bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of Foams as a Remediation and Blocking Agent
Authors: Atteia Olivier , Bertin Henri , Fatin-Rouge Nicolas , Fitzhenry Emily , Martel Richard , Portois Clément , Robert Thomas , Vicard Alexandre
Published: November 2023

Foam consists of a mixture of water loaded with surfactant and gas. Injected into the porous medium, foam has many useful properties for soil remediation. The properties of surfactants facilitate the mobilization of pollutants, and the presence of gas greatly reduces the consumption of reagents but also makes it possible to block the passage of water. The foam rheology also leads to specific effects such as the stabilization of the front. This chapter first describes the characteristics of the foam in air and then in the porous medium. Subsequently, a review of the literature on the experiments carried out in the laboratory makes it possible to highlight all the effects of the foam. The following section is devoted to rare foam injection experiments carried out in a real environment. Finally, a section is devoted to the modeling of foam displacement in a porous medium.
Advances in Low-Temperature Thermal Remediation
Authors: Munholland Jonah , Rosso Derek , Randhawa Davinder , Divine Craig , Pennington Andy
Published: November 2023

Remediation through traditional high-temperature thermal techniques (over 100 °C) are designed to remove contaminants like petroleum hydrocarbons via enhanced mobilization and volatilization. However, remedies of this nature can require significant infrastructure, capital, operational and maintenance costs, along with high energy demands and carbon footprints. Conversely, low-temperature thermal approaches (in the mesophilic range of ~15–40 °C) are an inexpensive and more sustainable method that can enhance the physical, biological, and chemical processes to remove contaminants. Heat transfer properties of subsurface sediments and other geological materials do not vary considerably and are relatively independent of grain size, unlike hydraulic properties that can vary several orders of magnitude within a site and often limit the pace of remediation of many in-situ technologies. Therefore, low-temperature thermal remediation is a promising alternative that can remediate contaminant mass present in both high- and low-permeability settings, including fractured rock. Emergence of risk-based non-aqueous phase liquid management approaches and sustainable best management practices further offer a platform for low-temperature thermal remedies to advance petroleum hydrocarbon remediation with lower capital and operational costs. Case studies demonstrating this approach along with preliminary sustainability comparisons of the associated reduced energy use and carbon footprint are described in this chapter.
Natural Source Zone Depletion of Petroleum Hydrocarbon NAPL
Authors: Karimi Askarani Kayvan , Sale Tom , Palaia Tom
Published: November 2023

In the last decade, it has become widely recognized that petroleum found in soil and groundwater in the form of non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) is depleted by naturally occurring microbial communities. Losses of petroleum NAPL via natural processes are referred to as natural source zone depletion (NSZD). The natural loss rates of petroleum NAPL are large enough that they can often be the primary component of a site management strategy. Losses of NAPL through NSZD processes provide by-products such as CO2, CH4, and heat. As such, based on consumption of O2, production of CO2 and CH4, generation of heat, or changes in petroleum NAPL chemical composition over time, a variety of methods have been developed to measure NSZD rates. Each method has advantages and limitations. Therefore, care is needed to select the method that best fits site conditions and site- and project-specific data quality objectives.
Biogeophysics for Optimized Characterization of Petroleum-Contaminated Sites
Authors: Atekwana Estella A. , Atekwana Eliot A. , Ohenhen Leonard O. , Rossbach Silvia
Published: November 2023

Oil spills are common occurrences on land and in coastal environments. To remediate oil spills, the contaminated volume has to be defined, appropriate remedial measures should be undertaken, and evidence must be provided for the successful remediation. Geophysical techniques can aid site investigation and remediation efforts. The insulating properties of hydrocarbons make them ideal targets for employing a variety of geophysical techniques for their characterization. Nonetheless, the geophysical response of hydrocarbon-contaminated sites is non-unique and depends on factors such as: (1) the release history, (2) hydrocarbon distribution and partitioning into different phases (vapor, free, dissolved, entrapped, and residual phases) in the unsaturated and saturated zones, (3) seasonal hydrologic processes, (4) extent of biodegradation and (5) aquifer salinity and host lithology. Where the contaminants have been biodegraded, the geophysical response depends on the by-products of different terminal electron acceptor processes (TEAPs). In this chapter, we review the different pathways by which TEAPs mediate geophysical property changes. We provide select field case studies from hydrocarbon-contaminated sites across the globe, including different climatic regimes and water salinity conditions. We show that the geophysical response can be transient, hence, data interpretation should be guided by an understanding of the hydrobiogeochemical processes at each site.
Scale dependence of non-factorizable virtual corrections to Higgs boson production in weak boson fusion
Authors: Brønnum-Hansen Christian , Long Ming-Ming , Melnikov Kirill
Published: November 2023

Abstract

The renormalization-scale dependence of the non-factorizable virtual corrections to Higgs boson production in weak boson fusion at next-to-next-to-leading order in perturbative QCD is unusually strong, due to the peculiar nature of these corrections. To address this problem, we compute the three-loop non-factorizable contribution to this process which accounts for the running of the strong coupling constant, and show that it stabilizes the theoretical prediction.
Torus shadow formalism and exact global conformal blocks
Authors: Alkalaev Konstantin , Mandrygin Semyon
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Using the shadow formalism we find global conformal blocks of torus CFT2. It is shown that n-point torus blocks in the “necklace” channel (a loop with n legs) are expressed in terms of a hypergeometric-type function which we refer to as the necklace function.
Non-trivial Bundles and Algebraic Classical Field Theory
Authors: Brunetti Romeo , Moro Andrea
Published: November 2023

Inspired by the recent algebraic approach to classical field theory, we propose a more general setting based on the manifold of smooth sections of a non-trivial fiber bundle. Central is the notion of observables over such sections, i.e., appropriate smooth functions on them. The kinematics will be further specified by means of the Peierls brackets, which in turn are defined via the causal propagators of linearized field equations. We shall compare the formalism we use with the more traditional ones.
Abgrenzung der Totgeburt von der Fehlgeburt – Auswirkungen auf die ärztliche Leichenschau
Authors: Gehrels Doreen , Ramsthaler Frank , Kettner Mattias , Kölzer Sarah C. , Chabiera Peter Jan , Verhoff Marcel A.
Published: November 2023

Hintergrund

Nach dem Grundgesetz der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (GG) liegt die Gesetzgebungsbefugnis für Todesfeststellung und Leichenschau bei den Ländern, während das Personenstandswesen in die Bundesgesetzgebungsbefugnis fällt. Das Personenstandsrecht ist im Personenstandsgesetz (PStG) und der Personenstandsverordnung (PStV) geregelt.

Ziel der Arbeit

Untersucht werden sollten evtl. Auswirkungen der Änderung des § 31 PStV vom 01.11.2018 auf die ärztliche Leichenschau. Konkret ging es um die Abgrenzung der Tot- von der Fehlgeburt und damit der Pflicht zur ärztlichen Leichenschau unter Berücksichtigung der Bundes- und Landesgesetzgebung.

Methodik

Die „Bestattungsgesetze“ der 16 Bundesländer sowie dazugehörige Verordnungen und das PStG und die PStV wurden systematisch analysiert.

Ergebnisse

In 12 der 16 Ländergesetze wird das Totgeborene bzw. tot geborene Kind – in Abgrenzung zur Fehlgeburt (Fehlgeborenes) – über das Geburtsgewicht von mindestens 500 g definiert. In Hessen, Bremen und im Saarland wird zusätzlich als alternatives Kriterium die 24. Schwangerschaftswoche (SSW) genannt. Das Kriterium „Erreichen der 24. SSW“ kam im bremischen und saarländischen Bestattungsrecht nach der Änderung des § 31 PStV hinzu. Im hessischen Friedhofs- und Bestattungsgesetz ist alternativ „nach der 24. SSW geboren“ verwendet.

Diskussion

Unabhängig von der nicht abschließend geklärten Frage, ob es sich bei einer Totgeburt um einen personenstandsrechtlichen „Sterbefall“ handelt, lässt sich eine von den „Bestattungsgesetzen“ der Länder unabhängige Leichenschaupflicht ableiten: bei der Annahme eines Sterbefalls unmittelbar aus § 38 Nr. 4 PStV, bei Ablehnung mittelbar aus § 33 S. 3 PStV i. V. m. § 5 PStV. Für diese Leichenschaupflicht müssten bezüglich der Leichendefinition die Kriterien des Personenstandsrechts gelten. Demnach wäre in allen Bundesländern – unabhängig von den Kriterien in den jeweiligen „Bestattungsgesetzen“ – zur Differenzierung zwischen Totgeburt und Fehlgeburt das alternative Merkmal „Erreichen der 24. Schwangerschaftswoche“ zu überprüfen, falls die tote Leibesfrucht, die keine Zeichen des Gelebthabens außerhalb des Mutterleibs aufweist, unter 500 g wiegt.
Hourly rainfall-runoff modelling by combining the conceptual model with machine learning models in mostly karst Ljubljanica River catchment in Slovenia
Authors: Sezen Cenk , Šraj Mojca
Published: November 2023

Hydrological modelling, essential for water resources management, can be very complex in karst catchments with different climatic and geologic characteristics. In this study, three combined conceptual models incorporating the snow module with machine learning models were used for hourly rainfall-runoff modelling in the mostly karst Ljubljanica River catchment, Slovenia. Wavelet-based Extreme Learning Machine (WELM) and Wavelet-based Regression Tree (WRT) machine learning models were integrated into the conceptual CemaNeige Génie Rural à 4 paramètres Horaires (CemaNeige GR4H). In this regard, the performance of the hybrid models was compared with stand-alone conceptual and machine learning models. The stand-alone WELM and WRT models using only meteorological variables performed poorly for hourly runoff forecasting. The CemaNeige GR4H model as stand-alone model yielded good performance; however, it overestimated low flows. The hybrid CemaNeige GR4H-WELM and CemaNeige-WRT models provided better simulation results than the stand-alone models, especially regarding the extreme flows. The results of the study demonstrated that using different variables from the conceptual model, including the snow module, in the machine learning models as input data can significantly affect the performance of rainfall-runoff modelling. The hybrid modelling approach can potentially improve runoff simulation performance in karst catchments with diversified geological formations where the rainfall-runoff process is more complex.
Mining thermophiles for biotechnologically relevant enzymes: evaluating the potential of European and Caucasian hot springs
Authors: Burkhardt Christin , Baruth Leon , Neele Meyer-Heydecke  , Klippel Barbara , Margaryan Armine , Paloyan Ani , Panosyan Hovik H. , Antranikian Garabed
Published: November 2023

The development of sustainable and environmentally friendly industrial processes is becoming very crucial and demanding for the rapid implementation of innovative bio-based technologies. Natural extreme environments harbor the potential for discovering and utilizing highly specific and efficient biocatalysts that are adapted to harsh conditions. This review focuses on extremophilic microorganisms and their enzymes (extremozymes) from various hot springs, shallow marine vents, and other geothermal habitats in Europe and the Caucasus region. These hot environments have been partially investigated and analyzed for microbial diversity and enzymology. Hotspots like Iceland, Italy, and the Azores harbor unique microorganisms, including bacteria and archaea. The latest results demonstrate a great potential for the discovery of new microbial species and unique enzymes that can be explored for the development of Circular Bioeconomy.

Different screening approaches have been used to discover enzymes that are active at extremes of temperature (up 120 °C), pH (0.1 to 11), high salt concentration (up to 30%) as well as activity in the presence of solvents (up to 99%). The majority of published enzymes were revealed from bacterial or archaeal isolates by traditional activity-based screening techniques. However, the latest developments in molecular biology, bioinformatics, and genomics have revolutionized life science technologies. Post-genomic era has contributed to the discovery of millions of sequences coding for a huge number of biocatalysts. Both strategies, activity- and sequence-based screening approaches, are complementary and contribute to the discovery of unique enzymes that have not been extensively utilized so far.
A novel solar disk chamber reactor for agricultural waste recycling and biochar production
Authors: Emran Mohamed , El-Gamal Eman H. , Mokhiamar Ossama , Elsamni Osama , Rashad Mohamed
Published: November 2023

The quality and properties of biochar are generally influenced by the nature of the raw materials and pyrolysis techniques. To assess the quality of sesame biochar production, a disc chamber reactor set on a solar parabolic dish concentrator was proposed as a modified slow pyrolysis technique. To evaluate the physicochemical characterizations of the produced biochar, two pyrolysis settings were used: 470 °C for 1 h (T1) and 440 °C for 2 h (T2) to produce biochar from sesame stalk feedstock (SS) using the proposed solar disk chamber reactor. Ash content, mass fraction of elements (C, H, and O%), pH, surface area, zeta potential, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were investigated. The results showed that the mass of T1 biochar decreased by 5% when compared to T2, while ash content, pH, fixed carbon, and volatile gases for both biochars were relatively close. The H/C and O/C molar ratios were below 1.00 and 0.4, respectively, indicating a loss of degradable polar contents and the formation of aromatic compounds. The surface area of T2 biochar was three times the surface area of T1, with the opposite trend in mean pore diameter. Two biochars showed the same FTIR peaks and SEM data, with small differences in their characteristics, demonstrating that pyrolysis time and temperature had a tight relationship. Both biochars showed approximately similar properties. The reactor’s efficiency is mainly affected by solar energy and atmospheric conditions during operation, which influence the average surface temperature. In Egypt, climatic conditions would be more favorable in the summer to improve the efficiency of parabolic solar dish concentrators for producing high-quality biochar.

Graphical abstract
Advancements in Controlled Source Electromagnetic Methods for Prospecting Unconventional Hydrocarbon Resources in China
Authors: Yan Liangjun
Published: November 2023

Globally, unconventional hydrocarbons, known for the symbiosis of their hydrocarbon source and reservoir, pose significant seismic exploration challenges due to their confined target regions, extensive burial depth, minimal acoustic impedance variation, marked heterogeneity, and strong anisotropy. Over the past decade, electromagnetic (EM) exploration has evolved markedly, improving resolution and reliability, thus becoming indispensable in unconventional hydrocarbon exploration. Focusing on China's application of the controlled source electromagnetic method (CSEM), this review examines the geological and electrical attributes of these reservoirs, notably the low resistivity, high polarization and strong electrical anisotropy of shale gas reservoirs. Despite the demonstrated positive correlation between induced polarization (IP) parameters and reservoir parameters, current methodologies emphasize the IP effect, inadvertently neglecting electrical anisotropy, which affects data precision. Moreover, single-source CSEM methodologies limit the observational components, acquisition density, and exploration area, impacting the accuracy and efficacy of data interpretation. Recently developed CSEM techniques in China, namely wide-frequency electromagnetic method (WFEM), time–frequency electromagnetic method (TFEM), long offset transient electromagnetic method (LOTEM), and wireless electromagnetic method (WEM), harness high-power pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS) waveforms, reference observation and processing technology, hybrid inversion, and enhancing operational efficiency and adaptability despite the pressing need for multi-functional software for data acquisition. Case studies detail these methods' applications in shale gas sweet spot detection and continuous hydraulic fracturing monitoring, highlighting the immense potential of EM methods in unconventional hydrocarbon sweet spot detection and total organic content (TOC) predication. However, challenges persist in suppressing EM noise, streamlining 3D inversion processes, and improving the detection and evaluation of sweet spots.
Not so sweet: impacts of a soda tax on producers
Authors: Gonçalves Judite , Merenda Roxanne , Pereira dos Santos João
Published: November 2023

Portugal introduced a sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) tax in 2017. This study uses unique administrative accounting data for all SSB producers/importers in Portugal, and an event study design with bottled water firms as the primary comparison group, to assess the causal impacts of the tax on multiple firm-level outcomes. We find a 6.8% average decrease in domestic SSB sales, relative to bottled water. The soda tax hindered SSB firms’ financial health, namely net income, ability to convert receivables into cash, and liabilities. SSB producers/importers did not decrease wages, cut jobs, or modify their workforce toward higher R&D capacity. Forgone corporate income tax appears negligible compared to the government revenue generated by the tax itself.
A Reinforcement Learning Approach for Continuum Robot Control
Authors: Kargin Turhan Can , Kołota Jakub
Published: November 2023

Rigid joint manipulators are limited in their movement and degrees of freedom (DOF), while continuum robots possess a continuous backbone that allows for free movement and multiple DOF. Continuum robots move by bending over a section, taking inspiration from biological manipulators such as tentacles and trunks. This paper presents an implementation of a forward kinematics and velocity kinematics model to describe the planar continuum robot, along with the application of reinforcement learning (RL) as a control algorithm. In this paper, we have adopted the planar constant curvature representation for the forward kinematic modeling. This choice was made due to its straightforward implementation and its potential to fill the literature gap in the field RL-based control for planar continuum robots. The intended control mechanism is achieved through the use of Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG), a RL algorithm that is suited for learning controls in continuous action spaces. After simulating the algorithm, it was observed that the planar continuum robot can autonomously move from any initial point to any desired goal point within the task space of the robot. By analyzing the results, we wanted to recommend a future direction for research in the field of continuum robot control, specifically in the application of RL algorithms. One potential area of focus could be the integration of sensory feedback, such as vision or force sensing, to improve the robot’s ability to navigate complex environments. Additionally, exploring the use of different RL algorithms, such as Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) or Trust Region Policy Optimization (TRPO), could lead to further advancements in the field. Overall, this paper demonstrates the potential for RL-based control of continuum robots and highlights the importance of continued research in this area.
Vicious Relational Circles and Chronic Couple Conflictuality: An Empirical Study
Authors: Eleonora Fiorenza , Valeria Crisafulli , Renato Carpentieri , De Luca Emma , Di Filippo Clarissa , La Stella Michela , Jessica Leonardi , Camilla Mannocchi , Martina Rodomonti , Laura Rosi , Marianna Santodoro , Francesco Gazzillo
Published: November 2023

The study aims to empirically assess the control-mastery theory hypothesis that considers chronic couple conflictuality as the repetition of relational vicious circles—that is, interactions where both partners test their pathogenic beliefs and fail their reciprocal tests, confirming their reciprocal pathogenic beliefs. In addition, the study aims to verify if interpersonal guilt is more activated during couple conflicts. Our study involved 11 couples treated by four experienced therapists and nine trained, independent judges who, after reading verbatim transcripts of the couples’ psychotherapy sessions, used the Patient Scale of Couple Testing (PSCT), and the Patient Interpersonal Guilt Rating Scale (PIGRS) to rate segments of couple sessions. The results were obtained by applying generalized estimating equations and confirm our hypotheses: we could observe a greater presence of testing activity and confirmation of pathogenic beliefs in segments classified as conflictual for both partners and a stronger presence of interpersonal guilt in conflictual versus nonconflictual interactions. These findings support the idea that conflict interactions can be seen as failed attempts by both partners to disconfirm their pathogenic beliefs.
Romanian Version of the Frustration Discomfort Scale (FDS): A Preliminary Validation on a Non-clinical Sample
Authors: Lupuleac Claudia , Sava Florin Alin
Published: November 2023

Low frustration tolerance is one of the key concepts in rational emotional behavior therapy (REBT). The purpose of this study is to explore the factorial structure, reliability, and validity of the Romanian version of the Frustration Discomfort Scale (FDS), developed by Harrington (Clin Psychol Psychother 12(5):374–387, 2005b. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.465), within a non-clinical sample (N = 308) of Romanian teachers. For validation purposes, participants also completed several measures such as the Unconditional Self-Acceptance Questionnaire (USAQ) (Chamberlain and Haaga in J Ration Emot Cogn Behav Ther 19(3):163–176, 2001. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011189416600), Attitudes and Belief Scale 2 (ABS2) (DiGiuseppe et al. J Ration Emot Cogn Behav Ther 36(1):47–79, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-017-0273-3), Teacher Irrational Belief Scale (TIBS) (Bernard Teacher irrationality and teacher stress, 24th international congress of psychology, Sydney, Australia, 1988), and Pupil Control Ideology Scale (PCI) (Willower et al. The school and pupil control, The Pennsylvania State University, 1967). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) suggests that the initial four-factor solution from the scale development study received similar support to the one-factor solution found in some previous studies. Patterns of correlations linking the FDS total sum score versus the FDS 4-factor scale scores with other variables provide some support for the one-factor solution, mainly because it is a more parsimonious solution. Differentiating between several subcomponents of FDS does not bring discriminant validity in our non-clinical sample. Based on current preliminary validation, the FDS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing frustration discomfort in a Romanian-speaking population as a single-factor construct. Our results do not exclude the possibility that future discriminant validity endeavors could support the utility of treating low frustration tolerance as a multidimensional construct since using a non-clinical sample is likely to impact the factorial structure of the FDS.
Conserved and non-conserved RNA–target modules in plants: lessons for a better understanding of Marchantia development
Authors: Pietrykowska Halina , Alisha Alisha , Aggarwal Bharti , Watanabe Yuichiro , Ohtani Misato , Jarmolowski Artur , Sierocka Izabela , Szweykowska-Kulinska Zofia
Published: November 2023

A wide variety of functional regulatory non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been identified as essential regulators of plant growth and development. Depending on their category, ncRNAs are not only involved in modulating target gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels but also are involved in processes like RNA splicing and RNA-directed DNA methylation. To fulfill their molecular roles properly, ncRNAs must be precisely processed by multiprotein complexes. In the case of small RNAs, DICER-LIKE (DCL) proteins play critical roles in the production of mature molecules. Land plant genomes contain at least four distinct classes of DCL family proteins (DCL1–DCL4), of which DCL1, DCL3 and DCL4 are also present in the genomes of bryophytes, indicating the early divergence of these genes. The liverwort Marchantia polymorpha has become an attractive model species for investigating the evolutionary history of regulatory ncRNAs and proteins that are responsible for ncRNA biogenesis. Recent studies on Marchantia have started to uncover the similarities and differences in ncRNA production and function between the basal lineage of bryophytes and other land plants. In this review, we summarize findings on the essential role of regulatory ncRNAs in Marchantia development. We provide a comprehensive overview of conserved ncRNA–target modules among M. polymorpha, the moss Physcomitrium patens and the dicot Arabidopsis thaliana, as well as Marchantia-specific modules. Based on functional studies and data from the literature, we propose new connections between regulatory pathways involved in Marchantia’s vegetative and reproductive development and emphasize the need for further functional studies to understand the molecular mechanisms that control ncRNA-directed developmental processes.
Implicit assumptions of (prospective) music school teachers about musically gifted students
Authors: Bareiß Laura , Platz Friedrich , Wirzberger Maria
Published: November 2023

Stereotypical assumptions associating high levels of giftedness and outstanding performance with maladaptive behavioral characteristics and personality traits (cf. disharmony stereotype) are rather prevalent in the school context as well as in the musical domain. Such preconceptions among teachers can influence student assessment and corresponding performance expectations, which might, in turn, impact future lesson planning. In an experiment using a controlled vignette approach, the current study, with N = 211 (prospective) German music school teachers, investigated how background information, combined with a manipulated music recording, affected (prospective) music school teachers’ assessment of a fictive student’s performance, behavioral characteristics, personality traits, and teachers'  consequential lesson planning. Experimental variations included the fictive student’s supposed level of giftedness, social interaction, age, and duration of instrumental lessons. Results indicated that music school teachers’ preconceptions of students assumed to be musically gifted were a high level of intellectual and musical abilities with behavioral characteristics and personality traits rated at least equivalent to those of students assumed to have average giftedness. Teachers’ lesson planning was not influenced by any of the manipulated background information. Taken together, the observed pattern of effects contradicts the disharmony stereotype but tends to align more with the harmony stereotype as music school teachers’ prevailing preconceptions about students supposed to be musically gifted.
Visual Ensemble Analysis of Fluid Flow in Porous Media Across Simulation Codes and Experiment
Authors: Bauer Ruben , Ngo Quynh Quang , Reina Guido , Frey Steffen , Flemisch Bernd , Hauser Helwig , Ertl Thomas , Sedlmair Michael
Published: November 2023

We study the question of how visual analysis can support the comparison of spatio-temporal ensemble data of liquid and gas flow in porous media. To this end, we focus on a case study, in which nine different research groups concurrently simulated the process of injecting CO$$_2$$

2

into the subsurface. We explore different data aggregation and interactive visualization approaches to compare and analyze these nine simulations. In terms of data aggregation, one key component is the choice of similarity metrics that define the relationship between different simulations. We test different metrics and find that using the machine-learning model “S4” (tailored to the present study) as metric provides the best visualization results. Based on that, we propose different visualization methods. For overviewing the data, we use dimensionality reduction methods that allow us to plot and compare the different simulations in a scatterplot. To show details about the spatio-temporal data of each individual simulation, we employ a space-time cube volume rendering. All views support linking and brushing interaction to allow users to select and highlight subsets of the data simultaneously across multiple views. We use the resulting interactive, multi-view visual analysis tool to explore the nine simulations and also to compare them to data from experimental setups. Our main findings include new insights into ranking of simulation results with respect to experimental data, and the development of gravity fingers in simulations.
Heat inactivation of SARS-CoV 2 enabled the measurement of salivary cortisol during COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Voltan Giacomo , Antonelli Giorgia , Mondin Alessandro , Tizianel Irene , Sabbadin Chiara , Barbot Mattia , Basso Daniela , Scaroni Carla , Ceccato Filippo
Published: November 2023

Background and aim

Salivary cortisol has become an essential tool in the management of cortisol-related disease. In 2020 the sudden outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic caused several concerns about the use of saliva, due to the risk of contamination, and a European consensus further discourage using salivary cortisol. To decrease infectious risk, we handled specimens by applying a heat treatment to inactivate viral particles, further evaluating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the use of salivary cortisol in clinical practice.

Material and methods

Saliva samples were exposed for 10 min at 70 °C, then cortisol was measured using LC-MS/MS. The number of salivary cortisol examinations from 2013 to 2022 was extracted from the local electronic database: those performed in 2019, 2020, and 2021 were analyzed and compared with the historical data.

Results

During 2020 we observed a decrease of 408 (−20%) examinations (p = 0.05) compared to 2019; especially in salivary cortisol daily rhythm and salivary cortisol/cortisone ratio (respectively reduction of 47% and 88%, p = 0.003 and p = 0.001). Analyzing year 2021 compared with 2020 we reported an increase of 420 examinations (+20%, p = 0.01), with a complete recovery of salivary cortisol measurement (considering 2019: p = 0.71). Major differences were observed between morning salivary cortisol (−20%, p = 0.017), LNSC (−21%, p = 0.012) and salivary cortisol rhythm (−22%, p = 0.056). No Sars-Cov2 infections related to working exposure were reported among laboratory’s employers.

Conclusions

We speculate that the adoption of an appropriate technique to inactivate viral particles in saliva specimens allowed the safety maintenance of salivary collections, also during the Sars-CoV-2 outbreak.
The Potential Role of Thyroid Hormone Therapy in Neural Progenitor Cell Differentiation and Its Impact on Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Authors: Salloum-Asfar Salam , Shin Kyung Chul , Taha Rowaida Z. , Khattak Shahryar , Park Yongsoo , Abdulla Sara A.
Published: November 2023

Thyroid hormone (T3) plays a vital role in brain development and its dysregulation can impact behavior, nervous system function, and cognitive development. Large case-cohort studies have associated abnormal maternal T3 during early pregnancy to epilepsy, autism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Recent experimental findings have also shown T3’s influence on the fate of neural precursor cells and raise the question of its convergence with embryonic neural progenitors. Our objective was to investigate how T3 treatment affects neuronal development and functionality at the cellular level. In vitro experiments using neural precursor cells (NPCs) measured cell growth and numbers after exposure to varying T3 concentrations. Time points included week 0 (W0) representing NPCs treated with 100 nM T3 for 5 days, and differentiated cortical neurons assessed at weeks 3 (W3), 6 (W6), and 8 (W8). Techniques such as single-cell calcium imaging and whole-cell patch clamp were utilized to evaluate neuronal activity and function. IHC staining detected mature neuron markers, and RNA sequencing enabled molecular profiling. W6 and W8 neurons exhibited higher action potential frequencies, with W6 showing increased peak amplitudes and shortened inter-spike intervals by 50%, indicating enhanced activity. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that W6 T3-treated neurons formed a distinct cluster, suggesting accelerated maturation. Comparison with the whole transcriptome further unveiled a correlation between W6 neurons treated with T3 and neuronal regulatory elements associated with autism and ADHD. These findings provide insights into T3’s impact on neuronal development and potential mechanisms of T3 dysregulation and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Von 3D zu 2D: Organoid-basierte Monolayer als Modell der Darmbarriere
Authors: Krug Susanne M.
Published: November 2023

Intestinal barrier studies often employ cell lines having limited cell type representation compared to native tissue. Organoids comprising most intestinal cell types better mimic in vivo conditions. However, 3D organoids pose challenges for barrier analysis. Thus, organoid-derived monolayers were generated that closely resemble donor tissue under optimized conditions, making them suitable for tissue-specific investigation. Further developments will incorporate additional intestinal compartments.
Chloroplasten: kleine Zellorganellen mit großem Potenzial
Authors: Laskowski Josephin , Ruf Stephanie , Bock Ralph , Zoschke Reimo
Published: November 2023

Chloroplast transformation is employed in basic research and green biotechnology. Using chloroplasts as bioreactors provides several advantages such as solar-powered high transgene expression, easy gene-targeting in the plastid genome by homologous recombination, increased biosafety due to tight transgene containment and the potential of engineering metabolic pathways in operon-like arrangements. These and other features make chloroplasts attractive for genetic engineering and biotechnology.
Bioinspirierte Lunge–auf–Chip als Alternative zu Tierversuchen
Authors: Doryab Ali
Published: November 2023

Chronic respiratory diseases are one of the most common causes of death globally. Biomimetic lung-on-chip (Lung Chip) technologies, as powerful preclinical in vitro models, have been developed to mimic the physiological conditions of human lungs. Lung Chips are rapidly emerging as the most promising and feasible alternative to animal experimentation in pharmaceutical research. Herein, I briefly present the latest advancements in Lung Chips, as well as our contributions to this field of research.
Investigator and participant expectations for returning non-genetic results: insights from the Rare and Atypical Diabetes Network (RADIANT) study
Authors: Noohi Forough , Sundaresan Manu S. , Naylor Rochelle N. , Ross Lainie Friedman
Published: November 2023

Objectives/Goals:

The Rare and Atypical DIAbetes NeTwork (RADIANT) aims to discover the underlying pathoetiology of atypical diabetes by conducting both genotyping and non-genetic deep phenotyping. While the return of genetic test results in research settings has been investigated, the return of non-genetic results (RoR-NG) has received less attention. We explore the RoR-NG with RADIANT investigators and participants.

Methods/Study Population:

We conducted one-on-one interviews with 10 adult RADIANT participants and 10 RADIANT investigators. Participants also completed two health literacy screening tools and a survey on perspectives regarding return of results (RoR). Investigators completed one survey on experience and confidence in explaining clinical tests utilized in the RADIANT study and another survey on perspectives regarding RoR.

Results:

Most participants were non-Hispanic White. All participants had high scores on health literacy screens. Both RADIANT participants and investigators expressed strong support for RoR-NG. RADIANT participants and investigators acknowledged the different roles and responsibilities between research and clinical care for interpreting and acting on non-genetic results. However, the lines between clinical care and research in returning and acting on results were often blurred by both participants and investigators.

Discussion/Significance:

Our study provides important insight into how both investigators and participants simultaneously distinguish and blur clinical and research roles and responsibilities when discussing non-genetic research results and the return of these results. Further study should engage individuals from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds and with varying levels of health literacy to understand how best to support all participants when returning research results.
Disaster, Heaven, and Political Responsibility: Mencius and Dong Zhongshu on Humane Government
Authors: Kim Sungmoon
Published: November 2023

This paper investigates the Confucian conception of political responsibility as a political virtue essential for an ordinary non-Confucian ruler's actualization of humane government by paying close attention to the early Confucian discourses of Heaven and disaster. After briefly discussing Confucius's seminal idea of responsibility, this paper shows how Mencius developed the political conception of responsibility, as a noncausal responsibility shared by the ruler and the virtuous ministers for a humane government, especially under the condition of natural disasters. It then discusses how the Han Confucian philosopher Dong Zhongshu reformulated the Mencian theory of responsibility and humane government under radically altered political circumstances by advancing a new version of Confucianism, central to which is the causal conception of political responsibility. This paper concludes by discussing how the evolution of Confucian political theory from Mencius to Dong Zhongshu should be understood with a view to the question of political legitimacy.
A New Approach to Augustine's Dialogues
Authors: Burns Daniel E.
Published: November 2023

Nearly all twenty-first-century readers of St. Augustine of Hippo become interested in him after reading the story of his Confessions. Yet when nonspecialists want to read more of him, they are directed to the later and more magisterial writings whose author is not immediately recognizable as the young searcher from the Confessions: City of God, On The Trinity, On Christian Doctrine, the scriptural commentaries, the anti-Pelagian tracts. The bishop of Hippo, unlike his younger self—and also unlike his philosophic predecessors, as he well knew—was obligated not to let so much as his word choice cause scandal to pious and uneducated ears.1
Childhood maltreatment and mental health problems in a 10-year follow-up study of adolescents in youth residential care: A latent transition analysis
Authors: Bürgin David , Witt Andreas , Seker Süheyla , d’Huart Delfine , Meier Maria , Jenkel Nils , Boonmann Cyril , Schmeck Klaus , Fegert Jörg M. , Schmid Marc
Published: November 2023

Childhood maltreatment and mental health problems are common among young people placed out-of-home. However, evidence on the impact of maltreatment on the course of mental health problems in at-risk populations is sparse. The aim of this longitudinal study is twofold: (a) describe the course of mental health problems and the shift in symptom patterns among adolescents in youth residential care into young adulthood and (b) assess how childhood maltreatment is related to the course of mental health problems. One hundred and sixty-six adolescents in Swiss youth residential care were followed up into young adulthood (36.1% women; MAge-Baseline = 16.1 years; MAge-Follow-Up = 26.4 years). Latent transition analysis was employed to analyze transitions of symptom patterns and their association with maltreatment exposure. We found three latent classes of mental health problems: a “multiproblem”-class (51.8% baseline; 33.7% follow-up), a “low symptom”-class (39.2% baseline; 60.2% follow-up), and an “externalizing”-class (9.0% baseline; 6.0% follow-up). Individuals in the “multiproblem”-class were likely to transition towards less-complex symptom patterns. Higher severity of self-reported childhood maltreatment was associated with more complex and persistent mental health problems. Our study underlines the need for collaboration between residential and psychiatric care systems within and after care placements, with a specialized focus on trauma-informed interventions and care.
Paediatric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy secondary to Danon disease
Authors: Tang Kai , Wu Jiayi , Liu Xiaoxi , Wang Shuiyun
Published: November 2023

Danon disease is a rare X-linked disorder caused by deficiency of the lysosome-associated membrane protein-2. We report a case of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy secondary to a novel mutation in the lysosome-associated membrane protein-2 gene in a 10-year-old male adolescent. We performed a modified extended Morrow procedure to minimise the risk of death and improve the patient’s quality of life. The patient did not have exertional dyspnoea, and auscultation did not reveal a cardiac murmur at 1-year follow-up.
A comparison of WPPSI-IV performance between Finland-Swedish minority children and the Scandinavian test norms: Findings from The FinSwed Study
Authors: Salonen Jannika , Slama Susanna , Haavisto Anu , Rosenqvist Johanna
Published: November 2023

Objective:

The Swedish Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-IV) is commonly used for assessing young children belonging to the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland (Finland-Swedes), but there is no information about the generalizability of this test and its norms to this minority. Cross-cultural comparisons of WPPSI-IV are also scarce. We compared the performance of Finland-Swedish children to the Scandinavian norms of the Swedish WPPSI-IV and explored the relationship between sociodemographic factors (age, sex, parental education level, bilingualism) and the performance.

Method:

The Swedish WPPSI-IV was administered to 79 typically developing 5–6-year-old Finland-Swedish children assessed for The FinSwed Study. Their performance was compared to the Scandinavian norms using MANOVA, t-test, and confidence interval comparisons. Associations with sociodemographic variables were explored using regression analyses.

Results:

Finland-Swedish children performed, on average, 1/3 SD higher than the Scandinavian norms, a difference which was statistically significant with medium-sized effects. However, individual subtests and indexes did not differ significantly from the norms. Significant associations with sociodemographic factors were found for some but not all index scores.

Conclusions:

This study provides clinically important information for using the Swedish WPPSI-IV with the Finland-Swedish minority and demonstrates aspects that clinicians working with this minority should take into account. The results are presumably partly explained by characteristics of the present sample, and partly by cultural and linguistic differences between the Finland-Swedish population and the Scandinavian countries. The findings also illustrate that cross-cultural differences in cognitive performance may be present even between similar cultures with the same language.
Luminescence Chronology of Reticulated Laterites in the Humid Subtropical Mountains of South China
Authors: Jin Jianhui , Qiu Junjie , Ling Zhiyong , Wei Junjie , Zuo Xinxin , Li Zhizhong , Hou Chenyang , Xu Daiyu
Published: November 2023

Laterite is a red weathering crust developed with various rocks and Quaternary loose sediments as its parent material in the tropics and subtropics regions of the world. Since the 1930s, researchers have believed that the fluvial reticulated laterite in southern China was influenced by the warm and humid climate of the Middle Pleistocene. In recent years, the remains of Paleolithic human activities are often found in the reticulated laterite of southern China. However, the study of laterite chronology is sporadic or there is no critical chronological analysis, which causes uncertainty in the identification and discussion of the ages of reticulated laterite and Paleolithic sites. In this study, a Paleolithic site found in fluvial reticulated laterite in South China was systematically tested by quartz optical luminescence dating and geomorphic process analysis. The results show that, (a) The T3 terrace, an archive of hominin activity in the study area, primarily formed between 56 and 11 ka. (b) Reticulated laterite cannot be used simply to determine the ages of the Paleolithic sites found in this stratum, and typical reticulated laterite cannot be used as a marker for climatic stratigraphy and chronostratigraphy. The fluvial reticulated laterite in the southern tropics, under suitable hydrothermal conditions, can form within tens of thousands of years or even within 10 ka. (c) Human activities can affect the burial age of reticulated laterite, and the stratigraphic diachronism of riverine terraces can also lead to an inversion in the age of reticulated laterite.
A tumor-associated heparan sulfate-related glycosaminoglycan promotes the generation of functional regulatory T cells
Authors: Martín-Cruz Leticia , Viñuela Marcos , Kalograiaki Ioanna , Angelina Alba , Oquist-Phillips Paola , Real-Arévalo Irene , Cañada Francisco Javier , Tudela José Ignacio , Moltó Luis , Moreno-Sierra Jesús , Subiza José Luis , Palomares Oscar
Published: November 2023

Functional Tregs play a key role in tumor development and progression, representing a major barrier to anticancer immunity. The mechanisms by which Tregs are generated in cancer and the influence of the tumor microenvironment on these processes remain incompletely understood. Herein, by using NMR, chemoenzymatic structural assays and a plethora of in vitro and in vivo functional analyses, we demonstrate that the tumoral carbohydrate A10 (Ca10), a cell-surface carbohydrate derived from Ehrlich’s tumor (ET) cells, is a heparan sulfate-related proteoglycan that enhances glycolysis and promotes the development of tolerogenic features in human DCs. Ca10-stimulated human DCs generate highly suppressive Tregs by mechanisms partially dependent on metabolic reprogramming, PD-L1, IL-10, and IDO. Ca10 also reprograms the differentiation of human monocytes into DCs with tolerogenic features. In solid ET-bearing mice, we found positive correlations between Ca10 serum levels, tumor size and splenic Treg numbers. Administration of isolated Ca10 also increases the proportion of splenic Tregs in tumor-free mice. Remarkably, we provide evidence supporting the presence of a circulating human Ca10 counterpart (Ca10H) and show, for the first time, that serum levels of Ca10H are increased in patients suffering from different cancer types compared to healthy individuals. Of note, these levels are higher in prostate cancer patients with bone metastases than in prostate cancer patients without metastases. Collectively, we reveal novel molecular mechanisms by which heparan sulfate-related structures associated with tumor cells promote the generation of functional Tregs in cancer. The discovery of this novel structural-functional relationship may open new avenues of research with important clinical implications in cancer treatment.