bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synergistic anti‐bacterial activity of imidazole‐based azo dyes with polyvinylpyrrolidone‐coated silver nanoparticles
Authors: Ribeiro Ana Isabel , Dantas Daniela , Carvalho Luís Filipe , Padrão Jorge , Silva Renata , Remião Fernando , Pinto Eugénia , Cerqueira Fátima , Dias Alice Maria , Zille Andrea
Published: October 2023

The high demand for novel antimicrobial textiles by the medical, healthcare, hygiene, sportswear, personal protective equipment and filtration sectors has promoted the growth of functional textiles. However, the efficacy of antimicrobial agents against different pathogens is a considerable challenge because of the distinctive mechanisms of action and resistance. The development of novel synergistic antimicrobial dyes may offer numerous opportunities to enhance antimicrobial effectiveness. In this work, a novel imidazole‐based azo dye with a p‐methoxyphenyl group in the N‐1 substituent of the imidazole ring (AzoIz‐a), and corresponding amidrazone precursor (AmIz‐a), were combined with polyvinylpyrrolidone‐coated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The molecules, alone and combined with the AgNPs, were characterised by ultraviolet‐visible spectrophotometry and zeta potential. Their synergistic effect was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results were compared with a previously reported imidazole‐based azo dye and precursor containing a methyl group in the imidazole ring (AmIz‐b and AzoIz‐b). The results showed interesting antimicrobial properties of the novel AzoIz‐a molecules when combined with a very small concentration of AgNPs. The combination showed an additive effect for S. aureus and a synergistic effect for E. coli and P. aeruginosa. Considering the synergistic results, the effective concentration of the AzoIz‐a decreased from more than 128 to 16‐32 μg.mL−1 by the addition of a small concentration of AgNPs (0.6‐1.3 μg.mL−1), which displayed comparable results with the AzoIz‐b molecule. Thus, the application of these conjugates in textiles may lead to highly coloured materials with remarkable anti‐bacterial properties, which warrant further exploration.
Is there a gender paradox in the association between conduct problems and cannabis use? A cohort‐study among Swedish adolescents
Authors: Karlsson Patrik , Ekendahl Mats , Raninen Jonas
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Conduct problems (CP) predict cannabis use prospectively but the research is mixed as to whether this association is stronger among girls. A stronger association among girls would suggest a ‘gender paradox’ as both CP and cannabis use is less common in this group. This study aimed to assess whether the longitudinal association between CP and cannabis use in Swedish adolescents is stronger among girls.

Methods

Data from two waves of a nationally representative cohort study of Swedish adolescents born in 2001 were used. Baseline measurements were collected in 9th grade (at age 15–16) and follow‐up measures at 11th grade (at age 17–18).

Results

CP at baseline were significantly associated with cannabis use at follow‐up adjusted for hyperactivity problems, emotional problems, socio‐demographics, parental monitoring, school grades and truancy at baseline (odds ratio [OR] 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06–1.24) but not when also adjusting for substance use at baseline. Boys were more likely to have used cannabis during the past year, even when controlling for prior substance use (OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.76–2.98). The association between CP and cannabis use was significantly weaker for boys (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.72–0.95 in the fully adjusted model). The predicted probability of cannabis use was stable at 0.13 for boys across levels of CP, but ranged from 0.05 to 0.16 for girls.

Discussion and Conclusion

The longitudinal association between CP and cannabis use was stronger among girls. The findings are indicative of a ‘gender paradox’ in the association between CP and cannabis use.
Do unconditional cash transfers increase fertility? Lessons from a large‐scale program
Authors: Awaworyi Churchill Sefa , Iqbal Nasir , Nawaz Saima , Yew Siew Ling
Published: October 2023

We examine the impact of unconditional cash transfers (UCTs) on fertility. We develop a theoretical model that demonstrates how UCTs affect fertility decisions, time allocations for leisure, labor and childrearing, and child health through health spending. We then empirically examine the impact of UCTs on fertility in Pakistan. Our theoretical model suggests that under certain conditions, UCTs are likely to increase fertility if UCTs increase child health regardless of how they affect parental leisure, labor and childrearing time. The empirical results suggest that UCTs have a positive effect on fertility.
Institutional investors, competition and corporate innovation: Evidence from Chinese listed firms
Authors: Zhang Jing , Li Kai , Long Cheryl Xiaoning
Published: October 2023

By adapting a well‐known model in the literature, the current paper sharpens the theoretical predictions on how competition intensity and institutional ownership interact to influence corporate innovation decisions, and adopts data from Chinese listed firms to empirically test the validity of two potential mechanisms. The split‐share reform of 2004–2005, whose timing and speed were largely beyond the firms' control, is used as a quasi‐natural experiment to address the potential endogeneity of institutional share. Similar to the existing results, we find support for the career concern mechanism rather than the lazy manager mechanism. But in addition to the complementary effects between institutional share and competition intensity on corporate innovation documented in their work, our findings also imply that competition discourages innovation when the share of institutional investors is low but encourages innovation when the institutional share is high. The opposite effects of competition on innovation with or without institutional shares is accounted for by the negative correlation between competition and innovation success, which is an assumption in our theoretical model that departs from the existing literature, but fits the reality of China's economic transition. Additional evidence relating listed firms' managerial turnover to their institutional shares is also in support of the career concern mechanism. Combined with the substantial increase in innovation after the split‐share reform, these findings demonstrate the strong positive role of institutional investors in encouraging innovation, but also offer more insight into the complex process that determines corporate innovation, especially where ownership structure is still in flux.
Selective adsorption of apoferritin on immobilized Fe(III): demonstration of Fe(III) binding sites
Authors: Boyer RF , Generous SM , Nieuwenhuis TJ , Ettinger RA
Published: October 2023

Immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography has been used to demonstrate and partially characterize Fe(III) binding sites on apoferritin. Binding of Fe(III) to these sites is influenced by pH, but not affected by high ionic strength. These results suggest that both ionic and coordinate covalent interactions are important in the formation of the Fe(III): apoferritin complex. This is, to our knowledge, the first demonstration of direct Fe(III) binding to apoferritin. Other immobilized metal ions, including Zn(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Cr(III), Co(II), and Tb(III), displayed little or no adsorption of apoferritin. The analytical technique of immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography also shows great promise in the purification of apoferritin, ferritin, and other iron‐binding proteins.
A study of sulfite‐tolerant yeasts from comminuted lamb products.“
Authors: Dillon VM , Board RG
Published: October 2023

The sulfite tolerance of meat yeasts was shown to be determined by pH, sulfite concentration, substrate availability, and the composition of the preincubation medium. Acetaldehyde production by Candida norvegica was sulfite‐induced and occurred during the exponential growth phase in sulfited (500 micrograms SO2 ml‐1) lab lemco glucose broth cultures buffered at pH 5, 6, or 7. Growth at pH 4, however, was inhibited by sulfite. Acetaldehyde production occurred in sulfited medium containing fructose or ethanol but not lactate nor a range of other assimilable substrates. A non‐acetaldehyde‐producing yeast, Candida vini, grew in sulfited (500 micrograms SO2 ml‐1) lab lemco broth containing glucose or lactate buffered at pH 6 or 7 but not at pH 4 or 5.
Heterotypic and homotypic cell‐cell adhesion molecules in endothelial cells
Authors: Kalra VK , Banerjee R. , Sorgente N.
Published: October 2023

Sickle red blood cells display an abnormal propensity to adhere to cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells when compared to normal red blood cells. The adherence was potentiated three‐fold by endothelial cell derived conditioned medium, enriched in multimers of von Willebrand factor. Such adherence was ablated by 80% by either the synthetic peptide (RGDS) or antibody to GPIIb/IIIa, indicating the presence of RGD peptide recognition domain/receptor in either endothelial cells or sickle cells or both. The adherence was also inhibited by 70% by phosphatidylserine, but not by other phospholipids, indicating the presence of putative receptors for this phospholipid in endothelial cells. The labeling of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells with monoclonal antibodies revealed the localization of MAB D2 to regions of cell‐cell contact. The antigen on endothelial cells which cross‐reacts with this antibody has a Mr of 130,000. The addition of such an antibody during the plating of endothelial cells disrupted monolayer formation. It appears that a 130‐kDa polypeptide antigen in endothelial cells which is recognized by MAB D2, may be a cell‐cell adhesion molecule.
Enhanced stability of subtilisin by three point mutations
Authors: Narhi LO , Stabinsky Y. , Levitt M. , Miller L. , Sachdev R. , Finley S. , Park S. , Kolvenbach C. , Arakawa T. , Zukowski M.
Published: October 2023

This study was undertaken to characterize the effect of three point mutations made on aprA‐subtilisin on the stability of the protein to both heat‐ and detergent‐induced denaturation. Asparagine residues at positions 109 and 218 were replaced with serine residues to prevent the possible cyclization between these asparagines and the adjacent glycine residues and hence to increase the long‐term stability. The effect of these substitutions on conformational stability was examined by thermal denaturation. At high calcium concentrations, the Ser109‐substituted analog showed a 3 degrees C higher transition temperature than that of aprA‐subtilisin, while the Ser218 substituted analog had a 4 degrees C higher transition temperature. The analog with both changes had a 7 degrees C higher transition temperature than that of the original aprA‐subtilisin, indicating that the contributions of the individual mutations were additive. The analog with both mutations also exhibited increased stability in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) when compared to aprA‐subtilisin. In addition to the above two mutations, the asparagine at position 76, located in the high affinity Ca(2+) binding loop of subtilisin, was changed to aspartic acid. The effect of this mutation on the thermal stability of the protein was examined at different calcium concentrations. The analog with all three mutations exhibited little dependence on calcium concentration below 1 mM levels, while the proteins without the mutation at asparagine‐76 displayed a strong dependence of melting temperature on Ca(2+) concentration in this range. At much higher calcium concentrations, the analog with three mutations showed an increase in stability similar to that observed with aprA‐subtilisin. The analog with three mutations also exhibited greater stability to SDS‐induced denaturation than both aprA‐subtilisin and the Ser109‐ and Ser218‐substituted analogs. The activation energy barrier for loss of structure in 1% SDS for the analog with all three mutations was increased over that for aprA‐subtilisin by 16 kcal/ml. These results suggest that the mutation of asparagine‐76 to aspartic acid increases the affinity of the primary Ca(2+) binding site.
Assessment of sequence features in internal regions of proteins
Authors: Barra D. , Maras B. , Schinina ME , Angelaccio S. , Bossa F.
Published: October 2023

Determination of amino acid replacements or assessment of sequence features localized in internal regions of natural or genetically engineered proteins can be performed in some cases with the expenditure of a minimum amount of work and protein material. The procedure requires fragmentation of a protein sample by a chemical or enzymatic method: one of the fragments should include the sequence tract under investigation, suitably preceded by one or more prolyl residues. Classical Edman degradation can be performed on the whole mixture of fragments, thus avoiding the rate‐limiting step of peptide purification. Sequence data become readable after performance of reaction with o‐phthalaldehyde at the level of proline residues in the relevant peptide. Two specific cases illustrate the potentiality of the procedure.
Effect of phenolic compounds and oleuropein on the germination of Bacillus cereus T spores
Authors: Tassou CC , Nychas GJ , Board RG
Published: October 2023

The phenolic compounds extracted from olives with ethyl acetate inhibited germination and outgrowth of Bacillus cereus T spores. Purified oleuropein, a well‐characterized component of olive extract, inhibited these processes also. The addition of oleuropein and olive extracts 3 or 5 min after germination began, immediately decreased the rate of change of phase bright to phase dark spores and delayed significantly outgrowth.
Factors influencing the stability of heme and ferrochelatase: role of oxygen
Authors: Punekar NS , Gokhale RS
Published: October 2023

Ferrochelatase (EC 4.99.1.1) catalyzed heme synthesis is best accomplished in an anaerobic environment. Factors responsible for this phenomenon are not fully understood. Oxygen sensitivity of this reaction may be due to (a) oxidation of essential thiol groups on the enzyme, (b) oxidation of ferrous ions, or (c) the formation of hydrogen peroxide. These possibilities were investigated using rat liver ferrochelatase preparations and a continuous, dual‐wavelength assay. Dithiothreitol and ascorbic acid stimulated the ferrochelatase reaction whereas GSH was not as effective. Addition of GSSG had little influence on the enzyme reaction. Total ferrochelatase activity in the assay remained unaffected at the end of the incubation and inclusion of glutathione peroxidase did not alter these results. Thus, ferrochelatase itself was not inactivated by oxidation. In selenium‐deficient rats, the mitochondrial ferrochelatase levels were maintained even when glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly depleted. However, glutathione peroxidase very effectively inhibited the thiol‐dependent aerobic degradation of heme. These results suggested that autoxidation of heme and of ferrous ions to the unusable ferric form largely contribute toward the oxygen sensitivity of the ferrochelatase reaction in vitro.
Investigation of the UDP‐glucose dehydrogenase reaction for a coupled assay of UDP‐glucose pyrophosphorylase activities
Authors: Elling L. , Kula MR
Published: October 2023

An optimized coupled enzyme assay for UDP‐glucose pyrophosphorylase (EC 2.7.7.9) using UDP‐glucose dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.22) is presented. This optimized assay was developed by a detailed investigation of the kinetics of the UDP‐glucose dehydrogenase reaction. In addition the data provide a basis for the enzymatic synthesis of UDP‐glucuronic acid. The results demonstrate that the two binding sites of the dehydrogenase differ since a different modulation of the enzyme activity and stability is observed after preincubation with UDP‐glucose or NAD+ at various pH values. This is of general interest for the preparation of assay mixtures where UDP‐glucose dehydrogenase is used as an auxiliary enzyme.
Characterization of commercial Trichoderma reesei cellulase preparations by denaturing electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) and immunostaining using monoclonal antibodies
Authors: Kubicek‐Pranz EM , Gsur A. , Hayn M. , Kubicek CP
Published: October 2023

Fifteen different cellulase preparations from Trichoderma reesei, obtained either commercially or from pilot plants, were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting using monoclonal antibodies against two cellobiohydrolases (CBH I, CBH II), an endoglucanase (EG I), and beta‐glucosidase. The staining patterns were compared with the activities of the preparations against filter paper (FPU), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC‐ase), cellobiose (beta‐glucosidase), and azocasein (protease). Variable amounts of proteolytic degradation products of CBH I, CBH II, and EG I were seen in most samples, and only half of them contained intact beta‐glucosidase. The degree of proteolysis did not correlate with any significant difference in the respective activities of these preparations against filter paper cellulose or carboxymethylcellulose. In more than 50% of all cases a decreased beta‐glucosidase activity and the absence of intact beta‐glucosidase protein in Western blots was observed in preparations displaying high proteolytic activity.
Cloning and overproduction of biodegradative threonine deaminase from Escherichia coli W strain.“
Authors: Hirose K. , Fujita M. , Takeuchi M. , Yumoto N. , Tokushige M. , Kawata Y.
Published: October 2023

We have cloned the structural gene (tdcB) of biodegradative threonine deaminase from Escherichia coli W strain by utilizing the polymerase chain reaction. The JM109/pUCTDA strain, which was obtained by transforming E. coli JM109 with a vector plasmid (pUCTDA) containing the cloned tdcB gene, produced a large amount of the enzyme corresponding to more than 5% of the total soluble protein. Amino acid sequence analysis of this recombinant enzyme showed that the amino acid sequence is identical to the nucleotide‐deduced sequence of biodegradative threonine deaminase from E. coli K‐12.
In vitro targeting of erythrocytes to cytotoxic T‐cells by coupling of Thy‐1.2 monoclonal antibody
Authors: Chiarantini L. , Droleskey R. , Magnani M. , DeLoach JR
Published: October 2023

A method was explored to develop a general means to target erythrocytes to T‐cells in vitro. Mouse erythrocytes were coupled with an anti‐Thy‐1.2 monoclonal antibody by two methods. Chromic chloride coupling of antibody was preferred to biotinylation. The morphology, osmotic fragility, and the hematological values of treated cells were normal compared with those of control erythrocytes. Antibody‐coupled erythrocytes were incubated with cytotoxic T‐lymphocytes (CTLL) in vitro at a 20:1 ratio. Approximately 60–70% of the CTLL formed rosettes. The cell mixture was subjected to gradient centrifugation and separated into four fractions. THe rosettes were clearly identified only in the treated group containing anti‐Thy‐1.2‐coupled erythrocytes. No rosettes were found when aspecific monoclonal antibody was coupled to erythrocytes. Examination by scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed CTLL with 4–5 erythrocytes attached to them but did not show any evidence of membrane fusion. Rosettes of CTLL incubated in vitro proliferated as well as CTLL alone and maintained their dependency on interleukin‐2. Targeting of erythrocyte carriers to lymphocytes offers the potential for delivery of molecules directly to the target cell.
Properties of trypsin and of acid phosphatase immobilized in sol‐gel glass matrices
Authors: Shtelzer S. , Rappoport S. , Avnir D. , Ottolenghi M. , Braun S.
Published: October 2023

Trypsin and acid phosphatase‐containing silica sol‐gel glasses were obtained by mixing a solution of an enzyme with polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 and tetramethoxy orthosilicate at room temperature, followed by gelation and drying. Activity of the immobilized trypsin toward small substrates, such as N‐benzoyl‐L‐arginine‐4‐nitroanilide at its Km, for the best preparations equaled that of the soluble enzyme. Polylysine (M(r) less than or equal to 13,000) and aprotinin (M(r) = 6,500) inhibited this activity. Larger polylysines as well as soybean trypsin inhibitor (M(r) = 20,100) were ineffective. The sol‐gel‐entrapped trypsin activity was stable when sol‐gel glasses were incubated at ambient temperature (pH 7.5) for several months. In comparison, trypsin, immobilized in sol‐gel glass by surface adsorption and incubated under the same conditions overnight, was completely autodigested. The firm interaction between the protein molecules and the silica matrix stabilized the enzymes. Thus, the half‐life of sol‐gel‐entrapped acid phosphatase at 70 degrees C (pH 8.0) was two orders of magnitude larger than that of the enzyme in solution. Transparent, mechanically and chemically stable bioactive sol‐gel glasses may be used for the development of robust on‐line biochemical photodetection sensors and for the purposes of chemical catalysis.
Biochemical and rheodynamic properties of red blood cells crosslinked with glutaraldehyde
Authors: Arevalo F. , Bellelli A. , Brancaccio A. , Ippoliti R. , Lendaro E. , Brunori M.
Published: October 2023

New data on the properties of red blood cells (RBC) cross‐linked with glutaraldehyde are presented (see also Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 1988, 156, 970–977). Equilibrium and kinetic data show that by carrying out the fixation procedure in the absence of oxygen but in the presence of allosteric effectors (e.g., stabilizing the low‐affinity (T) quaternary state of hemoglobin), it is possible to maintain, at least in part, the biochemical functions of the crosslinked hemoglobin inside the cell. Moreover, we show that the oxygen affinity of fixed red blood cells (RBC) is still modulated, even though to a smaller degree, by the allosteric effector bezafibrate (BZF), which is able to cross the fixed RBC membrane. Membrane filtration experiments indicate that the higher rigidity of fixed RBC alters significantly their rheodynamic properties and show that in order to exploit “engineered” RBC as “blood substitutes," more flexible cross‐linking reagents may offer significant advantages.
Survivor‐Victim Status, Attachment, and Sudden Death Bereavement
Authors: Reed Mark D. , Greenwald Jason Y.
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: This research examines the significance of the survivor‐victim relationship in understanding grief following sudden death bereavement. Data for this study come from medical examiner's reports and mailed self‐report surveys of survivors of suicide and accidental death. In general, the results show that survivor‐victim attachment is more important than survivor's status in explaining grief reactions. Also, suicide survivors experience significantly less emotional distress and shock, but greater feelings of guilt/shame and rejection, than survivors of accidental death. This paper concludes by directing future research to explore more fully the importance of survivor‐victim relationships in understanding grief following bereavement.
Clinical Psychology Graduate Education in the Study of Suicide: Availability, Resources, and Importance
Authors: Bongar Bruce , Harmatz Mort
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: Psychologists run the risk of losing a patient to suicide and of experiencing the traumatic impact of this event. The present study examines current levels of training in the study of suicide in the member‐departments of the National Council of Schools of Professional Psychology (NCSPP—N = 33), comparing these findings with the level of training in member‐departments (N = 115) of the Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology programs (CUDCP). Eighty percent of the CUDCP departments (N = 92) responded, and of these, only 35% offer formal training in the study of suicide; whereas in the 76% of the NCSPP programs that responded, 56% offer formal training. Although the NCSPP programs seem attitudinally more receptive and supportive of formal training (graduate and postgraduate) in the study of suicide, the NCSPP programs do not significantly differ from their CUDCP counterparts in the actual availability of such formal training. Even when all training efforts of the CUDCP and NCSPP programs are combined, only 40% of all graduate programs in clinical psychology offer formal training in the study of suicide.
Suicidal Behavior in Italy: Data, Trends and Guidelines for a Suicide Intervention/Prevention Policy
Authors: Crepet P. , Caracciolo S. , Casoli R. , Fabbri D. , Florenzano F. , Grassi G. M. , Jonus A. , Tomelli A.
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: Even though in Italy, as in the majority of Mediterranean countries, the increase in suicide rates is not among the highest in Europe, between 1969 and 1989 it showed a sharp upswing (+43% among males and +31% among females). In terms of geographical differences, the regions with the highest suicide rate are the northern ones (up to twice the national average). The age groups with the highest suicide risk are those over 74 years (in 1989 the rate among males over 65 was the highest of all: 31.3 per 100,000). The differences in the between‐sexes distribution show that among females over 65 years old the suicide rate rose by 70% between 1974 and 1989, versus 77% for males of the same age. The preliminary epidemiological results of one of two Italian centers are presented. These centers are collaborating with the WHO/EURO Multicenter Study on Parasuicide; parasuicide rates are higher for females than for males (55.9 per 100,000, as against 38.1 for males), while the age group at highest risk is seen to be young women (15–24 years), with a specific rate of 115.6
Suicides in Active‐Duty Enlisted Navy Personnel
Authors: Kawahara Yoshito , Palinkas Lawrence A.
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: Cases of completed suicide among U.S. Navy enlisted personnel occurring from 1974 through 1985 were identified and compared with similar rates in the U.S. general population and in the U.S. Army. Although the Navy suicide rate was the lowest of the three groups, this rate increased between 1976 and 1983. This was in contrast to national and Army trends during the same period. Young white males in the apprentice/recruit and blue‐collar occupations had the highest rates of completed suicide in the Navy. Recommendations for prevention and treatment are discussed.
Self‐Directed and Other‐Directed Aggressive Behavior in a Forensic Sample
Authors: Hillbrand Marc
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: Fifty habitually aggressive men were assessed for self‐directed aggressive behavior (SDAB) and other‐directed aggressive behavior (ODAB). Subjects displaying SDAB were compared with subjects exhibiting exclusively ODAB. The former were found to engage in more frequent acts of verbal aggression, physical aggression against objects, and physical aggression against others, as well as in more severe acts of verbal aggression and physical aggression against others. They were also more likely to receive diagnoses of mental retardation, organic personality disorder, intermittent explosive disorder, or autism. Findings are consistent with the presence of a neurologically based behavioral dyscontrol in the SDAB subjects.
The Powers of the Presidency of the Council of the EU to Shape the Rule of Law Enforcement Agenda: The Article 7 Case
Authors: Hernández Gisela
Published: October 2023

Research on enforcing compliance with the European Union's (EU's) rule of law value has focused on the roles of the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Court of Justice of the EU. However, the Council of the EU has attracted less attention. Existing scholarship has convincingly established that the rotating Presidency can crucially influence the functioning of the Council, and, accordingly, this paper examines the discretionary impact the Presidencies have towards Art.7 procedures. Drawing on official documents and statements, this paper compares how the various Presidencies from 2018 to 2022 have used their privileged position on the Council's agenda to decide whether to move forward with hearings. In doing so, they selected appropriate agenda‐shaping strategies, shaped the Commission's perceived opportunities to exercise its agenda prerogatives, avoided compromises on the trios' agendas and, sometimes, benefited from not dealing with Art.7 to pursue other agenda priorities. The Presidency's wide room for manoeuvre hinders the Council's activity in scrutinising backsliding governments.
Opportunistic sightings of manta rays on Brazil's Amazon Coast
Authors: Bucair Nayara , Dias Héllida Negrão , Nunes Ana Rita Onodera Palmeira , Coelho Keyton Kylson Fonseca , de Brito Rafaela Maria Serra , de Luna Sales João Bráullio , Rincon Getulio , Francini‐Filho Ronaldo Bastos , Dias June Ferraz , Cintra Israel H. A. , Nunes Jorge Luiz Silva
Published: October 2023

Little is known about the ecology and distribution of mobulid rays along Brazil's extensive coastline. Here we report opportunistic sightings of manta rays (Mobula cf. birostris) in the Brazilian Amazon estuaries and the Great Amazon Reef System. These sightings consist of manta ray individuals stranded in tide pools, caught in artisanal fisheries, and footage obtained with a submersible. Future investigations on the spatial, temporal, and environmental drivers of manta rays' distribution on the northern Brazilian coast and the threats posed by fishing gear are warranted.
The Impact of Credit Risk Mispricing on Mortgage Lending during the Subprime Boom
Authors: KAHN JAMES A. , KAY BENJAMIN S.
Published: October 2023

We provide new evidence that mispriced mortgage insurance shifted credit supply and contributed to the mortgage boom and bust of the early 2000s. Original data on private mortgage insurance premiums from 1999 to 2016 reveal that before 2008, premiums did not vary across loans with widely different indicators of default risk. We quantify the mispricing of premiums before 2008 and show that even allowing for more optimistic beliefs, the flat premium structure resulted in cross‐subsidies and substantial adverse selection.
Giving it all You've Got: How Daily Self‐Sacrifice and Self‐Esteem Regulate the Double‐Edged Effects of Callings
Authors: Clinton Michael E. , Conway Neil , Sturges Jane , McFarland Alison
Published: October 2023

Occupational callings are a combination of passion and enjoyment with a sense of duty and destiny. Pursuing a calling is a double‐edged sword, sometimes beneficial and sometimes detrimental, but it is unclear why it has contradictory effects. We show how daily self‐sacrifice behaviour explains these effects and reveals how workers regulate their callings on a daily basis. We argue that people with intense callings use self‐sacrifice to attain daily calling goals. However, this has a cost to their wellbeing in terms of daily emotional exhaustion. Diary data from church ministers and chaplains reveals that daily self‐sacrifice behaviour mediates the positive effects of calling intensity, via felt obligations, on both daily calling goal attainment and emotional exhaustion. Within‐person, we show how state self‐esteem further regulates this double‐edged process both within a day and from one day to the next. Low morning state self‐esteem promotes daily self‐sacrifice and is indirectly related to higher calling goal attainment and emotional exhaustion via daily self‐sacrifice. But morning self‐esteem is itself predicted positively by the previous days’ goal attainment and negatively by emotional exhaustion. Therefore, state self‐esteem in conjunction with daily self‐sacrifice behaviour and its double‐edged effects represents a daily regulation mechanism for self‐sacrifice in callings.
The social relations of prayer in healthcare: Adding to nursing's equity‐oriented professional practice and disciplinary knowledge
Authors: Reimer‐Kirkham Sheryl , Sharma Sonya
Published: October 2023

Although spiritual practices such as prayer are engaged by many to support well‐being and coping, little research has addressed nurses and prayer, whether for themselves or facilitating patients' use of prayer. We conducted a qualitative study to explore how prayer (as a proxy for spirituality and religion) is manifest—whether embraced, tolerated, or resisted—in healthcare, and how institutional and social contexts shape how prayer is understood and enacted. This paper analyzes interviews with 21 nurses in Vancouver and London as a subset of the larger study. Findings show that nurses' kindness can buffer the loneliness and exclusion of ill health and in this way support the “spirit” of those in their care. Spiritual support for patients rarely incorporated prayer, in part because of ambiguities about permission and professional boundaries. Nurses' engagement with prayer and spiritual support could become a politicized site of religious accommodation, where imposition, religious illiteracy, and racism could derail person‐centered care and consequently enact social exclusion. Spiritual support (including prayer) sustained nurses themselves. We propose that nursing's equity‐oriented knowledge encompass spirituality and religion as sites of exclusion and inclusion. Nurses must be supported to move past religious illiteracy to provide culturally and spiritually sensitive care with clarity about professional boundaries and collaborative models of spiritual care.
Identification of the novel HLA allele HLA‐DRB1*03:201 by next‐generation sequencing
Authors: Plesner Annette , Pedersen Frederikke Byron , Hauge Anne Werner , Bruunsgaard Helle
Published: October 2023

HLA‐DRB1*03:201 differs from HLA‐DRB1*03:01 in exon 3 at codon 178 resulting in a proline to serine substitution.
Frege: A fusion of horizontals
Authors: Bellucci Francesco , Chiffi Daniele , Zanetti Luca
Published: October 2023

In Die Grundgesetze der Arithmetik (I, §48), Frege introduces his rule of the fusion of horizontals, according to which if an occurrence of the horizontal stroke is followed by another occurrence of the same stroke, either in isolation or “contained” in a propositional connective, the two occurrences can be fused with each other. However, the role of this rule, and of the horizontal sign more generally, is controversial; Michael Dummett notoriously claimed, for instance, that the horizontal is “wholly superfluous” in Frege's logical system. In this paper, we challenge Dummett's view by providing a comprehensive analysis of the significance of the horizontal stroke. After some preliminary remarks, we argue that even if Frege's connectives in some sense “contain” the horizontal, yet they are total functions. Then, we take up the question of the sense expressed by the horizontal, and we claim that, unlike other sentential operators, the horizontal is not sense‐compositional. Finally, we consider the semantic and pragmatic aspects of Frege's horizontal in connection to his judgment stroke and the double judgment stroke. Contra Dummett, we argue that the horizontal is a special and indispensable element of Frege's logic.
Energy Modeling of an Aquaculture Raceway
Authors: Kuska Mitchell H. , Siddiqui Kamran , DeGroot Christopher T.
Published: October 2023

Large seasonal temperature variations in aquaculture source water leave aquaculture ponds and raceways susceptible to temperature variations leading to nonoptimal growing conditions. Such conditions may slow down the growth rate and make aquatic species vulnerable to disease and potential death, leading to economic setback for aquaculture farmers. Therefore, it is advantageous to predict the temperature of aquaculture raceways under the influence of seasonal variations and study the parameters that contribute to these variations. This allows one to develop strategies and processes to better regulate the raceway temperature to maximize its productivity. A numerical energy model was developed to simulate the temperature of water inside an aquaculture raceway, and a parametric study was conducted to investigate the influence of various key parameters on the raceway temperature. It was found that surface area and flowrate have a large effect on the raceway temperature, while depth of raceway had little effect. The largest surface area tested produced outlet temperatures and heat transfer values that were 6.2% and 76% higher, respectively, than the smallest surface area tested. Decreasing flowrate from the reference value of 43 L/s to 1 L/s resulted in an 83% increase in average outlet temperature. It was also observed that the variations in the ambient air temperature alone have negligible effect on the raceway temperature. The model was further implemented to simulate the temperature of raceways located at different geographical locations.
Thermal Resistance of Heated Superhydrophobic Channels With Thermocapillary Stress
Authors: Tomlinson Samuel D. , Mayer Michael D. , Kirk Toby L. , Hodes Marc , Papageorgiou Demetrios T.
Published: October 2023

A pressure-driven channel flow between a longitudinally ridged superhydrophobic surface (SHS) and solid wall is studied, where a constant heat flux enters the channel from either the SHS or solid wall. First, a model is developed which neglects thermocapillary stresses (TCS) in the transverse direction. The caloric, convective, and total thermal resistance are evaluated, and their dependence on the shape of the liquid–gas interface (meniscus), gas ridge width, texture period, channel height, streamwise TCS, Péclet number, and channel length is established. The caloric resistance is minimized with menisci that protrude into the gas cavity, large slip fractions, small channel heights, and small streamwise TCSs. When heating from the SHS, the convective resistance increases, and therefore, a design compromise exists between caloric and convective resistances. However, when heating from the solid wall, the convective resistance remains the same and SHSs that minimize caloric resistance are optimal. We investigate both water and Galinstan for microchannel applications and find that both configurations can have a lower total thermal resistance than a smooth-walled channel. Heating from the solid wall is shown to always have the lowest total thermal resistance. Numerical simulations are used to analyze the effect of transverse TCSs. Our model captures much of the physics in heated superhydrophobic channels but is computationally inexpensive when compared to the numerical simulations.
S-matrices for simple quantum systems
Authors: de Wit Leo
Published: October 2023

Scattering processes are a standard topic covered in introductory courses on quantum mechanics and particle physics. Unfortunately, a full mathematical treatment tends to be overwhelming for undergraduate students. This article introduces some toy models that are easy to comprehend but still contain the essential features of quantum theory. We define a Hilbert space with state vectors and use creation/annihilation operators to construct transition matrices and S-matrices. We show how perturbation theory gives rise to Feynman diagrams and Feynman rules. We also discuss how we can use symmetry and group theory to restrict what interactions are possible.
Grain boundary segregation behavior of Mo atoms in nanocrystalline Ni–Mo alloy
Authors: Jia Zehui , Zhang Wei , Ren Junqiang , Xue Hongtao , Tang Fuling , Li Junchen , Lu Xuefeng
Published: October 2023

In this paper, molecular dynamics method was used to design the grain boundary (GB) segregation structure of solute atom Mo in nanocrystalline nickel, and the effect of the segregation structure on the migration and deformation mechanism of nanocrystalline Ni–Mo alloy boundaries was studied. The results indicate that the addition of solute atom Mo can cause segregation at GBs, and the yield strength and tensile strength of nanocrystalline Ni are significantly increased through solid solution strengthening. Mo atoms segregation result in an increase of the GB thickness and stability of the GB. In addition, by labeling GB atoms and tracking their diffusion trajectories, it was found that after adding Mo atoms, the probability of atomic diffusion at GBs decreased. This indicates that Mo atoms reduce GB energy and improve GB stability. Meanwhile, as the Mo content increases, the degree of atomic disorder increases, and the probability of GB migration decreases. This leads to the inability of grains to merge and inhibit their growth, effectively improving the mechanical properties of the material. As the strain increases, the number and length of dislocations increase, and a large amount of entanglement occurs at GBs. With the increase of Mo content, the number of dislocations decreases sharply, with Shockley dislocations having the highest number. Shockley dislocations interact with other dislocations and hinder their generation and movement, forming a more stable dislocation system structure and increasing the strength of the alloy. Our work focuses on observing the influence of GB segregation structure on the mechanical properties and deformation mechanism of nanocrystalline polycrystalline Ni–Mo alloys, establishing the mechanism of the influence of segregation structure on the stability and coarsening of nanocrystalline metal GBs, examining the influence of segregation structure on dislocation motion and GB migration process during deformation, and proposing positive research and development ideas and theoretical basis for designing nanocrystalline metal materials with excellent performance.
A revised model on three-dimensional hydromagnetic convective flow of nanofluids over a nonlinearly inclined stretching sheet
Authors: Suriyakumar P. , Suresh Kumar S. , Muthtamilselvan M.
Published: October 2023

Theoretical research has been done on the hydromagnetic three-dimensional nanofluid flow across an inclined stretching sheet in the presence of Brownian motion and thermophoresis. It is taken into account that there are two different kinds of water-based nanofluids that contain copper and alumina. Three-dimensional nonlinear-type similarity transformations are used to convert the governing boundary-layer equations into a collection of similarity equations, which are then numerically solved by MATLAB. Further, results obtained in some limiting cases are compared to some results that have already been published, and it is found that there is good agreement. The problem is controlled by a number of physical factors, and the impact of these factors on different flow distributions is thoroughly examined with the help of graphs and tables. It has been observed that the nanofluid has better heat transfer conductivity than the ordinary base fluid.
An investigative study on optical and dielectric characteristics of Thiourea Cadmium Hydrogen Borate NLO crystal for photonic applications
Authors: Divya M. , Pragasam A. Joseph Arul , Malliga P.
Published: October 2023

Single crystals of Thiourea Cadmium hydrogen borate (TCHB), a hybrid nonlinear optical (NLO) material, are grown from an aqueous solution by slow evaporation solution growth technique at ambient temperature. Characterization studies have been conducted to probe the nonlinear effects of the crystal. The crystalline nature of TCHB is explored using the single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. The chemical composition is resolved by the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. UV–Vis spectral studies analyze the transparency of the crystal. Optical studies illustrate the UV cut-off wavelength to be 285[Formula: see text]nm with wide window of transparency in the infrared and visible regions. The optical and electrical conductivity studies indicate superior optical response essential for optical computing and photonic applications. The Kurtz powder test has confirmed the NLO capability. The thermal stability is analyzed through a thermogravimetric study. Dielectric and AC conductivity measurements carried out over a wide range of frequencies (100[Formula: see text]Hz to 5[Formula: see text]MHz) for various temperatures establish the semiconducting and photonic capacity of TCBH crystal to be used as photodiodes, optical fibres and laser lights.
Variable thermal conductivity and chemical reaction aspects in MHD tangent hyperbolic nanofluid flow over an exponentially stretching surface
Authors: Khan Nargis , Zeeshan Muhammad , Hashmi M. S. , Inc Mustafa
Published: October 2023

This work objective focuses on studying the combined influences of variable thermal conductivity, chemical reaction, and magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) on the flow of a tangent hyperbolic nanofluid flow over an exponentially stretching surface, considering a first-order velocity slip condition. Additionally, thermophoresis and Brownian motion impacts are taken into account. The phenomena of heat transfer are analyzed considering several factors such as thermal radiation, Joule heating and nonlinear heat source. On the other hand, mass transfer is explored under the effect of chemical reaction. Tangent hyperbolic fluid is an important branch of non-Newtonian fluids known for its ability to describe shear thinning effects. Understanding fluid flow on exponentially stretched surfaces is of great significance due to its applications in various industrial processes. These applications include fluid film condensing methods, plastic production for making plastic covers, fiber manufacturing (where it is used to spin fibers), glass blowing, metallurgical procedures, and the paper industry. The concept of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) is significant due to its various engineering applications, such as MHD generators, flow meters, heat reservoirs, small components in different devices, and cooling systems for nuclear reactors. To analyze the system, using similarity transformations, the governing equations of continuity, velocity, and concentration are transformed into non-dimensional differential equations. The numerical solution is obtained using the shooting technique. The study presents the physical significance of all the fluid parameters involved, focusing on the velocity, temperature, and concentration profiles. These profiles are presented graphically and discussed in detail. The results show that the fluid velocity profile increases with enhancing values of the [Formula: see text] and the magnetic number M. The thermal profile increases with higher [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] The concentration profile decreases with higher values of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text].
Illustration of thermal radiation on the flow analysis of hybrid nanofluid within an expanding/contracting channel
Authors: Swain Laxmipriya , Sharma Ram Prakash , Mishra S. R.
Published: October 2023

The current analysis deals with the physiological flow of hybrid nanofluid within an expanding and contracting vertical annulus embedding with a permeable medium. Additionally, in the free convective viscous flow, the impact of thermal radiation on the heat transport phenomenon is vital. The significance of this research lies in the utilization of Hamilton–Crosser thermal conductivity to investigate the behavior of nanoparticles with different shapes. In this study, both oxide nanoparticles like Al2O3 and metal nanoparticles like Ag are incorporated into the blood, which serves as the base fluid. This incorporation aims to enhance the performance of hybrid nanofluids in influencing flow phenomena. The proposed mathematical model designed for the above-mentioned constraints is solved analytically following the transformation into their corresponding non-dimensional form. The statistical behavior of the diversified parameters is presented graphically and the numerical results for the rate coefficients are deployed via table. Further, the important characteristics of the results are depicted as follows: the combined effect of the particle concentration used in hybrid nanofluid favors in reducing the fluid velocity greatly than that of nanofluid and pure fluid.