bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crowdfunding platforms as conduits for ideological struggle and extremism: On the need for greater regulation and digital constitutionalism
Authors: Wade Matthew , Baker Stephanie A. , Walsh Michael J.
Published: September 2023

Crowdfunding platforms remain understudied as conduits for ideological struggle. While other social media platforms may enable the expression of hateful and harmful ideas, crowdfunding can actively facilitate their enaction through financial support. In addressing such risks, crowdfunding platforms attempt to mitigate complicity but retain legitimacy. That is, ensuring their fundraising tools are not exploited for intolerant, violent or hate‐based purposes, yet simultaneously avoiding restrictive policies that undermine their legitimacy as ‘open’ platforms. Although social media platforms are routinely scrutinized for enabling misinformation, hateful rhetoric and extremism, crowdfunding has largely escaped critical inquiry, despite being repeatedly implicated in amplifying such threats. Drawing on the ‘Freedom Convoy’ movement as a case study, this article employs critical discourse analysis to trace how crowdfunding platforms reveal their underlying values in privileging either collective safety or personal liberty when hosting divisive causes. The radically different policy decisions adopted by crowdfunding platforms GoFundMe and GiveSendGo expose a concerning divide between ‘Big Tech’ and ‘Alt‐Tech’ platforms regarding what harms they are willing to risk, and the ideological rationales through which these determinations are made. There remain relatively few regulatory safeguards guiding such impactful strategic choices, leaving crowdfunding platforms susceptible to weaponization. With Alt‐Tech platforms aspiring to build an ‘alternative internet’, this paper highlights the urgent need to explore digital constitutionalism in the crowdfunding space, establishing firmer boundaries to better mitigate fundraising platforms becoming complicit in catastrophic harms.
Developing a national implementation strategy to accelerate uptake of evidence‐based family caregiver support in U.S. cancer centers
Authors: Odom J. Nicholas , Young Heather M. , Sterba Katherine , Sannes Timothy S. , Reinhard Susan , Nightingale Chandylen L. , Meier Diane , Gray Tamryn F. , Ferrell Betty , Fernandez Maria E. , Donovan Heidi , Curry Kayleigh , Currie Erin R. , Bryant Tara , Bakitas Marie A. , Applebaum Allison J.
Published: September 2023

Objective

Characterize key factors and training needs of U.S. cancer centers in implementing family caregiver support services.

Methods

Sequential explanatory mixed methods design consisting of: (1) a national survey of clinicians and administrators from Commission‐on‐Cancer‐accredited cancer centers (N = 238) on factors and training needed for establishing new caregiver programs and (2) qualitative interviews with a subsample of survey respondents (N = 30) to elicit feedback on survey findings and the outline of an implementation strategy to facilitate implementation of evidence‐based family caregiver support (the Caregiver Support Accelerator). Survey data was tabulated using descriptive statistics and transcribed interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results

Top factors for developing new caregiver programs were that the program be: consistent with the cancer center's mission and strategic plan (87%), supported by clinic leadership (86.5%) and providers and staff (85.7%), and low cost or cost effective (84.9%). Top training needs were how to: train staff to implement programs (72.3%), obtain program materials (63.0%), and evaluate program outcomes (62.6%). Only 3.8% reported that no training was needed. Qualitative interviews yielded four main themes: (1) gaining leadership, clinician, and staff buy‐in and support is essential; (2) cost and clinician burden are major factors to program implementation; (3) training should help with adapting and marketing programs to local context and culture; and (4) the Accelerator strategy is comprehensive and would benefit from key organizational partnerships and policy standards.

Conclusion

Findings will be used to inform and refine the Accelerator implementation strategy to facilitate the adoption and growth of evidence‐based cancer caregiver support in U.S. cancer centers.
The variable domain from dynamin‐related protein 1 promotes liquid–liquid phase separation that enhances its interaction with cardiolipin‐containing membranes
Authors: Posey Ammon E. , Ross Kyle A. , Bagheri Mehran , Lanum Elizabeth N. , Khan Misha A. , Jennings Christine E. , Harwig Megan C. , Kennedy Nolan W. , Hilser Vincent J. , Harden James L. , Hill R. Blake
Published: September 2023

Dynamins are an essential superfamily of mechanoenzymes that remodel membranes and often contain a “variable domain” important for regulation. For the mitochondrial fission dynamin, dynamin‐related protein 1, a regulatory role for the variable domain (VD) is demonstrated by gain‐ and loss‐of‐function mutations, yet the basis for this is unclear. Here, the isolated VD is shown to be intrinsically disordered and undergo a cooperative transition in the stabilizing osmolyte trimethylamine N‐oxide. However, the osmolyte‐induced state is not folded and surprisingly appears as a condensed state. Other co‐solutes including known molecular crowder Ficoll PM 70, also induce a condensed state. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching experiments reveal this state to be liquid‐like indicating the VD undergoes a liquid–liquid phase separation under crowding conditions. These crowding conditions also enhance binding to cardiolipin, a mitochondrial lipid, which appears to promote phase separation. Since dynamin‐related protein 1 is found assembled into discrete punctate structures on the mitochondrial surface, the inference from the present work is that these structures might arise from a condensed state involving the VD that may enable rapid tuning of mechanoenzyme assembly necessary for fission.
Atomistic molecular simulations of Aβ‐Zn conformational ensembles
Authors: Aduriz‐Arrizabalaga Julen , Lopez Xabier , De Sancho David
Published: September 2023

The amyloid‐forming Aβ peptide is able to interact with metal cations to form very stable complexes that influence fibril formation and contribute to the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Multiple structures of peptides derived from Aβ in complex with different metals have been resolved experimentally to provide an atomic‐level description of the metal‐protein interactions. However, Aβ is intrinsically disordered, and hence more amenable to an ensemble description. Molecular dynamics simulations can now reach the timescales needed to generate ensembles for these type of complexes. However, this requires accurate force fields both for the protein and the protein‐metal interactions. Here we use state‐of‐the‐art methods to generate force field parameters for the Zn(II) cations in a set of complexes formed by different Aβ variants and combine them with the Amber99SB*‐ILDN optimized force field. Upon comparison of NMR experiments with the simulation results, further optimized with a Bayesian/Maximum entropy approach, we provide an accurate description of the molecular ensembles for most Aβ‐metal complexes. We find that the resulting conformational ensembles are more heterogeneous than the NMR models deposited in the Protein Data Bank.
Tertiary structure assessment at CASP15
Authors: Simpkin Adam J. , Mesdaghi Shahram , Sánchez Rodríguez Filomeno , Elliott Luc , Murphy David L. , Kryshtafovych Andriy , Keegan Ronan M. , Rigden Daniel J.
Published: September 2023

The results of tertiary structure assessment at CASP15 are reported. For the first time, recognizing the outstanding performance of AlphaFold 2 (AF2) at CASP14, all single‐chain predictions were assessed together, irrespective of whether a template was available. At CASP15, there was no single stand‐out group, with most of the best‐scoring groups—led by PEZYFoldings, UM‐TBM, and Yang Server—employing AF2 in one way or another. Many top groups paid special attention to generating deep Multiple Sequence Alignments (MSAs) and testing variant MSAs, thereby allowing them to successfully address some of the hardest targets. Such difficult targets, as well as lacking templates, were typically proteins with few homologues. Local divergence between prediction and target correlated with localization at crystal lattice or chain interfaces, and with regions exhibiting high B‐factor factors in crystal structure targets, and should not necessarily be considered as representing error in the prediction. However, analysis of exposed and buried side chain accuracy showed room for improvement even in the latter. Nevertheless, a majority of groups produced high‐quality predictions for most targets, which are valuable for experimental structure determination, functional analysis, and many other tasks across biology. These include those applying methods similar to those used to generate major resources such as the AlphaFold Protein Structure Database and the ESM Metagenomic atlas: the confidence estimates of the former were also notably accurate.
Human factors analysis of a fatal gas explosion on June 13, 2021 in Shiyan City, China
Authors: Yang Ling , Chen Mengmeng , Fan Weisong
Published: September 2023

Human factors are considered the main cause of accidents involving pipeline explosionf. In order to identify the path of human‐induced explosion accidents, a gas pipeline explosion that occurred in Shiyan city of China is investigated thoroughly in this study. Applying the 24Model, the causes of the accident are classified into two levels: organizational and individual. The organizational level causes are further categorized into two elements, namely safety culture and safety management system. The individual level causes are further categorized into personal abilities and safety behaviors—both unsafe actions and unsafe conditions. The 24Model methodology further refines unsafe actions and unsafe conditions into subcategories for increased clarity. Based on the 24Model, it was determined that the Shinyan City incident was caused by gaps in personal abilities, which included insufficient safety knowledge, low safety awareness, and bad safety habits. Causes related to ability factors, safety management system, and safety culture were also identified. In addition, the relationship between the identified factors was developed according to the roles played by the accident causes, and the propagation path of the accident was established. This clarity helps to strengthen safety measures related to human factors.
The histidine kinases regulate allyl‐isothiocyanate sensitivity in Cochliobolus heterostrophus
Authors: Jia Wantong , Yu Huilin , Fan Jinyu , Zhang Jiyue , Pan Hongyu , Zhang Xianghui
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUD

Two‐component histidine kinase (HK) phosphorelay signaling systems play important roles in differentiation, virulence, secondary metabolite production and response to environmental signals. Allyl isothiocyanate (A‐ITC) is a hydrolysis product of glucosinolates with excellent antifungal activity. Our previous study indicated that the mycelial growth of Cochliobolus heterostrophus was significantly hindered by A‐ITC. However, the function of HK in regulating A‐ITC sensitivity was not clear in C. heterostrophus, the causal agent of Southern corn leaf blight.

RESULTS

In this study, the role of HKs was investigated in C. heterostrophus. Deletion of the HK coding gene ChNIK1 resulted in dramatically increased sensitivity of C. heterostrophus to A‐ITC. In addition, ΔChnik1 mutant exhibited significantly decreased conidiation and increased sensitivity to NaCl, KCl, tebuconazole and azoxystrobin, but deletion of the other five HK genes did not affect the A‐ITC sensitivity of C. heterostrophus. ChSLN1, ChNIK4, ChNIK8 and ChMAK2 are essential for conidiation and response to H2O2 and sodium dodecyl sulfate. However, deletion of NIKs had on effect on significant virulence.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate that the HKs play different roles in A‐ITC sensitivity in C. heterostrophus. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Strain‐Activated Stimulated Emission from Multilayer MoSe2 in a Narrow Operation Window
Authors: Lin Yuankun , Hurley Noah , Kamau Steve , Hathaway Evan , Jiang Yan , Rodriguez Roberto Gonzalez , Varghese Sinto , Krylyuk Sergiy , Davydov Albert V. , Wang Yuanxi , Kaul Anupama , Cui Jingbiao
Published: September 2023

Herein, photoluminescence (PL) and fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) in multilayer MoSe2 are studied. Strain‐activated stimulated emission via defect levels in multilayer MoSe2 under laser excitation is observed, for the first time in defects of transition metal dichalcogenides. The stimulated emission is indicated by a threshold behavior of PL emission intensity with respect to laser intensity, strong polarization effects, achieved population inversion with a difference in lifetimes of two competing excited states, and localization of the stimulated emission zone as observed in FLIM. The presented results not only demonstrate strain‐activated stimulated emission and highlight the necessity of strain engineering in tailoring 2D layered materials for optoelectronic applications, but also shed light on the design of stimulated emission in transition metal dichalcogenide's defects to tailor for potential single‐photon emission behavior.
Designing two mixed quick switching sampling plans for linear profiles
Authors: Rahimi Yeganeh Radman , Ayoubi Mona
Published: September 2023

This study compares two proposed mixed quick switching sampling (QSS) plans for linear profiles as the quality characteristic. For the QSS plans, we recommend a binomial attribute plan for normal inspection and then a variable sampling plan for tightened inspection based on capability index CpuA of linear profiles with one‐sided specifications. The difference between the two proposed QSS plans is in the tightened inspection. Tightened inspection of the first proposed plan is a single sampling using CpuA index, but tightened inspection of the second plan is a multiple dependent state repetitive (MDSR) plan based on CpuA index. The optimal parameters are obtained by nonlinear optimization. Simulation study for selecting parameters is conducted with various combinations of specified acceptable quality level (AQL), limited quality level (LQL), producer's risk, and consumer's risk. Simulation results confirm that the second proposed QSS plan which applies variable MDSR at tightened inspection performs better than another proposed plan. Hence, the approach of the second proposed plan is demonstrated in an illustrative example.
Illustrating land cover change associated with erosion management of the Little Blue River, Kansas, USA
Authors: Hanberry Brice B. , Hanberry Phillip
Published: September 2023

Erosion is a concern due to environmental degradation, loss of valuable cropland, increased sediment loads in aquatic systems, and reduced reservoir capacity. To manage erosion, riparian forest buffers and bendway weirs were installed in the Little Blue River, Kansas, during years 2002–2010. To illustrate land cover changes associated with management for upland and streambank erosion, indicated through terrestrial land gains, particularly of permanent tree cover relative to short‐lived crop cover, we digitized 1 m orthoimagery. For the pretreatment interval of 1991–2002, we digitized streambank edges to approximate change in river area. Due to river dynamics, for the 2002 and 2014 interval before and after treatment, we used land ownership parcels as fixed locations to assess changes in land area and land classes for 24 treated and 24 untreated parcels, each parcel group totaling 1575 ha. We appraised two extents of the unified streambank for both years and all land in parcels rather than isolating the river from the surrounding watershed. During 1991 to 2002, treated land parcels lost terrestrial land, whereas untreated land parcels gained land. During 2002–2014, treated land had greater river and crop cover, and less tree cover than untreated land. For the entire extent, with similar trends for the unified streambank extent, by 2014, treated parcels gained 27.3 ha of terrestrial land compared to 4.6 ha gained by untreated parcels. Gains occurred in tree cover and losses in river water and sediments cover. In treated parcels crop cover decreased, whereas in untreated parcels crop cover increased. Streamflows decreased over time, likely contributing to streambank stability. Despite lack of documented cost‐share agreements, in untreated parcels, landowners managed land by increasing tree cover to protect soil from erosion. All measurements were consistent with erosion followed by management for erosion through terrestrial land gains of tree cover.
Incidence of neonatal morbidity in small‐for‐gestational‐age twins based on singleton and twin charts
Authors: Wright D. , Wright A. , Rehal A. , Syngelaki A. , Kristensen S. E. , Petersen O. B. , Nicolaides K. H.
Published: September 2023

Objective

To compare morbidity, as measured by length of stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), in twin and singleton gestations classified as small‐for‐gestational age (SGA) according to estimated fetal weight < 10th percentile on twin or singleton growth charts.

Methods

NICU length of stay was compared in 1150 twins and 29 035 singletons that underwent ultrasound assessment between 35 + 0 and 36 + 6 weeks' gestation. Estimated fetal weight was obtained from measurements of head circumference, abdominal circumference and femur length using the Hadlock formula. Gestational age was derived from the first‐trimester crown–rump length measurement, using the larger of the two twins. Singletons and twins were compared in terms of NICU admission rate and length of stay according to classification as SGA by the Fetal Medicine Foundation singleton and twin reference distributions.

Results

The overall proportions of twins and singletons admitted to NICU were similar (7.3% vs 7.4%), but twins tended to have longer lengths of stay in NICU (≥ 7 days: 2.4% vs 0.8%; relative risk (RR), 3.0 (95% CI, 1.6–4.4)). Using the singleton chart, a higher proportion of twins were classified as SGA compared with singletons (37.6% vs 7.0%). However, the proportion of SGA neonates entering NICU was similar (10.2% for twins and 10.1% for singletons) and the proportion of SGA neonates spending ≥ 7 days in NICU was substantially higher for twins compared with singletons (3.7% vs 1.4%; RR, 2.6 (95% CI, 1.4–4.7)).

Conclusions

When singleton charts are used to define SGA in twins and in singletons, there is a greater degree of growth‐related neonatal morbidity amongst SGA twins compared with SGA singletons. Consequently, singleton charts do not inappropriately overdiagnose fetal growth restriction in twins and they should be used for monitoring fetal growth in both twins and singletons. © 2023 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Extractive Bargains and the State-Society Nexus: One World, Many Bargains
Authors: Bowles Paul , Andrews Nathan
Published: September 2023

States have historically sought to position (sometimes re-imagine) extractive activities as presenting an opportunity for broader societal goals to be met. This positioning typically entails the need to convince social actors that the continuation of resource extraction is beneficial despite the increasing recognition of its socio-environmental costs and the growing resistance to extractivism globally. This act or process of seeking societal acceptance for the state’s preferred extractive policies in exchange for delivering on wider societal goals is what we define as ‘extractive bargains’. Informed by this central conceptualization, this chapter offers a novel approach to exploring such bargains within the spectrum of both analytical and normative ideal types. To provide further empirical grounding, we give an initial account of cases from the Global South and Global North that exemplify the different types of analytical and normative bargains operating at the state-society interface. We also briefly explore those that appear to lie outside of this level of analysis.
SSMB Longitudinal Dynamics
Authors: Deng Xiujie
Published: September 2023

In this chapter, we study the single-particle longitudinal dynamics of SSMB. The motivation is to answer the question: how to realize the short bunch length and small longitudinal emittance in an electron storage ring, as required by SSMB? Note that the curvilinear (Frenet-Serret) coordinate system and the state vector $${\textbf {X}}=(x,x',y,'y',z,\delta )^{T}$$

X
=

(
x
,

x
′

,
y

,
′

y
′

,
z
,
δ
)

T

, with $$^{T}$$

T

representing the transpose, are used throughout this dissertation. For the longitudinal dynamics without coupling from the transverse dimension, what we can play are the momentum compaction and RF systems, for SSMB the laser modulators.
Analyse zur Häufigkeit einer gerinnungshemmenden Medikation bei Patientinnen mit kognitiven Störungen und zerebraler Amyloidangiopathie (CAA)
Authors: Haußmann R. , Homeyer P. , Haußmann M. , Sauer C. , Linn J. , Donix M. , Brandt M. , Puetz V.
Published: September 2023

Ziel der Arbeit

Analyse der Häufigkeit einer zerebralen Amyloidangiopathie (CAA) bei Patientinnen mit kognitiven Störungen und der Häufigkeit einer Koinzidenz von gerinnungshemmender Therapie und CAA. Explorative Analyse von Zusammenhängen zwischen Antikoagulation und CAA-typischer Läsionslast in der MRT.

Material und Methoden

Patientinnen mit subjektiver kognitiver Störung (SCD), amnestischem und nichtamnestischem MCI (aMCI/naMCI), Alzheimer-Demenz (AD), gemischter Demenz (MD) und vaskulärer Demenz (VD) aus einem universitären Demenzzentrum, die sich von 02/2016 bis 12/2020 erstmals zur Demenzdiagnostik vorgestellt hatten, wurden in diese retrospektive Analyse eingeschlossen. Im Rahmen der Diagnostik erfolgten eine kranielle MRT inkl. Gradientenechosequenz und die Erfassung CAA-spezifischer MRT-Biomarker. Im Rahmen der retrospektiven Aktendurchsicht wurde das Vorliegen einer gerinnungshemmenden Medikation mit Thrombozytenaggregationshemmern, direkten oralen Antikoagulanzien (DOAK) oder Vitamin-K-Antagonisten zum Zeitpunkt der Vorstellung ermittelt.

Ergebnisse

Im Beobachtungszeitraum von 02/2016 bis 12/2020 wurden 458 Patientinnen (209 männlich, 249 weiblich, Durchschnittsalter 73,2 ± 9,9 Jahre) mit SCD (n = 44), naMCI (n = 40), aMCI (n = 182), AD (n = 120), MD (n = 68) und VD (n = 4) analysiert. Bei 109 Patientinnen (23,8 %) lagen die MR-Kriterien einer möglichen oder wahrscheinlichen CAA vor. Die CAA-Prävalenz war am höchsten bei Patientinnen mit aMCI (39,4 %) und MD (28,4 %). Bei 30,3 % der Patientinnen mit möglicher oder wahrscheinlicher CAA bestand eine Thrombozytenaggregationshemmung, bei 12,8 % eine DOAK-Therapie und bei 3,7 % eine Therapie mit Vitamin-K-Antagonisten. Die Anzahl kortikaler und subkortikaler Mikroblutungen war insgesamt bei Patientinnen mit gerinnungshemmender Therapie höher als bei Patientinnen ohne Gerinnungshemmung (p = 0,047). Ein Zusammenhang zwischen gerinnungshemmender Therapie und Häufigkeit kortikaler superfizieller Siderosen bildete sich nicht ab (p = 0,634).

Diskussion

Die CAA ist bei Patientinnen mit kognitiven Störungen häufig. Bei nahezu der Hälfte der Patientinnen mit CAA besteht eine gerinnungshemmende Medikation. Eine gerinnungshemmende Medikation ist mit einer größeren Anzahl kortikaler und subkortikaler Mikroblutungen vergesellschaftet.
Central sensitization negatively influences the level of disability in female patients with anterior knee pain
Authors: Sanchis‐Alfonso Vicente , Beser‐Robles María , Navarro‐Calvo Ana , López‐Company Laura , Roselló‐Añón Alejandro , Domenech‐Fernández Julio
Published: September 2023

Purpose

To define the prevalence of Central Sensitization (CS) in patients with Anterior Knee Pain (AKP) and determine whether there is an association between CS and the magnitude of pain, disability, quality‐of‐life and psychological impairment.

Methods

The data of a total of 44 AKP female patients with a mean age of 27.7 years (15–50) recruited consecutively from hospital outpatient knee clinics were prospectively included in this study. The patients had no antecedents of knee trauma or surgery and no history of injury or disease of the nervous system. There were also 50 healthy female controls with a mean age of 26.1 years (16–46). CS was evaluated using the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI). Quality‐of‐life was evaluated using the EuroQoL‐5D questionnaire. Self‐reporting of clinical pain intensity was obtained using the Visual Analogue Scale. The Kujala Knee Scale and IKDC form were used to evaluate disability. Anxiety and depression were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Subscale (HAD). Kinesiophobia was measured with the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK‐11) and catastrophizing by means of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS).

Results

Sixteen AKP patients (36%), and 2 (4%) of the healthy controls presented with central sensitization (p < 0.01). AKP patients with CS have a greater degree of disability based on the Kujala Scale and higher levels of anxiety and depression than AKP patients without CS. The score of AKP patients in the CSI correlated weakly with disability and quality of life and moderately with anxiety and depression. However, no association was seen between CSI score and pain intensity, nor with catastrophizing and kinesiophobia. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only depression was statistically significant in the prediction of the presence of CS (odds ratio 1.45; 95% CI 1.07 to 1.96).

Conclusions

AKP patients have a significantly higher prevalence of CS in comparison with what has been reported for the general population. This finding suggests the presence of altered pain modulation in a subgroup of AKP patients.

Level of evidence

Level III.
Biomarkers of exposure in urine of active smokers, non-smokers, and vapers
Authors: Gallart-Mateu D. , Dualde P. , Coscollà C. , Soriano J. M. , Garrigues S. , de la Guardia M.
Published: September 2023

The exposure to smoking related products has been evaluated through urine illness risk marker determination through the analysis of urine samples of smokers and vapers. Biomarkers and their metabolites such as N-acetyl-S-(2-cyanoethyl)-L-cysteine (CEMA), N-acetyl-S-(3,4-dihydroxybutyl)-L-cysteine (DHBMA), N-acetyl-S-[1-(hydroxymethyl)-2-propen-1-yl)-L-cysteine (MHBMA), N-acetyl-S-(3-hydroxypropyl)-L-cysteine (3HPMA), 2R-N-acetyl-S-(4-hydroxybutan-2-yl)-L-cysteine (HMPMA), and N-acetyl-S-(3-carboxy-2-propyl)-L-cysteine (CMEMA) together with nicotine and cotinine were identified and quantified by LC-HRMS and LC-MS/MS, and data found normalized to the creatinine level. One hundred two urine samples were collected from smokers, non-smokers, and vapers, spanning an age range from 16 to 79 years. Results obtained showed that CEMA was only detected in urine samples from smokers and MHBMA was in the same order of magnitude in all the urine samples analyzed. HMPMA was found in the urine of vapers at the same order of concentration as in non-smokers. 3HPMA in vapers was lower than in the urine of smokers, presenting an intermediate situation between smokers and non-smokers. On the other hand, DHBMA in vapers can reach similar values to those found for smokers, while CMEMA shows concentrations in the urine of vapers higher than in the case of non-smokers and traditional smokers, requiring new research to link this metabolite to the use of electronic cigarettes and possible alternative metabolomic routes. In general, this study seems to verify that traditional smoking practice constitutes a major source of carcinogenic chemicals compared with substitutive practices, although those practices are not free of potential harm.

Graphical abstract
Within-individual changes in physical work demands associated with self-reported health and musculoskeletal symptoms: a cohort study among Dutch workers
Authors: Cillekens Bart , van Eeghen Emma , Oude Hengel Karen M. , Coenen Pieter
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate changes in physical work demands in association with self-rated health and musculoskeletal symptoms.

Methods

Data from five waves over the period 2019–2021 of the Netherlands Working Conditions Survey COVID-19 were available for 7191 participants aged 19–64 years who worked (partly) on-site during at least two consecutive waves. Logistic generalized estimated equations (GEE) were used to estimate the odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for changes (increase or decrease compared to no change) in physical work demands between two waves and poor self-rated health and musculoskeletal symptoms in the following wave, adjusted for the health outcome at the first wave, age, educational level, working hours and hours worked from home.

Results

In females, a statistically significant association was found between an increase in physical work demands compared to no change and musculoskeletal symptoms (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.17–1.65). A decrease in physical work demands in females was not statistically significantly associated with musculoskeletal symptoms (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.80–1.08). Similar trends were found for poor self-rated health, although non-statistically significant. For males, comparable but attenuated associations were found.

Conclusion

While our study showed that increasing physical work demands are associated with adverse health (self-reported and musculoskeletal), it did not appear to benefit worker’s health to reduce work demands. Future research with multiple measurements in a shorter period and additionally using devices to measure physical work demands will be needed to confirm our study results.
Interleukin-8 is superior to CRP for the prediction of severe complications in a prospective cohort of patients undergoing major liver resection
Authors: Pecqueux Mathieu , Brückner Frederik , Bogner Andreas , Oehme Florian , Hau Hans‑Michael , von Bechtolsheim Felix , Held Hanns‑Christoph , Baenke Franziska , Distler Marius , Riediger Carina , Weitz Jürgen , Kahlert Christoph
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Early detection of severe complications may reduce morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing hepatic resection. Therefore, we prospectively evaluated a panel of inflammatory blood markers for their value in predicting postoperative complications in patients undergoing liver surgery.

Methods

A total of 139 patients undergoing liver resections (45 wedge resections, 49 minor resections, and 45 major resections) were prospectively enrolled between August 2017 and December 2018. Leukocytes, CRP, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), thrombocyte-lymphocyte ratio (TLR), bilirubin, INR, and interleukin-6 and -8 (IL-6 and IL-8) were measured in blood drawn preoperatively and on postoperative days 1, 4, and 7. IL-6 and IL-8 were measured using standardized immunoassays approved for in vitro diagnostic use in Germany. ROC curve analysis was used to determine predictive values for the occurrence of severe postoperative complications (CDC ≥ 3).

Results

For wedge and minor resections, leukocyte counts at day 7 (AUC 0.80 and 0.82, respectively), IL-6 at day 7 (AUC 0.74 and 0.73, respectively), and CRP change (∆CRP) at day 7 (AUC 0.72 and 0.71, respectively) were significant predictors of severe postoperative complications. IL-8 failed in patients undergoing wedge resections, but was a significant predictor of severe complications after minor resections on day 7 (AUC 0.79), had the best predictive value in all patients on days 1, 4, and 7 (AUC 0.72, 0.72, and 0.80, respectively), and was the only marker with a significant predictive value in patients undergoing major liver resections (AUC on day 1: 0.70, day 4: 0.86, and day 7: 0.92). No other marker, especially not CRP, was predictive of severe complications after major liver surgery.

Conclusion

IL-8 is superior to CRP in predicting severe complications in patients undergoing major hepatic resection and should be evaluated as a biomarker for patients undergoing major liver surgery. This is the first paper demonstrating a feasible implementation of IL-8 analysis in a clinical setting.
The Subfield and Extended Codes of a Subclass of Optimal Three-Weight Cyclic Codes
Authors: Hernández Félix , Vega Gerardo
Published: September 2023

A class of optimal three-weight $$[q^k-1,k+1,q^{k-1}(q-1)-1]$$

[

q
k

-
1
,
k
+
1
,

q

k
-
1

(
q
-
1
)

-
1
]

cyclic codes over $${\mathrm{I\!F}}_q$$

I

F

q

, with $$k\ge 2$$

k
≥
2

, achieving the Griesmer bound, was presented by Heng and Yue (IEEE Trans Inf Theory 62(8):4501–4513, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1109/TIT.2016.2550029). In this paper we study some of the subfield codes of this class of optimal cyclic codes when $$k=2$$

k
=
2

. The weight distributions of the subfield codes are settled. It turns out that some of these codes are optimal and others have the best known parameters. The duals of the subfield codes are also investigated and found to be almost optimal with respect to the sphere-packing bound. In addition, the covering structure for the studied subfield codes is determined. Some of these codes are found to have the important property that any nonzero codeword is minimal, which is a desirable property that is useful in the design of a secret sharing scheme based on a linear code. Moreover, a specific example of a secret sharing scheme based on one of these subfield codes is given. Finally, a class of optimal two-weight linear codes over $${\mathrm{I\!F}}_q$$

I

F

q

, achieving the Griesmer bound, whose duals are almost optimal with respect to the sphere-packing bound is presented. Through a different approach, this class of optimal two-weight linear codes was reported very recently by Heng (IEEE Trans Inf Theory 69(2):978–994, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1109/TIT.2022.3203380). Furthermore, it is shown that these optimal codes can be used to construct strongly regular graphs.
Induced Subgraphs of Induced Subgraphs of Large Chromatic Number
Authors: Girão António , Illingworth Freddie , Powierski Emil , Savery Michael , Scott Alex , Tamitegama Youri , Tan Jane
Published: September 2023

We prove that, for every graph F with at least one edge, there is a constant $$c_F$$

c
F

such that there are graphs of arbitrarily large chromatic number and the same clique number as F in which every F-free induced subgraph has chromatic number at most $$c_F$$

c
F

. This generalises recent theorems of Briański, Davies and Walczak, and Carbonero, Hompe, Moore and Spirkl. Our results imply that for every $$r\geqslant 3$$

r
⩾
3

the class of $$K_r$$

K
r

-free graphs has a very strong vertex Ramsey-type property, giving a vast generalisation of a result of Folkman from 1970. We also prove related results for tournaments, hypergraphs and infinite families of graphs, and show an analogous statement for graphs where clique number is replaced by odd girth.
Die Zukunft der Prüfung und Entwicklung flexibler Steinschlagschutzsysteme am Prüf- und Forschungszentrum Erzberg
Authors: Heiss Christian A.
Published: September 2023

Bausätze flexibler Steinschlagschutzsysteme sind Bauprodukte, die unter das Regime der EU-Bauprodukteverordnung fallen und dadurch bestimmte Leistungskriterien erfüllen müssen, bevor sie am Europäischen Binnenmarkt CE-gekennzeichnet vertrieben werden dürfen. Zur Leistungsbewertung bzw. um Auskunft über „Wesentliche Merkmale“ des Produkts geben zu können, muss ein Bausatz standardisierten Systemerstprüfungen im Maßstab 1:1 unterzogen werden. Diese sehr kostenintensiven Prüfungen liefern zwar in einem gewissen Bereich die Möglichkeit, Systeme miteinander zu vergleichen, eignen sich aber nur bedingt für die Weiterentwicklung derartiger Systeme und deren Bemessung und konstruktiven Gestaltung im Gelände. Der Lehrstuhl für Bergbaukunde, Bergtechnik und Bergwirtschaft an der Montanuniversität Leoben hat in den vergangenen Jahren durch die erfolgreiche Übertragung der standardisierten Prüfverfahren und eines handelsüblichen flexiblen Steinschlagschutzsystems in den Labormaßstab Möglichkeiten aufgezeigt, wie das Leistungsvermögen derartiger Systeme detailliert und gleichzeitig kostengünstig untersucht und dadurch eine umfangreiche Datenbasis für die nummerische Simulation flexibler Steinschlagschutzsysteme geschaffen werden kann. Im von der FFG geförderten Projekt NAGEMA (Naturgefahrenmanagement) werden von der Trumer Schutzbauten GmbH in enger Zusammenarbeit mit der Montanuniversität Leoben die Erkenntnisse der Systemmodellierung im Labormaßstab für die Errichtung einer neuen Schrägwurfanlage umgesetzt, sodass am Steirischen Erzberg zukünftig flexible Steinschlagschutzsysteme auch im 1:1 Maßstab effektiver und effizienter geprüft werden können.
Time-optimal trajectory planning for a rigid formation of nonholonomic mobile platforms
Authors: Schmidt Simon , Gattringer Hubert , Mueller Andreas
Published: September 2023

This paper presents a method for planning time-optimal trajectories for a formation of multiple nonholonomic (heavy duty) platforms (HDPs) to cooperatively transport an object to a specified pose. The first part addresses the mobile platforms themselves while the second part provides a trajectory planning approach derived from the well-known virtual leader approach. In order to ensure proper transport of the shared payload, the vehicles are modeled individually, resulting in a formation control problem. The goal of the optimization process is to minimize a cost function that balances time optimality, smooth control signals, and formation rigidity. The optimal control problem (OCP) takes into account the kinematics of the vehicles as well as their physical limitations. It is solved by using a multiple shooting method, which yields the desired trajectories for all vehicles while ensuring smooth control signals. The paper includes optimization results for several scenarios involving two and three HDPs together with various target poses, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Back to Old Books Toward Affordable Research: Homemade Phenol-Based Reagent for Triphasic RNA Purification
Authors: Abdelfattah Mahmoud M. , Hosny Yasmine , Elkady Nadia A. , Abbas Eslam M. , Farahat Iman G. , Hassan Nagwa H. A. , Helwa Reham
Published: September 2023

Covid-19 crisis did hit many socio-economic aspects in the whole world. In the scientific research, the problem is getting even worse, since most of materials and consumable are allocated to the health sector. Many research laboratories around the world have big delay in receiving their purchases to accomplish their research projects. In the developing countries, the situation is much more difficult, since most of the funding resources are directed to the Covid-19 crisis and there is a notable increase in reagents’ prices. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to make a homemade reagents for RNA purification from eukaryotic cells/tissues. The homemade phenol-based RNA extraction reagents were prepared using saturated phenol pH 4.3 (adjusted by 0.5 M citrate buffer) and guanidine thiocyanate. To validate the phenol-based reagent, RNA was purified from different biological samples (cell line, tissues, and fungi) using homemade phenol-based versus a commercial one. Concentration of RNA samples extracted from the same number of cells were compared to assess the homemade preparation of phenol-based reagent. In conclusion, homemade phenol-based reagent is cost effective and comparable to the commercial one. Using homemade phenol-based, RNA extraction was successfully purified from different biological sources.
Computing Synthetic Controls Using Bilevel Optimization
Authors: Malo Pekka , Eskelinen Juha , Zhou Xun , Kuosmanen Timo
Published: September 2023

The synthetic control method (SCM) represents a notable innovation in estimating the causal effects of policy interventions and programs in a comparative case study setting. In this paper, we demonstrate that the data-driven approach to SCM requires solving a bilevel optimization problem. We show how the original SCM problem can be solved to the global optimum through the introduction of an iterative algorithm rooted in Tykhonov regularization or Karush–Kuhn–Tucker approximations.
Additive Effect, Feasibility, and Cost-Effectiveness of Family Engagement Activities that Supplement Dual Language Preschool Instruction
Authors: Spencer Trina D. , Kirby Megan S. , Garcia Anna R. , Sturm Becca
Published: September 2023

There are several benefits for Dual Language Learners (DLLs) when their home language is integrated into classroom instruction. For example, instruction in students’ home language facilitates the learning of the new language more rapidly and supports bilingualism. One way to enhance young children’s language learning is to engage families in home language activities that reinforce dual language instruction provided at school. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which Spanish family engagement activities (FEAs) increased the effect of dual language instruction on the English and Spanish vocabulary and narrative skills of preschoolers. In addition, we also report on the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of Spanish FEAs used to boost young children’s dual language learning. With support from researchers, four Head Start teaching teams delivered multitiered dual language instruction in their classrooms. This involved English large group instruction twice a week and alternating Spanish and English small group intervention with a subset of students 4 times a week. Half of the children who received small group intervention (n = 11) were randomly assigned to also receive the caregiver-implemented FEAs in Spanish in addition to classroom dual language instruction. In a small-scale randomized pre-posttest group study, we examined the additive effect of the FEAs on children’s narrative and vocabulary in English and Spanish. After controlling for pretest scores, the FEAs showed a significant effect on Spanish vocabulary, but not narrative skills. Caregivers reported that they enjoyed the FEAs and would continue using them. The cost-effectiveness analysis revealed that benefits to DLLs’ Spanish vocabulary can be achieved at a reasonable cost.
Factors affecting adoption intention of electric vehicle: a cross-cultural study
Authors: Higueras-Castillo Elena , Singh Vedant , Singh Virender , Liébana-Cabanillas Francisco
Published: September 2023

In recent years, the surge in the adoption of electric vehicles has played a vital role in reducing fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. However, limited cross-national research has been conducted on the determinants of electric vehicle adoption in developing and developed countries. This study examines the factors influencing the intention to adopt electric vehicles in India (378 participants) and Spain (265 participants). This study develops an integrated model that combines the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2) and the value-belief-norm (VBN) model while accounting for the impact of national culture. The model is tested using structural equation modeling. The results indicate the integrated UTAUT2-VBN model is a valuable tool for explaining the differences in adoption intention across cultures. Moreover, the national cultural system plays a significant moderating role in most relationships within the model. This study offers valuable insights into the factors influencing electric vehicle adoption in different cultural contexts, which can inform policies and strategies to promote sustainable transportation.
Improving the accuracy of the FMO binding affinity prediction of ligand-receptor complexes containing metals
Authors: Paciotti R. , Marrone A. , Coletti C. , Re N.
Published: September 2023

Polarization and charge transfer strongly characterize the ligand-receptor interaction when metal atoms are present, as for the Au(I)-biscarbene/DNA G-quadruplex complexes. In a previous work (J Comput Aided Mol Des2022, 36, 851–866) we used the ab initio FMO2 method at the RI-MP2/6-31G* level of theory with the PCM [1] solvation approach to calculate the binding energy (ΔEFMO) of two Au(I)-biscarbene derivatives, [Au(9-methylcaffein-8-ylidene)2]+ and [Au(1,3-dimethylbenzimidazole-2-ylidene)2]+, able to interact with DNA G-quadruplex motif. We found that ΔEFMO and ligand-receptor pair interaction energies (EINT) show very large negative values making the direct comparison with experimental data difficult and related this issue to the overestimation of the embedded charge transfer energy between fragments containing metal atoms. In this work, to improve the accuracy of the FMO method for predicting the binding affinity of metal-based ligands interacting with DNA G-quadruplex (Gq), we assess the effect of the following computational features: (i) the electron correlation, considering the Hartree–Fock (HF) and a post-HF method, namely RI-MP2; (ii) the two (FMO2) and three-body (FMO3) approaches; (iii) the basis set size (polarization functions and double-ζ vs. triple-ζ) and (iv) the embedding electrostatic potential (ESP). Moreover, the partial screening method was systematically adopted to simulate the solvent screening effect for each calculation. We found that the use of the ESP computed using the screened point charges for all atoms (ESP-SPTC) has a critical impact on the accuracy of both ΔEFMO and EINT, eliminating the overestimation of charge transfer energy and leading to energy values with magnitude comparable with typical experimental binding energies. With this computational approach, EINT values describe the binding efficiency of metal-based binders to DNA Gq more accurately than ΔEFMO. Therefore, to study the binding process of metal containing systems with the FMO method, the adoption of partial screening solvent method combined with ESP-SPCT should be considered. This computational protocol is suggested for FMO calculations on biological systems containing metals, especially when the adoption of the default ESP treatment leads to questionable results.
Psychosocial Determinants of Sleep Behavior and Healthy Sleep Among Adolescents: A Two-Wave Panel Study
Authors: Delfmann Lea Rahel , Verloigne Maïté , Deforche Benedicte , Hunter Simon C. , Cardon Greet , de Boer Janneke , Vandendriessche Ann
Published: September 2023

To date, it remains unknown which psychosocial determinants identified by several leading behavior change theories are associated with different sleep parameters among adolescents. Therefore, this study investigates whether changes in knowledge about healthy sleep, attitude toward healthy sleep and going to bed on time, self-efficacy to engage in healthy sleep behavior, perceived parental and peer norms, perceived barriers (e.g., worrying, fear of missing out), and perceived support (e.g., bedtime rules, encouragement) related to healthy sleep are associated with changes in adolescents’ sleep duration on school days and free days and sleep quality over a period of 1 year. Two-wave data of 1648 Flemish adolescents (mean age = 15.01, SD = 0.65, 46.3% female) were analyzed using linear models. Increased levels of parental social support, positive attitude towards and perceived advantages of healthy sleep, norm-knowledge, and perceived peer behavior were associated with sleep duration, with parental social support having the strongest association. Increased levels of perceived barriers were associated with decreased levels of sleep quality parameters, and increased levels of self-efficacy, positive attitude, and parental modeling were associated with improved sleep quality parameters, with perceived barriers having the strongest association. The current results indicate that behavior change theories are useful in the context of adolescent sleep behavior and suggest that perceived parental support (i.e., bedtime rules) and perceived barriers are most strongly associated with adolescents’ sleep duration and/or quality.