bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kiosk accessibility challenges faced by people with disabilities: an analysis of domestic and international accessibility laws/guidelines and user focus group interviews
Authors: Park Sunyoung , Kim Hyun K. , Lee Yuryeon , Park Jaehyun
Published: August 2023

A kiosk is a device that provides users with information or helps them trade goods/services using a touch screen; it is widely used because of its high availability, fast service, and short waiting time. Despite these advantages, users with various impairments currently face significant difficulties in using kiosks. Therefore, this study analyses the factors influencing the design of accessible kiosks to make them available to all users without discrimination. The literature analysis and focus group interviews with people with disabilities were conducted to explore the factors influencing kiosk accessibility design. Various global accessibility methods/standards related to kiosks were analysed and the major guidelines were identified. Moreover, kiosk accessibility problems experienced by people with disabilities were collected to derive accessibility functions that should be considered first. The main accessibility guidelines were classified into hardware size and space, complementation and replacement of input method, complementation and replacement of vision, and complementation and replacement of cognition. From the focus group interviews, we observed that visual impairment was highly related to voice support provision, high contrast function, and card input port design; hearing impairment was highly related to providing feedback other than voice and providing sign language personnel when using help buttons; and physical impairment was highly related to wheelchair-accessible kiosks and kiosk height control functions. This study analysed the main methods/standard guidelines of kiosk accessibility through a systematic literature analysis, analysed the accessibility problems when using kiosks, and compared them with major laws/standard guidelines.
A special family of non-symmetric semi-classical forms of class one
Authors: Zaatra Mohamed
Published: August 2023

A form (linear functional) v is called regular if there exists a sequence of polynomials $$\{S_{n}\}_{n\ge 0}$$

{

S
n

}

n
≥
0

, $$\deg (S_{n})=n$$

deg
(

S
n

)
=
n

, which is orthogonal with respect to v. $$\{S_{n}\}_{n\ge 0}$$

{

S
n

}

n
≥
0

is fully characterized by the following recurrence relation: $$S_{n+2}(x)=(x-\beta _{n+1})S_{n+1}(x)-\gamma _{n+1}S_{n}(x)$$

S

n
+
2

(
x
)

=

(
x
-

β

n
+
1

)

S

n
+
1

(
x
)

-

γ

n
+
1

S
n

(
x
)

, $$n\ge 0$$

n
≥
0

, with $$S_{0}(x)=1$$

S
0

(
x
)

=
1

, $$S_{1}(x)=x-\beta _{0}$$

S
1

(
x
)

=
x
-

β
0

and $$\gamma _{n+1}\ne 0$$

γ

n
+
1

≠
0

, $$n\ge 0$$

n
≥
0

. Such a form v is said be semi-classical if there exist polynomials $$\Psi (x)$$

Ψ
(
x
)

and $$\Phi (x)$$

Φ
(
x
)

with $$\deg (\Psi )\ge 1$$

deg
(
Ψ
)
≥
1

such that $$(\Phi v)' +\Psi v=0$$

(
Φ
v
)

′

+
Ψ
v
=
0

. When v is semi-classical and regular, its corresponding polynomial sequences $$\{S_{n}\}_{n\ge 0}$$

{

S
n

}

n
≥
0

are called semi-classical. In this work, we solve the system of Laguerre–Freud equations for the recurrence coefficients $$\beta _{n}$$

β
n

, $$\gamma _{n+1}$$

γ

n
+
1

, $$n\ge 0$$

n
≥
0

of the semi-classical orthogonal polynomials sequences of class one when $$\beta _{n}=t_{n-1}-t_{n}$$

β
n

=

t

n
-
1

-

t
n

and $$\gamma _{n+1}=-t_{n}(c+t_{n})$$

γ

n
+
1

=
-

t
n

(
c
+

t
n

)

with $$t_{n}(c+t_{n})\ne 0$$

t
n

(
c
+

t
n

)

≠
0

$$n\ge 0$$

n
≥
0

, $$t_{-1}=0$$

t

-
1

=
0

and $$c\in \mathbb {C}-\{0\} $$

c
∈
C
-
{
0
}

. There are essentially five canonical cases.
Environmental quality outlook of the leading oil producers and urbanized African states
Authors: ONIFADE Stephen Taiwo , ALOLA Andrew Adewale
Published: August 2023

This study seeks to explore the links between energy consumption and environmental quality in the wake of rapid urbanization in Africa with empirical insights from the cases of Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Algeria, Angola, Egypt, and South Africa. These countries aside from being among the largest economies; are also among the leading energy producers and the most urbanized economies that emit the most carbon dioxide on the continent. Based on the Pooled Mean Group (PMG) panel ARDL estimator, the dynamics nexus between the variables was estimated vis-à-vis the short-run and long-run coefficients using relevant sample data between 1990 and 2015. The study further examines the channels of causality between the variables while also testing for the validity of the popular Environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis for the panel of countries. The results confirm that the rising level of energy use significantly exacerbates the level of carbon emission among the countries in the study while growing urbanization significantly creates a negative impact on carbon emission. In addition, an increase in per capita income improves the environmental quality but the doubling of income per capita triggers environmental degradation, thus invalidating the EKC hypothesis in the examined panel economies. In essence, these countries have not reached the supposed turning point at which income growth can yield desirable emission mitigation effects. Following the findings, essential recommendations are provided for policymakers in the main text.
Kinetics and Mechanism of Hydrogen Reduction of Lead-Silicate Slag
Authors: Rukini A. , Rhamdhani M. A. , Brooks G. A. , Van den Bulck A. , Van Rompaey T.
Published: August 2023

A systematic study on the microstructure evolution and kinetics analysis of PbO–SiO2 slag reduction using hydrogen was conducted. The reduction was carried out on PbO–SiO2 pellets (70 wt pct PbO–30 wt pct SiO2; or 38.6 mol pct PbO and 61.4 mol pct SiO2) using 15 pctH2/85 pctN2 gas, with a flowrate of 500mL/min for various reaction time (30 minutes to 3 hours) isothermally at 300 °C to 700 °C. The kinetics and reaction mechanism were assessed by measuring the weight loss over reaction time and applying kinetics models on the data; supported by detailed samples characterizations. The results from microstructure observation show a viscous and blackish glass structure formed on the pellets when the reduction was carried out above softening point (glass transition temperature). This viscous structure appeared to reduce the overall reduction rate. The kinetics analysis shows that the reduction appeared to be a diffusion-controlled process. The activation energy, Ea, was calculated to be 70.7 kJ/mol at temperature range of 300 °C to 500 °C; while between 500 °C and 700 °C the kinetics were found to decrease with increasing temperature due to the formation of the viscous glass. These results suggest that for a complete reduction in industrial process, the formation of the viscous glassy state should be avoided.
Dbx2, an Aging-Related Homeobox Gene, Inhibits the Proliferation of Adult Neural Progenitors
Authors: Giuliani Andrea , Licursi Valerio , Nisi Paola S. , Fiore Mario , D’Angelo Sara , Biagioni Stefano , Negri Rodolfo , Rugg-Gunn Peter J. , Cacci Emanuele , Lupo Giuseppe
Published: August 2023

In the adult mouse brain, the subventricular zone (SVZ) underlying the lateral ventricles harbours a population of quiescent neural stem cells, which can be activated (aNSCs) to initiate proliferation and generate a neurogenic lineage consisting of transit amplifying progenitors (TAPs), neuroblasts (NBs) and newborn neurons. This process is markedly reduced during aging. Recent studies suggest that the aged SVZ niche decreases the pool of proliferating neural/stem progenitor cells (NSPCs), and hence adult neurogenesis, by causing transcriptomic changes that promote NSC quiescence. The transcription factors that mediate these changes, however, remain unclear. We previously found that the homeobox gene Dbx2 is upregulated in NSPCs of the aged mouse SVZ and can inhibit the growth of NSPC cultures. Here, we further investigate its role as a candidate transcriptional regulator of neurogenic decline. We show that Dbx2 expression is downregulated by Epidermal Growth Factor receptor signaling, which promotes NSPC proliferation and decreases in the aged SVZ. By means of transgenic NSPC lines overexpressing Dbx2, we also show that this gene inhibits NSPC proliferation by hindering the G2/M transition. Furthermore, we exploit RNA sequencing of transgenic NSPCs to elucidate the transcriptomic networks modulated by Dbx2. Among the top hits, we report the downregulation of the molecular pathways implicated in cell cycle progression. Accordingly, we find that Dbx2 function is negatively correlated with the transcriptional signatures of proliferative NSPCs (aNSCs, TAPs and early NBs). These results point to Dbx2 as a transcription factor relaying the anti-neurogenic input of the aged niche to the NSPC transcriptome.

Graphical Abstract
An Investigation into the Relationship of Circulating Gut Microbiome Molecules and Inflammatory Markers with the Risk of Incident Dementia in Later Life
Authors: Oluwagbemigun Kolade , Anesi Andrea , Vrhovsek Urska , Mattivi Fulvio , Martino Adami Pamela , Pentzek Michael , Scherer Martin , Riedel-Heller Steffi G. , Weyerer Siegfried , Bickel Horst , Wiese Birgitt , Schmid Matthias , Cryan John F. , Ramirez Alfredo , Wagner Michael , Nöthlings Ute
Published: August 2023

The gut microbiome may be involved in the occurrence of dementia primarily through the molecular mechanisms of producing bioactive molecules and promoting inflammation. Epidemiological evidence linking gut microbiome molecules and inflammatory markers to dementia risk has been mixed, and the intricate interplay between these groups of biomarkers suggests that their joint investigation in the context of dementia is warranted. We aimed to simultaneously investigate the association of circulating levels of selected gut microbiome molecules and inflammatory markers with dementia risk. This case–cohort epidemiological study included 805 individuals (83 years, 66% women) free of dementia at baseline. Plasma levels of 19 selected gut microbiome molecules comprising lipopolysaccharide, short-chain fatty acids, and indole-containing tryptophan metabolites as well as four inflammatory markers measured at baseline were linked to incident all-cause (ACD) and Alzheimer’s disease dementia (AD) in binary outcomes and time-to-dementia analyses. Independent of several covariates, seven gut microbiome molecules, 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid, indole-3-butyric acid, indole-3-acryloylglycine, indole-3-lactic acid, indole-3-acetic acid methyl ester, isobutyric acid, and 2-methylbutyric acid, but no inflammatory markers discriminated incident dementia cases from non-cases. Furthermore, 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (hazard ratio: 0.58; 0.36–0.94, P = 0.025) was associated with time-to-ACD. These molecules underpin gut microbiome-host interactions in the development of dementia and they may be crucial in its prevention and intervention strategies. Future larger epidemiological studies are needed to confirm our findings, specifically in exploring the repeatedly measured circulating levels of these molecules and investigating their causal relationship with dementia risk.
Prenatal Metals Exposure and pre-adolescents’ Emotional and Behavioral Problems
Authors: Lozano Manuel , Broberg Karin , Soler-Blasco Raquel , Riutort-Mayol Gabriel , Ballester Ferran , González Llúcia , Murcia Mario , Grimalt Joan O. , Gil Fernando , Olmedo Pablo , Braeuer Simone , Casas Maribel , Guxens Mònica , Irizar Amaia , Lertxundi Nerea , Zubero Miren Begoña , Marina Loreto Santa , Llop Sabrina
Published: August 2023

Emotional and behavioral problems during childhood raise the risk of subsequent developmental of mental disorders. Our aim was to study the association between maternal metal and trace element concentrations during gestation and these problems in 9 year-old children. The study sample comprised Spanish mother-child pairs in the INMA project (n = 1003). Metals and trace elements (As, Cd, Co, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Tl and Zn) were measured in urine samples collected during pregnancy. Inorganic As metabolites were speciated in a subsample (n = 729). Emotional and behavioral problems were assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) composed of three scales: internalizing, externalizing and total problems. Sociodemographic, dietary and exposure to other environmental pollutants were obtained through questionnaires. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in brain- and metabolism-related genes APOE, BDNF, GSTP1, and PON1 were determined in cord blood. Multivariate negative binomial models were used. The interaction with sex and genotypes was evaluated including interaction terms. A multi-element analysis was carried out by a principal component analysis. Higher concentrations of Cu, monomethylarsonic acid, and Pb during pregnancy were associated with an increased incidence ratio risk (IRR) between 4.6 and 7.5% for internalizing and externalizing problems for all three CBCL scales in the children. Increasing Mo, Ni and Co concentrations were associated with higher IRR for internalizing problems (up to 8%), and Cd for externalizing problems (6.7%). Modifications by sex and genotypes were found for several associations. Multi-element analysis associated multiple metals and trace elements (Ni, Cu, Se, Cd and Pb) with higher internalizing problems.
Mechanics Predicts Effective Critical-Size Bone Regeneration Using 3D-Printed Bioceramic Scaffolds
Authors: Blázquez-Carmona Pablo , Mora-Macías Juan , Martínez-Vázquez Francisco J. , Morgaz Juan , Domínguez Jaime , Reina-Romo Esther
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUND:

3D-printed bioceramic scaffolds have gained popularity due to their controlled microarchitecture and their proven biocompatibility. However, their high brittleness makes their surgical implementation complex for weight-bearing bone treatments. Thus, they would require difficult-to-instrument rigid internal fixations that limit a rigorous evaluation of the regeneration progress through the analysis of mechanic-structural parameters.

METHODS:

We investigated the compatibility of flexible fixations with fragile ceramic implants, and if mechanical monitoring techniques are applicable to bone tissue engineering applications. Tissue engineering experiments were performed on 8 ovine metatarsi. A 15 mm bone segment was directly replaced with a hydroxyapatite scaffold and stabilized by an instrumented Ilizarov-type external fixator. Several in vivo monitoring techniques were employed to assess the mechanical and structural progress of the tissue.

RESULTS:

The applied surgical protocol succeeded in combining external fixators and subject-specific bioceramic scaffolds without causing fatal fractures of the implant due to stress concentrator. The bearing capacity of the treated limb was initially altered, quantifying a 28–56% reduction of the ground reaction force, which gradually normalized during the consolidation phase. A faster recovery was reported in the bearing capacity, stiffening and bone mineral density of the callus. It acquired a predominant mechanical role over the fixator in the distribution of internal forces after one post-surgical month.

CONCLUSION:

The bioceramic scaffold significantly accelerated in vivo the bone formation compared to other traditional alternatives in the literature (e.g., distraction osteogenesis). In addition, the implemented assessment techniques allowed an accurate quantitative evaluation of the bone regeneration through mechanical and imaging parameters.
The Significance of Bad-Faith Premises for the Strategy of Trade Mark Protection in the Light of the Latest EU Case-Law
Authors: Sitko Joanna
Published: August 2023

EU case-law has long considered trade mark applications made in bad faith to be dishonest practice that involves a sign used by a third party. This approach stems from the crucial factors of bad faith stipulated by the CJEU in theLindtcase C-529/07. However, recent CJEU case-law clearly suggests that a trade mark application can also be alleged to be in bad faith when it has nothing to do with a third-party sign but instead involves a dishonest strategy for protecting the applicant’s own trade marks. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive catalogue of premises for finding bad faith in the context of a trade mark application, and to analyse their importance from the perspective of business strategy for protecting trade marks. It follows from the relevant case-law that proving an applicant’s bad faith where the latter is alleged not in relation to the use of a third-party sign may be rather problematic, as it is difficult to demonstrate objective circumstances to corroborate an applicant’s subjective intentions, particularly when such intentions concern solely their own trade mark protection strategy. An additional difficulty comes from the CJEU’sSkyKickcase C-371/18, according to which the absence of any intention to use a trade mark does not per se constitute grounds for finding bad faith. Moreover, an allegation of bad faith may provide a basis for extending legal protection to a third-party trade mark not registered in a given territory, which may be particularly useful for businesses that export goods worldwide. However, at the same time, care must be taken to reasonably balance such protection for non-registered marks with one of the crucial premises of EU trade mark protection, which is based on the principle of “first to file” not “first to use”.
Zwischen Wissenschaft und Weltanschauung
Authors: Albrecht Andrea , Krumeich Jens , Schell Sandra
Published: August 2023

Die wissenschaftliche Rezeption Friedrich Hölderlins und seines Werks hatte in den 1920er bis 1940er Jahren immer auch weltanschauliche und politische Dimensionen. Am Beispiel der Forschungsreferate von Adolf von Grolman, Johannes Hoffmeister und Heinz Otto Burger sowie der Forschungskontroverse zwischen Wilhelm Böhm und Ludwig Strauß rekonstruieren wir, welche Funktionen Hölderlin und die DVjs füreinander hatten. Ein besonderes Augenmerk fällt dabei auf Paul Kluckhohn, der nicht nur als Herausgeber, sondern in politisch turbulenten Zeiten auch als öffentlicher Redner und akademischer Organisator eine wichtige Rolle für die Hölderlin-Forschung gespielt hat.
Formation of a modified collagenic biomaterial using deep eutectic solvents
Authors: Wise William R. , Bevan Francesca , Davis Stefan J. , Prasad Kamalesh , Abbott Andrew P.
Published: August 2023

Herewith waste collagen was processed using a deep eutectic solvent (DES) obtained by the complexation between choline chloride (ChCl) and ethylene glycol 1:2 (ChCl:2EG) to form a material with properties similar to leather. The material generated using the waste tanned collagen processed with ChCl:2EG followed by mechanical extrusion was found to show characteristics similar to the one obtained from the material using animal hide powder. However, the tensile strength of extruded collagen was substantially higher (7.56 MPa vs. 0.23 MPa). The improved strength and structure may be due in part to traces of iron imparted into the material during extrusion of the acidic collagen sample. Nevertheless, the material thus generated was found to have a lower degree of crystallinity compared to commercial leather samples. Overall, the process demonstrates a facile method preparing a useful material out of waste collagen by the intervention of DESs.

Graphical Abstract
Achieving Equity in Child and Adolescent Mental Health by Addressing Racism Through Prevention Science
Authors: Goodrum Nada M. , Cooper Daniel K. , Edmunds Sarah , Wippold Guillermo M. , Bradshaw Jessica , Nguyen Julie K. , Milburn Norweeta , Are Funlola
Published: August 2023

Prevention science is a multidisciplinary field dedicated to promoting public health and reducing early risk factors that lead to negative health outcomes. It has been used to successfully improve child and family mental health and well-being, including for families affected by adversity. Despite advances in prevention efforts, major public health inequities remain for Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) children and families, in part because of equity-implicit “one-size-fits-all” approaches that do not directly address racism which in part underlies the very health concerns these efforts aim to prevent. Structural racism not only introduces additional risk for negative health outcomes for BIPOC families but also it reduces access to prevention-focused programs and policies, thus perpetuating inequities across generations. Adopting an equity-explicit, antiracist lens that attends to the effects of structural racism can strengthen the impact of prevention efforts by more effectively improving child and family health, reducing access barriers, and effecting multigenerational change for BIPOC families experiencing various levels of adversity. Evidence-informed recommendations for applying antiracist prevention science include the following: explicitly incorporating an understanding of structural racism within prevention science methods and theory (e.g., risk and resilience frameworks); establishing and fostering truly equitable community partnerships; diversifying the field through mentorship of BIPOC scholars and clinicians focused on child and family well-being; assembling diverse transdisciplinary research teams to address child health inequities in a family-centered manner; attending to intersectionality; and using implementation science to promote access and sustainability for all families.
A Tool to Combine Expert Knowledge and Machine Learning for Defect Detection and Root Cause Analysis in a Hot Strip Mill
Authors: Latham Samuel , Giannetti Cinzia
Published: August 2023

Width-related defects are a common occurrence in the Hot Strip Mill process which can lead to extra processing, concessions, or scrapping. The detection and Root Cause Analysis of these defects is a largely manual process and is vulnerable to several negative factors including human error, late feedback, and knock-on effects in successive steel strip products. Automated tools which utilize Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for defect detection and Root Cause Analysis in hot rolling have not yet been adopted outside of surface defect detection and roller force optimization. In this paper, we propose an automated tool for the detection and Root Cause Analysis of width-related defects in the hot rolling process which utilizes a combination of expert knowledge and several Machine Learning models. Through this, we aim to increase the scope, and encourage further development, of Machine Learning applications within the Hot Strip Mill process. Both classical algorithms and Computer Vision methods were used for the Machine Learning component of the tool, namely, classification trees and pre-trained convolutional neural networks. The tool is trained and validated using data from an existing hot rolling mill and thus the challenges of collecting and processing real-world legacy data are highlighted and discussed. The Machine Learning models used are shown to perform optimally by validation performance metrics. The tool is found to be suitable for the specified purpose and would be further improved with more training data.
Methane conversion to syngas by chemical looping on La0.8Sr0.2FexCo1-xO3 (x = 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75) perovskites with CO2 co-feeding
Authors: Sror Gal , Cohen Oranit , Ohayon Dahan Hen , Landau Miron V. , Herskowitz Moti
Published: August 2023

Partial oxidation of methane (POM) by chemical looping with CO2 co-feeding on La0.8Sr0.2FeO3 (LSF) perovskite catalyst yielded a highly selective operation and enabled to extend the duration of reduction cycle. In this work, the conversion of methane to syngas was studied on La0.8Sr0.2Fe(x)Co(1-x)O3 (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75) perovskites in chemical-looping mode, co-feeding CO2 and methane. The reaction was conducted at 850 °C, 15 min reduction (10% methane in N2, 0–3% CO2), and 10 min oxidation (10% O2 in N2) cycles. The perovskites activity decreased with increasing Co content, in the absence of CO2, due to intensified coke deposition on the catalyst. Addition of CO2 during the reduction step (1–3%) reduced coke accumulation. A run conducted on La0.8Sr0.2CoO3 (LSC) with continuous feeding of CO2 and periodical (on–off) methane feeding indicated that CO2 reacts with the accumulated coke in reverse-Boudouard reaction, increasing CO selectivity without affecting the methane conversion. XRD analysis of reduced Co-containing perovskites indicates a decreasing perovskite content. Metallic Co and La2O3 phases increased as the Co content in the fresh perovskite increased, increasing coke deposition. As the Co content increased, the process shifts from POM with oxygen replenishment (LSF) to cracking followed by reverse-Boudouard reaction (LSC).
Appraisal of rock–water interaction and frailty of groundwater to corrosion and salinization, northwestern Gulf of Suez, Egypt
Authors: Asmoay Ahmed A. , Mabrouk Walid A.
Published: August 2023

From 12 groundwater samples taken in Egypt's northwestern Suez Gulf, it can be concluded that the water is not suitable for drinking or irrigation purposes. The water is highly mineralized, has extreme hardness, and is very saline, with salinity levels above 3000 ppm. The dominant ions in the water samples are Cl, Na, SO4, and HCO3, and there are two distinct water types: SO4. Ca–Cl (90%), and SO4. Na-Cl (10%). The research also revealed that three wells had become salinized due to dominant ions from sewage water recharge and seawater invasion. The water samples were found to be oversaturated with carbonate, silicate, iron oxide, and evaporite mineral dissolution, which could be harmful to human health. The water was found to exhibit ion exchange, where alkaline earth's (Ca + Mg) ions associated with solids and alkalis' ions (Na + K) in water samples exchange ions. The water was also found to have a high propensity for corrosion, making it unsafe to move groundwater over long distances. The excessive salinity of the water in the research area also makes it undesirable for drinking and irrigation purposes. Overall, the research findings suggest that measures need to be taken to ensure the safety of the groundwater in the area and prevent further contamination. The findings also highlight the importance of regular monitoring and testing of groundwater to ensure that it meets safe levels for human consumption and agricultural use.
Plant immune inducer ZNC promotes rutin accumulation and enhances resistance to Botrytis cinerea in tomato
Authors: Zhao Haipeng , Ding Xiangyu , Chu Xiaomeng , Zhang Haimiao , Wang Xinyu , Zhang Xinwen , Liu Haoqi , Zhang Xiaoying , Yin Ziyi , Li Yang , Ding Xinhua
Published: August 2023

Gray mold is a destructive disease caused by Botrytis cinerea, a pervasive plant pathogen, which poses a threat to both tomato growth and postharvest storage. The utilization of induced resistance presents a potential strategy for combating plant pathogenic attacks. ZNC (zhinengcong), an extract derived from the endophytic fungus Paecilomyces variotii, has been discovered to play a vital role in preventing diverse forms of bacterial infections. Nevertheless, the precise mechanism behind its ability to enhance tomato resistance to fungi remains unclear. In this study, we found that the exogenous spraying of ZNC could significantly improve the resistance of tomato plants to B. cinerea. The results of both the metabolomic analysis and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) demonstrated that tomato plants responded to ZNC treatment by accumulating high levels of rutin. Additional transcriptome analysis uncovered that rutin enhances tomato resistance possible by initiating the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MPKs) related genes expression during the initial phase of invasion by B. cinerea. In addition, we also found that rutin might activate plant immunity by eliciting ethylene (ET) and jasmonic acid (JA)-mediated pathways. Therefore, plant immune inducer ZNC and rutin has bright application prospects and high utilization value to control gray mold.

Graphical Abstract
Middle-class risk perception of disasters and land reclamation in Metro Manila, Philippines
Authors: Valenzuela Ven Paolo Bruno , Esteban Miguel , Onuki Motoharu
Published: August 2023

The United Nations estimate that by 2030 about half of the world’s population would be comprised of the middle-class, who mostly live in the increasing number of megacities around the world. Southeast Asian megacities, such as Metropolitan Manila, have long been troubled by rapid urbanization, increasing disaster risk, and the looming impacts of climate change. As a response, there is a growing focus on disaster and climate resilient policies in megacities, most of which have only centered on how future disasters and climate uncertainty would impact vulnerable communities. This has resulted in policies that cater towards relocation of the poor to combat disasters and climate change. This exploratory study attempts to elucidate how the middle-class views disasters and land reclamation in Metro Manila, the Philippines. Using an online questionnaire survey of 425 middle-class respondents, the study shows that middle-class perception of risk potentially amplifies vulnerability and reduces the resilience of the poor. While knowledge about the risks is high, the capacity of the middle class to act is low, especially compared to vulnerable communities. Also, climate change and disasters are viewed primarily as environmental issues, which is compounded by inadequate defenses. Land reclamation, along with coastal informal settlements, are viewed as an intrusion into the environment. This study finds that the middle-class’s perception of risk may marginalize the poor by favoring eviction of vulnerable communities in coastal areas, including those targeted for land reclamation, under the pretext of controlling the city’s population growth and environmental impact.
Centromeric repeats in Citrus sinensis provide new insights into centromeric evolution and the distribution of G-quadruplex structures
Authors: Song Shipeng , Liu Hui , Miao Luke , Lan Hong , Chen Chunli
Published: August 2023

Centromeres play a crucial role in ensuring the accurate separation of chromosomes during cell division. Despite the three rounds of genome sequencing technology undergone by Citrus sinensis (sweet orange), the presence of numerous repetitive DNA elements in its genome has led to substantial gaps in centromeric genomic mapping, leaving the composition of centromeric repeats unclear. To address this, we employed a combination of chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing with the C. sinensis centromere-specific histone H3 variant antibody and centromere-specific bacterial artificial chromosome-3a sequencing to precisely locate the centromeres. This approach allowed us to identify a series of centromere-specific repeats, comprising five tandem repeats and nine long terminal repeat retrotransposons. Through comprehensive bioinformatics analysis, we gained valuable insights into potential centromeric evolution events and discovered the presence of DNA G-quadruplex structures of centromeric repeats in C. sinensis. Altogether, our study not only offers a valuable reference for centromeric genome assembly but also sheds light on the structural characteristics of C. sinensis centromeres.
How to Disrupt a Social Script
Authors: HESNI SAMIA
Published: August 2023

Social scripts, like A gives a compliment, B says ‘thank you’, pervade and shape natural language discourse and social interactions. Scripts usually promote cooperation between conversational participants, but not always. For example, if A pays B a ‘compliment’ like ‘nice legs’, A puts B in a double bind of either abiding by the compliment script by saying ‘thank you’ and being humiliated, or breaking the script and risking escalation. In this paper, I take a philosophical lens to the notion of a social script. I give a theoretical overview of what it would mean to disrupt a social script and explain why and when it is prudential to do so. Then I give several examples of disruptions of social scripts. This essay makes four key contributions to the philosophical literature on social scripts: (1) it introduces a new distinction between interpersonal and structural scripts; (2) it illuminates how interpersonal social scripts can be pernicious by creating a double bind; (3) it analyzes what it is to disrupt a social script; and (4) in doing so, it challenges the orthodoxy about the relationship between cooperation and disruption in political action.
Simple, stable and efficient nonlinear pulse compression through cascaded filamentation in air
Authors: Pu Tao , Tian Kan , Hu Bo , Wan Zhongjun , He Linzhen , Yang Xuemei , Wu Han , Li Yang , Wang Weizhe , Liang Houkun
Published: August 2023

Nonlinear compression has become an obligatory technique along with the development of ultrafast lasers in generating ultrashort pulses with narrow pulse widths and high peak power. In particular, techniques of nonlinear compression have experienced a rapid progress as ytterbium (Yb)-doped lasers with pulse widths in the range from hundreds of femtoseconds to a few picoseconds have become mainstream laser tools for both scientific and industrial applications. Here, we report a simple and stable nonlinear pulse compression technique with high efficiency through cascaded filamentation in air followed by dispersion compensation. Pulses at a center wavelength of 1040 nm with millijoule pulse energy and 160 fs pulse width from a high-power Yb:CaAlGdO4 regenerative amplifier are compressed to 32 fs, with only 2.4% loss from the filamentation process. The compressed pulse has a stable output power with a root-mean-square variation of 0.2% over 1 hour.
Polymers in turbulence: stretching statistics and the role of extreme strain rate fluctuations
Authors: Picardo Jason R. , Plan Emmanuel L.C. VI M. , Vincenzi Dario
Published: August 2023

Polymers in a turbulent flow are stretched out by the fluctuating velocity gradient and exhibit a broad distribution of extensions

$R$

; the stationary probability density function (p.d.f.) of

$R$

has a power-law tail with an exponent that increases with the Weissenberg number

$\mathit {Wi}$

, a non-dimensional measure of polymer elasticity. This study addresses the following questions. (i) What is the role of the non-Gaussian statistics of the turbulent velocity gradient on polymer stretching? (ii) How does the p.d.f. of

$R$

evolve to its asymptotic stationary form? Our analysis is based on simulations of the dynamics of finitely extensible bead–spring dumbbells and chains, in the extremely dilute limit, that are transported in a homogeneous and isotropic turbulent flow, as well as in a Gaussian random flow. We show that while the turbulent flow is more effective at stretching small-

$\mathit {Wi}$

stiff polymers, the Gaussian flow is more effective for high-

$\mathit {Wi}$

polymers. This suggests that high-

$\mathit {Wi}$

polymers (with large relaxation times) are stretched primarily by the cumulative effect of moderate strain rate events, rather than by short-lived extreme-valued strain rates. Next, we show that, beginning from a distribution of coiled polymers, the p.d.f. of

$R$

exhibits two distinct regimes of evolution. At low to moderate

$\mathit {Wi}$

, the p.d.f. quickly develops a power-law tail with an exponent that evolves in time and approaches its stationary value exponentially. At high

$\mathit {Wi}$

, the rapid stretching of polymers first produces a peak in the p.d.f. near their maximum extension; a power law with a constant exponent then emerges and expands its range towards smaller

$R$

. The time scales of equilibration, measured as a function of

$\mathit {Wi}$

, point to a critical slowing down at the coil–stretch transition. Importantly, these results show no qualitative change when chains in a turbulent flow are replaced by dumbbells in a Gaussian flow, thereby supporting the use of the latter for reduced-order modelling.
Turbulent dispersion of a passive scalar in a smooth-wall turbulent boundary layer
Authors: Lim H.D. , Vanderwel Christina
Published: August 2023

The scalar dispersion of a ground-level point-source plume in a smooth-wall turbulent boundary layer is experimentally investigated using simultaneous particle image velocimetry and planar laser-induced fluorescence techniques. In the near-source region, the viscous sublayer is observed to trap dye, while in the far field, the half-width, vertical profiles and peak decay of the mean concentration and concentration variance exhibit self-similar behaviour and collapse with empirical relations. Full two-dimensional maps of the turbulent scalar fluxes show a net transport direction of upward and towards the incoming flow, with the vertical profiles collapsing well with Weibull-type exponential functions and the decay of peaks following power laws. Using the first-order gradient transport to model the turbulent scalar fluxes, maps of the anisotropic turbulent diffusivity tensor and an effective turbulent diffusivity coefficient are calculated. The streamwise and wall-normal turbulent scalar fluxes are driven dominantly by the wall-normal concentration gradient. The turbulent Schmidt number, relating the turbulent diffusivity and the turbulent (eddy) viscosity calculated using the Boussinesq hypothesis, varies with wall-normal position with values of the order of unity in the logarithmic layer.
Interaction between a rough bed and an adjacent smooth bed in open-channel flow
Authors: Dupuis Victor , Moulin Frédéric Y. , Eiff Olivier
Published: August 2023

Experiments are conducted in an open-channel flow where half of the section is smooth and the other half consists of an array of cubes, which are either submerged or emergent. A shear layer featuring large-scale Kelvin–Helmholtz structures develops between the two subsections. The flows are first analysed in the framework of the double-averaging method (averaging of the flow both in time and space). Double averaging could be performed thanks to an experimental set-up (three-dimensional, two-component telecentric scanning particle image velocimetry) that allows to measure the velocity field in a large volume, including the interstices between the cubes. A momentum balance performed on the smooth subsection indicates that the loss of momentum towards the rough subsection has the same order of magnitude than the momentum loss through bed friction. This lateral momentum flux occurs nearly exclusively through turbulent shear stress, whereas secondary currents plays a minor role and dispersive shear stress is negligible. A pattern recognition technique is then applied to investigate statistically the large-scale Kelvin–Helmholtz structures that develop in the shear layer. The structures appear to be coherent over the water depth and to be strongly inclined in the vertical, the top part being ahead. The educed coherent structure is responsible by itself for the shape of the velocity profile across the shear layer and for a large part of the turbulence (up to 60 % for the turbulent shear stress). Finally, a coupling is identified between the passage of the Kelvin–Helmholtz structures and the instantaneous wake flow around the cubes at the interface.
Measuring Up: A Dialogical Model for Assuring a Reparative Process
Authors: Laplante Lisa J. , Reyes Ana María
Published: August 2023

International law obliges governments to assure adequate and effective reparations for human rights violations. To date, most evaluations of such programs focus on outcomes while overlooking the process of how the state engaged victims, or not, in the determination of what they needed to feel repaired. A consensus now points toward the need to better involve beneficiaries in reparations programs in the process of determining these outcomes, yet there remains a need to better understand how to assure meaningful and effective participation. In response, the authors present an expansive view of the right to participation that would oblige governments to assure the quality of this participation in all stages of reparation programming, including design, implementation, and evaluation. They argue that reparative processes are, in themselves, forms of reparation, which go toward citizen restitution. They offer preliminary guidelines on how to assure reparative processes, as well as their evaluation, through a dialogical model that helps reorient the view of “victims” to being active agents in determining not only appropriate reparations but also larger transformations. Reparative processes shift the focus of evaluation to look beyond outcomes and toward the quality of the design and implementation processes, which, if flawed, may ultimately undermine the overall impact of any reparation program.
Pharmacogenetics of angiotensin modulators according to APOE-ϵ4 alleles and the ACE insertion/deletion polymorphism in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Oliveira Fabricio Ferreira de , Almeida Sandro Soares de , Chen Elizabeth Suchi , Smith Marilia Cardoso , Bertolucci Paulo Henrique Ferreira
Published: August 2023

Objective:

In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) could reduce cerebrovascular dysfunction, while angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEis) might increase brain amyloid-β by suppressing effects of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 1, an amyloid-β-degrading enzyme. However, ACEis could benefit patients with AD by reducing the amyloidogenic processing of the amyloid precursor protein, by central cholinergic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, and by peripheral modulation of glucose homeostasis. We aimed to investigate whether the ACE insertion/deletion polymorphism is associated with clinical changes in patients with AD, while considering apolipoprotein E (APOE)-ϵ4 carrier status and blood pressure response to angiotensin modulators.

Methods:

Consecutive outpatients with late-onset AD were screened with cognitive tests and anthropometric measurements, while their caregivers were queried for functional and caregiver burden scores. Prospective pharmacogenetic associations were estimated for 1 year, taking APOE-ϵ4 carrier status and genotypes of the ACE insertion/deletion polymorphism into account, along with treatment with ACEis or ARBs.

Results:

For 193 patients (67.4% women, 53.4% APOE-ϵ4 carriers), the ACE insertion/deletion polymorphism was in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (p = 0.281), while arterial hypertension was prevalent in 80.3% (n = 124 used an ACEi, n = 21 used an ARB). ARBs benefitted mostly APOE-ϵ4 carriers concerning caregiver burden variations, cognitive and functional decline. ACEis benefitted APOE-ϵ4 non-carriers concerning cognitive and functional decline due to improved blood pressure control in addition to possible central mechanisms. The ACE insertion/deletion polymorphism led to variable response to angiotensin modulators concerning neurological outcomes and blood pressure variations.

Conclusion:

Angiotensin modulators may be disease-modifiers in AD, while genetic stratification of samples is recommended in clinical studies.
Race, Partisanship, and Democratic Politics: The Role of Racial Attitudes in Motivating White Americans’ Electoral Participation
Authors: Algara Carlos , Hale Isaac
Published: August 2023

While there is considerable research on the role racial attitudes play in shaping white political preferences, relatively little is known about how racial attitudes influence white participation in democratic politics. We present a model examining the relationship between racial attitudes and political participation in the 2016, 2018, and 2020 U.S. national elections. Using a variety of measures of political participation, our analysis presents a clear finding: the direction of the relationship between latent conservative racial attitudes and political participation is asymmetrical among partisan sub-groups, with conservative racial attitudes motivating participation among white Republicans and, to a greater degree, depressing participation among white Democrats. This finding has stark implications for how racialized appeals are likely to be deployed in an era of increasing affective partisan polarization.
Discrimination Without Traits: From Social Construction to the Politics of Discrimination
Authors: POPESCU-SARRY DIANA
Published: August 2023

Theories of discrimination typically select properties such as race, gender, sexuality, or ethnicity as being of special concern. These properties, which are customarily identified as genuine grounds of discrimination, are also at the forefront of constructionist efforts to understand reality as a product of social interactions. Theories of discrimination have so far neglected the important question of how understanding the nature of these properties impacts our theoretical views of the kind of phenomenon discrimination is. This article outlines some pitfalls of assuming away complexities regarding the ontology of the underlying properties, and systematically develops a constructionist account of discrimination, which I call Discrimination without Traits. I argue pursuing a constructionist view of grounds reveals discrimination to be not a discrete process involving a discriminator and a victim, but an ongoing process of (re)negotiating social reality that is fundamentally political. This uncovers neglected avenues for designing political remedies to discrimination.
Temporal patterns in the recorded annual incidence of common mental disorders over two decades in the United Kingdom: a primary care cohort study
Authors: Dykxhoorn J. , Osborn D. , Walters K. , Kirkbride J. B. , Gnani S. , Lazzarino A. I.
Published: August 2023

Background

Common mental disorders (CMDs) including depression, anxiety, and stress are very common, but it is unclear whether the last decades of social, economic, and political change have impacted incidence of CMD. This study explored temporal trends in the recorded incidence of CMD in the United Kingdom.

Methods

We used data from general practices in the United Kingdom (Clinical Practice Research Datalink) to estimate the annual recorded incidence of CMD for 2000–2020, including symptoms, diagnosis, or pharmaceutical treatment. Trends were explored by sex, age, ethnicity, region, deprivation, and comorbidity.

Results

We included 29 480 164 individuals who were followed up for 12.5 years on average (s.d. = 6.4 years). The recorded incidence of CMD episodes was 55.9 per 1000 person-years in 2000 [95% confidence interval (CI) 55.8–56.1], increasing to 79.6 per 1000 person-years in 2019 (95% CI 79.5–79.8). Females had higher recorded incidence rates, as did those living in more deprived areas. We observed striking patterns by age over time, with rates in ages 16–24 increasing from 40.2 per 1000 in 2000 (95% CI 39.8–40.5), to 107.8 per 1000 in 2019 (95% CI 107.0–108.6). In contrast, the rates in those aged ≥55 years decreased since 2014. There were differing patterns of incidence by ethnic group, with a steeper increase in Asian, Black, and mixed groups in recent years.

Conclusions

Overall, the incidence of recorded CMD in the UK general practice increased between 2000 and 2019 with a small decrease in 2020. The overall trends obscured important differences across population subgroups, which may have implications for prevention.
Unmasking disparities: the challenge of diversity, equity, and inclusion in Press Ganey surveys
Authors: Avasarala Jagannadha , Zachariah Phenu
Published: August 2023

Data on minority group physicians from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds is sparse and not reported by PG metrics at the national level. While PG metrics typically concentrate on the individual, patterns and trends are clearly discernible at the group level and comparison of groups to capture patterns may yield results hitherto unknown. One could even envisage using AI to capture any trends, differences, and comparative figures to build databases for the future. It is time to retool PG surveys to fit the modern U.S. healthcare workforce and be inclusive, and not selective at the individual level.