bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Terrestrial support of wetland food webs via a dissolved inorganic carbon pathway
Authors: Wang Junna , Durand John R. , Lawler Sharon P. , Chen Pin‐Yuan , Dong Xiaoli
Published: October 2024

Studies of terrestrial support of aquatic food webs have focused primarily on terrestrial organic matter (t‐OM) directly used by animal and microbial consumers. However, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) released from t‐OM might also support aquatic primary producers, a key resource for zooplankton and upper trophic levels. Using 2‐yr 13C measurements of algae, zooplankton, terrestrial detritus, sediments, dissolved and particulate organic matter from six seasonal wetlands, we found that in January when algal concentration was low, zooplankton used t‐OM directly or heterotrophic microbes that decompose t‐OM, but in March and May zooplankton was mainly supported by algae as their basal resources, and the algae used DIC derived from the mineralization and methanogenesis of t‐OM, suggesting the DIC pathway of terrestrial support of aquatic food webs. The decomposition of abundant t‐OM from both bed sediments and water column caused high concentrations of DIC. Despite uptake by algae, about half of DIC produced in January and March ended up as emissions to the atmosphere in the form of CO2. This finding revealed the dual roles of t‐OM in maintaining the productivity and stability of aquatic food webs and in contributing to global carbon emissions. This duality poses challenges for simultaneously mitigating carbon emissions and conserving biological communities in seasonal wetlands. Finally, wide seasonal differences in δ13C in DIC (−12.4‰ to 6.7‰) were observed, mainly driven by air–water CO2 exchange and photosynthesis, suggesting that 13C may be a powerful tool to investigate carbon cycling in shallow, temporary freshwater ecosystems that are widespread but understudied.
Polyoxazolines with Cholesterol Lipid Anchor for Fast Intracellular Delivery
Authors: Simon Laurianne , Reichel Liên Sabrina , Benkhaled Belkacem Tarek , Devoisselle Jean‐Marie , Catrouillet Sylvain , Eberhardt Juliane , Hoeppener Stephanie , Schubert Ulrich S. , Brendel Johannes Christopher , Morille Marie , Lapinte Vincent , Traeger Anja
Published: October 2024

Due to the increasing challenges posed by the growing immunity to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), there is growing interest in innovative polymer‐based materials as viable alternatives. In this study, the advantages of lipids and polymers are combined to allow efficient and rapid cytoplasmic drug delivery. Specifically, poly(2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline) is modified with a cholesteryl hemisuccinate group as a lipid anchor (CHEMSPOx). The CHEMSPOx is additionally functionalized with a coumarin group (CHEMSPOx‐coumarin). Both polymers self‐assembled in water into vesicles of ≈100 nm and are successfully loaded with a hydrophobic model drug. The loaded vesicles reveal high cellular internalization across variant cell lines within 1 h at 37 °C as well as 4 °C, albeit to a lesser extent. A kinetic study confirms the fast internalization within 5 min after the sample's addition. Therefore, different internalization pathways are involved, e.g., active uptake but also nonenergy dependent mechanisms. CHEMSPOx and CHEMSPOx‐coumarin further demonstrate excellent cyto‐, hemo‐, and membrane compatibility, as well as a membrane‐protecting effect, which underlines their good safety profile for potential biological intravenous application. Overall, CHEMSPOx, as a lipopolyoxazoline, holds great potential for versatile biological applications such as fast and direct intracellular delivery or cellular lysis protection.
Estimations of the Thicknesses of Smectic Layer and Rigid Amorphous Layer in Mesomorphic Isotactic Polypropylene with Synchrotron Small‐Angle and Wide‐Angle X‐Ray Scattering
Authors: Li Xiangyang , Liu Tangguo , Lin Yongxing , Chen Lin , Tian Xingyou
Published: October 2024

Despite extensive research, the stabilization mechanism of mesomorphic isotactic polypropylene (iPP) at room temperature has not been elucidated completely. To address this issue, nanoscale structural information is indispensable. In this study, mesomorphic‐α phase transition is studied with synchrotron wide‐angle diffraction and small‐angle X‐ray scattering. It is found that during phase transition, the mobile amorphous content remained unchanged, while rigid amorphous fraction (RAF) decreased constantly, accompanied by an increase in long period. Assuming that the increase in long period is induced by the extension of the rigid amorphous coil (RAC), the thickness of RAF (RRAF) is estimated, which is found to be 2.2 nm. This value is greater than the length of b axis in α crystal cell, which can be the reason that folded‐chain iPP clusters in mesomorphic iPP cannot approach closer to form α crystal at room temperature. Besides, with RRAF, the thickness of smectic layer is estimated, which is found to be 0.9 nm. At this thickness, bulk‐free energy cannot compensate for the folded‐surface free energy, which can be the other reason that mesomorphic iPP chains cannot transit into α crystal at room temperature. The information obtained in this study is favorable for understanding the stabilization mechanism of mesomorphic iPP.
Shadow fading analysis over asymmetric beam channel at 2.1 GHz in outdoor scenarios
Authors: Zhang Jiachi , Liu Liu
Published: October 2024

In this letter, we investigate the radio propagation characteristics in an open outdoor place through a frequency‐domain channel measurement campaign at a frequency band of 2.1 GHz via asymmetric beam patterns. Specifically, we focus on the large‐scale fading characteristics and analyze the transceivers' separation‐dependent and boresight direction‐dependent received power, shadow fading (SF), and SF auto‐correlation properties under the case of perfect beam alignment. Furthermore, the effects of asymmetric beamwidths are also thorough investigated. The measured results reveal that transceivers' beams can reduce the shadow fading variances evidently in contrast to the omnidirectional antennas' case. Besides, it is found that the pattern where mobile receiver (Rx) uses narrow beams and static transmitter (Tx) adopts the omnidirectional antenna yields a high SF auto‐correlation value compared to the other beam patterns. The conclusions help to understand the impacts of variable beamwidths on radio propagation.
Layer‐specific BOLD effects in gradient and spin‐echo acquisitions in somatosensory cortex
Authors: Yang Zhangyan , Arabinda Mishra , Wang Feng , Chen Li Min , Gore John C.
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Previous studies have shown varied BOLD signals with gradient echo (GE) across cortical depth. To interpret these variations, and understand the effects of vascular geometry and size, the magnitudes and layer distributions of GE and spin‐echo (SE) BOLD functional MRI signals were compared in the somatosensory cortex of squirrel monkeys during tactile stimulation and in a resting state at high spatial resolution and high field.

Methods

A block‐design stimulation was used to identify tactile‐evoked activation signals in somatosensory Areas 3b and 1. Layer‐specific connectivities were calculated using resting‐state data. Signal power spectra were compared by depth and pulse sequence. The measured ratios of transverse relaxation rate changes were compared with Anderson and Weiss's model.

Results

SE signals showed a 26% lower percentage signal change during tactile stimulation compared with GE, along with a slower time course. SE signals remained consistent but weaker in lower layers, whereas GE signals decreased with cortical depth. This pattern extended to resting‐state power spectra. Resting‐state functional connectivity indicated larger connectivity between the top layers of Area 3b and Area 1 for GE, with minimal changes for SE. Comparisons with theory suggest vessel diameters ranging from 19.4 to 9 microns are responsible for BOLD effects across cortical layers at 9.4 T.

Conclusion

These results provide further evidence that at high field, SE BOLD signals are relatively free of contributions from sources other than microvascular changes in response to neural activity, whereas GE signals, even in the superficial layers, are not dominated by very large vessels.
Computational Justification Towards Detection of Dual Anions on a Single Molecular Platform: The Role of Solvent in Decoration of Dual Channels
Authors: Paul Suvendu
Published: October 2024

Ratiometric optical detection of analytes is a convenient strategy as the technique is devoid of relative error and background correction. Herein, solvent‐guided ratiometric optical recognition of fluoride and bisulfate anions by a low‐cost, “off‐the‐shelf” bioactive molecule, harmane (HRH) is thoroughly explored. Interestingly, solvent plays a dynamic role in the selective recognition of the dual anions via the dual channels of HRH in an intelligent manner. The probe displays high‐fidelity recognition behavior towards fluoride ion in an aprotic solvent (acetonitrile) and towards bisulfate ion in a protic environment (acetonitrile/water; 5:1; v/v). Both the channels of HRH are very selective for a particular anion (F−/HSO4−) in a specific solvent. Organized and comprehensive theoretical calculation denotes that hydrogen bonding between the acidic pyrrolic proton of HRH and fluoride for the first channel and the acidic proton of bisulfate and the pyridinic nitrogen for the second channel of HRH led to the formation of a hydrogen‐bonded ion pair (HBIP). Consequently, significant optical changes are observed in the visible region, which is convenient for real‐life detection of F− and HSO4− independently. The essential role of solvent in tuning the dual channels of HRH is an important artifact in the literature of fundamental photochemistry.
Intrabronchial schwannoma with right lower lobe obstructive bronchiectasis and organizing pneumonia: A case report
Authors: Lu Bo‐Hsiang , Jiang You‐Cheng , Liang Jang‐Shian , Tsai Ping‐Chung , Tang En‐Kuei
Published: October 2024

We present the case of a 60‐year‐old female patient with no prior history of any systemic disease. She suffered from a prolonged cough that lasted more than 3 months, associated with poor appetite and weight loss of 5 kg. The pathology report of the pre‐operative transbronchial needle biopsy was consistent with a neurogenic tumour. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed a right lower lobe (RLL) mass‐like consolidation of 8.67 cm with obstructive pneumonitis and suspicious posterior mediastinal invasion. The tumour was surgically resected with bronchial reconstruction, and the pathological diagnosis was intrabronchial schwannoma located inside the bronchus, a rare tumour that should be included as one of the differential diagnoses of primary bronchial tumours. The possibility of a surgical completed resection should be considered in patients with airway obstruction symptoms.
Machine learning model‐based optimal tracking control of nonlinear affine systems with safety constraints
Authors: Wang Yujia , Wu Zhe
Published: October 2024

This work focuses on the development of a machine learning (ML) model‐based framework for safe optimal tracking control of a class of nonlinear control‐affine systems to ensure simultaneous closed‐loop stability and safety. Specifically, a novel multilayer feedforward neural network (FNN) with a control‐affine architecture is designed to model nonlinear dynamic systems. Subsequently, a model‐based reinforcement learning (RL) framework is presented, utilizing a novel cost function with Control Lyapunov‐Barrier Function (CLBF) properties, to learn both the control policy and the optimal value function for an infinite‐horizon optimal tracking control problem for nonlinear systems with safety constraints. The efficacy of the proposed methodology is demonstrated through simulations of a one‐link robot manipulator and a chemical process example.
Reinforced Nacre‐Like MXene/Sodium Alginate Composite Films for Bioinspired Actuators Driven by Moisture and Sunlight
Authors: Sun Linchao , Che Lixuan , Li Ming , Chen Kai , Leng Xu , Long Yaojia , Guo Xiaoxi , Palma Matteo , Lu Yao
Published: October 2024

MXene‐based soft actuators have attracted increasing attention and shown competitive performance in various intelligent devices such as supercapacitors, bionic robots and artificial muscles. However, the development of robust MXene‐based actuators with multi‐stimuli responsiveness remains challenging. In this study, a nacre‐like structure soft actuator based on MXene and sodium alginate (SA) composite films is prepared using a straightforward solvent casting self‐assembly method, which not only enhances the mechanical performance (tensile strength of 72 MPa) but also diversifies the stimuli responsiveness of the material. The composite actuators can be powered by external stimuli from renewable energy sources, from moisture inducing a maximum bending angle of 190 degrees at a relative humidity (RH) of 91%, and sunlight irradiation generating a maximum curvature of 1.45 cm−1 under 100 mW cm−2. The feasibility of practical applications, including moisture‐responsive flowers and walkers, sunlight‐responsive oscillators, and smart switches, is demonstrated through comprehensive experimental characterization and performance evaluation. The work presented here provides insight into the design of robust actuators via the utilization and conversion of environmentally renewable energy sources.
Single‐Molecule Investigation of Load‐Dependent Actomyosin Dissociation Kinetics for Cardiac and Slow Skeletal Myosin
Authors: Wang Tianbang , Nayak Arnab , Kraft Theresia , Amrute‐Nayak Mamta
Published: October 2024

Myosins are ATP‐powered, force‐generating motor proteins involved in cardiac and muscle contraction. The external load experienced by the myosins modulates and coordinates their function in vivo. Here, this study investigates the tension‐sensing mechanisms of rabbit native β‐cardiac myosin (βM‐II) and slow skeletal myosins (SolM‐II) that perform in different physiological settings. Using mobile optical tweezers with a square wave‐scanning mode, a range of external assisting and resisting loads from 0 to 15 pN is exerted on single myosin molecules as they interact with the actin filament. Influenced of load on specific strongly‐bound states in the cross‐bridge cycle is examined by adjusting the [ATP]. The results implies that the detachment kinetics of actomyosin ADP.Pi strongly‐bound force‐generating state are load sensitive. Low assisting load accelerates, while the resisting load hinders the actomyosin detachment, presumably, by slowing both the Pi and ADP release. However, under both high assisting and resisting load, the rate of actomyosin dissociation decelerates. The transition from actomyosin ADP.Pi to ADP state appears to occur with a higher probability for βM‐II than SolM‐II. This study interpret that dissociation of at least three strongly‐bound actomyosin states are load‐sensitive and may contribute to functional diversity among different myosins.
Spatiotemporally Guided Single‐Atom Bionanozyme for Targeted Antibiofilm Treatment
Authors: Huang Lunjie , Pu Hongbin , Sun Da‐Wen
Published: October 2024

The heterogeneous and dynamic microenvironment of biofilms complicates bacterial infection treatment. Nanozyme catalytic therapy has recently been promising in treating biofilm infections. However, active nanozymes designed with the required precision targeting the biofilm microenvironment are lacking. This work proposes a spatiotemporally guided single‐atom bionanozyme (BioSAzyme) for targeted antibiofilm therapy based on protein engineering of copper single‐atom nanozyme (Cu SAzyme). The Cu SAzyme, synthesized via a novel mechanochemistry‐assisted method, features highly accessible Cu–N4 active sites exposed on 2D N‐doped carbon, exhibiting excellent triple enzyme‐like activities according to experimental results and density functional theory calculations. Inheriting biofunctionality from both glucose oxidase and concanavalin A, BioSAzyme can localize the biofilm glycocalyx and catalyze endogenous glucose into H₂O₂ and gluconic acid, thus triggering multiplex cascade reactions with pH self‐adaption to consume glucose and glutathione and generate •OH radicals. This spatiotemporally guided bionanocatalytic agent effectively inhibits E. coli O157: H7 and methicillin‐resistant S. aureus biofilms in vitro and in vivo. Taking together, this work opens up new avenues for the rational design of single‐atom nanozymes for precise antibiofilm therapy.
Employee power needs, leadership, and employee organizational commitment: A case study of high‐tech enterprises
Authors: Zhang Ao , Shi Xiaoqi , Du Xiaomin , Miao Murong , Li Feifei
Published: October 2024

Industry 4.0 brings opportunities and challenges to organizations. Studies have shown that employees with higher power needs have a higher level of organizational commitment, which is also affected by transactional leadership. However, existing studies lack effective conversion pathways and do not adapt to the new environment of Industry 4.0. From a systematic perspective, this paper covers eight high‐tech fields, such as electronic information, biotechnology, and medicine, and establishes a comprehensive model. We use multi‐level regression analysis and the bootstrap method to explore the transformation path of employee power needs to organizational commitment. The results show that in high‐tech enterprises, employee power needs positively affect out‐of‐role behaviours, and there is also a positive correlation between out‐of‐role behaviour and organizational commitment. In addition, employee out‐of‐role behaviours play mediating roles. Transactional leadership moderates the relationship between out‐of‐role behaviours and organizational commitment. This study explains (1) the driving force of employee power needs on out‐of‐role behaviours and (2) the complexity of changing organizational commitments, and expands the adjustment path of leadership. This study considers the enterprise as a system that helps various departments carry out collaborative actions and produce a synergistic effect, thereby improving the organizational commitment of employees and the overall effectiveness of the enterprise. It is of great significance to the management optimization and leader motivation of high‐tech enterprises, especially Industry 4.0 strategic emerging enterprises. In the future, we can also develop a system for leadership and employee power needs to help organizations analyse organizational commitment to improve organizational efficiency.
Geoid Computation for the Future Circular Collider at CERN
Authors: Koch Julia Azumi , Marti Urs , Herrera Pinzón Iván Darío , Willi Daniel , Soja Benedikt , Rothacher Markus
Published: October 2024

In the scope of initial studies for a post-LHC (Large Hadron Collider) particle accelerator, the design and feasibility of the Future Circular Collider (FCC) at CERN are studied. In the FCC Geodesy project, which belongs to these initial studies, a high-precision geoid model for the significantly larger FCC area will be computed. The pre-alignment of the magnets and thrusters in the tunnel requires a very accurate high-resolution local geoid model with a precision of up to 30 $$\upmu \mbox{m}$$
μ
m
over 225 m.

The data sets containing gravity and deflections of the vertical measurements are described. Then, an overview of the existing (quasi)geoid models in the area is shown and representative models are compared to a newly calculated quasigeoid model. This model is the first gravitational (quasi)geoid model that was estimated specifically for this region in a least-squares adjustment. The highest correspondence of the preliminary FCC Quasigeoid was found with CHQua04 published by Switzerland and RAF20, which is a hybrid regional quasigeoid for France. The smallest offset between two models was found between the FCC Quasigeoid and XGM2019. A comparison of the new solution with GNSS-levelling datasets showed a good agreement with a standard deviations of $$<1$$
<
1
cm in the region of interest.

This publication aims to provide an overview of the objectives of the FCC Geodesy project, to show the available data sets of gravity and deflections of the vertical measurements and the results of a first comparison of existing and the newly calculated FCC (quasi)geoid with GNSS-levelling points.
Let’s Talk About Land: A Tale of Two Narratives in Gender and Agricultural Development
Authors: Tufan Hale Ann , Sidle Aubryn , Kintzi Kendra
Published: October 2024

This chapter analyzes dominant narratives around gender and agricultural development and how they relate to critical feminist thought, between 1970–2020. We outline our heuristic approach by introducing the idea of the gender tree to frame the argument, and to summarize major strains in feminist theoretical frameworks. We present two historical narratives to illustrate liberal and critical approaches: The undying allure of liberal feminism: Gender and agricultural development, and Critical approaches to land and gender justice. We show how the mainstream narratives in agricultural development largely continued to address the consequences of gender inequality, while more critical approaches focused on land rights and access, challenging and targeting the root causes of gender-inequality. We bring attention to the need to put these two narratives more regularly in conversation, for mainstream gender and agriculture narratives to move closer to addressing the root causes of inequality through gender-transformative approaches, community interventions and a focus on gender norms and masculinities.
The Early Embedding of Hegemonic Masculinity in International AR4D: Norman Borlaug, His Ways of Working and Their Gendered Implications
Authors: Wong Franz F.
Published: October 2024

This chapter aims to better understand how agricultural research for development (AR4D) has been historically constituted as gendered practice by tracing early influences on wheat agronomy research. I develop a historical account of Norman Borlaug and his agronomic innovations to make visible early gendered research practices. While these were common during the time of Borlaug’s seminal work in the 1950s, I explore how they have, in their essence, been reproduced as hegemonic masculine practice. In particular, the mobilization of the “ideal” wheat researcher, through repetitive, stylized acts such as fieldwork, are concerned with gender performativity. Specific ways of working then get reproduced through professional development and career advancement opportunities and served as a basis for inclusion and exclusion of what it is to be a wheat researcher. They are gendered in that it is generally men who could avail themselves of such opportunities as they were generally free of social reproduction activities, yet benefited from them. Conversely, those who undertook such care work, mainly women, have been more challenged to succeed as agronomists within the prevailing work paradigm. I also suggest that upholding such masculinized norms of work can have adverse health and personal well-being implications for men and others who pursue such practices.
The Tyranny of Tools: The Politics of Knowledge Production in Gender Research
Authors: Cullen Beth , Lefore Nicole , Debevec Liza , Snyder Katherine A.
Published: October 2024

This chapter examines the trajectory of analytical frameworks and gender tools intended to understand and address the challenges and inequities that shape women’s engagement in agriculture. We argue that while a focus on tools in many agricultural development projects can help to identify barriers faced by women, it often does little to address the structural inequality in which women are embedded. We highlight the tendencies of tool-led gender analysis within agricultural projects to: (1) detach tools from their theoretical frameworks, (2) ignore the structural and socio-political obstacles to gender equality in specific contexts, and (3) view tools as silver bullets to address “gender problems” while primarily serving technical agendas. We argue that the co-option, sanitization and de-politicization of gender tools is partly the result of social scientists having to fit within institutional systems dominated by certain scientific logics, frameworks, disciplinary orientations, and social norms. We recommend that meaningful attempts to facilitate gender equality and women’s empowerment should be based on politically informed, contextualized understandings that are relevant to people’s lived realities, rather than concepts, tools, and data that are externally constructed and applied by outsiders to meet normative scientific, donor, and development agendas.
An Intersectional Approach to Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D)
Authors: Tavenner Katie , Crane Todd A. , Bullock Renee , Galiè Alessandra , Campos Hugo , Katothya Gerald
Published: October 2024

Originating nearly 40 years ago in black feminist thought, the concept of intersectionality has become established as an analytical lens and social theory to account for and better understand multiple and compounding identities and how they influence discrimination and privilege. Within agricultural research for development (AR4D), intersectional approaches are relatively novel compared to traditional gender and social analyses, and to date there are limited tools and empirical studies in AR4D that have adopted such an approach. Without a strong conceptual and methodological foundation, future intersectional approaches in AR4D risk treating multiple identities as standalone “tick box” variables, and not as a holistic way of understanding and addressing these multiple sources of marginalization. To emphasize the potential value-addition of deeper engagement with intersectionality, this chapter outlines the state-of-the-field on intersectional analyses in AR4D and how they are situated within wider gender mainstreaming in international development. Using an empirical case study on index-based livestock insurance (IBLI) in Northern Kenya, the chapter demonstrates an intersectional analysis in AR4D, based on a new conceptual framework and method (Tavenner et al. Gend Technol Dev 26(3):385–403, 2022). This chapter explores how AR4D can deepen its understanding of intersectionality and the potential integration of this concept in a meaningful way that supports addressing multiple layers of inequalities and marginalization in agricultural research methods and practice.
Reinforcing or Obscuring Refugee Rights? The Roles of Vulnerability in Norwegian Asylum Practices
Authors: Schultz Jessica , Lidén Hilde
Published: October 2024

This chapter discusses the ambivalent status of ‘vulnerability’ in the human rights discourse dominating the Norwegian asylum regime and welfare practices involving protection seekers. On the one hand, vulnerability factors are addressed through accommodations in reception and asylum procedures, and they implicitly inform the substantive assessment of the refugee claim. In other words, the concept of vulnerability helps calibrate the interpretation and implementation of human rights norms to secure procedural justice and contextualized assessments of risk. On the other hand, migrant vulnerability is sometimes positioned in opposition to refugee rights, as something to be considered on a humanitarian, and therefore discretionary, basis. We discuss the implications of this ambivalence for affected migrants and how vulnerabilities are further shaped by increasingly strict immigration policies even after a person’s protection needs have been recognized.
Positionalities in Research and the Question of Migrants’ Vulnerability
Authors: Marchetti Sabrina , Brun Cathrine , Crine Zoé , Flamand Christine , Raimondo Francesca
Published: October 2024

The Chapter aims to reflect on the importance of different views on vulnerability, taking it as an example of the ways in which the same categories that are applied to talk about inequalities are differently shaped by the various contexts in which they are produced, shared and circulated (Anthias et al. Paradoxes of integration: female migrants in Europe. Springer, Berlin, 2012; Yuval-Davis N. Raisons politiques 58:91–100, 2015). Based on the interviews collected by the VULNER research teams, the Chapter discusses the tension between views on vulnerability held by migrants, legal experts and social workers. The tension has been a prolific source of inspiration for the researchers, inviting us to take a self-reflexive stand on the way the use of academic working-definitions, such as vulnerability, can bring about unexpected consequences and therefore affect our understanding of reality. The Chapter emphasises the interaction between our positionality (as researchers) and the positionality of the people we interviewed. The analysis represents a way to reflect on the challenges of comparative and ethnographic methodologies through the lenses of feminist and general critical scholarship on knowledge production.
Level-set based shape optimization for plane elastic structures using radial basis functions and Hilbertian descent direction
Authors: Sobczak Przemysław , Sokół Tomasz
Published: October 2024

Structural optimization problems are often associated with the so-called shape functionals depending on a shape through its geometry and the state being a solution of given partial differential equation. In such a framework it is convenient to work with the gradient-like method based on a concept of a shape derivative and level set method. The key idea of level set method is to represent the structural boundary with zero level set of given function (level set function—LSF). Now, changing the shape of a structure under optimization is equivalent to transport the LSF in such a direction that ensures decreasing the value of the objective functional. To this end, we make use of coercive bilinear form taken from the weak formulation of elasticity problem to obtain descent direction at each iteration. This descent direction is a solution of an additional variational problem, involving the bilinear form mentioned above and the volumetric expression of the shape derivative plays the role of a linear form. In this paper, we combine level set method with radial basis functions (RBFs) used to approximate LSF. We focus on the so-called multiquadric RBFs, but other classes of RBFs are also briefly considered. This eventually leads to transformation of partial differential equation (linear transport equation governing the evolution of shapes) to a system of linear ordinary differential equations which admits analytical formula for the solution. We apply our method to compliance minimization of a cantilever problem as well as to total potential energy minimization of a structure with kinematic loading. To run all the numerical experiments, we wrote our own code in Wolfram Mathematica environment.
Gibbs Dynamics for Fractional Nonlinear Schrödinger Equations with Weak Dispersion
Authors: Liang Rui , Wang Yuzhao
Published: October 2024

We consider the Cauchy problem for the one-dimensional periodic cubic nonlinear fractional Schrödinger equation (FNLS) with initial data distributed via its associated Gibbs measure. We construct global strong solutions with the flow property for the FNLS on the support of the Gibbs measure in the full dispersive range, thus resolving a question proposed by Sun and Tzvetkov (Nonlinear Anal 213, paper no. 112530, 2021). As a byproduct, we prove the invariance of the Gibbs measure and almost sure global well-posedness for FNLS.
Long-Term Follow-up After Ovariectomy Reveals Correlations Between Bone Marrow Adiposity and Trabecular Bone Quality in the Proximal Metaphysis of Tibiae in Rats
Authors: Bedez Maxime , Falgayrac Guillaume , Béhal Hélène , Cailliau Émeline , Delattre Jérôme , Coutel Xavier , Olejnik Cécile
Published: October 2024

This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between BMAT and bone quality, describe the long-term effects of ovariectomy on bone, and investigate BMAT's spatial distribution. Fifteen-months-old female Sprague‒Dawley rats were studied, comparing ovariectomized (OVX, n = 22) and sham-operated (SHAM, n = 11) groups at 6 months. Tibias were analyzed for bone microarchitecture, BMAT (microcomputed tomography), mineral parameters (quantitative backscattered electron imaging), and bone composition (Raman microspectroscopy). The OVX tibias showed severe trabecular bone loss (lower bone volume/total volume, p < 0.001) with increased BMAT (higher adipose volume per marrow volume, p < 0.001), decreased mineral content (lower calcium concentration, p < 0.001), and altered organic components (lower mineral/matrix ratio in new bone, p = 0.03 trabecular surface, p < 0.001 trabecular core). When the data are pooled over both groups (SHAM and OVX), the adipose volume/marrow volume ratio was negatively correlated with bone volume/total volume (r =  − 0.79, p < 0.001) and mineral/matrix ratio (r =  − 0.37, p = 0.04 trabecular surface; r =  − 0.65, p < 0.001 trabecular core) and positively correlated with crystallinity (r = 0.55, p = 0.001 trabecular surface; r = 0.49, p = 0.006 trabecular core). The mineral/matrix ratio of trabecular surface new bone was strongly negatively correlated with the adipose compartment nearest to the bone surface. These findings suggest mechanisms underlying BMAT's role in bone resorption.
Correlation between the etiology of severe hearing loss and endolymphatic hydrops
Authors: Park Sung-Min , Han Jin Hee , Lee Jung Kyu , Choi Byung Se , Bae Yun Jung , Choi Byung Yoon
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate correlation between the presence of endolymphatic hydrops(EH) and factors such as causes of hearing loss, patient age, duration of deafness, and results of vestibular function tests.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed medical charts of 128 ears of cochlear implantees who were not considered relevant to Meniere’s disease.

Results

When comparing group with genetic variants of GJB2, SLC26A4, LMX1A and other genetic mutation group, the proportion of vestibular EH and cochlear EH found in group with genetic variants of GJB2, SLC26A4, LMX1A was significantly higher than group with other genetic etiology (p < 0.01) or the group with all the other causes of hearing loss (p < 0.01). The rate of vestibular and cochlear EH detection was higher in younger patients (41.5% and 35.4%) than in older patients (25.4% and 20.6%). A higher ratio of vestibular and cochlear EH was observed in patients with a longer duration of deafness (37.5% and 31.3%) than those with a shorter duration of deafness (29.7% and 25.0%). The group with vestibular EH showed a higher incidence of abnormal findings in the caloric test (42.9%) than the group without vestibular EH (28.2%).

Conclusion

Patients with genetic variants of GJB2, SLC26A4, LMX1A, younger patients, those with longer deaf durations showed a higher prevalence of vestibular and cochlear EH, implying EH appears to be formed as a developmental disorder in association with a certain set of genetic variants, rather than a phenotypic marker as a result of severe to profound hearing loss.
Beyond the binary female/male sex classification: The impact of (trans)gender on the identification of human remains
Authors: Küppers L. , Gahr B. , Ritz S.
Published: October 2024

In cases of unidentified deceased persons, sex determination is a routine task in forensic medicine. However, the binary biological sex categories ‘female’ and ‘male’ may be challenged if it is not clear whether the information in the missing persons databases refers to the biological sex or the (felt and lived) gender. An umbrella term for people who do not identify with their birth sex (which usually is the biological, chromosomal sex) is ‘transgender’. In recent decades, the legal and social situation of transgender people has changed in many countries making it easier to live their felt gender more openly. This development highlights the issue of potential challenges in the postmortem identification of transgender individuals. Serious problems in corresponding cases may be rare—but they must be considered and addressed in forensic practice to minimize the risk of delayed or failed identification. The impact of (trans)gender on the identification of human remains was examined by a narrative literature review under special consideration of the prevalences of transgender identities in general populations and in the group of unidentified deceased; possible actions to avoid problems in the postmortem identification of transgender persons in forensic practice are being proposed. One can assume that 1 of 200 people in the United States, the European Union and comparable societies is transgender with an opposite-sex identification, and 2 to 3 of 100 people live outside the typical female/male binary, with numbers increasing. If legally possible, an increasing number of transgender individuals will change their name and gender in civil registration. Transgender individuals are likely to be overrepresented in suicides and in victims of homicides. Although there are no precise data on the prevalence of transgender individuals in the group of unidentified deceased, the remarkably high reported prevalence in the general population and the over-representation of transgender individuals in suicides and homicides suggest that the topic is relevant to forensic practice. An autopsy does not always provide evidence of transgender identity, for example in skeletal remains. Particularly in unsolved cases, the possibility that an unidentified person may have been transgender should be considered. Knowledge and awareness of forensic practitioners on this topic should be strengthened by research and training. Databases and data reporting should be optimized. Recording in antemortem databases should clearly distinguish between ‘biological sex’ and ‘apparent sex /lived gender identity’. When collecting postmortem data, a clear distinction should be made between “chromosomal sex” and “sex based on morphological findings”.

Clinical trial number

Not applicable (review article).
Evaluating a motor progression connectivity model across Parkinson’s disease stages
Authors: Hacker Mallory L. , Isaacs David A. , Rajamani Nanditha , Pazira Kian , Abdou Eli , Sharp Sheffield , Davis Thomas L. , Hedera Peter , Phibbs Fenna T. , Charles David , Horn Andreas
Published: October 2024

Background

Stimulation of a specific site in the dorsolateral subthalamic nucleus (STN) was recently associated with slower motor progression in Parkinson’s Disease (PD), based on the deep brain stimulation (DBS) in early-stage PD pilot clinical trial. Here, subject-level visualizations are presented of this early-stage PD dataset to further describe the relationship between active contacts and motor progression. This study also evaluates whether stimulation of the sweet spot and connectivity model associated with slower motor progression is also associated with improvements in long-term motor outcomes in patients with advanced-stage PD.

Methods

Active contacts of the early-stage PD cohort (N = 14) were analyzed alongside the degree of two-year motor progression. Sweet spot and connectivity models derived from the early-stage PD cohort were then used to determine how well they can estimate the variance in long-term motor outcomes in an independent STN-DBS cohort of advanced-stage PD patients (N = 29).

Results

In early-stage PD, proximity of stimulation to the dorsolateral STN was associated with slower motor progression. In advanced-stage PD, stimulation proximity to the early PD connectivity model and sweet spot were associated with better long-term motor outcomes (R = 0.60, P < 0.001; R = 0.37, P = 0.046, respectively).

Conclusions

Results suggest stimulation of a specific site in the dorsolateral STN is associated with both slower motor progression and long-term motor improvements in PD.
Postoperative bleeding after dentoalveolar surgery in patients with thrombocytopenia—are prophylactic platelet transfusions necessary?
Authors: Lundström Johan , Wiqvist Samuel , Jädersten Martin , Tollemar Victor , Legert Karin Garming
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Benefits of prophylactic platelet (PLT) transfusion before dentoalveolar surgery are unclear. This study investigated the effect of prophylactic PLT transfusions on the incidence of postoperative bleeding (POB) in patients with thrombocytopenia and a PLT count ≤ 75*109/L.

Methods

The cohort in this retrospective study comprised 83 patients with thrombocytopenia ≤ 75*109/L who had undergone dentoalveolar surgery. Exclusion criteria were other coagulation deficiencies or medications that would affect hemostasis. In all, 144 teeth had been removed. POB events were extracted and compared between the group that had received prophylactic PLT transfusion before dentoalveolar surgery and the group that had not.

Results

POB events were observed in 5 of 83 patients (6.0%) who had a median PLT count of 35*109/L before any transfusion. The group with no postoperative bleeding (NPOB) had a median PLT count of 34*109/L. Two (4.2%) of the 48 patients who had received prophylactic PLT transfusions before dentoalveolar surgery developed POB. Three (8.6%) of the 35 patients who had not received a transfusion experienced POB. The difference between these two groups was not significant (p = 0.646). When two or more teeth were removed in the same session, a significantly higher incidence of POB was observed (p = 0.042).

Conclusions

Our data indicate that prophylactic PLT transfusions in thrombocytopenic patients with PLT counts ≤ 75*109/L do not reduce the incidence of POB after dentoalveolar surgery. However, caution is warranted when extracting multiple teeth in the same surgical session since we found this to be significantly associated with an increased risk of POB.
Conditions for tractability of the weighted $$L_p$$-discrepancy and integration in non-homogeneous tensor product spaces
Authors: Novak Erich , Pillichshammer Friedrich
Published: October 2024

We study tractability properties of the weighted

$$L_p$$

L
p

-discrepancy, where the weights model the influence of different coordinates. A discrepancy is said to be tractable if the minimal number N of points, such that the discrepancy is less than the initial discrepancy times an error threshold

$$\varepsilon $$

ε

, does not grow exponentially fast with the dimension and

$$\varepsilon ^{-1}$$

ε

-
1

. In this case there are various notions of tractabilities used in order to classify the exact rate. In the present paper we prove matching sufficient conditions (upper bounds) and neccessary conditions (lower bounds) for polynomial and weak tractability for all

$$p \in (1, \infty )$$

p
∈
(
1
,
∞
)

and we prove a necessary condition for strong polynomial tractability. The proofs of the lower bounds are based on a powerful general result for the information complexity of integration with positive quadrature rules for tensor product spaces. As a second application of this general result we consider the integration of polynomials of degree at most 2.
Facile photometric quantification of aldehyde content in oxidized starches using 2-aminobenzamide oxime as an aldehyde selective reagent
Authors: Kalaus Hubert , Scheibelreiter Verena , Seidl Bernhard , Kozich Martin , Stanetty Christian , Mihovilovic Marko D.
Published: October 2024

The oxidation of starch to aldehyde starch or dialdehyde starch introduces aldehyde groups to the starch core structure. This functionalization enables a wide range of further derivatization, e.g., oxidation to the corresponding carboxylic acid or functionalization to the corresponding amine via imine formation and reduction, which can be used for cross-linking. Herein, we report a novel method for efficiently quantifying these aldehyde groups based on the selective adduct formation of 2-aminobenzamide oxime (ABAO) and aldehydes. We initially implemented this photometric assay for C6-oxidized aldehyde starch using a plate reader, enabling parallel analysis of multiple samples in a fraction of the time and consistent with the conventional titration methods. Complementing this stream-lined analytical approach, we present an abbreviated workflow for faster downstream processing of reaction samples toward analysis. All of this was performed at a very small scale, cutting costs for (expensive) reagents and solvents, as well as drastically reducing working time. Finally, we also demonstrate our assay's applicability for quantifying the two aldehyde groups formed in dialdehyde starch derived from NaIO4 oxidation.

Graphical abstract
Inkjet assisted manufacturing of untethered magnetic devices: A comparison between three routes to pattern artificial water striders
Authors: Kołczyk-Siedlecka Karolina , Bernasconi Roberto , Zabinski Piotr R. , Magagnin Luca
Published: October 2024

Untethered devices controlled by an external magnetic field are becoming more and more widely used in a wealth of applicative fields: medicine, precise micromanipulation, and environment management. Their production strongly relies on the use of complex and time-consuming technologies typically borrowed from the microelectronic field. In an attempt to reduce costs and enhance manufacturing flexibility, additive manufacturing has been investigated as a relevant alternative for untethered microrobots production. Between the large number of additive manufacturing technologies, inkjet printing is relatively poorly investigated for the production of this kind of devices, and the present work aims at exploring its potential. The work establishes a comparison between different approaches for the inkjet manufacturing of magnetically guidable microdevices. In particular, it focuses on the manufacturing of fully inkjet-printed magnetic devices by proposing two methods of production. The first consists in the electroless metallization of non-magnetic devices printed with SU-8 resin, while the second is based on the inkjet printing of a dispersion of magnetic nanoparticles in SU-8 resin. As a result, inkjet-printed devices controllable by an external magnetic field can be obtained. Multi-step and one-step production methods are compared in terms of quality of the obtained elements, easiness of production, and mechanical properties. The morphology of the finished devices, their surface quality, and their magnetic actuability are analyzed and discussed.
„Exsanguination“ nach multiplen Messerverletzungen im ländlichen Raum – Fallbericht einer erfolgreichen prähospitalen Transfusion durch den gezielten Einsatz von speziellen Rettungsmitteln
Authors: Uzun Davut Deniz , von der Forst Maik , Simon Christoph , Fricke Jonas , Dietrich Maximilian , Popp Erik , Katzenschlager Stephan
Published: October 2024

Schwere Traumata stellen ein medizinisches und sozioökonomisches Problem mit hohen medizinischen und einsatztaktischen Ansprüchen dar. Es wird ein prähospitaler Fall mit multiplen penetrierenden Verletzungen präsentiert, bei dem die frühzeitige Hämotherapie am Unfallort zu einer Stabilisierung des klinischen Zustands führte, einen sicheren Transport ermöglichte und im Überleben ohne neurologisches Defizit resultierte.