bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing the brain MRI at ultra‐high field systems using a meta‐array structure
Authors: Alipour Akbar , Seifert Alan C. , Delman Bradley N. , Hof Patrick R. , Fayad Zahi A. , Balchandani Priti
Published: October 2023

Background

The main advantage of ultra‐high field (UHF) magnetic resonance neuroimaging is theincreased signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) compared with lower field strength imaging. However, the wavelength effect associated with UHF MRI results in radiofrequency (RF) inhomogeneity, compromising whole brain coverage for many commercial coils. Approaches to resolving this issue of transmit field inhomogeneity include the design of parallel transmit systems (PTx), RF pulse design, and applying passive RF shimming such as high dielectric materials. However, these methods have some drawbacks such as unstable material parameters of dielectric pads, high‐cost, and complexity of PTx systems. Metasurfaces are artificial structures with a unique platform that can control the propagation of the electromagnetic (EM) waves, and they are very promising for engineering EM device. Implementation of meta‐arrays enhancing MRI has been explored previously in several studies.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of new meta‐array technology on enhancing the brain MRI at 7T. A meta‐array based on a hybrid structure consisting of an array of broadside‐coupled split‐ring resonators and high‐permittivity materials was designed to work at the Larmor frequency of a 7 Tesla (7T) MRI scanner. When placed behind the head and neck, this construct improves the SNR in the region of the cerebellum,brainstem and the inferior aspect of the temporal lobes.

Methods

Numerical electromagnetic simulations were performed to optimize the meta‐array design parameters and determine the RF circuit configuration. The resultant transmit‐efficiency and signal sensitivity improvements were experimentally analyzed in phantoms followed by healthy volunteers using a 7T whole‐body MRI scanner equipped with a standard one‐channel transmit, 32‐channel receive head coil. Efficacy was evaluated through acquisition with and without the meta‐array using two basic sequences: gradient‐recalled‐echo (GRE) and turbo‐spin‐echo (TSE).

Results

Experimental phantom analysis confirmed two‐fold improvement in the transmit efficiency and 1.4‐fold improvement in the signal sensitivity in the target region. In vivo GRE and TSE images with the meta‐array in place showed enhanced visualization in inferior regions of the brain, especially of the cerebellum, brainstem, and cervical spinal cord.

Conclusion

Addition of the meta‐array to commonly used MRI coils can enhance SNR to extend the anatomical coverage of the coil and improve overall MRI coil performance. This enhancement in SNR can be leveraged to obtain a higher resolution image over the same time slot or faster acquisition can be achieved with same resolution. Using this technique could improve the performance of existing commercial coils at 7T for whole brain and other applications.
DECnet/OSI (part 2)
Authors: Snellen David
Published: October 2023

This article, the second of a three‐part series on DECnet/OSI will center on the Transport layer, DECnet Session Control and the DNA Naming Service (DNS).
LAN/WAN Compression: The key to reducing line costs and improving throughput
Authors: Weiss Jeffrey
Published: October 2023

With LAN‐based applications, even moderate sized organizations frequently saturate WAN links and experience substantial queueing delays. Advances in compression technology enable average compression ratios ranging from 2:1 to 6:1 depending on the types of traffic encountered and the sophistication of the algorithm.
Improved effects of Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus integrated with Campoletis chlorideae against H. armigera and impact of the virus on the parasitoid
Authors: Dou Tao , Bai Sufen , Gao Futao , Tian Liangheng , Zhu Junhua , Gu Xiaohang , Yang Xifa , Hao Youwu , An Shiheng , Liu Xiangyang , Yin Xinming
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND

Combined use can be an effective measure to improve pest control by viruses and parasitic wasps. However, not all combinations of natural enemies show improved effects. Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) and Campoletis chlorideae Uchida are two important natural enemies of Helicoverpa armigera. This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of C. chlorideae and HearNPV against H. armigera larvae and the impact of HearNPV on C. chlorideae.

RESULTS

The combination of HearNPV and C. chlorideae exerted increased mortality on H. armigera when C. chlorideae parasitized larvae one day after infection with HearNPV. C. chlorideae could distinguish between HearNPV‐infected and noninfected larvae. Besides influencing host selection of C. chlorideae, HearNPV infection had negative effects on the development and reproduction of C. chlorideae. The developmental time of C. chlorideae was significantly prolonged and the percentage of emergence and adult eclosion of C. chlorideae was lower in infected hosts. The adult wasps were also smaller in body size, and female adults had fewer eggs when they developed in virus‐infected hosts.

CONCLUSIONS

HearNPV combined with C. chlorideae could improve the efficacy of biological control against H. armigera. The results provided valuable information on the importance of timing in the combined use of HearNPV and C. chlorideae for the biological control of H. armigera. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Stigmasterol regulates microglial M1/M2 polarization via the TLR4/NF‐κB pathway to alleviate neuropathic pain
Authors: Si Waimei , Li Xin , Jing Bei , Chang Shiquan , Zheng Yachun , Chen Zhenni , Zhao Guoping , Zhang Di
Published: October 2023

(Switching from the microglial M1 phenotype to the M2 phenotype is a promising therapeutic strategy for neuropathic pain (NP). This study aimed to investigate the potential use of stigmasterol for treating NP. In animal experiments, 32 male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into the sham operation group, chronic constriction injury (CCI) group, CCI + ibuprofen group, and CCI + stigmasterol group. We performed behavioral tests, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, hematoxylin‐esoin staining (H&E) staining and immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting. In cell experiments, we performed flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, Western blotting, and qRT‐PCR. Stigmasterol reduced thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia and serum IL‐1β and IL‐8 levels and increased serum IL‐4 and TGF‐β levels in CCI rats. Stigmasterol reduced IL‐1β, COX‐2, and TLR4 expression in the right sciatic nerve and IL‐1β expression in the spinal cord. Stigmasterol reduced the expression of Iba‐1, TLR4, MyD88, pNF‐κB, pP38 MAPK, pJNK, pERK, COX‐2, IL‐1β, and CD32 in the spinal cord of CCI rats while increasing the expression of IL‐10 and CD206. Stigmasterol decreased M1 polarization markers and increased M2 polarization markers in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced microglia and decreased the expression of Iba‐1, TLR4, MyD88, pNF‐κB, pP38 MAPK, pJNK, pERK, iNOS, COX‐2, and IL‐1β in LPS‐treated microglia while increasing the expression of Arg‐1 and IL‐10. Stigmasterol regulates microglial M1/M2 polarization via the TLR4/NF‐κB pathway to alleviate NP.
Adaptive event‐triggered efficient output feedback model predictive control for networked interval type‐2 T–S fuzzy system with data loss
Authors: Tang Xiaoming , Zhao Kun , Qu Hongchun , Wang Jialiang
Published: October 2023

This article is concerned with the adaptive event‐triggered (AET) efficient output feedback model predictive control (EOFMPC) for a set of nonlinear networked interval type‐2 Takagi–Sugeno (IT2 T–S) fuzzy control systems with data loss. For the reduction in data transmission burden and required control performance, the AET scheme and a novel dynamic triggering law are introduced jointly in this article. The efficient model predictive control approach as in Kouvaritakis et al. (IEEE Trans Automat Contr. 2000;45(8):1545–1549.), which transfers the main part of online optimization work to offline stage by incorporating an extra perturbation into the fixed feedback law, is extended to networked control systems to reduce their online computational burden. This article proposes the following: (1) an unified closed‐loop model representation of data loss process and IT2 T–S fuzzy nonlinearities is established under the framework of EOFMPC, which explicitly considers the AET condition; (2) a new design method for the state observer gain is presented based on an ellipsoidal invariant set, so that a smaller bound of estimation error can be obtained through an extra optimization problem; (3) some optimization problems are formulated to design the proposed controllers, and the corresponding EOFMPC algorithm is summarized; (4) by means of the extra matrix partition technique, the online optimization problem subject to one ellipsoidal constraint is transformed into a novel convex form to solve the uncertainty of the estimation error. A simulation example and a few comparative simulation experiments illustrate the effectiveness and availability of the aforementioned approach.
Recent Theoretical and Experimental Advancements of Aluminum‐Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Faheem Muhammad , Hussain Arshad , Ali Muhammad , Aziz Md. Abdul
Published: October 2023

Aluminum‐sulfur batteries (AlSBs) exhibit significant potential as energy storage systems due to their notable attributes, including a high energy density, cost‐effectiveness, and abundant availability of aluminum and sulfur. In order to commercialize AlSBs, an understanding of their working principles is necessary. In this review, we examine the current advancements in cathodes, both in theory and practice, as well as the progress made in aqueous and nonaqueous electrolytes. We also explore the modifications made to separators and the theoretical understanding of problems associated with AlSBs. Furthermore, we discuss future research directions aimed at resolving these issues. Our aim is to summarize the current progress in AlSBs and, based on recent progress and understanding of the mechanism, help design a battery to overcome the challenges that such batteries have been facing.
Perceived social support and longitudinal trajectories of depression and anxiety in World Trade Center responders
Authors: Pijnenburg Lisa J. , Velikonja Tjasa , Pietrzak Robert H. , DePierro Jonathan , de Haan Lieuwe , Todd Andrew C. , Dasaro Christopher R. , Feder Adriana , Velthorst Eva
Published: October 2023

Purpose

While severely distressing events are known to affect mental health adversely, some survivors develop only short-lived or no psychiatric symptoms in the aftermath of a disaster. In the WTC Health Program General Responder Cohort (WTCHP GRC) we examined whether social support was protective against the development of depression or anxiety symptoms after the 9/11 WTC attacks and explored in a subsample whether trait resilience moderated this relationship.

Methods

We analyzed data from 14,033 traditional and 13,478 non-traditional responders who attended at least three periodic health monitoring visits between 2002 and 2019. Linear mixed-effects models were used to examine depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9; PHQ-9) and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder screener; GAD-7) scores. In a subsample of 812 participants, we also assessed if the association between social support and symptoms was moderated by an individual’s trait resilience level (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, CD-RISC).

Results

For both traditional and non-traditional responders, perceived social support around 9/11 was associated with lower levels of depressive (β = − 0.24, S.E. = 0.017, z = − 14.29, p < 0.001) and anxiety symptoms (β = − 0.17, S. E. = 0.016, z = − 10.48, p < 0.001). Trait resilience scores were higher in responders with at least one source of social support during the aftermath of 9/11 compared to those without (mean 71.56, SD 21.58 vs mean 76.64, SD 17.06; β = 5.08, S.E. = 0.36, p < 0.001). Trait resilience moderated the association between social support and depressive (p < 0.001) and anxiety trajectories (p < 0.001) for traditional responders.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that perceived social support around a severely distressing event may have long-term protective effects on symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Constitutional and postoperative joint line obliquity can predict serial alignment change after opening‐wedge high tibial osteotomy: analysis using coronal plane alignment of the knee classification
Authors: Cho Joon Hee , Nam Hee Seung , Park Seong Yun , Ho Jade Pei Yuik , Lee Yong Seuk
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purposes of this study were (1) to clarify the distribution of the Coronal Plane Alignment of the Knee (CPAK) phenotype in patients who underwent medial opening‐wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) and (2) to identify the predictive factors for postoperative serial alignment changes after OWHTO by analyzing constitutional phenotypes.

Methods

Patients who underwent OWHTO between March 2014 and December 2019 were retrospectively evaluated. Those who completed a minimum follow‐up of 3 years were divided into three groups based on the direction of alignment changes from postoperative 3 months to the final follow‐up: Group 1 (varus direction) when the weight‐bearing line ratio (WBLR) change was less than − 4%, Group 2 (maintained) when the WBLR change was between − 4% and 4%, and Group 3 (valgus direction) when the WBLR change was greater than 4%. The following parameters were assessed serially and compared between the groups: (1) radiologic parameters of coronal limb alignment such as joint line obliquity (JLO), (2) CPAK phenotypes, and (3) clinical outcomes.

Results

In total, 163 knees were included, and the average duration of follow‐up was 4.8 ± 1.6 years. More apex distal JLO was observed in the order of Group 1, 2, and 3 at all times (all p < 0.05). The most common CPAK type was type (I + II) (constitutional: apex distal JLO) + type (V + VI) (postoperative 3 months: neutral JLO) in Group 1 (29.4%; p = 0.000); otherwise, the most common CPAK type was type (IV + V) (constitutional: neutral JLO) + type (VIII + IX) (postoperative 3 months: apex proximal JLO) in Group 3 (11.7%; p = 0.000). Clinical outcomes did not differ between the groups.

Conclusion

Constitutional and postoperative JLO were predictive factors of postoperative alignment changes after OWHTO. Constitutional apex distal and postoperative neutral JLO had a tendency for varus alignment progression, whereas constitutional neutral and postoperative apex proximal JLO had a tendency for valgus alignment progression.

Level of evidence

Retrospective cohort study; Level III.
On conformal planes of finite area
Authors: Lytchak Alexander
Published: October 2023

We discuss solutions of several questions concerning the geometry of conformal planes.
Femoral revision in total hip arthroplasty using a cementless modular stem: clinical and radiological results with a 8-year follow-up
Authors: Spranz David , Skrobek David , Randoll Jannis , Kinkel Stefan , Merle Christian , Walker Tilman , Renkawitz Tobias , Reiner Tobias
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Modular femoral components allow for patient-specific restoration of hip joint geometry and the reconstruction of extensive bone defects in revision total hip arthroplasty (THA); however, potential problems of modular implants such as taper corrosion and the risk of implant fracture continue to be of concern. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological results of a cementless modular revision stem following revision surgery due to aseptic loosening and periprosthetic fracture and to assess patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in these patients at mid-term follow-up.

Materials and methods

In this study, a consecutive cohort of 75 patients who underwent primary revision THA at our institution using a modular cementless stem design (MRP-TITAN stem) was retrospectively evaluated at a mean follow-up of 7.7 years. Kaplan–Meier survivorship analyses were performed with revision of the femoral component for any reason as the end point. The Harris-Hip Score, the UCLA Activity Score, the Forgotten Joint Score and the SF-12 Score were used for clinical assessment. We used the Wilcoxon signed rank test to compare pre- and postoperative clinical scores.

Results

Overall stem survival with the endpoint stem re-revision for any reason was 85.4% at a mean follow-up of 7.7 years (range 2.4–14 years). Stem survival was 89.5% in the aseptic loosening group and 78.3% in the periprosthetic fracture group with no statistically significant difference between both groups (p = 0.107). One patient had to be revised due to taper fracture. PROMs improved significantly up to the latest follow-up, and radiographic evaluation showed full osseointegration of all stems in this cohort.

Conclusions

Revision THA using a modular cementless titanium revision stem demonstrated adequate clinical and radiological results at mid- to long-term follow-up in this cohort. Cementless revision stems are a useful treatment option to restore the anatomy, especially in deformed hips and in complex revision hip arthroplasty. However, there are some significant disadvantages related to an increased risk of mechanical failure such as corrosion/fretting damage and implant fracture. Future high-quality prospective studies with longer follow-up are necessary to confirm the supposed advantages.
Standardized and quality-assured predictive PD-L1 testing in the upper gastrointestinal tract
Authors: Baretton Gustavo B. , Lordick Florian ,   The Interdisciplinary Expert Group, Gaiser T. , Hofheinz R. , Horst D. , Lorenzen S. , Moehler M. , Röcken C. , Schirmacher P. , Stahl M. , Thuss-Patience P. , Tiemann K.
Published: October 2023

As a result of the high approval dynamics and the growing number of immuno-oncological concepts, the complexity of treatment decisions and control in the area of cancers of the esophagus, gastroesophageal junction and stomach is constantly increasing. Since the treatment indication for PD-1 inhibitors that are currently approved in the European Union is often linked to the expression of PD-L1 (programmed cell death-ligand 1), the evaluation of tissue-based predictive markers by the pathologist is of crucial importance for treatment stratification. Even though the immunohistochemical analysis of the PD-L1 expression status is one of the best studied, therapy-relevant biomarkers for an immuno-oncological treatment, due to the high heterogeneity of carcinomas of the upper gastrointestinal tract, there are challenges in daily clinical diagnostic work with regard to implementation, standardization and interpretation of testing. An interdisciplinary group of experts from Germany has taken a position on relevant questions from daily pathological and clinical practice, which concern the starting material, quality-assured testing and the interpretation of pathological findings, and has developed recommendations for structured reporting.
Surface measure on, and the local geometry of, sub-Riemannian manifolds
Authors: Don Sebastiano , Magnani Valentino
Published: October 2023

We prove an integral formula for the spherical measure of hypersurfaces in equiregular sub-Riemannian manifolds. Among various technical tools, we establish a general criterion for the uniform convergence of parametrized sub-Riemannian distances, and local uniform asymptotics for the diameter of small metric balls.
Play-Activities with Scientific Content in Early Childhood Education
Authors: Henriksson Anna , Leden Lotta , Fridberg Marie , Thulin Susanne
Published: October 2023

This article attempts to address the challenge that preschool teachers face, when integrating a specific content area, science, with play. The study builds on the theoretical framework of Play-Responsive Early Childhood Education and Care (PRECEC), in which teaching, and play are understood as a mutual activity. In this mutual activity, teachers and children signal their participation by shifting between as if (fantasy and fictional worlds) and as is (acquiring knowledge of the world as it is) (Pramling et al., 2019). The empirical data consists of video-observations of a preschool teacher and 1-4-year-old children who participate in activities that incorporate play and scientific content. The video-observations were analysed through studying how and why shifts between as is and as if were made by the preschool teacher. The results show that the preschool teacher made the play shift between as if and as is through different types of actions (voice change and bodily expression). Further, shifts seemed to be made with two aims in sight: science learning and socialisation. In conclusion, the preschool teacher (as a more knowledgeable adult) has an important role in creating a responsive environment and in introducing science content, which does not arise by itself. Implications for preschool teachers and preschool practice are discussed.
Measuring income inequality in social networks
Authors: Stark Oded , Bielawski Jakub , Falniowski Fryderyk
Published: October 2023

We present a new index for measuring income inequality in networks. The index is based on income comparisons made by the members of a network who are linked with each other by direct social connections. To model the comparisons, we compose a measure of relative deprivation for networks. We base our new index on this measure. The index takes the form of a ratio: the network’s aggregate level of relative deprivation divided by the aggregate level of the relative deprivation of a hypothetical network in which one member of the network receives all the income, and it is with this member that the other members of the network compare their incomes. We discuss the merits of this representation. We inquire how changes in the composition of a network affect the index. In addition, we show how the index accommodates specific network characteristics.
An atomistic molecular dynamic model to study the properties of LLDPE and wax
Authors: Mosoabisane M. F. T. , van Sittert C. G. C. E. , Luyt A. S.
Published: October 2023

Wax is often physically mixed with linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) to form a new polymer material. However, the morphology of these materials has not been described sufficiently, because molecular interaction at an atomic level was inadequately studied. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, using the Material Studio software as a computational tool, was available to develop models for wax and LLDPE to study their properties at an atomistic level. The models were validated by comparing the properties, such as solubility, density, and transition temperature, obtained with the models, with those obtained from experiments. After validation, the application of the model showed that the branch content of modelled LLDPE affected the glass transition temperature when the branch content was 70 per 1000 carbons for models with different branch lengths. The longer the branch length, the higher the glass transition temperature of LLDPE. However, the solubility parameter was unsuccessful in finding the length of LLDPE required to represent a single chain, because the properties of a copolymer are affected by the length of the chain, the number of branches, and their distribution on the backbone. The chain length of the wax showed no relationship to the solubility parameter in the solid state or in the melt. There was a decrease in the solubility parameter of the modelled LLDPE with an increase in temperature. The LLDPE and wax properties, examined through MD simulations, were within 10% of the experimental values.
Immobility and COVID-19: comparing mobility reduction among socio-demographic groups in a large German city during the pandemic
Authors: Tuitjer Leonie , Schaefer Kerstin J.
Published: October 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic and the public health measures imposed to tackle the spread of the virus have changed the everyday life and severely reduced the mobility of many. In this paper, we investigate the relationship between changed transport behavior and complex socio-demographic groups. Drawing on a survey on mobility and transport use during the pandemic for the Hanover region (Germany), we find three distinct clusters in our data related to changed mobility behavior: (1) people with no change in transport behavior, (2) people heavily reducing public transport use in the inner city, and (3) people reducing public transport use for their commute. In a second step, we use logistic regression models to understand the socio demographic factors determining each of these change patterns. The results show that women and younger participants were more likely to experience an impact on their travel behavior as well as reducing the use of inner-city public transport, while the reduction of commuter transport seems to be mostly homogeneous once controlled for teleworking. We also find a complex interplay between gender and other socio-demographic factors, especially caring responsibilities for children and student status, to have shaped the reported extent of mobility reduction. We show that we need to think about socio-demographic variables in a more complex way instead of perceiving of them as stand-alone variables. Our analysis hence helps to uncover the complex reality of mobility reduction during the pandemic, providing deeper insights into the (im)mobile reality of people’s lives in times of COVID-19.Kindly check and confirm inserted city name are correctly identified.Yes, the city name is Hanover and thus corretly identified
Is first- or third-party audience data more effective for reaching the ‘right’ customers? The case of IT decision-makers
Authors: Neumann Nico , Tucker Catherine E. , Subramanyam Kumar , Marshall John
Published: October 2023

Often marketers face the challenge of how to communicate best with the customers who have the right responsibilities, influence or purchasing power, especially in business-to-business (B2B) settings. For example, B2B marketers selling software and IT need to identify IT decision-makers (ITDMs) within organizations. The modern digital environment in theory allows marketers to target individuals in organizations through specifically designed third-party audience segments based on deterministic prospect lists or probabilistic inference. However, in this paper we show that in our context, such ‘off-the-shelf’ segments perform no better at reaching the right person than random prospecting. We present evidence that even deterministic attribute information is flawed for ITDM identification, and that the poor campaign results can be partly linked to incorrect assignment of established prospect profiles to online identifiers. We then use access to our publisher network data to investigate what would happen if the advertiser had used first-party data that are less susceptible to the identified issues. We demonstrate that first-party demographics or contextual information allows advertisers and publishers to outperform both third-party ITDM audience segments and random prospecting. Our findings have implications for understanding the shift in digital advertising away from third-party cookie tracking, and how to execute digital marketing in the context of broad privacy regulation.
“Tell Me Why”: using natural language justifications in a recipe recommender system to support healthier food choices
Authors: Starke Alain D. , Musto Cataldo , Rapp Amon , Semeraro Giovanni , Trattner Christoph
Published: October 2023

Users of online recipe websites tend to prefer unhealthy foods. Their popularity undermines the healthiness of traditional food recommender systems, as many users lack nutritional knowledge to make informed food decisions. Moreover, the presented information is often unrelated to nutrition or difficult to understand. To alleviate this, we present a methodology to generate natural language justifications that emphasize the nutritional content, health risks, or benefits of recommended recipes. Our framework takes a user and two recipes as input and produces an automatically generated natural language justification as output, based on the user’s characteristics and the recipes’ features, following a knowledge-based recommendation approach. We evaluated our methodology in two crowdsourcing studies. In Study 1 ($$N=502$$

N
=
502

), we compared user food choices for two personalized recommendation approaches, based on either a (1) single-style justification or (2) comparative justification was shown, using a no justification baseline. The recommendations were either popularity-based or health-aware, the latter based on the health and nutritional needs of the user. We found that comparative justification styles were effective in supporting choices for our health-aware recommendations, confirming the impact of our methodology on food choices. In Study 2 ($$N=504$$

N
=
504

), we used the same methodology to compare the effectiveness of eight different comparative justification strategies. We presented pairs of recipes twice to users: once without and once with a pairwise justification. Results indicated that justifications led to significantly healthier choices for first course meals, while strategies that compared food features and emphasized health risks, benefits, and a user’s lifestyle were most effective, catering to health-related choice motivations.
How Does Protectionism Impact Multinational Firm Reshoring? Evidence from the UK
Authors: Temouri Yama , Pereira Vijay , Delis Agelos , Wood Geoffrey
Published: October 2023

There is growing interest in the nature and possible extent of de-globalization. This paper explores the impact that protectionist measures have on multinational enterprise (MNE) reshoring back to the UK. Besides taking into account the global trends indicating a return to protectionism, the existing literature highlights various firm-level and structural country-level determinants of reshoring decisions. We test a conceptual model with parent-subsidiary firm-level data for the period 2009 to 2017. We conclude that firms that are more sensitive to wage costs in their overseas subsidiaries were more likely to reshore. We did not find that more capital-intensive firms had a higher propensity to reshore. We find that our results are mostly driven from UK MNEs with subsidiaries in EU. This result has clear implications for a potential Brexit effect. Theoretically, we base our findings in transactional cost economics to help explain why different types of firms behave in the way they do, and why different types of firms may respond in quite different ways to the same mix of institutions.
Zum Scheitern des internationalen Einsatzes in Afghanistan
Authors: Gromes Thorsten
Published: October 2023

Spätestens mit der erneuten Machtübernahme der Taliban im August 2021 gilt der fast 20 Jahre dauernde Einsatz in Afghanistan weithin als gescheitert. Der Literaturbericht präsentiert und kommentiert die zahlreichen Beiträge zur Ursachenforschung. Die Taliban konnten lange den afghanischen Sicherheitskräften und den umfangreichen internationalen Truppen trotzen und schließlich die in Zahl und Ausrüstung überlegenen Streit- und Polizeikräfte Afghanistans besiegen. In der geringen Moral der Sicherheitskräfte spiegelte sich die mangelnde Legitimität der politischen Ordnung, die nach dem Sturz der Taliban Ende 2001 entstanden war. Die Literatur kritisiert insbesondere das Bündnis der westlichen Mächte mit Kriegsfürsten, den politischen Ausschluss der Taliban und das Vorhaben oder die Ausgestaltung der Demokratisierung. Viele Beiträge werfen dem militärischen und zivilen Einsatz vor, gar keine oder keine kohärente Strategie verfolgt zu haben, und bemängeln ein zu geringes und zu kurzes Engagement. Insgesamt zeigt die Literatur eine beachtliche Breite von Erklärungen für das Scheitern in Afghanistan. Allerdings fehlt es der Fehleranalyse an wichtigen Stellen an Tiefe, sodass die angebotenen Erklärungen allenfalls teilweise überzeugen. Eine stärker vergleichende Perspektive könnte der weiteren Aufarbeitung des Scheiterns in Afghanistan helfen.
Atmosphäre, Leiblichkeit und Begegnung als Spielräume für psychodramatische Reflexionen
Authors: Heiligtag Lea
Published: October 2023

Dieser Beitrag der Zeitschrift für Psychodrama und Soziometrie fokussiert theoretische Aspekte aus dem psychodramatischen Diskurs zum Verhältnis von Körper, Geist und Leib. Die Reflexionen erfolgen im Anschluss an leibphänomenologische (z. B. Schmitz 2014; Böhme 2019) und neue soziologische Ansätze (vgl. Gugutzer 2020). Ziel ist es, sowohl Impulse für eine theoretische Diskussion zu geben als auch über empirische Zugänge nachzudenken und für die praktische Arbeit mit bzw. in Atmosphären weiter zu sensibilisieren. Hierzu werden exemplarisch Textauszüge aus den Schriften Morenos und deren Deutungen im fachlichen Diskurs neu befragt.
“Navigating through the digital swamp”: assessing SME propensity for online marketplaces
Authors: Gonçalves Marta P. V. , Ferreira Fernando A. F. , Dabić Marina , Ferreira João J. M.
Published: October 2023

Digital technology has produced deep changes in the business world. However, companies have a hard time understanding consumers’ changing needs and new consumption patterns, especially small and medium-sized enterprises that currently face growing challenges in an era characterized by a lack of time and information overload. New mechanisms must be found that not only can keep businesses competitive in digital environments but can do so in innovative and sustainable ways. This study sought to address this issue by adopting a process-oriented approach and developing a decision-support tool for SMEs that are considering joining online marketplaces. The proposed analysis model helps these companies decide whether they are ready to take advantage of these digital platforms or whether they have to take action to improve in specific areas of their business operations. The model-building process relied on a combination of cognitive mapping and the best–worst method. An expert panel was recruited to identify the most relevant factors determining SME readiness to join online marketplaces. The model was applied to a set of real companies to assess their propensity for online marketplaces. The practical applicability of this decision-support system was then discussed in a consolidation session with a member of Portugal’s Agência Nacional de Inovação (National Innovation Agency), who acknowledged the strong potential of the proposed model.
Cheese Whey Permeate as a Precursor of Lactose-Free, Galactose-Rich Bioproducts: An Approach for Optimization and Application
Authors: Rivera Flores Viviana K. , DeMarsh Timothy A. , Fan Xingrui , Alcaine Samuel D.
Published: October 2023

Under specific conditions of oxygen availability and lactose hydrolysis, Brettanomyces claussenii OYL-201 can convert glucose in dairy coproducts into ethanol, leaving the galactose almost untouched. This approach could be applied specifically to whey permeate (WP) to develop foods with low-glycemic loads and other potential health benefits. The aims of this research are to optimize the fermentation of WP by B. claussenii, to maximize the production of ethanol and galactose, and to characterize various products obtained with this approach. For this purpose, five fermentation factors were studied to determine their impacts on ethanol and galactose: temperature (20–40 °C), substrate concentration (5–15%TS), lactase enzyme/substrate ratio (0–40 IU/ g lactose), inoculation level (6–8 log cfu/mL), and time (6–30 days). Linear models, containing quadratic and interaction effects, were built for the optimization of both responses. Optimal levels were predicted for the maximum outputs of ethanol and galactose simultaneously, which utilized the following parameters: 15%TS, 37 IU / g lactose, 28 °C, 7.5 log cfu/mL, and 30 days, which together were predicted to produce 4.0%v/v ethanol and 51 g/L galactose in the final product. These parameters were applied to 18-L fermentations, and the fermentates were processed via distillation and freeze-drying. As a result, four product streams were obtained: a fermented product with 3.4%v/v ethanol and 56 g/L galactose, a 45%v/v ethanol distillate, a galactose-rich drink base (63 g/L), and a galactose-rich powder (55%w/w). These results demonstrate that it is possible to maximize the production of ethanol and galactose from WP and to develop novel, potentially functional bioproducts from this stream.
Unbeabsichtigte Bildungswirkungen
Authors: Doll Daniel , Scherr Albert
Published: October 2023

Die Offene Kinder- und Jugendarbeit (OKJA) positioniert sich in kritischer Distanz zu einem schulischen Bildungsauftrag, in dem sie u. a. Kinder und Jugendliche – und nicht Schüler_innen – adressiert. Gleichzeitig stellen Einrichtungen der OKJA Orte dar, an denen junge Menschen unabhängig von ihrer sozioökonomischen Verortung an Bildungsprozessen teilhaben können, indem sie u. a. die Möglichkeit zur eigenständigen Persönlichkeitsentwicklung erhalten. OKJA beansprucht damit, auch ein Bildungsort zu sein. Die Rolle der OKJA für Bildungsprozesse und die schulischen Bildungswege benachteiligter Jugendlicher ist jedoch weitgehend unerforscht. Der vorliegende Beitrag greift diese Forschungslücke auf und fokussiert darauf, was die OKJA aus der Perspektive ihrer Nutzer_innen zur Ermöglichung oder Behinderung von schulischen Bildungsprozessen beiträgt. Interviewt wurden Nutzer_innen der OKJA, die einen Schul- oder Berufsabschluss anstreben, der zum Studium berechtigt, deren Eltern aber keinen oder einen niedrigen bzw. in Deutschland nicht anerkannten Schul- oder Berufsabschluss haben und die deshalb Tätigkeiten ausüben, die keinen formalen Abschluss erfordern. Die Ergebnisse der verdeutlichen den Gebrauchswert, den Jugendliche der OKJA für ihre schulische Bildungskarrieren zuschreiben.
ZDHHC9: a promising therapeutic target for triple-negative breast cancer through immune modulation and immune checkpoint blockade resistance
Authors: Xu Chao , Xie Yongjie , Xie Peng , Li Jianming , Tong Zhongsheng , Yang Yanfang
Published: October 2023

Background

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. This study aimed to identify potential therapeutic targets based on the expression profiles of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in TNBC.

Methods

The Limma package was used to identify DEGs in TCGA and GEO datasets. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis and western blotting were used to determine the expression of ZDHHC9 in TNBC tissues. Flow cytometry assay and tissue immunofluorescence analysis were used to detect infiltration of multiple immune cells in tumor tissue at different levels of ZDHHC9 expression.

Results

ZDHHC9 was identified as a key factor associated with resistance to ICB therapy through weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Subsequently, immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis and western blotting verified that ZDHHC9 expression was elevated in TNBC cancer tissues and that elevated expression of ZDHHC9 was associated with the poor survival of patients with TNBC. Analysis of data from several public datasets revealed that patients with high ZDHHC9 expression had an increased proportion of Ki-67 + breast cancer cells and tended to be basal-like breast cancer. In addition, in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that high expression of ZDHHC9 significantly predicted the efficacy and responsiveness of immunotherapy in TNBC.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that ZDHHC9 is a valuable marker for guiding the classification, diagnosis and prognosis of TNBC and developing specific targeted therapies.
Mainstreaming nature-based solutions through five forms of scaling: Case of the Kiiminkijoki River basin, Finland
Authors: Sarkki Simo , Haanpää Olli , Heikkinen Hannu I. , Hiedanpää Juha , Kikuchi Karoliina , Räsänen Aleksi
Published: October 2023

Nature-based solutions (NBS) are considered as means to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss while simultaneously enhancing human well-being. Yet, it is still poorly understood how NBS could be mainstreamed. We address this gap by proposing a framework on NBS and employing it in Finland’s Kiiminkijoki River basin through participatory workshops and a questionnaire. We examine socio-environmental challenges and visions, existing and emerging NBS to reach the visions, and ways to scale-up NBS to a river basin level. In the river basin, water quality is the priority challenge, due to its relationships with local culture, climate change, and biodiversity. Our results consider how (1) to ensure the relevance of NBS for local actors, (2) instrumental, intrinsic, and relational value perspectives can be enhanced simultaneously by NBS, and (3) site specific NBS can be mainstreamed (i.e., by scaling up, down, out, in, deep) to the river basin level and beyond.
Targeting circulating tumor cells to prevent metastases
Authors: Gostomczyk Karol , Marsool Mohammed Dheyaa Marsool , Tayyab Hamnah , Pandey Anju , Borowczak Jędrzej , Macome Facundo , Chacon Jose , Dave Tirth , Maniewski Mateusz , Szylberg Łukasz
Published: October 2023

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are cancer cells that detach from the primary tumor, enter the bloodstream or body fluids, and spread to other body parts, leading to metastasis. Their presence and characteristics have been linked to cancer progression and poor prognosis in different types of cancer. Analyzing CTCs can offer valuable information about tumors’ genetic and molecular diversity, which is crucial for personalized therapy. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the reverse process, mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET), play a significant role in generating and disseminating CTCs. Certain proteins, such as EpCAM, vimentin, CD44, and TGM2, are vital in regulating EMT and MET and could be potential targets for therapies to prevent metastasis and serve as detection markers. Several devices, methods, and protocols have been developed for detecting CTCs with various applications. CTCs interact with different components of the tumor microenvironment. The interactions between CTCs and tumor-associated macrophages promote local inflammation and allow the cancer cells to evade the immune system, facilitating their attachment and invasion of distant metastatic sites. Consequently, targeting and eliminating CTCs hold promise in preventing metastasis and improving patient outcomes. Various approaches are being explored to reduce the volume of CTCs. By investigating and discussing targeted therapies, new insights can be gained into their potential effectiveness in inhibiting the spread of CTCs and thereby reducing metastasis. The development of such treatments offers great potential for enhancing patient outcomes and halting disease progression.
Nurse Perceptions of Knowledge and Preparedness for Disasters
Authors: Küçük Uçar , Sari Canan , Demirbağ Birsel Canan
Published: October 2023

Objective:

The study aimed to determine the level of knowledge and perceptions of preparedness for disasters among nurses working in a tertiary university hospital.

Method:

The population of this cross-sectional study consisted of nurses working in a university hospital in the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey (n = 340). The sample included 183 nurses who were determined using the OpenEpi program and the universal sampling method. The data were collected using the Sociodemographic Information Form and the Disaster Preparedness Perception Scale in Nurses (DPPSN) and analyzed using SPSS 22 software.

Results:

The mean age of the participants was 34.31 + 8.52 years; 83.1% were female, 66.1% had at least a bachelor’s degree and worked in a surgical ward, 49.7% had been working for at least 11 years, and 58.5% had received training on disasters. Those who received disaster-related training received it mostly face to face (70.1%) from their institutions (91.6%) and in the form of 2–4 hours of training (75.7%); 52.5% had previously participated in a disaster-related drill, and 83.1% took on the role of caregiver during a disaster. The DPPSN mean score of the nurses involved in the study was found to be 3.53 ± 0.58 out of 5 points for the total scale.

Conclusion:

The results of the study showed that nurses considered themselves partially adequate for disaster preparedness, in general.
Deities’ Rights?
Authors: Das Acevedo Deepa
Published: October 2023

A brief commotion arose during the hearings for one of twenty-first-century India’s most widely discussed legal disputes, when a dynamic young attorney suggested that deities, too, had constitutional rights. The suggestion was not absurd. Like a human being or a corporation, Hindu temple deities can participate in litigation, incur financial obligations, and own property. There was nothing to suggest, said the attorney, that the same deity who enjoyed many of the rights and obligations accorded to human persons could not also lay claim to some of their constitutional freedoms. The lone justice to consider this claim blandly and briefly observed that having specific legal rights did not perforce endow one with constitutional rights. Nevertheless, a handful of recent and high-profile disputes concerning Hindu temple deities and the growing influence of Hindu nationalist politics together suggest that the issue of deities’ rights is far from a settled matter. This article argues that declining to recognize deities’ constitutional rights accurately reflects dueling commitments in the Indian Constitution.
International Rewards for Gender Equality Reforms in Autocracies
Authors: BUSH SARAH SUNN , DONNO DANIELA , ZETTERBERG PÄR
Published: October 2023

How do international audiences perceive, and respond to, gender equality reforms in autocracies? For autocrats, the post-Cold War rewards associated with democracy create incentives to make reforms that will be viewed as democratic but not threaten their political survival. We theorize women’s rights as one such policy area, contrasting it with more politically costly reforms to increase electoral competition. A conjoint survey experiment with development and democracy promotion professionals demonstrates how autocracies enhance their reputations and prospects for foreign aid using this strategy. While increasing electoral competition significantly improves perceived democracy and support for aid, increasing women’s economic rights is also highly effective. Gender quotas exhibit a significant (though smaller) effect on perceived democracy. A follow-up survey of the public and elite interviews replicate and contextualize the findings. Relevant international elites espouse a broad, egalitarian conception of democracy, and autocrats accordingly enjoy considerable leeway in how to burnish their reputations.