bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Dual Nature of Multilateral Development Banks
Authors: Peitz Laura Francesca
Published: March 2023

This Element offers a novel, highly relevant perspective towards Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), which are development and financial organizations at the same time. Based on the elaborate institutional logics perspective borrowed from organizational sociology, it uncovers the complex trade-offs between financial and development pressures faced by MDBs and explains variation in organizational responses thereto across types of MDBs. The argument is tested with an original dataset using Data Envelopment Analysis to explain variation in response patterns across MDBs. The analysis shows that lending to the private sector as well as being predominantly owned by borrowing members increase MDBs' emphasis on the financial at the expense of the development nature. Thereby, this Element provides unique insights into MDBs' responses to their dual nature and significantly advances our understanding of MDB lending operations, drawing attention to the complexities involved in the unique MDB business model.
Loss of control in flight accident case study: icing-related tailplane stall
Authors: Bromfield M.A. , Horri N. , Halvorsen K. , Lande K.
Published: March 2023

In January 2017, a business jet flew in Norway on a short repositioning flight with two pilots onboard, no passengers or cargo. Initially, the take-off proceeded as normal but as the landing gear was retracted both pilots observed that the airspeed was rapidly approaching the flap limiting speed of 200kts. When the flaps were fully retracted at a height of approximately 2,100ft above ground level, the crew experienced a violent nose-down pitch motion. Control was regained at a height of approximately 170ft above ground level and, following the accident, data from the flight data recorder showed that the aircraft experienced –2.62G during the pitch upset. A tailplane stall due to icing was suspected; however, the flight data recorder, being limited to 36 parameters, was not able to confirm this. For expediency during the accident investigation process, a simplified, linear flight dynamics model was developed using Matlab/Simulink to assess static and dynamic stability for a range of tailplane efficiency factors to simulate the effects of tailplane icing.
Impacts of Hurricane Matthew Exposure on Infections and Antimicrobial Prescribing in North Carolina Veterans
Authors: Carrel Margaret , Clore Gosia S. , Goto Michihiko , Kim Seungwon , Perencevich Eli N. , Vaughan-Sarrazin Mary
Published: March 2023

The impact of hurricane-related flooding on infectious diseases in the US is not well understood. Using geocoded electronic health records for 62,762 veterans living in North Carolina counties impacted by Hurricane Matthew coupled with flood maps, we explore the impact of hurricane and flood exposure on infectious outcomes in outpatient settings and emergency departments as well as antimicrobial prescribing. Declines in outpatient visits and antimicrobial prescribing are observed in weeks 0-2 following the hurricane as compared with the baseline period and the year prior, while increases in antimicrobial prescribing are observed 3+ weeks following the hurricane. Taken together, hurricane and flood exposure appear to have had minor impacts on infectious outcomes in North Carolina veterans, not resulting in large increases in infections or antimicrobial prescribing
The monostable cooperative system with nonlocal diffusion and free boundaries
Authors: Li Lei , Li Xueping , Wang Mingxin
Published: March 2023

This paper concerns the monostable cooperative system with nonlocal diffusion and free boundaries, which has recently been discussed by Du and Ni [J. Differential equations 308(2021) 369-420 and arXiv:2010.01244]. We here aim at four aspects: the first is to give more accurate estimates for the longtime behaviours of the solution; the second is to discuss the limits of solution pair of a semi-wave problem; the third is to investigate the asymptotic behaviours of the corresponding Cauchy problem; the last is to study the limiting profiles of the solution as one of the expanding rates of free boundaries converges to $\infty$. Moreover, some epidemic models are given to illustrate their own rich longtime behaviours, which are quite different from those of the relevant existing works.
Contrasting geological background based on the geochemistry of the mafic metamorphic rocks in central Dronning Maud Land
Authors: Baba Sotaro , Owada Masaaki , Hokada Tomokazu , Adachi Tatsuro , Nakano Nobuhiko
Published: March 2023

This paper reports geochemical characteristics of mafic gneisses and granulites collected from four localities in central Dronning Maud Land to evaluate the tectonic setting of their precursor rocks. Precursor rocks for the mafic gneisses and granulites in central Dronning Maud Land were formed in different geological backgrounds and tectonic settings. The mafic gneisses and granulites in the Schirmacher Hills were derived from basaltic rocks in a back-arc setting. Published U–Pb zircon ages and the geochemical variation of the basement rocks indicate their emplacement between 800 and 650 Ma, close to peak metamorphism. While similar protoliths were recognized in the inland nunataks of Hochlinfjellet, in Filchnerfjella the mafic gneisses/granulites were derived from basaltic rocks formed in marginal continental arcs or island arcs. Highly disturbed trace-element patterns indicate that the metamorphic process influenced the geochemical composition during the prograde metamorphic stage. Our results imply that the outcrops in central Dronning Maud Land with different metamorphic ages contain mafic gneisses/granulites from precursor rocks formed under different tectonic settings.
Pangolin seizures in Nepal indicate priority areas for conservation interventions
Authors: Suwal Tulshi Laxmi , Gurung Sabita , Pei Kurtis Jai-Chyi
Published: March 2023

Two species of pangolins occur in Nepal: the Chinese pangolin Manis pentadactyla and the Indian pangolin Manis crassicaudata. They are categorized as Critically Endangered and Endangered, respectively, on the IUCN Red List, and are protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973 in Nepal. Although both this national law and CITES prohibit pangolin hunting and trade, such trade still occurs. To better understand the patterns of pangolin hunting and trade in Nepal, we analysed data on pangolin seizures gathered from official records, grey literature and verified public media reports dating from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2020. A total of 122 pangolin seizures were reported in 27 districts, mostly in the central mid-hills. Seizure cases included 23 live pangolins, 18 whole-body skins with scales and 1,046.7 kg of scales. We estimate a minimum of 1,500 individuals were hunted locally over the 11-year study period. Analysis of the trade network identified the capital city, Kathmandu, as the main pangolin trade hub, with scales being the most commonly seized item. The illegal trade occurred mostly in two regions: central and eastern Nepal, and areas bordering China. The pangolins were hunted mainly from core habitats within rural areas, then transported to the city for trade. These data support the future development of effective law enforcement and policy interventions for this region, to stop the illegal pangolin trade. Greater understanding of the patterns of the local pangolin trade and the identification of hotspot areas and peak hunting seasons will allow us to prioritize areas for future conservation interventions.
The characteristic damage of analytic theology: a response to William Wood
Authors: Yadav Sameer
Published: March 2023

In Analytic Theology and the Academic Study of Religion William Wood argues that the discipline of analytic theology (AT) can make a distinctively valuable contribution to the mainstream academic study of religion. He deftly navigates the intellectual public relations work required to secure mutual appreciation across these domains of scholarly discourse. In evaluating the characteristic goods of AT, Wood also seeks to recognize and address what Laruen Winner calls ‘characteristic damage’ or deformation in the practice of AT, which he identifies with its apparent inadequacies in addressing ‘history, mystery, and practice’ in the study of religion and theology. I argue that Wood's diagnosis fails to recognize how AT's characteristic damage emerges from its monomaniacal fixation on the epistemic value of theological theorizing to the exclusion of disciplined attention to other kinds of value. While at one point he engages a previously published version of this critique (as an explanation for AT's neglect of liberation theology), he mischaracterizes my argument in that paper in ways that lead him to miss its relevance to the objections from history, mystery, and practice. These objections can be met, I suggest, but only by significant reform to AT as currently practised.
Spring-balanced 3-DoF serial planar manipulators for constant forces in arbitrary directions
Authors: Juang Chia-Wei , Jhuang Chi-Shiun , Chen Dar-Zen
Published: March 2023

With the use of springs, a method to balance the constant forces in arbitrary directions on a planar serial manipulator is developed in this study. Gravity balancing has been discussed a lot in the past. However, manipulators usually bear forces from various directions rather than only a fixed one as gravity. For instance, an industrial manipulator would bear forces from everywhere during the working process. Therefore, a method to balance these forces in arbitrary directions with springs is proposed. Based on the representation of energy, spring energy is the function of springs’ attachment points. Two spring systems with different attachment angles are needed to balance respectively forces in arbitrary directions and gravity. The spring installations of the above systems on 3-DoF manipulators are proposed. Finally, a resistive force-balanced manipulator with/without gravity balance in the grinding process is shown. In sum, this paper for the first time develops the balancing method for forces in arbitrary directions, expanding the spring balance theory to a broader application.
All that glitters is not gold: a stereological study of human donor oocytes
Authors: Santos Tânia , Pires-Luís Ana S. , Alves Ângela , Oliveira Elsa , Leal Carla , Fernandes Mónica , Vale-Fernandes Emídio , Barreiro Márcia , Calado Ana-Margarida , Sá Rosália , Sousa Mário
Published: March 2023

Here we report a quantitative analysis of human metaphase II (MII) oocytes from a 22-year-old oocyte donor, retrieved after ovarian-controlled hyperstimulation. Five surplus donor oocytes were processed for transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and a stereological analysis was used to quantify the distribution of organelles, using the point-counting technique with an adequate stereological grid. Comparisons between means of the relative volumes (Vv) occupied by organelles in the three oocyte regions, cortex (C), subcortex (SC) and inner cytoplasm (IC), followed the Kruskal–Wallis test and Mann–WhitneyU-test with Bonferroni correction. Life cell imaging and TEM analysis confirmed donor oocyte nuclear maturity. Results showed that the most abundant organelles were smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) elements (26.8%) and mitochondria (5.49%). Significant differences between oocyte regions were found for lysosomes (P= 0.003), cortical vesicles (P= 0.002) and large SER vesicles (P= 0.009). These results were quantitatively compared with previous results using prophase I (GV) and metaphase I (MI) immature oocytes. In donor MII oocytes there was a normal presence of cortical vesicles, SER tubules, SER small, medium and large vesicles, lysosomes and mitochondria. However, donor MII oocytes displayed signs of cytoplasmic immaturity, namely the presence of dictyosomes, present in GV oocytes and rare in MI oocytes, of SER very large vesicles, characteristic of GV oocytes, and the rarity of SER tubular aggregates. Results therefore indicate that the criterion of nuclear maturity used for donor oocyte selection does not always correspond to cytoplasmic maturity, which can partially explain implantation failures with the use of donor oocytes.
Victorians in Location: Introduction
Authors: Banerjee Sukanya
Published: March 2023

This essay serves as an introduction to the cluster of essays on “Victorians in Location,” offering a preview of the critical function of “place” and “location” in the Victorian world and our study of it.
Geographical indications as global knowledge commons: Ostrom's law on common intellectual property and collective action
Authors: Mazé Armelle
Published: March 2023

In this article, we reconceptualize, using an extended discrete and dynamic Ostrom's classification, the specific intellectual property (IP) regimes that support geographical indications (GIs) as ‘knowledge commons’, e.g. a set of shared collective knowledge resources constituting a complex ecosystem created and shared by a group of people that has remained subject to social dilemma. Geographical names are usually considered part of the public domain. However, under certain circumstances, geographical names have also been appropriated through trademark registration. Our analysis suggests that IP laws that support GIs first emerged in Europe and spread worldwide as a response to the threat of undue usurpation or private confiscation through trademark registration. We thus emphasize the nature of the tradeoffs faced when shifting GIs from the public domain to shared common property regimes, as defined by the EU legislation pertaining to GIs. In the context of trade globalization, we also compare the pros and cons of regulating GIsex-anterather than engaging inex-posttrademark litigation in the courts.
The effect of corruption control on efficiency spillovers
Authors: Kutlu Levent , Mao Xi
Published: March 2023

We examine the effect of corruption control on efficiency and its implications for efficiency spillovers by a stochastic frontier model. Our dataset covers 102 countries from 1996 to 2014. We find a positive relationship between corruption control and efficiency. If neighboring countries have difficulty in handling corruption, the country would be negatively affected by its neighbors' corruption through efficiency spillovers. We then compare the efficiency differences across countries for three time periods: 1996–2002, 2002–2008, and 2008–2014. On average, technical efficiencies slightly increased in the second period compared to the first period. In the third period, the efficiencies declined, particularly in China.
Culturally adapted CBT – the evolution of psychotherapy adaptation frameworks and evidence
Authors: Naeem Farooq , Sajid Sana , Naz Saiqa , Phiri Peter
Published: March 2023

Culture plays a significant role in psychotherapy practice, with cultural adaptations being implemented more commonly as globalisation and cultural awareness increase. An abundance of systematic reviews, meta-analyses and randomised controlled trials exploring culturally adapted interventions have been published across the globe. In this paper, we present the historical background to cultural adaptation by summarising and evaluating previous frameworks, as well as reviewing current evidence for such adaptations and highlighting routes for further research. Around twenty cultural adaptation frameworks have been published, covering various population demographics and intervention types, providing general guidelines for the implementation of cultural adaptations to psychosocial interventions. Nearly all the frameworks used previous literature and research to develop models on culturally adapted interventions. Some even implemented stakeholder discussions, randomised control trials, and even pilot studies. A variety of cultural adaptation factors have been outlined and discussed; however, there is no agreement on which elements work and which do not. Existing evidence indicates that culturally adapted interventions are effective, regardless of intervention type or population. While cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) was the most common intervention in trials, there are, at present, no high-quality comprehensive meta-analyses or systematic reviews on culturally adapted CBT which include all literature on this topic. This is needed in order to provide a holistic and detailed comprehension of where current understanding lies. We conclude our paper with recommendations for researchers, trainers and commissioners.

Key learning aims

(1)

Current theoretical frameworks guiding the development of culturally adapted frameworks will be outlined. Gaps in current literature will be highlighted.

(2)

An overview of the current literature of culturally adapted psychotherapies, specifically CBT and its efficacy in improving outcomes for patients, will be provided.

(3)

The need for culturally adapted CBT and comprehensive guidelines for the development of these interventions will also be discussed, with clinical implications highlighted.
Endovascular interventions in outpatient care
Authors: Thieme Marcus , Krankenberg Hans , Schilling Tom , Betge Stefan , Korosoglou Grigorios , Rammos Christos , Vosseler Markus , Espinola-Klein Christine , Heilmeier Britta , Müller Oliver J. , Langhoff Ralf , Malyar Nasser , Blessing Erwin , Caspary Lutz , Linnemann Birgit , Heiss Christian , Ito Wulf
Published: March 2023

Summary: Endovascular arterial revascularisations for the treatment of symptomatic peripheral arterial disease are constantly increasing in importance and number due to the changing age structure and high numbers of comorbidities in the German population. Patients with peripheral artery disease are often at increased risk for peri- and post-procedural complications including severe cardiovascular events. Due to limited financial and human resources and considerable risks of hospitalization, endovascular interventions that were previously reserved for hospitalized patients are now progressively considered to be performed as day case procedures. More than one third of these procedures are performed in Germany by internists with a specialization in angiology. In the current position paper the German Society of Angiology endorsed by the European Society of Vascular Medicine, summarizes the requirements and risk factors to be considered for the planning, safe performance and post procedural care of endovascular revascularizations in outpatients. The performance of endovascular procedures for peripheral artery disease both in hospitalised and outpatients should be accompanied by a mandatory quality assurance process that should not only capture procedural data, but also require documentation of complications and longterm outcome.
Stärker als die Angst
Authors: Alsleben Heike , Rufer Michael , Weiss Angela
Published: March 2023

Ängste und Panik - was kann man dagegen tun? An wen kann man sich wenden? Welche Behandlungsmöglichkeiten gibt es? Und wie können Angehörige helfen?
Betroffene und ihre Angehörigen finden in diesem Ratgeber:

konkrete Strategien und Übungen zur Selbsthilfe
Darstellungen von anerkannten Behandlungsmethoden
Anleitungen zum Umgang mit Stress und zur Anwendung von Entspannungsverfahren
ausführliche Antworten auf häufig gestellte Fragen
einen hilfreichen Kontakt- und Internetadressenteil.

Durch ihre langjährige Erfahrung in der Beratung und Therapie von Menschen mit Angsterkrankungen und deren Angehörigen sind die Autorinnen und der Autor bestens mit deren Problemen vertraut. In diesem Buch haben sie ihr Wissen in allgemein verständlicher Form zusammengefasst. Der Ratgeber eignet sich optimal zur Selbsthilfe oder begleitend zu einer laufenden Behandlung.Neu in der dritten Auflage: Der gesamte Text wurde aktualisiert, auf den neuesten Stand des Wissens gebracht und um Informationen zu neuen Entwicklungen der letzten Jahre ergänzt.
Fostering Child Language with Short-Term Digital Storybook Interventions
Authors: Cordes Anne-Kristin , Egert Franziska , Hartig Fabienne
Published: March 2023

Abstract: Research suggests that storybook reading fosters children’s language skills in the early years, with digital formats bearing new potential. This experimental pilot study with stratified randomization evaluates the effects of digital storybook reading in kindergarten on global language, vocabulary, verb learning (irregular past), and narrative skills. We assessed two reading methods: (a) dialogic reading and (b) supervised, independent screen-based story exposure. Twenty-seven children (aged 4 – 5 years) received a short-term small-group intervention (3 sessions) with a digital storybook on a tablet using one of the two methods with audio narration. Children in the dialogic reading condition made significant gains in receptive vocabulary, expressive target vocabulary, and verb learning. Postcontrasts further revealed a substantial advantage of dialogic reading for children’s narrative skills. Age-appropriate digital storybooks designed in line with insights from cognitive and developmental psychology may be used in early education to foster children’s language skills, if read dialogically.
Evaluating Enhanced Reservoir Evaporation Losses From CMIP6‐Based Future Projections in the Contiguous United States
Authors: Zhao Bingjie , Kao Shih‐Chieh , Zhao Gang , Gangrade Sudershan , Rastogi Deeksha , Ashfaq Moetasim , Gao Huilin
Published: March 2023

Enhanced reservoir evaporation has become an emerging concern regarding water loss, especially when compounded with the ever‐increasing water demand. In this study, we evaluated the evaporation rates and losses for 678 major reservoirs (representing nearly 90% of total storage capacity) in the Contiguous United States over historical baseline (1980–2019), near‐term (2020–2039), and mid‐term (2040–2059) future periods. The evaporation rate was estimated using the Lake Evaporation Model (LEM), an advanced lake evaporation model that addresses both heat storage and fetch effects, driven by multi‐ensemble downscaled Coupled Model Intercomparison Projects 6 (CMIP6) projections under the SSP585 emission scenario. The results project that the evaporation loss may increase by 2.5 × 107 m3/yr through the research period (1980–2059). Among all regions, the Rio Grande is projected to have the largest increasing rate in the near‐term and mid‐term future, with values of 7.11% of 10.25%, respectively. At the seasonal scale, the most significant increase in the evaporation rate is projected during the fall. The evaporation is projected to increase faster than the streamflow over many of the regions in the southwestern US during the summer/fall, suggesting that the shortage of water will be further exacerbated. The climate models contribute the most to the variance, as compared to the other components related to the projection of evaporation losses (e.g., hydrological model, downscaling method, and historical meteorological data set). These findings demonstrate the need to consider accelerated water loss through open water evaporation in long‐term water resources planning across various spatiotemporal scales.
Multigenetic Origin of the X‐Discontinuity Below Continents: Insights From African Receiver Functions
Authors: Pugh Stephen , Boyce Alistair , Bastow Ian D. , Ebinger C. J. , Cottaar Sanne
Published: March 2023

Constraints on chemical heterogeneities in the upper mantle may be derived from studying the seismically observable impedance contrasts that they produce. Away from subduction zones, several causal mechanisms are possible to explain the intermittently observed X‐discontinuity (X) at 230–350 km depth: the coesite‐stishovite phase transition, the enstatite to clinoenstatite phase transition, and/or carbonated silicate melting, all requiring a local enrichment of basalt. Africa hosts a broad range of terranes, from Precambrian cores to Cenozoic hotspots with or without lowermost mantle origins. With the absence of subduction below the margins of the African plate for >0.5 Ga, Africa presents an ideal study locale to explore the origins of the X. Traditional receiver function (RF) approaches used to map seismic discontinuities, such as common conversion‐point stacking, ignore slowness information crucial for discriminating converted upper mantle phases from surface multiples. By manually assessing depth and slowness stacks for 1° radius overlapping bins, normalized vote mapping of RF stacks is used to robustly assess the spatial distribution of converted upper mantle phases. The X is mapped beneath Africa at 233–340 km depth, revealing patches of heterogeneity proximal to mantle upwellings in Afar, Canaries, Cape Verde, East Africa, Hoggar, and Réunion with further observations beneath Cameroon, Madagascar, and Morocco. There is a lack of an X beneath southern Africa and strikingly, the magmatic eastern rift branch of the southern East African Rift. With no relationships existing between depth and amplitudes of observed X and estimated mantle temperatures, multiple causal mechanisms are required across a range of continental geodynamic settings.
Integrated silicon photonic MEMS
Authors: Quack Niels , Takabayashi Alain Yuji , Sattari Hamed , Edinger Pierre , Jo Gaehun , Bleiker Simon J. , Errando-Herranz Carlos , Gylfason Kristinn B. , Niklaus Frank , Khan Umar , Verheyen Peter , Mallik Arun Kumar , Lee Jun Su , Jezzini Moises , Zand Iman , Morrissey Padraic , Antony Cleitus , O’Brien Peter , Bogaerts Wim
Published: March 2023

Silicon photonics has emerged as a mature technology that is expected to play a key role in critical emerging applications, including very high data rate optical communications, distance sensing for autonomous vehicles, photonic-accelerated computing, and quantum information processing. The success of silicon photonics has been enabled by the unique combination of performance, high yield, and high-volume capacity that can only be achieved by standardizing manufacturing technology. Today, standardized silicon photonics technology platforms implemented by foundries provide access to optimized library components, including low-loss optical routing, fast modulation, continuous tuning, high-speed germanium photodiodes, and high-efficiency optical and electrical interfaces. However, silicon’s relatively weak electro-optic effects result in modulators with a significant footprint and thermo-optic tuning devices that require high power consumption, which are substantial impediments for very large-scale integration in silicon photonics. Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology can enhance silicon photonics with building blocks that are compact, low-loss, broadband, fast and require very low power consumption. Here, we introduce a silicon photonic MEMS platform consisting of high-performance nano-opto-electromechanical devices fully integrated alongside standard silicon photonics foundry components, with wafer-level sealing for long-term reliability, flip-chip bonding to redistribution interposers, and fibre-array attachment for high port count optical and electrical interfacing. Our experimental demonstration of fundamental silicon photonic MEMS circuit elements, including power couplers, phase shifters and wavelength-division multiplexing devices using standardized technology lifts previous impediments to enable scaling to very large photonic integrated circuits for applications in telecommunications, neuromorphic computing, sensing, programmable photonics, and quantum computing.
Evaluation of a novel caries detecting oral rinse
Authors: Amaechi Bennett Tochukwu , Phillips Thais Santiago , Perozo Betty Isabel , Kataoka Yuko , Movaghari Pour Fatemeh , Farah Rayane , Obiefuna Amos Chinedu , Farokhi Moshtagh Rashid
Published: March 2023

Aim

LumiCare™ Caries Detection Rinse (LC Rinse), a starch-based rinse, illuminates active initial caries (positive response) using dental curing light, thus augmenting the dentist’s visual examination. This clinical study investigated if active caries as assessed by the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) were more likely to have positive LC Rinse response than sound surfaces and inactive caries.

Methods

25 subjects participated in the study. Caries was assessed on selected teeth and the entire dentition, firstly using ICDAS and then by fluorescence evaluation after LC Rinse application. Data were statistically analyzed using Diagnostic Odds Ratio (OR) and Chi-square test X2 (α = 0.05). Sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), and Diagnostic accuracy (DA) were calculated.

Results

With selected teeth, active caries were 638.6 times (60.05 with full dentition) more likely to have positive LC Rinse response than sound surfaces and inactive caries combined (X2, p < 0.01) and 191.67 times (18.35 with full dentition) than inactive lesions only (X2, p < 0.01). With combined sound surfaces and inactive caries, Se, Sp, and DA of LC Rinse assessment were 0.94, 0.98, and 0.96 respectively.

Conclusions

LC Rinse can distinguish between active caries, inactive caries and hypomineralization, and can augment caries detection with high sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy.
Multiple myeloma with t(11;14): impact of novel agents on outcome
Authors: Puertas Borja , González-Calle Verónica , Sobejano-Fuertes Eduardo , Escalante Fernando , Rey-Bua Beatriz , Padilla Irene , García-Sanz Ramón , Puig Noemi , Gutiérrez Norma C. , Mateos María-Victoria
Published: March 2023

Multiple myeloma (MM) patients with t(11;14) present unique biological features and their prognosis is not well established. We report a retrospective study of 591 MM patients, 17.3% of whom had t(11;14). It was designed to determine the prognostic impact of this abnormality and the effect of novel agents on the response and outcomes. Three groups were established based on their cytogenetics: (1) t(11;14); (2) high-risk chromosomal abnormalities; and (3) standard risk (SR). After 80.1 months (1.2–273.8 months) of follow-up, no differences were observed in overall survival (OS) between the t(11;14) and SR groups (75.8 vs. 87.2 months; P = 0.438). Treatment of MM t(11;14) with novel agents did not improve their overall response rate (ORR) or complete response (CR) compared with those who received conventional therapy (ORR: 87.2 vs. 79.5%, P = 0.336; CR: 23.4 vs. 12.8%, P = 0.215). This effect translated into a similar PFS (39.6 vs. 30.0 months; P = 0.450) and OS (107.6 vs. 75.7 months; P = 0.175). In summary, MM t(11;14) patients did not benefit from the introduction of novel agents as much as SR patients did, indicating that other therapies are needed to improve their outcomes.
Rapid handheld time-resolved circularly polarised luminescence photography camera for life and material sciences
Authors: De Rosa Davide F. , Stachelek Patrycja , Black Dominic J. , Pal Robert
Published: March 2023

Circularly polarised luminescence (CPL) is gaining a rapidly increasing following and finding new applications in both life and material sciences. Spurred by recent instrumental advancements, the development of CPL active chiral emitters is going through a renaissance, especially the design and synthesis of CPL active luminescent lanthanide complexes owing to their unique and robust photophysical properties. They possess superior circularly polarised brightness (CPB) and can encode vital chiral molecular fingerprints in their long-lived emission spectrum. However, their application as embedded CPL emitters in intelligent security inks has not yet been fully exploited. This major bottleneck is purely hardware related: there is currently no suitable compact CPL instrumentation available, and handheld CPL photography remains an uncharted territory. Here we present a solution: an all solid-state small footprint CPL camera with no moving parts to facilitate ad hoc time-resolved enantioselective differential chiral contrast (EDCC) based one-shot CPL photography (CPLP).
Ultimate precision limit of noise sensing and dark matter search
Authors: Shi Haowei , Zhuang Quntao
Published: March 2023

The nature of dark matter is unknown and calls for a systematical search. For axion dark matter, such a search relies on finding feeble random noise arising from the weak coupling between dark matter and microwave haloscopes. We model such process as a quantum channel and derive the fundamental precision limit of noise sensing. An entanglement-assisted strategy based on two-mode squeezed vacuum is thereby demonstrated optimal, while the optimality of a single-mode squeezed vacuum is found limited to the lossless case. We propose a “nulling” measurement (squeezing and photon counting) to achieve the optimal performances. In terms of the scan rate, even with 20-decibel of strength, single-mode squeezing still underperforms the vacuum limit which is achieved by photon counting on vacuum input; while the two-mode squeezed vacuum provides large and close-to-optimum advantage over the vacuum limit, thus more exotic quantum resources are no longer required. Our results highlight the necessity of entanglement assistance and microwave photon counting in dark matter search.
Ecological risk assessment of trace elements (TEs) pollution and human health risk exposure in agricultural soils used for saffron cultivation
Authors: Taghavi Mahmoud , Darvishiyan Mostafa , Momeni Maryam , Eslami Hadi , Fallahzadeh Reza Ali , Zarei Ahmad
Published: March 2023

Contamination of farmland soils by trace elements (TEs) has become an international issue concerning food safety and human health risks. In the present research, the concentrations of TEs including cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) in soils of 16 farmlands were determined in Gonabad, Iran. In addition, the human health risks due to exposure to the TEs from the soils were assessed. Moreover, the soil contamination likelihood was evaluated based on various contamination indices including contamination factor $$(\mathrm{CF}$$

(
CF

), enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), and pollution load index (PLI) calculations. The soil mean concentrations for Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and Fe ranges as 0.102, 6.968, 22.550, 29.263, 475.281, 34.234, 13.617, 54.482 and 19,683.6 mg/kg in farmland soils. The mean concentrations of the TEs decreased in the order of Fe > Mn > Zn > Ni > Cu > Cr > Pb > Co > As > Cd. Levels of all metals in this study were within the FAO/WHO and Iranian soil standards. The HQ values from investigated elements for adults and children in the studied farms were less than the limit of 1, indicating no health risks for the studied subpopulations. The results of the present research indicated no significant carcinogenic health hazards for both adults and children through ingestion, skin contact and inhalation exposure routes. $$\mathrm{CF}$$
CF
values of Ni and Zn in 100% and 6.25% of farmlands were above 1, showing moderate contamination conditions. EF values of metals in farmlands were recorded as “no enrichment”, “minimal enrichment” and “moderate enrichment” classes. Furthermore, it can be concluded that the all farms were uncontaminated except Ni (moderately contaminated) based on Igeo. This is an indication that the selected TEs in the agricultural soils have no appreciable threat to human health.
A mathematical model and numerical simulation for SARS-CoV-2 dynamics
Authors: Amoddeo Antonino
Published: March 2023

Since its outbreak the corona virus-19 disease has been particularly aggressive for the lower respiratory tract, and lungs in particular. The dynamics of the abnormal immune response leading to lung damage with fatal outcomes is not yet fully understood. We present a mathematical model describing the dynamics of corona virus disease-19 starting from virus seeding inside the human respiratory tract, taking into account its interaction with the components of the innate immune system as classically and alternatively activated macrophages, interleukin-6 and -10. The numerical simulations have been performed for two different parameter values related to the pro-inflammatory interleukin, searching for a correlation among components dynamics during the early stage of infection, in particular pro- and anti-inflammatory polarizations of the immune response. We found that in the initial stage of infection the immune machinery is unable to stop or weaken the virus progression. Also an abnormal anti-inflammatory interleukin response is predicted, induced by the disease progression and clinically associated to tissue damages. The numerical results well reproduce experimental results found in literature.
Pigmented Rice: Composition and Health Effects
Authors: Siroha Anil Kumar , Bangar Sneh Punia , Suri Shweta
Published: March 2023

Pigmented rice has attracted major attention because of its higher levels of bioactive compounds and its higher concentration of micro- and macronutrients, compared with white rice. Pigmented rice cultivars are found in various colors i.e. black, purple, red, and brown. Pigmented rice contains good amounts of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and different phytochemicals with beneficial health effects. Pigmented rice is abundant in phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant compounds. In comparison with white rice varieties, colored rice contains higher levels of polyphenols. Starch is the main component of rice grain, and it accounts for about 72–82% of brown rice and 90% of milled rice. Native starches have many drawbacks; to improve these properties, starch is generally modified using different physical, chemical, and enzymatic treatments. Functional properties are the basic physicochemical properties of flours, which have a complex relationship between different components of grains. Pigmented rice has desirable functional properties, which are essential for product formulations. Pigmented rice has been reported to have several health benefits including preventing hypertension, gluten-related disorders, and heart diseases; as well as having anti-diabetic potential, antioxidant properties, anti-inflammatory activity, and anti-cancer activity. This chapter will highlight the opportunities for developing novel health supplements from pigmented rice flours. Biotechnology is used in various crops, including rice, to improve its desirable properties. In this chapter, we will provide an overview of the nutritional composition, bioactive characteristics, functional properties and health benefits of pigmented rice.
Pigmented Sorghum: Functional Properties and Bioactive Diversity
Authors: Mehany Taha , Rashad Younes M. , Olawoye Babatunde , Cacciotti Ilaria , Johnson Esua Okon , Popoola Oyekemi Olabisi , Han Zhong , Fekry Waleed M. E.
Published: March 2023

Pigmented sorghum (PS; Sorghum bicolor) is a well-known multipurpose and climate-resistant plant, commonly consumed by millions of people as a staple food in arid and semi-arid regions. Consumers' demand for sorghum has grown recently, due to its exceptional nutritional properties. It is considered to be anatural functional food for its beneficial health ingredients and bioactive colorants with health-promoting benefits, including chronic disease prevention, improvements in glycemic control and insulin sensitivity, and activity as an anti-inflammatory and oxidative stress marker. This chapter focuses on the nutritional and functional properties of PS, and the diversity of its bioactive constituents. Furthermore, the uniqueness of PS polyphenols should be innovatively exploited and highlighted, with specific consideration to their bioactive flavonoids and anthocyanins. Applications for PS in the food industry are highlighted, as well as its manufacturing limitations as a modern food ingredient. Moreover, this chapter discusses PS's phytochemical profile and functional properties, and its role in improving the quality of the end product. Finally, we provide an overview of the innovative technologies involved in developing functional foods from PS.
Pigmented Pseudocereals: Chemistry, Functionality, and Technological Aspects in Food Systems
Authors: Mehany Taha , Taha Ahmed , Olawoye Babatunde , Korma Sameh A. , Popoola Oyekemi Olabisi , Esua Okon Johnson , Manzoor Muhammad Faisal
Published: March 2023

Pigmented pseudocereals (PPs) are considered to be functional foods due to their nutritional value and health-promoting ingredients. Moreover, consumers' demand for PPs has been increasing owing to their role in preventing various diseases, including celiac, obesity, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and chronic inflammation. Furthermore, PPs have high antioxidant activity, boost the immune system, and reduce serum cholesterol levels. This chapter discusses the nutritional benefits of the main PPs, such as amaranth, buckwheat, and quinoa, with particular attention to their bioactive pigments. The applications of PPs in the food industry are also reviewed in this chapter. Moreover, this chapter highlights the techno-functional properties of PPs and preprocessing technologies to inactivate antinutrients in PPs and improve their sensory scores. PPs can be applied in various food systems, including fortified cereals, gluten-free foods, plant-based milk, and food additives such as gelators, foam enhancers, and emulsifiers. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the present knowledge of PPs for food producers and plant-based food researchers. It highlights the opportunities for developing novel healthy plant-based food products.
The Role of Biotechnology in the Production of Pigmented Cereals
Authors: Ishaq Ali Raza , Batool Rabia , Chen Shouwen , Cai Dongbo , Asfandyar
Published: March 2023

Cereals are a major source of protein and carbohydrates for humans, but significant nutritional elements, such as carotenoids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are deficient. Deficiency of PUFAs in humans leads to various syndromes related to the skin, reproductive, nervous, and inflammatory systems. Carotenoids act as a free radical scavengers and antioxidants due to their strong potential to cure many chronic diseases and protect against the effects of aging. Different biological strategies, such as solid-state fermentation and genetic engineering have been devised to synthesize nutritious cereals effectively. This chapter will provide unusual insight into how genetic engineering is beneficial for pigmented cereals products and discuss the limitation of this method. One of the most promising techniques is solid-state fermentation (SSF), in which micro-organisms are grown on a solid substrate in the absence of free water, and stimulate the fermentation process. Because of specific microbes with solid-state fermentation, new commercial opportunities for cereals and their by-products such as carotenoids and polyunsaturated fatty acids have emerged.
Supported silver and copper catalysts in the oxidative dehydrogenation of methanol to formaldehyde: a comparative study under industrially relevant conditions
Authors: Eichner Fabian , Turan Emre , Sauer Jörg , Bender Michael , Behrens Silke
Published: March 2023

Supported coinage-metal catalysts were prepared by strong electrostatic adsorption and used to assess the performance of silver and copper in the oxidative dehydrogenation of methanol to formaldehyde.
Preparation of carboxy methyl cellulose stabilized nano-sized zero-valent iron and its properties for in situ remediation of groundwater in areas after acid in situ leach uranium mining
Authors: Liu Yalan , Zhang Hui , Ding Yang , Hu Nan , Ding Dexin
Published: March 2023

In this study, a highly dispersed carboxy methyl cellulose stabilized nZVI was synthesized and characterized, showing excellent uranium removal efficiency in acid in situ leach mine water.
Microencapsulation of olive mill wastewater in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells by spray drying and in vitro bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds
Authors: Saroglu Oznur , Tav Berkay , Yildirim Rusen Metin , Karadag Ayse
Published: March 2023

This study reveals that spray-dried yeast microcapsules can encapsulate OMW phenolics and OMW-loaded yeast powders protect olive phenolics under in vitro digestion conditions.
The role of IL-10 in regulating inflammation and gut microbiome in mice consuming milk kefir and orally challenged with S. Typhimurium
Authors: Albuquerque Pereira Mariana de Fátima , Morais de Ávila Larissa Gabriela , dos Santos Cruz Bruna Cristina , Campos Silva Bruno , Licursi de Oliveira Leandro , Vilela Gonçalves Reggiani , de Oliveira Barros Ribon Andrea , de Oliveira Mendes Tiago Antônio , Gouveia Peluzio Maria do Carmo
Published: March 2023

Kefir has been suggested as a possible bacterial prophylaxis against Salmonella and IL-10 production seems to be crucial in the mice pathogenesis disease.
A robust SERS calibration using a pseudo-internal intensity reference
Authors: Zhang Meng , Yang Jingran , Yang Longkun , Li Zhipeng
Published: March 2023

Reproducible SERS calibration curves were achieved using the pseudo-internal standard intensity method facilitating quantitative assays for analytes.
Achieving efficient violet-light-excited blue phosphors by nitridation for violet-chip-based full-spectrum lighting
Authors: Dou Chao , Zhao Fangyi , Liu Shengqiang , Song Zhen , Liu Quanlin
Published: March 2023

By partially introducing N3− into a matrix, a new efficient and thermally stable Ba0.697Al10.914O15.732N1.0:0.16Eu2+ blue phosphor has been synthesized, which can better match with violet chips for full-spectrum lighting.
Aerosol-assisted sol–gel synthesis of mesoporous Ag–Ta–SiO2catalysts for the direct upgrading of ethanol to butadiene
Authors: Dochain Denis D. , Van Den Daelen Antoine , Styskalik Ales , Vykoukal Vit , Debecker Damien P.
Published: March 2023

A sol–gel synthesis is coupled to spray-drying to obtain bifunctional mesoporous Ag–Ta–SiO2catalysts. Highly dispersed Ta species and small Ag nanoparticles lead to high activity in the cascade upgrading of ethanol to butadiene.
The effect of preparation temperature and composition on bigel performance as fat replacers
Authors: Vershkov Bela , Davidovich-Pinhas Maya
Published: March 2023

Consumer awareness of the deleterious effect of saturated fat motivates to find new fat alternatives. Bigels, hybrids of hydrogels and oleogels, are an attractive option for formulating oil-based fat mimetics, particularly lamination fats.
Beneficial regulation of vitamin D3-rich extract from the processing by-products of Penaeus sinensis on preosteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells and improvement of bone health in VD-deficient mice
Authors: Liu Xinyan , Song Ru , Wei Rongbian , Zhao Baoding , Chu Yurou
Published: March 2023

Vitamin D3-rich extract activated RANKL/OPG signaling pathway in MC3T3-E1 cells and improved bone remodeling in VD-deficient mice.
Highly efficient and stable green fluorescent OLEDs with high color purity using a BODIPY derivative
Authors: Nakamura Takeru , Sasabe Hisahiro , Abe Shoki , Kumada Kengo , Sugiyama Ryo , Hanayama Takanori , Kido Junji
Published: March 2023

High-color-purity, efficient, and long-lifetime organic light-emitting devices have been successfully developed. The optimized device realized an FWHM of 32 nm, CIE of (0.28, 0.67), EQEmaxof nearly 19%, and LT50of 14 000 h at 1000 cd m−2.
Integrated proteomic and metabolomic profiling of urine of renal anemia patients uncovers the molecular mechanisms of roxadustat
Authors: You Xiaoe , Guo Baochun , Wang Zhen , Ma Hualin , Liu Lixia , Zhou Ru , Zheng Yaxuan , Zhang Xinzhou
Published: March 2023

Roxadustat (FG-4592) is a hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor (HIF-PHI) prescribed to patients with low hemoglobin associated with chronic kidney disease.
Correction: Research progress in architecture and application of RRAM with computing-in-memory
Authors: Wang Chenyu , Shi Ge , Qiao Fei , Lin Rubin , Wu Shien , Hu Zenan
Published: March 2023

Correction for ‘Research progress in architecture and application of RRAM with computing-in-memory’ by Chenyu Wang et al., Nanoscale Adv., 2023, https://doi.org/10.1039/d3na00025g.
Photoresponsive MoS2 and WS2 microflakes as mobile biocide agents
Authors: de la Asunción-Nadal Víctor , Bujalance-Fernández Javier , Jurado-Sánchez Beatriz , Escarpa Alberto
Published: March 2023

A fuel-free strategy for the eradication of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus biofilms using WS2 and MoS2 photophoretic microflakes is described.