions with Cultural Incorporation for Advanced and Metastatic Cancer
Authors: Llave Karen , Cheng Karli K. , Ko Amy , Pham Annie , Ericson Marissa , Campos Belinda , Perez-Gilbe Hector R. , Kim Jacqueline H. J.
Published: March 2024

Background

Improving quality of life (QOL) in advanced and metastatic cancer is a priority with increasing survivorship. This systematic review synthesizes psychosocial and behavioral interventions incorporating culture with the goal of examining their benefit for understudied and medically underserved populations with advanced and metastatic cancer.

Method

Reports were systematically screened for (1) a focus on advanced and metastatic cancer survivors, (2) psychosocial or behavioral intervention intended to improve QOL, (3) evidence of incorporating the culture(s) of understudied/underserved populations, and (4) availability in English. Bias was evaluated using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist and the Methodological index for non‐randomized studies. Qualitative synthesis and quantitative meta-analyses were completed.

Results

Eighty-six reports containing 5981 participants’ data were examined. Qualitative synthesis of 23 studies identified four overarching themes relevant for incorporating culture in interventions. Meta-analysis of 19 RCTs and 4 quasi-experimental studies containing considerable heterogeneity indicated greater improvements in QOL (g = 0.84), eudaimonic well-being (g = 0.53), distress (g = −0.49), and anxiety (g = −0.37) for main intervention conditions compared to controls. Meta-analysis of 10 single-arm trials containing minimal to moderate heterogeneity found benefit for anxiety (g = −0.54), physical symptoms (g = −0.39), and depression (g = −0.38).

Conclusion

Psychosocial and behavioral interventions with cultural incorporation appear beneficial for improving QOL-related outcomes in advanced and metastatic cancer. Studies incorporating culture in psychosocial or behavioral interventions offer noteworthy insight and suggestions for future efforts such as attending to deep cultural structure.
Optical solitons for the dispersive concatenation model with power law of self-phase modulation and multiplicative white noise
Authors: Arnous Ahmed H. , Biswas Anjan , Yildirim Yakup , Rawal Bharat S. , Alshomrani Ali Saleh
Published: March 2024

This paper recovers optical solitons to the newly proposed dispersive concatenation model that comes with power law of self-phase modulation. The presence of white noise in the Itô sence makes the model stochastic. Two integration approaches retrieve bright and singular optical solitons. The intermediary Weierstrass’ elliptic functions are implemented for this retrieval. It has been established that the effect of white noise stays confined to the phase component of the solitons.
Contamination of urban soils in a historical mining town of northern Chile
Authors: García D. , Tapia J. , Aguilera J. , Vega C. , Zúñiga P. , Lavin P. , Rojas L. , Valdés J.
Published: March 2024

In northern Chile, economic activities related to mining and thermoelectric energy have existed in the city of Tocopilla since the early 1900s and metal concentrations in soils have likely been altered by historic anthropogenic activities. To assess the concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Co, and Cr in urban soils of Tocopilla, a total of 70 superficial (2 cm) and 70 deep (20 cm) soil samples were collected in 2014. Furthermore, to analyze concentration changes in soils over time, 18 superficial (5 cm) samples were collected in 2020–2021. A numerical evaluation (geoaccumulation index, and enrichment factor), principal component analysis, and spatial distribution approach were applied to infer geogenic and anthropogenic influence on the concentrations of these elements. The main conclusions of this research indicate that urban soils of Tocopilla contain geogenic Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Co and Cr. However, elevated concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Pb cannot be attributed to a geogenic origin alone, as a proportion of their enrichment is considered to be anthropogenically sourced. The contamination of anthropogenic elements has been found to be related to historic copper mining and thermoelectric energy production. Furthermore, when compared to other sites globally, median concentrations of Cu (945 mg/kg in 2014 and 823 mg/kg in 2020) and Zn (305 mg/kg in 2014 and 196 mg/kg in 2020) in superficial urban soils are among the highest worldwide. Regarding 2020–2021 sampling, Zn and Pb concentrations have increased, while Cu, Cr, Co, and Ni have remained similar to the 2014 samples.
Freedom from interference: Decisional privacy as a dimension of consumer privacy online
Authors: Bjørlo Lena V.
Published: March 2024

The introduction of AI-based technologies has dramatically altered the premises for consumer privacy, enabling the unprecedented manipulation of consumers’ decision-making online. Given these recent threats to consumer privacy and autonomy, and considering autonomy as the ultimate outcome of privacy, I propose that a reconceptualization is warranted to reflect contemporary consumer privacy challenges and to realign the concept with its theoretical foundations. To this end, I introduce the dimension of decisional privacy, focused on autonomy versus interference in consumer decision-making. Building on previous privacy literature and extending previous theorizing about information privacy and decisional privacy as complementary, I posit that these two dimensions of privacy together comprise consumer privacy. Addressing protection from interference as an under-communicated function of consumer privacy, the paper aims to clarify, exemplify, and engage in the conceptual development of decisional privacy in the context of consumer decision-making online. In addition to its significance for consumer wellbeing and democracy collectively, the extension of consumer privacy to explicitly encompass interference has theoretical implications for privacy concern, the proxy used to measure privacy, yielding important insights for marketing scholars and practitioners.
Imiquimod nanocrystal-loaded dissolving microneedles prepared by DLP printing
Authors: Petrová Eliška , Chvíla Stanislav , Štěpánek František , Zbytovská Jarmila , Lamprou Dimitrios A.
Published: March 2024

The utilization of 3D printing– digital light processing (DLP) technique, for the direct fabrication of microneedles encounters the problem of drug solubility in printing resin, especially if it is predominantly composed of water. The possible solution how to ensure ideal belonging of drug and water-based printing resin is its pre-formulation in nanosuspension such as nanocrystals. This study investigates the feasibility of this approach on a resin containing nanocrystals of imiquimod (IMQ), an active used in (pre)cancerous skin conditions, well known for its problematic solubility and bioavailability. The resin blend of polyethylene glycol diacrylate and N-vinylpyrrolidone, and lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate as a photoinitiator, was used, mixed with IMQ nanocrystals in water. The final microneedle-patches had 36 cylindrical microneedles arranged in a square grid, measuring approximately 600 μm in height and 500 μm in diameter. They contained 5wt% IMQ, which is equivalent to a commercially available cream. The homogeneity of IMQ distribution in the matrix was higher for nanocrystals compared to usual crystalline form. The release of IMQ from the patches was determined ex vivo in natural skin and revealed a 48% increase in efficacy for nanocrystal formulations compared to the crystalline form of IMQ.

Graphical Abstract
Integrative analysis of homologous recombination repair patterns unveils prognostic signatures and immunotherapeutic insights in breast cancer
Authors: Li Yan-Shuang , Jiang Hong-Chuan
Published: March 2024

Globally, breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of female death and morbidity. Homologous recombination repair (HRR) is critical in BC. However, the prognostic role and immunotherapy response of HRR in BC remains to be clarified. Firstly, we identified HRR types in BC samples from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset (GSE42568) based on 65 HRR genes (HRRGs). A differentially expressed gene (DEG) list for different HRR types was generated. Then, the influences of gene sets composed of these DEGs on biological pathways and BC prognosis were explored. Next, we identified gene clusters based on gene sets composed of DEGs. Genes associated with prognosis for DEGs were identified using univariate Cox regression. Finally, the HRR score was constructed based on genes associated with prognosis. We analyzed how HRR score correlates with tumor mutation burden (TMB), immune cell infiltration (ICI), and immunotherapy response. Three HRR clusters were discovered. HRR subtype A demonstrated decreased infiltration and a high number of immunosuppressive cells with a poor prognosis. DEGs among various HRR types were predominantly enriched in cell cycle and genomic stability-related pathways. The prognostic model based on sixteen DEGs accurately predicted BC prognosis. The HRRGs were differentially expressed in three DEG clusters. TMB, ICI, and immunotherapy responses differed significantly between the high and low HRR groups (HSG, LSG). The HSG was distinguished by a high degree of ICI and low TMB. LSG had a better response to anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA4 combination therapy. This work revealed that HRR patterns would contribute to predicting prognosis and immunotherapy response in BC, which may benefit patients.
RNA-Seq time-course analysis of neural precursor cell transcriptome in response to herpes simplex Virus-1 infection
Authors: Wood Joel A. , Chaparala Srilakshmi , Bantang Cecilia , Chattopadhyay Ansuman , Wesesky Maribeth A. , Kinchington Paul R. , Nimgaonkar Vishwajit L. , Bloom David C. , D’Aiuto Leonardo
Published: March 2024

The neurogenic niches within the central nervous system serve as essential reservoirs for neural precursor cells (NPCs), playing a crucial role in neurogenesis. However, these NPCs are particularly vulnerable to infection by the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). In the present study, we investigated the changes in the transcriptome of NPCs in response to HSV-1 infection using bulk RNA-Seq, compared to those of uninfected samples, at different time points post infection and in the presence or absence of antivirals. The results showed that NPCs upon HSV-1 infection undergo a significant dysregulation of genes playing a crucial role in aspects of neurogenesis, including genes affecting NPC proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Our analysis revealed that the CREB signaling, which plays a crucial role in the regulation of neurogenesis and memory consolidation, was the most consistantly downregulated pathway, even in the presence of antivirals. Additionally, cholesterol biosynthesis was significantly downregulated in HSV-1-infected NPCs. The findings from this study, for the first time, offer insights into the intricate molecular mechanisms that underlie the neurogenesis impairment associated with HSV-1 infection.
Effect of Carbon Nanotube Reinforcement on Creep and Recovery Behavior of Additively Manufactured Polymers: An Experimental and Prediction Study
Authors: Feratoğlu Kamil , İstif İlyas , Gümüş Ömer Yunus , Türkeş Erol
Published: March 2024

In this study, one of the most frequently used polymeric materials in fused deposition modeling (FDM) acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is reinforced with different amount of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry analysis are applied to examine thermal degradation behavior of produced nanocomposite filaments. Specimens are manufactured by fused deposition modeling by using produced nanocomposite filaments. Tensile, creep and viscoelastic-viscoplastic behaviors of FDM-printed nanocomposite samples are investigated by conducting tensile, creep and loading–unloading tests under different strain rates and strain levels. Morphology of 3D printed samples is examined through scanning electron microscopy. Void densities which plays important role in mechanical behavior of additively manufactured samples are determined via ImageJ and CNT reinforcement on void densities are investigated. Data obtained from tests are used in system identification process, and multi-input–single-output model structures are proposed for the prediction of tensile, creep and recovery behaviors of 3D printed nanocomposite materials.
‘Teaching up’ at school and home: young people’s contemporary gender perspectives
Authors: Smith Erika K. , Robinson Kerry H.
Published: March 2024

This paper explores young people’s understandings of gender and investigates their gender-based experiences in high schools in Australia. The discussion is based on qualitative research including focus groups and interviews with 47 recent high school leavers from diverse linguistic, socioeconomic, religious, ethnic, gender and sexuality backgrounds, who attended a broad range of high school types in New South Wales (NSW). We found that young people are critically engaging in gender issues and are often challenging binary gender and associated inequitable practices in schools and beyond. They are taking a leading role in educating adults about gender—that is, they are ‘teaching up’, as young people conceptualised it, to their families and teachers about gender, gender-related issues and doing gender differently in contemporary times. Their views on gender are often in contrast to those institutional views that currently prevail in NSW schools, which often still reflect stereotypes that perpetuate gender inequalities.
Near-Circularity in Capacity and Maximally Convergent Polynomials
Authors: Blatt Hans-Peter
Published: March 2024

If f is a power series with radius R of convergence, $$R > 1$$

R
>
1

, it is well-known that the method of Carathéodory–Fejér constructs polynomial approximations of f on the closed unit disk which show the typical phenomenon of near-circularity on the unit circle. Let E be compact and connected and let f be holomorphic on E. If $$\left\{ p_n\right\} _{n\in \mathbb {N}}$$

p
n

n
∈
N

is a sequence of polynomials converging maximally to f on E, it is shown that the modulus of the error functions $$f-p_n$$

f
-

p
n

is asymptotically constant in capacity on level lines of the Green’s function $$g_\Omega (z,\infty )$$

g
Ω

(
z
,
∞
)

of the complement $$\Omega $$
Ω
of E in $$\overline{\mathbb {C}}$$

C
¯

with pole at infinity, thereby reflecting a type of near-circularity, but without gaining knowledge of the winding numbers of the error curves with respect to the point 0.
Asymptotic preserving methods for quasilinear hyperbolic systems with stiff relaxation: a review
Authors: Boscarino Sebastiano , Russo Giovanni
Published: March 2024

Hyperbolic systems with stiff relaxation constitute a wide class of evolutionary partial differential equations which describe several physical phenomena, ranging from gas dynamics to kinetic theory, from semiconductor modeling to traffic flow. Peculiar features of such systems is the presence of a small parameter that determines the smallest time scale of the system. As such parameter vanishes, the system relaxes to a different one with a smaller number of equations, and sometime of a different mathematical nature. The numerical solution of such systems may present some challenges, in particular if one is interested in capturing all regimes with the same numerical method, including the one in which the small parameter vanishes (relaxed system). The design, analysis and application of numerical schemes which are robust enough to solve this class of systems for arbitrary value of the small parameter is the subject of the current paper. We start presenting different classes of hyperbolic systems with relaxation, illustrate the properties of implicit–explicit (IMEX) Runge–Kutta schemes which are adopted for the construction of efficient methods for the numerical solution of the systems, and then illustrate how to apply IMEX schemes for the construction of asymptotic preserving schemes, i.e. scheme which correctly capture the behavior of the systems even when the relaxation parameter vanishes.
The prevalence and co-existence of geriatric syndromes in older patients with dementia compared to those without dementia
Authors: Soysal Pinar , Smith Lee
Published: March 2024

Background

This study aims to compare frequency and coexistence of geriatric syndromes in older patients with dementia to those without dementia.

Methods

1392 patients admitted to geriatric outpatient clinics were evaluated. Evaluations for eleven geriatric syndromes including polypharmacy, malnutrition, fraility, sarcopenia, dysphagia, urinary incontinence, fear of falling, falls, insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, and orthostatic hypotension (OH) were carried out in consultation with the patient and the caregiver. Two groups with and without dementia were matched according to age and gender using the propensity score matching method.

Results

A total of 738 patients, 369 with dementia and 369 without dementia were included, of whom 70.1% were female and the mean age was 80.5 ± 6.8. Polypharmacy, malnutrition, frailty, sarcopenia, dysphagia, fear of falling, and excessive daytime sleepiness were significantly higher in patients with dementia (p < 0.05). There was no difference between OH, urinary incontinence and insomnia between groups (p > 0.05). The co-existence of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and ≥ 5 geriatric syndromes in the same patient was 4.3%, 10.2%, 11.8%, 16.8%, 13.4% and 43.7% in non-dementia patients, respectively; 2.4%, 7.2%, 9.6%, 8.3%, 10.4% and 62.1% in those with dementia, respectively (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The presence and co-existence of geriatric syndromes is common in patients with dementia. These geriatric syndromes should be examined by clinicians and healthcare professionals who work with the demented population, so that more successful management of dementia patients may be achieved.
Human face identification after plastic surgery using SURF, Multi-KNN and BPNN techniques
Authors: Sabharwal Tanupreet , Gupta Rashmi
Published: March 2024

Facial identification for surgical and non-surgical datasets is getting popular. The reason behind this popularity is the growing need of a robust facial recognition system which is consistent to occlusion, spoofing attacks and last but most important plastic surgery effects. Plastic therapies are undertaken by individuals to beautify their external appearance but it is also undertaken by impostors to commit crimes and falsify their true identities. This research work aims at developing a facial recognition system which can identify genuine and impostor pairs. The projected methodology optimizes face detection via Back-Propagation Neural Network (BPNN) and dimensionality reduction by means of Speeded Up Robust Features followed by Multi-K-Nearest-Neighbor technique. The novelty is the production of an innovative-fangled T-Database which trains the BPNN. Thus, BPNN converges faster and achieves higher recognition. The proposed scheme is not applied till date on a medically altered dataset. We have applied five distance metrics and integrated them to acquire T-Dataset, which is fed to the BPNN. This scheme is tested on surgical and non-surgical datasets and it is deduced that higher recognition is achieved with non-surgical databases as compared to surgical ones. For both surgical and non-surgical datasets, the computational cost attained is the modest.
Elastocaloric Effect in Shape-Memory Alloys
Authors: Mañosa Lluís , Planes Antoni
Published: March 2024

It is widely acknowledged that shape-memory alloys have an enormous potential for future developments of an environmentally friendly new solid-state refrigeration technology, thanks to their excellent elastocaloric properties. In the present review paper, after a brief summary of the historical milestones that have led to the present state-of-the-art of the subject of elastocaloric effect and materials, we develop its thermodynamic bases and review recent advances of the elastocaloric effect in non-magnetic and magnetic shape-memory alloys. We show that in this last family of alloys, multicaloric effects can occur induced by the combination of mechanical and magnetic fields and that this possibility might open new avenues for applications.
Evaluation of Penetration Resistance of Soils Reinforced with Geosynthetics Using CBR Tests
Authors: Carlos D. M. , Pinho-Lopes M. , Lopes M. L.
Published: March 2024

The application of geosynthetics in roads, paved or unpaved, can extend the service life of pavements, reduce base course thickness and delay rutting development, as well as reinforce weak subgrade layers, the base–subgrade interface, or the base layer. Regarding the application of geosynthetics in roads, this paper uses laboratory CBR tests to investigate how geosynthetics can improve the penetration resistance of two site-won soils (coarse and fine), analysing the influence of several parameters. The test conditions influenced unreinforced and reinforced specimens similarly. The CBR test captured the beneficial effect of the inclusion of one reinforcement layer for both soils. However, when the coarse soil was reinforced with two or more layers of sheet reinforcements, the limitations of the CBR test had a significant impact on the test results. The lateral walls of the mould and the reinforcement layout may lead to misleading results in the CBR tests. These conclusions were qualitatively corroborated by comparisons with the stress–strain behaviour from triaxial tests. Considering its popularity in the design of roads, and to address limitations of the CBR test, a modified setup to carry out CBR tests of reinforced soil solutions is proposed. This setup aims to ensure that the reinforcement mechanisms mobilised during the CBR test are realistic.
Uncovering Flat and Hierarchical Topics by Community Discovery on Word Co-occurrence Network
Authors: Austin Eric , Makwana Shraddha , Trabelsi Amine , Largeron Christine , Zaïane Osmar R.
Published: March 2024

Topic modeling aims to discover latent themes in collections of text documents. It has various applications across fields such as sociology, opinion analysis, and media studies. In such areas, it is essential to have easily interpretable, diverse, and coherent topics. An efficient topic modeling technique should accurately identify flat and hierarchical topics, especially useful in disciplines where topics can be logically arranged into a tree format. In this paper, we propose Community Topic, a novel algorithm that exploits word co-occurrence networks to mine communities and produces topics. We also evaluate the proposed approach using several metrics and compare it with usual baselines, confirming its good performances. Community Topic enables quick identification of flat topics and topic hierarchy, facilitating the on-demand exploration of sub- and super-topics. It also obtains good results on datasets in different languages.
Unlocking the Digital Toolbox — A Mixed Methods Survey of New Zealand Mental Health Clinicians’ Knowledge, Use and Attitudes Towards Digital Mental Health Interventions
Authors: Rawnsley Catherine , Stasiak Karolina
Published: March 2024

To assess New Zealand mental health clinicians and trainees’ knowledge, usage patterns, and attitudes towards digital mental health tools and their potential role in clinical practice. Participants recruited through professional organisations and training programs completed an online survey (August 2021 to February 2022). Eligible participants included Registered Health Professionals working in mental health or those enrolled in relevant training programs. The survey explored their knowledge, use of digital interventions, and perspectives on incorporating digital tools into clinical practice. Quantitative responses were summarised for the entire sample, and free-text responses regarding perceived benefits and concerns were coded to establish their relative importance. One hundred forty-four people started the survey and a total of 118 participants (77% female, 68% NZ European) completed it. Key findings indicated that 81% of the respondents had used digital tools, 65% rated their knowledge as moderate or higher, and 86% expressed interest in utilising digital tools. The primary advantages included ease of access and empowerment for clients, while concerns centred around the digital divide and the threat that digital tools may be used to replace traditional services. Clinicians demand more support and training including access to locally accredited tools. Blended (digital interwoven with in-person) support was highly favoured too. New Zealand mental health clinicians generally hold favourable views towards digital tools, with a significant proportion already trying them in their clinical practice. Clinicians are wary of digital approaches exacerbating existing inequities and want free of charge, secure, user-friendly, and evidence-based tools.
Animal studies on glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and related polyagonists in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Tsiampali Chara , Vachliotis Ilias D. , Goulas Antonis , Polyzos Stergios A.
Published: March 2024

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent metabolic liver disease closely associated with the epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but without licensed pharmacological treatment to date. As glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are approved anti-diabetic and anti-obesity medications, they were also considered a potential therapeutic option for NAFLD. Preclinical studies suggest that GLP-1RAs have a beneficial effect on major NAFLD histological outcomes, i.e., hepatic steatosis and inflammation, through multiple intrahepatic mechanisms, including increased fatty acid β-oxidation, activation of autophagy, suppression of inflammation, and oxidative stress. Data on hepatic fibrosis are limited or inconclusive, although some studies reported improvement in indices of fibrosis or prevention of fibrosis initiation or reduction of collagen deposition. Whether the positive impact of GLP-1RAs on hepatic histology is indirect, i.e., through their action on extrahepatic tissues, or whether their action is direct, i.e., through activating GLP-1R on the hepatocytes, is still a controversial issue. Alongside GLP-1RAs, newly emerging peptide polyagonists (i.e., synthetic molecules that combine the amino acid sequences of more than one peptide, thus having the ability to bind more than one receptor) are now being investigated in NAFLD with high expectations. This review summarizes the existing knowledge derived from animal studies on the effects of GLP-1RAs and GLP-1RA related peptide polyagonists on NAFLD in an attempt to illuminate areas of uncertainty and provide the groundwork for future animal and clinical research in the field.
Understanding the Relationship between Urban Public Space and Social Cohesion: A Systematic Review
Authors: Qi Jie , Mazumdar Suvodeep , Vasconcelos Ana C.
Published: March 2024

Public space serves as opportunities for everyday engagement including cultural activities and social interactions. The co-presence of diverse groups and activities is seen as an important building block of social cohesion. This review synthesised the empirical evidence to understand the relationship between public space and social cohesion. Databases searched included Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed with the inclusion of peer reviewed articles published in English, between 2000 and 2023 (till 22nd February 2023). A total of 63 published studies were identified. A variety of physical aspects of different public spaces was found to potentially encourage social interaction and cohesion, i.e., accessibility, mixed land use, presence of street furniture, etc. Furthermore, such impact was found to be affected by a range of sociodemographic factors, for example ethnicity, age, and length of residence, and perceptual factors such as safety perception, visual perceptions, and place attachment. Overall, research exploring the relationship between public space and social cohesion has occurred within disciplinary silos, posing a significant challenge in conceptualising this relationship. The recognition of these findings bridges the research effort in understanding the social mechanism between people and space across research agendas including urban design and planning, sociology, environmental psychology, public health, and human geography. We describe future work in studying the intangible aspects of urban space in the directions of assessing the social performance of public space and devising interventions to promote social interaction and foster social cohesion.
Optimization of a Horizontal Washing Machine Suspension System: Studying a 7 DOF Dynamic Model Using a Genetic Algorithm Through a Bounding Box Fitness Function
Authors: Mendoza-Flores Shair , Velázquez-Villegas Fernando , Cuenca-Jiménez Francisco
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This study addresses the optimization process of a horizontal washing machine suspension modeled after a dynamic 7 DOF model.

Methodology

A dynamical model of a horizontal washing machine is built. A simple genetic algorithm is applied to determine the optimal parameters for damping, stiffness, and position of the suspension elements by minimizing the weighted fitness function. The fitness function uses the bounding box to enclose the kinematic data of the washing machine mass center and minimize them. Finally, the Bode diagrams were used to evaluate the general aspect of the genetic algorithm performance.

Results and Conclusions

The results show remarkable improvements in the displacement, velocity, and acceleration of the center of mass of the washing machine, drastically reducing vibrations and reducing the time needed to reach the final spin speed.
Corner cutting accuracy for thin-walled CFRPC parts using HS-WEDM
Authors: AbouHawa Mohamed , Eissa Abeer
Published: March 2024

Carbon Fiber-Reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite parts with thin-walled corners are in great demand in aircraft, cars, and precision instruments. Nonetheless, the fabrication of these parts is difficult due to their low stiffness. High-speed WEDM is an advanced technique for cutting thin CFRP components as it is a non-contact method for removing materials. Nonetheless, testing results demonstrate an unavoidable deformation in the thin-walled corners of the CFRP composite. The objective of this study is to improve the accuracy of corners in thin-walled CFRP composite parts. The research utilized a Taguchi L16 orthogonal array to investigate the influence of various process parameters, including pulse-on duration (Pon), pulse-off duration (Poff), and input current (I), as well as the parameter CFRP plate thickness (T), on corner inaccuracy. The CFRP thickness varied between 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mm, and the corner angles examined were 30°, 60°, 90°, and 120°. Additionally, a second-order polynomial regression model was used to determine the correlation between the process parameters and corner inaccuracy at various corner angles. Also, a multi-response optimization technique using a composite desirability coupled with a generalized reduced gradient were used to find the optimal process combination across various CFRP thicknesses. According to the research findings, the most relevant process parameters impacting corner accuracy at different angles were the pulse-on duration and input current. To achieve accurate corners with different angles, the optimal process parameters were identified: Pon (40µs), Poff (15µs), and I (4A) for CFRP thicknesses 0.5 and 1.0mm, and Pon (45μs), Poff (30μs), and I (2A) for thicknesses 1.5 and 2.0mm.