bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Definition of guidelines for virtual reality application design based on visual attention
Authors: Baldoni Sara , Hadj Sassi Mohamed Saifeddine , Carli Marco , Battisti Federica
Published: November 2023

In virtual reality applications, head-mounted displays allow users to explore virtual surroundings, thus creating a high sense of immersion. However, due to the novelty of the technology and the possibility of freely enjoying a $$360^\circ $$

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virtual world, users can get distracted and divert their attention from the content of the application. In this work, we define a set of guidelines for the design of virtual reality applications for enhancing the users’ attention. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the first attempts to provide general guidelines for virtual application design based on visual attention. More specifically, we analyze the different categories of factors that contribute to the user’s responsiveness and define a set of experiments for measuring the user’s promptness with respect to visual stimuli with different features and in the presence of audio/visual distractions. Experimental tests have been carried out with 36 volunteers. The users’ reaction time has been recorded and the performed analysis allowed the definition of a set of guidelines based on individual, operational, and technological factors for the design of virtual reality applications optimized in terms of user attention. In particular, statistical tests demonstrated that the presence of distractions leads to significantly different reaction times with respect to the case of no distractions, and that users belonging to different age intervals have significantly different behaviors. Moreover, the optimal placement of objects has been identified and the impact of cybersickness has been analyzed.
Impacts of land use history on leaf litter input, chemical composition, decomposition and related nutrient cycling in young and old secondary tropical lowland rainforests (Sumatra, Indonesia)
Authors: Alvafritz Luce , Hertel Dietrich
Published: November 2023

Background

Nutrient cycle in tropical forests is mainly driven by litter fall amounts and by litter decay due to litter physical and chemical properties. Apart from differences in site conditions, different successional stages of tropical rainforests may influence nutrient inputs to the soil via differences in litter fall and decay.

Methods

We studied leaf litter fall, decomposition and related nutrient input to the soil in two secondary tropical rainforest types differing in land-use intensity and history in the lowlands of Sumatra (Indonesia).

Results

Mean annual litter fall was by 29.5% higher in the old than in the young secondary forests. In contrast, annual litter decomposition differed only marginally (54.9% vs. 52.1%) in young vs. old secondary forests. Litter chemical composition (C, N, P, K contents) did not differ between the forest types. Litter decomposition was also not different between the forest types (4.6% vs. 4.3% loss of initial weight per month). Consequently, annual nutrient input to the soil was primarily affected by differences in leaf litter production, thus, old secondary forests exceeded that of young secondary forests by 30% and 24% for C and N, but was not different regaring P and K among the two forest types.

Conclusions

The results indicate that litter nutrient inputs to the soil in the two types of secondary tropical lowland forests are most strongly influenced by aboveground litter production rather than litter chemical quality or litter decay. We conclude that the restoration status of secondary tropical lowland forests is crucial for the nutrient status of these forest ecosystems.
Temperate tree microbiomes: divergent soil and phyllosphere microbial communities share few but dominant taxa
Authors: Siegenthaler Andjin , Skidmore Andrew K. , de Groot G. Arjen , Laros Ivo , Rousseau Mélody , Duan Yiwei
Published: November 2023

Aims

The phyllosphere and soil are crucial and distinct microbial spheres in forests, connected through trees that interact with both. As part of the tree's holobiont, these communities are vital to the fitness and evolution of the host. Differences between the spheres may be particularly evident at the two extreme ends of tall and long-lived trees of natural temperate forest; the top-canopy and the soil. Here, we evaluated the connectivity between the top-canopy and soil microbial communities of European beech and Norway spruce trees to determine the significance of tree-sphere and host-species identity, and to assess the contribution of taxa inhabiting both spheres.

Methods

Bacterial and fungal community composition was determined through metabarcoding analysis of linked top-canopy leaf and bulk soil samples collected from tall (old) trees in the natural forest of Bavarian Forest National Park.

Results

This study shows sphere-specific communities in European temperate forests, characterized by low connectivity. Results highlight that spheres exert stronger influence than host identity. Only a few taxa inhabited both spheres, yet they accounted for the bulk of the (relative) abundance in each sphere.

Conclusion

Analysing the divergence and shared characteristics of these interlinked communities redefines the tree holobiont concept and enhances our understanding of the evolution of plant-associated microbial communities in a sphere-specific manner. This study emphasizes the importance of examining multiple microbiome components for a thorough understanding of temperate forest ecology, while also highlighting the existence of a small group of overlapping taxa that may play a bigger role than previously anticipated.
Likelihood-free inference in state-space models with unknown dynamics
Authors: Aushev Alexander , Tran Thong , Pesonen Henri , Howes Andrew , Kaski Samuel
Published: November 2023

Likelihood-free inference (LFI) has been successfully applied to state-space models, where the likelihood of observations is not available but synthetic observations generated by a black-box simulator can be used for inference instead. However, much of the research up to now has been restricted to cases in which a model of state transition dynamics can be formulated in advance and the simulation budget is unrestricted. These methods fail to address the problem of state inference when simulations are computationally expensive and the Markovian state transition dynamics are undefined. The approach proposed in this manuscript enables LFI of states with a limited number of simulations by estimating the transition dynamics and using state predictions as proposals for simulations. In the experiments with non-stationary user models, the proposed method demonstrates significant improvement in accuracy for both state inference and prediction, where a multi-output Gaussian process is used for LFI of states and a Bayesian neural network as a surrogate model of transition dynamics.
COVID-19 and British Columbia’s volunteer search and rescue workers: risk recognition and risk mitigation
Authors: Birnbaum David , Lam Vienna C. , Havaei Farinaz , Anderson Gail S.
Published: November 2023

Background:

Early during COVID-19, British Columbia coordinated collaboration between academic researchers, public healthcare systems, and private sector partners to focus research resources on knowledge gaps in a timely manner, avoid duplication, and identify overlooked aspects. At a collaboration symposium, it became evident that BC’s volunteer search & rescue (SAR) cadre was overlooked.

Objective:

Our exploratory project studied volunteer SAR’s operational readiness; use and perceived value of information sources; consistency in infection prevention measures among volunteer stations, and with their professional counterparts for comparable first aid medical interventions throughout the pandemic.

Methods:

We partnered with the 2 organizations that govern BC’s volunteer SAR stations. Local station leaders completed a short confidential survey. Guidance documents issued by associations governing voluntary and professional first responders were compared.

Results:

Survey responses were received from 33 of 109 local stations, spanning all regions of BC. Most remained operationally ready throughout the entire pandemic (12.1% had to stand down at times). Except for 21% lacking eye protection, all had personal protective equipment commensurate with that of healthcare professionals; however, few used this PPE in a manner consistent with professional counterparts. Usage and perceived usefulness of various information sources differed. There was no communication link between the province’s infection control experts and 2 volunteer SAR organizations.

Conclusions:

Search & rescue capability was maintained despite pandemic impacts. Results reveal strengths and opportunities for improvement in the ways volunteers are informed and protected. Infection control experts providing advice for emergency health services professional responders should remember to include their volunteer counterparts.
Incomplete to complete multiphysics forecasting: a hybrid approach for learning unknown phenomena
Authors: Tathawadekar Nilam N. , Doan Nguyen Anh Khoa , Silva Camilo F. , Thuerey Nils
Published: November 2023

Modeling complex dynamical systems with only partial knowledge of their physical mechanisms is a crucial problem across all scientific and engineering disciplines. Purely data-driven approaches, which only make use of an artificial neural network and data, often fail to accurately simulate the evolution of the system dynamics over a sufficiently long time and in a physically consistent manner. Therefore, we propose a hybrid approach that uses a neural network model in combination with an incomplete partial differential equations (PDEs) solver that provides known, but incomplete physical information. In this study, we demonstrate that the results obtained from the incomplete PDEs can be efficiently corrected at every time step by the proposed hybrid neural network—PDE solver model, so that the effect of the unknown physics present in the system is correctly accounted for. For validation purposes, the obtained simulations of the hybrid model are successfully compared against results coming from the complete set of PDEs describing the full physics of the considered system. We demonstrate the validity of the proposed approach on a reactive flow, an archetypal multi-physics system that combines fluid mechanics and chemistry, the latter being the physics considered unknown. Experiments are made on planar and Bunsen-type flames at various operating conditions. The hybrid neural network—PDE approach correctly models the flame evolution of the cases under study for significantly long time windows, yields improved generalization and allows for larger simulation time steps.
Gender disparity in minimum dietary diversity failure among currently breastfed children aged 6–23 months in Bangladesh: evidence from Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, 2019
Authors: Hossain Md. Ismail , Kabir Samia , Zinia Faozia Afia
Published: November 2023

Research on children's dietary diversity plays a crucial role in designing effective health interventions. Thus, this study aimed to identify the factors contributing to minimum dietary diversity failure (MDDF) among male and female children aged 6–23 months in Bangladesh. The data for this study was obtained from the Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, 2019, which included children currently breastfed within a specific age range. Multivariable binary logistic regression was employed to assess the strength and significance of the association. The findings revealed that approximately 59⋅4 % of children in Bangladesh experienced MDDF, with 57⋅8 % of male children and 61 % of female children affected. Proportion test uncovered a significant gender disparity (χ2=6⋅58, P-value = 0⋅01) among children aged 6–23 months. However, the multivariable binary logistic regression analysis revealed that both male and female children shared common risk factors for MDDF, which included child age, maternal educational status, wealth status, number of antenatal care visits, and division. In our study, we observed varied spatial patterns in minimal dietary diversity. Sherpur, Netrokona, Sunamganj, and Sylhet districts showed the highest failure rates. Notably, all are flood-affected areas, impacting food availability and diversity. For targeted regional development programmes, district mapping results may offer valuable insights to policymakers, especially in areas with a high prevalence of dietary diversity failure. By understanding these risk factors, policymakers and stakeholders can implement targeted strategies to improve dietary diversity among children, promoting better health and well-being for the young population in Bangladesh.
The Pleistocene tectono-stratigraphic evolution of the northern Po Plain (Italy) around the Castenedolo and Ciliverghe hillocks
Authors: Aghib Fulvia S. , Muttoni Giovanni , Norini Gianluca , Mariani Guido S. , Zerboni Andrea , de Franco Roberto , Di Capua Andrea , Tira Marco A. , Brusamolino Alessio , Menici Simona , Caielli Grazia , Groppelli Gianluca , Piccin Andrea
Published: November 2023

We studied the Pleistocene subsurface stratigraphy of an area in the northern Po Plain around the isolated tectonic hillocks of Castenedolo and Ciliverghe (Brescia, Italy) in order to estimate their long-term rates of tectonic deformation. Integrated stratigraphy of a new 100-m-long core (RL13) allowed better definition of the regional Y (0.45 Ma) and R (0.87 Ma) surfaces and the related magnetostratigraphically calibrated PS1, PS2, and PS3 depositional sequences. The Y surface in the RL13 core was placed at the base of the PS3 proximal braided river system that was deposited during middle Pleistocene within the Brunhes chron. The R surface is considered to be eroded within the PS2 braid-plain deposits at ca. 0.87 Ma between the top of Jaramillo subchron and the Bruhnes chron during the late Early Pleistocene.

Based on different datasets, we evaluated the sedimentation rate, which has decreased from 0.09 mm/yr with deposition of PS2, to 0.06 mm/yr with deposition of PS3. The tectonic uplift, with an average rate of ~0.1 mm/yr in the last ca. 0.87 Ma, is interpreted to be associated with a fault and related fault-propagation folding. The Castenedolo and Ciliverghe hillocks then formed due to tectonic uplift during a change in the sedimentation regime since 0.45 Ma.
Playing Hopscotch on Dangerous Ground: Site-Based, Transit-Oriented Opera in Los Angeles
Authors: Aviles-Rodriguez Guillermo
Published: November 2023

Hopscotch: An Opera for 24 Cars was a celebrated site-based and technetronic musical performance that sought to bring opera into various communities in Los Angeles, many of which were economically disadvantaged. In the process, this opera set off a firestorm of protests that ultimately resulted in confrontations with community members, protests that would test the very premise of the dissemination of opera and performance outside spaces of privilege and in communities of colour. Informed by the concept of transit-oriented performance, this article analyses some ways in which neoliberalism is distorting opera's modern-day resonances.
Material dialogues for first-order logic in constructive type theory: extended version
Authors: Wehr Dominik , Kirst Dominik
Published: November 2023

Dialogues are turn-taking games which model debates about the satisfaction of logical formulas. A novel variant played over first-order structures gives rise to a notion of first-order satisfaction. We study the induced notion of validity for classical and intuitionistic first-order logic in the constructive setting of the calculus of inductive constructions. We prove that such material dialogue semantics for classical first-order logic admits constructive soundness and completeness proofs, setting it apart from standard model-theoretic semantics of first-order logic. Furthermore, we prove that completeness with regard to intuitionistic material dialogues fails in both constructive and classical settings. As an alternative, we propose material dialogues played over Kripke structures. These Kripke material dialogues exhibit constructive completeness when restricting to the negative fragment. The results concerning classical material dialogues have been mechanized using the Coq interactive theorem prover.
What Determines Social Service Workers’ Wages: A Cross-Country Analysis Using a Luxembourg Income Study
Authors: Lee Sung-Hee , Yun-Young Kim
Published: November 2023

The study is aimed at exploring the influencing factor of wages among social service workers (SSWs) through a cross-country analysis. Using Luxembourg Income Study data, two aspects are emphasised: first, the trends and patterns of wage levels among SSWs. Second, the determining factors that influence their low wages at a cross-national level and how those factors are intersectionally intertwined to exacerbate the wage level. Three significant findings are confirmed: a universal gendered wage gap; a more significant wage gap for those on part-time and/or fractured contracts and employed in the private sector; and a substantial association between a higher education and higher wages. Two policy concerns are raised for discussion: first, tackling the gendered wage gap and ensuring more secure employment, and a guaranteed living wage for those employed in the private sector. Second, enhancing the professionalism for empowering their effective choices in the labour market is essential.
The Interactions Between Ocean and Three Consecutive Typhoons Affecting Northeast Asia in 2020 From a Model Perspective
Authors: Liu Xin , Sun Chenghu , Zuo Jinqing
Published: November 2023

In August 2020, the historical warmest upper‐ocean thermal condition occurred in the western North Pacific (WNP), along with three tropical cyclones (TCs, namely Bavi, Maysak, and Haishen) generated in the WNP and affected Northeast China and the Korea peninsular (KP), within an unprecedentedly short span of 12 days from late August to early September of 2020. Meanwhile, prior to the formation of Bavi, a series of extreme warm mesoscale oceanic eddies were also observed over the WNP, and clearly sea surface cooling was detected after the passage of the three TCs. However, it remains unknown whether the warmest WNP with extreme warm mesoscale oceanic eddies has a modulation effect on intensity change of the three TCs. The results of sensitive experiments with fixed atmospheric initial conditions revealed that the historically warmest upper‐ocean thermal condition in the WNP in August 2020 might have contributed to increasing the intensity of three TCs by 5.3–10.0 hPa compared to normal ocean thermal conditions. The simulation results indicated that the extreme warm mesoscale eddy conglomeration might assist in intensifying the three TCs when they passed over these warm mesoscale eddies. Whereas the cold wake over the East China Sea caused by preceding TCs, Bavi and Maysak, might partly aid in weakening subsequent TCs in the decaying period. Furthermore, the simulated bias in the intensity evolution of the three TCs and the possible cause of minor differences in the simulated tracks and large‐scale steering flow between the sensitive and control experiments were discussed.
Transcriptional profiling of early differentiation of primary human mesenchymal stem cells into chondrocytes
Authors: Schwarzl Thomas , Keogh Andrea , Shaw Georgina , Krstic Aleksandar , Clayton Elizabeth , Higgins Desmond G. , Kolch Walter , Barry Frank
Published: November 2023

Articular cartilage has only very limited regenerative capacities in humans. Tissue engineering techniques for cartilage damage repair are limited in the production of hyaline cartilage. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells and can be differentiated into mature cartilage cells, chondrocytes, which could be used for repairing damaged cartilage. Chondrogenesis is a highly complex, relatively inefficient process lasting over 3 weeks in vitro. Methods: In order to better understand chondrogenic differentiation, especially the commitment phase, we have performed transcriptional profiling of MSC differentiation into chondrocytes from early timepoints starting 15 minutes after induction to 16 hours and fully differentiated chondrocytes at 21 days in triplicates.
Reproducibility of pulmonary function tests in patients with systemic sclerosis
Authors: Jacquerie P. , André B. , De Seny D. , Henket M. , Giltay L. , Ernst M. , Louis R. , Malaise M. , Ribbens C. , Guiot J.
Published: November 2023

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare autoimmune disease in which interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Clinical management of the lung disease is mainly based on pulmonary function testing (PFT) and their changes over time. Little is known about the reproducibility of PFT testing in SSc patients. The aim of this study was to assess the test–retest reliability and reproducibility of PFTs in SSc patients with or without ILD over 30 days in order determine the potential physiologic variation over the time. We performed prospective observational study of SSc patients. The FVC, FEV1/FVC ratio, DLCO and KCO parameters were assessed in this population at four different timepoints; T0 (time 0) and H3 (T0 + 3 h) defined test–retest reliability, D15 (T0 + 15 days) and D30 (T0 + 30 days) for reproducibility. A mixed linear model was used to test the effect of time (and therefore reproducibility) on patients and we looked for an interaction. We included 25 SSc patients divided in two groups, 14 with ILD and 11 non-ILD. Interactions between time and group were not significant and were not reported. Time and group did not significantly influence the different measures of the PFT: FVC [p values time and group effect respectively (0.33; 0.34)], FEV1/FVC ratio (0.093; 0.056) and DLCO (0.99; 0.13) in the ILD and non ILD group (Table S2). The analyse with interactions between time and group were not significant and are not reported. We also used a Bland Altman test to assess reproducibility for FVC (L) and DLCO (mMKpa/min/L), Figs. 1 and 2 respectively. The measurements were therefore reproducible over time and in each group. PFT parameters are reproducible over time in a clinically stable population of SSc (no significant effect of the time T0, H3, D15 and D30) and there is no significant distinction between patients with ILD and no ILD. These respiratory functional data can further underline their use in clinical practice.
Relationship between autistic traits and letter-recognition under attention to face-likeness: study using a henohenomoheji-type compound stimulus
Authors: Sugiyama Midori , Fujii Shinya , Mori Masaki
Published: November 2023

This study aimed to clarify the relationship between autistic traits and letter information processing, specifically, the components of faces when attention is paid to face-like information. We created a new “henohenomoheji-type compound stimulus,” in which letters are placed in positions in such a way as to resemble a face. In Experiment 1, we examined the relationship between autistic traits and the participants’ performance in a letter-recognition task in which a henohenomoheji-type compound stimulus was used. The results showed a significant moderate negative correlation between Autism-Spectrum Quotient-Japanese Version (AQ-J) scores and letter-recognition sensitivity when the compound stimuli were arranged like a face. The letter-detection task was employed in Experiment 2 to examine how autistic traits affect tasks' performance with a lower cognitive load than in Experiment 1. We found no correlation between AQ-J scores and letter-detection sensitivity with or without face-like features. These results suggest that paying attention to faces reduces the participants’ performance in letter recognition, which represents a higher cognitive load in individuals with higher autistic traits. A major implication of this study is that the henohenomoheji-type compound stimuli can be applied to several cognitive tasks, such as cognitive processing in individuals with autistic traits.
Construction of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) mutants that exclusively produce NA4/NA6 intermediates of agarose metabolism through mutation induction
Authors: Kim Jina , Kim Eun Joo , Ko Hye-Jeong , Lee Yeon-Hee , Hong Soon-Kwang , Shin Miyoung , Lee Je Hyeon , Kwak Woori
Published: November 2023

NA4/NA6, an intermediate degradation product of β-agarase, is a high value-added product with anticancer, anti-obesity, and anti-diabetic effects. Therefore, a method that enables the efficient production of NA4/NA6 would be useful from economic and medical perspectives. In this study, we aimed to generate aStreptomyces coelicolorA3(2) mutant M22-2C43 that produces NA4/NA6 as a final product; this method serves as a more efficient alternative to the enzymatic conversion of β-agarase for the generation of these products. The M22-2C43 strain was generated through two rounds of mutagenesis and screening for increased β-agarase activity and effective production of NA4/NA6. We assembled the complete genomes of two mutants, M22 and M22-2C43, which were identified following a two-round screening. Large and small genetic changes were found in these two mutants, including the loss of two plasmids present in wild-typeS. coelicolorA3(2) and chromosome circularization of mutant M22-2C43. These findings suggest that mutant M22-2C43 can produce NA4/NA6 as a degradation product due to functional inactivation of thedagBgene through a point mutation (G474A), ultimately preventing further degradation of NA4/NA6 to NA2. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a microbial strain that can effectively produce NA4/NA6 as the main degradation product of β-agarase, opening the door for the use of this species for the large-scale production of this valuable product.
Two-body dissociation of isoxazole following double photoionization – an experimental PEPIPICO and theoretical DFT and MP2 study
Authors: Wasowicz Tomasz J. , Dąbkowska Iwona , Kivimäki Antti , Richter Robert
Published: November 2023

Double photoionization of isoxazole molecules leads to hitherto unexplored photodissociation mechanisms and provides deeper insight into the photophysics of five-membered heterocyclic molecules containing two heteroatoms.
Structure and dynamics of the Li+ ion in water, methanol and acetonitrile solvents: ab initio molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Rana Reman , Ali Sk. Musharaf , Maity Dilip K.
Published: November 2023

Fundamental understanding of the structure and dynamics of the Li+ ion in solution is of utmost importance in different fields of science and technology, especially in the field of ion batteries.
Impact of a rubrene buffer layer on the dynamic magnetic behavior of nickel layers on Si(100)
Authors: Tanguturi Ranganadha Gopalarao , Tsai Jian-Chen , Li You-Siang , Tsay Jyh-Shen
Published: November 2023

By adding a rubrene layer, the highly stable IP combined with the tunable OP ferromagnetic resonance spectra for Ni(x)/rubrene/Si bilayers make them promising materials for use in microwave magnetic devices and spintronics with controllable PMA.
Target–ligand binding affinity from single point enthalpy calculation and elemental composition
Authors: Szél Viktor , Zsidó Balázs Zoltán , Jeszenői Norbert , Hetényi Csaba
Published: November 2023

Binding affinity of target–ligand complexes from single-point PM7 calculations with explicit hydration and a ligand-based descriptor of elemental composition.
High-biobased polymerizable deep eutectic solvents for sustainable DLP printing: assembly welding and reprintable printing
Authors: Liu Meiting , Zhang Guixin , Hu Yun , Bo Caiying , Dai Yan , Hu Lihong , Zhu Guoqiang , Zhou Yonghong
Published: November 2023

A series of high bio-based, reprocessable, and reprintable Polymerizable deep eutectic solvents (PDES), named CDAG, based on citric acid (CA) and glycerol (Gly), has been developed for sustainable 3D printing.
ICP-MS: a tool for detection and quantitation of fosfomycin residues in cleaning samples of finished product by estimation of phosphorous load
Authors: Chowdhury Anirban Roy , Shah Sujal , Kapse Rahul Y. , Mehta Tushar , Mukharya Amit
Published: November 2023

The ICP-MS technique is creatively utilized to quantify trace levels of fosfomycin, a non chromophoric and non-mass friendly molecule for cleaning validation samples.
Radiosensitizing molybdenum iodide nanoclusters conjugated with a biocompatible N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide copolymer: a step towards radiodynamic therapy
Authors: Kirakci Kaplan , Pola Robert , Tavares Marina Rodrigues , Pechar Michal , Přibyl Tomáš , Křížová Ivana , Zelenka Jaroslav , Ruml Tomáš , Etrych Tomáš , Lang Kamil
Published: November 2023

A radiosensitizing nanosystem made of octahedral molybdenum clusters conjugated with a biocompatible HPMA polymer shows promise towards radiodynamic therapy.
Enhancing high-temperature storage performance for the commercial lithium-ion battery via an effective additive strategy
Authors: Liu Weigang , Gao Shuai , Zheng Jingqiang , Zhang Zhi , Gu Jiahao , Chen Zhiyong , Jiang Hao , Hong Bo , Li Jie , Fan Xinming
Published: November 2023

Lithium-ion batteries play an irreplaceable role in energy storage systems.
Easy-fabrication and low-cost carbamate-based porous organic polymers for efficient removal of methylene blue
Authors: Chen Yunze , Dai Haodong , Dong Anjie , Zhang Jianhua
Published: November 2023

Carbamate-based porous organic polymers as adsorbents have great potential for use in the treatment of dye wastewater, due to their simple and easy-to-scaleup preparation process and commercially available low-cost raw materials.
Expression of concern: Electrospun nanofibrous membranes of cellulose acetate containing hydroxyapatite co-doped with Ag/Fe: morphological features, antibacterial activity and degradation of methylene blue in aqueous solution
Authors: Shalan Ahmed Esmail , Afifi Mohamed , El-Desoky M. M. , Ahmed M. K.
Published: November 2023

Expression of concern for ‘Electrospun nanofibrous membranes of cellulose acetate containing hydroxyapatite co-doped with Ag/Fe: morphological features, antibacterial activity and degradation of methylene blue in aqueous solution’ by Ahmed Esmail Shalan et al., New J. Chem., 2021, 45, 9212–9220, https://doi.org/10.1039/D1NJ00569C.
Oxygen-doped Sn17Sb6S29 bimetal oxysulfide catalysts for efficient reduction of organic pollutants and hexavalent chromium in the dark
Authors: Huang Ting , Li Ping , Wu Qinhan , Abdeta Adugna Boke , Kuo Dong-Hau , Zhang Hanya , Wu Binghong , Mosisa Mengistu Tadesse , Lin Jinguo , Chen Xiaoyun , Liu Xueshen
Published: November 2023

Novel oxygen-doped Sn17Sb6S29 bimetal oxysulfide catalysts (labeled as SnSbOS) were successfully synthesized by a facile method via adjusting the H2O2 amount.
A self-optimised approach to synthesising DEHiBA for advanced nuclear reprocessing, exploiting the power of machine-learning
Authors: Shaw Thomas , Clayton Adam D. , Labes Ricardo , Dixon Thomas M. , Boyall Sarah , Kershaw Oliver J. , Bourne Richard A. , Hanson Bruce C.
Published: November 2023

To aid the advancement of hydrometallurgical reprocessing of used nuclear fuel, this work has explored and optimised the synthesis of DEHiBA in continuous flow, to establish a scalable, cost-effective manufacture route.
Removal of estrogens from aqueous solutions using 3D-printed polymers
Authors: Frimodig Janne , Haukka Matti
Published: November 2023

Different pharmaceuticals and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can negatively impact our environment, even at nanogram per liter levels.
Dynamique maraîchère de la plaine de Djagblé (au Togo) : des exploitations agricoles péri-urbaines en quête de durabilité
Authors: Graner Axel , Dzamah Aimé-Félix , Ahovi Komi David , Tchangani Lalaguewé , Michel Isabelle
Published: November 2023

L’Afrique subsaharienne est l’une des régions du monde où l’urbanisation est la plus rapide. Cette urbanisation entraîne une forte augmentation de la demande en produits maraîchers périssables. Elle offre ainsi de nouveaux marchés aux agriculteurs en périphérie des villes, tout en les contraignant d’un point de vue foncier du fait de l’étalement urbain. Dans la plaine de Djagblé, située au Togo en périphérie de Lomé, nous montrons comment les agriculteurs se sont adaptés à cette situation. Des enquêtes réalisées auprès de personnes ressources et de 65 agriculteurs dans 4 villages représentatifs de la plaine montrent l’évolution des systèmes agricoles, se spécialisant progressivement dans la culture d’un légume-feuille à cycle court, la corète potagère (Corchorus olitorius), mobilisant de façon croissante les intrants de synthèse. Ce maraîchage spécialisé intensif en intrants est favorisé par une mutation du tissu agricole, des femmes de travailleurs urbains de Lomé avec des statuts fonciers précaires devenant majoritaires devant les ménages agricoles villageois traditionnels. Des indicateurs de performances économiques, environnementales et sociales éclairent les stratégies de ces agriculteurs et agricultrices, tout en montrant les impacts de ce maraîchage sur le territoire. Nos résultats permettent d’identifier des leviers pour orienter cette agriculture vers davantage de durabilité.
Gemeinsam Ziele erreichen – Interprofessionelle Zusammenarbeit
Authors: Mannes Alexandra
Published: November 2023

Besonders in Krankenhäusern arbeiten Ergotherapie und Pflege oft zusammen. Ein strukturiertes und zielführendes Vorgehen kann die Therapie für die Patient*innen effektiver machen und die Arbeit von Ergotherapeut*innen und Pflegenden erleichtern. Dabei hilft zum Beispiel die elektronische Patientenakte.
Handlungsperformanz im Bereich Sexualität erheben – Assessment OPISI~DE
Authors: Kraxner Markus , Stolte Katja
Published: November 2023

Das Assessment OPISI~DE dient dazu, Handlungsperformanzprobleme in den Bereichen Sexualität, Intimität und Partnerschaft strukturiert zu erfassen, sie zu doku-mentieren und zu evaluieren. Mit dem Erhebungsinstrument lassen sich verschiedene Aspekte der sexuellen Betätigung und Zufriedenheit erfassen.
Leben oder überleben?
Authors: Feldhofer Verena , Haas Alexandra
Published: November 2023

Ein Aufenthalt auf einer Intensivstation ist für viele Patienten ein einschneidendes, traumatisches Erlebnis. Oft bleiben noch lange nach der Entlassung vielfältige Beeinträchtigungen zurück – auch bei den Angehörigen. Der folgende Beitrag zeichnet ein umfassendes Bild dieses Post-Intensive-Care-Syndroms und seiner Risikofaktoren, schildert aber auch, welche Möglichkeiten zur Prävention es gibt und wie eine Nachsorge gelingen kann. – Die Autorinnen haben mit ihrem Beitrag den 5. Platz beim 25. intensiv-Pflegepreis 2021 belegt.
Drei Jahre in Indien – Als Ergotherapeutin bei einer NGO
Authors: Bornstein Kim
Published: November 2023

Im Januar 2022 sind Kim Bornstein und ihr Mann nach Bangalore, Indien gezogen. Für drei Jahre ist dies nun ihre Heimat. Kims Mann wurde von seiner Firma aus entsandt, für Kim als deutsche Ergotherapeutin gab es allerdings kein Arbeitsvisum. Indien hat strenge Regeln für Ausländer*innen, um ein Arbeitsvisum zu bekommen. Da Kim ihren Job sehr liebt, stand für sie schnell fest, dass sie in einer Nichtregierungsorganisation (NGO) mitarbeiten und ihre ergotherapeutischen Kompetenzen auf diese Weise einbringen möchte.
Ernährung bei Lipödem – Ein Evidenzupdate
Authors: Kabisch Stefan
Published: November 2023

Etwa zehn Prozent der weiblichen Gesamtbevölkerung haben ein Lipödem. Hierbei verteilt sich das Körperfett überproportional an den Extremitäten, während der Körperstamm häufig schlank bleibt. Neben operativen Behandlungsmethoden wird auch der Ernährungstherapie eine immer größere Bedeutung zugesprochen. Auch wenn die Datenlage noch dünn ist, lohnt sich ein aktueller Blick auf diese Therapieform.
Total Synthesis of Mavacuran Alkaloids via Bioinspired and Non-Bioinspired Strategies
Authors: Poupon Erwan , Evanno Laurent , Vincent Guillaume , Kouklovsky Cyrille
Published: November 2023

In this account, we report our endeavors towards the total synthesis of the mavacuran alkaloids and some of their highly natural complex bis-indoles. Our studies started with the hemisynthesis of voacalgine A and bipleiophylline, made an excursion to a related family of monoterpene indole alkaloids (total synthesis of 17-nor-excelsinidine) and ended with the total syntheses of several mavacuran alkaloids (16-epi-pleiocarpamine, 16-hydroxymethylpleiocarpamine, taberdivarine H, normavacurine, C-mavacurine, C-profluorocurine, and C-fluorocurine) via a combination of bioinspired and non-bioinspired synthetic routes.

1 Introduction

2 Bioinspired Hemisynthesis of Voacalgine A and Bipleiophylline

3 Total Synthesis of the Mavacuran Alkaloids

4 Bioinspired Oxidative Cyclization of a Geissoschizine Ammonium Derivative to Form the N1–C16 Bond and the E Ring

5 Non-Bioinspired Michael Addition to Form the C15–C20 Bond and the E Ring

6 Conclusion

7 Epilogue
Recent Advances in Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Sonogashira Cross-Coupling Reactions of Alkyl Electrophiles
Authors: Liu Wei , Zhao Xian
Published: November 2023

Catalytic Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions represent an efficient and versatile approach for constructing complex alkynes from readily available starting materials. Despite notable progress in this field, the development of transition-metal-catalyzed Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions of alkyl electrophiles remains limited. This limitation primarily stems from the low reactivity and pronounced propensity of these compounds towards β-H elimination. To overcome these challenges, researchers have investigated the use of palladium, nickel, and copper catalysts for Sonogashira reactions of alkyl electrophiles. Furthermore, significant strides have been made in achieving asymmetric Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions of electrophiles. This short review provides an overview of recent breakthroughs in this area.

1 Introduction

2 Palladium-Catalyzed Sonogashira Cross-Coupling of Alkyl Halides

3 Nickel-Catalyzed Sonogashira Cross-Coupling of Alkyl Halides

4 Copper-Catalyzed Sonogashira Cross-Coupling of Alkyl Electrophiles

4.1 Copper-Catalyzed Racemic Sonogashira Cross-Coupling of Alkyl Electrophiles

4.2 Copper-catalyzed Asymmetric Sonogashira Cross-Coupling of Alkyl Electrophiles

5 Conclusions and Perspectives
Global classical solutions to the compressible Navier–Stokes equations with Navier-type slip boundary condition in 2D bounded domains
Authors: Cao Yuebo
Published: November 2023

We study the barotropic compressible Navier–Stokes equations with Navier-type boundary condition in a two-dimensional simply connected bounded domain with C∞ boundary ∂Ω. By some new estimates on the boundary related to the Navier-type slip boundary condition, the classical solution to the initial-boundary-value problem of this system exists globally in time provided the initial energy is suitably small even if the density has large oscillations and contains vacuum states. Furthermore, we also prove that the oscillation of the density will grow unboundedly in the long run with an exponential rate provided vacuum (even a point) appears initially. As we known, this is the first result concerning the global existence of classical solutions to the compressible Navier–Stokes equations with Navier-type slip boundary condition and the density containing vacuum initially for general 2D bounded smooth domains.
The important role of glial transmitters released by astrocytes in Alzheimer’s disease: A perspective from dynamical modeling
Authors: Shen Zhuan , Zhang Honghui , Du Lin , He Xiaoyan , Sun Xiaojuan
Published: November 2023

This paper aims to establish a coupling model of neuronal populations and astrocytes and, on this basis, explore the possible mechanism of electroencephalography (EEG) slowing in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) from the viewpoint of dynamical modeling. First and foremost, excitatory and inhibitory time constants are shown to induce the early symptoms of AD. The corresponding dynamic nature is mainly due to changes in the amplitude and frequency of the oscillatory behavior. However, there are also a few cases that can be attributed to the change of the oscillation mode caused by the limit cycle bifurcation and birhythmicity. Then, an improved neural mass model influenced by astrocytes is proposed, considering the important effects of glutamate and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) released by astrocytes on the synaptic transmission process reported in experiments. The results show that a dysfunctional astrocyte disrupts the physiological state, causing three typical EEG slowing phenomena reported clinically: the decreased dominant frequency, the decreased rhythmic activity in the α band, and the increased rhythmic activity in the δ+θ band. In addition, astrocytes may control AD when the effect of ATP on synaptic connections is greater than that of glutamate. The control rate depends on the ratio of the effect of glutamate on excitatory and inhibitory synaptic connections. These modeling results can not only reproduce some experimental and clinical results, but, more importantly, may offer a prediction of some underlying phenomena, helping to inspire the disease mechanisms and therapeutic methods of targeting astrocytes.
Development of a D–D neutron spectrum detector based on helium-3 proportional counter
Authors: Yuan Guoliang , Wen Zuowei , Feng Lei , Luo Xiaobing , Wei Lingfeng , Zhang Jinwen , Zhao Wei , Yang Qingwei , Liu Yi
Published: November 2023

Deuterium–deuterium (D–D) neutron spectrum diagnostics in tokamaks are a challenging task with current technologies. To address this issue, we designed and tested a fast and compact helium-3 proportional counter with a diameter of 2.5 cm and an effective length of 15 cm and using Kr as a stopping gas. The detector achieved a resolution of 96 keV for 2.406 MeV neutrons with a pulse shaping of 2 µs. Test results indicate that this detector has the potential to form a D–D neutron spectrometer for tokamaks, composed of detector arrays.
Temperature dependent charge carrier dynamics in 2D ternary Cu2MoS4 nanoflakes: An effect of electron-phonon coupling
Authors: Goswami Tanmay , Yadav Dharmendra Kumar , Bhatt Himanshu , Kaur Gurpreet , Ghosh Hirendra N.
Published: November 2023

Two-dimensional transition metal chalcogenides (2D TMCs) like MoS2, WS2 etc., have established significant dominance in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology, owing to their unique properties like strong light–matter interaction, high carrier mobility, large photo-responsivity etc. Despite the widespread utilization of these binary TMCs, their potential in the advancement of the optoelectronic research is limited due to the constraints in band tuning and charge carrier lifetime. To overcome these limitations, ternary transition metal chalcogenides have emerged as promising alternatives. Although, the optical properties of these materials have never been explored properly. Herein, we have investigated one such promising member of this group, Cu2MoS4 (CMS) using both steady state and time-resolved spectroscopic techniques. The material exhibits a broad range of visible light absorption, peaking at 576 nm. Photoluminescence spectroscopy confirmed the presence of both band gap emission and trap state-mediated emissions. Transient absorption spectroscopy unraveled the excited state charge carrier dynamics of CMS in sub-ps timescale, upon irradiation of visible light. We found significant influence of the trap mediated recombination, while Auger process being dominant at high charge density. We extended our study in a wide temperature range (5–300 K), which reveals the impact of electron-phonon coupling strength on the band gap and charge carrier dynamics of this material. This detailed study would draw more attention toward the unexplored optical properties of ternary 2D chalcogenides and will open new avenues for the construction of 2D material-based optical devices.
Magnetic and anomalous Hall effect investigations of co-sputtered Co2MnGa Heusler alloy thin films
Authors: Sharma Nikita , Pandey Lalit , Kumar Nakul , Gupta Nanhe Kumar , Hait Soumyarup , Mishra Vireshwar , Kumar Amar , Chaudhary Sujeet
Published: November 2023

The cobalt-based full Heusler alloy Co2MnGa (CMG) is well known for exhibiting an exotic phenomenon such as magnetic Weyl semimetallic nature with a high Curie temperature of ∼700 K and a giant anomalous Hall effect. Here, we report a detailed study of structural, electrical, and magnetic properties of Co2MnGa thin films (thickness in the 40–10 nm range) grown on Si(100) by the direct-current magnetron co-sputtering technique using Co and MnGa targets. Structural analysis of the samples revealed the polycrystalline nature of these films with B2 type structural ordering. The damping parameter decreases with the increase in film thickness and reaches the minimum value of 6.1 × 10−3 for a 40 nm thin CMG film. These CMG films are magnetically isotropic and soft ferromagnetic in nature. A remarkably high value of anomalous Hall conductivity (AHC) of 1920 S/cm (2 K) is found for the 40 nm thin film, which is comparable to earlier reported values on highly ordered CMG films. Nearly 73% of this AHC value originates from the intrinsic contribution. The AHC and longitudinal conductivity both increase with the film thickness. Different scaling mechanisms are used to compute the intrinsic and extrinsic contributions playing a role in AHC. The analysis of advanced scaling [by Tian et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 1–4 (2009)] performed on these CMG films suggests the consistency in the enhanced intrinsic AHC value irrespective of the thickness and a decrease in skew scattering contribution with thickness. These results will enhance the understanding about the magnetic and transport properties of Co2MnGa thin films of different thicknesses and suggest it to be a promising material for topospintronic applications.
Topological data analysis of the synchronization of a network of Rössler chaotic electronic oscillators
Authors: Zabaleta-Ortega A. , Masoller C. , Guzmán-Vargas L.
Published: November 2023

Synchronization study allows a better understanding of the exchange of information among systems. In this work, we study experimental data recorded from a set of Rössler-like chaotic electronic oscillators arranged in a complex network, where the interactions between the oscillators are given in terms of a connectivity matrix, and their intensity is controlled by a global coupling parameter. We use the zero and one persistent homology groups to characterize the point clouds obtained from the signals recorded in pairs of oscillators. We show that the normalized persistent entropy (NPE) allows us to characterize the effective coupling between pairs of oscillators because it tends to increase with the coupling strength and to decrease with the distance between the oscillators. We also observed that pairs of oscillators that have similar degrees and are nearest neighbors tend to have higher NPE values than pairs with different degrees. However, large variability is found in the NPE values. Comparing the NPE behavior with that of the phase-locking value (PLV, commonly used to evaluate the synchronization of phase oscillators), we find that for large enough coupling, PLV only displays a monotonic increase, while NPE shows a richer behavior that captures variations in the behavior of the oscillators. This is due to the fact that PLV only captures coupling-induced phase changes, while NPE also captures amplitude changes. Moreover, when we consider the same network but with Kuramoto phase oscillators, we also find that NPE captures the transition to synchronization (as it increases with the coupling strength), and it also decreases with the distance between the oscillators. Therefore, we propose NPE as a data analysis technique to try to differentiate pairs of oscillators that have strong effective coupling because they are first or near neighbors, from those that have weaker coupling because they are distant neighbors.