bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inpatient’s, therapist’s and staff’s expectations regarding treatment and their effects on placebo response in the psychiatric ward – results from an add-on oxytocin RCT
Authors: Nitzan Uri , Grossman-Girron A. , Sedoff O. , Maoz H. , Arad O. , Tilbor E. , Dror C. , Bitan D. Tzur
Published: July 2024

Objectives

Patient’s and therapist’s expectations are considered an important factor influencing placebo response in experimental and therapeutic settings. Nevertheless, the placebo effects of common neurological facilitators that promote treatment efficacy have not been explored. In the present study we examined the estimations of patients, therapists, and staff members, regarding their treatment type and assessed their influence on the facilitating effects of oxytocin.

Methods

Patients (N = 87) were randomized and double-blindly allocated to receive either oxytocin or placebo, twice daily for a period of four weeks, as part of a larger randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Patient’s, therapist’s and staff’s expectations were assessed based on their estimation of treatment type (agent or placebo). Multilevel modeling and univariate and multivariate regression analysis were performed to assess the effects of patient’s, therapist’s, and staff’s estimations on treatment outcome beyond the effects of treatment type.

Results

Staff’s, therapist’s, and patient’s estimations were significantly associated with treatment outcomes. Nevertheless, only therapist’s and patient’s estimations significantly predicted improvement beyond actual administration, with therapist’s and patient’s estimations associated with improvement in trait anxiety (STAI-T, B=-1.80, p < .05, and B=-2.02, p < .05, respectively); therapist’s estimations were associated with improvement in general distress (OQ-45, B=-3.71, p < .05), and patient’s estimations were associated with symptom relief (HSCL-11, B=-0.13, p < .05). Overall, patient’s estimations had a higher relative contribution to treatment success, with standardized coefficients across scales ranging from − 0.06 to -0.26.

Conclusions

The neurobiological factors that promote treatment success are also influenced by patient’s and therapist’s expectations. Future studies should consider these effects when examining their impact in inpatient settings.
Cognitive reserve and executive functions in dual task gait performance in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Fernández-Lago Helena , Bosch-Barceló Pere , Sánchez-Molina José Andrés , Ambrus Mira , Rio Dan , Fernández-Del-Olmo Miguel Ángel
Published: July 2024

A higher level of education was correlated with less severe motor impairment in Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Nevertheless, there is limited evidence on the relationship between cognitive reserve and motor performance in complex situations in PD. To investigate the association between cognitive reserve and the dual-task gait effect in PD. Additionally, we examined the relationship between executive function, clinical and sociodemographic variables and, dual-task gait effects. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 44 PD participants. We evaluated dual-task effect on cadence, stride length, and gait velocity. Dual-task effects were correlated with neurophysiological factors, including cognitive reserve (Cognitive Reserve Index Questionnaire), overall cognitive performance of executive functions, a specific executive function domain (Trail Making Test), and the global cognitive status (Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Mini-Mental State Examination). Age, gender, and disease severity were considered as variables to be examined for correlation. We found that cognitive reserve did not influence gait performance under dual-task conditions in this sample. However, executive functions, age, and disease severity were associated with the dual-task effect on gait. The overall cognitive performance with respect to the Trail Making Test showed an inverse relationship in the dual-task gait effect on cadence. Our study’s findings have important implications for understanding the association between executive functions, age, and disease severity with the dual-task effect on gait in PD. Pre-life factors, such as education, occupation, and leisure activity, did not contribute to coping with complex gait situations in PD.
Painful sexual intercourse, quality of life and sexual function in patients with endometriosis: not just deep dyspareunia
Authors: Del Forno Simona , Raspollini Arianna , Doglioli Marisol , Andreotti Anna , Spagnolo Emanuela , Lenzi Jacopo , Borghese Giulia , Raimondo Diego , Arena Alessandro , Rodriguez Elena , Hernandez Alicia , Govoni Francesca , Seracchioli Renato
Published: July 2024

Purpose

To evaluate the prevalence of deep and superficial dyspareunia in women with diagnosis of endometriosis. Secondly, to assess the temporal relation between deep and superficial dyspareunia in women reporting both symptoms (concomitant dyspareunia) and the impact on quality of life (QoL) and sexual function.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional cohort study that included fertile women with diagnosis of endometriosis. Enrolled subjects reported pain symptoms including dyspareunia and its temporal onset and completed two one-time validated questionnaires regarding sexual function (Female Sexual Function Index) and QoL (International QoL Assessment SF-36).

Results

Among the 334 enrolled patients, 75.7% (95%) reported dyspareunia. Women were divided into four groups according to the presence and type of dyspareunia: isolated superficial dyspareunia (6.3%), isolated deep dyspareunia (26.0%), concomitant dyspareunia (43.4%) and no dyspareunia (24.3%). Women with concomitant dyspareunia reported higher NRS scores than women with isolated dyspareunia or no dyspareunia (P ≤ 0.001). The majority of women with concomitant dyspareunia (56.6%) reported that deep dyspareunia developed before superficial dyspareunia. Women with concomitant dyspareunia reported worse QoL and worse sexual function than women with isolated dyspareunia or without dyspareunia (P ≤ 0.001).

Conclusion

Dyspareunia is a common symptom in women with endometriosis, with many reporting concomitant deep and superficial dyspareunia. Concomitant dyspareunia can significantly impact sexual function and quality of life (QoL). Therefore, it is crucial to investigate dyspareunia thoroughly and differentiate between its types to tailor effective therapeutic strategies.
IKZF3 amplification predicts worse prognosis especially in intestinal-type gastric cancer
Authors: Cui Zhaomeng , Liang Huaiyu , Luo Rongkui , Huang Wen , Yuan Wei , Zhang Lei , Luan Lijuan , Su Jieakesu , Huang Jie , Xu Chen , Hou Yingyong
Published: July 2024

Purpose

IKAROS family zinc finger 3 (IKZF3) is an oncogene involved in different malignancies, particularly in the development and malignant progression of lymphocytes. However, IKZF3 amplification and clinical significance in gastric cancers (GCs) remain unexplored.

Methods

We examined IKZF3 amplification status in 404 GCs with HER2 amplification status using tissue microarray (TMA) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays.

Results

IKZF3 amplification was detected in 6.9% (28/404) of all GC patients, with higher rates in intestinal-type gastric cancer (IGC) (11.22%, 22/196) compared to other types (2.88%, 6/208). HER2 amplification was identified in 16.09% (65/404) of all GC patients, with higher rates in IGC (20.92%, 41/196) compared to other types (11.54%, 24/208). Co-amplification of IKZF3 and HER2 was detected in 8.16% (16/196) of IGC patients and in 2.40% (5/208) of other types. IKZF3 amplification showed significant correlation with IGC (P = 0.001) and HER2 amplification (P = 0.0001). IKZF3 amplification exhibited significantly worse disease-free survival (DFS) (P = 0.014) and overall survival (OS) (P = 0.018) in GC patients, particularly in IGC (DFS: P < 0.001; OS: P < 0.001), rather than other types. Cox regression analysis demonstrate IKZF3 amplification as an independent poor prognostic factor in all GCs (P = 0.006, P = 0.004 respectively) and in IGC patients, regardless of stages I-II or III-IV (P = 0.007, P = 0.004 respectively). On the other hand, HER2 amplification was significantly associated with worse DFS (P = 0.008) and OS (P = 0.01) in IGC patients, but not in all GCs and in multivariate analysis. Within the subset of patients with HER2 amplification, those also exhibiting IKZF3 amplification displayed potential poorer prognosis (P = 0.08, P = 0.11 respectively).

Conclusion

IKZF3 amplification was detected in minority of GC patients, especially in IGC, and was an independent indicator of poor prognosis. Our study, for the first time, found the prognostic value of IKZF3 was superior to HER2 for GC patients.
The use of peripheral CD3+γδ+Vδ2+ T lymphocyte cells in combination with the ALBI score to predict immunotherapy response in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective study
Authors: Zhang Shuhan , Li Luyang , Liu Chengli , Pu Meng , Ma Yingbo , Zhang Tao , Chai Jiaqi , Li Haoming , Yang Jun , Chen Meishan , Kong Linghong , Xia Tian
Published: July 2024

Background

Currently, there is a lack of effective indicators for predicting the efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to investigate the expression and prognostic value of peripheral T lymphocyte subsets in advanced HCC.

Methods

Patients with advanced HCC who were treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) from December 2021 to December 2023 were included in the study. Flow cytometry was used to detect lymphocyte subsets before treatment. The patients were divided into disease control (DC) and nondisease control (nDC) groups based on treatment efficacy. Relationships between the clinical characteristics/peripheral T lymphocytes and immunotherapy efficacy were analyzed. The effectiveness of peripheral T lymphocyte subsets in predicting immunotherapy efficacy for patients with advanced HCC was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

Results

A total of 40 eligible patients were included in this study. Non-DC was significantly associated with higher albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) scores. The percentages of γδ+Vδ2+PD1+ T cells and γδ+Vδ2+Tim3+ T cells were greater in the nDC group than in the DC group. Multivariable regression analysis revealed that the ALBI score and T lymphocytes expressing γδ+Vδ2+PD1+ and γδ+Vδ2+Tim3+ were founded to be independent influencing factors. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) values for these combinations was 0.944 (95% CI, 0.882 ~ 1.000).

Conclusions

The calculation of the ALBI score and determination of the percentages CD3+γδ+Vδ2+PD1+ T lymphocytes and CD3+γδ+Vδ2+Tim3+ T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of patients with advanced HCC are helpful for predicting the patients’ responses to ICIs, helping to screen patients who may clinically benefit from immunotherapy.

Retrospectively registered

number: ChiCTR2400080409, date of registration: 2024-01-29.
MASCC/ISOO Clinical Practice Statement: Management of oral manifestations of chronic graft-versus-host-disease
Authors: Zadik Yehuda , Raber-Durlacher Judith E. , Epstein Joel B. , Majorana Alessandra , Laheij Alexa , Bardellini Elena , Blijlevens Nicole , Elad Sharon
Published: July 2024

Purpose

A MASCC/ISOO Clinical Practice Statement (CPS) is aimed at generating a concise tool for clinicians, which concentrates practical information needed for the management of oral complications of cancer patients. This CPS is focused on the management of oral manifestations of chronic graft-versus-host-disease (cGVHD).

Methods

This CPS was developed based on critical evaluation of the literature followed by a structured discussion of a group of leading experts, members of the Oral Care Study Group of MASCC/ISOO. The information is presented in the form of succinct bullets and table to generate a short manual about the best standard of care.

Results

The treatment goals in oral cGVHD are to relieve pain and xerostomia, improve oral function, prevent secondary infection, prevent deterioration of the dentition, and detect malignant transformation as early as possible. The prevention and treatment measures for oral mucosal lesions, hypofunction of the salivary glands, and sclerodermatous changes in the oral and perioral tissues are detailed, as well as the possible complications and side effects of these interventions.

Conclusions

Patients post allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantations, with cGVHD manifest in the oral and perioral tissues, should be regularly monitored and treated as needed by an oral care practitioner. This CPS provides the clinician with practical tools for examining, preventing, and treating the various sequalae that may affect the oral cavity in these patients.
An audit of central venous catheter insertion and management practices in two French university hospitals
Authors: Khanafer Nagham , Gardes Sophie , De-Santis Nathalie , Liard Céline , Deschamps Florian , Verbist Pauline , Nancey Stephane , Cotte Eddy , Martin Olivier , Argaud Laurent , Lukaszewicz Anne Claire , Vanhems Philippe
Published: July 2024

Objective

To assess the compliance with French guidelines for the prevention of central venous catheter (CVC)-related infections in two university hospitals.

Methods

An observational audit was conducted in 7 wards using a digital tool.

Results

The prerequisite of hand hygiene (HH) were respected by 90% of health-care worker; 86% performed HH prior to equipment preparation and 59% repeated it prior to infusion. Wearing gloves when necessary and rinsing were respected in 46.7% and 75.6% of the observations.

Conclusion

Findings showed an acceptable level of adherence to recommended practices for CVC management. However, barriers of unrespect evidence-based recommendations need to be investigated in depth.
Antiproliferative effect of low-level laser/ photobiomodulation on gingival fibroblasts derived from calcium channel blocker-induced gingival overgrowth
Authors: slezovic Melis özgül , Saygun Işıl , Bengi Vahdi Umut , Serdar Muhittin , Kantarci Alpdogan
Published: July 2024

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiproliferative properties of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on gingival fibroblasts obtained from calcium channel blocker-induced gingival overgrowth (GO). Gingival fibroblasts of patients with GO were compared to healthy gingival fibroblasts (H). Both cells were exposed to LLLT (685 nm wavelength, 25mW power, diode laser) and compared to those not treated with LLLT. Cell proliferation and viability were measured with MTT assay at baseline and after 24 and 72 h. TGF-β1, CTGF, and collagen Type 1 levels were evaluated with Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). LLLT significantly decreased the proliferation of GO fibroblasts (p < 0.05) while leading to a significantly higher proliferation in H fibroblasts compared to the untreated cells (p < 0.05). GO cells showed significantly higher CTGF, TGF-β, and collagen Type 1 expression than the H cells (p < 0.05). LLLT significantly reduced CTGF levels in GO cells compared to the control group (p < 0.05). In H cells, CTGF and TGF-β levels were also significantly decreased in response to LLLT compared to the control group (p < 0.05). While LLLT significantly reduced collagen expression in the H group (p < 0.05), it did not significantly impact the GO cells. LLLT significantly reduced the synthesis of the growth factors and collagen in both groups with an antiproliferative effect on the gingival fibroblasts from calcium channel blocker-induced GO, suggesting that it can offer a therapeutic approach in the clinical management of drug-induced GO, reversing the fibrotic changes.
Academics’ susceptibility to disruptions of their research productivity: empirical insights from the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Püttmann Vitus , Thomsen Stephan L.
Published: July 2024

The circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted research activities, but did not affect all academics equally. Understanding which academics were susceptible to disruptions is essential for gauging and addressing the pandemic’s systemic consequences and can yield insights into influences on research productivity more generally. Based on the survey responses of 1891 university professors in Germany, we estimate multivariate models to investigate the relevance of a comprehensive set of factors that may have shaped the pandemic’s impact. We furthermore use sample splits and an econometric decomposition technique to analyze disciplinary and gender differences. Our findings show that some factors, including additional time demands for care responsibilities and negative spillovers from disruptions of teaching activities, are of general relevance, whereas the relevance of other factors varies between groups of academics. In the natural and engineering sciences, the dependence on access to research facilities seems to have led to a more uniform negative impact of the pandemic. This apparently rendered the work environment an important influence on academics’ susceptibility to disruptions. In the humanities and social sciences, where the pandemic’s impact was more heterogeneous, individual conditions such as seniority played a notable role. Most of these factors identified as relevant were furthermore more influential among female academics, who seem to experience greater challenges with shielding their research activities from disruptions. Overall, our investigation highlights the complexity of mechanisms worth taking into account for policy and management efforts concerned with academics’ research productivity, within and outside of the context of the pandemic.
Excite, or Take Flight? Exploring the Relationship between Difficulties with Emotion Regulation, Outcome Expectancies, and Problem Gambling
Authors: Lee Annabelle , Flack Mal , Caudwell Kim M.
Published: July 2024

Emotional dysregulation is a transdiagnostic process associated with a range of addictive behaviours including problem gambling, with emerging research indicating that emotionally oriented reasons for gambling (i.e., excitement, escape) are associated with problem gambling. However, the relationships between difficulties with emotion regulation, reasons for gambling, and problem gambling, are unclear. The current study tested whether the association between difficulties with emotion regulation and problem gambling could be explained by escape and excitement gambling outcome expectancies. A total of 187 regular gamblers recruited via social media (50.3% male, 48.7% female) completed measures of difficulties with emotion regulation, gambling outcome expectancies, and problem gambling severity (M

age
= 41.07, SD = 15.8). Analyses revealed that escape outcome expectancies partially mediated the relationship between difficulties with emotion regulation and problem gambling severity. However, the mediating effect of excitement on this relationship was not significant. The findings suggest that individuals with greater emotional regulation difficulties may engage in problem gambling to help manage aversive emotional states. The study’s findings illustrate the importance of considering emotional dysregulation and outcome expectancies in problem gambling treatment planning and public health strategies.
Patients’ Needs Regarding Work-Focused Healthcare: A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis
Authors: Hagendijk Marije E. , Zipfel Nina , Melles Marijke , van der Wees Philip J. , Hulshof Carel T. J. , Zwaan Elmi , van der Burg-Vermeulen Sylvia J. , Hoving Jan L.
Published: July 2024

Purpose

To identify, appraise, and synthesize qualitative research evidence exploring patients’ needs regarding work-focused healthcare.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA statement guidelines to identify studies reporting patients’ needs regarding work-focused healthcare. Four databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsychInfo and Web of Science) were systematically searched from January 2000 until May 2023 and screened in duplicate by pairs of two reviewers. Inclusion criteria were qualitative data collection method, and patients’ perspectives regarding healthcare focusing on work when experiencing work-related problems due to chronic medical conditions. Data extraction and synthesis was executed by means of an inductive thematic analysis approach. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the CASP Qualitative Study checklist. Confidence in the review findings was assessed through the Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research (CERQual) approach.

Results

Out of 23,677 records, 97 qualitative studies were included. Needs regarding four main themes were identified: (1) Substantive guidance, which comprises the specific content of work-focused healthcare; (2) Clear and continuous process, which comprises clarification and optimization of the work-focused healthcare process; (3) Supportive attitude and behavior, which comprises a positive and supportive attitude and behavior from professionals towards the patients; and (4) Tailored approach, which comprises the delivery of tailored care to the individuals’ needs. 17 subthemes were identified.

Conclusion

The broader insight in patients’ needs in work-focused healthcare can help (occupational) healthcare professionals adopt a more patient-centred approach in practice.
The novel CFTR haplotype E583G/F508del in CFTR-related disorder
Authors: De Paolis Elisa , Tilocca Bruno , Inchingolo Riccardo , Lombardi Carla , Perrucci Alessia , Maneri Giulia , Roncada Paola , Varone Francesco , Luca Richeldi , Urbani Andrea , Minucci Angelo , Santonocito Concetta
Published: July 2024

Background

CFTR-related disorder (CFTR-RD) is a clinical entity associated to complex diagnostic paths and newly upgraded standard of care. In CFTR-RD, CFTR genotyping represents a diagnostic surrogate marker. In case of novel haplotype, the diagnosis could represents an area of concern. We described the molecular evaluation of the rare CFTR variant E583G identified in trans with the F508del in a novel haplotype.

Methods and results

An adult woman was referred to our pulmonary unit for persistent respiratory symptoms. CFTR Next Generation Sequencing was performed to evaluate full-gene mutational status. The variant identified was evaluated for its pathogenicity integrating clinical evidences with dedicated bioinformatics analyses. Clinical evaluation of patient matched with a mono-organ CFTR-RD diagnosis. Genotyping revealed the novel CFTR haplotype F508del/E583G. Multiple evidences of a deleterious effect of the CFTR E583G rare variant emerged from the bioinformatics analyses performed.

Conclusions

Guidelines for CFTR-RD are available with the purpose of harmonizing clinical and molecular investigations. In such context, the identification of novel CFTR haplotype need to a deeper evaluation with a combination of skills. The novel E583G variant could be considered of clinical interest and overall a CFTR-RD Variants of Varying Clinical Consequences.
Comparison of robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Fu Xinyu , She Yiming , Jin Guangwen , Liu Chengri , Liu Ze , Li Wei , Jin Ri
Published: July 2024

This study was conducted to compare the changes in different clinical scores and imaging indexes of patients who underwent robot-assisted total knee arthroplasty (RA-TKA) and manual total knee arthroplasty (M-TKA). PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Embase were searched according to PRISMA guidelines in June 2024. Search terms included “robot-assisted”, “manual” and “total knee arthroplasty”. Outcome indicators included American Knee Society Score (KSS), Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Oxford Knee Score (OKS), range of motion (ROM), Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score, Forgotten Joint Score (FJS), 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), operation duration (min), intraoperative blood loss (ml), pain score, patient’s satisfaction scores, hip–knee–ankle (HKA) angle, frontal femoral component angle, frontal tibia component angle, lateral femoral component angle and lateral tibia component angle. A total of 1,033 articles were obtained after removing duplicates, and 12 studies involving 2,863 patients (1,449 RA-TKAs and 1,414 M-TKAs) were finally meta-analyzed (22–32). The baseline data of both groups were similar in all results. Meta-analysis suggested a better performance of the RA-TKA group than the M-TKA group regarding the HKA angle. The manual TKA reduced the operation time and significantly improved the range of motion. The results of > 6 months follow-up showed that M-TKA was better than RA-TKA in terms of KSS score and WOMAC. Compared with M-TKA, RA-TKA can produce more accurate prosthetic alignment, but it does not lead to better clinical results. Orthopedic surgeons should choose between two surgical procedures according to their own experience and patients’ characteristics.
The influence of metal ion mixtures on the activity of activated sludge
Authors: Matyja Konrad , Wika Aneta , Czyżewska Katarzyna , Dobicki Wojciech , Pokorny Przemysław
Published: July 2024

Environmental contamination with heavy metals is inherent in the development of industries. They can be present in municipal and industrial wastewaters, reach biological wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and affect the performance of the activated sludge process. Moreover, heavy metals almost never occur in isolation and are components of toxic mixtures. Therefore in this study, the influence of binary metal mixtures Cd–Cu, Cd–Zn, and Cu–Zn on activated sludge dehydrogenase activity was evaluated. Two different models were used to identify possible interactions between mixture components: the concentration addition (CA) model and the independent action (IA) model. It seems that the mode of toxic interaction between mixture components strongly depends on the chosen prediction model and measured endpoint. The joint toxicity of studied mixtures was better described by the IA model compared to the CA model.
P=W phenomena in algebraic and enumerative geometry
Authors: Felisetti Camilla
Published: July 2024

In view of the recent proofs of the P=W conjecture, the present paper reviews and relates the latest results in the field, with a view on how P=W phenomena appear in multiple areas of algebraic geometry. As an application, we give a detailed sketch of the proof of P=W by Maulik, Shen and Yin.
Master’s degree studies and its impact on vertical and horizontal mismatch in Spain
Authors: Morejón Cabrera Gabriela , Mariel Petr
Published: July 2024

The goal of this study is to analyse the vertical and horizontal mismatches of graduates in the Spanish labour market focusing on the effect that a master’s degree has in each of these two mismatches. The analysis is based on the data from the Survey on the Labour Insertion of University Graduates carried out by the Spanish Statistical Office in 2019. The main conclusions stress the importance of vertical and horizontal mismatches in the Spanish labour market. The results of the quantitative analysis based on the binary and ordered logit indicate that the master’s degree can reduce the vertical mismatch. Moreover, a wider offer of master’s degrees in some fields such as health could reduce the horizontal mismatch. Eventually, some policy measures to reduce the two mismatches are proposed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to analyse both horizontal and vertical job-education mismatches among Spanish graduates, including those with a Master's degree. Thus, this study is pioneering in assessing the impact of Master's degrees in reducing educational mismatches. In addition, it shows how the likelihood of these mismatches changes with increasing work experience.
Recent developments of nano-enhanced composite membranes designed for water/wastewater purification—a review
Authors: Vo Thi Sinh , Lwin Khin Moe , Kim Kyunghoon
Published: July 2024

In this review, the latest advances on nano-enhanced composite membranes (NECMs, which contain nanostructured filler-like materials and nanoscale barrier polymeric substrates), comprising basic conceptions, working mechanisms, selection of active materials, structural designs, desirable effects, existing challenges, and potential applications for water/wastewater purification, were summarized and discussed in detail. This review paper will propose a comprehensive overview of NECMs designed for water/wastewater purification to understand the recent developments among active materials, strategies, or challenges regarding technical and innovative approaches. Several researchers have successfully proven the main capacities regarding adsorption and separation to remove various pollutants from water or wastewater. Herein, the NECMs designed by combining nanostructured filler-like materials and nanoscale barrier polymeric substrates have high performances of adsorption and separation; thus, these NECMs have attracted considerable attention in recent years. Given their nanostructured filler-like materials, NECMs can address fouling-related limitations by tailoring their surface features, particularly the structural design and desirable effect of NECMs; concomitantly, their performance might be enhanced through the use of a specific composition and structure of nanomaterials. Hence, a comprehensive guide of the advanced NECMs for water/wastewater purification, which are constructed on nanostructured filler-like materials, will be provided in detail. Therefore, this paper can provide a comprehensive understanding of NECMs that are designed for water/wastewater purification correspondingly and effectively.

Graphical Abstract
Scalable Cellular V2X Solutions: Large-Scale Deployment Challenges of Connected Vehicle Safety Networks
Authors: Shah Ghayoor , Zaman Mahdi , Saifuddin Md , Toghi Behrad , Fallah Yaser
Published: July 2024

Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication is expected to accomplish a long-standing goal of the Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) community to bring connected vehicles to roads on a large scale. A major challenge, and perhaps the biggest hurdle on the path towards this goal, is the scalability issues associated with it, especially when vehicular safety is concerned. As a major stakeholder, Cellular V2X (C-V2X) community, which is based on the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), has long been trying to research on whether vehicular networks are able to support the safety-critical applications in high-density vehicular scenarios. This paper attempts to answer this question by first presenting an overview on the scalability challenges faced by 3GPP Release 14 Long Term Evolution C-V2X (LTE-V2X) using the PC5 sidelink interface for low and heavy-density traffic scenarios. Next, it demonstrates a series of solutions that address network congestion, packet losses, and other scalability issues associated with LTE-V2X to enable this communication technology for commercial deployment. In addition, a brief survey is provided into 3GPP Release 16 5G New Radio V2X (NR-V2X) that utilizes the NR sidelink interface and works as an evolution of C-V2X towards better performance for V2X communications, including new enhanced V2X (eV2X) scenarios that possess ultra-low-latency and high-reliability requirements.
Sustainability of cool and black roofs with high initial construction moisture
Authors: Saber Hamed H.
Published: July 2024

This study examines the sustainability of roofs subjected to hot climate of Phoenix and cold climate of Montréal by using a validated numerical model that simultaneously solves the heat, air, and moisture equations. In many situations, the initial conditions needed to solve these equations are not available. This paper provides a procedure for conducting energy and moisture modelling so that using different initial conditions would result in no effect on the final results of roof performance. Additionally, the study focuses on: (a) assessing the moisture performance of black and cool roofs in case of using material layer with high initial construction moisture content (Fibreboard, FB), (b) identifying the time period needed so that the moisture content would reach acceptable limit by the building codes, and (c) determining the amount of energy savings as a result of using sustainable cool roofs instead of black roofs. The results show that the moisture content in the FB decreases to permissible levels after 92.6 days for black roof and 175.7 days for cool roof in Phoenix, while in Montréal, it takes 238.6 days and 1597 days, respectively. The effect of using different initial condition vanishes after 196 days for Phoenix’s black roof, 583 days for its cool roof, and 1247 days for Montréal’s black roof and 4590 days for its cool roof. Mold is detected in FB. In Phoenix, mold disappears after 379 days for black roof and 479 days for cool roof, whereas in Montréal, it takes 708 days and 3143 days, respectively.
Exploring the enzymatic repertoires of Bacteria and Archaea and their associations with metabolic maps
Authors: Tenorio-Salgado Silvia , Villalpando-Aguilar José Luis , Hernandez-Guerrero Rafael , Poot-Hernández Augusto César , Perez-Rueda Ernesto
Published: July 2024

The evolution, survival, and adaptation of microbes are consequences of gene duplication, acquisition, and divergence in response to environmental challenges. In this context, enzymes play a central role in the evolution of organisms, because they are fundamental in cell metabolism. Here, we analyzed the enzymatic repertoire in 6,467 microbial genomes, including their abundances, and their associations with metabolic maps. We found that the enzymes follow a power-law distribution, in relation to the genome sizes. Therefore, we evaluated the total proportion enzymatic classes in relation to the genomes, identifying a descending-order proportion: transferases (EC:2.-), hydrolases (EC:3.-), oxidoreductases (EC:1.-), ligases (EC:6.-), lyases (EC:4.-), isomerases (EC:5.-), and translocases (EC:7-.). In addition, we identified a preferential use of enzymatic classes in metabolism pathways for xenobiotics, cofactors and vitamins, carbohydrates, amino acids, glycans, and energy. Therefore, this analysis provides clues about the functional constraints associated with the enzymatic repertoire of functions in Bacteria and Archaea.
Enforcement Design Patterns in EU Law: An Analysis of the AI Act
Authors: Söderlund Kasia , Larsson Stefan
Published: July 2024

In recent decades, the enforcement of European Union (EU) law has transitioned from being primarily the responsibility of Member States to becoming an increasingly shared or centralised task at the EU level. Drawing on the concept of legal design patterns, this article presents these two broadly understood enforcement approaches as decentralised and centralised enforcement patterns, and examines the AI Act through this conceptual lens. The objective of this exploration is to highlight that the choice of enforcement mechanisms for EU laws comes with different sets of challenges, in general, and to contribute to the understanding of the AI Act’s enforcement structure, in particular. In this paper, we ground our analysis on the theoretical framework of legal design patterns in order to reduce the regulatory complexity into comparable problem-solving elements. Under this framework, we (1) examine the enforcement framework of the AI Act, and we (2) draw comparative lessons from the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), an EU legislation which is based on the largely decentralised enforcement model. On this basis, we (3) discuss some of the potential implications of the decentralised enforcement of the AI Act, and consider the possible reasons behind this choice of enforcement model.
Spatial digital twin framework for overheight vehicle warning and re-routing system
Authors: Trembearth Oliver , Sun Qian , Wang Siqin , Duckham Matt
Published: July 2024

Overhead road obstacles present a significant logistical hazard to the heavy vehicle industry. Traditional overheight vehicle warning systems such as passive warning systems (PWS) and active warning systems (AWS) have not adequately reduced the frequency and impact of overheight incidents, encouraging transportation agencies to employ intelligent transport system (ITS) strategies using state-of-the-art advanced technologies. This research takes an innovative approach in developing an immersive user-focused experience, harnessing multi-disciplinary methods and tools to engineer a spatial digital twin prototype for a novel Internet-of-Things (IoT)-based active warning alert and re-routing system (AWARS). LiDAR and 3D GIS were used to model the complex road environment, tailored to the strict fiscal objectives sought by economically mindful organisations. Tree crowns were extracted from near-Infrared aerial imagery and digital elevation models, supplying the dimensions necessary for 3D tree modelling. IoT connectivity was configured using a real-time analytics approach to deliver alerts and re-routing options. The World Traffic Service with live and predictive traffic data was used for the routing application programming interface (API). A standard-configuration common rigid truck (CRT) was inserted into the 3D road environment model to simulate overheight collisions and to ascertain the effect of re-routing on estimated time of arrival (ETA). Longer ETA durations were observed for routes computed by the digital twin. Theoretically, enhanced situational awareness and subsequent reduction of risk likelihood suggests an optimised response to industry demands, despite extended travel times, cultivating a favorable impact on the supply chain through enhanced safety management.
The sandpaper theory of flow–topography interaction for multilayer shallow-water systems
Authors: Radko Timour
Published: July 2024

Seafloor roughness profoundly influences the pattern and dynamics of large-scale oceanic flows. However, these kilometre-scale topographic patterns are unresolved by global numerical Earth system models and will remain subgrid for the foreseeable future. To properly represent the effects of small-scale bathymetry in analytical and coarse-resolution numerical models, we develop the stratified ‘sandpaper’ theory of flow–topography interaction. This model, which is based on the multilayer shallow-water framework, extends its barotropic antecedent to stratified flows. The proposed theory is successfully tested on the configuration representing the interaction of a zonal current with a corrugated cross-flow ridge.
Mitochondrial protective potential of fucoxanthin in brain disorders
Authors: Ferdous Khondoker Adeba , Jansen Joseph , Amjad Emma , Pray Eliana , Bloch Rebecca , Benoit Alex , Callahan Meredith , Park Han-A
Published: July 2024

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a common feature of brain disorders. Mitochondria play a central role in oxidative phosphorylation; thus changes in energy metabolism in the brain have been reported in conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke. In addition, mitochondria regulate cellular responses associated with neuronal damage such as the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), and apoptosis. Therefore, interventions that aim to protect mitochondria may be effective against brain disorders. Fucoxanthin is a marine carotenoid that has recently gained recognition for its neuroprotective properties. However, the cellular mechanisms of fucoxanthin in brain disorders, particularly its role in mitochondrial function, have not been thoroughly discussed. This review summarises the current literature on the effects of fucoxanthin on oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis usingin vitroandin vivomodels of brain disorders. We further present the potential mechanisms by which fucoxanthin protects mitochondria, with the objective of developing dietary interventions for a spectrum of brain disorders. Although the studies reviewed are predominantly preclinical studies, they provide important insights into understanding the cellular and molecular functions of fucoxanthin in the brain. Future studies investigating the mechanisms of action and the molecular targets of fucoxanthin are warranted to develop translational approaches to brain disorders.
Evaluation of PRISMA Products Over Snow in the Alps and Antarctica
Authors: Di Mauro B. , Cogliati S. , Bohn N. , Traversa G. , Garzonio R. , Tagliabue G. , Bramati G. , Cremonese E. , Julitta T. , Guanter L. , Kokhanovsky A. , Giardino C. , Panigada C. , Rossini M. , Colombo R.
Published: July 2024

PRISMA is a hyperspectral satellite mission launched by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) in April 2019. The mission is designed to collect data at global scale for a variety of applications, including those related to the cryosphere. This study presents an evaluation of PRISMA Level 1 (L1) and Level 2 (L2D) products for different snow conditions. To the aim, PRISMA data were collected at three sites: two in the Western European Alps (Torgnon and Plateau Rosa) and one in East Antarctica (Nansen Ice Shelf). PRISMA data were acquired contemporary to both field measurements and Sentinel‐2 data. Simulated Top of the Atmosphere (TOA) radiance data were then compared to L1 PRISMA and Sentinel‐2 TOA radiance. Bottom Of Atmosphere (BOA) reflectance from PRISMA L2D and Sentinel‐2 L2A data were then evaluated by direct comparison with field data. Both TOA radiance and BOA reflectance PRISMA products were generally in good agreement with field data, showing a Mean Absolute Difference (MAD) lower than 5%. L1 PRISMA TOA radiance products resulted in higher MAD for the site of Torgnon, which features the highest topographic complexity within the investigated areas. In Plateau Rosa we obtained the best comparison between PRISMA L2D reflectance data and in situ measurements, with MAD values lower than 5% for the 400–900 nm range. The Nansen Ice Shelf instead resulted in MAD values <10% between PRISMA L2D and field data, while Sentinel‐2 BOA reflectance showed higher values than other data sources.
Quantifying Seasonal and Diurnal Cycles of Solar‐Induced Fluorescence With a Novel Hyperspectral Imager
Authors: Ruehr Sophie , Gerlein‐Safdi Cynthia , Falco Nicola , Seibert Paul O. , Chou Chunwei , Albert Loren , Keenan Trevor F.
Published: July 2024

Solar‐induced fluorescence (SIF) is a proxy of ecosystem photosynthesis that often scales linearly with gross primary productivity (GPP) at the canopy scale. However, the mechanistic relationship between GPP and SIF is still uncertain, especially at smaller temporal and spatial scales. We deployed a ultra‐hyperspectral imager over two grassland sites in California throughout a soil moisture dry down. The imager has high spatial resolution that limits mixed pixels, enabling differentiation between plants and leaves within one scene. We find that imager SIF correlates well with diurnal changes in leaf‐level physiology and gross primary productivity under well‐watered conditions. These relationships deteriorate throughout the dry down event. Our results demonstrate an advancement in SIF imaging with new possibilities in remotely sensing plant canopies from the leaf to the ecosystem. These data can be used to resolve outstanding questions regarding SIF's meaning and usefulness in terrestrial ecosystem monitoring.
Asymmetry in the Diurnal Variation of Land Surface Albedo and Its Impacts on Daily Mean Albedo Estimation
Authors: Han Yuan , Wen Jianguang , Xiao Qing , You Dongqin , Meng Lei , Wu Shengbiao , Hao Dalei , Tang Yong , Chen Xi , Liu Qinhuo , Zhao Congcong
Published: July 2024

Daily mean albedo, a crucial variable of the earth radiation budget, is significantly affected by the diurnal variation of land surface albedo (DVLSA). The DVLSA typically exhibits asymmetry, thereby affecting the estimation of the daily mean albedo. However, the asymmetry in the DVLSA is generally ignored in daily mean albedo estimation. In this study, we investigated the influencing factors of the asymmetry in the DVLSA and evaluated its impacts on estimating the daily mean albedo based on field observations and simulated data. Our findings reveal that the asymmetry in the DVLSA varies among land cover types, with forests exhibiting more pronounced asymmetry compared to croplands, grasslands, and bare soil. The diurnal variation of the atmospheric conditions is the primary factor controlling the asymmetry in the DVLSA, with that of land surface conditions being a secondary factor. Neglecting the asymmetry in the DVLSA leads to estimation error in daily mean albedo, particularly pronounced during winter. The relative error of daily mean albedo can exceed 10% when the mean asymmetry index of diffuse irradiance fraction reaches 40%. However, the DVLSA retrieved from the satellite Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function product inadequately captures asymmetry, resulting in a relative error of approximately 13.7% in estimating daily mean albedo.
Do Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) Events Influence the Formation of the V0 Layer in the Venusian Ionosphere?
Authors: Tripathi Keshav R. , Imamura T. , Choudhary R. K. , Sánchez–Cano Beatriz , Ambili K. M.
Published: July 2024

This study investigates the potential impact of Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs) on the V0 layer of the Venus ionosphere. Electron density profiles obtained from radio occultation experiments conducted by the Venus Express (VEX) and Akatsuki missions were utilized for this purpose. Background data from the Analyzer of Space Plasma and EneRgetic Atoms (ASPERA‐4) aboard VEX were used to detect SEP events. Additionally, observations from the Space Environment Monitor (SEM) suite onboard the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) during alignments of Venus, Earth, and the Sun were also considered. Our findings indicate that while SEPs may contribute to the formation of the V0 layer, they are not the main driving force in the Venusian ionosphere.
Solar Energetic Electron Access to the Moon Within the Terrestrial Magnetotail and Shadowing by the Lunar Surface
Authors: Liuzzo Lucas , Poppe Andrew R. , Lee Christina O. , Angelopoulos Vassilis
Published: July 2024

We present measurements of 30–700 keV Solar Energetic Electrons (SEEs) near the Moon when within the terrestrial magnetotail by the Acceleration, Reconnection, Turbulence, and Electrodynamics of the Moon's Interaction with the Sun spacecraft. Despite their detection deep within the tail, the incident flux and spectral shape of these electrons are nearly identical to measurements taken upstream of Earth in the solar wind by the Wind spacecraft; however, their pitch angle distribution is isotropized compared to the more field‐aligned distribution upstream. We illustrate that SEEs initially traveling Earthward precipitate onto the lunar far‐side, generating extended shadows in the cis‐lunar electron distribution. By modeling the dynamics of these electrons, we show that their precipitation patterns on the lunar near‐side are comparatively reduced. The non‐uniform precipitation and accessibility of potentially hazardous electrons to the Moon's surface are highly relevant in the context of astronaut safety during the planned exploration of the lunar environment.