bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hypoxia‐Responsive Tetrameric Supramolecular Polypeptide Nanoprodrugs for Combination Therapy
Authors: Ding Yue , Yu Wei , Shen Rongkai , Zheng Xiangqin , Zheng Hui , Yao Yong , Zhang Yuehua , Du Chang , Yi Huan
Published: November 2023

Despite the intense progress of photodynamic and chemotherapy, however, they cannot prevent solid tumor invasion, metastasis, and relapse, along with inferior efficacy and severe side effects. The hypoxia‐responsive nanoprodrugs integrating photodynamic functions are highly sought to address the above‐mentioned problems and overcome the tumor hypoxia‐reduced efficacy. Herein, a hypoxia‐responsive tetrameric supramolecular polypeptide nanoprodrug (SPN‐TAPP‐PCB4) is constructed from the self‐assembly of tetrameric porphyrin‐central poly(l‐lysine‐azobenzene‐chlorambucil) (TAPP‐(PLL‐Azo‐CB)4) and an anionic water‐soluble [2]biphenyl‐extended‐pillar[6]arene (AWBpP6) via the synergy of hydrophobic, π–π stacking, and host–guest interactions. Upon laser irradiation, the central TAPP can convert oxygen to generate single oxygen (1O2) to kill tumor cells. Furthermore, under the acidic and PDT‐aggravated hypoxia tumor cell microenvironment, SPN‐TAPP‐PCB4 is rapidly disassembled, and then efficiently releases activated CB through the hypoxic‐responsive cleavage of azobenzene linkages. Both in vitro and in vivo biological studies showcase synergistic cancer‐killing actions between photodynamic therapy (PDT) and chemotherapy (CT) with negligible toxicity. Consequently, this supramolecular polypeptide nanoprodrug offers an effective strategy to design a hypoxia‐responsive nanoprodrug for a potential combo PDT‐CT transition.
RuOx Quantum Dots Loaded on Graphdiyne for High‐Performance Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Wang Zhongqiang , Song Congying , Shen Han , Ma Shaobo , Li Guoxing , Li Yuliang
Published: November 2023

Here, a strategy to strengthen d–p orbital hybridization by fabricating π backbonding in the catalyst for efficient lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) conversion is reported. A special interface structure of RuOx quantum dots (QDs) anchored on graphdiyne (GDY) nanoboxes (RuOxQDs/GDY) is prepared to enable strong Ru‐to‐alkyne π backdonation, which effectively regulates the d‐electron structures of Ru centers to promote the d–p orbital hybridization between the catalyst and LiPSs and significantly boosts the catalytic performance of RuOxQDs/GDY. The strong affinity with Li ions and fast Li‐ion diffusion of RuOxQDs/GDY also enable ultrastable Li metal anodes. Thus, S@RuOxQDs/GDY cathodes exhibit excellent cycling performance under harsh conditions, and Li@RuOxQDs/GDY anodes show an ultralong cycling life over 8800 h without Li dendrite growth. Lithium‐sulfur (Li–S) full cells with S@RuOxQDs/GDY cathodes and Li@RuOxQDs/GDY anodes can deliver an impressive areal capacity of 17.8 mA h cm−2 and good cycling stability under the practical conditions of low negative‐to‐positive electrode capacity (N/P) ratio (N/P = 1.4), lean electrolyte (E/S = 3 µL mg−1), and high S mass loading (15.4 mg cm−2).
Engineering Fluorine‐rich Double Protective Layer on Zn Anode for Highly Reversible Aqueous Zinc‐ion Batteries
Authors: Li Titi , Hu Sanlue , Wang Chenggang , Wang Dun , Xu Minwei , Chang Caiyun , Xu Xijin , Han Cuiping
Published: November 2023

The high thermodynamic instability and side reactions of Zn‐metal anode (ZMA), especially at high current densities, greatly impede the commercialization of aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs). Herein, a fluorine‐rich double protective layer strategy is proposed to obtain the high reversibility of AZIBs through the introduction of a versatile tetradecafluorononane‐1,9‐diol (TDFND) additive in aqueous electrolyte. TDFND molecule with large adsorption energy (−1.51 eV) preferentially absorbs on the Zn anode surface to form a Zn(OR)2− (R=−CH2−(CF2)7−CH2−) cross‐linking complex network, which balances space electric field and controls the Zn2+ ion flux, thus enabling the uniform and compact deposition of Zn (002) crystal planes. Meanwhile, TDFND with low Lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO, 0.10 eV) energy level is priorly decomposed to regulate the interfacial chemistry of ZMA by building a ZnF2‐rich solid electrode/electrolyte interface (SEI) layer. It is found that a 14 nm‐thick SEI layer delivers excellent structural integrity to suppress parasitic reactions by blocking the direct contact of active water and ZMA. Consequently, the Zn electrode exhibits a superior cycling life over 430 h at 10 mA cm−2 and a high average Coulombic efficiency of 99.8 % at 5 mA cm−2. Furthermore, a 68 mAh pouch cell delivers 80.3 % capacity retention for 1000 cycles.
Redox Out of the Box: Catalytic Versatility Across NAD(P)H‐Dependent Oxidoreductases
Authors: Roth Sebastian , Niese Richard , Müller Michael , Hall Mélanie
Published: November 2023

The asymmetric reduction of double bonds using NAD(P)H‐dependent oxidoreductases has proven to be an efficient tool for the synthesis of important chiral molecules in research and on industrial scale. These enzymes are commercially available in screening kits for the reduction of C=O (ketones), C=C (activated alkenes), or C=N bonds (imines). Recent reports, however, indicate that the ability to accommodate multiple reductase activities on distinct C=X bonds occurs in different enzyme classes, either natively or after mutagenesis. This challenges the common perception of highly selective oxidoreductases for one type of electrophilic substrate. Consideration of this underexplored potential in enzyme screenings and protein engineering campaigns may contribute to the identification of complementary biocatalytic processes for the synthesis of chiral compounds. This review will contribute to a global understanding of the promiscuous behavior of NAD(P)H‐dependent oxidoreductases on C=X bond reduction and inspire future discoveries with respect to unconventional biocatalytic routes in asymmetric synthesis.
Changes in crosslinking structure of thermo‐oxidative aging chloroprene rubber and its effect on strain‐induced crystallization
Authors: Jiang Mengyao , Qin Likang , Han Jingjie , Li Qiuying
Published: November 2023

Chloroprene rubber (CR) is frequently quoted as an example of strain‐induced crystallizing elastomer. Many researchers have focused on studying the aging mechanism and mechanical properties of aged CR, little has been done on the effect of crosslinking structure on strain‐induced crystallization (SIC). The present paper related systematic investigations combining the changes of crosslinking structure and its influence on SIC. It was firstly investigated based on FTIR, crosslinking density test and GPC. The results showed that the molecular chains were oxidized in the early stage of aging, but the crosslinking reaction still dominated. At the same time, sol content and polydispersity decreased. In the later stage of aging, CR was oxidized, resulted in severe molecular chains fracture and an increase in the free sol content and polydispersity. The impact of aging on SIC under tensile condition was further investigated by the tensile tests. An obvious stress‐hardening was found for unaged CR, but not in aged CR. The crystallinity and microcrystalline region orientation tests showed that oxidation, crosslinking by double bonds and dechlorination during aging were not conducive to the orientation of molecular chains during stretching. It is the aging process that has an adverse effect on the SIC of CR.
Giant pilomatrix carcinoma of the scalp with intracranial extension: A case report
Authors: Mlay Kenneth , Shija Peter , Magwizi Marco , Karuga Ezekiel G. , Mtenga Philbert , Mremi Alex
Published: November 2023

Key Clinical Message

A very rare skin cancer. Malignant variant of pilomatricoma. It is unique because of its highly aggressive behavior. Responds poorly to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Treated with a wide surgical excision with safe margins.

Pilomatrix carcinoma is uncommon and locally aggressive tumor of the hair follicle matrix. It is a malignant variant of pilomatricoma. If left untreated for a long time may attain massive size and has the potential for distant spread. Only few cases with brain extension have been reported in the literature. Diagnosis of these tumors is established by histopathology. Although pilomatrixoma and pilomatrix carcinoma are well‐recognized lesions, clinically they are frequently misdiagnosed as other skin conditions. The tumors respond poorly to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Thus, recommended treatment is a wide surgical excision with safe margins. Herein, we report the case of a 39‐year‐old African woman with pilomatrix carcinoma of the scalp eroding the skull bone with intracranial extension.
Feasibility and safety of 0.6% sodium alginate in endoscopic submucosal dissection for colorectal neoplastic lesion: A pilot study
Authors: Nakamura Hajime , Morita Rie , Ito Ryo , Sakurada Akira , Tomita Natsumi , Hirata Yuya , Kanari Yusuke , Komatsu Yuya , Takanashi Kunihiro , Anbo Tomonori , Katsuki Shinichi
Published: November 2023

Objectives

The usefulness of 0.6% sodium alginate (SA) as a submucosal (SM) injection solution for endoscopic SM dissection (ESD) has gained attention over the past few years. However, using ESD for colorectal neoplastic lesions is not explicitly researched as yet. Thus, we conducted this study to determine the feasibility and safety of 0.6% SA solution for colorectal ESD.

Methods

In this single‐center, retrospective pilot study, a total of 100 cases treated with ESD using 0.6% SA as a SM injection solution for colorectal neoplasia at our institute were retrospectively reviewed to clarify the clinical feasibility and safety of 0.6% SA. The primary endpoint was to evaluate the complication rate, and the secondary endpoint was to determine the procedure time and the amount of solution used.

Results

Intraoperative perforation was observed in 1 case (1.0%), 2 cases (2.0%) presented with postprocedural hemorrhage, and no lethal adverse events were observed. The median ESD procedure times were 39.5 min (10–150), and the amount of solution used was less than 20 mL in 67 cases (67.0%). En‐bloc resection could be achieved in 97 cases (97.0%). Although six cases underwent subsequent surgery due to the deep SM invasion (>1000 μm), there were no cases with nodal involvement, confirmed through histopathological evaluation.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that 0.6% SA can potentially ensure safe and secure ESD for colorectal neoplasia.
The internal structure of spring mounds of Nefzaoua oasis in Tunisia: Formation of an original geomorphic structure
Authors: Raddadi Afef , Podwojewski Pascal
Published: November 2023

Spring mounds are specific geomorphological landforms in arid or semi‐arid environments associated with playas and artesian springs. Spring mounds are found worldwide, especially in the great Artesian Basin of Australia and in North American and Egyptian deserts. They result from an exceptional succession of climatic, geomorphological and hydrogeological conditions, with processes that follow each other in a specific order. In Tunisia, in the arid zone, ca. 126 spring mounds have been identified in Nefzaoua province alone, especially in the oasis east of Chott el Jerid. They have a conical shape that ranges from 200 to more than 2000 m in diameter and 3–30 m tall, and their centre is hollowed out by an artesian spring of fresh water. Palm groves (Phoenix dactylifera) spread out at the foot of each mound. The springs have dried up because of the proliferation of borehole wells. Because of the low electric conductivity (EC) of the sediments (<1 mS cm−1) at their base, spring mounds have been excavated and used as a soil amendment to expand new palm plantations. This excavation allows for analysis of their internal structure, which has never been observed well. In the present study, fine analysis of sediment layers in four sections of two representative mounds showed that vegetation had trapped sediment at their base. Fine strata of variable texture alternating with variable calcium carbonate, gypsum or organic carbon contents suggest a clear limnic origin. Many redoximorphic features, sometimes associated with the presence of old roots, suggest variation in the water level in the centre of the mound. The mounds are capped by a thick layer of indurated gypsum, which helps them resist hydric and aeolian erosion. The origin of the sediment components is discussed.
Seeking outcomes under tight budgets: A case for health impact bonds in Post‐COVID times
Authors: Shiva Mehdi
Published: November 2023

With global public debt at record levels, governments are facing unprecedented challenges in providing essential health services. This exploratory study aims to assess the relevance of Health Impact Bonds (HIBs) as a means of financing preventative health services during times of fiscal constraint and in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic. The study draws on a review of the literature on HIBs, along with a case study analysis of HIBs implemented in the UK. The findings of the study indicate that, although HIBs offer promise as an innovative funding tool for preventative health services in tight fiscal situations, certain challenges are limiting their broader adoption.
Distribution and reinforcement effect of carbon fiber at the interface in injection welding of polyamide 6 composites
Authors: Wu Haonan , Qiu Jianhui , Zhang Guohong , Sakai Eiichi , Zhao Wei , Tang Jianhua , Wu Hong , Guo Shaoyun
Published: November 2023

To meet the lightweight production requirements of automobiles and achieve high strength, reinforced thermoplastic composite materials are gradually replacing metal materials. Injection molding is the preferred manufacturing method to enable the production of complex‐shaped parts, facilitate production, and reduce costs. In this study, carbon fiber (CF) was added to the commonly used resin‐reinforcing material, polyamide (nylon) PA6, to create a CF‐reinforced thermoplastic composite (polyamide 6 [PA6]/CF) that was welded using injection molding. This study not only investigates the impact of different welding conditions on shear strength but also discusses the sequence of welding. Achieving 85% of the shear strength of the PA6 base material under ideal circumstances. The CF distribution and reinforcement mechanism were analyzed by observing the connection interface and cross section using a polarizing microscope and a scanning electron microscope. When PA6/CF was used as the secondary molded body, the welding results were better. The addition of CF had a significant strengthening effect on the strength of the PA6 injection welding.

Highlights

Carbon fiber‐reinforced thermoplastic composite materials were prepared, and welding with PA6 was achieved using the injection molding method.

The optimal welding parameters were determined by varying the mold, injection speed, injection temperature, and order of injection. The maximum welding shear strength reached 85% of the base material shear strength.

The positive effect of specific fiber distribution on welding strength was analyzed by observing the interface using a scanning electron microscope and a polarizing microscope.

This study provides valuable insights into the optimization of welding processes for carbon fiber thermoplastic composite materials, offering possibilities for connecting dissimilar materials with poor compatibility.
2HDM interpretations of the CMS diphoton excess at 95 GeV
Authors: Azevedo Duarte , Biekötter Thomas , Ferreira P. M.
Published: November 2023

In both Run 1 and Run 2 of the LHC, the CMS collaboration has observed an excess of events in the searches for low-mass Higgs bosons in the diphoton final state at a mass of about 95 GeV. After a recent update of the experimental analysis, in which the full Run 2 data collected at 13 TeV has been included and an improved experimental calibration has been applied, the local significance of the excess amounts to 2.9σ. The presence of this diphoton excess is especially interesting in view of a further excess observed by CMS in ditau final states at a comparable mass and similar local significance. Moreover, an excess of events with about 2σ local significance and consistent with a mass of 95 GeV was observed in LEP searches for a Higgs boson decaying to pairs of bottom quarks. We interpret the CMS diphoton excess in combination with the ditau excess in terms of a pseudoscalar resonance in the CP-conserving two-Higgs-doublet model (2HDM). Furthermore, we discuss the possibility that, if CP-violation is taken into account, a CP-mixed scalar state can in addition describe the LEP result, thus accommodating all three excesses simultaneously. We find that the region of parameter space where both the CMS diphoton and ditau excesses can be fitted is in tension with current constraints from the flavour sector, potentially calling for other new-physics contributions to flavour-physics observables, most notably b → sγ transitions. Additionally, the new source of CP-violation violates electron EDM constraints by about an order of magnitude. We also comment on the compatibility with the recent ATLAS diphoton searches.
Efficacy and safety of Orelabrutinib-based regimens in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a single-center retrospective analysis
Authors: Wei Ruowen , Wu Yingying , Jiang Shan , Zhang Ao , Zhang Lu , Liu Ling , Wang Yadan , Zhang Min , Mei Heng , Liu Fang , Xia Linghui , Cui Guohui , Fang Jun
Published: November 2023

Currently, combining chemotherapy with Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi) has demonstrated significant effectiveness in treating patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Orelabrutinib is a second-generation BTK inhibitor, and presently, there have been few reports of Orelabrutinib being used to treat DLBCL. We conducted a retrospective investigation to explore the safety and efficacy of Orelabrutinib in combination with chemotherapy or immunotherapy. The study comprised 19 patients with a median age of 61 years. The overall response rate (ORR) was 89.5% with a complete response (CR) rate of 73.7% and a partial response rate (PR) of 15.8%. The estimated 2-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 78.6% (95%CI, 59.8%–100%) and 72.2% (95% CI, 52.4%–99.6%), respectively, with a median follow-up time of 11 months (range 2–24). The most prevalent grade 3 or 4 adverse events (AEs), neutropenia (52.6%), anemia (36.8%), thrombocytopenia (26.3%), febrile neutropenia (26.3%), and lung infection (10.5%), were the most common. Our results reveal that Orelabrutinib is an effective therapy for DLBCL patients. Furthermore, our first investigation of the Orelabrutinib application lays a foundation for larger retrospective studies.
Reducing the carbon footprint of buildings using biochar-based bricks and insulating materials: a review
Authors: Osman Ahmed I. , Farghali Mohamed , Dong Yitong , Kong Jiashu , Yousry Mahmoud , Rashwan Ahmed K. , Chen Zhonghao , Al-Fatesh Ahmed , Rooney David W. , Yap Pow-Seng
Published: November 2023

The rapid growth of global industrialization and urbanization has led to the excessive use of non-renewable energy sources and the alarming release of greenhouse gases within the construction industry. In response, adopting sustainable and environmentally friendly building materials has emerged as a vital solution for achieving the international sustainable development goals set by the United Nations. This review discusses the potential benefits of incorporating biochar-based bricks and insulation materials, focusing on their preparation methods, material properties, emission reduction capabilities, effectiveness in reducing carbon emissions, enhancing thermal insulation, and promising economic prospects. The major points are: (1) Biochar-based materials offer significant potential for reducing the carbon footprint of buildings and enhancing their thermal insulation properties. (2) With a thermal conductivity ranging from 0.08 to 0.2 W/(m·K), biochar insulation materials contribute to reduced energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. (3) Replacing one ton of cement with biochar in brick production can substantially reduce 1351–1505 kg CO2-eq over the entire life cycle. (4) Using biochar as part of concrete insulation saves about 59–65 kg of carbon dioxide per ton while offering clear economic benefits. Although biochar insulation is comparatively more expensive than traditional insulation materials like fiberglass and foam, its energy-saving advantages can balance the extra cost. (5) Biochar insulation is derived from organic waste, contributing to improved recyclability, environmental sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.
Country-wide assessment of biodiversity, naturalness and old-growth status using national forest inventory data
Authors: Borghi Costanza , Francini Saverio , McRoberts Ronald E. , Parisi Francesco , Lombardi Fabio , Nocentini Susanna , Maltoni Alberto , Travaglini Davide , Chirici Gherardo
Published: November 2023

Assessing forest biodiversity, naturalness and old-growth status (B-N-OG) is crucial for supporting sustainable forest planning, yet comprehensive monitoring networks specifically designed for such purposes are lacking in many countries. National Forest Inventories (NFIs) are the official source of statistics on status and trends of forests. While initially designed for wood production assessment, NFI data may be pivotal for ecological forest monitoring, thanks to their robust sampling protocols—enabling statistical inference—and regular field campaigns that ensure continuous information updates. As a consequence, in this study we explore the potential of NFIs for estimating B-N-OG indexes, aiming to establish compatible, scientifically relevant, and cost-effective indicators using existing NFI data at a European level. Based on data from the 2005 Italian NFI collected from 6563 plots, 18 indicators were selected following previous experiences and then used to estimate B-N-OG aggregated indexes. Relationships between the 18 indicators and the three indexes were investigated, along with comparisons of their relationships relative to forest type categories, management types and protected versus non-protected areas. Results confirm that NFI data offer valuable insights into specific B-N-OG indexes, especially concerning forest structure and deadwood. Moreover, the indexes contribute to developing meaningful relationships across geographic regions, forest categories and types of management. However, limitations in NFI field protocols are evident, as they are not explicitly designed for certain indicators. The study suggests the potential for NFIs to evolve into accessible, harmonized European reference networks for B-N-OG assessment for better supporting sustainable forest management, planning and conservation decisions related to forest ecosystems.
Use of contrast-enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasonography for the diagnosis of pancreatic cystic lesions
Authors: Ohno Eizaburo , Kuzuya Teiji , Kawabe Naoto , Nakaoka Kazunori , Tanaka Hiroyuki , Nakano Takuji , Miyachi Yohei , Hashimoto Senju , Hirooka Yoshiki
Published: November 2023

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) provides high spatial and contrast resolution and is a useful tool for evaluating the pancreato-biliary regions. Recently, contrast-enhanced harmonic EUS (CH-EUS) has been used to evaluate lesion vascularity, especially for the diagnosis of pancreatic tumors. CH-EUS adds two major advantages when diagnosing pancreatic cystic lesions (PCL). First, it can differentiate between mural nodules and mucous clots, thereby improving the accurate classification of PCL. Second, it helps with evaluation of the malignant potential of PCL, especially of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms by revealing the vascularity in the mural nodules and solid components. This review discusses the use and limitations of CH-EUS for the diagnosis of PCL.
Comparative study reveals management of a dominant invasive plant facilitates subtropical forest regeneration
Authors: Dann Leah E. , Guja Lydia , Kark Salit , Dwyer John
Published: November 2023

Invasive plant species can drive ecosystem change, particularly on oceanic islands that are vulnerable to plant invasions and subsequent biodiversity loss. While invasive species management is vital for habitat restoration, efficacy of management efforts and the ability of native plants to regenerate varies among studies. The aim of this study was to examine the consequences of managing a thicket-forming woody plant species—Psidium cattleyanum Sabine (strawberry guava)—on subtropical forest regeneration, comparing spatial scales and management periods. We surveyed 15 locations on Norfolk Island, an isolated Pacific Island with a high proportion of endemic and threatened species, by establishing paired managed and unmanaged plots to assess changes in species-area relationships, abundance, richness, and composition of the plant community. Total plant richness was higher in managed plots at the largest scale examined (125 m2). However, there was no significant difference between managed and unmanaged plots in the slopes of species-area relationships when canopy, understory, and seedling strata were combined. Stratum-specific analyses revealed that management-driven changes were most evident in the subcanopy strata, which had significantly higher woody plant abundance and richness in managed plots. Compositional dissimilarity between managed and unmanaged plots was greater in locations with higher moisture levels, suggesting that post-management regeneration is related to environmental conditions. This study suggests that P. cattleyanum suppresses plant recruitment and its removal allows for forest regeneration, indicating that management of dominant invasive woody species facilitates plant recruitment on Norfolk Island if nearby native propagule sources are present.
Effects of protected areas on soil nematode communities in forests of the North of Portugal
Authors: Duarte A. Carolina , Guerra Carlos A. , Cano-Díaz Concha , Zeiss Romy , Carvalho-Santos Cláudia , Carvalho Rui P. , Costa Sofia R.
Published: November 2023

Nature conservation policy is mainly concerned with aboveground terrestrial species and soil biodiversity has been largely ignored, resulting in a lack of information about the conservation status of most soil organisms and about the effects that nature conservation policies have on soil systems. Forests in Northern Portugal are characterized by a remarkable diversity of ecosystems and provide habitat for an enormous diversity of living organisms. This study aims to investigate whether and to what extent protected areas and forest typology (native vs. exotic) affect soil nematode biodiversity and functions in forest ecosystems. We studied soil nematode communities, which have been widely used for their bioindicator value, to: (i) assess differences in soil biodiversity and functions between protected and non-protected areas, and between native and exotic forest types; and (ii) infer how protected areas deal with pressures and drivers of soil biodiversity and functions. We showed that current work done by nature conservation in Northern Portugal is producing some significant effects on the soil system, showing a larger Structure and Omnivore footprints and greater abundance of fungivorous and omnivorous nematodes in protected areas. Furthermore, native forest areas are better suited to ensure soil biodiversity and ecological functioning and should have a greater importance in nature conservation measures. Soil organic carbon, apparent density, soil moisture, and deciduous forest cover mainly influenced soil functional biodiversity with higher nematode trophic groups being positively associated with soil organic carbon and moisture and negatively associated with apparent density. Finally, conservation efforts targeted at the protection of native forests need to better consider effects on soil biodiversity and function, to provide an integrated protection of both aboveground and belowground components.
Significant decline in habitat specialists in semi-dry grasslands over four decades
Authors: Klinkovská Klára , Sperandii Marta Gaia , Trávníček Bohumil , Chytrý Milan
Published: November 2023

Semi-dry grasslands are among the most species-rich plant communities in the world, harbouring many specialised and threatened species. Most of these grasslands were traditionally maintained by grazing and hay-making. After traditional management ended, protected areas were established and conservation management was introduced to protect the most valuable grassland sites. However, recent changes in land use, eutrophication and climate warming are negatively impacting the biodiversity of these grasslands. In 2022, we resurveyed historical vegetation plots in the Central Moravian Carpathians (Czech Republic), first sampled in the 1980s, to test whether the plant species composition and richness of semi-dry grasslands are changing over time and, if so, whether the decline in habitat quality and plant diversity is absent or less severe in protected areas. We found significant changes in species composition. Species richness and the proportion of habitat specialists and Red-List species decreased, whereas competitively stronger species with higher moisture and nutrient requirements increased. These trends were more pronounced outside the protected areas but also occurred within protected areas. The main factor behind these changes appears to be the cessation of traditional management and natural succession supported by eutrophication.
Development of cellulose films by means of the Ioncell® technology, as an alternative to commercial films
Authors: González Carmona Eva , Schlapp-Hackl Inge , Jääskeläinen Seppo , Järvinen Masi , Nieminen Kaarlo , Sawada Daisuke , Hummel Michael , Sixta Herbert
Published: November 2023

In recent years, the search for alternatives to petroleum derived products, such as plastic films, has become a priority due to the growing depletion of fossil reserves and the pollution of water resources by microplastics, microscopically small plastic particles which are harmful to ocean and aquatic life. Cellulose-based films, e.g., cellophane and cuprophane, have been on the market for almost a century. Despite being a more ecological option compared to plastic films, the manufacture of these cellulose films involves high production costs and the use of harmful chemicals. As an alternative, a sustainable and eco-friendly process based on the Lyocell-type Ioncell® technology is presented to produce cellulose films. Regenerated cellulose films are created by continuous extrusion via dry-jet wet spinning of an ionic liquid–cellulose solutions. The influence of the polymer concentration (8–13 wt%) and processing temperature (50–100 °C) on the properties of the films were studied by the determination of the thickness, mechanical properties, physical appearance, morphology, chemical composition, and hydrophobicity. The obtained films are thin (12–21 μm), transparent (transmittance = 91%) and of homogeneous structure. Moreover, they exhibit excellent mechanical properties: stress values up to 210 MPa and elongations up to 19% in machine (longitudinal) direction. These values clearly outperform commercial cellophane, which presents stress values of 125 MPa and elongations of 22%. The films presented herein hold great potential to become an eco-friendly and sustainable option to commercial films.
Should we embrace “Big Sister”? Smart speakers as a means to combat intimate partner violence
Authors: Sparrow Robert , Andrejevic Mark , Harris Bridget
Published: November 2023

It is estimated that one in three women experience intimate partner violence (IPV) across the course of their life. The popular uptake of “smart speakers” powered by sophisticated AI means that surveillance of the domestic environment is increasingly possible. Correspondingly, there are various proposals to use smart speakers to detect or report IPV. In this paper, we clarify what might be possible when it comes to combatting IPV using existing or near-term technology and also begin the project of evaluating this project both ethically and politically. We argue that the ethical landscape looks different depending on whether one is considering the decision to develop the technology or the decision to use it once it has been developed. If activists and governments wish to avoid the privatisation of responses to IPV, ubiquitous surveillance of domestic spaces, increasing the risk posed to members of minority communities by police responses to IPV, and the danger that more powerful smart speakers will be co-opted by men to control and abuse women, then they should resist the development of this technology rather than wait until these systems are developed. If it is judged that the moral urgency of IPV justifies exploring what might be possible by developing this technology, even in the face of these risks, then it will be imperative that victim-survivors from a range of demographics, as well as government and non-government stakeholders, are engaged in shaping this technology and the legislation and policies needed to regulate it.
Societal Acceptability of Insect-Based Livestock Feed: A Qualitative Study from Europe
Authors: Bunker Ingrid , Zscheischler Jana
Published: November 2023

Against the background of high demand for protein-rich feed in the EU and the environmental degradation associated with intensive livestock farming, insect-based feed is discussed as a potential sustainable alternative to conventional feed. However, the establishment of such an innovation depends not only upon technical and economic feasibility, but also on social factors impacting acceptability. The aim of this paper was to determine the acceptability of different social actor groups towards the use of insects as livestock feed, and to gain insights into value-based arguments leading to positive or negative attitudes and perceived benefits and risks. By means of qualitative content analysis, we analysed responses of an EU public consultation process linked to the authorization of insect protein in pig and poultry feed. We found a broad range of value-based arguments that influence the complex judgement process of acceptability that have been neglected in prior quantitative surveys. In particular, our results bring forward more critical voices, such as animal welfare concerns and scepticism that insect-based feed can contribute to a more sustainable livestock system. Based on these findings, we discuss whether insects as feed are a viable contribution to a sustainability-oriented transformation of the agri-food system. We conclude that under certain conditions (when raised on low-value organic side streams such as manure) insect-based livestock feed may contribute to incremental sustainability improvements. Overall, however, the innovation has limitations, not only in terms of regulatory conditions but especially with regard to ethical concerns.
LiHiSTO: a comprehensive list of Hindi stopwords
Authors: Rajwal Swati
Published: November 2023

A preliminary preprocessing step in text analytics is the removal of words with no semantic meaning, otherwise known as stopwords. English stopwords are very easily accessible and created due to the broad usability of the English language. However, a standard list of Hindi stopwords is still missing. This paper proposes an exhaustive list of generic Hindi stopwords and a Python package for easy distribution and usage. The methodology uses a dual mechanism for creating a list of Hindi stopwords. First, the famous English stopwords are collected and translated into meaningful Hindi words (group 1). Second, unique Hindi stopwords from multiple sources are fetched (group 2). Finally, the respective Hindi stopwords from groups 1 and 2 are combined, which resulted in a significantly large set of 820 Hindi stopwords. Additionally, the list of Hindi stopwords is made openly available for use at the Python Package Index (PyPI) repository as a Python package, which is named LiHiSTO. With the help of illustrative implementations, it is shown that LiHiSTO provides abstract and easy access to the list of stopwords for users to perform Hindi text analytics.
Simplifying YOLOv5 for deployment in a real crop monitoring setting
Authors: Nnadozie Emmanuel C. , Casaseca-de-la-Higuera Pablo , Iloanusi Ogechukwu , Ani Ozoemena , Alberola-López Carlos
Published: November 2023

Deep learning-based object detection models have become a preferred choice for crop detection tasks in crop monitoring activities due to their high accuracy and generalization capabilities. However, their high computational demand and large memory footprint pose a challenge for use on mobile embedded devices deployed in crop monitoring settings. Various approaches have been taken to minimize the computational cost and reduce the size of object detection models such as channel and layer pruning, detection head searching, backbone optimization, etc. In this work, we approached computational lightening, model compression, and speed improvement by discarding one or more of the three detection scales of the YOLOv5 object detection model. Thus, we derived up to five separate fast and light models, each with only one or two detection scales. To evaluate the new models for a real crop monitoring use case, the models were deployed on NVIDIA Jetson nano and NVIDIA Jetson Orin devices. The new models achieved up to 21.4% reduction in giga floating-point operations per second (GFLOPS), 31.9% reduction in number of parameters, 30.8% reduction in model size, 28.1% increase in inference speed, with only a small average accuracy drop of 3.6%. These new models are suitable for crop detection tasks since the crops are usually of similar sizes due to the high likelihood of being in the same growth stage, thus, making it sufficient to detect the crops with just one or two detection scales.
Brainstem impairment in obstructive sleep apnoea and the effect of CPAP treatment: an electrophysiological blink reflex study
Authors: Liguori Claudio , Fernandes Mariana , Spanetta Matteo , Zanovello Martina , Giambrone Maria Pia , Lupo Clementina , Placidi Fabio , Izzi Francesca , Mercuri Nicola Biagio , Pierantozzi Mariangela
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the functionality of the brainstem structures through the blink reflex (BR) test in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and to assess the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on BR responses.

Methods

Patients with moderate-severe OSA and controls underwent BR testing. Patients with OSA who were adherent to CPAP therapy repeated BR testing at 6 months follow-up. CPAP adherence was defined as CPAP use for ≥ 4 hour per night on > 5 nights per week with residual apnoea-hypopnea index less than 5 events per hour.

Results

A total of 22 patients with OSA (86% male, mean age 57.8 ± 10.6 years) and 20 controls (60% male, mean age 55.3 ± 9.3 years) were included. Patients with OSA showed longer right and left R1 latency, as well as delayed right ipsilateral and contralateral R2 latencies compared to controls. Patients with OSA who were compliant with CPAP treatment (n = 16; 88% men, mean age 58.8 ± 9.7 years) showed a significant decrease in latency of the right ipsilateral and contralateral R2 responses at 6 months.

Conclusion

This study showed an abnormal pattern of BR responses in patients with OSA, consistent with a significant impairment of brainstem functionality in OSA. CPAP treatment partially improved the BR responses, suggesting the importance of treating OSA.
Two-step inertial forward–reflected–anchored–backward splitting algorithm for solving monotone inclusion problems
Authors: Izuchukwu Chinedu , Aphane Maggie , Aremu Kazeem Olalekan
Published: November 2023

The main purpose of this paper is to propose and study a two-step inertial anchored version of the forward–reflected–backward splitting algorithm of Malitsky and Tam in a real Hilbert space. Our proposed algorithm converges strongly to a zero of the sum of a set-valued maximal monotone operator and a single-valued monotone Lipschitz continuous operator. It involves only one forward evaluation of the single-valued operator and one backward evaluation of the set-valued operator at each iteration; a feature that is absent in many other available strongly convergent splitting methods in the literature. Finally, we perform numerical experiments involving image restoration problem and compare our algorithm with known related strongly convergent splitting algorithms in the literature.
Extreme Compound and Seesaw Hydrometeorological Events in New Zealand: An Initial Assessment
Authors: Bennet Morgan J. , Kingston Daniel G. , Cullen Nicolas J.
Published: November 2023

Attention is increasingly being turned toward land atmosphere interactions within the wider hydrological cycle when investigating extreme hydrometeorological events. This is particularly the case with the identification of compound and seesaw events. To do so, accurate soil moisture data are essential. Here, soil moisture from three reanalysis products (ERA5‐Land, BARRA and ERA5) is compared to station observations from 12 sites across New Zealand, for an average timespan of 18 years. Soil moisture data from all three reanalyses are used to investigate land‐atmosphere coupling with gridded (observational) precipitation and temperature. This enables compound (co‐occurrence of hot and dry) and seesaw (rapid transitions from dry to wet) events to be identified and examined. No best performing reanalysis data set for soil moisture is evident (median Pearson's r range: 0.78–0.81). All reanalyses successfully capture the seasonal and residual component of soil moisture, but not the observed soil moisture trends at each location. Strong coupling between soil moisture and temperature occurs in all three reanalyses across the predominately energy‐limited regions of the lower North Island and entire South Island. Consequently, these regions reveal a high frequency of compound event occurrence and potential shifts in land states to a water limited phase during compound months. A series of seesaw events is also detected for the first time in New Zealand (terminating approximately one‐fifth of drought events), with a high frequency of seesaw event occurrence detected in previously identified areas of atmospheric river (AR) activity.
Isolated Crustal Partial Melting in the Southern Tibetan Plateau From H‐κ‐c Method
Authors: Gong Junyi , Li Jiangtao , Li Mengkui
Published: November 2023

The crustal thickness and average Vp/Vs ratio are basic parameters to understand the current state and the tectonic processes in the Tibetan Plateau (TP). We gather receiver functions in the central‐southern TP and extract spatial variation of crustal thickness and Vp/Vs ratio using the H‐κ‐c method with careful quality control and stability analysis. Our results highlight the regions with high Vp/Vs ratios in the central‐southern Qiangtang block and two isolated patches around the Yarlung‐Zangbo suture, suggesting crustal partial melting. The disconnected high‐Vp/Vs patches imply a restrained pattern for present‐day crustal flow in the southern TP. Further correlation with mantle observations suggests that the high Vp/Vs region in the north can be attributed to mantle upwelling after lithospheric delamination, and the two isolated patches in the south may be related to the tearing of the Indian mantle lithosphere.
Slab Pull Drives IBM Trench Advance Despite the Weakened Philippine Sea Plate
Authors: Jian Huizi , Yang Ting , Chen Zhihao , Ye Lingling , Hu Jiashun , Guo Peng
Published: November 2023

The mechanism behind the significant Izu‐Bonin‐Mariana (IBM) trench advance is still controversial. We conduct slab subduction numerical models that reproduce the spatio‐temporal tectonic evolution of the Philippine Sea region to investigate whether slab pull from the Ryukyu subduction zone can cross the weakened Philippine Sea Plate and act on the IBM trench. Model results show that the lithospheric strengthening and weakening effects cancel out each other during the rift stage so that the slab pull from the Ryukyu Trench can transmit through the weak fossil spreading centers and intra‐arc rifts and drive the Izu‐Bonin Trench's advance. In contrast, lithospheric weakening overwhelms lithospheric strengthening and impedes stress transfer in the back‐arc spreading stage, suggesting that the slab pull cannot directly pull the Mariana Trench to advance at present. Our study indicates that extreme rheological parameters are not needed for the IBM trench advance, despite the Philippine Sea Plate is weakened.
The Lower Thermospheric Winter‐To‐Summer Meridional Circulation: 2. Impact on Atomic Oxygen
Authors: Wang Jack C. , Yue Jia , Wang Wenbin , Qian Liying , Jones McArthur , Wang Ningchao
Published: November 2023

As a companion study of the Part 1 (J. C. Wang et al., 2022, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JA030948), the impact of the lower‐thermospheric circulation on atomic oxygen (O) in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) region is investigated in this Part 2 using Specified Dynamics Configuration Runs of the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model eXtended (SD‐WACCMX) output. The asymmetry of the O profile in the summer and winter MLT region is mainly driven by local vertical advection, which is associated with the lower‐thermospheric winter‐to‐summer circulation and middle‐to‐upper thermospheric summer‐to‐winter circulation. It is found that meridional transport and eddy diffusion only weakly modulate the O budget within this altitude range. The globally and annually averaged transport effect due to the vertical advection is quantitatively estimated. It is shown that the vertical advection is the dominant mechanism in redistributing O at altitudes between 84 and 103 km, suggesting the vertical wind can efficiently transport O between its source and sink region within the vertical column. This study demonstrates that whole atmosphere coupling on seasonal time scales is a complex interaction involving multiple underlying mechanisms within the space‐atmosphere interaction region.
Digital informed consent for urological surgery - randomized controlled study comparing multimedia-supported vs. traditional paper-based informed consent concerning satisfaction, anxiety, information gain and time efficiency
Authors: Haack Maximilian , Fischer Nikita D. , Frey Lisa , Sparwasser Peter , Dotzauer Robert , Duwe Gregor , Haferkamp Axel , Borgmann Hendrik
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Due to a lack of time and staff, informed consent (IC) in clinical practice often lacks clarity, comprehensibility and scope of information. Digital media offer great potential to enhance IC. Aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of multimedia-supported compared to traditional paper-based IC.

Methods

In the randomized, controlled, three-arm DICon (Digital Informed Consent for urological surgery) study 70 patients with an indication for prostate biopsy were randomized 1:1:1 to receive traditional paper-based IC vs. multimedia-supported information before IC vs. multimedia-supported information during IC. Patient satisfaction, anxiety and information gain were measured by validated questionnaires 2 weeks and directly before the procedure and time efficiency was recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn’s test (one-way ANOVA) and two-way ANOVA (with bonferroni post-test).

Results

Multimedia information prior to the consultation saved 32.9% time compared to paper-based (5.3 min. vs. 9.5 min; p < 0.05) and 60.4% time compared to shared multimedia information (5.3 min. vs. 13.9 min.; p < 0.001), with no difference in satisfaction (62.6 vs. 62.7 vs. 68.6 of max. 80; p = 0.07), anxiety (8 vs. 8.1 vs. 7 of max. 16; p = 0.35), or information gain (6.5 vs. 5.7 vs. 6.7 of max. 10; p = 0.23). Results on satisfaction (56.6 vs. 62.6 vs. 66; p = 0.06), anxiety (7.2 vs. 7.2 vs. 6.8; p = 0.84), and information gain (7 vs. 6.4 vs. 5.9; p = 0.43) remained stable over time.

Conclusions

Multimedia-supported IC prior to consultation provided improved time efficiency (33% gain) compared to traditional paper-based IC, with comparable satisfaction, anxiety and information gain. Multimedia-supported information materials should therefore be used more frequently in patient education.