bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On some soliton structures for the perturbed nonlinear Schrödinger equation with Kerr law nonlinearity in mathematical physics
Authors: Badshah Fazal , Tariq Kalim U. , Henaish Ahmed , Akhtar Junaid
Published: December 2023

The most important physical structure that is assumed to illustrate the geometry of optical soliton replication in optical fiber theory is the nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE). Optical soliton generation in nonlinear optical fibers is a topic of great contemporary interest because of the numerous applications of ultrafast signal routing systems and short light pulses in communications. This analysis's main goal is to create a large number of soliton solutions for the dynamical model using a variety of contemporary analytical methods. This paper studies different soliton solutions to the perturbed NLSE with Kerr law nonlinearity using two sets of two distinct integration strategies: the mapping approach and the unified auxiliary equation method. The majority of solutions have been found as Jacobi elliptic functions with limiting ellipticity modulus values. Solitons like dark, bright, optical, lonely, and others are also retrieved. We were able to create various single‐type solutions with the help of these strategies. As a result, there is a variety of optical, bell‐shaped, single periodic, and multi‐periodic solutions. In order to validate the computations, the stability of the acquired findings must also be proven. The study provides a highly stunning and suitable strategy for combining numerous exciting wave demonstrations for more advanced models of the present era. Furthermore, we can assert that the outcomes reported here are unique and novel.
The ISMRM Open Science Initiative for Perfusion Imaging (OSIPI): Results from the OSIPI–Dynamic Contrast‐Enhanced challenge
Authors: Shalom Eve S. , Kim Harrison , van der Heijden Rianne A. , Ahmed Zaki , Patel Reyna , Hormuth David A. , DiCarlo Julie C. , Yankeelov Thomas E. , Sisco Nicholas J. , Dortch Richard D. , Stokes Ashley M. , Inglese Marianna , Grech‐Sollars Matthew , Toschi Nicola , Sahoo Prativa , Singh Anup , Verma Sanjay K. , Rathore Divya K. , Kazerouni Anum S. , Partridge Savannah C. , LoCastro Eve , Paudyal Ramesh , Wolansky Ivan A. , Shukla‐Dave Amita , Schouten Pepijn , Gurney‐Champion Oliver J. , Jiřík Radovan , Macíček Ondřej , Bartoš Michal , Vitouš Jiří , Das Ayesha Bharadwaj , Kim S. Gene , Bokacheva Louisa , Mikheev Artem , Rusinek Henry , Berks Michael , Hubbard Cristinacce Penny L. , Little Ross A. , Cheung Susan , O'Connor James P. B. , Parker Geoff J. M. , Moloney Brendan , LaViolette Peter S. , Bobholz Samuel , Duenweg Savannah , Virostko John , Laue Hendrik O. , Sung Kyunghyun , Nabavizadeh Ali , Saligheh Rad Hamidreza , Hu Leland S. , Sourbron Steven , Bell Laura C. , Fathi Kazerooni Anahita
Published: December 2023

Purpose

has often been proposed as a quantitative imaging biomarker for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment response assessment for various tumors. None of the many software tools for quantification are standardized. The ISMRM Open Science Initiative for Perfusion Imaging–Dynamic Contrast‐Enhanced (OSIPI‐DCE) challenge was designed to benchmark methods to better help the efforts to standardize measurement.

Methods

A framework was created to evaluate values produced by DCE‐MRI analysis pipelines to enable benchmarking. The perfusion MRI community was invited to apply their pipelines for quantification in glioblastoma from clinical and synthetic patients. Submissions were required to include the entrants' values, the applied software, and a standard operating procedure. These were evaluated using the proposed score defined with accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility components.

Results

Across the 10 received submissions, the score ranged from 28% to 78% with a 59% median. The accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility scores ranged from 0.54 to 0.92, 0.64 to 0.86, and 0.65 to 1.00, respectively (0–1 = lowest–highest). Manual arterial input function selection markedly affected the reproducibility and showed greater variability in analysis than automated methods. Furthermore, provision of a detailed standard operating procedure was critical for higher reproducibility.

Conclusions

This study reports results from the OSIPI‐DCE challenge and highlights the high inter‐software variability within estimation, providing a framework for ongoing benchmarking against the scores presented. Through this challenge, the participating teams were ranked based on the performance of their software tools in the particular setting of this challenge. In a real‐world clinical setting, many of these tools may perform differently with different benchmarking methodology.
Safety and efficacy of plasma‐activated water on prolonged viral shedding of COVID‐19 patients: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Guo Xiaoya , Lv Xing , Wu Yunfu , Wang Mingming , Wu Shuo , Guo Li , Wang Zifeng , Shi Zhihong , Huang Rui , Zhang Hua , Niu Xiaona , Rong Mingzhe , Song Liqiang , Liu Dingxin
Published: December 2023

Shortening the duration of the viral shedding of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) is critical to controlling viral transmission, alleviating the burden on the healthcare system, and ultimately mitigating the impact of the pandemic. This randomized, single‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of gargling with plasma‐activated water (PAW) on prolonged viral shedding in patients infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 Delta and Omicron variants. Sixty‐two subjects, aged 18–80 years and infected with SARS‐CoV‐2, were recruited at two coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19)‐designated hospitals in Shaanxi from January to March 2022. Primary outcomes included cumulative conversion rates, incidence of adverse reactions, and biosafety parameters. Results suggested that PAW gargling treatment might contribute to reducing the duration of SARS‐CoV‐2 Delta and Omicron variant infections and alleviating symptoms.
Helicity of a tardigrade disordered protein contributes to its protective function during desiccation
Authors: Biswas Sourav , Gollub Edith , Yu Feng , Ginell Garrett , Holehouse Alex , Sukenik Shahar , Boothby Thomas C.
Published: December 2023

To survive extreme drying (anhydrobiosis), many organisms, spanning every kingdom of life, accumulate intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). For decades, the ability of anhydrobiosis‐related IDPs to form transient amphipathic helices has been suggested to be important for promoting desiccation tolerance. However, evidence empirically supporting the necessity and/or sufficiency of helicity in mediating anhydrobiosis is lacking. Here, we demonstrate that the linker region of CAHS D, a desiccation‐related IDP from the tardigrade Hypsibius exemplaris, that contains significant helical structure, is the protective portion of this protein. Perturbing the sequence composition and grammar of the linker region of CAHS D, through the insertion of helix‐breaking prolines, modulating the identity of charged residues, or replacement of hydrophobic amino acids with serine or glycine residues results in variants with different degrees of helical structure. Importantly, correlation of protective capacity and helical content in variants generated through different helix perturbing modalities does not show as strong a trend, suggesting that while helicity is important, it is not the only property that makes a protein protective during desiccation. These results provide direct evidence for the decades‐old theory that helicity of desiccation‐related IDPs is linked to their anhydrobiotic capacity.
Development, Characterization, in vitro Antidiabetic Activity of Chitosan−tripolyphosphate Nanoparticles Encapsulating Gmelina arborea Roxb. and Spondias pinnata (L.f) Kurz Aqueous Extracts
Authors: Wadasinghe Ransika R. , Kalansuriya Pabasara , Attanayake Anoja P.
Published: December 2023

Nanoencapsulation is a promising strategy for the development of novel therapeutic agents from crude aqueous extracts derived from Gmelina arborea Roxb. and Spondias pinnata (L.f) Kurz stem bark against type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this study, G. arborea and S. pinnata aqueous extracts encapsulated chitosan−tripolyphosphate nanoparticles (GAE−CS−TPP, SAE−CS−TPP) were prepared following the ionic gelation method and were characterized via various methods. The prepared nanoparticles were evaluated for their in vitro antidiabetic activity following the reported procedures. The antidiabetic potential of the GAE−CS−TPP and SAE−CS−TPP nanoparticles were evaluated against α‐amylase, α‐glucosidase, DPP‐IV enzymes, glucose uptake, and glucose adsorption assays. SEM analysis revealed that the GAE−CS−TPP and SAE−CS−TPP were spherical‐shaped with an average diameter of 138±30 nm and 129±19 nm respectively. The encapsulation efficiencies and the loading capacities of GAE−CS−TPP and SAE−CS−TPP were (57.64±2.38 % and 0.25±0.07 %) and (68.21±0.66 % and 0.79±0.17 %) respectively. The α‐glucosidase, DPP‐IV enzyme inhibitory activities (8.09±0.99 and 7.95±0.68 mg/mL,) of GAE−CS−TPP nanoparticles were more potent than that of G. arborea aqueous extract by 3.89 and 3.12 folds respectively. In conclusion, GAE−CS−TPP and SAE−CS−TPP nanoparticles exert antidiabetic activity to be used in pharmaceutical formulations to combat hyperglycemia in diabetes.
Recent Progress in Coating Methods for Large‐Area Perovskite Solar Module Fabrication
Authors: Pathak Chandra Shakher , Choi Hyuntae , Kim Heesu , Lim Jeongin , Cho Seong‐Keun , Ham Dong Seok , Song Seulki
Published: December 2023

The technological requirements are changing, and there is a push for more effective energy production and conversion technologies as a result of a social desire for sustainable and renewable energy sources. Solar energy conversion, particularly photovoltaic cells, offers a potentially helpful solution in this situation. Power conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) has been reported to have increased significantly from 3% to 26.1%. The transition from laboratory PSCs to their commercialization needs scalable deposition techniques, high efficiency at a scalable level, and perovskite photovoltaic with minimal loss in PCE. In this review article, the scalable fabrication processes for perovskite solar modules (PSMs) and their fabrication challenges, as well as latest developments in PSM stability, are focused on. Finally, the future prospectus and challenges for PSMs are presented. This review will give us an overall understanding of the thin film coating inside the PSM and good insight into the future direction of development.
Promising Perovskite Solar Cell Candidates: Enhanced Optoelectronic Properties of XSrI3 Perovskite Materials under Hydrostatic Pressure
Authors: Farhadi Bita , Zheng Dexu , Liu Lu , Liu Jishuang , Zhang Haoxiang , Peng Lei , Wang Kai , Liu Shengzhong
Published: December 2023

Density‐functional theory (DFT) has proven to be invaluable for investigating the physical properties of perovskite materials under varying pressure conditions to uncover potential applications in the field of optoelectronics. Herein, lead‐free XSrI3 (X = FA+, MA+, and DMA+ [formamidinium (FA+), methylammonium (MA+), and dimethylammonium (DMA)]) perovskites are designed and utilized using DFT calculations for promising solar cell applications. The application of pressure to these perovskites leads to a reduction in their lattice parameters, thereby enhancing atom interactions within the material. This compression of the crystal lattice also exerts a significant influence on the electronic band structure and the number of available electronic states, providing valuable insights into their semiconducting properties. Moreover, applying pressure results in a narrower bandgap in the perovskite halides, thus broadening the range of light absorption and potentially increasing light‐absorption efficiency. In this work, the feasibility of employing XSrI3 perovskites for enhanced optical performance is highlighted and valuable directions for further exploration in this field are offered. The insights gained from this theoretical study may hold the potential to advance the development of perovskite‐based materials for various optoelectronic applications.
Fluorinated Metal–Organic Framework–Polymer Mixed Matrix Membrane with Tunable Hydrophobic Channel for Efficient Pervaporation of Butanol/Water
Authors: Zhang Hao , Xiao Feng , Wu Yanhui
Published: December 2023

The permeability–selectivity trade‐off of membrane is a major challenge limiting the development of pervaporation (PV) technology. Rational design of high‐performance mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) has the potential to break off the trade‐off. Herein, a solvent‐assisted linker exchange‐based strategy is reported to introduce fluoroalkyl into metal–organic framework‐808 (MOF‐808). The pore size of fluorinated MOF‐808 can be adjusted with fluoroalkyl of different chain length (like trifluoromethyl and pentafluoropropyl). Then, the fluorinated MOF‐808/polyether block amide (PEBA) MMMs are prepared for the PV of n‐butanol/water. Compared with pristine PEBA membrane, 20 wt% 3F‐MOF‐808(P)/PEBA MMMs (3F = ‐CF3 group; P = postmodification method) exhibit 69% increase in permeation flux and 33% increase in separation factor in the PV of 2.5 wt% n‐butanol aqueous solutions at 70 °C. Based on Grand Canonical Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations, fluorinated MOF‐808 shows better butanol affinity (pull effect) and stronger water repulsion ability (push effect). And the “push–pull effect” between fluorinated MOF‐808 with butanol/water is helpful to enhance the PV performance of MMMs. The application of “push–pull effect” provides a new strategy for the rational design of high‐performance MMMs, which is of great significance for the in‐depth research and application of PV technology.
Myoglobin improves doxycycline sensitivity in pancreatic cancer through promoting heme oxygenase‐1‐mediated ferroptosis
Authors: Zhang Lun , Yang Liuxu , Du Keyuan , Yang Yixuan
Published: December 2023

Ferroptosis is expected to be a therapeutic target for cancers including pancreatic cancer. We aimed to screen genes that regulate ferroptosis and doxycycline resistance in pancreatic cancer and to explore the underlying mechanisms. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to identify genes that respond to ferroptosis in two human pancreatic cancer cells with GOT1 knocked down or not. 325 and 842 genes were upregulated in MiaPaCa and Tu8902 cells in response to GOT1 knockdown, with 43 genes shared. Among the 43 genes, 14 genes were identified to interact with ferroptosis key genes. MB and HMOX1 were the genes most sensitive to Erastin and doxycycline. Moreover, MB and HMOX1 expression was higher in human normal pancreatic duct epithelial cells than in pancreatic cancer cells. MB and HMOX1 proteins physically bound and promoted each other's expression. By interacting with HMOX1, MB suppressed pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, colony formation and invasion, and promoted cell ferroptosis and sensitivity to erastin and doxycycline. Silencing HMOX1 reversed the promoting effect of MB on cell ferroptosis and sensitivity to doxycycline. A pancreatic cancer xenograft model was established by subcutaneous injection of Panc‐1 cells transfected with or without Ad‐MB, and doxycycline was administered intraperitoneally. Overexpression of MB enhanced the inhibitory effect of doxycycline on xenograft growth. In conclusion, MB facilitated doxycycline sensitivity in pancreatic cancer cells through promoting HMOX1‐mediated ferroptosis.
“We are adapting to it because it is within us”: The co‐becoming of COVID‐19 in Malawi
Authors: Odenigbo Chúk , Wesche Sonia , Mkandawire Paul , Crighton Eric
Published: December 2023

Using a case study design, this research explores the Coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID‐19) pandemic from the perspectives and worldviews of Malawians (Black/African knowledge) through the Bawaka Yolŋu ontology of co‐becoming (Black/Indigenous knowledge). This study seeks to examine the ways in which COVID‐19 has influenced perceptions of place and the places themselves, thereby contributing to the development of policies and strategies for effectively navigating and living with the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic. The study involved forty‐one in‐depth semi‐structured interviews and two unstructured interviews, enabling a nuanced exploration of COVID‐19's impact through the diverse perspectives of Malawian knowledge holders including religious leaders, health‐care workers, farmers, and community leaders. The findings reveal a multifaceted transformation in the relationship of Malawians with nature, place, and one another. Nature, once a source of sustenance, has become a realm of danger due to its association with airborne transmission. Place, typically a communal space, has shifted towards individualized safety, necessitating changes in how homes are adapted and perceived. The communal fabric of Malawian society, deeply ingrained in communal practices, has been strained, altering traditional gatherings and societal interactions. This research adds depth to our understanding of COVID‐19's complex impacts, emphasizing the importance of cultural and environmental contexts in shaping responses to the pandemic. The insights gained hold significance for tailored policy interventions and community‐focused strategies to navigate and adapt to the evolving challenges presented by COVID‐19.
RNA m6A modifications regulate crosstalk between tumor metabolism and immunity
Authors: Gu Jinghua , Cao Huake , Chen Xiaoli , Zhang Xu Dong , Thorne Rick F. , Liu Xiaoying
Published: December 2023

In recent years, m6A modifications in RNA transcripts have arisen as a hot topic in cancer research. Indeed, a number of independent studies have elaborated that the m6A modification impacts the behavior of tumor cells and tumor‐infiltrating immune cells, altering tumor cell metabolism along with the differentiation and functional activity of immune cells. This review elaborates on the links between RNA m6A modifications, tumor cell metabolism, and immune cell behavior, discussing this topic from the viewpoint of reciprocal regulation through “RNA m6A–tumor cell metabolism–immune cell behavior” and “RNA m6A–immune cell behavior–tumor cell metabolism” axes. In addition, we discuss the various factors affecting RNA m6A modifications in the tumor microenvironment, particularly the effects of hypoxia associated with cancer cell metabolism along with immune cell‐secreted cytokines. Our analysis proposes the conclusion that RNA m6A modifications support widespread interactions between tumor metabolism and tumor immunity. With the current viewpoint that long‐term cancer control must tackle cancer cell malignant behavior while strengthening anti‐tumor immunity, the recognition of RNA m6A modifications as a key factor provides a new direction for the targeted therapy of tumors.

This article is categorized under:

RNA Processing > RNA Editing and Modification

RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease

RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein‐RNA Interactions: Functional Implications
Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence: Comprehensible, Transparent and Correctable
Authors: Schmid Ute
Published: December 2023

With the digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI) applications are also finding their way into more and more areas of work and life. In particular, models learned from data are being used, which are mostly opaque black boxes. The fact that people can understand why an AI system behaves the way it does is necessary for various reasons: The model developers themselves must be able to assess properties of the learned models—in particular, possible biases due to overfitting to the data used for learning. For safety-critical applications, aspects of certification and testing are also becoming increasingly relevant. Domain experts—for example, in medical diagnostics or quality control in industrial production—must be able to comprehend, verify and, if necessary, correct system decisions. Consumers should understand why a system—a smart home control, a driving assistance—behaves in a certain way and why they are recommended certain products, offered certain tariffs or denied certain offers. After a brief introduction to the topic of AI, the chapter gives an overview of methods of the so-called third wave of AI. Central to this are approaches of explainable AI (XAI), which are intended to make the decisions of AI systems comprehensible. The main approaches are characterized and shown for which objectives and applications they are suitable in each case. It is shown that in addition to the highly regarded methods for visualization, methods that allow system decisions to be described in a differentiated manner are also particularly important. It is also argued that, in addition to comprehensibility, interactivity and correctability of AI systems are necessary so that AI systems do not restrict human competences but support them in partnership.
Aesthetic Aspects of Digital Humanism: An Aesthetic-Philosophical Analysis of Whether AI Can Create Art
Authors: Winter Dorothea
Published: December 2023

Increased global digitalization and particularly the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) are relegating human artists to the background. Art has long been regarded as distinctively human. Art creation and art reception fulfill humans in an incomparable way.

However, AI-created artwork is now nearly indistinguishable from human artwork and appears to fully satisfy human aesthetic needs. If this is really true, we need a new concept of art. And we need to ask ourselves the question: Why then do we still need human artists? Or is there perhaps a unique selling point of human artists after all? This chapter explores the aesthetic-philosophical aspects of digital humanism in the context of AI-created art, building on the Kantian notion of art, one of the most prominent frameworks of art in the field of philosophical aesthetics. This chapter addresses questions such as “Do we need human artists in the age of AI?” and “Are creations of AI truly art?”
Approaches to Ethical AI
Authors: Prem Erich
Published: December 2023

This chapter provides an overview of existing proposals to address ethical issues of AI systems with a focus on ethical frameworks. A large number of such frameworks have been proposed with the aim to ensure the development of AI systems aligned with human values and morals. The frameworks list key ethical values that an AI system should follow. For the most part, they can be regarded as instances of philosophical principlism. This paper provides an overview of such frameworks and their general form and intended way of working. It lists some of the main principles that are proposed in the frameworks and critically assesses the practicality of the various approaches. It also describes current trends, tools, and approaches to ensure the ethicality of AI systems.
Artificial Intelligence and Large-Scale Threats to Humanity
Authors: Tamburrini Guglielmo
Published: December 2023

This chapter provides a concise introduction to the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on major man-made, large-scale threats to humanity: the risk of nuclear war and the climate crisis. AI has a sizable carbon footprint. But the AI research and commercial communities may adopt good practices to reduce this footprint and to develop AI applications supporting climate warming mitigation. It has been suggested that AI systems may improve nuclear weapons command and control. But AI scientists must raise awareness about the downsides of this proposal and the potentially negative impact of AI on nuclear deterrence. Coherent with the inspiring principles of Digital Humanism, ethical and political responsibilities are identified to reduce AI’s role in the buildup of these man-made, large-scale threats to humanity.
Promises and Perils in Moralizing Technologies
Authors: Schiaffonati Viola
Published: December 2023

This chapter discusses the need to incorporate in the currently prevalent approach, according to which technologies should be designed to possibly avoid negative consequences, a proactive approach that promotes positive outcomes. The chapter thus focuses on the “moralization” of technologies, that is, the deliberate development of technologies to shape moral action and moral decision-making. By means of two thought experiments, this chapter presents the promises but also the perils of moralizing technologies with particular attention to computer technologies. Challenges to the moralization of technologies deal with human autonomy and the opacity of design choices and their regulation.
Humans in the Loop: People at the Heart of Systems Development
Authors: Sharp Helen
Published: December 2023

Despite increased automation in the process, people are (still) at the heart of software systems development. This chapter adopts a sociotechnical perspective and explores three areas that characterize the role of humans in software systems development: people as creators, people as users, and people in partnership with systems. Software is created by specialist developers such as software engineers and non-specialists such as “makers.” Software developers build communities and operate within several cultures (e.g., professional, company, and national), all of which affect both the development process and the resulting product. Software is used by people. Users also operate within communities and cultures which influence product use, and how systems are used feeds back into future systems development. People and systems are interdependent: they work in partnership to achieve a wide range of goals. However, software both supports what people want to do and shapes what can be done.
Resilience: The Key to Planetary and Societal Sustainability
Authors: Vardi Moshe Y.
Published: December 2023

In both computing and economics, efficiency is a cherished property. The field of algorithms, for example, focuses almost solely on their efficiency. A major goal of AI research is to increase efficiency by reducing human labor. In economics, the main advantage of the free market is that it promises “economic efficiency.” A major lesson from many recent disasters is that both fields have over-emphasized efficiency and under-emphasized resilience. Natural evolution, in contrast, navigates the trade-off between efficiency, which is crucial for short-term survival, and resilience, which is crucial for long-term survival.

Two of the major risks facing humanity right now are the climate crisis and the crisis of democracy. We argue here that both crises stem from our narrow focus on efficiency at the expense of resilience. The key to planetary and societal sustainability is making resilience a primary consideration. Just like nature, we need to learn to navigate the tradeoff between efficiency and resilience.
How Blockchain Technology Can Help to Arrive at Fair Ecosystems and Platforms
Authors: Gordijn Jaap
Published: December 2023

Digital ecosystems and platforms are an important part of the economy. However, specifically the tech-oriented platforms are often considered as “unfair.” In this chapter, we aim to more precisely articulate this feeling of unfairness. We consider fairness in digital ecosystems and platforms as fair if a decision as a result of applying a rule should accommodate all applicable moral distinctions and reasons for all actors involved. However, fairness is not only related to the operations of a digital ecosystem or platform. Fairness of digital ecosystems and platforms requires fair governance also. We consider fair governance as a prerequisite for fair governance, because the concerns of all stakeholders can then be included in the decision process. As a second assumption, we argue that decentralized decision-making contributes to fair governance. If this assumption holds, it is worthwhile to investigate how decentralized governance can be implemented and supported by information technology. We explain how blockchain technology, with consensus reaching at its core, can support such decentralized decision-making.
Democracy in the Digital Era
Authors: Metakides George
Published: December 2023

Different studies on the state of democracy worldwide, each using different indices and related weights, all reach similar conclusions. Democracy is “backsliding” for the 16th year in a row. In this chapter, we take a very brief look at the history of democracy from fifth-century BC Athens to today as background to identifying the role and position of digital technologies and big tech platforms in particular among the main causes of its current decline. Possible actions to reverse this trend by empowering uses of digital technologies that entrance democratic practices while guarding against uses with negative impact via appropriate regulation are examined as well as the prevention of concentration of economic and political power.
Are Cryptocurrencies and Decentralized Finance Democratic?
Authors: Stanger Allison
Published: December 2023

This chapter defines the building blocks of Web3 to explore its implications for sustainable democracy. It explains the crash of the Terra ecosystem and compares it with the implosion of FTX, both to underscore the dark side of networks built on blockchain technology and to illuminate how all cryptocurrencies (crypto), as well as all investors, are not created equal. The chapter weighs the costs and benefits of crypto and decentralized finance (DeFi) at the present moment and explores emergent regulation. It argues that cryptocurrencies and DeFi will only serve democracy if governments and international organizations establish the right incentive structure for innovators and safeguards for investors in this space.
The Threat of Surveillance and the Need for Privacy Protections
Authors: Lindorfer Martina
Published: December 2023

In recent years, and since the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in particular, we have seen an increased interest (and concern) about the amount of private information that is collected by the applications and services we use in our daily lives. The widespread collection and commodification of personal data has been mainly driven by companies collecting, mining, and selling user profiles for targeted advertisement, a practice also referred to as “surveillance capitalism.” However, as we detail in this chapter, this is not the only form of surveillance and can be necessary and even beneficial by increasing the safety of citizens—if it is aligned with the principles of digital humanisms in providing transparency, oversight, and accountability. We also detail mechanisms users can deploy to protect their own privacy, as well as mechanisms that help to develop more privacy-friendly technologies.
European Approaches to the Regulation of Digital Technologies
Authors: Müller Martin , Kettemann Matthias C.
Published: December 2023

Following years of a liberal approach to digital technologies, platforms, services, and markets, the EU has stepped up its action in recent years. The adoption of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation), OJ L 119, 1) in 2016 can be seen as a starting point for new regulations that are now enacted and proposed under the European Commission’s strategy “A Europe fit for the digital age.” This article will briefly summarize the contents of the GDPR as well as the Digital Services Act (DSA) (Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market for Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act), OJ L 277, 1), Digital Markets Act (DMA) (Regulation (EU) 2022/1925 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 September 2022 on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector and amending Directives (EU) 2019/1937 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Digital Markets Act), OJ L 265, 1), Data Governance Act (DGA) (Regulation (EU) 2022/868 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2022 on European data governance and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 (Data Governance Act), OJ L 152, 1), and the proposals for the Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) (Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down harmonized rules on artificial intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act) and amending certain Union legislative acts, 21 April 2021, COM(2021) 206 final.) as well as the Data Act (Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on harmonized rules on fair access to and use of data (Data Act), 23 February 2022, COM(2022) 68 final.). We identify the underpinnings of the normative approach and its potential and shortcomings, thus providing an assessment of the role of Europe as a technology regulator more broadly and its relationship to digital humanism.
Constructing a screening model to obtain the functional herbs for the treatment of active ulcerative colitis based on herb-compound-target network and immuno-infiltration analysis
Authors: Ou Haiya , Ye Xiaopeng , Huang Hongshu , Cheng Honghui
Published: December 2023

The therapeutic effect of most traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) on ulcerative colitis is unclear, The objective of this study was to develop a core herbal screening model aimed at facilitating the transition from active ulcerative colitis (UC) to inactive. We obtained the gene expression dataset GSE75214 for UC from the GEO database and analysed the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between active and inactive groups. Gene modules associated with the active group were screened using WGCNA, and immune-related genes (IRGs) were obtained from the ImmPort database. The TCMSP database was utilized to acquire the herb-molecule-target network and identify the herb-related targets (HRT). We performed intersection operations on HRTs, DEGs, IRGs, and module genes to identify candidate genes and conducted enrichment analyses. Subsequently, three machine learning algorithms (SVM-REF analysis, Random Forest analysis, and LASSO regression analysis) were employed to refine the hubgene from the candidate genes. Based on the hub genes identified in this study, we conducted compound and herb matching and further screened herbs related to abdominal pain and blood in stool using the Symmap database.Besides, the stability between molecules and targets were assessed using molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation methods. An intersection operation was performed on HRT, DEGs, IRGs, and module genes, leading to the identification of 23 candidate genes. Utilizing three algorithms (RandomForest, SVM-REF, and LASSO) for analyzing the candidate genes and identifying the intersection, we identified five core targets (CXCL2, DUOX2, LYZ, MMP9, and AGT) and 243 associated herbs. Hedysarum Multijugum Maxim. (Huangqi), Sophorae Flavescentis Radix (Kushen), Cotyledon Fimbriata Turcz. (Wasong), and Granati Pericarpium (Shiliupi) were found to be capable of relieving abdominal pain and hematochezia during active UC. Molecular docking demonstrated that the compounds of the four aforementioned herbs showed positive docking activity with their core targets. The results of molecular dynamic simulations indicated that well-docked active molecules had a more stable structure when bound to their target complexes. The study has shed light on the potential of TCMs in treating active UC from an immunomodulatory perspective, consequently, 5 core targets and 4 key herbs has been identified. These findings can provide a theoretical basis for subsequent management and treatment of active UC with TCM, as well as offer original ideas for further research and development of innovative drugs for alleviating UC.
Motives for desiring children among individuals of different sexual–romantic orientations: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Widmer R. , Knabben L. , Bitterlich N. , von Wolff M. , Stute Petra
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Little is known about the reasoning behind the desire to have children in non-heterosexual individuals. This study compares the motives of different sexual–romantic orientations and their preferred ways of fulfilling this desire.

Methods

This was a monocentric cross-sectional study. Subjects were recruited via social media, personal contacts and queer organisations in Switzerland.

An anonymous questionnaire comprised general questions about the participant's background, a validated survey about the desire to have children and additional non-validated questions addressing the impact of sexual–romantic orientation on the desire to have children. The inclusion criteria were adults without children and a completed questionnaire.

Results

Of 837 participants, 642 were included in the study. Four groups of sexual–romantic orientations consisted of more than 35 participants: bisexual–biromantic (n = 38), heterosexual–heteroromantic (n = 230), homosexual–homoromantic (n = 159) and pansexual–panromantic (n = 55).

Subgroups with a positive wish for a child rated all motives in the same order and with minimal numeric difference. The most important aspect seemed to be emotional involvement. Non-heterosexual–heteroromantic showed concerns about adverse reactions regarding their wish for a child. All orientations hoped for a biological child.

Conclusion

Our findings about bi-, hetero-, homo- and pansexual people and their motives for a desire to have children agree with the existing literature about hetero, homo and bisexual. The impact of the fear of adverse reaction and discrimination has been discussed before and is supported by our data. We suggest better support before and during the realization of the wish for a child as well as support for non-traditional aspiring parents.
Evaluation status of current and emerging minimally invasive robotic surgical platforms
Authors: Boal M. , Di Girasole C. Giovene , Tesfai F. , Morrison T. E. M. , Higgs S. , Ahmad J. , Arezzo A. , Francis N.
Published: December 2023

Background

The rapid adoption of robotics within minimally invasive surgical specialties has also seen an explosion of new technology including multi- and single port, natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES), endoluminal and “on-demand” platforms. This review aims to evaluate the validation status of current and emerging MIS robotic platforms, using the IDEAL Framework.

Methods

A scoping review exploring robotic minimally invasive surgical devices, technology and systems in use or being developed was performed, including general surgery, gynaecology, urology and cardiothoracics. Systems operating purely outside the abdomen or thorax and endoluminal or natural orifice platforms were excluded. PubMed, Google Scholar, journal reports and information from the public domain were collected. Each company was approached via email for a virtual interview to discover more about the systems and to quality check data. The IDEAL Framework is an internationally accepted tool to evaluate novel surgical technology, consisting of four stages: idea, development/exploration, assessment, and surveillance. An IDEAL stage, synonymous with validation status in this review, was assigned by reviewing the published literature.

Results

21 companies with 23 different robotic platforms were identified for data collection, 13 with national and/or international regulatory approval. Of the 17 multiport systems, 1 is fully evaluated at stage 4, 2 are stage 3, 6 stage 2b, 2 at stage 2a, 2 stage 1, and 4 at the pre-IDEAL stage 0. Of the 6 single-port systems none have been fully evaluated with 1 at stage 3, 3 at stage 1 and 2 at stage 0.

Conclusions

The majority of existing robotic platforms are currently at the preclinical to developmental and exploratory stage of evaluation. Using the IDEAL framework will ensure that emerging robotic platforms are fully evaluated with long-term data, to inform the surgical workforce and ensure patient safety.

Graphical abstract
Experimental determination of friction at the interface of a sand-based, seismically isolated foundation
Authors: Sezer Yusuf M. , Diambra Andrea , Ge Borui , Dietz Matt , Alexander Nicholas A. , Sextos Anastasios G.
Published: December 2023

This paper describes the results of an experimental investigation on the coefficient of friction at the interface of a PVC–sand–PVC layer that is utilised as part of a low-cost geotechnical seismic isolation devised to be used in low-income countries. The PVC–sand–PVC configuration consists of two smooth PVC surfaces enclosing a single layer of sand grains, with surface densities between 0.5 kg/m2 and 3 kg/m2, which aim to facilitate relative sliding at friction resistance between 0.15 and 0.30 depending on the design acceleration, by acting like “non-perfectly rounded ball bearings”. The latter isolation method has been extensively studied both numerically and experimentally by means of large-scale testing at the shaking table of the EQUALS Earthquake Laboratory of the University of Bristol. However, in the light of the construction of the first building worldwide to be designed and constructed in Nepal with the particular low-cost PVC–sand–PVC sliding interface, it was deemed necessary to reliably assess the mean and dispersion of the coefficient of friction as a function of vertical pressure, sand density and degree of saturation. The results of the tests performed using an improved direct shear apparatus are presented herein using sand samples and PVC sheets that were locally resourced in Nepal to be used in construction. The results indicate that the variation of friction is reasonably low and in any case within the desirable range, irrespectively of the parameters examined, thus establishing confidence to the forthcoming design of the novel isolated building.
Combined effects of microplastics and temperature on the competition between Brachionus havanaensis and Brachionus calyciflorus (Rotifera)
Authors: Reyes-Santillán Mayra Carolina , Nandini S. , Sarma S. S. S.
Published: December 2023

Aquatic organisms are constantly exposed to effluents which often contain microplastics. Microplastics adversely affect aquatic organisms as a result of mechanical damage during ingestion or intoxication by chemicals adsorbed on the microplastics. Sub-optimal temperatures may acerbate the adverse effects of microplastics on aquatic biota. Brachionid rotifers, such as Brachionus havanaensis and Brachionus calyciflorus, are common in tropical freshwaters. They are generalist filter feeders capable of consuming microplastic particles of a wide size range 0.05 to 40 µm, which can eventually affect growth and competitive interactions among species. Here, we evaluated the effect of 30 µm beads of polystyrene microplastics at 10 and 20 mg l−1 on the population growth and competition of B. havanaensis and B. calyciflorus at 20 and 25 °C using 0.5 × 106 cells ml−1Chlorella vulgaris as food. Population growth decreased in treatments with microplastics at both temperatures as compared to the controls. The population growth rates ranged between 0.21 and 0.38 d−1 for B. calyciflorus, and between 0.27 and 0.48 d−1 for B. havanaensis. The presence of the competing species significantly lowered the population growth rate for B. calyciflorus but not for B. havanaensis. On the other hand, while the presence of the microplastics had little impact on the population growth rate of B. calyciflorus in the presence of the competitor, the reverse was true for B. havanaensis, especially at 20 °C. Our results show that the presence of microplastics may affect rotifer community structure in natural water bodies.
IL-27 Alleviates Airway Inflammation and Airway Hyperresponsiveness in Asthmatic Mice by Targeting the CD39/ATP Axis of Dendritic Cells
Authors: Chen Yifei , Zhu Miaojuan , Hu Jiahao , He Shaojun , Li Shuhua , Liu Bing , Yang Jiong
Published: December 2023

Interleukin-27 receptor (IL-27R) is expressed in a variety of immune cells and structural cells, including dendritic cells. The mechanism of IL-27 in asthma has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to examine whether IL-27 regulated the CD39/ATP axis of dendritic cells in asthma. Our results showed that in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma mouse model, IL-27Rα−/− asthmatic mice showed increased airway resistance, increased infiltration of inflammatory cells in lung tissue, proliferation of goblet cells, enhanced expression of Muc5 AC around airway epithelium, increased total number of cells and eosinophils, increased levels of total IgE, OVA-IgE, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IL-17 A, and increased expression of transcription factors GATA-3 and RORγt in lung tissue. The expression of CD39 mRNA and protein in the lung tissue of IL-27Rα−/− asthmatic mice decreased, and the expression of NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1 in NLRP3 inflammasome components increased. The concentration of ATP was significantly increased compared with WT asthmatic mice. In vitro experiments showed that the expression of CD39 in lung dendritic cells of IL-27Rα−/− asthmatic mice decreased, while the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome components NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1 increased. These findings indicate that IL-27 directly and indirectly regulates immunoinflammatory responses in asthma by acting on dendritic cells CD39/ATP Axis.
Technical science capital in relation to how students manage within higher technical education
Authors: Engström Susanne , Blom Johanna
Published: December 2023

This study aims to understand how students manage higher technical education and contribute to research on institutional culture, STEM education, and students’ educational strategies by identifying patterns of how students navigate within one university’s engineering education. To achieve this, we define and use the concept of technical science capital and habitus reconstruction. We collected data through a survey sent to engineering students who have followed an engineering program’s intended linear progression and those who have taken a ‘detour’ within the same cohort at one specific Swedish university. The survey had a high number of qualitative questions, including free text answers that captured students’ narratives. The results indicate that having a large amount of technical science capital alone is not enough for students to be successful in their studies. The university culture has its own structure, which can be intolerant. Within this culture, specific social skills and experiences are desirable, which provides students from a particular background with a greater opportunity for success. Despite possessing high technical science capital, students from other social groups or cultures face challenges. We discuss various measures that could make higher technical education more engaging. This study is limited to one Swedish university, and future studies could include a broader sample that represents several universities.
A backup plan for life? Alternative Life paths facilitate disengagement in an action crisis
Authors: Mlynski Christopher , Mueller Swantje , Napolitano Christopher M. , Job Veronika
Published: December 2023

While there is anecdotal evidence and some scientific support for the value of having multiple paths to reach one’s life goals, recent work concerning backup plans argues that their mere availability undermines commitment to and performance in the originally chosen path. In this paper, we evaluated this phenomenon amongst college students (N = 345) entering their first term with an already available family-based alternative life path. As expected, entering into college with an available family-based alternative life path led to a decrease in study commitment over the first semester and indirectly predicted lower end-of-semester grades through this reduction in commitment. However, results indicate that this only occurred when students reported experiencing an action crisis at the end of their first semester. If students did not report having an action crisis, an available family-based alternative life path did not influence study commitment and predicted a higher end-of-semester GPA. Ultimately, findings highlight the major role action crisis plays in the influence an alternative life path has on path trajectory.