bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of hypoxia on GLP-1 secretion – an in vitro study using enteroendocrine STC-1 -cells as a model
Authors: Sharma Ravikant , Raza Ghulam Shere , Sodum Nalini , Walkowiak Jaroslaw , Herzig Karl-Heinz
Published: July 2024

Glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 is a hormone released by enteroendocrine L-cells after food ingestion. L-cells express various receptors for nutrient sensing including G protein-coupled receptors (GPRs). Intestinal epithelial cells near the lumen have a lower O2 tension than at the base of the crypts, which leads to hypoxia in L-cells. We hypothesized that hypoxia affects nutrient-stimulated GLP-1 secretion from the enteroendocrine cell line STC-1, the most commonly used model. In this study, we investigated the effect of hypoxia (1% O2) on alpha-linolenic acid (αLA) stimulated GLP-1 secretion and their receptor expressions. STC-1 cells were incubated for 12 h under hypoxia (1% O2) and treated with αLA to stimulate GLP-1 secretion. 12 h of hypoxia did not change basal GLP-1 secretion, but significantly reduced nutrient (αLA) stimulated GLP-1 secretion. In normoxia, αLA (12.5 μM) significantly stimulated (~ 5 times) GLP-1 secretion compared to control, but under hypoxia, GLP-1 secretion was reduced by 45% compared to normoxia. αLA upregulated GPR120, also termed free fatty acid receptor 4 (FFAR4), expressions under normoxia as well as hypoxia. Hypoxia downregulated GPR120 and GPR40 expression by 50% and 60%, respectively, compared to normoxia. These findings demonstrate that hypoxia does not affect the basal GLP-1 secretion but decreases nutrient-stimulated GLP-1 secretion. The decrease in nutrient-stimulated GLP-1 secretion was due to decreased GPR120 and GPR40 receptors expression. Changes in the gut environment and inflammation might contribute to the hypoxia of the epithelial and L-cells.

Graphical Abstract
Representations of epistemic uncertainty and awareness in data-driven strategies
Authors: Angelelli Mario , Gervasi Massimiliano , Ciavolino Enrico
Published: July 2024

The diffusion of AI and big data is reshaping decision-making processes by increasing the amount of information that supports decisions, while reducing direct interaction with data and empirical evidence. This paradigm shift introduces new sources of uncertainty, as limited data observability results in ambiguity and a lack of interpretability. The need for the proper analysis of data-driven strategies motivates the search for new models that can describe this type of bounded access to knowledge.This contribution presents a novel theoretical model for uncertainty in knowledge representation and its transfer mediated by agents. We provide a dynamical description of knowledge states by endowing our model with a structure to compare and combine them. Specifically, an update is represented through combinations, and its explainability is based on its consistency in different dimensional representations. We look at inequivalent knowledge representations in terms of multiplicity of inferences, preference relations, and information measures. Furthermore, we define a formal analogy with two scenarios that illustrate non-classical uncertainty in terms of ambiguity (Ellsberg’s model) and reasoning about knowledge mediated by other agents observing data (Wigner’s Friend). Finally, we discuss some implications of the proposed model for data-driven strategies, with special attention to reasoning under uncertainty about business value dimensions and the design of measurement tools for their assessment.
Influence of Native Woody Understory on Invasive Grasses and Soil Nitrogen Dynamics Under Plantation and Remnant Montane Tropical Trees
Authors: D’Antonio Carla M. , Rehm Evan , Elgersma Cheryl , Yelenik Stephanie G.
Published: July 2024

While the influence of canopy trees on soils in natural and restored forest environments is well studied, the influence of understory species is not. Here, we evaluate the effects of outplanted native woody understory on invasive grass biomass and soil nutrient properties in heavily grass-invaded 30 + year-old plantations of a native N-fixing tree Acacia koa in Hawai‘i. We analyze soils from under A. koa trees with versus without planted woody understory and compare these to soils from under remnant pasture trees of the pre-deforestation dominant, Metrosideros polymorpha where passive recruitment of native woody understory has occurred since the cessation of grazing. Simultaneously, we experimentally planted understory species at three times the density used by managers to see if this could quickly decrease grass biomass and change soil nutrient dynamics. We found that invasive grass biomass declined with understory planting in surveyed and experimental sites. Yet, woody understory abundance had no effect on N cycling. Short-term N availability and nitrification potential were higher under A. koa than M. polymorpha trees regardless of understory. Net N mineralization either did not differ (~ 1 mo) between canopy species or was higher (171 day incubations) under remnant M. polymorpha where organic matter was also higher. The only influence of understory on soil was a positive correlation with loss-on-ignition (organic matter) under M. polymorpha. We also demonstrate differential controls over N cycling under the two canopy tree species. Overall, understory restoration has not changed soil characteristics even as invasive grass biomass declines.
Estimating bacterial load in S. aureus and E. coli bacteremia using bacterial growth graph from the continuous monitoring blood culture system
Authors: Turkeltaub Leehe , Kashat Livnat , Assous Marc V. , Adler Karen , Bar-Meir Maskit
Published: July 2024

Background

We examined whether the time to positivity (TTP) and growth and detection plot graph (GDPG) created by the automated blood culture system can be used to determine the bacterial load in bacteremic patients and its potential association correlation with disease severity.

Methods

Known bacterial inocula were injected into the blood culture bottles. The GDPGs for the specific inocula were downloaded and plotted. A cohort of 30 consecutive clinical cultures positive for S. aureus and E. coli was identified. Bacterial load was determined by comparing the GDPG with the “standard” curves. Variables associated with disease severity were compared across 3 bacterial load categories (< 100, 100–1000, > 1000 CFU/mL).

Results

S. aureus growth was sensitive to the blood volume obtained whereas E. coli growth was less so. A 12-hour delay in sample transfer to the microbiology laboratory resulted in a decrease in TTP by 2–3 h. Mean TTP was 15 and 10 h for S. aureus and E. coli, respectively, which correlates with > 1000 CFU/mL and 500–1000 CFU/ml. For S. aureus, patients with a bacterial load > 100 CFU/mL had a higher mortality rate, (OR for death = 9.7, 95% CI 1.6–59, p = 0.01). Bacterial load > 1000 CFU/mL had an odds ratio of 6.4 (95% CI1.2-35, p = 0.03) to predict an endovascular source. For E. coli bacteremia, we did not find any correlations with disease severity.

Conclusion

GDPG retrieved from the automated blood culture system can be used to estimate bacterial load. S.aureus bacterial load, but not E.coli, was associated with clinical outcome.
Let’s make it personal: CRISPR tools in manipulating cell death pathways for cancer treatment
Authors: Bayat Mobina , Nahand Javid Sadri
Published: July 2024

Advancements in the CRISPR technology, a game-changer in experimental research, have revolutionized various fields of life sciences and more profoundly, cancer research. Cell death pathways are among the most deregulated in cancer cells and are considered as critical aspects in cancer development. Through decades, our knowledge of the mechanisms orchestrating programmed cellular death has increased substantially, attributed to the revolution of cutting-edge technologies. The heroic appearance of CRISPR systems have expanded the available screening platform and genome engineering toolbox to detect mutations and create precise genome edits. In that context, the precise ability of this system for identification and targeting of mutations in cell death signaling pathways that result in cancer development and therapy resistance is an auspicious choice to transform and accelerate the individualized cancer therapy. The concept of personalized cancer therapy stands on the identification of molecular characterization of the individual tumor and its microenvironment in order to provide a precise treatment with the highest possible outcome and minimum toxicity. This study explored the potential of CRISPR technology in precision cancer treatment by identifying and targeting specific cell death pathways. It showed the promise of CRISPR in finding key components and mutations involved in programmed cell death, making it a potential tool for targeted cancer therapy. However, this study also highlighted the challenges and limitations that need to be addressed in future research to fully realize the potential of CRISPR in cancer treatment.

Graphical abstract

Current application of CRISPR system in cancer therapy through a glance. A choosing the appropriate biological model for screening in vitro (using established cell lines, animal derived tumor cells, human derived tumor cells, stem cells or T cells), in vivo (using animal models which can harbor human derived tumor), or ex vivo (human/animal-derived organoids). B preparation of CRISPR gRNA library. C experimental design of CRISPR screening, identification of the desired gRNAs or phenotypic response. D CRISPR-Cas targeting of the identified targets, with Cas9 gene editing system (Knockout, base editing, prime editing), RNA modulation (modulation of RNA splicing, RNA base editing, RNA interference), and epigenomic edits and CRISPR interference/activation using dead Cas9 (dCas9) (Bock et al. 2022b)
The Institutional Hearing Program and the Incarceration-to-Deportation Pipeline
Authors: Avila Lorena , Tosh Sarah
Published: July 2024

Through our study of the Institutional Hearing Program (IHP), we examine how immigration courts within prisons enforce immigration law over individuals serving criminal sentences. Drawing from interviews with legal services providers, community advocates, and impacted immigrants in New York City, we examine due process, inequality, and legal strategies in the context of the IHP. Findings demonstrate the disproportionate punishment of Black and Brown incarcerated immigrants, as well as restricted access to information, distant placement of IHP prisons, and scarce funding for representing incarcerated individuals in immigration proceedings, all of which create challenges for legal advocates' chances of success. We argue that sanctuary provisions in NYC exclude certain migrants by marking them with the stigma of criminal records in over-surveilled neighborhoods and physically exporting them outside city borders to state prisons, where specific policies toward their expedited deportation (such as the IHP) take place. The IHP is a key site on a pipeline from incarceration to deportation that must be drastically limited, or ultimately eradicated, to ensure justice for criminalized immigrants.
On modeling tear breakup dynamics with a nematic lipid layer
Authors: Taranchuk M. J. , Braun R. J.
Published: July 2024

One of the main roles of the lipid layer (LL) of the tear film (TF) is to help prevent evaporation of the aqueous layer (AL). The LL thickness, composition, and structure all contribute to its barrier function. It is believed that the lipid layer is primarily nonpolar with a layer of polar lipids at the LL/AL interface. There is evidence that the nonpolar region of the LL may have liquid crystalline characteristics. We investigate the structure and function of the LL via a model of the tear film with two layers, using extensional flow of a nematic liquid crystal for the LL and shear-dominated flow of a Newtonian AL. Evaporation is taken into account and is affected by the LL thickness, internal arrangement of its rod-like molecules, and external conditions. We conduct a detailed parameter study with a focus on the evaporative resistance parameter, the Marangoni number, and primary liquid crystal parameters including the Leslie viscosities and director angle. This new model responds similarly to previous Newtonian models in some respects; however, incorporating internal structure via the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules affects both evaporation and flow. As a result, we see new effects on TF dynamics and breakup.
Species Choice and Model Use: Reviving Research on Human Development
Authors: Hopwood Nick
Published: July 2024

While model organisms have had many historians, this article places studies of humans, and particularly our development, in the politics of species choice. Human embryos, investigated directly rather than via animal surrogates, have gone through cycles of attention and neglect. In the past 60 years they moved from the sidelines to center stage. Research was resuscitated in anatomy, launched in reproductive biomedicine, molecular genetics, and stem-cell science, and made attractive in developmental biology. I explain this surge of interest in terms of rivalry with models and reliance on them. The greater involvement of medicine in human reproduction, especially through in vitro fertilization, gave access to fresh sources of material that fed critiques of extrapolation from mice and met demands for clinical relevance or “translation.” Yet much of the revival depended on models. Supply infrastructures and digital standards, including biobanks and virtual atlases, emulated community resources for model organisms. Novel culture, imaging, molecular, and postgenomic methods were perfected on less precious samples. Toing and froing from the mouse affirmed the necessity of the exemplary mammal and its insufficiency justified inquiries into humans. Another kind of model—organoids and embryo-like structures derived from stem cells—enabled experiments that encouraged the organization of a new field, human developmental biology. Research on humans has competed with and counted on models.
Risk and Protective Factors for Gambling Among Youth by origin: Findings from the three waves of cross-sectional Finnish School Health Promotion Study among 238,939 Students
Authors: Raitasalo Kirsimarja , Järvinen-Tassopoulos Johanna , Rask Shadia , Skogberg Natalia
Published: July 2024

Gambling is a public health problem that can cause many kinds of harm. The aim of this study was to examine youth gambling by origin, and the risk and protective factors associated with it. The data was drawn from the School Health Promotion Study (n = 238,939) conducted in Finland, representative of the 14 to 16-year-old Finnish schoolchildren. Cross-tabulations and multivariate logistic regression were used in assessing the association between origin and weekly gambling. Interaction terms of origin and background variables related to substance use, peer and family relations and leisure time were then calculated to assess inter-group differences. The study showed that foreign-born, migrant origin and youth from mixed families were more likely to gamble weekly compared to youth with Finnish-born parents. The likelihood of gambling was particularly high among foreign-born and migrant-origin youth. Weekly gambling was significantly more common among boys than girls in all studied youth groups, and it was particularly common among foreign-born boys compared to other groups. Substance use was associated with weekly gambling and even more so among foreign-born youth. There were also differences by origin in the strength of association between other background factors and weekly gambling. Foreign-born boys appear to be especially vulnerable to multiple health and social risks including gambling, making them a particularly important group for targeted preventive programs. Preventive efforts are needed to enhance public awareness, boost parental supervision, and limit gambling-related risks. Special attention is needed to prevent migrant-origin boys from developing problems with gambling.
Consistency of landscape compositional effects on microclimate, arthropods and plant performance across different years and regions
Authors: Gerits Frederik , Reubens Bert , Messely Lies , Verheyen Kris
Published: July 2024

Context

Reinforcement of agrobiodiversity in peri-urban areas requires a landscape lens. Relationships between land use composition and indicators of ecosystem services can depend on weather conditions and differ between regions.

Objectives

In this study we present new empirical data on relationships between landscape composition and indicators of regulating and provisioning agroecosystem services. Furthermore, we check if these data are consistent between two different ecoregions and different years.

Methods

We apply an innovative methodology in a research landscape in the province of Antwerp (Flanders, Belgium) in 2021 with 1 m²-garden as phytometers along a landscape compositional gradient. Landscape composition at different scales is used as explanatory variable for microclimate variation, arthropod activity, leaf herbivory and crop yield in the 1 m²-gardens. Results are compared to an identical experiment in another ecoregion in East Flanders in 2018, 2019.

Results

We found that the proportion of built-up areas is negatively related to local agroecosystem functioning. High-value herbaceous vegetation (e.g. extensive grasslands) promotes the activity of predators and high green vegetation buffers soil moisture and temperature variation, during dry and warm periods. Comparison between cases indicates that there is more consistency in the response of predatory invertebrates to the landscape composition than in the response of pollinators. The buffering effect of high green vegetation in the landscape increases when temperature and drought extremes occur.

Conclusions

The extent of high green vegetation can be enhanced at landscape level to maximise their ability to buffer extreme weather conditions. In peri-urban areas we should avoid further urban sprawl into the rural matrix and promote high-value herbaceous vegetation.
Beyond the richter scale: a fuzzy inference system approach for measuring objective earthquake risk
Authors: Mohammadi Shahin , Balouei Fatemeh , Amini Saeid , Rabiei-Dastjerdi Hamidreza
Published: July 2024

Earthquakes pose significant natural hazards and impact populations worldwide. Iran is among the most susceptible countries to seismic activity, making comprehensive earthquake risk assessment crucial. This study employs geospatial methods, including integrating satellite, ground-based, and auxiliary data to model earthquake risk across this country. A Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) is used to generate earthquake hazard probability and vulnerability layers, considering factors such as slope, elevation, fault density, building density, proximity to main roads, proximity to buildings, population density, and earthquake epicenter, magnitude, proximity to the epicenter, depth density, peak ground acceleration (PGA). The results highlight high-risk areas in the Alborz and Zagros Mountain ranges and coastal regions. Moreover, the findings indicate that 39.7% (approximately 31.7 million people) of Iran’s population resides in high-risk zones, with 9.6% (approximately 7.7 million) located in coastal areas vulnerable to earthquakes. These findings offer valuable insights for crisis management and urban planning initiatives.
A modified derivative-free SQP-filter trust-region method for uncertainty handling: application in gas-lift optimization
Authors: Hannanu Muhammad Iffan , Camponogara Eduardo , Silva Thiago Lima , Hovd Morten
Published: July 2024

We propose an effective algorithm for black-box optimization problems without derivatives in the presence of output constraints. The proposed algorithm is illustrated using a realistic short-term oil production case with complex functions describing system dynamics and output constraints. The results show that our algorithm provides feasible and locally near-optimal solutions for a complex decision-making problem under uncertainty. The proposed algorithm relies on building approximation models using a reduced number of function evaluations, resulting from (i) an efficient model improvement algorithm, (ii) a decomposition of the network of wells, and (iii) using a spectral method for handling uncertainty. We show, in our case study, that the use of the approximation models introduced in this paper can reduce the required number of simulation runs by a factor of 40 and the computation time by a factor of 2600 compared to the Monte Carlo simulation with similarly satisfactory results.
To chain or not to chain? measuring real GDP in the US and the choice of index number
Authors: Oulton Nicholas
Published: July 2024

National Statistical Institutes (NSIs) in advanced countries have generally adopted chain-linking in their national accounts. The United States uses a chained Fisher, an example of a superlative index number, in its national accounts. However the Fisher is only one of an infinite number of superlative index numbers. So an important issue is how sensitive are the estimates of output growth to the choice of index number. This issue is analysed by examining data from the BEA/BLS industry-level integrated production account, 1987–2020. Estimates of superlative and other index numbers are presented for this dataset. The sensitivity of real GDP growth to the value of the crucial parameter in a superlative index number is tested. The extent to which the desirable characteristics of value consistency and aggregation consistency are satisfied for different superlative index numbers is also analysed. The desirability of chain-linking does not follow automatically just from the use of superlative indices. So I also compare chained and unchained versions of these same index numbers. Finally, Europe uses a different approach to output measurement to the US, chained Laspeyres versus chained Fisher. I look at how different US estimates would be if they employed European methodology.
Mindfulness as an Intervention for Self-Regulation and School Reintegration in a Trauma-Informed Primary School Post COVID-19 Lockdown
Authors: Diamond Katrina
Published: July 2024

Objectives

The unprecedented global pandemic and enforced isolation have increased emotional, cognitive, and social dysregulation in children, exacerbated by an educational environment dominated by a recovery agenda focusing on academic outcomes and regular testing, which continues. The use of a creative, agentic mindfulness activity was employed to support school reintegration, self-regulation, positive relationships, and a reduction in exclusions.

Method

A case study of a Year 4 group of children over a 6-month period in a trauma-informed primary school explored a mindfulness and guided visualisation intervention in the form of a book entitled “My Magical Garden”. Semi-structured interviews with the Head of Pastoral and Wellbeing and the classroom teacher, along with a participative Zoom session with the children, and their poems and stories, were conducted and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis via a constructivist epistemology and experiential orientation to data interpretation.

Results

The intervention led to reductions in children’s stress and anxiety levels and decreases in emotional and cognitive dysregulation. The intervention also resulted in an increase in positive relationships and school reintegration, and increased attention on cognitive tasks. The class also experienced zero exclusions over this period.

Conclusions

Mindfulness meditation and guided visualisation techniques that are creative, and intrinsically motivated, support cognitive and emotional regulation and support social and school success. In view of the ongoing impact of the pandemic and lack of support for social and emotional wellbeing, particularly for children facing adversity, mindfulness meditation programmes in schools should be available to all children.

Preregistration

This study is not preregistered.
Eel on the move: fish migration and the construction of “flowing spaces” on the Rhine and Weser Rivers (1880–1930)
Authors: Zumbrägel Christian
Published: July 2024

Sturgeon, salmon, and eel—almost all of the fish species which guaranteed German inland fisheries a profitable living over the last centuries change habitats between oceans and rivers. The European eel follows one of the most spectacular migratory regimes: eels spend most of their lifespan in freshwater before returning to the sea to spawn and die. During their migration their motion, bodies, and nutritional value undergo a substantial transformation. This article argues that these migratory patterns were predicated upon a range of unforeseen consequences which in turn affected fishing practices, patterns of consumption, and species protection regimes along German watercourses. Retracing the migratory paths taken by the eel, it is possible to demonstrate that the variable nature of their peculiar biology served to structure “flowing spaces” of connectivity and disjunction. The empirical analysis focuses on eel migration in the river basins of the Rhine and Weser Rivers, where the resilient species gained large and growing economic importance in the early twentieth century.
Integration between experimental investigation and numerical simulation of alkaline surfactant foam flooding in carbonate reservoirs
Authors: Silva João Victor Gois , Silveira Bruno Marco Oliveira , Ferrari Jean Vicente , Sampaio Marcio Augusto
Published: July 2024

In Brazil, pre-salt carbonate reservoirs are largely responsible for the current increase in oil production. However, due to its peculiar characteristics, increasing oil recovery by water injection is not enough. Therefore, we seek to evaluate the recovery potential using chemical methods (cEOR). Among these, the Alkali Surfactant Foam (ASF) method appears with high potential, a variant of Alkali Surfactant Polymers (ASP) without the problems presented by it. Therefore, this work presents an innovative methodology, which seeks to evaluate the potential for recovery with ASF in carbonate reservoirs by integrating experimental characterization and recovery prediction using reservoir simulation. For this, phase behavior and adsorption analyses were carried out. The experimental results provided key parameters for the simulation, such as optimal salinity, surfactant adsorption, foam mobility reduction factors. The results are from two case studies of AS and ASF flooding, using a section of UNISIM-II benchmark, using a one-quarter of five-spot model. Having the modelling for these cEOR methods defined, an optimization process for each method was applied, allowing a reliable comparison among the methods and over a base case of water injection, seeking the maximization of the net present value (NPV). As a result, in the experimental part, a low interfacial tension (IFT) value of 0.003 mN/m was achieved with a surfactant adsorption reduction of 17.9% for an optimal setting among brine (NaCl), alkali (NaBO2.4H2O), and surfactant (BIO-TERGE AS 40). In the reservoir simulation part, using a fast genetic algorithm in the optimization process, a NPV of US$ 14.43 million higher than the base case (water injection) and a 4.5% increase in cumulative oil production for the ASF injection case were obtained. Considering the analyses of production curves (cumulative oil production and oil rate) and oil saturation maps, a considerable oil production anticipation was observed, which was the main reason for NPV improvement, proving the high potential for application of the ASF method in carbonate reservoirs.
Synthesis of novel bio-based polyamide surfactants and their emulsifying property
Authors: He Li-Han , Mu Bo-Zhong , Yang Shi-Zhong
Published: July 2024

Amphiphilic polyamides represent a class of surfactants with vast potential for applications. In this work, fatty acid methyl esters (methyl oleate and methyl erucate) and biomass-derived 1,4-butanediamine were utilized as raw materials to synthesize two novel anionic polyamide surfactants (APSs, C18:1-PEA and C22:1-PEA). The structure of APSs was characterized via 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectra, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The physico-chemical properties of APSs were explored through thermal stability, surface activity, behavior of APSs molecules in aqueous solution, and the influence of pH on their emulsion stability. The results indicated that APSs could form stable oil-in-water emulsions under alkaline conditions (pH 11 and above). In addition, stable emulsions of liquid paraffin or simulated oil formed by the C18:1-PEA surfactant can be completely destabilized in the lower pH solution in 30 min. The pH-sensitive behavior of the emulsions could be attributed to the introduction of the polyether structure, which, under alkaline conditions, imparts additional electrostatic repulsion due to hydrogen bonding interactions. This study provides an alternative idea for designing novel pH-sensitive emulsifiers, with potential applications in scenarios where emulsions need to be formed under alkaline conditions and subsequently destabilized after use.

Graphical Abstract
Design of AI-Enhanced and Hardware-Supported Multimodal E-Skin for Environmental Object Recognition and Wireless Toxic Gas Alarm
Authors: Li Jianye , Wang Hao , Luo Yibing , Zhou Zijing , Zhang He , Chen Huizhi , Tao Kai , Liu Chuan , Zeng Lingxing , Huo Fengwei , Wu Jin
Published: July 2024

Post-earthquake rescue missions are full of challenges due to the unstable structure of ruins and successive aftershocks. Most of the current rescue robots lack the ability to interact with environments, leading to low rescue efficiency. The multimodal electronic skin (e-skin) proposed not only reproduces the pressure, temperature, and humidity sensing capabilities of natural skin but also develops sensing functions beyond it—perceiving object proximity and NO2 gas. Its multilayer stacked structure based on Ecoflex and organohydrogel endows the e-skin with mechanical properties similar to natural skin. Rescue robots integrated with multimodal e-skin and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms show strong environmental perception capabilities and can accurately distinguish objects and identify human limbs through grasping, laying the foundation for automated post-earthquake rescue. Besides, the combination of e-skin and NO2 wireless alarm circuits allows robots to sense toxic gases in the environment in real time, thereby adopting appropriate measures to protect trapped people from the toxic environment. Multimodal e-skin powered by AI algorithms and hardware circuits exhibits powerful environmental perception and information processing capabilities, which, as an interface for interaction with the physical world, dramatically expands intelligent robots’ application scenarios.
Experimental study on shale-breaking of special-shaped cutter PDC bit
Authors: Zhang Chunliang , Yang Xin , Zhu Zhaoliang , Ke Xiaohua , Zhang Zhaofeng , Luo Hua , Ma Yong , Song Dongdong
Published: July 2024

To enhance the drilling efficiency and extend the service life of PDC (Polycrystalline Diamond Composite) bits in shale formations, this study delves into the rock-breaking mechanisms of special-shaped cutters through a comprehensive experimental approach. This involves optimizing the cutter designs, conducting laboratory experiment and field testing. Among the various cutter geometries considered, concave, axe, planar, and triangular cutters are chosen as the focal points for unit rock-breaking experiments. These tests aim to assess their cutting loads and cutting specific energy to gain a deeper understanding of their performance characteristics. Based on experimental, the debris characteristics are analyzed. Based on the understanding of the shale-breaking characteristics of special-shaped cutters, field testing is performed using a novel PDC bit with a special-shaped cutter. Compared with planar cutters, the concave cutter and the triangular cutter generate lower cutting loads and cutting specific energy. Under identical conditions, the average cutting force and cutting specific energy of concave cutter at different cutting depths are reduced by 16.1% and 19.6% Specifically, the concave cutter generates the largest debris when operated under similar conditions, which is beneficial for increasing rock-breaking efficiency. Laboratory experiment indicate that compared to conventional drill bits, the novel drill bit experiences an increase in torque of approximately 9.8% with increasing WOB (weight on bit). Under high WOB, the ROP (rate of penetration) increases by about 75.4%, while the mechanical specific energy decreases by nearly 40%. Additionally, the novel bit vibration characteristics remain superior to conventional drill bits. Field testing shows that the average ROP of the novel bit and total footage drilled increase by up to 13.3% and 27.2%, respectively, in comparison with those for the conventional bit. The research results are helpful to speed up the efficiency of shale gas drilling.
Eco-social policies in a multilevel setup: from Brussels to Berlin
Authors: Zimmermann Katharina , Mandelli Matteo , Gerstenberg Anne
Published: July 2024

This paper examines the intersection of eco-social policies and multilevel governance within the framework of the European Green Deal (EGD), focusing on Germany as a case study. We explore how German stakeholders employ the EGD as a framing tool for socio-political discourses aimed at addressing the social risks of the green transition by promoting (or not promoting) integrated social and ecological policies. Applying the ‘usages of Europe’ framework, our empirical analysis of expert interviews reveals that the EGD serves more as a flexible framework for ideological contestation rather than a set of prescriptive guidelines, reflecting diverging political ideologies and economic priorities. The findings highlight minimal conflictual politicization, with debates centering more on the choice of instruments rather than on eco-social policies themselves or the necessity to adopt them at the domestic level. The study underscores the nuanced interplay between European initiatives and national policy debates, contributing to a deeper understanding of the complex governance paradigms that shape eco-social transformations in the age of the EGD.
What Makes a Wasteland? A Contemporary Archaeology of Urban Waste Sites
Authors: Gardner Jonathan
Published: July 2024

In this article, I undertake an archaeology of urban “wastelands.” In doing so I ask how such places are materially and conceptually “made” and examine the effects that such labeling has on how postindustrial urban sites are used and valued. Taking examples from the capital cities of England and Scotland (London and Edinburgh), I show that the meaning of “waste” at such sites is temporally and socially contingent. Establishing certainty between which landscapes are “wasted” and which are not can prove difficult, and, in some cases, archaeologists themselves may be implicated in labeling and then “cleansing” wastelands, with archaeology operating as a form of waste management. While wastelands may appear as dissonant and associated with negativity or decay at first glance, I show that these places can also facilitate surprisingly generative and creative uses and provide new forms of heritage value.
Research on landslide hazard assessment based on improved analytic hierarchy process optimizing multiple rainfall indicators
Authors: Ou LiangNan , Huang Changjun , Cao Yuanzhi
Published: July 2024

Rainfall is the key factor that leads to landslide, so this study introduces multiple rainfall indexes to optimize the rainfall model in view of the single evaluation index of the rainfall model for landslide hazard assessment. In this study, Xiangxiang City of Hunan Province was selected as the study area, and eight types of susceptibility assessment factors including slope, aspect, elevation, normalized vegetation index (NDVI), road, fault, lithology and land use were extracted. By analyzing the characteristics of local rainfall, six types of rainfall induced assessment factors were selected for hazard assessment of the study area. The two types of evaluation factors were substituted into the improved AHP and RF combined weighting models respectively to obtain the susceptibility zoning map and rainfall induced model of the study area, and finally superimposed to obtain the hazard zoning map of the study area.Using ROC curve and hazard zoning in the studied area test results, the results show that:The AUC value of the multi-rainfall index is 17.7% higher than that of the single rainfall index, and the AUC value of the improved AHP is 6% higher than that of the traditional AHP method. It is verified by the disaster points on the day of extreme rainfall in the study area, and the actual occurrence of the disaster points is basically consistent with the hazard evaluation and zoning of the multi-rainfall index. Therefore, the rainfall model of landslides is optimized by using multiple rainfall indexes, which significantly improves the rationality of landslide hazard assessment.The study of multiple rainfall induced indicators can fill the knowledge gap in the current field, provide new insights and understanding for the field, and provide assistance for predicting and preventing landslides in related areas.
Biochar production methods and their transformative potential for environmental remediation
Authors: Rajput Vishal , Saini Isha , Parmar Simran , Pundir Vedansh , Kumar Vijay , Kumar Vivek , Naik Bindu , Rustagi Sarvesh
Published: July 2024

Biochar, produced from biodegradable waste through advanced thermochemical processes like pyrolysis, offers substantial environmental benefits due to its carbon-rich composition and versatile applications. This review delves into the transformative potential of biochar derived from diverse agricultural and municipal solid wastes. With its unique properties-including a high surface area, porosity, and functional groups such as –COOH, –OH, and –NH2 biochar stands out as a highly effective adsorbent for heavy metals and organic pollutants. Factors like feedstock type, pyrolysis temperature, and residence time critically shape biochar’s characteristics and yield. Moreover, pretreatment methods and activation techniques further amplify its adsorption capacity. Biochar’s environmental applications are vast, spanning soil remediation, water purification, carbon sequestration, and waste management, all promoting ecological sustainability. Its remarkable stability and efficacy in pollutant removal highlight its potential as a catalyst and a vital component in improving soil health. Despite its many advantages, a thorough assessment of biochar’s environmental impact and long-term stability is crucial for its sustainable use. This review highlights recent biochar production, characterization, and application advances, emphasizing the need to balance economic growth with environmental development. By strategically integrating biochar into various sectors, we can pave the way for a greener, more sustainable future.
Shoot and Root Decomposition from Different Cropping Systems Under Semiarid Mediterranean Conditions
Authors: Martín-Brull Irene , Cantero-Martínez Carlos , Franco-Luesma Samuel , Lafuente Victoria , Álvaro-Fuentes Jorge
Published: July 2024

Improving the management of crop residues is essential for water and soil conservation and for increasing soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) levels in dryland agroecosystems. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the decomposition dynamics and C and N released from crop residues from different cropping systems under semiarid Mediterranean conditions. A litterbag experiment was conducted from July of 2020 to June of 2021 to examine the shoot and root decomposition dynamics of different cropping systems; the following systems were selected: V(B), vetch (Vicia sativa) residue decomposition in a barley crop; B(V), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) residue decomposition in a vetch crop; P(B), pea (Pisum sativum) residue decomposition in a barley crop; B(P), barley residue decomposition in a pea crop; and B(B), barley residue decomposition in a barley crop. After 48 weeks of decomposition, a 45% and 60% of residues mass remaining (MR) was found corresponding to vetch and pea shoot residues respectively, whilst barley MR ranged 77–87% depending on the cropping system. In root residues, the mass decay from legume residues (40–45%) was higher compared to barley residues (17–29%). Exponential decay and linear models explained the residue decomposition observed in our study conditions. Residues C to N ratio and edaphoclimatic conditions played a major role controlling the decomposition. Residue decomposition and C and N release dynamics from different crop residues need to be considered for a transition to more sustainable agroecosystems under Mediterranean semiarid conditions.
Pietsch type composition results for bilinear summing operators
Authors: Popa Dumitru
Published: July 2024

We prove some splitting results for bilinear summing operators and as a consequence Pietsch type composition results. Some examples are given.
Prevalence and Regional Distribution of Beta-Hemoglobin Variants in Saudi Arabia: Insights from the National Premarital Screening Program”
Authors: Aljabry Mansour , Sulimani Suha , Alotaibi Ghazi , Aljabri Hassan , Alomary Shaker , Aljabri Omar , Sallam Maha , Alsultan Abdulrahman
Published: July 2024

Background

Hemoglobinopathies are among the most prevalent inherited disorders globally, with carrier prevalence varying significantly across regions. In Saudi Arabia, high rates of consanguineous marriages amplify the risk of these disorders.

Aim

This study aims to assess the burden of hemoglobinopathies by evaluating the prevalence and regional distribution of beta-hemoglobin variants, including rare variants, among couples participating in the national premarital screening program.

Methods

Data were collected from the premarital genetic screening program and entered into the SEHA platform, covering the 13 administrative regions of Saudi Arabia. Blood samples underwent various screening tests for infectious and genetic diseases. Hemoglobin electrophoresis samples were analyzed using capillary electrophoresis, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), or a combination of both methods.

Results

From 2011 to 2018, 1,871,184 individuals were included in the study, with 49.8% male and 50.2% female. The average age was 30.2 years. Hemoglobin S (HbS) was identified in 88,431 individuals (4.7% of the tested population and 78.5% of abnormal screening results), primarily as a sickle cell trait. β-thalassemia was the second most common disorder, identified in 22,420 individuals (1.2% of the population and 19.9% of hemoglobin disorders). HbC and HbD were each detected in 0.04% of cases, while HbO-Arab was identified in 0.007% and HbG in 0.006%. Hemoglobin E and hemoglobin Lepore were found to be extremely rare.

Conclusion

The study demonstrates regional variation in the prevalence of hemoglobin genetic variants in Saudi Arabia. To effectively mitigate this risk, it is imperative to strengthen public education and awareness, particularly focusing on genetic screening and counseling.
Liouville-type theorems for the Taylor–Couette–Poiseuille flow of the stationary Navier–Stokes equations
Authors: Kozono Hideo , Terasawa Yutaka , Wakasugi Yuta
Published: July 2024

We study the stationary Navier–Stokes equations in the region between two rotating concentric cylinders. We first prove that, for a small Reynolds number, if the fluid flow is axisymmetric and if its velocity is sufficiently small in the

$L^\infty$

-norm, then it is necessarily the Taylor–Couette–Poiseuille flow. If, in addition, the associated pressure is bounded or periodic in the

$z$

axis, then it coincides with the well-known canonical Taylor–Couette flow. We discuss the relation between uniqueness and stability of such a flow in terms of the Taylor number in the case of narrow gap of two cylinders. The investigation in comparison with two Reynolds numbers based on inner and outer cylinder rotational velocities is also conducted. Next, we give a certain bound of the Reynolds number and the

$L^\infty$

-norm of the velocity such that the fluid is, indeed, necessarily axisymmetric. As a result, it is clarified that smallness of Reynolds number of the fluid in the two rotating concentric cylinders governs both axisymmetry and the Taylor–Couette–Poiseuille flow with the exact form of the pressure.
Wall turbulence perturbed by a bump with organized small-scale roughness: flow statistics
Authors: Hussain Fazle , García Edgardo , Yao Jie , Stout Eric
Published: July 2024

Turbulent boundary layers (TBLs) over surface perturbations like bumps with roughness – notably altering heat and mass transfer, drag, etc. – are prevalent in nature (mountains, dunes, etc.) and technology. We study a channel flow with a transverse bump on one wall superimposed with small-scale longitudinal grooves via direct numerical simulation (DNS) of incompressible flow. Turbulence statistics and dynamics are compared between grooved wall (GW) and smooth wall (SW) bumps. Streamwise spinning jets emanating from the crests’ corners alter the flow structure within the separation bubble (SB), extending the SB length by 30 % over that for SW, and have lingering effects far downstream. Grooves decrease skin friction but increase the bump's form drag by 25 %. In GW, the peaks of turbulence intensity and production decrease by 20 % and shift downstream, compared with SW. Three regions of negative production, found upstream as well as downstream of the bump, are explained in terms of two separate mechanisms: normal and shear productions. Separation upstream of the bump occurs always for GW, but intermittently for SW. Within the downstream SB, counter-rotating minibubbles form intermittently for SW but always for GW. Interestingly, a minibubble causes streamwise vorticity reversal of the upstream moving secondary flow around each crest corner. The wall pressure in GW is invariant in the spanwise direction and is explained in terms of its non-local nature and its connection with outer structures. The grooved bump unearths rich TBL flow physics – upstream separation, dynamics of the downstream minibubble, altered reattachment dynamics and negative production.
On the streamwise velocity variance in the near-wall region of turbulent flows
Authors: Pirozzoli Sergio
Published: July 2024

We study the behaviour of the streamwise velocity variance in turbulent wall-bounded flows using a direct numerical simulation (DNS) database of pipe flow up to friction Reynolds number${{Re}}_{\tau } \approx 12000$. The analysis of the spanwise spectra in the viscous near-wall region strongly hints to the presence of an overlap layer between the inner- and the outer-scaled spectral ranges, featuring a$k_{\theta }^{-1+\alpha }$decay (with$k_{\theta }$the wavenumber in the azimuthal direction, and$\alpha \approx 0.18$), hence shallower than suggested by the classical formulation of the attached-eddy model. The key implication is that the contribution to the streamwise velocity variance$(\langle{u}^2\rangle)$from the largest scales of motion (superstructures) slowly declines as${{Re}}_{\tau }^{-\alpha }$, and the integrated inner-scaled variance follows a defect power law of the type$\langle u^2 \rangle ^+ = A - B \, {{Re}}_{\tau }^{-\alpha }$, with constants$A$and$B$depending on$y^+$. The DNS data very well support this behaviour, which implies that strict wall scaling is restored in the infinite-Reynolds-number limit. The extrapolated limit distribution of the streamwise velocity variance features a buffer-layer peak value of$\langle u^2 \rangle ^+ \approx 12.1$, and an additional outer peak with larger magnitude. The analysis of the velocity spectra also suggests a similar behaviour of the dissipation rate of the streamwise velocity variance at the wall, which is expected to attain a limiting value of approximately$0.28$, hence slightly exceeding the value$0.25$which was assumed in previous analyses (Chen & Sreenivasan,J. Fluid Mech., vol. 908, 2021, R3). We have found evidence suggesting that the reduced near-wall influence of wall-attached eddies is likely linked to the formation of underlying turbulent Stokes layers.