bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential School Trajectories and Educational Decisions of Migrants in Germany—Descriptive Results and Theoretical Explanations
Authors: Blossfeld Hans-Peter , Nester Markus
Published: May 2024

BiKS Project 7 investigates the mechanisms of disparities in educational success by migration background, especially among students from Turkey, before and after the transition from primary to secondary school in Germany. Using data from the BiKS-8-18 cohort, educational disparities between children with and without an immigrant background were empirically examined using the theoretical distinction between primary and secondary effects of social origin developed by Boudon. The results of the project show that the importance and mechanisms of primary and secondary effects on educational participation differ between students with and without immigrant background. On the one hand, the primary effect of social origin is much stronger for migrant children due to often insufficient German language skills, a lack of context-specific German cultural capital, and familial cultural capital that has lost at least some of its value due to migration. In contrast, the secondary effects of social origin are much weaker for migrant children: When children’s academic performance is controlled for, migrant children have a higher transition rate to upper secondary school, regardless of their social class of origin. Thus, migrant parents’ realization of more ambitious educational goals for their children (small secondary effect) is primarily hampered by their children’s poorer academic performance (strong primary effect).
Fostering Early Competence Development Through Home and Preschool Learning Environments—a Summary of Findings from the BiKS-3-18 Study
Authors: Lehrl Simone , Rossbach Hans-Günther , Weinert Sabine
Published: May 2024

Growing evidence reveals powerful associations between early learning environments and children’s later academic success. Besides the family, which has been shown to be a significant predictor of children’s development, the longer-term benefits of early institutional experiences in the preschool are also of interest, given the high participation rate across all social milieus, and the continuously expanding sector of early childhood education and care. In this paper, we therefore present findings from the study BiKS-3-18 on the short- and long-term effects of early learning environments at home and at preschool on children’s development.

The results show that the quality of the home learning environment as well as the quality of the preschool have long term benefits for children’s socio-emotional, language, and mathematical development, although not uniformly for different developmental domains and learning environments. Thereby, the results point to the specificity of environmental impact, as different facets of the learning environments predict different domains of children’s development.
Transitions to Primary School: School Entry Decisions, Parents’ and Teachers’ Ideas About School Readiness, and Cooperation Between Preschools, Primary Schools, and Parents
Authors: Pohlmann-Rother Sanna , Wehner Franziska , Kaiser-Kratzmann Jens
Published: May 2024

In the present project of the BiKS-3-18 ‘Educational Processes, Competence Development, and Formation of Educational Decisions in Preschool and School Age’ longitudinal study, quantitative and qualitative methods were used to study the transition from preschool settings to primary school. The focus was on the ideas about school readiness among parents, preschool teachers, and primary school teachers, on parents’ school entry decisions, and on cooperation between preschools and primary schools. The results show that parents, preschool teachers, and primary school teachers have similar ideas about school readiness, with some variance between the groups of respondents regarding the importance of the various criteria. Parents’ school entry decisions are based on criteria that vary in prominence depending on the time of school entry. Moreover, parents with a migration background tend to oppose delayed school entry. Furthermore, the results show that children enrolled early have lower skills than their classmates in the first year of school. Children enrolled late are consistently considered to have better skills than their classmates. Most parents are satisfied with their school entry decision. Cooperation between preschools and primary schools mainly takes place at a low level.
The influence of drying and storage conditions on the volatilome and cannabinoid content of Cannabis sativa L. inflorescences
Authors: Spadafora Natasha Damiana , Felletti Simona , Chenet Tatiana , Sirangelo Tiziana Maria , Cescon Mirco , Catani Martina , De Luca Chiara , Stevanin Claudia , Cavazzini Alberto , Pasti Luisa
Published: May 2024

The increasing interest in hemp and cannabis poses new questions about the influence of drying and storage conditions on the overall aroma and cannabinoids profile of these products. Cannabis inflorescences are subjected to drying shortly after harvest and then to storage in different containers. These steps may cause a process of rapid deterioration with consequent changes in precious secondary metabolite content, negatively impacting on the product quality and potency. In this context, in this work, the investigation of the effects of freeze vs tray drying and three storage conditions on the preservation of cannabis compounds has been performed. A multi-trait approach, combining both solid-phase microextraction (SPME) two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (SPME-GC × GC–MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), is presented for the first time. This approach has permitted to obtain the detailed characterisation of the whole cannabis matrix in terms of volatile compounds and cannabinoids. Moreover, multivariate statistical analyses were performed on the obtained data, helping to show that freeze drying conditions is useful to preserve cannabinoid content, preventing decarboxylation of acid cannabinoids, but leads to a loss of volatile compounds which are responsible for the cannabis aroma. Furthermore, among storage conditions, storage in glass bottle seems more beneficial for the retention of the initial VOC profile compared to open to air dry tray and closed high-density polyethylene box. However, the glass bottle storage condition causes formation of neutral cannabinoids at the expenses of the highly priced acid forms. This work will contribute to help define optimal storage conditions useful to produce highly valuable and high-quality products.

Graphical Abstract
The effect of the 13C abundance of soil microbial DNA on identifying labelled fractions after ultracentrifugation
Authors: Wang Juan , Yao Huaiying , Zhang Xian
Published: May 2024

DNA-based stable isotope probing (DNA-SIP) technology has been widely employed to trace microbes assimilating target substrates. However, the fractions with labelled universal genes are sometimes difficult to distinguish when detected by quantitative real-time PCR. In this experiment, three paddy soils (AQ, CZ, and NB) were amended with 0.1% glucose containing 13C at six levels, and DNA was then extracted after a 7-day incubation and subjected to isopycnic gradient centrifugation. The results showed that the amount of labelled DNA was notably related to the 13C-glucose percentage, while the separation spans of 18S rRNA and 16S rRNA genes between labelled and unlabelled treatments became notably clearer when the δ13C values of the total DNA were 90.9, 61.6, and 38.9‰ and 256.2, 104.5 and 126.1‰ in the AQ, CZ, and NB soils, respectively. Moreover, fractionated DNA was also labelled by determining the δ13C values while adding only 5 atom% 13C-glucose to the soil. The results suggest that the optimal labelling fractions were not always those fractions with the maximal gene abundance, and detecting the δ13C values of the total and fractionated DNA was beneficial in estimating the results of DNA-SIP.

Key points

• Appropriate 13C-DNA amount was needed for DNA-SIP.

• Detecting the 13C ratio of fractionated DNA directly was an assistant method for identifying the labelled fractions.

• Fractions with the maximal 18S or 16S rRNA gene abundance always were not labelled.
SGLT2 inhibitor as a potential therapeutic approach in hyperthyroidism-induced cardiopulmonary injury in rats
Authors: Bastawy Nermeen , El-Mosallamy Aliaa E. M. K. , Aljuaydi Samira H. , AbuBakr Huda O. , Rasheed Rabab Ahmed , Sadek A. S. , Khattab R. T. , Abualyamin Wael Botros , Abdelaal Shereen E. , Boushra Amy F.
Published: May 2024

Hyperthyroidism-induced cardiac disease is an evolving health, economic, and social problem affecting well-being. Sodium-glucose cotransporter protein 2 inhibitors (SGLT2-I) have been proven to be cardio-protective when administered in cases of heart failure. This study intended to investigate the potential therapeutic effect of SGLT2-I on hyperthyroidism-related cardiopulmonary injury, targeting the possible underlying mechanisms. The impact of the SGLT2-I, dapagliflozin (DAPA), (1 mg/kg/day, p.o) on LT4 (0.3 mg/kg/day, i.p)-induced cardiopulmonary injury was investigated in rats. The body weight, ECG, and serum hormones were evaluated. Also, redox balance, DNA fragmentation, inflammatory cytokines, and PCR quantification in heart and lung tissues were employed to investigate the effect of DAPA in experimentally induced hyperthyroid rats along with histological and immunohistochemical examination. Coadministration of DAPA with LT4 effectively restored all serum biomarkers to nearly average levels, improved ECG findings, and reinstated the redox balance. Also, DAPA could improve DNA fragmentation, elevate mtTFA, and lessen TNF-α and IGF-1 gene expression in both organs of treated animals. Furthermore, DAPA markedly improved the necro-inflammatory and fibrotic cardiopulmonary histological alterations and reduced the tissue immunohistochemical expression of TNF-α and caspase-3. Although further clinical and deep molecular studies are required before transposing to humans, our study emphasized DAPA’s potential to relieve hyperthyroidism-induced cardiopulmonary injury in rats through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects, as well as via antagonizing the sympathetic over activity.
An in silico approach to elucidate the pathways leading to primary osteoporosis: age-related vs. postmenopausal
Authors: Ruiz-Lozano Rocío , Calvo-Gallego José Luis , Pivonka Peter , McDonald Michelle M. , Martínez-Reina Javier
Published: May 2024

Numerical models of bone remodelling have traditionally been used to perform in silico tests of bone loss in postmenopausal women and also to simulate the response to different drug treatments. These models simulate the menopausal oestrogen decline by altering certain signalling pathways. However, they do not consider the simultaneous effect that ageing can have on cell function and bone remodelling, and thus on bone loss. Considering ageing and oestrogen decline together is important for designing osteoporosis treatments that can selectively counteract one or the other disease mechanism. A previously developed bone cell population model was adapted to consider the effect of ageing through: (1) the decrease of TGF-$$\upbeta$$
β
contained in the bone matrix and (2) an increased production of sclerostin by non-skeletal cells. Oestrogen deficiency is simulated in three different ways: (a) an increase in RANKL expression, (b) a decrease in OPG production, and (c) an increase in the responsiveness of osteoclasts to RANKL. The effect of ageing was validated using the cross-sectional study of (Riggs et al. in J Bone Miner Res 19: 1945-1954, 2004) on BMD of trabecular bone of the vertebral body of men. The joint effect of ageing and oestrogen deficiency was validated using these same clinical results but in women. In ageing, the effect of the increasing production of sclerostin is more important than the decrease of TGF-$$\upbeta$$
β
, while the three mechanisms used to simulate the effect of oestrogen deficiency produce almost identical responses. The results show that an early menopause leads to a lower average density in the fifth decade, but after the sixth decade the average density is independent of the age at menopause. Treatment of osteoporosis with denosumab was also simulated to conclude that the drug is not very effective if started before 10 years after menopause or before age 60.
A method for the ethical analysis of brain-inspired AI
Authors: Farisco Michele , Baldassarre G. , Cartoni E. , Leach A. , Petrovici M.A. , Rosemann A. , Salles A. , Stahl B. , van Albada S. J.
Published: May 2024

Despite its successes, to date Artificial Intelligence (AI) is still characterized by a number of shortcomings with regards to different application domains and goals. These limitations are arguably both conceptual (e.g., related to the underlying theoretical models, such as symbolic vs.connectionist), and operational (e.g., related to robustness and ability to generalize). Biologically inspired AI, and more specifically brain-inspired AI, promises to provide further biological aspects beyond those that are already traditionally included in AI, making it possible to assess and possibly overcome some of its present shortcomings. This article examines some conceptual, technical, and ethical issues raised by the development and use of brain-inspired AI. Against this background, the paper asks whether there is anything ethically unique about brain-inspired AI. The aim of the paper is to introduce a method that has a heuristic nature and that can be applied to identify and address the ethical issues arising from brain-inspired AI (and from AI more generally). The conclusion resulting from the application of this method is that, compared to traditional AI, brain-inspired AI raises new foundational ethical issues and some new practical ethical issues, and exacerbates some of the issues raised by traditional AI.
Has nitrogen availability decreased over much of the land surface in the past century? A model-based analysis
Authors: Vitousek Peter M. , Cen Xiaoyu , Groffman Peter M.
Published: May 2024

A recent publication (Mason et al. in Science 376:261, 2022a) suggested that nitrogen (N) availability has declined as a consequence of multiple ongoing components of anthropogenic global change. This suggestion is controversial, because human alteration of the global N cycle is substantial and has driven much-increased fixation of N globally. We used a simple model that has been validated across a climate gradient in Hawai ‘i to test the possibility of a widespread decline in N availability, the evidence supporting it, and the possible mechanisms underlying it. This analysis showed that a decrease in δ15N is not sufficient evidence for a decline in N availability, because δ15N in ecosystems reflects both the isotope ratios in inputs of N to the ecosystem AND fractionation of N isotopes as N cycles, with enrichment of the residual N in the ecosystem caused by greater losses of N by the fractionating pathways that are more important in N-rich sites. However, there is other evidence for declining N availability that is independent of 15N and that suggests a widespread decline in N availability. We evaluated whether and how components of anthropogenic global change could cause declining N availability. Earlier work had demonstrated that both increases in the variability of precipitation due to climate change and ecosystem-level disturbance could drive uncontrollable losses of N that reduce N availability and could cause persistent N limitation at equilibrium. Here we modelled climate-change-driven increases in temperature and increasing atmospheric concentrations of CO2. We show that increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations can drive non-equilibrium decreases in N availability and cause the development of N limitation, while the effects of increased temperature appear to be relatively small and short-lived. These environmental changes may cause reductions in N availability over the vast areas of Earth that are not affected by high rates of atmospheric deposition and/or N enrichment associated with urban and agricultural land use.
Let’s join forces: boundary resources as enablers of value co-creation in e-commerce ecosystems
Authors: Wulfert Tobias , Strobel Gero , Hoang Hiep
Published: May 2024

Collaboration and value co-creation are important drivers of the continuous growth of e-commerce, which is expected to reach US $6.4 trillion in 2024 despite current global crises. Only a few transaction platforms currently dominate e-commerce (eg., Amazon, Walmart), but other participants are likely to join these platforms’ ecosystems. Third-party developers can provide extensions to these ecosystems to enhance the platforms’ functionality, but third-party developers’ role in e-commerce ecosystems’ success and generativity remains underexamined in academia. The present study scrutinizes the efficacy of boundary resources in attracting and managing third-party developers in e-commerce ecosystems. This investigation is predicated upon qualitative data gathered through interviews with 14 domain experts. The insights derived from these interviews have culminated in the formulation of seven design principles. These design principles are envisaged to serve as a guiding framework for owners of innovation and transaction platforms within the e-commerce sphere, facilitating the strategic deployment of boundary resources. It is anticipated that collaboration, value creation, and the overall generative capacity as well as the success of e-commerce ecosystems shall be considerably enhanced.
Stress-related physiological responses and ultrastructural changes in Hypoxis hemerocallidea leaves exposed to cadmium and aluminium
Authors: Okem Ambrose , Stirk Wendy A. , Finnie Jeffrey F. , van Staden Johannes
Published: May 2024

Hypoxis hemerocallidea is a medicinal plant containing hypoxoside (a pharmacologically active phytosterol diglucoside). This study evaluated the elemental composition in leaves of H. hemerocallidea treated with cadmium (Cd) and aluminium (Al) using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The impact of Cd and Al on photosynthetic pigments and performance, antioxidant activities and ultrastructure were also assessed. Corms of H. hemerocallidea were micropropagated, rooted and then exposed to varying concentrations of Cd, Al, and Cd + Al for six weeks. The SEM/EDX analysis indicated a two-fold increase in carbon content across all treated plants compared to the control. No/little Cd was detected in the leaves compared to a progressive increase in Al concentration with increasing Al treatment levels. This indicted that Al is more readily translocated to the shoots compared to Cd. Plants treated with Cd exhibited a significant decrease in total chlorophyll content accompanied by reduced photosynthetic performance and lower relative electron transport rates. Cd and Al exposure led to higher carotenoid, superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde levels, indicating oxidative stress. Cd-treated plants displayed increased amylase activity and decreased carbohydrates content. Ultrastructural alterations occurred with exposure to Cd and Al, including abnormal swelling or disintegration of chloroplasts and thylakoid degeneration. An increase in starch grains and a decrease in plastoglobuli were also noted. In conclusion, this investigation provides evidence that both Cd and higher concentrations of Al exert detrimental effects on the ultrastructure, metabolism and photosynthetic performance of H. hemerocallidea, contributing to reduced growth and biological activity when stressed.
Feasibility and Efficacy of a Virtual Reality Social Prediction Training in Children and Young Adults with Congenital Cerebellar Malformations
Authors: Butti Niccolò , Biffi Emilia , Romaniello Romina , Finisguerra Alessandra , Valente Enza Maria , Strazzer Sandra , Borgatti Renato , Urgesi Cosimo
Published: May 2024

This study tested the feasibility and efficacy of a Virtual Reality (VR) social prediction training (VR-Spirit) specifically designed for patients with congenital cerebellar malformation. The study is a randomised controlled trial in which 28 cerebellar patients aged 7–25 yo were randomly allocated to the VR-Spirit or to a control intervention in VR. The VR-Spirit required participants to compete with different avatars in scenarios that prompted them to form predictions about avatars’ intentions. The control intervention consisted of games currently adopted for motor rehabilitation. Social prediction as well as secondary neuropsychological and behavioural outcomes were assessed at the beginning (T0), at the end (T2) and after 2 months (T3). The experimental group showed a significant increase, compared to the control participants, in social prediction assessed through a VR task. Moreover, at least at T3, the VR-Spirit enhanced the use of contextual predictions in a computer-based action prediction task. Importantly, these effects were generalized to secondary neuropsychological outcomes, specifically theory of mind and, only at T2, inhibition. No differences between the interventions were detected on emotional-behavioural problems. Lastly, both interventions showed high feasibility and acceptability. These findings confirm that it is possible to develop condition-specific rehabilitative training on the basis of neurocognitive functions impaired in case of congenital malformation. The VR-Spirit demonstrated to generalize its effects to theory of mind abilities, and it might be thus extended to other neurodevelopmental disorders that present social perception deficits and alterations of predictive processing.

Trial registration: ISRCTN, ID: ISRCTN22332873. Retrospectively registered on 12 March 2018.
Trends in the Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in California: Disparities by Sociodemographic Factors and Region Between 1990–2018
Authors: O’Sharkey Karl , Mitra Sanjali , Paik Seung-a , Chow Ting , Cockburn Myles , Ritz Beate
Published: May 2024

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) prevalence has risen globally, with regional variation and sociodemographic disparities affecting diagnosis and intervention. This study examines ASD trends from 1990 to 2018 in California (CA), focusing on sociodemographic factors that may inform policy/interventions. Using CA Department of Public Health birth records (1990–2018) and Developmental Services ASD cases (1994–2022), we analyzed diagnosis incidence by age 4 or 8, stratified by sociodemographic and regional factors. From 1990 to 2018, for each birth year the cumulative incidence of ASD by 4 and 8 years of age in CA increased while the diagnosis age decreased. Distinct patterns emerged over these three decades. Children born to White and Asian and Pacific Islander (API) mothers, or to mothers with higher education or living in high socioeconomic status (SES) neighborhoods exhibited higher ASD cumulative incidences throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. However, in the mid-2000s, ASD incidence in children born to Black or Hispanic mothers, with low education, or living in low SES neighborhoods surpassed that of White/API children or those living in high SES neighborhoods. Black or Hispanic children now have the highest ASD cumulative incidence, even though age at first diagnosis remains lowest in high SES regions, for the highly educated, and for White/API children. ASD cumulative incidence in CA from 1990 to 2018 exhibited demographic reversals with higher rates in children born to Black or Hispanic mothers or lower SES neighborhoods. Black and Hispanic children still have delayed age at diagnosis compared to White/API children.
Parenting Stress in Autistic and ADHD Children: Implications of Social Support and Child Characteristics
Authors: Pardo-Salamanca Ana , Rosa-Martínez Eva , Gómez Soledad , Santamarina-Siurana Cristina , Berenguer Carmen
Published: May 2024

High levels of parenting stress have been detected in mothers of children with Autism (ASD) and children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) comparing with mothers of typically developing (TD) children. The current study explored the implications of social support (confidant and affective support) and child characteristics (emotional, behavioral and sleep problems) on parenting stress in ASD and ADHD. Furthermore, the differences between mothers of children with autism, ADHD and TD on the studied variables were examined.A total of 120 mothers of 30 TD children, 47 with ASD without intellectual disability and 43 with ADHD collaborated in the study. Significant differences were found between clinical and TD groups in parenting stress, social support, and child characteristics.Correlation analysis in the group with ADHD revealed that parental stress correlated significantly with social support and with children’s emotional problems. In the ASD group, parental stress also correlated significantly with children’s sleep and behavioral problems. Moreover, multiple regressions showed that confidant support was a significant predictor of parenting stress in both clinical groups.The findings provide new insights to consider social support as a fundamental part of treatments for parenting stress in mothers of children with ASD and ADHD.
Archaeology in the Fourth Dimension: Studying Landscapes with Multitemporal PlanetScope Satellite Data
Authors: Alders Wolfgang , Davis Dylan S. , Haines Julia Jong
Published: May 2024

For the last seven years, PlanetScope satellites have started near-daily imaging of parts of the Earth’s surface, making high-density multitemporal, multispectral, 3-m pixel imagery accessible to researchers. Multitemporal satellite data enables landscape archaeologists to examine changes in environmental conditions at time scales ranging from daily to decadal. This kind of temporal resolution can accentuate landscape features on the ground by de-emphasizing non-permanent signatures caused by seasonal or even daily changes in vegetation. We argue that the availability of high spatial and temporal resolution multispectral imagery from Planet Inc. will enable new approaches to studying archaeological visibility in landscapes. While palimpsests are discrete overlapping layers of material accumulation, multitemporal composites capture cyclical and seasonal time and can be used to interpret past landscape histories at multiple scales. To illustrate this perspective, we present three case studies using PlanetScope imagery in tropical environments on the Indian Ocean islands of Madagascar, Mauritius, and Zanzibar.
Temperature sensing by means of a near-infrared luminescent Ca8NaBi(PO4)6F2:Nd3+ fluorapatite phosphor
Authors: Douzi Abir , Slimi Sami , Loiko Pavel , Llamas Victor , Serres Josep María , Solé Rosa Maria , Aguiló Magdalena , Díaz Francesc , Ben Salem Ezzedine , Mateos Xavier
Published: May 2024

Microrods of calcium sodium bismuth fluorapatite doped with neodymium, denoted as Ca8NaBi1-xNdx(PO4)6F2 (with x ranging from 0 to 0.5), were synthetized using a modified Pechini sol–gel method. The crystalline structure of these phosphors was refined using the Rietveld method and exhibited hexagonal symmetry with space group P63/m—C26h, where the lattice parameters were a = 9.3855(5) Å and c = 6.8998(6) Å for x = 0.2. The particles morphology was analyzed through SEM, revealing an average length of approximately 1.5 µm. When excited at 808 nm, the Ca8NaBi(PO4)6F2:0.2Nd3+ microrods emitted strongly at 872, 957 and 1055 nm, falling within the near-infrared region. These emissions correspond to the 4F3/2 → 4I9/2 (P2), 4F5/2 → 4I11/2(P3), 4F3/2 → 4I11/2(P1) transitions of Nd3+ ions, respectively, and are situated within the first and second biological windows. The luminescence lifetime of the 4F3/2 state of Nd3+ was measured to be 294.4 µs for the sample with the lowest Nd3+ concentration of x = 0.05. In addition, the luminescence intensity ratios P2/P1 and P3/P1 were found to be temperature dependent, potentially making it suitable for luminescent ratiometric thermal sensing. These findings suggest that the synthesized Ca8NaBi(PO4)6F2:Nd3+ microrod thermometers exhibit favorable characteristics in terms of relative sensitivity, temperature uncertainty, and repeatability within the temperature range of 303–403 K.
Formal and informal dimensions of housing allocation: housing actors and gatekeepers of low-income migrants’ access to housing in the Bronx, New York City
Authors: Usman Mohammad , Maslova Sabina , Burgess Gemma , Holmes Hannah
Published: May 2024

It is recognised that migrants’ access to housing in destination cities is shaped by a number of factors. This paper takes as its focus the processes of housing allocation for low-income West African migrants in the Bronx, New York City. Drawing on 37 semi-structured interviews with housing providers and intermediary organisations that perform housing-related functions, the paper builds upon literature on migration industries and informal housing solutions among migrant communities, and reveals the formal and informal systems which migrants must navigate in order to secure housing. The specific roles which housing providers and intermediary organisations – including housing advocacies NGOs, public institutions, and religious groups – play are highlighted. The paper shows that informal processes operating in the low-income housing market in the Bronx mirror the operations of formal institutional structures, but instead of financial and legal grounds for housing allocation, informal migration industries are centred on social ties within the established migrant community. Such arrangements provide much-needed access to affordable housing for low-income tenants and facilitate further migration.
Multilevel Monte Carlo Methods for Stochastic Convection–Diffusion Eigenvalue Problems
Authors: Cui Tiangang , De Sterck Hans , Gilbert Alexander D. , Polishchuk Stanislav , Scheichl Robert
Published: May 2024

We develop new multilevel Monte Carlo (MLMC) methods to estimate the expectation of the smallest eigenvalue of a stochastic convection–diffusion operator with random coefficients. The MLMC method is based on a sequence of finite element (FE) discretizations of the eigenvalue problem on a hierarchy of increasingly finer meshes. For the discretized, algebraic eigenproblems we use both the Rayleigh quotient (RQ) iteration and implicitly restarted Arnoldi (IRA), providing an analysis of the cost in each case. By studying the variance on each level and adapting classical FE error bounds to the stochastic setting, we are able to bound the total error of our MLMC estimator and provide a complexity analysis. As expected, the complexity bound for our MLMC estimator is superior to plain Monte Carlo. To improve the efficiency of the MLMC further, we exploit the hierarchy of meshes and use coarser approximations as starting values for the eigensolvers on finer ones. To improve the stability of the MLMC method for convection-dominated problems, we employ two additional strategies. First, we consider the streamline upwind Petrov–Galerkin formulation of the discrete eigenvalue problem, which allows us to start the MLMC method on coarser meshes than is possible with standard FEs. Second, we apply a homotopy method to add stability to the eigensolver for each sample. Finally, we present a multilevel quasi-Monte Carlo method that replaces Monte Carlo with a quasi-Monte Carlo (QMC) rule on each level. Due to the faster convergence of QMC, this improves the overall complexity. We provide detailed numerical results comparing our different strategies to demonstrate the practical feasibility of the MLMC method in different use cases. The results support our complexity analysis and further demonstrate the superiority over plain Monte Carlo in all cases.
FYB1-targeted modulation of CAPG promotes AML progression
Authors: Liu Wenyuan , Yin Hongli , Xie Zhiwei , Fang Fang , Chu Jinhua , Yang Linhai , Huang Lingling , Tu Songji , Cai Huaju , Wu Zhengyu , Wei Anbang , Liu Chengzhu , Hong Yi , Tian Xiaotong , Cheng Yan , Pan Jian , Wang Ningling , Zhang Kunlong
Published: May 2024

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a rare and heterogeneous disease. Over the past few decades, patient prognosis has improved with continuous improvements in treatment, but outcomes for some patients with primary drug resistance or relapse after treatment remain poor. Additional therapies to improve outcomes for these patients are urgently needed. FYB1 expression differs substantially between AML tissues and normal tissues. High FYB1 expression is correlated with poorer overall survival (OS), indicating that FYB1 may regulate AML progression. Therefore, understanding the effect of FYB1 on AML could improve the success rate of therapeutic approaches and prognosis for patients with AML. In this study, through analysis of large databases and both in vivo and in vitro experiments, we assessed the expression and role of FYB1 in AML and the relationship of FYB with patient prognosis. Downstream targets of the FYB1 gene were analyzed by RNA-seq. Database mining and in vitro experiments were used to further clarify the effect of the downstream target gelsolin-like actin-capping protein (CAPG) on AML cells and its relationship with patient prognosis. FYB1 expression was significantly higher in AML tissue and corresponded with a poor prognosis. FYB1 knockdown inhibited AML cell proliferation, promoted cell apoptosis, reduced cell adhesion capability and significantly reduced the tumor formation rate in mice. In addition, FYB1 knockdown induced a notable decrease in CAPG expression. The suppression of CAPG significantly inhibited cell proliferation and increased cell apoptosis. The conclusions of this study underscore the pivotal role of the FYB1/CAPG axis in promoting AML. We propose that the FYB1/CAPG axis could serve as a new thread in the development of therapeutic strategies for AML.
New exact optical soliton solutions of the derivative nonlinear Schrödinger equation family
Authors: Aydemir Tuğba
Published: May 2024

In this study, we use a systematic approach named the generalized unified method (GUM) to construct the general exact solutions of the derivative nonlinear Schrödinger (DNLS) family that also includes perturbed terms, which are the Kaup–Newell equation, the Chen–Lee–Liu equation, and the Gerdjikov–Ivanov equation. The GUM provides more general exact solutions with free parameters for nonlinear partial differential equations such that some solutions obtained by different exact solution methods, including the hyperbolic function solutions, the trigonometric function solutions, and the exponential solutions, are derived from these solutions by giving special values to these free parameters. Additionally, the used method reduces a large number of calculations compared to other exact solution methods, enabling computations to be made in a short, effortless, and elegant way. We investigate the DNLS family in this work because of its extensive applications in nonlinear optics. Particularly, the obtained optical soliton solutions of the DNLS family are useful for describing waves in optics and facilitating the interpretation of the propagation of solitons through optical fibers. Furthermore, this work not only contributes significantly to the advancement of soliton dynamics and their applications in photonic systems but also be productively used for more equations that occur in mathematical physics and engineering problems. Finally, 2D and 3D graphs of some derived solutions are plotted to illustrate behaviors of optical soliton.
Optical fiber fronthaul segment in open radio access 5G networks: enhanced performance utilizing AFBG
Authors: Mustafa Fathy M. , Kholidy Hisham A. , Sayed Ahmed F. , Aly Moustafa H. , Elmisery F. A.
Published: May 2024

In open Radio access network (oRAN) 5G networks, a fronthaul segment between virtual Distribution unit (vDU) edge cloud and other external Remote radio units (RRUs) sites is very important to transmit high data rate to achieve 5G requirements. Performance parameters such as Quality factor (Q-factor) and Bit error rate (BER) of an optical fiber fronthaul segment are the main important parameters to enhance latency and bit rate. An Apodized fiber bragg grating (AFBG) is utilized with different apodization profiles to optimize linewidth of an optical signal leading to enhance performance. The designed AFBG is used with a data rate of 25 Gb/s optical Ethernet module at the vDU edge cloud to optimize the linewidth of the optical signal between the vDU and the RRU in the fronthaul optical fiber segment. The AFBG is investigated at different connections pre, post, and symmetrical connections, where different apodization functions are used in the AFBG design. It is found that the best results for the maximum Q-factor and minimum BER are 9.2 and 2.72e− 21, respectively, obtained from uniform function in the symmetrical connection. Finally, the proposed model linewidth is 0.408 nm, which is better than 1.56 nm that is evaluated by related work.
Broadband dispersion compensation and high birefringence photonic crystal fiber for CWDM/DWDM networks
Authors: Allam Mohammed A. , Ali Tamer A. , Rafat Nadia H.
Published: May 2024

In this study, we propose a new design based on photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) for broadband dispersion compensation in telecommunication networks. The proposed design has a hexagonal structure arrangement of air-holes rings of different diameters between the silica core and the cladding. The PCF properties like effective area, nonlinearity, dispersion slope, confinement loss, and birefringence are reported and discussed. For the best performance we present three designs A, B and C. Simulation results show that the three designs cover the six-telecommunication optical bands O-, E-, S-, C-, L- and U- bands (wavelengths ranging from 1260 to 1675 nm). Design A achieves a large negative dispersion value of about − 1716 ps/(nm.km) with relative dispersion slope equals to that of conventional single-mode optical fibers (SMFs) of about 0.0036 nm−1, which makes it very suitable for long-haul DWDM transmission systems. With a little modification in the core, designs B and C achieve much higher confinement ability and achieve a very large birefringence value for polarization mode dispersion and sensing applications. Design C is engineered to have exact opposite dispersion of SMF with zero dispersion at the wavelength 1310 nm, which makes it a promising design in CWDM transmission system. The numerical values have been investigated using the full vector finite element method.
Observations of root hair patterning in soils: Insights from synchrotron-based X-ray computed microtomography
Authors: Duddek Patrick , Papritz Andreas , Ahmed Mutez Ali , Lovric Goran , Carminati Andrea
Published: May 2024

Background And Aims

Root hair emergence is affected by heterogeneities in water availability in the growth medium. Root hairs preferentially emerge into air, whereas their emergence into water is inhibited. Yet, these results were based either on destructive methods or on roots grown on an agar-air interface. Additionally, there is a lack of knowledge about the spatial distribution of root hairs as hairs elongate radially across the rhizosphere. Therefore, root hair growth in soils remains largely unexplored.

Methods

Maize (Zea Mays L.) plants were grown in microcosms which were scanned with a synchrotron-based X-ray $$\mu $$
μ
CT. The distribution of root hairs along the root epidermis and radially across the rhizosphere (i.e. as function of distance from the root epidermis) was analysed using spatial point pattern analysis.

Results

While hairs emerged randomly in air-filled pores, their emergence was inhibited where the root was in contact with the soil matrix. As hairs elongated radially into the soil, they were preferentially located in the close proximity of soil particles. In maize, we rarely observed root hairs penetrating into soil aggregates.

Conclusion

We conclude that in maize, root hairs grow in air-filled pores at the root-soil interface, where the flow of nutrients and water is impeded. Across the rhizosphere, hairs establish contact to the soil by growing in the proximity to soil particles. The effect of hairs on uptake processes, plant anchorage and rhizosheath formation might be limited (in maize) as they hardly penetrate into soil aggregates.
Accurate photosynthetic parameter estimation at low stomatal conductance: effects of cuticular conductance and instrumental noise
Authors: Hussain Syed Bilal , Stinziano Joseph , Pierre Myrtho O. , Vincent Christopher
Published: May 2024

Accurate estimation of photosynthetic parameters is essential for understanding plant physiological limitations and responses to environmental factors from the leaf to the global scale. Gas exchange is a useful tool to measure responses of net CO2 assimilation (A) to internal CO2 concentration (Ci), a necessary step in estimating photosynthetic parameters including the maximum rate of carboxylation (Vcmax) and the electron transport rate (Jmax). However, species and environmental conditions of low stomatal conductance (gsw) reduce the signal-to-noise ratio of gas exchange, challenging estimations of Ci. Previous works showed that not considering cuticular conductance to water (gcw) can lead to significant errors in estimating Ci, because it has a different effect on total conductance to CO2 (gtc) than does gsw. Here we present a systematic assessment of the need for incorporating gcw into Ci estimates. In this study we modeled the effect of gcw and of instrumental noise and quantified these effects on photosynthetic parameters in the cases of four species with varying gsw and gcw, measured using steady-state and constant ramping techniques, like the rapid A/Ci response method. We show that not accounting for gcw quantitatively influences Ci and the resulting Vcmax and Jmax, particularly when gcw exceeds 7% of the total conductance to water. The influence of gcw was not limited to low gsw species, highlighting the importance of species-specific knowledge before assessing A/Ci curves. Furthermore, at low gsw instrumental noise can affect Ci estimation, but the effect of instrumental noise can be minimized using constant-ramping rather than steady-state techniques. By incorporating these considerations, more precise measurements and interpretations of photosynthetic parameters can be obtained in a broader range of species and environmental conditions.
Categoricity Problem for LP and K3
Authors: Tabakci Selcuk Kaan
Published: May 2024

Even though the strong relationship between proof-theoretic and model-theoretic notions in one’s logical theory can be shown by soundness and completeness proofs, whether we can define the model-theoretic notions by means of the inferences in a proof system is not at all trivial. For instance, provable inferences in a proof system of classical logic in the logical framework do not determine its intended models as shown by Carnap (Formalization of logic, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1943), i.e., there are non-Boolean models that satisfy its provable inferences. In the literature, this is known as the Categoricity problem or Carnap’s problem. In this paper, we will discuss the Categoricity problem (or Carnap’s problem) for three-valued logics K3 and LP. We will provide three different restrictions on admissible models that will deliver us categoricity results, some of which draw from the solutions provided for the Categoricity problem for classical logic in Belnap and Massey (Stud Log 49(1):67–82, 1990) and Bonnay and Westerståhl (Erkenntis 81(4):721–739, 2016). We will then argue that two of those solutions are philosophically well-motivated: (1) restricting the admissible models where negation is interpreted as a Strong Kleene truth-function, and (2) restricting the admissible models where a complex formula is assigned the third value when its immediate subformulas are assigned the third value.
Propositional Type Theory of Indeterminacy
Authors: Aranda Víctor , Martins Manuel , Manzano María
Published: May 2024

The aim of this paper is to define a partial Propositional Type Theory. Our system is partial in a double sense: the hierarchy of (propositional) types contains partial functions and some expressions of the language, including formulas, may be undefined. The specific interpretation we give to the undefined value is that of Kleene’s strong logic of indeterminacy. We present a semantics for the new system and prove that every element of any domain of the hierarchy has a name in the object language. Finally, we provide a proof system and a (constructive) proof of completeness.
Synopsis of the species of Ortholinea Shulman, 1962 (Cnidaria: Myxosporea: Ortholineidae)
Authors: Rangel Luis F. , Rocha Sónia , Santos Maria J.
Published: May 2024

A synopsis of Ortholinea Shulman, 1962 (Cnidaria: Myxosporea: Ortholineidae) is presented and identifies 26 nominal species presently allocated within this genus. Species morphological and morphometric features, tissue tropism, type-host, and type-locality are provided from original descriptions. Data from subsequent redescriptions and reports is also given. Accession numbers to sequences deposited in GenBank are indicated when available, and the myxospores were redrawn based on original descriptions. The information gathered shows that Ortholinea infect a wide taxonomic variety of freshwater and marine fish. Nonetheless, the broad host specificity reported for several species is not fully supported by morphological descriptions and requires molecular corroboration. The members of this genus are coelozoic and mainly parasitize the urinary system, with few species occurring in the gallbladder. Ortholinea visakhapatnamensis is the only exception, being histozoic in the visceral peritoneum. Molecular data of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSU rDNA) is available for about one third of Ortholinea species, with genetic interspecific variation ranging between 1.65% and 29.1%. Phylogenetic analyses reveal Ortholinea to be polyphyletic, with available SSU rDNA sequences clustering within the subclades of the highly heterogenous freshwater urinary clade of the oligochaete-infecting lineage. The life cycles of two Ortholinea species have been clarified based on molecular inferences and identify triactinomyxon actinospores as counterparts, and marine oligochaetes of the family Naididae as permissive hosts to this genus.
Nomenclatural stability and the longevity of helminth species names
Authors: Poulin Robert , Presswell Bronwen
Published: May 2024

Although most Latin binomial names of species are valid, many are eventually unaccepted when they are found to be synonyms of previously described species, or superseded by a new combination when the species they denote are moved to a different genus. What proportion of parasite species names become unaccepted over time, and how long does it take for incorrect names to become unaccepted? Here, we address these questions using a dataset comprising thousands of species names of parasitic helminths from four higher taxa (Acanthocephala, Nematoda, Cestoda, and Trematoda). Overall, among species names proposed in the past two-and-a-half centuries, nearly one-third have since been unaccepted, the most common reason being that they have been superseded by a new combination. A greater proportion of older names (proposed pre-1950) have since been unaccepted compared to names proposed more recently, however most taxonomic acts leading to species names being unaccepted (through either synonymy or reclassification) occurred in the past few decades. Overall, the average longevity of helminth species names that are currently unaccepted was 29 years; although many remained in use for over 100 years, about 50% of the total were invalidated within 20 years of first being proposed. The patterns observed were roughly the same for all four higher helminth taxa considered here. Our results provide a quantitative illustration of the self-correcting nature of parasite taxonomy, and can also help to calibrate future estimates of total parasite biodiversity.