bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of dextrins and β-glucans on palate fullness and mouthfeel of beer
Authors: Moreno Ravelo Rolando César , Gastl Martina , Becker Thomas
Published: November 2023

Palate fullness (PF) and mouthfeel are important sensory attributes influencing beer quality. The molar mass of starch (dextrins) and non-starch (β-glucans) polysaccharides may influence PF (pleasant) or mouthfeel (sliminess, unpleasant), respectively. Therefore, this research aims to generate beer with wide physico-chemical responses based on various raw material characteristics to study its relation to PF and mouthfeel. To accomplish this, ten barley varieties (two harvest locations and years) were classified into three groups based on their modification characteristics. To intensify response variation, barley was malted at two modification levels (parameter steeping degree), generating 55 independent malts used to brew the same number of standardized bottom fermented beers. A trained sensory panel evaluated PF (intensity and quality) and mouthfeel (e.g., slimy) descriptors. Additionally, beers were fractionated by asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) in three different fractions and their molar masses were determined. The average molar mass of big size (> 10 nm) dextrins and β-glucans AF4 fraction increased analogously to barley modification characteristics. For sensory data evaluation, only beer samples brewed with malts inside the recommended brewing specifications were considered (β-glucan content in malt < 350 mg/L, ISO 65 °C). PF quality was lower on samples with β-glucan content < 100 mg/L. This group also contained fewer dextrins (attenuation > 87.4 ± 1.5%), suggesting that the balance of β-glucans and dextrins is important for PF quality. This work indicates that molar mass of starch and non-starch polysaccharides, affected by barley variety and its modification level, influences sensory perception, and hence, beer quality.

Graphical Abstract
Foraging movements and important sites for conservation of the West African Crested Tern Thalasseus albididorsalis breeding in Guinea-Bissau
Authors: Correia Edna , Beal Martin , Gomes Nélson , Diop Ngoné , Wambar Francisco , Dias Maria P. , Hernandez-Rios Alfonso , Catry Teresa
Published: November 2023

Assessing at-sea distributions and behaviour of seabirds to identify critical foraging sites and spatial overlap with potential threats is a major step for delineating conservation guidelines. The West African Crested Tern (Thalasseus albididorsalis) is the most abundant breeding tern in West Africa, nesting from Mauritania to Guinea. Its restricted breeding range and exclusive nesting at coastal low-lying areas, place this species at particular risk of losing suitable breeding and resting sites as a consequence of current global changes, namely, sea-level rise. The at-sea distribution of this species is mostly unknown, and therefore, the specific threats faced are still unidentified. Here, we characterize the foraging behaviour and distribution of West African Crested terns breeding at the world’s second-largest colony of the species, in Guinea-Bissau, by tracking 20 individuals. Overall, terns took an average of 2 trips per day, travelling on average 100 km per trip, but often reaching areas up to 120 km from the colony. Shallow waters, usually not exceeding 10 m in depth, and upwelling areas were mostly used as foraging sites. Nocturnal movements, rarely reported on terns, suggest active foraging at night. Key foraging and resting sites were identified, which altogether may regularly hold 2.5–23% of the global breeding population of the West African Crested Tern. These areas are only partly (ca. 50%) covered by the existing marine Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA). Therefore, our results should be considered in any re-evaluation of the IBA borders.
The incomparable fascination of comparative physiology: 40 years with animals in the field and laboratory
Authors: Bleckmann Horst
Published: November 2023

This paper is not meant to be a review article. Instead, it gives an overview of the major research projects that the author, together with his students, colleagues and collaborators, has worked on. Although the main focus of the author’s work has always been the fish lateral line, this paper is mainly about all the other research projects he did or that were done in his laboratory. These include studies on fishing spiders, weakly electric fish, seals, water rats, bottom dwelling sharks, freshwater rays, venomous snakes, birds of prey, fire loving beetles and backswimmers. The reasons for this diversity of research projects? Simple. The authors’s lifelong enthusiasm for animals, and nature's ingenuity in inventing new biological solutions. Indeed, this most certainly was a principal reason why Karl von Frisch and Alfred Kühn founded the Zeitschrift für vergleichende Physiologie (now Journal of Comparative Physiology A) 100 years ago.
The sensitivity of mechanoelectrical transduction response phase to acoustic overstimulation is calcium-dependent
Authors: Hakizimana Pierre
Published: November 2023

The Mechanoelectrical transduction (MET) channels of the mammalian hair cells are essential for converting sound stimuli into electrical signals that enable hearing. However, the impact of acoustic overstimulation, a leading cause of hearing loss, on the MET channel function remains poorly understood. In this study, I investigated the effect of loud sound-induced temporary threshold shift (TTS) on the transduction response phase across a wide range of sound frequencies and amplitudes. The results demonstrated an increase in the transduction response phase following TTS, indicating altered transduction apparatus function. Further investigations involving the reduction of extracellular calcium, a known consequence of TTS, replicated the observed phase changes. Additionally, reduction of potassium entry confirmed the specific role of calcium in regulating the transduction response phase. These findings provide novel insights into the impact of loud sound exposure on hearing impairment at the transduction apparatus level and highlight the critical role of calcium in modulating sound transduction. Considering that over 1 billion teenagers and young adults globally are at risk of hearing loss due to unsafe music listening habits, these results could significantly enhance awareness about the damaging effects of loud sound exposure.
The Potential of Deep Geothermal Energy in Tyrol—Based on a Pre-feasibility Study
Authors: Galler Robert , Villeneuve Marlène , Schreilechner Marcellus G. , Jud Markus , Binder Heinz , Hainisch Alexander , Lüschen Ewald , Eichkitz Christoph G. , Neuhold Christina , Hasni Maha , Bottig Magdalena , Hoyer Stefan , Schubert Gerhard , Rupprecht Doris , Weginger Stefan , Apoloner Maria-Theresia , Hausmann Helmut , Ortner Hugo , Hinterwirth Simon
Published: November 2023

The economic use of deep geothermal energy is fundamentally controlled by the factors of rock permeability, temperature gradient, and depth. The carbonates of the Northern Limestone Alps are considered possible hydrothermal deep aquifers in Tyrol. This is the so-called main dolomite and Wetterstein limestone. For an initial assessment of the geothermal potential, information from the deep Kramsach Th1 borehole was used. With a temperature gradient of approx. 1.8 °C/100 m, which could be derived from the Kramsach Th1 borehole, temperatures of 65 °C at depths of approx. 3000 m and 100 °C at a depth of 5000 m occur in the Inn Valley expect. In addition, it is noted that further in the northwest of the Limestone Alps, at the deep boreholes Vorderriß 1 and Hindelang 1, higher temperature gradients of 2.2 °C/100 m and 2.6 °C/100 m were observed, respectively. Successful thermal water development at these depths requires that hydraulically well-permeable rocks are present. To clarify this question, extensive investigations of the reservoir rocks through exploration drilling are still required. Deep geothermal energy can lead to associated seismicity. In order to quickly detect associated seismicity and to be able to react in a timely manner, seismic monitoring is required during drilling activities and during operation of the systems, whereby the accompanying seismic monitoring must be able to distinguish between natural and induced seismicity.
COVID-19 information source and behavior preference in later life: the role of health satisfaction, socio-demographic background, and country of residence
Authors: Rosenberg Dennis , Taipale Sakari
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The aim of this study was to clarify how health satisfaction, socio-demographic background, and country of residence in older internet users correspond with their preference for COVID-19 information sources or for behaviors aimed at acquiring this information.

Methods

The sample (N = 4233) was drawn from the 2020 wave of the Ageing + Communication + Technologies (ACT) cross-national longitudinal research study. Multinomial and logistic regression models were employed to analyze the data.

Results

An association was found between health satisfaction and preference for interpersonal communication to obtain COVID-19 information over traditional media consumed via traditional devices. Substantial socio-demographic (gender, age, education, marital status) differences were found, particularly regarding preference for digital media. Moreover, sizable cross-country differences were detected.

Conclusions

The results point to the existence of a remarkable divide with respect to the COVID-19 information source/behavior preference even in a digitally advantaged population. Public decision makers and communities should be more involved in assisting older adults to obtain necessary and up-to-date information regarding COVID-19.
Health literacy of women giving birth in Vilnius Perinatology Centre
Authors: Gaupšienė Alma , Valančiūnaitė Rasa , Baglajeva Jekaterina , Vainauskaitė Aistė , Stukas Rimantas , Ramašauskaitė Diana , Paliulytė Virginija , Istomina Natalja
Published: November 2023

The aim of the study

To investigate the health literacy and associated factors of women giving birth at the Vilnius Perinatology Centre.

Material and methods

The study was conducted between June 2022 and September 2022 at the Vilnius University Hospital in Lithuania. Five hundred and eight women who had delivered healthy newborns were surveyed. The study instrument was the European Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q47) in addition to other questionnaires to assess socio-demographic factors of the mother. The Health Literacy Questionnaire was used with the permission of the authors. The survey data was processed using IBM SPSS version 23.

Results and conclusions

The study showed that more than half of women who gave birth at the Vilnius Perinatology Centre had inadequate or problematic health literacy. Across all literacy indices (including health care, disease prevention, and health promotion), they particularly lack expertise in health promotion. The assessment of health information processing indices (to obtain, understand, evaluate, and apply) revealed that the evaluation of recent health information is the most challenging task for those women. The study confirmed the assumption that women with higher levels of education and who had attended maternity skills training have higher levels of health literacy. Higher rates of unplanned births are also linked to lower levels of health literacy among women.
Harnessing the Electrochemical Effects of Electroporation-Based Therapies to Enhance Anti-tumor Immune Responses
Authors: Salameh Zaid S. , Aycock Kenneth N. , Alinezhadbalalami Nastaran , Imran Khan Mohammad , McKillop Iain H. , Allen Irving C. , Davalos Rafael V.
Published: November 2023

This study introduces a new method of targeting acidosis (low pH) within the tumor microenvironment (TME) through the use of cathodic electrochemical reactions (CER). Low pH is oncogenic by supporting immunosuppression. Electrochemical reactions create local pH effects when a current passes through an electrolytic substrate such as biological tissue. Electrolysis has been used with electroporation (destabilization of the lipid bilayer via an applied electric potential) to increase cell death areas. However, the regulated increase of pH through only the cathode electrode has been ignored as a possible method to alleviate TME acidosis, which could provide substantial immunotherapeutic benefits. Here, we show through ex vivo modeling that CERs can intentionally elevate pH to an anti-tumor level and that increased alkalinity promotes activation of naïve macrophages. This study shows the potential of CERs to improve acidity within the TME and that it has the potential to be paired with existing electric field-based cancer therapies or as a stand-alone therapy.
Monetary compensation schemes during the COVID-19 pandemic: implications for household incomes, liquidity constraints and consumption across the EU
Authors: Christl Michael , De Poli Silvia , Figari Francesco , Hufkens Tine , Leventi Chrysa , Papini Andrea , Tumino Alberto
Published: November 2023

This paper analyses the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on household disposable income and household demand in the European Union (EU) during 2020, making use of the EU microsimulation model EUROMOD and nowcasting techniques. We show evidence of heterogeneity in the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labour markets in EU Member States, with some countries hit substantially harder than others. Most EU Member States experience a large drop in market incomes, with poorer households bearing the brunt. Tax-benefit systems cushioned significantly the transmission of the shock to the disposable income and the household demand, with monetary compensation schemes playing a major role. Additionally, we show that monetary compensation schemes prevent a significant share of households from becoming liquidity constrained during the pandemic.
Fast parameterless prototype-based co-clustering
Authors: Battaglia Elena , Peiretti Federico , Pensa Ruggero G.
Published: November 2023

Tensor co-clustering algorithms have been proven useful in many application scenarios, such as recommender systems, biological data analysis and the analysis of complex and evolving networks. However, they are significantly affected by wrong parameter configurations, since, at the very least, they require the cluster number to be set for each mode of the matrix/tensor, although they typically have other algorithm-specific hyper-parameters that need to be fine-tuned. Among the few known objective functions that can be optimized without setting these parameters, the Goodman–Kruskal $$\tau $$
τ
—a statistical association measure that estimates the strength of the link between two or more discrete random variables—has proven its effectiveness in complex matrix and tensor co-clustering applications. However, its optimization in a co-clustering setting is tricky and, so far, has leaded to very slow and, at least in some specific but not unfrequent cases, inaccurate algorithms, due to its normalization term. In this paper, we investigate some interesting mathematical properties of $$\tau $$
τ
, and propose a new simplified objective function with the ability of discovering an arbitrary and a priori unspecified number of good-quality co-clusters. Additionally, the new objective function definition allows for a novel prototype-based optimization strategy that enables the fast execution of matrix and higher-order tensor co-clustering. We show experimentally that the new algorithm preserves or even improves the quality of the discovered co-clusters by outperforming state-of-the-art competing approaches, while reducing the execution time by at least two orders of magnitude.
Synthesis of Magnetite Coated Oleic Acid: Sequestration of Toluene and Xylene from Aqueous Solution and Cost Analysis
Authors: Masuku Makhosazana , Sanni Saheed O. , Akpotu Samson O. , Pholosi Agnes
Published: November 2023

Toluene and xylene are carcinogenic and toxic compounds, and their presence in excessive amounts in the environment has an adverse impact on water quality, thus affecting public health. In this study, magnetite coated oleic acid, (MNP-OA) nanocomposite was synthesized, characterized and applied as an effective nano-adsorbent for the efficient removal of toluene and xylene from aqueous solutions. Magnetite nanoparticles were coated with oleic acid via the microwave method and characterized using BET surface area, XPS, SEM-EDX and pHpzc analysis. Batch adsorption studies were performed to optimize operating parameters including solution pH, adsorbent dose, contact time, and initial concentration. The impact of hydrophobic coating on the kinetics, equilibrium, and the mechanism of toluene and xylene uptake were determined. Characterization confirmed the surface coating of magnetite with oleic acid which evidenced from the additional oxygenated functional groups such as hydroxyl and carboxylic groups. The morphological analysis showed spherically shaped magnetite nanoparticles. Maximum adsorption capacity of 133.57 mg/g for toluene and 161.01 mg/g for xylene were attained at solution pH of 8, adsorbent dose of 0.1 g and concentration of 100 mg/dm3 at 298 K. The pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models best explained the kinetics and adsorption isotherm, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters, including Gibbs free energy, enthalpy change, and entropy change of adsorption indicated that the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous in nature. The MNP-OA nanocomposites can be applied as a reusable, cost-effective, and efficient adsorbent for toluene and xylene remediation and could be considered for other volatile organic compounds in future application.
Planning, implementing, and evaluating Hepatitis C virus elimination via collaborative community-based care cascade: age–period–cohort model for estimating demand from antecedent anti-HCV survey
Authors: Lin Ting-Yu , Jen Hsiao-Hsuan , Hu Tsung-Hui , Yao Yu-Chin , Chen Tony Hsiu-Hsi , Yen Amy Ming-Fang , Yeh Yen-Po
Published: November 2023

Background

Estimating the demand for HCV care cascade plays an important role in planning, monitoring, and assessing the performance of introducing a new community-based hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination program but such an analytic and systematic approach has been barley addressed.

Methods

A new collaborative care program for HCV elimination in the Changhua Community of Taiwan has been offered to a total of 895,353 residents since 2018. To grasp the variation of demand for HCV care cascade across demographic and geographic features in the planning stage, we applied the age–period–cohort spatial model to the antecedent anti-HCV survey enrolling 123,617 participants aged 30 years or older between 2005 and 2018. Based on this precise denominator, we then employed a “before-and-after” study design to routinely evaluate whether the WHO criteria of 90% RNA positive diagnosis and 80% successful treatments could be reached.

Results

The overall demand for HCV care cascade was 4.28% (HCV infection) of the underlying population but a declining trend was noted. The early cohort had a higher demand, whereas the demand of the young cohort decreased with each passing year. The demand also differed by township. The demand, allowing for these variations, for antiviral treatment was 22,362, yielding the WHO target of 12,880 for achieving HCV elimination. With 11,844 successful treatments, the effectiveness of elimination has already reached 92% (11,844/12,880) by the end of 2022.

Conclusions

The demand for HCV care cascade allows health care decision-makers to timely and properly assess the performance of a novel community-based collaborative care program in achieving HCV elimination.
Effectiveness of an ethanol extract of jet black ant nests for combatting nosemosis in apiary honey bees
Authors: Wagner Grzegorz K. , Kunat-Budzyńska Magdalena , Staniec Bernard , Matuszewska Anna , Jaszek Magdalena , Stefaniuk Dawid , Kordaczuk Jakub , Belcarz Anna , Ptaszyńska Aneta A.
Published: November 2023

An ethanol extract of Lasius fuliginosus ant nests was found to be highly effective against nosemosis in apiary honey bees. Two concentrations of the extract (300 mg and 1500 mg/100 ml sugar syrup) were tested on honey bees infected by nosemosis, and both significantly reduced the number of Vairimorpha ceranae DNA copies. Administration of the extract also had a positive effect on the honey bees’ immune system, increasing the expression of genes encoding immune peptides (abaecin, defensin-1, hymenoptaecin). The extract was subjected to detailed biochemical analysis for the presence of total carbohydrates (22.1 µg/ml), proteins (26.7 µg/ml), and phenolic compounds (63.8 μM) and also to assess its reducing activity (69.2% for DPPH radicals and 94% for the ABTS method). FTIR analysis revealed a number of groups and types of organic compounds (including fatty acids, triglycerides, formic acid, and phenols), the presence of which may have a decisive influence on the preparation’s high level of biological activity.
Wer sich in die Gegenwartsliteratur begibt …
Authors: Baßler Moritz
Published: November 2023

Die 30-Jahre-Regel ist obsolet, weil sich unser Begriff von kanonischer Literatur generell gewandelt hat. Gegenwartsliteratur kann daher analysiert werden wie alle Literatur, allerdings begibt man sich dabei auf ein umkämpftes Terrain, auf dem die wissenschaftliche Position nur eine unter anderen ist.
Genome-wide identification of trihelix transcription factor family genes in pear (Pyrus bretschneideri) and functional characterization of PbrGT15 in black spot resistance
Authors: Zhang Zan , Xie Haoyang , Xu Xiaoyong , Chen Xianchu , Li Tinghan , Huang Xiaosan , Zhang Shaoling
Published: November 2023

Pear (Pyrus bretschneideri), a valuable widely cultivated fruit, faces significant economic losses due to black spot disease caused by Alternaria alternate (Fr.) Keissl. Trihelix transcription factors (TFs) are crucial in regulating plant defense and autoimmunity. This study aimed to analyze the trihelix transcription factor (GT) genes within pear through genome-wide identification, phylogenetic, gene structure, synteny, and cis-acting elements analyses. Among the 31 trihelix genes, 28 were on 12 known chromosomes, while the remaining 3 were located on unknown chromosomes. These genes were categorized into five clades: SIP1, GTγ, GT1, GT2 and SH4, containing 7, 2, 9, 11 and 2 genes, respectively. Synteny analysis indicated eight duplicated gene pairs. Based on the expression pattern of PbGT genes in seven tissues from the database, the PbGT genes of the GT2 clade were selected for further investigation. The quantitative reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction confirmed that PbrGT5, PbrGT6, PbrGT15 and PbrGT16 correlated with black spot disease resistance. Notably, the salicylic acid (SA) treatment significantly upregulated the expression levels of PbrGT10, PbrGT13, PbrGT15 and PbrGT23. Among these, PbrGT15 showed the highest induction to both SA and black spot infection. Subcellular localization demonstrated that PbrGT15 functions as a nuclear protein. Virus-induced gene silencing of PbrGT15 increased pear plants' susceptibility to black spot disease, indicating its pivotal role in enhancing resistance. These results indicated that PbrGT15 positively regulated black spot disease resistance in pears.
Coordinate Structures
Authors: Zhang Ning
Published: November 2023

In a coordination construction, which is universally available, two or more syntactic constituents are combined, with or without an overt coordinator. This Element examines how coordinate structures are derived syntactically, focussing on the syntactic operations involved, including constraints on both their operations and the representations they produce. Specifically, considering the recent research development in the syntax of coordination, the Element discusses whether any special syntactic operation is required to derive various coordinate constructions, including constructions in which each conjunct has a gap, whether there is any special functional category heading coordinate constructions in general, what the morphosyntactic statuses of coordinators (i.e., conjunctions and disjunctions) are in some specific languages, whether the structure of a coordinate construction can be beyond the binary complementation structure, and whether the mobility of conjuncts and the mobility of elements in conjuncts require any construction-specific constraint on syntactic operations.
Mental health resources, barriers, and intervention needs among women in rural Maharashtra, India: A qualitative study
Authors: Iyer Kaavya , Gupta Pooja , Sapre Shivani , Pawar Tanvi , Gala Pooja , Kapoor Hansika , Kalahasthi Rupa , Ticku Arunima , Kulkarni Savita , Iyer Poorvi
Published: November 2023

This research paper focuses on the mental health needs, the need for mental health interventions and barriers in mental healthcare of women living in rural Maharashtra, India. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study has collected data from a sample of women living in the rural areas of Maharashtra through in-depth interviews. The data collected has been analyzed to identify the barriers and obstacles in mental healthcare, how the existing community support serves as a resource as well as the desire for potential mental healthcare interventions among participants. The findings of the study are expected to contribute to the development of effective mental health interventions tailored to the specific needs of women living in the rural areas of Maharashtra. Overall, this research paper aims to improve the understanding of the mental health needs of women in rural Maharashtra and provide insights for policymakers and mental health practitioners to develop effective interventions to promote their mental well-being.
Simultaneous measurements of kinetic and scalar energy spectrum time evolution in the Richtmyer–Meshkov instability upon reshock
Authors: Noble Christopher D. , Ames Alex M. , McConnell Raymond , Oakley Jason , Rothamer David A. , Bonazza Riccardo
Published: November 2023

The Richtmyer–Meshkov instability (Richtmyer, Commun. Pure Appl. Maths, vol. 13, issue 2, 1960, pp. 297–319; Meshkov, Fluid Dyn., vol. 4, issue 5, 1972, pp. 101–104) of a twice-shocked gas interface is studied using both high spatial resolution single-shot (SS) and lower spatial resolution, time-resolved, high-speed (HS) simultaneous planar laser-induced fluorescence and particle image velocimetry in the Wisconsin Shock Tube Laboratory's vertical shock tube. The initial condition (IC) is a shear layer with broadband diffuse perturbations at the interface between a helium–acetone mixture and argon. This IC is accelerated by a shock of nominal strength Mach number

$M = 1.75$

, and then accelerated again by the transmitted shock that reflects off the end wall of the tube. An ensemble of experiments is analysed after reshock while the interface mixing width grows linearly with time. The kinetic and scalar energy spectra and the terms of their evolution equation are calculated and compared between SS and HS experiments. The inertial range scaling of the scalar power spectrum is found to follow Gibson's relation (Gibson, Phys. Fluids, vol. 11, issue 11, 1968, pp. 2316–2327) as a function of Schmidt number when the effective turbulent Schmidt number is used in place of the material Schmidt number that controls equilibrium scaling. Further, the spatially integrated scalar flux follows similar behaviour observed for the kinetic energy in large eddy simulation studies by Zeng et al. (Phys. Fluids, vol. 30, issue 6, 2018, 064106) while the spatially varying scalar flux exhibits back scatter along the centre of the mixing layer and forward energy transfer in the spike and bubble regions.
Appropriation, Opting Out, and the Common Good in Public Debates: An Analysis of Christian Ethical Arguments
Authors: Dunn Shannon
Published: November 2023

This article examines anti-mask protests in the United States in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, I look at the cultural (mis)appropriation of slogans by anti-mask protestors, such as “I can’t breathe” and “My body, my choice.” Noting that this is at first glance a bit of a puzzling phenomenon, I show that there is a relationship between the anti-mask protest, white Christian grievance politics, and the disintegration of the public sphere. Drawing on the work of Bonnie Honig, I argue that the anti-mask protests represent a mode of opting out of public engagement, hence opting out of the practice of using rational argumentation to explain why things ought to be a certain way, as well as listening to the reasons of others. Insofar as this has become a popular mode of engagement among a significant number of Americans, it needs to be understood in the language of foregoing responsibility for others in US pluralistic democracy. Indeed, further explication of the relationship between responsibility and freedom is absolutely necessary. I maintain that opting out is ethically untenable because of the nature of interdependence with others and the necessity of adhering to the rule of law. An ethic of reciprocity properly grounds an understanding of embodied freedom, resisting the extremes of grievance politics.
Prevalence and management outcomes of tonic tensor tympani syndrome in an ENT audiology tinnitus clinic in Singapore
Authors: Tan Shu Hwei Linette , Lee Gary Jek Chong
Published: November 2023

Objective

Tonic tensor tympani syndrome is found in a subset of tinnitus patients who experience intra-aural and peri-aural symptoms, in addition to their tinnitus, in the absence of clinically detectable pathology. As the syndrome has not been widely reported, this study aims to determine its prevalence and evaluate the effectiveness of current management.

Methods

The tinnitus management clinic records of patients over the past six years were assessed to identify tonic tensor tympani syndrome patients and track their progress based on patient-reported Tinnitus Handicap Index scores. Patients with reversible ear pathology and temporomandibular joint disorder were excluded.

Results

It was found that 13 per cent of the tinnitus management patients fulfilled the criteria for tonic tensor tympani syndrome and 94 per cent of those who returned for follow up showed an improvement in their Tinnitus Handicap Index grades.

Conclusion

This study suggests that tonic tensor tympani syndrome is a significant problem among tinnitus patients and current tinnitus management strategies contribute effectively to helping such patients habituate to their symptoms.
Outcomes of patients in Chagas disease of the central nervous system: a systematic review
Authors: Shelton William J. , Gonzalez John M.
Published: November 2023

Chagas disease is a parasitic infection caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. One of the complications of the disease is the infection of the central nervous system (CNS), as it can result from either the acute phase or by reactivation during the chronic phase, exhibiting high mortality in immunocompromised patients. This systematic review aimed to determine clinical and paraclinical characteristics of patients with Chagas disease in the CNS. Articles were searched from PubMed, Scopus and LILACS until January 2023. From 2325 articles, 59 case reports and 13 case series of patients with Chagas in the CNS were retrieved from which 138 patients were identified. In this population, 77% of the patients were male, with a median age of 35 years old, from which most of them came from Argentina and Brazil. Most of the individuals were immunocompromised from which 89% were HIV-positive, and 54 patients had an average of 48 cells per mm3 CD4+ T cells. Motor deficits and seizures were the most common manifestation of CNS compromise. Furthermore, 90 patients had a documented CNS lesion by imaging from which 89% were supratentorial and 86% were in the anterior/middle cranial fossa. The overall mortality was of 74%. Among patients who were empirically treated with anti-toxoplasma drugs, 70% died. This review shows how Chagas disease in the CNS is a devastating complication requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment to improve patients’ outcomes.
ON GROUPS OF UNITS OF SPECIAL AND ONE-RELATOR INVERSE MONOIDS
Authors: Gray Robert D. , Ruškuc Nik
Published: November 2023

We investigate the groups of units of one-relator and special inverse monoids. These are inverse monoids which are defined by presentations, where all the defining relations are of the form
$r=1$
. We develop new approaches for finding presentations for the group of units of a special inverse monoid, and apply these methods to give conditions under which the group admits a presentation with the same number of defining relations as the monoid. In particular, our results give sufficient conditions for the group of units of a one-relator inverse monoid to be a one-relator group. When these conditions are satisfied, these results give inverse semigroup theoretic analogues of classical results of Adjan for one-relator monoids, and Makanin for special monoids. In contrast, we show that in general these classical results do not hold for one-relator and special inverse monoids. In particular, we show that there exists a one-relator special inverse monoid whose group of units is not a one-relator group (with respect to any generating set), and we show that there exists a finitely presented special inverse monoid whose group of units is not finitely presented.
Bedrock Fractures Control Groundwater‐Driven Mountain Slope Deformations
Authors: Oestreicher N. , Lei Q. , Loew S. , Roques C.
Published: November 2023

Seasonal deformation of mountain rock slopes can be driven by groundwater infiltration and depletion. Such processes could explain our field observation in the Aletsch Valley, Switzerland, where GNSS‐derived 3D annual displacement amplitudes reach 3.4 cm. However, the physical mechanisms behind such groundwater‐driven surface displacements are not well understood. Here, we develop a fully coupled hydromechanical model to simulate the relevant processes in a valley slope embedded with numerous fractures of variable sizes. The magnitude and orientation of transient annual slope surface displacement obtained from our model are in overall agreement with the field observations. The key geological factors controlling the type and magnitude of reversible mountain slope deformations are fracture network geometry, fracture aperture, and regional stress field. We show that the heterogeneity and anisotropy of bedrock hydromechanical responses, originating from depth‐dependent variations of fracture properties, play a critical role in groundwater recharge and valley slope deformation. During recharge events, pore pressure perturbations migrate downward from the groundwater table and toward the receiving stream and the deep subsurface. This process driven by pressure diffusion and poroelastic stressing develops in the subsurface with a great reach of up to a few kilometers, called critical hydromechanical response zone, and controls surface deformation patterns. During groundwater recession, this hydromechanical response zone expands downward and ground surface displacement vectors rotate upwards. Our results suggest that slope surface deformation can inform about subsurface permeability structures and pore pressure fluctuations, which have important implications for understanding groundwater flow in fractured bedrock slopes.
Current Efforts Not Enough to Keep Warming Under 1.5�C
Authors: van Deelen Grace
Published: November 2023

A canyon between current efforts and necessary action means global temperatures are on track to rise far beyond Paris Agreement goals.
Stiff, Smooth, and Solid? Complex Fracture Hydraulics' Imprint on Oscillatory Hydraulic Testing
Authors: Patterson Jeremy R. , Cardiff Michael
Published: November 2023

Fractured bedrock aquifers, especially deep aquifers, represent increasingly common targets for waste storage and alternative energy development, necessitating detailed quantitative descriptions of fracture hydraulic properties, geometry, and connectivity. Yet, multi‐scale characterization of the physical properties that govern fluid flow through and storage in fractured bedrock remains a fundamental hydrogeologic challenge. Oscillatory hydraulic testing, a novel hydraulic characterization technique, has been showing promise in field experiments to characterize the effective hydraulic properties of bedrock fractures. To date, these characterization efforts utilize simplified diffusive analytical models that conceptualize a non‐deforming, parallel‐plate fracture embedded within impermeable host rock, and have found that the returned fracture hydraulic parameter estimates exhibit an apparent period‐dependence. We conduct synthetic experiments using three different numerical models to examine proposed mechanisms that might contribute to the observed period‐dependence including heterogeneous flow and storage within the fracture (i.e., aperture heterogeneity), fracture‐host rock fluid exchange, and fracture hydromechanics. This work represents the first systematic analysis that seeks to understand the process(es) occurring within a bedrock fracture that might be contributing to this apparent period‐dependence. Our analysis demonstrates that all investigated mechanisms generate period‐dependent effective hydraulic parameter estimates, each with their own potentially diagnostic trends; however, fracture hydromechanics is the only explored mechanism that consistently reproduces period‐dependent trends in parameter estimates that are consistent with existing field investigations. These results highlight the need to develop more complex numerical modeling approaches that account for this hydromechanical behavior when characterizing fractured bedrock aquifers.
Dispersion Versus Diffusion in Mixing Fronts
Authors: Rousseau Gauthier , Izumoto Satoshi , Le Borgne Tanguy , Heyman Joris
Published: November 2023

Mixing fronts form when fluids with different chemical compositions are brought into contact. They influence a large range of biogeochemical processes in hydrological systems. An important mechanism governing mixing rates in such fronts is stretching by non‐uniform flows that accelerates diffusive mass transfer by enhancing concentration gradients. In a range of systems, including porous media at Darcy scale, hydrodynamic dispersion dominates over diffusion to control local mixing rates. As it differs from diffusion through its velocity‐dependent dispersion tensor, it is not known how local dispersion interacts with macroscopic mixing front stretching. Here, we investigate the impact of local dispersion versus diffusion on the properties of steady mixing fronts created by both uniform and non‐uniform flows. We derive analytical solutions for the concentration profile, mixing scale and mixing rate across the fronts. We validate these predictions by comparison with numerical simulations and experiments performed in quasi two‐dimensional tanks over a broad range of Péclet numbers. Without porous media, the mixing scale is governed by local diffusion coupled with flow: it increases diffusively along streamlines in uniform flows while it is constant in converging flows due to the balance between fluid compression and local diffusion. With porous media, the Batchelor scale is no longer sustained and the mixing scale grows with dispersion in non‐uniform flows. In addition, the coupling between flow acceleration and dispersion results in a flow rate independent mixing interface, in contrast with the local diffusion scenario. We discuss the consequences of these findings on mixing rates in mixing fronts.
Targeting ferroptosis by poly(acrylic) acid coated Mn3O4 nanoparticles alleviates acute liver injury
Authors: Shan Xinyi , Li Jiahuan , Liu Jiahao , Feng Baoli , Zhang Ting , Liu Qian , Ma Huixin , Wu Honghong , Wu Hao
Published: November 2023

Ferroptosis, a newly characterized form of regulated cell death, is induced by excessive accumulation of lipid peroxidation catalyzed by intracellular bioactive iron. Increasing evidence has suggested that ferroptosis is involved in the pathogenesis of several human diseases, including acute liver injury. Targeted inhibition of ferroptosis holds great promise for the clinical treatment of these diseases. Herein, we report a simple and one-pot synthesis of ultrasmall poly(acrylic) acid coated Mn3O4 nanoparticles (PAA@Mn3O4-NPs, PMO), which perform multiple antioxidant enzyme-mimicking activities and can scavenge broad-spectrum reactive oxygen species. PMO could potently suppress ferroptosis. Mechanistically, after being absorbed mainly through macropinocytosis, PMO are largely enriched in lysosomes, where PMO detoxify ROS, inhibit ferritinophagy-mediated iron mobilization and preserve mTOR activation, which collectively confer the prominent inhibition of ferroptosis. Additionally, PMO injection potently counteracts lipid peroxidation and alleviates acetaminophen- and ischaemia/reperfusion-induced acute liver injury in mice. Collectively, our results reveal that biocompatible PMO act as potent ferroptosis inhibitors through multifaceted mechanisms, which ensures that PMO have great translational potential for the clinical treatment of ferroptosis-related acute liver injury.
Structure and properties of graphullerene: a semiconducting two-dimensional C60 crystal
Authors: Argaman Uri , Makov Guy
Published: November 2023

Graphullerene is a recently discovered, two-dimensional allotrope of carbon formed from C60 molecules. It has been synthesized in the form (C60Mg4)n and subsequently transformed into (C60)n by removal of the Mg atoms. Ab initio calculations are employed to examine the structure and properties of this material. Structurally, graphullerene is composed of strained C60 molecules. Each of these molecules is connected to six neighbors in a hexagonal network with a total of eight chemical bonds. We find this structure to be meta-stable, owing to the strain produced by the covalent bonding of the molecules. However, the inclusion of Mg atoms transforms the cohesion energy from negative to positive values by forming additional C-Mg bonds, creating an energetically stable material. In the absence of Mg, this allotrope is a pure carbon semiconductor with an indirect band gap. Phonon spectrum calculations confirm the dynamical stability of the material and yield its in- and out-of-plane sound velocities. In addition, symmetry breaking of the C60 molecules results in a distribution of bond lengths and creates vibrational modes that serve as a signature of graphullerene.
Formulation of food grade Limosilactobacillus fermentum for antifungal properties isolated from home-made curd
Authors: Mandal Sucheta , Mandal Narayan Chandra
Published: November 2023

Food spoilage has become a worldwide problem. Limosilactobacillus fermentum LAB212, isolated from home-made curd produces some potent antifungal compounds which can combat a wide range of spoilage and pathogenic fungi by disrupting their cell wall. Dual culture overlay assay and co-culture assay have confirmedly shown the potentiality of the strain. DOWEX50H + extraction and chemical characterization by high performance liquid chromatography show that lactic acid and acetic acid are playing the key roles in executing the antifungal activity. DPPH scavenging assay proves that the strain also exhibits a good antioxidant activity. After observing all the beneficial features and social need of the chemical preservative free food it is becoming highly prospective to exploite the strain commercially. In an experiment conducted for 180 days it was standardized that LAB212 supplemented with MRS and inulin is found most effective combination when challenged against the spoilage fungal species of Aspergillus flavus VBAH14, Penicillium rubens VBCA11, thus can be used as a very effective preservative agent. Using this strain as bio-preservative agent will also minimize the food borne diseases.
Visual objects approaching the body modulate subsequent somatosensory processing at 4 months of age
Authors: Orioli Giulia , Parisi Irene , van Velzen José L. , Bremner Andrew J.
Published: November 2023

We asked whether, in the first year of life, the infant brain can support the dynamic crossmodal interactions between vision and somatosensation that are required to represent peripersonal space. Infants aged 4 (n = 20, 9 female) and 8 (n = 20, 10 female) months were presented with a visual object that moved towards their body or receded away from it. This was presented in the bottom half of the screen and not fixated upon by the infants, who were instead focusing on an attention getter at the top of the screen. The visual moving object then disappeared and was followed by a vibrotactile stimulus occurring later in time and in a different location in space (on their hands). The 4-month-olds’ somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were enhanced when tactile stimuli were preceded by unattended approaching visual motion, demonstrating that the dynamic visual-somatosensory cortical interactions underpinning representations of the body and peripersonal space begin early in the first year of life. Within the 8-month-olds’ sample, SEPs were increasingly enhanced by (unexpected) tactile stimuli following receding visual motion as age in days increased, demonstrating changes in the neural underpinnings of the representations of peripersonal space across the first year of life.
Analysis of renewable energy consumption and economy considering the joint optimal allocation of “renewable energy + energy storage + synchronous condenser”
Authors: Wang Zesen , Li Qi , Kong Shuaihao , Li Weiyu , Luo Jing , Huang Tianxiao
Published: November 2023

As renewable energy becomes increasingly dominant in the energy mix, the power system is evolving towards high proportions of renewable energy installations and power electronics-based equipment. This transition introduces significant challenges to the grid’s safe and stable operation. On the one hand, renewable energy generation equipment inherently provides weak voltage support, necessitating improvements in the voltage support capacity at renewable energy grid points. This situation leads to frequent curtailments and power limitations. On the other hand, the output of renewable energy is characterized by its volatility and randomness, resulting in substantial power curtailment. The joint intelligent control and optimization technology of “renewable energy + energy storage + synchronous condenser” can effectively enhance the deliverable capacity limits of renewable energy, boost its utilization rates, and meet the demands for renewable energy transmission and consumption. Initially, the paper discusses the mechanism by which distributed synchronous condensers improve the short-circuit ratio based on the MRSCR (Multiple Renewable Energy Station Short-Circuits Ratio) index. Subsequently, with the minimum total cost of system operation as the optimization objective, a time-series production simulation optimization model is established. A corresponding optimization method, considering the joint configuration of “renewable energy + energy storage + synchronous condenser,” is proposed. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified through common calculations using BPA, SCCP, and the production simulation model, considering a real-world example involving large-scale renewable and thermal energy transmission through an AC/DC system. The study reveals that the joint intelligent control and optimization technology can enhance both the sending and absorbing capacities of renewable energy while yielding favorable economic benefits.