bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Decentralizing Online Food Delivery Services: A Blockchain and IoT Model for Smart Cities
Authors: Tokkozhina Ulpan , Mataloto Bruno Miguel , Martins Ana Lucia , Ferreira Joao C.
Published: February 2023

With the worldwide pandemic outbreak, the style of restaurant food consumption underwent a major shift towards online delivery services. This poses an urgent need in trust between main stakeholders of the process: requiring restaurants to correspond to the quality declared, providing high quality and safe to consume meals, and obliging delivery entities to deliver food carefully, scrupulously following the delivery conditions. In this research, we explore a novelty approach that combines IoT, Blockchain technology, and city LoRa network to create a new trusted, decentralized approach for food distribution process in the context of a Smart City. This approach allows controlling the food delivery process using sensors data to control live location, temperature, vibrations, and shakings during the transportation process. We also suggest a fresh perspective on a rating system of delivery entities, where reputation points will be provided both from the side of the restaurant and the final consumer. This will create more trust towards the delivery entity since information will be tamper-proof and immutable due to the nature of Blockchain. This novel system proposal allows rethinking the online food delivery process in the context of Smart City, using the city’s LoRa LPWAN radio frequency technology and Blockchain decentralized solution.
The PYK2 inhibitor PF-562271 enhances the effect of temozolomide on tumor growth in a C57Bl/6-Gl261 mouse glioma model
Authors: Ortiz-Rivera Jescelica , Nuñez Rebeca , Kucheryavykh Yuriy , Kucheryavykh Lilia
Published: February 2023

Background

The development of resistance to temozolomide (TMZ), a standard chemotherapeutic, limits the effective treatment of glioblastoma (GBM). Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and proline rich tyrosine kinase 2 (Pyk2) regulate proliferation and invasion of GBM cells. We found that TMZ activates FAK and Pyk2 signaling in GBM. We hypothesized that pharmacological inhibitors of Pyk2/FAK together with TMZ can enhance the inhibitory effect of TMZ on tumor growth and dispersal and improve the treatment outcome.

Methods

Primary human GBM cell cultures and a C57Bl/6-GL261 mouse glioma implantation model were used. Pyk2 (Tyr579/580) and FAK (Tyr925) phosphorylation was analyzed by western blotting. Viability, cell cycle, migration, invasion and invadopodia formation were investigated in vitro. Animal survival, tumor size and invasion, TUNEL apoptotic cell death and the Ki67 proliferation index were evaluated in vivo upon treatment with TMZ (50 mg/kg, once/day, orally) and the Pyk2/FAK inhibitor PF-562271 (once/daily, 50 mg/kg, orally) vs. TMZ monotherapy.

Results

In vitro studies revealed significantly reduced viability, cell cycle progression, invasion and invadopodia with TMZ (100 µM) + PF-562271 (16 nM) compared with TMZ alone. In vivo studies demonstrated that combinatorial treatment led to prominent reductions in tumor size and invasive margins, extensive signs of apoptosis and a reduced proliferation index, together with a 15% increase in the survival rate in animals, compared with TMZ monotherapy.

Conclusion

TMZ + PF-562271 eliminates TMZ-related Pyk2/FAK activation in GBM and improves the treatment efficacy.
Inhibition of the epigenetically activated miR-483-5p/IGF-2 pathway results in rapid loss of meningioma tumor cell viability
Authors: Uhlmann Erik J. , Mackel Charles E. , Deforzh Evgeny , Rabinovsky Rosalia , Brastianos Priscilla K. , Varma Hemant , Vega Rafael A. , Krichevsky Anna M.
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Meningioma is the most common primary central nervous system tumor often causing serious complications, and presently no medical treatment is available. The goal of this study was to discover miRNAs dysregulated in meningioma, and explore miRNA-associated pathways amenable for therapeutic interventions.

Methods

Small RNA sequencing was performed on meningioma tumor samples to study grade-dependent changes in microRNA expression. Gene expression was analyzed by chromatin marks, qRT-PCR and western blot. miRNA modulation, anti-IGF-2 neutralizing antibodies, and inhibitors against IGF1R were evaluated in a tumor-derived primary cultures of meningioma cells.

Results

Meningioma tumor samples showed high, grade-dependent expression of miR-483-5p, associated with high mRNA and protein expression of its host gene IGF-2. Inhibition of miR-483-5p reduced the growth of cultured meningioma cells, whereas a miR-483 mimic increased cell proliferation. Similarly, inhibition of this pathway with anti-IGF-2 neutralizing antibodies reduced meningioma cell proliferation. Small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor blockade of the IGF-2 receptor (IGF1R) resulted in rapid loss of viability of cultured meningioma tumor-derived cells, suggesting that autocrine IGF-2 feedback is obligatory for meningioma tumor cell survival and growth. The observed IGF1R-inhibitory IC50 for GSK1838705A and ceritinib in cell-based assays along with the available pharmacokinetics data predicted that effective drug concentration could be achieved in vivo as a new medical treatment of meningioma.

Conclusion

Meningioma cell growth is critically dependent on autocrine miR-483/IGF-2 stimulation and the IGF-2 pathway provides a feasible meningioma treatment target.
Estuarine response to storm surge and sea-level rise associated with channel deepening: a flood vulnerability assessment of southwest Louisiana, USA
Authors: Mansur Maqsood , Hopkins Julia , Chen Qin
Published: February 2023

This study investigates the sensitivity of the Calcasieu Lake estuarine region to channel deepening in southwest Louisiana in the USA. We test the hypothesis that the depth increase in a navigational channel in an estuarine region results in the amplification of the inland penetration of storm surge, thereby increasing the flood vulnerability of the region. We run numerical experiments using the Delft3D modeling suite (validated with observational data) with different historic channel depth scenarios. Model results show that channel deepening facilitates increased water movement into the lake–estuary system during a storm surge event. The inland peak water level increases by 37% in the presence of the deepest channel. Moreover, the peak volumetric flow rate increases by 291.6% along the navigational channel. Furthermore, the tidal prism and the volume of surge prism passing through the channel inlet increase by 487% and 153.3%, respectively. In our study, the presence of the deepest channel results in extra 56.72 km2 of flooded area (approximately 12% increase) which is an indication that channel deepening over the years has rendered the region more vulnerable to hurricane-induced flooding. The study also analyzes the impact of channel deepening on storm surge in estuaries under different future sea-level rise (SLR) scenarios. Simulations suggest that even the most conservative scenario of SLR will cause an approximately 51% increase in flooded area in the presence of the deepest ship channel, thereby suggesting that rising sea level will cause increased surge penetration and increased flood risk.
The structure and dynamics of instrument collaboration networks
Authors: Söderström Kristofer Rolf
Published: February 2023

Complex scientific questions often require collaboration between scientists to access scientific instruments (deS. Price, Res Policy 13:3–20, 1984; Shrum et al. 2007, Structures of scientific collaboration, The MIT Press, 2007), knowledge and social capital from scientists outside of their immediate networks (Burt, Am J Sociol 110:349–399, 2004; Collins, Tacit and explicit knowledge, University of Chicago Press,https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/T/bo8461024.html, 2012; Granovetter, Am J Sociol 78:1360–1380, 1973; Polanyi, Personal knowledge: towards a post-critical philosophy (Repr. (with corr.)). Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1962). Synchrotron radiation facilities are a unique case to explore this type of collaboration, as external scientists going to the facility to do their ordinary research work are common. These external users use complex scientific instrumentation that could require the additional accumulated knowledge of internal scientists and staff more familiar with the technical and social aspects of the instruments. These collaborations sometimes result in a co-authored publication with internal staff, employed in these facilities. However, this is not always the case. Data from the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) shows that most often, external scientists do not include internal staff in the co-author fields of the subsequent publication from scientific work done in one (or more) instruments in these facilities. Instrument collaboration networks are constructed and analysed over the period 2000–2018 for the different scientific instruments within the facility. A strong relationship between the level of external collaboration and the structure of the networks is found and explored. The results provide further insight into factors that shape collaboration and knowledge transfer, also relevant to policy makers and facility managers seeking to promote these activities.
‘Mind-forg’d Manacles’: Virtual Experience and Innocent Publication
Authors: Rochford Francine
Published: February 2023

In Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd v Voller (‘Voller’) the Australian High Court held that media companies maintaining Facebook comment pages could be liable for the defamatory posts of commenters on those sites. The decision focussed entirely on whether, by maintaining the Facebook page, the companies had ‘published’ the statements of commenters. Hearings on other aspects of the tort litigation continue. This paper considers the implications of the tort of defamation on public participation on political will formation where, as is increasingly the case, the participation occurs virtually. Australian law has already tackled the law of defamation as a threat to freedom of political communication; Voller continues the jurisprudence by considering whether hosting an online forum for debate amounts to publication. The more recent High Court judgment in Google LLC v Defteros demonstrated the necessity of the law to align the ‘acts’ necessary to found legal action with the new environment of automated search engines. The troubled intersection of dematerialised practices of political and cultural discourse and jurisdictionally bound laws of defamation challenges participatory governance as tribes form and dissolve and shift between geographical interests.

Defamation in Australia is a tort of strict liability; and, absenting applicable defences, any participation in communication is sufficient to make that participant a publisher and a party to the defamation. The online environment stretches words across geographical and jurisdictional boundaries, but it also stretches and contorts concepts of fault and responsibility. Participatory digital cultural practices integrating users in the creation of cultural heritage simultaneously draw participants into transgressions, both cultural and legal, which are amplified by the medium. Questions of collective guilt, ‘shades’ of moral responsibility and disproportionality between blameworthiness and legal liability challenge laws formulated for the printing press but now deployed in the online environment. In this way the digitized participatory environment presents deep challenges to law and legal systems, which are chained to geography. This paper considers the concept of innocent publication in the context of the digitized participatory environment and the way in which the virtual experience is dissolving concepts of geographically defined jurisdictions.
Greco’s explanatory salience contextualism revisited
Authors: Bernecker Sven
Published: February 2023

According to Greco’s early explanatory salience contextualism, S knows that p if and only if S’s cognitive abilities are the salient factor in a causal explanation of why S holds a true belief rather than a false belief or no belief at all. Greco abandoned this view because it cannot handle fake barn cases and because it proves impossible to analyze knowledge in terms of a quantitative characterization of explanatory salience. The paper argues that the core idea of explanatory salience contextualism could have been saved if only the causal notion of explanation had been replaced by an abductive notion.
Nine decades of data on environmental chemical pollutant exposure in dogs: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Avila Albert , Prieto Laura , Luna-Acosta Andrea
Published: February 2023

In recent decades, a global concern associated with environmental chemical contamination has emerged as an important risk factor for the development of human diseases. Risk assessment methods based on animal approaches have shown to be very useful as early warning systems. However, questions, knowledge gaps, and limitations still need to be addressed in animals close to humans, such as dogs. The objective of this study was to analyze citation patterns, impact of publications, and most relevant authors, countries, institutional affiliations, and lines of research on environmental chemical contaminants and their relationship with dogs, in terms of exposure and biological effects. For this, a bibliometric analysis was carried out. Results revealed an increase in scientific production on this subject during the last 90 years in journals such as Health Physics, Science of the Total Environment, and Plos One, highlighting authors such as Muggenburg, Sonne, Boecker, and Dietz. The USA, Brazil, Germany, and the UK and universities such as California, Colorado State, and Purdue were the most relevant countries and institutional affiliations in scientific production and collaboration in relation to this topic. There is a growing interest in the development of lines of research related to heavy metals (mercury and lead mainly) and persistent organic compounds (PCBs, PBDEs, pesticides) using dogs as sentinels, as well as new sources of interest related to zoonosis and One Health. Finally, issues related to pollutants, sentinel lymph nodes, and epidemiology appear as new areas of research. These results highlight interesting current challenges and future research perspectives on dogs as sentinels for environmental chemical contamination.
NAFLD, MAFLD, and beyond: one or several acronyms for better comprehension and patient care
Authors: Portincasa Piero
Published: February 2023

The term non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has rapidly become the most common type of chronic liver disease. NAFLD points to excessive hepatic fat storage and no evidence of secondary hepatic fat accumulation in patients with “no or little alcohol consumption”. Both the etiology and pathogenesis of NAFLD are largely unknown, and a definitive therapy is lacking. Since NAFLD is very often and closely associated with metabolic dysfunctions, a consensus process is ongoing to shift the acronym NAFLD to MAFLD, i.e., metabolic-associated fatty liver disease. The change in terminology is likely to improve the classification of affected individuals, the disease awareness, the comprehension of the terminology and pathophysiological aspects involved, and the choice of more personalized therapeutic approaches while avoiding the intrinsic stigmatization due to the term “non-alcoholic”. Even more recently, other sub-classifications have been proposed to concentrate the heterogeneous causes of fatty liver disease under one umbrella. While awaiting additional validation studies in this field, we discuss the main reasons underlying this important shift of paradigm.
Sourcing energy services in business-to-business contexts: practices among end-customers
Authors: Poblete León , Halldórsson Árni
Published: February 2023

Facing increased pressure to use renewable energy and achieve energy efficiency, organisations have the complex task of sourcing energy services from energy providers in business-to-business (B2B) contexts. We aimed to explore how customers in such contexts approach the sourcing of energy services. Our theoretical and empirical approach linked energy as a service offering and customer–provider interfaces used in sourcing energy services to elucidate the practices adopted in such sourcing by customers in B2B contexts. To that end, we employed a qualitative research approach using the Gioia methodology and conducted 18 semi-structured interviews with representatives of 18 firms in the B2B market for energy services in Sweden. Our results revealed two central categories of how energy services are sourced: basic and advanced. The theorising of those categories as forms of direct and indirect energy efficiency, combined with four types of energy services—information-, analysis-, improvement- and contract-oriented services, which include a description of energy services exchanged, where the customer uses the energy service, the customer’s sourcing practices and characteristics of sourcing practices—provides important contributions to the literature on energy services. In turn, we propose a four-part typology of interfaces used by providers and customers of energy services that considers the type of services sourced.
Connectivity and Order: an Analytical Framework
Authors: Gaens Bart , Sinkkonen Ville , Vogt Henri
Published: February 2023

IR literature has become inundated with different descriptions for the future of international order. The coming age is purportedly marked by China’s ascendancy, American decline, a leaderless “no-one’s world”, or multiple competing modernities. Yet the global fight against climate change or shared COVID-19 strategies convey a different image of the world’s predicament. The situation appears paradoxical: increasingly tense great-power relations are mixed with ever-strengthening interdependencies. This article contributes to these debates by exploring how global orders as well as regionalism today are increasingly defined by various types of connective functional links between intentional actors at various levels of social organisation. To enable a nuanced analysis, the article introduces an analytical framework composed of sixconnectivitylogics, namely cooperation, copying, cushioning, contestation, containment, and coercion. These play out differently within material, economic, institutional, knowledge, people-to-people, and security spheres. The utility of this article’s approach is demonstrated through empirical examples related to the policies of key actors in the Indo-Pacific region.
Drinking motives as a predictor of readiness to change alcohol use
Authors: Moustafa Ahmed A. , Alvinia Nadia P. , Liu Liquan , Richard Yuliya , Hanafy Ali A. , Bagadood Nizar H. , Hamza Eid Abo
Published: February 2023

Drinking motives have been identified as important predictors of alcohol consumption. Similarly, the degree of readiness to change (RTC) can predict behavioral changes when drinking alcohol. However, the link between drinking motives and RTC has not been explored in previous research. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the four drinking motives (coping, enhancement, social, conformity) can predict the three stages of RTC (precontemplation, contemplation and action) in relation to alcohol consumption. Two hundred and fifty-two undergraduates’ students completed an online self-assessment survey on Qualtrics that assessed motives for alcohol use, drinking behavior, and RTC. Hierarchical regressions showed that among the four specific drinking motives, coping motives significantly predicted all three stages of RTC; conformity motives positively predicted the action stage of change; social motives negatively predicted the precontemplation and action stages of change; enhancement motives were not significant in predicting RTC stages. These results indicate that the three RTC levels can be predicted by coping, social, and conformity motives, but not by enhancement motives. Additionally, given the importance of coping motives, it might be useful to address and include healthier coping mechanisms as part of clinical interventions and prevention methods to circumvent unsafe drinking behaviors independent of a single RTC stage.
Conceptualizing anxiety and depression in children and adolescents: a latent factor and network analysis
Authors: Junghänel Michaela , Thöne Ann-Kathrin , Dose Christina , Breuer Dieter , Görtz-Dorten Anja , Döpfner Manfred
Published: February 2023

The objective of this study is to gain insight into the inherent structure of anxiety and depressive symptoms by combining the strengths of latent factor analysis and network analysis. The sample comprised 743 children and adolescents aged 4–18 years (M = 11.64, SD = 3.66, 61% males) who sought routine care outpatient psychotherapy. Parents or primary caregivers rated anxiety and depressive symptoms of their children on a DSM-5-/ICD-10-based symptom checklist. First, we analyzed the factor structure of the internalizing symptoms using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Next, we conducted a network analysis and identified central and bridge symptoms that may explain comorbidity between anxiety disorders and depression. We then employed exploratory graph analysis (EGA) as an alternative tool within the framework of network psychometrics to estimate the number of dimensions (i.e., communities within a network). Finally, we tested a model based on these results using confirmatory factor analysis. The results demonstrate a complex interplay between anxiety and depressive symptom domains. Four factors/communities were identified by EFA and EGA, but the item-community allocation differed, and the interpretation of factors/communities was unclear. A clear distinction between these domains could not be supported. However, associations within a domain were stronger than associations between the two domains. We identified pain, suicidal, irritable, and afraid of adults as bridge items between the symptom domains. In conclusion, our findings further advance the general understanding of the frequently reported co-occurrence of anxiety and depressive symptoms and diagnoses in clinical practice. Identifying bridge symptoms may inform intervention practices by targeting specific symptoms that contribute to the maintenance of anxious and depressive behaviors.
The Landscape of Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibodies (nAbs) for Treatment and Prevention of COVID-19
Authors: de Almeida Oliveira Aline , Praia Borges Freire Diana , Rodrigues de Andrade Ana , de Miranda Marques Amanda , da Silva Madeira Luciana , Moreno Senna José Procópio , Freitas Brasileiro da Silveira Ivna Alana , de Castro Fialho Beatriz
Published: February 2023

Purpose

After nearly 3 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, even though a vast body of knowledge and products (including vaccines and treatments) have been developed and disseminated, the virus is still evolving and new variants arising. Consequently, thousands of lives continue to be lost. Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (nAbs) are promising drugs that emerged to treat SARS-CoV-2. In the uncertainty of the current situation, there is the question of whether organizations should continue to invest in this technology. To help decision-making in scientifical and pharmaceutical organizations, it is of major importance to monitor the development of products and technologies. Therefore, the aim of this study is analyze the landscape of nAbs for COVID-19.

Methods

The scenario of 473 biotherapeutics focusing on nAbs was evaluated using foresight techniques and a review of literature. Data were obtained from structured and semi-structured databases and processed for treatment, cleaning, consistency, validation, and enrichment.

Results

We identified 227 nAbs and performed an extensive literature review of 16 nAbs in late clinical development, including development technologies, responses to variants of concern (VOCs), manufacturing, and clinical aspects.

Conclusions

Even though the emergence of new VOCs is a threat to the effectiveness of this treatment, demanding constant genomic surveillance, the use of nAbs to treat and prevent COVID-19 will probably continue to be relevant due to excellent safety profiles and the possibility of immediate immunity transfer, especially in patients showing inadequate immunological response to vaccination. Therefore, we suggest that organizations should keep investing in improvements in this technology.
Commensurate stacking within confined ultramicropores boosting acetylene storage capacity and separation efficiency
Authors: Huang Zhenghui , Chai Kungang , Kang Chengjun , Krishna Rajamani , Zhang Zhaoqiang
Published: February 2023

Developing advanced porous materials possessing both a high storage capacity and selectivity for acetylene (C2H2) remains challenging but a sought-after endeavor. Herein we show a strategy involving synergic combination of spatial confinement and commensurate stacking for enhanced C2H2storage and capture via maximizing the host—guest and guest—guest interactions. Two ultramicroporous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), MIL-160 and MOF-303 are elaborately constructed to exhibit ultrahigh C2H2uptakes of 235 and 195 cm3·g−1, respectively, due to the confinement effect of the suitable pore sizes and periodically dispersed molecular recognition sites. Specially, C2H2capacity of MIL-160 sets a new benchmark for C2H2storage. The exceptional separation performances of two materials for C2H2over both CO2and ethylene (C2H4), which is rarely observed, outperform most of the benchmark materials for C2H2capture. We scrutinized the origins of ultrahigh C2H2loading in the confined channels via theoretical investigations. The superior separation efficiency for C2H2/CO2and C2H2/C2H4mixtures with unprecedented C2H2trapping capacity (> 200 L·kg−1) was further demonstrated by dynamic breakthrough experiments.
Severity and risk factors of interval breast cancer in Queensland, Australia: a population-based study
Authors: Kou Kou , Cameron Jessica , Youl Philippa , Pyke Chris , Chambers Suzanne , Dunn Jeff , Aitken Joanne F. , Baade Peter D.
Published: February 2023

Background

Interval breast cancers (BC) are those diagnosed within 24 months of a negative mammogram. This study estimates the odds of being diagnosed with high-severity BC among screen-detected, interval, and other symptom-detected BC (no screening history within 2 years); and explores factors associated with being diagnosed with interval BC.

Methods

Telephone interviews and self-administered questionnaires were conducted among women (n = 3,326) diagnosed with BC in 2010–2013 in Queensland. Respondents were categorised into screen-detected, interval, and other symptom-detected BCs. Data were analysed using logistic regressions with multiple imputation.

Results

Compared with screen-detected BC, interval BC had higher odds of late-stage (OR = 3.50, 2.9–4.3), high-grade (OR = 2.36, 1.9–2.9) and triple-negative cancers (OR = 2.55, 1.9–3.5). Compared with other symptom-detected BC, interval BC had lower odds of late stage (OR = 0.75, 0.6–0.9), but higher odds of triple-negative cancers (OR = 1.68, 1.2–2.3). Among women who had a negative mammogram (n = 2,145), 69.8% were diagnosed at their next mammogram, while 30.2% were diagnosed with an interval cancer. Those with an interval cancer were more likely to have healthy weight (OR = 1.37, 1.1–1.7), received hormone replacement therapy (2–10 years: OR = 1.33, 1.0–1.7; > 10 years: OR = 1.55, 1.1–2.2), conducted monthly breast self-examinations (BSE) (OR = 1.66, 1.2–2.3) and had previous mammogram in a public facility (OR = 1.52, 1.2–2.0).

Conclusion

These results highlight the benefits of screening even among those with an interval cancer. Women-conducted BSE were more likely to have interval BC which may reflect their increased ability to notice symptoms between screening intervals.
Efficiently computing the Shapley value of connectivity games in low-treewidth graphs
Authors: van der Zanden Tom C. , Bodlaender Hans L. , Hamers Herbert J. M.
Published: February 2023

The Shapley value is the solution concept in cooperative game theory that is most used in both theoretical and practical settings. Unfortunately, in general, computing the Shapley value is computationally intractable. This paper focuses on computing the Shapley value of (weighted) connectivity games. For these connectivity games, which are defined on an underlying (weighted) graph, computing the Shapley value is $$\#\textsf {P}$$

#
P

-hard, and thus (likely) intractable even for graphs with a moderate number of vertices. We present an algorithm that can efficiently compute the Shapley value if the underlying graph has bounded treewidth. Next, we apply our algorithm to several real-world (covert) networks. We show that our algorithm can quickly compute exact Shapley values for these networks, whereas in prior work these values could only be approximated using a heuristic method. Finally, it is demonstrated that our algorithm can also efficiently compute the Shapley value time for several larger (artificial) benchmark graphs from the PACE 2018 challenge.
Influence of new general relativity parameters on the Big Rip–Big Crunch Model
Authors: Ibraheem Shymaa K. , Bakry M. A.
Published: February 2023

In this article, the field equations of new general relativity, constructed by Hayashi and Shirafuji, contain three free parameters. These field equations have been applied to the Friedmann–Robertson–Walker metric in the domain of cosmology. In the application, a family of models, involving two of the parameters characterizing the field equations of new general relativity, is obtained. Conditions are placed on these parameters in order for the model to be compatible with the Big Rip or Big Crunch models. These models refer to original relativistic models of relativity theory if the parameters characterizing the field equations are equal to unity. The exact solutions are obtained under a specific choice of the parameters characterizing the field equations and the quadratic deceleration parameter. Radiation, dust, dark energy, vacuum, and phantom universes are obtained from field equations,and these models are not affected by the field parameters. Energy conditions, as well as the effective potential of the proposed models, are discussed.
Perspectives of Indigenous University Students in Canada on Mindfulness-Based Interventions and their Adaptation to Reduce Depression and Anxiety Symptoms
Authors: Beshai Shadi , Desjarlais Sharon M. , Green Brenda
Published: February 2023

Objectives

Indigenous university students experience high rates of anxiety and depression due primarily to the pernicious and persistent effects of colonialism, racism, and discrimination. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) hold promise, but likely require adaptation to make them culturally relevant for Indigenous peoples. We sought to gather Indigenous students’ perspectives on the consistency and adaptability of MBIs for Indigenous students experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Method

This three-part longitudinal investigation employed a qualitative design mixed with Indigenous research methods to elicit feedback from students (n = 14;Mage = 28.92) on the acceptability of MBIs and ways to tailor MBIs to make them more consistent with Indigenous cultures and student lifestyles. We subsequently used this feedback to develop an outline for an adapted MBI that was then re-evaluated by the same participants for its cultural relevance and safety.

Results

Indigenous students emphasized the need for the adapted MBI to incorporate (a) traditional Indigenous practices; (b) Indigenous facilitators; (c) holistic conceptualizations of mental health that include spirituality; and (d) practices and methods that could improve flexibility and accessibility of the adapted intervention. Based on this feedback, we presented students with an outline of an adapted MBI tentatively titledMiyowâyâwin Mindful Wellbeing Program, which received favorable evaluations by students for cultural consistency and safety.

Conclusions

We confirmed the perceived acceptability and consistency of mindfulness and mindfulness programs with Indigenous cultures. The need for a flexible MBI that centers Indigenous elements and Indigenous facilitators was highlighted by Indigenous participants. This study paves the way for latter steps of the development and subsequent evaluation of theMiyowâyâwin Mindful Wellbeing Program.

Preregistration

This study is not preregistered.
Do Mathematicians Agree about Mathematical Beauty?
Authors: Sa Rentuya , Alcock Lara , Inglis Matthew , Tanswell Fenner Stanley
Published: February 2023

Mathematicians often conduct aesthetic judgements to evaluate mathematical objects such as equations or proofs. But is there a consensus about which mathematical objects are beautiful? We used a comparative judgement technique to measure aesthetic intuitions among British mathematicians, Chinese mathematicians, and British mathematics undergraduates, with the aim of assessing whether judgements of mathematical beauty are influenced by cultural differences or levels of expertise. We found aesthetic agreement both within and across these demographic groups. We conclude that judgements of mathematical beauty are not strongly influenced by cultural difference, levels of expertise, and types of mathematical objects. Our findings contrast with recent studies that found mathematicians often disagree with each other about mathematical beauty.
Nested modalities in astrophysical modeling
Authors: Castellani Elena , Schettino Giulia
Published: February 2023

In the context of astrophysical modeling at the solar system scale, we investigate the modalities implied by taking into account different levels of detail at which phenomena can be considered. In particular, by framing the analysis in terms of the how-possibly/how-actually distinction, we address the debated question as to whether the degree of plausibility is tightly linked to the degree of detail. On the grounds of concrete examples, we argue that, also in the astrophysical context examined, this is not necessarily the case.
Oligoetherols and polyurethane foams based on cyclotriphosphazene of reduced flammability
Authors: Lubczak Jacek , Lubczak Renata
Published: February 2023

New oligoetherols with based on cyclotriphosphazene ring were synthesized by functionalization of hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene with glycidol followed by reaction with ethylene glycol and glycerol. Oligoetherols were characterized by IR, 1H-NMR, and MALDI-ToF and hydroxyl number as well as physical properties like density, viscosity and surface tension. The oligoetherols were further converted into polyurethane foams. The rigid foams of enhanced thermal stability and considerably diminished flammability were obtained and their apparent density, water uptake and polymerization shrinkage, thermal conductivity coefficient and thermal stability were determined. The flammability of foams was studied by microcalorimetric methods, horizontal flaming test and oxygen index. The obtained polyurethane foams with incorporated cyclotriphosphazene ring are self-extinguishing.

Graphical abstract
Impact of umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal/stem cell secretome and cord blood serum in prostate cancer progression
Authors: Sousa André , Coelho Pedro , Leite Fernanda , Teixeira Catarina , Rocha Ana Catarina , Santos Inês , Baylina Pilar , Fernandes Ruben , Soares Raquel , Costa Raquel , Gomes Andreia
Published: February 2023

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common malignancy in men, and the fifth leading cause of death worldwide. Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSC) have been identified in PCa, although contradictory effects in malignant transformation and tumor progression have been described. Since umbilical cord (UC) MSC and cord blood serum (CBS) are rich in numerous growth and anti-inflammatory factors, UC-MSC secretome and CBS are able to modulate tumor cell proliferation and survival as well as immunity and angiogenesis. In the present study, we address this relationship and investigate the influence of UC-MSC secretome and CBS on two human PCa cell lines (PC3 and LNCaP) and a normal epithelial prostate cell line (HPEpiC). Our results disclosed that upon exposure to UC-MSC-conditioned medium or CBS, both PC3 and LNCaP cells exhibited reduced viability, proliferation, and motility while non-malignant epithelial prostate cells were unaffected. These findings were corroborated by expression analysis of AKT/PI3K signaling pathway, p53 and interleukin genes. UC-MSC and CBS factors decreased the expression of growth-stimulating AKT and PI3K effectors and simultaneously up-regulated the expression of tumor-suppressor p53. Moreover, a more anti-inflammatory expression profile was found in both malignant PCa cell lines. Altogether, these results shed light into possible mechanisms by which UC-MSC and CBS reduce PCa progression, further reinforcing their potential use as novel therapeutic agents in PCa.

Graphical abstract
Understanding the role of value chain formation in the scaling of crop diversification
Authors: Weituschat Chiara Sophia , Pascucci Stefano , Materia Valentina Cristiana , Blasi Emanuele
Published: February 2023

Significant detrimental effects of agricultural intensification and specialization are becoming increasingly evident. Reliance on monocultures, few varieties, and intensive use of agrochemicals is a major factor in climate change, biodiversity decline, soil health deterioration, and pollution, putting our food system at risk. This requires sustainable agricultural processes, such as crop diversification, to be more rapidly and effectively tested, adopted, and scaled. While these processes are typically introduced at niche level, they often struggle to scale and to induce broader sustainability transitions. In this study, we investigate how scaling may occur, focusing on institutional logics, their changes, and realignment over time. In particular, we applied an abductive research strategy to collect empirical evidence from two in-depth, longitudinal case studies of innovation niches related to crop diversification. Doing so, we show for the first time that, despite their many differences, scaling processes of crop diversification in both niches converge, presenting similar progressions in terms of institutional dimensions, and facing similar obstacles when it comes to value chain formation. While initial experimentation could still be implemented using organizational forms familiar to the lead actors, we discover that a systemic lack of adequate value chain arrangements obstructed the scaling process of crop diversification in both cases. These findings have been used to reflect on the role of value chain relations in scaling processes in sustainability transitions in agriculture.
Cystectomie en urinedeviatie bij interstitiële blaasafwijkingen
Authors: Nieuwenhuijzen Jakko A. , van der Sluis Tim M.
Published: February 2023

Samenvatting

Doel van de studie was evaluatie van de beschikbare literatuur over de kans op succes van urinedeviaties al dan niet met cystectomie bij patiënten met bekkenpijnsyndroom / interstitiële cystitis. Er werden drie reviews gevonden en nul gerandomiseerde trials. In de 21 geselecteerde case series werden in totaal 475 patiënten geïncludeerd. De kans op succes van een urinedeviatie was 81%. Voorspellers voor de kans op succes (aanwezigheid van een Hunnerse laesie en kleine blaascapaciteit) konden niet worden bevestigd vanwege de heterogeniteit van de studies. Urinedeviatie in combinatie met verwijdering van de blaas was na cystectomie succesvol in 96% van de gevallen, na partiële cystectomie in 75% en na urinedeviatie en zonder cystectomie in 79% van de gevallen. Concluderend kan worden gesteld dat harde wetenschappelijke onderbouwing voor of tegen een urinedeviatie bij bekkenpijnsyndroom / interstitiële cystitis ontbreekt, omdat de (best goede) resultaten in de case series alleen kunnen worden geïnterpreteerd met inachtneming van (inclusie)bias. Op grond hiervan moeten therapiekeuzes nog steeds op individuele basis worden gemaakt.
Themapoli voor ketamine-geïnduceerde cystitis: eerste ervaringen en resultaten
Authors: van der Sanden Wouter M. H. , Wyndaele Michel , Schipper Robert A. , de Kort Laetitia M. O.
Published: February 2023

Samenvatting

Recreatief ketaminegebruik neemt toe in Nederland. Ketaminemisbruik kan leiden tot schade aan de urinewegen, waardoor urogenitale klachten ontstaan met forse impact op de kwaliteit van leven. Dit artikel gaat over de eerste Nederlandse themapoli met diagnose- en behandelprotocol voor patiënten met ketamine-geïnduceerde urogenitale klachten. Tot op heden zagen we 30 patiënten, van wie 10% betrokkenheid had van de hoge urinewegen. Aanvullende diagnostiek en behandeling waren gefocust op preservatie van nierfunctie. De overige 90% werd gecounseld met als doel te stoppen met ketaminegebruik. Urogenitale klachten werden medicamenteus behandeld. 71% van deze patiënten slaagde erin binnen drie maanden te stoppen met ketaminegebruik en had significant (p < 0,05) vaker afname van klachten dan de groep die niet stopte. Het is belangrijk ketaminemisbruik te erkennen als mogelijke oorzaak van urogenitale klachten bij jonge patiënten, enerzijds vanwege het gevaar voor de hoge urinewegen en anderzijds omdat urogenitale klachten een impactvolle groep aandoeningen is die reversibel is bij stoppen met ketamine.
Oxygen transfer and hydrodynamic evaluation in a multistage flexible fibre biofilm reactor
Authors: Abdulgader M. , Yu Q. J. , Zinatizadeh A. A. , Williams P. , Rahimi Z.
Published: February 2023

In present work, the hydrodynamic studies and determination of oxygen mass transfer coefficients (KLa) were conducted in a multistage flexible fibre biofilm reactor developed for treating milk processing wastewater. In this regard, the residence time distributions in the MS-FFBR under various operating conditions as water flow rates, airflow rates, and hydraulic retention times were analysed using tracer experiments. The results revealed that the reactor’s hydraulic regime is similar to a continuous stirred tank reactor. Furthermore, the multistage flexible fibre biofilm reactor exhibited a lower oxygen mass transfer coefficient (KLa of 11.955 1/h at AFR/WFR of 47) than that reported for continuous stirred tank reactor in the literature at similar WFRs and AFRs (KLa of 15 1/h at AFR/WFR of 40). From the results, dissolved oxygen transfer was hindered to some extent owing to the presence of the fibre packing.
Adrenal insufficiency in thyroid cancer patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors and detected by ACTH stimulation test
Authors: Valerio L. , Giani C. , Matrone A. , Pontillo-Contillo B. , Minaldi E. , Agate L. , Molinaro E. , Elisei R.
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Advanced thyroid cancer patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) can develop several adverse events (AEs), including adrenal insufficiency (AI).

Methods

We studied 55 patients treated with TKI for radioiodine-refractory or medullary thyroid cancer. The adrenal function was evaluated during follow-up by performing serum basal ACTH, and basal and ACTH-stimulated cortisol.

Results

Twenty-nine/55 (52.7%) patients developed subclinical AI during TKI treatment as demonstrated by a blunted cortisol response to ACTH stimulation. All cases showed normal values of serum sodium, potassium and blood pressure. All patients were immediately treated, and none showed an overt AI. Cases with AI were all negative for adrenal antibodies and did not show any adrenal gland alteration. Other causes of AI were excluded. The onset time of the AI, as measured in the subgroup with a first negative ACTH test, was < 12 months in 5/9 (55.6%), between 12 and 36 months in 2/9 (22.2%) and > 36 months in 2/9 (22.2%) cases. In our series, the only prognostic factor of AI was the elevated, although moderate, basal level of ACTH when the basal and stimulated cortisol were still normal. The glucocorticoid therapy improved fatigue in most patients.

Conclusions

Subclinical AI can be developed in > 50% of advanced thyroid cancer patients treated with TKI. This AE can develop in a wide period ranging from < 12 to > 36 months. For this reason, AI must be looked for throughout the follow-up to be early recognized and treated. A periodic ACTH stimulation test, every 6–8 months, can be helpful.
Evaluating signs of hippocampal neurotoxicity induced by a revisited paradigm of voluntary ethanol consumption in adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats
Authors: Colom-Rocha Carles , Bis-Humbert Cristian , García-Fuster M. Julia
Published: February 2023

Background

Binge alcohol drinking is considered a prominent risk factor for the development of alcohol-use disorders, and could be model in rodents through the standard two-bottle preference choice test. The goal was to recreate an intermittent use of alcohol during 3 consecutive days each week to ascertain its potential impact on hippocampal neurotoxicity (neurogenesis and other neuroplasticity markers), and including sex as a biological variable, given the well-known sex differences in alcohol consumption.

Methods

Ethanol access was granted to adult Sprague–Dawley rats for 3 consecutive days per week, followed by 4 days of withdrawal, during 6 weeks, mimicking the most common pattern of intake in people, drinking over the weekends in an intensive manner. Hippocampal samples were collected to evaluate signs of neurotoxicity.

Results

Female rats consumed significantly more ethanol than males, although intake did not escalate over time. Ethanol preference levels remained below 40% over time and did not differ between sexes. Moderate signs of ethanol neurotoxicity were observed in hippocampus at the level of decreased neuronal progenitors (NeuroD + cells), and these effects were independent of sex. No other signs of neurotoxicity were induced by ethanol voluntary consumption when measured through several key cell fate markers (i.e., FADD, Cyt c, Cdk5, NF-L) by western blot analysis.

Conclusions

Overall, the present results suggest that even though we modeled a situation where no escalation in ethanol intake occurred across time, mild signs of neurotoxicity emerged, suggesting that even the use of ethanol during adulthood in a recreational way could lead to certain brain harm.
The Impact of a Dedicated Multidisciplinary Team Approach for Prosthetic Joint Infections of the Lower Limb
Authors: Sires James D. , Pham Kim , Wilson Christopher J.
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Prosthetic joint infections (PJI) of the hip and knee have significant morbidity and mortality, and present with varying local, host and microbiological factors. Given the broad presentation and complexity of PJI’s, we developed a dedicated multidisciplinary team (MDT) to manage this complex patient cohort, and report on our early outcomes.

Methods

This was a retrospective observational study of all patients diagnosed with a prosthetic joint infection of the hip or knee (n = 71) at our institution during a 4.5-year period. Patients treated after development of the MDT (post-MDT) (n = 44), were compared to a control group prior establishment of the MDT (pre-MDT) (n = 27).

Results

85.2% of individuals in the pre-MDT, and 85.7% of individuals in the post-MDT group were considered cured at a minimum 2 years post-operatively according to the Delphi-based definition. The total number of admissions to hospital (2.44 vs. 1.84) and total number of antibiotics used (3.37 vs. 2.75) decreased in the post-MDT group; however, differences were not considered statistically significant.

Discussion

Implementation of a dedicated MDT in the management of individuals with PJI’s of the lower limb at our hospital has allowed early and effective collaboration between healthcare personnel, with early promising results. Given the broad nature of PJI, future studies are ongoing to determine modifiable risk factors to reduce the incidence and improve outcomes of individuals with PJI’s where systems can then be implemented into already established MDTs to achieve the best clinical outcome for our patients.