bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on double‐USVs fuzzy‐priority NSB behavior fusion formation control method for oil spill recovery
Authors: Chen Congcong , Liao Yulei , Tang Xiaoyu , Sun Jiaqi , Gu Junlin , Li Haohan , Ren Zijia , Zhai Zizheng , Li Ye , Wang Bo , Pang Shuo
Published: August 2024

Replacing manned ships with unmanned surface vehicle (USV) for oil spill containment can reduce the consumption of manpower and resources. This article studies the formation control method of dual USVs during the process of capturing oil spill, based on the engineering background of towing oil boom by dual USVs oil spill recovery system. To calculate the drag force of the oil boom acting on the USV, the shape of the oil boom is simplified into a catenary, the oil boom is modeled, and the hydrodynamic numerical simulation is carried out. To address the issue of “winding” phenomenon and “towing separation,” the formation behavior is designed when double USVs are towing oil fences to capture oil spill. In response to the problem of low task execution efficiency caused by fixed behavior priority in traditional null‐space‐based (NSB) behavior fusion methods, a fuzzy‐priority NSB (FNSB) behavior fusion formation method is proposed by combining fuzzy control with NSB behavior fusion method. In the FNSB behavior fusion formation control method, a smooth transition rule is introduced to make the behavior priority change, USVs can still maintain good formation performance, ensuring the smooth execution of oil spill recovery tasks. Simulation shows that FNSB behavior fusion formation method based on flexible transition rules can improve the rounding efficiency by 26.6% in the environment without obstacles and 37.2% in the environment with multiple obstacles compared with the NSB method. The effectiveness and practicality of this method have been verified through simulation experiments and field experiments on the “Dolphin” series of small USVs.
Riverbank fascines mostly fail due to scouring: Consistent evidence from field and flume observations
Authors: Leblois Solange , Piton Guillaume , Recking Alain , Jaymond Delphine , Buffet Alexis , Evette André
Published: August 2024

The willow fascine soil bioengineering technique is commonly used worldwide in river restoration projects to stabilize riverbanks, thanks to high theoretical shear stress resistance and adaptable configuration. Fascines are composed of bundles of living branches fixed between stakes. When positioned in meanders at bank toe, they are subjected to strong hydraulic constraints. Here, we present the field back‐analysis of 470 willow fascines alongside experiments in a small‐scale model (scale 1:25). We describe the dynamics of failure in various situations. The field analysis revealed that 78% of fascines present no signs of bank instability. No fascines were pulled out, and they rarely showed signs of destruction once vegetation had established. Flume experiments confirmed that the main mechanical process of failure is erosion at fascine toe and extremities (9% and 3% of occurrence in the field, respectively). The dynamics of failure occur through: (i) erosion at the fascine toe, removing materials under the bundle; (ii) bank sediments, sliding underneath the fascine; (iii) scouring, leaving stakes exposed to falling into the river. Based on these observations, the fascine toe should be protected sufficiently deeply against undermining to keep sediments in place while vegetation is established. Bank slopes should be reduced as far as possible to decrease scouring. Finally, the mean shear stress values used as reference when designing bioengineering techniques do not capture the local and continuous scouring processes leading to failure. Thus, bend curvature, degradation, grain sizes, and level of fascine implementation should be considered when adapting design.
Leveraging global south sports mega events to advance sport for development and peace theory and practice
Authors: Banda Davies , Whitley Meredith A. , Al Khori Nasser
Published: August 2024

The article aims to contribute to the relationship between sport for development and peace (SDP) and sports mega‐events (SMEs) as viable platforms for accelerating human development and social change goals at local, regional and international levels. Recently, there has been a notable increase in the number of emerging economies in the global South demonstrating their aspirations to bid and (if successful) host SMEs. The article argues that the SDP‐SME nexus can be strategically utilised to redress some of the criticisms levelled against the nature of deployment of SDP activities, particularly in the global South. Therefore, the article argues for leveraging global South SMEs to advance SDP theory and practice. However, leveraging SMEs by the global SDP field requires a fresh strategic direction. The article employs qualitative approaches by drawing upon data from two roundtable discussions and Fédération Internationale de Football Association World Cup 2022 panel discussions held in New York and Doha. Reflexive thematic analysis was employed to analyse the transcriptions of the discussions. The article is unique in its advocating for the role that global South SME actors can play in advancing global SDP policy and practice that supports southern agency. The article therefore contributes to a more nuanced understanding of leveraging global South SME hosting towards addressing limitations in global SDP praxis.
Heterogeneous Electrochemical Carbon Dioxide Reduction in Aqueous Medium Using a Novel N4‐Macrocyclic Cobalt Complex
Authors: Sun Libo , Su Tan , Fisher Adrian C. , Wang Xin
Published: August 2024

Molecular catalysts represent an exceptional class of materials in the realm of electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction (CO2RR), offering distinct advantages owing to their adaptable structure, which enables precise control of electronic configurations and outstanding performance in CO2RR. This study introduces an innovative approach to heterogeneous electrochemical CO2RR in an aqueous environment, utilizing a newly synthesized N4‐macrocyclic cobalt complex generated through a dimerization coupling reaction. By incorporating the quaterpyridine moiety, this cobalt complex exhibits the capability to catalyze CO2RR at low overpotentials and reaches near‐unity CO production across a wide potential range, as verified by the online mass spectrometry and in situ attenuated total reflectance‐Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Comprehensive computational models demonstrate the superiority of utilizing quarterpyridine moiety in mediating CO2 conversion compared to the counterpart. This work not only propels the field of electrochemical CO2RR but also underscores the promising potential of cobalt complexes featuring quaterpyridine moieties in advancing sustainable CO2 conversion technologies within aqueous environments.
W/holistic participatory democracy: An ideal societal governance design
Authors: Dostal Elisabeth
Published: August 2024

Current societal systems (including societal governance) are legacy systems of the industrial age. They are derived from reductionist thinking, the worldview of the industrial age. With the advancing information age, they become increasingly problem riddled and need to be transformed, based on a new worldview (i.e., w/holistic or systems thinking). The aim of this paper is to create an ideal w/holistic democracy design that dissolves current problems, serves citizens, and allows their direct participation in governance. The research method is a theory‐based design, whereby generic organizing principles of Biomatrix Systems Theory are applied to create the design. The theory distinguishes between organismic and functional systems, whereby an organism (e.g., nation) emerges from the interaction of its functions (e.g., political, economic, cultural, and ecological) organized by an ethos, as well as from the interaction with other organisms (i.e., citizens, organizations, and other nations). Those distinctions give rise to a five‐faceted governance design (i.e., concerned with the conceptual and physical reality of the nation, single and multifunctional development, and relations with other systems), which is executed by different governance structures (i.e., a Citizens Forum, National Development Forum, and Function Forums), with the dual participation of citizens as equal members of the nation (using a general vote) and as expert citizens associated with a specific societal function (using a functional vote). Because the theory describes generic w/holistic organizing principles, it can be concluded that the implementation of the design (called W/Holistic Participatory Democracy) will dissolve problems derived from the current reductionist representative democracy model.
Predicting slump for high‐performance concrete using decision tree and support vector regression approaches coupled with phasor particle swarm optimization algorithm
Authors: Sun Qingmei , Gongping Yu
Published: August 2024

The main focus of this study is to assess the slump characteristics of high‐performance concrete (HPC) using decision tree (DT) and support vector regression (SVR) models. In the first step, the models were solely fed via HPC samples to reproduce the slump rates. By coupling phasor particle swarm optimization (PPSO) to main models, hybrid DT‐PPSO and SVR‐PPSO frameworks, simulate the slump rates accurately. Using the correlation of determination and root mean square error (MAE) metrics for the DT, 96.04 and 5.097 were computed, respectively. SVR was obtained at 92.62 and 6.965, alternatively. In the hybrid approach, DT‐PPSO could improve by 3% and 55% in terms of correlation of determination and root MAE, respectively. DT‐PPSO appeared high‐accuracy model compared to others; however, a single DT had more desirable results than SVR. Overall, the advantages of this study encompass its methodological approach, comparative insights, and practical relevance, offering valuable contributions to the understanding and prediction of mechanical slump in HPC.
Influence of circadian rhythm on effects induced by mechanical strain in periodontal ligament cells
Authors: Peters Lena I. , Marciniak Jana , Kutschera Eric , Luiz Caio , Calvano Küchler Erika , Kirschneck Christian , Jäger Andreas , Beisel-Memmert Svenja
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of mechanical strain on clock gene function in periodontal ligament (PDL) cells. Furthermore, we wanted to analyze whether effects induced by mechanical stress vary in relation to the circadian rhythm.

Methods

Human PDL fibroblasts were synchronized in their circadian rhythm with dexamethasone and stretched over 24 h. Unstretched cells served as controls. Gene expression of the core clock genes were analyzed at 4 h intervals by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Time points 0 h (group SI1) and 12 h (group SI2) after synchronization served as starting points of a 4 h force application period. Collagen-1α (COL-1α/Col-1α), interleukin-1β (IL1-β), and runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2/Runx2) were assessed by qRT-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) after 2 and 4 h. Statistical analysis comprised one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc tests.

Results

After synchronization, the typical pattern for clock genes was visible in control cells over the 24 h period. This pattern was significantly altered by mechanical strain. Under tensile stress, ARNTL gene expression was reduced, while Per1 and 2 gene expression were upregulated. In addition, mechanical stress had a differential effect on the expression of Col-1α and IL1‑β depending on its initiation within the circadian rhythm (group SI1 vs group SI2). For RUNX2, no significant differences in the two groups were observed.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that mechanical stress affects the molecular peripheral oscillator of PDL cells. Vice versa, the circadian rhythm also seems to partially influence the effects that mechanical stress exerts on PDL cells.
Microbial Succession on Microplastics in Wastewater Treatment Plants: Exploring the Complexities of Microplastic-Microbiome Interactions
Authors: Kwiatkowska Klaudia , Ormaniec Paulina
Published: August 2024

Despite some effectiveness of wastewater treatment processes, microplastics accumulate in sewage sludge and their further use may contribute to the release of plastic microplastics into the environment. There is an urgent need to reduce the amount of microplastics in sewage sludge. Plastic particles serve as solid substrates for various microorganisms, promoting the formation of microbial biofilms with different metabolic activities. The biofilm environment associated with microplastics will determine the efficiency of treatment processes, especially biological methods, and the mechanisms of organic compound conversion. A significant source of microplastics is the land application of sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants. The detrimental impact of microplastics affects soil enzymatic activity, soil microorganisms, flora, fauna, and plant production. This review article summarizes the development of research related to microplastics and discusses the issue of microplastic introduction from sewage sludge. Given that microplastics can contain complex composite polymers and form a plastisphere, further research is needed to understand their potential environmental impact, pathogenicity, and the characteristics of biofilms in wastewater treatment systems. The article also discusses the physicochemical properties of microplastics in wastewater treatment plants and their role in biofilm formation. Then, the article explained the impact of these properties on the possibility of the formation of biofilms on their surface due to the peculiar structure of microorganisms and also characterized what factors enable the formation of specific plastisphere in wastewater treatment plants. It highlights the urgent need to understand the basic information about microplastics to assess environmental toxicity more rationally, enabling better pollution control and the development of regulatory standards to manage microplastics entering the environment.
Comparing oncologic and surgical outcomes of robotic and laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy: a propensity-matched analysis
Authors: Chang Jenny H. , Wehrle Chase , Woo Kimberly , Naples Robert , Stackhouse Kathryn A. , Dahdaleh Fadi , Joyce Daniel , Simon Robert , Augustin Toms , Walsh R. Matthew , Naffouje Samer A.
Published: August 2024

Background

The frequency of minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy is gradually exceeding that of the open approach. Our study aims to compare short-term outcomes of robotic (RDP) and laparoscopic (LDP) distal pancreatectomies for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) using a national database.

Methods

The National Cancer Database was utilized to identify patients with PDAC who underwent distal pancreatectomy from 2010–2020. Short-term technical and oncologic outcomes such as margin status and nodal harvest were included. Propensity-score matching (PSM) was performed comparing LDP and RDP cohorts. Multivariate logistic-regression models were then used to assess the impact of institutional volume on the MIDP surgical and technical oncologic outcomes.

Results

1537 patients underwent MIDP with curative intent. Most cases were laparoscopic (74.4%, n = 1144), with a gradual increase in robotic utilization, from 8.7% in 2010 to 32.0% of MIDP cases ten years later. For PSM, 698 LDP patients were matched with 349 RDP. The odds of conversion to an open case were 58% less in RDP (12.6%) compared to LDP (25.5%) with no statistically significant difference in technical oncologic results. There was no difference in length of stay (OR = 1.0[0.7–1.4]), 30-day mortality (OR = 0.5[0.2–2.0]) or 90-day mortality (OR = 1.1[0.5–2.4]) between RDP and LDP, although there was a higher 30-day readmission rate with RDP (OR = 1.71[1.1–2.7]). There were statistically significant differences in technical oncologic outcomes (nodal harvest, margin status, initiation of adjuvant therapy) based on MIDP volume quartiles.

Conclusion

Laparoscopic and robotic distal pancreatectomy have similar peri- and post-operative surgical and oncologic outcomes, with a higher rate of conversion to open in the laparoscopic cohort.
Sums of multidimensional Kloosterman sums
Authors: Shparlinski Igor E.
Published: August 2024

We obtain a new bound on certain multiple sums with multidimensional Kloosterman sums. In particular, these bounds show the existence of nontrivial cancellations between such sums in very small families.
Relationship between metabolic indices and milk yield in Saanen goats exposed to heat stress in semi-tropical climates
Authors: Akkaya Fatma , Mecitoğlu Zafer , Şentürk Sezgin , Koşum Nedim , Kasap Sevim , Takma Çiğdem , Taskin Turgay , Yalçin Murat , Kandemir Çağrı
Published: August 2024

This study aimed to determine the effects of heat stress on 30 Saanen goats of different ages (young, middle-aged, and old). The average temperature and humidity values during the trial were 27.82 °C and 40.65%, respectively. Statistically significant differences in pulse rate (PR), respiratory rate (SS), and temperature humidity index (THI) were found between months (P < 0.05). Beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) values were found to be statistically significant in the young and middle-aged group (P < 0.05), with the highest in the middle-aged group obtained in June (0.65 mmol/L). Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and urea (BUN) were significantly different (P < 0.05) in all age groups, whereas creatinine values showed no significant differences between groups. Significant positive relationships were found between body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS), as well as pulse rate (PR) and daily average daily milk yield (DAMY) (P < 0.01). A positive correlation was also found between the respiratory rate (SS) and pulse rate (P < 0.01). As a result, although attempts have been made to prevent the decrease in productivity with applications for animals under heat stress, the optimal strategy may be to address the source of the problem. Issues that cause heat accumulation in the body should be identified and necessary arrangements should be made in the shelter to distribute heat to ensure that animals are less affected. Shaded areas should be provided in cases of stress caused by heat. An appropriate structural arrangement for temperature, humidification, and ventilation systems, as well as the provision of abundant fresh drinking water, would also be beneficial.
Effects of metal oxide inhalation on the transcription of some hormone receptors in the brain, examined in an in vivo mouse model
Authors: Kiss David Sandor , Toth Istvan , Bartha Tibor , Jerzsele Akos , Zsarnovszky Attila , Pasztine Gere Erzsebet , Ondrasovicova Silvia , Varro Petra , Kovago Csaba
Published: August 2024

Respirable metal oxide nanoparticles in welding fumes pose significant health risks upon inhalation, potentially leading to neurodegenerative diseases. While the exact mechanisms remain unclear, it is evident that metal oxide nanoparticles can disrupt cellular functions, including metabolism and inflammatory responses after crossing the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Our study investigates the impact of manual metal arc welding fumes on hormone receptor transcription in an in vivo mouse model. After collecting samples from six different brain regions at 24 and 96 h upon exposure, we focused on expression levels of estrogen receptors (ERs), thyroid hormone receptors (TRs), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) due to their roles in modulating neuroprotective responses and neuroinflammatory processes. Analysis revealed differential susceptibility of brain regions to hormonal disruption induced by welding fumes, with the hypothalamus (HT) and olfactory bulb (OB) showing prominent changes in receptor expression. Considering ERs, 24 h sampling showed an elevation in OB, with later increases in both ERα and ERβ. HT showed significant ERβ change only by 96 h. TRs mirrored ER patterns, with notable changes in OB and less in HT. PPARγ followed TR trends, with early upregulation in HT and downregulation elsewhere. These findings suggest a compensatory response within the CNS aimed at mitigating neuroinflammatory effects, as evidenced by the upregulation of ERβ, TRα, and PPARγ. The coordinated increase in ERs, TRs, and PPARs in the hypothalamus and olfactory bulb also highlights their potential neuroprotective roles in response to welding fume exposure. Our results also support the theory of metal oxide penetration to the CNS via the lungs-blood-BBB pathway, making HT and OB more vulnerable to welding fume exposure.
A dual-instrument Kalman-based tracker to enhance robustness of microsurgical tools tracking
Authors: Magro Mattia , Covallero Nicola , Gambaro Elena , Ruffaldi Emanuele , De Momi Elena
Published: August 2024

Purpose:

The integration of a surgical robotic instrument tracking module within optical microscopes holds the potential to advance microsurgery practices, as it facilitates automated camera movements, thereby augmenting the surgeon’s capability in executing surgical procedures.

Methods:

In the present work, an innovative detection backbone based on spatial attention module is implemented to enhance the detection accuracy of small objects within the image. Additionally, we have introduced a robust data association technique, capable to re-track surgical instrument, mainly based on the knowledge of the dual-instrument robotics system, Intersection over Union metric and Kalman filter.

Results:

The effectiveness of this pipeline was evaluated through testing on a dataset comprising ten manually annotated videos of anastomosis procedures involving either animal or phantom vessels, exploiting the Symani®Surgical System—a dedicated robotic platform designed for microsurgery. The multiple object tracking precision (MOTP) and the multiple object tracking accuracy (MOTA) are used to evaluate the performance of the proposed approach, and a new metric is computed to demonstrate the efficacy in stabilizing the tracking result along the video frames. An average MOTP of 74±0.06% and a MOTA of 99±0.03% over the test videos were found.

Conclusion:

These results confirm the potential of the proposed approach in enhancing precision and reliability in microsurgical instrument tracking. Thus, the integration of attention mechanisms and a tailored data association module could be a solid base for automatizing the motion of optical microscopes.
On equal terms?
Authors: Endres Susanna , Evers Tanja , Rothenberger Liane
Published: August 2024

Vulnerable groups are characterised by a special need for protection, e.g. because they are linguistically, cognitively or physically impaired or traumatised or have not yet developed certain abilities. So far, communication research has not addressed vulnerable groups as research participants from an ethical-reflective perspective—whether they are interviewed or observed in a study or exposed to potentially (re)traumatising content as transcribers or coders in a content analysis or as part of a research team. This article fills this gap by, firstly, specifying the concept of vulnerability and relating different approaches and models from procedural and situational ethics. Secondly, along the research process of study planning, sampling, data collection, processing, analysis and publication, the article focuses on phase-specific challenges and ethical considerations in working with vulnerable groups. Based on various examples, the possibilities and limitations of communication studies, along with other fields, are highlighted. The article concludes with recommendations for future studies and raises key questions that can guide self-reflection before and during communication research with vulnerable groups.
Impact of Seed Germination on the Physicochemical Properties of Lupin Flours and the Physicochemical and Techno-functional Properties of Their Protein Isolates
Authors: Navarro-Vozmediano Paola , Bou Ricard , García-Pérez José V. , Dalmau Esperanza , Benedito José J.
Published: August 2024

Nowadays
, lupin seeds have emerged as a novel and valuable source of proteins representing a sustainable alternative to current raw materials of plant-based proteins, such as soybean. In this regard, lupin demonstrates superior adaptation to the Mediterranean climate with improved tolerance to water stress. However, its suitability for human consumption is limited due to the presence of anti-nutritional and anti-technological factors, including alkaloids, polyphenols, tannins, and lipids, which can have adverse nutritional consequences and/or impact on the purity and yield of protein extraction. In this study, the Lupinus luteus seeds were germinated for 1, 2, 3, and 6 days and the effect of germination on the anti-nutritional and anti-technological factors of flours and derived protein isolates was analyzed. Additionally, changes on techno-functional properties of lupin protein isolates were also studied. Results showed that prolonged germination decreased fat content whereas antioxidant activity, polyphenols, saponin, and alkaloid content of flours increased. However, alkaloids were completely removed during protein extraction. Furthermore, protein isolates derived from germinated seeds exhibited higher water and oil absorption capacities, as well as improved foaming and emulsifying capabilities in comparison to isolates from non-germinated seeds. Nevertheless, prolonged germination periods were associated with diminished foam and emulsion stability. Therefore, germination of lupin seeds for no longer than 3 days should be recommended in order to minimize the levels of anti-nutritional and anti-technological factors, while enhancing techno-functional properties of the isolate.
Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Induced Testicular Toxicity Through Inflammation and Reducing Testosterone and Cell Viability in Adult Male Rats
Authors: Ahmed Dina H. , El-Beih Nadia M. , El-Hussieny Enas A. , El-Sayed Wael M.
Published: August 2024

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have wide applications in daily life. Therefore, there is growing interest in the potential harmful impacts of these particles on human health. The present study was conducted to investigate the potential toxic effects of ZnO NPs (40 and 70 nm) compared to ZnO on the testes of rats. ZnO NPs were synthesized and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Adult male rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8): Group I (control), Group II (ZnO) received daily oral administration of ZnO (50 mg/kg), and Groups III and IV received daily oral administration of ZnO NPs of 40 nm or 70 nm at 50 mg/kg, respectively. All treatments continued for 50 consecutive days. ZnO and ZnO NPs reduced body and testis weights, sperm count and motility, serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone levels, testicular cytochrome p450 17A1 (CYP17A1) and cytochrome p450 1B1 (CYP1B1) concentrations, and the expression of p53 and cdk1. These treatments elevated testicular myeloperoxidase and serum acid phosphatase activities as well as sperm abnormalities. ZnO NPs reduced LH levels, which decreased CYP17A1 and CYP1B1, resulting in reduced synthesis of testosterone. ZnO NPs enhanced testicular inflammation and reduced cell viability. All these effects were manifested as reduced sperm motility and increased sperm deformities. Compared to macromolecules, nanoparticles exhibited significantly higher toxicity. The larger diameter ZnO NPs had more profound toxicity than the smaller-sized particles.
Case report: Electrocardiographic (ECG) recording during the hanging process
Authors: Ungermann E. M. , Balikowski M. , Hemker J. , Feld K.
Published: August 2024

A 48-year-old woman was found hanged in the bathroom. She was wearing a Holter monitor, which was later analysed by a cardiologist. During autopsy, findings congruent with atypical hanging were collected. The ECG showed a 20 s asystole and four minutes later bradycardia, which progressed to a second-degree AV-block Mobitz I, then Mobitz II, then to a third-degree AV-block. Finally, only P waves could be observed, before heart action ceased. This is one of few cases reporting ECG-changes during hanging and might give further insight into the complex pathophysiology of this type of death.
Elucidating the role of social media usage on eating behavior and hedonic hunger in college students: a cross-sectional design
Authors: Dumlu Bi̇lgi̇n Gözde , Keküllüoğlu Tan Melis , Yıldırım Güler Aleyna , Sarıgül Sevdaşahnur , Güzel Dila , Sökeli̇ Nadin
Published: August 2024

Social media has become prominent in recent years, especially among the young population, and they also substantially impact young people’s eating habits. Furthermore, social media posts and visual interactions may trigger hedonic hunger, an increased desire for highly palatable food. This study aimed to explore the relationship between social media use and the concept of hedonic hunger in a sample of college students. 860 participants between 18 and 39 were recruited for the study. Data including demographic variables, weight, height, the Scale of Effects of Social Media on Eating Behavior (SESMEB), and the Turkish version of the Power of Food Scale (PFS) were gathered based on students’ self-reports via face-to-face interviews. The most used social media outlet among all students was Instagram (60.1%), the average time spent on social media was 3.56 ± 1.91 h, and females spent significantly more time on social media than males (p < 0.001). The mean PFS score was 3.52 ± 0.77, and the subscale scores for food availability, food present, and food tasted were 3.26 ± 0.99, 3.49 ± 0.89, and 3.76 ± 0.87, respectively. Female students who spent more than 2 h on social media had higher scores on SESMEB than those who spent 2 h or less a day (p = 0.015).​ A significantly positive correlation was found between SESMEB scores and PFS aggregated scores (r = 0.381) and subscale scores (for food availability, present, and tasted, r = 0.369; r = 0.354; and r = 0.282, respectively). Each 1-unit increase in the SESMEB score leads to an 8% increase in the risk of hedonic hunger. Considering the impact of social media on young people’s eating habits and developing strategies may be crucial in shaping their eating patterns.
In It Together: effects from a randomized controlled trial of a digital intervention for elderly individuals with sensory loss and their spouses
Authors: Øverup Camilla S. , Hald Gert Martin
Published: August 2024

Sensory impairment is common in older age and is associated with intra- and interpersonal struggles, however, treatment efforts may be hampered by functional difficulties or unwillingness to seek face-to-face mental health services. The current study examined the efficacy of an online psychological intervention for older adults with sensory loss and their spouses in Denmark, using a two-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial study design with a wait-list control group. The intervention consisted of four digital, sequential modules that contained psychoeducation and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy inspired therapeutic activities. Individuals (N = 662) completed online surveys (using the SurveyXact platform) at baseline, 6 weeks, and 10 weeks post-baseline, in terms of well-being, relationship satisfaction, and depressive symptoms. The data were analyzed in SAS, version 9.4, using multilevel modeling to account for non-independence of data (nesting within participant and within couple), specifying an alpha level of 0.05. Inconsistent with the hypotheses, we found that the intervention group reported poorer well-being at 6 weeks, compared to the control group, and we found no effect in terms of relationship satisfaction or depressive symptoms. As the first study of an online intervention for older adults with sensory loss and their spouses, the study highlights the need for simple login procedures, and we speculate whether a user customizable format may be better, features that might be useful for any digital intervention aimed at elderly populations. These features may be of particular importance in implementing digital interventions into standard healthcare practices.
Umwelt and Melody: The Inter-Species Dynamics of Search and Rescue Dog Teams
Authors: Kasprzak Krystof , Bornemark Jonna
Published: August 2024

This text explores Search and Rescue (SAR) dog work, examining the interplay of Umwelt, semiosis, and behavior in both dogs and humans. Drawing on Uexküll’s notion of Umwelt, the discussion unfolds across two semiotic levels: endosemiosis, involving the constitution of species-specific Umwelten through non-mimetic processes, and exosemiosis, reflecting semiotic interactions within the established Umwelt. Emphasizing the Kantian influence on Uexküll, the text parallels the concept of transcendental schematism with monogram drafting, illustrating how organisms constitute their Umwelten. The exploration extends to Merleau-Ponty’s interpretation of the monogram in Kant and the Umwelt in Uexküll, framing behavior as melodic and underscoring the reciprocal influence between an organism and its Umwelt. Shifting focus to SAR dog teams, the essay elucidates the melodic teamwork between human handlers and dogs. It discerns the convergence of distinct search tones—human-driven rescue tones and dog-driven reward tones—harmonizing in a dynamic inter-species melody. The melodic metaphor, inspired by Merleau-Ponty, illuminates the shared behavioral space where humans and dogs contribute tonalities to the melody of SAR searches. The exploration underscores the handler’s role in facilitating this melodic collaboration, requiring interpretation deeply immersed in the movements of the dog, and a balance between guidance and trust in the dog’s autonomy during the search.
Ontology-Driven Automated Reasoning About Property Crimes
Authors: Navarrete Francisco , Garrido Ángel L. , Bobed Carlos , Atencia Manuel , Vallecillo Antonio
Published: August 2024

The classification of police reports according to the typification of the criminal act described in them is not an easy task. The reports are written in natural language and often present missing, imprecise, or even inconsistent information, or lack sufficient details to make a clear decision. Focusing on property crimes, the aim of this work is to assist judges in this classification process by automatically extracting information from police reports and producing a list of possible classifications of crimes accompanied by a degree of confidence in each of them. The work follows the design science research methodology, developing a tool as an artifact. The proposal uses information extraction techniques to obtain the data from the reports, guided by an ontology developed for the Spanish legal system on property crimes. Probabilistic inference mechanisms are used to select the set of articles of the law that could apply to a given case, even when the evidence does not allow an unambiguous identification. The proposal has been empirically validated in a real environment with judges and prosecutors. The results show that the proposal is feasible and usable, and could be effective in assisting judges to classify property crime reports.
Comprehensive analysis of paraspeckle-associated gene modules unveils prognostic signatures and immunological relevance in multi-cancers
Authors: Fan Zhuoyang , Yin Bowen , Chen Xiaochen , Yang Guowei , Zhang Wei , Ye Xiaodan , Han Hong , Li Ming , Shu Minfeng , Liu Rong
Published: August 2024

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, characterized by high rates of angiogenesis and immune evasion. Paraspeckle genes, involved in gene regulation and RNA metabolism, have recently been linked to tumor progression. This study aims to elucidate the relationship between paraspeckle genes and HCC prognosis, focusing on SFPQ, DDX39B, and UBAP2.

Methods

We analyzed HCC (LIHC) and prostate cancer (PRAD) samples from the TCGA database to explore the correlation between paraspeckle genes and angiogenesis. We conducted unsupervised clustering, risk scoring, and survival analysis to identify distinct patient groups and their clinical outcomes. Gene expression data were used to perform differential analysis and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment.

Results

Our analysis identified significant correlations between paraspeckle genes and angiogenesis across multiple cancer types. Elevated expression levels of SFPQ, DDX39B, and UBAP2 were associated with poor prognosis in HCC patients, and all of them has statistical significance. Unsupervised clustering of HCC samples based on paraspeckle gene expression revealed two distinct clusters, with high-risk patients exhibiting stronger immune suppression and tumor immune evasion. GO enrichment highlighted critical pathways related to angiogenesis and immune regulation. Additionally, a risk scoring model based on these genes effectively distinguished high-risk and low-risk patient groups, providing valuable prognostic insights.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that SFPQ, DDX39B, and UBAP2 are significantly associated with poor prognosis in HCC, likely due to their roles in promoting angiogenesis and immune suppression. These findings highlight the potential of paraspeckle genes as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets, offering new avenues for personalized treatment strategies in HCC. Further research into their functional mechanisms and clinical applicability is crucial for advancing HCC treatment and improving patient outcomes.
Spectral signatures of solvent-extracted macromolecules in Indian coals of different rank: Insights from fluorescence excitation-emission matrix
Authors: Sarkar Archchi , Bhui Uttam Kumar , Das Krittibas , Bhattacharyya Sudip , Kumar Jitendra , Halari Darshan
Published: August 2024

Solvent-extracted fractions of six Indian coal samples of different ranks were investigated using multiple geochemical, petrological and spectroscopic proxies and an attempt was made to indicate possible fingerprint regions for different polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) with the help of excitation-emission matrix (EEM). In this study, for the very first time, the influence of rank and maturation of organic matter in the characterisation of coal solvent-extracts from Indian coals were perceived from the viewpoint of fluorescence EEM. Vitrinite reflectance (VRo) values were used to determine the general ranks of the original coal samples viz. lignite, subbituminous, bituminous and anthracite. Different fluorescence peak regions corresponding to different fused aromatic ring (FAR) systems were delineated using the EEM and their indicative depositional environments could be inferred. Our observations indicate that solvent-extracted fractions of low rank coals comprise of a larger number of shorter carbon chains compared to the other samples. For the low rank coal samples, the solvent-extracts show a strong humic influence and the presence of smaller PAH rings while for the medium rank coals, the extracted fractions tend to show a more bimodal distribution of PAHs, possibly comprising of different sized PAHs. Higher fluorescence sensitivity and quick response of smaller PAHs impart a singular centralised region in the EEM for the low rank coal samples while interference in the fluorescence of differently sized PAHs indicate a multimodal distribution of the fluorophores in the medium rank coals. The high rank coal used in this study shows a bimodal distribution with very low intensity of the peaks, indicating the low abundance of extractable macromolecules, possibly as a result of deformation.
Improving the Carbonation of Steel Slags Through Concurrent Wet Milling
Authors: de Schutter Anthony , Ceyssens Luka , Granata Giuseppe , Van Gerven Tom
Published: August 2024

This work studies mineral carbonation of steel slags with the aim to reduce the amount of slag that is landfilled. Besides permanently storing carbon dioxide (CO2), carbonating the slags can improve their quality for use in beneficial applications and reduces the leaching of harmful heavy metals. In order to intensify the mineral carbonation process, mechanical activation is used to improve both the carbonation kinetics and yield. The milling is performed in a planetary ball mill which allows for high-intensity grinding, resulting in a fast reduction of the particle size and quick amorphization and disturbance of the crystal structure, allowing high reaction rates to be achieved. The effects of the three main processing parameters of a planetary ball mill—bead-to-powder ratio $$R$$
R
, bead size $$D$$
D
and milling speed $$S$$
S
—are investigated. Under optimal conditions, more than 50% of the maximum CO2 uptake is achieved in only 6 min, representing a very significant improvement over regular slurry carbonation. Quantitative XRD allows to identify the reactivity of the different crystalline phases present in the slag under different milling conditions. With the help of a mass balance, the formation of an inert outer layer consisting of silica (SiO2) is confirmed. This explains both the shell diffusion mechanism controlling the carbonation reaction and the total conversion being limited to 50–60%.

Graphical Abstract
Determining Hypercentral Hall Subgroups in Finite Groups
Authors: Sotomayor V.
Published: August 2024

Let G be a finite group, and let $$\pi $$
π
be a set of primes. The aim of this paper is to obtain some results concerning how much information about the $$\pi $$
π
-structure of G can be gathered from the knowledge of the sizes of conjugacy classes of its $$\pi $$
π
-elements and of their multiplicities. Among other results, we prove that this multiset of class sizes determines whether G has a hypercentral Hall $$\pi $$
π
-subgroup.
Mechanical performance of liquid cold-poured interlayer adhesives in comparison to PVB, EVA, and ionomers
Authors: Offereins Dominik , Pauli Alexander , Siebert Geralt
Published: August 2024

Currently, liquid cold-poured adhesives are infrequently used as interlayers of laminated or laminated safety glass in structural glass applications, despite their inherent benefits. The potential advantages of these materials are characterized by easy handling, rapid curing devoid of elevated temperature or pressure requirements, and consequently, a comparatively low energy demand. Despite the prolonged availability of certain products in the market, comprehensive scientific inquiry into their mechanical and thermal material characteristics remains limited. In this paper, two specific liquid cold-poured interlayer adhesives are investigated for their mechanical material properties in an extensive test regime. To be able to classify the characteristic values of the adhesives within a correct framework, the materials currently holding the largest market share, including Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB), Ionomers, and Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA), are also subjected to the experimental program. The temperature dependence of the material behavior is explored through Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA) experiments. Furthermore, the time-dependent material behavior at large deformations is scrutinized using various methodologies, such as tensile tests at different strain rates, cyclic tests, creep tests, and relaxation tests, all conducted in uniaxial tension mode. The outcomes of all tests led to promising results for one of the adhesives with advantages over those of PVB and EVA.
Challenging dominant education paradigms: posthuman feminist inspirations towards alternate pathways for decolonising the curriculum
Authors: Simmonds Shan
Published: August 2024

South Africa’s curriculum, and education system at large, remains humanistic and dominated by Western Eurocentric ways of thinking, doing and being. The ongoing protest action in higher education has made explicit the inequalities that continue to keep epistemic violence, Eurocentrism, and human exceptionalism intact. Central to this protest action has been the need for curriculum inquiry to reinvent itself and go against the pedagogical grain by advocating for a decolonised curriculum. However, the decolonial turn has largely been a structural exercise of abstract and rhetoric intensity fueled by a language of critique that is entrapped in discursive tendencies that inhibit the type of radicalism needed for it to invigorate alternatives that can challenge dominant education paradigms. This article is inspired by posthuman feminist theory that troubles the logic of advanced capitalism, epistemic injustice and dominant education paradigms. Invoked by new materialism, intra-actions of our becoming within and as part of the world are the deep entanglements of ethics, knowing and being that can spur scholarly activism. Four curriculum studies scholar activists shared their narratives of how they are enacting their curriculum to challenge dominant education paradigms. Their lived experiences as material, relational, embodied and embedded incite posthuman tendencies of what it means to teach to transgress. Experimenting with transversal transgressions this article attempts at a non-anthropocentric, feminist inspired perspective for curriculum inquiry to find alternative pathways for decolonising the curriculum so that it can rise to the challenges of our time.
Pastoral grasses and legumes as potential host plants for fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) development.
Authors: Adnan Saleh Mohammad , Cattermole Holly , Saligari Kim , Spafford Helen
Published: August 2024

The fall armyworm, Spodopterafrugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a highly polyphagous, migratory pest native to the tropical and subtropical region of Americas. Grass crops particularly corn have been most heavily impacted since S. frugiperda invaded Australia in 2020. In northern Western Australia, S. frugiperda is primarily a problem in dry season (May to October) crops when there are abundant host plants available in monocultures. During the wet season (November to April) it is not known what host plants may support larval growth and development. Accordingly, this present study undertook a no-choice feeding bioassay to assess larval and pupal development on several grasses and legumes that are present over the wet season in northern Western Australia to evaluate their potential as suitable host plants for S. frugiperda. Maize (control) and sorghum were the most suitable hosts for S. frugiperda development as they supported greater larval and pupal survival, heavier larvae and pupae, and shorter development period. Following maize and sorghum, pastoral grasses, particularly blue grass, and a weedy grass, barnyard grass, had comparable effects on larval and pupal development. Legume pastures (Cavalcade, butterfly pea, and siratro) were unsuitable hosts in this bioassay as very few larvae completed their development to adults. This study demonstrates the potential for rangeland pasture grasses and weedy grasses as wet season host plants for S. frugiperda. They provide the necessary green bridge for S. frugiperda populations to survive. It is recommended that pastoralists monitor their grass forage for S. frugiperda and consider management if significant reductions in biomass are detected.