bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Opening the doors of precision medicine: novel tools to assess intestinal barrier in inflammatory bowel disease and colitis-associated neoplasia
Authors: Iacucci Marietta , Santacroce Giovanni , Majumder Snehali , Morael Jennifer , Zammarchi Irene , Maeda Yasuharu , Ryan David , Di Sabatino Antonio , Rescigno Maria , Aburto Maria R , Cryan John F , Ghosh Subrata
Published: June 2024

Mounting evidence underscores the pivotal role of the intestinal barrier and its convoluted network with diet and intestinal microbiome in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CRC). Moreover, the bidirectional association of the intestinal barrier with the liver and brain, known as the gut-brain axis, plays a crucial role in developing complications, including extraintestinal manifestations of IBD and CRC metastasis. Consequently, barrier healing represents a crucial therapeutic target in these inflammatory-dependent disorders, with barrier assessment predicting disease outcomes, response to therapy and extraintestinal manifestations.

New advanced technologies are revolutionising our understanding of the barrier paradigm, enabling the accurate assessment of the intestinal barrier and aiding in unravelling the complexity of the gut-brain axis. Cutting-edge endoscopic imaging techniques, such as ultra-high magnification endocytoscopy and probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy, are new technologies allowing real-time exploration of the ‘cellular’ intestinal barrier. Additionally, novel advanced spatial imaging technology platforms, including multispectral imaging, upconversion nanoparticles, digital spatial profiling, optical spectroscopy and mass cytometry, enable a deep and comprehensive assessment of the ‘molecular’ and ‘ultrastructural’ barrier. In this promising landscape, artificial intelligence plays a pivotal role in standardising and integrating these novel tools, thereby contributing to barrier assessment and prediction of outcomes.

Looking ahead, this integrated and comprehensive approach holds the promise of uncovering new therapeutic targets, breaking the therapeutic ceiling in IBD. Novel molecules, dietary interventions and microbiome modulation strategies aim to restore, reinforce, or modulate the gut-brain axis. These advancements have the potential for transformative and personalised approaches to managing IBD.
A computational investigation into the electron-transfer kinetics and thermodynamics of hydrogen gas production by Ni(S2C2H2)2, Ni(Se2C2H2)2, and Ni(Te2C2H2) complexes
Authors: Abidullah Zakariya M. , Patel Heliben V. , Broome Joshua A. , Bushnell Eric A. C.
Published: June 2024

Fossil fuels are rapidly being depleted and releasing great amounts of greenhouse gases, causing harmful effects to the environment. Renewable energy such as solar energy is an alternative option instead of using fossil fuels. However, storing the energy harvested as H2 by the electrolysis of H2O requires an effective, cheap catalyst to be practical. Thus, Ni catalysts are a valid option to produce hydrogen gas. In this study, the thermodynamics, and kinetics of ET for the electrocatalytic production of H2 by analogous Ni-bis(dithiolene), Ni-bis(diselenolene), and Ni-bis(ditellurolene) complexes were studied using DFT. Thermodynamically, it was found that all three catalysts catalyze the formation of H2 with similar energetic cost. However, for release of H2 the catalysts must be doubly protonated and triply reduced. While the first two reductions occur with low Gibbs activation energies the third reduction does not. Therefore, if a third reduction is required for electrocatalytic H2 production a large overpotential would be expected from our predictions.
The effect of applied micronutrients (Cu, Zn, Mn, and B) and chloride on annual canarygrass
Authors: May William E. , Begum Afruza , Moreside Sarah J. , Sikat Gerard John F.
Published: June 2024

Annual canarygrass is highly responsive to chloride (Cl−) fertilizer for increasing grain yield. This responsiveness to Cl− raises the question of whether annual canarygrass is similarly responsive to other micronutrients. The effect of micronutrients, Cu, Zn, B, and Mn with the basal rate of N, P, K, S, and Cl−, on annual canarygrass was studied using two application methods, soil (sideband at seeding) and foliar (3–6 leaf and flag-leaf emergence). Over 4 years, field research was conducted at two Saskatchewan locations, Indian Head and Melfort using a randomize complete block design (RCBD). A foliar application after flagleaf emergence of either Cu, Zn, or Mn provided the best method to increase the concentration of that micronutrient in the leaf tissue during seed filling. Boron concentrations in the leaf were increased during seed filling by soil or foliar treatments containing B at different site-years. Zinc, Cu, and B application had no impact on grain yield. A foliar application of Mn affected grain yield at one of six site-years and requires further investigation. As expected, soil application of macronutrients + Cl− increased grain yield between 29% and 187% compared to unfertilized treatment in five of six site-years. Melfort in 2015 and 2016 had low levels of tissue Cl− in control treatment. The largest grain yield increases occurred at these sites, suggesting the potential of early season tissue testing in identifying Cl− responsive fields of annual canarygrass. Annual canarygrass is not responsive to Cu, Zn, and B but may be responsive to Mn.
Numerical analysis and experimental study of membrane-type acoustic metamaterial plate with X-shaped pendulum arm and cylindrical mass blocks
Authors: Zhang Dacheng , Su Xiaoming , Sun Yumeng , Sun Xianming , Chen Changzheng
Published: June 2024

Membrane-type acoustic metamaterials have a favorable noise suppression effect. Hence, a membrane-type acoustic metamaterial plate (MAML) with an X-shaped pendulum arm and cylindrical mass blocks (CMB) was proposed in this paper. The theoretical model based on spring–mass systems and numerical simulation models of the membrane-type acoustic metamaterial cell (MAMC) were established under fixed and periodic boundary conditions to reveal the noise attenuation mechanism quantitatively, and the necessity of the CMB is discussed. Based on the results, it can be observed that the normal displacement of the membrane is nearly zero when the noise frequency is at the peak of the sound transmission loss (STL) curve. However, when the frequency is at the valley of the STL curve, the displacement is nonzero and fluctuates significantly. Meanwhile, by comparing the STL curves with and without the CMB, it was found that the MAMC performance is improved effectively by the CMB at low frequencies. The effective mass density of MAMC was found to be negative. To verify the accuracy of numerical calculations, an impedance tube experiment was conducted. Finally, orthogonal experiments were designed to describe the effects of the structural parameters a, l, and t on the effective bandwidth [Formula: see text], peak frequency [Formula: see text], and comprehensive index [Formula: see text] and to obtain the optimal structural parameter combinations for different indexes. This work further contributes to applying and developing the membrane-type acoustic metamaterial.
Applying Machine Learning Techniques: Uncertainty Quantification in Nonlinear Dynamics Characters Predictions via Gated Recurrent Unit-Based Reduced-Order Models
Authors: Peng Xun , Zhu Hao , Xu Dajun , Hao Wenzhi , Wang Weizong , Cai Guobiao
Published: June 2024

The development of reduced-order models has been a pivotal advancement in the computational analysis of fluid dynamics, substantially simplifying the complexity and boosting the efficiency of simulations. The accuracy and practicality of these models largely depend on the reduction techniques applied and the inherent characteristics of the fluid dynamics systems they represent. In this paper, we introduce an innovative machine-learning framework for assessing model uncertainty in computationally intensive reduced-order models. By combining subspace construction methods with advanced Bayesian inference techniques, our approach effectively captures the posterior distribution of model parameters, thereby providing an accurate representation of uncertainty in aerodynamic performance predictions. We employ the NACA0012 airfoil as a case study to validate our method’s ability to enhance the efficiency of reduced-order models and precisely measure the uncertainty inherent in predictions made by recurrent neural networks. It is important to note that our approach is influenced by specific constraints and variables that significantly impact the mean and variability of the predicted final lift coefficient distribution. Our findings indicate that setting the goodness of fit (R2) threshold above 0.985 markedly improves the correlation between Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) outcomes and model predictions, increasing from 72.2% to 97.9% as the interval amplification factor adjusts from 1.5 to 3. However, this adjustment causes a considerable expansion of the confidence interval, from 0.0737 to 0.1282, an increase of over 70%. Despite these challenges, our machine learning-based methodology provides essential insights into the further development of reduced-order modeling and uncertainty quantification in fluid dynamics. This highlights the need for ongoing research into the model parameters, especially in applications concerning aircraft control systems, to meet design specifications and ensure system reliability.
Quandle coloring quivers of (p,q)-torus links
Authors: Zhou Boxin , Liu Ximin
Published: June 2024

In 2019, Cho and Nelson introduced an enhancement of the quandle counting invariant, which is quandle coloring quivers. In 2021, Basi and Caprau used it to study [Formula: see text]-torus links. Recently, Zhou and Liu used it to study [Formula: see text]-torus links. In this paper, we study the quandle coloring space of [Formula: see text]- and [Formula: see text]-torus links by dihedral quandles and make a conjecture about the quandle coloring quiver of [Formula: see text]-torus links, where [Formula: see text] is an odd prime number.
Legendrian negative torus knots in universally tight lens spaces
Authors: Zhang Han
Published: June 2024

The main results characterize Legendrian negative torus knots in every universally tight contact structure on [Formula: see text]. Together with Onaran and Min’s results, we obtain that in every universally tight contact structure on [Formula: see text], Legendrian torus knots are determined by its classical invariants up to Legendrian isotopy. The main method is splitting [Formula: see text] by convex Heegaard decomposition.
THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF CARBON EMISSIONS ON POWER UTILITIES UNDER CLIMATE SCENARIOS
Authors: KRACH FLORIAN , MACRINA ANDREA , KANTER ASHLEY , HAMPWAYE EBA , HLALUKANA SIPHOKAZI , RATEELE NCHAKHA THATO
Published: June 2024

Power utilities, especially those that generate electricity by burning fossil fuels, produce significant amounts of carbon emissions. Mitigation of [Formula: see text]-equivalent ([Formula: see text]) emissions can be achieved by replacing power plants with renewable power installations and by adopting carbon-sequestration technologies. Physical upgrades are expensive, but carbon taxes, or the purchase of certificates and allowances on a voluntary carbon market, can be costly, too. Carbon costs may increasingly become a threatening liability for power utilities, eating into profits and undermining the financial viability of emission-intensive electricity generation. Thus, we consider an asset-and-liability, structural firm model to investigate the creditworthiness of a generic power utility. The utility’s assets dynamics are driven by the financial returns generated from the sold electricity for a set tariff which is modeled by a simple stochastic process. The liabilities not only depend on fuel, running, and depreciation costs, but also on the costs of [Formula: see text] emissions. As a case study, we consider Eskom, the South African power utility. We show the evolution of Eskom’s default probability under various fuel mix plans and technologies (as per SA’s Integrated Resources Plan (IRP) 2019), and under the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) carbon price scenarios. The obtained results and insights present a trying path ahead, especially for carbon-intensive power utilities.
General Theory for Damped Beams with Elastic Supports Subjected to a Moving Damped Sprung Mass
Authors: Shi K. , Mo X. Q. , Gao S. Y. , Yao H. , Yang Y. B.
Published: June 2024

Previously, classical boundary conditions (i.e. simple, fixed and cantilevered) have been adopted for the beams under the moving loads in deriving the dynamic response. In reality, most beams cannot be simply classified as the ones with classical supports, but are elastically restrained. For theoretical completeness, a general theory will be developed in this note for the damped beams with elastic restraints modeled by vertical and rotational springs subjected to a moving damped sprung mass. Essential to the present theory is the solution of the transcendental equation for the frequency by the bi-section method. The solution obtained can also be applied to the classical boundary conditions (i.e. simple, fixed and cantilevered) under a moving sprung mass. The reliability of the present theory, along with the bi-section method for solving the frequency and mode shape, is validated by comparison with the solution obtained by the finite element method (FEM) for various damping ratios, mass ratios and running speeds of the sprung mass.
Computational Design and Experimental Validation of an Orthogonal X-bond/H-bond System to Improve the Binding Affinity and Recognition Specificity between Anesthetic Protein Kinase Cι and its Pseudosubstrate Peptide
Authors: Kuang Rong , Li Yamin , Zhang Chonghui , Zhao Qiumin , Tan Jinyi , Ji Shiyan , Zhang Wei
Published: June 2024

Protein kinase C isoform [Formula: see text] (PKC[Formula: see text] is an essential regulator of diverse neurobiological signaling pathways, which has been implicated in general anesthetic action and a variety of nervous neoplasms. Traditional efforts have been primarily addressed on the development of small-molecule inhibitors to target the catalytic or regulatory domain of this kinase. Instead, we herein reported a rational chemical modification of Par3 pseudosubstrate peptide to target the kinase domain with improved affinity and specificity. Structural and energetic analysis suggested that the Par3 peptide can be divided into two binding-independent sections; they are separately anchored to the substrate-binding pocket of PKC[Formula: see text] with two aromatic anchor residues Phe818 and Phe823. The side-chain phenyl group of these two aromatic residues was systematically substituted by different halogen moieties at [Formula: see text]-, [Formula: see text]- and [Formula: see text]-positions of the phenyl group. It is revealed that the [Formula: see text]-bromination of Par3 Phe818 and the [Formula: see text]-iodinization of Par3 Phe823 residue can separately form two geometrically and energetically satisfactory orthogonal halogen (X)-bond/hydrogen (H)-bond [ortX/H] motifs across Par3 complex interface with PKC[Formula: see text]; they co-define a so-called ortX/H system and were demonstrated to improve both the binding affinity and recognition specificity of the kinase–peptide interaction by integrating in silico analysis and in vitro assay. The peptide affinity promotes 23.5-fold and 6.6-fold upon the formation of ortX/H motif-I and motif-II, respectively, which further increases to 43.5-fold by forming the complete ortX/H system, indicating cooperativity between the two motifs in the system. In addition, we also demonstrated that the ortX/H system can considerably enhance the peptide selectivity for its cognate PKC[Formula: see text] and noncogante isoforms PKC[Formula: see text] and PKC[Formula: see text].
Specification and Verification of Multi-Clock Systems Using a Temporal Logic with Clock Constraints
Authors: Zhang Yuanrui , Mallet Frederic , Zhang Min , Liu Zhiming
Published: June 2024

The polychronous or multi-clock paradigm is adequate to model large distributed systems where achieving a full timed synchronization is not only very costly but also often not necessary. It concerns systems made of a set of components with loose synchronization constraints. We study an approach where those components are orchestrated using
logical clocks
, made popular by L. Lamport and synchronous languages. The temporal and causal specification of those systems is built by defining a set of
clock relations
that would constrain the instant when clocks can tick or must not tick, thus defining families of
valid schedules
. In this article, we propose a specification language, called

\(\mathit {LTL}_c/\mathit {CCSL}\)

, for specifying temporal properties of multi-clock systems. While traditional temporal logics (LTL, MTL, CTL*), whether linear or branching, rely on a global step, our language,

\(\mathit {LTL}_c/\mathit {CCSL}\)

, builds a partial order on logical clocks, thus allowing both a hierarchical approach based on refinement of clock hierarchies and compositionality, as what happens in one clock domain may remain largely independent of what may happen in other domains. This good property helps preserve the properties without requiring to perform the proofs again. An

\(\mathit {LTL}_c/\mathit {CCSL}\)

specification consists of a clock temporal logic

\(\mathit {LTL}_c\)

, accompanied by a clock calculus called
CCSL
for specifying clock relations. We build the syntax and semantics of

\(\mathit {LTL}_c\)

and link its semantics with CCSL. After that, we mainly focus on the verification aspect of

\(\mathit {LTL}_c/\mathit {CCSL}\)

specifications using a model checking technique. We show how

\(\mathit {LTL}_c/\mathit {CCSL}\)

can be used for specifying multi-clock systems with an example.
(Vision Paper) A Vision for Spatio-Causal Situation Awareness, Forecasting, and Planning
Authors: Azad Fahim Tasneema , Candan K. Selçuk , Kapkiç Ahmet , Li Mao-Lin , Liu Huan , Mandal Pratanu , Sheth Paras , Arslan Bilgehan , Chowell-Puente Gerardo , Sabo John , Muenich Rebecca , Redondo Anton Javier , Sapino Maria Luisa
Published: June 2024

Successfully tackling many urgent challenges in socio-economically critical domains, such as public health and sustainability, requires a deeper understanding of causal relationships and interactions among a diverse spectrum of spatio-temporally distributed entities. In these applications, the ability to leverage spatio-temporal data to obtain causally based situational awareness and to develop informed forecasts to provide resilience at different scales is critical. While the promise of a causally grounded approach to these challenges is apparent, the core data technologies needed to achieve these are in the early stages and lack a framework to help realize their potential. In this article, we argue that there is an urgent need for a novel paradigm of spatio-causal research built on computational advances in spatio-temporal data and model integration, causal learning and discovery, large scale data- and model-driven simulations, emulations, and forecasting, as well as spatio-temporal data-driven and model-centric operational recommendations, and effective causally driven visualization and explanation. We thus provide a vision, and a road map, for spatio-causal situation awareness, forecasting, and planning.
Comparison of adaptation characteristics between visually and memory-guided saccades
Authors: Kojima Yoshiko , Yoshino Hidetaka , Ling Leo , Phillips James O.
Published: June 2024

Plasticity helps to overcome persistent motor errors. Such motor plasticity or adaptation can be investigated with saccades. Thus far our knowledge is primarily about visually guided saccades, an externally cued movement, which we can make only when the object is visible at the time of saccade. However, as the world is complex, we can make saccades even when the object is not visible. Here, we investigate the adaptation of an internally driven movement: the memory-guided saccade.
Timely Albumin Infusion May Improve Resource Utilization in Patients with Cirrhosis and Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis
Authors: Kim W. Ray , Raghunathan Karthik , Martin Greg S. , Davis E. Anne , Sindhwani Navreet Sandhu , Telang Santosh , Lodaya Kunal
Published: June 2024

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is a life‐threatening complication of cirrhosis that can increase healthcare utilization. The impact of albumin administration timing on hospital resource utilization and its optimal timing is unclear, despite its efficacy in improving survival for cirrhosis patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the influence of the timing of albumin administration on the length of stay and total hospital cost for patients with cirrhosis and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis who require fluid resuscitation. The study utilized de‐identified data from Cerner Health Facts® data. Adult inpatients with a diagnosis of cirrhosis and SBP receiving ≥1 antibiotic and fluid resuscitation between January 1, 2009, and April 30, 2018, were included and stratified by albumin administration timing: ≤24 hours from hospital admission (“timely albumin”) or >24 hours of admission or no albumin (“non‐timely albumin”). We used a Kaplan‐Meier curve with log‐rank test to evaluate the association between timing of albumin administration and time to hospital discharge and a generalized linear model to examine the association between albumin timing and total hospital costs. We identified 1,308 hospitalizations, of which 301 contained valid cost data. The timely albumin group had a median time to discharge of 6.95 days compared to 7.78 days in the non‐timely group (p = 0.02). Cost model showed that receiving timely albumin incurred 16% lower costs (p = 0.027) than patients in the non‐timely albumin group. Timely albumin administration with an antibiotic regimen may shorten the length of stay and lower costs, thereby reducing hospital resource utilization in patients with cirrhosis and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis requiring fluid resuscitation.
Impact of Prolonged Cycle Length Resulting From Conversion of Atrial Fibrillation to Atrial Tachycardia on Ablation Outcome in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
Authors: He Jialing , Yang Guoshu , Luo Duan , Yang Yongxin , He Guijun , Yang Xianchen , Zhang Zhen
Published: June 2024

Background: There is limited available data regarding the impact of cycle length (CL) prolongation when converting atrial fibrillation (AF) to organized atrial tachycardia (AT) and its effect on clinical outcomes.

Methods and Method: We retrospectively screened and included a cohort of 132 patients with persistent or long‐standing persistent AF who underwent circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (CPVI) and left atrial substrate modification (LASM) between January 2015 and October 2019. In all 132 consecutive patients, persistent AF was successfully converted into organized AT. For cases with recurrence after a 3‐month blanking period, a repeat procedure was conducted.

Results: We observed a notable prolongation in CL after ablation (average increase of 56.6 ± 30 ms). Following a median follow‐up duration of 9.5 ± 5.1 months, 27 patients experienced recurrence. Through receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis, a prolonged CL cut‐off of 42.5 ms was identified, with a specificity of 71% and a sensitivity of 59.4%. Patients were categorized into two groups: those with CL less than 42.5 ms (group A, n = 48) and those with CL more than 42.5 ms (group B, n = 84). The Kaplan–Meier survival curves demonstrated a significantly higher recurrence‐free rate after catheter ablation in group B compared to group A (p = 0.002).

Conclusions: Upon termination of persistent AF into AT during ablation, it was found that CL prolongation beyond 42.5 ms was associated with improved freedom from arrhythmia.
Davydov Vaginoplasty in Mayer–Rokitansky–Küster–Hauser Syndrome Patient Presenting With Urethral Dilatation
Authors: Vitols Jurgis , Lidaka Lasma
Published: June 2024

Introduction: Mayer–Rokitansky–Küster‐Hauser (MRKH) syndrome is a female congenital disorder characterized by an underdeveloped or absent vagina and uterus. The first‐line treatment to create a neovagina is patient‐performed vaginal dilatation. We report here the rare case of an MRKH patient who presented with urethral dilatation and was successfully treated with Davydov vaginoplasty.

Case Report: Seventeen‐year‐old patient with known single kidney was consulted by a gynaecologist, and a diagnosis of MRKH syndrome was established. As the patient had urethral dilatation—resulting from repetitive intraurethral intercourse—neovaginal creation by means of self‐performed vaginal dilatation was precluded. Rather, the Davydov vaginoplasty was successfully performed; there were no postoperative complications, and the patient was fully continent postsurgery.

Conclusion: MRKH patients and healthcare providers should be educated on the damaging consequences of intraurethral intercourse. More cases need to be reported to establish the best treatment options for a normal sexual life.
Classification of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease Using Manual Motor Measures
Authors: Koppelmans Vincent , Ruitenberg Marit F.L. , Schaefer Sydney Y. , King Jace B. , Jacobo Jasmine M. , Silvester Benjamin P. , Mejia Amanda F. , van der Geest Jos , Hoffman John M. , Tasdizen Tolga , Duff Kevin
Published: June 2024

Introduction: Manual motor problems have been reported in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but the specific aspects that are affected, their neuropathology, and potential value for classification modeling is unknown. The current study examined if multiple measures of motor strength, dexterity, and speed are affected in MCI and AD, related to AD biomarkers, and are able to classify MCI or AD. Methods: Fifty-three cognitively normal (CN), 33 amnestic MCI, and 28 AD subjects completed five manual motor measures: grip force, Trail Making Test A, spiral tracing, finger tapping, and a simulated feeding task. Analyses included (1) group differences in manual performance; (2) associations between manual function and AD biomarkers (PET amyloid β, hippocampal volume, and APOE ε4 alleles); and (3) group classification accuracy of manual motor function using machine learning. Results: Amnestic MCI and AD subjects exhibited slower psychomotor speed and AD subjects had weaker dominant hand grip strength than CN subjects. Performance on these measures was related to amyloid β deposition (both) and hippocampal volume (psychomotor speed only). Support vector classification well-discriminated control and AD subjects (area under the curve of 0.73 and 0.77, respectively) but poorly discriminated MCI from controls or AD. Conclusion: Grip strength and spiral tracing appear preserved, while psychomotor speed is affected in amnestic MCI and AD. The association of motor performance with amyloid β deposition and atrophy could indicate that this is due to amyloid deposition in and atrophy of motor brain regions, which generally occurs later in the disease process. The promising discriminatory abilities of manual motor measures for AD emphasize their value alongside other cognitive and motor assessment outcomes in classification and prediction models, as well as potential enrichment of outcome variables in AD clinical trials.
Hemodynamic Stroke: Emerging Concepts, Risk Estimation, and Treatment
Authors: Wegener Susanne , Baron Jean Claude , Derdeyn Colin P. , Fierstra Jorn , Fromm Annette , Klijn Catharina J.M. , van Niftrik Christiaan Hendrik Bas , Schaafsma Joanna D.
Published: June 2024

Ischemic stroke can arise from the sudden occlusion of a brain-feeding artery by a clot (embolic), or local thrombosis. Hemodynamic stroke occurs when blood flow does not sufficiently meet the metabolic demand of a brain region at a certain time. This discrepancy between demand and supply can occur with cerebropetal arterial occlusion or high-grade stenosis but also arises with systemic conditions reducing blood pressure. Treatment of hemodynamic stroke is targeted toward increasing blood flow to the affected area by either systemically or locally enhancing perfusion. Thus, blood pressure is often maintained above normal values, and extra-intracranial flow augmentation bypass surgery is increasingly considered. Still, current evidence supporting the superiority of pressure or flow increase over conservative measures is limited. However, methods assessing hemodynamic impairment and identifying patients at risk of hemodynamic stroke are rapidly evolving. Sophisticated models incorporating clinical and imaging factors have been suggested to aid patient selection. In this narrative review, we provide current state-of-the-art knowledge about hemodynamic stroke, tools for assessment, and treatment options.
Bryson of Heraclea and Polyxenus, Megarian Philosophers
Authors: Chame Santiago
Published: June 2024

Bryson of Heraclea and Polyxenus have received little attention from scholars. Sources on these philosophers are few and difficult to interpret. However, they present interesting dialectical arguments that concern some of Plato’s and Aristotle’s most important theoretical elaborations: Bryson’s arguments on the issue of semantic ambiguity were explicitly discussed by Aristotle, and Polyxenus is credited with a particular version of the Third Man argument. My purpose in this paper is to reconstruct the historical background of these two philosophers and to analyze the philosophical implications of the arguments that the ancient tradition ascribes to them.
Rethinking the Origins and Textual History of Ancient Jewish Literature: A Review of Recent Works by Emanuel Tov, James Nati, and Nathan Mastnjak
Authors: Richelle Matthieu
Published: June 2024

This essay discusses the current state of research on the origins and textual history of early Jewish literature in light of three recently published books. On the one hand, the current practice of textual criticism of the Hebrew Bible, well presented in the standard handbook of the topic, is anchored in relatively traditional views on the origins of biblical books. On the other hand, two studies challenge current ideas about the ontology and materiality of ancient Jewish literature. An analysis of the Serekh ha-Yahad scrolls reveals that usual models of textual growth cannot account for the entirety of the intricate textual history of certain compositions. A material-historical perspective suggests that, before the Hellenistic period, literary works existed in the form of collections of scrolls, which has potentially profound implications for understanding how these collections became books. Whether conservative or innovative in outlook, these books show that theory and practice are inextricably linked in the field of textual criticism.
Alien amphibian introductions via the plant trade: a breeding population of the Catalonian midwife toad (Alytes almogavarii) in Central Spain
Authors: Laorden-Romero David , Caballero-Díaz Carlos , Sánchez-Montes Gregorio , Ambu Johanna , Dufresnes Christophe , Martínez-Solano Íñigo
Published: June 2024

The plant-trade is among the main sources of accidental introduction of alien biodiversity. This includes amphibians, although effective colonization pathways have rarely been reported except from tropical areas. We document the discovery of an established breeding population of the Catalonian midwife toad, Alytes almogavarii almogavarii Arntzen and García-París, 1995, in a plant nursery in Madrid (Central Spain), 400 km away from its natural distribution. During surveys in 2023 we found adults, juveniles, and tadpoles, confirming reproduction. We used mtDNA sequences to genotype six individuals for taxonomic assignment and tracing their putative origin. Two haplotypes were found, one of them showing a broad distribution, precluding precise identification of the source of the introduction. We discuss conservation concerns, including the potential spread of pathogens. Our results suggest unintentional amphibian introductions via the plant-trade may be more frequent than perceived, and call for rigorous monitoring and education efforts.
Orobanche dagestanica (Orobanchaceae): a new species from the Greater Caucasus
Authors: PIWOWARCZYK RENATA , SÁNCHEZ PEDRAJA ÓSCAR , FATERYGA ALEXANDER V. , SVIRIN SERGEY A. , MURTAZALIEV RAMAZAN A.
Published: June 2024

A new, probably endemic species, Orobanche dagestanica is described from Dagestan in Russia (the Greater Caucasus). The species grows in alpine shale scree slopes, and is a parasite of the roots of species from the genus Lophiolepis (Asteraceae). Based on morphological and phylogenetic data, the newly-described species belongs to Orobanche subsect. Curvatae, and specifically to O. ser. Krylowianae, however it is distinct from all other taxa in this group. A detailed description, diagnosis, illustrations, a comparison with related species, as well as phylogenetic analysis are provided.
Survival Benefits of Postoperative Chemotherapy in Patients With Colorectal Mucinous Adenocarcinoma: An Analysis Utilizing Propensity Score Matching From the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Database
Authors: Rong Jun , Deng Wensheng
Published: June 2024

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of patients with colorectal mucinous adenocarcinoma (MAC) who benefit from postoperative chemotherapy (POCT) and to develop effective postoperative survival nomograms for predicting overall survival (OS) in colorectal MAC patients.

Methods

Data of colorectal MAC patients who underwent surgery from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2010 and 2020 were collected. Patients were grouped based on POCT, and intergroup analysis was performed using 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM). Kaplan-Meier (K-M) curves were used to compare the prognosis between the 2 groups. Cox analysis was employed to identify factors associated with OS in patients with colorectal MAC who underwent POCT. The variance inflation factor (VIF) and bilateral stepwise regression were used to determine factors included in the model. Additionally, a nomogram was constructed to predict postoperative survival outcomes for patients. The discriminative ability of the nomograms was evaluated using the C-index and calibration curve analysis, the decision curve analysis (DCA) assessed the clinical utility of the nomogram, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve evaluated the nomograms’ performance.

Results

This study encompassed 6829 patients with colorectal MAC, among whom 2258 received POCT, and 4571 did not. Whether pre or post PSM, patients in the POCT group consistently exhibited a superior median OS compared to those in the postoperative non-chemotherapy group ( P < .0001). For colorectal MAC patients undergoing POCT, OS was correlated with factors such as patient age, carcinoembryonic antigen levels, tumor deposits, perineural invasion (PNI), lymph node examination count, T staging, and Grade staging. Notably, a significant chemotherapy advantage was observed in patients without perineural invasion, those with lymph node examination counts exceeding 12, and patients with moderately differentiated tumors. The overall colorectal MAC patient postoperative OS predictive nomogram demonstrated a C-index of .74, with a calibration curve near the diagonal and a DCA curve indicating positive net benefits. In comparison to TNM staging, the ROC curves of the nomogram at 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years demonstrated superior predictive capabilities (AUC: .80 vs .71, .78 vs .71, .77 vs .70).

Conclusion

This study revealed the characteristics of colorectal MAC patients who benefit from POCT and established effective prognostic nomograms, which can aid clinicians in designing personalized treatment plans for individual patients and promote precision medicine.
Green Bond Issuances: A Promising Signal or a Deceptive Opportunity?
Authors: Yu Han , Burlacu Radu , Enjolras Geoffroy
Published: June 2024

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the stock market reaction to green bond issuance announcements for a large, international sample of listed companies. Existing empirical studies find mixed results regarding this issue. Using a sample of 595 green bonds issued between 2014 and 2021, we conducted a series of event studies to analyze the changes in issuer returns and liquidity following the announcements. We find that the market reaction is significantly negative, more severe compared to conventional bond issues, but improves over time. Green bonds issued by companies with poor environmental performance or without prior experience in issuing such bonds generate a more negative market reaction. We also find that stock liquidity improves for issuers with good environmental performance. Our findings have significant implications as they suggest the existence of economies of scale in repeated issuances of green bonds and/or increasing reliability in the bond’s greenness.
Growing Green: On the Moral Pluralism of Individual and Collective Ecological Embeddedness
Authors: Roquebert Claire-Isabelle , Gond Jean-Pascal
Published: June 2024

Prior research on sustainability suggests that ambitious sustainability strategies are often turned into “business-as-usual” practices. Although ecological embeddedness—that is, actors’ physical and cognitive anchoring in their ecological environment—can help maintain sustainability ambitions, its collective dynamics and pluralistic moral foundations remain understudied. We rely on the economies of worth framework and the revelatory case of a biodynamic farm business experiencing sustained commercial growth to explore these blind spots by analyzing how ecological embeddedness was maintained despite this growth. We found that moral threats moved the organization away from its initial sustainability commitment and demonstrated how the farm maintained its ecological embeddedness through three mechanisms that involved multiple moral foundations: nurturing ecological inspiration, networking green projects, and unifying a green ethos. By inducing such mechanisms of moral recombination, our analysis advances sustainability studies by clarifying and bridging individual and collective dynamics of ecological embeddedness while revealing their multiple moral foundations; we also extend economies of worth research by demonstrating the role of ecological materiality in the alignment of organizations with the green world.
Progress of the study of pericytes and their potential research value in adenomyosis
Authors: Zhang Chenyu , Shi Jinghua , Dai Yi , Li Xiaoyan , Leng Jinhua
Published: June 2024

Pericytes (PCs) are versatile cells integral to the microcirculation wall, exhibiting specific stem cell traits. They are essential in modulating blood flow, ensuring vascular permeability, maintaining homeostasis, and aiding tissue repair process. Given their involvement in numerous disease-related pathological and physiological processes, the regulation of PCs has emerged as a focal point of research. Adenomyosis is characterized by the presence of active endometrial glands and stroma encased by an enlarged and proliferative myometrial layer, further accompanied by fibrosis and new blood vessel formation. This distinct pathological condition might be intricately linked with PCs. This article comprehensively reviews the markers associated with PCs, their contributions to angiogenesis, blood flow modulation, and fibrotic processes. Moreover, it provides a comprehensive overview of the current research on adenomyosis pathophysiology, emphasizing the potential correlation and future implications regarding PCs and the development of adenomyosis.
Political Drivers of State Fiscal Cyclicality
Authors: Wilschke Peter
Published: June 2024

This study examines political factors influencing US state fiscal policy cyclicality. US states largely pursue procyclical fiscal policy, despite the federal government operating countercyclically. Institutional factors, such as balanced-budget rules, have been examined as influences on state cyclicality, with little prior focus on political factors. This article examines the impacts of electoral competitiveness, political polarization, and legislative turnover on state cyclicality. The combination of polarization and turnover is associated with procyclical policy, while the effect of competition on cyclicality is conditional on year from election. Both effects vary during economic upturns compared to downturns. State institutional design implications are considered.
Engine for the imagination? Visual generative media and the issue of representation
Authors: Laba Nataliia
Published: June 2024

Visual generative media represent a novel technology with the potential to mediate public perceptions of political events, conflicts, and wars. Seeking to understand a visual culture in which algorithms become integrated into human processes of memory mediatization, this study addresses representation in AI-generated war imagery. It frames AI image generation as a socio-technical practice at the nexus of humans, machines, and visual culture, challenging Silicon Valley’s prevailing narrative of visual AI as “an engine for the imagination.” Through a case study of AI images generated in response to verbal prompts about Russia’s war against Ukraine, I examine the representational capabilities and limitations of the text-to-image generator Midjourney. The findings suggest homogeneity of visual themes that foreground destruction and fighters, while overlooking broader contextual and cultural aspects of the Russia-Ukraine war, thus generalizing the depiction of this war to that of any war. This study advances the research agenda on critical machine vision as a transdisciplinary challenge situated at the interface of media and cultural studies, computer science, and discourse-analytic approaches to visual communication.
The Influence of Work–Family Conflict on Parental Burnout in China: Moderating Effect of Spousal Support and its Gender Differences
Authors: Wang Xiaoran , Yu Dongqing , Huo Ming
Published: June 2024

Objective

This research explores the association between work–family conflict and parental burnout, testing the moderating effect of spousal support for men and women.

Method

We used the Work–Family Conflict Scale, the Intimacy Support Questionnaire, and the Parental Burnout Scale to survey 634 parents (Mage = 36.44 ± 4.28 years, 48.1% mothers) of preschool children.

Result

The results indicated that work–family conflict positively predicted parental burnout. For fathers, this relationship was significantly moderated by spousal support. As spousal support increased, the impact of work–family conflict on fathers’ parental burnout decreased, whereas for mothers the moderation was nonsignificant, revealing a significant gender difference in the moderating effect. This study elucidates the collaborative influence of spousal support and work–family conflict on parenting burnout across various gender conditions, contributing empirical support for mitigating and remedying parenting burnout. The findings suggest that focusing on establishing and sustaining spousal support resources for fathers could alleviate the adverse impact of work–family conflict on fathers’ parental burnout.
Precision Diabetes Education and Support Considering Patients’ Behavioral and Psychological Phenotype: A Q-Methodology Study
Authors: Cha EunSeok , Hwan Shin Myoung , Lee Hyunjung , Jang Hyesun , Joung Kyong Hye , Kim Hyunjin , Lee Jooseon , Faulkner Melissa Spezia
Published: June 2024

Background:

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is growing, and diabetes burden is increasing. Precision health in diabetes education and support employs different intervention strategies, depending on an individual’s viewpoint on diabetes and self-management behaviors, to improve patients’ treatment adherence, clinical outcomes, and quality of life.

Objective:

To classify the behavioral and psychological phenotypes of self-management behaviors in adults taking oral glucose–lowering medications to develop a theory-driven, person-centered group intervention applicable to busy clinical settings.

Methods:

Q-methodology was used. From January to August 2020, 73 participants (48 male, 25 female) were invited to do Q-sorting with 33 statements. The principal component technique, followed by varimax rotation, was used for factor analysis. The Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activity questionnaire and HbA1c in the past 6 months were included to obtain comprehensive understanding.

Results:

Fifty-one sorts (35 male, 16 female) loaded on 1 of 4 factors: factor A ( n = 18): Needing emotional support with enhancing problem-solving skills group; factor B ( n = 15): Self-help group; factor C ( n = 6): Needing personalized coaching group; and factor D ( n = 12): Needing basic diabetes education group.

Conclusions:

Each factor demonstrated a different need for diabetes education and support. Younger participants (factor D) had the poorest diabetes self-management behaviors and required basic diabetes education. Further research is warranted to develop a screening tool to classify the typologies and adopt the findings in a busy clinical setting.
Rigid Polyurethane Foam as an Energy Absorbing Core for Composite Components Manufactured by Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) Part II: Prediction of Properties and Validation of Constitutive Models
Authors: Carruthers J.J. , Robinson A.M.
Published: June 2024

Foam constitutive models allow the effects of changes in parmeter such as density to be predicted and can be used to generat input data for non-linear finite element models. This paper considers three approaches to the constitutive modelling of rigid polyurethane foams: (i) an empirically based shape function approach, (ii) an approach based on a consideration of the mechanics involved in the deformation of a unit cell and (iii) the construction of representative mechanical analogue models. Each approach considered in term of its accuracy, general applicability and ease of use. It is found that the three methods vary primarily in their reliance on experimentaI data and that this directly influences their levels of accuracy. The choice of approach is therefore largely dictated by the availability of appropriate test data.
Time Dependence of the Compressive Response of Polypropylene Bead Foam
Authors: Mills N.J.
Published: June 2024

Polypropylene bead foams of a range of densities were compressed using impact and creep loading in an Instron test machine. The stress-strain curves were analysed to find the effective cell gas pressure as a function of time under load. Creep is controlled by the polymer linear viscoelastic response if the applied stress is low, but at stresses above the foam yield stress, the creep is more rapid until compressed cell gas takes the majority of of the load. Air is lost from the cells by diffusion through the cell faces; this creep mechanism is more rapid than in extruded foams, because of the small bead size, and the open channels at the bead boundaries. The foam permeability to air can be related to the PP permeability and the foam density.