bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does FDG PETCT have a predictive value for neoadjuvant chemotherapy response in nonmetastatic breast cancer?
Authors: Dogan Ender , Disli Safak Yildirim , Asik Esra , Karacavus Seyhan , Ozdemir Feyyaz
Published: December 2024

Background

A pathological complete response (pCR) rate after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is important for the prognosis of early-stage breast cancer. The prediction of an NAC response plays a key role in managing neoadjuvant treatment.

Aims

The aim of this study is to investigate the predictive value of the baseline PETCT FDG (F-18 fluoro-deoxy-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography) SUVmax (the maximum standardized uptake value) for pCR after NAC in early-stage breast cancer.

Methods

The patients who performed PETCT before NAC were included in this retrospective study. The basal PETCT SUVmax values were divided into two categories based on the cutoff points of ≥ 8.77 or < 8.77, namely the low SUV max group and the high SUV max group. These two groups were compared according to the general characteristics. The impact of the PETCT SUVmax values on pCR was determined with logistic regression analyses.

Results

One hundred forty-eight patients who performed PETCT before NAC were included in this retrospective study. Eighty-one patients were in the low SUV max group and 67 patients were in the high SUVmax group. The pCR trended toward a higher rate in the high SUVmax group than in low SUVmax group but it was not statistically significant (p = 0.052). The baseline PETCT SUVmax value was an independent predictive factor for pCR. (p = 0.025).

Conclusion

PETCT SUVmax may be a factor for the predicting complete response to neoadjuvant treatment in early-stage breast cancer.
The Causes and Consequences of the Academic Reformation, 2025–2060
Authors: Brint Steven
Published: December 2024

American research universities experienced fragmentation and decline following the populist uprising of the mid-2020s. This article examines the causes and consequences of the academic reformation, analogizing the weaknesses of research universities in the 2020s to the weaknesses of the Roman Catholic Church of the sixteenth century. The article highlights several ruinous trends dating from the 2010s. These included high costs, the rise of just-in-time learning, and socio-political initiatives that alienated large segments of the public. The article discusses the benefits and costs of the academic reformation and what changes could have been put in place to prevent the decline of American research universities during the period.
Deciphering the Role of Shank3 in Dendritic Morphology and Synaptic Function Across Postnatal Developmental Stages in the Shank3B KO Mouse
Authors: Yang Jing , Ma Guaiguai , Du Xiaohui , Xie Jinyi , Wang Mengmeng , Wang Wenting , Guo Baolin , Wu Shengxi
Published: December 2024

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is marked by early-onset neurodevelopmental anomalies, yet the temporal dynamics of genetic contributions to these processes remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to elucidate the role of the Shank3 gene, known to be associated with monogenic causes of autism, in early developmental processes to inform the timing and mechanisms for potential interventions for ASD. Utilizing the Shank3B knockout (KO) mouse model, we examined Shank3 expression and its impact on neuronal maturation through Golgi staining for dendritic morphology and electrophysiological recordings to measure synaptic function in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) across different postnatal stages. Our longitudinal analysis revealed that, while Shank3B KO mice displayed normal neuronal morphology at one week postnatal, significant impairments in dendritic growth and synaptic activity emerged by two to three weeks. These findings highlight the critical developmental window during which Shank3 is essential for neuronal and synaptic maturation in the ACC.
Prognostic impact of tumor‑associated stroma in triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Kakumoto Akinari , Jamiyan Tsengelmaa , Koyanagi Ai , Kuroda Hajime , Yamaguchi Rin , Tsuda Hitoshi , Hirano Akira , Shiozawa Shunichi
Published: December 2024

Aim

To establish the histological categorization of tumor‑associated stroma (TAS) that reflects the biological behavior of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Methods and results

One-hundred-and-twenty surgically resected cases of TNBC were examined. We histologically categorized the TAS in the invasive frontal region into two groups: mature stroma (MS) and immature stroma (IS). The designation of IS was applied for tumors in which the largest myxoid stroma filled a high-power magnification field. When there were no myxoid stroma that meet the criteria for IS, TAS was categorized as MS. The tumors with type MS were observed in 103 (85.8%) of patients, whereas 17 (14.2%) of patients had tumors with IS. In total, 72 out of 120 patients with TNBC exhibited high tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) representing 60% of the cohort. The incidences of high TILs were 66% (68 out of 103) in the MS group but only 23.5% (4 of 17) in the IS group (p = 0.001). Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) curves were different between IS and MS groups (p < 0.001 each), and Cox multivariate regression analysis revealed that IS was an independent indicator for lower PFS and OS rates (p < 0.001; p = 0.008).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that TAS characteristics, particularly the distinction between IS and MS, play a significant role in the prognosis of TNBC. The presence of IS, associated with poor prognosis and low TILs, contrasts with the favorable outcomes observed in cases with MS. Understanding these TAS dynamics could aid in identifying patients with varying prognostic outcomes in TNBC, necessitating further research into the mechanisms behind these observations.
Hydrogel models of pancreatic adenocarcinoma to study cell mechanosensing
Authors: Walker M , Morton JP
Published: December 2024

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the predominant form of pancreatic cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide, with an extremely poor prognosis after diagnosis. High mortality from PDAC arises partly due to late diagnosis resulting from a lack of early-stage biomarkers and due to chemotherapeutic drug resistance, which arises from a highly fibrotic stromal response known as desmoplasia. Desmoplasia alters tissue mechanics, which triggers changes in cell mechanosensing and leads to dysregulated transcriptional activity and disease phenotypes. Hydrogels are effective in vitro models to mimic mechanical changes in tissue mechanics during PDAC progression and to study the influence of these changes on mechanosensitive cell responses. Despite the complex biophysical changes that occur within the PDAC microenvironment, carefully designed hydrogels can very closely recapitulate these properties during PDAC progression. Hydrogels are relatively inexpensive, highly reproducible and can be designed in a humanised manner to increase their relevance for human PDAC studies. In vivo models have some limitations, including species-species differences, high variability, expense and legal/ethical considerations, which make hydrogel models a promising alternative. Here, we comprehensively review recent advancements in hydrogel bioengineering for developing our fundamental understanding of mechanobiology in PDAC, which is critical for informing advanced therapeutics.
Diversity and Bioactivities of Ulleung Island-Derived Marine Actinomycetes
Authors: Lee Jeonghee , Shin Hyeongsub , Kim Ho Sung , Park Jeong Woo , Akinniyi Ganiyu , Kang Soojin , Moon Ki Hwan , Yang Inho
Published: December 2024

Actinomycetes are key producers of bioactive secondary metabolites. In this study, sediment samples were collected using a grab sampler from the coast of Ulleung Island and inoculated on various agar media by stamping to isolate Actinomycetes. As a result, 69 Actinomycete strains were isolated and laboratory-cultured from the sediment samples. The isolates were assigned to the genera Streptomyces (44 strains), Nocardia (6 strains), Rhodococcus (6 strains), Mycobacterium (6 strains), Micromonospora (3 strains), Nocardioides (2 strains), Marmoricola (1 strain), and Oerskovia (1 strain) based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The antibacterial activity and potential toxicity of the culture broth extracts were tested for all isolates. Extracts from some strains exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Acinetobacter baumannii 04 and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Additionally, some extracts were toxic to brine shrimp. This study confirms that marine Actinomycetes from Ulleung Island encompass unique and diverse taxonomic groups and are a good source of bioactive natural products.
Mental Health and Well-Being of LGBTQ+ Refugees in Comparison to LGBTQ+ Host Country Population
Authors: Bleckmann Clara , Golembe Jasmine , Kaiser Till , Leyendecker Birgit , Busch Julian
Published: December 2024

Introduction

LGBTQ+ refugees are likely to experience heightened mental health burdens and lower levels of well-being when compared to LGBTQ+ individuals without refugee experience. Still, the distinctive psychological mechanisms explaining their heightened levels of distress remain understudied. We examined the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ+ refugees in comparison to LGBTQ+ host country individuals in Germany and explored whether disparities are potentially mediated by proximal and distal minority stress.

Methods

In 2019, LGBTQ+ refugees (n1 = 139) and LGBTQ+ Germans (n2 = 262) participated in a cross-sectional online survey. Using path analysis, we compared mental health burdens (symptoms of depression/anxiety, post-traumatic stress) and well-being (life satisfaction, self-esteem) to understand how these variables are mediated by proximal (internalized homophobia, heightened vigilance) and distal minority stress (experiences of discrimination).

Results

LGBTQ+ refugees reported higher mental health burdens and lower life satisfaction yet no differences in self-esteem. Distal minority stress (discrimination) mediated the link between LGBTQ+ refugee status and symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Proximal minority stress mediated both heightened symptoms of depression/anxiety and lower well-being for LGBTQ+ refugees.

Conclusions

Linked to experiences of minority stress, LGBTQ+ refugees in Germany might be at a heightened risk for increased mental health burdens and lower well-being. Compared to host-country LGBTQ+ communities, LGBTQ+ refugees might experience different profiles of minority stress, including more distal minority stress.

Policy Implications

Both administrators and the local LGBTQ+ community need to be aware of the particular vulnerability and needs of LGBTQ+ refugees for protection and safety (e.g., housing) and the prevention of exploitation.
Agave lechuguilla waste can be applied as biochar-adsorbent to remove arsenic from water
Authors: González García A. P. , Carlos Hernández S. , Díaz Jiménez L.
Published: December 2024

Fiber extraction from Agave lechuguilla generates approximately 150,000 tons of guishe, a byproduct currently lacking significant commercial value. The production of efficient and inexpensive biochar-adsorbents from guishe can potentially solve the issue of arsenic-contaminated groundwater in Mexico, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. In this report, the synthesis of four iron-modified guishe biochars was presented. The adsorbents were characterized using various techniques, and their performance as an adsorbent for arsenate was assessed by examining the impact of pH, kinetics, and adsorption isotherms. The findings suggest that all biochars can effectively remove arsenic from aqueous solutions. According to the Langmuir model, the maximum adsorption capacity of arsenic on iron-modified guishe biochar ranged from 2.67 to 21.70 mg g−1. The utilization of these adsorbents presents a potential alternative solution to the issue of arsenic-contaminated water. Moreover, synthesizing these adsorbents involves using local waste material, representing a cost-effective and sustainable approach to waste management.

Graphical abstract
Adaptive Position/Force Controller Design Using Fuzzy Neural Network and Stiffness Estimation for Robot Manipulator
Authors: Tseng Bo-Ru , Jiang Jun-Yi , Lee Ching-Hung
Published: December 2024

This paper proposes an adaptive hybrid position/force control approach using fuzzy neural networks (FNNs) for a robot manipulator with joint friction compensation. The dynamics model and system uncertainties are estimated by FNNs. For force tracking control, an adaptive impedance controller is employed with an online stiffness estimator, wherein the stiffness of the contacted environment is estimated using a gradient descent algorithm. The adaptive update laws of the FNNs and the stability of the controller are obtained using the Lyapunov stability theorem. Finally, the proposed adaptive hybrid controller is implemented on the AR605, a 6-axis articulated robot manipulator manufactured by the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI). The effectiveness and robustness of the proposed control strategies are verified by the simulation and experimental results.
Den Widersprüchen einen Sinn geben: Biografisches Lernen berufstätiger Erwachsener im Kontext der Anforderung von Nachhaltigkeit
Authors: Thevenot Elisa , Hof Christiane
Published: December 2024

Nachhaltigkeit ist mit einer Vielzahl von Bedeutungen verbunden, die durch konkurrierende Zukunftsvisionen hervorgerufen werden. Während Erwachsenenbildung darauf mit pluralistischen Angeboten reagieren kann, bleibt es dem Einzelnen überlassen mit Widersprüchen umzugehen. Der Beitrag arbeitet anhand von zwei empirischen Fällen (berufs-)biographische Umgangsformen mit den widersprüchlichen Anforderungen von Nachhaltigkeit heraus. Diese werden als unterschiedliche Formen des Lernens interpretiert und im Hinblick auf die Gestaltung pädagogischer Bildungsangebote reflektiert.
Soziale Ungleichheiten in der Beschäftigung mit nachhaltigkeitsbezogenen Themen im Erwachsenenalter
Authors: Costa Jana , Kühn Claudia
Published: December 2024

In diesem Beitrag werden Daten der Erwachsenenkohorte des Nationalen Bildungspanels reanalysiert und es wird untersucht, mit welchen nachhaltigkeitsbezogenen Lernthemen sich Erwachsene informell beschäftigen und welche Rolle dabei soziale Ungleichheitskategorien spielen. Dazu wurden insgesamt 17.395 offene Angaben aus vier Erhebungswellen entlang eines zuvor entwickelten Kategoriensystems kodiert und ausgewertet (n = 6793). Die Befunde der logistischen Regressionsanalyse deuten darauf hin, dass die Chance, sich mit nachhaltigkeitsbezogenen Themen zu beschäftigen, von Geschlecht, Alter, Bildungsgrad, Einkommen sowie beruflichem Status abhängt. Darüber hinaus zeigen sich soziale Unterschiede hinsichtlich der Themen.
Transcendental Brauer–Manin obstructions on singular K3 surfaces
Authors: Alaa Tawfik Mohamed , Newton Rachel
Published: December 2024

Let E and $$E'$$

E
′

be elliptic curves over $${{\mathbb {Q}}}$$
Q
with complex multiplication by the ring of integers of an imaginary quadratic field K and let $$Y={{\,\textrm{Kum}\,}}(E\times E')$$

Y
=

Kum

(
E
×

E
′

)

be the minimal desingularisation of the quotient of $$E\times E'$$

E
×

E
′

by the action of $$-1$$

-
1

. We study the Brauer groups of such surfaces Y and use them to furnish new examples of transcendental Brauer–Manin obstructions to weak approximation.
Leading by the nodes: a survey of film industry network analysis and datasets
Authors: Dadlani Aresh , Vo Vi , Khemka Ayushi , Harvey Sophie Talalay , Kantoro Kyzy Aigul , Jones Pete , Verhoeven Deb
Published: December 2024

This paper presents a comprehensive survey of network analysis research on the film industry, aiming to evaluate its emergence as a field of study and identify potential areas for further research. Many foundational network studies made use of the abundant data from the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) to test network methodologies. This survey focuses more specifically on examining research that employs network analysis to evaluate the film industry itself, revealing the social and business relationships involved in film production, distribution, and consumption. The paper adopts a classification approach based on node type and summarises the key contributions in relation to each. The review provides insights into the structure and interconnectedness of the field, highlighting clusters of debates and shedding light on the areas in need of further theoretical and methodological development. In addition, this survey contributes to understanding film industry network analysis and informs researchers interested in network methods within the film industry and related cultural sectors.
Magnetohydrodynamic squeeze film characteristics of micropolar fluids with piezo-viscous dependency between wide parallel rectangular plates
Authors: Sheela Shivshanker , Arunkumar R. , Hanumagowda B. N. , Sreekala C. K. , Tawade Jagadish V. , Batool Nadia , Ibrahim Talib K. , Abduvalieva Dilsora , Gupta Manish
Published: December 2024

The study introduces a novel approach to squeeze film behavior by combining Micropolar fluid, its piezo-viscous dependency, and MHD effects on wide parallel rectangular plates. The Reynolds equation is developed analyticaly by utilising the principles of hydromagnetic flow, Eringen’s microcontinuum theory, the micropolar fluid model and the influence of variable viscosity.The current study seeks to maximize the bearing performance by scrutinizing the pressure, load carrying capacity, and squeezing time. The influence of Hartmann number M, coupling number N, fluid gap interacting number L, and Piezo-Viscous Dependency parameter G are numerically calculated and depicted graphically. Notably, the pressure, the load carrying capability, and squeezing time are enhanced by the presence of the micropolar fluid and the magnetic field compared to their Newtonian and non-magnetic counterparts. Additionally, the piezo-viscous dependency, characterized by the viscosity variation factor, also increases the pressure, load and squeezing time. The study highlights the potential of utilizing couple stress fluid, viscosity variation, and MHD as a means to improve load carrying capability and extend the operational life of squeeze film bearings in various engineering applications. The Reynolds equation is derived by applying theory of hydromagnetic flow and Eringen’s micro continuum theory along with micro polar fluid model.
Exploring Motivations for Cannabis Use in Casual Leisure: a German Perspective
Authors: Ghvanidze Sophie , Ščasný Milan , Kang Soo K. , Hanf Jon H.
Published: December 2024

Cannabis is a popular leisure activity in many cultures, especially in North America and Europe, where it is commonly used for socializing and entertainment. A recent German study employed the Marijuana Motives Measure to survey young adults, analyzing four motivational factors in the context of casual leisure. The research aimed to understand the reasons behind adults’ daily cannabis use, its link to consumption frequency, and situations. The findings highlight cannabis use for hedonic pleasure, relaxation, and enhancing social experiences. Individuals driven by self-focused motives, seeking relaxation and hedonic pleasure, tend to use it more frequently, while other-focused motives, such as sociable conversation, are associated with less frequent and occasional consumption. The study further revealed that people who consume cannabis for self-focused motives typically do so alone or with someone at home, whereas those who use it for other-focused motives, such as sociable conversation, tend to do so in social settings.
Analysis and control of the causes of the uplift of the invert of deep tunnels
Authors: Li Chunlin , Wu Yan
Published: December 2024

When traversing a complex and fractured geological formation, a deep-buried highway tunnel in Yunnan Province encountered a significant uplift problem in the invert. The causes of the tunnel’s uplifted section were analyzed through on-site observations and monitoring of the lining structure’s deformation, combined with numerical simulation methods. The results indicate that the primary factors leading to the invert uplift are the softening of the surrounding rock at the invert base due to water seepage and the high water pressure in the fractured zone. The softening of the surrounding rock is crucial to the safety of the inverted uplift structure. Based on the tunnel’s engineering characteristics and the causes of the invert uplift, remediation measures such as “enhancing the drainage system, grouting with steel flower pipes, and demolishing and replacing the invert” were adopted. These measures effectively controlled the invert uplift. After the remediation, the convergence rate of the secondary lining decreased, and the deformation stabilized, indicating that the invert uplift remediation plan was reasonable and effective
Fine-grained vectorized merge sorting on RISC-V: from register to cache
Authors: Zhang Jin , Zhou Jincheng , Zhang Xiang , Ma Di , Gong Chunye
Published: December 2024

Merge sort as a divide-sort-merge paradigm has been widely applied in computer science fields. As modern reduced instruction set computing architectures like the fifth generation (RISC-V) regard multiple registers as a vector register group for wide instruction parallelism, optimizing merge sort with this vectorized property is becoming increasingly common. In this paper, we overhaul the divide-sort-merge paradigm, from its register-level sort to the cache-aware merge, to develop a fine-grained RISC-V vectorized merge sort (RVMS). From the register-level view, the inline vectorized transpose instruction is missed in RISC-V, so implementing it efficiently is non-trivial. Besides, the vectorized comparisons do not always work well in the merging networks. Both issues primarily stem from the expensive data shuffle instruction. To bypass it, RVMS strides to take register data as the proxy of data shuffle to accelerate the transpose operation, and meanwhile replaces vectorized comparisons with scalar cousin for more light real value swap. On the other hand, as cache-aware merge makes larger data merge in the cache, most merge schemes have two drawbacks: the in-cache merge usually has low cache utilization, while the out-of-cache merging network remains an ineffectively symmetric structure. To this end, we propose the half-merge scheme to employ the auxiliary space of in-place merge to halve the footprint of naïve merge sort, and meanwhile copy one sequence to this space to avoid the former data exchange. Furthermore, an asymmetric merging network is developed to adapt to two different input sizes. Experiments on the RISC-V processor SG2042 show that four fine-grained optimization schemes including register strided transpose, hybrid merging network, half-merge strategy, and asymmetric merging network, improve performance by 4.05%, 19.88%, 12.23%, and 11.04% respectively. Importantly, the overall performance is 1.34x faster than the parallel sorting in the Boost C++ library, and 1.85x faster than std::sort.
Sustainability language found in forest plans and its mathematical modeling potential
Authors: Vatandaslar Can , Bettinger Pete , Merry Krista , Gutierrez Garzon Alba Rocio , Boston Kevin , Lee Taeyoon
Published: December 2024

Over the last fifty years, management plans have become more descriptive with regard to the potential sustainability of forest systems, raising questions about the feasibility of implementing management activities and ensuring the sustainability of a wide variety of ecosystem services. To assess this issue, we conducted a survey among forest planning and operation research communities in the United States to understand their perceptions regarding the potential of a sample of sustainability statements currently used in national forest plans to be incorporated into optimization models or other mathematical operations. A total of 65 people responded to the survey, resulting in a response rate of 16.5%. Almost 70% of the respondents reported having over 30 years in their specified fields. The results revealed that only 3 out of 15 statements from the sample were deemed to have relatively mature or firm methodologies and data to enable inclusion in modern mathematical models for land use optimization. Of the three statements, two were related to economic sustainability, offering quantifiable information such as a non-declining flow of wood products over time and limits on the amount of timber harvested per decade. In contrast, sociocultural and, to some extent, ecological statements regarding sustainability were generally perceived to be more difficult to translate into mathematical modeling efforts. Particularly challenging were statements corresponding to sustaining natural or scenic characteristics of a forest. These findings may be attributed to various factors, including a lack of measurable indicators for sustainability and a potential lack of understanding about the modeling components and their interactions with planned management activities.
Effects of aqueous cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.) cladodes extract on wheat dough and pan bread quality characteristics
Authors: Al‐Marazeeq Khaled , Saleh Mohammed , Alsakarneh Nawal
Published: December 2024

The effect of kneading wheat flour with aqueous cladode extracts on the dough's rheological and pan bread quality characteristics was investigated. Cladodes aqueous extract solutions of 5% and 7.5% positively and significantly (P < 0.05) impacted the dough's rheological properties as well as the bread-specific volume index. The use of 10% cladodes aqueous extract solutions, however, negatively impacts bread quality. As the cladodes extract increased from 5 to 10%, the L* and b* color values of both crust and crumb were reduced, a* color values of crust significantly increased while decreased for the crumb. Sensory bread preferences formulated with 7.5% extract were assessed as the best, followed by 5% bread, while the lowest preferences were bread formulated with 10% extract. The use of 7.5% of cladodes aqueous extract resulted in the greatest specific volume and extensograph parameters, except the extensibility E; an indication of the significant impacts on bread quality. In particular, the Max height extensograph index was 426 when 7.5% of cladodes aqueous extract solution was used compared to 280 for the control and 396–365 for the 5 and 10% cladodes aqueous extract solutions, respectively. Results suggest the potential use of cladodes aqueous extract solutions as a healthy alternative to chemical additives in bread and baked products.
Impact of riverine inputs on nutrient dynamics and water quality in enclosed water bodies
Authors: Koue Jinichi
Published: December 2024

This study investigates the intricate dynamics of nutrient transport and stratification in Lake Biwa, highlighting the significant impact of river inflows on water quality. Utilizing a validated three-dimensional flow field model and ecosystem model including a bottom sediment model, the analysis revealed that nutrient concentrations, specifically NH₄⁺, NO₂⁻, NO₃⁻, and PO₄3⁻, exhibited pronounced seasonal variations. In the RN_double scenario, NH₄⁺ and NO₂⁻ concentrations demonstrated a slight increase of 0.1 µg/L, respectively, while NO₃⁻ concentrations rose by 0.05–0.10 µg/L in response to precipitation changes. Conversely, in the RN_half scenario, NH₄⁺ and NO₂⁻ concentrations decreased, with NO₃⁻ seeing a more substantial decline of approximately 0.1 µg/L, attributed to reduced precipitation. PO₄3⁻ levels exhibited a maximum decrease of 0.03 µg/L from summer to autumn. Furthermore, simulations limiting nutrient inflows indicated a modest reduction in concentrations: NH₄⁺ decreased by approximately 0.03 µg/L during summer, and NO₂⁻ decreased by around 0.05 µg/L from spring to summer. The results suggest that while immediate improvements in dissolved oxygen levels are limited, effective long-term nutrient management could stabilize oxygen concentrations and improve overall water quality. These findings underscore the necessity for comprehensive water management strategies to mitigate eutrophication effects and support the ecological health of Lake Biwa.
Influence of oil-water mixing conditions on the friction and wear performance of ship tail-bearing materials
Authors: Zhou Xincong , Wang Lun , Xing Shaopeng , Zhou Zhenjiang
Published: December 2024

This study addresses the lubrication challenges posed by oil-water mixtures that arise when vessels encounter adverse maritime conditions, including collisions, grounding, and reefing, which can lead to failures in lubrication systems during navigation. The research focuses on three representative ship tail-bearing composites: polymer material(K4), thordon material(SR), and tenmat material(FR). Various volume fractions of oil-water mixtures were prepared, and the rheological properties of these mixtures were examined using a rotational rheometer (MCR102). Additionally, the variation of friction coefficients of the composites about load and linear velocity under different oil-water mixtures was analyzed using a Ring-Block Friction and Wear Testing Machine. Following the experiments, the surface morphology of the composites was assessed, and the wear mechanisms were analyzed using a laser interferometric surface profiler (LI-type), a confocal laser microscope (CLSM), and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The findings indicate that, under all lubrication conditions, the friction coefficients of the three materials exhibit a gradual decrease with increasing load and linear velocity.Furthermore, the wear of the materials initially increases and then decreases with rising oil content, with higher oil concentrations in the oil-water mixture correlating with reduced wear. The study reveals that the three materials experience significant abrasive and adhesive wear under adverse oil-water mixing conditions. This research offers valuable insights for developing friction substitutes for oil-water mixing bearings in specialized operational environments and guides the design of friction components in such bearings.
Kant on Hope’s Value and Misanthropy
Authors: Yuen Michael
Published: December 2024

In this article, I develop a neglected aspect of the value of hope in Kant’s philosophy. I do so by homing in on Section III of the 1793 essay “On the Common Saying.” In my interpretation, Kant argues that if one recognizes obligations to help future generations while also encountering people who violate these obligations, one is more likely to isolate oneself from society—what Kant calls the hatred of humanity or misanthropy. Thus, the article argues that hope is valuable for combating misanthropy, especially in the pursuit of intergenerational moral goals.
What Perceptualists Can Say About Reasons for Emotion
Authors: Milona Michael
Published: December 2024

Perceptualism is a prominent theory analyzing emotions as perceptual experiences of value. A long-standing challenge to perceptualism says that emotions cannot be perceptual because they are subject to normative assessments in terms of reasons and rationality, while perceptual experiences are not. I defend perceptualism from this charge. My argument begins by distinguishing two forms of normative assessment: fundamental and non-fundamental. Perceptualism is compatible with the latter (i.e., non-fundamental reasons and rationality); even sensory experiences are so assessable. I next argue that emotions are only non-fundamentally assessable. Following this argument, I outline a perceptualist-friendly theory of emotions as non-fundamentally normatively assessable.
Local context review by single institutional review boards: Results from a modified Delphi process
Authors: Morain Stephanie R. , Bollinger Juli , Singleton Megan K. , Terkowitz Mia , Weston Christine , Sugarman Jeremy
Published: December 2024

Introduction:

Local context is the most common concern regarding use of a single institutional review board (sIRB). Yet what “local context” constitutes remains underspecified. Developing a shared understanding of the goals of local context review, the categories of information that should be considered, as well as the types of studies for which sIRB review may be inappropriate, are critical for ensuring that sIRB review provides adequate protections for human subjects.

Methods:

We conducted a three-round modified Delphi process convening individuals with expertise in the conduct and oversight of multisite research. Delphi surveys explored: (1) the goals of local context review; (2) the types of information that should be considered; and (3) study types that should be exempted from sIRB requirements.

Results:

Twenty-one experts participated. Experts agreed that (1) local context review should aim to both protect local participants and ensure compliance and (2) that four types of information should be considered (population/participant-level characteristics; investigator and research team characteristics; institution-level characteristics; and state and local laws). There was less consensus about whether existing processes facilitated adequate consideration of this information. Experts agreed that exemptions from sIRB requirements should be permitted but disagreed about when and in what circumstances.

Conclusion:

There is overlapping consensus about both the goals of local context review and the types of information that should be assessed. Future work remains, however, to develop effective processes to best realize the goals of local context review – and do so with appropriate efficiency.
‘Working for the stomach’: sustaining peasant mining in south-western Uganda
Authors: D’Angelo Lorenzo , Fisher Eleanor
Published: December 2024

In the mountainous areas of south-western Uganda, peasant miners are characterized as people who ‘work for the stomach’ and pursue an unsustainable activity: extracting alluvial gold with artisanal technology. After days of hard work in the mines, they allegedly squander their money on alcohol and sex. A common way of disapproving of these miners’ behaviour is to compare them to lake fishers (ababariya). By focusing on the ababariya narrative as an entry point into the lifeways of miners, and the relationship between mining and fishing and agriculture, we explore how peasant miners think about a sustainable life. Our argument is that the ababariya can be instrumental in the reproduction and legitimization of existing social and economic inequalities. We therefore examine the contexts that frame the ababariya narrative and the inequalities that it legitimizes. This leads us to reflect on whether this narrative on ‘excessive behaviours’ reveals something about an alternative way of thinking about economy and social relationships based on abundance rather than scarcity.
‘SPEAKER FOR THE DEAD’: COMPOSITION AS SPECULATIVE ARCHAEOACOUSTICS
Authors: White Alastair
Published: December 2024

This article presents the theoretical foundations of speculative archaeoacoustics, a methodology of composition in which artistic practice becomes a way of accessing the lost music of the Upper Palaeolithic. It begins by accepting David Graeber and David Wengrow’s understanding of prehistory as a dazzling tapestry of investigations and enquiries, before drawing a methodology of affect and creation from the work of Steven Mithen. From here it critiques two contemporary procedures for realising ancient music – one theoretical and one practical – to show how lost art must be reclaimed not through the empirical limit but the aesthetic exception. By adapting Alain Badiou's theory of eternal, invariant truths through a satirical tradition that includes science- and theory-fiction, the argument concludes with the demonstration of a procedure through which we may reimagine, discover and speak for vanished genius.
The epidemiology and healthcare costs of pregnancy-related listeriosis in British Columbia, Canada, 2005–2014
Authors: Ilic Antonela , Panagiotoglou Dimitra , Galanis Eleni , Taylor Marsha , Butt Zahid A. , Majowicz Shannon E.
Published: December 2024

This study investigated cases of pregnancy-related listeriosis in British Columbia (BC), Canada, from 2005 to 2014. We described all diagnosed cases in pregnant women (n = 15) and neonates (n = 7), estimated the excess healthcare costs associated with listeriosis, and calculated the fraction of stillbirths attributable to listeriosis, and mask cell sizes 1–5 due to data requirements. Pregnant women had a median gestational age of 31 weeks at listeriosis onset (range: 20–39) and on average delivered at a median of 37 weeks gestation (range: 20–40). Neonates experienced complications but no fatalities. Stillbirths occurred in 1–5 of 15 pregnant women with listeriosis, and very few (0.05–0.24%) of the 2,088 stillbirths in BC in the 10 years were attributed to listeriosis (exact numbers masked). Pregnant women and neonates with listeriosis had significantly more hospital visits, days in the hospital and physician visits than those without listeriosis. Pregnant women with listeriosis had 2.59 times higher mean total healthcare costs during their pregnancy, and neonates with listeriosis had 9.85 times higher mean total healthcare costs during their neonatal period, adjusting for various factors. Despite small case numbers and no reported deaths, these results highlight the substantial additional health service use and costs associated with individual cases of pregnancy-related listeriosis in BC.
Radicle emergence could overestimate the prediction of seed longevity in wild plants
Authors: Wijayasinghe Malaka M. , Hay Fiona R. , Isanta Maria Tudela , Balestrazzi Alma , Colville Louise , Pritchard Hugh W. , Mondoni Andrea
Published: December 2024

Seed longevity influences the success of ex situ storage and preservation of plant genetic diversity and is thus a critical factor in conservation efforts. Rapid seed ageing experiments at high temperature and high humidity have been widely used to classify seed longevity for hundreds of plant species, with potential implications for longevity in ex situ conservation. In this approach, radicle emergence (R) is normally used as a measure of the viability of the seeds. However, R could overestimate the level of normal seedling development and, consequently, the perceived longevity of seeds. Here, seed lifespan for 33 alpine species was compared to assess whether germination criteria could affect seed longevity parameters. Seeds were exposed to controlled ageing [45°C, 60% relative humidity (RH)] and regularly sampled for germination assessment as both radicle emergence (R) and radicle plus cotyledon emergence (R + C). The time taken in storage for viability to fall to 50% (p50) was determined using probit analysis, including either R or R + C data. A coefficient of overestimation of seed longevity (OESL, %) was determined. The results highlight significant differences in seed longevity estimates both across species and the germination criteria. For 17 species, seed longevity estimated by R was significantly higher than that estimated using R + C, resulting in large variation in OESL (0.54–9.01 d). The introduction of OESL facilitates effective screening for seed longevity and recovery, enhancing the overall efficiency of conservation strategies for diverse species.
Pulse splitting technique for low sidelobe time-modulated antenna array synthesis with harmonic suppression
Authors: Sallam Tarek , Attiya Ahmed M.
Published: December 2024

In this paper, pulse splitting approach is proposed to simultaneously reduce the sidelobe level (SLL) of fundamental signal and maximum sideband levels (SBLs) of harmonic signals for time-modulated linear array (TMLA). This is achieved by controlling only the periodic switching time sequence of each element of the TMLA. In pulse splitting, the on–off switching sequence of each radiating element is characterized by multiple rectangular sub-pulses within the modulation period which increase the degrees of freedom in order to better synthesize the desired fundamental pattern with simultaneous suppression of harmonic or sideband radiation. A genetic algorithm is employed to optimize the switch-on and switch-off instants of each sub-pulse for each element for 16-element uniform amplitude, phase, and space linear antenna array. The simulation results reveal that the proposed method can achieve the desired patterns with very low SLL and SBLs compared with previous published results.
The Effect of Pseudo‐Global Warming on the Weather‐Climate System of Africa in a Convection‐Permitting Model
Authors: Núñez Ocasio K. M. , Dougherty Erin M.
Published: December 2024

The African easterly jet (AEJ) and the West African Monsoon (WAM) can largely modulate high‐impact weather over Africa and the tropical Atlantic. How these features will change with a warming climate is just starting to be addressed due to global climate model limitations in resolving convection. We employ a novel regional setup for an atmospheric convection‐permitting model alongside the pseudo‐global warming (PGW) approach to address climate change impacts on the weather‐climate system of Africa during a short period of high‐impact weather. Our findings indicate that the AEJ and WAM may intensify in a future warming climate scenario. Precipitation is shown to increase over Guinea Highlands and Cameroon Mountains and shift southward due to a latitudinal expansion and increase of deep convection closer to the equator. This has relevant ramifications for the livelihood of communities that depend on water‐fed crops in tropical Africa.
A Vertically Resolved Canopy Improves Chemical Transport Model Predictions of Ozone Deposition to North Temperate Forests
Authors: Vermeuel Michael P. , Millet Dylan B. , Farmer Delphine K. , Ganzeveld Laurens N. , Visser Auke J. , Alwe Hariprasad D. , Bertram Timothy H. , Cleary Patricia A. , Desai Ankur R. , Helmig Detlev , Kavassalis Sarah C. , Link Michael F. , Pothier Matson A. , Riches Mj , Wang Wei , Williams Sara
Published: December 2024

Dry deposition is the second largest tropospheric ozone (O3) sink and occurs through stomatal and nonstomatal pathways. Current O3 uptake predictions are limited by the simplistic big‐leaf schemes commonly used in chemical transport models (CTMs) to parameterize deposition. Such schemes fail to reproduce observed O3 fluxes over terrestrial ecosystems, highlighting the need for more realistic treatment of surface‐atmosphere exchange in CTMs. We address this need by linking a resolved canopy model (1D Multi‐Layer Canopy CHemistry and Exchange Model, MLC‐CHEM) to the GEOS‐Chem CTM and use this new framework to simulate O3 fluxes over three north temperate forests. We compare results with in situ measurements from four field studies and with standalone, observationally constrained MLC‐CHEM runs to test current knowledge of O3 deposition and its drivers. We show that GEOS‐Chem overpredicts observed O3 fluxes across all four studies by up to 2×, whereas the resolved‐canopy models capture observed diel profiles of O3 deposition and in‐canopy concentrations to within 10%. Relative humidity and solar irradiance are strong O3 flux drivers over these forests, and uncertainties in those fields provide the largest remaining source of model deposition biases. Flux partitioning analysis shows that: (a) nonstomatal loss accounts for 60% of O3 deposition on average; (b) in‐canopy chemistry makes only a small contribution to total O3 fluxes; and (c) the CTM big‐leaf treatment overestimates O3‐driven stomatal loss and plant phytotoxicity in these temperate forests by up to 7×. Results motivate the application of fully online vertically explicit canopy schemes in CTMs for improved O3 predictions.
Extensive Secondary Cratering From the InSight Sol 1034a Impact Event
Authors: Grindrod P. M. , Daubar I. J. , Fernando B. , Kim D. , Collins G. S. , Stähler S. C. , Wojcicka N. , Posiolova L. V. , Froment M. , Beucler É. , Sansom E. , Garcia R. , Zenhäusern G.
Published: December 2024

Impact cratering is one of the fundamental processes throughout the history of the Solar System. The formation of new impact craters on planetary bodies has been observed with repeat images from orbiting satellites. However, the time gap between images is often large enough to preclude detailed analysis of smaller‐scale features such as secondary impact craters, which are often removed or buried over a short time period. Here we use a seismic event detected on Mars by the NASA InSight mission to investigate secondary cratering at a new impact crater. We strengthen the case that the seismic event that occurred on Sol 1034 (S1034a) is the result of a new impact cratering event. Using the exact timing of this event from InSight, we investigated the resulting new impact crater in orbital image data. The S1034a impact crater is approximately 9 m in diameter but is responsible for over 900 secondary impact events in the form of low albedo spots that are located at distances of up to almost 7 km from the primary crater. We suggest that the low albedo spots formed from relatively low energy ejecta, with individual ejecta block velocities less than 200 m s−1. We estimate that the low albedo spots, the main evidence of secondary impact processes at this new impact event, fade within 200–300 days after formation.
Response of the ductus arteriosus to acetaminophen or indomethacin in extremely low birth weight infants
Authors: Sutton Courtney C. , Slaughter James C. , Alrifai Mhd Wael , Hale Jennifer , Reese Jeff
Published: December 2024

Objective

Acetaminophen and indomethacin are used for medical management of a patent ductus arteriosus. This study compared the efficacy of these agents in ELBW infants.

Study design

This was a retrospective study of all courses of indomethacin and acetaminophen. Baseline characteristics, details of pharmacologic therapy, toxicity, and acetaminophen serum concentrations were collected. The primary analysis compared rates of ductus closure with indomethacin versus acetaminophen using Pearson’s Chi-squared test.

Results

Ductus closure after a single course of therapy was similar between acetaminophen and indomethacin 16% vs. 18%, (p = 0.79). No differences were found in gestational age, birth weight, patient acuity, toxicity, or acetaminophen concentrations between those courses that resulted in closure compared to those that did not. When comparing single-agent exposure, indomethacin was initiated earlier (9.0 vs. 13.5 days, p = 0.022) but PDA closure rates were similar between groups.

Conclusion

Acetaminophen and indomethacin produced similar rates of ductus closure in this population.