bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expression, purification, and characterization of transmembrane protein homogentisate solanesyltransferase
Authors: Xiao Han , Mei Long-Can , Lin Hong-Yan , Chen Zhao , Yu Xin-He , Yang Jun , Tong Qiong , Yang Guang-Fu
Published: March 2024

Homogentisate solanesyltransferase (HST) is a crucial enzyme in the plastoquinone biosynthetic pathway and has recently emerged as a promising target for herbicides. In this study, we successfully expressed and purified a stable and highly pure form of seven times transmembrane protein Chlamydomonas reinhardtii HST (CrHST). The final yield of CrHST protein obtained was 12.2 mg per liter of M9 medium. We evaluated the inhibitory effect on CrHST using Des-Morpholinocarbony Cyclopyrimorate (DMC) and found its IC50 value to be 3.63 ± 0.53 μM, indicating significant inhibitory potential. Additionally, we investigated the substrate affinity of CrHST with two substrates, determining the Km values as 22.76 ± 1.70 μM for FPP and 48.54 ± 3.89 μM for HGA. Through sequence alignment analyses and three-dimensional structure predictions, we identified conserved amino acid residues forming the active cavity in the enzyme. The results from molecular docking and binding energy calculations indicate that DMC has a greater binding affinity with HST compared to HGA. These findings represent substantial progress in understanding CrHST’s properties and potential for herbicide development.

Key points

• First high-yield transmembrane CrHST protein via E. coli system

• Preliminarily identified active cavity composition via activity testing

• Determined substrate and inhibitor modes via molecular docking
Obesity and tobacco smoking are independently associated with poor patient-reported outcomes in SLE: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Gomez Alvaro , Parodis Ioannis , Sjöwall Christopher
Published: March 2024

We investigated associations of obesity and tobacco smoking with health-related quality of life (HRQoL), pain, fatigue, and functional impairment in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Furthermore, we explored whether there was an effect modification between these two factors. We included adult SLE patients from the Linköping University Hospital (n = 325) in the present cross-sectional analysis. We further included population-based controls and performed cardinality matching to balance age and sex distributions with cases (n = 224). HRQoL was assessed with the EQ-5D index score; pain, fatigue, and overall SLE-related health state with visual analogue scales (VAS; 0 [best] to 100 [worst]); and functional impairment with the HAQ-DI. Unacceptable outcomes were defined as VAS scores corresponding to the 90th percentile derived from the matched controls. SLE patients reported worse scores than controls in all measures, and approximately 30% experienced unacceptable outcomes. When compared with normal-weight, obese SLE patients reported lower HRQoL, and greater functional impairment and risk of unacceptable pain (OR: 3.2; 95% CI 1.6–6.7) and fatigue (OR: 2.1; 95% CI 1.0–4.3). Similarly, the current smokers reported higher levels of functional impairment and a greater risk of unacceptable pain (OR: 3.8; 95% CI 1.8–8.2) and fatigue (OR: 2.8; 95% CI 1.3–5.9) than never smokers. The associations were independent of age, sex, disease duration, disease activity, and organ damage. There was no evidence of a synergistic effect between increased BMI and smoking on any outcome. In summary, obesity and smoking are risk factors for unacceptable patient-reported outcomes in SLE, regardless of clinical activity.
Efficacy of lifestyle interventions in the management of systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review of the literature
Authors: Tsoi Alexander , Gomez Alvaro , Boström Carina , Pezzella Denise , Chow Jun Weng , Girard-Guyonvarc’h Charlotte , Stamm Tanja , Arnaud Laurent , Parodis Ioannis
Published: March 2024

We performed a systematic review to explore existing evidence regarding the efficacy of lifestyle interventions for the management of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The search was conducted on the 22nd of June 2021 for publications between 1st of January 2000 and the date of search. Additional articles within the aforementioned timeframe and until December 2023 were added by hand searching. Databases utilized were Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Cinahl. Lifestyle interventions were defined as any intervention encompassing one or more of the following: physical exercise, diet and nutrition, mental health, harmful exposures, sleep, and social relations. The Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools were used for risk of bias assessment. The search yielded 11,274 unique records, we assessed the full text of 199 records, and finally included 102 studies. Overall, the quality of the evidence is limited, and there were multiple sources of heterogeneity. The two domains most extensively researched were mental health (40 records) and physical exercise (39 records). Psychological interventions had a positive effect on depressive symptoms, anxiety, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), whereas physical exercise improved fatigue, depressive symptoms, aerobic capacity, and physical functioning. Studies on diet and nutrition (15 records) support that low fat intake and Mediterranean diet may be beneficial for reducing cardiovascular risk, but large interventional studies are lacking. Studies on harmful exposures (7 records) support photoprotection and use of sunscreen. While studies imply benefits regarding disease burden and drug efficacy in non-smokers and regarding HRQoL in normal-weight patients, more survey is needed on tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption, as well as weight control strategies. Studies on social relations (1 record) and sleep (no records) were sparse or non-existent. In conclusion, psychosocial interventions are viable for managing depressive symptoms, and exercise appears essential for reducing fatigue and improving aerobic capacity and physical function. Photoprotection should be recommended to all patients. Lifestyle interventions should be considered a complement, not a substitute, to pharmacotherapy.
Long-term experiences with high-energy shock wave therapy in the management chronic phase Peyronie’s disease using two different electromagnetic lithotripters
Authors: Rassweiler Jens J. , Scheitlin W. , Goezen A. S. , Radecke F.
Published: March 2024

Background

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy represents one option for the non-surgical management of Peyronie’s disease. Despite promising results, several questions are still pending. We want to present the long-term results of a retrospective study using high-energy extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

Material and methods

We evaluated retrospectively 110 patients treated between 1996 and 2020 at the Department of Urology, SLK Kliniken Heilbronn for chronic phase Peyronie’s disease using two electromagnetic lithotripters (Siemens Lithostar Plus Overhead Module, Siemens Lithoskop) applying high-energy shock waves under local anesthesia and sonographic or fluoroscopic control. A standardized questionnaire focused on the change in pain, curvature, sexual function and the need of penile surgery.

Results

In 85 of the 110 patients (mean age 54 years) we had sufficient data for evaluation. The median follow-up was 228 (6–288) months. There were no significant complications. Pain reduction was achieved in all patients, 65 (76%) patients were free of pain. Improvement of penile curvature was achieved in 43 patients (51%) ranging from 25% improvement (deflected angle < 30°) to 95% (angle 30–60°). 59 patients (69%) reported problems with sexual intercourse, 40 of those (68%) reported improvement. Only 9 (10.5%) patients underwent surgical correction. We did not observe any significant differences between both electromagnetic devices with stable long-term results.

Conclusions

High-energy shock wave therapy delivered by two standard electromagnetic lithotripters is safe and efficient providing stable long-term results. In cases with significant plaque formation, the concept of high-energy ESWT should be considered in future studies.
Surgical outcomes of very-early-onset ulcerative colitis: retrospective comparative study with older pediatric patients
Authors: Fumita Takashi , Terui Keita , Shibata Ryohei , Takenouchi Ayako , Komatsu Shugo , Oita Satoru , Yoshizawa Hiroko , Hirano Yuichi , Yoshino Yusaku , Saito Takeshi , Hishiki Tomoro
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The study compares the surgical outcomes of very-early-onset ulcerative colitis (VEO-UC), which is a rare disease diagnosed in pediatric patients < 6 years, with those of older pediatric patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods

A retrospective observational study of 57 pediatric patients with UC was conducted at a single center. The study compared surgical complications and postoperative growth between the two groups.

Results

Out of the 57 patients, 6 had VEO-UC, and 5 of them underwent total colectomy. Compared with the surgical cases of older patients with UC (n = 6), the rate of postoperative complications in patients with VEO-UC (n = 5) was not significantly different, except for high-output ileostomy (80% vs. 0% at 3 weeks postoperatively, p = 0.02). The rate of postoperative central venous catheter (CVC) placement at > 90 days was higher in patients with VEO-UC (100% vs. 17%, p = 0.02). The median change in the Z-score of height before and 2 years after colectomy was not significantly different between VEO-UC and older patients (1.1 vs. 0.3, p = 0.13).

Conclusion

With regard to complications and outcomes, total colectomy for VEO-UC patients and that for older pediatric UC patients is comparable. However, high-output ileostomy and the long duration of CVC placement may pose management challenges.
New Zealand blackcurrant extract modulates the heat shock response in men during exercise in hot ambient conditions
Authors: Conrad Nathan J. , Heckler Emerson P. , Lee Ben J. , Hill Garrett W. , Flood Tessa R. , Wheeler Lucy E. V. , Costello Rianne , Walker Ella F. , Gillum Trevor L. , Willems Mark E. T. , Kuennen Matthew R.
Published: March 2024

Purpose

To determine if 7d of New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) extract alters the heat shock, inflammatory and apoptotic response during prolonged exertional-heat stress.

Methods

Ten men (Age: 29 ± 2 years, Stature: 1.82 ± 0.02 m, Mass: 80.3 ± 2.7 kg, V̇O2max: 56 ± 2 mL·kg−1·min−1) ingested two capsules of CurraNZ™ (NZBC extract: 210 mg anthocyanins·day−1) or PLACEBO for 7d prior to 1 h treadmill run (65% V̇O2max) in hot ambient conditions (34 °C/40% RH). Blood samples were collected before (Pre), immediately after (Post), 1 h after (1-Post), and 4 h after (4-Post) exercise. Heat shock proteins (HSP90, HSP70, HSP32) were measured in plasma. HSP and protein markers of inflammatory capacity (TLR4, NF-κB) and apoptosis (BAX/BCL-2, Caspase 9) were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).

Results

eHSP32 was elevated at baseline in NZBC(+ 31%; p < 0.001). In PLACEBO HSP32 content in PBMC was elevated at 4-Post(+ 98%; p = 0.002), whereas in NZBC it fell at Post(− 45%; p = 0.030) and 1-Post(− 48%; p = 0.026). eHSP70 was increased at Post in PLACEBO(+ 55.6%, p = 0.001) and NZBC (+ 50.7%, p = 0.010). eHSP90 was increased at Post(+ 77.9%, p < 0.001) and 1-Post(+ 73.2%, p < 0.001) in PLACEBO, with similar increases being shown in NZBC (+ 49.0%, p = 0.006 and + 66.2%, p = 0.001; respectively). TLR4 and NF-κB were both elevated in NZBC at PRE(+ 54%, p = 0.003 and + 57%, p = 0.004; respectively). Main effects of study condition were also shown for BAX/BCL-2(p = 0.025) and Caspase 9 (p = 0.043); both were higher in NZBC.

Conclusion

7d of NZBC extract supplementation increased eHSP32 and PBMC HSP32 content. It also increased inflammatory and apoptotic markers in PBMC, suggesting that NZBC supports the putative inflammatory response that accompanies exertional-heat stress.
State of knowledge on ammonia handling by the kidney
Authors: Bourgeois Soline , Houillier Pascal
Published: March 2024

The disposal of ammonia, the main proton buffer in the urine, is important for acid–base homeostasis. Renal ammonia excretion is the predominant contributor to renal net acid excretion, both under basal condition and in response to acidosis. New insights into the mechanisms of renal ammonia production and transport have been gained in the past decades. Ammonia is the only urinary solute known to be produced in the kidney and selectively transported through the different parts of the nephron. Both molecular forms of total ammonia, NH3 and NH4+, are transported by specific proteins. Proximal tubular ammoniagenesis and the activity of these transport processes determine the eventual fate of total ammonia produced and excreted by the kidney. In this review, we summarized the state of the art of ammonia handling by the kidney and highlighted the newest processes described in the last decade.
A differential impact of action–effect temporal contiguity on different measures of response inhibition in the Go\No-Go and Stop-signal paradigms
Authors: Karsh Noam , Soker-Mijalevich Eden , Horovitz Omer
Published: March 2024

Response inhibition refers to suppressing a prepotent motor response and is often studied and discussed as an act of cognitive control. Much less attention was given to the potential contribution of motor control processes to response inhibition. Accumulated empirical findings show that a perceptual effect temporally contiguous with a response improves motor control performance. In the current study, we followed this work by manipulating action–effect temporal contiguity to enhance motor performance and investigated its impact on response selection and inhibition. In two experiments, we integrated a Go/No-Go (GNGT; Experiment 1) and a Stop-signal (SST; Experiment 2) task with the Effect–Motivation task, previously used to capture the facilitating impact of action–effect temporal contiguity on response times (RTs). Replicating previous findings, RTs were shorter following temporally contiguous compared to Lagged action–effect in Go trials in both the GNGT (Experiment 1) and SST (Experiment 2). Notably, an Immediate action–effect improved response inhibition in the GNGT (Experiment 1) but did not modulate Stop-signal reaction time (SSRT) in the SST (Experiment 2). Unexpectedly, the error rate on Go trials was higher in the Immediate effect condition in Experiment 2. We interpret the findings to suggest that an action’s (Immediate) perceptual effect may promote response inhibition performance by enhancing selective association between the Go stimuli and the Go response and not by improving cognitive control ability. The findings also imply that an Immediate action–effect may hamper action control (e.g., by increasing general readiness to respond), at least when action control does not benefit from automatic stimulus–response association.
Immunologic burden links periodontitis to acute coronary syndrome: levels of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells in gingival granulation tissue
Authors: Kayar Nezahat Arzu , Çelik İlhami , Gözlü Muammer , Üstün Kemal , Gürsel Mihtikar , Alptekin Nilgün Özlem
Published: March 2024

Objective

To investigate the proportional variation of macrophage and T-lymphocytes subpopulations in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients, its association with periodontitis (P), and to compare with control individuals.

Subjects and methods

Three groups of subjects participated: one group consisted of 17 ACS patients with P (ACS + P), another group consisted of 22 no ACS + P patients, and a control group consisted of 23 participants with gingivitis (no ACS + G). Macrophage, CD4 + , and CD8 + T-lymphocytes and CD4 + /CD8 + ratio values in gingival tissue were determined histometrically.

Results

Significant differences were found among three groups regarding the mean number of macrophage (no ACS + P > ACS + P > no ACS + G; p < 0.05) and CD8 + T-lymphocytes (no ACS + P > ACS + P > no ACS + G; p < 0.05). Significant variations were observed between the groups both CD4 + T-lymphocytes densities (ACS + P > no ACS + P and ACS + P > no ACS + G; p < 0.05) and CD4 + / CD8 + ratio (no ACS + P < no ACS + G and ACS + P < no ACS + G; p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The increased number of CD8 + T-lymphocytes in both group ACS + P and group no ACS + P resulted in a reduction of the CD4 + /CD8 + ratio in gingival tissue when compared with no ACS + G group.

Clinical relevance

The decrease of CD4 + /CD8 + ratio in gingival tissue reflects periodontitis and may be associated with severe adverse outcomes in people with ACS.
Natural and engineered enzymes for polyester degradation: a review
Authors: Guo Rey-Ting , Li Xian , Yang Yu , Huang Jian-Wen , Shen Panpan , Liew Rock Keey , Chen Chun-Chi
Published: March 2024

Plastic pollution is becoming a major health issue due to the recent discovery of microplastics and nanoplastics in living organisms and the environment, calling for advanced technologies to remove plastic waste. Here we review enzymes that degrade plastics with focus on plastic properties, protein engineering and polymers such as poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate), poly(lactic acid), polyamide and polyurethane. The mechanism of action of natural and engineered enzymes has been probed by experimental and computation approaches. The performance of polyester-degrading enzymes has been improved via directed evolution, structure-guided rational design and machine learning-aided strategies. The improved enzymes display higher stability at elevated temperatures, and tailored substrate-binding sites.
Density and abundance estimation of unmarked ungulates using camera traps in the Mudumu National Park, Namibia
Authors: Nauyoma LineekelaOmwene T. , Warbington Camille H. , Azevedo Fernanda C. , Lemos Frederico G. , Sequeira Fernando , Fabiano Ezequiel C.
Published: March 2024

Density and abundance estimates are critical to effective wildlife management and are essential for monitoring population trends and setting effective quotas for harvesting. Management of roan (Hippotragus equinus) and sable (H. niger) antelopes in Mudumu National Park (MNP), Namibia, is challenging because they are elusive, naturally unmarked, and believed to occur at low densities. The species are threatened by habitat fragmentation, human population growth, and illegal hunting, and reliable density and abundance estimates have not been quantified, hampering management and conservation plans. Our objective was to estimate roan and sable densities and abundances using the time in front of the camera model (TIFC) and the Poisson-binomial N-mixture model (PB), respectively. We also evaluated the effects of environmental and ecological variables on roan and sable abundance. We used data from two camera trap surveys conducted between March and September 2021 in the MNP. Results showed that the TIFC model provided low-density estimates of 1.62 (95% CI 1.61–1.64) roans/km2and 2.46 (95% CI 2.42–2.50) sables/km2, consistent with trends reported in Africa where these species occur at low densities. In addition, the total abundance of roans and sables in the MNP from the PB model were 57 and 242, respectively. Higher roan abundance occurred in sites with higher grass cover. This study provides the first accurate camera trap-derived density and abundance estimates for roan and sable in the MNP, which will be critical for developing comprehensive conservation programs and strategies that are likely to reduce the risk of extinction for both species.
Exploring the potential of sustainable natural cellulosic fiber from Sorghum bicolor (Sorghum vulgare var. technicus) stem for textile and composite applications
Authors: Ovalı Sabih , Eryılmaz Oguz , Uyanık Seval
Published: March 2024

In the present research, the usability of cellulosic-based fibers obtained from the Sorghum bicolor plant stem as reinforcing fibers in composites and textiles was investigated. The fibers were obtained from a Sorghum bicolor plant growing wild in the Adana region in the South of Turkey. Density, chemical structure analysis, FTIR, XRD, TGA, XPS SEM, and single fiber tensile tests characterized Sorghum bicolor fiber (SBF). SBF contains cellulose (73.6%), hemicellulose (13.3%), and lignin (12.1%). The oxygen/carbon ratio of 0.43 found as a result of XPS analysis indicates that fibers have a hydrophilic character. SBF has a 59.34% crystallinity index, 284.6 MPa tensile strength, 4.71% GPa tensile modulus, and 21.44% elongation at break. The maximum degradation temperature of the fibers was determined as 364.22 °C. Sorghum bicolor fiber, through detailed characterization, emerges as potential promising reinforcement for the composite industry with relatively good strength and high cellulose content for the textile industry.
Effects of livestock ownership typology on household food security in rural Lesotho
Authors: Danso-Abbeam Gideon , Ogundeji Abiodun A. , Asale Maxwell A. , Baiyegunhi L. J. S.
Published: March 2024

This study examines how various livestock ownership typologies affect household food security in rural Lesotho, a developing nation marked with poverty and food insecurity. Despite the significance of livestock to food security, little study has been done in this area. The study divides households into four typologies of livestock ownership, ranging from none to varied animal herds, using data from 2,014 rural households. The study uses analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a mixed effect ordered probit model to examine the connections between these typologies and food security. In comparison to typology I (no livestock ownership), the results show that ownership typologies III (moderate small ruminants and poultry) and IV (big mixed poultry, small, and large animals) have a beneficial impact on household food security. The study advances our understanding of how different livestock species and herd sizes affect food security. It emphasizes the importance of nuanced and context-specific approaches when employing livestock to improve household food security, advising development and intervention programs to take into account the delicate interplay between livestock ownership and food security among the target population. Thus, intervention programs must carefully consider the complex and context-specific relationship between livestock ownership and food security.
Genome-wide characterization of the GPAT gene family in bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and expression analysis under abiotic stress and melatonin
Authors: Kasapoğlu Ayşe Gül , Muslu Selman , Aygören Ahmed Sidar , Öner Burak Muhammed , Güneş Ebru , İlhan Emre , Yiğider Esma , Aydin Murat
Published: March 2024

GPAT (sn-Glycerol-3-phosphate-1-O-acyltransferase) is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of membrane lipids. Two kinds of GPATs are involved in the production of glycerolipids. While sn-1-GPATs are responsible for creating lysophosphatidic acid, sn-2-GPATs generate monoacylglycerol. GPAT genes of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) have never been investigated before. This study aimed to assess the expression profiles of GPAT genes in common bean leaves under drought and salt stress and apply bioinformatics tools to the genome-wide analysis of GPAT gene family members. In the P. vulgaris genome, PvGPAT genes with molecular weights ranging from 50.2 to 60.4 kDa, amino acid counts ranging from 376 to 539, theoretical isoelectric points ranging from 8.41 to 9.46, and instability indices ranging from 31.84 to 51.38 were found. Based on the gene structure analysis, the expected number of exons and introns was between 2 and 12. The GPAT proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana, Glycine max, Vitis vinifera, Cicer arietinum, Lens culinaris, and P. vulgaris were analyzed phylogenetically. GPAT proteins of G. max and A. thaliana are evolutionarily related to those of beans. The PvGPAT4/PvGPAT10 and PvGPAT7/PvGPAT12 gene pairs were detected to be segmentally duplicated. In this work, qRT-PCR was performed on six PvGPAT genes, and the effects of salt, drought, and melatonin treatments on bean GPAT genes were studied. The role of melatonin in the response to salt and drought stress was investigated at the gene expression level. The findings of the present study will shed light on GPAT gene family members in beans and provide insight for future functional research.
Do professional staff in universities really challenge academic norms? A perspective from the Netherlands
Authors: de Jong Stefan , Kantimm Wiebke
Published: March 2024

Traditionally, universities stand for independent, high-quality, and curiosity-driven research and education. Yet, since neoliberal reforms in the 1980s, they have been increasingly exposed to external pressures towards more efficiency and economic value orientation. To manage the tasks corresponding to these market-based values, a new and fast-growing group of professional staff has emerged. Some authors argue that they challenge academic norms, or academic professional logics, while importing market norms, or market logics, through previous employment in and current relationships with the private sector. We empirically test this assumption based on original survey data of three groups of professional staff of universities and associated medical centers in the Netherlands: business developers, grant advisers, and research policy officers. We asked them about their ideas about universities to capture their institutional logics. Respondents also indicated previous employment and the strength of their professional relationships. Using multiple linear regression models, we find that professional staff with private sector experience indeed have stronger market logics. We find the same for those with stronger relationships with private sector companies. Yet, on average, the academic professional logic of professional staff is considerably higher than their market logic. Additionally, the effect of private sector experience and stronger relationships with private sector companies on the market logic is moderate. Thus, our data suggests that professional staff do not challenge academic norms. Therefore, there seems to be little need for meeting them with skepticism regarding their role in unwanted organizational change.
Better to be a Pig Dissatisfied than a Plant Satisfied
Authors: Terrill Ethan C. , Veit Walter
Published: March 2024

In the last two decades, there has been a blossoming literature aiming to counter the neglect of plant capacities. In their recent paper, Miguel Segundo-Ortin and Paco Calvo begin by providing an overview of the literature to then question the mistaken assumptions that led to plants being immediately rejected as candidates for sentience. However, it appears that many responses to their arguments are based on the implicit conviction that because animals have far more sophisticated cognition and agency than plants, and that plants should not have the same moral status as animals, plants should not have any moral status. Put in simpler terms: it is not as bad to eat plants than to eat, say, pigs. While there are still uncertainties around comparative moral and policy implications between animals and plants, given a gradualist account of quasi-sentience and partial moral status, both of which we claim are a matter of degree, we may not have to abolish our convictions by declaring that plants have no sentience or moral status at all. Indeed, we can hold two things at the same time: that animals and plants have moral status, but animals have prima facie more moral status than plants.
Identifying the key sources of metal (loid) deposition to remote Tasmanian lakes: is legacy mining a problem?
Authors: Stevens Harrison , Barmuta Leon A. , Chase Zanna , Saunders Krystyna M. , Zawadzki Atun , Gadd Patricia , Proemse Bernadette C.
Published: March 2024

Reports have shown that even remote lakes have been negatively affected by anthropogenic activities. This study used metal concentrations and enrichment factors to comprehensively determine key metal sources and identify potential impacts of recent anthropogenic activity in remote Central Highland Tasmanian (Australia) lakes. Metal concentrations (Al, As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn) in these lakes remain below Australian interim sediment quality guidelines but have been slowly increasing since the start of the twentieth century. This increase is likely related to increasing organic matter content, rather than any direct, increased input of metals. The largest anthropogenic impact to these systems was damming, which typically led to an increase in organic matter content either directly, by the trapping of particles and nutrients, or indirectly, by stimulating primary production in the lake. This increased organic matter content, in turn, increased the retention of metals, manifesting as an increase to measured metal concentrations. Minor impacts are the historical use of lead shot, leaded petrol, and industrial processes, which may have contributed to the higher Pb enrichment, compared to the other studied metals, in these lakes. Despite recent concerns of metal contamination in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area from distant mining activities, there is no strong evidence in this study indicating that lakes in the Central Highlands (a similar distance away) have been impacted by long-distance atmospheric deposition. This is likely related to the decreased rainfall, and thus decreased rates of wet deposition of aerosols in the east of Tasmania, compared to that of the west and in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.
The Perceived Complexity of Learning Tasks Influences Students’ Collaborative Interactions in Immersive Virtual Reality
Authors: Matovu Henry , Won Mihye , Hernandez-Alvarado Ricardo Bruno , Ungu Dewi Ayu Kencana , Treagust David F. , Tsai Chin-Chung , Mocerino Mauro , Tasker Roy
Published: March 2024

This study investigated how different learning tasks influence students’ collaborative interactions in immersive Virtual Reality (iVR). A set of chemistry learning activities was designed with iVR, and 35 pairs of undergraduate students went through the activities. Videos of students’ interactions were analysed to identify patterns in students’ physical, conceptual, and social interactions. When students were manipulating conceptually familiar virtual objects (several water molecules), they perceived the tasks as a simple extension of prior knowledge and did not attempt to explore the 3D visualisation much. They did not move around to take different perspectives, and conceptual discussions were brief. Their prior power relations (leader–follower) carried over in iVR environments. In contrast, when conceptually unfamiliar chemical structures (protein enzyme) were displayed, students perceived the tasks as complex, demanding a new mode of learning. They spontaneously moved around to explore and appreciate the 3D visualisation of iVR. Walking to different positions to observe the virtual objects from multiple angles, students engaged in more collaborative, exploratory conceptual discussions. As the perceived complexity of learning tasks or virtual objects triggers different collaborative interactions amongst students, careful considerations need to be placed on the design of iVR tasks to encourage productive collaborative learning.
In the nuclear explosion monitoring context, what is an anomaly?
Authors: Miley Harry S. , Eslinger Paul W. , Bowyer Ted W. , Burnett Jonathan L. , Cooper Matthew W. , Foxe Michael P. , Haas Derek A. , Hayes James C. , Kalinowski Martin B. , Lowrey Justin D. , McIntyre Justin I. , Saey Paul R. J. , Schrom Brian T. , Ungar R. Kurt
Published: March 2024

In the early years of nuclear explosion monitoring, experts used downwind detections with meaningful ratios of radioactive species to identify an explosion. Today’s reality is sparse networks of radionuclide monitoring stations looking for weak signals. Analysts need to discriminate between industrial background radioactivity and nuclear explosion signals, even using the detection of one isotope. Aerosol and xenon measurements potentially related to nuclear tests in 2006 and 2013 announced by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and from worldwide civilian background radioactivity are considered when defining radionuclide detection anomalies to objectively guide the use of limited analyst resources and reduce the possibility of not detecting nuclear explosions.
Anomalous heat transport and universality in macroscopic diffusion models
Authors: Bernardi Sara , Pizzi Marco , Rondoni Lamberto
Published: March 2024

Anomalous diffusion is ubiquitous in nature and relevant for a wide range of applications, including energy transport, especially in bio- and nano-technologies. Numerous approaches have been developed to describe it from a microscopic point of view, and recently, it has been framed within universality classes, characterized by the behaviour of the moments and auto-correlation functions of the transported quantities. It is important to investigate whether such universality applies to macroscopic models. Here, the spectrum of the moments of the solutions of the transport equations is investigated for three continuous PDE models featuring anomalous diffusion. In particular, we consider the transport described by: (i) a generalized diffusion equation with time-dependent diffusion coefficient; (ii) the Porous Medium Equation and (iii) the Telegrapher Equation. For each model, the key features of the source-type solution as well as the analytical results for the moment analysis are revisited and extended via both analytical and numerical approaches. Equivalence of the asymptotic behaviour of the corresponding heat transport is confirmed within the realm of weak anomalous diffusion.
A mechanistic approach to weighting edge-effects in landscape connectivity assessments
Authors: Dennis M. , Huck J. J. , Holt C. D. , McHenry E.
Published: March 2024

Context

Understanding landscape functional connectivity is critical for nature conservation in fragmented landscapes. Spatially explicit graph-theoretical approaches to assessing landscape connectivity have provided a promising framework for capturing functional components driving connectivity at the landscape scale. However, existing weighting schemes used to parameterise functional connectivity in graph theory-based methods are limited with respect to their ability to capture patch-level characteristics relevant to habitat use such as edge-effects.

Objectives

We set out to develop a new approach to weighting habitat connectivity as a function of edge-effects exerted by non-habitat patches through better delineation of edge-interior habitat transitions at the patch-level and parameterization of intra-patch movement cost at the landscape scale.

Methods

We leverage the use of raster surfaces and area-weighted exponential kernels to operationalize a mechanistic approach to computing spatially explicit edge surfaces. We integrate map algebra, graph theory and landscape resistance methods to capture connectivity for a range of species specialisms on the edge-interior spectrum. We implement our method through a set of functions in the R statistical environment.

Result

Through a real-world case study, we demonstrate that our approach, drawing on these behaviours, outperforms competing metrics when evaluating potential functional connectivity in a typically fragmented agricultural landscape. We highlight options for the optimal parameterization of graph-theoretical models.

Conclusion

Our method offers increased flexibility, being tuneable for interior-edge habitat transitions. This therefore represents a key opportunity that can help to re-align the fields of landscape ecology and conservation biology by reconciling patch-versus-landscape methodological stances.
Discovering clinical phronesis
Authors: Boudreau Donald , Wykretowicz Hubert , Kinsella Elizabeth Anne , Fuks Abraham , Saraga Michael
Published: March 2024

Phronesis is often described as a ‘practical wisdom’ adapted to the matters of everyday human life. Phronesis enables one to judge what is at stake in a situation and what means are required to bring about a good outcome. In medicine, phronesis tends to be called upon to deal with ethical issues and to offer a critique of clinical practice as a straightforward instrumental application of scientific knowledge. There is, however, a paucity of empirical studies of phronesis, including in medicine. Using a hermeneutic and phenomenological approach, this inquiry explores how phronesis is manifest in the stories of clinical practice of eleven exemplary physicians. The findings highlight five overarching themes: ethos (or character) of the physician, clinical habitus revealed in physician know-how, encountering the patient with attentiveness, modes of reasoning amidst complexity, and embodied perceptions (such as intuitions or gut feeling). The findings open a discussion about the contingent nature of clinical situations, a hermeneutic mode of clinical thinking, tacit dimensions of being and doing in clinical practice, the centrality of caring relations with patients, and the elusive quality of some aspects of practice. This study deepens understandings of the nature of phronesis within clinical settings and proposes ‘Clinical phronesis’ as a descriptor for its appearance and role in the daily practice of (exemplary) physicians.
Benchmarking of computer vision methods for energy-efficient high-accuracy olive fly detection on edge devices
Authors: Mira José L. , Barba Jesús , Romero Francisco P. , Escolar M. Soledad , Caba Julián , López Juan C.
Published: March 2024

The automation of insect pest control activities implies the use of classifiers to monitor the temporal and spatial evolution of the population using computer vision algorithms. In this regard, the popularisation of supervised learning methods represents a breakthrough in this field. However, their claimed effectiveness is reduced regarding working in real-life conditions. In addition, the efficiency of the proposed models is usually measured in terms of their accuracy, without considering the actual context of the sensing platforms deployed at the edge, where image processing must occur. Hence, energy consumption is a key factor in embedded devices powered by renewable energy sources such as solar panels, particularly in energy harvesting platforms, which are increasingly popular in smart farming applications. In this work, we perform a two-fold performance analysis (accuracy and energy efficiency) of three commonly used methods in computer vision (e.g., HOG+SVM, LeNet-5 CNN, and PCA+Random Forest) for object classification, targeting the detection of the olive fly in chromatic traps. The training and testing of the models were carried out using pictures captured in various realistic conditions to obtain more reliable results. We conducted an exhaustive exploration of the solution space for each evaluated method, assessing the impact of the input dataset and configuration parameters on the learning process outcomes. To determine their suitability for deployment on edge embedded systems, we implemented a prototype on a Raspberry Pi 4 and measured the processing time, memory usage, and power consumption. The results show that the PCA-Random Forest method achieves the highest accuracy of 99%, with significantly lower processing time (approximately 6 and 48 times faster) and power consumption (approximately 10 and 44 times lower) compared with its competitors (LeNet-5-based CNN and HOG+SVM).
Indivisibilities in investment and the role of a capacity market
Authors: Stevens Nicolas , Smeers Yves , Papavasiliou Anthony
Published: March 2024

The topic of pricing non-convexities in power markets has been explored vividly in the literature and among practitioners for the past twenty years. The debate has been focused on indivisibilities in short-term auctions, the computational tractability of some pricing proposals, and the economic analysis of their behavior. In this paper, we analyse a source of non-convexities that is not discussed as broadly: the indivisibilities in investment decisions. The absence of equilibrium that we are primarily concerned about is the long-term equilibrium. We derive a capacity expansion model with indivisibilities and we highlight the issues arising from it. We discuss its relevance and address one particular argument for neglecting indivisibilities in investment, namely market size. We investigate to what extent a capacity market that clears discrete offers can mitigate the lumpiness problem. We particularly introduce the novel concept of convex hull pricing for capacity auctions. We illustrate the main findings with a numerical experiment conducted on the capacity expansion model used by ENTSO-E to assess the adequacy of the entire European system.
Fluctuations in abundance of the striped venus clam Chamelea gallina in the southern Adriatic Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea): knowledge, gaps and insights for ecosystem-based fishery management
Authors: Carlucci R. , Cascione D. , Ricci P. , De Padova D. , Dragone V. , Cipriano G. , Mossa M.
Published: March 2024

An assessment on the fluctuations in abundance of the striped venus clam (Chamelea gallina) in the southern Adriatic Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea), and the northern Gargano area, has been conducted through both historical information and recent data from monitoring surveys during the period 1997–2019. Production trends, conditions of the commercial stock biomass, and depth distribution pattern of juveniles and commercial sizes were analysed testing temporal differences. Moreover, the exploitation of the clam beds and recruitment events were investigated in 2018–2019. Changes in abundance were analysed using non-parametric tests for both juvenile (length class, LC < 22 mm) and commercial (LC ≥ 22 mm) fractions. Hydrodynamic changes, temperature and salinity variations were explored using a 3D hydrodynamic numerical model (MIKE 3 FM-HD) and statistical analysis, as well as changes in benthic assemblages impacted by hydraulic dredges were investigated through PERMANOVA and other multivariate analysis.

The results showed a temporal decline of production and biomass of C. gallina during the 1997–2019 period, and a regression of the depth limit in the clams’ distribution towards shallower waters. A significant reduction in juveniles was observed during 2018–2019 with a very limited recruitment. The fishing exploitation showed high impacts on the commercial stock and benthic assemblages in the summer of 2018. Overall, water currents were predominantly directed offshore in 2018, during the C. gallina spawning period. This could affect the larval dispersal and settlement on unsuitable bottoms. Anomalies in temperature (high peaks in August 2018, > 28 °C) and salinity (low values in spring 2018, < 37 PSU) could have induced stress and mortality events on the entire clam bed in the study area. This first study highlights the need to integrate environmental information in the assessment of commercial stocks of clams in the Adriatic Sea, to better understand climate change effects on the fluctuations and to support effective ecosystem-based fishery management.
Advanced Polycrystalline γ′-Strengthened CoNiCr-Based Superalloys
Authors: Neumeier S. , Freund L. P. , Bezold A. , Köbrich M. , Vollhüter J. , Hausmann D. , Solis C. , Stark A. , Schell N. , Pyczak F. , Felfer P. , Gilles R. , Göken M.
Published: March 2024

Novel compositionally complex CoNiCr-based superalloys with excellent mechanical properties have been developed, which combine the multiprincipal element nature of high-entropy alloys with the precipitation strengthening in superalloys. A series of advanced polycrystalline γ′-strengthened CoNiCr-based superalloys, called CoWAlloys, with varying contents of Al, W, Ti, Ta, Mo, and Nb are investigated in terms of microstructure, thermophysical properties, yield, and creep strength. The microstructure of all CoWAlloys consists of an fcc solid solution matrix phase (approximate γ composition in at. pct: 50Co–20Ni–20Cr–10X (X = other alloying elements)), which is strengthened by a multicomponent γ′ (Ni,Co)3(Al,Ti,Ta,W,Nb)-based precipitate phase with a very high-volume fraction of around 60 vol pct (approximate γ′ composition in at. pct: 45Ni–30Co–25X). These alloys have high solidus temperatures above 1300 °C and moderate γ′ solvus temperature between 985 °C and 1080 °C leading to a large processing window. The increasing content of γ′-forming elements Ti, Ta, W, and Nb decreases this window, but increases the γ/γ′ lattice misfit and the anti-phase boundary energy, which contribute to a significantly higher yield and creep strength. Their properties are discussed in comparison with conventional polycrystalline Ni-base superalloys and so-called L12-strengthened high-entropy alloys, revealing that the creep strengths of the CoWAlloys are significantly higher. This is due to the reduced strain rate sensitivity of the CoWAlloys due to different underlying deformation mechanisms: By increasing the anti-phase boundary energy, a transition to stacking fault shearing and microtwinning occurs, which leads to the enhanced creep strength. Based on these results, guidelines and strategies for the design of next-generation advanced high-temperature polycrystalline superalloys are proposed.

Graphical Abstract
Comparative Plasma Nitrocarburizing of AISI 316L and AISI 304 Steels Using a Solid Carbon Active Screen: Differences in the Developing Microstructures
Authors: Jafarpour S. M. , Martin S. , Schimpf C. , Dalke A. , Biermann H. , Leineweber A.
Published: March 2024

This paper features a direct comparison of the response of AISI 316L and AISI 304 austenitic stainless steels to active screen plasma nitrocarburizing applied for a wide range of treatment temperatures from 380 °C to 480 °C (653 K to 753 K). Thereby, an active screen made of solid carbon was used without applying bias plasma to the treated steel samples. Since it is believed that the result of treatment strongly depends on the concentration of in-situ generated hydrogen cyanide, the conditions of the treatments were adapted to keep this concentration constant. Under such treatment conditions, it was shown that AISI 316L has a lower tendency to form CrN than AISI 304 at comparable treatment temperatures, where the threshold temperature was found below 480 °C (753 K) for the former and below 440 °C (713 K) for the latter. In addition, the decomposition of expanded austenite generated on the treated AISI 316L at high temperatures leads to CrN and (mainly) Cr-depleted austenite phase, which is possibly accompanied by minor amounts of $$\alpha$$
α
-ferrite. Instead, for the treated AISI 304, decomposition leads to CrN and transformed $$\alpha$$
α
-ferrite phase. The modified layer thicknesses achieved after a given treatment duration and the kinetics of the layer growth showed a characteristic temperature dependence for each steel, which is discussed in accordance with the results of microstructure analysis.