bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modeling the fate of microplastics in the Sengkarang Estuary, Pekalongan City, Central Java, Indonesia
Authors: Tristanova Tanya , Ismanto Aris , Widiaratih Rikha , Zainuri Muhammad , Sugianto Denny Nugroho , Rochaddi Baskoro , Ismuniarti Dwi Haryo , Wulandari Sri Yulina , Hernawan Undang , Hadibarata Tony , Anindita Malya Asoka
Published: April 2024

Plastic‐containing waste generated from industrial and household activities is usually discharged into rivers. Pekalongan Regency has several rivers that flow into the Java Sea, one of which is the Sengkarang River. Microplastic is a serious pollutant that has prompted enhanced research and experimentation. This study aims to determine the concentration and distribution of microplastics in water and sediment at the mouth of the Sengkarang River, Pekalongan. A total of 10 water samples and five sediment samples were collected from the river body to the deep water area around the Sengkarang River. Modeling of microplastic distribution is made using hydrodynamic modeling and particle tracking models using two‐dimensional mathematical model. The results showed that the abundance of microplastics ranged from 131 to 360 particle/m3 in water samples and 552.5–972.5 particle/kg in sediment samples. The most common types of microplastics found were fibers and fragments. The greatest abundance and distribution of microplastics are found in coastal areas in water samples and mangrove areas in sediment samples. The distribution of microplastics is influenced by tidal currents, wind directions, and also river water discharge.
Congenital aural atresia in a 4‐month‐old Dalmatian
Authors: Dalla Fontana Maria , Anselmi Carlo , Williams John , Dempsey Lara
Published: April 2024

A 4‐month‐old female entire Dalmatian was presented for persistently excessive ceruminous discharge, suspected left aural malformation and decreased hearing. Otoscopic examination of the left ear showed a normal external meatus with an abnormal ending of the ear canal in a cul‐de‐sac. Computed tomography (CT) study of the head showed a diffusely tortuous and convoluted external ear canal with saccular distension and a stenotic area with the presence of a septum. Based on the clinical presentation and imaging findings, total ear canal ablation and lateral bulla osteotomy were performed. Macroscopically, the ear canal appeared to be sigmoid, as in the CT study. Notably, in the stenotic area, there was a membrane separating the vertical and horizontal ear canals. The histopathology of the external ear canal was consistent with that of hyperplastic otitis externa. No growth was observed on bacterial culture. The dog recovered uneventfully and no abnormalities were detected on re‐examination 2 weeks post‐surgery.
Trapped neutrophil syndrome in a young Border Collie dog: A new clinical presentation
Authors: Petitpre Arthur , Lamoureux Anaïs
Published: April 2024

An 11‐month‐old Border Collie dog presented with recurrent fever since the age of 3 months. Clinical examination revealed stunted growth, facial dysmorphism, fever, oral and third eyelid ulcerations and stiff gait with tarsal hyperlaxity. Clinicopathologic testing revealed neutropenia with normal neutrophil maturation in the bone marrow, ulcerative neutrophilic stomatitis and glossitis and a nonperforating duodenal ulcer. Genetic testing showed a mutation in the vacuolar protein sorting‐associated protein 13B gene, establishing a diagnosis of trapped neutrophil syndrome. Steroid therapy was not prescribed due to the presence of a duodenal ulcer. Two weeks later, antibiotics and omeprazole facilitated a mild clinical improvement with relapse; euthanasia was subsequently elected. This case highlights clinical signs not previously described in dogs but known in humans with Cohen syndrome, including buccal ulcerations or joint hyperlaxity. This is also the first description of this disease in France, where Border Collies are commonly bred.
Pancreas after kidney transplantation, is it the time to overcome the stigma?
Authors: Moein Mahmoudreza , Maloney Brendan , Baio Stephen , Bahreini Amin , Abedini Marjan , Abedini Mahsa , Saidi Reza F.
Published: April 2024

Background

Pancreas transplantation is the most effective treatment to improve quality of life and overcome complications in patients with end‐stage renal disease and diabetes mellitus. One of the main approaches for concurrent renal disease and diabetes mellitus which has been underutilized during the past decade is a pancreas transplant after kidney transplantation. Our study aimed to quantify outcomes following pancreas after kidney transplants (PAKs) in the United States from 2001 to 2020 with an emphasis on graft and patient survival.

Methods and Materials

A retrospective registry analysis was performed by accessing the OPTN/UNOS database for PAKs that were performed in the United States from January 2001 to April 2020. The study population was divided into two subgroups: patients receiving a pancreas transplant between 2001 and 2010 and those receiving a pancreas transplant between 2011 and 2020.

Results

The study examined a total number of 3706 PAK recipients; patients who received a PAK from January 2001 through December 2010 (n = 2892) and those who received a PAK from January 2011 to April 2020 (n = 814). The selection process of transplant recipients did not drastically change throughout the 2001–2010 and 2011–2020 periods. Length of stay at the hospital after the transplantation improved significantly in the 2011–2020 group relative to the 2001–2010 group (8.48 vs. 10.08 days, mean, p < 0.01). Additionally, more transplantation with 4–6 human leukocyte antigen mismatch occurred in the 2011–2020 group than in the 2001–2010 group (80.6% vs. 71.4%, p < 0.01). The pancreas preservation time of 13.35 h in the 2001–2010 group decreased significantly to 11.17 h in the 2011–2020 group (p < 0.001). The mean donor's amylase and lipase also decreased significantly in the 2011–2020 cohort. Significant graft survival improvement was observed in the 2011–2020 group compared to the 2001–2010 group after a long‐term follow‐up (p < 0.001). The mean Calculated Pancreas Donor Risk Index was 1.08 for the 2001–2010 group and 0.99 for the 2011–2020 group with a significant difference (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The beneficial results and improved outcomes observed in PAK patients demonstrate the effectiveness of the operation for individuals in need of a pancreas transplant. PAKs can prove to be a meaningful solution to overcome long waiting times, decrease the donor‐recipient imbalance, expand the donor pool, and overcome the current underutilization in order to improve the short‐ and long‐term quality of life in the groups of interest.
Engaged Research: Strengthening Research Teams Through Community Researchers
Authors: Schroeder Doris , Chatfield Kate , Chennells Roger , Partington Hazel , Kimani Joshua , Thomson Gillian , Odhiambo Joyce Adhiambo , Snyders Leana , Louw Collin
Published: April 2024

Engaged research, which strengthens research teams through community researchers, offers many opportunities and challenges. From better access to community members who are hard to reach, to the collection of more meaningful and authentic data, and greater trustworthiness of research findings, the benefits for research are manifold. However, research has also shown that community researchers might be overtly biased, only collect superficial data or lack the confidence to probe deeply enough, among other challenges. Simultaneously, the literature on community researchers is heavily biased towards high-income countries, and there is very little to be found on experiences from low-and middle-income countries that goes beyond assistance in obtaining informed consent. This chapter starts to close that gap by presenting a case study involving 12 community researchers from the South African San community. Collecting no personal data and obtaining all research input through community researchers shows that research led by vulnerable groups for vulnerable groups is possible. It is one way of ensuring that the San, and wider research communities, have access to research they can trust.
Local Production Networks of SMEs: The Future of Producing Locally?
Authors: Markert Julia Christina , Krenz Pascal
Published: April 2024

In the discussions of Fab Cities, “local production” and “urban production” are recurring topics. While one goal is bringing production back to the cities, there are already companies that have been producing there – sometimes for decades. These are typically micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) specialized in certain crafts or trades. In order to create products, such as furniture or even entire houses, they often have to collaborate so that multiple producers contribute their craft and expertise to an end product. Businesses typically have partners from other trades whom they regularly work with, but there is rarely a true network dynamic. Collaborating in a network could, however, provide significant advantages to producers and customers, especially when supported further by utilizing state-of-the-art information technologies to optimize network processes. However, due to a lack of resources SMEs in particular have been having a hard time adopting technologies introduced by Industry 4.0 and designed to enable more effective collaboration. Additionally, existing concepts for production networks of SMEs have not been as successful as anticipated. Therefore, this chapter aims to explore the challenges and potential of production networks of local SMEs as well as ways to support them.
Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) as Innovative Means to Supplement Transition Governance
Authors: Pawlowski Alex M.
Published: April 2024

The following contribution explains how a DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) can technologically supplement the governance process in complex environments, in this case urban environments where Fab City is active. DAOs are implementations of the blockchain technology which can be considered as coordination tools and de facto “decentralized ERP* (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems on the internet”. They can enable organizations and communities to address challenges that are otherwise too complex in a tangible, dynamic and sustainable manner which caters to the general need for transition governance. To facilitate collaboration and coordination, the idea of a DAO is to effectively capture the various rule sets, actor constellations and general conditions to address the four universal problems in organizing-task division, task allocation, reward distribution, and information flows. The following conceptualization aims to provide a practical solution alternative to supplement cooperation and coordination between various actors within the wider ecosystem using a DAO. The current state of blockchain and DAO research serves as a rich backdrop when exploring the given opportunity and shedding light on the most important requirements, risks, and success factors. Despite remaining challenges in particular the legal domain, the focus of this article is to showcase how a progressive path forward can lead to a setting in which DAOs can be successfully integrated and become an operational part of an urban environment.
Ort
Authors: Grüny Christian
Published: April 2024

Das Motiv des Ortes wurde im vorigen Kapitel als Weiterbestimmung des Materialbegriffs eingeführt. Dieser Kontext ist sehr spezifisch, denn Ort wurde hier als Hinweis auf die kritische Situierung jeglicher künstlerischen Arbeit in einem heterogenen Feld von Bezugnahmen und mehr oder weniger gradlinigen, Grenzen kreuzenden, umgeschriebenen, abbrechenden und neu ansetzenden Traditionslinien verstanden. Damit erscheint der Begriff des Ortes erst einmal als Metapher, die zwar nicht beliebig ist, deren Verhältnis zum realen Raum aber vorerst ungeklärt ist.
Where are the feeder channels for platinum reefs in the Bushveld Complex?
Authors: Latypov Rais , Chistyakova Sofya
Published: April 2024

The Bushveld Complex in South Africa hosts the lion’s share of the world’s noble metal resources in platinum reefs – thin layers of silicate/chromite rocks containing platinum-rich sulphides. The reefs are widely attributed to multiple replenishments by ore-forming magmas that have been entering the evolving Bushveld chamber through numerous feeder conduits. The replenishment events are marked by regional and local disconformities/unconformities, significant isotopic shifts, and notable reversals in the whole-rock and mineral compositions. Surprisingly, however, so far no single feeder conduit for platinum reefs has been found despite extensive surface and underground mining for over a century. Feeder conduits appear entirely absent from the Bushveld Complex. This paradox has long been known but has never been specifically addressed. Here, we suggest that the absence of feeder channels is a natural consequence of the magma chamber replenishment through a cumulate pile. The fossilization of the feeder channels in the cumulate pile is likely impeded by two principal factors: (a) a cumulate pile is too hot to enable efficient cooling and crystallization of magma flowing through the channels, and (b) the channels are closed by an adjacent elastically deformable pile immediately after cessation of the magma emplacement. The feeding dykes are thus absent because there is little chance for the conduits to get preserved in a hot and deformable cumulate pile of layered intrusions.
Child maltreatment and psycho-social impairments among child laborers in rural Bangladesh
Authors: Ahad Md Abdul , Parry Yvonne Karen , Willis Eileen , Ullah Shahid
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The current study focused on exploring the impact of maltreatment of child laborers on their psychosocial health condition from the views of their parents.

Methods

A total of 100 parents of child laborers were recruited using snowball sampling. The structured questionnaire comprised two validated scales including ISPCAN Child Abuse Screening Tool (ICAST-P), and Paediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) were used for the survey. Factor analysis and multivariable linear regression analysis were performed to examine the data using SPSS version 26, and Stata version 16.1.

Results

A three-factor model consisting of internalizing, externalizing, and attention associated psycho-social impairments of child laborers were derived from the 35-item scale of PSC tool and represented a good fit to the data. A mean estimate of maltreatment indicates that a majority of child laborers are maltreated psychologically, followed by physical maltreatment and neglect. The factor analysis resulted that maltreated child laborers are highly prone to exhibit internalized psycho-social difficulties, followed by externalized and attention-associated emotional and behavioral difficulties among child laborers. The regression model further depicts that child laborers, who had been physically and psychologically maltreated, are significantly more likely to be affected by internalized and attention-related psycho-social impairments.

Conclusions

The study concluded that victimized child laborers exhibited significant internalized, as well as attention-related problems. These findings may be useful for future studies that examine emotional and behavioral problems among maltreated child laborers and, therefore, for developing prevention strategies.
On undecidability of the propositional logic of an associative binary modality
Authors: Kaminski Michael
Published: April 2024

It is shown that both classical and intuitionistic propositional logics of an associative binary modality are undecidable. The proof is based on the deduction theorem for these logics.
The network of cardiac KIR2.1: its function, cellular regulation, electrical signaling, diseases and new drug avenues
Authors: Li Encan , van der Heyden Marcel A. G.
Published: April 2024

The functioning of the human heart relies on complex electrical and communication systems that coordinate cardiac contractions and sustain rhythmicity. One of the key players contributing to this intricate system is the KIR2.1 potassium ion channel, which is encoded by the KCNJ2 gene. KIR2.1 channels exhibit abundant expression in both ventricular myocytes and Purkinje fibers, exerting an important role in maintaining the balance of intracellular potassium ion levels within the heart. And by stabilizing the resting membrane potential and contributing to action potential repolarization, these channels have an important role in cardiac excitability also. Either gain- or loss-of-function mutations, but also acquired impairments of their function, are implicated in the pathogenesis of diverse types of cardiac arrhythmias. In this review, we aim to elucidate the system functions of KIR2.1 channels related to cellular electrical signaling, communication, and their contributions to cardiovascular disease. Based on this knowledge, we will discuss existing and new pharmacological avenues to modulate their function.
Conservation of a Chromosome 8 Inversion and Exon Mutations Confirm Common Gulonolactone Oxidase Gene Evolution Among Primates, Including H. Neanderthalensis
Authors: Mansueto Alexander , Good Deborah J.
Published: April 2024

Ascorbic acid functions as an antioxidant and facilitates other biochemical processes such as collagen triple helix formation, and iron uptake by cells. Animals which endogenously produce ascorbic acid have a functional gulonolactone oxidase gene (GULO); however, humans have a GULO pseudogene (GULOP) and depend on dietary ascorbic acid. In this study, the conservation of GULOP sequences in the primate haplorhini suborder were investigated and compared to the GULO sequences belonging to the primates strepsirrhini suborder. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the conserved GULOP exons in the haplorhini primates experienced a high rate of mutations following the haplorhini/strepsirrhini divergence. This high mutation rate has decreased during the evolution of the haplorhini primates. Additionally, indels of the haplorhini GULOP sequences were conserved across the suborder. A separate analysis for GULO sequences and well-conserved GULOP sequences focusing on placental mammals identified an in-frame GULO sequence in the Brazilian guinea pig, and a potential GULOP sequence in the pika. Similar to haplorhini primates, the guinea pig and lagomorph species have experienced a high substitution rate when compared to the mammals used in this study. A shared synteny to examine the conservation of local genes near GULO/GULOP identified a conserved inversion around the GULO/GULOP locus between the haplorhini and strepsirrhini primates. Fischer’s exact test did not support an association between GULOP and the chromosomal inversion. Mauve alignment showed that the inversion of the length of the syntenic block that the GULO/GULOP genes belonged to was variable. However, there were frequent rearrangements around ~ 2 million base pairs adjacent to GULOP involving the KIF13B and MSRA genes. These data may suggest that genes acquiring deleterious mutations in the coding sequence may respond to these deleterious mutations with rapid substitution rates.
Influence of Gadoxetate disodium to the hepatic proton density fat fraction quantified with the Dixon sequences in a rabbit model
Authors: Wang Xia , Zhang Sheng , Huang Zhe , Tian Gang , Liu Xiaofan , Chen Lijun , An Liang , Li Xumiao , Liu Ningna , Ji Yang , Han Yuedong
Published: April 2024

Objective

To study the impact of Gx on quantification of hepatic fat contents under metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) imaged on VIBE Dixon in hepatobiliary specific phase.

Methods

Forty-two rabbits were randomly divided into control group (n = 10) and high-fat diet group (n = 32). Imaging was performed before enhancement (Pre-Gx) and at the 13th (Post-Gx13) and 17th (Post-Gx17) min after Gx enhancement with 2E- and 6E-VIBE Dixon to determine hepatic proton density fat fractions (PDFF). PDFFs were compared with vacuole percentage (VP) measured under histopathology.

Results

33 animals were evaluated and including control group (n = 11) and MASLD group (n = 22). Pre-Gx, Post-Gx13, Post-Gx17 PDFFs under 6E-VIBE Dixon had strong correlations with VPs (r2 = 0.8208—0.8536). PDFFs under 2E-VIBE Dixon were reduced significantly (P < 0.001) after enhancement (r2 = 0.7991/0.8014) compared with that before enhancement (r2 = 0.7643). There was no significant difference between PDFFs of Post-Gx13 and Post-Gx17 (P = 0.123) for which the highest consistency being found with 6E-VIBE Dixon before enhancement (r2 = 0.8536). The signal intensity of the precontrast compared with the postcontrast, water image under 2E-VIBE Dixon increased significantly (P < 0.001), fat image showed no significant difference (P = 0.754).

Conclusion

2E- and 6E-VIBE Dixon can obtain accurate PDFFs in the hepatobiliary specific phase from 13 to 17th min after Gx enhancement. On 2E-VIBE Dixon (FA = 10°), effective minimization of T1 Bias by the Gx administration markedly improved the accuracy of the hepatic PDFF quantification.

Graphical abstract
Mapping almond stem water potential using machine learning and multispectral imagery
Authors: Savchik Peter , Nocco Mallika , Kisekka Isaya
Published: April 2024

Almonds are a major crop in California which produces 80% of all the world’s almonds. Widespread drought and strict groundwater regulations pose significant challenges to growers. Irrigation regimes based on observed crop water status can help to optimize water use efficiency, but consistent and accurate measurement of water status can prove challenging. In almonds, crop water status is best represented by midday stem water potential measured using a pressure chamber, which despite its accuracy is impractical for growers to measure on a regular basis. This study aimed to use machine learning (ML) models to predict stem water potential in an almond orchard based on canopy spectral reflectance, soil moisture, and daily evapotranspiration. Both artificial neural network and random forest models were trained and used to produce high-resolution spatial maps of stem water potential covering the entire orchard. Also, for each ML model type, one model was trained to predict raw stem water potential values, while another was trained to predict baseline-adjusted values. Together, all models resulted in an average coefficient of correlation of R2 = 0.73 and an average root mean squared error (RMSE) of 2.5 bars. Prediction accuracy decreased significantly when models were expanded to spatial maps (R2 = 0.33, RMSE = 3.31 [avg]). These results indicate that both artificial neural networks and random forest frameworks can be used to predict stem water potential, but both approaches were unable to fully account for the spatial variability observed throughout the orchard. Overall, the most accurate maps were produced by the random forest model (raw stem water potential R2 = 0.47, RMSE = 2.71). The ability to predict stem water potential spatially can aid in the implementation of variable rate irrigation. Future studies should attempt to train similar models with larger datasets and develop a simpler faster workflow for producing stress predictions from field measurements.
Travel time after photobleaching velocimetry
Authors: Wang Audrey J. , Deng Jianyu , Westbury David , Downey Austin R. J. , Wang Yi , Wang Guiren
Published: April 2024

In interfacial science and microfluidics, there is an increasing need for improving the ability to measure flow velocity profiles in the sub-micrometer range to better understand transport phenomena at interfaces, such as liquid–solid interfaces. Current standard methods of velocimetry typically use particles as tracers. However, seed particles can encounter issues at liquid and solid interfaces, where charge interactions between particles and surfaces can limit their ability to measure near-wall flows accurately. Furthermore, in many flows, seed particles have a different velocity from that of their surrounding fluid, which the particles are intended to represent. Several molecular tracer-based velocimeters have been developed which can bypass these issues. However, they either have limited resolution for measurement near solid surfaces, such as for slip flows, or require pre-calibration. Laser-induced fluorescence photobleaching anemometry (LIFPA) is one such technique that is noninvasive and has achieved unprecedented nanoscopic resolution for flow velocity profile measurement. However, it also requires pre-calibration, which is unavailable for unknown flows. Here, we present a novel, calibration-free technique called travel time after photobleaching (TTAP) velocimetry, which can measure flow velocity profiles and near-wall flow with high spatiotemporal resolution. Furthermore, TTAP velocimetry is compatible with LIFPA, and thus, the two systems can be coupled to satisfy LIFPA’s long-anticipated need for pre-calibration, enabling measurement of flow velocity profiles in unknown flows with salient resolution.
Targeting cardiomyocyte cell cycle regulation in heart failure
Authors: Zhu Chaonan , Yuan Ting , Krishnan Jaya
Published: April 2024

Heart failure continues to be a significant global health concern, causing substantial morbidity and mortality. The limited ability of the adult heart to regenerate has posed challenges in finding effective treatments for cardiac pathologies. While various medications and surgical interventions have been used to improve cardiac function, they are not able to address the extensive loss of functioning cardiomyocytes that occurs during cardiac injury. As a result, there is growing interest in understanding how the cell cycle is regulated and exploring the potential for stimulating cardiomyocyte proliferation as a means of promoting heart regeneration. This review aims to provide an overview of current knowledge on cell cycle regulation and mechanisms underlying cardiomyocyte proliferation in cases of heart failure, while also highlighting established and novel therapeutic strategies targeting this area for treatment purposes.
Increasing tree cover and high-albedo surfaces reduces heat-related ER visits in Los Angeles, CA
Authors: Sheridan Scott , de Guzman Edith B. , Eisenman David P. , Sailor David J. , Parfrey Jonathan , Kalkstein Laurence S.
Published: April 2024

There is an urgent need for strategies to reduce the negative impacts of a warming climate on human health. Cooling urban neighborhoods by planting trees and vegetation and increasing albedo of roofs, pavements, and walls can mitigate urban heat. We used synoptic climatology to examine how different tree cover and albedo scenarios would affect heat-related morbidity in Los Angeles, CA, USA, as measured by emergency room (ER) visits. We classified daily meteorological data for historical summer heat events into discrete air mass types. We analyzed those classifications against historical ER visit data to determine both heat-related and excess morbidity. We used the Weather Research and Forecasting model to examine the impacts of varied tree cover and albedo scenarios on meteorological outcomes and used these results with standardized morbidity data algorithms to estimate potential reductions in ER visits. We tested three urban modification scenarios of low, medium, and high increases of tree cover and albedo and compared these against baseline conditions. We found that avoiding 25% to 50% of ER visits during heat events would be a common outcome if the urban environment had more tree cover and higher albedo, with the greatest benefits occurring under heat events that are moderate and those that are particularly hot and dry. We conducted these analyses at the county level and compared results to a heat-vulnerable, working-class Los Angeles community with a high concentration of people of color, and found that reductions in the rate of ER visits would be even greater at the community level compared to the county.
Application of Sentinel-1 InSAR to monitor tailings dams and predict geotechnical instability: practical considerations based on case study insights
Authors: Rana Nahyan M. , Delaney Keith B. , Evans Stephen G. , Deane Evan , Small Andy , Adria Daniel A. M. , McDougall Scott , Ghahramani Negar , Take W. Andy
Published: April 2024

Tailings storage facilities (TSFs) impound mining waste behind dams to ensure public safety, but failure incidents have prompted calls for more robust monitoring programs. Satellite-based interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) has grown in popularity due to its ability to remotely detect millimeter-scale displacements in most urban and some natural terrains. However, there remains a limited understanding of whether InSAR can be as accurate or representative as on-the-ground instruments, whether failures can be predicted in advance using InSAR, and what variables govern the quality and reliability of InSAR results. To address these gaps, we analyze open-source, medium-resolution Sentinel-1 data to undertake a ground-truth assessment at a test site and a forensic analysis of five failure cases. We use a commercial software with an automated Persistent Scatterer (PS) workflow (SARScape Analytics) for all case study sites except one and a proprietary algorithm (SqueeSAR) with a dual PS and Distributed Scatterer (DS) algorithm for the ground-truth site and one forensic case. The main goal is to deliver practical insights regarding the influence of algorithm/satellite selection, environmental conditions, site activity, coherence thresholds, satellite-dam geometry, and failure modes. We conclude that Sentinel-1 InSAR can serve as a hazard-screening tool to help guide where to undertake targeted investigations; however, most potential failure modes may not exhibit InSAR-detectable accelerations that could assist with time-of-failure prediction in real time. As such, long-term monitoring programs should ideally be integrated with a combination of remote sensing and field instrumentation to best support engineering practice and judgment.
Changes in movement patterns in relation to sun conditions and spatial scales in wild western gorillas
Authors: Robira B. , Benhamou S. , Obeki Bayanga E. , Breuer T. , Masi S.
Published: April 2024

For most primates living in tropical forests, food resources occur in patchworks of different habitats that vary seasonally in quality and quantity. Efficient navigation (i.e., spatial memory-based orientation) towards profitable food patches should enhance their foraging success. The mechanisms underpinning primate navigating ability remain nonetheless mostly unknown. Using GPS long-term tracking (596 days) of one group of wild western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), we investigated their ability to navigate at long distances, and tested for how the sun was used to navigate at any scale by improving landmark visibility and/or by acting as a compass. Long episodic movements ending at a distant swamp, a unique place in the home range where gorillas could find mineral-rich aquatic plants, were straighter and faster than their everyday foraging movements relying on spatial memory. This suggests intentional targeting of the swamp based on long-distance navigation skills, which can thus be efficient over a couple of kilometres. Interestingly, for both long-distance movements towards the swamp and everyday foraging movements, gorillas moved straighter under sunlight conditions even under a dense vegetation cover. By contrast, movement straightness was not markedly different when the sun elevation was low (the sun azimuth then being potentially usable as a compass) or high (so providing no directional information) and the sky was clear or overcast. This suggests that gorillas navigate their home range by relying on visual place recognition but do not use the sun azimuth as a compass. Like humans, who rely heavily on vision to navigate, gorillas should benefit from better lighting to help them identify landmarks as they move through shady forests. This study uncovers a neglected aspect of primate navigation. Spatial memory and vision might have played an important role in the evolutionary success of diurnal primate lineages.
Optimal surgical approach for mid-transverse colon cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Elkomos Beshoy Effat , Alkomos Philopateer Effat , Alkomos Mina Fransawy , Ahmed Sameh , Baqar Safa Owhida , Bhatti Muhammad Faran Raza , Junaid Rao , Hassan Muddasir , Mazhar Muhammad , Hanna Joseph , Ebeidallah Guirgis Boushra , Ali Ayman Hossam eldin Abd el monaem
Published: April 2024

Background and aim

The incidence of cancer colon has increased dramatically. In addition, the database lacks a review to analyze the outcomes of surgeries for mid-transverse colon cancer with several recent controversial studies. We aimed to compare the outcomes of extended hemicolectomy versus transverse colectomy for mid-transverse colon cancer.

Method

PubMed, Scopes, Web of Science and Cochrane Library were searched for eligible studies from inception to 1 December 2022 and a systematic review and meta-analysis were done to detect.

Results

According to eligibility criteria, 8 studies (2237 patients) were included in our study. The pooled results of the included studies showed no difference in the 5-year OS, 3-year DFS and 5-year DFS between the two types of surgery (5-year OS, RR = 1.15, 95% CI 0.94–1.39, P = 0.17), (3-year OS, RR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.88–1.06, P = 0.42) and (5-year DFS, RR = 1.21, 95% CI 0.91–1.62, P = 0.20). In addition to that, the recurrence rate and the incidence of complications were similar in the two groups (Recurrence rate, RR = 1.08, 95% CI 0.62–1.89, P = 0.79) and (Complications, RR = 1.07, 95% CI 0.74–1.54, P = 0.72). However, the number of LN harvest and the time of the operation were more in case of extended hemicolectomy.

Conclusion

Despite harvesting less LN, transverse colectomy has similar oncological outcomes to extended hemicolectomy for mid-transverse colon cancer. In addition to that, there was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two surgeries.
Opening the black box of student government in authoritarian contexts: institutional work and intra-organisational conflicts in the Students’ Guild at Makerere University, Uganda
Authors: Felde Andrea Kronstad
Published: April 2024

Student governments are important actors in higher education governance and also in more general political processes, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Most of the research on student governments has thus far focused on the relations with higher education authorities and political parties, often without investigating their internal dynamics, thus risking of conceiving them as more homogeneous than they are likely to be. Analysing the internal dynamics of student governments is necessary to understand why student leaders, on behalf of their representative organisations, act and position themselves the way they do externally. This case study of the Students’ Guild at Makerere University addresses this knowledge gap by uncovering and analysing internal conflicts of student governments, contributing with new empirical and theoretical insights on students’ institutional behaviour and institutional ambiguity, in the context of authoritarian African states. While internal conflict is expected in any student government, this is anticipated to be even more the case in a conflictual context where there are strong links between students and national authorities. The approach is, in theoretical terms, based on the institutional work perspective and relies on extensive fieldwork at Makerere University. I find that the student government is far more conflictual and heterogenous than previous literature suggests. Rather than comprising representatives who act unitarily, it is characterised by intra-organisational conflicts due to competing institutional work, which reflects representatives’ multiple, diverse and divergent interests and institutional goals.
Safranal exerts a neuroprotective effect on Parkinson’s disease with suppression of NLRP3 inflammation activation
Authors: Yang Wenping , Wei Yongyue , Sun Jin , Yao Caixia , Ai Fen , Ding Haixia
Published: April 2024

Background

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common central nervous system neurodegenerative disease. Neuroinflammation is one of the significant neuropathological hallmarks. As a traditional Chinese medicine, Safranal exerts anti-inflammatory effects in various diseases, however, whether it plays a similar effect on PD is still unclear. The study was to investigate the effects and mechanism of Safranal on PD.

Methods

The PD mouse model was established by 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine MPTP firstly. Next, the degree of muscle stiffness, neuromuscular function, motor retardation and motor coordination ability were examined by observing and testing mouse movement behavior. Immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). The dopamine (DA) content of the striatum was detected by High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The expression of TH and NLRP3 inflammasome-related markers NLRP3, IL-1β, and Capase-1 were detected by Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting (WB) respectively.

Results

Through behavioral testing, Parkinson’s mouse showed a higher muscle stiffness and neuromuscular tension, a more motor retardation and activity disorders, together with a worse motor coordination compared with sham group. Simultaneously, DA content and TH expression in the striatum were decreased. However, after using Safranal treatment, the above pathological symptoms of Parkinson’s mouse all improved compared with Safranal untreated group, the DA content and TH expression were also increased to varying degrees. Surprisingly, it observed a suppression of NLRP3 inflammation in the striatum of Parkinson’s mouse.

Conclusions

Safranal played a neuroprotective effect on the Parkinson’s disease and its mechanism was related to the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation.
Validation of a modified QuEChERS method for the quantification of residues of currently used pesticides in Cuban agricultural soils, using gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Peña Brizeidi , Sosa Dayana , Hilber Isabel , Escobar Arturo , Bucheli Thomas Daniel
Published: April 2024

We present an analytical method to detect and quantify residues of currently used pesticides (CUPs), which include 31 active ingredients (ai) and seven transformation products (TPs) in tropical and agricultural soils of Cuba. Ten isotopically labeled analogous compounds served as internal standards (IL-IS). The novelty of this research is the inclusion of different tropical soils type scarcely studied for CUPs and TPs, based on the QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) method, followed by chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. All figures of merit proved to be satisfactory according to SANTE guidelines 2020 and 2021. Matrix effects (ME) calculated by the external standard method were significant (|ME| > 20% for almost all compounds; grand mean ± standard deviation (STD) 104 ± 108%) in all soils. The internal standard method compensated ME to non-significant levels (8 ± 50%), even for analytes with a non-structure identical IL-IS (STD, 13 ± 57%). Repeatability (relative standard deviation, RSDr) and reproducibility (RSDR) for skeletic regosol (SR) were 7.5 ± 2.8% and 11.7 ± 4.7%, respectively. Absolute (quantified for 11 analytes with structure identical IL-IS) and relative recovery from SR was 92 ± 13% (mean ± STD) and 90 ± 12%, respectively. Limits of quantification for SR ranged from 0.1 to 10 ng/g, except metalaxyl and oxyfluorfen (25 ng/g each). Linearity of matrix-matched (MM) calibration curves (5 to 100 ng/g) had an R2 of ≥ 0.99 for all soils and almost all analytes. The method was successfully applied to 30 real soil samples.
Almansi-Type Decomposition for Slice Regular Functions of Several Quaternionic Variables
Authors: Binosi Giulio
Published: April 2024

In this paper we propose an Almansi-type decomposition for slice regular functions of several quaternionic variables. Our method yields

$$2^n$$

2
n

distinct and unique decompositions for any slice function with domain in

$$\mathbb {H}^n$$

H

n

. Depending on the choice of the decomposition, every component is given explicitly, uniquely determined and exhibits desirable properties, such as harmonicity and circularity in the selected variables. As consequences of these decompositions, we give another proof of Fueter’s Theorem in

$$\mathbb {H}^n$$

H

n

, establish the biharmonicity of slice regular functions in every variable and derive mean value and Poisson formulas for them.
Teachers’ professional development for inclusion of experimental mathematics and interactive resources in the classroom
Authors: Naftaliev Elena , Barabash Marita
Published: April 2024

Information technology enhances the nature of mathematics as an empirical discipline, leading to an approach called “experimental mathematics” (EM). It fosters the use of technology-based interactive resources (IRs) in mathematics education, giving mathematics an experimental dimension and reflecting a tension between the empirical-inductive nature of IRs and formal mathematics (FM). Our qualitative research focused on professional development (PD) for IR-based teaching of EM intertwined with FM based on a threefold theoretical framework that combines the mathematical knowledge required by EM, the pedagogical functionality of IRs, and instrumental orchestration. The research analyzed 14 high school teachers’ documents generated in the course of a PD program, revealing the evolution of their orientation. We argue that teachers’ evolving orientation toward IR-based EM inclusion in school mathematics is the result of meticulous dynamic PD design implementing three key aspects framed by the threefold theoretical framework: teachers playing various roles during the PD, teacher-researcher collaboration, and theoretical support. The beginning of the evolution of the teachers’ orientation toward IR-based EM inclusion in school mathematics was made possible by a design grounded in the above theoretical framework and observed through its lens.
Coordination of Controllers to Development of Wide-Area Control System for Damping Low-Frequency Oscillations Incorporating Large Renewable and Communication Delay
Authors: Barnawi Abdulwasa Bakr
Published: April 2024

The modern power systems incorporate high penetration of renewable is a large, composite, interconnected network with dynamic behavior. The small disturbances occurring in the system may induce low-frequency oscillations (LFOs) in the system. If the (LFOs) are not suppressed within a stipulated time, it may cause system islanding or even blackouts. Hence, it is essential to investigate the behavior of the system under various levels of disturbances and control action must be taken to damp these oscillations. The established approach to damping the LFOs is by installing power system stabilizers (PSS). PSS uses the local signals from generators to control the oscillations. The dominant source of inter-area oscillations in power systems is due to overloaded weak interconnected lines, converter-interfaced generation, and the action of the high gain exciter present in the system. Consequently, wide area control is needed to control the inter-area oscillations existent in the system. This paper developed a coordinated design of conventional PSS, static compensator, renewable converters, and wide area controller for damping the local and inter-area oscillations in renewable incorporated power systems. The performance of the developed controller is evaluated through the time domain analysis and eigenvalue analysis. A comparison of the introduced controller has been done with other standard conventional methods. The choice of input signals for the wide area controller from the wide-area measurement system is done based on the controllability index. Additionally, the location of the controller must be identified to dampen the inter-area oscillations in the system. In this paper, the controllability index is calculated to find out the highly affected wide area signals for considering it as the feedback signal to a developed controller. The location of the controller is recognized by computing the participation factor. The developed controller has experimented on renewable incorporated large study power systems when time delay and noise are present in wide area signals.
Diffusion approximation of critical controlled multi-type branching processes
Authors: Barczy Mátyás , González Miguel , Martín-Chávez Pedro , del Puerto Inés
Published: April 2024

Branching processes form an important family of stochastic processes that have been successfully applied in many fields. In this paper, we focus our attention on controlled multi-type branching processes (CMBPs). A Feller-type diffusion approximation is derived for some critical CMBPs. Namely, we consider a sequence of appropriately scaled random step functions formed from a critical CMBP with control distributions having expectations that satisfy a kind of linearity assumption. It is proved that such a sequence converges weakly toward a squared Bessel process supported by a ray determined by an eigenvector of a matrix related to the offspring mean matrix and the control distributions of the branching process in question. As applications, among others, we derive Feller-type diffusion approximations of critical, primitive multi-type branching processes with immigration and some two-sex branching processes. We also describe the asymptotic behaviour of the relative frequencies of distinct types of individuals for critical CMBPs.
Bedarf für eine School Nurse
Authors: Schlunegger Margarithe Charlotte , Klopfstein Ursula , Siegenthaler Tanja , Berni Seraina , Käser Estelle , Golz Christoph
Published: April 2024

Hintergrund

Zunehmende gesundheitliche Herausforderungen bei Schüler*innen bringen Schulen an ihre Grenzen. Es sind neue Versorgungsmodelle in Schulen angezeigt, die einen niederschwelligen Zugang zu Gesundheitsleistungen für Schüler*innen gewährleisten, Lehrpersonen entlasten und Eltern unterstützen. Eine School Nurse hat das Potenzial, Lücken in der Versorgung von Schüler*innen zu schließen.

Ziel

Ziel war, den Bedarf und die Erwartungen an eine School Nurse zu erfassen.

Methode

Es wurde eine qualitative Studie durchgeführt. Die Datensammlung erfolgte von September 2022 bis Februar 2023. Wir haben 35 Einzelinterviews mit Schüler*innen, Eltern, Lehrpersonen, Schulleitungen, Schulsozialarbeiter*innen, Pädiater*innen, schulärztlichem Dienst und Gemeinderät*innen von 2 außerstädtischen Schulen in der Schweiz geführt. Die qualitativen Daten wurden mittels induktiver thematischer Analyse von Braun und Clarke analysiert.

Ergebnisse

Aus den Interviews mit allen Teilnehmenden ging mehrheitlich hervor, dass ein Bedarf für eine School Nurse vorhanden war. Wir identifizierten 4 übergeordnete Themen: (1) Entlastung durch niederschwelliges Angebot; (2) Ansprechperson für Gesundheit (Information und Beratung); (3) Versorgung von Unfällen; (4) Versorgung von chronisch kranken Kindern. Die Fachpersonen in der Schule erwähnten zusätzlichen Bedarf, wie Verantwortung abgeben können, Handlungsbedarf bei psychischer Gesundheit, Integration von Gesundheitsförderung und Sicherheit. Jedoch wurde geäußert, dass die Aufgabenbereiche, die Schnittstellen-Kommunikation und die interprofessionelle Zusammenarbeit geklärt werden müssen. Als mögliches Hindernis bei einer Implementierung wurde die Finanzierung genannt.

Schlussfolgerung

Es besteht sowohl bei Schüler*innen, Eltern als auch bei Fachpersonen in der Schule ein Bedarf in Bezug auf die Gesundheitsversorgung. Damit eine genügende Auslastung der School Nurse gewährleistet ist, sollte der Dienst mobil bei mehreren Schulen aufgebaut werden und vorwiegend in Agglomerationen oder ländlichen Gebieten vorhanden sein. Die Finanzierung ist nicht abschließend geklärt. Die interprofessionelle Erarbeitung eines klaren Stellenprofils ist erforderlich, damit eine Grundlage für die zukünftige Zusammenarbeit vorliegt.