bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Defining a Remote Work Policy: Aligning Actions and Intentions
Authors: Smite Darja , Moe Nils Brede
Published: December 2023

After the long period of forced work from home, many knowledge workers have not only developed a strong habit of remote work, but also consider flexibility as their personal right and no longer as a privilege. Existing research suggest that the majority prefers to work two or three days per week from home and are likely to quit or search for a new job if forced to return to full time office work. Given these changes, companies are challenged to alter their work policies and satisfy the employee demands to retain talents. The subsequent decrease in office presence, also calls for transformations in the offices, as the free space opens up opportunities for cutting the rental costs, as well as the other expenses related to office maintenance, amenities, and perks. In this paper, we report our findings from comparing work policies in three Nordic tech and fintech companies and identify the discrepancies in the way the corporate intentions are communicated to the employees. We discuss the need for a more systematic approach to setting the goals behind a revised work policy and aligning the intensions with the company’s actions. Further, we discuss the need to resolve the inherent conflicts of interest between the individual employees (flexibility, individual productivity, and well-being) and the companies (profitability, quality of products and services, employee retention, attractiveness in the job market).
Dynamics of charge imbalance resolved negativity after a local joining quench
Authors: Chen Hui-Huang , Huang Zun-Xian
Published: December 2023

Abstract

In this paper, we consider the dynamics of charge imbalance resolved negativity after a local joining quench in the 1 + 1 dimensional free complex boson CFT. In the first part, we study the local joining quench by applying conformal maps, obtaining analytical universal results. We first calculate the quench dynamics of charged logarithmic negativity. Then using the Fourier transformation, we obtain the charge imbalance resolved negativity. The total negativity can be recovered from the charge-resolved ones. In the second part, we test our CFT predictions against the underlying lattice model numerically. Finally, we explain our results based on the quasi-particle picture.
Conservative treatment versus transverse pinning in fifth metacarpal neck fractures in active adults: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Zawam Sherif Hamdy , Abdelrazek Begad Hesham , Elmofty Aly , Morsy Ahmed , Abousayed Mahmoud
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Compare two simple ways for treating boxer’s fractures in active adults; conservative management by ulnar gutter slab and transverse pinning in fixation of fifth metacarpal's neck fracture regarding union, functional outcomes, and complications.

Patients and methods

Ninety patients with fifth metacarpals' neck fractures with palmar angulation (30–70°) were managed either conservatively by an ulnar gutter slab or surgically by transverse pinning technique from January 2020 to December 2021. Only 84 patients completed a 1-year follow-up. Patients with old, open, or mal-rotated fractures were excluded. The block-randomization method was used to create equal groups. Patients were evaluated clinically and radiologically every 2–3 weeks until union, then at 6 and 12 months. Functional assessment at the final visit was done using the quick DASH score, total active motion (TAM), and total Active Flexion (TAF).

Results

The mean radiological union time for the conservative group in this study was 7.76 weeks, while for the transverse pinning group, it was 7.38 weeks. There was no statistically significant difference between the two techniques regarding union rates and functional outcomes. All patients returned to their pre-injury jobs and level of activity.

Conclusion

Both conservative management in ulnar gutter slab and percutaneous transverse pinning are considered effective methods in the treatment of simple extra-articular fifth metacarpal neck fractures with angulation between 30 and 70 degrees (AO: 77 A3.1). The functional and radiological results using both methods were satisfactory and statistically comparable.
Manufacturer calibrations of GPS transmit antenna phase patterns: a critical review
Authors: Montenbruck Oliver , Steigenberger Peter , Mayer-Gürr Torsten
Published: December 2023

Over the past decade, the Global Positioning System has released pre-flight calibrations for the transmit antennas of the Block IIR/IIR-M, Block IIF, and GPS III satellites that make up the current GPS constellation. Frequency-specific phase variations (PHVs) provided as part of these data sets are of key interest for an accurate and consistent modeling of GNSS carrier phase observations in precise point positioning applications as well as orbit and clock offset determination of the GPS satellites themselves. For proper utilization of the manufacturer calibrations, complementary information on the phase center offset (PCO) from the spacecraft center-of-mass is required. We describe necessary processing steps for converting the raw phase calibrations of Lockheed Martin and Boeing into a representation compatible with antenna models of the International GNSS Service (IGS), and provide a detailed discussion of inherent assumptions for combining PHVs and PCOs from different sources. Comparison with estimated antenna data from globally distributed monitoring stations shows good consistency of PHVs and suggests the use of manufacturer-calibrated, azimuth-dependent patterns in future releases of the IGS antenna model. In terms of PCOs, the new Block IIF calibrations exhibit a systematic bias of about 12 cm from PCOs estimates based on the IGS20 reference frame. This value closely matches the bias observed for manufacturer calibrations of GPS III and Galileo satellites, and suggests a careful review of the contribution that GNSS can make to the scale definition of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF).
Bounds for Kloosterman sums on $$\textrm{GL}(n)$$
Authors: Blomer Valentin , Man Siu Hang
Published: December 2023

This paper establishes power-saving bounds for Kloosterman sums associated with the long Weyl element for $$\textrm{GL}(n)$$

GL
(
n
)

for arbitrary $$n \geqslant 3$$

n
⩾
3

, as well as for another type of Weyl element of order 2. These bounds are obtained by establishing an explicit representation as exponential sums. As an application we go beyond Sarnak’s density conjecture for the principal congruence subgroup of prime level. We also obtain power-saving bounds for all Kloosterman sums on $$\textrm{GL}(4)$$

GL
(
4
)

.
Disentangled representation transformer network for 3D face reconstruction and robust dense alignment
Authors: Li Xiangzheng , Li Xiaofei , Deng Jia
Published: December 2023

This paper proposes a disentangled representation transformer network (DRTN) for 3D dense face alignment and reconstruction. Unlike traditional 3DMM-based approaches, the target parameters, such as shape, expression, and pose, are individually estimated without considering their direct influences on one another and then jointly optimized. Hence, DRTN aims to enhance the representation of facial attributes in a semantic sense by learning the correlation of different 3D facial attribute parameters. To achieve this, we present a novel strategy to design disentangled 3D face attribute representation, which decomposes the given facial attributes into identity, expression, and poses. Specifically, the 3D face parameter estimation in the regression network depends on the correlation of other face attribute parameters rather than being independent. The branching of the identity component aims to reinforce learning the expression and pose attributes by preserving the overall face geometry structure and identity. Accordingly, the expression and pose parts of the branch preserve the consistency of expression and pose attributes, respectively. Moreover, DRTN helps refine the reconstruction and alignment of facial details in large poses, mainly by coupling other facial attribute parameters. Extensive qualitative and quantitative experimental results on widely evaluated benchmarking datasets demonstrate that our approach achieves competitive performance compared to state-of-the-art methods.
A multiplexed immunochemical microarray for the determination of cardiovascular disease biomarkers
Authors: Colom Gloria , Hernandez-Albors Alejandro , Barallat Jaume , Galan Amparo , Bayes-Genis Antoni , Salvador Juan-Pablo , Marco Maria-Pilar
Published: December 2023

A fluorescence antibody microarray has been developed for the determination of relevant cardiovascular disease biomarkers for the analysis of human plasma samples. Recording characteristic protein molecular fingerprints to assess individual’s states of health could allow diagnosis to go beyond the simple identification of the disease, providing information on its stage or prognosis. Precisely, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are complex disorders which involve different degenerative processes encompassing a collection of biomarkers related to disease progression or stage. The novel approach that we propose is a fluorescent microarray chip has been developed accomplishing simultaneous determination of the most significant cardiac biomarkers in plasma aiming to determine the CVD status stage of the patient. As proof of concept, we have chosen five relevant biomarkers, C-reactive protein (CRP) as biomarker of inflammation, cystatin C (CysC) as biomarker of renal failure that is directly related with heart failure, cardiac troponin I (cTnI) as already established biomarker for cardiac damage, heart fatty acid binding protein as biomarker of ischemia (H-FABP), and finally, NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide), a well-established heart failure biomarker. After the optimization of the multiplexed microarray, the assay allowed the simultaneous determination of 5 biomarkers in a buffer solution reaching LODs of 15 ± 5, 3 ± 1, 24 ± 3, 25 ± 3, and 3 ± 1 ng mL−1, for CRP, CysC, H-FABP, cTnI, and NT-proBNP, respectively. After solving the matrix effect, and demonstrating the accuracy for each biomarker, the chip was able to determine 24 samples per microarray chip. Then, the microarray has been used on a small pilot clinical study with 29 plasma samples from clinical patients which suffered different CVD and other related disorders. Results show the superior capability of the chip to provide clinical information related to the disease in terms of turnaround time (1 h 30 min total assay and measurement) and amount of information delivered in respect to reference technologies used in hospital laboratories (clinical analyzers). Despite the failure to detect c-TnI at the reported threshold, the microarray technology could be a powerful approach to diagnose the cardiovascular disease at early stage, monitor its progress, and eventually providing information about an eminent potential risk of suffering a myocardial infarction. The microarray chip here reported could be the starting point for achieving powerful multiplexed diagnostic technologies for the diagnosis of CVDs or any other pathology for which biomarkers have been identified at different stages of the disease.

Graphical Abstract
Significant variation in computed tomography imaging of pregnant trauma patients: a retrospective multicenter study
Authors: Lucas Alexa N. , Tay-Lasso Erika , Zezoff Danielle C. , Fierro Nicole , Dhillon Navpreet K , Ley Eric J , Smith Jennifer , Burruss Sigrid , Dahan Alden , Johnson Arianne , Ganske William , Biffl Walter L. , Bayat Dunya , Castelo Matthew , Wintz Diane , Schaffer Kathryn B , Zheng Dennis J , Tillou Areti , Coimbra Raul , Tuli Rahul , Santorelli Jarrett E. , Emigh Brent , Schellenberg Morgan , Inaba Kenji , Duncan Thomas K , Diaz Graal , Kirby Katharine A. , Nahmias Jeffry
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Following motor vehicle collisions (MVCs), patients often undergo extensive computed tomography (CT) imaging. However, pregnant trauma patients (PTPs) represent a unique population where the risk of fetal radiation may supersede the benefits of liberal CT imaging. This study sought to evaluate imaging practices for PTPs, hypothesizing variability in CT imaging among trauma centers. If demonstrated, this might suggest the need to develop specific guidelines to standardize practice.

Methods

A multicenter retrospective study (2016–2021) was performed at 12 Level-I/II trauma centers. Adult (≥18 years old) PTPs involved in MVCs were included, with no patients excluded. The primary outcome was the frequency of CT. Chi-square tests were used to compare categorical variables, and ANOVA was used to compare the means of normally distributed continuous variables.

Results

A total of 729 PTPs sustained MVCs (73% at high speed of ≥ 25 miles per hour). Most patients were mildly injured but a small variation of injury severity score (range 1.1–4.6, p < 0.001) among centers was observed. There was a variation of imaging rates for CT head (range 11.8–62.5%, p < 0.001), cervical spine (11.8–75%, p < 0.001), chest (4.4–50.2%, p < 0.001), and abdomen/pelvis (0–57.3%, p < 0.001). In high-speed MVCs, there was variation for CT head (12.5–64.3%, p < 0.001), cervical spine (16.7–75%, p < 0.001), chest (5.9–83.3%, p < 0.001), and abdomen/pelvis (0–60%, p < 0.001). There was no difference in mortality (0–2.9%, p =0.19).

Conclusion

Significant variability of CT imaging in PTPs after MVCs was demonstrated across 12 trauma centers, supporting the need for standardization of CT imaging for PTPs to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure while ensuring optimal injury identification is achieved.
Evaluating Energy Security using Choquet Integral: analysis in the southern E.U. countries
Authors: Bilbao-Terol Amelia , Cañal-Fernández Verónica , Gónzalez-Pérez Carmen
Published: December 2023

The aim of this paper is to introduce a novel approach for assessing the risks to the continuous availability of cost-effective energy sources by proposing a Multi-Criteria Decision Making method that considers the interdependence between the indicators utilised in the measurement process. The paper focuses on Spain and Portugal into the EU energy market and investigates the consequences of their particular conditions. To account for the significance of each criterion and its subsets, the Choquet Integral is integrated into the analysis. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach in incorporating expert knowledge into Energy Security evaluations, which can be utilised to develop enhancement policies.
Transesterification with CE15 glucuronoyl esterase from Cerrena unicolor reveals substrate preferences
Authors: Perna Valentina , Agger Jane Wittrup
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Glucuronoyl esterases (GE, family CE15) catalyse the cleavage of ester linkages in lignin-carbohydrate complexes (LCCs), and this study demonstrate how transesterification reactions with a fungal GE from Cerrena unicolor (CuGE) can reveal the enzyme’s preference for the alcohol-part of the ester-bond.

Methods

This alcohol-preference relates to where the ester-LCCs are located on the lignin molecule, and has consequences for how the enzymes potentially interact with lignin. It is unknown exactly what the enzymes prefer; either the α-benzyl or the γ-benzyl position. By providing the enzyme with a donor substrate (the methyl ester of either glucuronate or 4-O-methyl-glucuronate) and either one of two acceptor molecules (benzyl alcohol or 3-phenyl-1-propanol) we demonstrate that the enzyme can perform transesterification and it serves as a method for assessing the enzyme’s alcohol preferences.

Conclusion

CuGE preferentially forms the γ-ester from the methyl ester of 4-O-methyl-glucuronate and 3-phenyl-1-propanol and the enzyme’s substrate preferences are primarily dictated by the presence of the 4-O-methylation on the glucuronoyl donor, and secondly on the type of alcohol.
Modulating the PI3K Signalling Pathway in Activated PI3K Delta Syndrome: a Clinical Perspective
Authors: Berglund Lucinda J.
Published: December 2023

Activated phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) δ syndrome (APDS) is an inborn error of immunity characterised by immune dysregulation. Since the discovery of genetic mutations resulting in PI3Kδ overactivation, treatment of APDS patients has begun to focus on modulation of the PI3K pathway in addition to supportive therapies. The mTOR inhibitor sirolimus has been used effectively for some clinical manifestations of this condition, however the arrival of specific PI3Kδ inhibitor leniolisib has shown promising early results and may provide a more targeted approach. This review summarizes key aspects of PI3K pathway biology and discusses potential options for nuanced modulation of the PI3K pathway in APDS from a clinical perspective, highlighting differences from PI3K inhibition in haematological malignancies.
TOPOLOGICAL MODULES GEOMETRY
Authors: García-Pacheco Francisco Javier
Published: December 2023

The extremal structure of zero-neighbourhoods of a topological module is analyzed reaching unexpected conclusions when the module topology is not Hausdorff. These results motivate us to introduce the notion of metric modules, which are modules endowed with a translation-invariant metric, turning them into an (additive) topological group. We study the central and diametral points of additively symmetric subsets and find examples of convex sets which are not symmetric translates (translates of addivitely symmetric subsets). As a consequence of all of these, it seems natural to transport the well-known Bishop-Phelps property from the category of real topological vector spaces to general topological modules over topological rings. Then we stick to particular topological rings, the unital $$C^*$$

C
∗

-algebras, showing that the subset of positive elements lying below the unity is an effect algebra. We also prove that every continuous linear operator on a Hausdorff locally convex topological vector space that commutes with all continuous linear projections of one-dimensional range is a multiple of the identity. Finally, we discuss how to transport the previous result to $$C^*$$

C
∗

-algebras.
Bayesian tensor factorisations for time series of counts
Authors: Wang Zhongzhen , Dellaportas Petros , Kosmidis Ioannis
Published: December 2023

We propose a flexible nonparametric Bayesian modelling framework for multivariate time series of count data based on tensor factorisations. Our models can be viewed as infinite state space Markov chains of known maximal order with non-linear serial dependence through the introduction of appropriate latent variables. Alternatively, our models can be viewed as Bayesian hierarchical models with conditionally independent Poisson distributed observations. Inference about the important lags and their complex interactions is achieved via MCMC. When the observed counts are large, we deal with the resulting computational complexity of Bayesian inference via a two-step inferential strategy based on an initial analysis of a training set of the data. Our methodology is illustrated using simulation experiments and analysis of real-world data.
Intelligent transportation system using wireless optical communication: a comparative study
Authors: El-Garhy Suzan M. , Khalaf Ashraf A. M. , Abaza Mohammed , Aly Moustafa H.
Published: December 2023

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSs) are being proposed, examined, and applied to enhance road safety and traffic efficiency. However, the automotive industry has stringent criteria for safety applications that demand connections that are dependable and have low latency, and high data rates. In this paper, it is widely agreed that both Visible Light Communication (VLC) and Free Space Optics (FSO) represent promising solutions, because of their complementary advantages compared to Radio Frequency (RF). VLC technology is chosen in ITS overall other optical wireless systems primarily due to its low cost and lack of licensing or new infrastructure requirements. Hence, a comparative study is applied between standalone VLC system, and a hybrid FSO/VLC system in term of Bit Error Rate (BER), coverage distance, and Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR). The VLC/FSO system provides a reliable communication link over a long distance (900 m) compared to VLC standalone system with 10−6 BER and acceptable SNR of $$\sim$$
∼
25 dB.
Screening for atrial fibrillation in care homes using pulse palpation and the AliveCor Kardia Mobile® device: a comparative cross-sectional pilot study
Authors: Savickas V. , Stewart A. J. , Short V. J. , Mathie A. , Bhamra S. K. , Veale E. L. , Corlett S. A.
Published: December 2023

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major cause of stroke in older people. Exacerbated by age and co-morbidities, residents of care homes are more likely to develop AF and less likely to receive oral anticoagulants.

Aim

To determine the prevalence of AF using the design and methodology of the Pharmacists Detecting Atrial Fibrillation (PDAF) study in a care home setting.

Method

A cross-sectional AF screening pilot study within four UK care homes, three residential and one residential/nursing. Screening followed the original PDAF protocol: a manual pulse check, followed by a single-Lead ECG (SLECG, AliveCor Kardia Mobile (KMD)) delivered by a pharmacist. All recorded SLECG were reviewed by a cardiologist and any residents requiring follow-up investigations were referred to their general practitioner.

Results

Fifty-three of 112 care home residents participated. From 52 SLECGs recorded, the cardiologist interpreted 13.5% (7/52) as having possible AF of which 9.6% (5/52) were previously unknown. One resident with previously unknown AF received anticoagulation.

Conclusion

This study has shown a need for AF screening in care homes and that elements of the PDAF screening protocol are transferable in this setting. Early diagnosis and treatment of AF are essential to reduce the risk of stroke in this population.
Structure, status, and span: gender differences in co-authorship networks across 16 region-subject pairs (2009–2013)
Authors: Bunker Whittington Kjersten , King Molly M. , Cingolani Isabella
Published: December 2023

Global and team science approaches are on the rise, as is attention to the network underpinnings of gender disparities in scientific collaboration. Many network studies of men’s and women’s collaboration rely on bounded case studies of single disciplines and/or single countries and limited measures related to the collaborative process. We deploy network analysis on the scholarly database Scopus to gain insight into gender inequity across regions and subject areas and to better understand contextual underpinnings of stagnancy. Using a dataset of over 1.2 million authors and 144 million collaborative relationships, we capture international and unbounded co-authorship networks that include intra- and inter-disciplinary co-authorship ties across time (2009–2013). We describe how gender informs structural features and status differences in network relationships, focusing on men and women authors in 16 region-subject pairs. We pay particular attention to how connected authors are (first- and second-order degree centrality), attributes of authors’ collaborative relationships (including the “quality” and other characteristics of these ties), tendencies towards gender homophily (proportion of same-gender ties), and the nature of men’s and women’s interdisciplinary and international reach. Men have more advantageous first-order connections, yet second-order collaborative profiles look more similar. Men and women exhibit homophilous attachment to authors of the same gender, consistent over time. There is notable variation in the level of gender disparity within subjects across countries. We discuss this variation in the context of global trends in men’s and women’s scientific participation and cultural- and country-level influences on the organization and production of science.
Assessment of the estuarine shoreline microplastics and mesoplastics of the River Itchen, Southampton (UK) for contaminants and for their interaction with invertebrate fauna
Authors: Rose Deanna L. G. , Hudson Malcolm D. , Bray Sargent , Gaca Pawel
Published: December 2023

The presence of shoreline microplastics (1–5 mm) and mesoplastics (5–25 mm) in estuarine ecosystems is ubiquitous, but there remains little data on their composition, contamination status and ecological impacts. Chessel Bay Nature Reserve, situated in the internationally protected Itchen Estuary in Southampton, UK, has serious issues with shoreline plastic accumulation. In evaluating potentially adverse ecological impacts, the influence of quantities of shoreline microplastic (mp) and mesoplastic (MeP) material and adsorbed contaminants (PAHs and trace metals) on the biometrics and population dynamics of the burrowing supralittoral amphipod, Orchestia gammarellus, was assessed in this study. mp/MeP concentrations were variable in surface (0–42%: 0–422,640 mg/kg dry sediment) and subsurface horizons (0.001–10%: 11—97,797 mg/kg dry sediment). Secondary microplastics accounted for 77% of the total microplastic load (dominated by fragments and foams), but also comprised 23% nurdles/pellets (primary microplastics). Sorption mechanisms between contaminants and natural sediments were proposed to be the main contributor to the retention of PAHs and trace metal contaminants and less so, by mp/MeP. O. gammarellus populations showed a positive correlation with microplastic concentrations (Spearman correlation, R = 0.665, p = 0.036). Some reported toxicological thresholds were exceeded in sediments, but no impacts related to chemical contaminant concentrations were demonstrated. This study highlights a protected site with the severe plastic contamination, and the difficulty in demonstrating in situ ecotoxicological impacts.
Decarbonisation Index (DCI): an LCA-based key performance indicator for the automotive industry
Authors: Neef Mara , Dettmer Tina , Bäuml Georg , Schebek Liselotte
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Road vehicles cause considerable amounts of CO2e emissions over their life cycle. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) report CO2e emissions of past years on corporate level according to the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and produce vehicle LCAs to identify GHG hotspots on the product-level. However, no approach to combine this past and future orientation of emissions modelling on fleet and product level yet exists. We demonstrate that this research gap is closed by using the “Decarbonisation Index” (DCI).

Methods

We identify the missing elements of OEMs’ absolute emissions reporting and vehicle LCAs to develop a resource-efficient, dynamic and modular key performance indicator (KPI) addressing both past and future scope 1–3 GHG emissions of OEMs. We assess in how far other existing approaches such as the Organisational LCA (O-LCA), the Organisation Environmental Footprint (OEF) and modular LCA can be used to develop these missing elements in a holistic modelling approach. After the derivation of the DCI, we provide a list of modelling options and data sources showing that the DCI can serve different means of an OEM, from a rough estimate of emissions to a basis for a detailed decarbonisation steering model involving several brands and departments.

Results and discussion

In the case study, we compute a 2015 and 2035 DCI (in t CO2e per vehicle) by using the basic DCI calculation model and publicly available data of the Volkswagen Group as well as data derived from publicly available scenarios. We demonstrate that even with this simplistic approach, the DCI delivers meaningful results indicating the core measures for an OEM’s decarbonisation programme: an electrified fleet with renewable energy sources being used throughout the supply chain and use phase. A Monte Carlo simulation of the 2015 results demonstrate the DCI’s robustness regarding the identification of core measures but also its dependency on changing (external or internal) methodological requirements.

Conclusions

The DCI can be used by OEMs regardless of their company structure, powertrain portfolio or market coverage to monitor past emissions and model future emissions. The DCI combines the product-level of the vehicle LCA with the fleet-level necessary to develop a decarbonisation strategy. Its modular approach facilitates the use of generic LCA data or supplier-specific data on component level. Incrementally incorporating supplier-specific data is crucial to calculate the effect of real-world reduction measures in relation to generic databases used so far. An adaptation of the methodology to newly available data and regulations is thus possible and necessary. By adjusting past-reported DCI values to a new methodological set, an OEM’s decarbonisation progress can be analysed albeit the constantly developing methodology.
Nutrient substitution for secondary fertilizer: Is current practice comprehensive enough? A review to reveal the LCA methodological challenges
Authors: Miao Chunyu , Zeller Vanessa , Schebek Liselotte
Published: December 2023

Purpose

As LCA is widely applied for benchmarking and decision-making, the need to clarify the ambiguity within fundamental methodological issues is imperative. Nutrient substitution, a subcategory of substitution, where credits are given for secondary fertilizer, is one of the common means to solve multi-functionality in LCA studies. This review aims to unravel the unique challenges associated with nutrient substitution, given the increasing relevance attributed to this topic.

Methods

A systematic review of LCA studies available in Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) has been conducted. Studies about the recovery of nutrients from waste streams to produce fertilizer were scrutinized. As this review focuses on nutrient substitution methodology, only studies applying substitution for secondary fertilizer were included. PRISMA checklist has been used for reporting and completeness check of the review. Results are demonstrated from system modeling and explicit substitution procedure perspectives, supplemented by an investigation on sensitivity analysis.

Results and discussion

As a general caveat, poor documentation and low transparency have been observed. Substitution has been used to model attributional (ALCA) and consequential LCA (CLCA) systems. The choice of functional unit combined with nutrient substitution in ALCA could attribute impacts to other functions than those studied. The determination of system boundary, especially the incorporation of the Use on Land (UoL) stage and avoided UoL emissions, is not always in accordance with the selected system modeling. Furthermore, there is no consensus on calculating the nutrient substitution rate. Single and aggregated factors comprising internal product quality, external-environmental, and external-societal variables have been identified. A prevalent observation among most studies is the absence of a sensitivity analysis pertaining to the nutrient substitution rate.

Conclusion

The consistency of nutrient substitution cannot be achieved without an unambiguous definition and connotation of substitution and system modeling. The exclusion of the UoL phase not only limits the scope of a study but also fails to reflect quality differences between primary and secondary products. The key lies in elevating awareness regarding the intricacies of nutrient substitution, which consequently necessitates a rigorous definition and integration of influential factors when calculating substitutability.
Body Fat Depletion: the Yin Paradigm for Treating Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Zhu Jingjing , Wilding John P. H.
Published: December 2023

Purpose of Review

To highlight that body fat depletion (the Yin paradigm) with glucose-lowering treatments (the Yang paradigm) are associated with metabolic benefits for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Recent Findings

The sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor-mediated sodium/glucose deprivation can directly improve glycemic control and kidney outcome in patients with T2DM. The glucose deprivation might also promote systemic fatty acid β-oxidation to deplete ectopic/visceral fat and thereby contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. As with metabolic surgery, bioengineered incretin-based medications with potent anorexigenic and insulinotropic efficacy can significantly reduce blood glucose as well as body weight (especially in the ectopic/visceral fat depots). The latter effects could be a key contributor to their cardiovascular-renal protective effects.

In addition to a healthy diet, the newer glucose-lowering medications, with body fat reduction effects, should be prioritized when treating patients with T2DM, especially for those with established cardiovascular/renal risks or diseases.
Suicide victims and alcohol-related consumption in Brazil: An observational study and a narrative review of the literature
Authors: Miziara Ivan Dieb , Miziara Carmen Silvia Molleis Galego
Published: December 2023

Deaths due to external causes, mainly suicide, are a severe public health problem in Brazil. Evidence shows that the tendency to impulsive behavior is exacerbated after alcohol consumption. The relationship between alcohol and suicide is poorly described in the medical literature. The study aims to analyze the relationship between victims' blood alcohol levels and suicides in some municipalities in Greater São Paulo, Brazil. We reviewed the data from the medical records of 805 necropsies performed at the Medical Legal Institute of Sao Paulo in Franco da Rocha, Brazil, from 2001 to 2017. The manner of death was established based on the result of police inquiry. Deaths due to suicide (n=41) were selected for the study. Descriptive statistics and Student t-test was applied when appropriate. The variables studied were sex, age, suicide mechanism, and blood alcohol level (BAC). In all cases we could not determine how much time the deceased consumed alcohol before suicide. Of the individuals analyzed, 85.36% were male, and 14.64% were female. The most prevalent age range for males was between 18 and 23 (19.5%). For females, it was between 12 and 23 years (33.2%). Most suicides (48.78%) were due to hanging, followed by self-poisoning (22.08%) and firearms (17.1%). 38 victims (92.68%) presented a positive BAC, over 0.3 mg/dl. The higher levels were in the group of suicide by hanging (2.3 mg/ml). Thus, alcohol intoxication is common among suicide victims, and it can contribute to the fatal outcome as a risk factor. Further studies are necessary for a better comprehension of the effect of alcohol on suicide victims.
miR-23b-3p Ameliorates LPS-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis by Inhibiting EndMT via DPP4 Inhibition
Authors: Yue Linlin , Chen Feng , Liu Xin , Wu Chaoyu , Wang Jie , Lai Jiying , Zhu Hongquan
Published: December 2023

Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a disease triggered by severe pulmonary and systemic inflammation that may lead to fibrosis and the decline of lung function. Lung capillary endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is one of the primary sources of fibroblasts in pulmonary fibrosis. The role of miRNAs as molecular markers of pulmonary fibrosis, and miRNAs as nucleic acid drugs has attracted increasing attention. To mock EndMT process, Human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs) were induced with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Similarly, LPS treatment was used to generate a mouse model of LPS-induced EndMT and pulmonary fibrosis. LPS-induced EndMT in HPMECs resulted in a significant reduction of miR-23b-3p. miR-23b-3p inhibited the interstitial transition of HPMECs, and miR-23b-3p could mediate this process via inhibiting dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4). Dual-luciferase assays confirmed the regulatory mechanism of miR-23b-3p. In our mouse model of LPS-induced pulmonary fibrosis, miR-23b-3p and a DPP4 inhibitor (sitagliptin) individually alleviated LPS-induced EndMT progression and pulmonary fibrosis, and their combined use achieved the strongest remission effect. To sum up, miR-23b-3p alleviates EndMT in pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting the expression of DPP4.
Preparation and Characterization of Nano Glass–ceramics from CeO2-doped Li2O-SiO2 System for Dental Applications
Authors: Marzouk M. A. , Elbatal H. A. , Elbatal F. H. , Azooz M. A. , Elwan R. L. , Fayad A. M. , Ouis M. A. , Helmy A. Kh. , Hamdy Y. M.
Published: December 2023

Glasses based on the basic composition of lithium disilicate (Li2O.2SiO2) together with derived samples containing increasing CeO2 replacing Li2O (0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1 Mol %) were prepared by melting – annealing method, samples from the prepared parent glasses were thermally heat treated through two-step regime (450° C /10 h – followed by 650° C / 6 h) to convert them to their glass – ceramics derivatives. The main purpose of this study is to find out the main properties of the prepared glass – ceramics to be applied as dental candidates. The optical, FTIR, and thermal expansion properties of the parent glasses were examined to identify the main structural groups which are defined as tetrahedral stronger SiO2 building groups. The detailed separated crystalline phases within the prepared glass–ceramics were identified together with their textural features. The Vickers microhardness data for both the parent glasses and their glass -ceramics derivatives were evaluated. SEM and EDAX measurements indicate the ability of the prepared samples to form hydroxyapatite upon immersion in SBF solution.
A global analysis of bioeconomy visions in governmental bioeconomy strategies
Authors: Proestou Maria , Schulz Nicolai , Feindt Peter H.
Published: December 2023

Against the background of climate change and scarce non-renewable resources, transforming the fossil-based toward a bio-based economy is considered crucial for sustainable development. Numerous countries have released governmental strategies outlining their bioeconomy visions. This study examines the bioeconomy visions presented in 78 policy documents from 50 countries worldwide, building on earlier vision typologies. Through qualitative content analysis, 227 distinct policy goals were identified and analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the salience of specific goals, overarching goal categories, and distinct bioeconomy visions: bioresource, biotechnology, and bioecology visions. The results reveal that goals and visions prioritize economic growth, while environmental considerations are less salient. The bioresource vision emerges as the globally dominant perspective, while the bioecology and biotechnology visions have lower salience. These findings deepen our comprehension of current bioeconomy policies and emphasize the need for critical research on bioeconomy visions and their implications for public policy.
Community Insights: Citizen Participation in Kamaishi Unosumai Decade-Long Recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake
Authors: Ngulube Nombulelo Kitsepile , Tatano Hirokazu , Samaddar Subhajyoti
Published: December 2023

Numerous scholars and researchers have long advocated for citizen engagement in post-disaster recovery and reconstruction initiatives, although unique opportunities and challenges in effectively implementing citizen engagement still exist. It has been 12 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake, where the government called for a citizen-centered recovery and reconstruction process, and reconstruction in most areas in the Tohoku region has almost been concluded. Using qualitative data acquired through interviews with the residents, field observations during the World Bosai Walk, and questionnaire and archival research, this study aimed to discuss the overall reconstruction of Unosumai in Iwate Prefecture, giving the residents’ perspective on the benefits and challenges they faced in participating in recovery planning and reconstruction and how the community has been able to strengthen their participation in disaster reduction initiatives since the earthquake and tsunami. This discussion is crucial as it would effectively offer lessons on engaging residents in post-disaster recovery and reconstruction after mega-disasters.
Use of Digital Health and Digital Therapeutics to Treat SUD in Criminal Justice Settings: a Review
Authors: Sawyer-Morris Ginnie , Wilde Judith A. , Molfenter Todd , Taxman Faye
Published: December 2023

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this review is to investigate the use of digital health technologies and/or digital therapeutics (DTx) products in the treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs) in the general population and among criminal justice–involved individuals.

Recent Findings

Despite an expanding evidence base, only three SUD DTxs have received federal regulatory approval. Across studies, DTx products have proven successful in engaging patients in SUD treatment and reducing healthcare costs and resource utilizations. Findings for emerging SUD DTx products show similar results. Still, there is a paucity of evidence regarding the use of digital health technologies and/or DTx among criminal justice populations.

DTxs have proven effective for treating multiple SUD types (e.g., nicotine and opioids) among the general population. DTx shows similar promise among justice-involved populations, but additional efficacy and implementation research is needed to address barriers such as cost, cultural resistance, and infrastructure.
Direct transfer policies for the poor
Authors: Ghatak Maitreesh
Published: December 2023

We discuss various anti-poverty policies which involve direct transfer policies for the poor, focusing on their different dimensions—namely the size and time sequence of the transfers, whether it is cash or in kind, any conditionality involved, whether they are means-tested. We argue that their pros and cons depend on what is the underlying aspect of poverty that the policy is aiming to address, namely what is the cause of it, what is the time horizon, what is the social objective, and what, if any, limitations on state capacity might be present. We illustrate the issues involved by discussing two transfer policies in detail, a rural asset transfer programme in Bangladesh and a hypothetical universal income support programme in India—and highlight the dual nature of such policies as both redistributive and potentially productive investments. We conclude by discussing the potential complementarities between different types of anti-poverty policies.
Flow chemical laboratory practice for undergraduate students: synthesis of paracetamol
Authors: Rávai Bettina , Orosz Máté János , Péterfi Orsolya , Galata Dorián László , Bálint Erika
Published: December 2023

Generally, chemical engineering students get well acquainted with the batch synthesis of various active pharmaceutical ingredients, however, only tiny focus is provided to undergraduates on the topic of flow chemistry. In this paper, we report that students participating in the chemical engineering BSc course at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics were encouraged to perform the flow synthesis of paracetamol, a common pain painkiller. Two different synthetic routes for the continuous production of paracetamol were investigated and compared the batch and flow methods. Thus, these experiments allowed the students to discover flow chemistry for themselves under supervision: how to set up a flow system, how to carry out a reaction continuously, and to experience the advantages of flow chemistry over batch synthesis. In addition, students also got familiar with in-line Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, as one of the reactions was monitored in real-time.

Graphical Abstract
Design Strategies of Particle Dampers for Large-Scale Applications
Authors: Prasad Braj Bhushan , Duvigneau Fabian , Reinboth Tim , Juhre Daniel , Woschke Elmar
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Particle dampers are dynamic vibration absorbers that can be attached or inserted into a vibrating structure for broadband vibration attenuation. The particle damping technique is widely used across various industries for vibration attenuation because of its conceptual simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and suitability for harsh environments (Gagnon et al. in J Sound Vib, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsv.2019.114865; Lu et al. in Struct Control Health Monit, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1002/stc.2058). However, designing a particle damper for real-world applications is significantly challenging primarily due to the interaction among the numerous parameters that influence the damping effectiveness of a particle damper. Therefore, this contribution aims to experimentally investigate the particle dampers performance in the context of their designs.

Methods

We introduce three different design variants, namely thin-walled cavity (TWC), thin-walled cavity with additional sheets (TWC-AS), and ring cavity (RC). Different strategies are detailed and evaluated in the current paper. Following the comprehensive study of various design variants at the laboratory scale, several tests were conducted on a real-scale wind turbine generator, subjected to real-world loading conditions. Additionally, the effect of particle damper size and its location for the structure on vibration attenuation has been studied.

Results

Based on the experimental investigation, all these variants are effective in reducing the vibration amplitude of a structure. Furthermore, it has been found that for practical applications, particularly in the case of large-scale mechanical structures such as wind turbines, it is advisable to combine the most successful variants to design a particle damper. This approach can achieve significant vibration attenuation, and also minimize the additional mass of the granular material compared to a conventional particle damper.

Conclusion

The findings from our experimental studies offer valuable insight into the design of particle dampers for large-scale hollow mechanical structures.
Ultrafast excited-state dynamics of Luteins in the major light-harvesting complex LHCII
Authors: Pedraza-González Laura , Accomasso Davide , Cupellini Lorenzo , Granucci Giovanni , Mennucci Benedetta
Published: December 2023

Carotenoid pigments are known to present a functional versatility when bound to light-harvesting complexes. This versatility originates from a strong correlation between a complex electronic structure and a flexible geometry that is easily tunable by the surrounding protein environment. Here, we investigated how the different L1 and L2 sites of the major trimeric light-harvesting complex (LHCII) of green plants tune the electronic structure of the two embedded luteins, and how this reflects on their ultrafast dynamics upon excitation. By combining molecular dynamics and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics calculations, we found that the two luteins feature a different conformation around the second dihedral angle in the lumenal side. The s-cis preference of the lutein in site L2 allows for a more planar geometry of the $$\pi$$
π
-conjugated backbone, which results in an increased degree of delocalization and a reduced excitation energy, explaining the experimentally observed red shift. Despite these remarkable differences, according to surface hopping simulations the two luteins present analogous ultrafast dynamics upon excitation: the bright $$S_2$$

S
2

state quickly decays (in $$\sim$$
∼
50 fs) to the dark intermediate $$S_x$$

S
x

, eventually ending up in the $$S_1$$

S
1

state. Furthermore, by employing two different theoretical approaches (i.e., Förster theory and an excitonic version of surface hopping), we investigated the experimentally debated energy transfer between the two luteins. With both approaches, no evident energy transfer was observed in the ultrafast timescale.

Graphical abstract
The Chronicles of Fernão Lopes
Authors: Blackmore Josiah
Published: December 2023

Volume 3 of the first complete English translation of the chronicles of Fernão Lopes chronicles the War of Succession (1383-1385), the rise of the House of Avis under João I, and his acclamation by the Cortes in Coimbra.