bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biochemometrics‐Based Identification of Gallic Acid and Gallic Acid Galloylglucosides From Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi With Cytotoxic Effects on Cultured Melanoma Cells
Authors: Casanova Livia Marques , do Nascimento Júnior José Xavier , de Souza Jacqueline Elis , do Couto Rodrigues Raul , Araújo Amanda Bandeira , Arrais Emmanuel , de Oliveira Silva Luiz Claudio , Bessa Menezes Yasmim M. , Yien Raíssa Mara Kao , Tinoco Luzineide Wanderley , Costa Sônia Soares , Sola‐Penna Mauro , Zancan Patrícia
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Kalanchoe Adans. (Crassulaceae) is a genus of widespread succulent plants extensively studied for their biological activities. Plants of the genus are considered a potential source of antitumor agents.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the effect of an aqueous extract and fractions of leaves of Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi R. Hamet & H. Perrier on the proliferation of melanoma cell lines employing an NMR‐based biochemometric approach complemented with HPLC‐DAD and UHPLC–MS/MS analyses.

Material and Methods

The n‐butanol fraction (KFBuOH) from K. fedtschenkoi aqueous leaf extract, which decreased B16F10 murine melanoma cells viability by 65% at 100 μg/mL, was fractionated with RP‐18 SPE and Sephadex LH‐20 column chromatography. The fractions were analyzed by 1H‐NMR spectroscopy and submitted to MTT cytotoxicity assays against cultured melanoma cells. Orthogonal projection to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS‐DA) was used to correlate their 1H‐NMR profile and cytotoxic activity.

Results

This strategy enabled the identification of gallic acid (1) and two gallic acid glucosides—gallic acid 4‐O‐(6′‐O‐galloyl)‐glucopyranoside) (2) and gallic acid 3‐O‐(6′‐O‐galloyl)‐glucopyranoside) (3)—as putative bioactive substances, which was further corroborated by subsequent assays with enriched fractions and a gallic acid standard. The fractions enriched in gallic acid (KFA) and gallic acid galloylglucosides (KFB) evidenced selective cytotoxicity towards B16F10 cells (IC50 43.0 and 56.6 μg/mL, respectively) and MV3 human melanoma cells (IC50 93.6 and 66.1 μg/mL, respectively).

Conclusion

These results suggest a potential therapeutic use for K. fedtschenkoi in melanoma treatment. This is the first study to evidence a potential antitumor activity for gallic acid galloylglucosides.
Assessing the impact of strictly protecting 30%–50% of global land on carbon dynamics in natural and agricultural ecosystems
Authors: Camargo‐Alvarez Hector , Bampoh Daniel , Mazzola Valeria , Alexander Peter , Henry Roslyn , Rabin Sam , Rounsevell Mark , Arneth Almut
Published: November 2024

Societal Impact Statement

Strictly protected areas for nature conservation are a key policy to benefit biodiversity and climate change mitigation since reduced deforestation and ecosystem restoration enhance carbon stocks. However, there is controversy regarding their potential societal impacts, such as competition for land and food security. Here, we investigate the implications of protecting 30% and 50% of the global ice‐free land surface on the spatiotemporal dynamics of ecosystem carbon uptake and losses, agricultural land use and synergies with food production. The study provides insights into the role of protected areas on the global terrestrial carbon store, contributing to climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation efforts.

Agriculture and forestry use around half of the global ice‐free land and are major drivers of biodiversity loss. For this reason, the post‐2020 Global Biodiversity Framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) targets at least 30% of protected global land by 2030.

This study evaluates the impacts of different land‐use change scenarios on the storage of carbon in terrestrial ecosystems and trade‐offs and synergies in the global food production system by comparing a reference scenario with no additional protected area expansion targets and two scenarios with strict area‐based protection targets of 30% and 50% of the ice‐free land surface.

A net global gain in carbon storage up to 110 PgC was projected for 2056–2060 in the protection scenarios compared to the reference scenario (equivalent to around 10 years of current global anthropogenic C emissions). However, regional disparities in carbon storage are large and include carbon losses in areas identified as having—at least on a decadal perspective—‘irrecoverable’ carbon.

In the protection scenarios, cropland expansion in some regions is accompanied by intensification of production with an increase of up to 8% in the use of N fertiliser, which may lead to pollution and additional greenhouse gas emissions.
Ab Initio Investigation of Amorphous and Crystalline Arsenic Sesqui‐Chalcogenides: Optical Properties Explained by Metavalent Bonding
Authors: Chu Ruixuan , Shen Xueyang , Wang Jiayue , Sun Suyang , Wuttig Matthias , Mazzarello Riccardo , Zhang Wei
Published: November 2024

Phase‐change materials (PCMs) are employed in both electrical and optical devices exploiting the property contrast between their amorphous and crystalline states. Binary antimony sesqui‐chalcogenides such as Sb2Se3 and Sb2S3 are recently shown to be suitable PCMs for low‐loss optical applications. In this work, ab initio simulations of arsenic sesqui‐chalcogenides are carried out, including As2S3, As2Se3, and As2Te3 to unravel the bonding and optical properties of their crystalline and amorphous phases. Due to the metavalent character of its chemical bonds, crystalline As2Te3 shows a high optical response. However, in crystalline As2S3 and As2Se3, the alignment of p orbitals is fully broken, which results in a very low‐extinction coefficient that is already comparable to their amorphous phase. Although As2S3 and As2Se3 display good low‐loss optical properties, the overall optical contrast upon phase transition is not sufficient for practical applications. Therefore, it is concluded that arsenic is a useful alloying element in reducing the optical loss of conventional PCMs, but its concentration should be kept at a relatively low level to balance the optical loss and contrast window.
Unveiling the radiological odyssey: Navigating the interstitial with artificial intelligence
Authors: Russo Anna , Viglione Vittorio , Franzese Linda , Patanè Vittorio , Valente Tullio , Perrotta Fabio , Reginelli Alfonso
Published: November 2024

This study examines the radiological and clinical evolution of a case involving mixed idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis, utilizing conventional CT imaging and artificial intelligence tool. Through a series of exams and clinical assessments, the patient was followed for over 3 years, highlighting the challenge in differentiating these interstitial pathologies and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach. The radiological progression towards pulmonary fibrosis was correlated with clinical symptoms, emphasizing the significance of early diagnosis and regular follow‐up. The combined use of advanced technologies offers a more comprehensive framework in managing complex lung diseases, enhancing the quality of care and understanding of interstitial pathologies.
Phase Tailoring of In2Se3 Toward van der Waals Vertical Heterostructures via Selenization of γ‐InSe Semiconductor
Authors: Liu Beituo , Ge Rui , Yue Fangyu , Zheng Yufan , Sui Fengrui , Yu Yilun , Huang Rong , Qi Ruijuan , Duan Chungang
Published: November 2024

The polymorphic nature of In2Se3 leads to excellent phase‐dependent physical properties including ferroelectricity, photoelectricity, and especially the intriguing phase change ability, making the precise phase modulation of In2Se3 of fundamental importance but very challenging. Here, the growth of In2Se3 with desired‐phase is realized by temperature‐controlled selenization of van der Waals (vdW) layered bulk γ‐InSe. Detailed results of Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and state‐of‐the‐art spherical aberration‐corrected transmission electron microscopy (Cs‐TEM) clearly and consistently show that β‐In2Se3, 3R α‐In2Se3, and 2H α‐In2Se3 can be perfectly obtained at ≈270, ≈300, and ≈600 °C, respectively. Further comprehensive atomic imaging analyses confirm that the seeding material, InSe, plays a critical role in the low‐temperature epitaxial growth of vdW‐layered In2Se3, and, more interestingly, β‐In2Se3 acts as an intermediate phase between 3R and 2H α‐In2Se3 transitions. This investigation not only provides a simple yet versatile strategy for the phase modulation of In2Se3, but also sheds light on the temperature‐dependent phase evolution of In2Se3.
Characterization of the Dynamic Flow Response in Microfluidic Devices
Authors: Elgack Mohammed E. , Abdelgawad Mohamed
Published: November 2024

The purpose of this study is to characterize the dynamic response of fluid flow in microchannels, which can show significant delay times before reaching steady flow conditions. Two main sources of these delays are numerically and experimentally investigated, the hydraulic compliance which originates from the flexibility of the system components (microchannel, tubing, syringe, etc.), and the compressibility of the liquid dead volume in the setup, also known as the “bottleneck effect”. A fluid‐structure interaction model is presented for the compliance of rectangular PDMS microchannels that is used to form a numerically based relation for the compliance as a function of the pressure and geometry. This relation is successfully able to predict the dynamics of the flow inside PDMS microchannels in stop‐flow experiments. The time delays associated with the bottleneck effect is also shown when using different syringe volumes, microchannel resistances, and liquid types. In these tests, the bottleneck effect has a much larger effect compared to the compliance of the PDMS microchannels. This is true even when using softer PDMS by increasing the monomer‐to‐curing agent mixing ratio. The characterization that is presented here allows for a simple analysis of microfluidic networks using the hydraulic‐circuit approach.
Collective Agents as Moral Actors
Authors: Hormio Säde
Published: November 2024

How should we make sense of praise and blame and other such reactions towards collective agents like governments, universities, or corporations? My argument is that collective agents do not have to qualify as moral agents for us to make sense of their responsibility. Collective agents can be appropriate targets for our moral feelings and judgements because they can maintain and express moral positions of their own. Moral agency requires being capable of recognizing moral considerations and reasons. It also necessitates the ability to react reflexively to moral matters, i.e., to take into account new moral concerns when they arise. While members of a collective agent are capable of this, the collective frames the thinking of the individual moral agents within it and affects their options in myriad ways. The moral positions thus formed and expressed belong to the collective. Crucially, unlike marginal moral agents, collective agents as moral actors can be held fully responsible for their acts and omissions.
Healthy Climatic Adaption and Climate Change
Authors: Stewart Simon
Published: November 2024

Having described and explored the global to individual context of climate change and health, this chapter now explores the biological imperative of any organism to maintain homeostasis. As a key function of this imperative, in humans, the cardiovascular system plays a key role in maintaining homeostasis. Over time we (humans) have overcome many of the biological limitations/constraints of these protective mechanisms through a combination of behavioural, cultural and technological adaptations—thereby allowing us to migrate and thrive in nearly every corner of the world. Within this biological to historical context, rapid climate change (through exposure to more weather extremes) is now challenging the limits of our ability to maintain homeostasis. How the opposing forces of human adaptability, maintaining thermoregulation and increasing climatic provocations to health plays out in vulnerable individuals and communities (from those living in poverty to older individuals living with chronic heart disease) will provide important context to later chapters.
Future Proofing Our Hearts to Climate Change
Authors: Stewart Simon
Published: November 2024

In the last chapter, the embryonic evidence (essentially derived from one, relatively positive, COVID-19 cruelled randomised trial) in respect to the possibility of restoring/promoting resilience in people hospitalised with multimorbid heart disease was presented. However, prevention is always better than cure! Thus, just as the ‘interconnectedness’ of the different spheres that comprise our planet was highlighted in terms of the impact of pollution earlier in this book and considering the tenant of the UNSDGs, it is critical for us to proactively address climate vulnerability from multiple perspectives. Specifically, at multiple levels, there is urgent need for the world/us to—(1) Recognise the pre-existing to evolving threat (due to climate change) of climatic provocations to heart health, (2) Develop a more systematic approach to recognising which regions and communities are most ‘vulnerable’ to climatic challenges (from multiple perspectives), (3) Implement a range of public health measures from raising public awareness to implementing broad public health strategies to promote and enhance climatic resilience at the population level, and, beyond the need to reframe the clinical management of people hospitalised for heart disease, to reduce their risk of readmissions and premature mortality due to pre-existing vulnerability to climate provocations—(4) Strengthen primary care health care teams/services to proactively detect and then manage at risk/vulnerable individuals before they are hospitalised and/or die prematurely due to climatic provocations to their cardiovascular health. Such primary care capacity would also ensure the optimal, post-discharge management of those hospitalised with heart disease from this novel perspective. Bringing all the current evidence in this regard together, this chapter provides a critical review of the progress made thus far around these four key points.
3-2-3 Multi-AI Segmentation Framework: LoD-Based, Incremental Segmentation of 3D Scan Data Using Any 2D AI
Authors: Solheiro Hermenegildo , Kent Lee , Toyoda Keisuke
Published: November 2024

In the age of spatial computing, computer vision is central, and efficient segmentation of 3D scan data becomes a fundamental task. Existing segmentation methods are often locked to specific AI models, lack level-of-detail (LoD) capabilities, and do not support efficient incremental segmentation. These limitations hinder their application to XR systems that integrate architectural and urban scales, which demand both at scale and detailed, up-to-date segmentation information, while leveraging limited local hardware in distributed computing environments.

In this work, we present a novel framework that integrates multiple 2D AI through AI-agnostic 3D geometry feature fusion, ensuring spatial consistency while taking advantage of the rapid advancements in 2D AI models. Our framework performs LoD segmentation, enabling swift segmentation of downsampled geometry and full detail on needed segments. Additionally, it progressively builds a segmentation database, processing only newly added data, thereby avoiding point cloud reprocessing, a common limitation in previous methods.

In our use case, our framework analyzed a public building based on three scans: a drone LiDAR capture of the exterior, a static LiDAR capture of a room, and a user-held RGB-D camera capture of a section of the room. Our approach provided a fast understanding of building volumes, room elements, and a fully detailed geometry of a requested object, a “panel with good lighting and a view to a nearby building”, to implement an XR activity.

Our preliminary results are promising for applications in other urban and architectural contexts and point to further developments in our Geometric Data Inference AI as a cornerstone for deeper, more accurate Multi-AI integration.
Außerschulisches Lernen im Kontext Politischer Bildung
Authors: Jansen Annegret
Published: November 2024

Dem außerschulischen Lernen wird als Lernform ein vielfältiges Potenzial zur Anregung von Bildungsprozessen zugeschrieben. In diesem Kapitel wird der Forschungsstand zum außerschulischen Lernen dargelegt. In einem ersten Schritt werden die Diskurse um eine Öffnung der Schule und eine Öffnung des Unterrichts in einen Entwicklungsprozess von Schule eingeordnet, um die Bedeutung des außerschulischen Lernens vor dem Hintergrund der Sozialisationsfunktion von Schule sowie der Relevanz fächerübergreifender Lernfelder wie die Politische Bildung und Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung herauszustellen.
Interviewstudie ex post zur Analyse politischer Reflexions- und Sinnbildungsprozesse
Authors: Jansen Annegret
Published: November 2024

Mit dem Unterrichtsprojekt wurde das Ziel verfolgt, die Perspektivität und Kontroversität gesellschaftlicher Problemstellungen einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung am Beispiel des Transformationsfeldes Landwirtschaft und Ernährung didaktisch aufzubereiten und durch außerschulische Begegnungen mit regionalen Akteur*innen erfahrbar zu machen. Die empirische Untersuchung im Rahmen der Interventionsstudie hat ergeben, dass durch das Unterrichtsprojekt als didaktische Intervention eine Politisierung der Thematik angebahnt werden konnte. Zeigte sich in einem Großteil der Schüler*innenäußerungen vor dem Unterrichtsprojekt die Vorstellung eines regelrecht natürlichen Strukturwandlungsprozesses, der mit ökologischen Nachteilen verbunden ist, ergaben die Befragungen unmittelbar nach dem Unterrichtsprojekt eine Ausdifferenzierung der Vorstellungen zum Konfliktfeld Landwirtschaft und Ernährung unter vermehrter Berücksichtigung politischer Kategorien (Akteur*innen, Handlungsfolgen, ökonomischer Zusammenhang etc.).

Das Ziel ﻿der Interviewstudie ist es, das spezifische Anregungspotenzial der kontroversen außerschulischen Begegnungen für die politische Urteilsbildung ex post zu explorieren. Aufgrund dessen werden Reflexions- und Sinnbildungsprozesse sechs Wochen nach dem Unterrichtsprojekt erhoben. Somit ergänzt die Interviewstudie die Gesamtstudie nun um Erkenntnisse über das außerschulische Lernen im schulischen Fachunterricht. Wie in Abschnitt 4.5 herausgearbeitet, wird dem außerschulischen Lernen aufgrund der genuinen Mehrperspektivität der außerschulischen Erfahrung ein besonderes Potenzial zur Förderung der politischen Urteilsfähigkeit zugesprochen (Juchler, 2022). Dies steht in einer Diskrepanz zum Theorie- und Empiriedefizit, weshalb explorative Untersuchungen von Verstehensprozessen von Schüler*innen angezeigt sind (Moritz, 2016; siehe Abschn. 4.6).
Gesamtdiskussion
Authors: Jansen Annegret
Published: November 2024

Die Gesamtdiskussion dient dazu, eine Zusammenfassung der vorliegenden Forschungsarbeit zu geben und dabei im Besonderen den Fokus auf die Rückbindung an die theoretischen Bezüge der Arbeit mit Blick auf die empirischen Erkenntnisse der Studien vorzunehmen. Es werden eine Synthese der verschiedenen Studienergebnisse aus Studie I und II angestrebt (9.1) und die forschungsmethodischen Limitationen (9.2) diskutiert.
Rio 2016: Case Study for Mega Events, Urban Mobility, and Flow of People
Authors: Silva Simone , Torres Jacqueline
Published: November 2024

Mega events require alignment between the event organizers and several agencies. This collaboration is crucial in serving the needs of spectators and minimizing the impacts to residents. Critical to mega events is the integration of the public transport system, pedestrian infrastructure, and roadway space. The Rio 2016 Games relied heavily on public transport. The city constructed a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network, consisting of three corridors, built one Light Rail Transit (LRT) line, and expanded the metro, connecting all four sporting clusters and closing major transport gaps. Part of these gaps involved adequate pedestrian infrastructure, an essential “last-mile” linkage critical to passenger flow. Extrapolated demand during mega events requires special considerations when planning for pedestrian infrastructure. Management of roadway space by ensuring vehicular throughput and avoiding roadway paralysis is also vital in the movement of people and services. During mega events, the City Operations Center is responsible for mitigating potential roadway failure across the entire region. Successfully integrating these components is part of the Rio 2016 legacy and has been utilized in other mega events. The Integrated Urban Mobility Center (IUMC) was created to holistically integrate urban mobility. In coordination with public transport and various city agencies, the IUMC was able to oversee public transport and roadways while activating necessary contingency plans and emergency responses.
Is Moral Advice from Artificial Intelligence Artificial?
Authors: Melgaard Nicholas
Published: November 2024

The point of the chapter is to draw attention to and comment on the way analytic philosophy has converged with technology and policy and discuss some of the questions of responsibility in the development of this technology. There have also been attempts to use language AI to enable machines to make moral judgments and equip technology to be moral on our behalf. I wish to challenge this stated intention to “close the gap from human-level performance” and challenge on a conceptual level whether machines can make “correct” moral judgments. The assumption that language models can or ought to be qualified alongside human moral agents is dangerous. Whether or not machines will be making better or worse decisions is not the point; there is something inherently immoral about outsourcing moral decision-making in the first place. No answer generated by a machine would be acceptable to human beings, if only due to the fact that it was generated by a machine. I conclude by suggesting certain considerations for issues of responsibility in language technology and ultimately stress the importance of what AI technology cannot do as a practical and morally coherent position.
Introduction
Authors: Pineda José Ernesto Mancera , Osorio Andrés F. , Toro Cesar , Velásquez-Calderón Carolina Sofía
Published: November 2024

Biosphere reserves have particular, unique importance as places to study, learn, and replicate forms of disciplinary mitigation and adaptation. In the context of the worsening climate crisis, this is especially true of island and coastal biosphere reserves that disproportionately face the adverse impacts of climate change. Considering issues like biodiversity conservation, cultural diversity, and socio-culturally and environmentally sustainable economic development, biosphere reserves serve as ideal places for interdisciplinary research and to design and implement mitigation and adaptation strategies developed from and for local contexts and communities. This interdisciplinary book emphasizes the unification of the results of cutting-edge technical research with the local knowledge, struggles, and experiences of the Raizal people of the Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia, and Santa Catalina. Combining insights from different disciplines offers insights into how best to prepare for and respond to future extreme weather events, and key inputs for decision-making by both public sector actors in the archipelago and Colombia, and any stakeholder interested in these processes. Innovative methodologies and precise, up-to-date scientific data are crucial for effective policy-making. Hence, this book includes important results including maps, models, and ecosystem-based reconstruction methodologies focused on mangroves and coral reefs, among others.
Rapid Remote Sensing Assessment of Impacts from Hurricane Iota on the Coral Reef Geomorphic Zonation in Providencia
Authors: Hernández-Hamón Hernando , Zapata-Ramírez Paula A. , Vásquez Rafael E. , Zuluaga Carlos A. , Mejía Juan David Santana , Cano Marcela
Published: November 2024

This study assesses Hurricane Iota’s impact on Providencia island’s reef environments, using Google Earth Engine, Satellite Derived Bathymetry, and machine learning to calculate a supervised classification process to delineate six geomorphic reef units. Results reveal dynamic changes, including erosion in the Lagoon unit (4.47% pre-Iota, 2.27% post-Iota), loss on the Back Reef (38.14%), and Rock Terrace (6.15%). Reef Ridge showed minimal change, acting as an effective wave barrier. Back Reef and the deep Rock Terrace experienced significant erosion (−3 to −14 m) to the northeast, with sedimentary dynamics observed in deeper units (up to 22 m). The high thematic accuracies found (Kappa 99%) illustrate the effectiveness of the assessment to (i) map the reef rapidly, (ii) provide tools for long-term monitoring of changes over time and (iii) improve management strategies and decision-making.
Ciguatera in the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve: Projecting the Approach on HABs to Assess and Mitigate Their Impacts on Public Health, Fisheries and Tourism
Authors: Mancera Pineda José Ernesto , Gavio Brigitte , Santos-Martínez Adriana , Arencibia Carballo Gustavo , Prato Julián
Published: November 2024

Microalgae constitute the basis of marine food webs. However, the massive growth of some species and the toxicity of others may represent a serious threat to human health, fisheries, mariculture, and tourism. Evidence shows that global warming, climate change, nutrients, and sewage discharge favor microalgal blooms, which are becoming more frequent, intense, and lasting. In the Caribbean Sea, ciguatera poisoning, one of the syndromes caused by toxic dinoflagellates, has increased its incidence in the past three decades. Despite the potential risks, there is no management plan for this and other harmful algal blooms (HABs) in San Andres island, Colombia. We analyze the presence of toxic dinoflagellates along with the incidence of ciguatera in the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve (SBR). Considering that effective climate change adaptation and mitigation decisions are based on relationships between science and society, involving a wide variety of analytical methods to evaluate associated risks and benefits, we propose to evaluate the potential effects of HABs, focusing on the economic value of their impacts on fishing and tourism. We propose an early warning system conceptual model, based on a monitoring program, as a strategy to contribute to the governance and the management effectiveness of the different institutions of the SBR.
Marine Ecosystem Services for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies in the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve: Coastal Protection and Fish Biodiversity Refuge at Caribbean Insular Territories
Authors: Prato Julián , Santos-Martínez Adriana , Cupul-Magaña Amílcar Leví , Castaño Diana , Pineda José Ernesto Mancera , Medina Jairo , Hudson Arnold , Mejía-Rentería Juan C. , Velásquez-Calderòn Carolina Sofia , Márquez Germán , Morales-de-Anda Diana , Wolff Matthias , Schuhmann Peter W.
Published: November 2024

Insular and coastal territories like those in the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve are exposed to strong winds, waves, storms, and hurricanes. In November 2020, Hurricanes Eta and Iota provided a costly reminder of the risks facing Seaflower’s people and ecosystems. Coral reefs and mangroves are natural shields, reducing wind and wave strength during normal and extreme conditions. These coastal protection ecosystem services (ES) are vital for human safety and well-being, and become more important given the heightened vulnerability of low-lying insular islands to climate change impacts. These ecosystems also provide biodiversity refuge ES for fishes and shellfish, key for food security and resilience to global challenges like hurricanes, sea level rise, and global warming. Despite their importance, these valuable ecosystems are threatened by anthropogenic pressures, jeopardizing the survival and well-being of islanders; their restoration and recovery require improved management and decision-making, and heightened societal awareness of our dependence on marine ecosystems and their potential as climate change adaptation solutions. We identify ES provided by coral reefs and mangroves, interdisciplinary management tools, and recommendations to motivate society and decision-makers to expand efforts for the protection, restoration, and use of these ecosystems as Nature-based Solutions for climate change adaptation and mitigation in Seaflower.
Coclosed $$G_2$$-structures on $$\text {SU}(2)^2$$-invariant cohomogeneity one manifolds
Authors: Alonso Izar
Published: November 2024

We consider two different

$$\text {SU}(2)^2$$

SU

(
2
)

2

-invariant cohomogeneity one manifolds, one non-compact

$$M=\mathbb {R}^4 \times S^3$$

M
=

R

4

×

S
3

and one compact

$$M=S^4 \times S^3$$

M
=

S
4

×

S
3

, and study the existence of coclosed

$$\text {SU}(2)^2$$

SU

(
2
)

2

-invariant

$$G_2$$

G
2

-structures constructed from half-flat

$$\text {SU}(3)$$

SU
(
3
)

-structures. For

$$\mathbb {R}^4 \times S^3$$

R

4

×

S
3

, we prove the existence of a family of coclosed (but not necessarily torsion-free)

$$G_2$$

G
2

-structures which is given by three smooth functions satisfying certain boundary conditions around the singular orbit and a non-zero parameter. Moreover, any coclosed

$$G_2$$

G
2

-structure constructed from a half-flat

$$\text {SU}(3)$$

SU
(
3
)

-structure is in this family. For

$$S^4 \times S^3$$

S
4

×

S
3

, we prove that there are no

$$\text {SU}(2)^2$$

SU

(
2
)

2

-invariant coclosed

$$G_2$$

G
2

-structures constructed from half-flat

$$\text {SU}(3)$$

SU
(
3
)

-structures.
A municipality-specific analysis to investigate persistent increased incidence rates of childhood leukaemia near the nuclear power plant of Krümmel in Germany
Authors: Gianicolo Emilio , Russo Antonello , Di Staso Rossana , Ronckers Cécile M. , Schmidtmann Irene , Wollschläger Daniel , Blettner Maria
Published: November 2024

Increased incidence rates for childhood leukaemia have been reported in municipalities close to the nuclear power plant (NPP) Krümmel (Geesthacht, Germany). Methodological challenges arise when analysing this association at ecological level. They include the use of an appropriate reference population, unstable estimates of standardised incidence ratios (SIRs), and the potential role of prevailing winds. The aim of our study is to address these challenges. The German Childhood Cancer Registry provided data on leukaemia in children under 15 years (2004–2019). The German Federal Statistical Office provided the population data. The study region included all municipalities with ≥ 75% surface area within 50 kms from the Krümmel NPP. We calculated SIRs using national and regional reference rates. Smoothed incidence relative rates (IRRs) were calculated and mapped to check for potential patterns associated with prevailing winds. Overall 356 cases of childhood leukaemia were observed in the study region (321 municipalities) during 2004–2019. SIRs based on national reference rates show nearly no difference to those calculated using the regional rates as reference. Increased SIR and IRR were observed in Geesthacht (observed-cases = eight; SIR = 2.29; 95% confidence interval: 0.99–4.51. IRR = 1.80; 95% credibility interval: 0.88–2.79). The analysis of the IRR map does not show patterns associated with prevailing winds. Using a regional population as the reference, we found evidence that there may still be an increased risk for childhood leukaemia in Geesthacht. However, IRR estimates are uncertain and credibility intervals are compatible with the absence of elevated risk. The persistent evidence of risk of childhood leukaemia in Geesthacht warrants further epidemiological surveillance.
Epigenetics of cardiomyopathies: the next frontier
Authors: Hajdarpašić Aida , Tukker Martijn , Rijdt Wouter te , Mohamedhoesein Sharida , Meijers Wouter C. , Caliskan Kadir
Published: November 2024

Cardiomyopathies (CMP) are a diverse group of myocardial diseases that cause structural, functional, and pathological changes to the heart. Alterations at the molecular level associated with the clinical phenotype and progression of CMPs cannot be solely explained by the genetic mutations, even in inherited cardiomyopathies. Epigenetics and environmental factors are likely to significantly modify the clinical manifestations of CMPs, resulting in variable clinical expression and different age-related penetrance. This review examines the role of dysfunctional DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodelling, and noncoding RNAs in the development and exacerbation of CMPs, highlighting their potential as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets, including the use of histone deacetylase inhibitors. Additionally, it explores how environmental exposures can influence epigenetic changes and potentially be used for preventive strategies and personalized care in CMP patients. Monozygotic twin studies and intergenerational studies are discussed as valuable tools for understanding the interplay between genetics, epigenetics, and environmental factors. Lastly, this review addresses current challenges and future perspectives, such as the need for greater specificity in epigenetic therapies, minimizing off-target effects, and investigating sex differences in CMP research and treatment.
Distribution and Human-Mediated Establishment of Crested Macaque (Macaca nigra) Populations in the North Moluccas, Indonesia
Authors: Neugebauer Elenora , Lestari Sagita Dini , Kaletuang Indra Ravel , Perwitasari-Farajallah Dyah , Widdig Anja
Published: November 2024

Over the course of human history, people have translocated plant and animal species, often with profound consequences. Understanding how endangered species adapt to human-mediated migration and novel environments is crucial to inform conservation strategies. The crested macaque (Macaca nigra), an endemic primate species of North Sulawesi (Indonesia), faces imminent extinction in its native range due to anthropogenic threats. While extensive research on this species has been conducted in the Duasudara Nature Reserve in North Sulawesi, critical knowledge gaps persist with regard to their distribution outside this protected area on Sulawesi and beyond. Previous studies report that crested macaques were introduced by humans to North Maluku ~200 hundred years ago. In 2023, we visited Bacan, Kasiruta, and southern Halmahera Island, conducting interviews, surveys, and direct observations of macaques to determine their presence or absence on these islands. We encountered wild crested macaques or their feces at 23 locations across these islands and pet macaques in 6 locations on Bacan. We confirm crested macaques on Bacan and also report them at Kasiruta and in the south of Halmahera, with results of our interviews suggesting that macaques might be present in North Maluku for ~500 years. We found no evidence of their presence on Mandioli. Additionally, we documented behavioral similarities, e.g., loud calls specific to male crested macaques. Our results extend the known distribution range of crested macaques by the islands of Kasiruta and Halmahera, shedding light on the potential for these populations to contribute to the survival of the species.
Inclusionary housing policy and practice in South African cities: planning as a spatial transformation tool
Authors: Madell Cecil
Published: November 2024

Globally, housing forms an integral part of accessing the wide range opportunities that cities offer, however, inequality can be exacerbated when significant segments of the inhabitants are excluded from the real estate market or through inaction by the state. The need for affordable housing in cities with hyper-property markets is of global concern for public sector authorities that are pursuing goals of socially just and economically inclusive cities. In the global south, inclusionary housing policies and associated practices have emerged as important tools to increase access for those excluded from the opportunities available in towns and cities. In South Africa, the post-1994 democratic state has continued with the apartheid era practice of providing subsidised housing for the majority urban residents on the outskirts of towns and cities, thereby further entrenching poverty traps and racially based separate developments. Contrary to practice, the state’s well-documented policy position is to reverse the legacy of apartheid through spatial transformation so that cities and towns become economically more inclusive and socially just. It is argued that this requires prioritising the provision of affordable housing in urban centres of towns and cities that offer meaningful working, residing, shopping, recreational and other social opportunities. Although inclusionary housing policy has emerged internationally as an important mechanism to spatially transform urban areas, this forms only one component of a wider range of other possible public interventions. These framework mechanisms could include broader housing development policies, legislation and programmes as well as the urban development policies, spatial planning and land use management practices and incentives. Other incentives that can be used as leverage include the use of publicly owned property (land and buildings), capital infrastructure and development incentives. The public sector can offer both direct and indirect financial assistance and tax incentives to support an inclusionary housing policy. Critically, this should be contingent on the public sector understanding the feasibility, risk and benefits associated with housing projects pursued by private sector real estate developers.
Windthrow disturbance impacts soil biogeochemistry and bacterial communities in a temperate forest
Authors: Waring Bonnie G. , Lancastle Lena , Bell Thomas , Bidartondo Martin I. , García-Díaz Pablo , Lambin Xavier , Vanguelova Elena , Windram Francis A.
Published: November 2024

Aims

Forests across the world are subject to disturbance via wind, wildfire, and pest and disease outbreaks. Yet we still have an incomplete understanding of how these stressors impact forest biota—particularly the soil microbes, which govern forest carbon and nutrient cycling.

Methods

Here, we investigated the impact of a severe windstorm on soil bacterial communities in Kielder Forest, a temperate coniferous forest in the north of England. Within ten individual sites, defined by common stand composition and topography, we established 50 m2 plots in undisturbed stands, and in nearby stands that were moderately and/or severely disturbed by windthrow. Soils were sampled within each of the 22 study plots, and analysed for changes in carbon and nitrogen content, pH, root biomass, and bacterial community structure. We separately sequenced bacteria from bulk soils, rhizosphere soils, and root tissues to assess whether disturbance impacts varied based on the proximity of microbiota to tree roots.

Results

Less than a year after the storm, we found that the most severely disturbed stands had lower canopy cover, lower soil carbon content, higher soil pH, and a smaller fine root biomass than the undisturbed stands. Disturbance also impacted bacterial community beta-diversity, but the effects were subtle and did not vary among assemblages in bulk vs. rhizosphere soils.

Conclusions

Impacts of aboveground disturbance on soil biogeochemistry can be significant, but soil bacterial communities are relatively well-buffered against these changes. However, altered patterns of root growth and carbon cycling may have longer-term implications for forest recovery after windthrow disturbances.
PDCF-DRL: a contention window backoff scheme based on deep reinforcement learning for differentiating access categories
Authors: Zuo Zhibin , Wang Demin , Nie Xiaowei , Pan Xiaoduo , Deng Miaolei , Ma Mimi
Published: November 2024

In wireless networks, the Contention Window (CW) is a crucial parameter for wireless channel sharing among numerous stations, directly influencing overall network performance. With the rapid growth and increasing diversity of traffic in wireless networks, differentiating and serving various types of traffic to enhance network performance has become a pressing issue that needs to be addressed. Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) optimizes decision-making through the interaction between an agent and its environment, enabling it to handle complex state spaces and high-dimensional data, making it particularly suitable for dynamically adjusting the contention window and adapting to environmental changes in real time. Access Category (AC) is used to differentiate various types of traffic to support different quality of service (QoS) requirements. Therefore, this paper proposes the integration of DRL techniques into the EDCA mechanism, utilizing AC to differentiate network traffic, while the DRL technology adjusts the contention window to adequately ensure QoS for different types of traffic and enhance overall network performance. This paper proposes a CW back off scheme based on DRL for differentiating ACs. The scheme uses DRL technology to observe the channel collision rate and sense the current network conditions, thereby adaptively adjusting the CW size for ACs. In addition, it dynamically adjusts the back off strategy according to the perceived current network conditions to optimize the data transmission process. In the range of 20–120 stations, the scheme was tested in both single AC and multiple AC traffic scenarios, demonstrating excellent performance. The collision rate consistently remained below 18%, while the normalized throughput was maintained above 76%. Additionally, there is a significant improvement compared to existing deep reinforcement learning-based optimization schemes. Experimental results show that this scheme effectively discriminates between different ACs, resulting in lower latency and higher throughput for high-priority traffic. Furthermore, adaptively adjusting the CW size and improving the back off strategy maintains a low collision rate and stable throughput even under heavy load conditions, significantly improving the overall network performance.
“One Certain Standard”: Colonial Currencies and the Politics of Economic Knowledge in Late Stuart Britain
Authors: Caden Mara
Published: November 2024

Chronic coin shortages plagued Ireland and Britain's American colonies throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Despite complaints, every proposal to mint money in early modern Britain's overseas Atlantic empire failed, whether in Ireland, the Caribbean, or North America. This article explains why. Although the rulers in the court and Parliament were sometimes enthusiastic about colonial mints, the Officers of the Royal Mint exercised enduring influence and managed to obstruct each of these projects. The evolution of the Mint officers’ advice into a maxim of monetary uniformity allowed the doctrine of “one certain standard” to survive the ensuing decades of upheaval as it shed its visible politics. While their advice grew out of the particular politics of the early Restoration, it gained special power and durability when it took on the character of technocratic expertise. Still, an investigation of the same actors’ treatment of a parallel issue—the rates of the foreign coins that circulated in colonies—reveals that an authoritarian style had an enduring hold on imperial monetary policy. This article offers an explanation for the British Empire's peculiar monetary geography, and also demonstrates the way that seemingly apolitical technical knowledge can disguise a potent politics.
A review on soft in-pipe navigation robot from the perspective of material, structure, locomotion strategy, and actuation technique
Authors: Anak Victor Luna Glady Amen , Mohd Asaari Mohd Shahrimie , Abu Seman Mohamad Tarmizi , Din Abdul Sattar
Published: November 2024

Pipelines are used in many sectors to transport materials such as fluid from one place to another. These pipelines require regular inspection and maintenance to ensure proper operations and to avoid accidents. Many in-pipe navigation robots have been developed to perform the inspection. Soft in-pipe navigation robot is a special class of in-pipe robot, where the structure is made entirely of soft materials. The soft in-pipe robots are cheaper, lightweight, robust, and more adaptable to the environment inside pipelines as compared to the traditional rigid in-pipe navigation robot. This paper reviews the design of different types of soft in-pipe navigation in terms of the material, structure, locomotion strategy, and actuation techniques. These four different aspects of the design help researchers to narrow down their research and explore different opportunities within each of the design aspects. This paper also offers suggestions on the direction of research to improve the current soft in-pipe navigation robot design.
IL-10RA governor the expression of IDO in the instruction of lymphocyte immunity
Authors: Tai Tzong-Shyuan , Hsu Duen-Wei , Yang Yu-Shao , Tsai Ching-Yen , Shi Jai-Wen , Wu Chien-Hui , Hsu Shu-Ching
Published: November 2024

Background

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) impairs anti-pathogen and anti-tumour immunity. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) modulate immunity via IDO but also suppress IFN-γ. While MSC IDO induction by IFN-γ is established, other drivers in this immunosuppressive setting remain unknown.

Methods

Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with IDO or IL-10RA knockdown were co-cultured with healthy donor T cells to assess immunosuppression. PDAC organoid anticancer activity was also tested in these co-cultures.

Results

Co-culturing MSCs with T cells in an IL-10RA-enriched environment enhances IDO expression, resulting in T cell suppression. Moreover, IL-10RA-positive MSCs collected from co-cultures with IL-10 supplementation show increased IDO expression. Conversely, MSCs with IL-10RA knockdown exhibit a significant reduction in IDO RNA and protein expression, as well as STAT3 phosphorylation status, which is a known upstream signalling pathway in IDO gene regulation, in T cell co-cultures. Down-regulation of IL-10RA also inhibits IDO activity in MSCs, resulting in reduced T cell suppression, and enabling the co-cultured T cells to kill PDAC organoids.

Conclusion

Our research reveals IL-10RA as a pharmacological target in stromal cells for enhancing T cell-mediated PDAC eradication by downregulating IDO via blocked IL-10/IL-10RA signalling in MSCs. This advances IL-10RA interference in the tumour microenvironment (TME) to restore T cell cytotoxicity against cancers.