bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sub‐lethal effects of metals and pesticides on the freshwater dinoflagellate Palatinus apiculatus and environmental implications
Authors: Bui Quynh Thi Nhu , Kim Taehee , Kim Han‐Sol , Lee Seokmin , Lee Seungjun , Ki Jang‐Seu
Published: September 2024

Microalgae are unicellular, photosynthetic organisms in aquatic environments and are sensitive to water quality and contaminants. While green algae and diatoms are widely used for toxicity assessments, there is a relatively limited amount of toxicity data available for freshwater dinoflagellates. Here, we evaluated the sub‐lethal effects of the metals Cu, Cr, Ni, and Zn and the herbicides atrazine and S‐metolachlor on the freshwater dinoflagellate Palatinus apiculatus. Based on the 72‐h median effective concentration (EC50), P. apiculatus showed sensitive responses to metals in the order of Cu (0.052 mg L−1), Cr (0.085 mg L−1), Zn (0.098 mg L−1), and Ni (0.13 mg L−1). Among the tested herbicides, P. apiculatus was more sensitive to atrazine (0.0048 mg L−1) than S‐metolachlor (0.062 mg L−1). In addition, we observed morphological alterations and significant increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in cells exposed to 0.05 mg L−1 of Cu and 0.005 mg L−1 of atrazine. These indicated that metals and pesticides induced oxidative stress in cellular metabolic processes and consequently caused severe physiological damage to the cells. Our results provide baseline data on the toxic effects of typical environmental contaminants on freshwater dinoflagellate, suggesting that P. apiculatus could be used as a bioindicator in freshwater toxicity assessments.

Practitioner Points

The sub‐lethal effects of metals and pesticides on the freshwater dinoflagellate Palatinus apiculatus were evaluated.

Palatinus sensitively responded to metals and pesticides; of test chemicals, atrazine (0.0048 mg L−1 of EC50) was the most sensitive.

Metals and pesticides induced oxidative stress and consequently caused severe physiological damage to the Palatinus cells.

The freshwater dinoflagellate Palatinus can be used as a bioindicator in freshwater toxicity assessments.
Temporal Conflicts and the Victimhood Communities (Un)Bound by Memory
Authors: Milošević Ana
Published: September 2024

Does time really heal everything? Time, of course, is not a healer, yet it is believed that a painful and difficult situation will seem less bad as time passes. How can we capture and explore the role of time in the experiences of the victims? How do relationships between the past, present, and future, inform, manifest in, and shape the lives of those affected by terrorism? Is the memory of trauma suffered frozen in time and minds like a photograph and immune to the passing of time? This chapter will engage with questions of the temporality of victimhood within communities bound by memory as a shared experience. It will analyse time as a fluid, rather than static, multifocal rather than narrowly perceived category reflected in victims’ experiences.
20 Years On. A Walk Through the Memorialisation of the 11M Attacks
Authors: Toribio Medina Mireya
Published: September 2024

The 11 March 2004 attacks in Madrid (11M) constituted a moment that would mark the political and social dynamics of collective remembrance in contemporary Spain. These processes of commemoration of traumatic events are inherently complex. They intertwine intimate and collective mourning experiences that are not straightforward practices. Added to this equation is the difficulty of managing these practices for institutions. The immediate aftermath of the 11M attacks was characterised by expressions of solidarity and mutual support. Yet, an impending general election and the complex pre-existing political landscape fostered controversy, and the institutions’ handling of both the aftermath and the subsequent memorialisation has been fraught with difficulty. This is made visible through a closer look at the sites of memory that commemorate the victims of the attack in the Spanish capital.
Memory as ‘Temporal Loop’ in the War on Terror: Using the Past to Secure the Future (and Failing)
Authors: Heath-Kelly Charlotte , Pettinger Tom
Published: September 2024

Our chapter reflects on how commemoration and ‘the past’ have become implicated within national security practices which anticipate and act upon future insecurity. Across public inquiries, coroners’ investigations and memorialisation, there is an in-built assumption that societies (and security practitioners) should be able to learn from disastrous events.
Contested Memories and the (Re)Construction of Violent Pasts in the Basque Country: A Critical Examination of the Memorial Centre for the Victims of Terrorism in Vitoria-Gasteiz
Authors: Rodrigo-Jusué Itoiz
Published: September 2024

The Memorial Centre for the Victims of Terrorism opened its doors in Vitoria-Gasteiz in 2021. The inauguration of this polemical memorial space not only illustrates the wider ‘battle of narratives’ that is being fought in Spain/the Basque Country particularly since ETA announced a permanent ceasefire in 2011, but also reveals the influential role of public institutions in processes of memorialisation. The analysis of the representation of conflict in memorials enables us to comprehend how particular public ‘truths’ and ways of remembering are fostered as well as to critically enquire into the present interests of particular actors. This chapter analyses the role of exhibition panels and audio-visual materials as well as the strategic employment of silence in this official (re)construction of the past. As a space for remembering (and forgetting), the memorial museum curates conflicts by inscribing actors with a particular status and proposing particular security practices. The chapter concludes with a reflection on counter-memories and their potential to disrupt official discourses and create alternative memories that enable social change.
Hanau/Main: Topography of Immigration, Taboo, and Terror, and Lieu de Mémoire
Authors: Yesilada Karin
Published: September 2024

Until February 2020, Hanau at the River Main was just a small town in close proximity to the global financial capital of Frankfurt, rather unnoticed in the shadow. This changed when the terror attack of 19 February 2020, suddenly put Hanau on the map. In the space of a few hours, a male, white, right-wing extremist shooter deliberately killed nine people, in central Hanau and the nearby quarter of Kesselstadt, and then returned home and shot his mother and himself later that night.
Introduction
Authors: Rimas Juozas , Rimas Jr Juozas
Published: September 2024

The concept of meaning and the search for it (Heraclitus). Interest of the author in the problems of musical expression inspired by the book of the musicologist B. Asaf’ev Musical Form as a Process, and particularly its second part, Intonation. Music as the art of intoned meaning. Intonation as an instrument for feeling the spirit of a creative work. The relationship between interpretation and philosophy in the view of the Lithuanian philosopher A. Maceina. Interpretation as a way for a creative work to come into being. Theory and practice, tekhne and arete (Aristotle). Meaning and orientation towards values from an early age (A. Schopenhauer). Meaning not a given, but a process, movement, direction (in the words of the Lithuanian philosopher R. Pavilionis), or, in the words of the author, “intonational intention.” Knowledge versus understanding (A. Schopenhauer, C. Taylor, Heraclitus). Expression as the result of understanding. The author will use comparative and analogical methods, but does not claim to produce a comprehensive study of the subject of musical expression.
The Difference Between Articulation and Phrasing
Authors: Rimas Juozas , Rimas Jr Juozas
Published: September 2024

Phrasing is a particular segmentation of the musical fabric. Articulation is the factor of expression, according to whose laws the individual parts of a phrase are combined or separated. The views of H. Riemann and H. Keller on the difference between articulation and phrasing. Articulatory slurs: legato slurs, slurs of phrasing and structural slurs. Articulatory purpose (I. Braudo).
Arnold Schönberg on the Musical Idea
Authors: Rimas Juozas , Rimas Jr Juozas
Published: September 2024

The musical idea is not defined solely by its visible and audible dimension: the text of the notes only roughly conveys its true content. An idea is the production of a relationship between concepts otherwise having no relationship to one another. The idea and the motive as different levels of the being of a musical work. Schönberg downplayed the role of the performer: the idea is a finished product, without any interpretation, as soon as it is notated. Style is transient, idea (the totality of a piece) is eternal. The goal of the musical form is not beauty, but perceptibility; however, if that goal is achieved, then beauty emerges of itself. Schönberg composed by juxtaposing motifs and themes rather than 12 tones one with another. Schönberg’s concept of the musical idea shares a similarity with the theory of H. Schenker (a primordial structure in all musical works) and B. Asaf’ev’s theory of intonation.
Anton Webern on the “Saying” of Music
Authors: Rimas Juozas , Rimas Jr Juozas
Published: September 2024

Music tries to tell people something that couldn’t be said in any other way (presentation of a musical idea by means of notes). The highest principle in all presentation of an idea is the law of comprehensibility (Fasslichkeit). The musical saying depends wholly on the degree to which the object is understood: for music as a language to say something, it requires a speaker who understands.
A T-duality of non-supersymmetric heterotic strings and an implication for Topological Modular Forms
Authors: Saxena Vivek
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Motivated by recent developments connecting non-supersymmetric heterotic string theory to the theory of Topological Modular Forms (TMF), we show that the worldsheet theory with central charge (17,$$ \frac{3}{2} $$

3
2

) obtained by fibering the (E8)1 × (E8)1 current algebra over the two $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= (0, 1) sigma model on S1 with antiperiodic spin structure (such that the E8 factors are exchanged as we go around the circle), is continuously connected to the (E8)2 theory in the Gaiotto Johnson-Freyd Witten sense of going “up and down the RG trajectories”. Combined with the work of Tachikawa and Yamashita, this furnishes a physical derivation of the fact that the (E8)2 theory corresponds to the unique nontrivial torsion element [(E8)2] of TMF31 with zero mod-2 elliptic genus.
Composite dark matter with forbidden annihilation
Authors: Abe Tomohiro , Sato Ryosuke , Yamanaka Takumu
Published: September 2024

Abstract

A dark matter model based on QCD-like SU(Nc) gauge theory with electroweakly interacting dark quarks is discussed. Assuming the dark quark mass m is smaller than the dynamical scale Λd ~ 4πfd, the main component of the dark matter is the lightest G-parity odd dark pion associated with chiral symmetry breaking in the dark sector. We show that nonzero dark quark mass induces the universal mass contribution to both G-parity odd and even pions, and their masses tend to be degenerate. As a result, dark pion annihilation into heavier G-parity even dark pion also affects the dark matter relic abundance. Thus, our setup naturally accommodates forbidden dark matter scenario and realizes heavy dark matter whose mass is $$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
(1–100) TeV, which is different from conventional electroweakly interacting dark matter such as minimal dark matter. We also discuss CP-violation from the θ-term in the dark gauge sector and find that the predicted size of the electron electric dipole moment can be as large as ∼ 10−32e cm.
Cartesian closed varieties I: the classification theorem
Authors: Garner Richard
Published: September 2024

In 1990, Johnstone gave a syntactic characterisation of the equational theories whose associated varieties are cartesian closed. Among such theories are all unary theories—whose models are sets equipped with an action by a monoid M—and all hyperaffine theories—whose models are sets with an action by a Boolean algebra B. We improve on Johnstone’s result by showing that an equational theory is cartesian closed just when its operations have a unique hyperaffine–unary decomposition. It follows that any non-degenerate cartesian closed variety is a variety of sets equipped with compatible actions by a monoid M and a Boolean algebra B; this is the classification theorem of the title.
Glucose metabolite methylglyoxal induces vascular endothelial cell pyroptosis via NLRP3 inflammasome activation and oxidative stress in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Wang Yanan , Chen Jinxiang , Zheng Youkun , Jiang Jun , Wang Liqun , Wu Jianbo , Zhang Chunxiang , Luo Mao
Published: September 2024

Methylglyoxal (MGO), a reactive dicarbonyl metabolite of glucose, plays a prominent role in the pathogenesis of diabetes and vascular complications. Our previous studies have shown that MGO is associated with increased oxidative stress, inflammatory responses and apoptotic cell death in endothelial cells (ECs). Pyroptosis is a novel form of inflammatory caspase-1-dependent programmed cell death that is closely associated with the activation of the NOD-like receptor 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. Recent studies have shown that sulforaphane (SFN) can inhibit pyroptosis, but the effects and underlying mechanisms by which SFN affects MGO-induced pyroptosis in endothelial cells have not been determined. Here, we found that SFN prevented MGO-induced pyroptosis by suppressing oxidative stress and inflammation in vitro and in vivo. Our results revealed that SFN dose-dependently prevented MGO-induced HUVEC pyroptosis, inhibited pyroptosis-associated biochemical changes, and attenuated MGO-induced morphological alterations in mitochondria. SFN pretreatment significantly suppressed MGO-induced ROS production and the inflammatory response by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome (NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1) signaling pathway by activating Nrf2/HO-1 signaling. Similar results were obtained in vivo, and we demonstrated that SFN prevented MGO-induced oxidative damage, inflammation and pyroptosis by reversing the MGO-induced downregulation of the NLRP3 signaling pathway through the upregulation of Nrf2. Additionally, an Nrf2 inhibitor (ML385) noticeably attenuated the protective effects of SFN on MGO-induced pyroptosis and ROS generation by inhibiting the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, and a ROS scavenger (NAC) and a permeability transition pore inhibitor (CsA) completely reversed these effects. Moreover, NLRP3 inhibitor (MCC950) and caspase-1 inhibitor (VX765) further reduced pyroptosis in endothelial cells that were pretreated with SFN. Collectively, these findings broaden our understanding of the mechanism by which SFN inhibits pyroptosis induced by MGO and suggests important implications for the potential use of SFN in the treatment of vascular diseases.
Schur Function Expansion in Non-Hermitian Ensembles and Averages of Characteristic Polynomials
Authors: Serebryakov Alexander , Simm Nick
Published: September 2024

We study k-point correlators of characteristic polynomials in non-Hermitian ensembles of random matrices, focusing on the Ginibre and truncated unitary random matrices. Our approach is based on the technique of character expansions, which expresses the correlator as a sum over partitions involving Schur functions. We show how to sum the expansions in terms of representations which interchange the role of k with the matrix size N. We also provide a probabilistic interpretation of the character expansion analogous to the Schur measure, linking the correlators to the distribution of the top row in certain Young diagrams. In more specific examples, we evaluate these expressions in terms of $$k \times k$$

k
×
k

determinants or Pfaffians.
Understanding the adhesion performance of glued laminated timber manufactured with Australian softwood and high-density hardwood species
Authors: Faircloth A. , Gilbert B. P. , Kumar C. , Leggate W. , McGavin R. L.
Published: September 2024

To be commercialised, glued laminated timber must typically conform to a strict bond integrity assessment. While the associated testing protocols vary slightly from standard to standard, the general method consists of a series of swelling (water immersion) and shrinkage (drying) cycles. The approach is independent of the species and adhesive type. Those cycles strain the gluelines to a level depending on the species’ moisture uptake, timber dimensional movement and modulus of elasticity, as well as adhesive layer elasticity. High density and high modulus of elasticity materials frequently fail within the glueline regions rather than within the timber and therefore fail the bond integrity assessment. To better understand the mechanisms that lead to glueline failure, glulam samples were manufactured using three prominent Australian commercial timbers of various densities (Radiata pine—Pinus radiata, Southern pine—Pinus caribaea/Pinus elliottii, and Spotted gum—Corymbia citriodora) and two structural adhesive types (resorcinol formaldehyde and polyurethane). Using advanced measurement techniques (digital image correlation and strain gauges), the response of the different species and adhesive types to moisture swelling and shrinkage, as well as times at which glueline separation occurs, were captured. A relationship was observed between moisture uptake and delamination percentages with spotted gum producing significantly higher levels of delamination and significantly lower moisture uptake values, compared to both Radiata pine and Southern pine. While the polyurethane glued samples on average produced higher levels of delamination, the digital image correlation data indicates that the time at which this delamination occurs is later than the samples glued with resorcinol formaldehyde.
Prävention bei geriatrischen Patientinnen und Patienten in der Allgemeinmedizin
Authors: Glehr Reingard
Published: September 2024

Hintergrund

Funktionsdefizite frühzeitig zu erkennen und diesen durch ein multimodales Behandlungskonzept gegenzusteuern, gehört zu den wichtigsten Aufgaben von Allgemeinmedizinerinnen und Allgemeinmedizinern, die meist primäre medizinische Ansprechpartner geriatrischer Patientinnen und Patienten sind.

Ziel der Arbeit

Erläuterung von Strategien zur biopsychosozialen Begutachtung geriatrischer Patientinnen und Patienten sowie zur Erstellung individuell angepasster Präventionskonzepte in der allgemeinmedizinischen Praxis.

Material und Methoden

Literaturrecherche zum theoretischen Hintergrund der wichtigsten Präventionsansätze bei geriatrischen Patientinnen und Patienten sowie Überlegungen zu Bedeutung und Umsetzung in der täglichen Praxis.

Ergebnisse

Bei geriatrischen Patientinnen und Patienten sollten Präventionsmaßnahmen auf allen 4 Präventionsebenen simultan gesetzt werden. Die Förderung von körperlicher und geistiger Bewegung gilt als Schlüsselfaktor. Die Risiken Immobilität, Depression, kognitiver Abbau, Mangelernährung und nicht zuletzt Multimedikation haben besonderen Stellenwert.

Diskussion

Geriatrische Patientinnen und Patienten stellen eine sehr heterogene Gruppe dar. Um individuell präventiv handeln zu können, braucht es eine multidimensionale Erhebung von Schlüsselfaktoren zum Erhalt von Funktionalität und relativer Gesundheit, trotz evtl. bereits bestehender Erkrankungen.
The infraacetabular screw – anatomy, radiology, biomechanics and clinics
Authors: Gänsslen Axel , Lindahl Jan , Lindtner Richard A. , Krappinger Dietmar
Published: September 2024

Acetabular fracture surgery follows the primary aim of anatomic reduction and rigid stable fixation of the fracture. Infraacetabular screws (IAS) allow for an increased stability of the acetabular fixation by closing the periacetabular fixation frame without requiring an additional posterior approach. The osseous screw corridor for infraacetabular screws use the transition zone between the acetabular ring and the obturator ring. The infraacetabular screw corridor (IAC) shows a double-cone shape with an isthmus located near the acetabular fovea. The iliopectineal eminence (IE) is mainly used as a clinical landmark for the intraoperative assessment of the entry point of IAS. The inlet view, the combined obturator oblique outlet view and a 1/3 iliac oblique outlet view may be used for the intraoperative radiological assessment for both the entry point and the screw trajectory of IAS. Several biomechanical studies have shown that IAS increase the stiffness of the internal fixation. Scientific proof for an improved clinical outcome is still missing.
Effectiveness of bisphosphonate for alleviating tinnitus associated with otosclerosis: a prospective case–control study
Authors: Fouad Ayman , Mandour Mahmoud , Tomoum Mohamed Osama , Lasheen Reham Mamdouh
Published: September 2024

Purpose

To investigate the short-term efficacy of third-generation bisphosphonate in the management of tinnitus associated with otosclerosis.

Methods

A prospective case–control study included 100 patients with otosclerosis-associated bothersome tinnitus. Patients were assigned to two groups: group A (control): 25 patients who planned to receive only complementary supplements, oral vitamin D plus calcium, and group B (case): 75 patients who planned to receive oral bisphosphonate plus routine vitamin D and calcium supplements. Group B was subdivided into B1: 25 patients without any previous intervention, B2: 25 patients with persistent tinnitus for more than 6 months after a previous uncomplicated stapedotomy in the same ear, and B3: 25 patients with persistent tinnitus for more than 6 months after hearing aid fitting. The outcome was tinnitus assessment both subjectively (tinnitus intensity, frequency, and questionnaire) and objectively (tinnitus intensity and frequency).

Results

The female-to-male ratio was 1.6:1 with ages ranging from 40 to 61 years. The baseline revealed no statistically significant differences between the groups. After 6 months, there were statistically significant differences, both objectively and subjectively. The tinnitus questionnaire median (IQR) for group B was 16 (30), whereas control group A had 52 (24). The tinnitus severity median (IQR) for group B was 20 (30), compared to group A’s 52 (42). After 6 months, 40% of the cases in group B demonstrated complete improvement, compared to 0% in control group A.

Conclusion

We demonstrated significant tinnitus improvement in cases treated with bisphosphonate compared to the control group.
Validity of transcutaneous bilirubin measurements during and after phototherapy in term and late preterm infants
Authors: Thamwiriyakul Nirucha , Siripattanapipong Pitiporn , Bowornkitiwong Walaiporn , Chaweerat Renoo , Ngerncham Sopapan
Published: September 2024

The purpose of the study was to investigate correlation and concordance between total serum bilirubin (TSB) and transcutaneous bilirubin measured at covered (TcBC) and uncovered (TcBU) skin during and after discontinuation of phototherapy. A cross-sectional study included ≥ 34 weeks gestation infants requiring phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. In-house, photo-opaque patches were placed on infants’ sternums before phototherapy initiation. Simultaneous blood sampling for TSB, TcBC, and TcBU measurements were performed. Among 103 infants included in the final analysis, 70% were full-term. Covering skin during phototherapy resulted in strong TcBC-TSB correlation (r = 0.91, 95% CI 0.87–0.94, P < 0.001) compared to TcBU (r = 0.53, 95% CI 0.37–0.65, P < 0.001), persisting post-phototherapy (r = 0.88, 95% CI 0.82–0.91, P < 0.001). Bland–Altman analysis showed a higher mean difference and wider 95% limits of agreement for TcBU-TSB during phototherapy (-6.3 mg/dL and -11.1 to -1.6) vs TcBC-TSB (0.9 mg/dL and -1.2 to 2.9). Passing-Bablok regression analysis confirmed good agreement between TcBC and TSB.

Conclusions: The application of in-house, photo-opaque patches enhanced the correlation and agreement between TcBC and TSB during and after discontinuation of phototherapy. This may prove particularly useful in resource-limited settings where commercial devices are unavailable.

What is Known:

• Transcutaneous bilirubin measurement has been widely used as a screening method for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.• The accuracy of transcutaneous bilirubin measurements during and after phototherapy in infants with hyperbilirubinemia has been debated.

What is New:

• Our study demonstrated that utilizing carefully designed photo-opaque patches enhanced the accuracy of transcutaneous bilirubin measurement during and after phototherapy.• Effective in-house alternatives are crucial in resource-limited settings where commercial opaque patches are not always accessible or affordable.
Haben Krankenhäuser die Pflicht, die sekundäre Forschungsnutzung von Behandlungsdaten zu unterstützen?
Authors: Jungkunz Martin , Winkler Eva C. , Schickhardt Christoph
Published: September 2024

Die sekundäre Forschungsnutzung von Behandlungsdaten hat Potenzial, medizinisches Wissen zu erweitern und die Patientenbehandlung zu verbessern. Für eine systematische sekundäre Forschungsnutzung spielen Krankenhäuser eine wichtige Rolle: sie erzeugen große Mengen an Behandlungsdaten und müssen für deren Forschungsnutzung die notwendigen Strukturen aufbauen. Damit stellt sich die ethische Frage: Haben Krankenhäuser eine moralische Pflicht, sekundäre Forschungsnutzung von Behandlungsdaten zu unterstützen, indem sie dafür notwendige Ressourcen und Infrastrukturen aufbauen und betreiben?

Ziel ist es, eine konzeptionelle Herangehensweise zur Erörterung dieser Frage zu skizzieren und eine erste normative Positionierung vorzuschlagen. Auf Beiträge aus der Wirtschafts- und Organisationsethik zurückgreifend, erarbeiten wir einen begrifflichen Rahmen, der Krankenhäuser als moralische Akteure versteht. Die normativ-ethische Analyse basiert auf einem rekonstruktiven Stakeholder-Ansatz, in dessen Rahmen wir folgende Pflichten von Krankenhäusern ausmachen: Orientierung am Patientenwohl, Kosteneffizienz, Ermöglichung von professionellem Handeln, Unterstützung von öffentlicher Gesundheit, Förderung von Forschung. Es wird untersucht, ob diese allgemeinen Pflichten Gründe für eine spezielle Pflicht von Krankenhäusern darstellen, sekundäre Forschungsnutzung von Behandlungsdaten zu unterstützen. Mögliche Einwände gegen eine solche Pflicht, welche sich u. a. aus anderen, potenziell konfligierenden allgemeinen Pflichten der Krankenhäuser (z. B. Datenschutz), aus der Praxis (z. B. Aufwände) oder eventuellen Ansprüchen (Dateneigentum) ergeben, werden diskutiert.

Bestimmte allgemeine Pflichten (Orientierung am Patientenwohl, Kosteneffizienz, Unterstützung öffentlicher Gesundheit) begründen eine Pflicht von Krankenhäusern, sekundäre Forschungsnutzung von Behandlungsdaten zu unterstützen. Die Pflicht zur Ermöglichung professionellen Handelns ist nur ein indirekter Grund; die Pflicht zur Forschungsunterstützung trifft nur auf Universitätskliniken zu. Mögliche Einwände haben teilweise Gewicht, können aber durch gezielte Maßnahmen eingedämmt werden.
High-resolution projections of future FWI conditions for Portugal according to CMIP6 future climate scenarios
Authors: Cardoso Pereira Susana , Monteiro Nuno , Vaz Ricardo , Carvalho David
Published: September 2024

Wildfires are catastrophes of natural origin or initiated by human activities with high disruptive potential. "Portugal, located in western Iberia, has recently experienced several large fire events, including megafires, due to a combination of factors such as orography, vegetation, climate, and socio-demographic conditions that contribute to fuel accumulation.". One approach to studying fire danger is to use fire weather indices that are commonly used to quantify meteorological conditions that can lead to fire ignition and spread. This study aims to provide high-resolution (~ 6 km) future projections of the Fire Weather Index (FWI) for Portugal using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, forced by the Max Planck Institute (MPI) model from the CMIP6 suite, under three emission scenarios (SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP58.5) for the present period (1995–2014) and two future periods (2046–2065 and 2081–2100). The results show good agreement between FWI and its subcomponents from the WRF and reanalysis. The modelled FWI reproduced the climatological distribution of fire danger Projections indicate an increase in days with very high to extreme fire danger (FWI > 38) across all scenarios and time frames, with the southern and northeastern regions experiencing the most significant changes. The southern and northeastern parts of the territory experienced the largest changes, indicating significant changes between the scenarios and regions. This study suggests that FWI and its subcomponents should be investigated further. Our results highlight the importance of creating new adaptation measures, especially in the areas most at risk, prepared in advance by different players and authorities, so that the increasing risk of wildfires can be mitigated in the future.
Removal of Metal(Loids) from Acid Mine Drainage Using Manganese Oxide Wastes from a Mining-Metallurgical Process
Authors: Piñon-Flores Luis F. , Gutiérrez-Ruiz Margarita E. , González-Chávez José L. , Amaro-Ramírez Daniel E. , Aguirre-Gómez Arturo , Molina-Reyes Marco A.
Published: September 2024

This study focused on treating acid mine drainage (AMD) from a Zn-sulfide mine with a composition that includes Al = 445 mg/L, Fe = 263 mg/L, Mn = 364 mg/L, Cd = 2.8 mg/L, and Zn = 4,830 mg/L. After treatment with regional alkaline minerals, the pH increased from 3.0 to 6.3 and metal concentrations decreased mainly by precipitation, falling below Mexico’s permissible limits (MPL) for river discharges, except for Cd2+ and Zn2+, which exceeded their MPLs with concentrations of 0.4 and 1,110 mg/L, respectively. We tested the use of waste materials from a Mn mine containing Mn carbonates (R3) and Mn oxides (R6) for removal of these contaminants. Several Mn oxides have been reported as promising adsorbents and indeed the R6 waste was more efficient than the R3. At a ratio of 0.75 g/L of R6, with 30 h of contact or a ratio of 0.2 with 60 h of contact, Cd2+ and Zn2+ concentrations were decreased to below their MPLs. The evaluation of removal mechanisms was hindered by the complexity of the waste’s composition. However, contact with the AMD increased the zeta potential from negative to positive values, indicating a cation sorption process. Mn wastes can be used without prior alkaline mineral treatment, but their technical and economic viability is less. The results suggest that this process is suitable for treating AMD at abandoned mines sites. Additionally, the Mn wastes can potentially be sold as a sorbent material for other processes, offering a recycling option.
Unifying mortality forecasting model: an investigation of the COM–Poisson distribution in the GAS model for improved projections
Authors: Rakhmawan Suryo Adi , Mahmood Tahir , Abbas Nasir , Riaz Muhammad
Published: September 2024

Forecasting mortality rates is crucial for evaluating life insurance company solvency, especially amid disruptions caused by phenomena like COVID-19. The Lee–Carter model is commonly employed in mortality modelling; however, extensions that can encompass count data with diverse distributions, such as the Generalized Autoregressive Score (GAS) model utilizing the COM–Poisson distribution, exhibit potential for enhancing time-to-event forecasting accuracy. Using mortality data from 29 countries, this research evaluates various distributions and determines that the COM–Poisson model surpasses the Poisson, binomial, and negative binomial distributions in forecasting mortality rates. The one-step forecasting capability of the GAS model offers distinct advantages, while the COM–Poisson distribution demonstrates enhanced flexibility and versatility by accommodating various distributions, including Poisson and negative binomial. Ultimately, the study determines that the COM–Poisson GAS model is an effective instrument for examining time series data on mortality rates, particularly when facing time-varying parameters and non-conventional data distributions.
Analyzing one-repetition-max predictions: load-velocity relationship vs. repetition to failure equation in ten lower extremity exercises
Authors: Simonsen Morten Bilde , Jolas Elisa , Pedersen Sissel Rosenkrans , Jensen Jonas Green , Faarup Mikkel , Jakobsen Rasmus Toftholm , Andersen Michael Skipper , Kristiansen Mathias
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate the accuracy of predicting one-repetition-maximum (1RM) using the load-velocity relationship and different repetition-to-failure estimation equations for ten lower-extremity exercises.

Methods

A total of 22 healthy participants were recruited. The tested exercises included ankle, knee, and hip joint flexion and extension, as well as hip abduction, hip adduction, and leg press. Velocity during the concentric phase was measured using a linear transducer, and individual linear regression models were established using incremental submaximal loads (40–80% 1RM) and velocity to estimate the 1RM. Repetition-to-failure estimations of 1 RM were assessed with eleven different regression equations, among them the Lombardi equation. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Bland and Altman plots, and normalized mean absolute error (NMAE) were used to compare the estimations with a measured 1RM.

Results

Predictions based on the load-velocity relationship exhibited NMAE values ranging from 8.6% to 35.2%, ICC values from 0.35 to 0.87, and substantial limits of agreement across all exercises, in contrast to the measured 1RM values. Among the fatigue estimation equations, the Lombardi equation demonstrated the lowest NMAE across all exercises (5.8%), with an excellent ICC of 0.99 and narrow limits of agreement.

Conclusion

The load-velocity relationship proved inadequate for predicting 1RM in lower-extremity single-joint exercises. However, the Lombardi estimation equations showcased favorable predictive performance with a consistently low average NMAE across all exercises studied.
Housing Tenure and Subjective Wellbeing: The Importance of Public Housing
Authors: Grimes Arthur , Smith Conal , O’Sullivan Kimberley , Howden-Chapman Philippa , Le Gros Lydia , Dohig Rachel Kowalchuk
Published: September 2024

People’s subjective wellbeing is influenced by the built environment, including housing and neighbourhood characteristics. Consistent with prior literature, we find that wellbeing is associated with the condition of a resident’s house (particularly dampness and cold) and with the resident’s perception of their neighbourhood (especially relating to social capital and safety). We show also that the form of tenure (public rental, private rental, owner-occupier) has a material impact on subjective wellbeing. Identical people in identical settings may have different wellbeing outcomes depending on their security of housing tenure. Our findings utilise a survey administered to residents in public rental housing, private rentals and owner-occupiers in New Zealand, focusing on the capital city, Wellington. Despite selection effects, which are likely to bias findings against higher wellbeing for public housing tenants, we find that public tenants have higher subjective wellbeing (WHO-5 and life satisfaction) than do private tenants, and similar wellbeing to owner-occupiers. Length of tenure helps to explain wellbeing differences between public and private tenants, likely reflecting New Zealand law under which private renters have insecure tenure.
Considering Residents’ Health and Well-Being in the Process of Social Housing Redevelopment: A Rapid Scoping Literature Review
Authors: Kim Jinhee , Green Jennifer , McIntyre Erica , Standen Christopher
Published: September 2024

Many aging mid-twentieth-century social housing developments worldwide are set to undergo major redevelopment, aiming to improve residents’ living conditions. Nevertheless, the associated processes, particularly the challenges of relocation during the demolition and reconstruction phase, can significantly disrupt communities and social networks. Understanding the multifaceted impacts of social housing redevelopment projects is crucial to inform planning, design, and consultation for these projects. This scoping literature review explores how residents’ health and well-being are considered in the process of social housing redevelopment. We identified eight studies through a search performed on EMBASE, PubMed, and Scopus databases, with an additional hand search of the bibliographies of selected studies. A thematic analysis was conducted to identify the health and well-being impacts of the different phases during redevelopment projects. The findings demonstrate that social housing redevelopment projects have varied impacts on residents’ health and well-being depending on the subgroup of residents and the contextual characteristics of the original social housing estate. While improved physical infrastructure provides opportunities for better health outcomes, the disruption and lack of control during the relocation process may cause significant adverse health impacts. Moreover, the different phases during the redevelopment process expose different subgroups to varying risks. Based on these findings, we recommend that social housing redevelopment initiatives prioritize engaging and empowering residents to have better control in decision-making throughout all phases of the redevelopment.
Application of transformer architectures in generative video modeling for neurosurgical education
Authors: Lawson McLean Aaron , Gutiérrez Pineda Felipe
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This article explores the potential impact of OpenAI’s Sora, a generative video modeling technology, on neurosurgical training. It evaluates how such technology could revolutionize the field by providing realistic surgical simulations, thereby enhancing the learning experience and proficiency in complex procedures for neurosurgical trainees.

Methods

The study examines the incorporation of this technology into neurosurgical education by leveraging transformer architecture and processing of video and image data. It involves compiling a neurosurgical procedure dataset for model training, aiming to create accurate, high-fidelity simulations.

Results

Our findings indicate significant potential applications in neurosurgical training, including immersive simulations for skill development and exposure to diverse surgical scenarios. The technology also promises to transform assessment and feedback, introducing a standardized, objective way to measure and improve trainee competencies.

Conclusion

Integrating generative video modeling technology into neurosurgical education marks a progressive step toward enhancing training methodologies. Despite challenges in technical, ethical, and practical domains, continuous development and evaluation could lead to substantial advancements in surgical education, preparing neurosurgeons more effectively for their demanding roles.
Associations of sleep parameters with psychopathology and treatment success in patients with borderline personality disorder after dialectical behavior therapy
Authors: Lechinger Julia , Hollandt Jonathan , Albuschat Katrin , Geremek Nicole , Weinhold Sara Lena , Drews Henning , Nilsson Annika , Deutschmann Claudia , Göder Robert
Published: September 2024

Background

Patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) often suffer from sleep problems, which interact with BPD-specific symptoms and influence prognosis. The present study investigated the relationships between BPD symptoms, the outcome of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and sleep quality and sleep architecture as assessed by polysomnography.

Materials and methods

Seventeen patients diagnosed with BPD participated in an 8‑week semi-residential DBT program. At the beginning of the program, two nights of polysomnography were conducted in the sleep laboratory. Depressive symptoms, BPD-specific symptoms, and subjective sleep quality were assessed via questionnaires at the beginning and end of the treatment program as well as after 6 months.

Results

The DBT program successfully decreased depressive and BPD-specific symptoms and increased subjective sleep quality. Patients with the strongest symptoms benefitted more from the treatment. Stronger BPD-specific symptoms were associated with less rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. At the 6‑month follow-up, only depression was still reduced, while BPD-specific symptoms and sleep quality had again worsened. Better subjective sleep quality was associated with a stronger reduction in BSL scores at 6‑month follow-up.

Conclusion

The DBT program was initially effective. The positive outcome was, however, not permanent, stressing the importance of subsequent disorder-specific outpatient programs. Furthermore, REM sleep might to some extent protect against emotional distress in BDP, and subjective sleep quality was positively correlated with follow-up treatment outcome.
Receiving and Providing Gay Generativity: The Mediating Role of Identity Affirmation
Authors: Busch Holger , Kranz Dirk
Published: September 2024

The present study examines generativity in a sample of gay men. Specifically, it tests if received gay generativity relates to provided gay generativity through positive and/or negative gay identity, respectively. A sample of 260 German gay men with a mean age of 49 years completed measures of received and provided gay generativity as well as gay identity affirmation and internalized homonegativity (i.e., crucial aspects of positive and negative gay identity, respectively). Preliminary analyses yielded support for the validity of the newly constructed measures of received and provided gay generativity in that they correlated with general generativity and life satisfaction as expected. A parallel mediation analysis confirmed an indirect effect of received generativity on provided generativity through increased gay identity affirmation but not through decreased internalized homonegativity. Results indicate that having benefitted from someone else’s generativity facilitates positive gay identity formation, which itself is a motor of gay men’s own generativity. As a social-policy implication, the study suggests that it is advisable to create contexts in which gay generativity is possible, for example, gay community centers.
Research environments vis-à-vis biological environments: ontological parallels, epistemic parallax, and metaphilosophical parallelization
Authors: Fábregas-Tejeda Alejandro
Published: September 2024

In a recent development of what may be called biological philosophy of science, scholars have proposed that aligning notions of research environments with biological concepts of environment holds great promise for understanding the socio-material contexts in and through which science happens. Here, I explore the prospects and potential shortcomings of building sound research environment concepts by contrasting them with biological environment concepts. In doing so, I emphasize the importance of adhering to two central desiderata: the need to clarify what is being environed (i.e., what the counter relatum of an environment is) and what is doing the environing (i.e., what type of environmental partition is instantiated). Subsequently, I juxtapose two biological construals of environment—organismal environments and population environments—with possible articulations of what ‘research environments’ might stand for, and I maintain that each presents distinct epistemic upshots and limitations. More generally, I argue that there are two broad relations that could exist between biological and research environments: ontological parallels and ontic discordance. Finally, employing the visual metaphor of epistemic parallax, I conclude by conveying some lessons and cautionary notes arising from these comparisons and the importation of biological environment concepts into philosophy of science. While environment concepts may come with epistemic purchase, we should be careful when ontologizing them.
“Differentiation is Sometimes a Hit and Miss”. Educator Perceptions of Differentiated Instruction in the Higher Education Sector
Authors: Subban Pearl , Suprayogi Muhamad Nanang , Preston Melly , Liyani Annisa Nanda , Ratri Andrea Prita Purnama
Published: September 2024

Differentiated instruction is an effective means of addressing student diversity, and is increasingly being adopted by educators within the higher education sector. However, the global pandemic and changes to content delivery have altered the educational landscape. Hybridised delivery has resulted in the need for more innovative and contemporary means of accommodating student diversity, to suit both in-situ and remote learning platforms. Additionally, increasing student diversity in higher education has prompted a rethinking of how to accommodate student variance. This qualitative study sought to gauge the views of four educators, who were faced with hybridisation of content delivery during the global pandemic. Led by an overarching objective of ascertaining educator perceptions, responses and attitudes toward differentiated instruction, the study utilised four in-depth case studies to reflect on the implementation of differentiated instruction in the higher education sector. Results from this qualitative analysis yielded the view that time constraints, the coverage of prescribed content and increasing student diversity continue to act as barriers to authentic differentiation. While all showcased educators embraced the underlying philosophy of differentiating instruction to suit student needs, many were hampered by administrative duties which compromised their time and effort with regard to differentiation.