bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Smart emulsion system driven by light‐triggered ionic liquid molecules and its application in eco‐friendly water‐saving dyeing
Authors: Gao Aiqin , Liang Jiahui , Jing Mingxiao , Song Xiyu , Hou Aiqin , Xie Kongliang
Published: March 2024

The smart emulsification and demulsification system with the light response is a useful tool in various industries, including green chemistry, catalytic reaction, pharmaceuticals, and environmental remediation. Herein, an ionic liquid crystal compound with a light triggered switch based on the azobenzene group [(4‐{3‐methyl‐1‐[3‐(8‐octyloxyoctyl)oxy‐4‐oxobutanoyl]imidazo‐lium‐1‐yl}octyl)oxy] ‐N‐(4‐methylphenyl)benzene‐1,2‐diazene bromide (MOIAzo), was designed and synthesized, which could cause reversible transition between emulsification and demulsification through the light trigger. The ionic liquid has an efficient photoinduced liquefaction process, which dramatically lowers the melting point of ionic liquids from 79 to 9.2 oC. This significantly broadens the liquid state temperature of the ionic liquid crystal. The ionic liquid crystal MOIAzo exhibits both photoinduced and thermally induced nematic liquid crystal properties. The smart emulsion system was effectively employed in an eco‐friendly water‐saving dyeing process of cationic dyes for cationic dyeable polyester (CDP) fabrics, which used only half the amount of water compared with the conventional water bath dyeing method. After dyeing, the oil and water phases can be efficiently separated through the light irradiation, and the oil phase can be reused for the subsequent dyeing process. This novel smart emulsion dyeing method greatly reduces the water consumption and wastewater discharge. MOIAzo as a light‐triggered ionic liquid molecule opens up new dimensions in green chemistry.
The Effect of Natural Polysaccharides in Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy: A Review
Authors: Yang Maohui , Chen Ruihai , Zhou Xin , Chen Huaguo
Published: March 2024

Diabetic nephropathy is a serious metabolic disease that is usually caused by diabetes mellitus and ends in chronic kidney disease and renal failure. Many drugs used to treat diabetic nephropathy have limitations and side effects. There is an urgent need to find safe and effective new drugs for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy. The polysaccharides from natural sources, including plants, fungi, and algae, have good protective effects on diabetic nephropathy without side effects. In this paper, the natural sources, chemical composition, and structural characteristics of polysaccharides are reviewed. In addition, the study summarizes the different mechanisms that polysaccharides improve diabetic nephropathy, such as antioxidative stress, regulation of inflammation, inhibition of apoptosis, and renal fibrosis. This review provides theoretical support for the protective effect of polysaccharides and reveals potential therapeutic methods for diabetic nephropathy.
Micro and Nanoporous Membrane Platforms for Carbon Neutrality: Membrane Gas Separation Prospects
Authors: Hussain Arshad , Gul Hajera , Raza Waseem , Qadir Salman , Rehan Muhammad , Raza Nadeem , Helal Aasif , Shaikh M. Nasiruzzaman , Aziz Md. Abdul
Published: March 2024

Recently, carbon neutrality has been promoted as a potentially practical solution to global CO2 emissions and increasing energy‐consumption challenges. Many attempts have been made to remove CO2 from the environment to address climate change and rising sea levels owing to anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Herein, membrane technology is proposed as a suitable solution for carbon neutrality. This review aims to comprehensively evaluate the currently available scientific research on membranes for carbon capture, focusing on innovative microporous material membranes used for CO2 separation and considering their material, chemical, and physical characteristics and permeability factors. Membranes from such materials comprise metal‐organic frameworks, zeolites, silica, porous organic frameworks, and microporous polymers. The critical obstacles related to membrane design, growth, and CO2 capture and usage processes are summarized to establish novel membranes and strategies and accelerate their scaleup.
A systematic review on detection and adaptation of concept drift in streaming data using machine learning techniques
Authors: Arora Shruti , Rani Rinkle , Saxena Nitin
Published: March 2024

Last decade demonstrate the massive growth in organizational data which keeps on increasing multi‐fold as millions of records get updated every second. Handling such vast and continuous data is challenging which further opens up many research areas. The continuously flowing data from various sources and in real‐time is termed as streaming data. While deriving valuable statistics from data streams, the variation that occurs in data distribution is called concept drift. These drifts play a significant role in a variety of disciplines, including data mining, machine learning, ubiquitous knowledge discovery, quantitative decision theory, and so forth. As a result, a substantial amount of research is carried out for studying methodologies and approaches for dealing with drifts. However, the available material is scattered and lacks guidelines for selecting an effective technique for a particular application. The primary novel objective of this survey is to present an understanding of concept drift challenges and allied studies. Further, it assists researchers from diverse domains to accommodate detection and adaptation algorithms for concept drifts in their applications. Overall, this study aims to contribute to deeper insights into the classification of various types of drifts and methods for detection and adaptation along with their key features and limitations. Furthermore, this study also highlights performance metrics used to evaluate the concept drift detection methods for streaming data. This paper presents the future research scope by highlighting gaps in the existing literature for the development of techniques to handle concept drifts.

This article is categorized under:

Algorithmic Development > Ensemble Methods

Application Areas > Data Mining Software Tools

Fundamental Concepts of Data and Knowledge > Big Data Mining
Association of social determinants of health‐related diagnosis codes with postoperative outcomes
Authors: Sullivan Gwyneth A. , Krishnan Vaishnavi , Silver Casey , Smith Charesa , Raval Mehul V. , Gulack Brian C. , Shah Ami N.
Published: March 2024

Background

The association of an individual's social determinants of health‐related problems with surgical outcomes has not been well‐characterized. The objective of this study was to determine whether documentation of social determinants of a health‐related diagnosis code (Z code) is associated with postoperative outcomes.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included surgical cases from a single institution's national surgical quality improvement program (NSQIP) clinical registry from October 2015 to December 2021. The primary predictor of interest was documentation of a Z code for social determinants of health‐related problems. The primary outcome was 30‐day postoperative morbidity. Secondary outcomes included postoperative length of stay, disposition, and 30‐day postoperative mortality, reoperation, and readmission. Multivariable regression models were fit to evaluate the association between the documentation of a Z code and outcomes.

Results

Of 10,739 surgical cases, 348 patients (3.2%) had a documented social determinants of health‐related Z code. In multivariable analysis, documentation of a Z code was associated with increased odds of morbidity (20.7% vs. 9.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39–2.53), length of stay (median, 3 vs. 1 day; incidence rate ratio, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.33–1.67), odds of disposition to a location other than home (11.3% vs. 3.9%; aOR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.89–4.33), and odds of readmission (15.3% vs. 6.1%; aOR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.45–2.73).

Conclusions

Social determinants of health‐related problems evaluated using Z codes were associated with worse postoperative outcomes. Improved documentation of social determinants of health‐related problems among surgical patients may facilitate improved risk stratification, perioperative planning, and clinical outcomes.
Assessing the Affinity Spectrum of the Antigen-Specific B Cell Repertoire via ImmunoSpot®
Authors: Becza Noémi , Liu Zhigang , Chepke Jack , Gao Xing-Huang , Lehmann Paul V. , Kirchenbaum Greg A.
Published: March 2024

The affinity distribution of the antigen-specific memory B cell (Bmem) repertoire in the body is a critical variable that defines an individual’s ability to rapidly generate high-affinity protective antibody specificities. Detailed measurement of antibody affinity so far has largely been confined to studies of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and are laborious since each individual mAb needs to be evaluated in isolation. Here, we introduce two variants of the B cell ImmunoSpot® assay that are suitable for simultaneously assessing the affinity distribution of hundreds of individual B cells within a test sample at single-cell resolution using relatively little labor and with high-throughput capacity. First, we experimentally validated that both ImmunoSpot® assay variants are suitable for establishing functional affinity hierarchies using B cell hybridoma lines as model antibody-secreting cells (ASC), each producing mAb with known affinity for a defined antigen. We then leveraged both ImmunoSpot® variants for characterizing the affinity distribution of SARS-CoV-2 Spike-specific ASC in PBMC following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination. Such ImmunoSpot® assays promise to offer tremendous value for future B cell immune monitoring efforts, owing to their ease of implementation, applicability to essentially any antigenic system, economy of PBMC utilization, high-throughput capacity, and suitability for regulated testing.
Prospects for an Enduring Agriculture in the Rustbelt: A Tale of Two Cities
Authors: Pothukuchi Kameshwari
Published: March 2024

Detroit and Cleveland both have a vibrant agriculture that is supported by municipal policies and philanthropic resources; both also have abundant vacant land in public ownership. Despite these shared traits, the two cities differ in important ways in the ways in which agriculture is organized—whether it takes the form of community gardens managed by neighborhood groups or larger farms run by nonprofits or market operations—and raises questions about why this is the case and if these differences have implications for agriculture’s long term prospects. The chapter discusses specific governance arrangements in recent history in each city, approaches to vacant land and land use, and the relationships between growers and neighborhood and public institutions, and traces their implications for agriculture’s organization, purposes, and long term prospects there. It also outlines possible lessons from each city to the other.
Barriers in Community-Led Initiatives: A Case Study of Urban Agriculture Policy in Denver, Colorado
Authors: Gosch Kelsey , Sirwatka Avery , Cidlowski Laine
Published: March 2024

Building on Denver, Colorado’s long history of community-led food systems work, the local government has accelerated food-focused policies in the past decade. Such efforts culminated in Denver Food Vision, the first long-term plan about food. One idea championed in the plan was to dedicate 100 acres of land, an area equivalent in size to 25 city blocks, to food production by 2030. The initiative took shape in the Denver Sustainable Food Policy Council’s (SFPC) City Food, City Land policy advisory. Despite the input received by the SFPC, one basic concept had been overlooked: there was simply not enough vacant land within Denver (much less appropriate for farming/gardening) to meet the hundred acres goal, city-owned or otherwise. While this policy was never adopted, there are important lessons to be learned about (i) the process of policy ideation to adoption and implementation, (ii) the intersection of land ownership and structural racism in institutions, (iii) equitable representation within decision-making, and (iv) effective government-community collaboration.
Integrating Equity as a Central Theme in Urban Agriculture: The Case of the City of Seattle, Washington
Authors: Hodgson Kimberley
Published: March 2024

Local food is not a new topic in Seattle and surrounding region. Nestled in an agriculturally rich region, Seattle has a long and robust history of backyard and community gardening. A strong network of grassroots and community-based organizations work on food system issues. Many of these organizations have been actively addressing issues such as community gardening, food production, and food security since the early 1970s, long before the city government began to take an interest in the Seattle food system. The Seattle city government established the P-Patch Community Gardening Program in 1973, and the Seattle-King County department of public health has been actively engaged in nutrition issues for decades. However, it was not until the early 2000s, that the city government began engaging in systems change. The Seattle city government supports a number of urban agriculture and food systems related issues through public planning, policy and funding decisions. This chapter explores the various geographic, social, agricultural and governmental contexts at play and provides a critical examination of the city government’s response to urban agriculture. The chapter describes the city government’s impetus for addressing urban agriculture through public policy and an overview of the various opportunities and challenges it has faced along the way in addressing larger societal issues such as racial and social justice through urban agriculture. The author uses a critical lens to examine key policies such as the urban agriculture zoning regulations and the Local Food Action Plan, and key projects, such as the Rainier Beach Urban Farm & Wetlands Project, to better understand the impacts of urban agriculture policies on social, health and racial equity in Seattle.
Cultivating an Equitable, Just, and Compassionate Food Systems Pedagogy
Authors: Caton Campbell Marcia , Judelsohn Alexandra
Published: March 2024

Early food systems planning pedagogy was offered through studio or special topics course formats. This section of the book reflects upon those pedagogical origins and traces how academics mapped the way they taught about the food system onto the traditional methods and processes that planning students learn. Two of the chapters, however, chart a bolder way forward for food systems planning pedagogy that revolves around equitable community engagement and racial justice. This new justice-oriented, equitable engagement approach requires planning pedagogy to confront the thornier aspects of planning for the food system, by explicitly recognizing the power dynamics, systems of oppression, and injustices that planning has created and perpetuated.
Revisiting Food for Growth: Lessons from a Food Systems Studio
Authors: Judelsohn Alexandra , Kelly Sylvia
Published: March 2024

Over the past two decades, food has become a routine topic explored in the field of planning, with planning courses more regularly incorporating food systems planning. Planning studios, a cornerstone of planning education, provide students with an opportunity to blend the theory and methods they learn in their classes, applied to a real-world problem. In 2003 a studio was held at the University at Buffalo, resulting in the report Food for Growth: A Community Food System Plan for Buffalo’s West Side. Through interviews with students, community partners, and faculty, the chapter explores a series of questions: (1) How, and when, does a (food systems) studio course experience influence students, community, and faculty pathways? (2) How, and when do questions of ethics/equity drive or surface in the studio course experience? (3) What are the limitations and challenges of teaching a community-engaged food systems planning studio? The chapter offers a retrospective examination of the long-term possibilities and challenges of teaching a community-engaged food systems planning studio.
Healing the Racial Divide in Urban Agriculture
Authors: Riordan Molly , Rangarajan Anusuya
Published: March 2024

The promise of urban agriculture (UA) is in its potential to transform the communities around it. But who is able to farm in urban spaces and the intended goals of urban farms determines the extent to which that transformation exploits or confronts systemic and institutional racism. Based on a 2019 report, the authors consider the racial divide between “commercial” and “community” urban farms, including the racist policies and practices that make UA both possible and necessary. By reframing the value of UA, city planners and urban policy makers have an opportunity to promote a racially just food system. The chapter concludes with recommended strategies to support the transformational potential of UA.
The Food System: A Stranger to the Planning Field
Authors: Pothukuchi Kameshwari , Kaufman Jerome L.
Published: March 2024

Planning lays claim to being comprehensive, future-oriented, and public-interest driven, and of wanting to enhance the livability of communities. It is concerned with community systems—such as land use, housing, transportation, the environment, and the economy—and their interconnections. The food system, however, is notable by its absence from most planning practice, research, and education. We present evidence for the limited presence of the food system in planning’s list of concerns by scanning leading journals, texts, and classic writings, and by reporting on a survey of 22 U.S. city planning agencies. We analyze this low level of attention and discuss reasons and ideas for planning involvement to strengthen community food systems.
A Polycentric Vision for Governing the Urban Food Commons
Authors: Frimpong Boamah Emmanuel
Published: March 2024

This chapter uses polycentric governance as a lens for examining alternative governance visions for urban agriculture, or what I refer to as the urban food commons (UFCs). I draw ideas from the political and institutional economics of Vincent and Elinor Ostrom to discuss why UFCs cannot be governed through a one-size-fits-all institutional arrangement. I interlace my conceptual arguments with empirical examples, including examples from Kaufman and Bailkey’s classic work. Governing UFCs effectively, I argue, requires a mix of institutional arrangements involving centralized, decentralized, competitive market, cooperative, and command-and-control governance models. A polycentric governance vision moves us closer to building such diverse institutional arrangements to manage undesired outcomes, including the capacity to effectively internalize spillover effects from UFCs. I delineate four institutional design parameters (IDPs) to guide the design and evaluation of a polycentric governance vision for UFCs: (1) multiple decision centers (or actors) that can make decisions about UFCs, (2) opportunities for cross-scale and cross-sector interactions among UFC actors, (3) an overarching system of rules to guide decisions and interactions, and (4) adaptability of the rules to align with actors’ incentives and decisions emanating from the rules. I use Chicago’s nonprofit urban land trust NeighborSpace to illustrate how these IDPs manifest empirically.
Social Accountability in Morocco: Recurring Pressures and Sporadic Concessions
Authors: Colin Francesco
Published: March 2024

Amongst the institutional and societal changes that Morocco experienced in the last decades, accountability is becoming pivotal. The first article of the 2011 Constitution correlates responsibility with the rendering of accounts. However, important limitations to institutional accountability remain. This chapter aims to delve into local meanings and practices of social accountability, asking what accountability looks like for people in Morocco. After providing contextual information on Morocco’s overall accountability environment, the chapter looks at four dimensions of citizen engagement with social accountability: the multiple meanings that citizens ascribe to this notion, how these translate into diverse mobilisation methods, how authorities respond to citizen engagement and the overall outcome of these processes. This research showed that while the limited efficacy of institutional protocols for accountability taints citizens’ hopes for change, they still engage in a plethora of social accountability initiatives. Yet, such initiatives are far from systematically producing results. Local officials’ complicated relationship with civil society and limited ad hoc concessions further nuance the assessment of bottom-up demands for accountability. Regardless, civil society actors remain resolute in their struggles for change.
Social Accountability in Lebanon: Collaboration Rather Than Confrontation in Times of Crisis
Authors: Jadaoun Hicham
Published: March 2024

This chapter brings a case study of social accountability (SA) initiative in Lebanon, focusing on the relationship between community-based committees and municipalities. It explores different meanings of SA, which in this context focuses more on the possibility of people to question the municipality’s actions, and latter’s openness to this kind of questioning. SA therefore takes a more reactive form, and is more accepted in the case of failure to respond to people’s priorities, while steering away from financial accountability. Local actors emphasise direct communication as a primary tool for SA. Collaboration is more valued than confrontation as it seen as more likely to yield positive results and change. During the multifaceted crisis in Lebanon, citizens’ expectations of municipalities and their respective roles are shifting towards responding to basic needs. This is coinciding with municipalities’ diminished resources to fulfil their duties. Municipalities therefore look to local citizen committees for support. This opens the door for collaborative planning, if certain boundaries are respected.
On Data-Driven Optimization Methods in the Design and Control of Autonomous Systems
Authors: Sabug Lorenzo
Published: March 2024

In various applications in engineering, science, and other domains, we are faced with various difficult optimization problems, entailing the tuning or design of certain variables to minimize an objective function, subject to the satisfaction of constraints.
Indicators and Data in Spain Regarding Policies and Measures for the Mobilization of Investments into the Renovation of Buildings
Authors: Arbulu Markel , Gómez-Gil Marta , Rueda-Esteban Markel , Monzón-Chavarrías Marta , Espinosa-Fernández Almudena
Published: March 2024

Indicators are necessary in the building sector to measure whether the long-term renovation strategies of the European Union Member States deliver the necessary progress towards the transformation of the building stock into a decarbonized one. Policies and measures for the mobilization of investments into the renovation of buildings have been identified as key issues to be addressed in the decarbonization of the building sector. In this chapter, we propose indicators to measure the evolution in Spain of the policies and measures for the mobilization of investments into the renovation of buildings following the European Commission recommendations and directives. We also studied the sources of information available in Spain for the development of these indicators and developed them when there were data. This study allowed us to conclude that in this country, there are not enough data sources to develop relevant indicators that measure progress in policies and measures for the mobilization of investments into buildings renovation. The need to resort to different sources depending on the information required implies a loss of data and lack of accuracy.
Political Thought on Democracy Related to Political Parties
Authors: Fink-Hafner Danica
Published: March 2024

In a search for the link between parties and democracy, several strands of literature are analysed: early liberal thought, empirical liberalism literature and literature on illiberalism and a variety of post-World War II democratic ideals at the national, international and global levels. Political parties are found neither in early liberal thought nor in the many streams of the recent literature on forms of governing. Nevertheless, the real-life emergence and functioning of parties has put pressure on the literature on governing, within the fields of political thought and political science, to respond to their empirical existence.
Changes in the Party System (1989–2022)
Authors: Fink-Hafner Danica
Published: March 2024

Based on the indicators presented in Chapter5, four changes to the party system in Slovenia are revealed: the transitional party system (1989–1991); the consolidation of the first party system based on the 1991 constitution (1992–2000 elections); the destabilization of the first party system (2004–2008 elections); and the continuous radical renewal of the party system (2011–2022 elections). A comparative analysis of these four changes in the party system shows that party system fragmentation has been a constant characteristic. While the party system had become institutionalized during the 1990s, its deinstitutionalization started after the 2000 elections and radically intensified after the 2011 elections. Similarly, polarization was already increasing after the 2000 elections. The radical short-term decline in Slovenia’s democracy (2020–2021) cannot be explained without taking other factors into account.
Summary of Findings and Conclusions
Authors: Fink-Hafner Danica
Published: March 2024

This chapter summarizes the gaps in the theory about the role of parties in the context of changes in governing, where parties persist as political institutions with different roles in relation to democracy. In explaining the factors that have an impact on the relationship between parties and democracy, the case study confirms the important role of the economy, social inequality, civil society, a state of emergency and external factors (both supportive and damaging). Besides these, it offers additional political factors that have so far been overlooked. It also points to the relevance of variations in party and party system polarization and institutionalization, as well as in party models. The important role of political institutions is demonstrated by comparing Slovenia with other countries. As well as ideas for further comparative research, the conclusions point to the need to research parties and party systems while taking into account macro issues such as changing modes of capitalism, rapid and at the same time major technological innovations, political representation, government, transnational linkages and the accumulation of international crises.
On-Device Query Auto-completion for Email Search
Authors: Qiao Yifan , Godwin Otto , Ouyang Hua
Published: March 2024

Traditional query auto-completion (QAC) relies heavily on search logs collected over many users. However, in on-device email search, the scarcity of logs and the governing privacy constraints make QAC a challenging task. In this work, we propose an on-device QAC method that runs directly on users’ devices, where users’ sensitive data and interaction logs are not collected, shared, or aggregated through web services. This method retrieves candidates using pseudo relevance feedback, and ranks them based on relevance signals that explore the textual and structural information from users’ emails. We also propose a private corpora based evaluation method, and empirically demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method.
Large N expansion of mass deformed ABJM matrix model: M2-instanton condensation and beyond
Authors: Nosaka Tomoki
Published: March 2024

Abstract

We find new bilinear relations for the partition functions of the U(N)k × U(N + M)−k ABJ theory with two parameter mass deformation (m1, m2), which generalize the $$\mathfrak{q}$$-Toda-like equation found previously for m1 = m2. By combining the bilinear relations with the Seiberg-like dualities and the duality cascade relations, we can determine the exact values of the partition functions recursively with respect to N. This method is more efficient than the exact calculation by the standard TBA-like approach in the Fermi gas formalism. As an application we study the large N asymptotics of the partition function with the mass parameters in the supercritical regime where the large N expansion obtained for small mass parameters is invalid.
Evaluation of the influence of ultrasonic vibration on physical, tensile, and morphological properties of fused deposition modeled specimens
Authors: Quader Raihan , Klinstein Leo , Grewell David , Narayanan Lokesh Karthik
Published: March 2024

The use of fused deposition modeling (FDM) in printing polymers for various applications has been ever increasing. However, its utilization in printing polymers for high-strength and superior surface finish applications is still a challenge, primarily due to process intrinsic defects, i.e., voids between the layers and the rough exterior arising from unrestrained deposition of molten polymer. This research hypothesizes that application of ultrasonic vibration (USV) post-fabrication could minimize these shortcomings. For this investigation, ASTM D638 Type IV samples were FDM-printed using poly(lactic) acid (PLA). Through screening experiments, an optimized set of ultrasonic parameters was determined. Then, the effect of both-sided ultrasonic application was characterized. Subsequently, the impact of USV on the samples’ physical, tensile, and morphological properties was examined by varying the layer height, infill patterns, and % infill density. Up to 70% roughness reduction was observed as a result of post-FDM ultrasonic application. Additionally, the tensile strength of the samples increased by up to 15.31%. Moreover, for some lower % infill samples, post-ultrasonic tensile strengths were higher than 100% infill control samples. Analysis of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray computed tomography (CT) imagery indicated enhanced layer consolidation and reduced void presence in samples treated with ultrasonic. The combination of ultrasonic-generated heat and downward pressure promoted a synergistic squeeze flow and intermolecular diffusion across consecutive layers of polymers. As a result, increased tensile strength and surface finish were achieved while dimensional change was marginal.
Four-period integration oversampling method (4PIOM) for hardware-in-the-loop power converters with complementary switches
Authors: Zamiri Elyas , Sanchez Alberto , de Castro Angel
Published: March 2024

This paper addresses aliasing oscillations encountered in hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation caused by inaccurate duty cycle detection in high-frequency power electronic applications. Oversampling has been commonly used as a solution to detect switching events more accurately. Traditional oversampling methods use the extra information obtained by oversampling the inputs for further computations to enhance the precision of the simulation. However, these techniques increase the complexity of the model since they take into account several switch states during each simulation step. To mitigate these complexities, the integration oversampling method (IOM) was introduced as a recent alternative with minimum impact on the model complexity. IOM provides a modified switching pattern that effectively prevents aliasing oscillations while maintaining a single switch-state for each simulation step. It can be implemented as an independent block between the controller and the HIL model, so it keeps the HIL model unchanged. This study highlights the limitations detected in applying IOM to the models with complementary switches, including possible undesired short circuits. To overcome these limitations, a novel oversampling method called 4PIOM is presented. 4PIOM further enhances the IOM algorithm by reducing the simulation step and sampling period. The validity of the new method is demonstrated by comparison with previous proposals and also with the same model without any oversampling. Both experimental and MATLAB simulation results prove its superior performance in attenuating the aliasing oscillations and improving the quality of the simulation.
On splittings and integration of almost periodic functions with and without geometry
Authors: Budde Christian , Kreulich Josef
Published: March 2024

Recently, the authors introduced the notion of weighted semigroups which apply to sun-dual semigroups and especially to the translation semigroup on the space of left continuous functions with values in dual spaces. In this article, we will show that it is sufficient that we either assume geometry on the Banach, or an abelian structure on the minimal subgroup to prove almost periodicity. This yields a different approach to the almost periodicity of semigroups and integrals, by extending Basit generalized Kadets result to general groups, to obtain almost periodicity.
Berberine chloride suppresses pancreatic adenocarcinoma proliferation and growth by targeting inflammation-related genes: an in silico analysis with in vitro and vivo validation
Authors: Ruan Lin-jie , Jiao Ju-ying , Cheng Chienshan , Zhang Yuan , Cao Zhang-qi , He Ba , Chen Zhen
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Targeting inflammatory crosstalk between tumors and their microenvironment has emerged as a crucial method for suppressing pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) progression. Berberine (BBR) is a natural pentacyclic isoquinoline alkaloid known for its anti-inflammatory and antitumor pharmacological effects; however, the mechanism underlying PAAD suppression remains unclear. We aim to investigate the effects of BBR on PAAD progression and their underlying mechanisms.

Methods

The prognostic value of inflammation-related genes in PAAD was assessed using bioinformatics analyses, then the pharmacological effects and potential mechanisms of BBR on PAAD will be investigated in silico, in vitro, and in vivo.

Results

Fifty-eight prognostic inflammation-related genes were identified in PAAD, which were shown to have good sensitivity and specificity using a novel inflammation-related gene risk-prognosis prediction model. Among these, four candidate genes (CAPS3, PTGS2, ICAM1, and CXCR4) were predicted as targets of BBR in PAAD in silico. Molecular docking simulations showed that the four key targets docked well with BBR. Further BBR treatment suppressed cell proliferation, colony formation, and induced cell cycle arrest in vitro. Moreover, BBR exhibited a significant tumor-suppressive effect in murine subcutaneous xenografts without macroscopic hepatic and renal toxicities. In addition, BBR downregulated CAPS3, PTGS2, ICAM1, and CXCR4 protein expression.

Conclusion

This study not only elucidated the prognostic value of inflammation-related genes in PAAD but also demonstrated the potential of BBR to inhibit PAAD by targeting these genes.
Observations of Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) supernumerary nipples
Authors: Anderson Alissa K. , Levinson Parker M. , Conklin Avalon , Rotella Jay J.
Published: March 2024

A wide variety of nipple locations and configurations exist among pinnipeds. Like all marine mammals, pinnipeds can have supernumerary nipples that form in utero. Supernumerary nipples have been documented in several species of pinnipeds, the only taxonomic group of marine mammals with variation in nipple number. We document multiple observations (n = 4) of female Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) with supernumerary nipples in Erebus Bay, Antarctica, including a female Weddell seal with four nipples that was observed nursing two pups. Intraspecific variation in the number of supernumerary nipples observed included both one and two supernumerary nipples. The majority of the observed supernumerary nipples were nursed on by pups, but lactation was unable to be confirmed. These are the first documented observations of supernumerary nipples in Weddell seals.
Improving depth uncertainty in plenoptic camera-based velocimetry
Authors: Moaven Mahyar , Gururaj Abbishek , Raghav Vrishank , Thurow Brian
Published: March 2024

This work describes the development of a particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) algorithm designed to improve three-dimensional (3D), three-component velocity field measurements using a single plenoptic camera. Particular focus is on mitigating the longstanding depth uncertainty issues that have traditionally plagued plenoptic particle image velocimetry (PIV) experiments by leveraging the camera’s ability to generate multiple perspective views of a scene in order to assist both particle triangulation and tracking. 3D positions are first estimated via light field ray bundling (LFRB) whereby particle rays are projected into the measurement volume using image-to-object space mapping. Tracking is subsequently performed independently within each perspective view, providing a statistical amalgamation of each particle’s predicted motion through time in order to help guide 3D trajectory estimation while simultaneously protecting the tracking algorithm from physically unreasonable fluctuations in particle depth positions. A synthetic performance assessment revealed a reduction in the average depth errors obtained by LFRB as compared to the conventional multiplicative algebraic reconstruction technique when estimating particle locations. Further analysis using a synthetic vortex ring at a magnification of − 0.6 demonstrated plenoptic-PIV capable of maintaining the equivalent of 0.1–0.15 voxel accuracy in the depth domain at a spacing to displacement ratio of 5.3–10.5, an improvement of 84–89% compared to plenoptic-PIV. Experiments were conducted at a spacing to displacement ratio of approximately 5.8 to capture the 3D flow field around a rotor within the rotating reference frame. The resulting plenoptic-PIV/PTV vector fields were evaluated with reference to a fixed frame stereoscopic-PIV (stereo-PIV) validation experiment. A systematic depth-wise (radial) component of velocity directed toward the wingtip, consistent with observations from prior literature and stereo-PIV experiments, was captured by plenoptic-PTV at magnitudes similar to the validation data. In contrast, the plenoptic-PIV did not discern any coherent indication of radial motion. Our algorithm constitutes a significant advancement in enhancing the functionality and versatility of single-plenoptic camera flow diagnostics by directly addressing the primary limitation associated with plenoptic imaging.

Graphical abstract
Crystallisation of trapped carbonate–silicate melts terminating at the carbonated solidus ledge: a record of carbon immobilisation mechanism in the lithospheric mantle
Authors: Haifler Jakub , Kotková Jana , Čopjaková Renata
Published: March 2024

Orogenic peridotites in the crystalline basement of the northwestern Bohemian Massif contain multiphase solid inclusions (MSI), which are interpreted to be crystallisation products of trapped former carbonate–silicate melts metasomatizing their host rocks. We applied conventional thermobarometry and forward thermodynamic modelling to constrain the P–T evolution ranging from the peak metamorphic conditions of the investigated harzburgite and lherzolite, through entrapment of the melts in the outer parts of garnets, to the (re)-equilibration of the MSI assemblages. The peak conditions of c. 1100 °C/4.5–5.5 GPa are recorded by garnet cores and large pyroxene porphyroclasts. The melt entrapment, during which garnet outer parts grew, was associated with influx of the metasomatizing liquids and probably took place during the early stage of the exhumation. Thermodynamic model of amphibole-free MSI assemblage comprising kinoshitalite/Ba-rich phlogopite (approximated by phlogopite in the model), dolomite, magnesite, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, garnet and chromite provided robust estimate of P and T of its (re)-equilibration, c. 900–1000 °C, 1.8–2.2 GPa. Furthermore, the lack of olivine reflects co-existence of COH fluid with high X(CO2) = CO2/(CO2 + H2O) ≥ 0.6. Models employing identical P–T–X(CO2) parameters successfully reproduced the other two amphibole-bearing assemblages observed. The modelled stability fields show perfect alignment with a characteristic isobaric segment of the solidus curve of carbonated peridotite. This co-incidence implies that the (re)-equilibration corresponds to the termination of the melt crystallisation once the near-isothermal exhumation path intersected the solidus. Decreased solubility of silicates at the carbonated peridotite “solidus ledge”, inferred from the published experimental data, as well as concentric textures of some MSI indicates sequential crystallisation from the early silicates to late dolomite. The carbonated “solidus ledge” is a relatively narrow boundary in the lithospheric mantle capable of an abrupt immobilisation of fluxing or transported carbonated melts. The investigated rocks are estimated to store approximately 0.02 kg C/m3 (or 6 ppm C) occurring as carbonates in the MSI.
Joubert syndrome-derived induced pluripotent stem cells show altered neuronal differentiation in vitro
Authors: De Mori Roberta , Tardivo Silvia , Pollara Lidia , Giliani Silvia Clara , Ali Eltahir , Giordano Lucio , Leuzzi Vincenzo , Fischetto Rita , Gener Blanca , Diprima Santo , Morelli Marco J. , Monti Maria Cristina , Sottile Virginie , Valente Enza Maria
Published: March 2024

Joubert syndrome (JS) is a recessively inherited congenital ataxia characterized by hypotonia, psychomotor delay, abnormal ocular movements, intellectual disability, and a peculiar cerebellar and brainstem malformation, the “molar tooth sign.” Over 40 causative genes have been reported, all encoding for proteins implicated in the structure or functioning of the primary cilium, a subcellular organelle widely present in embryonic and adult tissues. In this paper, we developed an in vitro neuronal differentiation model using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), to evaluate possible neurodevelopmental defects in JS. To this end, iPSCs from four JS patients harboring mutations in distinct JS genes (AHI1, CPLANE1, TMEM67, and CC2D2A) were differentiated alongside healthy control cells to obtain mid-hindbrain precursors and cerebellar granule cells. Differentiation was monitored over 31 days through the detection of lineage-specific marker expression by qRT-PCR, immunofluorescence, and transcriptomics analysis. All JS patient-derived iPSCs, regardless of the mutant gene, showed a similar impairment to differentiate into mid-hindbrain and cerebellar granule cells when compared to healthy controls. In addition, analysis of primary cilium count and morphology showed notable ciliary defects in all differentiating JS patient-derived iPSCs compared to controls. These results confirm that patient-derived iPSCs are an accessible and relevant in vitro model to analyze cellular phenotypes connected to the presence of JS gene mutations in a neuronal context.
Timing of readmissions for complications following emergency colectomy: follow-up beyond post-operative day 30 matters
Authors: Caminsky Natasha G. , Moon Jeongyoon , Marinescu Daniel , Pang Allison J. , Vasilevsky Carol-Ann , Boutros Marylise
Published: March 2024

Background and purpose

Emergency colectomies are associated with a higher risk of complications compared to elective ones. A critical assessment of complications occurring beyond post-operative day 30 (POD30) is lacking. This study aimed to assess the readmission rate and factors associated with readmission 6-months following emergency colectomy.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of adult patients who underwent emergency colectomy (2010–2018) was performed using the Nationwide Readmissions Database. The cohort was divided into two groups: (i) no readmission and (ii) emergency readmission(s) for complications related to colectomy (defined using ICD-9/10 codes). Readmissions were categorized as either “early” (POD0–30) or “late” (> POD30). Differences between groups were described and multivariable regression controlling for relevant covariates defined a priori were used to identify factors associated with timing of readmission and cost.

Results

Of 141,481 eligible cases, 13.22% (n = 18,699) were readmitted within 6-months of emergency colectomy for colectomy-related complications, 61.63% of which were “late” readmissions (> POD30). The most common reasons for “late” readmission were for bleeding, gastrointestinal, and infectious complications (20.80%, 25.30%, and 32.75%, respectively). On multiple logistic regression, female gender (OR 1.12; 95%CI 1.04–1.21), open procedures (OR 1.12, 95%CI 1.011–1.24), and sigmoidectomies (OR 1.51, 95%CI 1.39–1.65, relative to right hemicolectomies) were the strongest predictors of “late” readmission. On multiple linear regression, “late” readmissions were associated with a $1717.09 USD (95%CI $1717.05–$1717.12) increased cost compared to “early” readmissions.

Discussion

The majority of colectomy-related readmissions following emergency colectomy occur beyond POD30 and are associated with cases that are of overall higher morbidity, as well as open sigmoidectomies. Given the associated increased cost of care, mitigation of such readmissions by close follow-up prior to and beyond POD30 is advisable.
Gel polymer electrolyte-based dual screen-printed electrodes for the headspace quantification of 4-ethylphenol and ethanethiol simultaneously in wines
Authors: Portugal-Gómez Paula , Domínguez-Renedo Olga , Alonso-Lomillo M. Asunción
Published: March 2024

The identification and correction of negative factors, such as 4-ethylphenol and ethanethiol, is important to comply with food safety regulations and avoid economic losses to wineries. A simple amperometric measurement procedure that facilitates the simultaneous quantification of both compounds in the gas phase has been developed using fullerene and cobalt (II) phthalocyanine-modified dual screen-printed electrodes coated with a room temperature ionic liquid-based gel polymer electrolyte. The replacement of the typical aqueous supporting electrolyte by low-volatility ones improves both operational and storage lifetime. Under the optimum conditions of the experimental variables, Britton Robinson buffer pH 5 and applied potentials of + 0.86 V and + 0.40 V for each working electrode (vs. Ag ref. electrode), reproducibility values of 7.6% (n = 3) for 4-ethylphenol and 6.6% (n = 3) for ethanethiol were obtained, as well as capability of detection values of 23.8 μg/L and decision limits of 1.3 μg/L and 9.2 μg/L (α = β = 0.05), respectively. These dual electrochemical devices have successfully been applied to the headspace detection of both compounds in white and red wines, showing their potential to be routinely used for rapid analysis control in wineries.

Graphical Abstract
Braided motivations for Iceland’s first wave of mass emigration to North America after the 1875 Askja eruption
Authors: Büntgen Ulf , Eggertsson Olafur , Oppenheimer Clive
Published: March 2024

More than 14,000 Icelanders emigrated to North America between 1870 and 1914 CE. Mass movement from Iceland accelerated the year after the explosive eruption of Askja in 1875, and both contemporary and recent commentators have linked the two circumstances. Despite an abundant scholarship on Icelandic emigration in this period, the direct and indirect roles of the eruption as a possible stimulus remain unclear. Here, we engage critically with a range of contemporary source materials as well as meteorological and climatological information to re-assess where Askja fits into the picture of Iceland’s first wave of mass migration. We find that emigration was undoubtedly fuelled by the hardships of Icelanders and their growing contacts with countrymen already in the Americas, and that the highest proportions of emigrants came from counties most directly impacted by the Askja eruption. However, it also emerges that the eruption served as a lever for interested parties in Britain and Canada to persuade large numbers of desirable migrants to settle in North America. Our study highlights the opportunities that discrete episodes of volcanic activity present to probe the complex interrelationships of nature and society.