bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimizing surgical approaches for anterior communicating artery aneurysms: Development and internal validation of a novel surgical scoring system
Authors: Orakdogen Metin , Mammadkhanli Orkhan , Simsek Osman
Published: March 2024

Background

The objective was to provide comprehensive preoperative information on both the aneurysm orientation and the side and method of surgical approach for optimal preoperative information and safe clipping using 3D imaging modalities. This was achieved by making an objective risk assessment on the surgical side/method and evaluating its effectiveness with internal validation.

Materials and methods

Radiologic data of 61 ACoA aneurysm patients between 2012 and 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. A scoring system based on five criteria; ACoA aneurysm dome orientation, A1 symmetry/control, perforating artery control, A2 trace orientation, and A2 fork symmetry was developed. The system is designed to align with the most common surgical approaches in ACoA aneurysm surgery. The patients were categorized into three groups based on the scoring results to determine the most appropriate surgical method. Group I was recommended, Group II was less recommended, and Group III was least recommended. Internal validation was performed to assess the system’s effectiveness. Outcomes and complication rates were statistically evaluated.

Results

When the scoring system was utilized, the mean score difference between the first group and the other groups was 2.71 and 4.62, respectively. There was a homogeneous distribution among the groups in terms of age, sex, WFNS, and Fisher scores. Complication occurred in three patients in Group I and nine patients each in Group II and Group III. The further the deviation from the first option, the higher the complication rate (p = 0.016), and a significant cause–effect relationship was identified (p = 0.021). The ROC curve established a cut-off value of 12.5 points for complications and outcomes.

Conclusion

Our study introduces a new scoring system for ACoA aneurysms, enhancing the use of 3D CTA in daily practice and providing internal validation for the proposed approach. By evaluating objective criteria, this scoring system helps predict surgical risks, prevent complications, and supports personalized evaluation and selection of the surgical approach based on objective criteria.
Lithbea, a New Domain Outside the Tree of Life
Authors: Gómez-Márquez Jaime
Published: March 2024

At this time when the development of synthetic biology and artificial intelligence are changing the world around us, philosophers and scientists, first of all, must converge to analyze the present and predict the ethical-social consequences and biological dangers associated with new “living entities” that are not the result of the natural evolutionary process. As synthetic/artificial life forms (xenobots, robots, transgenic organisms, etc.) become more and more abundant and sophisticated, it seems first of all necessary to bring some order to all this new biodiversity, establishing what is alive and what is not, and analyzing the consequences of this incessant creative activity. Here I intend to organize all these human-made entities and clarify their status as living beings or artificial elements, leaving the door open to an uncertain future in which we will be able to see how “the artificial” and “the natural” could merge to originate something different from everything known. Accordingly, I propose the creation of a new domain, Lithbea, which includes all synthetic and artificial entities within a new kingdom called Humade (derived from human-made). I have also included viruses in a new realm, the Viral kingdom, because they were excluded from the classical three-domain tree of life despite playing a fundamental role in the evolution of biodiversity on Earth. Finally, I make a brief comment on the unpredictability of the unknown, the implications of this new landscape of biodiversity, and the uncertain future of all these advances.
Factors influencing naturalisation success in horticultural species: a case study using planting records from the inception of a planned city
Authors: Palit Rakhi , Downey Paul O. , Duncan Richard P.
Published: March 2024

Worldwide, many invasive plant species are garden escapees. While weed risk assessment can identify new plant introductions with weedy potential, it does not address the large number of non-native plant species already present in many regions, the majority of which are horticultural species. Here we evaluate the drivers of plant naturalisation success using historical data on the horticultural woody species planted in Canberra, Australia. Canberra provides a unique opportunity to study plant naturalisation as it is a planned city with extensive horticultural plantings originating from government nurseries that kept extensive records documenting the planting efforts from the city’s inception. We identified factors linked to naturalisation success in 1439 horticultural, woody, non-native species planted in Canberra over 150 years by fitting univariate and multivariate regression models, and identified both direct and indirect effects using path analysis in a Bayesian framework. We found species were more likely to naturalise with greater planting effort, longer residence time, smaller seeds and dispersal mechanisms linked to wind and animal vectors. Cold-hardy and tall plants were also more likely to naturalise, although cold hardiness and height mostly affected naturalisation success indirectly via planting effort. These findings can aid in generating quantitative risk assessment models to predict woody garden species that would naturalise and pose the greatest risk of becoming invasive in the future.
Superhydrophobic, antibacterial, and EMI shielding properties of Ag/PDMS-coated cotton fabrics
Authors: Pakdel Esfandiar , Kashi Sima , Sharp Julie , Wang Xungai
Published: March 2024

In this study, three functionalities of superhydrophobicity, antibacterial activity and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding of cotton fabrics coated with Ag/PDMS were studied, and the role of coating composition was discussed. Special attention was paid to understanding the relationships between the surface roughness of coated fibres with the developed superhydrophobicity and antibacterial activity. The superhydrophobicity of fabrics was analysed based on water contact angle (WCA) and contact angle hysteresis (CAH) values while the antibacterial activity was tested against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria. It was found that the surface roughness on fibres, which changed by altering the concentrations of Ag NPs (0.2–4 g/L) and PDMS (20 and 40 g/L), affected the obtained superhydrophobicity. The most superhydrophobic fabric (WCA 171°) was coated with a formulation containing Ag NPs (2 g/L), and PDMS (20 g/L), and had the highest surface roughness. Increasing the ingredients’ concentrations, however, deteriorated the optimum roughness as measured using a 3D Surface Laser Scanning Microscopy method. The coated fabrics showed efficacy against both types of bacteria, and it was confirmed that the Ag NPs content was the key factor in determining the antibacterial performance. Moreover, testing the EMI shielding performance of fabrics demonstrated that increasing the concentrations of Ag NPs and PDMS both enhanced the reflection coefficient (R) of fabrics against incident X-band electromagnetic (EM) wave by around >500%, which was due to the deposition of a higher amount of Ag NPs on fabrics. The superhydrophobicity of fabrics was durable after 1000 abrasion cycles, and the fabrics retained their antibacterial activity even after numerous washings.

Graphical Abstract
Managing students’ illusion of control in higher education: effect on unrealistic optimism and expectancy disconfirmation
Authors: Luna-Cortes Gonzalo
Published: March 2024

Prior studies showed that optimism has positive benefits for students in higher education. However, research indicates different types of optimism, including the unrealistic optimism associated with the illusion of control. The literature review showed a lack of research on the effect of the illusion of control among students in higher education. Two studies were conducted to fill this gap. In Study 1 (N = 210), university students responded to two surveys: one before oral presentations in class (measuring illusion of control and unrealistic optimism) and another after they received their grades for the presentations (measuring disconfirmation and satisfaction). The results show that the illusion of control is positively associated with unrealistic optimism, which leads to disconfirmation and dissatisfaction. Study 2 was a between-subjects design experiment (condition (N = 102) vs. control (N = 102)) that tested a stimulus to mitigate the illusion of control in this context. The results of Study 2 show that explaining to students their inability to control some variables during the presentation helps to reduce the illusion of control. This influences lower unrealistic optimism and disconfirmation, leading to higher satisfaction after the presentations. When testing moderating effects of demographics among these relationships, we found that gender moderates the effect of the stimulus used to reduce the illusion of control, with females showing a significantly higher decrease in this bias in comparison with male students. Based on these findings, we provide recommendations that can help to decrease the illusion of control in the context of higher education, with benefits for students and educators.
Treatment of Behavioral Addictions and Substance Use Disorders: a Focus on the Effects of Theta-Burst Stimulation Over the Pre-SMA
Authors: Pallanti Stefano , Di Ponzio Michele , Levola Jonna , Lioumis Pantelis , Paunio Tiina , Kičić Dubravko , Ilmoniemi Risto , Makris Nikos
Published: March 2024

Behavioral addictions (BA) and substance use disorders (SUDs) share core features, including impaired control and craving, leading to significant personal and societal impacts. Previous research has identified the pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) as a critical node in GD-related neurocircuitry, making it a potential target for interventions also in SUDs. Theta-burst stimulation (TBS) offers a non-invasive method to modulate pre-SMA activity. This study included 58 participants diagnosed with GD or SUDs. They underwent bilateral pre-SMA continuous TBS (cTBS) sessions targeting craving, impulsivity, and addiction severity. Standardized scales and questionnaires were employed to assess the outcomes. cTBS parameters included 20 daily sessions with 80% resting motor threshold (RMT). Both GD and SUD groups exhibited significant reductions in addiction severity and craving following cTBS. Impulsivity decreased significantly in SUD but not in GD. The study’s findings underscore the potential of pre-SMA TBS as an adjunctive treatment for GD and SUDs. The observed improvements in addiction severity and craving emphasize the shared neuronal mechanisms underlying these disorders. However, the nuanced differences, especially in impulsivity, indicate the need for further research to tailor interventions precisely.
Impact of Resistance on Therapeutic Design: A Moran Model of Cancer Growth
Authors: Lacy Mason S. , Jenner Adrianne L.
Published: March 2024

Resistance of cancers to treatments, such as chemotherapy, largely arise due to cell mutations. These mutations allow cells to resist apoptosis and inevitably lead to recurrence and often progression to more aggressive cancer forms. Sustained-low dose therapies are being considered as an alternative over maximum tolerated dose treatments, whereby a smaller drug dosage is given over a longer period of time. However, understanding the impact that the presence of treatment-resistant clones may have on these new treatment modalities is crucial to validating them as a therapeutic avenue. In this study, a Moran process is used to capture stochastic mutations arising in cancer cells, inferring treatment resistance. The model is used to predict the probability of cancer recurrence given varying treatment modalities. The simulations predict that sustained-low dose therapies would be virtually ineffective for a cancer with a non-negligible probability of developing a sub-clone with resistance tendencies. Furthermore, calibrating the model to in vivo measurements for breast cancer treatment with Herceptin, the model suggests that standard treatment regimens are ineffective in this mouse model. Using a simple Moran model, it is possible to explore the likelihood of treatment success given a non-negligible probability of treatment resistant mutations and suggest more robust therapeutic schedules.
Novel Therapeutic Targets in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Authors: Wysota Michael , Konopleva Marina , Mitchell Shane
Published: March 2024

Purpose of Review

This review seeks to identify and describe novel genetic and protein targets and their associated therapeutics currently being used or studied in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Recent Findings

Over the course of the last 5–6 years, several targeted therapies have been approved by the FDA, for the treatment of both newly diagnosed as well as relapsed/refractory AML. These novel therapeutics, as well as several others currently under investigation, have demonstrated activity in AML and have improved outcomes for many patients.

Patient outcomes in AML have slowly improved over time, though for many patients, particularly elderly patients or those with relapsed/refractory disease, mortality remains very high. With the identification of several molecular/genetic drivers and protein targets and development of therapeutics which leverage those mechanisms to target leukemic cells, outcomes for patients with AML have improved and continue to improve significantly.
Examining Sexual Violence as a Predictor of Sexual Ambivalence
Authors: Nicoletti Alexandra , Angelone D. J. , Jones Meredith
Published: March 2024

Sexual ambivalence can be defined as an experience of sexual behavior as both wanted and unwanted, to some degree, in a particular sexual situation. Despite ambivalence, individuals often decide to participate in these sexual experiences. There are several related and overlapping reasons as to why people ultimately decide to engage in sexual activity, including a history of engaging in a particular sexual behavior or being intimate with a prior partner. There is also evidence to suggest that experiences of sexual violence are related to sexual ambivalence. The present study explored whether prior experience with both a sexual activity and a partner, as well as sexual violence, predicted sexually ambivalent behaviors. Participants were 932 college students who completed a one-time survey about their sexual experiences. Results demonstrated that women were more likely than men to report experiencing sexual ambivalence, and women experienced more ambivalence before, during, and after a sexual encounter. Men were more likely than women to experience ambivalence during and after a sexual activity. A history of sexual violence victimization was associated with experiencing sexual ambivalence prior to engaging in a sexual behavior. Prior experience with a sexual partner or sexual activity was predictive of ambivalence during a sexual encounter, as well as engaging in a sexual activity despite ambivalence. These findings suggest that there are gender differences in sexual ambivalence, and that sexual violence impacts sexual-decision making. We hope these findings can inform sexual violence prevention and sexual education programs.
Mean Distance on Metric Graphs
Authors: Baptista Luís N. , Kennedy James B. , Mugnolo Delio
Published: March 2024

We introduce a natural notion of mean (or average) distance in the context of compact metric graphs, and study its relation to geometric properties of the graph. We show that it exhibits a striking number of parallels to the reciprocal of the spectral gap of the graph Laplacian with standard vertex conditions: it is maximised among all graphs of fixed length by the path graph (interval), or by the loop in the restricted class of doubly connected graphs, and it is minimised among all graphs of fixed length and number of edges by the equilateral flower graph. We also establish bounds for the correctly scaled product of the spectral gap and the square of the mean distance which depend only on combinatorial, and not metric, features of the graph. This raises the open question whether this product admits absolute upper and lower bounds valid on all compact metric graphs.
Notch appearance as a novel radiological predictor of transient expansion and good outcome of expanding schwannoma after radiotherapy
Authors: Yamazaki Masahiro , Takamatsu Shigeyuki , Iwata Yuta , Sakurai Takayuki , Taka Masashi , Kobayashi Satoshi , Gabata Toshifumi , Mizuno Eiichi
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Schwannoma expansion after radiotherapy has not been well-studied despite the clinical importance of distinguishing transient increase from permanent expansion. Thus, this study aimed to identify the underlying mechanism and novel radiological predictors of schwannoma expansion after radiotherapy.

Materials & methods

We retrospectively examined the therapeutic effects of radiotherapy on schwannomas and magnetic resonance images of 43 patients with vestibular schwannomas who underwent stereotactic radiotherapy or radiosurgery at our facility between June 1, 2012 and September 1, 2018. Based on the size change pattern, the treated tumors were classified into six groups, including transient-expansion and consistent-increase groups. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) ratio and appearance of any notch were included as evaluation items based on our hypothesis that transient expansion is due to edema with increased extracellular free water. A log-rank test was performed to evaluate the relationship between the local control rate and radiological signs.

Results

The mean overall 5-year local control rate was 90%, and the median follow-up period was 62 (24–87) months. Approximately 28% of the tumors showed transient expansion; all ADC ratios synchronized with size change, and 75% showed a new notch appearance. Approximately 9% of tumors showed consistent increase, with no notch on the outline. The log-rank test revealed a difference in the local control rate with or without notch appearance in expanding irradiated schwannomas. All tumors with notch appearance showed a significant regression 5 years after radiation.

Conclusions

New notch appearance on the outline could indicate favorable long-term outcomes of expanding schwannomas post-treatment.

Clinical relevance statement

Notch appearance can help differentiate a transient schwannoma from a real tumor expansion, and it is a novel predictor of better outcomes of expanding schwannomas after radiotherapy.

Graphical Abstract
Naturally occurring small molecules with dual effect upon inflammatory signaling pathways and endoplasmic reticulum stress response
Authors: Correia da Silva Daniela , Valentão Patrícia , Pereira David M.
Published: March 2024

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is determinant to maintain cellular proteostasis. Upon unresolved ER stress, this organelle activates the unfolded protein response (UPR). Sustained UPR activates is known to occur in inflammatory processes, deeming the ER a potential molecular target for the treatment of inflammation. This work characterizes the inflammatory/UPR-related molecular machinery modulated by an in-house library of natural products, aiming to pave the way for the development of new selective drugs that act upon the ER to counter inflammation-related chronic diseases. Starting from a library of 134 compounds of natural occurrence, mostly occurring in medicinal plants, nontoxic molecules were screened for their inhibitory capacity against LPS-induced nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation in a luciferase-based reporter gene assay. Since several natural products inhibited NF-κB expression in THP-1 macrophages, their effect on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and inflammasome activation was assessed, as well as their transcriptional outcome regarding ER stress. The bioactivities of several natural products are described herein for the first time. We report the anti-inflammatory potential of guaiazulene and describe 5-deoxykaempferol as a novel inhibitor of inflammasome activation. Furthermore, we describe the dual potential of 5-deoxykaempferol, berberine, guaiazulene, luteolin-4’-O-glucoside, myricetin, quercetagetin and sennoside B to modulate inflammatory signaling ER stress. Our results show that natural products are promising molecules for the discovery and pharmaceutical development of chemical entities able to modulate the inflammatory response, as well as proteostasis and the UPR.
Machine learning classification approaches to optimize ROP and TOB using drilling and geomechanical parameters in a carbonate reservoir
Authors: Delavar Mohammad Reza , Ramezanzadeh Ahmad
Published: March 2024

Drilling optimization has been broadly developed in terms of influential parameters. The assessment time and the effects of both geomechanical and drilling parameters were vital challenges of investigations. Drilling factors are applied force or rotation of drilling agents such as weight on bit (WOB), and geomechanical features represent mechanical indexes of rocks including unconfined compressive strength (UCS). Optimization efforts have been demonstrated on complex prediction methods whereas the simplicity of classification can offer some optimal ranges utilizing machine learning classifications in an accelerated process. In this study, a novel procedure using the supervised and semi-supervised learning approaches was conducted to classify and optimize the rate of penetration (ROP) and torque on bit (TOB). Firstly, in the case well, user-defined classes were assigned based on geomechanical units (GMU) and the ranges of high ROP and low TOB, thus classes divided drilling factors as GMUs of the case. Secondly, the feature selection was carried out by neural pattern recognition with three multi-objective optimization methods for classification. The inputs of classifications were WOB, hook load, pump pressure, flow rate, UCS, and internal friction angle. Classification approaches were decision trees, support vector machine (SVM), and ensemble learning. Finally, the bagged trees permutation and Laplacian SVM (LapSVM) algorithm separately revealed the significance of parameters and predicted the optimal ROP and TOB regions. Findings showed (1) in supervised classification of the case well, the cubic SVM and bagged trees had the highest area under the curve (AUC) and accuracy, on average 0.97 and 0.96, respectively. (2) The average accuracy of the supervised classifications in a test well was 91% except for the fine SVM, which makes them reliable for the fields with the least information. (3) The permutation outcomes for significant features, flow rate and UCS, exposed influential parameters for ROP and TOB optimization. (4) The semi-supervised method, LapSVM, not only acquired both ROP and TOB labels with an accuracy of 88% but also presented their optimal ranges in 95% of the assessed zones. (5) LapSVM deals with a limited training section perfectly opposed to the supervised version, which is vital for drilling investigation. (6) Implementing machine learning classification approaches with rock properties is a key factor in achieving effective drilling parameters in less time. More importantly, the recommended drilling factors concerning geomechanical properties can ameliorate both drilling performance and perception of upcoming collapse.
Knockdown of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase suppresses proliferation, migration, and chemoresistance of Merkel cell carcinoma cells in vitro
Authors: Pozzi Valentina , Molinelli Elisa , Campagna Roberto , Serritelli Emma N. , Cecati Monia , De Simoni Edoardo , Sartini Davide , Goteri Gaia , Martin Nathaniel I. , van Haren Matthijs J. , Salvolini Eleonora , Simonetti Oriana , Offidani Annamaria , Emanuelli Monica
Published: March 2024

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive skin cancer, with a propensity for early metastasis. Therefore, early diagnosis and the identification of novel targets become fundamental. The enzyme nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) catalyzes the reaction of N-methylation of nicotinamide and other analogous compounds. Although NNMT overexpression was reported in many malignancies, the significance of its dysregulation in cancer cell phenotype was partly clarified. Several works demonstrated that NNMT promotes cancer cell proliferation, migration, and chemoresistance. In this study, we investigated the possible involvement of this enzyme in MCC. Preliminary immunohistochemical analyses were performed to evaluate NNMT expression in MCC tissue specimens. To explore the enzyme function in tumor cell metabolism, MCC cell lines have been transfected with plasmids encoding for short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) targeting NNMT mRNA. Preliminary immunohistochemical analyses showed elevated NNMT expression in MCC tissue specimens. The effect of enzyme downregulation on cell proliferation, migration, and chemosensitivity was then evaluated through MTT, trypan blue, and wound healing assays. Data obtained clearly demonstrated that NNMT knockdown is associated with a decrease of cell proliferation, viability, and migration, as well as with enhanced sensitivity to treatment with chemotherapeutic drugs. Taken together, these results suggest that NNMT could represent an interesting MCC biomarker and a promising target for targeted anti-cancer therapy.
Role of fermented dairy products in the health benefits of a mediterranean diet
Authors: Rizzoli René , Biver Emmanuel
Published: March 2024

Mediterranean diet includes fermented dairy products like yogurt and cheese. These foods provide calcium, phosphorus, fat, carbohydrates and protein, all nutrients influencing various systems including bone, cardiovascular system, intermediary metabolism, cancer, central nervous system, and inflammation. In addition, they contain prebiotics and provide probiotics which are capable of modifiying microbiota composition and metabolism, potentially acting also indirectly on the various systems. A large body of evidence indicates that fermented dairy products consumption significantly contributes to the beneficial effects of a Mediterranean diet on various systems’ health.
Failure mechanism and treatment of mine landslide with gently-inclined weak interlayer: a case study of Laoyingzui landslide in Emei, Sichuan, China
Authors: Li Jing , Hu Bin , Sheng Jianlong , Zhang Zhen
Published: March 2024

The landslide of mine is of great harm and wide influence, which can easily cause huge economic losses and endanger the life safety of workers. Therefore, landslide failure mechanism and more efficient landslide treatment methods have been the focus of landslide research. Laoyinzui landslide with a volume of 250,000 m3 occurred along the gently inclined weak interlayer at 6:00 (UTC + 8) on 5 January 2019 in Huangshan Limestone Mine, Emei City, Sichuan Province, China. The deformation history and failure mechanism of the landslide were analyzed based on the field investigation and geological conditions of landslide area. The treatment method of using excavators to remove all sliding body within the arm length by excavating the small-bench in the bedrock was proposed. The slope stability after treatment was analyzed based on the monitoring data. The results showed that the landslide was triggered by rainfall and earthquake after long-term creep deformation under the action of various factors. Weak interlayer was the potential sliding surface of landslide. The tensile cracks at the back edge of the landslide and the joint fissures and karst caves of the upper limestone provided convenient conditions for rainwater infiltration. Mining activities, including excavation and blasting, resulted in deterioration of mechanical properties of rock mass. Rainfall was the main trigger for the landslide. Water accumulated in weak interlayer, leading to increase of pore water pressure and decrease of anti-sliding force. Earthquake was the trigger for the landslide, which resulted in the reduction of rock mass structural strength. The Laoyingzui landslide consisted of two stages. First, a traction landslide of + 825 m–915 m occurred, and then a push landslide of + 725 m–+ 825 m occurred under the compression of the upper rock mass. The slope displacement was small and the deformation tended to be stable. The treatment method was safe and efficient. This paper can provide reference for the failure mechanism research and treatment of similar landslides.
Optimization of the Air Cleaning Properties of Fog
Authors: Todorov Petar , Ivanov Ognyan , Gultepe Ismail , Agelin-Chaab Martin , Pérez-Díaz José Luis , Dreischuh Tanja , Kostadinov Kostadin
Published: March 2024

Fog droplets are very often used as a cleaning agent when air pollution can be dangerous for health conditions and ecosystem. This work presents a new system to optimize the cleaning properties of fog by tuning its microphysical parameters. For this purpose, a newly developed system, which is based on the electromagnetic echo effect (EMEE) sensor, is used to detect the most efficient interaction between fog and impurities, i.e., which fog droplets can be used to most effectively clean a certain type of pollutant from the air. Fog droplet spectra controlled by the nozzle pressure system can be used to effectively remove pollutants from the air. For this purpose, an automated system for aerosol generation can allow an accurate control over the fog microphysical parameters and the use of fluids with specific concentrations of pulverized chemical compounds. Fog droplet size distribution is controlled by the feeding gas pressure at the nozzle and chemical simulants. The experimental results showed that the microphysical parameters (MP) are directly related to the impurity of species used in the cleanup simulation process. The MP parameters of fog are liquid water content (LWC), droplet mean radius (Rm), droplet number concentration (Nd), and both aerosol type and mass concentration. In the lab testing, harmless simulants of CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) species were used. During the tests, fog droplet size distribution is controlled by the air pressure at the nozzle and simulants. It is concluded that an integrated fog generator system (IFGS) with EMEE sensor developed in the current work can be utilized broadly to control fog microphysical parameters, leading to an optimum aerosol/chemical species’ cleaning process.
The Effect of Pyrolysis Temperature of calotropis procera Biochar on Dynamics of Petroleum Hydrocarbons Degradation, Carbon Emission, and Ammonia Volatilization in Artificial Petroleum-Contaminated Soil
Authors: Amin Abu El-Eyuoon Abu Zied
Published: March 2024

Pollution by petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) is a current environmental challenge all over the world. Therefore, this study was established to evaluate the impact of calotropis procera biochar (CPB) produced at various pyrolysis temperatures on carbon emission, ammonia volatilization, degradation of PHCs, and properties of artificial petroleum-contaminated soil. An incubation experiment was performed with CPB produced at 400 °C (CPB400) and 650 °C (CPB650). The artificial petroleum-contaminated soil was amended with biochar at doses of 1, 2.5, and 5% along with the unamended soil (control) and incubated for 78 days. The results demonstrate that the CO2-C emission rate in petroleum-contaminated soil increases significantly with all biochar applications compared to the control treatment. Adding CPB400 into the soil, at all doses, decreased cumulative NH3 emission significantly, in comparison with control and CPB650 treatments during all incubation periods. Total PHCs concentration in the soil reduced significantly with CPB400 application at 2.5% compared to the control treatment. CPB400 was more effective in declining total PHCs content in the soil than biochar produced at 650 °C. Available phosphorus and potassium in petroleum-contaminated soil increased significantly under biochar applications compared with the control treatment. Using Calotropis procera biochar produced by low-temperature pyrolysis as an amendment can play a vital role in the remediation of PHCs in polluted soils, it is also a promising way to improve the quality indicators of petroleum-contaminated soil.
AI assessment tools for decision-making on telemedicine: liability in case of mistakes
Authors: Camacho Clavijo Sandra
Published: March 2024

The implementation of artificial intelligence as a medical decision support tool for triage, such as the SmED system in Germany, raises its potential application as a medical decision support for the use of telemedicine. The use of this self-learning artificial intelligence system (machine learning) raises the question of who is liable for damages in the event of an erroneous prediction by the system. This paper explores the answer to this question in line with the proposed new regulatory framework for AI in the European Union: the Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on adapting non-contractual civil liability rules to artificial intelligence [AI Liability Directive-COM (2022) 496 final] and the Proposal for a Directive on liability for defective products [COM (2022) 493 final].
Reinforcement learning-based adaptive spiral-diving Manoeuver guidance method for reentry vehicles subject to unknown disturbances
Authors: Wu T. , Wang Z.
Published: March 2024

This paper proposed a reinforcement learning-based adaptive guidance method for a class of spiral-diving manoeuver guidance problems of reentry vehicles subject to unknown disturbances. First, the desired proportional navigation guidance law is designed for the vehicle based on the initial conditions, terminal constraints and the curve involute principle. Then, the first-order multivariable nonlinear guidance command tracking model considering unknown disturbances is established. And the controller design problem caused by the coupling of control variables is overcome by introducing the coordinate transformation technique. Moreover, the actor-critic networks and corresponding adaptive weight update laws are designed to cope with unknown disturbances. With the help of Lyapunov direct method, the stability of the system is proved. Subsequently, the range values of the guidance parameters are analysed. Finally, the validity as well as superiority of the proposed method are verified by numerical simulations.
What Shaming Reveals: Examining Qatar’s Response to Being Shamed as the Host of the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup
Authors: Lewis Carl Emilio
Published: March 2024

This Article considers how the ranking of states, as perpetuated by the international legal order, may play a role in the considerations of those targeted by global naming and shaming campaigns. To do so, it examines Qatar’s response to being shamed in the lead up to and during the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup. Drawing from international relations literature on status and adopting a critical approach to unpack the prevalence of the hierarchal structuring of states in the contemporary international legal order, the Article claims that the practice of shaming, as a human rights enforcement strategy, inevitably pushes target states to question their status within the international legal community. This could, counterproductively, lead to negative outcomes for the rights of the very individuals these campaigns seek to protect. Furthermore, the Article sketches out a theoretical argument for why certain states may consider the enactment of cosmetic legal reforms to be an attractive strategy for countering a global shaming campaign.
Spectacular International Labor Law: Ambush Counter-Marketing In the Spotlight of Qatar’s 2022 FIFA World Cup
Authors: Duval Antoine
Published: March 2024

One year ago, the Qatar World Cup was in full swing, and Qatar was omnipresent in our public and private spheres. For many, the Qatar 2022 World Cup will forever be intimately connected with the plight of migrant workers. This Article dives into the confluence of spectacle, counter-marketing, international—labor and human rights—law, and local reforms, which came together in the long decade which followed FIFA’s fateful decision in December 2010 to give the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. It starts by situating the FIFA World Cup 2022 within Qatar’s drive for soft power and nation branding, before turning to re-counting how the 2022 World Cup was “ambushed” in the name of Qatar’s migrant workers and their rights, putting the issue on the global agenda and triggering the involvement of the ILO. Thereafter, the Article discusses the effects of this ambush counter-marketing by engaging with the labor reforms introduced by the Qatari government, while highlighting their limits in terms of scope and implementation. The Article concludes with a general discussion on the blind spots and shortcomings of the turn to counter-marketing as a strategy to vindicate international human rights or labor rights.
Derivation of extended-OBurnett and super-OBurnett equations and their analytical solution to plane Poiseuille flow at non-zero Knudsen number
Authors: Yadav Upendra , Jonnalagadda Anirudh , Agrawal Amit
Published: March 2024

In this work, we analyse wall-bounded flows in the continuum to transition regime with the help of higher-order transport equations (super-set of the Navier–Stokes equation). Towards this, we incorporate second-order in Knudsen number accurate terms in the single-particle distribution function, and with this complete representation, we first derive the second-order accurate extended-OBurnett (EOBurnett) and third-order accurate super-OBurnett (SOBurnett) equations. We then demonstrate that these newly derived equations exhibit unconditional linear stability. We finally validate the equations by solving for plane Poiseuille flow and derive closed-form analytical solutions for the pressure and velocity fields. The pressure and velocity results thus obtained have been compared with direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) data in the transition regime. The results from both the EOBurnett and SOBurnett equations are found to yield better agreement with DSMC data than that obtained from the Navier–Stokes equations. This improved agreement is attributed to the presence of additional terms in the proposed equations, which effectively capture the effect of the Knudsen layer near the wall. The obtained higher-order transport equations and the closed-form solution presented in this work are novel. The ability of the equations to describe the flow in the transition regime should form the basis for conducting further realistic analytical studies of wall-bounded flows in the future.
Shut Up! Governments’ Popular Support and Journalist Harassment: Evidence from Latin America
Authors: Balderacchi Claudio , Cassani Andrea , Tomini Luca
Published: March 2024

During the past few decades, Latin American governments’ recurrent attacks against journalists have contributed to the erosion of press freedom in the region and, relatedly, of the quality of democracy. Yet what pushes governments to harass journalists? We argue that governments are more likely to harass journalists when popular support for them drops. Due to the ability of journalists to influence public opinion, governments could perceive the harassment of journalists as a means to punish and silence those individuals who are seen as contributing to their decline in public support or as obstacles to regaining popularity. We test our argument on a sample of Latin American countries observed from 1990 to 2019. We find that declines in governments’ popular support lead to more harassment of journalists. Our research contributes to the debate on the determinants of press freedom and sheds further light on the current decline of democratic quality in Latin America.
RADIOCARBON DATING OF ST. GEORGE’S ROTUNDA IN NITRIANSKA BLATNICA (SLOVAKIA): AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL COMMENT
Authors: Robak Zbigniew
Published: March 2024

In 2021, a series of radiocarbon dates for St. George’s Rotunda in Nitrianska Blatnica (Slovakia) was published. The samples were acquired during restoration work. Based on the analysis, the authors dated the rotunda to the period of around AD 820–887, with 86% of the probability distribution lying in the period before AD 863. The chronology is based on the combined radiocarbon date 1191 ± 10 BP, which was obtained from four samples of wood fragments found in the oldest mortar layer. However, the date proposed by the authors raises concerns. The conclusions were based on a selection of samples and modeling of radiocarbon dates but put less emphasis on the results of many years of broad archaeological research on the local settlement agglomeration as well as extant historical and archaeological knowledge. The present re-analysis of the early medieval mortar and plaster samples and simple modeling corroborates the alternative hypothesis, providing us with the date 1115 ± 13 BP (cal AD 892–988 2σ). The resulting probability range is consistent with current archaeological and historical knowledge. Consequently, contrary to former conclusions, the construction of the rotunda should be dated to the period between the end of the 9th century and the end of the 10th century.
Adoniram Judson's Burmese Bible: Dependency and Development
Authors: de Jong John
Published: March 2024

Adoniram Judson is widely perceived as the pioneer Bible translator in Burma. His translation of the entire Bible into Burmese, however, built upon three centuries of Roman Catholic missionary outreach. Catholic priests had arrived as chaplains for Portuguese immigrants to Burma in the early sixteenth century, but an indigenous Burmese Catholic church was established within a generation through intermarriage. Barnabite missionaries arrived in the early eighteenth century and engaged in a dynamic hundred years of missionary work. These Catholic missionaries developed key Christian terminology and discourse that Judson drew upon in his translation work. British Baptists were also in Burma for several years before Judson arrived and made their own contribution to Burmese Bible translation. An analysis of the Burmese translations of the Lord's Prayer by Barnabite missionary Giovanni Maria Percoto (1776), British Baptist James Chater (1812), and Judson (1817 and 1832) demonstrates how Judson both drew upon and developed the work of his predecessors in his immense project of translating the entire Bible into Burmese (1840). The Judson Bible, still the most widely used and highly esteemed version in modern-day Myanmar, is an intertextual production. Literary and oral texts, all shaped by their historical settings, intersected multiple other texts over a period of three hundred years before flowing into Judson's translation.
Handmaids of the Apocalypse: Queen Gerberga, Empress Adelaide, and the Ottonian Tenth Century
Authors: Poletti Bailey R.
Published: March 2024

Gerberga of Saxony, the sister of Otto I of Germany and wife of Louis IV of France, receives frequent scholarly mention in relation to a treatise by Adso of Montier-en-Der circa 950–954. The topic of this short work, presented as a letter to Gerberga in answer to a question she posed to the monk, was the life of the Antichrist, that fearful servant of Satan who would appear before Christ's Second Coming, lead whole nations into damnable error, and kill many who would not apostatize before being defeated by Jesus himself at his return. The treatise eventually become the foundation of centuries of Christian apocalyptic thought. But despite her prominence in the letter, Gerberga has received no sustained examination by historians regarding her interest and promotion of apocalyptic thought beyond being a recipient of Adso's letter. At most, scholars tend to see Gerberga as if through the eyes of Adso, that is, as a nervous queen anxious to be reassured that a universal evil is not hiding just around the corner. Such views—wholly unintentional but nevertheless present—do her a great disservice and misunderstand the motivations of both Gerberga and Adso present in the letter, as well as Gerberga's younger, apocalyptically minded in-law, the empress Adelaide. This essay examines Gerberga's life not simply as it relates to Adso's work but in relation to the very personal, family-driven politics of both East and West Francia in the tenth century. When placed in her proper context, we find Gerberga was not merely a passive recipient of apocalyptic ideas for a brief period in the early 950s but was an active patron whose interest shaped imperial politics for generations.
Comprehensive elucidation of resting-state functional connectivity in anorexia nervosa by a multicenter cross-sectional study
Authors: Sudo Yusuke , Ota Junko , Takamura Tsunehiko , Kamashita Rio , Hamatani Sayo , Numata Noriko , Chhatkuli Ritu Bhusal , Yoshida Tokiko , Takahashi Jumpei , Kitagawa Hitomi , Matsumoto Koji , Masuda Yoshitada , Nakazato Michiko , Sato Yasuhiro , Hamamoto Yumi , Shoji Tomotaka , Muratsubaki Tomohiko , Sugiura Motoaki , Fukudo Shin , Kawabata Michiko , Sunada Momo , Noda Tomomi , Tose Keima , Isobe Masanori , Kodama Naoki , Kakeda Shingo , Takahashi Masatoshi , Takakura Shu , Gondo Motoharu , Yoshihara Kazufumi , Moriguchi Yoshiya , Shimizu Eiji , Sekiguchi Atsushi , Hirano Yoshiyuki
Published: March 2024

Background

Previous research on the changes in resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) in anorexia nervosa (AN) has been limited by an insufficient sample size, which reduced the reliability of the results and made it difficult to set the whole brain as regions of interest (ROIs).

Methods

We analyzed functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 114 female AN patients and 135 healthy controls (HC) and obtained self-reported psychological scales, including eating disorder examination questionnaire 6.0. One hundred sixty-four cortical, subcortical, cerebellar, and network parcellation regions were considered as ROIs. We calculated the ROI-to-ROI rsFCs and performed group comparisons.

Results

Compared to HC, AN patients showed 12 stronger rsFCs mainly in regions containing dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and 33 weaker rsFCs primarily in regions containing cerebellum, within temporal lobe, between posterior fusiform cortex and lateral part of visual network, and between anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and thalamus (p < 0.01, false discovery rate [FDR] correction). Comparisons between AN subtypes showed that there were stronger rsFCs between right lingual gyrus and right supracalcarine cortex and between left temporal occipital fusiform cortex and medial part of visual network in the restricting type compared to the binge/purging type (p < 0.01, FDR correction).

Conclusion

Stronger rsFCs in regions containing mainly DLPFC, and weaker rsFCs in regions containing primarily cerebellum, within temporal lobe, between posterior fusiform cortex and lateral part of visual network, and between ACC and thalamus, may represent categorical diagnostic markers discriminating AN patients from HC.