bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do Couple-Based Interventions Show Larger Effects in Promoting HIV Preventive Behaviors than Individualized Interventions in Couples? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of 11 Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Fu Rong , Hou Jianhua , Gu Yuzhou , Yu Nancy Xiaonan
Published: July 2022

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to compare the effects of couple-based prevention interventions against individual-level interventions on HIV prevention in randomized controlled trials (RCTs), identify potential moderators, and assess study quality. Eleven RCTs were included, comprising 3933 couples in the intervention group and 7125 individuals in the individual control group, predominantly in heterosexual couples from the USA and Africa. Couple-based interventions had a more significant effect in promoting condom use and HIV testing. Education levels of high school or above, residence in low- and middle-income countries, and intervention design incorporating HIV counseling and testing were associated with higher odds of condom use. The quality assessment analysis identified methodological and theoretical heterogeneity factors. Evidence of couple-based HIV prevention RCTs among men who have sex with men, injecting drug users, sex workers, and transgender women warrant further investigation. Recommendations are made to improve the quality and replicability of future intervention studies.
On identifying risk-adjusted efficiency gains or losses of prospective mergers and acquisitions
Authors: Tsionas Mike G. , Baltas Konstantinos N.
Published: July 2022

We propose a new approach to evaluate and compare ex-ante the risk-adjusted efficiency gains or losses of potential mergers and acquisitions (M &A). We test our methodology in the banking sector by estimating a latent class stochastic frontier model to account for the unobserved heterogeneity. We show that post-prospective M &A financial institutions can be better equipped to withstand potential adverse economic conditions. We highlight that similarities in strategic characteristics are vital in the creation of post-consolidation cost efficiency surplus. Our results are consistent after various robustness tests. Our findings have important policy implications in light of the challenges the traditional banking business model faces in the current digitalisation era.
Leadership and Workplace Aggression: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Cao Wenrui , Li Peikai , C. van der Wal Reine , W. Taris Toon
Published: July 2022

Workplace aggression (bullying, incivility, and similar forms of interpersonal mistreatment) has been established as a prevalent and detrimental issue in organizations. While numerous studies have documented the important role of leaders in inhibiting or accelerating workplace aggression, a systematic overview of the associations between different leadership styles and workplace aggression as well as its boundary conditions is still lacking. This study reports a meta-analysis investigating the associations between leadership and workplace aggression. Drawing on data from 165 samples (N = 115,190), our results revealed that change-oriented, relational-oriented, and values-based and moral leadership (but not task-oriented leadership) were associated with reduced workplace aggression. In contrast, passive and destructive leadership (i.e., abusive, narcissistic, uncivil, and authoritarian) were associated with increased workplace aggression. Importantly, relative weights analyses revealed that ethical leadership was most strongly negatively associated with workplace aggression. Additionally, moderation analyses revealed that the associations between leadership and workplace aggression were, in some cases, moderated by power distance (for transactional leadership) and rating sources (for transformational and abusive supervision), but independent of measurement time lag. Overall, the findings of this meta-analysis highlight the important associations between leadership and workplace aggression. Implications for future research and policy recommendations aiming to reduce workplace aggression are discussed.
Determinants of Supply Chain Engagement in Carbon Management
Authors: Lintukangas Katrina , Arminen Heli , Kähkönen Anni-Kaisa , Karttunen Elina
Published: July 2022

To fight climate change, firms must adopt effective and feasible carbon management practices that promote collaboration within supply chains. Engaging suppliers and customers on carbon management reduces vulnerability to climate-related risks and increases resilience and adaptability in supply chains. Therefore, it is important to understand the motives and preconditions for pursuing supply chain engagement from companies that actively engage with supply chain members in carbon management. In this study, a relational view is applied to operationalize the supply chain engagement concept to reflect the different levels of supplier and customer engagement. Based on a sample of 345 companies from the Carbon Disclosure Project’s supply chain program, the determinants of engagement were hypothesized and tested using multinomial and ordinal logistic estimation methods. The results indicate that companies that integrate climate change into their strategies and are involved in developing environmental public policy are driven by moral motives to engage their suppliers and customers in carbon management. All these factors make a stronger impact on supplier engagement than on customer engagement. Moreover, companies operating in greenhouse gas-intensive industries are driven by instrumental motives to engage their suppliers and customers because increasing greenhouse gas intensity positively influences engagement level. Company profitability appears to increase supplier engagement, but not customer engagement. Interestingly, operating in a country with stringent environmental regulations does not appear to influence supply chain engagement. By utilizing relational capabilities and collaboration, buyers can increase their suppliers’ engagement to disclose emissions, which ultimately will lead to better results in carbon management.
A product space reformulation with reduced dimension for splitting algorithms
Authors: Campoy Rubén
Published: July 2022

In this paper we propose a product space reformulation to transform monotone inclusions described by finitely many operators on a Hilbert space into equivalent two-operator problems. Our approach relies on Pierra’s classical reformulation with a different decomposition, which results in a reduction of the dimension of the outcoming product Hilbert space. We discuss the case of not necessarily convex feasibility and best approximation problems. By applying existing splitting methods to the proposed reformulation we obtain new parallel variants of them with a reduction in the number of variables. The convergence of the new algorithms is straightforwardly derived with no further assumptions. The computational advantage is illustrated through some numerical experiments.
Heavy metals and parasitological infection associated with oxidative stress and histopathological alteration in the Clarias gariepinus
Authors: EL-Hak Heba N. Gad , Ghobashy Mahi A. , Mansour Farida A. , El-Shenawy Nahla S. , El-Din Marwa I. Saad
Published: July 2022

The goal of this study was to assess the harmful effects of heavy metal accumulation onClarias gariepinus(catfish) in two different polluted areas in the Al Sharkia governorate and assess the impact on oxidative stress and histological changes. The results revealed a highly significant difference in heavy metal levels in the water and inside fish tissues (liver and gonads) between the two sites. The total prevalence of parasitic infection was at the highest percentage in area B, in addition to severe histopathological damage to the liver and the gonads. Findings show that the total prevalence of parasitic infection is associated with uptake of metals, depleted antioxidant activity, and incidence of lipid peroxidation in tissue.
Cold storage effects on lethal and sublethal responses of Amphibalanus amphitrite Nauplii
Authors: Piazza Veronica , Gambardella Chiara , Costa Elisa , Miroglio Roberta , Faimali Marco , Garaventa Francesca
Published: July 2022

Bioassays are extensively used in ecotoxicology and there is a constant need for even more sensitive, reliable and easy to rear and obtain model organisms. Larvae of the crustacean Amphibalanus amphitrite are a good ecotoxicological model, for their high sensitivity to a wide range of toxicants and emerging contaminants. A standardized protocol for this toxicity bioassay has been recently proposed. Nevertheless, a limit of this model organism is the lack of resting stages and the need to use larvae immediately after their release from adults, thus increasing laboratory efforts related to the maintenance of adults. The aim of this work is to verify if short-term cold storage of A. amphitrite larvae prior to use in ecotoxicological tests may affect the ecotoxicological responses of these organisms. Three end-points (mortality, immobilization and swimming speed alteration) were measured on nauplii after storing them at 4 ± 1 °C for different times (24, 72 and 120 h) before bioassay set-up. Bioassays were set up using: (i) clean filtered natural sea water (0.22 µm FNSW), (ii) a reference toxicant (Cadmium Nitrate) and (iii) an environmental matrix (sediment elutriate). Results show that mortality, differently from the other two endpoints, was not affected by cold-storage. Even after 5 days of larvae storage at 4 ± 1 °C before bioassay set up, mortality data were comparable to those obtained for non-cold-stored organisms. Moreover, larval sensitivity to the reference toxicant and sediment elutriate did not change. Regarding the other two end points, low cadmium concentrations significantly changed immobility and swimming activity in cold-stored nauplii compared to larvae used immediately after larval release. In conclusion, short-term cold storage of A. amphitrite nauplii before bioassay set up is an appropriate procedure in ecotoxicological testing if mortality is the endpoint to be considered for final evaluation.
Ecotoxicological impacts of industrial effluents on irrigation water quality, animal health and the role of calcium alginate in effluents treatment
Authors: Zeid Hanaa Abdel Atty , El-Zayat Moustafa Mohsen , Abdrabouh Abeer El-Said
Published: July 2022

The effluents discharged from Mansoura Company for Resins and Chemicals Industry were evaluated for drinking and irrigation purposes. Calcium-alginate beads were used for effluents treatment in this study. Young male rats were also allowed to drink effluents at different concentrations (10%, 50%, 100%) and treated 100% effluents with calcium-alginate for 11 weeks. Results indicated high concentrations of some physicochemical parameters and Cd, Co, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in effluents that exceeded the permissible limits for drinking and irrigation purposes. Treatment by calcium-alginate alleviate heavy metals concentration but did not affect the physicochemical parameters. Depending on effluents concentration, the liver of young male rats showed high accumulation of Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, and Ni compared to the control group. Serum levels of liver enzymes, total bilirubin significantly increased while total protein, and albumin contents decreased in effluent groups. Liver concentrations of malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl significantly elevated along with significant decrease in superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione-S-transferase activities, and glutathione content. Moreover, growth and thyroid hormones were significantly reduced along with significant elevation in thyroid stimulating hormone. This was accompanied by significant decrease in the body weight, especially with 100% effluents concentration compared to control group. Also, histological investigations of both liver and thyroid gland using hematoxylin and eosin showed distortion in the structure of both organs especially with 50% and 100% effluent groups. However, treatment of effluents by calcium-alginate improved these changes. The study revealed that calcium-alginate are effective biosorbents for heavy metals and consequently decrease animal and human health hazards, but further studies are needed to alleviate physicochemical characteristics.
Curricular integration of academic and vocational education: a theory-based empirical typology of dual study programmes in Germany
Authors: Mordhorst Lisa , Jenert Tobias
Published: July 2022

In Germany, dual learning programmes are increasingly offered by higher education institutions. These programmes’ main characteristic and greatest challenge is their integration of academic and vocational learning. So far, this challenge has frequently been stated without specifying its exact nature and consequences for learners. The present study addresses this pedagogical research gap and examines the extent of variation in the degree of integration among dual study programmes. With reference to curriculum theory, the study develops an empirical typology of curricular integration in dual programmes. The data sample consists of 152 programmes at (dual) universities and universities of applied sciences. Data is analysed using hierarchical cluster analysis. Results indicate that the currently prevailing forms of curricular integration should best be differentiated according to five types. The five overlapping types of integration are located on a continuum ranging from parallelism through organisational linking to full curricular integration targeted immediately at students’ personal integration. The analysis confirms that there are problems with complying with integration standards set on the policy level. Above all, the study offers new insights on what marks the diverse integration landscape of dual study programmes. It proves that approaches to integration are more differentiated than previous research has shown.
Precise Cable-Suspended Pick-and-Place with an Aerial Multi-robot System
Authors: Jiménez-Cano A. E. , Sanalitro D. , Tognon M. , Franchi A. , Cortés J.
Published: July 2022

This work introduces the G-Fly-Crane, a proof-of-concept aerial multi-robot system designed to demonstrate the advantage of using multiple aerial robots as a valuable tool for novel construction techniques, not requiring the use of heavy engines and costly infrastructures. We experimentally demonstrate its capability to perform pick-and-place and manipulation tasks in a construction scenario, with an increased payload capacity and dexterity compared to the single robot case. The system is composed of three aerial robots connected to a platform by three pairs of cables. The platform is equipped with a gripper, enabling the grasping of objects. The paper describes in detail the hardware and software architecture of our prototype and explains the implemented control methods. A shared control strategy incorporates the human operator in the control loop, thus increasing the overall system reliability when performing complex tasks. The paper also discusses the next steps required to bring this technology from indoor laboratory conditions to real-world applications.
High degree of N-functionalization in macroscopically assembled carbon nanotubes
Authors: McGlynn Ruairi J. , Brunet Paul , Chakrabarti Supriya , Boies Adam , Maguire Paul , Mariotti Davide
Published: July 2022

Nitrogen doping of carbon nanomaterials has emerged as a method to develop novel material properties, though limitations in the form of extended treatment times, harsh chemical usage and limited total nitrogen content exist. Here, macroscopic ribbon-like assemblies of carbon nanotubes are functionalized with nitrogen using a simple direct current-based plasma–liquid system. This system utilizes the plasma-generated species in an ethanol:water solution with ethylenediamine as a nitrogen precursor for the nitrogen functionalization of the carbon nanotube assembly. These unique, plasma-generated species and pathways enable rapid and high levels of functionalization with the atomic concentration of nitrogen reaching 22.5%, with amine groups, pyrrolic groups and graphitic nitrogen observed in the X-ray photoelectron spectra, the highest ever achieved. This nitrogen content is demonstrated to be significantly higher than a comparative electrolysis process. This demonstrates that this plasma process enhances the availability of nitrogen from the ethylenediamine precursor, facilitating greater functionalization.

Graphical abstract
Influence of carbon on the formation of γ/γ′ microstructure and κ-phase in the WC/Co–Ni–Al–W system: ab initio calculations and experimental studies
Authors: Wolf Maximilian , Edtmaier Christian , de Oro Calderon Raquel
Published: July 2022

Modifications of the binder phase (γ) of cemented carbides have the potential to increase the hardness and wear resistance of the whole material. Partially, coherent precipitations with L12 structure (γ’) promise these improved properties without sacrificing tensile strength or toughness. γ’ is a metastable phase in the Al–Co–W ternary system in the form of Co3(Al,W) which is stabilized by the substitution of cobalt with nickel. Superalloys of the composition Co–(30Ni)–9Al–7 W with different carbon contents were prepared by inductive melting, and the resulting microstructures were analysed using SEM–EDS, XRD and Vickers hardness. Cemented carbides with γ/γ’ binder microstructure were prepared via DTA, and the phase equilibria in the composite material were investigated experimentally and in silico. It was shown that nickel stabilizes the γ’ phase in superalloys as well as in cemented carbides. Carbon leads to the formation of an additional phase with E21 structure (κ). DTA measurements of cemented carbides with different aluminium–cobalt–nickel mixtures as binder gave an overview of the compositional influence. Enthalpies of formation for compounds with L12 and E21 structure were calculated using ab initio methods and compared to experimental results.

Graphical Abstract
Effect of hydrogen-related shallow donor on the physical and chemical properties of Ag-doped ZnO nanostructures
Authors: Al-Bataineh Qais M. , Ababneh Riad , Bahti A. , Bani-Salameh Areen A. , Tavares Carlos J. , Telfah Ahmad
Published: July 2022

Silver-doped zinc oxide nanostructures (Ag/ZnO NSs) with Ag content of 0 wt%, 5 wt%, 10 wt%, and 20 wt% were synthesized using a hydrothermal technique. The prepared nanostructures were annealed at 500 °C for 2 h. The samples were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy, FTIR, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electrical conductivity. FTIR spectra confirms the presence of hydrogen-related shallow donor defects in the Ag/ZnO NSs, which bind to the oxygen vacancy ($${\text{H}}_{\text{O}}$$

H
O

) and consequently plays a significant role in the physicochemical properties of the metal oxide nanostructures. The $${\text{H}}_{\text{O}}$$

H
O

defects are blended to O- and Zn-polar Ag-doped ZnO NSs, depending on their polarity. XRD results verified that Ag/ZnO NSs have a polycrystalline hexagonal structure. Williamson–Hall methods were used to estimate the microstructural properties of polycrystalline nanostructures. The electrical conductivity increased from 0.60 to 1.10 µS/cm, and the bandgap energy decreased from 3.36 to 3.10 eV by increasing the Ag from 0 wt% up to 20 wt%.
Does hyperbaric oxygen therapy pressure reduce mechanical stability of implants?
Authors: Özyurt Anıl
Published: July 2022

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has beneficial effects for patients complaining of poor bone healing such as related to diabetes mellitus. However, it is known that changing pressure conditions might cause dental barotrauma in the oral cavity. The aim of this study was to evaluate implant mechanical stability under HBOT pressure. Thirty-five implants were placed in bone blocks divided into five groups as control, 1, 3, 5, 7 HBOT cycles. In one cycle, 2.4 bar 100% oxygen pressure was performed. Implants’ stabilities were measured with resonance frequency analysis (RFA) and removal torque (RT) meter device. Data were analyzed using Shapiro Wilk, ANOVA, and Tukey HSD tests for RFA and RT values considering p < 0.05 as the statistical significance level. RFA and RT values were compared by Pearson correlation coefficiency. RFA values of 5 and 7 HBOT cycles were significantly lower than 1, 3 HBOT and control group (p < 0.001). There was no statistical difference between 5 and 7 HBOT cycles RFA values. HBOT pressure simulation slightly but statistically decreased the stability for the implants exposed to 5 and 7 HBOT cycles.
The Development of Gender Role Attitudes During Adolescence: Effects of Sex, Socioeconomic Background, and Cognitive Abilities
Authors: Ullrich Ricarda , Becker Michael , Scharf Jan
Published: July 2022

How gender role attitudes develop during adolescence, and how biological, social, and cognitive factors predict this development, remains a matter of debate. This study examines the development of gender role attitudes from early adolescence to emerging adulthood and investigates how the developmental trajectory is affected by sex, socioeconomic status, and cognitive abilities (intelligence). Four waves of the large-scale longitudinal German dataset BIJU between 1991 (grade 7; N = 3828, Mage = 13, SD = 0.61, 53.1% female, 96.4% German nationality), 1995 (grade 10, Mage = 17), 1997 (grade 12, Mage = 19) and 2001/2002 (university/career entry, Mage = 24) were used. Measurement invariance was examined across waves and gender. Latent growth curve models showed that adolescents developed more egalitarian gender role attitudes. Differences between the sexes decreased over time but remained significant. Socioeconomic status seemed less relevant, while adolescents, especially those with lower intelligence scores, developed more egalitarian gender role attitudes during adolescence. The results showed that teenagers developed more open and egalitarian attitudes during adolescence, and that the development trajectories of female and male adolescents converge.
Drug-related emergency department visits in older patients: an applicability and reliability study of an existing assessment tool
Authors: Kempen Thomas Gerardus Hendrik , Hedman Anton , Gillespie Ulrika
Published: July 2022

Background

AT-HARM10 is a research tool to identify possible drug-related hospital admissions. It is unclear whether the tool can be applied to emergency department visits as well.

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate the applicability and reliability to identify drug-related emergency department visits in older patients with AT-HARM10.

Method

A random sample of 400 patients aged 65 years or older from a clinical trial in four Swedish hospitals was selected. All patients’ emergency department visits within 12 months after discharge were assessed with AT-HARM10. The main outcome measures were the percentage of successfully assessed visits for applicability and the interrater reliability (Cohen’s kappa).

Results

Of the initial sample (n = 400), 113 patients [median age (interquartile range): 81 (76–88) years] had at least one emergency department visit within 12 months. The patients had in total 184 visits, of which 179 (97%) were successfully assessed. Fifty-three visits (29%) were possibly drug-related. The Cohen’s kappa value was 0.70 (substantial).

Conclusion

It seems applicable and reliable to identify possible drug-related emergency department visits in addition to hospital admissions in older patients with AT-HARM10. As a consequence, the tool has been updated to support its novel use in clinical research.
Phenomenological explanation: towards a methodological integration in phenomenological psychopathology
Authors: Summa Michela
Published: July 2022

Whether, and in what sense, research in phenomenology and phenomenological psychopathology has—in addition to its descriptive and hermeneutic value—explanatory power is somewhat controversial. This paper shows why it is legitimate to recognize such explanatory power. To this end, the paper analyzes two central concerns underlying the debate about explanation in phenomenology: (a) the warning against reductionism, which is implicit in a conception of causal explanation exclusively based on models of natural/physical causation; and (b) the warning against top-down generalizations, which neglect the specificity of the individual. While acknowledging that these two caveats express serious concerns regarding the debate on explanatory models, I show that phenomenology has the resources to respond to them. These can be found in analyses of different types of causation relating to different regions of reality and in the structure of explanatory models based on exemplarity. On the basis of these analyses, I defend a pluralist account vis-à-vis explanatory models.
Effect of foliar spraying of organic and inorganic selenium fertilizers during different growth stages on selenium accumulation and speciation in rice
Authors: Yuan Zhengqing , Long Weixiong , Liang Ting , Zhu Menghan , Zhu Aoyun , Luo Xiaoyun , Fu Lu , Hu Zhongli , Zhu Renshan , Wu Xianting
Published: July 2022

Aims

Most crops are supplemented with selenium (Se) through the exogenous addition of inorganic Se fertilizer. There is a lack of in-depth research on organic Se fertilizers. Meanwhile, the dosage range between human Se deficiency and Se toxicity is narrow, so the Se content of agricultural products needs to be controlled within a reasonable interval.

Methods

Se accumulation and speciation in rice were analyzed and compared during three different growth stages (late tillering stage, initiate heading stage, and full heading stage) using three Se fertilizers: selenite, fermented Se, and potassium selenocyanoacetate (Se-AAF) via the foliar application.

Results

The Se content in rice sprayed with organic Se fertilizer was controlled in the relatively safe range and met the human Se supplement requirement compared to the sprayed sodium selenite, which was too high of a dose. The percentage of organic Se and protein Se in brown rice was found to be similar in all three Se fertilizers. The highest organic Se content of 91.57% was found in the grain of rice at the full heading stage by spraying Se-AAF. The main Se species in the grain was selenomethionine (SeMet), which reached 80% of the total Se. Se-methyl selenocysteine(SeMeCys) was found only in Se-AAF. The grain quality showed that all three Se fertilizers increased the consistency of gelatinization.

Conclusions

Appropriately delaying the spraying time and selecting organic Se fertilizer as the Se source can help to produce green and safe selenium-rich rice.
A new era for oral peptides: SNAC and the development of oral semaglutide for the treatment of type 2 diabetes
Authors: Aroda Vanita R. , Blonde Lawrence , Pratley Richard E.
Published: July 2022

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) were first introduced for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in 2005. Despite the high efficacy and other benefits of GLP-1RAs, their uptake was initially limited by the fact that they could only be administered by injection. Semaglutide is a human GLP-1 analog that has been shown to significantly improve glycemic control and reduce body weight, in addition to improving cardiovascular outcomes, in patients with T2D. First approved as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection, semaglutide was considered an ideal peptide candidate for oral delivery with a permeation enhancer on account of its low molecular weight, long half-life, and high potency. An oral formulation of semaglutide was therefore developed by co-formulating semaglutide with sodium N-(8-[2-hydroxybenzoyl]amino)caprylate, a well-characterized transcellular permeation enhancer, to produce the first orally administered GLP-1RA. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed that stable steady-state concentrations could be achieved with once-daily dosing owing to the long half-life of oral semaglutide. Upper gastrointestinal disease and renal and hepatic impairment did not affect the pharmacokinetic profile. In the phase III PIONEER clinical trial program, oral semaglutide was shown to reduce glycated hemoglobin and body weight compared with placebo and active comparators in patients with T2D, with no new safety signals reported. Cardiovascular efficacy and safety are currently being assessed in a dedicated outcomes trial. The development of an oral GLP-1RA represents a significant milestone in the management of T2D, providing an additional efficacious treatment option for patients.
The model of maximum productivity for research universities SciVal author ranks, productivity, university rankings, and their implications
Authors: Demeter Marton , Jele Agnes , Major Zsolt Balázs
Published: July 2022

Aware of the growing importance of global rankings, universities aim to enhance their positions. However, the exact relation between research productivity and ranking positions is not fully understood in recruitment processes. Taking the field of communication as a case study, this paper analyzes the scholarly performances of 6291 faculty members from 172 QS top-ranked communication departments, and it also offers an experiment in which we tested top departments’ interest in recruiting a highly productive communication scholar. We found that while both departments and scholars are aware of the connection between productivity and excellence, there is still room for improvement. Even in the top ranked communication departments, there is a significant scarcity of best-performing scholars, but it is hard to employ a top scholar beyond the usual job posting methods. Contrary to the Standard Model of Productivity, whereby recruitment is based on assumptions and potential, we offer our Model of Maximum Productivity where both recruitment and assessments are based on scientometrics, productivity and evidence alone.
Searching for a Solar Source of Magnetic-Field Switchbacks in Parker Solar Probe’s First Encounter
Authors: de Pablos D. , Samanta T. , Badman S. T. , Schwanitz C. , Bahauddin S. M. , Harra L. K. , Petrie G. , Mac Cormack C. , Mandrini C. H. , Raouafi N. E. , Martinez Pillet V. , Velli M.
Published: July 2022

Parker Solar Probe observations show ubiquitous magnetic-field reversals closer to the Sun, often referred to as “switchbacks”. The switchbacks have been observed before in the solar wind near 1 AU and beyond, but their occurrence was historically rare. PSP measurements below ∼ 0.2 AU show that switchbacks are, however, the most prominent structures in the “young” solar wind. In this work, we analyze remote-sensing observations of a small equatorial coronal hole to which PSP was connected during the perihelion of Encounter 1. We investigate whether some of the switchbacks captured during the encounter were of coronal origin by correlating common switchback in situ signatures with remote observations of their expected coronal footpoint. We find strong evidence that timescales present in the corona are relevant to the outflowing, switchback-filled solar wind, as illustrated by strong linear correlation. We also determine that spatial analysis of the observed region is optimal, as the implied average solar-wind speed more closely matches that observed by PSP at the time. We observe that hemispherical structures are strongly correlated with the radial proton velocity and the mass flux in the solar wind. The above findings suggest that a subpopulation of the switchbacks are seeded at the corona and travel into interplanetary space.
Relating Darcy-Scale Chemical Reaction Order to Pore-Scale Spatial Heterogeneity
Authors: Huang Po-Wei , Flemisch Bernd , Qin Chao-Zhong , Saar Martin O. , Ebigbo Anozie
Published: July 2022

Due to spatial scaling effects, there is a discrepancy in mineral dissolution rates measured at different spatial scales. Many reasons for this spatial scaling effect can be given. We investigate one such reason, i.e., how pore-scale spatial heterogeneity in porous media affects overall mineral dissolution rates. Using the bundle-of-tubes model as an analogy for porous media, we show that the Darcy-scale reaction order increases as the statistical similarity between the pore sizes and the effective-surface-area ratio of the porous sample decreases. The analytical results quantify mineral spatial heterogeneity using the Darcy-scale reaction order and give a mechanistic explanation to the usage of reaction order in Darcy-scale modeling. The relation is used as a constitutive relation of reactive transport at the Darcy scale. We test the constitutive relation by simulating flow-through experiments. The proposed constitutive relation is able to model the solute breakthrough curve of the simulations. Our results imply that we can infer mineral spatial heterogeneity of a porous media using measured solute concentration over time in a flow-through dissolution experiment.
Adverse upgrading and/or upstaging in contemporary low-risk prostate cancer patients
Authors: Flammia Rocco S. , Hoeh Benedikt , Hohenhorst Lukas , Sorce Gabriele , Chierigo Francesco , Panunzio Andrea , Tian Zhe , Saad Fred , Leonardo Costantino , Briganti Alberto , Antonelli Alessandro , Terrone Carlo , Shariat Shahrokh F. , Anceschi Umberto , Graefen Markus , Chun Felix K. H. , Montorsi Francesco , Gallucci Michele , Karakiewicz Pierre I.
Published: July 2022

Background

Upgrading and/or upstaging in low-risk prostate cancer (PCa) patients may represent an indication for active treatment instead of active surveillance (AS). We addressed contemporary upgrading and/or upstaging rates in a large population based-cohort of low-risk PCa patients.

Materials and methods

Whitin the SEER database (2010–2015), NCCN low-risk PCa patients were identified across management modalities: radical prostatectomy (RP), radiotherapy (RT) and non-local treatment (NLT). In RP patients, upgrading and/or upstaging rates were assessed in logistic regression models.

Results

Overall, of 27,901 low-risk PCa patients, 38% underwent RP vs 28% RT vs 34% NLT. RP patients were the youngest and harbored the highest percentage of positive cores and a higher rate of cT2a than NLT. At RP, 46.2% were upgraded to GGG ≥ 2, 6.0% to GGG ≥ 3 and 10.5% harbored nonorgan-confined stage (NOC, pT3-4 or pN1). Of NOC patients, 1.6% harbored GGG ≥ 3, 6.3% harbored GGG2 and 2.6% harbored GGG1. Of pT2 patients, 4.4% harbored GGG ≥ 3, 33.9% harbored GGG2 and 51.3% harbored GGG1. Age, PSA, percentage of positive cores and number of positive cores independently predicted the presence of NOC and/or GGG ≥ 3, but with low accuracy (63.9%).

Conclusions

In low-risk PCa, critical changes between tumor grade and stage at biopsy vs RP may be expected in very few patients: NOC with GGG ≥ 3 in 1.6% and NOC with GGG2 in 6.3%. Other patients with upgrading and/or upstaging combinations will invariably harbor either pT2 or GGG1 that far less critically affect PCa prognosis.
Effect of quorum quenchers on virulence factors production and quorum sensing signalling pathway of non-mucoid, mucoid, and heavily mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Kalgudi Rachith , Tamimi Roya , Kyazze Godfrey , Keshavarz Tajalli
Published: July 2022

Quorum quenching (QQ), a mechanism which inhibits, interferes or inactivates quorum sensing, has been investigated for control of biofilms instigated by quorum sensing process. Application of quorum quenchers (QQs) provides the possibility to investigate how different phenotypes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (non-mucoid, mucoid, and heavily mucoid strains) modulate their gene expression to form biofilms, their quorum sensing (QS) mediated biofilm to be formed, and their virulence expressed. The mRNA expression of the AHL-mediated QS circuit and AHL-mediated virulence factors in P. aeruginosa was investigated in presence of QQs. qPCR analysis showed that farnesol and tyrosol actively reduce the expression of the synthase protein, LasI and RhlI, and prevent production of 3OC12-HSL and C4-HSL, respectively. Also, the use of farnesol and tyrosol significantly moderated gene expression for exo-proteins toxA, aprA, LasB, as well as rhlAB, which are responsible for rhamnolipid production. Our findings were promising, identifying several suppressive regulatory effects of furanone and Candida albicans QS signal molecules, tyrosol, and farnesol on the AHL-mediated P. aeruginosa QS network and related virulence factors.
Neural Decoding of Visual Information Across Different Neural Recording Modalities and Approaches
Authors: Zhang Yi-Jun , Yu Zhao-Fei , Liu Jian. K. , Huang Tie-Jun
Published: July 2022

Vision plays a peculiar role in intelligence. Visual information, forming a large part of the sensory information, is fed into the human brain to formulate various types of cognition and behaviours that make humans become intelligent agents. Recent advances have led to the development of brain-inspired algorithms and models for machine vision. One of the key components of these methods is the utilization of the computational principles underlying biological neurons. Additionally, advanced experimental neuroscience techniques have generated different types of neural signals that carry essential visual information. Thus, there is a high demand for mapping out functional models for reading out visual information from neural signals. Here, we briefly review recent progress on this issue with a focus on how machine learning techniques can help in the development of models for contending various types of neural signals, from fine-scale neural spikes and single-cell calcium imaging to coarse-scale electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging recordings of brain signals.
You want to sell this to me twice!? How perceptions of betrayal may undermine internal product upgrades
Authors: Garbas Janina , Schubach Sebastian , Mende Martin , Scott Maura L. , Schumann Jan H.
Published: July 2022

Physical products (e.g., cars, smartphones) increasingly evolve into dynamic service platforms that allow for customization through fee-based activation of restricted add-on features throughout their lifecycle. The authors refer to this emerging phenomenon as “internal product upgrades”. Drawing on normative expectations literature, this research examines pitfalls of internal product upgrades that marketers need to understand. Six experimental studies in two different contexts (consumer-electronics, automotive) reveal that consumers respond less favorably to internal (vs. external) product upgrades. The analyses show that customer-perceived betrayal, which results from increased feature ownership perceptions, drives the effects. Moreover, this research identifies three boundary conditions: it shows that the negative effects are attenuated when (1) the company (vs. consumer) executes the upgrading, and (2) consumers upgrade an intangible (vs. tangible) feature. Finally, consumers react less negatively when (3) the base product is less relevant to their self-identity.
Trust in blockchain-enabled exchanges: Future directions in blockchain marketing
Authors: Tan Teck Ming , Saraniemi Saila
Published: July 2022

Prior research typically positions blockchain technology as enabling a trustless exchange environment without specifically investigating how blockchain technology provides trust and what makes the data in a blockchain “tamperproof” and “immutable.” This article serves to address these research gaps by conducting semi-structured interviews with 18 informants who have had at least three years of project experience with blockchain-enabled exchanges. Our findings uncover three unique aspects of blockchain that enable trust in exchange vs. a traditional exchange: (1) trust in exchange actors: mathematics and cryptography vs. human guardians within institutions, (2) trust in exchange actions: information transparency enabling tamperproof and immutable data vs. information asymmetry, and (3) trust in exchange assets: digital vs. manual escrows for verifying ownership of valuable goods. This research is vital for marketing scholars and practitioners who seek to understand the rise of threats to trust regarding online advertising, customer trust, privacy, and digital rights.
Compensatory role of verbal learning and consolidation in reading and spelling of children with dyslexia
Authors: van Rijthoven Robin , Kleemans Tijs , Segers Eliane , Verhoeven Ludo
Published: July 2022

The present study investigated the compensatory role of verbal learning and consolidation in reading and spelling of children with (N = 54) and without dyslexia (N = 36) and the role of verbal learning (learning new verbal information) and consolidation (remember the learned information over time) on the response to a phonics through spelling intervention of children with dyslexia. We also took phonological awareness, rapid automatized naming, verbal working memory, and semantics into account. Results showed that children with dyslexia performed better in verbal learning and equal in verbal consolidation compared to typically developing peers. Regression analyses revealed that verbal learning did not predict reading but did predict spelling ability, across both groups; verbal consolidation did not predict reading, nor spelling. Furthermore, neither verbal learning nor verbal consolidation was related to responsiveness to a phonics through spelling intervention in children with dyslexia. Verbal learning may thus be seen as a compensatory mechanism for spelling before the intervention for children with dyslexia but is beneficial for typically developing children as well.
Auditory Information Improves Time-to-collision Estimation for Accelerating Vehicles
Authors: Wessels Marlene , Zähme Carolina , Oberfeld Daniel
Published: July 2022

To cross a road safely, pedestrians estimate the time remaining until an approaching vehicle arrives at their location (time-to-collision, TTC). For visually presented accelerated objects, however, TTC estimates are known to show a first-order pattern indicating that acceleration is not adequately considered. We investigated whether added vehicle sound can reduce these estimation errors. Twenty-five participants estimated the TTC of vehicles approaching with constant velocity or accelerating, from a pedestrian’s perspective at the curb in a traffic simulation. For visually-only presented accelerating vehicles, the TTC estimates showed the expected first-order pattern and thus large estimation errors. With added vehicle sound, the first-order pattern was largely removed, and TTC estimates were significantly more accurate compared to the visual-only presentation. For constant velocities, TTC estimates in both presentation conditions were predominantly accurate. Taken together, the sound of an accelerating vehicle can compensate for erroneous visual TTC estimates presumably by promoting the consideration of acceleration.
Finding gadgets in incremental code updates for return-oriented programming attacks on resource-constrained devices
Authors: Lehniger Kai , Saad Abdelaziz , Langendörfer Peter
Published: July 2022

Code-reuse attacks pose a threat to embedded devices since they are able to defeat common security defences such as non-executable stacks. To succeed in his code-reuse attack, the attacker has to gain knowledge of some or all of the instructions of the target firmware/software. In case of a bare metal firmware that is protected from being dumped out of a device, it is hard to know the running instructions of the target firmware. This consequently makes code-reuse attacks more difficult to achieve. This paper presents a novel approach how an attacker can gain knowledge of some of these instructions by sniffing unencrypted incremental updates. These updates exist to reduce the radio reception power for resource-constrained devices. It will be demonstrated how a return-oriented programming (ROP) attack can be accomplished on a MSP430 MCU using only the passively sniffed incremental updates. The generated updates of the R3diff and Delta Generator (DG) differencing algorithms will be under assessment. The evaluation reveals that both of them can be exploited by the attacker and how an attacker can maximize his information gain when dealing with more than one update. It also shows that the DG generated updates leak more information than the R3diff generated updates. This stresses the fact that even delta updates need to be protected with encryption. To defend against this attack, different countermeasures that consider different power consumption scenarios are proposed, but yet to be evaluated.
Refined conodont stratigraphy at Martenberg (Rhenish Massif, Germany) as base for a formal middle/upper Frasnian substage boundary
Authors: Saupe Felix , Becker Ralph Thomas
Published: July 2022

The famous Martenberg section of the eastern Rhenish Massif, Germany, type-section of classical Frasnian goniatite and conodont zonations, has been restudied in order to document the microfacies development and to refine the conodont stratigraphy around the globalsemichatovaeEvent/Transgression, the proposed level to define a future upper Frasnian substage. More than 8.000 platform elements were identified and include new taxa.Palmatolepis jamieaeis subdivided into the subspeciesPa.jamieae jamieae,Pa.jamieae savagein. ssp.,Pa. jamieae rosan. ssp., andPa. jamieaessp. δ. Another new species,Pa.adorfensisn. sp., was previously partly identified asPa. jamieae, whilePa. descendensn. sp. has previously been described in open nomenclature from Inner Mongolia. Morphotypes are defined inIcriodus symmetricus, Pa. ljaschenkoae, andPa. proversa. A global literature survey shows that the eustaticsemichatovaeEvent can be recognised in more than 20 regions of all continents with (sub)tropical Upper Devonian outcrops. At Martenberg, the transgression is preceded by a thin but distinctive interval with unconformities, microbial mats, sheet cracks, and currents that brought in the regionally youngest volcaniclastics. The new conodont data confirm that no typicalPa. jamieae(sensu the holotype) occur in the two beds originally supposed to represent thejamieaeZone in its reference section. We fully support the conclusion of Ovnatanova and Kononova (2020) that thejamieaeZone should be abandoned. EarlyPa. jamieaesubspecies and the related new taxa enter at Martenberg and in a few other regions in the globally easily recognisable Frasnian Zone 10 (=planaZone). Frasnian Zone 11 (feistiZone) is subdivided into subzones FZ 11a (=feistiSubzone) and FZ 11b (=nasutaSubzone). The base of the latter coincides with thesemichatovaeTransgression, thesemichatovaeSubzone of more shallow shelf settings, and is proposed to define in future the upper Frasnian substage base. On a global scale, the Martenberg section is currently the best bed-by-bed documented section for facies changes, conodont and goniatite biostratigraphy at the middle/upper Frasnian transition. Therefore, it is a prime candidate for a future GSSP selection. A global literature survey identified more than 20 other pelagic conodont successions that have the potential for precise correlation and a better understanding of the environmental changes associated with thesemichatovaeEvent.