bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The short Thai version of functional outcomes of sleep questionnaire (FOSQ-10T): reliability and validity in patients with sleep-disordered breathing
Authors: Chaiyaporntanarat Kawisara , Banhiran Wish , Keskool Phawin , Rungmanee Sarin , Pimolsri Chawanont , Chotinaiwattarakul Wattanachai , Kodchalai Auamporn
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The study is to evaluate reliability and validity of the short Thai version of Functional Outcome of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ-10T), in patients with sleep disordered breathing (SDB).

Methods

Inclusion criteria were Thai patients with SDB age ≥ 18 years old who had polysomnography results available. Exclusion criteria were patients unable to complete questionnaire for any reason, patients with a history of continuous antidepressant or alcohol use, and underlying disorders including unstable cardiovascular, pulmonary, or neurological conditions. All participants were asked to complete the FOSQ-10 T and Epworth sleepiness scales (ESS). Of these, 38 patients were required to retake FOSQ-10 T at 2–4 weeks later to assess test–retest reliability, and 19 OSA patients treated with CPAP were asked to do so at 4 weeks following therapy to assess questionnaire’s responsiveness to treatment.

Results

There were 42 participants (24 men, 18 women), with a mean age of 48.3 years. The internal consistency of the FOSQ-10T was good, as indicated by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.85. The test–retest reliability was good, as indicated by intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.77. The correlation between the FOSQ-10T and ESS scores (concurrent validity) was moderate (r =  − 0.41). The scores of FOSQ-10T significantly increased after receiving adequate CPAP therapy, showing an excellent responsiveness to treatment. However, there was no significant association between FOSQ-10T scores and OSA severity measured by apnea–hypopnea index.

Conclusions

The FOSQ-10T has good reliability and validity to use as a tool to assess QOL in Thai patients with SDB. It is convenient and potentially useful in both clinical and research settings.
Screening for treatment-required sleep apnoea in patients with spinal cord injury within one year after injury in a rehabilitation setting
Authors: Næss-Schmidt Erhard Trillingsgaard , Christensen Anne , Vibjerg Jørgen , Hasselager Vivi Lindhardt , Lindenmayer Louise , Laursen Helle Susanne , Nielsen Jørgen Feldbæk , Kirov Filip Ivanov
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The current study aims to assess the efficacy of the Stop-Bang Questionnaire (SBQ) in screening treatment-required sleep apnoea following Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). Additionally, we explore the performance of combined questionnaires and pulse oximetry to determine the most cost-effective method.

Methods

The study employs a cross-sectional observational design. All patients admitted to in-hospital rehabilitation at the Spinal Cord Injury Centre of Western Denmark from September 2022 to February 2023 were continuously enrolled. Participating patients underwent SBQ screening, a standard sleep questionnaire, and cardiorespiratory monitoring, followed by an individual consultation with a physician.

Results

During the study period, 35 SCI patients were admitted, with 24 providing informed consent. Among the 24 included patients, there was a 75% prevalence of mild to severe sleep apnoea, and 46% had treatment-required sleep apnoea. The SBQ missed only one patient with treatment-required sleep apnoea but misclassified eight patients. Combining SBQ with the pulse oximetry demonstrated the best performance in identifying patients with sleep apnoea.

Conclusion

The study indicates that SBQ alone is insufficient for screening treatment-required sleep apnoea. Exploratory analysis suggests that combining SBQ with a simple pulse oximetry measurement might enhance accuracy.
Unveiling the production of non-participation in the primary school science classroom
Authors: Hoppe Ene Ernst , Holmegaard Henriette Tolstrup
Published: May 2024

This paper originates from experiences of low participation in science teaching in primary school during ethnographic fieldwork. Focusing on these observations and inspired by other studies conceptualising non-participation, this paper examines how non-participation is shaped and produced in primary school science. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork and interviews with students in year six (12 years old), three forms of non-participation are analysed as well as the various forms and shapes they take, namely non-participation: 1. through exposure; 2. through being overlooked; and 3. through being disciplined. Using the theoretical concepts of performativity and positionality, the paper analyses how the production of non-participation emerges as rigid positions, hard to negotiate and thus quite stable over time, as well as interfering with intersections of gender, race/ethnicity and social background. At the end of the paper, we discuss how the positions' displays of stability serve as barriers to students’ ability to form identities as science learners in different contexts and over time, and we argue that teachers play an important role in disrupting these positions. Moreover, we point towards future research to continue the work on conceptualising non-participation, and we suggest that there is potential in combining research on emotions and affect with understanding how non-participation is formed and shaped not only inside the classroom but also in other science settings outside school.
A Scoping Review on Simulation-Based Design Optimization in Marine Engineering: Trends, Best Practices, and Gaps
Authors: Serani Andrea , Scholcz Thomas P. , Vanzi Valentina
Published: May 2024

This scoping review assesses the current use of simulation-based design optimization (SBDO) in marine engineering, focusing on identifying research trends, methodologies, and application areas. Analyzing 277 studies from Scopus and Web of Science, the review finds that SBDO is predominantly applied to optimizing marine vessel hulls, including both surface and underwater types, and extends to key components like bows, sterns, propellers, and fins. It also covers marine structures and renewable energy systems. A notable trend is the preference for deterministic single-objective optimization methods, indicating potential growth areas in multi-objective and stochastic approaches. The review points out the necessity of integrating more comprehensive multidisciplinary optimization methods to address the complex challenges in marine environments. Despite the extensive application of SBDO in marine engineering, there remains a need for enhancing the methodologies’ efficiency and robustness. This review offers a critical overview of SBDO’s role in marine engineering and highlights opportunities for future research to advance the field.
Axillary Management: How Much Is Too Much?
Authors: Owusu-Brackett Nicci , Facer Benjin , Quiroga Dionisia , Pariser Ashley , Grimm Michael , Beyer Sasha , Jhawar Sachin , Oppong Bridget A.
Published: May 2024

Purpose of Review

To review the current management of the axilla in breast cancer.

Recent Findings

Axillary dissection is no longer indicated in patients with clinically node-negative axilla with 1–2 positive sentinel lymph nodes following upfront surgery or in patients with clinically node-negative axilla following neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Breast cancer has evolved away from routine axillary clearance to the less invasive sentinel lymph node biopsy to now complete omission of axillary sampling in select patients. We will review the most salient evidence that has shaped these practice changes over the last three decades. Current practice controversies are especially relevant for elderly populations and those receiving neoadjuvant therapy. Ongoing clinical trials will provide data to further guide breast cancer surgical management.
Refining the Farm Aquaculture Resource Management Model for Shellfish Nitrogen Removal at the Local Scale
Authors: Bayer Skylar R. , Cubillo Alhambra M. , Rose Julie M. , Ferreira Joao G. , Dixon Mark , Alvarado Annita , Barr Janine , Bernatchez Genevieve , Meseck Shannon , Poach Matthew , Pousse Emilien , Wikfors Gary H. , Bricker Suzanne
Published: May 2024

Nutrient-related environmental degradation in coastal waters is a continuing global problem. Bivalve shellfish farms show nutrient removal capabilities similar to some traditional management strategies and in some places have been incorporated into nutrient management programs to help achieve water quality goals. Bioextractive nutrient removal varies by farmed species and is influenced by environment parameters; thus, data and information for both are needed to estimate nutrient mitigation potential of shellfish farms. The Farm Aquaculture Resource Management (FARM) model, calibrated for farmed species, uses local environmental and farming practice data to simulate interactions between the farmed population and the local environment and to optimize cultivation practices for economic gain. We calibrated the model to predict nitrogen removal by Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) farms with specific field and experimental data on oysters, their local environment, and farm practices in Long Island Sound, CT, USA. Previous FARM applications were not validated for nitrogen removal with local data. In the harvest when ready (HWR) model scenario (oysters are harvested when they reach harvest size), the farm removed 159 kg N ha−1 year−1 while the non-HWR scenario (all oysters are harvested at one time) removed 274 kg N ha−1 year−1. These estimates are within the range of previously reported in-water bioextraction studies in the Northeastern USA. The robust outputs from this validated model can be reliably used in marine spatial planning efforts and by nutrient managers to predict the nitrogen removal benefits that could be achieved through new or expanded eastern oyster farms in eutrophic environments.
Conception, pregnancy and inflammatory bowel disease—Current concepts for the practising clinician
Authors: Liu Eleanor , Chatten Kelly , Limdi Jimmy K.
Published: May 2024

The peak incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) coincides with a woman’s prime reproductive years. The management of IBD during pregnancy can be challenging for healthcare professionals, underpinning the need for a multi-disciplinary approach with shared decision-making with the patient. Pre-conception counselling can address patient concerns, improve pregnancy specific IBD patient knowledge and provide a personalized risk assessment, to ensure optimal maternal and fetal outcomes. Most women with IBD have fertility rates comparable with the general population, although voluntary childlessness is common among women with IBD. IBD disease activity at conception and during pregnancy is a key determinant of the course of IBD during pregnancy. Active IBD during pregnancy is associated with adverse pregnancy-related outcomes, including spontaneous abortion, small for gestational age baby and preterm birth, emphasizing the importance of ensuring disease remission prior to conception. Most IBD medications (5-aminosalicylates, thiopurines if already initiated pre-conception, corticosteroids and biologic medications) are considered safe and low risk during pregnancy and breastfeeding, except for methotrexate, JAK-inhibitors, ozanimod and allopurinol and maintaining remission throughout gestation should be the priority. Most women with IBD can have a vaginal delivery, but cesarean section should be considered in active perianal disease and history of ileal pouch surgery. This narrative review outlines the current evidence for the management of IBD in pregnancy, as well as considering the pre-conceptual and post-partum period.
Comparing shallow landslide susceptibility maps in Northeastern Türkiye (Beşikdüzü, Trabzon): a multivariate statistical, machine learning, and physical data-based analysis
Authors: Tezel Kübra , Akgün Aykut
Published: May 2024

This study endeavors to assess and compare the efficacy of various modeling approaches, including statistical, machine learning, and physical-based models, in the creation of shallow landslide susceptibility maps within the Besikduzu district of Trabzon province, situated in the Black Sea Region of Türkiye. The landslide inventory data, spanning from 2000 to 2018, was acquired through meticulous field surveys and analysis of Google Earth satellite imagery. Key topographic and geologic input parameters, such as slope, aspect, topographic wetness index, stream power index, plan and profile curvature, and geologic units, were extracted from a high-resolution 10 m spatial DEM (Digital Elevation Model) and a 1:25,000 scaled digital geology map, respectively. Additionally, soil unit weight and shear strength parameters, critical for the physical-based model, were determined through field samples. To evaluate landslide susceptibility, logistic regression, random forest, and Shalstab were employed as the chosen methods. The accuracy of susceptibility maps generated by each method was assessed using the area under the curve method, yielding impressive values of 0.99 for the random forest model, 0.97 for the logistic regression model, and 0.93 for the Shalstab model. These results underscore the robust performance of all three methods, suggesting their applicability for generating shallow landslide susceptibility maps not only in the Black Sea Region but also in analogous areas with similar geological characteristics.
Novel insights into the roles of migrasome in cancer
Authors: Deng Sijun , Wu Yiwen , Huang Sheng , Yang Xiaoyan
Published: May 2024

Cell migration, a hallmark of cancer malignancy, plays a critical role in cancers. Improperly initiated or misdirected cell migration can lead to invasive metastatic cancer. Migrasomes are newly discovered vesicular cellular organelles produced by migrating cells and depending on cell migration. Four marker proteins [NDST1 (bifunctionalheparan sulfate N-deacetylase/N-sulfotransferase 1), EOGT (Epidermal growth factor domains pecific O-linked N-acetylglucosaminetransferase), CPQ (carboxypeptidase Q), and PIGK (phosphatidylinositol glycan anchor biosynthesis, class K)] of migrasomes were successfully identified. There are three marker proteins (NDST1, PIGK, and EOGT) of migrasome expressed in cancer. In this review, we will discuss the process of migrasome discovery, the formation of migrasome, the possible functions of migrasome, and the differences between migrasomes and exosomes, especially, the biological functions of migrasome marker proteins in cancer, and discuss some possible roles of migrasomes in cancer. We speculate that migrasomes and migracytosis can play key roles in regulating the development of cancer.
circ_0006789 promotes cervical cancer development via the miR-615-5p/HSF1 axis
Authors: Zhou Wenyu , Song Weiwei , Lu Meisong
Published: May 2024

Objective

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in the development of human cancers, including cervical cancer (CC). However, the role and mechanism of circ_0006789 (circSLC25A43) in CC are unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the functional role of circ_0006789 in CC.

Methods

The expression of circ_0006789 in CC tissues and cell lines was examined by RT-qPCR. The characterization of circ_0006789 in CC cells was verified by subcellular localisation, actinomycin D assay, and RNase R assay. After circ_0006789 was knocked down in CC cell lines, the proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of CC cells were assessed by CCK-8 method, flow cytometry, and Transwell assay. RIP assay, FISH assay, dual luciferase reporter gene assay and Western blot were used to investigate the regulatory mechanism between circ_0006789, miR-615-5p and heat shock factor 1 (HSF1).

Results

circ_0006789 was upregulated in CC tissues and cell lines. CC cells were inhibited in their proliferation, migration, and invasion, as well as promoted to apoptosis when circ_0006789 was knocked down. It was found that circ_0006789 targeted miR-615-5p, and miR-615-5p expression was inversely correlated with circ_0006789 expression. Furthermore, HSF1 was a target gene of miR-615-5p. Furthermore, the suppressive effects on HeLa cells mediated by circ_0006789 knockdown were counter-balanced when miR-615-5p was knocked down and HSF1 was overexpressed. Mechanistically, circ_0006789 was found to promote CC development by reducing miR-615-5p and increasing HSF1 expressions.

Conclusion

circ_0006789 accelerates CC development via the miR-615-5p/HSF1 axis.
Australian schooling policy: A risky proposition
Authors: Hardy Ian
Published: May 2024

This article utilises recent Australian schooling policies and associated international educational policies as a stimulus to reflect on the extent to which schooling provides genuinely ‘educational’ opportunities for students. To do so, the article draws upon Gert Biesta’s notion of the ‘risk’ of education to analyse the extent to which recent and current key federal government policies in Australia, and significant OECD and UNESCO policies, seem to enable more educationally-oriented schooling. The article reveals that while there are multiple discourses at play in relation to federal government policies, the way in which these policies have become more ‘national’ in orientation, and the attendant prescriptive attention to ‘capturing’ students’ learning in more and more ‘precise’ ways, mitigate against the possibilities for more risk-responsive schooling opportunities for students. While educational policies are always open to contestation in their enactment, more economistic and managerial foci within these texts militate against more productive, ‘risky’, learning. As a consequence, Australian schooling policy is a ‘risky proposition’—not because it places students ‘at risk’ of harm but because it does not draw sufficiently upon notions of risk as a resource to inform educational provision in preparation for living in an uncertain world.
Decolorization of reactive dyes by the white rot fungus Phanerochaete velutina in presence of Zn and ZnO nanoparticles
Authors: Zafiu C. , Küpcü S. , Kähkönen M. A.
Published: May 2024

Reactive organic dyes are hazardous pollutants that should be removed from wastewater from the textile industry. A remediation of dye polluted wastewater can be achieved by using the oxidative properties of nanomaterials, such as ZnO nanoparticles, or by microorganisms and their dye degrading enzymes. Promising approaches are expected from hybrid strategies, which use more than one approach. However, ZnO nanoparticles are also reported to be an antimicrobial and antifungal agent, which may undermine the decolorization ability of potent organisms, such as white rot fungi. Therefore, in this study we investigated the effects of soluble Zn and ZnO nanoparticles on the decolorization behaviour of the white rot fungus Phanerochaete velutina on commonly used reactive dyes, Reactive Orange 16 and Reactive Green 19. Zn ions led to a low decolorized rate of both dyes at low concentrations and restored the rate at higher Zn concentrations. However, ZnO nanoparticles showed highest decolorization rates, but only in a narrow concentration range. Overall, no toxic or inhibitory effects for decolorization of the dyes were found at the applied concentration of up to 20 mg Zn l−1 indicating that tolerant P. velutina will be suitable for remediation of dyes in multi polluted waste waters.
Integrating Indicators in Agricultural Vulnerability Assessment to Climate Change
Authors: Janani Higgoda K. , Karunanayake Chamaka , Gunathilake Miyuru B. , Rathnayake Upaka
Published: May 2024

Climate change stands as one of the most pressing challenges confronting global ecosystems and human livelihoods. The agriculture sector of Anuradhapura district, Sri Lanka, well renowned for its pivotal role in the nation’s food production, faces an increasing threat from the changing climate. This study aims to incorporate the indicator system method which uses a set of indicators to assess the agricultural vulnerability (AV) to climate change in Anuradhapura district. The AV assessment used in this study involves three principal components exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. The indicators are normalized to allow spatial analysis and smooth integration within a geographic information system (GIS) framework. The AV of Anuradhapura district ranged from 0.32 to 0.67 and was divided among five levels very low, low, moderate, high, and very high. The findings suggest that Anuradhapura’s agricultural sector was significantly impacted by climate change as the majority of the total area was found to have very high, high, and moderate levels of AV with 25, 28, and 24%, respectively. The results obtained from this study are essential for formulating plans to improve Anuradhapura’s agricultural sector resilience and adaptability to ensure food security and livelihood sustainability considering the ever-changing climate.
UCE-derived mitochondrial phylogeny reveals pervasive mito-nuclear discordances in serotine bats (genus Eptesicus) and complex evolutionary history in Eptesicus (Histiotus)
Authors: Yi Xueling , Latch Emily K. , Lim Burton K. , Koroiva Ricardo , Da Rocha Patricio Adriano , Feijó Anderson
Published: May 2024

Studies of evolution and biodiversity require solid understanding of species systematics revealed by molecular phylogeny using multilocus genomic data. Multilocus analyses, nevertheless, remain difficult in non-model taxa due to limited access to samples and molecular resources. To help overcome this limitation, ultra-conserved elements (UCEs) have been developed to generate large nuclear datasets and build more robust species phylogenies. Recently, MitoFinder pipeline was developed to further extract mitochondrial genes from the off-target sequences in UCE libraries to allow mito-nuclear comparison and increase the mitochondrial genomic database. Here we applied MitoFinder to published UCE datasets of serotine bats (genus Eptesicus) and focused on E. (Histiotus) whose evolutionary history is poorly understood. Our results showed extensive mito-nuclear discordances in the divergence of major clades in Eptesicus and within E. (Histiotus), indicating potential incomplete lineage sorting and historical mitochondrial introgression within and across subgenera. Moreover, we collected several new samples of E. (Histiotus), including the first molecular data of the recently described E. (H) diaphanopterus, and combined available published sequences to generate the most taxa-complete mitochondrial phylogeny of E. (Histiotus) bats. Results supported the early divergence of E. (H.) magellanicus and the species status of E. (H.) diaphanopterus. In addition, we found strong evidence of cryptic diversity, with potentially new taxa in Peru, Uruguay, and Brazil, which needs to be evaluated in future studies using complementary data. Our study enriched the sequence database of serotine bats and shed light on the hidden diversity and complex evolutionary history of E. (Histiotus).
FER-BHARAT: a lightweight deep learning network for efficient unimodal facial emotion recognition in Indian context
Authors: Karani Ruhina , Jani Jay , Desai Sharmishta
Published: May 2024

Humans' ability to manage their emotions has a big impact on their ability to plan and make decisions. In order to better understand people and improve human–machine interaction, researchers in affective computing and artificial intelligence are investigating the detection and recognition of emotions. However, different cultures have distinct ways of expressing emotions, and the existing emotion recognition datasets and models may not effectively capture the nuances of the Indian population. To address this gap, this study proposes custom-built lightweight Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models that are optimized for accuracy and computational efficiency. These models are trained and evaluated on two Indian emotion datasets: The Indian Spontaneous Expression Dataset (ISED) and the Indian Semi Acted Facial Expression Database (iSAFE). The proposed CNN model with manual feature extraction provides remarkable accuracy improvement of 11.14% for ISED and 4.72% for iSAFE datasets as compared to baseline, while reducing the training time. The proposed model also surpasses the accuracy produced by pre-trained ResNet-50 model by 0.27% ISED and by 0.24% for the iSAFE dataset with significant improvement in training time of approximately 320 s for ISED and 60 s for iSAFE dataset. The suggested lightweight CNN model with manual feature extraction offers the advantage of being computationally efficient and more accurate compared to pre-trained model making it a more practical and efficient solution for emotion recognition among Indians.
Attack Rate, Case Fatality Rate and Predictors of Pertussis Outbreak During Pertussis Outbreak Investigation in Ethiopia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Tariku Mengistie Kassahun , Belete Abebe Habtamu , Worede Daniel Tarekegn , Bante Simachew Animen , Alehegn Agumas Alemu , Assen Biniam Kebede , Tegegne Bantayehu Addis , Misikir Sewnet Wongiel
Published: May 2024

Background

Pertussis, a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis, is a leading global public health issue. Ethiopia is currently conducting multiple pertussis outbreak investigations, but there is a lack of comprehensive information on attack rate, case fatality rate, and infection predictors. This study aimed to measure attack rates, case fatality rates, and factors associated with pertussis outbreak.

Methods

This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published and unpublished studies on pertussis outbreaks in Ethiopia from 2009 to 2023, using observational study designs, using the guideline Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The study utilized databases like Science Direct, MEDLINE/PubMed, African Journals Online, Google Scholar and registers. The data were collected using an Excel Spreadsheet and then exported to STATA version 17 for analysis. Subgroup analysis was conducted to identify potential disparities. A random effects model was used to consider heterogeneity among studies. I2-squared test statistics were used to assess heterogeneity. The attack rate, case fatality rate, and odds ratio (OR) were presented using forest plots with a 95% confidence interval. Egger’s and Begg’s tests were used to evaluate the publication bias.

Results

Seven pertussis outbreak investigations with a total of 2824 cases and 18 deaths were incorporated. The pooled attack and case fatality rates were 10.78 (95% CI: 8.1–13.5) per 1000 population and 0.8% (95% CI: 0.01–1.58%), respectively. The highest and lowest attack rates were in Oromia (5.57 per 1000 population and in the Amhara region (2.61 per 1000 population), respectively. Predictor of pertussis outbreak were being unvaccinated [odds ratio (OR) = 3.05, 95% CI: 1.83–4.27] and contact history [OR = 3.44, 95% CI: 1.69–5.19].

Conclusion

Higher and notable variations in attack and case fatality rates were reported. Being unvaccinated and having contact history were the predictors of contracting pertussis disease in Ethiopia. Enhancing routine vaccination and contact tracing efforts should be strengthened.
Nonlinear Stability of Equilibria in Hamiltonian Systems with Multiple Resonances without Interactions
Authors: Sierpe Claudio , Vidal Claudio
Published: May 2024

In this work, we advance in the study of the Lyapunov stability and instability of equilibrium solutions of Hamiltonian flows. More precisely, we study the nonlinear stability in the Lyapunov sense of equilibrium solutions in autonomous Hamiltonian systems with n-degrees of freedom, assuming the existence of two resonance vectors

$$\textbf{k}^1$$

k
1

and

$$\textbf{k}^2$$

k
2

without interaction (

$$|\textbf{k}^1|\le |\textbf{k}^2|$$

|

k
1

|
≤
|

k
2

|

). We provide conditions to obtain a type of formal stability, called Lie stability. In particular, we need to normalize the Hamiltonian function to any arbitrary order, and our results take into account the sign of the components of the resonance vectors. Subsequently, we guarantee some sufficient conditions to obtain exponential stability in the sense of Nekhoroshev for Lie stable systems. In addition, we give sufficient conditions for the instability in the Lyapunov sense of the full system. For this, it is necessary to normalize the Hamiltonian function to an adequate order, and assuming that the components of at least one resonance vector change of sign.
Assessment of discontinuity related instability potential in a surge pool cavern: kinematic and distinct element approach
Authors: Rawat Devendra S. , Yadav Vikas , Naithani Ajay K. , Singh Laishram G. , Jain Prasnna , Kainthola Ashutosh , Suri Babu R. N. , Nath Ravindra K. , Reddy Padmaja , Allen Samuel P. , Singh Khilap
Published: May 2024

Safe and economical subsurface excavation requires a holistic assessment of the ground. Possibilities of stress-induced and structural failures need thorough consideration before excavation. Over-supporting an excavation is uneconomical while under-supporting can lead to disastrous results. Thus, in this research, an attempt has been made to devise the most efficient and reliable support system. An under-construction underground surge pool cavern to store and lift water at the Indian state of Telangana was taken up as the research site. The methodology involved in-depth geological and geotechnical investigations to identify possible adverse features. Rock mass rating and Q-index, were implemented for rockmass characterization. The surge pool was constructed using the Norwegian Method of Tunnelling (NMT) and validated with BIS codes. The stability analysis and support design were carried out with the help of distinct element simulation and wedge analysis for the surge pool heading portion. A right crown portion was found to be most susceptible to failure, which was also confirmed by the both the analysis. A thorough examination led to the most robust and economical support design for long-term stability.
Teaching English as a Second Language with Shakespeare
Authors: Ciambella Fabio
Published: May 2024

Teaching pragmatics, that is, language in use, is one of the most difficult and consequently neglected tasks in many English as a Second Language classrooms. This Element aims to address a gap in the scholarly debate about Shakespeare and pedagogy, combining pragmatic considerations about how to approach Shakespeare's language today in ESL classes, and practical applications in the shape of ready-made lesson plans for both university and secondary school students. Its originality consists in both its structure and the methodology adopted. Three main sections cover different aspects of pragmatics: performative speech acts, discourse markers, and (im)politeness strategies. Each section is introduced by an overview of the topic and state of the art, then details are provided about how to approach Shakespeare's plays through a given pragmatic method. Finally, an example of an interactive, ready-made lesson plan is provided.
Faith by Aurality in China's Ethnic Borderland
Authors: Diao Ying
Published: May 2024

Illuminates how voice, faith, and hearing become intertwined with technologies of sound reproduction and mobility amid the rapidly transforming religious landscape of China's ethnic borderland.
The Gothic Imagination in the Music of Franz Schubert
Authors: Davies Joe
Published: May 2024

Offers a major new contribution to understanding Schubert's creative approach and the gothic imagination more generally.
Female Devotion and Textile Imagery in Medieval English Literature
Authors: McKay Anna
Published: May 2024

Uncovers the female voices, lived experiences, and spiritual insights encoded by the imagery of textiles in the Middle Ages.
Tricks under Trade: How International Trade Both Facilitates and is Facilitated by Corporate Environmental Crime in the Waste and Hydrocarbon Sectors
Authors: Giardi Giulia
Published: May 2024

Legal scholarship in the realm of international economic law has a blind spot: the practice of international trade. Cargo and container shipping is the blood and guts of international trade, and it is fuelled by bunker oil – a hydrocarbon mixture of the dirtiest petroleum-based products. Worryingly, there is empirical evidence of bunkers being intentionally contaminated with waste oils. This fraudulent contamination violates numerous international, national, and EU rules on waste management and poses immense risks to the health of planet and people alike. These same acts of fraud are also extremely profitable, and they facilitate the smooth functioning of our global economy. The fraud is itself not just incentivised in the tight-margins reality of international trade, but it is facilitated by the lack of proper legislation and the vulnerability of the existing means of enforcement in the areas where there is legislation to comply with. Economic operators often use falsified documents to market fuel oil that should be considered as waste. Systematic wrongdoing of this kind is detrimental to the environment and risks eroding the rule of law in both its formal and substantive conceptualisations.
Homology and K-theory of dynamical systems IV. Further structural results on groupoid homology
Authors: PROIETTI VALERIO , YAMASHITA MAKOTO
Published: May 2024

We consider the homology theory of étale groupoids introduced by Crainic and Moerdijk [A homology theory for étale groupoids. J. Reine Angew. Math.521 (2000), 25–46], with particular interest to groupoids arising from topological dynamical systems. We prove a Künneth formula for products of groupoids and a Poincaré-duality type result for principal groupoids whose orbits are copies of an Euclidean space. We conclude with a few example computations for systems associated to nilpotent groups such as self-similar actions, and we generalize previous homological calculations by Burke and Putnam for systems which are analogues of solenoids arising from algebraic numbers. For the latter systems, we prove the HK conjecture, even when the resulting groupoid is not ample.
The Spanish railway network, 1848–2023
Authors: Esteban-Oliver Guillermo , Martí-Henneberg Jordi
Published: May 2024

GIS data on the evolution of railway networks facilitate the study of the role played by the expansion of transport infrastructure since the industrial revolution. The arrival of the railway transformed economic and social activity and the distribution of population within the territory. Given their importance, we have reconstructed and digitised the layout of the railway lines and the location of the stations and halts that existed from the opening of Spain's first railway line, in 1848, until 2023. We have also added indicators of the quality of the network, more specifically, the dates of its electrification and when the track was doubled to allow two-way traffic. The potential of this database lies in its capacity to analyse the interrelationship between the railway infrastructure and a wide range of elements located in the territory, amongst which it is necessary to highlight other modes of transport, urban expansion and socio-economic development.
Spatial–temporal distribution characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis in eastern China from 2011 to 2021
Authors: Chen Ke , Cheng Liang , Yu Hao , Zhou Yong , Zhu Limei , Li Zhongqi , Li Tenglong , Martinez Leonardo , Liu Qiao , Wang Bei
Published: May 2024

China is still among the 30 high-burden tuberculosis (TB) countries in the world. Few studies have described the spatial epidemiological characteristics of pulmonary TB (PTB) in Jiangsu Province. The registered incidence data of PTB patients in 95 counties of Jiangsu Province from 2011 to 2021 were collected from the Tuberculosis Management Information System. Three-dimensional spatial trends, spatial autocorrelation, and spatial–temporal scan analysis were conducted to explore the spatial clustering pattern of PTB. From 2011 to 2021, a total of 347,495 newly diagnosed PTB cases were registered. The registered incidence rate of PTB decreased from 49.78/100,000 in 2011 to 26.49/100,000 in 2021, exhibiting a steady downward trend (χ2 = 414.22,P < 0.001). The average annual registered incidence rate of PTB was higher in the central and northern regions. Moran’s I indices of the registered incidence of PTB were all >0 (P< 0.05) except in 2016, indicating a positive spatial correlation overall. Local autocorrelation analysis showed that ‘high–high’ clusters were mainly distributed in northern Jiangsu, and ‘low–low’ clusters were mainly concentrated in southern Jiangsu. The results of this study assist in identifying settings and locations of high TB risk and inform policy-making for PTB control and prevention.
Quantifying Contributions of External Forcing and Internal Variability to Arctic Warming During 1900–2021
Authors: Chen Xiaodan , Dai Aiguo
Published: May 2024

Arctic warming has significant environmental and social impacts. Arctic long‐term warming trend is modulated by decadal‐to‐multidecadal variations. Improved understanding of how different external forcings and internal variability affect Arctic surface air temperature (SAT) is crucial for explaining and predicting Arctic climate changes. We analyze multiple observational data sets and large ensembles of climate model simulations to quantify the contributions of specific external forcings and various modes of internal variability to Arctic SAT changes during 1900–2021. We find that the long‐term trend and total variance in Arctic‐mean SAT since 1900 are largely forced responses, including warming due to greenhouse gases and natural forcings and cooling due to anthropogenic aerosols. In contrast, internal variability dominates the early 20th century Arctic warming and mid‐20th century Arctic cooling. Internal variability also explains ∼40% of the recent Arctic warming from 1979 to 2021. Unforced changes in Arctic SAT are largely attributed to two leading modes. The first is pan‐Arctic warming with stronger loading over the Eurasian sector, accounting for 70% of the unforced variance and closely related to the positive phase of the unforced Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). The second mode exhibits relatively weak warming averaged over the entire Arctic with warming over the North American‐Pacific sector and cooling over the Atlantic sector, explaining 10% of the unforced variance and likely caused by the positive phase of the unforced Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO). The AMO‐related changes dominate the unforced Arctic warming since 1979, while the IPO‐related changes contribute to the decadal SAT changes over the North American‐Pacific Arctic.
Causality Analysis and Prediction of Riverine Algal Blooms by Combining Empirical Dynamic Modeling and Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Tian Jing , Wang Gangsheng , Xiang Daifeng , Huang Sheng , Li Wanyu
Published: May 2024

River algal blooms have become a global environmental problem due to their large impact range and environmental hazards. However, the complex mechanisms underlying these blooms make prediction and prevention challenging. Here, we employed empirical dynamic modeling (EDM) and machine learning to reveal the causes and predict diatom blooms from 2003 to 2017 in the Han River of China. The diatom cell density ranged from 0.1 to 5.1 × 107 cells L−1, whereas algal blooms often lasted for 10 days with density exceeding 107 cells L−1. The EDM results elucidated that, under consistent high nutrient concentrations, algal blooms were primarily regulated by eight environmental factors: water temperature in the Han River; water levels, flow velocities, and streamflow discharges in the Han River and the Yangtze River; and water level variation in the Han River. The poor performance (coefficient of determination R2 < 0) of the multiple linear regression, EDM, and random forest models indicated the challenge of predicting algae density. Therefore, we used machine learning classification models to predict algal blooms occurrences. With the resampling techniques to account for imbalanced data, machine learning models achieved perfect classification prediction (Kappa value = 1) of the 13 algae‐bloom events with a 10‐day lead time during a 15‐year period, providing an important reference for preemptive warning of riverine algal blooms.
Ma/Ca Ratio in Stalagmites as a Potential Palaeo‐Temperature Indicator
Authors: Duan Wuhui , Wu Shitou , Wang Xuefeng , Shen Jiaheng , Xiao Zhengyi , Cui Linlin , Tan Ming
Published: May 2024

Mg/Ca ratio in stalagmites primarily serves as an indicator of past hydrological conditions rather than temperature variations. Here, we present an Mg/Ca ratio record in a stalagmite from northern China, spanning ice age termination II. A unique finding is that Mg/Ca ratio shows a moderately strong positive correlation with cave air temperature obtained from clumped isotopes data in the same stalagmite. The stable hydrogeochemistry of source water and high temperature sensitivity of Mg partition coefficient plausibly explain this temperature dependence. Furthermore, we establish an Mg/Ca‐temperature calibration for stalagmites from mid‐latitudes, encompassing a temperature range between ∼2 and ∼15°C, where Mg/Ca = 14.221 × e0.073×T (R2 = 0.40). Applying this function to Mg/Ca ratio from similar stalagmites could tentatively provide a quantitative regional temperature record over millennial and centennial timescales. This research highlights Mg/Ca ratio in stalagmites as a potential palaeo‐temperature proxy and introduces, for the first time, a tentative Mg/Ca‐temperature calibration function for speleothems.
Effects of Dilatant Hardening on Fault Stabilization and Structural Development
Authors: Williams S. A. , French M. E.
Published: May 2024

Dilatant hardening is one proposed mechanism that causes slow earthquakes along faults. Previous experiments and models show that dilatant hardening can stabilize fault rupture and slip in several lithologies. However, few studies have systematically measured the mechanical behavior across the transition from dynamic to slow rupture or considered how the associated damage varies. To constrain the processes and scales of dilatant hardening, we conducted triaxial compression experiments on cores of Crab Orchard sandstone and structural analyses using micro‐computed tomography imaging and petrographic analysis. Experiments were conducted at an effective confining pressure of ∼10 MPa, while varying confining pressure (10–130 MPa) and pore fluid pressure (1–120 MPa). Above 15 MPa pore fluid pressure, dilatant hardening slows the rate of fault rupture and slip and deformation becomes more distributed amongst multiple faults as microfracturing increases. The resulting increase in fracture energy has the potential to control fault slip behavior.
Wireless sequential dual light delivery for programmed PDT in vivo
Authors: Liu Jiayi , Sun Bowen , Li Wenkai , Kim Han-Joon , Gan Shu Uin , Ho John S. , Rahmat Juwita Norasmara Bte , Zhang Yong
Published: May 2024

Using photodynamic therapy (PDT) to treat deep-seated cancers is limited due to inefficient delivery of photosensitizers and low tissue penetration of light. Polymeric nanocarriers are widely used for photosensitizer delivery, while the self-quenching of the encapsulated photosensitizers would impair the PDT efficacy. Furthermore, the generated short-lived reactive oxygen spieces (ROS) can hardly diffuse out of nanocarriers, resulting in low PDT efficacy. Therefore, a smart nanocarrier system which can be degraded by light, followed by photosensitizer activation can potentially overcome these limitations and enhance the PDT efficacy. A light-sensitive polymer nanocarrier encapsulating photosensitizer (RB-M) was synthesized. An implantable wireless dual wavelength microLED device which delivers the two light wavelengths sequentially was developed to programmatically control the release and activation of the loaded photosensitizer. Two transmitter coils with matching resonant frequencies allow activation of the connected LEDs to emit different wavelengths independently. Optimal irradiation time, dose, and RB-M concentration were determined using an agent-based digital simulation method. In vitro and in vivo validation experiments in an orthotopic rat liver hepatocellular carcinoma disease model confirmed that the nanocarrier rupture and sequential low dose light irradiation strategy resulted in successful PDT at reduced photosensitizer and irradiation dose, which is a clinically significant event that enhances treatment safety.
Targeting the glutamine metabolism to suppress cell proliferation in mesenchymal docetaxel-resistant prostate cancer
Authors: Beier Alicia-Marie K. , Ebersbach Celina , Siciliano Tiziana , Scholze Jana , Hofmann Jörg , Hönscheid Pia , Baretton Gustavo B. , Woods Kevin , Guezguez Borhane , Dubrovska Anna , Markowitsch Sascha D. , Thomas Christian , Puhr Martin , Erb Holger H. H.
Published: May 2024

Docetaxel (DX) serves as a palliative treatment option for metastatic prostate cancer (PCa). Despite initial remission, acquired DX resistance is inevitable. The mechanisms behind DX resistance have not yet been deciphered, but a mesenchymal phenotype is associated with DX resistance. Mesenchymal phenotypes have been linked to metabolic rewiring, obtaining most ATP production by oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) powered substantially by glutamine (Gln). Likewise, Gln is known to play an essential role in modulating bioenergetic, redox homeostasis and autophagy. Herein, investigations of Gln deprivation on DX-sensitive and -resistant (DR) PCa cells revealed that the DR cell sub-lines were susceptible to Gln deprivation. Mechanistically, Gln deprivation reduced OXPHOS and ATP levels, causing a disturbance in cell cycle progression. Genetic and chemical inhibition of the Gln-metabolism key protein GLS1 could validate the Gln deprivation results, thereby representing a valid therapeutic target. Moreover, immunohistological investigation of GLS1 revealed a high-expressing GLS1 subgroup post-docetaxel failure, exhibiting low overall survival. This subgroup presents an intriguing opportunity for targeted therapy focusing on glutamine metabolism. Thus, these findings highlight a possible clinical rationale for the chemical inhibition of GLS1 as a therapeutic strategy to target mesenchymal DR PCa cells, thereby delaying accelerated tumour progression.
Recommendations for reporting tissue and circulating tumour (ct)DNA next-generation sequencing results in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Malapelle Umberto , Leighl Natasha , Addeo Alfredo , Hershkovitz Dov , Hochmair Maximilian J. , Khorshid Ola , Länger Florian , de Marinis Filippo , Peled Nir , Sheffield Brandon S. , Smit Egbert F. , Viteri Santiago , Wolf Jürgen , Venturini Filippo , O’Hara Jr Richard M. , Rolfo Christian
Published: May 2024

Non-small cell lung cancer is a heterogeneous disease and molecular characterisation plays an important role in its clinical management. Next-generation sequencing-based panel testing enables many molecular alterations to be interrogated simultaneously, allowing for comprehensive identification of actionable oncogenic drivers (and co-mutations) and appropriate matching of patients with targeted therapies. Despite consensus in international guidelines on the importance of broad molecular profiling, adoption of next-generation sequencing varies globally. One of the barriers to its successful implementation is a lack of accepted standards and guidelines specifically for the reporting and clinical annotation of next-generation sequencing results. Based on roundtable discussions between pathologists and oncologists, we provide best practice recommendations for the reporting of next-generation sequencing results in non-small cell lung cancer to facilitate its use and enable easy interpretation for physicians. These are intended to complement existing guidelines related to the use of next-generation sequencing (solid and liquid). Here, we discuss next-generation sequencing workflows, the structure of next-generation sequencing reports, and our recommendations for best practice thereof. The aim of these recommendations and considerations is ultimately to ensure that reports are fully interpretable, and that the most appropriate treatment options are selected based on robust molecular profiles in well-defined reports.