bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hydrochemical investigation of groundwater quality for drinking and irrigational purposes from industrial belt of Jharkhand, India
Authors: Yadav Aneet Kumar , Singh Abhay Kumar , Chaturvedi Aaditya , Kumar Dhananjay , Shukla Vertika , Kumar Sanjeev , Kumar Narendra
Published: October 2023

Groundwater (GW) is a key water resource for domestic and agricultural activities. Industrial activities often affect GW chemistry. Therefore, assessment of GW quality for drinking and irrigation purposes is required to be assessed to ensure its suitability in and around industrial setups. Present study was planned to investigate the GW suitability for domestic and irrigation purposes around Bokaro Industrial Area, Jharkhand, India. Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR), Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC), Permeability Index (PI), and percentage sodium (% Na) were evaluated for irrigation purposes, while pH, total hardness (TH), and electrical conductivity (EC), Total dissolve solid (TDS), F−, SO42−, HCO3−, Cl−, NO3−, Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ for domestic usage. Results showed wide variation in the physicochemical characteristics as major cations were found in the order: Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Na+ > K+, while major anions were in the order of HCO3−> Cl−> SO42−> NO3−> F−. The range of pH 6.15–7.73 and EC was 230–1676 μS cm−1, while TH, Cl−, HCO3−, SO4−, NO3‐, F−, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, and K+ was varied from 66–743, 3.3–289.9, 61–392, 5.5–148.5, 1.2–61.4, 0.66–4.38, 14.5–170.3, 4.9–80.2, 12.3–102.7, and 0.37–5.7 mg/L, respectively. It was found that GW quality at most of the sites was suitable for irrigation and domestic purpose except at few locations. Further, results revealed that industrial activity has noticeable impact on the groundwater quality but, the overall suitability indicates a potential recharge system for the aquifers in the area which maintains the GW chemistry. Albeit alarming values of some of the GW parameters, namely, pH, total hardness, F−, HCO3−, Cl−, NO3−, Na+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ at some locations require attention to design and execute effective water management plans to avoid possible irrigation and human health risks in future.
Effects of two commercial diets and two supplements on urinary pH in dogs
Authors: Igreja Inês Alcaide , Lourenço Ana Luísa , Vernooij Johannes C. M. , Corbee Ronald Jan
Published: October 2023

Background

Urinary pH manipulation by therapeutic foods or supplements is part of the treatment for urolithiasis. The effectiveness of these diets and supplements should be studied to determine which of these strategies is most effective.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To assess the effect of the oral supplementation of potassium citrate, an ammonium chloride solution (Urical) and two dry therapeutic foods—Hill's® Prescription Diet® u/d® Canine (u/d diet) and Royal Canin® Urinary S/O dog (S/O diet)—on a dog's urinary pH at different time points over 8 h.

Animals

Seven healthy adult male research beagle dogs.

Methods

A prospective interventional study lasting 31 days. The dogs either received a supplement (potassium citrate or rical) with a dry adult maintenance diet (control diet) or the therapeutic diet (u/d diet or S/O diet). Each treatment had a duration of 2–5 days, with 2‐ to 4‐day washout periods in between. Urinary pH measurements were performed every 2 h between 07h00 and 15h00, with the food being given at 07h00 and 15h00, right after urine collection. The pH measurements obtained in each of the four treatments were compared to control (same dogs fed the control diet exclusively).

Results

When compared to the control diet at the same time points, biologically relevant changes in urinary pH (defined as ≥0.5) were: increase with potassium citrate at 7h00 and 13h00; increase with u/d diet at 9h00, 13h00, and 15h00; decrease with S/O diet at 9h00 and 11h00; Urical did not have a detectable effect on urinary pH.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

The present study confirms that therapeutic foods S/O and u/d, and potassium citrate supplement affected acid‐base balance in healthy adult male beagle dogs, with the tested diets being more effective than the administered doses of the tested supplements at influencing urinary pH.
Introduction
Authors: Isabekova Gulnaz
Published: October 2023

This chapter briefly introduces the evolution of health aid, its forms, and its objectives. In consonance with the prevailing emphasis on combatting diseases in health aid, also known as the “vertical” approach, it focuses on assistance targeting tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. The chapter problematizes the achievement of the global objectives for these diseases and the sustainability of both ongoing and completed disease control activities. It argues that, though vivid in geographic areas affected by health aid reductions, these problems are not limited to these areas only due to aid fragmentation and the issues associated with the roles of aid providers and recipients in the decision-making process. Building on the long-standing academic discussion, this chapter introduces the objective of this book: to explore the link between the sustainability of aid and relationships among stakeholders involved. It further expands on case selection by introducing the selected health care projects and providing contextual information on the Kyrgyz Republic, the country in which these projects have been implemented. The chapter concludes with brief information on the data collection process and the structure of this book.
Sustainability of Global Fund Grants
Authors: Isabekova Gulnaz
Published: October 2023

This chapter analyzes the sustainability of the Global Fund grants to the Kyrgyz Republic by elaborating on the continuity of project activities, maintaining benefits, and building the capacity of a recipient community (Shediac-Rizkallah & Bone, Planning for the sustainability of community- based health programs: conceptual frameworks and future directions for research, practice and policy. Health Education Research, 13(1), 87–108. https://doi.org/10.1093/her/13.1.87, 1998). Focusing on nongovernmental organizations, it also elaborates on their leadership, mobilization of resources (Labonte & Lervack, Capacity building in health promotion, Part 1: For whom? And for what purpose? Critical Public Health, 11(2), 111–127. https://doi.org/10.1080/09581590110039838, 2001a; Capacity building in health promotion, Part 2: Whose use? And with what measurement? Critical Public Health, 11(2), 129–138. https://doi.org/10.1080/09581590110039847, 2001b), and survival beyond the Global Fund’s support. The chapter describes tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS-related grants and shows how they contributed to national efforts against the two diseases. In addition to increasing the number of nongovernmental organizations, the grants also extended the coverage and the types of prevention and treatment services available in the country. This chapter discusses the commitments the government has already made concerning these activities and outlines the factors affecting its ability to fulfill them. These include the epidemiological situation, political environment, procurement opportunities, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and so on. Furthermore, this chapter discusses the extent to which the government is taking over the benefits grants stipulated to patients affected by tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS and health care workers working in these areas. Finally, this chapter discusses the leadership of nongovernmental organizations, their survival beyond the Global Fund’s support, and their mobilization of resources, also by means of social contracting.
Work, Organisational Fragmentation and Safety
Authors: Almklov Petter
Published: October 2023

In this chapter, I propose the following argument: the organisational landscape of today has and is currently going through changes that can be described as different forms of fragmentation. This has consequences for organisational theory, the ways work is described, coordinated and governed, and in turn, it influences safety theory and practice. By discussing three different stereotyped “stages” in this fragmentation, I will demonstrate how current organisational changes influence work practice and safety management, and I will argue that we need to understand the boundaries through which work and safety are managed and the role of information infrastructures in these processes.
Research Philosophy, Methodological Implications, and Research Design
Authors: Bergmann Jonas
Published: October 2023

In this chapter, I explain the choices for the layers of the research approach applied in this book. Chiefly, I used a critical realist research stance and analyzed both qualitative case studies as well as survey data in a mixed methods approach. For the central qualitative research, I collected data through 81 problem-centered interviews, one focus group with 12 affected people, and discussions with over 60 experts. I analyzed the data through Qualitative Text Analysis to examine effects, mechanisms, social system dynamics, and structures. For the parallel quantitative study on the Coastal El Niño, I assessed extensive survey data through regression models. To evaluate differential displacement risk, I used a dataset collected by Peru’s National Institute of Statistics and Informatics directly after the disaster with close to 190,000 affected adults spread across all of Peru. Additionally, to identify the effects of displacement on well-being, I applied a customized, merged dataset of that survey and the National Census collected later in the same year. The chapter discusses the used data as well as the strengths and limitations of all chosen methods.
Selva: Flood-Driven Entrapment and Planned Relocation in Peru’s Rainforest
Authors: Bergmann Jonas
Published: October 2023

In Peru’s rainforest (Selva), the research interest was in two cases of flood-driven, short-distance, planned relocation in the Region of San Martín. After having requested relocation, both villages first became forcibly immobile for years (V3 and V4) and only one relocation was eventually accomplished (V3). These cases are of interest for two reasons. First, the evidence demonstrates that the annual flood cycle in the rainforest and extreme floods periodically drive individual migration and when habitability is threatened, the state has occasionally attempted to relocate entire communities. Second, extreme floods have already increased in the rainforest and are projected to rise further due to climate change; the case studies thus provide valuable insights into a dynamic with rising importance for (im)mobilities. In the first section, I explain the geographical context, measured and projected climate change trends and impacts, exposure, vulnerabilities, local coping and adaptation, and hazard-related migration in Peru’s Selva. Afterwards, I describe and discuss the new empirical results before inducing propositions on well-being impacts of climate (im)mobilities in the last section. Findings highlight that severe floods in 1999 and 2015, respectively raised aspirations to migrate in the villages. Yet, due to limited migration capabilities and lacking state support, farmers in V3 only relocated after 15 years, whereas those in V4 have remained in entrapment until today. These (im)mobilities occurred under distress because structural opportunities were only low to average, whereas high structural constraints emerged. The Indígenas’ prolonged entrapment in V4 has had significant impacts on their well-being. Because the state designated their village as a high-risk flood zone but failed to purchase a promised new plot for the relocation, farmers did not only still suffer from continued flooding, but also lost planned infrastructure investments. Their vulnerabilities have increased chronically. With worsening need fulfillment, most respondents lost subjective well-being. Many also expressed negative outlooks on the future given economic insecurity and years of bad governance, which have raised doubt that the relocation will be completed. By contrast, V3 faced major hurdles in the protracted relocation but eventually moved. Although challenges persisted after relocation, most farmers perceived the eventual transfer as successful in material dimensions owing to the decreased exposure to hazards as well as the improved access to jobs and markets. Most villagers followed a trajectory of delayed recovery and reported positive feelings, cognitive satisfaction, and optimistic views of the future. 
Based on these empirical findings, more general propositions on the well-being impacts of climate (im)mobilities are induced.
Elterliche Sexualaufklärung und sexuelles Risikoverhalten bei Töchtern und Söhnen: Befunde aus der Repräsentativbefragung „Jugendsexualität“
Authors: Döring Nicola , Walter Roberto , Scharmanski Sara
Published: October 2023

Hintergrund

Sexualaufklärung im Elternhaus soll laut Sozialisationstheorie zu mehr sexueller Handlungskompetenz bei Jugendlichen führen. Aktuelle Daten für Deutschland fehlen jedoch.

Ziel der Arbeit

Vor diesem Hintergrund war es Ziel der vorliegenden Studie, erstmals das allgemeine Sprechen über Sexualität im Elternhaus (Forschungsfrage 1, F1) sowie speziell die Verhütungsberatung durch die Eltern (F2) mit dem sexuellen Risikoverhalten der Jugendlichen in Verbindung zu setzen.

Material und Methoden

Datengrundlage ist die 9. Welle der Repräsentativbefragung „Jugendsexualität“ der Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung (BZgA). Analysiert wurden Daten aller sexuell aktiven 14- bis 17-jährigen Jugendlichen im Sample, von denen eigene Angaben zum Sexualverhalten sowie Angaben ihrer Eltern zum Aufklärungsverhalten vorliegen (N = 357). Zur Beantwortung der beiden Forschungsfragen wurden logistische Regressionsanalysen mit 4 zentralen Merkmalen des jugendlichen Sexualverhaltens gerechnet.

Ergebnisse

Es zeigte sich, dass das Sprechen über Sexualität im Elternhaus bei Mädchen und Jungen positiv korreliert mit 1. dem erreichten Konsensalter beim ersten Geschlechtsverkehr, 2. einem positiven Erleben des ersten Geschlechtsverkehrs, 3. einem zuverlässigen Verhütungsverhalten und 4. einer geringen Anzahl an Sexualpartner*innen (F1). Das gleiche Ergebnismuster ergab sich für die Verhütungsberatung durch die Eltern (F2).

Diskussion

Die positiven Zusammenhänge zwischen elterlicher Sexualaufklärung und risikoärmerem jugendlichen Sexualverhalten gilt es hinsichtlich der zugrunde liegenden Kausalmechanismen genauer zu untersuchen.
Exploring wide-parametric range for tool electrode selection based on surface characterization and machining rate employing powder-mixed electric discharge machining process for Ti6Al4V ELI
Authors: Farooq Muhammad Umar , Anwar Saqib , Ali Muhammad Asad , Hassan Abual , Mushtaq Ray Tahir
Published: October 2023

The titanium alloy Ti6Al4V ELI (grade 23) is widely used in biomedical industry because of its engineering attributes. However, it requires surface modifications and has processing challenges because it is difficult to machine nature. Therefore, powder-mixed electric discharge machining process is commonly applied to simultaneously machine the material and carry out surface treatment. The performance of the process is limited by both low cutting efficiency and the formation of a rough surface. In this regard, the current study evaluates SiC powder-mixed electric discharge machining of Ti6Al4V ELI using a range of tool materials such as copper, brass, graphite, and aluminum along with a comprehensive list of process parameters. The surface roughness parameters involving arithmetic roughness, the average peak-to-valley distance, and the highest peak-to-deepest valley distance along with material removal rate are comprehensively studied. Taguchi design of experiments L16 orthogonal array is used to study the process performance with parametric effect analysis, parametric significance analysis, and surface morphological analysis with a scanning electron microscope. Furthermore, the experimental results are optimized against a multi-response optimization matrix using grey relational analysis approach. An optimal compromise between surface attributes and cutting efficiency is identified by Al electrode, pulse current of 14 A, pulse on time of 75 µs, pulse off time of 75 µs, and negative polarity parametric conditions.
Effect of bisphenol A on the neurological system: a review update
Authors: Costa Henrique Eloi , Cairrao Elisa
Published: October 2023

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) and one of the most produced synthetic compounds worldwide. BPA can be found in epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics, which are frequently used in food storage and baby bottles. However, BPA can bind mainly to estrogen receptors, interfering with various neurologic functions, its use is a topic of significant concern. Nonetheless, the neurotoxicity of BPA has not been fully understood despite numerous investigations on its disruptive effects. Therefore, this review aims to highlight the most recent studies on the implications of BPA on the neurologic system. Our findings suggest that BPA exposure impairs various structural and molecular brain changes, promoting oxidative stress, changing expression levels of several crucial genes and proteins, destructive effects on neurotransmitters, excitotoxicity and neuroinflammation, damaged blood–brain barrier function, neuronal damage, apoptosis effects, disruption of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, increase in reactive oxygen species, promoted apoptosis and intracellular lactate dehydrogenase release, a decrease of axon length, microglial DNA damage, astrogliosis, and significantly reduced myelination. Moreover, BPA exposure increases the risk of developing neurologic diseases, including neurovascular (e.g. stroke) and neurodegenerative (e.g. Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s) diseases. Furthermore, epidemiological studies showed that the adverse effects of BPA on neurodevelopment in children contributed to the emergence of serious neurological diseases like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), depression, emotional problems, anxiety, and cognitive disorders. In summary, BPA exposure compromises human health, promoting the development and progression of neurologic disorders. More research is required to fully understand how BPA-induced neurotoxicity affects human health.
The impact of a dedicated social media strategy on enhancing surgical education
Authors: Bisset Carly N. , McDermott Frank D. , Keller Deborah S.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Social media (SoMe) is increasingly important in surgical education and may be necessary in the current learning environment. Whilst expanding in use and applications, few studies detail the impact of SoMe on measurable outcomes. The goal of this study was to quantify the impact of a dedicated SoMe strategy on engagement metrics for surgical research.

Methods

A retrospective review of a peer-reviewed surgical journal’s Twitter microblog platform (@ColorectalDis) was performed from 6/2015 to 4/2021. A formal SoMe strategy was introduced in September 2018. Data were stratified into 2 time periods: pre-intervention (6-2015 to 9-2018) and post-SoMe intervention (9-2018 to 4-2021). The main outcome was the impact of the SoMe strategy on user engagement with the Twitter platform, journal, and traditional journal metrics. Twitter Analytics and Twitonomy were used to analyse engagement.

Results

From conception to analysis, the microblog published 1198 original tweets, generating 5 million impressions and 231,000 engagements. Increased account activity (increased tweets published per month—5.51 vs 28.79; p < 0.01) was associated with significant engagement growth, including new monthly followers (213 vs 38; p < 0.01) and interactions with posted articles (4,096,167 vs 269,152; p < 0.01). Article downloads increased twenty-fold post-SoMe intervention (210,449 vs 10,934; p < 0.01), with significant increases in traditional journal metrics of new subscribers (+11%), article submissions (+24%), and impact factor (+0.9) (all p < 0.01).

Conclusion

SoMe directly impacts traditional journal metrics in surgical research. By examining the patterns of user engagement between SoMe and journal sites, the growing beneficial impact of a structured social media strategy and SoMe as an educational tool is demonstrated.
Anterior segment optical coherence tomography-assisted surgical planning of an organic intralamellar corneal foreign body removal: a case report
Authors: Volek Eva , Sandor Gabor Laszlo , Nagy Zoltan Zsolt , Schneider Miklos
Published: October 2023

Background

Corneal foreign bodies have been reported to be the second most common type of ocular injury. We report a case of an organic intralamellar foreign body in which noninvasive anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) was used to assist the diagnosis, plan the surgery, and monitor the progress of treatment.

Case presentation

A 37-year-old male patient presented with an intracorneal reed foreign body in his right eye. It was challenging to assess whether the foreign body perforated the cornea. Slit-lamp examination and AS-OCT were performed. The latter showed that the foreign body had not completely perforated the cornea. Removal of the foreign body via the entry wound was not possible due to the structure of the reed. Extraction was performed via an incision along the foreign body. During the postoperative period, the patient’s visual acuity was 20/20 on the right eye with minimal astigmatism, despite a scar tissue formation.

Conclusions

In our case, AS-OCT facilitated the localization of the corneal foreign body and was useful in planning the surgery.
Thin-layer chromatography quantification of ibuprofen using digital imaging
Authors: Anton Callum-James , Ecker Felix , Braun-Münker Myriam
Published: October 2023

Ibuprofen is a pharmaceutical that is commonly used to reduce inflammation and to treat headaches. A thin-layer chromatographic method combined with simple and inexpensive digital imaging is proposed for the determination and quantification of ibuprofen. The recommendations of the standard pharmacopoeia were followed with the addition of a minimal spotting method as a local calibration curve (n = 3) and comparison with a spotted sample. Images were acquired using a smartphone and then converted to greyscale using Fiji, an open-source image analysis software. The peak area and density of each spot was then calculated using a densitometric principle. To analyse the present image data, several images were taken with different filters. Using a calibration curve ranging in the range of 3 to 5 mg/mL, linearity could be determined across the subjected images (R2 ranging from 0.984 to 0.996), with a mean accuracy of 99.9 ± 2.20% and RSD of 2.20%. The method studied, using smartphone imaging and open-source software (Fiji), offered a simple and inexpensive application for the quantification of ibuprofen in pharmaceuticals, applicable to preliminary studies and curricula.

Graphical abstract

Method proposal for ibuprofen quantification using digital image processing software (Fiji)
Zusammenhang zwischen Notrufabfrage und Transportentscheidung
Authors: Huppert K. , Dax F. , Hoffmann F. , Lazarovici M. , Prückner S.
Published: October 2023

Hintergrund

Die Inanspruchnahme des öffentlich-rechtlichen Rettungsdiensts in Bayern steigt seit Jahren an und damit die Leertransportquoten. Zur Weiterentwicklung der Notrufabfrage in Bayern stellten wir uns retrospektiv die Frage, ob es Kommunikationscharakteristika in Notrufgesprächen ohne folgende Notarztbeteiligung gibt, die den späteren Transportstatus prädizieren und die Dauer der Notrufabfrage beeinflussen.

Methode

Retrospektive quantitative Auswertung von qualitativ erhobenen Notrufgesprächen der Integrierten Leitstellen (ILS) München und Bayreuth/Kulmbach. Kategorisierung der Anrufe als Rettungswageneinsatz ohne Transport (RoT) und Rettungswageneinsatz mit Transport (TP). Die Auswertung erfolgte mittels deskriptiver Methoden, linearer und logistischer Regressionen.

Ergebnisse

Informationen über den Atmungs‑, Bewusstseins- und Schmerzzustand des*r Patient*in gingen seltener mit einem RoT-Einsatz einher. Das Vorliegen von Informationen über den Kreislauf- und neurologischen Zustand des*r Patient*in sowie die Entstehung einer Drucksituation und die situative Überforderung des*r Anrufer*in gingen häufiger mit einem RoT-Einsatz einher. Eine situative Überforderung des*r Anrufer*in und ein*e fremdsprachliche*r Anrufer*in hatten ceteris paribus eine Verlängerung der durchschnittlichen Notrufgesprächsdauer zur Folge; die fehlenden Deutschkenntnisse hatten jedoch keinen Einfluss auf die Chance eines RoT-Einsatzes.

Schlussfolgerung

Die Ergebnisse weisen auf einen Zusammenhang zwischen Kommunikationscharakteristika und Transportstatus hin. Der medizinischen Abfrage ist hierbei ein großer Stellenwert zuzuschreiben. Weiter ließen sich menschliche Überforderung sowie sprachliche Faktoren identifizieren, die die Alarmierungsentscheidung des*r Disponent*in mitbestimmen.

Graphic abstract
Water quality at the end of the Mississippi River for 120 years: the agricultural imperative
Authors: Turner R. Eugene
Published: October 2023

Archived water quality data collected between 1901 and 2019 were used to reconstruct annual averages of various forms of C, N, P, and silicate concentrations and alkalinity in the lower Mississippi River. During this interval the average annual nitrate concentrations doubled pre-dominantly from fertilizer applications and tiling, silicate concentrations decreased by half as diatom sedimentation increased as dams were built, and alkalinity increased 16%. Variances in silicate concentrations were proportional to river discharge before 1980 and concentrations have been stable since then. Average annual temperatures, discharge and alkalinity increased simultaneously around 1980; this suggests that there was greater weathering thereafter and is supported by the positive relationships between variations in alkalinity and variations in nitrate, phosphate, and silicate concentrations. The conversion of forests and grasslands into farmlands and improved drainage resulted in less evapotranspiration, a higher percent of precipitation going into streams and altered soil water bio-geo-chemistries. Field trials demonstrating soil health improvements resulting from more live roots and soil cover and greater biodiversity demonstrate water quality improvements and no effect on farm profitability. Lowering nitrate loading to the coastal waters will reduce summertime hypoxic waters formation offshore, but alkalinity in the river will increase further with climate warming.
Effects of thermal cycling on the thermal and magnetic response of Ni–Mn–Sn–Pd alloys
Authors: Wederni A. , Ipatov M. , Khitouni M. , Suñol J. J.
Published: October 2023

Magnetic refrigeration is an option to replace conventional refrigeration. There are many studies that analyze materials with magnetocaloric effect during the first cooling-heating cycle, without analyzing the influence of cycling (necessary to check its applicability). In this work, we proceed to analyze the crystallographic structure (X-Ray diffraction) and the thermal (differential scanning calorimetry) and thermomagnetic (PPMS cycles and ZFC–FH–FC scans) response after a hundred thermal cycles of two Heusler alloys, Ni49Mn36Sn14Pd1 and Ni48Mn36Sn14Pd2 (at.%), that have been produced by melt spinning as ribbon flakes. In order to check its stability from cycling, these ferromagnetic alloys have been subjected to a hundred of thermal cycles (heating/cooling to provoke the austenite to martensite reversible transformation. The comparison before and after cycling behavior allow us to state that the reduction of the crystallographic defects favors higher atomic order. Likewise, the thermodynamic parameters (entropy and enthalpy) and the magnetic response have been reduced at about 10–12%.
Innate right, indeterminacy, and official discretion: A puzzle for Kantians
Authors: Garofalo Paul
Published: October 2023

This paper poses a puzzle for contemporary Kantian political philosophy. Kantian political philosophers hold that the state’s purpose is to secure the conditions for people’s innate right to equal freedom, while at the same time claiming that innate right does not give a determinate set of conditions that the state is to bring about. Officials, then, have to make decisions in cases where the considerations of innate right provide no further guidance. I argue that, intuitively, in such cases there are (i) some further considerations that officials may appeal to and (ii) some further considerations that officials may not appeal to in order to decide among the options consistent with people’s innate right and then raise difficulties for the ability of current Kantian accounts to explain how they can accept both (i) and (ii). I conclude by suggesting one potential path forward for Kantians to address this puzzle.
Modulation of Cellular Levels of Adenosine Phosphates and Creatine Phosphate in Cultured Primary Astrocytes
Authors: Karger Gabriele , Berger Julius , Dringen Ralf
Published: October 2023

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the main energy currency of all cells, while creatine phosphate (CrP) is considered as a buffer of high energy-bond phosphate that facilitates rapid regeneration of ATP from adenosine diphosphate (ADP). Astrocyte-rich primary cultures contain ATP, ADP and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) in average specific contents of 36.0 ± 6.4 nmol/mg, 2.9 ± 2.1 nmol/mg and 1.7 ± 2.1 nmol/mg, respectively, which establish an adenylate energy charge of 0.92 ± 0.04. The average specific cellular CrP level was found to be 25.9 ± 10.8 nmol/mg and the CrP/ATP ratio was 0.74 ± 0.28. The specific cellular CrP content, but not the ATP content, declined with the age of the culture. Absence of fetal calf serum for 24 h caused a partial loss in the cellular contents of both CrP and ATP, while application of creatine for 24 h doubled the cellular CrP content and the CrP/ATP ratio, but did not affect ATP levels. In glucose-deprived astrocytes, the high cellular ATP and CrP contents were rapidly depleted within minutes after application of the glycolysis inhibitor 2-deoxyglucose and the respiratory chain inhibitor antimycin A. For those conditions, the decline in CrP levels always preceded that of ATP contents. In contrast, incubation of glucose-fed astrocytes for up to 30 min with antimycin A had little effect on the high cellular ATP content, while the CrP level was significantly lowered. These data demonstrate the importance of cellular CrP for maintaining a high cellular ATP content in astrocytes during episodes of impaired ATP regeneration.
The Spectrum of Liability to Defensive Harm and the Case of Child Soldiers
Authors: Sutherland Jessica
Published: October 2023

We typically see child soldiers as not morally responsible because of their age and/or because they are victims of adult exploitation. Work on child soldiers and their moral responsibility is relatively sparse within just war thinking and political philosophy (Thomason in Ethical Theory Moral Pract, 19:115–127, 2016a; Thomason in Seeing child soldiers as morally compromised warriors [Online]. The Critique. Available: http://www.thecritique.com/articles/seeing-child-soldiers-as-morally-compromised-warriors/ [Accessed 2 April 2020], 2016b), and instead focuses mostly on whether child soldiers are liable to attack (McMahan, in Gates, Reich (eds) Child soldiers in the age of fractured states, University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, PA, 2010; Vaha in J Military Ethics, 10:36–51, 2011). This paper brings these two areas together. Many of us have the intuition that combatants should exercise at least some constraint when fighting against child soldiers. I will argue that, contra McMahan (2010), exercising restraint in this way is a requirement of justice. I will argue that agents can be more or less liable to attack (liability to attack is on a spectrum) in defensive killing cases depending on how morally responsible they are for the threat they cause. I will outline how, whilst child soldiers are not wholly responsible for the threat they cause to combatants, their responsibility is also not completely diminished. I will argue that child soldiers are therefore liable to attack, but to a lesser extent than fully responsible agents. I will show that combatants fighting against child soldiers are therefore required, as a matter of justice, to use the most proportionate method of attack which may not always be to kill the child soldier. I will conclude that combatants are therefore required, as a matter of justice, to exercise a degree of restraint when fighting against child soldiers.
Narratives of Children’s Gender Socialization from Fathers Who Take Parental Leave in South Korea
Authors: Lee Youngcho
Published: October 2023

Do leave-taking fathers who 'undo' gender in their division of domestic labour and responsibilities also ‘undo’ gender in relation to their children’s gender socialization? This exploratory qualitative study seeks to understand how leave-taking fathers in South Korea (N = 17) experience and envision their children’s gender socialization by identifying three types of fathers. For ‘committed’ fathers, leave-taking is an extension of their genuine convictions and best efforts to raise children based on feminist ideals, but contradictory messages from non-parental influences such as preschools pose challenges. ‘Conflicted’ fathers undergo significant changes in their views about men and women’s roles through leave uptake but confess to still holding rigid views about children’s gender socialization. ‘Receptive’ fathers demonstrate more open and moderately flexible attitudes to children’s gender roles than the ‘conflicted’ fathers, although not as consciously, proactively, or consistently as the ‘committed’ fathers. The findings indicate that fathers’ uptake of leave leads to diverging, rather than uniform trajectories in fathers’ development of attitudes and behaviours toward children’s socialization. The findings point to the need to consider inconsistencies operating at multiple levels of the ‘gender trap,’ including between fathers’ attitudes toward adult and children’s gender roles, fathers’ behaviours and attitudes, and parental and non-parental influences.
Foresail-2: Space Physics Mission in a Challenging Environment
Authors: Anger Marius , Niemelä Petri , Cheremetiev Kiril , Clayhills Bruce , Fetzer Anton , Lundén Ville , Hiltunen Markus , Kärkkäinen Tomi , Mayank M. , Turc Lucile , Osmane Adnane , Palmroth Minna , Kilpua Emilia , Oleynik Philipp , Vainio Rami , Virtanen Pasi , Toivanen Petri , Janhunen Pekka , Fischer David , Le Bonhomme Guillaume , Slavinskis Andris , Praks Jaan
Published: October 2023

Earth’s radiation belts are extremely important for space weather because they can store and accelerate particles to relativistic energies, which can have a potential impact on satellite functionality, communications, and navigation systems. The FORESAIL consortium wants to measure these high-energy particle fluxes to understand the dynamics of the radiation belts with its satellite mission Foresail-2. The mission aims to measure magnetic ultra low frequency waves and the plasma environment in the magnetosphere around Earth. The captured data will help to improve our understanding of space weather, and in particular the dynamics of Earth’s radiation belts during periods of large disturbances inside the magnetosphere. A mission design analysis and several trade-off studies are conducted to find the requirements for the science payloads and spacecraft avionics design. Deducted from these requirements, four different payloads are proposed to gather science data in a highly elliptical orbit such as a geostationary transfer orbit. The precision magnetometer uses flux-gate technology to measure magnetic waves from 1 mHz to 10 Hz. The spin scanning particle telescope is built around a detector stack to measure electron spectra in the range of 30 keV to 10 MeV. Additionally, this mission serves as a technology demonstrator for the Coulomb drag experiment which proposes a new kind of electric solar wind sail utilising the Coulomb drag force imposed onto a 300 m long tether. The fourth payload investigates multilayer radiation shielding and single event effects. All payloads will be supported by a newly developed 6U platform using mostly commercial off-the-shelf components. Its proposed avionics face several unique design requirements rising from the payloads and the preferred highly elliptical orbit for this mission.
Explainable generalized additive neural networks with independent neural network training
Authors: Ortega-Fernandez Ines , Sestelo Marta , Villanueva Nora M.
Published: October 2023

Neural Networks are one of the most popular methods nowadays given their high performance on diverse tasks, such as computer vision, anomaly detection, computer-aided disease detection and diagnosis or natural language processing. While neural networks are known for their high performance, they often suffer from the so-called “black-box” problem, which means that it is difficult to understand how the model makes decisions. We introduce a neural network topology based on Generalized Additive Models. By training an independent neural network to estimate the contribution of each feature to the output variable, we obtain a highly accurate and explainable deep learning model, providing a flexible framework for training Generalized Additive Neural Networks which does not impose any restriction on the neural network architecture. The proposed algorithm is evaluated through different simulation studies with synthetic datasets, as well as a real-world use case of Distributed Denial of Service cyberattack detection on an Industrial Control System. The results show that our proposal outperforms other GAM-based neural network implementations while providing higher interpretability, making it a promising approach for high-risk AI applications where transparency and accountability are crucial.
Preliminary estimates of genetic parameters and familial selection for non-native poplars show good potential for genetic gains on growth, cold hardiness, trunk quality and Sphaerulina musiva susceptibility
Authors: Otis-Prud’homme Guillaume , DeBlois Josianne , Perron Martin
Published: October 2023

Genetic parameters for growth, trunk quality, and susceptibility to frost and Sphaerulina musiva attack were estimated from 34 half-sib families of hybrid poplar from the crossing of non-native parents, Populus maximowiczii A. Henry, and Populus trichocarpa Torr. & Gray, 3 and 6 years after planting. The use of spatial analysis proved to be the best method for quantitative growth data. The proportion of the among-family variance to the total (phenotypic) variance as well as the high heritabilities of growth and susceptibility to frost and Spaherulina musiva showed a high potential for selection for these traits while the quality traits were under low genetic control. Some families showed gains for several traits, suggesting the possibility of developing a selection index to obtain superior families that show gain for not only growth but quality and adaptive traits as well. Type B correlations were high, suggesting that families responded in the same way regardless of the site. High type A correlation between growth traits at 3 and 6 years showed early selection potential, although these relationships should be confirmed with future measurements to evaluate this effect at maturity. These results can be integrated into the strategy for improving hybrid poplar parental populations and, in the longer term, will make it possible to optimize the selection of individuals with traits of interest for the operational deployment of hybrid poplar clones.
Batch adsorption study in liquid phase under agitation, rotation, and nanobubbles: comparisons in a multi-parametric study
Authors: Kouvalakidou Sofia L. , Varoutoglou Athanasios , Alibrahim Khuloud A. , Alodhayb Abdullah N. , Mitropoulos Athanasios C. , Kyzas George Z.
Published: October 2023

Concern for environmental protection has increased throughout the years from a global perspective. To date, the predominance of adsorption as treatment technique in environmental chemistry remains unchallenged. Moreover, the scientific attention for investigating nanobubbles due to their unique properties has turned the search for their application in environmental processes with special emphasis on water treatment. This study is aimed at investigating the effect of rotation on batch adsorption process using commercial activated carbon as adsorbent material, compared with the widely used method of agitation. As liquid medium, deionized water and deionized water enhanced with nanobubbles (of air) were used. The wastewater was simulated by dissolving a common dye as model pollutant, methylene blue, at concentration of 300 mg/L in the tested liquid. The results indicated that the utilization of nanobubbles resulted in an improvement on adsorption rate, compared to the corresponding values of deionized water solutions. These results may lead to promising applications in the future, since just 1 h of operation increases the water purification and thus provides a simply applied, cost-effective, and rapid alternative.
Autobahn der Zelle: Wie das SARS-CoV-2-Spike-Protein durch die Zelle reist
Authors: Veeck Christopher , Biedenkopf Nadine
Published: October 2023

Viruses employ cellular host factors not only for replication and transcription but also for transport and assembly. Rab-GTPases, as master regulators of intracellular trafficking pathways, are commonly involved host factors and useful tools for identification of transport pathways used but certain viruses. Here, we present Rab1B as an essential host factor for trafficking and maturation of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.
Wie beobachtet man Viren bei ihrem Zusammenbau?
Authors: Read Clarissa , Bergner Tim
Published: October 2023

Understanding interaction of viruses with the host organism is crucial for fighting global pandemics as well as life-threatening diseases in humans and animals. This understanding requires among other things direct visualization of viruses and viral structures inside infected cells. Only electron microscopy (EM) provides a sufficient resolution for this. Using a herpesvirus and SARS-CoV-2 as an example, this article high-lights EM as an important and versatile method in virus research.
Proteinnetzwerk-Analysen schnell gemacht mit PRO-Simat
Authors: Salihoglu Rana , Bencurova Elena , Dandekar Thomas
Published: October 2023

De

PRO-Simat is a versatile bioinformatics tool for protein network analysis, protein engineering and dynamic modeling of various model organisms. Four different modules work together and offer extensive protein network analysis including host-pathogen interactions, cell protein networks, network design and cancer research. It allows to analyze network structure, its dynamics, signaling and metabolic pathways as well as process analysis. It is available at http://prosimat.heinzelab.de.
Co-expression of GR79 EPSPS and GAT generates high glyphosate-resistant alfalfa with low glyphosate residues
Authors: Meng Yingying , Zhang Wenwen , Wang Zhaoming , Yuan Feng , Guo Sandui , Lin Hao , Niu Lifang
Published: October 2023

Weed competition seriously threatens the yield of alfalfa, the most important forage legume worldwide, thus generating herbicide-resistant alfalfa varieties is becoming a necessary cost-effective strategy to assist farmers for weed control. Here, we report the co-expression of plant codon-optimized forms of GR79 EPSPS (pGR79 EPSPS) and N-acetyltransferase (pGAT) genes, in alfalfa, via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. We established that the pGR79 EPSPS-pGAT co-expression alfalfa lines were able to tolerate up to tenfold higher commercial usage of glyphosate and produced approximately ten times lower glyphosate residues than the conventional cultivar. Our findings generate an elite herbicide-resistant germplasm for alfalfa breeding and provide a promising strategy for developing high-glyphosate-resistant and low-glyphosate-residue forages.
Women: guardians of water and cultural link amid drinking water scarcity in Gboguhé Sub-Prefecture, Central-West Côte d'Ivoire
Authors: Seri Jonathan Aser Engelvin
Published: October 2023

In rural Ivorian communities, women are considered as the guardians of water, undertaking an essential role deeply rooted in local cultural values, ensuring the preservation and management of this vital resource. However, the scarcity of potable water places them under significant pressure, exposing them to heightened risks. Within this context, this study conducted in the Sub-Prefecture of Gboguhé explores the critical link between the cultural values of Bete women and the issue of access to potable water in the region, with a specific focus on the impacts they experience. To achieve this, the study adopts a primarily qualitative approach based on documentary research, direct observations, in-depth semi-structured interviews, and focus groups. The findings reveal that the scarcity of potable water disproportionately affects women in these communities, leading to significant socio-economic consequences. Water points often become scenes of verbal and physical aggression among women, given the difficulties in accessing water in the area, thereby limiting their daily activities and economic participation. Furthermore, they face heightened health risks due to water supply hardships and the consumption of non-potable water from unimproved sources. Additionally, this study offers novel perspectives for transformative actions aimed at addressing the scarcity of potable water, promoting women's social and cultural values, and preserving the essential cultural ties within the Bete communities of Gboguhé and beyond.
Solar and open sun drying of untreated and pretreated banana stalk chips biomass: a sustainable processing of biomass using renewable solar energy
Authors: Agbede Oluseye Omotoso , Odewale Ifeoluwa Solomon , Aworanti Oluwafunmilayo Abiola , Alagbe Solomon Oluyemi , Ogunkunle Oyetola , Laseinde Opeyeolu Timothy
Published: October 2023

The stalk of banana is an abundant biomass that can be sustainably converted into bioenergy, biofuels, biosorbents, animal feeds and fibers. The moisture content of freshly harvested banana stalk is high, so drying is essential before its storage and prior to some of the conversion processes. Hence, solar and open sun drying characteristics of banana stalk chips were investigated. Untreated (5, 10 and 15 mm thick) and pretreated (hot water, salt water and sulphite) banana stalk chips were dehydrated in a solar dryer and directly in sunlight. The data were fitted to twelve drying models. The moisture diffusivities were also evaluated. Banana stalk dried mainly in the falling-rate phase and the rate of drying increased with decreasing chip thickness. However, the chips dried slower in direct sunlight compared to the solar dryer. The pretreatments significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced the rate of dehydration of the chips in the solar dryer. Diffusivities for the solar and direct sunlight drying of banana stalk chips were 1.28 × 10–9–5.32 × 10–9 m2 s−1 and 1.08 × 10–9–3.65 × 10–9 m2 s−1, respectively. The Weibull model aptly described the solar drying of the chips while the Midilli-Kucuk and Weibull models most properly depicted the open sun dehydration of untreated and pretreated chips, respectively. Solar energy may be more efficiently utilized for drying banana stalk chips biomass by using a solar dryer as well as a very thin layer of chips and by pretreating the biomass prior to the drying operation. The effective use of solar energy for drying banana stalk biomass can reduce its processing cost and enhance the sustainability of biomass utilization.