bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nanoengineered Macrophages Armed with TLR7/8 Agonist Enhance Remodeling of Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment
Authors: Yoo Yeon Jeong , Eun Ryounho , Park Hye Min , Kim Suhyeon , Park Sei Hyun , Heo Janghun , Lim Yong Taik
Published: November 2023

Although adoptive cell‐based therapy is illuminated as one of the promising approaches in cancer immunotherapy, it shows low antitumor efficacy because transferred cells adapt and alter toward a pro‐tumoral phenotype in response to the tumor's immunosuppressive milieu. Herein, nanoengineered macrophages anchored with functional liposome armed with cholesterol‐conjugated Toll‐like receptor 7/8 agonist (masked TLR7/8a, m7/8a) are generated to overcome the shortcomings of current macrophage‐based therapies and enhance the remodeling of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). The liposome‐anchored macrophages (LAMΦ‐m7/8a), are fabricated by anchoring dibenzocyclooctyne‐modified liposome(m7/8a) onto azido‐expressing macrophages via a bio‐orthogonal click reaction, are continuously invigorated due to the slow internalization of liposome(m7/8a) and sustained activation. LAMΦ‐m7/8a secreted ≈3 and 33‐fold more IL‐6 and TNF‐α than conventional M1–MΦ, maintained the M1 phenotype, and phagocytosed tumor cells for up to 48 h in vitro. Both intratumoral and intravenous injections of LAMΦ‐m7/8a induced effective antitumor efficacy when treated in combination with doxorubicin‐loaded liposomes in 4T1‐tumor bearing mice. It not only increases the infiltration of antigen‐specific CD8+ T cells secreting granzyme B, IFN‐γ, and TNF‐α within the TME, but also reduces myeloid‐derived suppressor cells. These results suggest that LAMΦ‐m7/8a may provide a suitable alternative to next‐generation cell‐based therapy platform.
A Review of Top‐Down Strategies for the Production of Quantum‐Sized Materials
Authors: Chen Zhexue , Zhao Ce , Zhou Xuanping , Xiao Liuyang , Li Zhangqiang , Zhang Yong
Published: November 2023

Nanoscience and technology have made significant achievements in the past few decades. Quantum‐sized materials, as a key component of nanomaterials, have attracted increasing interest due to their unique structures and extremely reduced sizes. Such fascinating materials have been widely applied in various fields because of their strong quantum confinement and remarkable surface/edge effects. Production methods have an important impact on the properties of quantum‐sized materials. Considering that many previous reviews have reported the synthesis of quantum‐sized materials by bottom‐up methods, this review will focus on the top‐down methods. The advantages and disadvantages of each strategy are analyzed. At the end, the perspectives and challenges toward the future development of quantum‐sized materials are discussed.
Transforming doctoral mentoring expectations and culture: An action model approach
Authors: Lynn Laura Knight , Stadtlander Lee , Inman Deborah , Burkholder Gary , Morgan Anne
Published: November 2023

This article examines one large online university's action model approach to transforming doctoral faculty expectations, support, and practices through internal research studies, community conversation, and planning. Research findings, progress, and recommendations are shared.
Pancreatic cancer cell line in responsive hydrogel microcapsules for drug evaluation
Authors: Song Taiyu , Zhang Hui , Liu Guangling , Qiu Yudong , Wang Huan
Published: November 2023

Drug therapies are the cornerstone of systemic treatment for pancreatic cancer patients. However, the relative outcome of drug evaluation is often hampered by the complex microenvironment of pancreatic cancer due to the lack of reasonable tumor models. Here, we proposed a novel platform that integrated pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells encapsulated into hydrogel microcapsules for three‐dimensional (3D) tumor cultivation and antitumor agent evaluation. These hydrogel microcapsules contain alginate/poly (N‐isopropyl acrylamide) (alginate/PNIPAM) shells and carboxymethyl cellulose cores, which are generated through the microfluidic electrospray technique. The microcapsules have the feature of rapid response to temperature, by which they can regulate the internal pressure environment. Besides, benefiting from good monodispersity, precise size control, and biocompatibility of these microcapsules, these wrapped tumor cells have the capacity for proliferating spontaneously and forming 3D tumor spheroids with good cell viability. We have demonstrated that pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells encapsulated in the composite microcapsules with different PNIPAM concentrations showed different drug sensitivity, which could be ascribed to the influence of external pressures environment. These results indicate that the tumor spheroids coated in these responsive microcapsules have great potential in the analysis of antitumor drug sensitivity.
Ventricular fibrillation in a dog with refractory hyperkalaemia due to uroabdomen following extradural anaesthesia
Authors: Hordle Thomas , Niimura Del Barrio Maria Chie , Michou Joanne
Published: November 2023

A young adult, crossbreed dog was presented to a referral small animal veterinary hospital with uroabdomen causing a severe hyperkalaemia. Stabilisation of the condition consisted of abdominocentesis and intravenous administration of calcium gluconate, insulin, glucose and crystalloids. The patient was then anaesthetised for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. An epidural was performed with levobupivacaine due to nociception and requirement for exploratory surgery. Marked bradycardia ensued and was treated with anticholinergics and terbutaline, among other repeated efforts to resolve a pharmaceutically resistant hyperkalaemia. However, cardiorespiratory arrest followed, characterised by ventricular fibrillation. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation utilised cardioversion to achieve return of spontaneous circulation within 16 minutes. After return of spontaneous circulation, serum potassium levels only decreased and remained below 7 mmol/L after repeat abdominocentesis, alongside continued medical therapy. Unfortunately, despite successful recovery from general anaesthesia, the patient later developed surgical wound dehiscence and was euthanased as a result.
Introduction
Authors: Jóhannesson Gunnar Thór , Lund Katrín Anna , Thorsteinsson Björn , Jóhannesdóttir Guðbjörg R.
Published: November 2023

This book examines places on the margins and the dynamics through which a marginal position of a place is created. Specifically, it explores how places, mostly in sparsely populated areas, often perceived as immobile and frozen in time, come into being and develop through interference of everyday mobilitiesand creative practices that cut across the spheres of culture and nature as usually defined.
Melrakkaslétta the Meeting-Ground: Performing Qualitative Research at the Tourism Margin
Authors: Barðadóttir Þórný
Published: November 2023

This chapter follows the journey of a doctoral research project from the setting of a research agenda, a theoretical framework and a methodological approach to conducting research on site. The research sets focus on Melrakkaslétta, a rural area on the Icelandic northeast coast. Melrakkaslétta is situated far north of the beaten Icelandic tourism track and has as such mostly been bypassed by the recent global tourism boom. This, however, does not mean that Melrakkaslétta is an immobile place as it has for centuries been inhabited and visited by humans and other beings.

The research design is set within a qualitative research paradigm, where through flat ontology and a post-ANT lens, ethnographic methodology is applied with the aim of co-creating knowledge with the humans and the more-than-human world of Melrakkaslétta. The chapter explores the decisions and reasoning for the research, where the aim is to inspect tourism in a non-touristy, rural area, with the agenda of avoiding perceiving the margin either as a rural idyll or a site of rural hardship, decline and struggle. Instead, at the core is the assumption that in Melrakkaslétta, as elsewhere in the world, joy and well-being occur amongst the various challenges of any existence.
NNLL resummation of Sudakov shoulder logarithms in the heavy jet mass distribution
Authors: Bhattacharya Arindam , Michel Johannes K. L. , Schwartz Matthew D. , Stewart Iain W. , Zhang Xiaoyuan
Published: November 2023

Abstract

The heavy jet mass event shape has large perturbative logarithms near the leading order kinematic threshold at $$ \rho =\frac{1}{3} $$
ρ
=

1
3

. Catani and Webber named these logarithms Sudakov shoulders and resummed them at double-logarithmic level. A resummation to next-to-leading logarithmic level was achieved recently. Here, we extend the resummation using an effective field theory framework to next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic order and show how to combine it with the resummation of dijet logarithms. We also solve the open problem of an unphysical singularity in the resummed momentum space distribution, in a way similar to how it is resolved in the Drell-Yan qT spectrum: through a careful analysis of the kinematics and scale-setting in position space. The heavy jet mass Sudakov shoulder is the first observable that does not involve transverse momentum for which position space resummation is critical. These advances may lead to a more precise extraction of the strong coupling constant from e+e− data.
Caught in the moment: interaction of immiscible carbonate and sulfide liquids in mafic silicate magma—insights from the Rudniy intrusion (NW Mongolia)
Authors: Cherdantseva Maria , Vishnevskiy Andrey , Jugo Pedro J. , Martin Laure A. J. , Aleshin Matvei , Roberts Malcolm P. , Shaparenko Elena , Langendam Andrew , Howard Daryl L. , Fiorentini Marco L.
Published: November 2023

The Devonian Rudniy intrusion is a composite magmatic body comprising two gabbroid units. Located in the Tsagaan-Shuvuut ridge in NW Mongolia, it is the only one known to contain disseminated sulfide Ni-Cu-PGE minerals out of numerous gabbroid intrusions surrounding the Tuva depression. The ore occurs as disseminated sulfide globules made of pyrrhotite, pentlandite, chalcopyrite, and cubanite, confined to a narrow troctolitic layer at the margins of a melanogabbro, at the contact with a previously emplaced leucogabbro. Globules generally display mantle-dominated sulfur isotopic signatures but show variable metallogenic and mineralogical characteristics, as well as notably different sizes and morphologies reflecting variable cooling and crystallization regimes in different parts of the intrusion. Sulfides from the chilled margin of the melanogabbro are surrounded and intergrown with volatile-rich (i.e., CO2-, H2O-, F-, and Cl) phases such as calcite, chlorite, mica, amphibole, and apatite. Based on the mineralogical and textural relationships of volatile-rich phases with sulfides, we argue that this assemblage represents the product of the crystallization of volatile-rich carbonate melt immiscible with both silicate and sulfide liquids. We put forward the hypothesis that volatile-rich carbonate melt envelops sulfide droplets facilitating their transport in magmatic conduits and that this process may be more widespread than commonly thought. The smaller sulfide globules, which are interpreted to derive from the breakup of larger globules during transport and emplacement, do not display an association with volatile-rich phases, suggesting that the original carbonate melt could have been detached from them during the evolution of the magmatic system. Variable rates of crystallization may have been responsible for the observed disparities in the mineralogical and metallogenic characteristics of different sulfide globules entrained in the Rudniy intrusion.
Trabekulotomie (ab externo) als Ersteingriff bei Offenwinkelglaukomen
Authors: Bornhauser Marco , Neuhann Lukas , Neuhann Thomas , Maier Mathias
Published: November 2023

Hintergrund

Die Ergebnisse der Trabekulotomie ab externo (TOT) als nicht fistulierende drucksenkende Operation bei Erwachsenen mit Offenwinkelglaukom sind im Vergleich zu anderen drucksenkenden Operationen nur wenig beschrieben.

Ziel der Arbeit

Ermittlung der langzeitigen drucksenkenden Wirkung und Komplikationen der TOT als Stand-alone-Eingriff oder in Kombination mit einer Phakoemulsifikation mit Intraokularlinsenimplantation (PIT) als primärer drucksenkender Eingriff bei erwachsenen Patienten mit Formen des chronischen Offenwinkelglaukoms.

Methodik

Es handelt sich um eine retrospektive Analyse von 121 Augen von 106 Patienten. Bei 90 Augen wurde eine TOT und bei 31 Augen eine PIT durchgeführt. Der Nachbeobachtungszeitraum betrug 5 Jahre. Die gesamte Nachbeobachtung erfolgte im gleichen Zentrum unter standardisierten Bedingungen. Es wurden präoperativ sowie postoperativ der bestkorrigierte Fernvisus, Intraokulardruck (IOD), drucksenkende Medikation sowie Komplikationen erfasst. Bei Erfolgskriterium 1 durfte der IOD bei keiner Kontrolle über 17 mm Hg sein. Bei Erfolgskriterium 2 durfte der IOD bei einer Kontrolle im gesamten Nachbeobachtungszeitraum über 17 mm Hg sein.

Ergebnisse

Präoperativer IOD in der TOT-Gruppe: 25,92 mm Hg (SD 6,58) und 26,32 mm Hg (SD 6,06) in der PIT-Gruppe. Die jährlichen kumulativen Erfolgsraten mit drucksenkenden Medikamenten bei Erfolgskriterium 1 sind: 92,8 %, 82,5 %, 70,5 %, 52,7 % und 26,1 %. Bei Erfolgskriterium 2 sind diese: 97,9 %; 94,9 %, 93,2 %, 91,3 % und 89 %. Es bestand kein relevanter Unterschied in der Drucksenkung zwischen der TOT und PIT. Ohne drucksenkende Medikamente sind die Erfolgsraten bei beiden Erfolgskriterien deutlich niedriger. Es traten keine schwerwiegenden Komplikationen auf. Die häufigste postoperative Komplikation war ein spontan resorbierbares Hyphäma.

Diskussion

Die Durchführung einer TOT oder PIT als primärer drucksenkender Eingriff bei chronischen Offenwinkelglaukomen bei Erwachsenen ist sinnvoll und von signifikantem drucksenkendem Effekt und sehr geringer Komplikationsrate.
Amyloid plaques and normal ageing have differential effects on microglial Ca2+ activity in the mouse brain
Authors: Izquierdo Pablo , Jolivet Renaud B. , Attwell David , Madry Christian
Published: November 2023

In microglia, changes in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) may regulate process motility, inflammasome activation, and phagocytosis. However, while neurons and astrocytes exhibit frequent spontaneous Ca2+ activity, microglial Ca2+ signals are much rarer and poorly understood. Here, we studied [Ca2+]i changes of microglia in acute brain slices using Fluo-4–loaded cells and mice expressing GCaMP5g in microglia. Spontaneous Ca2+ transients occurred ~ 5 times more frequently in individual microglial processes than in their somata. We assessed whether microglial Ca2+ responses change in Alzheimer's disease (AD) using AppNL−G−F knock-in mice. Proximity to Aβ plaques strongly affected microglial Ca2+ activity. Although spontaneous Ca2+ transients were unaffected in microglial processes, they were fivefold more frequent in microglial somata near Aβ plaques than in wild-type microglia. Microglia away from Aβ plaques in AD mice showed intermediate properties for morphology and Ca2+ responses, partly resembling those of wild-type microglia. By contrast, somatic Ca2+ responses evoked by tissue damage were less intense in microglia near Aβ plaques than in wild-type microglia, suggesting different mechanisms underlying spontaneous vs. damage-evoked Ca2+ signals. Finally, as similar processes occur in neurodegeneration and old age, we studied whether ageing affected microglial [Ca2+]i. Somatic damage-evoked Ca2+ responses were greatly reduced in microglia from old mice, as in the AD mice. In contrast to AD, however, old age did not alter the occurrence of spontaneous Ca2+ signals in microglial somata but reduced the rate of events in processes. Thus, we demonstrate distinct compartmentalised Ca2+ activity in microglia from healthy, aged and AD-like brains.
Factors specifying sex determination in maize
Authors: Guerrero-Méndez Cristina , Abraham-Juárez María Jazmín
Published: November 2023

Plant architecture is an important feature for agronomic performance in crops. In maize, which is a monoecious plant, separation of floral organs to produce specific gametes has been studied from different perspectives including genetic, biochemical and physiological. Maize mutants affected in floral organ development have been key to identifying genes, hormones and other factors like miRNAs important for sex determination. In this review, we describe floral organ formation in maize, representative mutants and genes identified with a function in establishing sexual identity either classified as feminizing or masculinizing, and its relationship with hormones associated with sexual organ identity as jasmonic acid, brassinosteroid and gibberellin. Finally, we discuss the challenges and scopes of future research in maize sex determination.
Shallow groundwater characterisation and hydrograph classification in the coastal city of Ōtautahi/Christchurch, New Zealand
Authors: Bosserelle Amandine L. , Morgan Leanne K. , Dempsey David E. , Setiawan Irene
Published: November 2023

Groundwater is present at shallow depth under many coastal low-lying cities. Despite the importance of protecting coastal urbanised areas from flooding and climate-change-induced sea-level rise, the effects of shallow groundwater fluctuations are rarely investigated. The aim of this study was to determine characteristics of shallow groundwater, including spatial and temporal trends in depths to groundwater and their relationship to natural and anthropogenic stressors. The study uses depth to groundwater measurements from a uniquely extensive and densely spaced monitoring network in Ōtautahi/Christchurch, New Zealand. Data-driven analysis approaches were applied, including spatial interpolation, autocorrelation, clustering, cross-correlation and trend analysis. These approaches are not commonly applied for groundwater assessments despite the potential for them to provide insights and information for city-wide systems. The comprehensive approach revealed discernible clusters and trends within the dataset. Responses to stresses such as rainfall events and stream flow were successfully classified using clustering analysis. The time series analysis indicated that in areas of shallow groundwater, low variation in levels occurred and this was also found using clustering. However, attributing some clusters to specific hydrogeological attributes or stressors posed challenges. The primary feature in hydrograph classification proved to be the proximity to tidal rivers and their correlation with tidal signals. These results highlight the value of using large datasets to characterise spatial and temporal variability of shallow groundwater in urban coastal settings and to assist with monitoring infrastructure planning in the face of future climate-change hazards.
A linear algebra perspective on the random multi-block ADMM: the QP case
Authors: Cipolla Stefano , Gondzio Jacek
Published: November 2023

Embedding randomization procedures in the Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM) has recently attracted an increasing amount of interest as a remedy to the fact that the direct multi-block generalization of ADMM is not necessarily convergent. Even if, in practice, the introduction of such techniques could mitigate the diverging behaviour of the multi-block extension of ADMM, from the theoretical point of view, it can ensure just the convergence in expectation, which may not be a good indicator of its robustness and efficiency. In this work, analysing the strongly convex quadratic programming case from a linear algebra perspective, we interpret the block Gauss–Seidel sweep performed by the multi-block ADMM in the context of the inexact Augmented Lagrangian Method. Using the proposed analysis, we are able to outline an alternative technique to those present in the literature which, supported from stronger theoretical guarantees, is able to ensure the convergence of the multi-block generalization of the ADMM method.
Monotonicity Reasoning in the Age of Neural Foundation Models
Authors: Chen Zeming , Gao Qiyue
Published: November 2023

The recent advance of large language models (LLMs) demonstrates that these large-scale foundation models achieve remarkable capabilities across a wide range of language tasks and domains. The success of the statistical learning approach challenges our understanding of traditional symbolic and logical reasoning. The first part of this paper summarizes several works concerning the progress of monotonicity reasoning through neural networks and deep learning. We demonstrate different methods for solving the monotonicity reasoning task using neural and symbolic approaches and also discuss their advantages and limitations. The second part of this paper focuses on analyzing the capability of large-scale general-purpose language models to reason with monotonicity.
Utilising personas as a methodological approach to support prospective mathematics teachers’ adaptation and development of digital mathematics learning resources
Authors: Weinhandl Robert , Kleinferchner Lena Maria , Schobersberger Carina , Schwarzbauer Katharina , Houghton Tony , Lindenbauer Edith , Anđić Branko , Lavicza Zsolt , Hohenwarter Markus
Published: November 2023

Personas, initially originated in user experience research, are short and simplified representations of particular user groups, and this methodological approach has recently gained ground in educational research. This study aims to explore aspects of personas that may be beneficial for prospective mathematics teachers when they develop digital learning resources. To explore such aspects, we employed qualitative interviews, thinking-out-loud techniques, and jointly developed learning resources with prospective mathematics teachers, and analysed this diverse data with a combination of case study and grounded theory approaches. Consequently, we were able to identify the following essential aspects of using personas in our study: (A) personas as representatives of real people, (B) personas as planning & feedback tools for material development, (C) professionalisation of prospective mathematics teachers (by using personas), (D) differentiation/individualisation for personas through digital learning resources, and (E) motivational elements of digital mathematics learning resources. Based on our results, we concluded that using personas could broaden prospective mathematics teachers’ views on student characteristics and demands that may enable teachers to facilitate the development of differentiated and individualised digital mathematics learning resources.
The COVID-19 pandemic and house price convergence in Poland
Authors: Tomal Mateusz
Published: November 2023

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on price convergence in the housing market is largely unknown. This paper aims to assess the impact of the pandemic on the convergence of sales and rental housing prices. The residential markets in Polish voivodeship capitals were chosen as a case study. The convergence evaluation was based on a local linear version of the log t regression test, which allowed the estimation of a time-varying convergence speed parameter. The causal effect of the pandemic on convergence was examined using a Bayesian structural time series model. The study results revealed that the pandemic led to divergence in the primary sales housing market, growth convergence in the secondary sales housing market, and a weakening growth convergence in the rental housing market. Finally, this paper provides the R function logt that enables running the local linear and dummy variable log t regression tests.
Digital twins for breast cancer treatment – an empirical study on stakeholders’ perspectives on potentials and challenges
Authors: Konopik Jens , Wolf Larissa , Schöffski Oliver
Published: November 2023

Purpose

With 2.3 million diagnoses and 685,000 deaths annually, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. The provision of necessary information throughout the whole patient journey is key to minimize the risk of breast cancer, to detect breast cancer as early as possible, and to aid the treatment process. Digital solutions provide abilities to holistically collect, transfer, and sophisticatedly analyze information. Specifically, digital twins in healthcare, as dynamic replicas of human bodies, are promising approaches for monitoring the condition of their patients and predicting tumor developments based on biometric data. However, the acceptance and adoption of such digital twin solutions in healthcare heavily depend on the individual stakeholders of the treatment process. This study aims to identify potentials and challenges of the introduction of digital twins in breast cancer applications from the involved stakeholders’ perspectives.

Methods

We conducted semi-structured interviews with 14 relevant stakeholders from the breast cancer treatment process. The interviews were then analyzed, based on the qualitative content analysis according to Mayring.

Results

The results show that stakeholders see great potential in digital twin solutions to further facilitate personalized medicine, efficiency increases, and scientific benefits. However, the sensitive nature of healthcare causes numerous potential challenges in the technical, regulatory, user interface, and the strategic domain.

Conclusions

The stakeholders unanimously agreed on the potential benefits of digital twins. However, existing systemic and individual stakeholder-level barriers hamper their introduction in breast cancer settings.
Characterization of particle size segregation and heterogeneity along the slopes of a waste rock pile using image analysis
Authors: Qiu Peiyong , Pabst Thomas
Published: November 2023

Large amounts of waste rock are produced during mining operations and often disposed of in large piles. Particle size segregation usually occurs during waste rock disposal, which can lead to high variations of particle size distribution (PSD) along the pile slope, increasing the risk for hydrogeotechnical instabilities. Determining segregation in situ is, therefore, critical to implement control measures and optimize deposition plans. However, characterizing PSD at field scale remains challenging because of the large dimensions of the pile, the instability of the blocks and the steep slopes. In this study, images, covering a 1400 m wide and 10 m high section of a waste rock pile, were taken and analyzed using image analysis to characterize segregation along the slope of the pile. PSD curves in different sections along the slope were determined and the segregation degree and characteristic diameters (e.g., D10, D50, D80,D95) were quantitatively compared. Results allowed to quantify segregation along the vertical direction of the pile, showing that segregation degree increased from − 0.77 ± 0.39 in the top (finer zone) to + 0.4 ± 0.14 in the bottom (coarser zone). Significant lateral heterogeneity was also observed with maximum diameters varying between 80 and 180 cm in the bottom section. Such segregation and lateral heterogeneity could induce significant variations of waste rock properties, with, for example, hydraulic conductivities varying by more than 2 orders of magnitude within the pile.
Comparing petrophysical properties and pore network characteristics of carbonate reservoir rocks using micro X-ray tomography imaging and microfacies analyses
Authors: Alatrash Hasan , Velledits Felicitász
Published: November 2023

Carbonate rocks have complex pore structures as a result of sedimentological and diagenetic processes. We investigated the pore network of four carbonate rock samples originating from an oil well in Hungary. Two samples were from the productive part of the Sarmatian limestone, and the other two were from the dry interval. We employed X-ray computed tomography (micro-XCT) in combination with lab measurements and microfacies analysis. To achieve accurate X-ray image segmentation we investigated and compared several segmentation techniques, including entropy and clustering. We then employed the Naïve Bayes classifier and tenfold cross-validation to assess the accuracy of our results. Our study achieved high accuracy with the type-2 fuzzy entropy technique on various metrics, including precision and recall. The comparison between the measured helium porosity and image-derived porosity showed a close match. Micro-XCT measurements revealed connected pore structure in the productive interval, compared to isolated pores in the dry interval. Microfacies analyses indicated that both the rocks of the productive and dry intervals were deposited in a marine environment, but different diagenetic processes altered the sediment into productive and dry rocks, respectively. The diagenesis of the productive rocks occurred in a meteoric phreatic environment, where secondary pores were created (porosity enhancement). In contrast, the dry rocks underwent meteoric vadose and marine diagenesis, where all previously created pores were filled with cement (porosity destruction). Our study highlights the importance of accurately characterizing the pore network of carbonate rocks, which can aid in understanding reservoir properties and predicting fluid flow behavior.
Adrenergic receptors blockade alleviates dexamethasone-induced neurotoxicity in adult male Wistar rats: Distinct effects on β-arrestin2 expression and molecular markers of neural injury
Authors: Mohamed Rasha M. S. M. , Ahmad Ahmad Enssaf , Amin Dalia M. , Abdo Samar Ahmed , Ibrahim Islam A. A. E.-H. , Mahmoud Mona F. , Abdelaal Shimaa
Published: November 2023

Background

Dexamethasone-induced neurotoxicity has been previously reported. However, the molecular mechanisms are still not completely understood.

Objectives

The current work aimed to investigate the modulatory effects of α- and β-adrenergic receptors on dexamethasone-induced neurotoxicity in rats focused on changes in β-arrestin2 and molecular markers of neural injury in cerebral cortex.

Methods

Male Wistar rats were subcutaneously injected with dexamethasone (10 mg/kg/day) for 7 days to induce neural injury in the cerebral cortex. The experiment involved 5 groups: control, dexamethasone, carvedilol, propranolol, and doxazosin. In the last 3 groups, drugs were given 2 hours before dexamethasone injection. At the end of experiment, brain samples were collected for measurement of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), kinase activity of protein kinase B (Akt), diacylglycerol (DAG), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), Smad3, β-amyloid and phospho-tau protein levels in addition to histopathological examination of brain tissue using hematoxylin-eosin, Nissl, and Sirius red stains. Moreover, β-arrestin2 levels in the cerebral cortex were measured using immunohistochemical examination.

Results

Dexamethasone slightly reduced brain weight and significantly decreased BDNF, Akt kinase activity and β-arrestin2 but markedly induced degeneration of cortical neurons and significantly increased GFAP, DAG, α-SMA, Smad3, β-amyloid and phospho-tau protein levels compared to controls. Carvedilol, propranolol, and doxazosin reversed all dexamethasone-induced molecular changes and slightly ameliorated the histopathological changes. Carvedilol significantly increased brain weight and β-arrestin2 levels compared to dexamethasone, propranolol, and doxazosin groups.

Conclusion

blocking α- and/or β-adrenergic receptors alleviate dexamethasone-induced neurotoxicity despite their distinct effects on β-arrestin2 levels in the cerebral cortex.

Graphical abstract
How and Why Does Corporate Reputation Moderate Mass Media News’ Impact On Market Value?
Authors: Guitart Ivan A. , Schwaiger Manfred , Eberhardt Johanna
Published: November 2023

In this study, we investigate whether corporate reputation reduces or amplifies mass media news’ impact on market value. We conceptualize reputation as comprising a prior knowledge, prominence, and favorability component. Additionally, we theorize about its role in moderating news’ effect on market value. Using 11 semesters’ data from 38 publicly listed German companies, we offer evidence of corporate reputation amplifying both negative and positive mass media news’ impact on market value. We further find that positive media mentions could reduce negative mentions’ negative impact up to the point that it loses its significance. Finally, our empirical analysis suggests that reputation’s moderating effect is mostly due to the favorability mechanism. Our results contribute to the literature by empirically assessing the role that reputation’s multiple dimensions play in shaping investors’ response to positive and negative mass media news. Our results also show that ensuring the media’s positive coverage of the company is an effective strategy to mitigate bursts of negative news’ negative consequences.
Users’ Visual Experience During Temporal Navigation in Forecast Weather Maps on Mobile Devices
Authors: Cybulski Paweł , Medyńska-Gulij Beata , Horbiński Tymoteusz
Published: November 2023

This study investigated the impact of graphical user interface (GUI) design on the efficiency and effectiveness of map-based tasks on mobile devices, using time-based weather data as a case study. Three different GUI designs (button-type, circle-type, and slidebar) were tested in a between-subjects design, with 50 participants completing a set of map-based tasks on each GUI design. The results showed that GUI design significantly affected the effectiveness of map-based tasks. Participants performed better at tasks involving the search for the highest and lowest temperature amplitudes on the button-type GUI whereas the circle-type GUI showed lower effectiveness for tasks involving the search for day temperatures. Analysis of the visual attention distribution based on fixation count revealed that different GUI designs led to different patterns of visual attention. The study highlights the importance of considering GUI design in the development of mobile map applications, particularly for map-based tasks involving time-based data. The study shows that separating the date from the time navigation panel reduces necessary visual focus on the GUI itself and is a valuable insight for future GUI design.
Observation on structural and optical features of new nanostructured lead-free methylammonium zinc or cobalt iodide perovskites for solar cells applications
Authors: Zeenelabden Hager H. , Elseman Ahmed Mourtada , El-Aasser Mostafa A. , Gad Nasr , Rashad Mohamed M.
Published: November 2023

The toxicity of lead-based halide perovskites has become a significant drawback to be employed in optoelectronic devices. Therefore, developing other environmentally friendly candidates with tunable optoelectronic properties for highly efficient solar cells is indispensable. Lead-free perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are promising to have a crucial role in large-scale commercial non-toxic photovoltaic devices. Here, the microstructure and optoelectronic properties of 2D halide perovskites without pb (CH3NH3)2BI4 (where B = Zn or Co) have been investigated for use in solar cells. The synthesized samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, FT-IR, FESEM, and TEM. The variation in the optical and photoluminescence (PL) is recognized. The results indicate that (CH3NH3)2ZnI4 and (CH3NH3)2CoI4 crystals demonstrate a wide band gap of about 2.42 and 1.87 eV, respectively. A comparative study is presented for the optical properties of Zn- versus Co-based perovskites. It is noticed that Co is a better candidate than Zn to be a good replacement choice for Pb as Co-containing compounds have lower optical bandgap than Zn-containing compounds. PCBM is employed as a hole transport material, and PEDOT:PSS as an electron transport layer. The p-i-n PSCs are fabricated, and the electrical parameters are measured, obtaining power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of 0.73 and 2.45% for (CH3NH3)2ZnI4 and (CH3NH3)2CoI4, respectively. This work opens the door for further investigations to increase the PCE of both devices.
Innovation and entrepreneurship in dental curriculum: from practice to creativity in the face of pandemic
Authors: Jumlongkul Arnon
Published: November 2023

COVID-19 virus spread has resulted in the most dramatic changes for all of us. The purpose of this article is to develop a curriculum and share teaching experience in innovation and entrepreneurship for dental students during the pandemic, in order to help train future dentists. This article made extensive use of the adaptive design thinking model, which included brainstorming, classroom presentation, reflection, and revision. Sixth year dental students from the academic years 2020 and 2021 attended, with 26 and 29 students, respectively. Students of both classes were divided into five groups. Each group was tasked with creating an innovative research proposal related to clinical dental issues encountered during the pandemic. After a 6 h team-based discussion that included a 2-time presentation, all dental students were able to develop an innovation research proposal and present it in front of the class. This study reveals the process of developing dental curricula and sharing teaching experiences in innovation and entrepreneurship with dental students during a pandemic. Future research should compare traditional study, online teaching, and blended learning in innovation-related topics among dental students. The application of this novel method to multidisciplinary student teams as well as clinical subjects is also a challenge.
Experimental study and ANFIS modelling of the thermophysical properties and efficacy of GNP-Al2O3 hybrid nanofluids of different concentrations and temperatures
Authors: Borode Adeola , Tshephe Thato , Olubambi Peter , Sharifpur Mohsen , Meyer Josua
Published: November 2023

This study delves into an extensive investigation of the thermophysical properties and heat transfer efficacy of a hybrid nanofluid incorporating graphene nanoplatelets and γ-Al2O3 nanoparticles dispersed in deionised water. The nanofluids were characterised for their viscosity (µ), thermal conductivity (λ), and electrical conductivity (σ) over a 15–40 °C temperature range for varying nanoparticle loading (0.1–0.4 vol%). The experimental results revealed notable enhancements in µ, λ, and σ with increasing nanoparticle concentration, while µ decreased at elevated temperatures as λ and σ increased. At the highest concentration (0.4 vol%), µ increased by 21.74%, while λ and σ exhibited peak enhancements of 17.82% and 393.36% at 40 °C. An Adaptive Neuro-fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) model was devised to enhance predictive precision by meticulously optimising the number of membership functions (MFs) and input MF type. The ANFIS architecture that exhibited the most remarkable agreement with the experimental data for µ, λ, and σ was found to utilise the Product of Sigmas, Difference of Sigmas, and Generalized Bell MFs, respectively, with corresponding input MF numbers being 2–3, 3–2, and 3–2. The optimal ANFIS model for µ, λ, and σ exhibits a higher prediction accuracy with an R2 value of 0.99965, 0.99424 and 0.99995, respectively. The Figure of Merit analysis using Mouromtseff Number identified an optimal nanoparticle concentration range of 0.1–0.2 vol% for enhanced heat transfer performance with a reasonable µ increase. This range guides practitioners in utilising hybrid nanofluids effectively while managing potential drawbacks.
Possibilities of battery-free AACloth for augmentative and alternative communication: views of parents of children with cerebral palsy
Authors: Elo Charlotta , Virkki Johanna , Vihriälä Tanja , Ihalainen Tiina
Published: November 2023

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurological disorder that primarily affects body movement, muscle coordination, and muscle tone. Non-progressive brain injury or abnormal brain development that occurs while the child’s brain is under development causes CP. It is estimated that 40–85% of children with CP have communication difficulties. Children with communication difficulties can benefit from augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). However, studies have shown that several challenges in using AAC exist. Developing existing AAC methods and creating new AAC solutions are important to enable everyone to communicate and express themselves without barriers. This qualitative study aims to investigate how parents of children with CP would use a wireless and battery-free, passive radio-frequency identification (RFID)-based e-textile—AACloth—as an AAC solution. The research was conducted via an online survey. Parents with a child under 15 with CP and communication difficulties were included. Parents were recruited by distributing the survey invitation via the Finnish CP Association’s monthly newsletter, Facebook page, and social media groups. Nine parents participated. Based on parents’ views, the AACloth could solve some of the challenges associated with existing AAC methods. This research provides perspectives on what kinds of factors should be considered when developing existing and new AAC aids.
Larval secretions of parasitoid wasps are new effectors that impair host immune defences
Authors: Pang Lan , Dong Zhi , Liu Zhiguo , Feng Ting , Shi Wenqi , Lu Yueqi , Sheng Yifeng , Chen Jiani , Guan Xueying , Chen Xuexin , Huang Jianhua
Published: November 2023

Parasitoid wasps belong to a remarkably successful group of biological control agents. To ensure effective parasitism, parasitoid wasps have evolved various effectors to modulate host immune responses, such as venom, PDVs and teratocytes. However, little information is available for wasp larval secretions. Here, we applied the Drosophila parasitoids Leptopilina boulardi and L. heterotoma as a study model to investigate the larval secreted components and the potential molecules manipulating host immune responses. We obtained 388 and 30 larval secreted proteins from L. boulardi and L. heterotoma, respectively. These results were consistent with the fact that L. boulardi larvae encounter more severe immune challenges in comparison with L. heterotoma. We further revealed that parasitoid wasps have evolved specialized secreted proteins to inhibit host melanization responses via serpins, as well as a group of metalloproteases may contribute to impairing host encapsulation responses. Our findings provide the evidence that larval secretions of parasitoid wasps are new effectors and further uncover their potential roles in manipulating host immune responses.
On Stephen Houlgate's Hegel on Being
Authors: Nuzzo Angelica
Published: November 2023

Stephen Houlgate's long-awaited two volumes on Hegel's Logic of Being offer a thorough presentation and a detailed reconstruction of the Doctrine of Being, which constitutes the first part of the first division of Hegel's Science of Logic (appeared in 1812 in the first edition; revised in the second edition of 1832 published after Hegel's death). The first volume takes on the logic of Quality and the transition to Quantity while the second volume addresses the logic of Quantity and Measure leading up to the transition to Essence. Along with the Doctrine of Essence, the Doctrine of Being occupies the first main division of Hegel's Logic or Objective Logic, which is followed by the Subjective Logic, or Doctrine of the Concept, as its second main division. Within Hegel's philosophical system, the Logic is followed by the Philosophy of Nature and the Philosophy of Spirit, the three main parts of the Encyclopaedia of the Philosophical Sciences (appeared in the three editions of 1817, 1827, 1830). Chronologically, but also systematically (at least in a qualified way),1 the Logic is preceded by the 1807 Phenomenology of Spirit. This brief sketch may help us locate the object of Houlgate's volumes within Hegel's philosophy as a whole.
Energy flux and high-order statistics of hydrodynamic turbulence
Authors: Lvov Yuri V. , L'vov Victor S.
Published: November 2023

We use the Dyson–Wyld diagrammatic technique to analyse the infinite series for the correlation functions of the velocity in hydrodynamic turbulence. We demonstrate the fundamental role played by the triple correlator of the velocity in determining the entire statistics of the hydrodynamic turbulence. All higher-order correlation functions are expressed through the triple correlator. This is shown through the suggested triangular re-summation of the infinite diagrammatic series for multi-point correlation functions. The triangular re-summation is the next logical step after the Dyson–Wyld line re-summation for the Green's function and the double correlator. In particular, it allows us to explain why the inverse cascade of the two-dimensional hydrodynamic turbulence is close to Gaussian. Since the triple correlator dictates the flux of energy

$\varepsilon$

through the scales, we support the Kolmogorov-1941 idea that

$\varepsilon$

is one of the main characteristics of hydrodynamic turbulence.
Energy-efficient limit cycle walking in disturbance based on nonlinear model predictive control
Authors: Hanazawa Yuta , Nishinami Haruka , Sagara Shinichi
Published: November 2023

In this study, we present a novel approach to generate limit cycle walking using nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC). Output-zeroing control is now widely used as a control method to limit cycle walking. This control offers strong feedback to the desired trajectory and the generation of energy-efficient and robust limit cycle walking. However, we observed that this method disables the natural dynamics of the robot, leading to problems regarding energy efficiency during walking. This study demonstrates that the energy consumption of walking using the output-zeroing control increases significantly in a disturbed environment. To overcome this limitation, the proposed approach leverages the robot’s dynamics using NMPC to achieve energy-efficient walking even in a disturbed environment. We demonstrate the practicality of the proposed method using two different simulation environments.
Seroprevalence of Zika in Brazil stratified by age and geographic distribution
Authors: Botosso Viviane Fongaro , Precioso Alexander Roberto , Wilder-Smith Annelies , de Oliveira Danielle Bruna Leal , de Oliveira Fabyano Bruno Leal , De Oliveira Cairo Monteiro , Soares Camila Pereira , Oliveira Lucyana Trindade Leal , dos Santo Ralyria Mello Vieira , de Agostini Utescher Carla Lilian , Coutinho Francisco Antonio Bezerra , Massad Eduardo
Published: November 2023

Congenital Zika is a devastating consequence of maternal Zika virus infections. Estimates of age-dependent seroprevalence profiles are central to our understanding of the force of Zika virus infections. We set out to calculate the age-dependent seroprevalence of Zika virus infections in Brazil. We analyzed serum samples stratified by age and geographic location, collected from 2016 to 2019, from about 16,000 volunteers enrolled in a Phase 3 dengue vaccine trial led by the Institute Butantan in Brazil. Our results show that Zika seroprevalence has a remarkable age-dependent and geographical distribution, with an average age of the first infection varying from region to region, ranging from 4.97 (3.03–5.41) to 7.24 (6.98–7.90) years. The calculated basic reproduction number,

$ {R}_0 $

, varied from region to region, ranging from 1.18 (1.04–1.41) to 2.33 (1.54–3.85). Such data are paramount to determine the optimal age to vaccinate against Zika, if and when such a vaccine becomes available.