bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
About the onset of the Hopf bifurcation for convective flows in horizontal annuli
Authors: Passerini Arianna , Sette Galileo
Published: March 2024

Experimental and numerical results cannot yet settle whether, between horizontal coaxial cylinders, if the curvature is large, the first transition for convection is an exchange of stability or rather an Hopf bifurcation. We directly show that if the curvature tends to infinity, no periodic linear perturbation exists when the Rayleigh number is equal to the critical one for nonlinear stability.
Circulating small extracellular vesicles mediate vascular hyperpermeability in diabetes
Authors: Gustafson Dakota , DiStefano Peter V. , Wang Xue Fan , Wu Ruilin , Ghaffari Siavash , Ching Crizza , Rathnakumar Kumaragurubaran , Alibhai Faisal , Syonov Michal , Fitzpatrick Jessica , Boudreau Emilie , Lau Cori , Galant Natalie , Husain Mansoor , Li Ren-Ke , Lee Warren L. , Parekh Rulan S. , Monnier Philippe P. , Fish Jason E.
Published: March 2024

Aims/hypothesis

A hallmark chronic complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus is vascular hyperpermeability, which encompasses dysfunction of the cerebrovascular endothelium and the subsequent development of associated cognitive impairment. The present study tested the hypothesis that during type 2 diabetes circulating small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) exhibit phenotypic changes that facilitate pathogenic disruption of the vascular barrier.

Methods

sEVs isolated from the plasma of a mouse model of type 2 diabetes and from diabetic human individuals were characterised for their ability to disrupt the endothelial cell (EC) barrier. The contents of sEVs and their effect on recipient ECs were assessed by proteomics and identified pathways were functionally interrogated with small molecule inhibitors.

Results

Using intravital imaging, we found that diabetic mice (Leprdb/db) displayed hyperpermeability of the cerebrovasculature. Enhanced vascular leakiness was recapitulated following i.v. injection of sEVs from diabetic mice into non-diabetic recipient mice. Characterisation of circulating sEV populations from the plasma of diabetic mice and humans demonstrated increased quantity and size of sEVs compared with those isolated from non-diabetic counterparts. Functional experiments revealed that sEVs from diabetic mice or humans induced the rapid and sustained disruption of the EC barrier through enhanced paracellular and transcellular leak but did not induce inflammation. Subsequent sEV proteome and recipient EC phospho-proteome analysis suggested that extracellular vesicles (sEVs) from diabetic mice and humans modulate the MAPK/MAPK kinase (MEK) and Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) pathways, cell–cell junctions and actin dynamics. This was confirmed experimentally. Treatment of sEVs with proteinase K or pre-treatment of recipient cells with MEK or ROCK inhibitors reduced the hyperpermeability-inducing effects of circulating sEVs in the diabetic state.

Conclusions/interpretation

Diabetes is associated with marked increases in the concentration and size of circulating sEVs. The modulation of sEV-associated proteins under diabetic conditions can induce vascular leak through activation of the MEK/ROCK pathway. These data identify a new paradigm by which diabetes can induce hyperpermeability and dysfunction of the cerebrovasculature and may implicate sEVs in the pathogenesis of cognitive decline during type 2 diabetes.

Graphical Abstract
Ill-posedness for the Half wave Schrödinger equation
Authors: Kato Isao
Published: March 2024

We study the Cauchy problem for the half wave Schrödinger equation introduced by Xu [9]. There are some well-posedness results for the equation, however there is no ill-posedness result. We focus on the scale critical space and obtain the ill-posedness in the super-critical or at the critical space under certain condition. The proofs in the super-critical space are based on the argument established by Christ, Colliander and Tao [4]. More precisely, we analyze dispersionless equation with smooth initial data, namely the Schwartz function and it is locally well-posed in some weighted Sobolev space. We construct the solution for the half wave Schrödinger equation by using the solution for the dispersionless equation and we can exploit the norm inflation or the decoherence properties. For the critical space, we use the standing wave solution, which was proved the existence by Bahri, Ibrahim and Kikuchi [1].
In Situ Fenestration and Carotid-Subclavian Bypass for Left Subclavian Artery Revascularization During Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair
Authors: Fan Bowen , Fang Kun , Tian Chuan , Fang Jie , Chen Dong , Zhao Jiawei , Luo Mingyao , Shu Chang
Published: March 2024

Purpose

To evaluate the safety and feasibility of left subclavian artery (LSA) revascularization techniques during thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR)—the in situ needle fenestration (ISNF) technique and the carotid-subclavian bypass (CS-Bp)—for complicated aortic pathologies.

Methods

A retrospective single-center observational study was conducted to identify all patients with thoracic aortic pathologies who underwent TEVAR with LSA revascularization using either CS-Bp or ISNFs from January 2014 to December 2020.

Results

One hundred and twelve consecutive patients who received TEVAR with LSA revascularization were included. Among them, 69 received CS-Bp and 43 received ISNF (29 using the Futhrough adjustable puncture needles, 14 using the binding stent-graft puncture systems). Technical success, defined as achieving aortic arch pathology exclusion and LSA preservation, was attained in 99.1% patients. Early mortality was 0.9%. Major adverse events within 30 days, including one cerebral hemorrhage, one cervical incision hemorrhage, one stroke and two paraplegia, were exclusively observed in the CS-Bp group. Immediate type I, II and III endoleaks occurred in 0%, 4.7% and 2.3% in the ISNF group, respectively, compared to 0%, 2.9% and 0% in the CS-Bp group.One hundred and eight (97.2%) patients were available for follow-up at a median 50 (maiximum of 103) months, revealing a LSA patency rates of 99.1%. Six patients died during follow-ups—five in the CS-Bp group and one in the ISNF group. Cause of death include one aortic-related stent-graft infection, three non-related and two with unknow causes. The survival exhibited no significantly different between the ISNF (97.7%) and CS-Bp (89.9%) groups (p = 0.22).

Conclusions

Both CS-Bp and ISNF are feasible techniques for LSA reconstruction in TEVAR. ISNF, whether using Futhrough or BPS, seems to be competitive with CS-Bp.

Graphical Abstract
What is the added value of specialist radiology review of multidisciplinary team meeting cases in a tertiary care center?
Authors: Kasalak Ömer , Vister Jeroen , Zorgdrager Marcel , Kloet Reina W. , Pennings Jan P. , Yakar Derya , Kwee Thomas C.
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTMs) are an important component of the workload of radiologists. This study investigated how often subspecialized radiologists change patient management in MDTMs at a tertiary care institution.

Materials and methods

Over 2 years, six subspecialty radiologists documented their contributions to MDTMs at a tertiary care center. Both in-house and external imaging examinations were discussed at the MDTMs. All imaging examinations (whether primary or second opinion) were interpreted and reported by subspecialty radiologist prior to the MDTMs. The management change ratio (MCratio) of the radiologist was defined as the number of cases in which the radiologist’s input in the MDTM changed patient management beyond the information that was already provided by the in-house (primary or second opinion) radiology report, as a proportion of the total number of cases whose imaging examinations were prepared for demonstration in the MDTM.

Results

Sixty-eight MDTMs were included. The time required for preparing and attending all MDTMs (excluding imaging examinations that had not been reported yet) was 11,000 min, with a median of 172 min (IQR 113–200 min) per MDTM, and a median of 9 min (IQR 8–13 min) per patient. The radiologists’ input changed patient management in 113 out of 1138 cases, corresponding to an MCratio of 8.4%. The median MCratio per MDTM was 6% (IQR 0–17%).

Conclusion

Radiologists’ time investment in MDTMs is considerable relative to the small proportion of cases in which they influence patient management in the MDTM. The use of radiologists for MDTMs should therefore be improved.

Clinical relevance statement

The use of radiologists for MDTMs (multidisciplinary team meetings) should be improved, because their time investment in MDTMs is considerable relative to the small proportion of cases in which they influence patient management in the MDTM.

Key Points

• Multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTMs) are an important component of the workload of radiologists.

• In a tertiary care center in which all imaging examinations have already been interpreted and reported by subspecialized radiologists before the MDTM takes place, the median time investment of a radiologist for preparing and demonstrating one MDTM patient is 9 min.

• In this setting, the radiologist changes patient management in only a minority of cases in the MDTM.
On the Doubly Non-local Hele-Shaw–Cahn–Hilliard System: Derivation and 2D Well-Posedness
Authors: Peter Malte A. , Woukeng Jean Louis
Published: March 2024

Starting from a classic non-local (in space) Cahn–Hilliard–Stokes model for two-phase flow in a thin heterogeneous fluid domain, we rigorously derive by mathematical homogenization a new effective mixture model consisting of a coupling of a non-local (in time) Hele-Shaw equation with a non-local (in space) Cahn–Hilliard equation. We then analyse the resulting model and prove its well-posedness. A key to the analysis is the new concept of sigma-convergence in thin heterogeneous domains allowing to pass to the homogenization limit with respect to the heterogeneities and the domain thickness simultaneously.
MRI and pathology comparisons in Rasmussen’s encephalitis: a multi-institutional examination of hemispherotomy outcomes relative to imaging and histological severity
Authors: Doherty Alexander , Knudson Kathleen , Fuller Christine , Leach James L. , Wang Anthony C. , Marupudi Neena , Han Rowland H. , Tomko Stuart , Ojemann Jeff , Smyth Matthew D. , Mangano Francesco , Skoch Jesse
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Rasmussen encephalitis (RE) is a very rare chronic neurological disorder of unilateral inflammation of the cerebral cortex. Hemispherotomy provides the best chance at achieving seizure freedom in RE patients, but with significant risks and variable long-term outcomes. The goal of this study is to utilize our multicenter pediatric cohort to characterize if differences in pathology and/or imaging characterization of RE may provide a window into post-operative seizure outcomes, which in turn could guide decision-making for parents and healthcare providers.

Methods

This multi-institutional retrospective review of medical record, imaging, and pathology samples was approved by each individual institution’s review board. Data was collected from all known pediatric cases of peri-insular functional hemispherotomy from the earliest available electronic medical records. Mean follow-up time was 4.9 years. Clinical outcomes were measured by last follow-up visit using both Engel and ILAE scoring systems. Relationships between categorical and continuous variables were analyzed with Pearson correlation values.

Results

Twenty-seven patients met study criteria. No statistically significant correlations existed between patient imaging and pathology data. Pathology stage, MRI brain imaging stages, and a combined assessment of pathology and imaging stages showed no statistically significant correlation to post-operative seizure freedom rates. Hemispherectomy Outcome Prediction Scale scoring demonstrated seizure freedom in only 71% of patients receiving a score of 1 and 36% of patients receiving a score of 2 which were substantially lower than predicted.

Conclusions

Our analysis did not find evidence for either independent or combined analysis of imaging and pathology staging being predictive for post peri-insular hemispherotomy seizure outcomes, prompting the need for other biomarkers to be explored. Our data stands in contrast to the recently proposed Hemispherectomy Outcome Prediction Scale and does not externally validate this metric for an RE cohort.
Cannabis use and cannabis use disorders and their treatment in the Europe
Authors: Hall Wayne , Manthey Jakob , Stjepanović Daniel
Published: March 2024

This paper introduces the special issue on cannabis use in Europe. It describes data on the prevalence of cannabis use in Europe and the more limited data on the prevalence of cannabis use disorders, one of the most common forms of drug problem treated in many countries in Europe. It summarises what research has indicated about the adverse effects of acute and chronic cannabis use and discusses potential health system responses that may reduce some of these harms. These include public education about the risks of cannabis use; screening and brief interventions in primary medical settings; and specialist treatment for cannabis use disorders. It briefly indicates the special issues that may need to be addressed in dealing with the high rates of comorbidity between cannabis use disorders, other types of drug use disorders, and common mental disorders.
A grain boundary model of metamorphic reaction
Authors: Spear Frank S.
Published: March 2024

A model is presented whereby metamorphic parageneses are governed by local, nano-scale reactions among adjacent phases along grain boundaries that are driven by local disequilibrium between the solid phases and the grain boundary composition. These reactions modify the grain boundary composition setting up compositional gradients that drive diffusion and change the grain boundary composition elsewhere in the rock, which drive local reactions in these locations. The process may be triggered by the nucleation of a new phase that is out of equilibrium with the existing assemblage and an example is presented based on the transformation of kyanite (Ky) to sillimanite (Sil). Model results reveal that a simple polymorphic transformation (Ky→Sil) can result in local reactions among all phases in the rock and some phases may grow in one locale and be consumed in another. An implication of these results is that interpretation of metamorphic parageneses based on growth or resorption and compositional changes of phases requires careful evaluation of nano-scale processes.
Habitat modification by marram grass negatively affects recruitment of conspecifics
Authors: Lammers Carlijn , Schmidt Annika , van der Heide Tjisse , Reijers Valérie C.
Published: March 2024

Ecosystem engineers alter their environment often benefiting their own survival and growth yielding self-reinforcing feedbacks. Moreover, these habitat modifications have been found to facilitate recruitment of conspecifics for some species, while for others engineering inhibits recruitment. Whether dune grasses facilitate or inhibit recruitment of conspecifics is yet unknown. Here, we investigated how habitat modification by European marram grass (Ammophila arenaria) through embryonic dune development affects recruitment from seeds and marine dispersed rhizome fragments. Specifically, we tested at three locations with different dune morphologies how habitat modification affected natural seed and rhizome presence and shoot emergence from plots in which seeds or rhizome fragments were added. In addition, we investigated how sediment burial (i.e., the main effect of habitat modification by dune grasses) affected germination and emergence in a controlled experiment. Results show that regardless of habitat modification or beach width, seeds and rhizomes were absent in natural conditions. Habitat modification negatively affected shoot emergence from seeds (8 × less) and rhizomes (4 × less) and was negatively related to sediment dynamics. Furthermore, fewer seedlings were found with higher elevations. In controlled laboratory conditions, the highest seedling emergence was found with slight burial (0.5-3 cm); both germination and seedling emergence decreased as seeds were buried deeper or shallower. Overall, habitat modification by marram grass negatively affects recruitment of conspecifics through increased sediment dynamics and elevation. Consequently, storm events or eradication programs that include removal of adult vegetation—which leads to an unmodified system—might benefit new recruitment from seeds or clonal fragments.
Preoperative elastoplasty of aggressive vertebral hemangiomas in elderly patients: a new strategy for reducing intraoperative bleeding and complications
Authors: Lofrese Giorgio , Cultrera Francesco , Ricciardi Luca , Visani Jacopo , Tosatto Luigino , Ruggiero Maria , Haznedari Nicolò , Menetti Federico
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Preoperative elastoplasty could be an alternative strategy for treating aggressive vertebral hemangiomas (VHs) in frail patients needing for spinal cord decompression, combining the advantages of embolization and vertebroplasty.

Methods

Three elderly patients with spinal cord compression from thoracic aggressive VHs underwent XperCT-guided percutaneous injection of silicone (VK100), filling the whole affected vertebra, followed by a decompressive laminectomy. At 12-months follow-up no recurrences, vertebral collapse or segmental kyphosis were noted at the CT scans, with patients reporting an improvement of preoperative neurological deficits, VAS and Smiley-Webster pain scale (SWPS) parameters.

Results

With its elastic modulus, non-exothermic hardening, and lower viscosity than PMMA, VK100 allowed a preoperative augmentation of the affected vertebral body, pedicles, and laminae without complications, with a controlled silicone delivery even in part of VH’s epidural components thanks to XperCT-guidance.

Conclusion

When facing highly bony erosive VH encroaching the spinal canal, VK100 combines the advantages of embolization and vertebroplasty especially in elderly patients, permeating the whole VH’s angioarchitecture, significantly reducing tumor.
Reducing the wrapping effect of set computation via Delaunay triangulation for guaranteed state estimation of nonlinear discrete-time systems
Authors: Wan Jian , Jaulin Luc
Published: March 2024

Set computation methods have been widely used to compute reachable sets, design invariant sets and estimate system state for dynamic systems. The wrapping effect of such set computation methods plays an essential role in the accuracy of their solutions. This paper studies the wrapping effect of existing interval, zonotopic and polytopic set computation methods and proposes novel approaches to reduce the wrapping effect for these set computation methods based on the task of computing the dynamic evolution of a nonlinear uncertain discrete-time system with a set as the initial state. The proposed novel approaches include the partition of a polytopic set via Delaunay triangulation and also the representation of a polytopic set by the union of small zonotopes for the following set propagation. The proposed novel approaches with the reduced wrapping effect has been further applied to state estimation of a nonlinear uncertain discrete-time system with improved accuracy. Similar to bisection for interval and zonotopic sets, Delaunay triangulation has been introduced as a set partition tool for polytopic sets, which has opened new research directions in terms of novel set partition, set representation and set propagation for reducing the wrapping effect of set computation.
Comparing pre- and postoperative etoricoxib administration versus only postoperative on third molar extraction sequelae and oral health quality of life: a prospective quasi-experimental study
Authors: La Rosa Giusy Rita Maria , Consoli Matteo , Abiad Roula S. , Toscano Angelo , Pedullà Eugenio
Published: March 2024

Objectives

This study aimed to compare the impact of pre- and postoperative etoricoxib administration versus only postoperative on third molar extraction sequelae and oral health quality of life.

Materials and methods

This prospective quasi experimental study involved 56 patients, divided into a study group receiving preemptive etoricoxib 120 mg before surgery and postoperative etoricoxib 120 mg (n = 28), and a control group receiving preemptive placebo before surgery and postoperative etoricoxib 120 mg (n = 28).

Follow-up assessments were conducted at 3- and 7-days post-surgery, recording swelling, trismus, and adverse events. Patients rated perceived pain using the visual analog scale (VAS) and completed an oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) questionnaire at specified intervals. Statistical analysis employed non-parametric tests (i.e., the Mann–Whitney test, Friedman test, and Wilcoxon sign test) with P < 0.05.

Results

Significantly lower VAS scores were reported in the study group throughout the follow-up period (P < 0.05). Pharmacological protocol did not have a significant impact on postoperative edema and trismus (P > 0.05). However, double etoricoxib intake significantly improved postoperative quality of life on day 3 after surgery (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Pre- and postoperative etoricoxib 120 mg intake in third molar surgery reduced postoperative pain and enhanced postoperative quality of life on day 3 after surgery. Importantly, it was equally effective in managing swelling and trismus compared to exclusive postoperative intake.

Clinical Relevance

Preemptive etoricoxib use may decrease patient discomfort following impacted mandibular third molar extraction.
Neuronal Control of Posture in Blind Individuals
Authors: Helmich I. , Gemmerich R.
Published: March 2024

The control of posture is guided by the integration of sensory information. Because blind individuals cannot apply visual information to control posture as sighted individuals do they must compensate by the remaining senses. We therefore hypothesize that blind individuals alter their brain activation in the sensorimotor cortex during postural control to compensate for balance control without vision by the increased integration of somatosensory information. Ten blind and ten sighted (matched) individuals controlled posture during conditions with (I) eyes closed / open, and (II) stable / unstable surface conditions. Postural sway was recorded by applying a pressure distribution measuring plate. Brain activation was collected by functional Near InfraRed Spectroscopy (fNIRS) above motor-sensory cortices of the right and left hemispheres. Blind individuals showed significantly increased postural sway when balancing with open eyes on an unstable surface and when compared to sighted individuals. Whereas blind individuals showed significantly increased brain activation when balancing with open eyes on stable and unstable surface conditions, sighted individuals increased their brain oxygenation only during closed eyes and unstable surface conditions. Overall conditions, blind individuals presented significantly increased brain activation in two channels of the left and right hemispheric motor-sensory cortex when compared to sighted individuals. We therefore conclude that sighted individuals increase their brain oxygenation in the sensorimotor cortex during postural control tasks that demand sensory integration processes. Blind individuals are characterized by increased brain activation overall conditions indicating additional sensory integration during postural control. Thus, the sensorimotor cortex of blind individuals adapts to control posture without vision.
Sustainability Traps: Patience and Innovation
Authors: Dioikitopoulos Evangelos V. , Karydas Christos
Published: March 2024

This paper argues that the joint relation between long-term orientation, environmental quality and innovation plays a key role in explaining the economic and the environmental dimension of sustainability. In our model multiple equilibria of economic development and environmental quality can arise due to a trade-off between the demand for innovation that promotes sustainability, and the ephemeral pleasure from polluting manufacturing that impedes it. Additional to traditional policies such as aid and technology transfers, policies that target behavioral changes through environmental protection may provide a double-dividend of economic and environmental sustainability through an environment-patience-innovation channel.
Nonlinear Regression Modelling: A Primer with Applications and Caveats
Authors: O’Brien Timothy E. , Silcox Jack W.
Published: March 2024

Use of nonlinear statistical methods and models are ubiquitous in scientific research. However, these methods may not be fully understood, and as demonstrated here, commonly-reported parameter p-values and confidence intervals may be inaccurate. The gentle introduction to nonlinear regression modelling and comprehensive illustrations given here provides applied researchers with the needed overview and tools to appreciate the nuances and breadth of these important methods. Since these methods build upon topics covered in first and second courses in applied statistics and predictive modelling, the target audience includes practitioners and students alike. To guide practitioners, we summarize, illustrate, develop, and extend nonlinear modelling methods, and underscore caveats of Wald statistics using basic illustrations and give key reasons for preferring likelihood methods. Parameter profiling in multiparameter models and exact or near-exact versus approximate likelihood methods are discussed and curvature measures are connected with the failure of the Wald approximations regularly used in statistical software. The discussion in the main paper has been kept at an introductory level and it can be covered on a first reading; additional details given in the Appendices can be worked through upon further study. The associated online Supplementary Information also provides the data and R computer code which can be easily adapted to aid researchers to fit nonlinear models to their data.
A more direct way to the Cauchy problem for effectively hyperbolic operators
Authors: Nishitani Tatsuo
Published: March 2024

This paper is devoted to a simpler derivation of energy estimates and a proof of the well-posedness, compared to previously existing ones, for effectively hyperbolic Cauchy problem. One difference is that instead of using the general Fourier integral operator, we only use a change of local coordinates x (of the configuration space) leaving the time variable invariant. Another difference is an efficient application of the Weyl-Hörmander calculus of pseudodifferential operators associated with several different metrics.
Non-Coding Ribonucleic Acids as Diagnostic and Therapeutic Targets in Cardiac Fibrosis
Authors: Olson Samuel R. , Tang W. H. Wilson , Liu Chia-Feng
Published: March 2024

Purpose of Review

Cardiac fibrosis is a crucial juncture following cardiac injury and a precursor for many clinical heart disease manifestations. Epigenetic modulators, particularly non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), are gaining prominence as diagnostic and therapeutic tools.

Recent Findings

miRNAs are short linear RNA molecules involved in post-transcriptional regulation; lncRNAs and circRNAs are RNA sequences greater than 200 nucleotides that also play roles in regulating gene expression through a variety of mechanisms including miRNA sponging, direct interaction with mRNA, providing protein scaffolding, and encoding their own products. NcRNAs have the capacity to regulate one another and form sophisticated regulatory networks. The individual roles and disease relevance of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs to cardiac fibrosis have been increasingly well described, though the complexity of their interrelationships, regulatory dynamics, and context-specific roles needs further elucidation.

This review provides an overview of select ncRNAs relevant in cardiac fibrosis as a surrogate for many cardiac disease states with a focus on crosstalk and regulatory networks, variable actions among different disease states, and the clinical implications thereof. Further, the clinical feasibility of diagnostic and therapeutic applications as well as the strategies underway to advance ncRNA theranostics is explored.
Evaluation of the current technologies used for the physical security and safety of selected railway tunnel portals as a case study in the Czech Republic
Authors: Smažinka Dalibor , Kavan Štěpán , Hrinko Martin
Published: March 2024

The security and safety of the railway tunnels require technical measures, information processes, and trained experts. Proper implementation and integration of these elements is crucial to protect lives, property, and the operation of the rail network. The purpose of this study is to identify and describe technological security and safety measures at the portals of selected railway tunnels greater than 1000 m in the conditions of the Czech Republic and their subsequent evaluation. The method of semi-structured interviews with experts with experience in the implementation of security and safety measures was used for the elaboration. SWOT analysis was used to assess the safety level of selected railway tunnels. The evaluation was carried out based on multi-criteria decision making and pairwise evaluation on the principle of Fuller’s triangle. The technical solutions of two currently known technological solutions in the case study for accident elimination based on lidar detection supplemented by cameras are characterized by fundamental differences. The solution in the Ejpovice tunnel focuses on the detection of objects in the immediate vicinity of the portal or already entered it. The solution in the Březenský tunnel focuses on a larger detection zone extending tens of meters in front of the tunnel portal and is divided into two parts with different logic, the pre-alarm and the alarm itself. Integration of individual elements into a proactive and automated system that uses modern AI-based analytical algorithms and respects the process and technology specifics of the railway environment is important for the safety and security of the railway tunnel.
Discussion on the Relationship Between Chinese Government’s Investment in Health Human Capital and Economic Growth
Authors: Shuyong Fu , Shuyu Chen , Maimaituxun Miyeseer
Published: March 2024

In the past decade, the Chinese government has been facing a series of economic difficulties. The policies introduced by the Chinese government not only aim to maintain economic growth but also to achieve stable monetary and fiscal policies. In addition, the three-year pandemic has put greater financial pressure on the Chinese government. However, these efforts are all worthwhile; the Chinese government has not only ensured the health and interests of the Chinese people but also ensured stable economic growth in the region. We aim to study the relationship between Chinese government investment in health human capital and economic growth, using threshold effect models and instrumental variable methods to conduct empirical research on 26 provinces in Mainland China. The results show that, firstly, increasing government investment in health human capital can promote regional economic growth and exhibit a decreasing trend; secondly, there are differences in the influencing factors of government health investment on economic growth among different regions. From this, it can be seen that the government should formulate more scientific and reasonable government investment in health human capital policies based on factors, such as aging degree, residents’ health level, economic structure, and population size in different regions, to alleviate the pressure on government investment in health human capital and promote regional economic growth.
Reassessing the Climate Change Narrative
Authors: Lindzen Richard S. , Christy John R.
Published: March 2024

We note that the atmosphere has distinct tropical and extratropical regimes. The tropical regime is significantly dependent on the greenhouse effect and is characterized by temperatures that are largely horizontally homogenized. The extratropical regime is dominated by large scale unstable convective eddies that transport heat between the tropics and the poles (leaving the poles warmer than they otherwise would be) and serve to determine the temperature difference between the tropics and the poles. Changes in tropical temperature and in the tropics-to-pole temperature difference both contribute to changes in global mean temperature. It turns out that changes in global mean temperature associated with major climate change (i.e., the last glacial maximum and the warm period of the Eocene about 50 million years ago) were associated primarily with changes in the tropics-to-pole temperature differences. By contrast, changes in global mean temperature over the past 150 years or so are almost entirely associated with changes in tropical temperature. Thus, there is no intrinsic amplification associated with a change in the tropics-to-pole temperature difference. However, model simulations of climate behave differently from both observations and from each other. In particular, they all show more significant contributions for the tropics-to-pole temperature difference – sometimes much more significant. They also show excessive tropical warming.
Exploring macrophytes’ microbial populations dynamics to enhance bioremediation in constructed wetlands for industrial pollutants removal in sustainable wastewater treatment
Authors: Ijoma Grace N. , Lopes Teresa , Mannie Thulani , Mhlongo Thandazile N.
Published: March 2024

Toxic contaminants from intense industrial operations are entering wetlands, harming human health and biodiversity. Macrophytes serve as principal producers in aquatic environments including natural wetlands, providing shelter, food, and, most crucially, intricate relationships with the surrounding microbial assemblage for support and microorganisms attachment. Wetlands have been nature's kidneys, for filtering water. Recent research has examined macrophytes' phytoremediation abilities. With recent improvements focused on engineered wetland technology, microbiological characterization, and genetic engineering, phytoremediation strategies have also benefited. However, little research has examined the role surrounding microbial population play on macrophyte efficiency in pollutant degradation, the extent and even mechanisms of these interactions, and their potential utility in wastewater treatment of diverse industrial effluents. Our bid for greener solutions implies that macrophyte-microorganisms’ interspecific interactions for in situ treatment of effluents should be optimised to remove contaminants before discharge in natural waterbodies or for recycle water usage. This review provides for the varied types of plants and microbial interspecific interactions beneficial to effective phytoremediation processes in artificial wetland design as well as considerations and modifications in constructed wetland designs necessary to improve the bioremediation processes. Additionally, the review discusses the latest advancements in genetic engineering techniques that can enhance the effectiveness of phyto-assisted wastewater treatment. We will also explore the potential utilisation of invasive species for their demonstrated ability to remove pollutants in the controlled setting of constructed wetlands.
Big data meets storytelling: using machine learning to predict popular fanfiction
Authors: Nguyen Duy , Zigmond Stephen , Glassco Samuel , Tran Bach , Giabbanelli Philippe J.
Published: March 2024

Fanfictions are a popular literature genre in which writers reuse a universe, for example to transform heteronormative relationships with queer characters or to bring romance into shows focused on horror and adventure. Fanfictions have been the subject of numerous studies in text mining and network analysis, which used Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques to compare fanfictions with the original scripts or to make various predictions. In this paper, we use NLP to predict the popularity of a story and examine which features contribute to popularity. This endeavor is important given the rising use of AI assistants and the ongoing interest in generating text with desirable characteristics. We used the main two websites to collect fan stories (Fanfiction.net and Archives Of Our Own) on Supernatural, which has been the subject of numerous scholarly works. We extracted high-level features such as the main character and sentiments from 79,288 of these stories and used the features in a binary classification supported by tree-based methods, ensemble methods (random forest), neural networks, and Support Vector Machines. Our optimized classifiers correctly identified popular stories in four out of five cases. By relating features to classification outcomes using SHAP values, we found that fans prefer longer stories with a wider vocabulary, which can inform the prompts of AI chatbots to continue generating such successful stories. However, we also observed that fans wanted stories unlike the original material (e.g., favoring romance and disliking when characters are hurt), hence AI-powered stories may be less popular if they strictly follow the original material of a show.
Microstructural study of the Praid Salt Diapir (Transylvanian basin, Romania) and its implication on deformation history and hydrogen storage potential
Authors: Gelencsér O. , Szakács A. , Gál Á. , Szabó Á. , Dankházi Z. , Tóth T. , Breitner D. , Szabó-Krausz Zs. , Szabó Cs. , Falus Gy.
Published: March 2024

The Transylvanian basin is one of the major Tertiary sedimentary basins in the Carpathian-Pannonian region. Its thick sedimentary fill contains prominent Middle Miocene age salt that forms major diapir structures at the basin margins. The microstructural characteristics of the rock salt represent one of the main factors that determines the potential of a salt body for storage of hydrogen. The main aim of this study is to extend our understanding of the deformation mechanism of Praid rock salt located at the eastern margin of the Transylvanian basin. Based on petrography, we identified two types of rock salt: (1) layered salt with rather uniform grain size distribution showing alternation of greyish (clay mineral bearing) and white (clear halite) layers, and (2) massive grey salt with large, elongated halite crystals, accompanied by sub-micrometer size grains of halite. To shed light on the microstructure of the rock salt, we performed electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) mapping, and studied gamma-irradiated samples both in the massive and layered salt samples. Dislocation creep and pressure solution creep were identified which acted concurrently in the Praid rock salt. The total strain rate falls between 1.2 and 1.3×10−10 s−1. The results of this study reveal a complex deformation history of the salt body where coexisting and migrating fluids have played an important role. The outcome of this project contributes to the hydrogen storage potential assessment for the Transylvanian salt and to a better understanding of the structural evolution of the Transylvanian basin.
Practicum Anxiety and English Language Preservice Teacher Preparation in Indonesia: Experiences from the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Lian Ania , Syahdan Syahdan , Manalu Camelia , Natsir MHD
Published: March 2024

The existing literature on practicum anxiety seldom scrutinises the preservice teachers’ experiences to uncover potential links between the sources of these anxieties and the conceptual frameworks they bring into their practicum journeys. This qualitative study interviewed five first-year preservice English language teachers in Indonesia amid COVID-19 lockdowns, exploring sources of their anxiety and coping strategies. The analysis revealed that, while their coping strategies align with those documented in prior international research, it also yielded novel insights. The preservice teachers in the study lacked conceptual frameworks to aid in translating the national ELT curriculum objectives into practice, did not mention utilising relevant professional literature for additional guidance, and appeared unfamiliar with the school culture at their practicum locations. Arguably, these factors are crucial for fostering a sense of ease during the practicum. Although the scope of this study is limited, its findings highlight the significance of this analysis and stress the necessity for more extensive investigations to gain a fuller understanding of the preservice practicum experience.
Response surface optimization design of flexible positioning platform considering its fatigue life
Authors: Zhang Lufan , Jiang Boshi , Zhang Pengqi , Yan Heng , Sun Hehe
Published: March 2024

The research of macro and micro motion platforms has always been committed to realizing the ultra-high acceleration operation of the platform and improving the positioning accuracy of the platform. With the goal of achieving ultra-high-speed, the impact of the increase in speed on key components has also attracted more and more attention. This paper takes a flexible positioning platform of an ultra-high acceleration macro–micro motion platform with adjustable voice coil motor (VCM) number and load as the research object. Perform static analysis, rigid-flexible coupled dynamic analysis, fatigue analysis, and multi-objective response surface optimization design (RSMD). The influence on the acceleration of the platform and the influence on the stress and fatigue life of the flexible positioning platform with the change of the number and load of the VCM were explored. The changes of the acceleration and speed curves of the platform during ultra-high-speed operation are obtained by dynamic analysis, and the position of the dangerous part of the flexible platform during operation is obtained. Finally, the RSMD is carried out to realize its performance optimization. The research conclusions of this paper have great reference value for the development of the macro–micro motion platform and the improvement of its structure.
Impact of acute heat stress on mitochondrial function, ultrastructure and cardiolipin distribution in Arabidopsis
Authors: Wang Yukang , Pan Ronghui , Hu Jianping
Published: March 2024

Besides providing energy to sustain life, mitochondria also play crucial roles in stress response and programmed cell death. The mitochondrial hallmark lipid, cardiolipin (CL), is essential to the maintenance of mitochondrial structure and function. However, how mitochondria and CL are involved in stress response is not as well defined in plants as in animal and yeast cells. We previously revealed a role for CL in mitochondrial fission and in heat stress response in Arabidopsis. To further determine the involvement of mitochondria and CL in plant heat response, here we treated Arabidopsis seedlings with varied lengths of acute heat stress. These treatments resulted in decreases in mitochondrial membrane potential, disruption of mitochondrial ultrastructure, accumulation of mitochondrial reactive-oxygen species (ROS), and redistribution of CL to the outer mitochondrial membrane and to a novel type of vesicle. The level of the observed changes correlated with the severeness of the heat stress, indicating the strong relevance of these processes to stress response. Our findings provide the basis for studying mechanisms underpinning the role of mitochondria and CL in plant stress response.
Estimating Recovery in the Evaporation Chemical Space
Authors: Duelge Kaleb J. , Young Joshua A.
Published: March 2024

Evaporation is a commonly used extract preparation technique in chemical characterization testing which can greatly impact the observed extractables. Although ideally only solvent is removed and the analytes remain, in practice the analytes evaporate as well, and these losses must be considered when addressing the appropriateness of evaporation as an extract preparation method. This issue is exacerbated when using evaporation before non-targeted analysis (NTA), where the identities of the analytes are not known prior to analysis. Herein, a means of evaluating the extent of evaporative loss in NTA is presented. To achieve this, a model for evaporative loss was adopted and verified experimentally, then applied to a relevant chemical space to determine the impact of experimental parameter selection. The model was used to predict recovery for a range of chemicals under a variety of experimental conditions (volume change, solvent, and temperature). The test solvents were selected to include a range of relevant properties, including molecular weight, density, and vapor pressure. The root-mean-square error of 70 evaporation recovery conditions was 12%. Excess losses, beyond the scope of this model, were found when samples were evaporated to dryness. Also, high recovery was demonstrated for select chemicals (with high air-solvent partition coefficients) at low concentration and with large volume changes. Overall, good agreement was found between the evaporation recovery model and experimental measurements, suggesting that the model can be used to predict the effect on a NTA.
Stable Heuristic Miner 2: Evaluating the Statistical Stability in Event Logs to Discover Business Processes
Authors: Namaki Araghi Sina , Fontanili Franck , Lamine Elyes , Benaben Frederick
Published: March 2024

Automated process discovery as one of the paradigms of process mining has attracted both industries and academic researchers. These methods offer visibility and comprehension out of complex and unstructured event logs. Over the past decade, the classic heuristic miner and applied heuristic-based process discovery algorithms showed promising results in revealing the hidden process patterns in information systems. One of the challenges related to such algorithms is the arbitrary selection of recorded behaviors in an event log. The offered filtering thresholds are manually adjustable, which could lead to the extraction of a non-optimal process model. This is also visible in commercial process mining solutions. Recently, the first version of the stable heuristic miner algorithm targeted this issue by evaluating the statistical stability of an event log. However, the previous version was limited to evaluating only activities’ behaviors. In this article, we’ll be evaluating the statistical stability of both activities and edges of a graph, which could be discovered from an event log. As a contribution, the stable heuristic miner 2 is introduced. Consequently, the definition of the descriptive reference process model has improved. The novel algorithm is evaluated by using two real-world event logs. These event logs are the familiar Sepsis data set and the urology department patients’ pathways event log, which is recorded by monitoring the interpreted location data of patients on hospital premises and is shared with the scientific community in this article.