bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementing turnaround strategies as an entrepreneurial process
Authors: Baliouskas Peter , Llopis Juan , Gasco Jose , Gonzalez Reyes
Published: October 2022

Recovery strategy belongs to the group of rescue/reversing business strategies and is used mainly by companies facing financial or other problems which they are trying to overcome. Moreover, this strategy is alternatively used by companies wishing to prevent future problems. The overall objective of the recovery strategy is to return of this sluggish situation in terms of acceptable levels of profitability. The implementation of turnaround strategy achieved through the implementation of proper planning and specific procedures (processes) like: Change management, divestitures of specific assets (divestment), cost reduction (cost reduction—operating and others), and strategic acquisitions. This strategy is so drastic, that in many senses it is like creating a new company, so it has many similarities to an entrepreneurial process. Obviously, there is a previous experience by managers, but when implementing this radical strategy, they must think in developing something new. The main objective of this paper is to explain how to implement a successful turnaround strategy during a recession phase of the economy. To analyze the turnover strategy, we developed a survey to 152 trading and industrial Greek companies that represent more than 3% of the Greek GDP. The study examines the role of successful turnaround based to whom formulated the strategic plan of the company, investigating the knowledge of the Greek managers on the tactics implemented during a turnaround plan. The paper offers information for management practitioners to understand how to implement a turnaround strategy in a turbulent economic environment, and which tactics apply.
The Problem of Weak Will on the Basis of Leo Tolstoy’s Short Story Father Sergius
Authors: Głąb Anna
Published: October 2022

The author analyses the problem of weak will in Leo Tolstoy’s story Father Sergius. She ponders why the protagonist, a man with such heightened awareness of good and evil, at some point in his life chooses evil. She places the problem of weak will (akrasia) first into the context of the various iterations of determinism and subsequently of the considerations raised by Socrates and Aristotle. As their answers are not fully applicable to the problem of Tolstoy’s titular character, she looks for an explanation to Saint Augustine’s philosophy of free will.
Day-ahead market bidding taking the balancing power market into account
Authors: Klæboe Gro , Braathen Jørgen , Eriksrud Anders Lund , Fleten Stein-Erik
Published: October 2022

Generation companies with controllable units put considerable analysis into the process of bidding into the day-ahead markets for electricity. This article investigates the gain of coordinating price-taking bids to the day-ahead electricity market (DA) and sequentially cleared energy-only markets, such as the Nordic balancing market (BM). A technically detailed case study from the Nordic market is presented. We find that coordinated bidding is hardly worthwhile under current market conditions, but that only a modest increase in the demand for balancing energy will make coordination profitable. If the supply curve for balancing energy is convex, so that the cost of balancing energy is asymmetric, the gains will be even higher. Finally, we find that day-ahead market bid curves that result from coordinated instances provide extra supply at low prices, and lower supply at high prices, compared to sequential bids. This is rational given the anticipated opportunities that the balancing market offers; however, it makes day-ahead bidding appear to exploit market power.
Mitochondrial Dynamin-Related Protein Drp1: a New Player in Cardio-oncology
Authors: Deng Yali , Ngo Doan T. M. , Holien Jessica K. , Lees Jarmon G. , Lim Shiang Y.
Published: October 2022

Purpose of Review

This study is aimed at reviewing the recent progress in Drp1 inhibition as a novel approach for reducing doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and for improving cancer treatment.

Recent Findings

Anthracyclines (e.g. doxorubicin) are one of the most common and effective chemotherapeutic agents to treat a variety of cancers. However, the clinical usage of doxorubicin has been hampered by its severe cardiotoxic side effects leading to heart failure. Mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the major aetiologies of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. The morphology of mitochondria is highly dynamic, governed by two opposing processes known as fusion and fission, collectively known as mitochondrial dynamics. An imbalance in mitochondrial dynamics is often reported in tumourigenesis which can lead to adaptive and acquired resistance to chemotherapy. Drp1 is a key mitochondrial fission regulator, and emerging evidence has demonstrated that Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission is upregulated in both cancer cells to their survival advantage and injured heart tissue in the setting of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.

Effective treatment to prevent and mitigate doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity is currently not available. Recent advances in cardio-oncology have highlighted that Drp1 inhibition holds great potential as a targeted mitochondrial therapy for doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.
How Can Collaboration between Schools and Workplaces Contribute to Relevant Vocational Education?
Authors: Hiim Hilde
Published: October 2022

Collaboration between schools and enterprises in vocational education and training (VET) is a challenge in many countries, Norway included. There is a tendency to organise VET in separate theoretical and practical learning arenas that lack mutual coherence. This article presents the findings of a four-year action research study in which 30 vocational teachers, who were taking an in-service master’s degree programme in vocational pedagogy, completed systematic research-based projects on developing partnerships between schools and enterprises in the school-based part of Norwegian VET. The goal was to strengthen the relevance of vocational education by creating stronger links between the content of the education and the content of the vocation. The study was based on a pragmatic, holistic perspective on vocational competence and education where essential, authentic vocational tasks to which theory is related are regarded as the core educational content, both in the enterprises and in schools. The findings are based on an analysis of 30 master’s degree theses documenting each of the teachers’ development projects.

The results show examples of and principles for how collaboration between schools and enterprises can be organised around vocational tasks. Core principles include formal agreements on collaboration between schools and enterprises, regular dialogues between vocational teachers, instructors and students about educational tasks and content, joint planning and follow-up of students’ placements in enterprises, and exchanges of experience and competence between teachers and instructors. The results show that, according to students, instructors and vocational teachers, the application of such principles contributed to vocational relevance and students’ motivation and learning outcomes.
High-grade dysplastic spondylolisthesis: surgical technique and case series
Authors: Faldini C. , Barile F. , Ialuna M. , Manzetti M. , Viroli G. , Vita F. , Traversari M. , Rinaldi A. , Cerasoli T. , Paolucci A. , D’Antonio G. , Ruffilli A.
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the results of our all posterior-one stage surgical technique for the reduction and fusion of high-grade high-dysplastic spondylolisthesis.

Methods

Patients over 11 years old with high-grade spondylolisthesis treated by reduction and circumferential fusion with a posterior-only approach were reviewed. Data about operative time, blood loss, length of stay, intra- and postoperative complications were collected. Meyerding grade (M), lumbar lordosis (LL), thoracic kyphosis (TK), pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), lumbosacral angle (LSA), slip angle (SLIP), lumbar index (LI) and severity index were measured on preoperative and last follow-up. Sagittal vertical axis (SVA) was used to assess sagittal balance.

Results

Of the 14 included patients, L5-S1 arthrodesis was performed in 12 cases, and L4-S1 was performed in 2 cases. Average surgical time was 275 ± 65 min; average blood loss was 635 ± 375 mL. Average length of stay of was 3.9 ± 1.5 days. The SLIP angle improves from 33.8° ± 7.3° to 6.4° ± 2.5°, (p = 0.002); the lumbosacral angle improves from 68.8° ± 18.6° to 100.7° ± 13.2°, (p = 0.01); and the SVA decreased from 49.4 ± 22.1 mm to 34.4 ± 8.6 mm (p = 0.02). No significant changes were observed in PI, PT and SS. Thoracic kyphosis (TK) and lumbar lordosis (LL) did not change significantly. At last follow-up, no patient had surgical site infection or mechanical complications; no pseudoarthrosis was observed. No revision surgery was performed.

Conclusion

Although technically demanding, reduction and fusion with one stage all posterior approach prove to be a safe and effective.
The provenance and history of Abu Muharak barchan sands (Kharga Depression) inferred from textural, mineralogical, and geochemical perspectives
Authors: Ramadan Sayed , Hamdan Mohamed A. , Abu Khadra Ahmed M. , Abdel Wahed Mohamed
Published: October 2022

The current study deals with textural, mineralogical, and geochemical characteristics of the barchan dune sands of Abu Muharak dune belts in the Kharga Depression. Abu Muharak is the longest dune belt in the Western Desert of Egypt. Sand samples from 37 sites were texturally, petrologically, and chemically analyzed. Our goals were to interpret the provenance of the sands in terms of grain size, petrology, and geochemistry and correlate these data with the proposed source such as Nubian sandstone, Pleistocene alluvial, and Holocene lacustrine sediments as well as ancient aeolian deposits exposed at the Kharga Depression. The present study concludes that the Moghra sandstone is the main source of the Abu Muharak dune belt with local contributions from Pleistocene alluvial and dune deposits as well as weathered Nubian sandstone in the Kharga Depression.
The use and application of learning theory in learning analytics: a scoping review
Authors: Khalil Mohammad , Prinsloo Paul , Slade Sharon
Published: October 2022

Since its inception in 2011, Learning Analytics has matured and expanded in terms of reach (e.g., primary and K-12 education) and in having access to a greater variety, volume and velocity of data (e.g. collecting and analyzing multimodal data). Its roots in multiple disciplines yield a range and richness of theoretical influences resulting in an inherent theoretical pluralism. Such multi-and interdisciplinary origins and influences raise questions around which learning theories inform learning analytics research, and the implications for the field should a particular theory dominate. In establishing the theoretical influences in learning analytics, this scoping review focused on the Learning Analytics and Knowledge Conference (LAK) Proceedings (2011–2020) and the Journal of Learning Analytics (JLA) (2014–2020) as data sources. While learning analytics research is published across a range of scholarly journals, at the time of this study, a significant part of research into learning analytics had been published under the auspices of the Society of Learning Analytics (SoLAR), in the proceedings of the annual LAK conference and the field’s official journal, and as such, provides particular insight into its theoretical underpinnings. The analysis found evidence of a range of theoretical influences. While some learning theories have waned since 2011, others, such as Self-Regulated Learning (SRL), are in the ascendency. We discuss the implications of the use of learning theory in learning analytics research and conclude that this theoretical pluralism is something to be treasured and protected.
Study on laser transmission interference characteristics based on atmospheric turbulent medium
Authors: Yang Xiaodong , Dong Qunfeng
Published: October 2022

The characteristics of laser transmission interference in the atmospheric turbulent medium are studied in this paper in order to obtain the target interference image with atmosphere as the transmission medium and obtain more accurate detection targets. First, the influence of the laser cross section radius and transmission distance on the laser intensity is analyzed, and thereby, the intensity model of lights transmitted in the turbulent medium is obtained. Through the combination of such model with the ideal reference light, the characteristics of atmospheric turbulent medium-based laser transmission interference are obtained. The influencing factors and the significance degree of influence of interference contrast are analyzed in detail. Studies have shown that the attenuation of laser intensity in the atmospheric turbulent medium is obvious and can be effectively adjusted by increasing the cross section radius. The laser interference contrast is also affected by the cross section radius and transmission distance; of the two, the latter has more obvious influence.
Mud flow dynamics at gas seeps - Nirano Salse, Italy -
Authors: Giambastiani B. M. S. , Antonellini M. , Nespoli M. , Bacchetti M. , Calafato A. , Conventi M. , Dadomo A. , Martinelli G. , Morena M. , Venturoli S. , Piombo A.
Published: October 2022

The Nirano Salse, known since the Roman Times, are one of the most beautiful and scenic mud volcanoes areas of Italy with thousands of visitors every year. In this work, we apply novel (for the context) hydrogeological techniques to characterize mud levels in the Salse by means of GPS-RTK positioning and continuous level logging within mud conduits. This is important to quantify the gas–liquid ratio in the conduits and evaluate the potential for dangerous abrupt mud eruptions. The results presented suggest that different mud levels in mud volcanoes clusters are due to the different gas–liquid ratio in the conduits and not necessarily exclude interconnection at depth, a hypothesis, on the other hand, that seems strengthened by mud level time series correlations. The presence of shallow aquifers at a depth of 5 to 30 m is also supported by our field data and allows us to delineate the boundaries of the shallow mud reservoir—pipes system and its overall shape. The shallow aquifers may provide a temporary storage for the ascending gas and when fluid pressure in these aquifers exceeds the tensional strength of the sedimentary rock, leakage of fluids to the surface would occur. In this case, if the gas–liquid ratio is high, mud volcanoes develop into tall gryphons and tend to have a discontinuous activity with sudden eruptions of mud after long periods of quiescence. This, together with the knowledge of shallow conduits localization has an important implication for site safety in proximity to the mud volcanoes. Our inferences based on mud level relationships to mud extrusion dynamics can be applied to lower risk in other mud volcanoes areas of the world with high geo-tourist visits, such as those of Trinidad, Azerbaijan, and Colombia.
Marine resources and their value in Kadavu, Fiji
Authors: Harding Simon , Marama Kalisiana , Breckwoldt Annette , Matairakula Ulamila , Fache Elodie
Published: October 2022

Recognition of the multiple types of value of marine resources is crucial to help design locally meaningful and sustainable management approaches for marine and coastal habitats. There is a lack of information on the amount of living marine resources harvested by coastal communities in many Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs), as well as on their economic and non-economic value. This paper explores the monetary, subsistence, and sociocultural value of selected marine resources (finfish and invertebrates) in Kadavu province, Fiji, based on a household survey and semi-structured interviews conducted in 2019 within one specific district. The paper provides estimates of the annual catch and monetary value of marine resources harvested by local communities at both the district and provincial levels, derived from catch and effort information collected from fishers and gleaners in situ. It also highlights the importance of integrating the sociocultural significance of marine resources into future value assessments.
Mawng maths: collaborating to teach mathematics in an Australian Indigenous language
Authors: Edmonds-Wathen Cris , Gumurdal Jacobina
Published: October 2022

There are both educational and cultural benefits to first language (L1) instruction, particularly in the early years of school, but in Australia, few Indigenous language–speaking students are taught in their own languages. Teaching mathematics in Indigenous languages requires both linguistically capable Indigenous educators and the identification and development of suitable mathematics terminology. This paper reports on the collaborative development of a program reintroducing mathematics lessons in Mawng language at Warruwi Community School. This project developed the capacity of an Indigenous educator to take on more responsibility for the content of the class teaching. Lessons focussing on spatifal sequencing terminology were developed to extend students’ use of core Mawng grammatical features while also reinforcing important local cultural knowledge. A collaboration between a non-Indigenous researcher and a Mawng educator, the paper concludes with factors contributing to the sustainability of the project.
REAC Noninvasive Neurobiological Stimulation in Autism Spectrum Disorder for Alleviating Stress Impact
Authors: Rinaldi Arianna , Martins Márcia C. Marins , Maioli Margherita , Rinaldi Salvatore , Fontani Vania
Published: October 2022

Objectives

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms can become more evident because of different factors. Among these, depression, anxiety, and stress play an important role. Additionally, several studies have revealed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on participants with ASD. In previous studies, two noninvasive neurobiological stimulation treatments with radio electric asymmetric conveyer (REAC) technology, called neuropostural optimization (NPO) and neuropsychophysical optimization (NPPO), were shown to be effective in improving the subjective response to environmental stressors in the general population and in ASD population. Based on the proven efficacy of REAC NPO and NPPOs treatments in alleviating anxiety, stress, and depression, the purpose of this study is to verify how these treatments can reduce the severity of ASD symptoms expression, which is aggravated by depression, anxiety, and stress. The treatments’ effects were perceived by caregivers and assessed by the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC).

Methods

This study involved 46 children with a previous diagnosis of ASD made using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised. The participants received one session of NPO treatment and one NPPOs treatment cycle of 18 sessions, administered within approximately 3 weeks. The Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) was used to evaluate the efficacy of the REAC treatments. ATEC allows to evaluate four clusters (speech or language communication; sociability; sensory or cognitive awareness; and health/physical/behavior) through a numerical scale that measures increasing levels of ASD severity.

Results

The comparison between the scores of the ATEC administered pre- and post-REAC treatments highlighted an improvement of ASD symptoms in each of the four clusters of ATEC.

Conclusions

The results confirm the usefulness of REAC treatments to optimize the individual response to environmental stressors and reduce the symptomatic expression and deficits present in ASD.
Effect of gas type on miscible enhanced oil recovery at naturally fractured reservoirs: case study-Asmari
Authors: Baharizade M. H. , Sedaee B.
Published: October 2022

In this study, we investigate how miscibility develops in naturally fractured reservoirs. We select and simulate compositionally a sector model of a real and highly naturally fractured reservoir of type 2, and the behavior of the reservoir under the influence of different gases injection, including methane, carbon dioxide, lean and rich gas investigated. The minimum miscibility pressure of each gas and the optimum gas injection rate is determined. The effect of injected gas type on solution gas–oil ratio, surface tension, and viscosity of reservoir fluid studied. Results of this study show that the oil recovery factor in the simulation sector model over 25 years of simulation for the natural depletion scenario is 15.2% while for the miscible gas injection at the optimum injection rate is 16.7, 18.8, 17.46, and 19.4% for methane, carbon dioxide, lean gas, and rich gas respectively. Also, an improvement in the development of miscibility in the case of rich gas injection at this type of natural fractured reservoirs observed.

Article Highlights

To reach the highest RF, Gas Injection rate optimization is necessary at this type of NFRs.

Injection of methane and lean gas at higher rates causes faster gas breakthrough and leads to lower ultimately oil.

The rich gas shows better miscibility condition than other gases at this type of NFRs.
Seismic refraction data inversion via jellyfish search algorithm for bedrock characterization in dam sites
Authors: Poormirzaee Rashed
Published: October 2022

Seismic refraction method is an efficient tool for the investigation of dam construction sites. Velocity inversion has an essential role in an accurate seismic refraction data interpretation. This study aims to develop a new inversion algorithm to estimate P-wave velocity (Vp) structure from seismic refraction travel times. The introduced inversion algorithm is based on a recently developed nature-inspired algorithm, i.e., jellyfish search (JS) optimizer. First, the JS-based inversion algorithm was tested by several synthetic models in the presence of noise and without noise. Then, the performance of the applied inversion algorithm was evaluated by the seismic refraction travel times at a realistic dam construction site. The main objective of the actual data set analysis is the determination of Vp structure to find overburden thickness. The JS-based inversion algorithm in both synthetic models and actual data set shows acceptable performance. Results show three distinct seismic layers at the dam site. The velocities of the first, second and third layers, respectively, were estimated 400 m/s, 600 m/s and 1400 m/s. Also, the overburden thickness was estimated about 23 m, which was consistent with borehole data. The performance of the applied algorithm in the analyzing of actual data set was compared with the tomography interpretation method that the results revealed the efficiency of the JS-based inversion method.
Cultural Heritage with the Use of Low-Level Aerial Survey Techniques, Space Modelling and Multimedia Reconstruction of the Topographic Landscape (Example of a Windmill in Western Poland)
Authors: Smaczyński Maciej , Lorek Dariusz , Zagata Krzysztof , Horbiński Tymoteusz
Published: October 2022

Technological advancement of the last decades allowed one to develop the process of documentation and popularize the cultural heritage in the form of spatial objects and structures by means of reality modelling. The main goal of the article was to develop a methodology based on the compilation of activities in the field of acquisition (UAV), processing (Metashape and SkechUp), and publication (YouTube) of the data for the purpose of documentation and promotion of topographic cultural heritage objects recorded on nineteenth century maps (pre-industrial landscape). The research was carried out on a windmill located in Kamionka (Poland). It is located in the region of Wielkopolska (Witkowo borough), the cultural landscape of which, despite the progressive industrialization in the nineteenth century, has been shaped mainly by the agricultural land use. The most important results obtained at subsequent stages of the work were finally presented in the form of a short film. This type of presentation based on the use of multimedia is a comprehensive form of sharing research results. YouTube, as the leading medium for publishing audiovisual content, is one of the best places to share research results related to the promotion of cultural heritage.
Urban informatics and spatial optimization
Authors: Murray Alan T. , Baik Jiwon
Published: October 2022

There has been much concern for sustainability issues, recognizing the significant impacts that humans have had and continue to have on the Earth. Urban informatics has much to offer city systems in terms of understanding, management and design, particularly associated with sustainability. Efficiency that characterizes sustainable systems, and strategic goals to achieve them, does not happen by chance, but rather is the byproduct of concerted efforts driven by informed decision making. This paper focuses on strategic decision making, and the role of spatial optimization as a component of urban informatics. Strategic siting involving access and coverage demonstrates the capabilities of spatial optimization, but more importantly highlights the significance of an urban informatics perspective.
On the Road to Economic Prosperity
Authors: Luong Tuan Anh , Azuma Zenas
Published: October 2022

This Element investigates how the Ghanaian household wealth index is impacted by travel time reduction, which is a direct effect of infrastructural investments from 2000 to 2016. The wealth index is constructed based on the possession of selected assets and reﬂects the well-being of residents in Ghana. The Element employs two datasets, the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) and the DHS Covariates. The two-stage least square estimation is implemented to establish the causal relationship. The Element ﬁnds that a ten percent reduction in travel time from 2000 to 2015 would result in a 1.2 percent increase in the wealth index from 2003 to 2016. This ﬁnding is robust to various settings, including the addition of more control variables, the use of different instrumental variables, and the study of both short-term and long-term effects. The analysis lends support to the Ghanaian government's current economic and infrastructure development plans.
Estimating the Geological Structure and Transport Properties of Denied and Limited Access Sites
Authors: Duncan N. A. , Deinert M. R.
Published: October 2022

Onsite measurements are the standard for establishing geological conditions and related transport properties. However, making direct measurements is not always possible, either because a location is too remote, too vast, or access is outright denied. The latter is typically the case at nuclear test sites, or military installations. Here we describe a systematic method to characterize geology and estimate fracture width, spacing, tortuosity, permeability, and porosity at locations where direct measurements cannot be made. Fractures are treated as fractals with their respective fractal dimensions determined using surface images. Tortuosity in the geological matrix (i.e., bulk media) is determined using rock class with the latter also being used to determine distributions for permeability and porosity. The approach is tested using areal images and rock class for the Nevada Test Site and validated by comparison to field and core measurements. Past work has shown that testing a nuclear weapon underground can affect not only the migration time for gases to the surface but also their isotopic ratios. Accurately modeling gas transport and isotopic fractionation requires knowledge of the geology. However, suspected tests are typically conducted at sites to which the international community has no access.
Contributions to Loss Across the Magnetopause During an Electron Dropout Event
Authors: George H. , Reeves G. , Cunningham G. , Kalliokoski M. M. H. , Kilpua E. , Osmane A. , Henderson M. G. , Morley S. K. , Hoilijoki S. , Palmroth M.
Published: October 2022

Dropout events are dramatic decreases in radiation belt electron populations that can occur in as little as 30 minutes. Loss to magnetopause due to a combination of magnetopause shadowing and outward radial transport plays a significant role in these events. We examine the dropout of relativistic electron populations during the October 2012 geomagnetic storm using simulated electron phase space density, evaluating the contribution of different processes to losses across the magnetopause. We compare loss contribution from outward transport calculated using a standard empirical radial diffusion model that assumes a dipolar geomagnetic field to an event‐specific radial diffusion model evaluated with a non‐dipolar geomagnetic field. We additionally evaluate the contribution of Shabansky type 1 particles, which bounce along magnetic field lines with local equatorial maxima, to the loss calculated during this event. We find that the empirical radial diffusion model with a dipolar background field underestimates the contribution of radial diffusion to this dropout event by up to 10% when compared to the event‐specific, non‐dipolar radial diffusion model. We additionally find that including Shabansky type 1 particles in the initial electron phase space density, that is, allowing some magnetic field lines distorted from the typical single‐minima configuration in drift shell construction, increases the calculated loss by an average of 0.75%. This shows that the treatment of the geomagnetic field significantly impacts the calculation of electron losses to the magnetopause during dropout events, with the non‐dipolar treatment of radial diffusion being essential to accurately quantify the loss of outer radiation belt populations.
Crustal Structure of the Nankai Subduction Zone Revealed by Two Decades of Onshore‐Offshore and Ocean‐Bottom Seismic Data: Implications for the Dimensions and Slip Behavior of the Seismogenic Zone
Authors: Bassett Dan , Arnulf Adrien , Kodaira Shuichi , Nakanishi Ayako , Harding Alistair , Moore Gregory
Published: October 2022

Two‐decades of onshore‐offshore, ocean‐bottom seismometer, and passive‐source data are integrated to obtain high‐resolution 3‐D constraints on the architecture of the Nankai subduction zone. Our model reveals large along‐strike variability in the width of the outer‐forearc, with the crustal backstop (VP ≥ 5 km/s) extending within 50 km of Nankai Trough offshore Tokai and Kii Peninsula, but is a factor of 2 further landward (90–115 km) offshore Cape Muroto and Kyushu. The crustal backstop broadly coincides with the down‐dip extent of shallow slow‐earthquakes and the up‐dip extent of co‐seismic slip and geodetic locking, suggesting a link with the shallow frictional transition. In the inner‐forearc, high seismic‐velocities (VP > 6.6 km/s) in Kii Peninsula reflect Miocene plutons, impacting the nucleation and segmentation of large megathrust earthquakes. The complex geometry of the subducting slab drives spatial variability in the location of the down‐dip frictional transition. Variability in the width of the outer‐forearc, the dip of the subducting slab, and the depth distribution of deep slow‐slip events combine to produce large changes in the width of the seismogenic zone. This is most pronounced across Bungo channel, where the seismogenic zone narrows from 90 to 120 km in Shikoku to <60 km offshore Kyushu. Pinching of the seismogenic zone may explain the smaller area, and thus magnitude, of earthquakes offshore Kyushu and the reduction in slip‐deficit rate. Our results suggest crustal‐scale architecture is a key driver of profound along‐strike transitions in the location of frictional transition zones, and the width and slip behavior of the intervening seismogenic zone at Nankai Trough.
Heterogeneity in Microseismicity and Stress Near Rupture‐Limiting Section Boundaries Along the Late‐Interseismic Alpine Fault
Authors: Warren‐Smith E. , Townend J. , Chamberlain C. J. , Boulton C. , Michailos K.
Published: October 2022

Paleoseismic evidence from the late‐interseismic Alpine Fault suggests key section boundaries conditionally inhibit rupture. We utilize a year of data from a two‐part seismometer network (Dense Westland Arrays Researching Fault Segmentation) to characterize ∼7,500 earthquakes (−0.7 ≤MLv≤ 4.2) and ∼800 focal mechanisms, producing high‐resolution structural images of these boundaries to study effects of material and structural heterogeneities on mode‐switching rupture behavior. Lithologically‐controlled frictional behavior and crustal strength appear to influence lateral and vertical on‐fault seismicity distributions. Ultramafic hanging‐wall serpentinite and serpentinite‐related fault core minerals along the South Westland (SW) boundary, result in a locally shallow seismogenic cuttoff (∼8 km) and abundant on‐fault seismicity. Maximum horizontal compressive stress rotations (14° anti‐clockwise and 20° clockwise near the SW and North Westland (NW) boundaries, respectively, relative to the Central Section), coupled with spatially variable fault frictional properties, are more important than geometry alone in controlling Sections' relative frictional stability. Whereas the SW and Central Sections are well‐oriented for failure, the NW Section is severely misoriented compared with favorably oriented faults of the Marlborough Fault Zone, which possibly facilitate a preferred rupture route. Geometrically, a 40° dip change at the SW boundary may be accommodated either by a single through‐going fault plane ‐ a difficult geometry across which to obtain multi‐segment earthquakes when considering rupture dynamics ‐ or by a deeper vertical fault strand truncated by a shallower listric plane. Our new observations have implications for Alpine Fault rupture scenarios and highlight the need to consider a range of spatially heterogeneous, interdependent physical factors when evaluating controls on rupture segmentation.
Impaired synaptic transmission in dorsal dentate gyrus increases impulsive alcohol seeking
Authors: Nalberczak-Skóra Maria , Beroun Anna , Skonieczna Edyta , Cały Anna , Ziółkowska Magdalena , Pagano Roberto , Taheri Pegah , Kalita Katarzyna , Salamian Ahmad , Radwanska Kasia
Published: October 2022

Both human and animal studies indicate that the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus is highly exploited by drug and alcohol abuse. Yet, it is poorly understood how DG dysfunction affects addiction-related behaviors. Here, we used an animal model of alcohol use disorder (AUD) in automated IntelliCages and performed local genetic manipulation to investigate how synaptic transmission in the dorsal DG (dDG) affects alcohol-related behaviors. We show that a cue light induces potentiation-like plasticity of dDG synapses in alcohol-naive mice. This process is impaired in mice trained to drink alcohol. Acamprosate (ACA), a drug that reduces alcohol relapse, rescues the impairment of dDG synaptic transmission in alcohol mice. A molecular manipulation that reduces dDG synaptic AMPAR and NMDAR levels increases impulsive alcohol seeking during cue relapse (CR) in alcohol mice but does not affect alcohol reward, motivation or craving. These findings suggest that hindered dDG synaptic transmission specifically underlies impulsive alcohol seeking induced by alcohol cues, a core symptom of AUD.
Exploring the causal effects of genetic liability to ADHD and Autism on Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Pagoni Panagiota , Dardani Christina , Leppert Beate , Korologou-Linden Roxanna , Smith George Davey , Howe Laura D. , Anderson Emma L. , Stergiakouli Evie
Published: October 2022

Few studies suggest possible links between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Alzheimer’s disease but they have been limited by small sample sizes, diagnostic and recall bias. We used two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) to estimate the bidirectional causal association between genetic liability to ADHD and ASD on Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, we estimated the causal effects independently of educational attainment and IQ, through multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR). We employed genetic variants associated with ADHD (20,183 cases/35,191 controls), ASD (18,381 cases/27,969 controls), Alzheimer’s disease (71,880 cases/383,378 controls), educational attainment (n = 766,345) and IQ (n = 269,867) using the largest GWAS of European ancestry. There was limited evidence to suggest a causal effect of genetic liability to ADHD (odds ratio [OR] = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.98–1.02, P = 0.39) or ASD (OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.97–1.01, P = 0.70) on Alzheimer’s disease. Similar causal effect estimates were identified as direct effects, independent of educational attainment (ADHD: OR = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.99–1.01, P = 0.76; ASD: OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.98–1.00, P = 0.28) and IQ (ADHD: OR = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.99–1.02. P = 0.29; ASD: OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.98–1.01, P = 0.99). Genetic liability to Alzheimer’s disease was not found to have a causal effect on risk of ADHD or ASD (ADHD: OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 0.86–1.44, P = 0.37; ASD: OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 0.94–1.51, P = 0.14). We found limited evidence to suggest a causal effect of genetic liability to ADHD or ASD on Alzheimer’s disease; and vice versa.
Histopathological evaluation of pulp response to portland cement compared to MTA after primary canines pulpotomy (in vivo study)
Authors: Alzoubi Hasan , Bshara Nada , AL-Manadili Ahmad
Published: October 2022

Introduction

ECC (Early childhood caries) is very common in children. Because of the small size of primary anterior teeth, endodontic exposures occur early. Pulp tissue response after pulpotomy of primary anterior teeth by both MTA and Portland Cement is very important when pulp exposures occur in these teeth.

Aim

This study aimed to evaluate in vivo pulp tissue responses after the primary canines pulpotomy with either White Portland Cement (WPC) or White Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (WMTA), by histopathological analysis.

Materials and methods

The study included 30 primary canines in 21 healthy children aged 6–9 years old and it was classified into 2 groups according to the material. Group 1: included 15 teeth capped by White Portland Cement, and Group 2: included 15 teeth capped by white MTA. The dentine bridge formation, soft Tissue Organization, tissue fibrosis, formed dentin bridge thickness, pulp calcifications, hemorrhage in the pulp tissue, and deposition of new dentin on the inner surface of the dentin at 3 months periods were recorded.

Results

Data were analyzed statistically; the Mann–Whitney U test was performed for the assessment of histopathological criteria. Descriptive statistics were performed for the analysis of participant properties. Histopathological analysis showed complete dentin bridge formation and normal soft tissue organization for both materials. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences in dentine bridge formation (P value = 0.213), soft Tissue Organization (P value = 0.339), tissue fibrosis (P value = 0.079), formed dentin bridge thickness (P value = 0.139), pulp calcifications (P value = 0.581), hemorrhage in the pulp tissue (P value = 0.117), and deposition of new dentin (P value = 0.097), during the observation period.

Conclusions

Within the limitation of the current study WPC was similar to WMTA in terms of histological criteria so PC may serve as a good alternative to MTA in primary teeth pulpotomy.
Deubiquitylase OTUD1 confers Erlotinib sensitivity in non-small cell lung cancer through inhibition of nuclear translocation of YAP1
Authors: Liu Huafeng , Zhong Liting , Lu Yanjun , Liu Xuewen , Wei Jiawang , Ding Yuhai , Huang Huiling , Nie Qihong , Liao Xiaohong
Published: October 2022

Evidence exists suggesting tumor-inhibiting properties of deubiquitylase OTUD1 in various malignancies. We herein investigated the anti-tumor effect and clarified the downstream mechanisms of OTUD1 in the chemoresistance of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Expression of OTUD1 was examined in NSCLC (PC-9 cells) and erlotinib-resistant NSCLC (PC-9/ER) cell lines. OTUD1 was bioinformatically predicted to be weakly expressed in NSCLC tissue samples and verified in PC-9/ER cells. PC-9/ER cells were subsequently subjected to ectopic expression of OTUD1 alone or combined with SOX9 to dissect out the effect of OTUD1 on the proliferation, chemoresistance and apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. OTUD1 upregulation sensitized NSCLC cells to erlotinib both in vitro and in vivo. In the presence of OTUD1 overexpression, nuclear translocation of YAP1 was inhibited and its expression was inactivated. This effect of OTUD1 was associated with the decreased ubiquitination level of YAP1. SOX9/SPP1 inactivation was the consequence of inhibited nuclear translocation of YAP1. Overexpression of SOX9 reversed the inhibitory effect of OTUD1 on the resistance of NSCLC cells to erlotinib. In conclusion, our study reveals that OTUD1 potentially acts as a tumor suppressor and suppresses erlotinib resistance of NSCLC through the YAP1/SOX9/SPP1 axis, suggesting that OTUD1 may serve as a target for reducing chemoresistance for NSCLC.
Sevoflurane induces microRNA-18a to delay rat neurodevelopment via suppression of the RUNX1/Wnt/β-catenin axis
Authors: Jiang Yuge , Liu Yaobo , Sun Yuhui , Liu Yongzhe , Feng Long , Duan Mingda , Liu Yi , Xu Longhe
Published: October 2022

Sevoflurane anesthesia is reported to repress neurogenesis of neural stem cells (NSCs), thereby affecting the brain development, but the underlying mechanism of sevoflurane on the proliferation of NSCs remains unclear. Thus, this study aims to discern the relationship between sevoflurane and NSC proliferation. Bioinformatics tools were employed to predict the expression of microRNA-18a (miR-18a) in 9-day-old neonatal rat hippocampal tissues after sevoflurane treatment and the downstream genes of miR-18a, followed by a series of assays to explore the relationship among miR-18a, runt related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1), and β-catenin in the hippocampal tissues. NSCs were isolated from the hippocampal tissues and subjected to gain-/loss-of-function assays to investigate the interactions among miR-18a, RUNX1, and β-catenin in NSCs and their roles in NSC development. Bioinformatics analysis and experimental results confirmed high expression of miR-18a in rat hippocampal tissues and NSCs after sevoflurane treatment. Next, we found that miR-18a downregulated RUNX1 expression, while RUNX1 promoted NSC proliferation by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. The behavioral experiments also showed that sevoflurane caused nerve injury in rats, whilst RUNX1 overexpression protected rat neurodevelopment. Our findings uncovered that sevoflurane attenuated NSC proliferation via the miR-18a-meidated RUNX1/Wnt/β-catenin pathway, thereby impairing rat neurodevelopment.
The effect of enantioselective chiral covalent organic frameworks and cysteine sacrificial donors on photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
Authors: Weng Weijun , Guo Jia
Published: October 2022

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have constituted an emerging class of organic photocatalysts showing enormous potential for visible photocatalytic H2evolution from water. However, suffering from sluggish reaction kinetics, COFs often cooperate with precious metal co-catalysts for essential proton-reducing capability. Here, we synthesize a chiral β-ketoenamine-linked COF coordinated with 10.51 wt% of atomically dispersed Cu(II) as an electron transfer mediator. The enantioselective combination of the chiral COF-Cu(II) skeleton with L-/D-cysteine sacrificial donors remarkably strengthens the hole extraction kinetics, and in turn, the photoinduced electrons accumulate and rapidly transfer via the coordinated Cu ions. Also, the parallelly stacking sequence of chiral COFs provides the energetically favorable arrangement for the H-adsorbed sites. Thus, without precious metal, the visible photocatalytic H2evolution rate reaches as high as 14.72 mmol h−1 g−1for the enantiomeric mixtures. This study opens up a strategy for optimizing the reaction kinetics and promises the exciting potential of chiral COFs for photocatalysis.
Modeling of ultrafast X-ray induced magnetization dynamics in magnetic multilayer systems
Authors: Kapcia K. J. , Tkachenko V. , Capotondi F. , Lichtenstein A. , Molodtsov S. , Müller L. , Philippi-Kobs A. , Piekarz P. , Ziaja B.
Published: October 2022

In this work, we report on modeling results obtained with our recently developed simulation tool enabling nanoscopic description of electronic processes in X-ray irradiated ferromagnetic materials. With this tool, we have studied the response of Co/Pt multilayer system irradiated by an ultrafast extreme ultraviolet pulse at the M-edge of Co (photon energy ~60 eV). It was previously investigated experimentally at the FERMI free-electron-laser facility, using the magnetic small-angle X-ray scattering technique. Our simulations show that the magnetic scattering signal from cobalt decreases on femtosecond timescales due to electronic excitation, relaxation, and transport processes both in the cobalt and in the platinum layers, following the trend observed in the experimental data. The confirmation of the predominant role of electronic processes for X-ray induced demagnetization in the regime below the structural damage threshold is a step toward quantitative control and manipulation of X-ray induced magnetic processes on femtosecond timescales.
Extracting structural motifs from pair distribution function data of nanostructures using explainable machine learning
Authors: Anker Andy S. , Kjær Emil T. S. , Juelsholt Mikkel , Christiansen Troels Lindahl , Skjærvø Susanne Linn , Jørgensen Mads Ry Vogel , Kantor Innokenty , Sørensen Daniel Risskov , Billinge Simon J. L. , Selvan Raghavendra , Jensen Kirsten M. Ø.
Published: October 2022

Characterization of material structure with X-ray or neutron scattering using e.g. Pair Distribution Function (PDF) analysis most often rely on refining a structure model against an experimental dataset. However, identifying a suitable model is often a bottleneck. Recently, automated approaches have made it possible to test thousands of models for each dataset, but these methods are computationally expensive and analysing the output, i.e. extracting structural information from the resulting fits in a meaningful way, is challenging. Our Machine Learning based Motif Extractor (ML-MotEx) trains an ML algorithm on thousands of fits, and uses SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanation) values to identify which model features are important for the fit quality. We use the method for 4 different chemical systems, including disordered nanomaterials and clusters. ML-MotEx opens for a type of modelling where each feature in a model is assigned an importance value for the fit quality based on explainable ML.
Clinically relevant small-molecule promotes nerve repair and visual function recovery
Authors: Au Ngan Pan Bennett , Kumar Gajendra , Asthana Pallavi , Gao Fuying , Kawaguchi Riki , Chang Raymond Chuen Chung , So Kwok Fai , Hu Yang , Geschwind Daniel H. , Coppola Giovanni , Ma Chi Him Eddie
Published: October 2022

Adult mammalian injured axons regenerate over short-distance in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) while the axons in the central nervous system (CNS) are unable to regrow after injury. Here, we demonstrated that Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP), purified from Wolfberry, accelerated long-distance axon regeneration after severe peripheral nerve injury (PNI) and optic nerve crush (ONC). LBP not only promoted intrinsic growth capacity of injured neurons and function recovery after severe PNI, but also induced robust retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival and axon regeneration after ONC. By using LBP gene expression profile signatures to query a Connectivity map database, we identified a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved small-molecule glycopyrrolate, which promoted PNS axon regeneration, RGC survival and sustained CNS axon regeneration, increased neural firing in the superior colliculus, and enhanced visual target re-innervations by regenerating RGC axons leading to a partial restoration of visual function after ONC. Our study provides insights into repurposing of FDA-approved small molecule for nerve repair and function recovery.