bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Focused ultrasound-mediated enhancement of blood–brain barrier permeability for brain tumor treatment: a systematic review of clinical trials
Authors: Zhu Honglin , Allwin Caitlin , Bassous Monica G. , Pouliopoulos Antonios N.
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Brain tumors, particularly glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), present significant prognostic challenges despite multimodal therapies, including surgical resection, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. One major obstacle is the limited drug delivery across the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Focused ultrasound (FUS) combined with systemically administered microbubbles has emerged as a non-invasive, targeted, and reversible approach to transiently open the BBB, thus enhancing drug delivery. This review examines clinical trials employing BBB opening techniques to optimise pharmacotherapy for brain tumors, evaluates current challenges, and proposes directions for further research.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov up to November 2023, searching for “ultrasound” AND “brain tumor”. The search yielded 1446 results. After screening by title and abstract, followed by full-text screening (n = 48), 35 studies were included in the analysis.

Results

Our analysis includes data from 11 published studies and 24 ongoing trials. The predominant focus of these studies is on glioma, including GMB and astrocytoma. One paper investigated brain metastasis from breast cancer. Evidence indicates that FUS facilitates BBB opening and enhances drug uptake following sonication. Exploration of FUS in the pediatric population is limited, with no published studies and only three ongoing trials dedicated to this demographic.

Conclusion

FUS is a promising strategy to safely disrupt the BBB, enabling precise and non-invasive lesion targeting, and enhance drug delivery. However, pharmacokinetic studies are required to quantitatively assess improvements in drug uptake. Most studies are phase I clinical trials, and long-term follow-up investigating patient outcomes is essential to evaluate the clinical benefit of this treatment approach. Further studies involving diverse populations and pathologies will be beneficial.
Approach of Genetic Diversity of Lippia alba (Mill) and Petiveria alliacea L.: Medicinal Plants of Colombia
Authors: Tarazona-Pulido Lina , Rugeles-Silva Paula Andrea , Cardona Tobar Karen Melissa , Díaz-Ariza Lucía Ana , Muñoz Florez Jaime Eduardo , López-Álvarez Diana
Published: August 2024

The medicinal Lippiaalba and Petiveria alliacea, originating from Central and South America, exhibit a wide range of beneficial properties, including antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, analgesic, and antibacterial effects. However, little is known about their population structure and genetic diversity, which may hinder the establishment of their cultivation in different regions of Colombia. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the genetic diversity and population structure of 17 samples of L. alba from the departments of Tolima, Valle del Cauca, and Putumayo, as well as 31 samples of P. alliacea from the departments of Cundinamarca, Boyacá, Tolima, and Valle del Cauca. We employed restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) with the enzyme PstI. We performed denovo_map and ref_map pipeline for L. alba and identified a total of 17,036 loci and 14,562 SNPs, respectively, revealing a genetic variation of 5.19% (FST of 0.05; p < 0.001) among its populations and two delimited genetic groups. For P. alliacea, in denovo_map our analysis discovered 6395 SNPs, indicating substantial genetic variation of 75% among the studied populations (FST = 0.75; p < 0.001), resulting in the delineation of four genetic groups. Our findings will contribute to providing valuable molecular data on the populations of these medicinal plants and provide evidence of the genetic flow existing among L. alba populations, while P. alliacea populations are more structured. We also performed a FDIST analysis; for L. alba using the results with reference, we identified 37 SNPs coding for proteins in biological, molecular, and cellular processes; and finally, we highlighted the gene SASPL_104284 involved in metabolic processes.
Infant Mortality in Mother and Baby Homes in 20th Century Ireland
Authors: Delaney Liam , McGovern Mark E. , Smith James P.
Published: August 2024

During the first half of the 20th century, infant mortality in the general population fell by more than 50% in higher income countries. Despite accounting for a disproportionately high share of deaths in these countries during this period, few quantitative studies have examined the experiences of infants who were born or raised in an institutional context. In this paper, we quantify mortality rates in Mother and Baby Homes in Ireland, institutions that were aimed primarily at unmarried mothers and their infants. Using information on over 40,000 infants born in the 6 largest of these insitutions in Ireland, we assess how this risk of mortality changed over the course of the 20th century relative to the general population, and assess variation in death rates by observed characteristics. The mortality penalty for these institutions was greatly elevated, reaching four times the national mortality rate in the 1930s and 1940s. By comparing the outcomes of infants from the Mother and Baby Homes with the rest of the population using large-scale quantitative data, this study documents the scale of the disadvantage faced by marginalised communities born outside public hospital systems, and highlights the potential role of nutrition-related causes in these disparities.
Square values of Littlewood polynomials
Authors: Hajdu L. , Herendi O. , Tengely Sz. , Varga N.
Published: August 2024

We study the square values of Littlewood polynomials. Using various methods we give all these values for the degrees $$n=3, 5$$

n
=
3
,
5

and $$n\le 24$$

n
≤
24

even. Beside this, we gather computational data (by providing all solutions in a certain range) for n odd with $$n\le 17$$

n
≤
17

. We propose some striking problems for further research, as well.
Cognitive microfoundations and social interaction dynamics. The implications of complexity for institutional theory
Authors: Jonas Frödin Olle
Published: August 2024

This paper investigates the intersection of cognitive sciences and social network theory and its counterpart, the complexity sciences, aiming to shed light on the compatibility and potential integration of these frameworks into institutional theory. Institutional scholars have for long selectively adopted notions linked with the cognitive sciences and complexity sciences, such as the notion of path dependence, without exploring the broader implications of systematically integrating such perspectives into institutionalism. This paper aims to advance such a comprehensive theoretical integration, by investigating the effective combination of these approaches and their significant implications. It shows how the complexity sciences contribute to dissolving the barriers between the cognitive and social realms and illustrates how this impacts notions of human agency and reflexivity. Theoretical integration also involves acknowledging considerable diversity in individual human agency, which in turn prompts a reconsideration of how notions of institutional stability, change, diffusion and adaptation are understood. Furthermore, the paper addresses the epistemological challenge presented by the complexity sciences, before it highlights the general relevance of institutional theory in analyzing complex social phenomena. Finally, the paper explores implications for research methodology, proposing that a fusion of institutional theory and the complexity sciences provides a metatheoretical framework for assessing the contextual suitability of different theoretical and methodological approaches.
Conceptual Burstiness in Sociolinguistic Profiling of Radical-Criminal Communications: Corpus Method-Assisted Meaning Extraction for Investigative Leads
Authors: Etaywe Awni
Published: August 2024

Positioned within linguistic profiling research as in Shuy’s work (The language of murder cases: intentionality, predisposition, and voluntariness. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2014), this study introduces the concept of ‘conceptual burstiness’ to computer-assisted sociolinguistic profiling, demonstrating how to uncover investigative leads within terrorist threatening communications. Leveraging corpus analysis methods and semiotic clues, the study chiefly utilises AntConc (a software tool developed by Anthony, AntConc (Version 3.5.8) [Computer software]. Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan, 2019) to scrutinise word frequency and concordance lines, revealing distinct lexical preferences and their semantic proximity as recurrent thematic elements colouring the semantics of criminal texts. As a case study, the article examines 20 public statements attributed to notorious figures: the far-rightist Brenton Tarrant and jihadists Osama bin Laden, Abubakar Shekau, and Abubaker al-Baghdadi. Analysis conducted revealed repeated lemmas making up around 21.65% of the entire texts and encoding the semantic nature of the terrorist texts, giving rise to propelled conceptual burstiness categories as: (i) a function of the discursive purpose to which different lemmas converging within the same semantic fields are used in the forensic texts (e.g. introducing a radical concept and persuading the audience); and (ii) a reflection of the regularities in symbolic capital and repertoire of concepts to which the authors adhere. These discernible patterns reflect each author’s adherence to religious or ethnonationalist ideologies, patterns of violent-pathway language, agendas of control and dominance, and attribution practices that signal ideological stances and characteristic rhetorical devices. Integrating insights into the threat assessment framework TRAP-18 (Meloy & Gill, J Threat Assess Manag 3(1):37, 2016), the study offers a ‘post-diction’ (i.e. retrospective) lens on traditional risk assessment methods. The analysis of conceptual choices reveals patterns aligning with TRAP-18 categories of proximal warning behaviour and distal characteristics of terrorist communications, enhancing security and law enforcement professionals’ predictive ability and identifying pathways to radicalisation, fixation, identification with violent individuals and groups, desperation, or ‘last resort behaviour.’ The conceptual burstiness method promises insights for counter-terrorism efforts, informing accelerated investigatory and intervention protocols and objectionable content moderation online.
Riot Like a Girl? Gender-Stereotypical Associations Boost Support for Feminist Online Campaigns
Authors: Witkowska Marta , Beneda Marta , Nikadon Jan , Suitner Caterina , Casara Bruno Gabriel Salvador , Formanowicz Magdalena
Published: August 2024

The current study examined whether congruence with gender stereotypes is associated with support for online feminist campaigns. In Study 1 (Ntweets = 510,000), we investigated how two real-world movements (i.e., #metoo and #sexstrike) were viewed in terms of adhering to the traditional feminine stereotype of high warmth/communion and low competence/agency, as per language used in the tweets posted within each campaign. We found that the #metoo movement was characterised by more communal and less agentic content than #sexstrike. In Study 2 (N = 195), when presented with descriptions of the movements modelled after #metoo and #sexstrike, participants associated the #metoo-like campaign with more feminine (e.g., community orientation) and less masculine concepts (e.g., rebelliousness), which, in turn, translated to greater declared support for the campaign. In Study 3 (N = 446), conducted in a more controlled and context-independent setting, we once again observed the link between the gender stereotypes attached to feminist movements and the support they received. We also found that this effect was independent of the effect of perceiving movements as violating social norms. Controlling for feminist identification, political conservatism, and gender system justification did not affect the pattern of results. Uncovering these stereotype-related effects on support for feminist movements furthers understanding of the strategies that might be used in the fight for gender equality.
SB-ETAS: using simulation based inference for scalable, likelihood-free inference for the ETAS model of earthquake occurrences
Authors: Stockman Samuel , Lawson Daniel J. , Werner Maximilian J.
Published: August 2024

The rapid growth of earthquake catalogs, driven by machine learning-based phase picking and denser seismic networks, calls for the application of a broader range of models to determine whether the new data enhances earthquake forecasting capabilities. Additionally, this growth demands that existing forecasting models efficiently scale to handle the increased data volume. Approximate inference methods such as , which is based on the Integrated nested Laplace approximation, offer improved computational efficiencies and the ability to perform inference on more complex point-process models compared to traditional MCMC approaches. We present SB-ETAS: a simulation based inference procedure for the epidemic-type aftershock sequence (ETAS) model. This approximate Bayesian method uses sequential neural posterior estimation (SNPE) to learn posterior distributions from simulations, rather than typical MCMC sampling using the likelihood. On synthetic earthquake catalogs, SB-ETAS provides better coverage of ETAS posterior distributions compared with . Furthermore, we demonstrate that using a simulation based procedure for inference improves the scalability from $$\mathcal {O}(n^2)$$

O
(

n
2

)

to $$\mathcal {O}(n\log n)$$

O
(
n
log
n
)

. This makes it feasible to fit to very large earthquake catalogs, such as one for Southern California dating back to 1981. SB-ETAS can find Bayesian estimates of ETAS parameters for this catalog in less than 10 h on a standard laptop, a task that would have taken over 2 weeks using MCMC. Beyond the standard ETAS model, this simulation based framework allows earthquake modellers to define and infer parameters for much more complex models by removing the need to define a likelihood function.
Epistemic logic with partial grasp
Authors: Silva Francisca
Published: August 2024

We have to gain from recognizing a relation between epistemic agents and the parts of subject matters that play a role in their cognitive lives. I call this relation “grasping”. Namely, I zone in on one notion of having a partial grasp of a subject matter—that of agents grasping part of the subject matter that they are attending to—and characterize it. I propose that giving up the idealization that we fully grasp the subject matters we attend to allows one to more realistically characterize the epistemic life of agents. To show this, I propose an epistemic logic with partial grasp that has in mind considerations from first-order aboutness theory with the aim of avoiding certain forms of logical omniscience, and which provides an alternative to immanent closure (Yablo Aboutness, Princeton University Press, 2014).
Versatile Terahertz Metamaterial Sensor for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Tammam Mahmoud Maree E. , Hameed Mohamed Farhat O. , Elkaramany Essam M. A. , Ali Tamer A. , Obayya S. S. A.
Published: August 2024

In this work, we propose a THz metamaterial for biomedical applications. The full vectorial finite element method is used to design and analyze the reported biosensor. The proposed sensor is based on increasing the confinement of the electric and magnetic fields at the analyte layer at the resonance frequency. Hence, any slight variation of the optical properties of the analyte sample (typically the refractive index) can be detected. We demonstrate the potential of using the reported sensor for hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and early cancer detection. The geometrical parameters are studied to maximize the sensor sensitivity of the symmetric and asymmetric designs. An absorptivity of 0.98 is achieved at 1.1 THz, which depends on the analyte sample refractive index. High sensor sensitivity of 1.08 GHz/g/dL is obtained with high Q-factor of 13.2 and FWHM (full width at half maximum) of 140 GHz through hemoglobin (Hb) concentration change from 5 g/dL to 20 g/dL. Further, an average sensitivity of 556.325 GHz/RIU is realized for cancer early detection for basal cell, breast cell, Jurkat cell and Cervical cell. Therefore, the proposed design is a good candidate for biomedical applications.
Influence of inertia relief analysis on the topological optimisation of unconstrained structures
Authors: Lasso Perdomo Cristiam Javier , Orquera Myriam , Millet Dominique , Gabriel Bertrand
Published: August 2024

The growth in build volumes of additive manufacturing (AM) printers has enabled the manufacture of larger and more complex products, such as drones, known as unconstrained structures. This necessitates advanced optimisation techniques to achieve optimal designs. Inertia relief (IR) is a solution for analysing these structures by leveraging their inertial properties while considering concentrated non-structural masses. Unfortunately, designers often overlook the benefits of IR due to a lack of understanding, a preference for static techniques involving boundary conditions (BCs), or the absence of a methodology for IR. Existing literature lacks sufficient comparison and documentation of the mechanical performance losses resulting from the application of BCs instead of IR. Therefore, this study provides a detailed comparison of BC and IR designs, highlighting the advantages in terms of compliance, stress fields, and eigenfrequency performance. Additionally, based on the findings, it proposes a comprehensive design and optimization methodology tailored for IR + TO, demonstrating its advantages through a case study. Applied to the redesign of a drone structure, results reveal that IR-optimized designs achieve a mass saving of 13%, with up to 53% lower compliance and 12%–32% lower stress values compared to BC-optimized designs. Those significant differences highlight the crucial role of IR in achieving optimal designs for unconstrained systems. Besides, these findings underscore the enhanced mechanical performance and potential for material savings in IR + TO, bridging the gap between theoretical understanding and practical application. This research provides valuable insights and practical guidelines for engineers and designers aiming to optimize complex structures for AM.
Chemical shift assignments of the α-actinin C-terminal EF-hand domain bound to a cytosolic C0 domain of GluN1 (residues 841–865) from the NMDA receptor
Authors: Bej Aritra , Hell Johannes W. , Ames James B.
Published: August 2024

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) consist of glycine-binding GluN1 and glutamate-binding GluN2 subunits that form tetrameric ion channels. NMDARs in the brain are important for controlling neuronal excitability to promote synaptic plasticity. The cytoskeletal protein, α-actinin-1 (100 kDa, called ACTN1) binds to the cytosolic C0 domain of GluN1 (residues 841–865) that may play a role in the Ca2+-dependent desensitization of NMDAR channels. Mutations that disrupt NMDAR channel function are linked to Alzheimer’s disease, depression, stroke, epilepsy, and schizophrenia. NMR chemical shift assignments are reported here for the C-terminal EF-hand domain of ACTN1 (residues 824–892, called ACTN_EF34) and ACTN_EF34 bound to the GluN1 C0 domain (BMRB numbers 52385 and 52386, respectively).
A novel algorithm developed using machine learning and a J-ACCESS database can estimate defect scores from myocardial perfusion single-photon emission tomography images
Authors: Kiso Keisuke , Nakajima Kenichi , Nimura Yukitaka , Nishimura Tsunehiko
Published: August 2024

Background

Stress myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging (MPI) has been used to diagnose and predict the prognoses of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). An ongoing multicenter collaboration established a Japanese database (J-ACCESS) in 2001 that includes a risk model and expert interpretations. The present study aimed to develop a novel algorithm using machine learning (ML) and resources from the J-ACCESS database to aid SPECT image interpretation.

Methods

We analyzed data from 1288 patients in J-ACCESS 3 and 4 databases. Three-dimensional (3D) stereoscopic images of left ventricular myocardial perfusion were reconstructed with linear transformation from the original short-axis data. Segments were extracted from U-Net, then features were extracted from each segment during the ML process. We estimated segmental scores based on weighted features obtained from fully connected layers. Correlations between segment scores interpreted by nuclear cardiology experts and estimated by ML were evaluated using a 17-segment model, summed stress (SSS), summed rest (SRS), and summed difference (SDS) scores, and ratios (%) of summed different scores (%SDS).

Results

The complete concordance rate of scores assessed by the experts and estimated by ML was 79.6%. The underestimated and overestimated rates were 10.3% and 10.0%, respectively. Associations between defect scores assessed by experts and ML were close, with correlation coefficients (r) of 0.923, 0.917, 0.842 and 0.853 for SSS, SRS, SDS, %SDS, respectively (p < 0.0001 for all).

Conclusions

We created a new algorithm to estimate MPI scores using ML and the J-ACCESS database. This algorithm should provide accurate MPI interpretation even in facilities without specialist nuclear cardiologists, and might facilitate therapeutic decision-making and predict prognoses.
Energy performance analysis of multi-chiller cooling systems for data centers concerning progressive loading throughout the lifecycle under typical climates
Authors: Zhang Yingbo , Li Hangxin , Wang Shengwei
Published: August 2024

The increasing demand for cooling energy in data centers has become a global concern. Existing studies lack a comprehensive analysis of the energy performance of widely used multi-chiller cooling systems in air-cooled data centers throughout their lifecycle, especially concerning progressive loading. To bridge this gap, this study conducts a thorough assessment of the energy performance of multi-chiller cooling systems throughout the entire lifecycle. Additionally, the impact of climate conditions on the energy efficiency of the cooling systems is analyzed, considering design variations for typical climates. Multi-chiller cooling system models are developed using the test data of cooling equipment and typical control algorithms. The energy performance of the cooling system is thoroughly analyzed under full-range cooling loads and climate conditions. Results show that free cooling time could differ up to 1442 hours at different part load ratios in the same location. Furthermore, the cooling system’s coefficient of performance (COP) varies significantly, by up to 6, at different part load ratios, corresponding to a difference in power usage effectiveness (PUE) up to 0.14. Notably, the average cooling system COP throughout the lifecycle loading is found to be only 11.7, 2.9 lower than the design system COP.
Association between Childhood Trauma, Mental Health Symptoms and Adherence Among Youth Living with HIV in Botswana
Authors: Molebatsi Keneilwe , Ntlantsana Vuyokazi , Brooks Merrian J. , Seloilwe Esther
Published: August 2024

Background

People living with HIV experience traumatic incidents at higher rates than the general population; and research has documented significant association between trauma exposure and the development of mental disorders. Mental health problems have a a negative impact on anti-retroviral treatment adherence. All of these psychosocial concerns play a role in potentially increasing HIV transmission to sexual partners resulting in increased incidence rates. To inform interventions that improve quality of life, and decrease risky behaviors for adolescents and youth, it is critical to understand the extent to which childhood trauma, mental health problems, and poor adherence occur and coexist in this population of adolescents living with HIV. Thus, this study examined the associations between childhood trauma, mental health problems (depression, anxiety, and substance use) and adherence to ART among HIV infected youth in Botswana.

Methods

A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted among youth aged 15 and 24-years old living with HIV. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire- Short Form; Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21; Car Relax Alone Forget Friends Trouble” or CRAFFT 2.1 + N were used to collect data on exposure to childhood trauma, mental health symptoms and problematic substance use respectively. Adherence was assessed objectively with viral load and subjectively with Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using Stata version 15. Bivariate logistical regression analysis testing for associations between mental health symptoms, substance use and adherence, and childhood trauma was conducted. Multivariate logistic regression was subsequently performed controlling for variables found to be significantly associated with childhood trauma.

Results

Of the 119 youth, 47% of the participants reported experiencing at least one type of childhood trauma, and physical neglect was the most frequently reported. Emotional abuse, emotional neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse and physical neglect were significantly associated with non-adherence, OR 5.83; OR 3.10; OR 5.97, and OR 2.52, respectively.

Conclusion

Our findings revealed that exposure to all domains of childhood trauma except physical abuse were significantly associated with non-adherence. Sexual abuse and emotional neglect had the highest odds of predicting non-adherence. This highlights the need for trauma focused psychosocial interventions in managing youth living with HIV.
Flux Filling Rate Effect on Weld Bead Deposition of Recycled Titanium Chip Tubular Wire
Authors: Moreno-Uribe Andrés M. , Fagundes José Gedael , Criscuolo Izabel L. , Hassel Thomas , Bracarense A. Q.
Published: August 2024

TiC-reinforced composite coatings were fabricated in situ on carbon steel plates using flux-cored arc welding with tubular wire. The flux was composed of titanium powder recycled from chips generated during the machining process. The microstructure of the welded deposits was formed using various metal strip thicknesses to fabricate the wires, resulting in different flux fill values. During welding, titanium chips melted and reacted with carbon to form TiC. The complex in situ-formed phases were beneficial for improving the coating properties. Results indicated that the microhardness of the composite coatings using a greater quantity of flux was enhanced to over four times that of the substrate. More TiC resulted in better hardness values with increased amounts of flux. However, using thick metal strips reduces the flux supply, thereby diminishing the formation of a wear-resistant microstructure.
Quantifying the Social Equity of Economic Performance for Different Groups of Residents in Rail Transit Station Areas
Authors: Wan Tianyue , Lu Wei , Na Xiaodong
Published: August 2024

In response to the global trend of urbanization, there has been an increasing focus on transit-oriented development (TOD). However, the prioritization of economic factors in the establishment of TOD often takes precedence over concerns for social equity. This research seeks to address this gap by examining the economic performance and demographic characteristics of 46 rail transit station areas (RSAs) in the city center of Dalian. The study employs the Gini coefficient and affinity clustering to assess the overall economic performance and inequality among different resident groups within RSAs. Furthermore, regression analysis is utilized to identify the key variables influencing economic performance equity in these areas. The results indicate significant disparities in economic dimensions among different resident groups, with station areas in commercial centers and functional core zones demonstrating higher economic performance. Housing prices and job–housing density are identified as crucial factors influencing consumer behavior across various station areas. Despite the presence of employment opportunities and urban development features in RSAs, differences in socioeconomic status and accessibility to public facilities significantly impact resident social equity. These results can assist policymakers in evaluating disparities in the allocation of RSAs among different regions and demographic groups. This study adds to the existing knowledge on equity in the economic performance of RSAs and supports the development of inclusive TOD strategies specific to different locations and populations.
Fatigue life of laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) AlSi10Mg alloy: effects of surface roughness and porosity
Authors: Afroz L. , Qian M. , Forsmark J. , Li Y. , Easton M. , Das R.
Published: August 2024

The fatigue life of components manufactured by the laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) process is dominated by the presence of defects, such as surface roughness and internal porosity. The present study focuses on the relative effect of surface roughness and porosity in determining the fatigue properties of AlSi10Mg alloy produced by L-PBF process built in the Z-direction for the as-built (AB), machined (M) and machined & polished (M&P) conditions. As-built L-PBF samples possess higher average surface roughness, Ra (1.5–2 µm) compared to that of the machined (0.8–1.0 µm) or polished ones (0.3–0.75 µm). For similar loading conditions, the machined or machined & polished samples have a longer fatigue life than those of the as-built samples. For the as-built samples, surface roughness was found to be the dominant factor affecting fatigue life. However, for a small variation of roughness, particularly for machined or machined & polished samples, the subsurface porosity becomes the dominant factor affecting fatigue failure. Besides, the pore size and location effects are analysed using linear elastic fracture mechanics, and these are found to have a higher effect on fatigue failure than overall porosity. Based on the results of X-ray computer tomography (XCT) and fracture surface characterisation, the critical stress intensity factors (KIC) for L-PBF AlSi10Mg alloy samples are estimated. In addition to this, the calculated critical stress intensity factors are used to predict the fatigue life by developing an empirical formula. The result from this empirical relationship is found to match closely with the experimentally determined fatigue life. This suggests that fatigue life can be predicted based on XCT images of machined samples. The findings can help minimize detrimental effects of defects by optimising mechanical or structural designs in attaining the desired structural integrity and durability.
Stripe Error Correction for Landsat-7 Using Deep Learning
Authors: Adıyaman Hilal , Emre Varul Yunus , Bakırman Tolga , Bayram Bülent
Published: August 2024

Long-term time series satellite imagery became highly essential for analyzing earth cycles such as global warming, climate change, and urbanization. Landsat‑7 satellite imagery plays a key role in this domain since it provides open-access data with expansive coverage and consistent temporal resolution for more than two decades. This paper addresses the challenge of stripe errors induced by Scan Line Corrector sensor malfunction in Landsat‑7 ETM+ satellite imagery, resulting in data loss and degradation. To overcome this problem, we propose a Generative Adversarial Networks approach to fill the gaps in the Landsat‑7 ETM+ panchromatic images. First, we introduce the YTU_STRIPE dataset, comprising Landsat‑8 OLI panchromatic images with synthetically induced stripe errors, for model training and testing. Our results indicate sufficient performance of the Pix2Pix GAN for this purpose. We demonstrate the efficiency of our approach through systematic experimentation and evaluation using various accuracy metrics, including Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio, Structural Similarity Index Measurement, Universal Image Quality Index, Correlation Coefficient, and Root Mean Square Error which were calculated as 38.5570, 0.9206, 0.7670, 0.7753 and 3.8212, respectively. Our findings suggest promising prospects for utilizing synthetic imagery from Landsat‑8 OLI to mitigate stripe errors in Landsat‑7 ETM+ SLC-off imagery, thereby enhancing image reconstruction efforts. The datasets and model weights generated in this study are publicly available for further research and development: https://github.com/ynsemrevrl/eliminating-stripe-errors.
Risk Factors for Suicidal Ideation in Brazilian University Students: A Mixed Methods Study
Authors: Cecchin Hareli Fernanda Garcia , da Costa Hellen Emily Rodrigues , Pacheco Gabriela Ramos , de Valencia Gabriel Barcellos , Murta Sheila Giardini
Published: August 2024

Developing effective suicide prevention strategies depends on understanding the risk factors of this phenomenon. This study maps the risk factors for suicidal ideation among Brazilian university students using multiple informers: students, health professionals, and course coordinators. The study followed an exploratory, mixed-method study design based on the intervention mapping approach. The first part, qualitative, comprised interviews about suicide risk factors with 20 university students who have had suicidal ideation in the last 12 months. The second part, quantitative, applied a questionnaire on risk factors in university students to 22 health professionals. The third part, qualitative, was an interview about risk factors with 12 undergraduate course coordinators. The qualitative data were analyzed by content analysis, while the quantitative data was analyzed by simple descriptive statistics. The following are the risk factors consistently cited by the three informants: difficulty to carry out young adult developmental tasks, family conflicts, low social support, conflicts in teacher-student relationship, failed institutional support, stress generated by the overload of academic activities, and mental suffering resulting from income inequality. When formulating socio-ecological prevention initiatives focused on students, the university community, the institution, social actors and institutional networks, and public policies, the risk factors must be considered. Hence, investing in decreasing income inequalities policies, professor’s mental health literacy training, institutional welcome policies, peer support through gatekeeper interventions, life skills interventions tailored for emerging adulthood, and mental health promotion in the early stages of life should be the target of efforts.
Occurrence of Patellofemoral Joint Osteoarthritis in Long-Term Postoperative Cases of Open-Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy: Differences in Symptoms Based on Patient-Standing Type Evaluation with and Without Patellofemoral Joint Osteoarthritis
Authors: Gomi Noriyuki , Muramoto Hiroaki , Kataoka Yusuke
Published: August 2024

Purpose

To examine the frequency of patellofemoral joint (PFJ) osteoarthritis (OA) and its symptoms in the long-term course of open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO).

Methods

We analyzed 113 joints of 91 patients. OA and osteonecrosis (ON) developed in 91 and 22 joints, after an average postoperative period of 127.5 ± 19.5 months. For X-ray evaluation, the standing femorotibial angle (FTA), % mechanical axis (%MA), Caton–Deschamps index (CDI), patellar tilt angle (TA), lateral patellar shift (LPS), and PFJ space width (medial [MJS] and lateral [LJS]) were analyzed. PFJ-associated symptoms were evaluated using the hospital for special surgery patellar score (HSS-PS) and knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score patellofemoral subscale (KOOS-PF). Statistical analysis was performed with paired and unpaired t tests, and a risk rate of less than 1% was significantly judged.

Results

Preoperative FTA and CDI decreased from 180.8° to 170.0° and 0.88 to 0.70 at the final follow-up. Preoperative %MA lateralized from 20.8 to 66.0 at the final follow-up. TA and LPS values decreased significantly compared with before surgery until plate removal. The MJS and LJS significantly decreased, and OA with a joint space < 3 mm occurred in 14 cases. However, HSS-PS and KOOS-PF scores were not significantly different between the groups with and without OA.

Conclusion

PFJ OA occurred in 12.4% cases in the long-term postoperative course of OWHTO; however, no symptomatic difference was found in the group with or without OA.
Intra-familial dynamics of knowledge and ignorance experienced by donor-conceived adults in Germany
Authors: Bauer Tobias , Meier-Credner Anne
Published: August 2024

This study explores how donor-conceived adults experience pre- and post-disclosure intra-familial dynamics of knowledge and ignorance in relation to their means of conception. Data were collected through an online survey of 59 individuals aged 21–46 years, who were recruited through the German support and advocacy group Verein Spenderkinder (the Association of Donor-conceived Children). Participants were born into families with heterosexual parents and learned about their conception via anonymous sperm donation between 5 and 46 years of age. Thematic qualitative text analysis revealed four main themes regarding the challenges donor-conceived adults face in reconciling their sense of identity and their relationships within the family: non-absoluteness of pre-disclosure ignorance, new fields of ignorance emerging post-disclosure, ways of dealing with the newly acquired knowledge, and conflicting ownership claims on knowledge and ignorance. These challenges pertain not only to knowledge and ignorance of the participants’ means of conception but also to the way in which (non-)knowing is perceived and managed by family members. Utilizing Peter Wehling’s taxonomy of ignorance as a theoretical framework, the study argues that intra-familial conflicts and challenges experienced by the participants can be attributed to either shifts in or stakeholders’ colliding claims to control the epistemic, social, and temporal dimensions of (non-)knowing in relation to the participants being donor-conceived.
Pupils’ gendered experiences in the mathematics classroom: “When you’re in a class with such dominant boys, it’s not easy to put yourself forward”
Authors: Hafeez Aleena , Xenofontos Constantinos
Published: August 2024

Many studies worldwide conclude that there are no significant differences between the academic performance of boys and girls in school mathematics. In fact, girls are often found to outperform boys in several countries. However, girls and women continue to participate less in mathematics classrooms and have lower enrolment rates in STEM-related subjects. To investigate this paradox, we utilise the theoretical framework of figured worlds (Holland, Lachicotte, Skinner, and Cain in Identity and agency in cultural worlds, Harvard University Press, 1998) and examine how a group of three boys and a group of four girls experience participation in the mathematics classroom. All children had attended the same 9th grade (ages 14–15) in Norway. Based on focus-group and individual interviews with the children, this study identifies three themes around which children construct their experiences: (a) gendered participation in the mathematics classroom, (b) what it means to be a ‘good’ mathematics pupil, and (c) the teacher’s role in fostering pupil participation. In closing, we discuss implications of our work and make recommendations for future research.
Assessing the readiness of Greek municipalities to manage bioplastics in municipal waste management streams
Authors: Barbir Jelena , Lingos Alexandros , Foschi Eleonora , Stasiskiene Zaneta , Skanavis Constantina , Fletcher Carly , Leal Filho Walter
Published: August 2024

Each year citizens of the European Union (EU) generate 2.5 billion tonnes of waste; equating to five tonnes of waste per person per year. To ensure optimal material recovery, and to support the move towards a circular economy, proper separate collection of waste is necessary. The current trend of increasing collection rates, encouraged by EU legislation, is promising; however, progress is uneven both across and within EU member states. While European and national targets provide the overarching driver for better waste collection, regional and local implementation is crucial for achieving continued progress. Therefore, it is vital to consider the disparity among the different EU countries when introducing new materials, such as bioplastics (bio-based and/or biodegradable plastics), into current national waste management streams, and any new introductions should be carefully evaluated before further actions are recommended by local authorities. As a member state that is heavily reliant on tourism, proper solid waste management is of vital importance in Greece, especially during the peak summer season. Considering the rapid expansion of bioplastics in the European market, it is important to assess the readiness of municipalities in Greece to manage this new category of solid waste. Data collected from 51 Greek municipalities via questionnaire (distributed to public authorities or waste management companies) showed that the current situation and capacities for adapting waste management streams to process bio-based and/or biodegradable plastics is still limited in Greece. Therefore, the readiness of Greece to process an increasing proportion of bioplastics within the waste stream (using the current waste management systems) is very low, as a result, such innovative materials are currently seen more as a problem than a ready-to-implement solution.
As air relative humidity increases, infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 decreases within water droplets
Authors: Liu Yu , Cao Lei , Xia Yu , Pan Pan , Rao Lang , Chen Bolei , Zare Richard N.
Published: August 2024

Water droplets containing the SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for coronavirus 2019 transmission, were introduced into a controlled-temperature and -humidity chamber. The SARS-CoV-2 virus with green fluorescent protein tag in droplets was used to infect Caco-2 cells, with viability assessed through flow cytometry and microscopic counting. Whereas temperature fluctuations within typical indoor ranges (20°C–30°C) had minimal impact, we observed a notable decrease in infection rate as the surrounding air’s relative humidity increased. By investigating humidity levels between 20% and 70%, we identified a threshold of ≥40% relative humidity as most effective in diminishing SARS-CoV-2 infectivity. We also found that damage of the viral proteins under high relative humidity may be responsible for the decrease in their activity. This outcome supports previous research demonstrating a rise in the concentration of reactive oxygen species within water droplets with elevated relative humidity.
Resources and Territorial Claims: Domestic Opposition to Resource-Rich Territory
Authors: Lee Soyoung
Published: August 2024

Are states more interested in claiming territories that have economic resources? While previous theories of international relations assume that resources make a territory more tempting to claim, all else equal, I argue that certain types of economic resources can make states less willing to claim a territory. The presence of capital-intensive resources—such as oil or minerals—raises concerns about how the benefits of acquiring the territory would be distributed within the nation. These distributional concerns make it harder and costlier for leaders to mobilize widespread and consistent support for claiming resource-rich lands. Using original geocoded data on territorial claims in South America from 1830 to 2001, I show that states are indeed less likely to claim lands that have oil or minerals, even when they can be claimed for historical or administrative reasons. I then illustrate the theoretical mechanism through a case study of Bolivia, comparing Bolivian attitudes toward reclaiming its two lost provinces, the Chaco and the Litoral. By showing how the presence of economic resources can become a liability in mobilizing unified support, this paper questions the widespread assumption that resources make territories more desirable to claim.
An infrared view of NGC3603
Authors: Castellanos Raúl , Najarro Francisco , Garcia Miriam , Patrick Lee R. , Evans Christopher J. , Bartlett Elizabeth S. , Clark J. S.
Published: August 2024

NGC3603 is one of the youngest massive clusters of the Milky Way which uniquely enables studying the interplay between massive star feedback and the surrounding interstellar medium. Yet, a deep infrared (IR) view of the cluster is missing. We present guaranteed time observations of NGC3603 consisting of near infrared spectroscopy taken with VLT-KMOS. This data set will provide a first, rather complete IR census.
Global Properties of Star-Forming Galaxies from Ultraviolet Spectroscopy
Authors: Leitherer Claus , Clark Ilyse , Arellano-Córdova Karla , Berg Danielle A.
Published: August 2024

We analyzed archival HST and IUE ultraviolet spectra of 29 nearby star-forming galaxies. The range of aperture sizes permits studies of the galaxy properties over pc to kpc scales. We measured line strengths and spectral energy distributions over the 1200 – 1300 Åwavelength range and established trends with galaxy properties. Updated oxygen abundances were measured from ancillary optical data. Star-formation rates and internal dust attenuations were derived from comparison with synthesis models. The interstellar absorption lines are heavily saturated, yet scale with oxygen abundance. We interpret this as due to macroscopic velocities arising in a turbulent ISM and large-scale outflows. The stellar-wind lines also scale with oxygen abundance. As these lines are shaped by mass loss, which is driven by the Fe abundance, we can study the α-element/Fe ratio in these galaxies.
HR 6819 – a post-interaction binary system originally thought to be a triple system containing a black hole
Authors: Frost Abigail J. , Bodensteiner Julia , Rivinius Thomas , Baade Dietrich , Merand Antoine , Selman Fernando , Abdul-Masih Michael , Banyard Gareth , Bordier Emma , Dsilva Karan , Hawcroft Calum , Mahy Laurent , Reggiani Maddalena , Shenar Tomer , Cabezas Mauricio , Hadrava Petr , Heida Marianne , Klement Robert , Sana Hugues
Published: August 2024

In 2020, HR 6819 was reported to be a triple system containing the closest black hole to Earth. However, these results were contested, with an alternative explanation of a post-interaction binary suggested. Using new integral field spectroscopic and interferometric data, we have been able to determine the true nature of this exotic source.
Hot stars in the Gaia-ESO Survey
Authors: Blomme R. , Daflon S. , Gebran M. , Herrero A. , Lobel A. , Mahy L. , Martins F. , Morel T. , Berlanas S. R. , Gosset E. , Maíz Apellániz J. ,   GES Working Group 13
Published: August 2024

The Gaia-ESO Survey (GES) is a large public spectroscopic survey that has collected spectra of about 100,000 stars. The survey provides not only the reduced spectra, but also the radial velocities, stellar parameters and surface abundances resulting from the analysis of the spectra. We present the work of the groups that analysed the spectra of the hottest stars in that Survey. The large temperature range that is covered (Teff = 7,000 to 50,000 K) requires the use of different analysis codes by the different groups. Eight groups each analysed part of the data, with significant overlap that allowed cross-checks. In total 17,693 spectra of 6,462 stars were analysed, most of them in 37 open star clusters. The homogenisation of all this information led to stellar parameters for 5,584 stars. Abundances for at least one of the elements He, C, N, O, Ne, Mg, Al, Si and Sc were determined for 292 stars. The GES hot star data, as well as the Survey data in general, will be of considerable use in future studies of stellar evolution and open clusters.