bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Curcumin and Cornstarch Biopolymers on the Shelf Life of Fresh Cheese: Physicomechanical and Antimicrobial Properties
Authors: Almajidi Yasir Qasim , Lup Andrew Ng Kay , Ramírez‐Coronel Andrés Alexis , Almulla Abbas F. , Alsudani Ali , Kadhm Mustafa Salam , Alqurashi Yaser E. , Obaid Rasha Fadhel
Published: November 2023

Natural polymers are used more frequently in packaging as alternatives to synthetic plastics. Cornstarch is one of the cheapest carbohydrate biopolymers that form films with suitable properties and appearance but considerably larger hydrophilicity and low mechanical characteristics compared to synthetic films. Incorporating curcumin into cornstarch films improves mechanical and antimicrobial properties and curcumin release into aqueous solutions of the films. The results show that the introduction of curcumin decreases the water solubility of the edible films from 3.58% to 1.49% and the moisture absorption from 2.87% to 1.94% (p < 0.05) and increases the length of films from 40% to 80% without changing their thickness. Examination of color properties shows that the increased curcumin concentration leads to a decrease in transparency and an increase in the redness and yellowness indices. These properties change from 72.2, 3.5, and 5.1 to 39.2, 21, and 13.7, respectively. The number of mold and yeast colonies in the cheese sample decreases during the storage period of 5 days. Generally, the findings indicate that the bioactive film of corn starch and curcumin (0.5%) can be used as a suitable coating for food products.
Experimental and numerical analysis of different vertical connections of precast shear walls with special regard towards deformability
Authors: Miclăușoiu Dan‐Andrei , Nedelcu Mihai , Blanksvärd Thomas
Published: November 2023

Nowadays precast concrete multi‐story dual system structures require Finite Element Method structural analysis. The stiffness of the vertical connections between wall panels influences the internal forces distribution. European standard EN 1992‐1‐1 recommends verification of strength and deformability of precast connections to be assisted by testing. Six different connection layouts were tested under pure shear with a special attention towards deformability. All connections showed close to/equivalent monolithic initial stiffness. Depending on the connection layout, the post‐cracking stiffness is reduced. The equation for shear resistance of interfaces between concrete cast at different times according to EN 1992‐1‐1 can lead to significant estimation errors due to its weak physical meaning (in disagreement with experimental observed failure mechanisms). A non‐linear finite element analysis solution strategy is validated by experimental results that shows how stochastic parameters can inflict large variation in terms of strength and stiffness.
Introduction: Silencing
Authors: Amico Stephen
Published: November 2023

Highlighting the silencing of same-sex desire that marked both the early days of the AIDS crisis and the Pulse nightclub massacre, this chapter presents an overview of the monograph’s main contention: that such silencing continues, in both overt and covert manners, within a disciplined, Western academic sphere. Taking the recent relationship between ethnomusicology and queerness as meriting not celebration but scrutiny, it is argued that both disciplinary sites are undergirded by a gendered ‘metaepisteme’ driven by a masculinity indissolubly linked to a monologic, Eurocentric, exploitive coloniality. Ultimately, it is the embracing of ‘negative’ emotions and an affectively motivated future—marked, in part, by a self-silencing—that offer the possibility of a truly dialogic, equitable, postdisciplinary future for explorations of sound, music, sex/uality, and other as-yet unknowable/unnamed sites of inquiry.
‘This Is to Enrage You’
Authors: Amico Stephen
Published: November 2023

The fundamental utility of rage as a motivator for early AIDS activists is contrasted with the double silencing marking ethnomusicology’s relationship to same-sex desire: it is virtually non-existent in the discipline’s literature, and the erasure has generated no response, enraged or otherwise, within academia. Additionally, two themes animating ensuing discussions are presented. First, the field’s belated acceptance of ‘gender’ as a site of inquiry, overwhelmingly used as a shorthand for ‘studies of/by women’, is revealed as related to the creation of a veneer of ‘diversity’ that functions to keep men/masculinity immune from examination. And second, ethnomusicology’s self-construction as the ethical other to musicology is exposed as resting not on epistemological/methodological desiderata, but an intense homophobic drive to construct a masculine disciplinary identity in contradistinction to musicology’s assumed femininity.
We Don’t Need Another He(te)ro
Authors: Amico Stephen
Published: November 2023

This chapter explores in greater detail the motivations for and processes of the construction of masculinity within ethnomusicology. Understanding the centuries-long feminization of music in Western culture, anthropology and its methodology—fieldwork—are revealed as utilized in the creation of a specifically academic masculinity. However, while fieldwork is instrumental in the creation of one facet of masculinity (i.e., representation of a self marked by bravado, courage, intrepidness; the ‘anthropologist as hero’), it is argued that for the largely white, privileged male academic, recourse to such stereotypes alone is insufficient. As such, it is intellect and rationality, manifesting via the use and production of Theory (itself coded as masculine) that allow for the maintaining of power over the musical, the racialized Other, and the positivistic, feminized musicologist.
Non-fundamental Tones, or, the Pharmakon of Silence
Authors: Amico Stephen
Published: November 2023

The dialogic—a perpetual process of non-hierarchical interaction—is contrasted with both ethnomusicology’s and queerness’s monologic relationship to non-Western sites and people, a colonialist-masculinist stance founded on oppressive language and an implicit positing of the West’s knowledge production as singular, universal, and superior. Understanding communication as more than semiotic/linguistic, and the role of the sonic in relationality, it is argued that attention to the conceptual/material possibilities of echoes and reverberations—contrasting the monologic echo chamber with the expanse of ‘wild’ epistemic possibility—offers a way of conceiving of and working toward postdisciplinary, undisciplined explorations of sound, music, sex/uality, and the social. Silence is revealed as double-sided, a pharmokon—the poison of the silencing monologic, willingly withdrawn, becoming the remedy of self-silencing, a condition of pluriversality.
Weak essentially undecidable theories of concatenation, part II
Authors: Murwanashyaka Juvenal
Published: November 2023

We show that we can interpret concatenation theories in arithmetical theories without coding sequences by identifying binary strings with $$2\times 2$$

2
×
2

matrices with determinant 1.
Inconsistent repeatability of the Dejour classification of trochlear dysplasia due to the variability of imaging modalities: a systematic review
Authors: Pineda Tomas ,   ReSurg, Müller Jacobus Hendrik , Nover Luca , Saffarini Mo
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this systematic review was to critically assess the quality of papers that report on the intra‐ and inter‐observer repeatability of the Dejour classification for trochlear dysplasia, and to identify the possible causes for poor repeatability.

Methods

Two authors independently conducted an electronic search (four databases) on 8 February 2023 for studies (English or French) that assessed trochlear dysplasia classifications on imaging of skeletally mature participants. Exclusion criteria were reviews of clinical studies, conference proceedings, or editorials. After title, abstract, and full‐text screening, characteristics of eligible studies were tabulated (author, year, journal, study design, cohort characteristics, and intra‐ and/or inter‐observer agreement coefficients). The methodological quality of studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist for analytical cross‐sectional studies. Authors analysed three components of the included studies: (1) classifications based on true lateral radiographs and slice imaging; (2) dysplasia graded into Type A vs B vs C vs D and 3) coefficients of intra‐ and/or inter‐observer agreement.

Results

The electronic search returned 3,178 references, and after removal of duplicates and irrelevant studies, ten were eligible for data extraction. A second search (31 July 2023) yielded one additional study. Eight studies did not include lateral radiographs, two studies did not explicitly state if radiographs were true lateral views, and one used true lateral radiographs in isolation. Classification of trochlear dysplasia into A vs B vs C vs D using different imaging modalities resulted in moderate to near‐perfect intra‐observer agreement, and slight to near‐perfect inter‐observer agreement. Studies distinguished between moderate and severe dysplasia using a variety of combinations: A vs B/C/D, A/B vs C/D and A/C vs B/D.

Conclusion

This systematic review revealed that the Dejour classification remains the most widely used to assess trochlear dysplasia and that the majority of studies that assessed the reliability of the Dejour classification, reported moderate to near‐perfect inter‐observer agreement; however, pooling of results for comparison among the included studies was inappropriate due to substantial variation in imaging protocols and non‐standardised criteria to distinguish severe from moderate dysplasia.

Level of evidence

Level IV.

Trial registry

The PROSPERO registration number is CRD42023386731.
CD45 inhibition in myeloid leukaemia cells sensitizes cellular responsiveness to chemotherapy
Authors: Al Barashdi Maryam Ahmed S. , Ali Ahlam , McMullin Mary Frances , Mills Ken
Published: November 2023

Myeloid malignancies are a group of blood disorders characterized by the proliferation of one or more haematopoietic myeloid cell lineages, predominantly in the bone marrow, and are often caused by aberrant protein tyrosine kinase activity. The protein tyrosine phosphatase CD45 is a trans-membrane molecule expressed on all haemopoietic blood cells except that of platelets and red cells. CD45 regulates various cellular physiological processes including proliferation, apoptosis, and lymphocyte activation. However, its role in chemotherapy response is still unknown; therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of CD45 in myeloid malignancies in terms of cellular growth, apoptosis, and response to chemotherapy. The expression of CD45 on myeloid leukaemia primary cells and cell lines was heterogeneous with HEL and OCI-AML3 cells showing the highest level. Inhibition of CD45 resulted in increased cellular sensitivity to cytarabine and ruxolitinib, the two main therapies for AML and MPN. Bioinformatics analysis identified genes whose expression was correlated with CD45 expression such as JAK2, ACTR2, THAP3 Serglycin, and PBX-1 genes, as well as licensed drugs (alendronate, allopurinol, and balsalazide), which could be repurposed as CD45 inhibitors which effectively increases sensitivity to cytarabine and ruxolitinib at low doses. Therefore, CD45 inhibition could be explored as a potential therapeutic partner for treatment of myeloid malignancies in combination with chemotherapy such as cytarabine especially for elderly patients and those showing chemotherapy resistance.
Multi-decadal shoreline changes in Eastern Ghana—natural dynamics versus human interventions
Authors: Mann T. , Serwa A. , Rovere A. , Casella E. , Appeaning-Addo K. , Jayson-Quashigah P.-N. , Mensah-Senoo T. , Trstenjak K. , Lassalle B. , Flitner M. , Westphal H.
Published: November 2023

Human infrastructures, such as dams, seawalls, and ports, can affect both the sedimentary budget and nearshore hydrodynamics, enhancing and accelerating the loss or gain of coastal sediments. Understanding the processes and factors controlling beach morphodynamics is essential for implementing adequate adaptation strategies in coastal areas, particularly in those regions where coastal protection measures are scarce. This study analyzes shoreline changes in the Keta Municipal District, located in southeastern Ghana (West Africa). This area is characterized by the sedimentary input of the Volta River, forming a river delta situated to the west, i.e., updrift, of our study site. Following the construction of two dams (Akosombo and Kpong) on the Volta River in 1965 and 1982, groins and revetments have been built along the coast between 2005 and 2015 to reduce the high rates of coastal erosion in this area. Here, we explore the influence of these dams and the hard protection constructions on beach morphodynamics using historical maps and satellite images complemented by a shoreline survey undertaken with a differential GNSS in 2015. The multi-decadal evolution between 1913 and 2015 reconstructed for 90 km of shoreline suggests that local erosion rates in the region predate the construction of the two dams on the Volta River, indicating that these structures might not be the primary driver of coastal erosion in this area, as previously suggested. We emphasize that delta dynamics under conditions of high-energy longshore drift, modified by anthropogenic drivers such as sand mining, play a key role in the long-term evolution of this coast. Our results also show that the infrastructures built to halt coastal erosion result in localized erosion and accretion down-current along the coastline towards the border with Togo, highlighting the need for a transnational perspective in addressing the problems caused by coastal erosion.
Clinical and functional characteristics, possible causes, and impact of chronic cough in patients with cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy, and bilateral vestibular areflexia syndrome (CANVAS)
Authors: Palones Esther , Curto Elena , Plaza Vicente , Gonzalez-Quereda Lidia , Segarra-Casas Alba , Querol Luis , Bertoletti Federico , Rodriguez María José , Gallano Pía , Crespo-Lessmann Astrid
Published: November 2023

Cerebellar ataxia with neuropathy and bilateral vestibular areflexia syndrome (CANVAS) is an hereditary autosomal recessive disease. Recent studies propose including chronic cough (CC) as a symptom of CANVAS. For 10 patients with CANVAS as genetically confirmed by biallelic expansion of the AAGG repeat motif (AAGGGexp) in intron 2 of replication factor C subunit 1 (RFC1), our aim was, as a multidisciplinary team, to describe clinical and functional characteristics and possible causes of CC following European Respiratory Society (ERS) recommendations, and to evaluate CC impact on quality of life (QoL) using self-administered questionnaires (Cough Severity Diary, Leicester Cough Questionnaire, Discrete Emotions Questionnaire, and EQ-5D-5L). In all 10 patients, the CC was a dry cough that developed several years prior to the neurological symptoms (mean 14.2 years); 7 patients had symptoms compatible with gastroesophageal reflux (GER), 5 with pathological GER diagnosed by 24-h esophageal pH testing, and 6 patients had impaired esophageal motility diagnosed by high-resolution esophageal manometry, most frequently ineffective peristalsis. Although further studies are required for confirmation, we conclude that CC may be a characteristic prodrome of CANVAS and may be related to GER and esophageal disorders. Furthermore, CC affects patients’ QoL, especially in the psychosocial sphere.
10-year mortality, causes of death and cardiovascular comorbidities in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus
Authors: Eklund Sanna A. , Israelsson Hanna , Brunström Mattias , Forsberg Karin , Malm Jan
Published: November 2023

Objective

The objective was to investigate 10-year mortality, causes of death and cardiovascular comorbidity in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) and to evaluate their mutual associations.

Methods

This prospective cohort study included 176 CSF-shunted iNPH patients, and 368 age- and sex-matched controls. At inclusion, participants were medically examined, had blood analyzed and answered a questionnaire. The vascular comorbidities investigated were smoking, diabetes, body mass index, blood pressure (BP), hyperlipidemia, kidney function, atrial fibrillation and, cerebro- and cardiovascular disease.

Results

Survival was observed for a mean period of 10.3 ± 0.84 years. Shunted iNPH patients had an increased risk of death compared to controls (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.5, 95% CI 1.86–3.36; p < 0.001). After 10 years, 50% (n = 88) of iNPH patients and 24% (n = 88) of the controls were dead (p < 0.001). The risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, falls and neurological diseases were higher in iNPH (p < 0.05). The most common cause of death in iNPH was cardiovascular diseases (14% vs 7% for controls). Seven out of nine iNPH dying from falls had subdural hematomas. Systolic BP (HR = 0.985 95% CI 0.972–0.997, p = 0.018), atrial fibrillation (HR = 2.652, 95% CI 1.506–4.872, p < 0.001) and creatinine (HR = 1.018, 95% CI 1.010–1.027, p < 0.001) were independently associated with mortality for iNPH.

Discussion

This long-term and population-matched cohort study indicates that in spite of CSF-shunt treatment, iNPH has shorter life expectancy. It may be important to treat iNPH in supplementary ways to reduce mortality. Both cardiovascular comorbidities and lethal falls are contributing to the excess mortality in iNPH and reducing these preventable risks should be an established part of the treatment plan.
Quantale-valued quasi-neighborhood systems: fundamentals and application to L-quasi-topologies, L-quasi-uniformities, and rough approximation operators
Authors: El-Saady Kamal , Temraz Ayat A.
Published: November 2023

In accordance with Rodabaugh’s approach to L-quasi-topology, the aim of this paper is to use the concept of semi-quantales as a theoretical basis to construct and study the notion of quantale-valued quasi-neighborhood systems as a generalized form of the resent Höhle–S̆ostak’s L-neighborhood systems. Some properties of such notion and relationships with L-quasi-topologies, L-quasi-fuzzy topologies, L-quasi-uniform structures and L-fuzzy rough approximation operators are established.
The impact of classic Hodgkin lymphoma on informal caregivers: results from the CONNECT cross-sectional survey
Authors: Flora Darcy R. , Evens Andrew M. , Liu Nicholas , Yu Kristina S. , Byrd Rachel , Fanale Michelle A. , Holmes Katherine , Flores Carlos , Surinach Andy , Parsons Susan K.
Published: November 2023

Purpose

As part of the CONNECT study, we evaluated the caregiver role in treatment decision-making when caring for patients with classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) in the USA.

Methods

The CONNECT caregiver survey was administered online December 2020–March 2021 to self-identified adult caregivers of cHL patients recruited from patient referrals and online panels. The caregiver’s role in treatment decision-making, health-related quality of life (HRQoL, PROMIS-Global), and work impacts (WPAI:CG) were assessed.

Results

We surveyed 209 caregivers (58% women; median age 47 years; 54% employed; 53% spouse/partner); 69% of patients cared for were diagnosed with cHL in the past 1–2 years, with 48% having stage III/IV cHL and 29% in remission. More spouse/partner than other caregivers were involved in caregiving at symptom onset (61% vs 27%), whereas more other than spouse/partner caregivers began after first treatment (34% vs 5%). Cure, caregivers’ top treatment goal (49%), was rated higher by spouse/partner than other caregivers (56% vs 42%). More spouse/partner than other caregivers were involved in treatment option discussions with physicians (52% vs 28%), were involved in patients’ treatment decisions (54% vs 23%), and were aligned with patients’ treatment goals (93% vs 79%). While caregivers reported HRQoL similar to that of the general population, nearly 30% of employed caregivers reported work impairment.

Conclusion

Cure was caregivers’ top treatment goal. Spouse/partner vs other caregivers were more involved, were involved earlier, and reported greater alignment with patient treatment goals and decision-making. Caregivers reported good HRQoL; however, caregiving impacted work productivity regardless of patient relationship.
Regularity theory and Green’s function for elliptic equations with lower order terms in unbounded domains
Authors: Mourgoglou Mihalis
Published: November 2023

We consider elliptic operators in divergence form with lower order terms of the form $$Lu = -{{\textrm{div}}}(A \cdot \nabla u + b u ) - c \cdot \nabla u - du$$

L
u
=
-
div
(
A
·
∇
u
+
b
u
)
-
c
·
∇
u
-
d
u

, in an open set $$\Omega \subset \mathbb {R}^n$$

Ω
⊂

R

n

, $$n \ge 3$$

n
≥
3

, with possibly infinite Lebesgue measure. We assume that the $$n \times n$$

n
×
n

matrix A is uniformly elliptic with real, merely bounded and possibly non-symmetric coefficients, and either $$b, c \in L^{n,\infty }_{\text {loc}}({\Omega })$$

b
,
c
∈

L
loc

n
,
∞

(
Ω
)

and $$d \in L_{\text {loc}}^{\frac{n}{2}, \infty }(\Omega )$$

d
∈

L

loc

n
2

,
∞

(
Ω
)

, or $$|b|^2, |c|^2, |d| \in \mathcal {K}_{\text {loc}}(\Omega )$$

|
b
|

2

,
|
c
|

2

,

|
d
|

∈

K
loc

(
Ω
)

, where $$\mathcal {K}_{\text {loc}}(\Omega )$$

K
loc

(
Ω
)

stands for the local Stummel–Kato class. Let $${\mathcal {K}_{\text {Dini}}}(\Omega )$$

K
Dini

(
Ω
)

be a variant of $$\mathcal {K}(\Omega )$$

K
(
Ω
)

satisfying a Carleson-Dini-type condition. We develop a De Giorgi/Nash/Moser theory for solutions of $$Lu = f - {{\textrm{div}}}g$$

L
u
=
f
-
div
g

, where f and $$|g|^2 \in {\mathcal {K}_{\text {Dini}}}(\Omega )$$

|
g
|

2

∈

K
Dini

(
Ω
)

if, for $$q \in [n, \infty )$$

q
∈
[
n
,
∞
)

, any of the following assumptions holds: (i) $$|b|^2, |d| \in {\mathcal {K}_{\text {Dini}}}(\Omega )$$

|
b
|

2

,

|
d
|

∈

K
Dini

(
Ω
)

and either $$c \in L^{n,q}_{\text {loc}}(\Omega )$$

c
∈

L
loc

n
,
q

(
Ω
)

or $$|c|^2 \in \mathcal {K}_{\text {loc}}(\Omega )$$

|
c
|

2

∈

K
loc

(
Ω
)

; (ii) $${{\textrm{div}}}b +d \le 0$$

div
b
+
d
≤
0

and either $$b+c \in L^{n,q}_{\text {loc}}(\Omega )$$

b
+
c
∈

L
loc

n
,
q

(
Ω
)

or $$|b+c|^2 \in \mathcal {K}_{\text {loc}}(\Omega )$$

|
b
+
c
|

2

∈

K
loc

(
Ω
)

; (iii) $$-{{\textrm{div}}}c + d \le 0$$

-
div
c
+
d
≤
0

and $$|b+c|^2 \in {\mathcal {K}_{\text {Dini}}}(\Omega )$$

|
b
+
c
|

2

∈

K
Dini

(
Ω
)

. We also prove a Wiener-type criterion for boundary regularity. Assuming global conditions on the coefficients, we show that the variational Dirichlet problem is well-posed and, assuming $$-{{\textrm{div}}}c +d \le 0$$

-
div
c
+
d
≤
0

, we construct the Green’s function associated with L satisfying quantitative estimates. Under the additional hypothesis $$|b+c|^2 \in \mathcal {K}'(\Omega )$$

|
b
+
c
|

2

∈

K

′

(
Ω
)

, we show that it satisfies global pointwise bounds and also construct the Green’s function associated with the formal adjoint operator of L. An important feature of our results is that all the estimates are scale invariant and independent of $$\Omega $$
Ω
, while we do not assume smallness of the norms of the coefficients or coercivity of the associated bilinear form.
A variant prescribed curvature flow on closed surfaces with negative Euler characteristic
Authors: Borer Franziska , Elbau Peter , Weth Tobias
Published: November 2023

On a closed Riemannian surface $$(M,{\bar{g}})$$

(
M
,

g

¯

)

with negative Euler characteristic, we study the problem of finding conformal metrics with prescribed volume $$A>0$$

A
>
0

and the property that their Gauss curvatures $$f_\lambda = f + \lambda $$

f
λ

=
f
+
λ

are given as the sum of a prescribed function $$f \in C^\infty (M)$$

f
∈

C
∞

(
M
)

and an additive constant $$\lambda $$
λ
. Our main tool in this study is a new variant of the prescribed Gauss curvature flow, for which we establish local well-posedness and global compactness results. In contrast to previous work, our approach does not require any sign conditions on f. Moreover, we exhibit conditions under which the function $$f_\lambda $$

f
λ

is sign changing and the standard prescribed Gauss curvature flow is not applicable.
An objective procedure for rainy season onset and withdrawal dates over the Mexico Valley Basin
Authors: Muñoz-Sanchez Rodrigo , Ordoñez Paulina , Gallego David , Ochoa-Moya Carlos A.
Published: November 2023

This work aims to define a procedure to declare rainy season onset and withdrawal dates for the Mexico Valley Basin, located in central Mexico. The onset/withdrawal is obtained using only precipitation for the study period 1981–2020. The onset is defined as the first day, between May 1st and July 15th, of the first 20 consecutive days having a 20-day average precipitation over the Basin of at least 2.5 mm/day. The withdrawal is defined as the last day, between September 1st and November 15th, of the last 20 consecutive days having a 20-day average precipitation of at least 1.7 mm/day. The mean onset is June 6th, with a standard deviation of 14.3 days; the mean withdrawal date is October 15th, with a standard deviation of 16.1 days; and the average length of the rainy season is 131 days, with a standard deviation of 22.7 days. These criteria maximize the precipitation change slope during onset/withdrawal. We categorized pre- and post-onset/withdrawal periods to investigate mean circulation characteristic changes. Besides a stark increase (decrease) in rainfall over the Basin during onset (withdrawal), we found that vertically integrated moisture transport over the Caribbean Low-Level Jet core region increases (decreases). The onset/withdrawal dates derived show interannual trends, while a late (early) withdrawal is associated with a positive (negative) ENSO Index, and a strong (weak) Caribbean Low Level Jet (CLLJ) is associated with a late (early) onset.
Coordinating and programming multiple ROS-based robots with X-KLAIM
Authors: Bettini Lorenzo , Bourr Khalid , Pugliese Rosario , Tiezzi Francesco
Published: November 2023

Software development for robotics applications is still a major challenge that becomes even more complex when considering multi-robot systems (MRSs). Such distributed software has to perform multiple cooperating tasks in a well-coordinated manner to avoid unsatisfactory emerging behavior. This paper provides an approach for programming MRSs at a high abstraction level using the programming language X-Klaim. The computation and communication model of X-Klaim, based on multiple distributed tuple spaces, permits coordinating with the same abstractions and mechanisms both intra- and inter-robot interactions of an MRS. This allows developers to focus on MRS behavior, achieving readable, reusable, and maintainable code. The proposed approach can be used in practice by integrating X-Klaim and the popular robotics framework ROS. We demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of our approach by (i) showing how it scales when implementing two warehouse scenarios allowing us to reuse most of the code when passing from the simpler to the more enriched scenario and (ii) presenting the results of a few experiments showing that our code introduces a slightly greater but acceptable latency and consumes less memory than the traditional ROS implementation based on Python code.
FAMOSES-Epilepsie-Schulungen in Zeiten der COVID-19-Pandemie
Authors: Hagemann Anne , von Pfeil Daniela , Pfäfflin Margarete
Published: November 2023

Hintergrund

Das modulare Schulungsprogramm FAMOSES (MOdulares Schulungsprogramm EpilepSie für FAmilien) bietet seit 20 Jahren Kindern mit Epilepsie und ihren Eltern die Möglichkeit, interaktiv Wissen über ihre Erkrankung und Bewältigungsstrategien zu erwerben.

Ziel der Arbeit

Es sollten die Auswirkungen der COVID-19-Pandemie auf FAMOSES-Schulungen in Bezug auf die Durchführbarkeit, Bewertungen durch die Trainerinnen und die Teilnehmerevaluation untersucht werden.

Material und Methoden

FAMOSES-Trainerinnen wurden mit dem neu entwickelten Fragebogen zu „Auswirkungen der Pandemie auf Epilepsieschulungen“ (PES) befragt. Für die Bewertung der Kurse durch die teilnehmenden Eltern und Kinder wurden die regulären Evaluationsbögen ausgewertet.

Ergebnisse

Die Zahl der durchgeführten Kurse war 2020 geringer als im Vor-Pandemie-Jahr 2019 (Eltern: p = 0,049, Kinder: p = 0,057) und stieg 2021 wieder etwas an. Die Planung war aus Sicht vieler Trainerinnen aufwendiger und unsicherer (z. B. durch Kursverbote, Zugangsbeschränkungen, Hygienekonzept). Es gab keine COVID-19-Ausbrüche im Zusammenhang mit den Kursen. Zur Bewertung der durchgeführten Kurse wurden sowohl positive als auch schwierige Aspekte genannt (z. B. lohnende Kurse, Familien/Eltern waren dankbar; anstrengendere Kurse, weniger locker, Mehrarbeit). Trotzdem hat sich die Einschätzung der Trainerinnen, „sehr gerne“ oder „gerne“ FAMOSES-Kurse durchzuführen, in den meisten Fällen (73 %) nicht durch die Pandemie geändert. Die Evaluation der Schulungen durch die teilnehmenden Eltern und Kinder zeigte während der Pandemie vergleichbare Bewertungen wie vor Pandemiebeginn.

Diskussion

Die Planung und Durchführung von FAMOSES-Schulungen ist während der COVID-19-Pandemie aufwendiger geworden. Die Schulungen, die durchgeführt wurden, sind von den Trainerinnen trotz kritischer Punkte vielfach positiv bewertet worden, und die Teilnehmerzufriedenheit war hoch.
Long-term effects and user acceptance of back-support exoskeletons in the workplace
Authors: Riemer Julia , Wischniewski Sascha
Published: November 2023

The aim of our study was to evaluate the long-term effects of back-support exoskeletons (BSEs) in occupational settings. Valuable insights were gained through repeated in-depth interviews with occupational safety professionals over a one-year period regarding the use and impact of BSEs over a one-year period. The results highlight a significant lack of user acceptance, primarily due to movement restrictions and discomfort. Passive BSEs (PassEXOs) were reported to be sometimes uncomfortable, restricting mobility and causing pressure point discomfort, while quasipassive soft BSEs (SoftEXO) received more positive feedback. In addition, factors such as proper fit, adjustability, hygiene maintenance, and the ease of donning and doffing were identified as key determinants of employee acceptance of BSEs. By gaining a deeper understanding of these factors, organisations can facilitate a successful and sustainable integration of BSE technology into the workplace.
Implementing Strategic Resilience Through Cooperation Projects with Start-ups: a Multiple Case Study
Authors: Dieterle Ann-Kathrin , Duchek Stephanie
Published: November 2023

Strategic resilience is the capacity of organizations to proactively transform and renew through innovation to minimize the effects of unknown future crises. In this context, we know that cooperation plays an essential role as an external innovation strategy, and cooperation projects with start-ups related to innovation are one specific way to implement strategic change. However, research does not provide deeper insights into the process, outcomes, and success conditions of such projects. To help fill this research gap, we use the cases of two established firms using cooperation projects with start-ups related to innovation to enhance their strategic resilience. Based on an in-depth empirical investigation, we developed a framework that describes the specifics of those cooperation projects along their course (i.e., before cooperation, entry-phase into cooperation, during cooperation, and after cooperation) and resulting direct and indirect resilience benefits for the established firms. Thereby, the relationship quality (i.e., balance between formal and informal procedures, improvisation mindset, and appreciation and prioritization) turned out to be a central condition for resilience to emerge from those projects. Our framework illustrates how strategic resilience can arise from cooperation projects with start-ups related to innovation and which factors are particularly important in this context. It thus can be used as a guideline for the successful implementation of strategic resilience in practice as well as a basis for future research on the role of cooperation in strategic resilience.
Influence of polyolefin modified by Y2O3 as protective coatings against carbon steel corrosion into 3.5% NaCl media
Authors: Mallick Shoaib , Bhadra Jolly , Shakoor R. A. , Nawaz Muddasir , Al-Qahtani Noora Hamad S. , Radwan Ahmed Bahgat , Haddadd Muhsen El , Ahmed Ayesha , Al Mughrbi Aya R. Hamad , Abdelmoati Mohamed , Alademi Hanan , Al Thani Noora
Published: November 2023

In this research work, we have studied the impact of Yttrium nanoparticles loaded with corrosion inhibitors dodecylamine (DOC) incorporated in polyolefin for the corrosion protection of steel. The surface analysis of pure polyolefin and polyolefin-Y2O3-DOC composite coatings by atomic force spectroscopy (AFM) shows that both of the coated samples’ roughness almost remain the same. Furthermore, the contact angle measurement shows an increase in the hydrophobicity of polyolefin-Y2O3 with inhibitor. The release behavior of the corrosion inhibitors DOC was also studied at different pH. The x-ray diffraction for the loaded product shows that no physical and structural changes occur during the loading of the corrosion inhibitor. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis demonstrates that smart polyolefin-Y2O3-DOC coating has better anticorrosion properties than pure polyolefin coating due to the effective release of DOC. An increase in charge transfer and pore resistance confirms the better barrier properties of the polyolefin-Y2O3-DOC composite coating. The inhibition efficiency of the polyolefin modified by Y2O3 increased by 99% as compared to pure polyolefin coating. The carbon steel substrate became stable and the polymeric composite coating protectected the steel against corrosion in the oil and gas industry. In conclusion, the study shows that yttrium nanoparticles loaded with corrosion inhibitors incorporated in polyolefin have a significant impact on the corrosion protection of steel.
Extensive studies on the electrochemical, photocatalytic and antimicrobial applications of bio assisted nano titania
Authors: Saikumari N. , Sudhakhar K. S.
Published: November 2023

In recent days synthesis and structuring of intelligent nano materials investigated and reported has developed critical scientific ideas to deal with different industrial, social and environmental issues. The excellent thermal, optical and electrical properties along with its resistant to corrosion, wear, oxidation and erosion enabled them unique for sustainable environmental applications. In this view nano structured Titanium di oxide particles synthesized from its precursor via template assisted sol–gel technique have been verified as corrosion inhibitor of brass alloy in acid medium along with its photo catalytic and anti-microbial applications. The physico-chemical parameters of the synthesized nano materials were studied using XRD, FT-IR, UV-DRS, SEM, TEM and BET analytical techniques and revealed the impact of tea leaf extract as a template in producing a nano catalyst NTG about 14 nm in size with tailored structural, optical and morphological characteristics. The rate of corrosion of a specimen in acid medium is verified by weight loss method and the inhibitor efficiency increased with the increase in concentration of the nano catalyst. The catalytic activity is proved against the photo degradation of a toxic melamine, a trimer of cyanamide. The synthesized nano catalyst showed excellent antimicrobial properties proven against the growth of K. pneumonia and H. influenza.
The Turn to Process
Authors: Parker Kunal M.
Published: November 2023

In The Turn to Process, Kunal M. Parker explores the massive reorientation of American legal, political, and economic thinking between 1870 and 1970. Over this period, American conceptions of law, democracy, and markets went from being oriented around truths, ends, and foundations to being oriented around methods, processes, and techniques. No longer viewed as founded in justice and morality, law became a way of doing things centered around legal procedure. Shedding its foundations in the 'people,' democracy became a technique of governance consisting of an endless process of interacting groups. Liberating themselves from the truths of labor, markets and market actors became intellectual and political techniques without necessary grounding in the reality of human behavior. Contrasting nineteenth and twentieth century legal, political, and economic thought, this book situates this transformation in the philosophical crisis of modernism and the rise of the administrative state.
Weiterbildung Psychiatrische Pflege
Authors: Schädle-Deininger Hilde
Published: November 2023

Zusammenfassung: Manchmal ist es wichtig innezuhalten, um zu sehen, welche Wegstrecken schon gegangen wurden, und festzustellen, was sich verändert hat und was weiterentwickelt werden muss, um zukunftsfähig zu sein. In diesem Artikel wird der Versuch unternommen, einige Eckpunkte der Entwicklung aus den Anfängen der Weiterbildung psychiatrischer Pflege festzuhalten.
Magnetic Storm Effects on the Occurrence and Characteristics of Plasma Bubbles
Authors: Adhya P. , Valladares C. E.
Published: November 2023

The Communications/Navigation Outages Forecast System satellite mission was designed to investigate the ionospheric conditions that lead to the formation of irregularities. Here, we have studied the effect of magnetic storms on the formation and evolution of plasma bubbles during the satellite's lifetime (2008–2015). During this period encompassing solar minimum and maximum conditions, many magnetic storms of varying intensity developed, producing a unique and rich data set of 248 storms (14 intense, 69 moderate, and 165 weak) that occurred during the same timeframe to examine the role of external magnetospheric drivers in the production and dynamics of equatorial plasma bubbles. We have used the Planar Langmuir Probe and Ion Velocity Meter instruments to elucidate the role of magnetic storm intensity on the bubble's depth, internal speed, width, occurrence, and lifetime. The pre‐reversal enhancement (PRE) tends to increase during the main phase and when BZ is southward. New bubbles occur during large excursions of the PRE value. The bubble lifetime extends and remains active during the main and part of the recovery phase. The plasma velocity within the bubbles increases and typically becomes over 100 m/s during significant PRE and BZ negative times. The depth of bubbles reaches values close to 100% during intense storms. In general, the intensity of the storms seems to control and augment the plasma bubbles' depth, width, and internal velocity.
Murchison Meteorite Analysis Using Tetramethylammonium Hydroxide (TMAH) Thermochemolysis Under Simulated Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Pyrolysis‐Gas Chromatography‐Mass Spectrometry Conditions
Authors: Mojarro A. , Buch A. , Dworkin J. P. , Eigenbrode J. L. , Fressinet C. , Glavin D. P. , Szopa C. , Millan M. , Williams A. J. , Summons R. E.
Published: November 2023

The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument aboard the Curiosity Rover at Gale crater can characterize organic molecules from scooped and drilled samples via pyrolysis of solid materials. In addition, SAM can conduct wet chemistry experiments which enhance the detection of organic molecules bound in macromolecules and convert polar organic compounds into volatile derivatives amenable to gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry analyses. Specifically, N‐tert‐butyldimethylsilyl‐N‐methyltrifluoroacetamide (MTBSTFA) is a silylation reagent whereas tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) is a thermochemolysis methylation reagent. Shortly after arriving at Mars, the SAM team discovered that at least one of the MTBSFTA cups was leaking, contributing to a continuous background inside SAM with the potential to interfere with future TMAH reactions. Therefore, here we characterized possible interactions between the two reagents to determine byproducts and implications for the detection of indigenous organics. SAM‐like pyrolysis experiments supplemented with flash pyrolysis were accordingly conducted with fragments of the Murchison meteorite as a reference for exogenous organic matter delivered to Mars. Flash TMAH experiments yielded various aromatic acids, dicarboxylic acids, and amino acids while SAM‐like pyrolysis presented mixtures of methylated and non‐methylated compounds due to decreased reaction efficiency at slower ramp rates. All experiments in the presence of simulated MTBSTFA vapor produced pervasive silylated byproducts which co‐elute and obscure the identification of Murchison‐derived compounds. Despite challenges, a significant diversity of pyrolyzates and TMAH derivatives could still be identified in flash pyrolysis in presence of MTBSTFA. However SAM‐like experiments with TMAH and MTBSTFA are hindered by both decreased methylation yields and additional co‐eluting compounds.
The effect of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide extract on sensitizing prostate cancer cells to flutamide and docetaxel: an in vitro study
Authors: Rahimnia Ramin , Akbari Mohmammad Reza , Yasseri Alimohammad Fakhr , Taheri Diana , Mirzaei Akram , Ghajar Helia Azodian , Farashah Parmida Dehghanpoor , Baghdadabad Leila Zareian , Aghamir Seyed Mohammad Kazem
Published: November 2023

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide is the most widely used complementary therapy in cancer. The present study aims to investigate the possible interaction between Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide and Docetaxel (a chemotherapy drug) and the first-line medication for prostate cancer treatment (Flutamide) and sensitizing the cells to these treatments. The cytotoxic effects of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide in combination with Docetaxel and Flutamide on prostate cancer cells were investigated by the MTT test, Hoechst staining, and flow cytometry. In addition, the expression of genes related to apoptosis, angiogenesis, Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition pathway (EMT), and prostate cancer biomarkers by Real-Time PCR was investigated. The results demonstrated that IC50 values for Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide (30 μM and 20 μM), Docetaxel (10 μM and 5 μM), and Flutamide (20 μM and 12 μM) with MTT were confirmed by flow cytometry in a dose and time-dependent manner. Regarding the high efficacy of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide in combination with Flutamide and Docetaxel, 10 μM and 5 μM Flutamide were used instead of 20 μM and 12 μM and 5 μM and 2 μM Docetaxel was used instead of 10 μM and 5 μM in PC3 and LNCap, respectively. Moreover, for the first time, it was shown that Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide alone and in combination with Docetaxel and Flutamide significantly augmented apoptosis, reduced cell migration and colonization, and downregulated expression of KLK2 and EMT pathway genes in both PC3 and LNCap cell line (P < 0.01). Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide synergistically increased the effect of Docetaxel and Flutamide and increased the sensitivity of the prostate cancer cell lines to these drugs. Therefore, it may provide a new therapeutic strategy against prostate cancer.
Developing a hypertension visualization risk prediction system utilizing machine learning and health check-up data
Authors: Du Jinsong , Chang Xiao , Ye Chunhong , Zeng Yijun , Yang Sijia , Wu Shan , Li Li
Published: November 2023

As an important risk factor for many cardiovascular diseases, hypertension requires convenient and reliable methods for prevention and intervention. This study designed a visualization risk prediction system based on Machine Learning and SHAP as an auxiliary tool for personalized health management of hypertension. We used ten Machine Learning algorithms such as random forests and 1617 anonymized health check data to build ten hypertension risk prediction models. The model performance was evaluated through indicators such as accuracy, F1-score, and ROC curve. We used the best-performing model combined with the SHAP algorithm for feature importance analysis and built a visualization risk prediction system on the web page. The LightGMB model exhibited the best predictive performance, and age, alkaline phosphatase, and triglycerides were important features for predicting the risk of hypertension. Users can obtain their risk probability of hypertension and determine the focus of intervention through the visualization system built on the web page. Our research helps doctors and patients to develop personalized prevention and intervention programs for hypertension based on health check data, which has significant clinical and public health significance.
Circulating IL-17 reduces the risk of cisplatin-induced hearing loss in children: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Xu Ying , Huang Caijuan , Liu Jingjing , Xu Yaying , Yang Haiping
Published: November 2023

Studies have reported that cytokines and their related signaling pathways play a role in inner ear diseases. In clinical practice, approximately 50% of pediatric cancer patients experience irreversible hearing loss after cisplatin treatment. However, currently, there is a lack of systematic research on the causal relationship between circulating cytokines and cisplatin-induced hearing loss in children. Genetic variant data for 41 circulating cytokines were obtained from a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) among 8293 individuals of Finnish descent. The GWAS data for Cisplatin-induced hearing loss in children were derived from a multicenter cohort of European pediatric cancer patients and survivors (N = 390), including both cases with hearing loss after cisplatin chemotherapy and controls without hearing loss. Multiple methods were employed for bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) estimation. Bonferroni correction was applied to adjust the original P-values, followed by a series of sensitivity analyses. In the directional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, it was found that IL-17 was significantly associated with a reduced risk of Cisplatin-induced hearing loss in children (OR: 0.18, CI: 0.06–0.48, P < 0.001, FDR = 0.041). In the reverse MR analysis, there were some nominal causal relationships of Cisplatin-induced hearing loss in children with certain cytokines [M-CSF: (OR: 1.04, CI: 1.01–1.08, P = 0.010, FDR = 0.41); IL-2RA: (OR: 1.03, CI: 1.00–1.05, P = 0.044, FDR = 0.447); MIP-1β: (OR: 1.02, CI: 1.00–1.04, P = 0.041, FDR = 0.447)]. leave-one-out analysis demonstrated that only M-CSF exhibited stability. These findings reveal a causal relationship between IL-17 and cisplatin-induced hearing loss in children. Further research is needed to determine the potential protective mechanisms of IL-17 in cisplatin-induced ototoxicity.