bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential business model for a European vaccine R&D infrastructure and its estimated socio-economic impact
Authors: Jungbluth Stefan , Martin William , Slezak Monika , Depraetere Hilde , Guzman Carlos A. , Ussi Anton , Morrow David , Van Heuverswyn Fran , Arnouts Sven , Carrondo Manuel J. T. , Olesen Ole , Ottenhoff Tom H.M. , Dockrell H. M. , Ho Mei Mei , Dobly Alexandre , Christensen Dennis , Segalés Joaquim , Laurent Fabrice , Lantier Frédéric , Stockhofe-Zurwieden Norbert , Morelli Francesca , Langermans Jan A.M. , Verreck Frank A.W. , Le Grand Roger , Sloots Arjen , Medaglini Donata , Lawrenz Maria , Collin Nicolas
Published: October 2023

Background Research infrastructures are facilities or resources that have proven fundamental for supporting scientific research and innovation. However, they are also known to be very expensive in their establishment, operation and maintenance. As by far the biggest share of these costs is always borne by public funders, there is a strong interest and indeed a necessity to develop alternative business models for such infrastructures that allow them to function in a more sustainable manner that is less dependent on public financing. Methods In this article, we describe a feasibility study we have undertaken to develop a potentially sustainable business model for a vaccine research and development (R&D) infrastructure. The model we have developed integrates two different types of business models that would provide the infrastructure with two different types of revenue streams which would facilitate its establishment and would be a measure of risk reduction. For the business model we are proposing, we have undertaken an ex ante impact assessment that estimates the expected impact for a vaccine R&D infrastructure based on the proposed models along three different dimensions: health, society and economy. Results Our impact assessment demonstrates that such a vaccine R&D infrastructure could achieve a very significant socio-economic impact, and so its establishment is therefore considered worthwhile pursuing. Conclusions The business model we have developed, the impact assessment and the overall process we have followed might also be of interest to other research infrastructure initiatives in the biomedical field.
Machine Learning for Data-Driven Last-Mile Delivery Optimization
Authors: Özarık Sami Serkan , da Costa Paulo , Florio Alexandre M.
Published: October 2023

In the context of the Amazon Last-Mile Routing Research Challenge, this paper presents a machine-learning framework for optimizing last-mile delivery routes. Contrary to most routing problems where an objective function is clearly defined, in the real-world setting considered in the challenge, an objective is not explicitly specified and must be inferred from data. Leveraging techniques from machine learning and classical traveling salesman problem heuristics, we propose a “pool and select” algorithm to prescribe high-quality last-mile delivery sequences. In the pooling phase, we exploit structural knowledge acquired from data, such as common entry and exit regions observed in training routes. In the selection phase, we predict the scores of candidate sequences with a high-dimensional, pretrained, and regularized regression model. The score prediction model, which includes a large number of predictor variables such as sequence duration, compliance with time windows, earliness, lateness, and structural similarity to training data, displays good prediction accuracy and guides the selection of efficient delivery sequences. Overall, the framework is able to prescribe competitive delivery routes, as measured on out-of-sample routes across several data sets. Given that desired characteristics of high-quality sequences are learned and not assumed, the proposed framework is expected to generalize well to last-mile applications beyond those immediately foreseen in the challenge. Moreover, the method requires less than three seconds to prescribe a sequence given an instance and, thus, is suitable for very large-scale applications.

History: This paper has been accepted for the Transportation Science Special Issue on Machine Learning Methods and Applications in Large-Scale Route Planning Problems.

Funding: This research was funded by The Dutch Research Council (NWO) Data2Move project under [Grant 628.009.013] and the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie [Grant 754462].

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2022.0029 .
Otimização Espacial Aplicada ao Censo Demográfico Para Uso do Transporte Ativo: Estudo de Caso da Ilha do Governador, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Authors: Aoyagui Paulo Kazuo
Published: October 2023

Este artigo apresenta uma proposta de otimização espacial para a alocação de postos de coleta de dados do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) para o Censo Demográfico Brasileiro de 2022, tendo como área de estudo a região administrativa da Ilha do Governador, localizada na cidade do Rio de Janeiro. Foram utilizados os Sistemas de Informações Geográficas como o QGIS e o TransCAD para o mapeamento das áreas de interesse e a construção da proposta de alocação dos postos de coleta de dados, sendo essa metodologia aplicável para outros centros urbanos nacionais. Para isso foram utilizados dois critérios de alocação: o deslocamento por transporte ativo entre os postos de coleta, e o deslocamento do setor censitário até o posto de coleta. Os resultados sugerem que é possível alocar os postos de forma a minimizar o número de locais de coleta e maximizar o atendimento aos setores censitários, contribuindo para um planejamento e utilização de recursos de forma mais eficiente, econômica e sustentável. A partir das análises foi possível verificar que, dos 15 postos de coleta que foram analisados e alocados espacialmente, apenas um deles necessita de deslocamento por transporte motorizado e dos 372 setores censitários apenas 3% não faz uso do transporte ativo. Os outros 14 postos de coleta e 97% dos setores censitários permitem que os supervisores e recenseadores realizem os deslocamentos de forma sustentável, com uso do transporte ativo para a realização da coleta de dados do Censo 2022.
Confiança em Robôs Socialmente Assistivos: Um Catálogo de Requisitos Não-Funcionais
Authors: Rodrigues Da Costa Larissa , Castro Jaelson , Kelner Judith , Lencastre Maria
Published: October 2023

Resumo: Contexto: A confiança (trust) é um aspecto muito importante para a interação com robôs socialmente assistivos (SARs). Confiança em Engenharia de Requisitos é considerada um requisito não-funcional requisito a ser satisfeito, e as fases de elicitação e especificação dos requisitos de confiança contribuem diretamente para a qualidade dos SARs. Na literatura, há uma escassez de trabalhos que abordam a Confiança no contexto de SARs. Objetivo: Propor um catálogo de Requisitos Não-Funcionais de Confiança para Robôs Socialmente Assistivos - NFR4TRUST, voltado para robôs do tipo humanoide.  Método: Condução de uma revisão da literatura abrangendo o contexto da confiança na interação humano-robô e automação. Organização de uma taxonomia de confiança para SARs que serve como base para a criação do Catálogo. Validação do catálogo através da definição de requisitos de confiança de um robô que auxilia na reabilitação de membros superiores e realização de entrevistas com especialistas nas áreas de NFR Framework, interação humano-robô, confiança, engenharia de requisitos e fisioterapia.  Resultados: O catálogo foi considerado pelos especialistas e engenheiros de requisitos consultados como um artefato valioso e que apresenta uma boa cobertura inicial em relação aos requisitos não-funcionais de confiança no domínio de SARs humanoides. Conclusão: O NFR4TRUST foi considerado um artefato útil para apoiar as etapas de elicitação e especificação em projetos de robôs socialmente assistivos do tipo humanoide, permitindo a identificação de possíveis problemas sobre a perspectiva de confiança.
Um Modelo de Localização para Distribuição de Vacinas Contra a Covid-19 no Município do Rio de Janeiro
Authors: Rodrigues Sabrina Hottum , Do Nascimento Lohana Ribeiro , De Mello Ana Lucia Dorneles , Mendes Rachel Santos
Published: October 2023

A localização do centro de distribuição pode gerar impactos na eficiência da distribuição da vacina contra a COVID-19. O coronavírus corresponde a uma grande família de vírus comuns em muitas espécies de animais, e sua infecção nos seres humanos pode acarretar uma síndrome respiratória aguda. O surgimento e disseminação desse vírus resultou em uma pandemia no primeiro trimestre de 2020, apresentando diversos desafios logísticos, como a garantia de distribuição de Equipamento de Proteção Individual, assim como o desenvolvimento e fornecimento de vacinas para a população. O presente estudo tem como objetivo propor um modelo matemático baseado em Pesquisa Operacional, a fim de oferecer uma distribuição eficaz da vacina contra a COVID-19 nas delimitações do município do Rio de Janeiro. Além disso, sugerir um novo ponto para a localização de um centro de distribuição dessas vacinas. Com o intuito de analisar a área de abrangência dos postos de vacinação em relação a demanda, utilizou-se o método do diagrama de Voronoi através do software QGIS, tendo como base de dados os endereços das Unidades Básicas de Saúde e a população de idosos residentes do município do Rio de Janeiro. Para validar o resultado gerado pelo software, foi aplicado o método de centro de gravidade a partir do suplemento Solver. As aplicações resultaram em um novo local para o centro de distribuição a ser utilizado pelo município. Desta forma, a metodologia mostrou-se adequada para os objetivos propostos e possibilitou análises de um novo possível cenário referente a localização para um centro de distribuição de vacinas.
Warthin-like papillary renal cell carcinoma: A case report
Authors: Li Xiu-Feng , Wang Zheng-Jiang , Zhang Heng-Ming , Yang Mai-Qing
Published: October 2023

Rehabilitation of lower limb amputation in developing countries is quite challenging. Though there are basic to highly advanced prostheses available in India, the set-up is still facing difficulties in developing countries. Prosthetic management is difficult due to lack of availability of prostheses and reduced affordability among low income populations. In this review we highlighted the lower limb amputation and prosthetic rehabilitation status in India. Currently, India is advancing well in the rehabilitation field, but further studies are required to provide more evidence and recommendation.
Fifteen-year prospective longitudinal cohort study of outcomes following single radius total knee arthroplasty
Authors: Scott Chloe E. H. , Snowden Gordon T. , Cawley Will , Bell Katrina R. , MacDonald Deborah J. , Macpherson Gavin J. , Yapp Liam Z. , Clement Nick D.
Published: October 2023

Aims

This prospective study reports longitudinal, within-patient, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) over a 15-year period following cemented single radius total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Secondary aims included reporting PROMs trajectory, 15-year implant survival, and patient attrition from follow-up.

Methods

From 2006 to 2007, 462 consecutive cemented cruciate-retaining Triathlon TKAs were implanted in 426 patients (mean age 69 years (21 to 89); 290 (62.7%) female). PROMs (12-item Short Form Survey (SF-12), Oxford Knee Score (OKS), and satisfaction) were assessed preoperatively and at one, five, ten, and 15 years. Kaplan-Meier survival and univariate analysis were performed.

Results

At 15 years, 28 patients were lost to follow-up (6.1%) and 221 patients (51.9%) had died, with the mean age of the remaining cohort reducing by four years. PROMs response rates among surviving patients were: one-year 63%; five-year 72%; ten-year 94%; and 15-year 59%. OKS and SF-12 scores changed significantly over 15 years (p < 0.001). The mean improvement in OKS was 18.8 (95% confidence (CI) 16.7 to 19.0) at one year. OKS peaked at five years (median 43 years) declining thereafter (p < 0.001), though at 15 years it remained 17.5 better than preoperatively. Age and sex did not alter this trajectory. A quarter of patients experienced a clinically significant decline (≥ 7) in OKS from five to ten years and from ten to 15 years. The SF-12 physical component score displayed a similar trajectory, peaking at one year (p < 0.001). Patient satisfaction was 88% at one, five, and ten years, and 94% at 15 years. In all, 15-year Kaplan-Meier survival was 97.6% (95% CI 96.0% to 99.2%) for any revision, and 98.9% (95% CI 97.9% to 99.9%) for aseptic revision.

Conclusion

Improvements in PROMs were significant and maintained following single radius TKA, with OKS peaking at five years, and generic physical health peaking at one year. Patient satisfaction remained high at 15 years, at which point 2.4% had been revised.

Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2023;4(10):808–816.
Violence on the Margins: Local Power, Spillover Effects, and Patterns of Violence in Gunung Kidul, 1965–66
Authors: Winward Mark , Chandra Siddharth
Published: October 2023

Abstract: This paper sheds light on spatial determinants of violence in rural areas of Indonesia during the 1965–66 mass killings. To do so, it focuses on the regency of Gunungkidul through the lens of the census. The analysis of census information for the 144 desa and kelurahan (village and urban neighbourhoods) of Gunungkidul reveals that violence was higher near the more urban environs of Wonosari and the adjacent city of Yogyakarta, and in the central-eastern desa of the regency. We attribute these high levels of violence to the proximity of these desa to perpetrator strongholds in Wonosari and Yogyakarta and to their accessibility by road. We also attribute violence in eastern areas of the regency to pre-existing political tensions in this region. Conversely, we find patterns of population gains in the southwest, southeast, and northeast corners of the regency, suggesting that they were sites of refuge: all are remote and difficult to access by road. In the case of the northeast, this region also likely served as a refuge for people fleeing intense violence in neighbouring Klaten to the north. This paper demonstrates that even in areas of high communist party support such as Gunungkidul, the intensity of violence varied significantly due to a combination of factors both internal (political tension and local perpetrators) and external (the armed forces) to the region.
Depth estimation from a single-shot fringe pattern based on DD-Inceptionv2-UNet
Authors: Wang Linlin , Xue Wenke , Wang Chuanyun , Gao Qian , Liang Wenjie , Zhang Yinwen
Published: October 2023

The quick and accurate retrieval of an object’s depth from a single-shot fringe pattern in fringe projection profilometry has been a topic of ongoing research. In recent years, with the development of deep learning, a deep learning technique to FPP for single-shot 3D measurement is being used. To improve the accuracy of depth estimation from a single-shot fringe pattern, we propose the depthwise separable Dilation Inceptionv2-UNet (DD-Inceptionv2-UNet) by adjusting the depth and width of the network model simultaneously. And we evaluate the model on both simulated and experimental datasets. The experimental results show that the error between the depth map predicted by the proposed method and the label is smaller, and the depth curve map is closer to the ground truth. And on the simulated dataset, the MAE of the proposed method decreased by 35.22%, compared to UNet. On the experimental dataset, the MAE of the proposed method decreased by 34.62%, compared to UNet. The proposed method is relatively outstanding in both quantitative and qualitative evaluations, effectively improving the accuracy of 3D measurement results from a single-shot fringe pattern.
Three-dimensional multifocal scanning microscopy for super-resolution cell and tissue imaging
Authors: Tadesse Kidan , Mandracchia Biagio , Yoon Kyungduck , Han Keyi , Jia Shu
Published: October 2023

Recent advancements in image-scanning microscopy have significantly enriched super-resolution biological research, providing deeper insights into cellular structures and processes. However, current image-scanning techniques often require complex instrumentation and alignment, constraining their broader applicability in cell biological discovery and convenient, cost-effective integration into commonly used frameworks like epi-fluorescence microscopes. Here, we introduce three-dimensional multifocal scanning microscopy (3D-MSM) for super-resolution imaging of cells and tissue with substantially reduced instrumental complexity. This method harnesses the inherent 3D movement of specimens to achieve stationary, multi-focal excitation and super-resolution microscopy through a standard epi-fluorescence platform. We validated the system using a range of phantom, single-cell, and tissue specimens. The combined strengths of structured illumination, confocal detection, and epi-fluorescence setup result in two-fold resolution improvement in all three dimensions, effective optical sectioning, scalable volume acquisition, and compatibility with general imaging and sample protocols. We anticipate that 3D-MSM will pave a promising path for future super-resolution investigations in cell and tissue biology.
High dimensional optical data — varifocal multiview imaging, compression and evaluation
Authors: Wu Kejun , Liu Qiong , Yap Kim-Hui , Yang You
Published: October 2023

Varifocal multiview (VFMV) is an emerging high-dimensional optical data in computational imaging and displays. It describes scenes in angular, spatial, and focal dimensions, whose complex imaging conditions involve dense viewpoints, high spatial resolutions, and variable focal planes, resulting in difficulties in data compression. In this paper, we propose an efficient VFMV compression scheme based on view mountain-shape rearrangement (VMSR) and all-directional prediction structure (ADPS). The VMSR rearranges the irregular VFMV to form a new regular VFMV with mountain-shape focusing distributions. This special rearrangement features prominently in enhancing inter-view correlations by smoothing focusing status changes and moderating view displacements. Then, the ADPS efficiently compresses the rearranged VFMV by exploiting the enhanced correlations. It conducts row-wise hierarchy divisions and creates prediction dependencies among views. The closest adjacent views from all directions serve as reference frames to improve the prediction efficiency. Extensive experiments demonstrate the proposed scheme outperforms comparison schemes by quantitative, qualitative, complexity, and forgery protection evaluations. As high as 3.17 dB gains of peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and 61.1% bitrate savings can be obtained, achieving the state-of-the-art compression performance. VFMV is also validated could serve as a novel secure imaging format protecting optical data against the forgery of large models.
Compressive video via IR-pulsed illumination
Authors: Guzmán Felipe , Skowronek James , Vera Esteban , Brady David J.
Published: October 2023

We propose and demonstrate a compressive temporal imaging system based on pulsed illumination to encode temporal dynamics into the signal received by the imaging sensor during exposure time. Our approach enables >10x increase in effective frame rate without increasing camera complexity. To mitigate the complexity of the inverse problem during reconstruction, we introduce two keyframes: one before and one after the coded frame. We also craft what we believe to be a novel deep learning architecture for improved reconstruction of the high-speed scenes, combining specialized convolutional and transformer architectures. Simulation and experimental results clearly demonstrate the reconstruction of high-quality, high-speed videos from the compressed data.
Micro-transfer printing InP C-band SOAs on advanced silicon photonics platform for lossless MZI switch fabrics and high-speed integrated transmitter
Authors: Zhang Jing , Bogaert Laurens , Krueckel Clemens , Soltanian Emadreza , Deng Hong , HAQ BAHAWAL , RIMBÖCK JOHANNA , Van Kerrebrouck Joris , Lepage Guy , Verheyen Peter , Van Campenhout Joris , Ossieur Peter , Van Thourhout Dries , Morthier Geert , Bogaerts Wim , Roelkens Gunther
Published: October 2023

We present an approach for the heterogeneous integration of InP semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) and lasers on an advanced silicon photonics (SiPh) platform by using micro-transfer-printing (μTP). After the introduction of the μTP concept, the focus of this paper shifts to the demonstration of two C-band III-V/Si photonic integrated circuits (PICs) that are important in data-communication networks: an optical switch and a high-speed optical transmitter. First, a C-band lossless and high-speed Si Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) switch is demonstrated by co-integrating a set of InP SOAs with the Si MZI switch. The micro-transfer-printed SOAs provide 10 dB small-signal gain around 1560 nm with a 3 dB bandwidth of 30 nm. Secondly, an integrated transmitter combining an on-chip widely tunable laser and a doped-Si Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) is demonstrated. The laser has a continuous tuning range over 40 nm and the transmitter is capable of 40 Gbps non-return-to-zero (NRZ) back-to-back transmission at wavelengths ranging from 1539 to 1573 nm. These demonstrations pave the way for the realization of complex and fully integrated photonic systems-on-chip with integrated III-V-on-Si components, and this technique is transferable to other material films and devices that can be released from their native substrate.
Electronic cigarette use during pregnancy and the risk of adverse birth outcomes: A cross-sectional surveillance study of the US Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) population
Authors: Ammar Lin , Tindle Hilary A. , Miller Angela M. , Adgent Margaret A. , Nian Hui , Ryckman Kelli K. , Mogos Mulubrhan , Piano Mariann R. , Xie Ethan , Snyder Brittney M. , Ramesh Abhismitha , Yu Chang , Hartert Tina V. , Wu Pingsheng
Published: October 2023

Background

Research on health effects and potential harms of electronic cigarette (EC) use during pregnancy is limited. We sought to determine the risks of pregnancy EC use on pregnancy-related adverse birth outcomes and assess whether quitting ECs reduces the risks.

Methods

Women with singleton live births who participated in the US Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) survey study 2016–2020 were classified into four mutually exclusive groups, by their use of ECs and combustible cigarettes (CCs) during pregnancy: non-use, EC only use, CC only use, and dual use. We determined the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) by comparing cigarette users to non-users with a modified Poisson regression model adjusting for covariates. In a subset of women who all used ECs prior to pregnancy, we determined whether quitting EC use reduces the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and SGA by comparing to those who continued its use. All analyses were weighted to account for the PRAMS survey design and non-response rate.

Results

Of the 190,707 women (weighted N = 10,202,413) included, 92.1% reported cigarette non-use, 0.5% EC only use, 6.7% CC only use, and 0.7% dual use during pregnancy. Compared with non-use, EC only use was associated with a significantly increased risk of preterm birth (adjusted risk ratio [aRR]: 1.29, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00, 1.65) and low birth weight (aRR: 1.38, 95%CI: 1.09, 1.75), but not SGA (aRR: 1.04, 95%CI: 0.76, 1.44). Among 7,877 (weighted N = 422,533) women EC users, quitting use was associated with a significantly reduced risk of low birth weight (aRR: 0.76, 95%CI: 0.62, 0.94) and SGA (aRR: 0.77, 95%CI: 0.62, 0.94) compared to those who continued to use ECs during pregnancy.

Conclusions

Pregnancy EC use, by itself or dual use with CC, is associated with preterm birth and low birth weight. Quitting use reduces that risk. ECs should not be considered as a safe alternative nor a viable gestational smoking cessation strategy.
Overcoming the phantoms of the past: Influence of predatory stimuli on the antipredator behavior of island pitvipers
Authors: Alves-Nunes João Miguel , Fellone Adriano , Sazima Ivan , Vuolo Marques Otávio Augusto
Published: October 2023

The reduction of predation is a potentially important factor for the evolution of the traits of an island animal species. By relaxed selection, insular animals tend to lose their antipredator behaviors. A monophyletic group of pitvipers (genus Bothrops) in southeastern Brazil, which have high genetic affinity and dwell on the mainland and adjacent islands, provide an appropriate setting to study the evolution of antipredator behavior and how different predatory stimuli can influence this behavior. The mainland Bothrops jararaca has several terrestrial and aerial predators, whereas B. insularis and B. alcatraz, restricted to two small islands, Queimada Grande and Alcatrazes, respectively, have a smaller range of aerial predators. Terrestrial predators are absent on Queimada Grande, but one potential snake predator occurs on Alcatrazes. We observed that the defensive repertoire of island snakes has not been lost, but they display different frequencies of some antipredator behaviors. The type of predatory stimuli (terrestrial and aerial) influenced the defensive response. Bothrops insularis most often used the escape strategies, especially against terrestrial predatory stimuli. Bothrops alcatraz displayed the highest rate of strike for both terrestrial and aerial stimuli. Our results indicate that even though relaxed selection may occur in island environments as compared to mainland environments, these pitvipers still retain their antipredator behaviors but with different response degrees to the two predator types.
Development of the Italian version of the Orgasmic Perception Questionnaire (OPQ)
Authors: Panzeri Marta , Mauro Denise , Ronconi Lucia , Arcos-Romero Ana Isabel
Published: October 2023

Orgasm is a phase of the human sexual response, and the possible discrepancies between male and female ways to experience it are still not clear in the literature. There is a lack of tools to adequately assess orgasm perception. This study aims to develop an instrument and verify possible differences between males and females. We constructed the Orgasmic Perception Questionnaire (OPQ) through different stages: first, 316 items selection was conducted on a sample of 96 people, where items came mainly from written descriptions of orgasm perception; second, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted on 674 Italian adults with a 63-item OPQ; finally, a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on 1100 Italian adults with a 47-item OPQ. In the first study, 63 items fitted an equidistributional pattern and were to form the 63-item OPQ used for EFA. The EFA showed that five factors out of 47 explained 44.01% of the total variance and were named: Ecstasy, Contractions, Relaxation, Power, and Sensations. The confirmatory factor analyses run on the 47-item OPQ confirmed that the five-factor structure fits. Moreover, females scored higher than males with an adequate effect size in two factors: Contractions and Sensations. In conclusion, the OPQ could be a useful tool in both clinical settings and research studies to investigate the perception of orgasmic experience in its totality.
Host-pathogen interaction: Enterobacter cloacae exerts different adhesion and invasion capacities against different host cell types
Authors: Frutos-Grilo Elisabet , Kreling Vanessa , Hensel Andreas , Campoy Susana
Published: October 2023

New antibiotics are urgently needed due to the huge increase of multidrug-resistant bacteria. The underexplored gram-negative bacterium Enterobacter cloacae is known to cause severe urinary tract and lung infections (UTIs). The pathogenicity of E. cloacae in UTI has only been studied at the bioinformatic level, but until now not within systematic in vitro investigations. The present study assesses different human cell lines for monitoring the early steps of host-pathogen interaction regarding bacterial adhesion to and invasion into different host cells by flow cytometric adhesion assay, classical cell counting assay, gentamicin invasion assay, and confocal laser scanning microscopy. To our knowledge, this is the first report in which E. cloacae has been investigated for its interaction with human bladder, kidney, skin, and lung cell lines under in vitro conditions. Data indicate that E. cloacae exerts strong adhesion to urinary tract (bladder and kidney) and lung cells, a finding which correlates with the clinical relevance of the bacterium for induction of urinary tract and lung infections. Furthermore, E. cloacae ATCC 13047 barely adheres to skin cells (A-431) and shows no relevant interaction with intestinal cells (Caco-2, HT-29), even in the presence of mucin (HT29 MTX). In contrast, invasion assays and confocal laser scanning microscopy demonstrate that E. cloacae internalizes in all tested host cells, but to a different extent. Especially, bladder and kidney cells are being invaded to the highest extent. Defective mutants of fimH and fimA abolished the adhesion of E. cloacae to T24 cells, while csgA deletion had no influence on adhesion. These results indicate that E. cloacae has different pattern for adhesion and invasion depending on the target tissue, which again correlates with the clinical relevance of the pathogen. For detailed investigation of the early host-pathogen interaction T24 bladder cells comprise a suitable assay system for evaluation the bacterial adhesion and invasion.
The Himalayan uplift and evolution of aquatic biodiversity across Asia: Snowtrout (Cyprininae: Schizothorax) as a test case
Authors: Regmi Binod , Douglas Marlis R. , Wangchuk Karma , Zbinden Zachery D. , Edds David R. , Tshering Singye , Douglas Michael E.
Published: October 2023

Global biodiversity hotspots are often remote, tectonically active areas undergoing climatic fluctuations, such as the Himalaya Mountains and neighboring Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). They provide biogeographic templates upon which endemic biodiversity can be mapped to infer diversification scenarios. Yet, this process can be somewhat opaque for the Himalaya, given substantial data gaps separating eastern and western regions. To help clarify, we evaluated phylogeographic and phylogenetic hypotheses for a widespread fish (Snowtrout: Cyprininae; Schizothorax) by sequencing 1,140 base pair of mtDNA cytochrome-b (cytb) from Central Himalaya samples (Nepal: N = 53; Bhutan: N = 19), augmented with 68 GenBank sequences (N = 60 Schizothorax/N = 8 outgroups). Genealogical relationships (N = 132) were analyzed via maximum likelihood (ML), Bayesian (BA), and haplotype network clustering, with clade divergence estimated via TimeTree. Snowtrout seemingly originated in Central Asia, dispersed across the QTP, then into Bhutan via southward-flowing tributaries of the east-flowing Yarlung-Tsangpo River (YLTR). Headwaters of five large Asian rivers provided dispersal corridors from Central into eastern/southeastern Asia. South of the Himalaya, the YLTR transitions into the Brahmaputra River, facilitating successive westward colonization of Himalayan drainages first in Bhutan, then Nepal, followed by far-western drainages subsequently captured by the (now) westward-flowing Indus River. Two distinct Bhutanese phylogenetic groups were recovered: Bhutan-1 (with three subclades) seemingly represents southward dispersal from the QTP; Bhutan-2 apparently illustrates northward colonization from the Lower Brahmaputra. The close phylogenetic/phylogeographic relationships between the Indus River (Pakistan) and western tributaries of the Upper Ganges (India/Nepal) potentially implicate an historic, now disjunct connection. Greater species-divergences occurred across rather than within-basins, suggesting vicariance as a driver. The Himalaya is a component of the Earth’s largest glacial reservoir (i.e., the “third-pole”) separate from the Arctic/Antarctic. Its unique aquatic biodiversity must be defined and conserved through broad, trans-national collaborations. Our study provides an initial baseline for this process.
Information technology capability, open technological innovation and firm growth
Authors: Yao Weizhi , Li Lianshui
Published: October 2023

The aim of this paper is to investigate the effects of information technology (IT) capability on firm growth in the context of open technological innovation. The paper utilized a logical deductive approach to develop hypotheses and analytical frameworks, and collected empirical data from 256 Chinese new ventures. Regression analysis and structural equation models were used to test the hypotheses and analyze the data. The results showed that IT capability, including flexibility and integration of information technology, significantly influenced firm growth, and open technological innovation partially mediated the relationship between IT flexibility and firm growth, and significantly mediated the relationship between IT integration and firm growth. The paper’s limitations include the cross-sectional design, limited sample size, and potential unobserved variables such as organizational learning that could affect the relationship between IT capability and firm growth. The research is the first to investigate the effects of IT capability on firm growth based on the mediation of open technological innovation in China, contributing to the literature on IT capability and providing insights for managerial practice in the sharing economy era.
Association between the first 24 hours PaCO2 and all-cause mortality of patients suffering from sepsis-associated encephalopathy after ICU admission: A retrospective study
Authors: Luo Honglian , Li Gang , Yang Bingxin , Huang Xinlei , Chen Yan , Shen Wei
Published: October 2023

Objective

The relationship between the levels of the first 24-h PaCO2 and the prognosis of sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) remains unclear, and the first 24-h optimal target for PaCO2 is currently inconclusive. This study was performed to investigate the correlation between PaCO2 and all-cause mortality for SAE patients, establish a reference range of the initial 24-hour PaCO2 for clinicians in critical care, and explain the possible pathophysiological mechanisms of abnormal PaCO2 levels as a higher mortality risk factor for SAE.

Methods

The baseline information and clinical data of patients were extracted from the fourth edition Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care database (MIMIC-IV 2.0). Multivariate logistic regressions were performed to assess the relationship between PaCO2 and all-cause mortality of SAE. Additionally, restricted cubic splines, Kaplan-Meier Survival analyses, propensity score matching (PSM) analyses, and subgroup analyses were conducted.

Results

A total of 5471 patients were included in our cohort. In the original and matched cohort, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that normocapnia and mild hypercapnia may be associated with a more favorable prognosis of SAE patients, and survival analysis supported the findings. In addition, a U-shaped association emerged when examining the initial 24-hour PaCO2 levels in relation to 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day mortality using restricted cubic splines, with an average cut-off value of 36.3mmHg (P for nonlinearity<0.05). Below the cut-off value, higher PaCO2 was associated with lower all-cause mortality, while above the cut-off value, higher PaCO2 was associated with higher all-cause mortality. Subsequent subgroup analyses revealed similar results for the subcohort of GCS≤8 compared to the original cohort. Additionally, when examining the subcohort of GCS>8, a L-shaped relationship between PaCO2 and the three clinical endpoints emerged, in contrast to the previously observed U-shaped pattern. The findings from the subcohort of GCS>8 suggested that patients experiencing hypocapnia had a more unfavorable prognosis, which aligns with the results obtained from corresponding multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Conclusion

The retrospective study revealed the association between the first 24-h PaCO2 and all-cause mortality risk (30-day, 60-day, and 90-day) for patients with SAE in ICU. The range (35mmHg-50mmHg) of PaCO2 may be the optimal target for patients with SAE in clinical practice.
Validating the Arabic version of the Connor-Davidson resilience scale among university students
Authors: Alfuqaha Othman A.
Published: October 2023

Background

The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) stands out as a widely used measure of psychological resilience. The original CD-RISC consists of 25 items, commonly referred to as CD-RISC-25.

Aim

This study aims to validate the Arabic version of the CD-RISC-25 involving a sample size of 1220 participants from three universities in Jordan.

Methods

The researcher conducted a methodological investigation to examine the validation process. This included an examination of the translation process and an evaluation of content validity, which was assessed using the content validity index (CVI). Construct validity was assessed through exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, while convergent and discriminant validity were both evaluated using composite reliability (CR) and the square root of the average variance extracted.

Results

Results showed a prominent level of psychological resilience 76.74±15.2 among the participating university students. Regarding the validity of the Arabic version of CD-RISC-25, the CVI yielded a value of 0.88, signifying a robust level of content validity. The analysis identified four constructs that accounted for 56.26% of the total variance. The goodness-of-fit indices, including goodness of fit index of 0.91, comparative fit index of 0.91, incremental fit index of 0.93, Tucker-Lewis index of 0.94, and root mean square error of approximation of 0.048, provided strong evidence supporting the alignment between the observed data and the hypothesized constructs. Discriminant and convergent validity were found to support the validity of the Arabic version of CD-RISC-25. Regarding the reliability, it demonstrated excellent reliability, with a total Cronbach’s alpha of 0.934 and all CR values surpassing the threshold of 0.70, thereby further establishing its overall robustness.

Conclusion

The results provide substantial evidence for the validity and reliability of the translated Arabic CD-RISC-25.
Osmotic demyelination syndrome: central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis in a patient in the early postpartum period. Clinical observation
Authors: Isakova E. V. , Stepanova E. A. , Kotov S. V. , Belova Yu. A.
Published: October 2023

The article presents a review of the literature and a description of a clinical case of osmotic demyelination syndrome manifested by pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis in a 36-year-old woman after her third surgical preterm delivery. The reasons for the development of a demyelinating lesion of the central nervous system are discussed, and clinical cases described in world literature sources are presented. An analysis of the pathogenesis of the development of this disease in women during pregnancy, childbirth, and lactation is provided. The importance of this period in a woman's life as an independent significant risk factor for the development of osmotic demyelination syndrome is discussed.
Klimawandel, Biodiversitätsverlust, Nachhaltigkeit und Suffizienzkriterien der Gerechtigkeit
Authors: Wallimann-Helmer Ivo , Kräuchi Simon , von Allmen Kathrin
Published: October 2023

Was dem Schutz des Klimas dient, kann den Verlust der Artenvielfalt befördern. Deshalb sind Maßnahmen gegen den Klimawandel und den Biodiversitätsverlust aufeinander abzustimmen. Grundlage dafür bilden Suffizienzkriterien der Gerechtigkeit, die erlauben, mögliche
Konflikte zu erkennen und übergreifende Ziele zu formulieren, um die Transformation hin zur Nachhaltigkeit gerecht zu gestalten.
Transformation happens in the unbelievable: Using participatory modelling to pave realistic paths towards idealistic futures
Authors: Lehtiniemi Heidi , Paloniemi Riikka
Published: October 2023

Sustainability transformation is necessary. Since “business as usual” is no longer an option, unbelievable future visions are needed to spark change and steer collective action. We discuss how modelling, with its scientific rigor, and inclusive participation, with its sensitivity
to power dynamics, can be brought together to complement one another and make unbelievable future visions come true.
Serious games for sustainability transformations: Participatory research methods for sustainability ‐ toolkit #7
Authors: Gugerell Katharina
Published: October 2023

Spurring societal transformations towards sustainability requires the active engagement of different actor groups with their broad range of preferences, interests and values. Individuals and communities need to acquire knowledge, skills, and capacities enabling them to navigate transformative
change. Serious games can act as such capacity building tools but also as a feedback loop for research and policy processes.
Is tragedy the true language of science? Unleashing the emotional power of theatrical storytelling for climate change communication
Authors: Ghirardello Linda , Isetti Giulia
Published: October 2023

Should scientists extend their climate change communication beyond factual reporting? A transdisciplinary and participatory theatre project exemplifies the power of storytelling in climate change communication by eliciting emotional responses.The complex and interconnected nature
of current global challenges such as climate change call for new and creative ways of communicating research. To help people make sense of phenomena, improve information acquisition and retention, build collective awareness and public engagement, emotions are often more impactful than factual
reporting. In this context, this paper builds on transformative narrative theory to investigate the efficacy of theatrical storytelling in unleashing emotions in relation to climate change. As part of a transdisciplinary and participatory theatre performance combining the arts, science, and
activism, a brief questionnaire was administered to the audience to exploratively assess emotional changes before and after the play. Significant emotional changes highlight the potential of participatory theatrical storytelling as a powerful tool for communicating climate change and encourage
further exploration of this approach in transdisciplinary (theatrical) projects and science communication efforts.
Climate change perceptions in Bavaria: Revealing the influence of socio-demographic and local environmental factors
Authors: Landwehr Theresa , Riebl Rebekka , Haensel Maria , Schmitt Thomas M. , Thiemann Miriam , Koellner Thomas
Published: October 2023

Research on perceptions of climate change has been focused on either social or environmental factors, lacking interdisciplinarity. This study bridges this gap by assessing the influence of both. Our analyses reveal societal actor group affiliation as the strongest predictor for the
perception of climate change.People’s perceptions of climate change are crucial for their readiness to engage in mitigation and adaptation. To identify the most influential factors in shaping perceptions of climate change, we conducted a comprehensive survey, carried out in Bavaria,
Germany. Overall, 2,594 individuals across four societal actor groups were surveyed, namely 1,413 farmers, 197 foresters, 152 nature managers, and 832 citizens (no specific profession). We explored to what extent environmental factors (climate trends and land cover conditions in interviewees’
place of residence ‐ based on geographical data) and socio-demographic factors (age, gender, education, societal actor group affiliation ‐ based on survey data) influence perceptions of climate change. Data analyses, including random forest algorithms, revealed socio-demographic
factors, particularly societal actor group affiliations, as most influential variables. Local land cover conditions and climate trends only marginally affected residents’ perceptions. Consequently, our results suggest to consider socio-demographic factors for tailoring climate communication,
policies and awareness raising campaigns, particularly targeting societal groups most skeptical about climate change.
Evaluating the role of operating temperature and residence time in the torrefaction of betel nutshells for solid fuel production
Authors: Kitrungloadjanaporn Pongpathai , Sang Le Quang , Pukdum Jirasak , Phengpom Tinnapob
Published: October 2023

This research addresses the urgent need for sustainable bioenergy alternatives, specifically evaluating betel nutshells as potential replacements for conventional biomass materials like coconut and palm fibers. The objective of the study was to gauge the inherent bioenergy potential of betel nutshells through an investigation of torrefaction under varying conditions, specifically temperatures ranging from 200-300 °C and residence times between 20-60 minutes in an inert environment. In this study, proximate analyses were utilized to investigate essential characteristics including moisture content, volatile matter, ash content, and fixed carbon, while a bomb calorimeter was used to determine their higher heating values. Initial results indicated that untreated betel nutshells had higher heating values and compositional similarities to coconut and palm fibers, highlighting their potential as a bioenergy source. Advanced torrefaction processes, involving increased temperatures and extended residence times, raised the fixed carbon content and reduced moisture in betel nutshells, thereby optimizing their higher heating value. This improvement is attributed to the decomposition of covalent bonds in the biomass structures, leading to the release of volatile compounds and consequent reductions in both oxygen-to-carbon and hydrogen-to-carbon ratios. Remarkably, at an operating temperature of 300 °C and a residence time of 60 minutes, torrefied betel nutshells reached a higher heating value of 25.20 MJ/kg, marking a substantial 31.39 % increase compared to untreated specimens. This study conclusively positions betel nutshells, typically considered agricultural waste, as competitive alternatives to traditional biomass resources in the biofuel industry.