bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Europium (III) Incorporated Bovine Serum Albumin Stabilized Gold Nanoclusters as Fluorescent Probes for the Detection of Sarcosine, a Prostate Cancer Biomarker
Authors: Sanjeevan Lekshmi Ragini , Kodinattumkunnel Abraham Merin , Madanan Anju Saralammma , Omana Aswathy Ashokan , Varghese Susan , Nettaichuvilakom Subha Vijila , Ibrahim Shkhair Ali , George Sony
Published: February 2023

A new fluorescent probe based on Eu (III) incorporated BSA‐AuNCs is developed for the selective sensing of sarcosine. Sarcosine is a simple non‐proteinogenic amino acid which is a clinical biomarker for prostate cancer. The non‐invasive sensing of a metabolite biomarker sarcosine for prostate cancer from urine sample was achieved through the developed Eu (III) incorporated BSA‐AuNCs probe. The developed sensor exhibited a good sensitivity and selectivity towards the metabolite sarcosine and observed no significant interference with other coexisting metabolites present in urine. The probe shows a very lower Limit of detection (LOD) of 0.177 mM and this probe can be developed for determining sarcosine on clinical basis. Considering its predominance and the pain associated invasive prostate cancer clinical examinations for the diagnosis, a non‐invasive diagnosis is of great need and significance.
TPP‐NBS Induced [3+3] Cascade Annulation of Propargylic Alcohols and 1,3‐Bis Nucleophiles: Access to Chromenopyridines, 1,2‐Dihydropyridines**
Authors: Medishetti Nagaraju , Banda Bhanu Prasad , Nanubolu Jagadeesh Babu , Atmakur Krishnaiah
Published: February 2023

Synthesis of title products were accomplished in a [3+3] annulation of propargylic alcohols and 1,3‐bis nucleophiles. The approach presented herein involves,in situgeneration of bromophosphoniumion by the reaction of TPP‐NBS and its reaction with propargylic alcohols resulting in alkoxyphosphoniumion. This, further reacts with 1,3‐bis nucleophiles leading to desired products and liberating HBr. Notably, the liberated HBr found to be involved in driving the reaction to completion. This is the first report with alkoxyphosphoniumion engendered synthesis with the mediation of HBr.
Embodying a praxis of care: The urgency of carework in supporting student activists
Authors: Na Vanessa S. , Hyun White Hannah , Hui Elirissa Pui‐Kei , Cho Katherine S.
Published: February 2023

Institutional response to #BlackLivesMatter and anti‐Asian hate are shaped by crisis response with strategic plans, rather than structural change and investment in care networks. In this article, we offer our personal narratives to illustrate the possibilities of embodying carework to support student activists and illuminate how we collectively survive.
Lipopolysaccharide exacerbates to the migration, invasion, and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition of esophageal cancer cells by TLR4/NF‐κB axis
Authors: Peng Zhenyan , Wan Ping , Deng Yali , Shen Weitao , Liu Ran
Published: February 2023

Previous studies have shown the role of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in promoting tumor progression. Our previous study found that the community richness of LPS‐producing bacteria was significantly increased in the fresh stool samples of esophageal cancer (EC) patients, but the relative LPS levels and underlying mechanism in EC progression remain unknown. In this study, an case‐control study found that the content of LPS was higher in serum of EC patients. Functional experiments of CCK8 assay and transwell assay showed that LPS contributed to the proliferation, migration, invasion of EC109 cells. Meanwhile, LPS induced EC109 to secrete IL‐6 and TGF‐β1. Western blot analysis revealed the level of TLR4 and NF‐κB increased significantly after LPS treatment. Epithelial marker E‐cadherin was significantly down‐regulated and interstitial marker N‐cadherin and Vimentin were up‐regulated after LPS treatment. However, TAK242 (TLR4 inhibitor) or PDTC (NF‐κB inhibitor) could eliminate the inflammatory and EMT—promoting effects of LPS. In total, our results suggested that LPS exacerbated to the migration, invasion, and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition of EC109 cells by TLR4/NF‐κB axis. High level LPS may have a critical effect on the occurrence and development of EC.
UniversalQM/MMapproaches for general nanoscale applications
Authors: Csizi Katja‐Sophia , Reiher Markus
Published: February 2023

Quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) hybrid models allow one to address chemical phenomena in complex molecular environments. Whereas this modeling approach can cope with a large system size at moderate computational costs, the models are often tedious to construct and require manual preprocessing and expertise. As a result, transferability to new application areas can be limited and the many parameters are not easy to adjust to reference data that are typically scarce. Therefore, it is desirable to devise automated procedures of controllable accuracy, which enables such modeling in a standardized and black‐box‐type manner. Although diverse best‐practice protocols have been set up for the construction of individual components of a QM/MM model (e.g., the MM potential, the type of embedding, the choice of the QM region), automated procedures that reconcile all steps of the QM/MM model construction are still rare. Here, we review the state of the art of QM/MM modeling with a focus on automation. We elaborate on MM model parametrization, on atom‐economical physically‐motivated QM region selection, and on embedding schemes that incorporate mutual polarization as critical components of the QM/MM model. In view of the broad scope of the field, we mostly restrict the discussion to methodologies that buildde novomodels based on first‐principles data, on uncertainty quantification, and on error mitigation with a high potential for automation. Ultimately, it is desirable to be able to set up reliable QM/MM models in a fast and efficient automated way without being constrained by specific chemical or technical limitations.

This article is categorized under:

Electronic Structure Theory > Combined QM/MM Methods
Cognitive Robotics - Towards the Development of Next-Generation Robotics and Intelligent Systems
Authors: Zouganeli Evi , Lentzas Athanasios
Published: February 2023

In this paper we make the case for cognitive robotics, that we consider a prerequisite for next generation systems. We give a brief account of current cognition-enabled systems, and viable cognitive architectures, discuss system requirements that are currently not sufficiently addressed, and put forward our position and hypotheses for the development of next-generation, AI-enabled robotics and intelligent systems.
Improving the Usability of Tabular Data Through Data Annotation, Repair and Augmentation
Authors: Abida Rabeb , Cleve Anthony
Published: February 2023

In recent years, a rapidly increasing amount of information has been made publicly available in tabular form on the Web. Many of these data are not usable due to their poor quality (e.g., misspelled or missing values, missing or incomplete metadata, and missing meaningful columns). Solutions have been proposed in the literature to address these data quality issues, but there is still a lack of all-in-one approaches that can fully solve them. Therefore, users need to use several methods to solve these data quality issues. In this paper, we present an all-in-one and automatic approach called SINATRA that helps to bridge this gaps by providing the following features: data annotation (to address misspelled and incomplete metadata issues), data repair (to address missing values (data) issues), and data augmentation (to dynamically add meaningful columns and corresponding cell values to the dataset). An evaluation of the SINATRA approach based on datasets from a state-of-the-art benchmark shows promising results in terms of F1-measure and precision.
Detecting Human Embryo Cleavage Stages Using YOLO V5 Object Detection Algorithm
Authors: Sharma Akriti , Stensen Mette H. , Delbarre Erwan , Siddiqui Momin , Haugen Trine B. , Riegler Michael A. , Hammer Hugo L.
Published: February 2023

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) refers to treatments of infertility which include the handling of eggs, sperm and embryos. The success of ART procedures depends on several factors, including the quality of the embryo transferred to the woman. The assessment of embryos is mostly based on the morphokinetic parameters of their development, which include the number of cells at a given time point indicating the cell stage and the duration of each cell stage. In many clinics, time-lapse imaging systems are used for continuous visual inspection of the embryo development. However, the analysis of time-lapse data still requires the evaluation, by embryologists, of the morphokinetic parameters and cleavage patterns, making the assessment subjective. Recently the application of object detection in the field of medical imaging enabled the accurate detection of lesion or object of interest. Motivated by this research direction, we proposed a methodology to detect and track cells present inside embryos in time-lapse image series. The methodology employed an object detection technique called YOLO v5 and annotated the start of observed cell stages based on the cell count. Our approach could identify cell division to detect cell cleavage or start of next cell stage accurately up to the 5-cell stage. The methodology also highlighted instances of embryos development with abnormal cell cleavage patterns. On an average the methodology used 8 s to annotate a video frame (20 frames per second), which will not pose any delay for the embryologists while assessing embryo quality. The results were validated by embryologists, and they considered the methodology as a useful tool for their clinical practice.
Non-Lorentzian theories with and without constraints
Authors: Bergshoeff Eric A. , Gomis Joaquim , Kleinschmidt Axel
Published: February 2023

Abstract

We exhibit a new method of constructing non-Lorentzian models by applying a method we refer to as starting from a so-called seed Lagrangian. This method typically produces additional constraints in the system that can drastically alter the physical content of the model. We demonstrate our method for particles, scalars and vector fields.
Methodology of the Sixth German Oral Health Study (DMS 6) to survey tooth and jaw misalignment
Authors: Jordan Andreas Rainer , Kuhr Kathrin , Ohm Cristiana , Frenzel Baudisch Nicolas
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The aim of this study was (1) to complete and update the oral-epidemiological data situation in Germany (descriptive epidemiology) and (2) to determine the need for orthodontic treatment provision based on the epidemiological data situation (health care epidemiology in the form of demand research).

Methods

For this purpose, a longitudinal oral-epidemiological study and social science survey with a primary focus on tooth and jaw misalignment was conducted at a nationally representative level on 705 8‑ and 9‑year-old children across Germany.

Results

The methodological principles of the oral-epidemiological study are described, with a focus on the calibration and reliability assessment results from the study dentists, sample weighting, a survey of nonrespondents to estimate the extent of the external validity of the study results, a description of the study participants, and realized cases, as well as information pertaining to the response rate and utilization.

Conclusion

Based on the conducted analyses, it can be assumed that the examined 8‑ and 9‑year-old study participants are representative of the statistical population in Germany.
An Effective Criterion for Finite Monodromy of ℓ-Adic Sheaves
Authors: Rojas-León Antonio
Published: February 2023

We provide an effective version of Katz’ criterion for finiteness of the monodromy group of a lisse, pure of weight zero, ℓ-adic sheaf on a normal variety over a finite field, depending on the numerical complexity of the sheaf.
Could timber winching operations be cleaner? An evaluation of two options in terms of residual stand damage, soil disturbance and operational efficiency
Authors: Borz Stelian Alexandru , Crăciun Bianca Costina , Marcu Marina Viorela , Iordache Eugen , Proto Andrea Rosario
Published: February 2023

Forests provide multiple services, products and values and finding ways to preserve their multifunctionality is important. However, all of the currently used harvesting systems produce some degree of environmental damage, potentially affecting the provision services on the long term. Skidding operations are common in many regions of the world. Skidding may suppose three operational steps: winching, strip-road skidding and landing operations. By using cables for winching, wounds are commonly inflicted to the residual trees, while the mechanical traction of logs may cause damage to the residual trees and soil. This study was designed to check if the use of pans during winching deployed in thinning operations of coniferous forests may help lowering the environmental impact in terms of damage to residual trees and soil, while accounting for operational efficiency of such operations. Four treatments were considered and framed around the winching direction (uphill, downhill) and the use of protective devices (use, nonuse) and detailed data was collected on the residual stand damage, soil damage and time consumption. The main finding was that uphill winching by the use of a pan performed the best in terms of lowering the environmental damage. It shown the smallest wounds by their average area per tree, the lowest number of wounds per tree, the lowest rate of wounding per hectare, as well as one of the lowest rates of soil damage. By excluding delays, working with a pan did not cause additional time consumption, supporting acceptable rates of operational efficiency. Further experiments would be needed to validate and extend the results of this study, as the forests and their type of management are heterogeneous systems in terms of terrain configuration and slope, soil, species, stand density, removal intensity, operational timing and operational conditions.
A multi-trait assessment of selected provenances of Scots pine following 50 years of growth on a provenance experiment in Central Poland, in the light of climate change
Authors: Szeligowski Henryk , Buraczyk Włodzimierz , Konecka Agata , Studnicki Marcin , Drozdowski Stanisław
Published: February 2023

The unpredictable nature of climate change impacts, e.g. warming producing a latitudinal shift in photoperiod, may modify trees’ rates of survival and capacities for growth. This is also true of the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), as one of Europe’s main forest-forming tree species. The best results in the study of tree responses to climate change can be obtained during long-term experiments carried out on provenance trials. Such objects make it possible to precisely determine the growth and adaptation reactions of offspring coming from different soil and climatic conditions to the conditions of the research area. Research of this kind has been conducted by analysing growth in the progeny of 16 different Polish provenances of Scots pine on a single provenance experiment located in the centre of Poland, in an area where annual precipitation is at the rather low average level of 580 mm. The experiment was established in 1966, using a randomised block design with five replicates for each of the tested provenances. In autumn 2015, trees present were monitored and analysis of variance was used for their heights and diameters at breast height, with estimates also made regarding straightness of the trunk, crown width and branching angle. At the same time, ecophysiographic features of the places of occurrence of parent stands for each of the provenances were also analysed, with a quantification of the relationship between the growth traits studied and ecophysiographic features also achieved using PCA, while Ward’s Method of clustering was used to establish provenance groups characterised by multi-trait similarity. In the light of what is known about forecast climate change, it would be possible to transfer progeny of different pine populations, if only from places where levels of precipitation are lower, along with values for the De Martonne aridity index. In practice, Central Poland might play host to the progenies of pines from the western part of the country—as represented here by the Bolewice, Rychtal, Karsko and Gubin provenances. On the other hand, the progenies of pines from stands at higher altitudes will not be suitable for cultivation in lowland locations in Central Poland.
The genetic profile and molecular subtypes of human pseudomyxoma peritonei and appendiceal mucinous neoplasms: a systematic review
Authors: Murage Nora Wangari , Ahmed Nada Mabrouk , Underwood Timothy J. , Walters Zoë S. , Breininger Stella Panagio
Published: February 2023

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare, progressive, slowly growing neoplastic condition which is poorly understood, with a 5-year progression-free survival rate as low as 48%. PMP is most commonly caused by appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (AMN), and understanding their genetic biology and pathogenicity may allow for the development of better novel systemic treatments to target key deleterious mutations and the implicated pathways. The primary aim of this systematic review was to identify the genetic profile of histologically confirmed human PMP or AMN samples. The secondary aim was to identify whether genetic marks could be used to predict patient survival. Ovid EMBASE, Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched to identify studies investigating the genetic profile of histologically-confirmed human PMP or AMN samples. We review findings of 46 studies totalling 2181 tumour samples. The most frequently identified somatic gene mutations in patients with PMP included KRAS (38–100%), GNAS (17–100%), and TP53 (5–23%); however, there were conflicting results of their effect on survival. Three studies identified molecular subtypes based on gene expression profiles classifying patients into oncogene-enriched, immune-enriched, and mixed molecular subtypes with prognostic value. This review summarises the current literature surrounding genetic aberrations in PMP and AMNs and their potential utility for targeted therapy. Given the recent advances in clinical trials to directly target KRAS and GNAS mutations in other cancers, we propose a rationale to explore these mutations in future pre-clinical studies in PMP with a view for a future clinical trial.

Graphical Abstract
Preservation of human heart valves for replacement in children with heart valve disease: past, present and future
Authors: Peters M. C. , Kruithof B. P. T. , Bouten C. V. C. , Voets I. K. , van den Bogaerdt A. , Goumans M. J. , van Wijk A.
Published: February 2023

Valvular heart disease affects 30% of the new-borns with congenital heart disease. Valve replacement of semilunar valves by mechanical, bioprosthetic or donor allograft valves is the main treatment approach. However, none of the replacements provides a viable valve that can grow and/or adapt with the growth of the child leading to re-operation throughout life. In this study, we review the impact of donor valve preservation on moving towards a more viable valve alternative for valve replacements in children or young adults.
Actual Causation and the Challenge of Purpose
Authors: Fischer Enno
Published: February 2023

This paper explores the prospects of employing a functional approach in order to improve our concept of actual causation. Claims of actual causation play an important role for a variety of purposes. In particular, they are relevant for identifying suitable targets for intervention, and they are relevant for our practices of ascribing responsibility. I argue that this gives rise to the challenge of purpose. The challenge of purpose arises when different goals demand adjustments of the concept that pull in opposing directions. More specifically, I argue that a common distinction between certain kinds of preempted and preempting factors is difficult to motivate from an interventionist viewpoint. This indicates that an appropriately revised concept of actual causation would not distinguish between these two kinds of factors. From the viewpoint of retributivist responsibility, however, the distinction between preempted and preempting factors sometimes is important, which indicates that the distinction should be retained.
Ethics of sleep tracking: techno-ethical particularities of consumer-led sleep-tracking with a focus on medicalization, vulnerability, and relationality
Authors: Müller Regina , Kuhn Eva , Ranisch Robert , Hunger Jonathan , Primc Nadia
Published: February 2023

Consumer-targeted sleep tracking applications (STA) that run on mobile devices (e.g., smartphones) promise to be useful tools for the individual user. Assisted by built-in and/or external sensors, these apps can analyze sleep data and generate assessment reports for the user on their sleep duration and quality. However, STA also raise ethical questions, for example, on the autonomy of the sleeping person, or potential effects on third parties. Nevertheless, a specific ethical analysis of the use of these technologies is still missing so far. The aim of the current analysis is to identify the characteristics of sleep tracking apps and to explore the specific ethical aspects associated with this form of self-tracking. Firstly, the field of mobile health applications was screened for STA to explore their typical functions and target user groups. Secondly, an ethical analysis was conducted focusing on the three ethical dimensions: (1) medicalization, (2) vulnerability, and (3) relationality. The analysis indicates that these three normative dimensions are decisive for assessing STA and that the ethical profile of this technology varies greatly depending on the respective user group. As the three dimensions medicalization, vulnerability, and relationality play a distinguishing role in the use of STA, they should be especially addressed in responsible development and implementation of STA. In addition, the analysis helps to evaluate the use of STA, in terms of different risks for specific user groups, the sensitive contexts of usage, and potential interference with the intimacy of third parties.
The effect of board members’ education and experience on the financial performance of German state-owned enterprises
Authors: Sidki Marcus , Boerger Lara , Boll David
Published: February 2023

Within state-owned enterprises (SOEs), supervisory board mandates are often given to politicians, many of whom are selected through political processes in which competence is not necessarily the decisive factor. This paper analyzes the impact of this form of governance, examining the business competence level of supervisory board members and their influence on the financial performance of 58 state-owned utility companies in Germany from 2011 to 2016 by applying OLS regression. For this purpose, the biographical backgrounds of 3350 supervisory board members were compiled to discern their education, management, and industry experience. Contrary to our hypotheses, the empirical analyses show no effects for any of the competence dimensions on companies’ profitability. In a more detailed analysis, we find that board members with management experience from outside the energy sector seem detrimental to the company, which may indicate self-overestimation bias. This result is robust across different specifications and opens up an interesting new approach to analyzing the impact of board member competence on firm performance. The insignificance of the other competence areas indicates a rather low impact of supervisory boards on SOEs based on their unique institutional setting and in comparison to private sector corporate governance. Overall, this study contributes to both scholars and practitioners by providing new insights in the field of public corporate governance, focusing on the unique situation of the competence of politically connected boards and their influence on SOEs.
Sirt1 regulates microglial activation and inflammation following oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation injury by targeting the Shh/Gli-1 signaling pathway
Authors: Liao Hongyan , Huang Jiagui , Liu Jie , Zhu Huimin , Chen Yue , Li Xuemei , Wen Jun , Yang Qin
Published: February 2023

Background

Cerebral ischemic injury leads to over-activation of microglia, which release pro-inflammatory factors that deteriorate neurological function during the acute phase of stroke. Thus, inhibiting microglial over-activation is crucial for reducing ischemic injury. Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) has been shown to play a critical role in stroke, neurodegenerative diseases and aging. However, the effect of Sirt1 on the regulation of microglial activation following cerebral ischemic injury, as well as the underlying mechanism, remain unknown. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to mainly investigate the effect of Sirt1 on oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R)-treated N9 microglia following treatment with the Sirt1 agonists resveratrol and SRT1720 and the Sirt1 antagonist sirtinol.

Methods

Cell viability, Apoptosis, activation and inflammatory responses of microglia, expressions and activity of Shh signaling pathway proteins were detected by Cell Counting Kit 8, Flow Cytometry, immunocytochemistry, ELISA, and Western blotting, respectively.

Results

The results demonstrated that treatment with resveratrol or SRT1720 could inhibit the activation of microglia and inflammation during OGD/R. Moreover, these treatments also led to the translocation of the GLI family zinc finger-1 (Gli-1) protein from the cytoplasm to the nucleus and upregulated the expression of Sonic hedgehog (Shh), Patched homolog-1 (Ptc-1), smoothened frizzled class receptor and Gli-1. By contrast, the inhibition of Sirt1 using sirtinol had the opposite effect.

Conclusion

These findings suggested that Sirt1 may regulate microglial activation and inflammation by targeting the Shh/Gli-1 signaling pathway following OGD/R injury.

Graphical abstract
Damage analysis of retired typhoons in mainland China from 2009 to 2019
Authors: Wan Chengcheng , Yan Yafei , Shen Liucheng , Liu Jianli , Lai Xiaoxia , Qian Wei , Nie Juan , Wen Jiahong
Published: February 2023

Typhoon catastrophes can seriously threaten national and regional security and development. How to quantitatively portray the spatiotemporal characteristics and the causes of typhoon catastrophe losses will be an important subject of scientific research in terms of disaster risk reduction. In this study, the overall characteristics, spatial patterns, and main influencing factors of the losses caused by retired typhoons landing in mainland China from 2009 to 2019 were investigated, through the usage of improved typhoon disaster index (G-index), spatial autocorrelation, and cold/hotspots analysis methods. The results showed that 18 retired typhoons affected 17 provinces in China from 2009 to 2019, among which the areas affected by minor, moderate, severe, and extremely severe disasters accounted for 38.02%, 44.16%, 13.84%, and 4.32%, respectively. The disaster has strong spatial clustering, and the hotspots based on the G index are the key areas to be concerned about prevention and mitigation against typhoon mega-disasters. Furthermore, the effects of exposed population, maximum wind speed, and maximum accumulative process precipitation on typhoon disaster losses were positively correlated, while the effects of exposed GDP (Gross Domestic Product) on disaster losses are weakly negatively correlated. This study identified the hotspots of typhoon catastrophes and underlined the efforts to formulate effective disaster risk reduction and build resilience.
WTF?! Covid-19, indignation, and the internet
Authors: Osler Lucy
Published: February 2023

The Covid-19 pandemic has fuelled indignation. People have been indignant about the breaking of lockdown rules, about the mistakes and deficiencies of government pandemic policies, about enforced mask-wearing, about vaccination programmes (or lack thereof), about lack of care with regards vulnerable individuals, and more. Indeed, indignation seems to have been particularly prevalent on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, where indignant remarks are often accompanied by variations on the hashtag #WTF?! In this paper, I explore indignation’s distinctive character as a form of moral anger, in particular suggesting that what is characteristic of indignation is not only that it discloses moral injustices but betrays our disbelief at the very occurrence of the offence. Having outlined the character of indignation, I consider how the structure of indignation impacts how we do, respond to, and receive indignation. I explore indignation in action, so to speak, in the context of Covid-19, with a particular emphasis on how indignation occurs ‘on the internet’.
Screening for indole-3-acetic acid synthesis and 1-aminocyclopropane-carboxylate deaminase activity in soil yeasts from Chile uncovers Solicoccozyma terrea as an effective plant growth promoter
Authors: Carvajal Mariajosé , Godoy Liliana , Gebauer Marlene , Catrileo Daniela , Albornoz Francisco
Published: February 2023

Background and aims

Plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) stimulate plant growth by a series of mechanisms, including atmospheric nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization and the synthesis of plant hormones. Within the group of PGPMs, several species of bacteria and fungi have been extensively studied. However, little information is available with regard to soil yeasts. The present study was conducted to identify yeast strains isolated from different soils in Chile that present plant growth promotion activity.

Methods

Twenty-three strains were evaluated either for their capacity to synthesize indole-3-acetic acid or show aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase activity. The effect on tomato seedling growth was evaluated in vitro, and two strains were selected for in vivo evaluation of plant growth and root ethylene synthesis.

Results

All the strains analyzed presented IAA synthesis within the range between 0.8 and 3.3 μg IAA mL−1. Solicoccozyma terrea (YCPUC75 and YCPUC79 strains) was the only yeast with ACC deaminase activity. In vitro inoculation of tomato seeds with eight of the evaluated strains resulted in an increase in the root volume and the number of lateral roots. In the second experiment, a 40% reduction in root ethylene synthesis was achieved by adding S. terrea (YCPUC79) to the root zone, which resulted in a 26% increase in plant growth.

Conclusions

Solicoccozyma terrea YCPUC79 is an effective plant growth promoter stimulating root growth and reducing root ethylene synthesis.
Airborne hyperspectral and Sentinel imagery to quantify winter wheat traits through ensemble modeling approaches
Authors: Pancorbo J. L. , Alonso-Ayuso M. , Camino C. , Raya-Sereno M. D. , Zarco-Tejada P. J. , Molina I. , Gabriel J. L. , Quemada M.
Published: February 2023

Early prediction of crop production by remote sensing (RS) may help to plan the harvest and ensure food security. This study aims to improve the quantification of yield, grain protein concentration (GPC), and nitrogen (N) output in winter wheat with RS imagery. Ground-truth wheat traits were measured at flowering and harvest in a field experiment combining four N and two water levels in central Spain over 2 years. Hyperspectral and thermal airborne images coincident with Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 were acquired at flowering. A parametric linear model using all hyperspectral normalized difference spectral indices (NDSI) and two non-parametric models (artificial neural network and random forest) were used to assess their estimation ability combining NDSIs and other RS indicators. The feasibility of using freely available multispectral satellite was tested by applying the same methodology but using Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 bands. Yield estimation obtained the highest R2 value, showing that the visible and short-wave infrared region (VSWIR) had similar accuracy to the hyperspectral and Sentinel-2 imagery (R2 ≈ 0.84). The SWIR bands were important in the GPC estimation with both sensors, whereas N output was better estimated using red-edge-based NDSIs, obtaining satisfactory results with the hyperspectral sensor (R2 = 0.74) and with the Sentinel-2 (R2 = 0.62). When including the Sentinel-2 SWIR index, the NDSI (B11, B3) improved the estimation of N output (R2 = 0.71). Ensemble models based on Sentinel were found to be as reliable as those based on hyperspectral imagery, and including SWIR information improved the quantification of N-related traits.
Parker Solar Probe: Four Years of Discoveries at Solar Cycle Minimum
Authors: Raouafi N. E. , Matteini L. , Squire J. , Badman S. T. , Velli M. , Klein K. G. , Chen C. H. K. , Matthaeus W. H. , Szabo A. , Linton M. , Allen R. C. , Szalay J. R. , Bruno R. , Decker R. B. , Akhavan-Tafti M. , Agapitov O. V. , Bale S. D. , Bandyopadhyay R. , Battams K. , Berčič L. , Bourouaine S. , Bowen T. A. , Cattell C. , Chandran B. D. G. , Chhiber R. , Cohen C. M. S. , D’Amicis R. , Giacalone J. , Hess P. , Howard R. A. , Horbury T. S. , Jagarlamudi V. K. , Joyce C. J. , Kasper J. C. , Kinnison J. , Laker R. , Liewer P. , Malaspina D. M. , Mann I. , McComas D. J. , Niembro-Hernandez T. , Nieves-Chinchilla T. , Panasenco O. , Pokorný P. , Pusack A. , Pulupa M. , Perez J. C. , Riley P. , Rouillard A. P. , Shi C. , Stenborg G. , Tenerani A. , Verniero J. L. , Viall N. , Vourlidas A. , Wood B. E. , Woodham L. D. , Woolley T.
Published: February 2023

Launched on 12 Aug. 2018, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe had completed 13 of its scheduled 24 orbits around the Sun by Nov. 2022. The mission’s primary science goal is to determine the structure and dynamics of the Sun’s coronal magnetic field, understand how the solar corona and wind are heated and accelerated, and determine what processes accelerate energetic particles. Parker Solar Probe returned a treasure trove of science data that far exceeded quality, significance, and quantity expectations, leading to a significant number of discoveries reported in nearly 700 peer-reviewed publications. The first four years of the 7-year primary mission duration have been mostly during solar minimum conditions with few major solar events. Starting with orbit 8 (i.e., 28 Apr. 2021), Parker flew through the magnetically dominated corona, i.e., sub-Alfvénic solar wind, which is one of the mission’s primary objectives. In this paper, we present an overview of the scientific advances made mainly during the first four years of the Parker Solar Probe mission, which go well beyond the three science objectives that are: (1) Trace the flow of energy that heats and accelerates the solar corona and solar wind; (2) Determine the structure and dynamics of the plasma and magnetic fields at the sources of the solar wind; and (3) Explore mechanisms that accelerate and transport energetic particles.
Effect of powdery mildew on interleaf microbial communities and leaf antioxidant enzyme systems
Authors: Ma Xinbo , Wang Zhanbin , Liu Run , Jiang Yibing
Published: February 2023

Chinese peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) is both medicinally and aesthetically beneficial. Powdery mildew is a common fungal disease that seriously jeopardizes the value of numerous species, including peonies as a crop. In order to provide a basis for the prevention and treatment of peony powdery mildew, we examined the microbial diversity, the malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations and antioxidant enzyme activities of peony leaves infected with three levels of powdery mildew to determine any modifications to the leaf's antioxidant enzyme systems and microbial community structure following the onset of disease. The results show that the MDA content rose as the degree of infection became worse. Antioxidant enzyme activity rose and then declined. Following the initiation of powdery mildew, fungal community diversity decreased, whereas there was not any appreciable change in bacterial communities according to microbial diversity sequencing. The relative abundance of more than half of fungal species decreased, with the bacterial genera displaying both abundant and diminished communities with less pronounced alterations in their community structure after the disease spread. Significant different taxa that were critical to the organization of each microbiome were found. Correlation analysis showed that the relative abundance of powdery mildew pathogenic fungal genus Erysiphe was correlated with those of 11 fungal genera and one bacterial genus. Among them, Aureobasidium, Neosetophoma and Sclerostagonospora showed significant positive correlations with Erysiphe and MDA.
Eine Synthese aus Können und Wissen?
Authors: Schmid Noerr Gunzelin
Published: February 2023

Im heutigen fachlichen Diskurs wird die Bezugnahme auf eine sozialpädagogisch-professionelle Haltung oft als allzu nebulös beklagt. Demgegenüber wird hier der Begriff der Haltung, insbesondere in professionsethischer Perspektive, als theoretisch unverzichtbar und empirisch gehaltvoll verteidigt. Textgrundlage dafür ist die Aufzeichnung einer Gruppendiskussion mit Fachkräften der Sozialen Arbeit, die in einer Justizvollzugsanstalt tätig sind. Die professionsethische Haltung erweist sich als unabdingbar, um die Differenz zwischen eingelebter Moral und spezifischem Arbeitsauftrag zu bewältigen, Tat und Täter trennen zu können. Weitere wichtige Merkmale einer professionsethischen Haltung sind die Fähigkeit zu Selbst- und Institutionenkritik sowie ein Sensorium für die in der Sozialen Arbeit allgegenwärtigen ethischen Spannungsfelder.
Raising “Antiracist Disruptors”: Illuminating Socialization Practices that Support Antiracism in Multiracial Households
Authors: Vezaldenos Victoria A. , Jacobs Laura-Ann , Rivas-Drake Deborah
Published: February 2023

Although an emerging body of literature has advanced our knowledge of how monoracial parents can support their multiracial children in understanding the ethnic-racial identities they hold, there is a dearth of research exploring how parents socialize their children towards antiracism. Drawing from ten interviews with monoracial parents of multiracial children, this paper illuminates how parents leverage multiracial socialization practices, as identified in previous academic research, to instill an antiracist orientation in their children. Using consensual qualitative analyses, we find that although all parents had a vested interest in the wellbeing and identity development of their multiracial children, parents qualitatively differed in their ability and willingness to instill an antiracist orientation in their children. Specifically, parents in our sample exhibited five approaches to multiracial socialization, ranging from those that reinforced dominant racial ideologies to those that explicitly aimed to prepare youth to become antiracist activists. We also describe how monoracial parents’ lived experiences are implicated in their engagement in multiracial socialization practices, especially those that better position them to prepare their children to engage in antiracism. Our findings illuminate how monoracial parents may engage in a repertoire of strategies in order to foster antiracism in multiracial children, molding the next generation of “antiracist disruptors.”
Missing symbionts – emerging pathogens? Microbiome management for sustainable agriculture
Authors: Berg Gabriele , Schweitzer Matthias , Abdelfattah Ahmed , Cernava Tomislav , Wassermann Birgit
Published: February 2023

Plant diversification and co-evolution shaped the plant microbiome and vice versa. This resulted in a specific composition of the plant microbiome and a strong connection with the host in terms of functional interplay. Symbionts are part of the microbiota, and important for the plant’s germination and growth, nutrition, as well as stress protection. However, human activities in the Anthropocene are linked to a significant shift of diversity, evenness and specificity of the plant microbiota. In addition, and very importantly, many plant symbionts are missing or no longer functional. It will require targeted microbiome management to support and reintroduce them. In future agriculture, we should aim at replacing harmful chemicals in the field, as well as post-harvest, by using precision microbiome engineering. This is because the plant microbiome is connected across systems and crucial for human and planetary health. This commentary aims to inspire holistic studies for the development of solutions for sustainable agriculture in framework of the One Health and the Planetary Health concepts.
The influence of indwelling double-J stent duration prior to URS on postoperative complicated urinary tract infections
Authors: Paulino Pereira Leonor Jane , Kums Arjen C. M. , Beck Jack J. H. , Hennus Pauline M. L.
Published: February 2023

Ureterorenoscopy and double‑J stents are frequently associated with complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI’s). To date, it remains unclear whether longer indwelling stent duration increases the risk of cUTI’s and recommendations on this subject are therefore lacking. This study investigates whether double‑J stent placement and longer indwelling stent duration prior to URS increase the risk of post-URS cUTI’s. Adult patients undergoing ureterorenoscopy in 2019 were eligible for study participation. Records were retrospectively collected. Potential risk factors were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression models. 16.9% of the prestented patients was diagnosed with a UTI, compared to 7.1% in the non-prestented group (p = 0.034). Female gender, preoperative positive urine cultures and stone recurrence were significant risk factors. This study demonstrated a correlation between preoperative placement of double‑J stents and post-URS complicated UTI’s. However, neither preoperative double‑J stent placement nor longer indwelling stent time was a significant risk factor for postoperative complicated UTI’s.
Current topics of interdisciplinary cooperation between engineering and human sciences
Authors: Dressler Angela , Gerber Nina , Menig Angela , Pasnicu Otilia , Stöver Alina , Vogt Joachim
Published: February 2023

In this article, we highlight current research directions in the Technikpsychologie research area, using the example of the interdisciplinary research work of FAI (Work and Engineering Psychology Research Group at the Technical University of Darmstadt) and the articles included in this special issue. To this end, we relate the articles in this special issue from the research areas of road traffic planning (Hupfer et al.), usable IT security and privacy solutions (Renaud), social aspects of technically mediated communication (Diefenbach), human-centered interface design (Mucha et al.), aviation safety (Santel), human-centered design of autonomous vehicles (Lindner & Stoll), and perceptual psychology-oriented product design (Zandi & Khanh) to current research projects at FAI.

Practical Relevance

Technical products only offer added value by efficiently supporting users in achieving their goals if they have been developed appropriately for the context of use and the individual characteristics of the users. The human-centered design of—especially technical—products reflects this through an iterative and participatory development process. In this article, we describe nine examples of such human-centered design of technology products. The research results and the methods presented provide insights for developers and decision-makers in the fields of transportation, IT, vehicle development and general product design.
Making Community: Implications of Hybridity and Coalescence at Morton Village
Authors: O'Gorman Jodie A. , Conner Michael D.
Published: February 2023

Recent investigations of Morton Village, a Mississippian and Oneota community formed following Oneota migration into the central Illinois River valley around AD 1300, focus on evaluating the social context for the remarkable violence evidenced at the adjacent Norris Farms 36 cemetery. Here, we use the concepts of thirdspace and hybridity to examine three areas of village life: creation of the physical structure of the village, ritual, and foodways. Within these three areas, we identify transformations of Mississippian and Oneota practices that support the interpretation that villagers were engaged in the formation of a coalescent community.
Guest Editors’ Introduction: The Challenges and Prospects of Deliberative Democracy for Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility
Authors: Gilbert Dirk Ulrich , Rasche Andreas , Schormair Maximilian J. L. , Singer Abraham
Published: February 2023

This introduction argues that the use of the concept of deliberative democracy in corporate social responsibility (CSR) research needs to be theoretically extended. We review three developments that have recently occurred in deliberative democracy theory within political science and philosophy: 1) the conceptualization of deliberative systems (macro level), 2) the considerations of mini-publics (micro level), and 3) the role of online deliberation. We discuss the challenges and prospects that incorporating these three developments into future CSR-related research creates. We thereby also introduce the articles in this special issue and show how they connect to each of the three developments. On the basis of this discussion, we outline the contours for a more general program of distributed deliberative CSR that enables CSR scholars to incorporate an updated understanding of deliberative democracy theory into their future work.
African American Historians of Education and the Griot's Craft: A Historiography
Authors: Alridge Derrick P. , Randolph Adah Ward , Johnson Alexis M.
Published: February 2023

This article provides a historiographical survey of significant African American historians researching, writing, and interpreting Black people's education history. At the heart of this article are the following questions: Who were the African American historians of education who produced this work? What has been the significant scholarship of African American education historians from the late nineteenth century to the present? Although much scholarship has been published on African American education, its history remains underrepresented in the study of educational history. Nonetheless, this historiography is burgeoning thanks to Black educational historians’ scholarship.
Effects of oscillating gas-phase flow on an evaporating multicomponent droplet
Authors: Majee Sreeparna , Saha Abhishek , Basu Saptarshi
Published: February 2023

The dynamics of an evaporating droplet in an unsteady flow is of practical interest in many industrial applications and natural processes. To investigate the transport and evaporation dynamics of such droplets, we present a numerical study of an isolated droplet in an oscillating gas-phase flow. The study uses a one-way coupled two-phase flow model to assess the effect of the amplitude and the frequency of a sinusoidal external flow field on the lifetime of a multicomponent droplet containing a non-volatile solute dissolved in a volatile solvent. The results show that the evaporation process becomes faster with an increase in the amplitude or the frequency of the gas-phase oscillation. The liquid-phase transport inside the droplet also is influenced by the unsteadiness of the external gas-phase flow. A scaling analysis based on the response of the droplet under the oscillating drag force is subsequently carried out to unify the observed evaporation dynamics in the simulations under various conditions. The analysis quantifies the enhancement in the droplet velocity and Reynolds number as a function of the gas-phase oscillation parameters and predicts the effects on the evaporation rate.