bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Was Fahrräder mit der Kreislaufwirtschaft und den SDGs zu tun haben
Authors: Gelbmann Ulrike , Schachner Nathanael , Schöggl Josef Peter
Published: March 2024

Mobilität und Kreislaufwirtschaft hängen enger zusammen als nur über das Recycling von Fahrzeugen. Anhand der (Mobilität mit) Fahrrädern untersuchen wir diesen Zusammenhang und setzen ihn in Kontext mit den Sustainable Development Goals. Dafür verwenden wir den Rahmen eines erweiterten Kreislaufwirtschaftsmodells. Als Fallbeispiel für die Erhebung und Analyse dient die Stadt Graz, anhand derer wir in einer umfassenden Sekundäranalyse Ansatzpunkte für Kreislaufwirtschaft mit Fahrrädern erheben. Diese setzen wir in Vergleich zu den drei fahrradfreundlichsten Städten der Welt gemäß Bicycle Cities Index von 2022.

Dabei zeigt sich, dass Fahrräder eine wichtige Stellung nicht nur in der Mobilitätspolitik, sondern auch in einer erweiterten Kreislaufwirtschaft einnehmen und auf allen Stufen der Kreislaufwirtschaft gut verankert werden können. Neben Sharingmodellen spielen die Intensivierung und Verbesserung der Nutzung ebenso eine wichtige Rolle wie die Weitergabe bzw. Wiederverwendung gebrauchter Fahrräder und die Reparatur defekter Fahrräder. Ist eine Instandsetzung nicht mehr möglich, so können Fahrräder mit neuen Komponenten versehen werden oder umgekehrt noch gebrauchstaugliche Komponenten von ansonsten kaputten Fahrrädern zu neuen Rädern zusammengebaut werden. Erst dann sind aus Kreislaufwirtschaftssicht Recycling und energetische Nutzung brennbarer Teile sinnvoll. Flankiert werden diese Aktivitäten durch Bereitstellung von Infrastruktur wie Radwegen, Aktivitäten zur Information und Sensibilisierung der Bevölkerung sowie finanzielle Förderung und Unterstützung durch die öffentliche Hand.

Die Analyse des Kontexts mit den Sustainable Development Goals erschließt, dass zumindest zehn (Unter‑)Ziele in engem Zusammenhang mit den genannten Aktivitäten stehen. Somit wird eine enge Verflechtung der Kreislaufwirtschaft mit den Sustainable Development Goals untermauert.
Carbapenem or new β-lactam-β-lactamase inhibitors? An Italian survey supported by SITA, SIMIT and SIAARTI to identify the factors affecting empiric antimicrobial therapy choice in real-life clinical practice
Authors: Colaneri Marta , Genovese Camilla , Lombardi Andrea , Holmes Darcy , Bandera Alessandra , Gori Andrea
Published: March 2024

While a tailored antibiotic treatment plan is often straightforward, what we often observe in daily clinical practice is a highly variable approach when defining empirical therapy. Specifically, a debate exists on preference to spare the new β-lactams and β-lactamase inhibitors (BL-BLIs) or to apply a carbapenem-sparing strategy first. To investigate, we designed a web survey aimed at investigating the variables considered relevant to empirically choosing one antibiotic over the other. Submitted to Italian infectious diseases and intensive care physicians through the support of Società Italiana di Malattie Infettive e Tropicali (SIMIT), Società Italiana di Terapia Antinfettiva (SITA) and Società Italiana Anestesia, Analgesia, Rianimazione e Terapia Intensiva (SIAARTI). We found that demographic characteristics were irrelevant when deciding for empirical therapy. Clinical and anamnestic data were most meaningful. Significantly considered were underlying comorbidities and previous exposure to antimicrobial treatments. History of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant, carbapenem-resistant and/or metallo-β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales rectal colonisation and/or infection were considered the most relevant by most physicians. Unexpectedly, clinicians considered less the source of infection. These results prompt the need of straightforward methods to retrieve medical histories and the magnitude of rectal colonisation data, often not routinely obtained.
A new proximal heavy ball inexact line-search algorithm
Authors: Bonettini S. , Prato M. , Rebegoldi S.
Published: March 2024

We study a novel inertial proximal-gradient method for composite optimization. The proposed method alternates between a variable metric proximal-gradient iteration with momentum and an Armijo-like linesearch based on the sufficient decrease of a suitable merit function. The linesearch procedure allows for a major flexibility on the choice of the algorithm parameters. We prove the convergence of the iterates sequence towards a stationary point of the problem, in a Kurdyka–Łojasiewicz framework. Numerical experiments on a variety of convex and nonconvex problems highlight the superiority of our proposal with respect to several standard methods, especially when the inertial parameter is selected by mimicking the Conjugate Gradient updating rule.
Hormetic effects of thiamethoxam on Schizaphis graminum: demographics and feeding behavior
Authors: Gul Hina , Haq Ihsan ul , Ullah Farman , Khan Shanza , Yaseen Aqsa , Tariq Kaleem , Güncan Ali , Desneux Nicolas , Liu Xiaoxia
Published: March 2024

In agroecosystems, insects contend with chemical insecticides often encountered at sublethal concentrations. Insects’ exposure to these mild stresses may induce hormetic effects, which has consequences for managing insect pests. In this study, we used an electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique to investigate the feeding behavior and an age-stage, two-sex life table approach to estimate the sublethal effects of thiamethoxam on greenbug,Schizaphis graminum. The LC5and LC10of thiamethoxam significantly decreased longevity and fecundity of directly exposed adult aphids (F0). However, the adult longevity, fecundity, and reproductive days (RPd)—indicating the number of days in which the females produce offspring – in the progeny generation (F1) exhibited significant increase when parental aphids (F0) were treated with LC5of the active ingredient. Subsequently, key demographic parameters such as intrinsic rate of increase (r) and net reproductive rate (R0) significantly increased at LC5treatment. EPG recordings showed that total durations of non-probing (Np), intercellular stylet pathway (C), and salivary secretion into the sieve element (E1) were significantly increased, while mean duration of probing (Pr) and total duration of phloem sap ingestion and concurrent salivation (E2) were decreased in F0adults exposed to LC5and LC10. Interestingly, in the F1generation, total duration of Np was significantly decreased while total duration of E2 was increased in LC5treatment. Taken together, our results showed that an LC5 of thiamethoxam induces intergenerational hormetic effects on the demographic parameters and feeding behavior of F1individuals ofS. graminum. These findings have important implications on chemical control againstS. graminumand highlight the need for a deeper understanding of the ecological consequences of such exposures within pest management strategies across the agricultural landscapes.
Habitat amount and edge effects, not perch proximity, nest exposure, or vegetation diversity affect cowbird parasitism in agricultural landscapes
Authors: Stephenson Matthew D. , Yuza Kyla L. , Schulte Lisa A. , Klaver Robert W.
Published: March 2024

Context

Prior research documented relationships between brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) brood parasitism and edge effects, proximity of perches, and nest exposure. Those relationships have not been evaluated in agroecosystems containing extremes of fragmentation and vegetation diversity.

Objectives

We compared three existing hypotheses on how cowbirds locate host nests with two new hypotheses regarding habitat amount and vegetation diversity to determine how the configuration and location of agricultural conservation practices affect grassland bird nest parasitism rates and predicted rates for eight common conservation practices.

Methods

We assessed cowbird parasitism of grassland bird nests on corn and soybean farms in Iowa, USA, and measured perch proximity, nest exposure, edge effects, habitat amount, and vegetation diversity for each nest. We fit a global generalized linear mixed-effects model and compared importance of model parameters using odds ratios. We predicted parasitism likelihood for every subset model and averaged predictions to explore individual effects.

Results

The variables that most influenced parasitism rates included main effects for nest initiation day-of-season (OR = 0.71, CI95= 0.60–0.84) and the landscape variables of distance to nearest crop edge (0.63, 0.51–0.76) and proportion of grass land cover within 660 m (0.75, 0.57–1.00). We found little support that perch proximity, nest exposure, or native vegetation diversity affected parasitism. We also assessed parasitism likelihood by conservation practice and found no significant differences.

Conclusions

Our results provide evidence to support the edge effect and habitat amount hypotheses, but not the nest exposure, vegetation diversity, or perch proximity hypotheses.
Political Speech on Campus: Shifting the Emphasis from “if” to “how”
Authors: Clemens Mario , Hochmuth Christian
Published: March 2024

Universities in many liberal democracies, such as the US, the UK, or Germany, grapple with a pivotal question: how much room should be given to controversial utterances? On the one side, there are those who advocate for limiting permissible speech on campus to create a safe environment for a diverse student body and counter the mainstreaming of extremist views, particularly by right-wing populists. On the other side, concerns arise about stifling the free exchange of ideas and creating an atmosphere of fear and censorship. The debate is further complicated by participants’ occasional uncertainties about the legal norms relevant in the given context, such as when freedom of speech is an issue and when it is not. This paper addresses the question of whether universities should allow actors with primarily political (as opposed to scholarly) agendas to speak on campus. Focusing on German universities, we begin by discussing some of the potentially relevant legal norms. We then propose shifting emphasis from whether we should make room for public political discussions on campus to how such events must be organized so that they deliver the goods that their advocates emphasize while avoiding the dangers of which critics warn. Drawing on conflict management literature concerned with process design, we make several practical suggestions on how to organize an event that brings political discourse to the university campus without causing harm.
The lncRNA lnc_AABR07044470.1 promotes the mitochondrial-damaged inflammatory response to neuronal injury via miR-214-3p/PERM1 axis in acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Wang Meng , Li Hong , Qian Yulin , Zhao Shanshan , Wang Hao , Wang Yu , Yu Tao
Published: March 2024

Purpose

We investigated the role of lnc_AABR07044470.1 on the occurrence and development of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and neuronal injury by targeting the miR-214-3p/PERM1 axis to find a novel clinical drug target and prediction and treatment of AIS.

Methods

The mouse AIS animal model was used in vivo experiments and hypoxia/reoxygenation cell model in vitro was established. Firstly, infarction volume and pathological changes of mouse hippocampal neurons were detected using HE staining. Secondly, rat primary neuron apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry assay. The numbers of neuron, microglia and astrocytes were detected using immunofluorescence (IF). Furthermore, binding detection was performed by bioinformatics database and double luciferase reporter assay. Lnc_AABR07044470.1 localization was performed using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).Lnc_AABR07044470.1, miR-214-3pand PERM1mRNA expression was performed using RT-qPCR. NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and PERM1 protein expression was performed using Western blotting. IL-1β was detected by ELISA assay.

Results

Mouse four-vessel occlusion could easily establish the animal model, and AIS animal model had an obvious time-dependence. HE staining showed that, compared with the sham group, infarction volume and pathological changes of mouse hippocampal neurons were deteriorated in the model group. Furthermore, compared with the sham group, neurons were significantly reduced, while microglia and astrocytes were significantly activated. Moreover, the bioinformatics prediction and detection of double luciferase reporter confirmed the binding site of lnc_AABR07044470.1 to miR-214-3p and miR-214-3p to Perm1. lnc_AABR07044470.1 and PERM1 expression was significantly down-regulated and miR-214-3pexpression was significantly up-regulated in AIS animal model in vivo. At the same time, the expression of inflammasome NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and pro-inflammatory factor IL-1β was significantly up-regulated in vivo and in vitro. The over-expression of lnc_AABR07044470.1 and miR-214-3p inhibitor could inhibit the neuron apoptosis and the expression of inflammasome NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and pro-inflammatory factor IL-1β and up-regulate the expression of PERM1 in vitro. Finally, over-expression of lnc_AABR07044470.1 and miR-214-3p inhibitor transfected cell model was significant in relieving the AIS and neuronal injury.

Conclusion

Lnc_AABR07044470.1 promotes inflammatory response to neuronal injury via miR-214-3p/PERM1 axis in AIS.
Post-Trump masculinity in popular romance novels
Authors: Kluger Johanna
Published: March 2024

As an almost exclusively female-dominated medium, the popular romance novel has, throughout its history, allowed women writers to “amplify their political voice” (Teo, 2016, p. 102), especially when they could not actively participate in politics. Commonly, writers fashion storylines that reflect and process concerns from the real world in a fictional context. Using the Regency Romance as an example and based on Jayashree Kamblé’s theory that romance novels have a shared DNA that evolves in response to social and cultural influences, this paper first defines the figure of the romance hero in the pre-Trump era to segue into analysing selected novels published by Tessa Dare in 2011 (A night to surrender) and Sarah MacLean in 2012 (A rogue by any other name). This figure is then compared and contrasted with the incarnations of the hero in these authors’ publications from 2017 (The day of the duchess by MacLean) and 2019 (The wallflower wager by Dare) to map how his phenotype has evolved to reflect a shift in cultural perceptions regarding sex and sexual power dynamics. As I intend to show, in the wake of the 2016 US presidential election and the “#MeToo” movement, the new hero’s phenotype differs specifically in the expression of gendered power and sexuality. He is less forceful than his predecessors and places heavy emphasis on the heroine’s enthusiastic consent and pleasure.
An investigation of Fokas system using two new modifications for the trigonometric and hyperbolic trigonometric function methods
Authors: Mahmud Adnan Ahmad , Muhamad Kalsum Abdulrahman , Tanriverdi Tanfer , Baskonus Haci Mehmet
Published: March 2024

In this work, two new adaptations for the trigonometric and hyperbolic trigonometric function approaches have been presented. These two modifications, entitled modified extended rational $$\sin$$
sin
–$$\cos$$
cos
function technique and modified extended rational $$\sinh$$
sinh
–$$\cosh$$
cosh
function method, have been applied for the first time to the Fokas system that represents the nonlinear pulse propagation in monomode fiber optics. We intend to produce innovative, explicit traveling waves, solitons, and periodic wave solutions. These achieved outcomes are presented in the form of exponential functions, trigonometric hyperbolic functions, and combination constructions of the exponential functions along with the trigonometric and hyperbolic trigonometric functions. The obtained solutions reveal significant features of the physical phenomenon and are new. The investigated model incorporates the notions of dispersion, transverse diffusion, degree of dispersion, nonlinear pairing, nonlinear immersion, and the force of the nonlinear interaction among the two components of the system. For the most accurate visual evaluation of the physical importance and dynamic properties, we have presented the findings in a variety of plots, which involve two- and three-dimensional representations. One or more elements in our research that are unique, such as newly modified methodologies, is a new observation that leads researchers to invest in new solutions.
Sufficientarianism and incommensurability
Authors: Cato Susumu
Published: March 2024

This paper proposes a sufficientarian theory with an interval of sufficiency levels. I assume that there are upper and lower bounds of sufficiency and that all well-being levels in between can be considered sufficiency levels. This interval reflects the vagueness of the concept of sufficiency. According to the proposed principle, a distribution is morally better than another if and only if, for each threshold within the interval, the headcount of those below the threshold under the former distribution is smaller than that under the latter distribution. This necessarily leads to incommensurability in moral relations. I argue that such incommensurability makes sufficientarian principles invulnerable to some fundamental objections.
Bayesian variable selection for matrix autoregressive models
Authors: Celani Alessandro , Pagnottoni Paolo , Jones Galin
Published: March 2024

A Bayesian method is proposed for variable selection in high-dimensional matrix autoregressive models which reflects and exploits the original matrix structure of data to (a) reduce dimensionality and (b) foster interpretability of multidimensional relationship structures. A compact form of the model is derived which facilitates the estimation procedure and two computational methods for the estimation are proposed: a Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm and a scalable Bayesian EM algorithm. Being based on the spike-and-slab framework for fast posterior mode identification, the latter enables Bayesian data analysis of matrix-valued time series at large scales. The theoretical properties, comparative performance, and computational efficiency of the proposed model is investigated through simulated examples and an application to a panel of country economic indicators.
Comparison of the applicability of seven calculation equations of glomerular filtration rate among elderly people in China
Authors: Zhu Weiwei , Zhang Yingyu , Chen Shutao , Sui Yang , Wang Xufang , Li Wei , Juan Chenxia , Zhou Yan , Gao Kun
Published: March 2024

Background

At present, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) remains the most frequently utilized parameter in the evaluation of kidney injury severity. Numerous equations have been formulated based on serum creatinine (Scr) or serum cystatin C (Cysc) levels. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding the efficacy of these equations in assessing eGFR, particularly for elderly individuals in China. This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of the MDRD, MDRDc, CKD-EPI series, BIS1, and FAS equations within the Chinese elderly population.

Methods

A cohort of 298 elderly patients with measured GFR (mGFR) was enrolled. The patients were categorized into three subgroups based on their mGFR levels. The eGFR performance was examined, taking into account bias, interquartile range (IQR), accuracy P30, and root-mean-square error (RMSE). Bland–Altman plots were employed to verify the validity of eGFR.

Results

The participants had a median age of 71 years, with 167 (56.0%) being male. Overall, no significant differences in bias were observed among the seven equations (P > 0.05). In terms of IQR, P30, and RMSE, the BIS1 equation demonstrated superior accuracy (14.61, 72.1%, and 13.53, respectively). When mGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2, all equations underestimated the true GFR, with the highest accuracy reaching only 59%. Bland–Altman plots indicated that the BIS1 equation exhibited the highest accuracy, featuring a 95% confidence interval (CI) width of 52.37.

Conclusions

This study suggested that the BIS1 equation stands out as the most applicable for estimating GFR in Chinese elderly patients with normal renal function or only moderate decline. 2020NL-085-03, 2020.08.10, retrospectively registered.
Influence of anthropogenic activities on metals, sugars and PAHs in PM10 in the city of Fez, Morocco: Implications on air quality
Authors: Deabji Nabil , Fomba Khanneh Wadinga , dos Santos Souza Eduardo José , Mellouki Abdelwahid , Herrmann Hartmut
Published: March 2024

Particulate matter (PM) is an important component in the atmosphere, affecting air quality, health, radiation balance, and global climate. To assess regional air quality in the city of Fez, an intensive field campaign was carried out in the autumn of 2019 in the Middle Atlas region of Morocco. Aerosol sampling was performed simultaneously at two urban sites in the city of Fez: (1) Fez University (FU), a sub-urban site, and (2) Fez Parc (FP), an urban site located in the city center of Fez, using PM10 collectors. Various laboratory analyses were carried out, including PM mass, trace metals, inorganic ions, OC/EC, sugar compounds, and PAHs. The results indicate that the PM10 mass (61 ng m−3) was comparable at both sites, with a 37–107 ng m−3 range. Most of the 19 investigated PAHs at the FU site (10.2 ± 6.2 ng m−3) were low-molecular-weight PAHs, while the most abundant PAHs at the FP site (6.9 ± 3.8 ng m−3) were mainly higher-molecular-weight PAHs. A diagnostic ratio analysis at both sites indicated that PAHs originated from fossil fuel combustion and traffic emissions from diesel engines, with Ant/(Ant + Phe) and Flu/(Flu + Pyr) ratios averaging 0.22 and 0.84, respectively. PMF analysis identified traffic emissions as a major source (30%), with secondary inorganic aerosols (20%) and biomass burning (14%). Polar plots highlight the dominance of local anthropogenic activities in PM pollution, with vehicular emissions, industrial activities, and biomass burning. This study shows that local sources and combustion processes significantly contribute to PM10 sources in Morocco, providing insights into air pollution mitigation in North Africa.
Gamma irradiation and ozone application as preservation methods for longer-term storage of bee pollen
Authors: Al Naggar Yahya , Taha Ibrahim M. , Taha El-Kazafy A. , Zaghlool Ayman , Nasr Ali , Nagib Ashraf , Elhamamsy Sam M. , Abolaban Gomaa , Fahmy Alaa , Hegazy Eslam , Metwaly Khaled H. , Zahra Abdullah A.
Published: March 2024

Bee pollen is a healthy product with a good nutritional profile and therapeutic properties. Its high moisture content, however, promotes the growth of bacteria, molds, and yeast during storage commonly result in product degradation. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of gamma irradiation (GI) and ozone (OZ) as bee pollen preservation methods for longer storage time, as well as whether they are influenced by pollen species. To do that, GI at a dosage of 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 kGy was applied at a rate of 0.68 kGy/h and OZ application at a concentration of 0.01, 0.02, and 0.03 g/m3 was applied for one time for 6 h, to Egyptian clover and maize bee pollen, then stored at ambient temperature for 6 months. We then determined the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity of treated and non-treated pollen samples at 0, 3, and 6 months of storage. Total bacteria, mold, and yeast count were also evaluated at 0, 2, 4, and 6 months. Statistical analyses revealed that, TPC, antioxidant, and microbial load of both clover and maize pollen samples were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by both treatment and storage time and their interaction. Both methods were extremely effective at preserving the antioxidant properties of pollen samples after 6 months of storage at room temperature. Furthermore, the highest concentrations of both GI and OZ applications completely protected pollen samples from mold and yeast while decreasing bacterial contamination. GI at the highest dose (7.5 KGy) was found to be more effective than other GI doses and OZ application in preserving biologically active compounds and lowering the microbial count of pollen samples for 6 months. As a result, we advise beekeepers to use GI at this dose for longer-term storage.
How experienced robotic nurses adapt to the Hugo™ RAS system
Authors: Olsen Rikke Groth , Bjerrum Flemming , Konge Lars , Dagnæs-Hansen Julia Abildgaard , Møller Louise , Levann Nana , Barfred Didde , Røder Andreas
Published: March 2024

No studies have reported on the impact at team level of the Medtronic Hugo™ RAS system. We described the work patterns and learning curves of an experienced robotic nurse team adapting to the new robotic system. We prospectively recorded the robotic nurse team’s preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative tasks on the first 30 robotic procedures performed. The data were descriptively analyzed, and Gantt Charts were created for a timeline overview of the work patterns. We compared the operative times between the Medtronic Hugo™ RAS and the Davinci® system. The preoperative phase seemed to improve with a median time of 94 min (IQR 81–107). After 20 surgeries, the work pattern became more consistent where the scrub and circulating nurses worked simultaneously. There was no noticeable improvement for the perioperative and postoperative phases with a stable median time of 170 min (IQR 135–189) and 26 min (IQR 22–31). We found that the work pattern seemed to stabilize after 20 surgeries but with a continued decrease in preoperative time without a learning curve plateau. The robotic nurse team suffered from few breaks and long working hours because only a few nurses at our facility were trained in the Hugo™ system.
Current Trends and Outcomes for Open vs. Arthroscopic Latarjet
Authors: Vuletić Filip , Bøe Berte
Published: March 2024

Purpose of Review

This paper aims to analyze and compare the existing research on open and arthroscopic Latarjet procedures for treating anterior shoulder instability. The review will assess different factors such as graft positioning, functional outcomes, complications, and return-to-play rates for both approaches. The study’s primary goal is to establish which technique yields superior outcomes.

Recent Findings

Recent studies have suggested that arthroscopic Latarjet surgery can produce outcomes similar to open surgery regarding functional scores and patient satisfaction. Some research indicates that arthroscopy may even provide slightly better results. Both techniques have similar complication rates, but arthroscopy requires a longer learning curve and operating time. It is crucial to ensure the proper placement of the graft, and some studies suggest that arthroscopy may be better at achieving accurate positioning.

Both open and arthroscopic Latarjet procedures are equally effective in treating shoulder instability. While arthroscopy offers a faster recovery time and causes less soft tissue damage, it requires surgeons to undergo a steeper learning curve. The optimal graft position for both techniques is still debated. More long-term data is needed to establish superiority. Future research should compare approaches in larger cohorts and identify outcome-affecting factors to improve the treatment of shoulder instability. Both techniques are promising, but arthroscopy may be a better option as the procedure evolves into a less invasive reconstruction.
GABPB1 plays a cancer-promoting role in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Wang Tuo , Cao Cong , Fan Yu , Xu Jialing , Hua Tao , Ding Jie , Liu Zejie , Wang Beili , Lian Juanwen
Published: March 2024

Background

GABPB1, the gene that encodes two isoforms of the beta subunit of GABP, has been identified as an oncogene in multiple malignant tumors. However, the role and mode of action of GABPB1 in malignant tumors, especially in lung cancer, are not well understood and need further research.

Methods

Our research focused on examining the biological function of GABPB1 in NSCLC (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer). We analysed tumor data from public databases to assess the expression of GABPB1 in NSCLC  and its correlation with patient prognosis and investigated GABPB1 expression and methylation patterns in relation to the tumor microenvironment. In parallel, experiments were conducted using short hairpin RNA (shRNA) to suppress the GABPB1 gene in human lung cancer cells to evaluate the effects on cell proliferation, viability, and apoptosis.

Results

GABPB1 was widely expressed in various tissues of the human body. Compared to that in normal tissues, the expression of this gene was different in multiple tumor tissues. GABPB1 was highly expressed in lung cancer tissues and cell lines. Its expression was associated with molecular subtype and cellular signalling pathways, and a high level of GABPB1 expression was related to a poor prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma patients. The expression and methylation of GABPB1 affect the tumor microenvironment. After suppressing the expression of GABPB1 in both A549 and H1299 cells, we found a decrease in cell growth and expression, the formation of clones and an increase in the apoptosis rate.

Conclusions

Our research verified that GABPB1 promotes the tumorigenesis of NSCLC and has an inhibitory effect on tumor immunity. The specific role of GABPB1 may vary among different pathological types of NSCLC. This molecule can serve as a prognostic indicator for lung adenocarcinoma, and its methylation may represent a potential breakthrough in treatment by altering the tumor immune microenvironment in lung squamous cell carcinoma. The role and mechanism of action of GABPB1 in NSCLC should be further explored.
A programmed cell death-related gene signature to predict prognosis and therapeutic responses in liver hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Gu Xinyu , Pan Jie , Li Yanle , Feng Liushun
Published: March 2024

Background

Programmed cell death (PCD) functions critically in cancers and PCD-related genes are associated with tumor microenvironment (TME), prognosis and therapeutic responses of cancer patients. This study stratified hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and develop a prognostic model for predicting prognosis and therapeutic responses.

Methods

Consensus clustering analysis was performed to subtype HCC patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) among the subtypes were filtered and subjected to the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis and univariate Cox regression analysis to filter prognostic genes. A PCD-related prognostic gene signature in TCGA was constructed and validated in ICGC-LIRI-JP and GSE14520 datasets. TME was analyzed using CIBERSORT, MCP-counter, TIMER and EPIC algorithms. Drug sensitivity was predicted by oncoPredict package. Spearman analysis was used to detect correlation.

Results

Four molecular subtypes were categorized based on PCD-related genes. Subtype C1 showed the poorest prognosis, the most infiltration of Fibroblasts, dentritic cell (DC) and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and the highest TIDE score. C4 had a better prognosis survival outcome, and lowest immune cell infiltration. The survival outcomes of C2 and C3 were intermediate. Next, a total of 69 co-DEGs were screened among the four subtypes and subsequently we identified five prognostic genes (MCM2, SPP1, S100A9, MSC and EPO) for developing the prognostic model. High-risk patients not only had unfavorable prognosis, higher clinical stage and grade, and more inflammatory pathway enrichment, but also possessed higher possibility of immune escape and were more sensitive to Cisplatin and 5. Fluorouracil. The robustness of the prognostic model was validated in external datasets.

Conclusion

This study provides new insights into clinical subtyping and the PCD-related prognostic signature may serve as a useful tool to predict prognosis and guide treatments for patients with HCC.
Mathematical digital quantum computation by means of much more logical skills
Authors: Nagata Koji , Nakamura Tadao
Published: March 2024

We expand Deutsch’s algorithm for determining the mappings of a logical function using four orthogonal states. Using this, we propose a parallel computation for all of the combinations of values in variables of a logical function using sixteen orthogonal states. As an application of our algorithm, we demonstrate two typical arithmetic calculations in the binary system. We study an efficiency for operating a full adder/half adder by quantum-gated computing. The two typical arithmetic calculations are $$(1+1)$$

(
1
+
1
)

and $$(2+3)$$

(
2
+
3
)

. The typical arithmetic calculation $$(2+3)$$

(
2
+
3
)

is faster than that of its classical apparatus which would require $$4^3=64$$

4
3

=
64

steps when we introduce the full adder operation. Another typical arithmetic calculation $$(1+1)$$

(
1
+
1
)

is faster than that of its classical apparatus which would require $$4^2=16$$

4
2

=
16

steps when we introduce only the half adder operation.
Naturally Crosslinked Biocompatible Carbonaceous Liquid Metal Aqueous Ink Printing Wearable Electronics for Multi-Sensing and Energy Harvesting
Authors: Chung King Yan , Xu Bingang , Tan Di , Yang Qingjun , Li Zihua , Fu Hong
Published: March 2024

Achieving flexible electronics with comfort and durability comparable to traditional textiles is one of the ultimate pursuits of smart wearables. Ink printing is desirable for e-textile development using a simple and inexpensive process. However, fabricating high-performance atop textiles with good dispersity, stability, biocompatibility, and wearability for high-resolution, large-scale manufacturing, and practical applications has remained challenging. Here, water-based multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-decorated liquid metal (LM) inks are proposed with carbonaceous gallium–indium micro-nanostructure. With the assistance of biopolymers, the sodium alginate-encapsulated LM droplets contain high carboxyl groups which non-covalently crosslink with silk sericin-mediated MWCNTs. E-textile can be prepared subsequently via printing technique and natural waterproof triboelectric coating, enabling good flexibility, hydrophilicity, breathability, wearability, biocompatibility, conductivity, stability, and excellent versatility, without any artificial chemicals. The obtained e-textile can be used in various applications with designable patterns and circuits. Multi-sensing applications of recognizing complex human motions, breathing, phonation, and pressure distribution are demonstrated with repeatable and reliable signals. Self-powered and energy-harvesting capabilities are also presented by driving electronic devices and lighting LEDs. As proof of concept, this work provides new opportunities in a scalable and sustainable way to develop novel wearable electronics and smart clothing for future commercial applications.
The Development of a 2D Numerical Model of a Device Using the Elastocaloric Effect to Cool Electronic Circuits
Authors: Cirillo Luca , Greco Adriana , Masselli Claudia
Published: March 2024

The scientific community has been working hard lately to develop fresh, environmentally friendly refrigeration technologies. Those based on solid-state refrigerants are among the Not-In-Kind Refrigeration Technologies that show great promises. The one based on the elastoCaloric Effect is among the most interesting of them. This paper presents the development of a 2D numerical model for a device harnessing the elastocaloric effect with the primary objective of cooling electronic circuits. The study focuses on the intricate interplay between mechanical and thermal aspects, capturing the dynamic behavior of the elastocaloric material in response to cyclic mechanical loading. The numerical model incorporates detailed descriptions of the electronic circuits, accounting for heat dissipation and thermal management. Through simulations, the optimal configuration for efficient cooling is explored, considering various operative conditions and mechanical loading conditions (tensile and bending). The findings contribute to the advancement of elastocaloric cooling technology, offering insights into the design and optimization of devices aimed at enhancing electronic circuit performance through effective thermal control. The results that the most promising configuration is based on bending, a design choice resulting appropriate for cooling the electronic circuits.
Is government debt a burden on workers' income share? An investigation on Italian dynamics
Authors: Canale Rosaria Rita , De Siano Rita
Published: March 2024

This paper aims to explore if there is a connection between public debt and wage share; the intention is to contribute to the literature regarding both the efficacy of fiscal policy and financialisation of economics. The paper examines the case of Italy between 1960 and 2019, a rather long period during which the country, much like many other advanced economies, was affected by the contemporaneous presence of deteriorating public accounts and a reduced share of national income going to labour. The empirical analysis employs a long run dynamic technique and finds that an increase in debt decreases wage share, challenging the effect of fiscal policies on employment and national income. However, when distinguishing between the components fuelling debt, the estimates reveal controversial outcomes: primary deficit increases wage share, while interests in public debt decrease it. The results are consistent with the changes in policy strategy that occurred in three subperiods and suggest that public debt should be managed, accounting for the reciprocal effects of fiscal and monetary policy and considering the introduction of a common safe asset to preserve labour income.
Driving sustainable uptake: a systematic review of global literature on policies governing woody biomass for energy
Authors: Pandey Spriha , Erbaugh James Thomas
Published: March 2024

Woody biomass has gained increased attention as a source of renewable energy. However, its categorization as a sustainable source of energy remains controversial, as its carbon neutrality depends on its end use, moisture content, bulk density, and the distance between the source of biomass and its end use. Due to these mediating factors, policies largely shape its sustainability and ability to mitigate emissions. This paper organizes and evaluates the current state of research through a systematic review of global literature from 2011 to 2021 (n = 345) on the governance of the production, transportation, sale, and use of woody biomass for energy. Peer-reviewed literature emphasizes the role of woody biomass as a decentralized energy source for individual households and communities, focusing on its harvest, transport, and localized energy conversion. Policies primarily address land management and energy infrastructure rather than direct emissions reduction. Research gaps in policy within the Global South underscore the need to examine biomass regulation in regions with limited energy diversity. The key factors that drive the sustainable uptake of woody biomass include strict sustainability criteria, fiscal incentives, technological development, and wood utilization from across its value chain. Effective policy implementation increases rural employment, boosts rural economies, provides energy security to remote areas, improves overall environmental sustainability, reduces emissions, and improves land management practices. Our systematic review reveals that future research should focus on improving conversion efficiencies in small-scale systems, reducing emissions in the international trade of woody biomass, and using the wood value chain to increase the profitability of bioenergy products.
A case study of an immersive learning unit for German as a second language
Authors: Keller Thomas , Brucker-Kley Elke , Schwammel Philip
Published: March 2024

More and more children and adolescents in Switzerland show serious deficits in their German language skills. In order to specifically promote the language skills of students with a non-German first language, special lessons in German as a second language (GasL) are therefore offered in addition to the regular lessons. The aim of this case study is to evaluate the impact of a pedagogically sound immersive virtual reality learning unit for GasL lessons, which offers students the opportunity to actively speak German and to demonstrate this in the context of two GasL lessons. The research design is based on the “Design Science Research Framework”. In this context, the virtual reality learning unit was designed as an innovative prototype (artifact) and iteratively improved. The design considered the didactic framework of the official curriculum as well as the eleven general design guidelines for virtual reality learning units in an educational context. The virtual reality learning unit was tested in a field experiment with five students each at an elementary school and at a secondary school. The students found the virtual reality learning unit as a whole attractive and motivating. But there are operational challenges and necessary prerequisites that have to be considered and created in order to pragmatically and sustainably integrate immersive virtual reality learning units into the existing GasL lessons.
Expert Consensus on the Clinical Utilization of Ketamine and Its Isomers in Intensive Care Units
Authors: Peng Zhiyong , Sun Tongwen , Zhang Xijing , Zhang Haibo
Published: March 2024

Analgesia and sedation are important treatment strategies in the intensive care unit (ICU). Due to the opioid crisis, opioid-sparing medications become the focus of clinical studies. Ketamine and its isomers (mainly esketamine) are intravenous anesthetics that possess sedative, analgesic, and anesthetic effects, which have recently attracted the attention of critical care physicians. However, the application of ketamine/esketamine in ICU is limited and inexperienced. Experts from the Critical Care Medicine Professional Committee of the Chinese Research Hospital Association drafted this consensus based on the current clinical evidence to provide recommendations for the application of ketamine/esketamine in different fields of critical care, including sepsis and septic shock, endotracheal intubation, neurocritical care, respiratory critical care, post cardiac surgery care, burn and depression in ICU. Meanwhile, this expert consensus also appeals for more high-quality clinical trials to facilitate more reasonable guidelines in this area.
Courts and Politics in Southeast Asia
Authors: Dressel Bjoern
Published: March 2024

Courts around the globe have become central players in governance, those in Southeast Asia have been no exception. This Element analyses the historical foundations, patterns, and drivers of judicialization of politics by mapping critical junctures that have shaped the emergence of modern courts in the region and providing a basic typology of courts and politics that extends the analysis to the contemporary situation. It also offers a new relational theory that helps explain the dynamics of judicial recruitment, decision-making, court performance-and ultimately perceptions of judicial legitimacy. In a region where power is often concentrated among oligarchs and clientelist political dynamics persist, it posits that courts are best comprehended as institutional hybrids. These hybrids seamlessly blend formal and informal practices, with profound implications for how Southeast Asian courts are molding both the rule of law and political governance.
Groups of Persons in the Proposed AI Act Amendments
Authors: Nikiforov Liubomir
Published: March 2024

This article explores the proposed amendments to the AI Act, which introduce the concept of “groups of persons”. The inclusion of this notion has the potential to broaden the traditional individual-centric approach in data protection. The analysis explores the context and the challenges posed by the rapid evolution of technology, with an emphasis on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) systems. It discusses both the potential benefits and challenges of recognising groups of people, including issues such as discrimination prevention, public trust and redress mechanisms. The analysis also identifies key challenges, including the lack of a clear definition for “group”, the difficulty in explaining AI architecture concerning groups and the need for well-defined redress mechanisms. The article also puts forward recommendations aimed at addressing these challenges in order to enhance the effectiveness and clarity of the proposed amendments.
“The Vital Link”: British Print Media Export to Australia, 1853–1980
Authors: Swenson Holly Elizabeth Dayton
Published: March 2024

This paper uses the case study of Gordon & Gotch, media import/exporters, to explore how the transnational sale of British media contributed to a common cultural identity within the British World. Gordon & Gotch, founded as a media import firm in Australia in 1853, opened a London branch in 1866 which became independently owned and operated in 1890. This paper argues that the London and Australasian firms of Gordon & Gotch played an important and understudied role in tying Australia to Britain through lines of business that benefitted men in Melbourne and London, creating an “imagined community” of British readers that spanned oceans. The paper also explores how the divergent strategies of the London and Australasian Gordon & Gotches in the wake of the Second World War help us to understand the timeline of Australia’s cultural disentanglement with Britain. As new political economies developed in Britain and Australia, the London firm was forced to pivot to a European or more generally “global” strategy, while the Australian firm refocused its energies to domestic and American media. The consequence for Australian consumers was a reduced presence of British media and a greater preponderance of American, Australian, and locally printed multinational media in Australia. The long history of the British and Antipodean Gordon & Gotches reveals the contingency of British media saturation in Australia and the value of business historical approaches to studying change in cultural markets.
Contesting the property paradigm amid ‘radical’ constitutional change: Living Rent and the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016
Authors: Jordan Mark
Published: March 2024

This paper examines the interaction between ‘radical’ constitutional change, in the form of political devolution, and property systems in the UK, from the perspective of those at the margins of those systems. The paper adopts a property ‘from below’ approach and critically applies the theoretical framework developed by AJ van der Walt in Property in the Margins. In that book, van der Walt outlined how property systems frequently operate to resist democratic and constitutional change and transformation through the functioning of the property paradigm, which refers to a set of doctrinal, rhetorical, and logical assumptions and beliefs about the relative value and power of discrete property interests in law and in society. Building on van der Walt's work, this paper takes eviction, which represents the landlord's apex right, as a case study and considers how qualifications of that right have been reformed by the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016. It is argued that while the strength of the property paradigm is apparent in both English and Scottish property systems, Living Rent, a national tenants’ union in Scotland, have organised tenants to effectively contest and, in some respects, displace the logic of the property paradigm during the reform process.