bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Algorithmic counting of nonequivalent compact Huffman codes
Authors: Elsholtz Christian , Heuberger Clemens , Krenn Daniel
Published: January 2023

It is known that the following five counting problems lead to the same integer sequence $${f_t}({n})$$

f
t

(
n
)

:

the number of nonequivalent compact Huffman codes of length n over an alphabet of t letters,

the number of “nonequivalent” complete rooted t-ary trees (level-greedy trees) with n leaves,

the number of “proper” words (in the sense of Even and Lempel),

the number of bounded degree sequences (in the sense of Komlós, Moser, and Nemetz), and

the number of ways of writing $$\begin{aligned} 1= \frac{1}{t^{x_1}}+ \dots + \frac{1}{t^{x_n}} \end{aligned}$$

1
=

1

t

x
1

+
⋯
+

1

t

x
n

with integers $$0 \le x_1 \le x_2 \le \dots \le x_n$$

0
≤

x
1

≤

x
2

≤
⋯
≤

x
n

.

In this work, we show that one can compute this sequence for all$$n<N$$

n
<
N

with essentially one power series division. In total we need at most $$N^{1+\varepsilon }$$

N

1
+
ε

additions and multiplications of integers of cN bits (for a positive constant $$c<1$$

c
<
1

depending on t only) or $$N^{2+\varepsilon }$$

N

2
+
ε

bit operations, respectively, for any $$\varepsilon >0$$

ε
>
0

. This improves an earlier bound by Even and Lempel who needed $${O}({{N^3}})$$

O
(

N
3

)

operations in the integer ring or $$O({N^4})$$

O
(

N
4

)

bit operations, respectively.
EOF and target PFAS analysis in surface waters affected by sewage treatment effluents in Berlin, Germany
Authors: Nxumalo Tengetile , Akhdhar Abdullah , Mueller Viktoria , Simon Fabian , von der Au Marcus , Cossmer Antje , Pfeifer Jens , Krupp Eva M. , Meermann Björn , Kindness Andrew , Feldmann Jörg
Published: January 2023

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are emerging organic pollutants and can occur in surface and groundwater. To identify the degree of pollution in surface water with PFAS, often targeted HPLC–ESI–MS/MS has been employed in which commonly 30–40 compounds are analyzed. However, other PFAS and organofluorines remain undetected. We sampled surface water of the river Spree and the Teltow Canal in Berlin, Germany, which are affected by the effluent discharge of wastewater treatment plants. Here, we employed high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry (HR-CS-GFMAS) for measuring extractable organofluorines (EOF) and compared in a mass balance approach the total fluorine to the identified and quantified PFAS from the targeted analysis. The analysis highlights that the EOF are in the range expected for an urban river system (Winchell et al. in Sci Total Environ 774, 2021). However, downstream of an effluent discharge, the EOF increased by one order of magnitude, e.g., 40.3 to 574 ng F L−1, along the Teltow Canal. From our target analytes, mostly short-chained perfluorinated carboxylic acids and sulfonates occur in the water, which however makes up less than 10% of the EOF. The increase in EOF in the Teltow Canal correlates well with the increase of perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), indicating that PFHxA is characteristic for the discharged EOF but not responsible for the increase. Hence, it points to PFHxA precursor discharge. The study highlights that EOF screening using HR-CS-GFMAS is necessary to identify the full scale of pollution with regard to PFAS and other organofluorines such as pharmaceutical compounds from the effluent of WWTPs.
Inflammatory and Nutritional Status Influences Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy
Authors: Xu Shao‐jun , Wang Ping‐lan , Chen Chao , You Cheng‐xiong , Chen Rui‐qin , Wu Wen‐wei , Chen Shu‐chen
Published: January 2023

Introduction

The potential association between severe postoperative complications (SPC) and the oncological outcomes of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients according to the different Naples Prognostic Score (NPS) of the inflammatory nutritional status after minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) is unclear.

Methods

Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used to evaluate overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) between with or without SPC (Clavien–Dindo grade ≥ III) in low NPS status (NPS = 0 or 1) and high NPS status (NPS = 2 or 3 or 4) patients. Cox multivariable analysis was carried out to analyze the various independent factors of OS and DFS, and a nomogram based on SPC was established.

Results

A total of 20.7% (125/604) ESCC patients developed SPC after MIE. Patients with SPC exhibited poor 5‐year OS and DFS compared to those without SPC (all P < 0.001). Further analysis revealed that SPC significantly reduced OS and DFS in patients with high NPS status (all P < 0.001) but had little effect on the prognosis of patients with low NPS status (all P > 0.05). Multivariable Cox analysis revealed that SPC could be an independent influence indicator for OS and DFS in patients with high NPS status. Therefore, a novel nomogram combining SPC and tumor‐node‐metastasis (TNM) staging has been developed, which was found to be relatively more accurate in predicting OS and DFS than TNM staging alone.

Conclusion

Severe complications can adversely affect the long‐term oncological outcome of ESCC patients with high systemic inflammatory response and malnutrition after MIE.
Factors affecting the post-operative outcomes in patients aged over 80 following colorectal cancer surgery
Authors: Yap Raymond , Wilkins Simon , Asghari-Jafarabadi Mohammad , Oliva Karen , Wang Wei Chun , Centauri Suellyn , McMurrick Paul J.
Published: January 2023

Purpose

In 2019, in Australia, there were 500,000 people aged 85 and over. Traditionally, clinicians have adopted the view that surgery is not desirable in this cohort due to increasing perioperative risk, perceived minimal clinical benefit, and shortened life expectancy. This cohort study is aimed at investigating postoperative outcomes from elective and non-elective colorectal cancer surgery in patients aged 80 and over.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients from 2010 to 2020 on a prospectively maintained colorectal database. Patients aged over 80 who underwent surgical resection for colorectal cancer were reviewed. Oncological characteristics, short-term outcomes, overall survival, and relapse-free survival rates were analysed.

Results

A total of 832 patients were identified from the database. Females comprised 55% of patients aged 80 and above. The median age was 84 for octogenarians and 92 for nonagenarians. Most patients were ASA 2 (212) or ASA 3 (501). ASA 3 and 4 and stage III pathology were associated with higher postoperative complications. Fifty percent of over 80 s and 37% of over 90 s were surgically discharged to their own home. Overall survival at 30, 180, and 360 days and 5 years was 98.1%, 93.1%, 87.2%, and 57.2% for the over 80 s and 98.1%, 88.9%, 74.9%, and 24.4% for the over 90 s.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate that surgical treatment of older patients is safe with acceptable short-, medium-, and long-term survival. Nonetheless, efforts are needed to reduce the rates of complications in older patients, including utilisation of multi-disciplinary teams to assess the optimal treatment strategy and postoperative care.
Facet joint violation after open and percutaneous posterior instrumentation: a comparative study
Authors: Mitterer Marian , Ortmaier Reinhold , Wiesner Teresa , Hitzl Wolfgang , Mayer Michael
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Posterior instrumentation is the state-of-the-art surgical treatment for fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine. Options for pedicle screw placement comprise open or minimally invasive techniques. Open instrumentation causes large approach related muscle detachment, which minimally invasive techniques aim to reduce. However, concerns of accurate pedicle screw placement are still a matter of debate. Beside neurological complications due to pedicle screw malplacement, also affection of the facet joints and thus motion dependent pain is known as a complication. The aim of this study was to assess accuracy of pedicle screw placement concerning facet joint violation (FJV) after open- and minimally invasive posterior instrumentation.

Methods

A retrospective data analysis of postoperative computer tomographic scans of 219 patients (1124 pedicle screws) was conducted. A total of 116 patients underwent open screw insertion (634 screws) and 103 patients underwent minimally invasive, percutaneous screw insertion (490 screws).

Results

In the lumbar spine (segments L3, L4, L5), there were significantly more and higher grade (open = 0.55 vs. percutaneous = 1.2; p = 0.001) FJV’s after percutaneously compared to openly inserted screws. In the thoracic spine, no significant difference concerning rate and grade of FJV was found (p > 0.56).

Conclusion

FJV is more likely to occur in percutaneously placed pedicle screws. Additionally, higher grade FJV’s occur after percutaneous instrumentation. However, in the thoracic spine we didn’t find a significant difference between open and percutaneous technique. Our results suggest a precise consideration concerning surgical technique according to the fractured vertebrae in the light of the individual anatomic structures in the preop CT.
Predictive value of ferroptosis-related biomarkers for diabetic kidney disease: a prospective observational study
Authors: Wu You , Sun Yunwei , Wu Yiwei , Zhang Kecheng , Chen Yan
Published: January 2023

Aims

To explore the predictive value of ferroptosis-related (FR) biomarkers for diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods

This prospective observational study enrolled patients with T2DM at the Second Hospital of Jilin University between December 2021 and March 2022. DKD was measured by the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was performed to assess the predictive value of ferroptosis-related biomarkers for DKD.The risk factors for massive proteinuria were performed by multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results

Finally, 118 patients (53.0 ± 12.2 years, 76 males) were enrolled, 52 of them without DKD (had normal proteinuria), while 66 with DKD. (Forty-one had microproteinuria, and 25 had massive proteinuria.) FR biomarkers, including acyl-CoA synthase long chain family member 4 (ACSL4), malondialdehyde (MDA), and reactive oxygen species (ROS), were significantly higher in the massive proteinuria group than in the other groups, while glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) was significantly lower (all P < 0.05). The area under the ROC of the combination of GPX4, ACSL4, MDA, and ROS for predicting DKD was 0.804 (P < 0.001). Additionally, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the course of disease and ferritin levels were independent risk factors for massive proteinuria, while high serum iron, transferrin, and GPX4 levels were independent protective factors for massive proteinuria in patients with T2DM (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The GPX4, ACSL4, MDA, and ROS combination might have a good predictive value for DKD. Additionally, the course of disease, ferritin levels, serum iron, transferrin, and GPX4 were independently associated with massive proteinuria.
The impact of previous health on the mortality after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: analysis of a prospective Swedish multicenter study
Authors: Ronne Engström Elisabeth , Baldvinsdóttir Bryndís , Aineskog Helena , Alpkvist Peter , Enblad Per , Eneling Johanna , Fridriksson Steen , Hillman Jan , Klurfan Paula , Kronvall Erik , Lindvall Peter , Von Vogelsang Ann-Christin , Nilsson Ola G. , Svensson Mikael
Published: January 2023

Purpose

There is an an increasing awareness of the importance of health and lifestyle for stroke diseases like spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). However, the importance of pre-existing medical conditions for clinical course and mortality after SAH has not been studied. The aim of the present study was to identify pre-existing conditions contributing to mortality after SAH.

Methods

Data were extracted from a Swedish national prospective study on patients with SAH. Variables were defined for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), clinical condition at admission, and for 10 pre-existing medical conditions. Models predicting mortality in three time intervals with all possible subsets of these variables were generated, compared and selected using Akaike’s information criterion.

Results

1155 patients with ruptured aneurysms were included. The mortality within 1 week was 7.6%, 1 month 14.3%, and 1 year 18.7%. The most common pre-existing medical conditions were smoking (57.6%) and hypertension (38.7%). The model’s best predicting mortality within 1 week and from 1 week to 1 month included only the level of consciousness at admission and age, and these two variables were present in all the models among the top 200 in Akaike score for each time period. The most predictive model for mortality between 1 month and 1 year added previous stroke, diabetes, psychiatric disease, and BMI as predictors.

Conclusion

Mortality within the first month was best predicted simply by initial level of consciousness and age, while mortality within from 1 month to 1 year was significantly influenced by pre-existing medical conditions.
Assessment of the potency and effectiveness of a heptavalent oil-adjuvanted (ISA 206) foot-and-mouth disease vaccine in Egypt
Authors: Bazid Abdel-Hamid , Amer Haitham M. , Nayel Mohamed , Attia Mohamed , Maklad Nada , Wasfy Momtaz , Abdelmegeid Mohamed , El-Sayed Magdy M. , Magouz Asmaa , Badr Yassien
Published: January 2023

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a serious highly contagious viral disease affecting all cloven-hoofed animals, and outbreaks can have a severe economic impact. An inactivated heptavalent oil-adjuvanted FMD vaccine (Aphtovac-7, MEVAC) was prepared from the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) strains A-Iran05, A-Africa-IV, O-PanAsia2, O-Manisa, O-EA3, SAT-2 Gharbia, and SAT-2 LIB-12. The vaccine potency and effectiveness were evaluated in three groups of 6- to 8-month-old calves and 200 adult dairy cattle under field conditions. All animals were vaccinated with the vaccine preparation, and the three groups of calves were challenged after 28 days by intradermolingual inoculation with 104 50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID50) of FMDV serotype A, O, or SAT-2. Mock-vaccinated calves (two per group) served as unvaccinated controls during the challenge test. Adult dairy cattle were tested for seroconversion using a virus neutralization test at 30, 60, and 120 days post-vaccination. All calves displayed complete protection against challenge with the different serotypes of FMDV when compared to the control groups. Serum samples collected after the primary and booster immunizations at 30 days post-vaccination contained high titers of protective antibodies (≥ 1/32; i.e. 1.5 log10). Antibodies persisted until the end of the study period (120 days), with a peak value around 60 days post-vaccination. The heptavalent FMD vaccine preparation was found to be potent and capable of providing a protective immune response under both experimental and field conditions.
Effect of shape of titanium dioxide nanofillers on the properties of dental composites
Authors: Nayak Prajna P. , Kini Sudarshan , Ginjupalli Kishore , Pai Deepika
Published: January 2023

The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the morphology of titanium dioxide nanofillers on the flexural strength and shear bond strength of the dental composite. Spherical and rhombic-shaped nano titanium dioxide fillers were synthesized via solvothermal method and were characterized. Subsequently, these fillers were incorporated into a flowable composite (Filtek™ Z350 XT Flowable Restorative) at 0.5 wt.% and 1.5 wt.% and the prepared specimens were stored in water for 24 h. The specimens were then evaluated for flexural strength using a universal testing machine. Similarly, the shear bond strength of modified composites to the tooth was evaluated and bond failures were analyzed using stereomicroscope magnification. Incorporation of nanofillers significantly enhanced the flexural strength of flowable composite (p = 0.009) with a significant increase at 0.5wt.% of spherical (p = 0.015) and rhomboidal-shaped fillers (p = 0.010). However, no statistically significant difference in flexural strength was observed among the different shapes of nanofillers. The results of our study did not show a significant effect on the shear bond strength of the composites. Thus the reinforcing ability of titanium dioxide nanofillers on dental composite was confirmed in this study, although the effect of using nanofillers with different morphology was not significant.

Graphical abstract
Madusa: mobile application demo generation based on usage scenarios
Authors: Lee Jaehyung , Cho Hangyeol , Lee Woosuk
Published: January 2023

Mobile applications have grown rapidly in size. This dramatic increases in size and complexity make mobile applications less accessible to a broader scope of users. The prevailing approach for better accessibility of mobile applications is to manually reimplement slimmed versions with a small but representative portion of a regular original app. Unfortunately, this approach imposes significant burden on developers. We propose a system called Madusa to enable developers to effectively customize and reduce their mobile applications for Android. Madusa takes as input an original app, an upper bound on the size of a reduced version, and usage scenarios as a high-level specification of its desired core functionality. The output is a reduced version of the app that is still correct with respect to the specification while not exceeding the size limit. Madusa constructs a graph representing dependencies among methods and resources and identifies a sub-part of the graph using integer linear programming to generate a reduced version that exhibits behaviors as similar as possible to the original app. Our experimental evaluation on a suite of 19 Android apps available on Google Play Store. Madusa effectively converges to the desired simplified apps by reducing the app size by 40% on average (maximally by 60%). We conclude our approach effectively removes redundant code and resources with respect to given usage scenarios.
Grafting of poly(stearyl acrylate) on cellulose fibers as 3D-printable HDPE composites
Authors: Barba Enguerrand , Mietner J. Benedikt , Navarro Julien R. G.
Published: January 2023

This paper aimed to produce a bio-based filament, suitable for 3D printing (fused deposition modeling), made of surface modified cellulose fiber and high density polyethylene. The cellulose fibers (CF) were first surface modified and transformed into a CF-based macroinitiator through an esterification reaction with the 2-bromoisobutyric acid. We finally studied the ability of this CF-based macroinitiator to initiate a single electron transfer-living radical polymerization (SET-LRP) with an hydrophobic monomer: the stearyl acrylate. The grafting of poly(stearly acrylate) onto the cellulose fibers did strongly increased the adhesion, compatibility of the modified fibers with the hydrophobic host matrix (HDPE). Finally, the resulting hydrophobic fibers were extruded with the high density polyethylene (HDPE) through a counter-rotating twin-screw extruder, yielding a bio-based filament suitable for FDM 3d printing. The successful surface modification, such as the correct incorporation of the modified fibers into the thermoplastic matrix, were characterized through ATR-FTIR, 13C CP-MAS NMR, FE-SEM, and mechanical testing. Throughout those characterization techniques, it was concluded that the fiber surface modification significantly improved the compatibility of the fibers with HDPE. Finally, the 3D printing properties of the composite were tested and compared to those of pure HDPE through the 3d printing of simple objects. It was concluded that the printability of the composite made with poly(stearyl acrylate)-grafted cellulose overcomes the problem (shrinkage, warpage, print fidelity) encountered with the printing of pure HDPE.

Graphical abstract
Overcoming challenges in the synthesis of a lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC) model: Mitsunobu versus Appel product
Authors: Elschner Thomas , Brendler Erica , Fischer Steffen
Published: January 2023

Arabinoxylan ferulate representing a macromolecular LCC model valid for annual plants is synthesized under Mitsunobu conditions. The content of ferulic acid ester is tuned by the reaction conditions achieving degree of substitution values from 0.09 to 0.45. Utilization of the chloride-free solvent N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone allows the design of pure Mitsunobu products without occurrence of deoxychloro moieties arising from Appel type reaction. 2D NMR experiments reveal nature-identical structure of ferulate moieties present at position 5 of the arabinose side chain. Enzymatic dehydrogenation polymerization of coniferyl alcohol on ferulate anchor groups under homogeneous conditions lead to $$\beta $$
β
-O-4, $$\beta $$
β
-5, and Hibbert ketone structures identified by Py-GC-MS. The results are valuable to study structure-property relationships within the formation of natural and non-native lignins.

Graphical abstract
Negligence Failures and Negligence Fixes. A Comparative Analysis of Criminal Regulation of AI and Autonomous Vehicles
Authors: Giannini Alice , Kwik Jonathan
Published: January 2023

Automated vehicles (“AV”) can greatly improve road safety and societal welfare, but legal systems have struggled with the prospect of whom to hold criminally liable for resulting harm, and how. This difficulty is derived from the characteristics of modern artificial intelligence (“AI”) used in AV technology. Singapore, France and the UK have pioneered legal models tailored to address criminal liability for AI misbehaviour. In this article, we analyse the three models comparatively both to determine their individual merits and to draw lessons from to inform future legislative efforts. We first examine the roots of the problem by analysing the characteristics of modern AI vis-à-vis basic legal foundations underlying criminal liability. We identify several problems, such as the epistemic problem, a lack of control, the issue of generic risk, and the problem of many hands, which discommode the building blocks of criminal negligence such as awareness, foreseeability and risk taking – a condition we refer to as negligence failures. Subsequently, we analyse the three models on their ability to address these issues. We find diverging philosophies as to where to place the central weight of criminal liability, but nevertheless identify common themes such as drawing bright-lines between liability and immunity, and the introduction of novel vocabulary necessary to navigate the new legal landscape sculpted by AI. We end with specific recommendations for future legislation, such as the importance of implementing an AI training and licensing regime for users, and that transition demands must be empirically tested to allow de facto control.
Do biodiversity monitoring citizen science surveys meet the core principles of open science practices?
Authors: Suter Samantha , Barrett Brian , Welden Natalie
Published: January 2023

Citizen science (CS), as an enabler of open science (OS) practices, is a low-cost and accessible method for data collection in biodiversity monitoring, which can empower and educate the public both on scientific research priorities and on environmental change. Where OS increases research transparency and scientific democratisation; if properly implemented, CS should do the same. Here, we present the findings of a systematic review exploring “openness” of CS in biodiversity monitoring. CS projects were scored between − 1 (closed) and 1 (open) on their adherence to defined OS principles: accessible data, code, software, publication, data management plans, and preregistrations. Openness scores per principle were compared to see where OS is more frequently utilised across the research process. The relationship between interest in CS and openness within the practice was also tested. Overall, CS projects had an average open score of 0.14. There was a significant difference in open scores between OS principles (p =  < 0.0001), where “open data” was the most adhered to practice compared to the lowest scores found in relation to preregistrations. The apparent level of interest in CS was not shown to correspond to a significant increase in openness within CS (p = 0.8464). These results reveal CS is not generally “open” despite being an OS approach, with implications for how the public can interact with the research that they play an active role in contributing to. The development of systematic recommendations on where and how OS can be implemented across the research process in citizen science projects is encouraged.
Experiences of Silence in Mood Disorders
Authors: Degerman Dan
Published: January 2023

This article challenges the consensus that silences about mental disorders are there to be broken. While silence in mental disorders can be painful, even deadly, the consensus rests on an oversimplified understanding of silence. Drawing upon accounts from depression and bipolar memoirs, this article names and analyses some salient experiences of silence in mood disorders. It does so with two goals in mind. The first is to show that mood disorders may involve several different kinds of lived experiences of silence. This is important because even though silence is considered a promising objective symptom of depression, little has been written about lived experiences of silence in disorders that involve depression. The second is to argue against the fetishisation of breaking silence and the concomitant understandings of silence as an externally imposed and inherently negative phenomenon. This is important because some silences are not experienced as external and are even felt to be valuable, meaning that efforts to break them may be counterproductive.
Characterization of an Italian landrace of Cyclanthera pedata (L.) Schrad. of herbal and horticultural interest
Authors: Zuccolo Marco , Pedrali Davide , Leoni Valeria , Borgonovo Gigliola , Bassoli Angela , Giorgi Annamaria , Giupponi Luca
Published: January 2023

Caigua (Cyclanthera pedata (L.) Schrad.) is a native species of the Andes. Its fruits are recently gaining attention as herbal and healthy product. A landrace of Caigua traditionally cultivated in Camonica Valley (Italian Alps), called “Ciuenlai” (or “Milione/Milioncino”), is almost unknown. For this reason, the phytochemical, nutritional and ecological (functional strategy) characterization of “Ciuenlai” was carried out. Phytochemical and nutritional analyses were performed considering its fruits, leaves, sprouts, and seeds, and compared with commercial South American plant material. Fruits of “Ciuenlai” showed a similar content of phenolic compounds but a lower content of saponins and flavanones and dihydroflavonols than the comparison samples. Conversely, the content in caffeoylquinic acid (frequently considered a quality marker for herbal use) was four times higher for “Ciuenlai” (0.64 ± 0.04%) comparing with the commercial variety grown in the same area (0.15 ± 0.01%). Interestingly, leaves and sprouts of “Ciuenlai” resulted rich in secondary metabolites, including saponins and flavanones and dihydroflavonols, suggesting that these parts could be eligible for herbal use. Considering the ecological and agronomical features, “Ciuenlai” showed a more ruderal strategy, and different growth, producing more fruits earlier in the season, much smaller than the South American variety. “Ciuenlai” could have developed an ecological adaptation to the peculiar climatic conditions of the mountain areas of Camonica Valley, different from the native area. The herbal use of “Ciuenlai” could be a useful strategy for its valorisation, other than the promotion of this product as typical food.
High dielectric-energy storage and ferromagnetic-superparamagnetic properties: tetra-doping CuO nanocompositions
Authors: Youssef A. M. , Yakout S. M.
Published: January 2023

Tetra-doping by (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) ions strongly boosted the room temperature dielectric constant and the ferromagnetic-superparamagnetic characteristics of monoclinic CuO structure. In this study, undoped CuO, Cu0.98Mn0.005Fe0.005Co0.005Ni0.005O, Cu0.96Mn0.01Fe0.01Co0.01Ni0.01O and Cu0.94Mn0.015Fe0.015Co0.015Ni0.015O nanocompositions were synthesized through coprecipitation technique. The crystal structure analysis verified that all samples have a pure single phase, corresponding to monoclinic CuO structure. The substitution of Cu2+-sites into CuO lattice by Mn2+, Fe2+/3+, Co2+ and Ni2+ ions has been deduced from the expansions of lattice constant, shifts of XRD diffraction peaks and band gap energy alteration. The additions of (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) ions lead to the formation of homogenous distributed very fine spherical nanoparticles, especially at large concentrations of dopants (Cu0.94Mn0.015Fe0.015Co0.015Ni0.015O sample). The tetra-doping by (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) ions reduced the intensity of the diffuse reflectance alongside red shifted the absorption edge and the band gap energy of monoclinic CuO structure. Cu0.98Mn0.005Fe0.005Co0.005Ni0.005O exhibits a high relative permittivity value of 6096 at low frequency of 42 Hz with small dielectric loss tangent (tan δ) compared to pure one. The tetra-doping by (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) dopants induced excellent intrinsic ferromagnetic and superparamagnetic hysteresis loops into monoclinic CuO structure with full saturation loops shape and variable coercivity values.
When Too Much Help is of No Help: Mothers’ and Fathers’ Perceived Overprotective Behavior and (Mal)Adaptive Functioning in Adolescents
Authors: Arslan İldeniz B. , Lucassen Nicole , Keijsers Loes , Stevens Gonneke W. J. M.
Published: January 2023

Although parental overprotection is theorized to have lasting negative effects throughout a child’s life, there is limited empirical evidence available on its long-term significance on adolescent well-being. This preregistered, three-wave longitudinal study investigated the association of maternal and paternal perceived overprotection in early adolescence with the development of (mal)adaptive psychological, academic, and social functioning throughout adolescence. Data (N = 2229; 50.7% girls) from the longitudinal TRacking Adolescents’ Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS) in the Netherlands were used (Mage T1 = 11.11, T2 = 13.57, T3 = 16.28). At T1, adolescents reported on their mothers’ and fathers’ overprotection. From T1 to T3 adolescents and teachers reported about internalizing problems, academic achievement, prosocial, and antisocial behavior. The results showed concurrent associations between higher levels of perceived overprotection and higher levels of internalizing problems, antisocial behaviors, and (after controlling for parental warmth and rejection) lower levels of academic achievement. Perceived overprotection was positively associated with decreased internalizing problems over time. This longitudinal association disappeared after controlling for baseline levels of internalizing problems, suggesting that this result was less robust than expected. Mothers and fathers did not differ in their associations between perceived overprotection and (mal)adaptive functioning. The findings showed that perceived overprotection is mainly concurrently associated with (mal)adaptive adolescent functioning. Future research recommendations are discussed in terms of stability and bidirectional relations.
Philanthropy patterns in major Australian performing arts organizations
Authors: Donelli Chiara Carolina , Rentschler Ruth , Fanelli Simone , Lee Boram
Published: January 2023

Taking a management perspective in the field of philanthropy, this study examines 12 Australian major performing arts organizations over 19 years (2000–2018), which were identified as vulnerable and struggling with overreliance on public grants. Underpinned by theories that integrate understandings of external and internal resource management—resource dependence theory and the resource-based view—we uncover insights into what drives the increase in their philanthropic income. Using data from 228 annual reports and interviews, we present an original taxonomy that identifies organization-donor relationships and organizational efforts in nurturing philanthropy. We uncovered the interplays between donor engagement and positioning philanthropic staff in terms of organizational structure. Longitudinal financial and narrative data demonstrate that external resource management through donor engagement and internal resource management through organization structure emphasizing philanthropy have a significant impact on the growth of organizational philanthropic income.
The policy integration game? Congruence of outputs and implementation in policy integration
Authors: Sarti Francesco
Published: January 2023

Researchers agree on the importance of policy integration in the analysis of responses to complex problems, yet they often use this concept to indicate integrated policy programmes (IPPs) as opposed to policy integration in practice (as performed by actors). Describing how IPPs are reshaped, while they are being implemented opens new research venues in the study of the policy integration process and its effects. This article theorises the ‘(in)congruent implementation' of IPPs and illustrates its theoretical contribution with the case study of the local implementation of the national ‘Security Decree' in the Italian cities of Bologna and Pesaro. The paper makes a theoretical contribution to the study of the political aspects of policy integration. In particular, it suggests that three factors—the misalignment of state and local policy frames, the incommensurability of different subsystems’ interests, and local politicians’ risk avoidance strategies—might be led to the process of reframing national integrative intentions from the bottom up.
Forecasting Solar Cycle 25 with Physical Model-Validated Recurrent Neural Networks
Authors: Espuña Fontcuberta Aleix , Ghosh Anubhab , Chatterjee Saikat , Mitra Dhrubaditya , Nandy Dibyendu
Published: January 2023

The Sun’s activity, which is associated with the solar magnetic cycle, creates a dynamic environment in space known as space weather. Severe space weather can disrupt space-based and Earth-based technologies. Slow decadal-scale variations on solar-cycle timescales are important for radiative forcing of the Earth’s atmosphere and impact satellite lifetimes and atmospheric dynamics. Predicting the solar magnetic cycle is therefore of critical importance for humanity. In this context, a novel development is the application of machine-learning algorithms for solar-cycle forecasting. Diverse approaches have been developed for this purpose; however, with no consensus across different techniques and physics-based approaches. Here, we first explore the performance of four different machine-learning algorithms – all of them belonging to a class called Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) – in predicting simulated sunspot cycles based on a widely studied, stochastically forced, nonlinear time-delay solar dynamo model. We conclude that the algorithm Echo State Network (ESN) performs the best, but predictability is limited to only one future sunspot cycle, in agreement with recent physical insights. Subsequently, we train the ESN algorithm and a modified version of it (MESN) with solar-cycle observations to forecast Cycles 22 – 25. We obtain accurate hindcasts for Solar Cycles 22 – 24. For Solar Cycle 25 the ESN algorithm forecasts a peak amplitude of 131 ± 14 sunspots around July 2024 and indicates a cycle length of approximately 10 years. The MESN forecasts a peak of 137 ± 2 sunspots around April 2024, with the same cycle length. Qualitatively, both forecasts indicate that Cycle 25 will be slightly stronger than Cycle 24 but weaker than Cycle 23. Our novel approach bridges physical model-based forecasts with machine-learning-based approaches, achieving consistency across these diverse techniques.
Schüler*innen teilqualifizierender höherer Berufsfachschulen – ohne Berufsabschluss, aber mit Perspektive?
Authors: Rahn Sylvia , Fuhrmann Christoph
Published: January 2023

Jugendliche münden mit der Erwartung in die beruflich teilqualifizierenden höheren Berufsfachschulen ein, durch die Steigerung ihres Schulabschlussniveaus ihre Übergangschancen in eine duale Berufsausbildung verbessern zu können. Allerdings wurde in der Berufsbildungs- und Arbeitsmarktforschung schon vor Jahrzehnten eine Entwertung der Schulabschlüsse beruflicher Schulen prognostiziert und derzeit ist die Effektivität der zweijährigen beruflich teilqualifizierenden höheren Berufsfachschulen umstritten. Auf der Basis einer regionalen Panelstudie wird deshalb mittels Propensity Score Matchings und einer Drop-out-Analyse untersucht, welche Ausbildungschancen die zweijährigen beruflich teilqualifizierenden höheren Berufsfachschulen ihren Absolvent*innen eröffnen und ob die Bildungsgänge im Berufsfeld Wirtschaft und Verwaltung als ihr am stärksten ausgebauter Typ tatsächlich den Weg in die Ausbildung zu kaufmännischen Fachangestelltentätigkeiten ebnen, wie viele Schüler*innen dies hoffen. Die Daten zeigen, dass die Absolvent*innen der zweijährigen beruflich teilqualifizierenden höheren Berufsfachschulen im Vergleich mit den Direktabgänger*innen der Sekundarstufe I mit mittlerem Abschluss ihre Chancen auf dem Ausbildungsmarkt tatsächlich verbessern können. Zugleich verlässt jedoch rund jede*r fünfte Schüler*in den Bildungsgang vorzeitig. Es werden Konsequenzen für die schulische Laufbahnberatung gezogen und Forschungsperspektiven aufgezeigt.
Relationship between Grain Size and Sample Thickness on the Creep-Rupture Performance of Thin Metallic Sheets of INCONEL Alloy 740H
Authors: Shingledecker John , Griscom Eeva , Bridges Alex
Published: January 2023

A study was conducted on INCONEL® alloy 740H® to examine the role of grain size and sheet thickness on the alloy’s creep-rupture behavior. Three different starting sheet thicknesses were utilized and multiple heat-treatment conditions anticipated for compact heat exchanger (CHX) manufacturing were applied to produce a range of grain sizes. Creep-rupture testing was conducted at 750 °C for times up to about 6000 h and the results were compared to wrought databases. The data show that both creep strength and ductility were important factors in the overall creep performance of the sheets. Reductions in performance were observed due either to accelerated creep when grain size was fine or loss of rupture ductility when grain sizes approached the sheet thickness. Some combinations of heat-treatment and thickness were able to produce typical expected wrought creep properties. Historically a ‘rule-of-thumb’ requirement for creep testing suggests 3-5 grains per sample minimum dimension to ensure homogeneous behavior. This research shows that to ensure representative wrought creep performance (i.e. no effect of sample size), the sample minimum cross-section should be 10 times the average ASTM grain size. Statistical analysis of the microstructures suggests the population of larger grains as a controlling feature in creep failure.
Astrocytic Cebpd Regulates Pentraxin 3 Expression to Promote Fibrotic Scar Formation After Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Wang Shao-Ming , Hsu Jung-Yu C , Ko Chiung-Yuan , Wu Hsiang-En , Hsiao Yu-Wei , Wang Ju-Ming
Published: January 2023

Astroglial-fibrotic scars resulted from spinal cord injury affect motor and sensory function, leading to paralysis. In particular, the fibrotic scar is a main barrier that disrupts neuronal regeneration after spinal cord injury. However, the association between astrocytes and fibrotic scar formation is not yet understood. We have previously demonstrated that the transcriptional factor Cebpd contributes to astrogliosis, which promotes glial scar formation after spinal cord injury. Herein, we show that fibrotic scar formation was decreased in the epicenter region in Cebpd−/− mice after contusive spinal cord injury and astrocytic Cebpd promoted fibroblast migration through secretion of Ptx3. Furthermore, the expression of Mmp3 was increased under recombinant protein Ptx3 treatment in fibroblasts by observing microarray data, resulting in fibroblast migration. In addition, regulation of Mmp3 occurs through the NFκB signaling pathway by using an irreversible inhibitor of IκBα phosphorylation in pretreated fibroblasts. Of note, we used the synthetic peptide RI37, which blocks fibroblast migration and decreases fibroblast Mmp3 expression in IL-1β-treated astrocyte conditioned media. Collectively, our data suggest that fibroblast migration can be affected by astrocytic Cebpd through the Ptx3/NFκB/Mmp3 axis pathway and that the RI37 peptide may act as a therapeutic medicine to inhibit fibrotic scar formation after spinal cord injury.
The Cogito, Dreamt Characters, and Unreal Existence
Authors: Turp Michael-John
Published: January 2023

Borges’ The Circular Ruins tells the story of a magician who turns out to be a character in a dream. Leibowitz (2021) argues that this scenario undermines the rational indubitability of Descartes’ Cogito. The magician, he argues, is an unreal appearance and therefore does not exist. I argue that Borges drew a distinction between reality and existence and that he was right to do so. There are various senses of reality and the sense in which a dreamt character is unreal poses no threat to their existence or to the indubitability of the Cogito. The magician is unreal because he is a mind-dependent, illusory and fake. Nonetheless, he can be certain that he thinks, therefore he is.
Biosorption of metronidazole using Spirulina platensis microalgae: process modeling, kinetic, thermodynamic, and isotherm studies
Authors: Esmaili Zahra , Barikbin Behnam , Shams Mahmoud , Alidadi Hossein , Al-Musawi Tariq J. , Bonyadi Ziaeddin
Published: January 2023

Metronidazole is well-known antibiotic which, globally, ranks high in popular usage. Therefore, traces of residues of this antibiotic were identified in aquatic bodies. A photosynthetic cyanobacterium, of the microalgae category, S. platensis, has been found to be efficient in the removal of this antibiotic. This study was performed to evaluate the efficiency of S. platensis in the removal of metronidazole from aqueous environments. To set up the optimum conditions for facilitating metronidazole removal, BBD model was employed. The experiment included the following parameters: the initial metronidazole level (10–80 mg/L), pH (4–10), contact time (10–60 min), and biomass dose (0.1–0.5 g/L). From the findings it was evident that S. platensis was able to remove 88.15% of the metronidazole under the following conditions: contact time 38.05 min, metronidazole level 35 mg/L, pH 7.71 and a biomass dose 0.3 g/L. The quadratic model revealed that metronidazole concentration was the chief variable that influenced its removal rate. MNZ removal rate was observed to follow the pseudo-second-order model and the Freundlich model. From the thermodynamic data it appeared that the process of metronidazole biosorption was spontaneous, exothermic and physical. The results of this study revealed that S. platensis could be used as an inexpensive and efficient biosorbent to remove the metronidazole from aqueous solutions.
Towards the personalization of gelatin-based 3D patches: a tunable porous carrier for topical applications
Authors: Ribeiro Ricardo , Bom Sara , Martins Ana M. , Ribeiro Helena M. , Santos Catarina , Marto Joana
Published: January 2023

Cell-free based therapies, for example, the use of the cell secretome, have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional skin therapies using bioactive and, when combined with 3D printing technologies, allow the development of personalized dosage forms. This research work aimed to develop gelatin-based patches with controlled network topology via extrusion 3D printing, loaded with cell culture medium as a model of the secretome, and applicable as vehicles for topical delivery. Inks were optimized through rheological and printing assays, and the incorporation of medium had minor effects in printability. Regarding network topology, grid infills rendered more defined structures than the triangular layout, depicting clearer pores and pore area consistency. Release studies showed that filament spacing and infill pattern influenced the release of rhodamine B (model bioactive) and bovine serum albumin (model protein). Moreover, the grid patches (G-0.7/1/0.7), despite having around a seven-fold higher mean pore area than 0.7-mm triangular ones (T-0.7), showed a similar release profile, which can be linked to the network topology of the printed structures This work provided insight on employing (bio)printing in the production of carriers with reproducible and controlled pore area, able to incorporate cell-derived secretome and to be quickly tailored to the patient’s lesions.

Graphical Abstract
You Can't Always Say What You Want
Authors: Baron Dennis
Published: January 2023

The freedom to think what you want and to say what you think has always generated a pushback of regulation and censorship. This raises the thorny question: to what extent does free speech actually endanger speech protection? This book examines today's calls for speech legislation and places it into historical perspective, using fascinating examples from the past 200 years, to explain the historical context of laws regulating speech. Over time, the freedom to speak has grown, the ways in which we communicate have evolved due to technology, and our ideas about speech protection have been challenged as a result. Now more than ever, we are living in a free speech paradox: powerful speakers weaponize their rights in order to silence those less-powerful speakers who oppose them. By understanding how this situation has developed, we can stand up to these threats to the freedom of speech.
Piers Plowman and its Manuscript Tradition
Authors: Wood Sarah
Published: January 2023

The first full survey of crucial witnesses to the reception of Piers Plowman.
Terrorism and Counterterrorism Studies
Authors: Bakker Edwin , de Roy van Zuijdewijn Jeanine
Published: January 2023

Terrorism has been one of the most important threats to peace, security and stability in many parts of the world. But what does this mean? What is the nature of this threat? What can be done about it and how can we at least limit the impact of terrorism?

These are just a handful of questions that will be addressed in this book that consists of four parts. First it focuses on the essence of terrorism as an instrument to achieve certain goals and the difficulties in defining the term. The second part provides an overview of the state of the art of terrorism studies. The most interesting results of this academic field are examined and compared with empirical evidence with the aim to either stress their importance or to debunk them as myths. The final part looks into the impact of terrorism, recent developments and their implications for both academics and policymakers.