bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interventions for Infection and Inflammation-Induced Preterm Birth: a Preclinical Systematic Review
Authors: Miller Faith A. , Sacco Adalina , David Anna L. , Boyle Ashley K.
Published: April 2022

Spontaneous preterm births (< 37 weeks gestation) are frequently associated with infection. Current treatment options are limited but new therapeutic interventions are being developed in animal models. In this PROSPERO-registered preclinical systematic review, we aimed to summarise promising interventions for infection/inflammation-induced preterm birth. Following PRISMA guidance, we searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science using the themes: “animal models”, “preterm birth”, “inflammation”, and “therapeutics”. We included original quantitative, peer-reviewed, and controlled studies applying prenatal interventions to prevent infection/inflammation-induced preterm birth in animal models. We employed two risk of bias tools. Of 4020 identified studies, 23 studies (24 interventions) met our inclusion criteria. All studies used mouse models. Preterm birth was most commonly induced by lipopolysaccharide (18 studies) or Escherichia coli (4 studies). Models varied according to infectious agent serotype, dose, and route of delivery. Gestational length was significantly prolonged in 20/24 interventions (83%) and markers of maternal inflammation were reduced in 20/23 interventions (87%). Interventions targeting interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and toll-like receptors show particular therapeutic potential. However, due to the heterogeneity of the methodology of the included studies, meta-analysis was impossible. All studies were assigned an unclear risk of bias using the SYRCLE risk of bias tool. Interventions targeting inflammation demonstrate therapeutic potential for the prevention of preterm birth. However, better standardisation of preterm birth models, including the dose, serotype, timing of administration and pathogenicity of infectious agent, and outcome reporting is urgently required to improve the reproducibility of preclinical studies, allow meaningful comparison of intervention efficacy, and aid clinical translation.
Prevalence of Gender Dysphoria by Gender and Age in Japan: A Population-Based Internet Survey Using the Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale
Authors: Oshima Yoshitaka , Matsumoto Yosuke , Terada Seishi , Yamada Norihito
Published: April 2022

Background

Several studies have attempted to estimate the prevalence of gender dysphoria (GD) from a general population sample. However, no previous studies used reliable questionnaires.

Aim

To estimate the prevalence of GD in Japan by gender and age using the Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale (UGDS).

Methods

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 20,000 respondents between the ages of 20 and 69 who were registered with an internet research company. The study consisted of two phases. First, the participants were asked to self-identify their gender on two 5-point Likert scales. Second, the screened participants completed the UGDS.

Outcomes

Self-identified gender and GD were defined as follows: ambivalent gender (equally feeling like the birth gender and another gender), incongruent gender (a stronger sense of the latter vs the former), narrow GD (incongruent gender + UGDS score ≥ 41), and broad GD (ambivalent or incongruent gender + UGDS score ≥ 41).

Results

Among the eligible participants, the age-adjusted proportions of those classified as male (n = 7827) and female (n = 8903) at birth were 6.0% and 5.9%, respectively, for ambivalent gender, and 0.93% and 1.0%, respectively, for incongruent gender. The age-adjusted prevalence of GD was 0.27% (95% confidence interval, 0.18–0.42) and 0.35% (95% confidence interval, 0.25–0.50) for narrow GD and 0.87% (95% confidence interval, 0.69–1.1) and 1.1% (95% confidence interval, 0.86–1.3) for broad GD, respectively. No significant gender differences were found within the age groups, except for broad GD in respondents in their 50s (P = .016). However, for both genders, significant differences were found between age groups such that GD was more prevalent in younger vs older respondents, except for broad GD in respondents classified as female at birth (P = .063).

Clinical Implications

Clinicians should be aware that the prevalence of GD is not negligible and that it varies with age. GD should be assessed in detail from various perspectives in addition to self-identified gender.

Strengths & Limitations

This study used a reliable questionnaire to examine the prevalence of GD in a large population. However, the participants did not represent the general population because this was an internet survey.

Conclusion

The prevalence of GD was much higher than previously estimated by clinic-based studies, and was more frequently associated with participant age vs gender.
Apocalypse without God
Authors: Jones Ben
Published: April 2022

Apocalypse, it seems, is everywhere. Preachers with vast followings proclaim the world's end. Apocalyptic fears grip even the non-religious amid climate change, pandemics, and threats of nuclear war. But as these ideas pervade popular discourse, grasping their logic remains elusive. Ben Jones argues that we can gain insight into apocalyptic thought through secular thinkers. He starts with a puzzle: Why would secular thinkers draw on Christian apocalyptic beliefs – often dismissed as bizarre –to interpret politics? The apocalyptic tradition proves appealing in part because it theorizes a special relation between crisis and utopia. Apocalyptic thought points to crisis as the vehicle to bring the impossible within reach, thus offering resources for navigating challenges in ideal theory, which tries to imagine the best and most just society. By examining apocalyptic thought's appeal and risks, this Open Access study arrives at new insights on the limits of ideal theory and utopian hope.
The Arab Spring Abroad
Authors: Moss Dana M.
Published: April 2022

The Arab Spring revolutions of 2011 sent shockwaves across the globe, mobilizing diaspora communities to organize forcefully against authoritarian regimes. Despite the important role that diasporas can play in influencing affairs in their countries of origin, little is known about when diaspora actors mobilize, how they intervene, or what makes them effective. This book addresses these questions, drawing on over 230 original interviews, fieldwork, and comparative analysis. Examining Libyan, Syrian, and Yemeni mobilization from the US and Great Britain before and during the revolutions, Dana M. Moss presents a new framework for understanding the transnational dynamics of contention and the social forces that either enable or suppress transnational activism. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
The Economics of Firm Productivity
Authors: Altomonte Carlo , di Mauro Filippo
Published: April 2022

Productivity varies widely between industries and countries, but even more so across individual firms within the same sectors. The challenge for governments is to strike the right balance between policies designed to increase overall productivity and policies designed to promote the reallocation of resources towards firms that could use them more effectively. The aim of this book is to provide the empirical evidence necessary in order to strike this policy balance. The authors do so by using a micro-aggregated dataset for 20 EU economies produced by CompNet, the Competitiveness Research Network, established some 10 years ago among major European institutions and a number of EU productivity boards, National Central Banks, National Statistical institutes, as well as academic Institutions. They call for pan-EU initiatives involving statistical offices and scholars to achieve a truly complete EU market for firm-level information on which to build solidly founded economic policies.
Dreams of Development in Mexico and Spain: A Comparative History of Guestworkers and Migration Diplomacy
Authors: Snodgrass Michael David
Published: April 2022

This history of Cold War-era migration policy compares two emblematic guestworker programs that recruited several million Mexican and Spanish migrants to labor in the United States and Germany. Proponents of the bilateral accords defended them as diplomatic achievements that secured contractual labor rights, improved foreign relations, and sent migrants home with savings and skills to achieve the diverse development goals of the sending states. The study traces the programs’ historical and ideological roots, juxtaposes the guestworkers’ experiences, and uses the cases of Mexicanbracerosand Spanishgastarbeiterto explore the contested nexus between migration and development.
Global challenges and priorities for interventions addressing illegal harvest, use and trade of marine turtles
Authors: Lopes Lauren L. , Paulsch Axel , Nuno Ana
Published: April 2022

Worldwide, conservation initiatives have attempted to curb illegal harvest, use and trade of marine turtles at least since the 1950s. Despite some declines in local trade and consumption, these illegal activities are still often reported as a key threat to marine turtle populations. Reassessing and refining global conservation priorities for marine turtles allows us to formulate evidence-based strategies and effective interventions to address this threat. We surveyed a total of 103 marine turtle conservation researchers and practitioners globally to understand how conservation efforts can be better allocated to curb illegal harvest, use and trade. We explored the characteristics of these illegal activities, conservation priorities, challenges and lessons learnt. According to participants’ perceptions, progress has been achieved, but illegal harvest, use and trade remain pressing threats globally. Current challenges to addressing illegal activities relate to fisheries management, enforcement and legislation. Recommended priority actions include law and penalty enforcement, enhancing environmental literacy, awareness and stakeholder participation, and improving local conservation leadership and onshore/maritime management based on research. Based on participants' perceptions, we identify priorities for marine turtle conservation interventions that aim to curb illegal harvest, use and trade. Given the challenges of obtaining reliable information on sensitive topics such as illegal harvest, use and trade, further work should seek to validate our findings through empirical research. Further work could also seek to comprehend better how expert elicitation in conservation is influenced by individual experience, perspectives and goals.
Bad Is Stronger Than Good
Authors: Harms P. D.
Published: April 2022

Abstract. Organizational scholars increasingly realize the importance of a dark personality in the workplace. Although a great deal has been learned in terms of the utility of dark personality for the prediction of workplace outcomes, the field has yet to consolidate in terms of which models and measures best reflect the nature of dark personality traits. To facilitate this discussion, the present review examines and evaluates both established and emergent models and measures of dark personality. Further, to inform future research, it also summarizes evidence concerning methodological issues that have been shown to impact levels of dark traits or to moderate their relationships with work outcomes. Finally, the paper considers the implications of widespread practices in the field of dark personality and makes recommendations for future theorizing, research practices, and implementation.
River Dune Dynamics During Low Flows
Authors: Lokin L. R. , Warmink J. J. , Bomers A. , Hulscher S. J. M. H.
Published: April 2022

River dunes are wavelike features in sandy riverbeds that move slowly in a downstream direction. These bedforms are shaped by the interaction between flowing water and sand grains at the riverbed. Understanding river dune dynamics is essential to determine sediment transport and optimize river maintenance. Earlier research mainly focused on river dune dynamics during high flows; therefore, low‐flow dune dynamics are hardly understood. In this study, we analyzed dune dynamics in a unique data set of 10 years of biweekly bed elevation profiles of the Rhine River, focusing on low‐flow conditions. Here, we show that dunes migrate and become lower and longer during low flows, while current literature states that dunes should become shorter. This dune migration and lengthening at low flows is a new finding and is linked to diffusive dune migration processes that become more relevant when sediment transport is just above incipient motion.
Ultra‐low Frequency Foreshock Waves and Ion Dynamics at Mars
Authors: Jarvinen R. , Kallio E. , Pulkkinen T. I.
Published: April 2022

We study the solar wind interaction with Mars in a global three‐dimensional hybrid model. A well‐developed, vast ion foreshock forms under a strongly flow‐aligned interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) configuration but otherwise nominal solar wind and solar minimum photon flux conditions. Large‐scale ultra‐low frequency (ULF) waves are excited in the foreshock by backstreaming ions. The foreshock ULF waves constitute two distinct regions in the analyzed solar wind and IMF situation: the near region where the wave period is 71–83 s and the far region where the wave period is 25–28 s. The near foreshock region waves transmit downstream through the bow shock and affect dynamics of the solar wind and planetary ion populations. Especially, ion precipitation rate into the exobase and planetary ion escape rates fluctuate at the ULF wave period corresponding to the near foreshock region. The peak‐to‐peak amplitude of the modulation is few percent or less. Interestingly, ionospheric oxygen ion escape fluxes show more than two orders of magnitude local modulations in the heavy plume at the same period. Finally, the escape rates of the ionospheric oxygen ion populations are enhanced by 60–70% under flow‐aligned IMF compared to nominal upstream conditions.
Gap Formation Around 0.5Ωe in the Whistler‐Mode Waves Due To the Plateau‐Like Shape in the Parallel Electron Distribution: 2D PIC Simulations
Authors: Chen Huayue , Gao Xinliang , Lu Quanming , Fan Kai , Ke Yangguang , Wang Xueyi , Wang Shui
Published: April 2022

The power gap around 0.5Ωe (where Ωe is the equatorial electron gyrofrequency) of whistler‐mode waves is commonly observed in the Earth's inner magnetosphere, but its generation mechanism is still under debate. By performing two‐dimensional particle‐in‐cell simulations in a uniform background magnetic field, we investigate the spectral properties of whistler‐mode waves excited by temperature anisotropic electrons. The waves have positive growth rates in a wide range of normal angles (θ ≈ 0°–35°), resulting in the generation of both parallel and nonparallel waves. Although the nonparallel wave modes are weaker than the parallel ones, they can cause the plateau‐like shape around 0.5 VAe (where VAe represent the electron Alfven speed) in the parallel direction of electron velocity distribution. The plateau‐like electron component can then lead to severe damping in the waves around 0.5Ωe via the cyclotron resonance, and the power gap is formed. This mechanism is called as “spectrum bite”. Our study sheds fresh light on the well‐known gap formation at ∼0.5Ωe in the whistler‐mode waves, which is ubiquitously detected near the equator in the inner magnetosphere.
Inter‐Annual Variations of the Westward Shift of Yellow Sea Warm Current Controlled by Local Wind Stress Curl
Authors: Wan Xiuquan , Ma Weiwei
Published: April 2022

The Yellow Sea Warm Current (YSWC) transports water from the East China Sea to the Bohai Sea and exhibits a typical westward shifting pathway in winter. Previous studies have attributed this westward shift to changes in local wind stress, defining the YSWC axis by using the warm water tongue from the sea surface temperature (SST). Here we re‐examine the westward shift of the YSWC by defining its pathway dynamically. We use the observed position of the maximum SST along section 35°N and calculate the YSWC pathway from horizontal stream function in a high‐resolution Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) simulation of the East China Sea from 1979 to 2020. It is found that in most years the westward shifted YSWC lies near the 70 m isobath just as the warm tongue axis, but in some years it is closer to the center Yellow Sea, lying near the deep trough. Contrary to previous studies we find no significant correlation between the inter‐annual variability of the shift and the meridional or zonal components of local wind stress in our simulation. Instead, we find that potential vorticity (PV) input by the depth‐averaged wind stress curl dominates the inter‐annual variability of YSWC's westward shift. These changes in PV originate from the realistic wind stress curl in the model that includes spatial inhomogeneity.
Global Temporal and Spatial Variations of Ionospheric Sporadic‐E Derived From Radio Occultation Measurements
Authors: Bergsson Björn , Syndergaard Stig
Published: April 2022

We have analyzed 13 years of radio occultation data from the first Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate mission with a focus on scintillations originating in ionospheric sporadic‐E layers, henceforth referred to as Es. The analysis enabled the statistical global mapping of Es occurrence in space and time of very high resolution, and allowed an investigation of the statistical variation of Es height and thickness with seasons, solar activity, local time, and latitude. Data cleaning criteria were developed to rid the data of unreliable measurements, which allowed for more reliable statistics. To identify the Es irregularities, we applied a sophisticated algorithm termed the U‐shape algorithm that has some important advantages over other methods used on large data sets in previous studies. It is commonly known that the Es occurrence varies with the local time of day, where the greatest occurrence happens roughly around morning times and evening times. Important new observations were made in this study that show that Es height and thickness varies with seasons and solar activity, where different behavior was observed for Es in the morning and in the evening. The evening Es height and thickness showed great variations with solar activity, apparently having lower mean height and larger mean thickness when the activity is high. We interpret that as a tendency for the evening Es to be more tilted with respect to the local horizon.
Updated general exposure factors for risk assessment in the Korean population
Authors: Yoon Hyojung , Seo Jungkwan , Yoo Sun-Kyoung , Kim Pil-Je , Park Jinhyeon , Choe Youngtae , Yang Wonho
Published: April 2022

Background

There has been an increasing need to update the recommended values of Korean exposure factors for adults aged 19 and older, as using exposure factors developed over a decade ago could reduce risk assessment reliability.

Objective

Exposure factor data have been compiled and standardized using the latest national statistical reports and academic literature, as well as studies conducted from 2016 to 2018.

Methods

The updated data contained anthropometric parameters, inhalation rates, food and drinking water ingestion rates, and time-activity patterns and provided technical information on Koreans’ exposure factors classified by sex, age group, per capita and general population, and doer-only for various exposure assessments.

Results

Although the average life expectancy, body weight, body surface area, and inhalation rate increased slightly compared to the 2007 Korean Exposure Factor Handbook, differences various in food consumption were remarkable. Because of Asians’ similar food preferences, the intake rate of grain products and vegetables in Koreans, Chinese, and Japanese contributed much toward total intake. Koreans spent half their times outdoors compared to Americans and Chinese.

Significance

This study provided the currently updated exposure factor information for Koreans and could be compared with recommendations provided by exposure factor resources in various countries.

Impact statement

Exposure to environmental pollutants may significantly vary depending on the exposure factors related to human behaviors and characteristics. Therefore the exposure factors need to be continuously updated along with more extensive survey areas and improved measurement methods. We utilized the existing data with the aim to develop general exposure factors for risk assessment in Korean aged ≥19 years. Measurements and questionnaire surveys were also performed if there were no existing data. This study provided the currently updated exposure factor information for Koreans and could be compared to those of other countries.
RNA N6-methyladenosine demethylase FTO promotes pancreatic cancer progression by inducing the autocrine activity of PDGFC in an m6A-YTHDF2-dependent manner
Authors: Tan Zhen , Shi Si , Xu Jin , Liu Xiaomeng , Lei Yubin , Zhang Bo , Hua Jie , Meng Qingcai , Wang Wei , Yu Xianjun , Liang Chen
Published: April 2022

RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is an emerging regulator of mRNA modifications and represents a novel player in tumorigenesis. Although it has functional significance in both pathological and physiological processes, the role of m6A modification in pancreatic ductal cancer (PDAC) remains elusive. Here, we showed that high fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) expression was associated with a poor prognosis in PDAC patients and that suppression of FTO expression inhibited cell proliferation. Here, m6A sequencing (m6A-seq) was performed to screen genes targeted by FTO. The effects of FTO stimulation on the biological characteristics of pancreatic cancer cells, including proliferation and colony formation, were investigated in vitro and in vivo. The results indicate that FTO directly targets platelet-derived growth factor C (PDGFC) and stabilizes its mRNA expression in an m6A-YTHDF2-dependent manner. m6A-methylated RNA immunoprecipitation-qPCR (MeRIP-qPCR), RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), and luciferase reporter assays were employed to validate the specific binding of FTO to PDGFC. PDGFC upregulation led to reactivation of the Akt signaling pathway, promoting cell growth. Overall, our study reveals that FTO downregulation leads to increased m6A modifications in the 3ʹ UTR of PDGFC and then modulates the degradation of its transcriptional level in an m6A-YTHDF2-dependent manner, highlighting a potential therapeutic target for PDAC treatment and prognostic prediction.
MLKL deficiency in BrafV600EPten−/− melanoma model results in a modest delay of nevi development and reduced lymph node dissemination in male mice
Authors: Martens Sofie , Takahashi Nozomi , Blancke Gillian , Vandamme Niels , Verschuere Hanne , Divert Tatyana , Vuylsteke Marnik , Berx Geert , Vandenabeele Peter
Published: April 2022

Cancers acquire several capabilities to survive the multistep process in carcinogenesis. Resisting cell death is one of them. Silencing of the necroptosis initiator Ripk3 occurs in a wide variety of cancer types including melanoma. Little is known about the role of the necroptosis executioner MLKL in tumor development. Studies often indicate opposing roles for MLKL as a tumor-suppressing or a tumor-promoting protein. This study investigates the role of MLKL during melanoma initiation and progression using a tamoxifen-inducible melanoma mouse model driven by melanocyte-specific overexpression of mutated Braf and simultaneous deletion of Pten (BrafV600EPten−/−). In this model we observed a clear sex difference: melanoma initiation and progression were faster in females mice. Mlkl deficiency in male mice resulted in a modest but significant reduction of nevi growth rate compared to the littermate control. In these mice, infiltration and expansion of melanoma cells in the inguinal lymph node were also modestly decreased. This is likely to be a consequence of the delay in nevi development. No significant difference was observed in the Mlkl-deficient condition in female mice in which melanoma development was faster. Overall, our results indicate that in this genetic model MLKL has a minor role during melanoma initiation and progression.
Sex differences in global disability-adjusted life years due to ischemic stroke: findings from global burden of diseases study 2019
Authors: Cao Miaomiao , Li Bolin , Rong Jie , Li Qian , Sun Chaofeng
Published: April 2022

To investigate the sex differences in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to ischemic stroke (IS) by year, location and age. We extracted sex-specific data on DALYs number, age-standardized DALYs rate (ASDR) and all-age DALYs rate of IS by year, location and age from the Global Burden of Diseases study 2019. The estimated annual percentage changes (EAPC) were calculated to evaluate the temporal trend of ASDR. For both sexes, although the ASDR of IS slightly decreased from 1990 to 2019, there has been an 60.3% increase in DALYs number worldwide. Sex difference in DALYs number (men minus women) decreased from − 2.83 million in 1990 to 0.14 million in 2019, while the men to women’s ASDR ratio slightly increased from 1.10 in 1990 to 1.21 in 2019. The sex differences in IS DALYs showed remarkable regional variation. The largest sex differences in DALYs number and ASDR were in China and Vietnam. Middle-aged men had a higher IS DALYs than their age-matched counterparts. High systolic blood pressure accounted for the highest DALYs number in 2019, but the top three attributable risk factors that had the greatest sex differences were tobacco, dietary risk, and alcohol use. Sex differences in IS DALYs varied by year, location and age, mostly attributed to the disproportion of cardiovascular risk factors between sexes. Considering the population growth and aging, it is necessary to monitor the sex difference in IS DALYs in different populations and thus provide evidence for local administration to improve current preventive and management strategies of IS.
Nematic superconductivity in magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene from atomistic modeling
Authors: Löthman Tomas , Schmidt Johann , Parhizgar Fariborz , Black-Schaffer Annica M.
Published: April 2022

Twisted bilayer graphene (TBG) develops large moiré patterns at small twist angles with flat energy bands hosting domes of superconductivity. The large system size and intricate band structure have however hampered investigations into the superconducting state. Here, using full-scale atomistic modelling with local electronic interactions, we find at and above experimentally relevant temperatures a highly inhomogeneous superconducting state with nematic ordering on both atomic and moiré length scales. The nematic state has a locally anisotropic real-valued d-wave pairing, with a nematic vector winding throughout the moiré pattern, and is three-fold degenerate. Although d-wave symmetric, the superconducting state has a full energy gap, which we tie to a π-phase interlayer coupling. The superconducting nematicity is further directly detectable in the local density of states. Our results show that atomistic modeling is essential and also that very similar local interactions produce very different superconducting states in TBG and the high-temperature cuprate superconductors.
Directed exfoliating and ordered stacking of transition-metal-dichalcogenides
Authors: Li Yanshuang , Xie Xiuhua , Li Binghui , Sun Xiaoli , Yang Yichen , Liu Jishan , Feng Jiying , Zhou Ying , Li Yuanzheng , Liu Weizhen , Wang Shuangpeng , Wang Wei , Zeng Huan , Zhang Zhenzhong , Shen Dawei , Shen Dezhen
Published: April 2022

Edge-locked mechanical exfoliation method for bulk TMDs by MBE Au epitaxy.
Application of a chemical clock in material design: chemically programmed synthesis of zeolitic imidazole framework-8
Authors: Német Norbert , Holló Gábor , Schuszter Gábor , Horváth Dezső , Tóth Ágota , Rossi Federico , Lagzi István
Published: April 2022

A methylene glycol–sulfite chemical clock was used to synthesize zeolitic imidazole framework-8 in a time-programmed and autonomous way.
Fine and hyperfine coupling constants of the cis-β-cyanovinyl radical, HCCHCN
Authors: Nakajima Masakazu , Liu Yi-Ting , Chang Ching Hua , Seiki Kenji , Sumiyoshi Yoshihiro , Ohshima Yasuhiro , Tang Jian , Endo Yasuki
Published: April 2022

A Fourier-transform microwave spectrum of the cis-β-cyanovinyl radical is re-measured for the Ka = 0 ladder of the a-type transitions up to 30 GHz and the 212–111 transition at 19.85 GHz.
Electron–phonon coupling and superconductivity in a 2D Tl–Pb compound on Si(111)
Authors: Sklyadneva I. Yu , Heid R. , Echenique P. M. , Chulkov E. V.
Published: April 2022

A first principles investigation of the electron–phonon interaction and phonon-mediated pairing strength in a Si(111) supported single-layer Tl–Pb compound reveals strong variations with electronic surface bands and binding energy.
Vapochromism of an iridium(iii) bis-terpyridine complex based on the modulation of halide-to-ligand charge transfer transition
Authors: Hattori Shingo , Kondo Mio , Sekine Akiko , Shinozaki Kazuteru
Published: April 2022

A color change originating from the shift of the halide-to-ligand charge transfer band of the Ir(iii) bis-terpyridine complex crystal in response to the sorption/desorption of water of crystallization is reported for the first time.
Cytotoxic properties of rhenium(i) tricarbonyl complexes of N-heterocyclic carbene ligands
Authors: Wiratpruk Nuchareenat , Bindra Guneet K. , Hamilton Alex , Hulett Mark D. , Barnard Peter J.
Published: April 2022

Eight rhenium(i) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes in combination with N-acetyl amino acids ligands have been synthesised. The aquation rate constants for the complexes were evaluated and these compounds were cytotoxic in three cancer cell lines.
Recent findings and future directions in photosynthetic hydrogen evolution using polypyridine cobalt complexes
Authors: Droghetti Federico , Lucarini Fiorella , Molinari Alessandra , Ruggi Albert , Natali Mirco
Published: April 2022

A collection of cobalt polypyridine complexes employed for the light-driven HER in aqueous solution is presented with the aim of highlighting the relevant chemical motifs that play a role in supporting efficient catalytic activity.
Which is the real oxidant in competitive ligand self-hydroxylation and substrate oxidation—a biomimetic iron(ii)-hydroperoxo species or an oxo-iron(iv)-hydroxy one?
Authors: Cao Xuanyu , Song Huiling , Li Xiao-Xi , Qiao Qing-An , Zhao Yufen , Wang Yong
Published: April 2022

The biomimetic iron(ii)-hydroperoxo species prefers to decay to an oxo-iron(iv)-hydroxy one to exert substrate oxidations and ligand self-hydroxylation.
Exploring the photoexcited electron transfer dynamics in artificial sunscreen PBSA-coupled biocompatible ZnO quantum dots
Authors: Mubeen Muhammad , Khalid Muhammad Adnan , Shahrum Saba , Mukhtar Maria , Sumreen Poshmal , Tabassum Mamoona , Ul-Hamid Anwar , Nadeem Muhammad Arif , Iqbal Azhar
Published: April 2022

Frequent exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation without any protection turns out to be a fatal threat leading to skin cancer, necessitating the use of sunscreen cosmetic product with enhanced efficiency to dissipate the UV absorbed energy.
Metallic phase WSe2 nanoscrolls for the hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Wang Wei , Li Yutong , Li Mengjia , Shen Hailin , Zhang Wei , Zhang Jintao , Liu Tianyu , Kong Xianqiang , Bi Hengchang
Published: April 2022

Nanostructured metastable metallic phase transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have attracted tremendous attention due to their promising practical applications in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
Synthesis of spiroindolenine–cyclopentenedione skeletons and their chemical behaviours: the first example of a lactone-type spiroindolenine structure
Authors: Tan Uygun Meltem , Menges Nurettin
Published: April 2022

A manageable, one-pot, and high-yield protocol for synthesising highly reactive spiroindolenine derivatives is reported.
Citrylglutamate synthase deficient male mice are subfertile with impaired histone and transition protein 2 removal in late spermatids
Authors: Wang-Eckhardt Lihua , Sylvester Marc , Becker Ivonne , Allam Jean-Pierre , Eckhardt Matthias
Published: April 2022

Chromatin remodelling in spermatids is an essential step in spermiogenesis and involves the exchange of most histones by protamines, which drives chromatin condensation in late spermatids. The gene Rimklb encodes a citrylglutamate synthase highly expressed in testes of vertebrates and the increase of its reaction product, β-citrylglutamate, correlates in time with the appearance of spermatids. Here we show that deficiency in a functional Rimklb gene leads to male subfertility, which could be partially rescued by in vitro fertilization. Rimklb-deficient mice are impaired in a late step of spermiogenesis and produce spermatozoa with abnormally shaped heads and nuclei. Sperm chromatin in Rimklb-deficient mice was less condensed and showed impaired histone to protamine exchange and retained transition protein 2. These observations suggest that citrylglutamate synthase, probably via its reaction product β-citrylglutamate, is essential for efficient chromatin remodelling during spermiogenesis and may be a possible candidate gene for male subfertility or infertility in humans.
Challenges and opportunities in the development of metal-based anticancer theranostic agents
Authors: Vaidya Shreyas P. , Gadre Shubhankar , Kamisetti Ravi Teja , Patra Malay
Published: April 2022

Around 10 million fatalities were recorded worldwide in 2020 due to cancer and statistical projections estimate the number to increase by 60% in 2040. With such a substantial rise in the global cancer burden, the disease will continue to impose a huge socio-economic burden on society. Currently, the most widely used clinical treatment modality is cytotoxic chemotherapy using platinum drugs which is used to treat variety of cancers. Despite its clinical success, critical challenges like resistance, off-target side effects and cancer variability often reduce its overall therapeutic efficiency. These challenges require faster diagnosis, simultaneous therapy and a more personalized approach toward cancer management. To this end, small-molecule ‘theranostic’ agents have presented a viable solution combining diagnosis and therapy into a single platform. In this review, we present a summary of recent efforts in the design and optimization of metal-based small-molecule ‘theranostic’ anticancer agents. Importantly, we highlight the advantages of a theranostic candidate over the purely therapeutic or diagnostic agent in terms of evaluation of its biological properties.
Determination of structural reliability of a reinforced concrete slab under fire Load
Authors: Zafarullah Nizamani , Ameir Eltigani , Nakayama Akihiko , Muhammad Bilal Haider Syed
Published: April 2022

Four reinforced concrete rooms are used in this study, with varying floor areas, openings, and fuel loads. These rooms are office, Classroom, computer, and chemical laboratories of institutional buildings. The time versus Eurocode (EC) parametric fire relationship is determined and compared with ISO 834 and ASTM 119. The performance of the slab is evaluated based on the EC target reliability index of 3.8 for 50 years design period using the First Order Reliability Method (FORM). The probability of failure and structural reliability of each fire compartment at different fire duration is determined. Variables used were concrete compressive strength, a reduction factor of concrete compressive strength, steel yield strength, concrete cover, slab depth, unit width, and area of steel reinforcement provided. The reliability is determined at each 30 minutes fire duration for all fire compartments. The starting point is ambient temperature, then after every thirty minutes until the time when the maximum gas temperature is reached. The fire compartments were able to show fire resistance for two hours and then started to drop over time. Yield strength reduction factor, concrete cover, and area of reinforcement respectively were the most significant variables to determine the reliability index. The structure was able to withhold fire until two hours with a reliability of more than 3.8after that, the slab reliability was less than the target reliability and will need a repair.
Use of asphalt milling material in construction of the roadway
Authors: Moosom Joudi Jivinsol , Goh Teck Shang , Kong Sih Ying
Published: April 2022

A pilot study on asphalt milling materials as green construction materials to replace virgin aggregates in the roadbase layer for a temporary diversion road at Pan Borneo Highway was conducted by WCT Berhad. Asphalt milling material was milled from the existing road, and various tests were conducted to determine the material characteristics. Based on the laboratory test results obtained, the asphalt milling materials has been used as subgrade for permanent road, the subbase and roadbase for temporary construction access and also the roadbase for temporary diversion road. This paper will discuss on the application of asphalt milling materials in roadbase of temporary diversion road. A 200m Trial section was constructed to obtain performance of milling asphalt materials. The result showed that the temporary road remained in good condition after 30 days of road traffic.
Effect of pavement surface conditions on road traffic accident - A Review
Authors: Mkwata Rahma , Chong Elizabeth Eu Mee
Published: April 2022

This study aims to establish an overview of the state-of-the-art relationship between accident risks and pavement surface conditions. The symptoms of pavement surface failure are indicated by roughness, rutting, and skid resistance. To analyse the relationship between traffic accident and pavement surface conditions, an extensive review of the literature was conducted on the related titles. The findings showed that pavement surface conditions have a strong positive effect on accident risks. Pavement surface distresses directly affect ride comfort and indirectly cause distraction to the driver resulting in loss of control of the vehicle, which may lead to injuries or deaths. The ranges of acceptable pavement surface conditions were also presented.
Numerical modelling of mode-I cracking in asphalt concrete
Authors: Ahmed Awais , Khan Rawid
Published: April 2022

This paper presents a numerical model to simulate mode-I fracture in asphalt concrete. The phase field method is used to simulate diffuse damage in asphalt concrete. In addition to the displacement degrees of freedom, a scalar damage degree of freedom is added at each node of a finite element. Evolution of the damage variable is governed by a crack potential which regularizes a sharp crack over a finite volume. The phase field method does not suffer from mesh dependency problem like the continuum damage models and therefore preferred for damage analysis. A single edge notch beam is analysed to show the performance of the model. The damage pattern as well as load versus crack mouth opening displacement graph is compared with the experimental data. The numerical results show good agreement with the experimental observations.
Water quality index prediction with hybridized ELM and Gaussian process regression
Authors: Wai Kok Poh , Koo Chai Hoon , Huang Yuk Feng , Chong Woon Chan
Published: April 2022

The Department of Environment (DOE) of Malaysia evaluates river water quality based on the water quality index (WQI), which is a single number function that considers six parameters for its determination, namely the ammonia nitrogen (AN), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, and suspended solids (SS). The conventional WQI calculation is tedious and requires all parameter values in computing the final WQI. In this study, the extreme learning machine (ELM) and the radial basis function kernel Gaussian process regression (GPR), were enhanced with bootstrap aggregating (bagging) and adaptive boosting (AdaBoost) for the WQI prediction at the Klang River, Malaysia. The global performance indicator (GPI) was used to evaluate the models’ performance. By preparing different input combinations for the WQI prediction, the parameter importance was found in following order: DO > COD > SS > AN > BOD > pH, and all models demonstrated lower prediction accuracy with a lesser number of parameter inputs. The GPR revealed a consistent trend with higher WQI prediction accuracy than ELM. The Adaboost-ELM works better than the bagged-ELM for all input combinations, while the bagging algorithm improved the GPR prediction under certain scenarios. The bagged-GPR reported the highest GPI of 1.86 for WQI prediction using all six parameter inputs.
Analysis of the accuracy of the Fanger model in the intelligent building – a case study
Authors: Dębska Luiza , Zender Maciej
Published: April 2022

Nowadays, people spend most of their lives indoors, depending on the season, climate zone, work or study. Considering the amount of time spent in a closed environment, you should be inclined to create the most favourable and comfortable conditions for the internal environment, i.e. thermal comfort. The study, which was carried out in an intelligent building of “Energis” of the Kielce University of Technology, was to bring the authors of the work closer to whether such a building meets the thermal expectations of people using the PMV (Predicted Mean Vote) and PPD (Predicted Percentage Dissatisfied) indicators calculated on the basis of surveys and compared with the indicators calculated on the basis of the ISO 7730 standard.
Preliminary study on the rapid assembly emergency shelter
Authors: Lee Yee Ling , Yeow Chee Yan , Lim Ming Han , Woon Kai Siong , Woon Yoke Bee
Published: April 2022

Floods are the most common natural disaster that occurs in Malaysia, especially during the monsoon season. Emergency shelter is provided immediately to provide a safe and secure place for the victims to stay after a disaster. The typical emergency shelter provided by the government is an indoor emergency modular. However, the victims’ privacy and safety cannot be ensured, and feel uncomfortable. Hence, a better emergency shelter that is easy to assemble, dismantled, light, and strong should provide to the victims. The proposed conceptual design of a rapid assembly emergency shelter is a stackable shelter. The shelter can be stacked when the floor is separated from the shelter’s body and the beds are folded. This design allows many emergency shelters to be transported to the evacuation site in one trip. The material for the shelter’s body is natural fibre reinforced polymer composite. The natural fibre selected is jute, as the production of jute is high. The floor’s material is hollow composite wood decking, while the material for footings, bed, window, door and roof window is high-density polyethylene (HDPE). With the simple design of the shelter, the installation procedure also becomes very easy and can be installed by non-professional people.
Assessment of forest fire in Bulgaria
Authors: Velichkova Rositsa , Gieva Elitsa
Published: April 2022

Bulgaria is exposed to a number of natural hazards and risks negative consequences have a significant impact on the environment and the population, industry, infrastructure, cultural heritage, etc. Forest fires account for the largest number of these disasters.In the present work a statistical analysis of the forest fires in Bulgaria for the period 2000-2019 is made. The present paper also proposes an idea for an early warning system for fires. The idea is to work on early forecasting, which will help to timely notify municipalities and regional fire departments in order to quickly control the fire and its consequences.
Assessment of Critical Success Factors (CSFs) influencing the successful implementation of the construction projects in Libya
Authors: Abuzbida Seraj K M , Yosof Aminah Md , Abidin Nur IzieAdiana
Published: April 2022

The Libyan construction industry enhances the overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country and the quality of life by providing necessary facilities such as hospitals, schools, roads, and other essential infrastructures. In addition, the industry mobilises and uses local, human, and material resources in development endeavours to promote community job opportunities and improve economic competitiveness. However, Libya's construction industry faces severe challenges and difficulties due to fast developments and dependence on foreign experts. Hence, the primary focus of this study is to assess the critical success factors that critically influence the successful execution and performance of the contraction projects in Libya. Consequently, this paper determines nine critical success factors that are significant and can positively influence construction projects. A questionnaire survey had been distributed, with 64.47% response rate in Libya based on different demographic parameters. From the Relative Important Index (RII) analysis, the study's findings suggest that Factors Related to Materials (FRM) are the most critical category in Libya. This finding might indicate that the instability in the city's economic, political, and financial sectors highly influence the successful execution of the construction projects in Tripoli, Libya.
Beratung Angehöriger pathologischer
Glücksspieler/-innen: Status quo und
Unterstützungsbedarf
Authors: Härtl Sabine , Schröder Sonja , Gartner Corinna , Wodarz Norbert
Published: April 2022

Ziel Angehörige von Menschen mit Glücksspielproblemen sind
mit gesundheitlichen, sozialen und emotionalen Belastungen konfrontiert. Bis
dato existiert jedoch kein etabliertes Konzept zur Unterstützung
für diese Zielgruppe. Deshalb sollen in dieser Studie zum einen
relevante Rahmenbedingungen und inhaltliche Aspekte der Arbeit mit
Angehörigen von Menschen mit Glücksspielproblemen
geklärt und zum anderen die Grundlage für die Entwicklung einer
Kurzintervention geschaffen werden.

Methodik Onlinegestützte deutschlandweite Befragung von
Suchthilfe-Mitarbeitenden (n=102) sowie Gruppendiskussion mit
Angehörigen (n=4) im Herbst 2019.

Ergebnisse Die befragten Mitarbeitenden in der Suchthilfe nannten als die
wichtigsten Themen für die Beratung von Angehörigen von Menschen
mit Glücksspielproblemen das Verhalten Angehöriger
gegenüber Betroffenen, Geldmanagement, den Umgang mit Emotionen,
Beziehungsberatung und Psychoedukation. Die meisten Befragten gaben an, die
Angehörigen im Einzelsetting (68%) in durchschnittlich 3
Sitzungen (Median 2,5; Min=1; Max=15) zu beraten. Der Abstand
zwischen den Sitzungen beträgt durchschnittlich 3 Wochen (Median 2
Wochen). Für die zu entwickelnde Kurzintervention wurden
Verantwortungsrückgabe und Selbstfürsorge (69%),
Problem-/Belastungsexploration (42%) und Tipps zur finanziellen
Existenzsicherung (28%) als die drei wichtigsten Themen
ausgewählt. Sowohl als Erfolgsfaktor für eine gelingende
Angehörigenberatung als auch für die Adhärenz der
Angehörigen wurde eine positive bzw. wertschätzende
Beziehungsgestaltung am häufigsten genannt. Die Ergebnisse aus der
Gruppendiskussion mit Angehörigen deuten in eine ähnliche
Richtung: Die Themen Verhalten als Angehörige gegenüber
Betroffenen, Abgrenzung/Verantwortlichkeiten und konkrete
Verhaltenstipps wurden als wichtig erachtet; jedoch ging es den
Angehörigen eher darum, sich „richtig“ zu verhalten,
während der Fokus der Suchthilfe auf der Abgrenzung und
Selbstfürsorge lag.

Schlussfolgerungen Die Studie liefert wichtige Hinweise auf relevante
Themen und Inhalte für die Beratung Angehöriger von Menschen mit
Glücksspielproblemen. Auf Basis dieser Ergebnisse soll im
nächsten Schritt eine Kurzintervention entwickelt werden. Hinsichtlich
der Beratungsmethoden herrscht jedoch weiterer Forschungsbedarf. Zum anderen
sollte untersucht werden, wie der Zugang der Angehörigen zum Hilfesystem
und dessen Bekanntheit optimiert sowie bestehende Barrieren vermindert werden
können.