bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Utilizing isotopic and elemental markers to enhance the authenticity of potatoes
Authors: Ioannou-Papayianni Elena , Damaskinos Constantinos , Tarapoulouzi Maria , Louka Charalampos , Savvidou Chara , Tzioni Eleni , Kokkinofta Rebecca
Published: December 2024

Given the economic importance of potato production, establishing the origin of unknown commercial samples declared as local, is particularly important for both producers and competent authorities. In the study presented here, stable isotopic ratios of deuterium, oxygen, carbon and nitrogen, were determined in order to develop a potato provenance methodology. Isotopic determinations were conducted in an alcohol, preceded by the enzymatic degradation of potato starch using α-amylase to yield soluble dextrins and oligosaccharides. Subsequently, the hydrolyzed potato starch underwent fermentation to produce ethanol, which was then obtained through distillation under controlled conditions. The integration of data obtained from analyzing the D/H isotopic ratios using SNIF-NMR spectroscopy in potato samples for the first time, in conjunction with measurements of the 13C/12C, 15N/14N, and 18O/16O ratios via IRMS, yielded a unique isotopic fingerprint for the potato samples under examination. Elemental analysis by ICP-OES also added important information in the dataset. The chemometric analysis by applying OPLS-DA technique, highlighted the parameters of (D/H)II, δ18O, R and Cu as the best discriminator markers. The proposed model gave 94.07% correct classification of the samples, regarding their geographical origin. It is believed that the differentiation of local potatoes is related to the unique geological and climatic conditions existing in the island. All the above-mentioned conclusions are very promising, for the protection of local potato production.
Forty years of composite polymer electrolytes – a subjective view
Authors: Płocharski Janusz
Published: December 2024

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) with various fillers improving their properties are studied for about forty years. The continuous research is fostered by the vision of all solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) regarded by the energy-storage community as one of the most important goals. This comprehensive review summarizes these efforts from a position of a person who witnessed the development of Composite Polymer Electrolytes (CPEs) from the very beginning.
MiHUBx: ein Digitaler FortschrittsHub zur Nutzung von intersektoralen klinischen Datensätzen am Beispiel des diabetischen Makulaödems
Authors: Stolze Gabriel , Kakkassery Vinodh , Kowerko Danny , Bartos Martin , Hoffmann Katja , Sedlmayr Martin , Engelmann Katrin
Published: December 2024

Hintergrund

Evidenzbasierte Therapieempfehlungen helfen bei der jeweiligen fachspezifischen Therapie, können aber Daten aus der Real-World-Versorgung kaum berücksichtigen. Um diese im klinischen Alltag auch hinsichtlich prädiktiver Aussagen zu Krankheitsprogression oder Behandlungserfolg besser zu nutzen, sind Modelle mit Daten aus der Versorgung zu entwickeln, um diese für die Schaffung von assistierender künstlicher Intelligenz zu nutzen.

Ziel

Ziel des Use Case 1 innerhalb des MiHUBx (Medical Informatics Hub in Saxony) ist es, ein auf Versorgungs- und Forschungsdaten basierendes Modell für einen Biomarker-gestützten Therapiealgorithmus sowie die dazu notwendige digitale Infrastruktur zu entwickeln.

Material und Methode

Schrittweise werden notwendige Partner:innen in Kliniken und Praxen technisch oder über Forschungsfragen innerhalb des Use Case 1 „Ophthalmologie trifft Diabetologie“ des regionalen Digitalen FortschrittsHub Gesundheit MiHUBx der bundesweiten Medizininformatik-Initiative zusammengeschlossen.

Ergebnisse

Basierend auf gemeinsamen Studien mit Diabetologen erfolgte die Auswahl robuster serologischer und bildgebender Biomarker, die Hinweise für eine Entwicklung eines diabetischen Makulaödems (DMÖ) geben. Diese und weitere wissenschaftlich nachgewiesene prognostische Marker sollen zukünftig in einen Therapiealgorithmus einfließen, der KI(künstliche Intelligenz)-gestützt ist. Dafür werden gemeinsam mit Medizininformatikern modellhafte Vorgehensweisen erarbeitet sowie ein Datenintegrationszentrum etabliert.

Schlussfolgerungen

Neben der strukturierten und technischen Zusammenführung bisher an verschiedenen Orten vorliegender und teilweise heterogener Versorgungsdaten werden in dem Use Case die Chancen und Hürden zur Nutzung von Real-World-Daten zur Entwicklung künstlicher Intelligenz definiert.
Targeting corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor type 1 (Crhr1) neurons: validating the specificity of a novel transgenic Crhr1-FlpO mouse
Authors: Hardy Mason , Chen Yuncai , Baram Tallie Z. , Justice Nicholas J.
Published: December 2024

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) signaling through its cognate receptors, CRHR1 and CRHR2, contributes to diverse stress-related functions in the mammalian brain. Whereas CRHR2 is predominantly expressed in choroid plexus and blood vessels, CRHR1 is abundantly expressed in neurons in discrete brain regions, including the neocortex, hippocampus and nucleus accumbens. Activation of CRHR1 influences motivated behaviors, emotional states, and learning and memory. However, it is unknown whether alterations in CRHR1 signaling contribute to aberrant motivated behaviors observed, for example, in stressful contexts. These questions require tools to manipulate CRHR1 selectively. Here we describe and validate a novel Crhr1-FlpO mouse. Using bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) transgenesis, we engineered a transgenic mouse that expresses FlpO recombinase in CRHR1-expressing cells. We used two independent methods to assess the specificity of FlpO to CRHR1-expressing cells. First, we injected Crhr1-FlpO mice with Flp-dependent viruses expressing fluorescent reporter molecules. Additionally, we crossed the Crhr1-FlpO mouse with a transgenic Flp-dependent reporter mouse. CRHR1 and reporter molecules were identified using immunocytochemistry and visualized via confocal microscopy in several brain regions in which CRHR1 expression and function is established. Expression of Flp-dependent viral constructs was highly specific to CRHR1-expressing cells in all regions examined (over 90% co-localization). In accord, robust and specific expression of the Flp-dependent transgenic reporter was observed in a reporter mouse, recapitulating endogenous CRHR1 expression. The Crhr1-FlpO mouse enables selective genetic access to CRHR1-expressing cells within the mouse brain. When combined with Cre-lox or site-specific recombinases, the mouse facilitates intersectional manipulations of CRHR1-expressing neurons.
Clinical outcomes of modified left ventricular assist device driveline management
Authors: Imaoka Shusuke , Kashiyama Noriyuki , Yoshioka Daisuke , Saito Shunsuke , Kawamura Takuji , Kawamura Ai , Matsuura Ryohei , Misumi Yusuke , Toda Koichi , Miyagawa Shigeru
Published: December 2024

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are implanted in patients with heart failure to support cardiac circulation. However, no standardized methods have been established for LVAD driveline exit site management for the prevention of infections. Therefore, this study evaluated the efficacy of modified driveline management compared with that of conventional driveline management. We retrospectively assessed the outcomes of 262 patients who underwent continuous-flow LVAD implantation between January 2005 and March 2023 at Osaka University in Japan. In conventional driveline management, an LVAD driveline penetrates the skin along the body surface and is fixed near the penetration site (n = 224). In contrast, in our modified fixation method, the LVAD driveline vertically penetrates the skin to prevent ischemia at the driveline exit site and is fixed at a distant abdominal site to prevent the movement of the driveline exit site due to body movement (n = 38). The rates of freedom from LVAD driveline infection in patients with conventional driveline management were 86, 75, and 63% at 1, 2, and 3 years after LVAD implantation, respectively. The rate of freedom from LVAD driveline infection in patients managed by the modified fixation method was 91% at 1, 2, as well as 3 years after LVAD implantation. The freedom rates from LVAD driveline infection in the patients with modified fixation method was lower than in the patients with the conventional method (p = 0.04). Our study revealed that the modified fixation method may offer the possibility for preventing LVAD driveline infection.
Vole hunting: novel predatory and carnivorous behavior by California ground squirrels
Authors: Smith Jennifer E. , Ingbretson Joey E. , Miner Mackenzie M. , Oestreicher Ella C. , Podas Mari L. , Ravara Tia A. , Teles Lupin M. L. , Wahl Jada C. , Todd Lucy M. , Wild Sonja
Published: December 2024

Dietary flexibility allows animals to respond adaptively to food pulses in the environment. Here we document the novel emergence of widespread hunting of California voles and carnivorous feeding behavior by California ground squirrels. Over two months in the twelfth year of a long-term study on the squirrel population, we document 74 events of juvenile and adult ground squirrels of both sexes depredating, consuming, and/or competing over vole prey. Our video footage, photographic evidence, and direct observations of marked individual squirrels provide insights into the ecological circumstances favoring behavioral flexibility in foraging associated with a decadal peak in vole abundance. Digital video images related to the article are available at http://www.momo-p.com/showdetail-e.php?movieid=momo241126ob01a.
The economic burden of asthma in Italy: evaluating the potential impact of different treatments in adult patients with severe eosinophilic asthma
Authors: Scortichini Matteo , Mennini Francesco Saverio , Marcellusi Andrea , Paoletti Martina , Tomino Carlo , Sciattella Paolo
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory condition that significantly impacts public health, with severe asthma subtypes, such as severe eosinophilic asthma, imposing substantial socioeconomic burdens.

Methods

Real-world data from the Italian Health Information System were analyzed to evaluate the economic consequences of asthma in Italy. An in-depth comparative analysis was conducted to investigate the economic implications of various asthma subtypes, focusing on severe eosinophilic asthma. Additionally, the study projected the potential cost-effectiveness of novel treatments aimed at reducing hospitalization rates, specialist visits, and oral corticosteroid use for patients with severe eosinophilic asthma in Italy.

Results

The analysis revealed that severe asthma, and notably severe eosinophilic asthma, places a substantial economic burden on the Italian National Health System. Estimates demonstrated that implementing innovative treatments to mitigate the risks of hospitalization and specialist visits, as well as reducing oral corticosteroid usage in severe eosinophilic asthma patients, could lead to significant cost savings. The cost-consequence analysis indicated potential yearly reductions of €50.0 million (27%) for the treatment of severe asthma and €31.7 million (26%) for severe eosinophilic asthma.

Conclusions

This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of the economic repercussions of severe asthma in Italy. The findings emphasize the necessity of identifying and developing effective therapeutic strategies to improve the management of severe asthma while simultaneously reducing the economic burden on the healthcare system. These results offer valuable insights for healthcare policymakers and practitioners, facilitating evidence-based decisions in asthma management and healthcare policy in Italy.
An educational model of equity and computing: a study of marginalized student experience during COVID pandemic
Authors: Li Qing , Moallem Mahnaz , Boettinger Jeremy , Cai Qijie , Levi Michael
Published: December 2024

Aiming to promote equity in computing, this study proposes an educational model that offers an alternative approach to inspire K-12 students to become interested in CS and develop their computational thinking (CT) skills. It also examines the experience of marginalized students during the COVID pandemic in a learning environment grounded in the model. Adopting a mixed methods case study, this work focused on the experience of 82 girls enrolled in a free after school program. The results show that access to the opportunities is critical to promote equity. The experience allows the underrepresented population, i.e. the girls, to gain deepened understanding of not only CT/CS, but also other topics like work ethics, digital citizenship, and how to work with peers to achieve goals. The girls have also broadened their views of computing related fields by working on meaningful projects that demonstrated the value of abstract concepts of coding and programming. A combination of human facilitators and well-constructed tutorials has the potential of improving girls’ self-study skills and preparing them to become more independent learners.
Is there still a place for etomidate in the management of Cushing’s syndrome? The experience of a single center of low-dose etomidate and combined etomidate-osilodrostat treatment in severe hypercortisolemia
Authors: Dzialach Lukasz , Sobolewska Joanna , Respondek Wioleta , Wojciechowska-Luzniak Agnieszka , Kuca Pawel , Witek Przemysław
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Severe Cushing’s syndrome (SCS) is a life-threatening endocrine condition that requires prompt medical intervention. Intravenous etomidate infusion is considered to be the most effective in rapid cortisol overproduction inhibition. This single-center retrospective study aimed to present the safety and effectiveness of intravenous, low-dose, lipid-formulated etomidate infusion in patients with SCS.

Methods

Seven patients with complicated SCS related to ectopic ACTH syndrome (n = 6) or Cushing’s disease (n = 1) who received low-dose etomidate infusion as a part of their cortisol-lowering treatment between April 2019 and April 2024 in the Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Diabetes of Medical University of Warsaw were included in the study. A continuous etomidate infusion was initiated at 0.01–0.02 mg/kg/h.

Results

In all patients, rapid control of hypercortisolemia was achieved with a median time of 30 h (range: 12–48 h). Median serum cortisol concentration reduced from 101.9 μg/dL (range: 78.2–119.6 μg/dL) before etomidate to 19.5 μg/dL (range: 18.3–22.5) after 72 h of etomidate treatment. Etomidate infusion was followed by etomidate and osilodrostat combined treatment and then osilodrostat monotherapy in four patients; one patient underwent adrenalectomy, and two patients died during etomidate infusion due to complications of advanced malignancy.

Conclusions

This study shows that low-dose and short-term lipid formulation etomidate therapy is highly effective in severe hypercortisolemia management. Combined therapy with etomidate and osilodrostat is well tolerated and could serve as a bridge in long-term SCS treatment.
Reciprocal effects between life satisfaction and help expectancy in China
Authors: Cheung Chau-kiu , Yu Zhuoer
Published: December 2024

Reciprocal effects between life satisfaction and help expectancy or predicted help in the future are plausible but obscure and debatable theoretically and empirically. The plausibility rests on exchange theory regarding satisfaction and help as exchangeable favors. However, help expectancy, largely empirically uncharted, can signify social demand and dependency impeding satisfaction. This debate urges the present study to use a panel survey of 12,000 residents in China from 2015 to 2018 to estimate the reciprocal effects simultaneously. Results show statistically significant reciprocal contributions between life satisfaction and help expectancy, controlling for their prior states in the resident and his or her spouse. Notably, the concurrent contribution of help expectancy to life satisfaction was slight and only half of the reverse contribution. Meanwhile, lagged reciprocal effects between life satisfaction and help expectancy were nonsignificant. Results thus imply that promoting help expectancy would only be slightly effective in advancing life satisfaction.
Rare case of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive gastric remnant cancer after bariatric surgery—case report
Authors: Wagner Carolin-Sophie , Schartner Melanie , Nehoda Hermann , Rainer Peter P. , Schnallinger Michael
Published: December 2024

Parallel to the increasing number of patients with obesity and metabolic syndrome, the number of bariatric procedures is rapidly growing. Gastric bypass is the surgery of choice due to its high efficiency and safety profile; however, subsequent assessment and surveillance of the excluded stomach poses considerable challenges. Gastric remnant cancer is a rare entity and only a few cases have been published in the literature. Here, we report the first case of a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive gastric cancer in the excluded remnant in a 58-year-old man with a history of bariatric Roux-en‑Y gastric bypass surgery. This case highlights the challenge of cancer surveillance in the eliminated stomach and chemotherapeutic treatment after bariatric surgery. Furthermore, we address the efficacy of trastuzumab deruxtecan as a second-line therapy in HER2-positive gastric cancer.
Quantitative method and influencing factors analysis of demand response performance of air conditioning load with rebound effect
Authors: Wang Ran , Xin Xiaoyue , Liu Jiatao , Lu Shilei , Sun Yongjun , Zhao Wenduan
Published: December 2024

Under the emerging trend of the new power systems, enhancing the energy flexibility of air conditioning loads to promote electricity demand response is crucial for regulating the real-time balance. As a typical temperature-controlled loads, air conditioning loads can generate rebound effect when participating in demand response, resulting in sudden load increases and posing risks to grid security. However, the existing research mainly focuses on the energy flexibility, which leads to an imperfect demand response mechanism and thus affects the optimal scheduling strategy. Therefore, the study proposes a comprehensive quantification method in view of rebound effect for the demand response performance of air conditioning loads, by using probability distribution, Latin hypercube sampling, Monte Carlo simulation, and scenario analysis methods. The demand response event was divided into response phase and recovery phase, and by considering energy flexibility during the response phase and rebound effect during the recovery phase, three dimensionless evaluation indexes for comprehensive demand response performance were constructed. Using this quantification method, the impact patterns of three types of random variables were compared, including meteorological, design variables, and control variables. Additionally, considering the differences in building types (office and hotel buildings) and building capacities (small, medium, and large), the effectiveness of air conditioning load participation in demand response measures in different building application scenarios was explored. The results show that the influence of the design variables on the response performance is less than that of the control variables, but significant, reaching 45% compared to the control variables. Moreover, the influence varies with building type, capacity and climate zone, and building demand response design has more potential in the following scenarios: the cold climate, the hot summer and cold winter climate, the medium building and the hotel building.
Short-term heat exposure at sublethal temperatures reduces sperm quality in males of a solitary bee species, Osmia cornifrons
Authors: Mokkapati Jaya Sravanthi , Hehl Johanna , Straub Lars , Grozinger Christina M. , Boyle Natalie
Published: December 2024

Increased temperature variability and extreme weather events associated with climate change can be detrimental to bees and lead to their population declines. While there is some research on the effects of heatwaves on insect biology and reproduction, impacts on male insect reproduction are not well described. Solitary bees may be more exposed to temperature variation than social bees, since there is no mitigation by group thermoregulation. Here, we evaluated the effects of sublethal heat exposure (at 30 °C and 38 °C) on reproductive fitness of adult males of a solitary bee species, Osmia cornifrons. After 4 h of heat exposure, bees were maintained at 24 °C for 48 h in laboratory cages to reach sexual maturity and later analyzed for sperm abundance (quantity) and proportion of viable sperm (quality). Bees that were reared and maintained at 24 °C served as controls. Despite rehabilitation after heat exposure, both sperm quantity and quality of male O. cornifrons bees were significantly reduced in heat-treated groups compared to controls. These results demonstrate that the exposure to elevated non-lethal temperatures, even for short periods and allowing time for recovery, may negatively affect the reproductive capacity of male solitary bees. Our findings reveal a possible mechanistic explanation for wild bee population declines. Given the importance of solitary bee species (such as O. cornifrons) in natural and agricultural landscapes, our study provides valuable insights into the potential consequences of climate change on these insect populations and the ecosystems they inhabit.
Microstructural insights into the coarse-grained heat-affected zone of a high-strength all-weld metal: Development of a continuous cooling transformation diagram
Authors: Schrittwieser Daniel , Marin Morales David , Pahr Hannes , Lumper Lea Andrea , Glushko Oleksandr , Schnitzer Ronald
Published: December 2024

The present study deals with the development of a continuous cooling transformation diagram corresponding to the coarse-grained heat-affected zone of a high-strength all-weld metal with a minimum yield strength of 1100 MPa fabricated via gas metal arc welding. Dilatometry tests were conducted to determine the transition temperatures. High-resolution imaging methods, such as transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography, as well as nanoindentation, were employed to resolve the microstructural constituents. At fast cooling rates (t
8/5 from 1.4 to 25 s), the microstructure comprises a mixture of martensite and coalesced bainite, with a slight increase in the content of coalesced bainite with faster cooling. This demonstrates that coalesced bainite cannot be avoided in the coarse-grained heat-affected zone of the current alloy by increasing the cooling rate. With slower cooling (t
8/5 ≥ 50 s), the microstructure becomes increasingly bainitic, accompanied by a marginal drop in Vickers hardness. At t
8/5 times of 500 s and 1000 s, the all-weld metal consists of granular bainite with significant amounts of retained austenite and different shaped martensite-austenite constituents. The coarser massive-type constituents contain body-centered cubic grains, sized in the hundreds of nanometers, with a hardness approximately twice as high as that of the surrounding bainitic matrix.
Mental Illness Stigma in Black, Latina/o, and Asian Americans
Authors: Subica Andrew M. , Link Bruce G.
Published: December 2024

Mental illness stigma has significant psychiatric consequences and can impede mental health treatment seeking, especially among racial minority groups; who are understudied in stigma research and experience striking treatment disparities. Guided by a novel empirical model of racial minority stigma and treatment seeking, this study investigated stigma and its effects on treatment seeking in Black, Latina/o, and Asian American adults. Data were collected via national panel survey from 613 Black, Latina/o, and Asian American adults. Perceptions of mental illness including seriousness, treatability, causal attributions, desired social distancing, and perceived dangerousness were assessed. Data were analyzed and compared with a nationally representative sample of the U.S. public from the 2018 General Social Survey. Minority participants exhibited stronger mental illness stigma than the U.S. public, with Black, Latina/o, and Asian American participants largely perceiving mental illness as less serious, less treatable, and desiring greater social distance from individuals with major depression, who were perceived as potentially dangerous. Notably, different stigma components significantly associated with willingness to seek treatment differently across Black, Latina/o, and Asian American participants. Overall, study findings indicate that mental illness stigma is strong and associates with treatment seeking in Black, Latina/o, and Asian Americans, suggesting a need to develop culturally tailored interventions to reduce stigma and associated treatment utilization disparities in these underserved minority groups.
The Role of Optimism and Self-Efficacy in the Relationship between Academic Stress and Depressive Symptoms in Medical Students Including the Use and Knowledge of Structural Health Promotion Offers
Authors: Arnold Annika , Gaum Petra Maria , Lang Jessica
Published: December 2024

Background

In recent years, studies have highlighted that stress levels among medical students are alarmingly high. The study aim was to examine how academic stress and depressive symptoms in medical students are affected by individual moderators (self-efficacy/optimism) and structural influencing factors (health promotion offers).

Methods

Data collection occurred at three measurement points during the first 1.5 years at a medical school in Germany [baseline measurement (BM; Winter 2019, 226 participants), follow-up measurement 1 (FUM1; Summer 2020, 106 participants) and follow-up measurement 2 (FUM2; Winter 2020, 107 participants)]. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were conducted with the data of FUM1 and FUM2, BM being only cross-sectionally analyzed as a baseline measurement. Interactions were calculated cross-sectionally with multiple linear regressions, and longitudinally with mixed effects models.

Results

Academic stress was positively correlated with depressive symptoms cross-sectionally. In the longitudinal sample, optimism was found to moderate the association between academic stress and depressive symptoms, while the moderating effect of self-efficacy was found cross-sectionally for FUM2. “University sports offers” was the most-used health promotion offer for both FUM1 and FUM2. The other services, especially “psychological counseling”, were rarely used by the students. The prevalence of depressive symptoms increased during the study course (BM: 4.9%; FUM1: 25.5%; FUM2: 23.4%).

Conclusion

The increase of depressive symptoms linked to rising academic stress within the study course is alarming. Individual attributes such as optimism and self-efficacy have a moderating role on the relationship between academic stress and depressive symptoms and prevention offers may affect those individual attributes.

.
A Dual-Factor Examination of Adolescent Mental Health and School Engagement
Authors: Clark Kelly N. , Blyth Grace A. , Wilson Kyle P. , Plant Meagan Z.
Published: December 2024

Previous research has indicated that student mental health is linked to their engagement at school. However, there is a lack of empirical studies examining students’ school engagement from the more comprehensive dual-factor model, which assesses both psychopathology and subjective well-being [SWB]. The current study examined this relationship via an adolescent sample of 611 students in the U.S. Midwest. Results indicated that students with higher levels of engagement experienced lower levels of internalizing or externalizing difficulties, as well as higher levels of SWB. Additionally, linear regressions revealed that as students reported higher school connectedness and academic efficacy, they also reported higher behavioral, cognitive, and emotional engagement. Internalizing difficulties predicted higher behavioral and cognitive engagement, and personal adjustment predicted lower behavioral and cognitive engagement. Internalizing and externalizing difficulties were not significantly associated with emotional engagement. Overall, results indicate that students’ mental health factors are closely tied to their engagement at school. These findings can be used to support targeted interventions on well-being and psychopathology, which may increase school engagement and overall student happiness.
Resolving Small and Mid-sized Banks: Resolution Versus Liquidation and the Transfer Tools
Authors: Binder Jens-Hinrich
Published: December 2024

As part of a broader reform agenda, the European Commission’s proposals for a comprehensive reform of the European Crisis Management and Deposit Insurance (CMDI) framework include a recalibration of the conditions for the initiation of resolution actions with a view to expanding the scope of resolution actions to smaller and medium-sized banking institutions. The core element in this regard is a new definition of the so-called public interest assessment (PIA), whereby the initiation of resolution actions is permissible only if resolution is ‘in the public interest’. Under the original BRRD/SRMR regime, this test required that the objectives of resolution could not equally be accomplished through the winding up of the relevant bank under traditional liquidation regimes. With a new wording, both the European Commission and the European Parliament have proposed to lower that threshold, moving towards the application of resolution procedures as the standard approach to dealing with failures also in this market segment. The present article undertakes a critical analysis of these proposals and their potential implications in the light of the rationale of the original PIA criteria and a functional comparison between resolution and liquidation.
Improved Method for Methane Pyrolysis Rate Measurement using Molten Metal Catalysts for Turquoise Hydrogen Production
Authors: Wi Tae-Gyu , Park Young-Joon , Lee Uendo , Kang Youn-Bae
Published: December 2024

To develop low-$$\hbox {CO}_2$$

CO
2

emission ferrous metallurgical process, $$\hbox {H}_2$$

H
2

-based ironmaking processes are being actively developed. Several technologies are being developed to provide a sufficient mass of $$\hbox {H}_2$$

H
2

in an environmentally friendly manner. One of such processes is “turquoise” $$\hbox {H}_2$$

H
2

, based on a natural gas pyrolysis such as $$\hbox {CH}_4$$

CH
4

(g) $$\rightarrow $$
→
2$$\hbox {H}_2$$

H
2

(g) + C(s), thereby minimizing $$\hbox {CO}_2$$

CO
2

emission. The reaction could be catalyzed using molten metals in a bubble column reactor. Therefore, the selection of the molten metal catalyst is important for enhancing the reaction efficiency and for minimizing the production cost. In the previous research of the present authors, a new methodology for the pyrolysis rate measurement was introduced by employing an electromagnetic levitation heating of catalytic molten metals followed by quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) analysis to assist in the selection of the catalyst metal. However, a potential source of error in this technique was identified. Therefore, two modifications of the methodology are reported in the present study: (1) changing the heating and feed gas supply patterns and (2) gas analysis technique from QMS to Gas Chromatography (GC). Accordingly, the reported pyrolysis rate of pure In, Ga, Bi, Sn, and Cu of the previous study was revised in the present study. It was revealed that Ga and In emitted non-negligible amounts of $$\hbox {H}_2$$

H
2

upon heating, even without the fuel gas ($$\hbox {CH}_4$$

CH
4

). This was regarded as a noise in the $$\hbox {H}_2$$

H
2

signal measured by GC. On the other hand, Cu, Sn, and Bi did not show the noticeable $$\hbox {H}_2$$

H
2

(noise). The modified method provides $$\hbox {H}_2$$

H
2

production rate by the pyrolysis, by separating the noise in the regime of the chemical reaction control at the surface of the molten metals. $$1^\text {st}$$

1
st

-order reaction was confirmed.

Graphical Abstract
Optimization of Zn Leaching Recovery from Tire Rubber and High-Purity ZnO Production
Authors: Li Shiyu , Tran Thien Q. , Ji Bin , Brand Alexander S. , Zhang Wencai
Published: December 2024

Waste tire rubber is regarded as a potential source for Zn recovery and recycling. In this study, the occurrence of modes of Zn was first characterized by an electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA), and the result indicated both ZnO and ZnS were present in the tire rubber. The Zn leaching recovery was optimized by response surface methodology, and temperature was identified as the most significant variable. The highest recovery of over 98% was obtained at 90 °C for 400 min when using 2.0 mol/L HNO3 as the lixiviant. After that, the Zn-containing leach liquor was subjected to solvent extraction for further separation and purification using bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) phosphinic acid (Cyanex 272) and 2-ethylhexylphosphonic mono-2-ethylhexyl (PC88A) as extractants. Various parameters, such as equilibrium pH, extractant concentration, and organic-to-aqueous (O/A) ratio, were investigated to maximize the Zn extraction while minimizing the contamination of impurities. The result indicated that 0.1 mol/L Cyanex 272 exhibited a higher separation factor for Zn over major impurities compared to PC88A under the same conditions. To produce the high-purity ZnO, the Zn-loaded organic phase was subjected to stripping tests, and over 92% of Zn was stripped out with trace amounts of impurities. Finally, the pH value of the stripped solution was increased to precipitate Zn, and a final ZnO product with a purity of over 99% was obtained. This study provided a reference for waste tire rubber management and utilization.

Graphical Abstract
Phase-field modeling of the morphological and thermal evolution of additively manufactured polylactic acid layers and their influence on the effective elastic mechanical properties
Authors: Elmoghazy Ahmed , Heuer Anselm , Kneer Aron , Reder Martin , Prahs Andreas , Schneider Daniel , Liebig Wilfried V. , Nestler Britta
Published: December 2024

This study presents a comprehensive simulation of the fused deposition modeling (FFF) process of polylactic acid (PLA) using the multiphase-field method. Compared to existing works, this work aims to simulate the overall FFF process. It combines temperature evolution, viscous flow, polymer crystallization, and residual strain calculations within the microstructure with mechanical property analysis in a single study. Simulation studies were done in the case of the single layer to study the flowing effect of the filament and the distribution of temperature, viscosity, and relative crystallinity throughout the cooling process. Afterward, a system of layers with three rows and three columns was investigated. The nozzle temperature, bed temperature, viscosity, and layer height were varied, and for each case the porosity was calculated. After running mechanical loading simulations on each case, the effective Young’s modulus was calculated. The simulations show that increasing the nozzle and bed temperatures leads to a decrease in the porosity, while increasing the layer height increases the distortion in the pores’ shapes without significantly affecting the porosity. The decrease in porosity leads to an increase in the effective Young’s modulus of the structure in a linear trend within the investigated porosities. The Young’s modulus–porosity relation was validated with experimental values from the literature within an average error of 3.6 %.
Control Semiflows, Chain Controllability, and the Selgrade Decomposition for Linear Delay Systems
Authors: Colonius Fritz
Published: December 2024

A continuous semiflow is introduced for linear control systems with delays in the states and controls and bounded control range. The state includes the control functions. It is proved that there exists a unique chain control set which corresponds to the chain recurrent set of the semiflow. The semiflow can be lifted to a linear semiflow on an infinite dimensional vector bundle with chain transitive base flow. A decomposition into exponentially separated subbundles is provided by a recent generalization of Selgrade’s theorem.
Mobility as a Resource (MaaR) for Resilient Human-Centric Automation – A Vision Paper
Authors: Waller S. Travis , Polydoropoulou Amalia , Tassiulas Leandros , Ziliaskopoulos Athanasios , Jian Sisi , Wagenknecht Susann , Hirte Georg , Ukkusuri Satish , Ramadurai Gitakrishnan , Bednarz Tomasz
Published: December 2024

With technological advances, mobility has been moving from a product (i.e., traditional modes and vehicles), to a service (i.e., Mobility as a Service, MaaS). However, as observed in other fields (e.g., cloud computing resource management) we argue that mobility will evolve from a service to a resource (i.e., “Mobility as a Resource”, MaaR). Further, due to increasing scarcity of shared-mobility spaces across traditional and emerging modes, the transition must be viewed within the critical need for ethical and equitable solutions for the traveling public (i.e., research is needed to avoid hyper-market driven outcomes for society). The evolution of mobility into a resource requires novel conceptual frameworks, technologies, processes and perspectives of analysis. A key component of the future MaaR system is the technological capacity to observe, allocate and manage (in real-time) the smallest envisionable units of mobility (i.e., atomic units of mobility capacity) while providing prioritized attention to human movement and ethical metrics related to access, consumption and impact. To facilitate research into the envisioned future system, this paper proposes initial frameworks which synthesize and advance methodologies relating to highly dynamic capacity reservation systems. Future research requires synthesis across transport network management, demand behavior, mixed-mode usage, and equitable mobility.
Efficient compiler optimization by modeling passes dependence
Authors: Liu Jianfeng , Fang Jianbin , Wang Ting , Xie Jing , Huang Chun , Wang Zheng
Published: December 2024

Selecting the optimal combination of compiler passes is a significant challenge to enhance performance and reduce the code size of compiled binaries. While a well-selected sequence of compiler passes can yield considerable benefits, the large number of potential combinations and the scarcity of effective ones make this task prohibitively complex. To tackle this problem, we propose a novel approach to group compiler passes into a small set of sub-sequences. This approach translates the task of identifying the right compiler passes combination into determining the appropriate combination of these sub-sequences. We apply our approach to CBench and PolyBench, demonstrating remarkable performance improvements. Our approach enhances runtime performance by 22% compared to the default LLVM ‘O3’ option, and achieves a code size reduction of 24% compared to the ‘Oz’ option. Our approach also outperforms state-of-the-art across various optimization tasks and hardware platforms.
Dynamic optimal lane management strategy for multi-lane urban expressway with bi-class connected vehicles
Authors: Qin Yanyan , Liu Changqing , Xie Lulu , Tang Honghui
Published: December 2024

Traffic flow mobility on expressway plays an important role in urban development. With the emergent technologies, connected vehicles, including both connected automated vehicles (CAVs) and connected regular vehicles (CRVs), are equipped with connectivity features to improve efficiency of urban expressway in a mixed traffic scenario. Existing research indicates that without targeted management, the integration of CAVs and CRVs into regular vehicles (RVs) traffic can lead to a series of congestion issues. A potential solution lies in the implementation of dedicated lanes, each designated for specific vehicle types, which could alleviate traffic flow complications. Therefore, this paper proposes a dynamic optimal lane management strategy for multi-lane mixed traffic urban expressway, aimed at maximizing the whole discharge flow. To begin with, we present an analytical method to mathematically derive discharge flow of each lane type including mixed traffic lane, CAV/CRV dedicated lane, and RV dedicated lane, from the perspective of both traffic demand and traffic capacity. Then, taking a three-lane mixed traffic urban expressway as an application, we conduct a numerical analysis of the dynamic optimal lane management strategy, based on comparisons among eight distinct strategies, under varying factors of traffic demands, penetration rates of CAVs and CRVs, and allocation proportions of vehicles upstream assigned to mixed traffic lanes. The results validate the effectiveness of the analytical method proposed for lane management strategies. It also indicates that the aforementioned system factors have significant impacts on the dynamic optimal lane management strategy.
Comedy and Controversy
Authors: Balkin Sarah , Mierowsky Marc
Published: December 2024

This is an Element book about stand-up comedy and public speech. It focuses on the controversies generated when the distinction between the two breaks down, when stand-up
enters – or is pushed – into the public sphere and is interpreted according to the scripts that govern popular political and media rhetoric rather than the traditional generic conventions of comic performance. These controversies raise a larger set of questions about the comedian's public role. They draw attention to the intention of jokes and their effects in the world. And they force us to consider how the limits of comic performance – what can be said, by whom, and why – respond to, and can reshape, public discourse across changing media contexts.
Rethinking Death in and after Heidegger
Authors: Thomson Iain D.
Published: December 2024

Iain D. Thomson is renowned for radically rethinking Heidegger's views on metaphysics, technology, education, art, and history, and in this book, he presents a compelling rereading of Heidegger's important and influential understanding of existential death. Thomson lucidly explains how Heidegger's phenomenology of existential death led directly to the insights which forced him to abandon Being and Time's guiding pursuit of a fundamental ontology, and thus how his early, pro-metaphysical work gave way to his later efforts to do justice to being in its real phenomenological richness and complexity. He also examines and clarifies the often abstruse responses to Heidegger's rethinking of death in Levinas, Derrida, Agamben, Beauvoir, and others, explaining the enduring significance of this work for ongoing efforts to think clearly about death, mortality, education, and politics. The result is a powerful and illuminating study of Heidegger's understanding of existential death and its enduring importance for philosophy and life.
Frederick W. Lanchester and Aerodynamics: why an automotive engineer wrote a book for aerodynamic education
Authors: Cummings R.M.
Published: December 2024

So much has been written about Frederick W. Lanchester over the years, it is hard to imagine finding something new to discuss about his efforts in aerodynamics. Many of the previous Lanchester Memorial Lectures discussed topics such as wing aerodynamics, aircraft concepts and design, unsteady rotor aerodynamics, aerodynamics research and a wide variety of other related aerodynamic topics. However, there has never been a lecture about Lanchester’s book Aerodynamics as a tool for aerodynamics education in the early 20th century. The lecture will discuss his book relative to other aerodynamics books before and after 1907, and uncover how Lanchester’s book had a very distinct, and important, contribution to make for aerodynamic education.
An Assessment of Sex and Gender Considerations in Migraine Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Clinical Trials
Authors: O’Brien Melissa S. , Dawe Jessica A.J.
Published: December 2024

Background:

Published guidelines for conducting clinical trials for migraine therapeutics recommend recruiting participants based on disease epidemiology and including sex/gender-based subpopulation analyses. These recommendations aim to improve the quality and generalizability of migraine clinical trials. The aim of this study was to summarize participant demographics in migraine clinical trials for FDA-approved calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-targeting drugs (receptor antagonists [gepants], CGRP peptide or receptor monoclonal antibodies [mAbs]) and assess the use of sex/gender-based subpopulation analyses in these studies.

Methods:

We conducted a review of industry-sponsored migraine clinical trials for FDA-approved CGRP-targeting medications. Demographic data (sex and/or gender) from phase II or III trials were abstracted, and the use of sex/gender-based analyses was recorded.

Results:

Fourteen trials of gepants were included in this analysis. Participants who were identified as females or women were more likely to participate in these trials (87.0 ± 2.2%). Twenty-four trials of CGRP mAbs were reviewed. These studies also reported that participants were predominantly identified as female or women (84.9 ± 2.3%). None of the clinical trials reviewed reported sex/gender-based analyses of their results.

Conclusions:

This study suggests that men are underrepresented in migraine CGRP clinical trials. Greater attention to sex and gender is needed in migraine clinical trial design so that they better align with current recommendations made by headache societies and regulatory agencies.
Nonexpansive and noncontractive mappings on the set of quantum pure states
Authors: Mori Michiya , Šemrl Peter
Published: December 2024

Wigner's theorem characterizes isometries of the set of all rank one projections on a Hilbert space. In metric geometry, nonexpansive maps and noncontractive maps are well-studied generalizations of isometries. We show that under certain conditions Wigner symmetries can be characterized as nonexpansive or noncontractive maps on the set of all projections of rank one. The assumptions required for such characterizations are injectivity or surjectivity and they differ in the finite and the infinite-dimensional case. Motivated by a recently obtained optimal version of Uhlhorn's generalization of Wigner's theorem, we also give a description of nonexpansive maps which satisfy a condition that is much weaker than surjectivity. Such maps do not need to be Wigner symmetries. The optimality of all presented results is shown by counterexamples.