bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The influence of surgical technique guidance and surgeon’s experience on the femoral head assembly in total hip arthroplasty
Authors: Darowski Martin , Ruehrmund Leo , Kluess Daniel , Klinder Annett , Bader Rainer , Mittelmeier Wolfram
Published: April 2024

Introduction

The importance of the assembly procedure on the taper connection strength is evident. However, existent surgical technique guides frequently lack comprehensive and precise instructions in this regard. The aim of our experimental study was to evaluate the influence of the surgical technique guide on the femoral head assembly procedure in surgeons with differing levels of experience in total hip arthroplasty.

Materials and methods

Twenty-eight participants, divided into four groups based on their lifetime experience in total hip arthroplasty, conducted a femoral head assembly procedure in a simulated intraoperative environment before and after reviewing the surgical technique guide. Demographic information and the number of hammer blows were documented. Hammer velocity and impaction angle were recorded using an optical motion capturing system, while the impaction force was measured using a dynamic force sensor within the impactor.

Results

We observed a high variation in the number of hammer blows, maximum force, and impaction angle. Overall, the number of hammer blows decreased significantly from 3 to 2.2 after reviewing the surgical technique guide. The only significant intragroup difference in the number of hammer blows was observed in the group with no prior experience in total hip arthroplasty. No correlation was found between individual factors (age, weight, height) or experience and the measured parameters (velocity, maximum force and angle).

Conclusions

The present study demonstrated a high variation in the parameters of the femoral head assembly procedure. Consideration of the surgical technique guide was found to be a limited factor among participants with varying levels of experience in total hip arthroplasty. These findings underline the importance of sufficient preoperative training, to standardize the assembly procedure, including impaction force, angle, and use of instruments.
Progressive demyelinating polyneuropathy after hematopoietic cell transplantation in metachromatic leukodystrophy: a case series
Authors: Beerepoot Shanice , Boelens Jaap Jan , Lindemans Caroline , de Witte Moniek A. , Nierkens Stefan , Vrancken Alexander F. J. E. , van der Knaap Marjo S. , Bugiani Marianna , Wolf Nicole I.
Published: April 2024

Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a neuro-metabolic disorder due to arylsulfatase A deficiency, causing demyelination of the central and peripheral nervous system. Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) can provide a symptomatic and survival benefit for pre-symptomatic and early symptomatic patients by stabilizing CNS disease. This case series, however, illustrates the occurrence of severely progressive polyneuropathy shortly after HCT in two patients with late-infantile, one with late-juvenile, and one with adult MLD, leading to the inability to walk or sit without support. The patients had demyelinating polyneuropathy before HCT, performed at the ages of 2 years in the first two patients and at 14 and 23 years in the other two patients. The myeloablative conditioning regimen consisted of busulfan, fludarabine and, in one case, rituximab, with anti-thymocyte globulin, cyclosporine, steroids, and/or mycophenolate mofetil for GvHD prophylaxis. Polyneuropathy after HCT progressed parallel with tapering immunosuppression and paralleled bouts of infection and graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). Differential diagnoses included MLD progression, neurological GvHD or another (auto)inflammatory cause. Laboratory, electroneurography and pathology investigations were inconclusive. In two patients, treatment with immunomodulatory drugs led to temporary improvement, but not sustained stabilization of polyneuropathy. One patient showed recovery to pre-HCT functioning, except for a Holmes-like tremor, for which a peripheral origin cannot be excluded. One patient showed marginal response to immunosuppressive treatment and died ten months after HCT due to respiratory failure. The extensive diagnostic and therapeutic attempts highlight the challenge of characterizing and treating progressive polyneuropathy in patients with MLD shortly after HCT. We advise to consider repeat electro-neurography and possibly peripheral nerve biopsy in such patients. Nerve conduction blocks, evidence of the presence of T lymphocytes and macrophages in the neuronal and surrounding nerve tissue, and beneficial effects of immunomodulatory drugs may indicate a partially (auto)immune-mediated pathology. Polyneuropathy may cause major residual disease burden after HCT. MLD patients with progressive polyneuropathy could potentially benefit from a more intensified immunomodulatory drug regime following HCT, especially at times of immune activation.
Subcritical Gaussian multiplicative chaos in the Wiener space: construction, moments and volume decay
Authors: Bazaes Rodrigo , Lammers Isabel , Mukherjee Chiranjib
Published: April 2024

We construct and study properties of an infinite dimensional analog of Kahane’s theory of Gaussian multiplicative chaos (Kahane in Ann Sci Math Quebec 9(2):105-150, 1985). Namely, if $$H_T(\omega )$$

H
T

(
ω
)

is a random field defined w.r.t. space-time white noise $$\dot{B}$$

B
˙

and integrated w.r.t. Brownian paths in $$d\ge 3$$

d
≥
3

, we consider the renormalized exponential $$\mu _{\gamma ,T}$$

μ

γ
,
T

, weighted w.r.t. the Wiener measure $$\mathbb {P}_0(\textrm{d}\omega )$$

P
0

(
d
ω
)

. We construct the almost sure limit $$\mu _\gamma = \lim _{T\rightarrow \infty } \mu _{\gamma ,T}$$

μ
γ

=

lim

T
→
∞

μ

γ
,
T

in the entire weak disorder (subcritical) regime and call it subcritical GMC on the Wiener space. We show that $$\begin{aligned} \mu _\gamma \Big \{\omega : \lim _{T\rightarrow \infty } \frac{H_T(\omega )}{T(\phi \star \phi )(0)} \ne \gamma \Big \}=0 \qquad \text{ almost } \text{ surely, } \end{aligned}$$

μ
γ

{

ω
:

lim

T
→
∞

H
T

(
ω
)

T
(
ϕ
⋆
ϕ
)
(
0
)

≠
γ

}

=
0

almost

surely,

meaning that $$\mu _\gamma $$

μ
γ

is supported almost surely only on $$\gamma $$
γ
-thick paths, and consequently, the normalized version is singular w.r.t. the Wiener measure. We then characterize uniquely the limit $$\mu _\gamma $$

μ
γ

w.r.t. the mollification scheme $$\phi $$
ϕ
in the sense of Shamov (J Funct Anal 270:3224–3261, 2016) – we show that the law of $$\dot{B}$$

B
˙

under the random rooted measure $$\mathbb Q_{\mu _\gamma }(\textrm{d}\dot{B}\textrm{d}\omega )= \mu _\gamma (\textrm{d}\omega ,\dot{B})P(\textrm{d}\dot{B})$$

Q

μ
γ

(
d

B
˙

d
ω
)

=

μ
γ

(
d
ω
,

B
˙

)

P

(
d

B
˙

)

is the same as the law of the distribution $$f\mapsto \dot{B}(f)+ \gamma \int _0^\infty \int _{\mathbb {R}^d} f(s,y) \phi (\omega _s-y) \textrm{d}s \textrm{d}y$$

f
↦

B
˙

(
f
)

+
γ

∫
0
∞

∫

R

d

f

(
s
,
y
)

ϕ

(

ω
s

-
y
)

d
s
d
y

under $$P \otimes \mathbb {P}_0$$

P
⊗

P
0

. We then determine the fractal properties of the measure around $$\gamma $$
γ
-thick paths: $$-C_2 \le \liminf _{\varepsilon \downarrow 0} \varepsilon ^2 \log {\widehat{\mu }}_\gamma (\Vert \omega \Vert< \varepsilon ) \le \limsup _{\varepsilon \downarrow 0}\sup _\eta \varepsilon ^2 \log {\widehat{\mu }}_\gamma (\Vert \omega -\eta \Vert < \varepsilon ) \le -C_1$$

-

C
2

≤

lim inf

ε
↓
0

ε
2

log

μ
^

γ

(
‖
ω
‖
<
ε
)

≤

lim sup

ε
↓
0

sup
η

ε
2

log

μ
^

γ

(
‖
ω

-

η
‖
<
ε
)

≤
-

C
1

w.r.t a weighted norm $$\Vert \cdot \Vert $$

‖
·
‖

. Here $$C_1>0$$

C
1

>
0

and $$C_2<\infty $$

C
2

<
∞

are the uniform upper (resp. pointwise lower) Hölder exponents which are explicit in the entire weak disorder regime. Moreover, they converge to the scaling exponent of the Wiener measure as the disorder approaches zero. Finally, we establish negative and $$L^p$$

L
p

($$p>1$$

p
>
1

) moments for the total mass of $$\mu _\gamma $$

μ
γ

in the weak disorder regime.
Pre-enrichment-free detection of hepatocellular carcinoma-specific ctDNA via PDMS and MEMS-based microfluidic sensor
Authors: Çağlayan Arslan Zeynep , Okan Meltem , Külah Haluk
Published: April 2024

The growing interest in microfluidic biosensors has led to improvements in the analytical performance of various sensing mechanisms. Although various sensors can be integrated with microfluidics, electrochemical ones have been most commonly employed due to their ease of miniaturization, integration ability, and low cost, making them an established point-of-care diagnostic method. This concept can be easily adapted to the detection of biomarkers specific to certain cancer types. Pathological profiling of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is heterogeneous and rather complex, and biopsy samples contain limited information regarding the tumor and do not reflect its heterogeneity. Circulating tumor DNAs (ctDNAs), which can contain information regarding cancer characteristics, have been studied tremendously since liquid biopsy emerged as a new diagnostic method. Recent improvements in the accuracy and sensitivity of ctDNA determination also paved the way for genotyping of somatic genomic alterations. In this study, three-electrode (Au-Pt–Ag) glass chips were fabricated and combined with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchannels to establish an electrochemical microfluidic sensor for detecting c.747G > T hotspot mutations in the TP53 gene of ctDNAs from HCC. The preparation and analysis times of the constructed sensor were as short as 2 h in total, and a relatively high flow rate of 30 µl/min was used during immobilization and hybridization steps. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a PDMS-based microfluidic electrochemical sensor has been developed to target HCC ctDNAs. The system exhibited a limit of detection (LOD) of 24.1 fM within the tested range of 2–200 fM. The sensor demonstrated high specificity in tests conducted with fully noncomplementary and one-base mismatched target sequences. The developed platform is promising for detecting HCC-specific ctDNA at very low concentrations without requiring pre-enrichment steps.

Graphical Abstract
Licensing of a new technology by an outside and uninformed licensor
Authors: Antelo Manel , Sampayo Antonio
Published: April 2024

We examine the licensing decision of a non-producer innovator with a new technology that enables the manufacture of a saleable product. The technology is licensed and each user privately knows its innovation-related production cost, whereas the licensor only knows, with a certain probability, that this cost may be low (the user is efficient) or high (the user is inefficient). When a single licence is granted through separating contracts, only the contract intended for the inefficient user involves a per-unit royalty, but when two licences are granted through separating contracts, the contracts intended for the inefficient and efficient users both feature a per-unit royalty. However, screening is less likely as the number of licences increases, to the point that the licensor does not screen users when granting three licences. Additionally, whereas the diffusion of the innovation is socially insufficient under symmetric information, with asymmetric information it may be socially optimal. Finally, when licensing with contracts involving an ad-valorem royalty is also feasible the licensor finds it less attractive than licensing with a per-unit royalty.
Superior bioavailability of the calcium salt form of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate compared with the free acid form
Authors: Ribeiro Heitor Rodrigues , Jardim Felipe Gregório , Roldán Miriam Sanz , de Salles Painelli Vitor , da Eira Silva Vinicius , Tritto Aline Cristina Capparelli , Formalioni Andressa , Custoias Giovani Boldrini , Pereira Wagner Ribeiro , Solis Marina Yazigi , Carvalho Felipe , Junior Ernani Pinto , Artioli Guilherme Giannini
Published: April 2024

We investigated the bioavailability of the calcium salt (HMB-Ca) and the free acid (HMB-FA) forms of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB). Sixteen young individuals received the following treatments on three different occasions in a counterbalanced crossover fashion: (1) HMB-FA in clear capsules; (2) HMB-Ca in gelatine capsules; (3) HMB-Ca dissolved in water. All treatments provided 1 g of HMB. Blood samples were taken before and on multiple time points following ingestion. The following parameters were calculated: peak plasma (Cmax), time to peak (Tmax), slope of HMB appearance in blood, area under the curve (AUC), half-life time (t1/2) and relative bioavailability (HMB-Ca in water set as reference). All treatments led to rapid and large increases in plasma HMB. HMB-Ca in capsules and in water showed similar plasma HMB values across time (p = 0.438). HMB-FA resulted in lower concentrations vs. the other treatments (both p < 0.001). AUC (HMB-Ca in capsules: 50,078 ± 10,507; HMB-Ca in water: 47,871 ± 10,783; HMB-FA: 29,130 ± 12,946 µmol L−1 × 720 min), Cmax (HMB-Ca in capsules: 229.2 ± 65.9; HMB-Ca in water: 249.7 ± 49.7; HMB-FA: 139.1 ± 67.2 µmol L−1) and relative bioavailability (HMB-Ca in capsules: 104.8 ± 14.9%; HMB-FA: 61.5 ± 17.0%) were lower in HMB-FA vs. HMB-Ca (all p < 0.001). HMB-Ca in water resulted in the fastest Tmax (43 ± 22 min) compared to HMB-Ca in capsules (79 ± 40 min) and HMB-FA (78 ± 21 min) (all p < 0.05), while t1/2 was similar between treatments. To conclude, HMB-Ca exhibited superior bioavailability compared to HMB-FA, with HMB-Ca in water showing faster absorption. Elimination kinetics were similar across all forms, suggesting that the pharmaceutical form of HMB affects the absorption rates, but not its distribution or elimination.
Key determinants of intention to use virtual reality in medical training
Authors: Alarcon-Urbistondo Pilar , Perez-Aranda Javier , Casado-Molina Ana
Published: April 2024

Experts have called for virtual reality (VR) training and learning applications that can facilitate the changes needed in training programmes for years to come. To help expedite the adoption process, this study used a mixed-methods approach to identify the key factors that promote intentions to use VR technology in medical training. The qualitative research was based on interviews with five doctors and medical students, which focused on identifying the most significant determinants. Next, a survey was conducted to collect data from 154 medical interns and students in Spanish universities and hospitals, whose responses were processed using partial least squares-structural equation analysis. The limited sample size means this study is exploratory. The results indicate that perceived entertainment significantly strengthens behavioural intention to use VR technology in medical courses. The findings also underline the potential uses of VR learning tools in healthcare contexts and the need to incorporate this technology into medical training.
The casual relationship between autoimmune diseases and multiple myeloma: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Jin Peipei , Jin Xiaoqing , He Li , Liu Wen , Zhan Zhuo
Published: April 2024

Observational studies showed possible associations between systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple myeloma. However, whether there is a casual relationship between different types of autoimmune diseases (type 1 diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis) and multiple myeloma (MM) is not well known. We performed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study to estimate the casual relationship. Summary-level data of autoimmune diseases were gained from published genome-wide association studies while data of MM was obtained from UKBiobank. The Inverse-Variance Weighted (IVW) method was used as the primary analysis method to interpret the study results, with MR-Egger and weighted median as complementary methods of analysis. There is causal relationship between primary sclerosing cholangitis [OR = 1.00015, 95% CI 1.000048–1.000254, P = 0.004] and MM. Nevertheless, no similar causal relationship was found between the remaining seven autoimmune diseases and MM. Considering the important role of age at recruitment and body mass index (BMI) in MM, we excluded these relevant instrument variables, and similar results were obtained. The accuracy and robustness of these findings were confirmed by sensitivity tests. Overall, MR analysis suggests that genetic liability to primary sclerosing cholangitis could be causally related to the increasing risk of MM. This finding may serve as a guide for clinical attention to patients with autoimmune diseases and their early screening for MM.
The equivalence of Heegaard Floer homology and embedded contact homology III: from hat to plus
Authors: Colin Vincent , Ghiggini Paolo , Honda Ko
Published: April 2024

Given a closed oriented 3-manifold $M$
M
, we establish an isomorphism between the Heegaard Floer homology group $HF^{+} (-M)$
H

F
+

(
−
M
)
and the embedded contact homology group $ECH(M)$
E
C
H
(
M
)
. Starting from an open book decomposition $(S,\mathfrak{h} )$
(
S
,
h
)
of $M$
M
, we construct a chain map $\Phi ^{+}$

Φ
+

from a Heegaard Floer chain complex associated to $(S,\mathfrak{h} )$
(
S
,
h
)
to an embedded contact homology chain complex for a contact form supported by $(S,\mathfrak{h} )$
(
S
,
h
)
. The chain map $\Phi ^{+}$

Φ
+

commutes up to homotopy with the $U$
U
-maps defined on both sides and reduces to the quasi-isomorphism $\Phi $
Φ
from (Colin et al. in Publ. Math. Inst. Hautes Études Sci., 2024a, 2024b) on subcomplexes defining the hat versions. Algebraic considerations then imply that the map $\Phi ^{+}$

Φ
+

is a quasi-isomorphism.
Multi-robot social-aware cooperative planning in pedestrian environments using attention-based actor-critic
Authors: Dong Lu , He Zichen , Song Chunwei , Yuan Xin , Zhang Haichao
Published: April 2024

Safe and efficient cooperative planning of multiple robots in pedestrian participation environments is promising for applications. In this paper, a novel multi-robot social-aware efficient cooperative planner on the basis of off-policy multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) under partial dimension-varying observation and imperfect perception conditions is proposed. We adopt a temporal-spatial graph (TSG)-based social encoder to better extract the importance of social relations between each robot and the pedestrians in its field of view (FOV). Also, we introduce a K-step lookahead reward setting in the multi-robot RL framework to avoid aggressive, intrusive, short-sighted, and unnatural motion decisions generated by robots. Moreover, we improve the traditional centralized critic network with a multi-head global attention module to better aggregate local observation information among different robots to guide the process of the individual policy update. Finally, multi-group experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed cooperative motion planner.
Analysis of impulsive ground motions from February 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake sequence
Authors: Ertuncay Deniz , Costa Giovanni
Published: April 2024

On the 6th of February 2023, a large magnitude earthquake (Pazarcık earthquake), $$M_{w}=$$

M
w

=

7.7, occurred in southeast Türkiye, which caused significant destruction in Türkiye and Syria. Relatively large magnitude aftershocks followed the main shock, and after 9 hours of the main event, another large magnitude earthquake (Elbistan earthquake) occurred, $$M_{w}=$$

M
w

=

7.6, on a nearby fault. This study analyzes the near-fault seismic signals from earthquakes larger than 5.5 recorded between the main shock and the 31st of March 2023. More than 60 impulsive motions are detected in 3 earthquakes, mostly concentrated in the Pazarcık and Elbistan earthquakes. In the Pazarcık earthquake, many impulsive motions are recorded in near-fault stations with periods of up to 14 s. In contrast, in the Elbistan earthquake, impulsive motions are spatially distributed, with pulse periods of up to 11 s and at distances greater than 150 km. Pulse periods mostly correlate with the magnitude of the earthquake, but pulse probability models do not predict impulsive motions over long distances. The presence of strong impulsive motions in vertical components is also observed. For both earthquakes, peak ground velocities (PGVs) are larger than predicted by ground motion prediction equations. The observation of long-period, large amplitude signals may indicate the presence of a directivity effect for both earthquakes. In some stations, spectral periods exceed the 2018 Turkish building design codes for long periods ($$\ge$$
≥
1 s).
Stochastic Exchange Rate Dynamics, Intervention Dynamics and the Market Efficiency Hypothesis
Authors: Drakonakis Emmanouil , Kotsios Stelios
Published: April 2024

Since currency price fluctuations hinder economic activity, exchange rate dynamics have an effect on national economies. To have a proper exchange rate policy in place, these dynamics are essential for nations with a trade economy. This study presents and examines a distinctive stochastic dynamics exchange rate model (ESI) in order to address the challenges associated with predicting the behavior of participants in some complex economic systems, which might lead to the system’s collapse. To address the issue of ESI stability by central bank interventions (managed currency) in a specified target value, a target value technique is also provided and tested. Last but not least, we examine the noise traders’ role as a major source of market uncertainty as we look at the market efficiency hypothesis for the foreign exchange market (FX).
Haplotype diversity of Heterodera koreana (Tylenchida: Heteroderidae), affecting bamboo in Korea
Authors: Kang Heonil , Ko Hyoung-Rai , Lim Yeon-Jeong , Park Eun-Hyeong , Kim Eun-Hwa , Park Se-Keun , Park Byeong-Yong , Han Hyerim
Published: April 2024

In a survey of plant-parasitic nematodes in agricultural fields, cyst-forming nematodes were found in soil planted bamboo in Korea. The aim of this study was to identify the cyst nematodes based on morphological and molecular characteristics. As the results, the morphology and morphometrics of cysts and second-stage juveniles (J2s) were consistent with those of previous descriptions of Heterodera koreana. In phylogenetic analyses based on DNA sequences, these cyst nematodes were clustered together with clade of H. koreana in internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, and large subunit D2-D3 segments (LSU D2-D3). These nematodes were clustered together with clade of H. koreana in cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, but a haplotype was different when compared with previous reported haplotypes (haplotype A-C) in Japan. This study showed these cyst nematodes were identified as H. koreana, and a new haplotype of H. koreana is distributed in Korea. We suggest that the new haplotype of H. koreana name as haplotype D.
Holme I (Seahenge) and Holme II: ritual responses to climate change in Early Bronze Age Britain
Authors: Nance David Alexander
Published: April 2024

Holme I and II were contemporary, adjacent Early Bronze Age (EBA) oak-timber enclosures exposed intertidally at Holme-next-the-sea, Norfolk, England, in 1998. Holme I enclosed a central upturned tree-stump, its function and intent unknown. Holme II is thought a mortuary structure. Both are proposed here best explained as independent ritual responses to reverse a period of severe climate deterioration recorded before 2049 BC when their timbers were felled. Holme I is thought erected on the summer-solstice, when the cuckoo traditionally stopped singing, departing to the ‘Otherworld’. It replicated the cuckoo’s supposed overwintering quarters: a tree-hole or the ‘bowers of the Otherworld’ represented by the tree-stump, remembered in folklore as ‘penning-the-cuckoo’ where a cuckoo is confined to keep singing and maintain summer. The cuckoo symbolised male-fertility being associated with several Indo-European goddesses of fertility that deified Venus - one previously identified in EBA Britain. Some mortal consorts of these goddesses appear to have been ritually sacrificed at Samhain. Holme II may be an enclosure for the body of one such ‘sacral king’. These hypotheses are considered, using abductive reasoning, as ‘inferences to the best explanations’ from the available evidence. They are supported with environmental data, astronomic and biological evidence, regional folklore, toponymy, and an ethnographic analogy with indigenous Late Iron Age practices that indirect evidence indicates were undertaken in EBA Britain. Cultural and religious continuity is supported by textual sources, the material record and ancient DNA (aDNA) studies.
Different roles of the Amazon-Orinoco barrier on the genetic structure of two sardine genera from the Western Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Ferreira-Araújo Thais , Hollanda-Carvalho Pedro , Di Dario Fabio , Mendes Liana de Figueiredo , Oliveira Claudio , Gasparini João Luiz , Rotundo Matheus Marcos , Macieira Raphael M. , Lima Sergio Maia Queiroz
Published: April 2024

Three sardine species of Harengula and one of Opisthonema (Clupeiformes, Clupeidae) are known in the Western Atlantic, where the Amazon-Orinoco plume has been recognized as a major biogeographic barrier, albeit permeable to larger and generalist species. Here we used mitochondrial cox1 gene DNA sequences to check the lineage delimitation of both genera, testing the influence of the Amazon-Orinoco barrier (AOB) and marine provinces on their phylogeographic structure. Results indicate that the two genera are differently affected by the AOB, including cryptic speciation in Harengula and population structure in Opisthonema. Harengula show a broad distribution in the Brazilian Province (BRA) distinct from H. clupeola and H. jaguana from the Greater Caribbean Region (GCR). Divergence time between Harengula from the GCR vs. BRA was estimated as about 2.4 Mya, which coincides with the period of increasing sediment and freshwater discharge of the Amazon River in the Atlantic. Results also indicate the existence of a single species of Opisthonema, albeit with population structuring related to the marine provinces. Since species of both genera are relevant to artisanal fisheries and the maintenance of oceanic ecosystems, these results may help in fisheries management of these important marine resources.
Novel alkyne chromophore of the isophorone derivatives: synthesis, electrochemical evaluation, DFT, and processable bottom contact/top-gate OFET applications
Authors: Canimkurbey Betul , Kir Merve Nur Kamsiz , Eryilmaz Serpil , Gul Melek
Published: April 2024

Fused alkyne molecules are important in organic semiconductors due to their desirable properties. Here, we report the design and synthesis of a new series of A–π–D molecules (III–VII) that can serve as mild electron acceptors to generate wide-bandgap p-type small compounds for use in organic field-effect transistors. The incorporation of donor units into fused isophorone frameworks can be used to tune the frontier molecular orbital energies. The electrochemical, optical, and thermal properties of the compounds were characterized. Compound VI, which has a fused phenyl-substituted alkyne moiety, had the highest occupied molecular orbital energy level as determined by optical and electrochemical analysis. Density functional theory calculations revealed that compounds VI and III had lower hole reorganization energy (λh) than the corresponding isophorone extended conjugated-based compounds (I–II). Conversely, compounds I and II had lower electron reorganization energy (λe) than the corresponding fused alkyne compounds. This is in line with the observed adiabatic ionization potential and electron affinity values. Consequently, devices fabricated with compound VI exhibited high mobility and low threshold voltage.
The adsorption properties of the corm tunic structure of Crocus (Iridaceae) and its use as a biomarker for the environmental concentration of uranium
Authors: Koçak Nurdan , Çoktaş Fatma , Şimşek Selçuk
Published: April 2024

In this study, we investigated whether the corm tunic structure, which is the underground part of the Crocus (Iridaceae) plant, can be used for adsorption and recovery/removal of uranium from an aqueous solution. The characterization of this structure, which has not been studied for its interaction with metals before, has been elucidated by point zero charge (PZC), FTIR, and SEM analyses. Extensive investigations were conducted on the adsorption properties of the biomass used and the pH, temperature, time, adsorbent dosage, and uranyl ion concentration variables were optimized. The experimental data were interpreted using theoretical adsorption models. The Langmuir model revealed a maximum adsorption capacity of the material to be 0.286 mol kg−1. Adsorption kinetics were also described using pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, Elovich, and intra-particular diffusion models. It is shown that the adsorption pH reaches the highest adsorption at the natural pH of the uranium solution. Experimental studies showed that the adsorption was endothermic and spontaneous. It has been shown that this biomaterial can be used as an adsorbent for the removal of uranium as well as a biomarker for determining the environmental uranium concentration.
Taking the pulse about contact tracing apps on Twitter
Authors: Tsinaraki Chrisa , Benetta Alessandro Dalla , Minghini Marco , Kotsev Alexander , Schade Sven
Published: April 2024

Social media allow citizens to express their opinions on all aspects of life and society, and this trend has been enhanced during the COVID-19 crisis, when more “traditional” ways of opinion expression were not possible. To get the feeling of Twitter users’ opinions on topics of importance we analysed tweets and combined them with relevant news, thus allowing for potential event detection. We showcase the prototypical framework that we have developed with our findings about European COVID-19 mobile contact tracing apps in tweets posted between 09/07/2020 and 10/07/2021. We obtained both high-level results (for example, trending twitter activity, sentiment polarisation of important hashtags, etc.) and more specific ones (such as, the spatial distribution of tweets regarding a specific app), which indicate that our approach can be applied in the future to get useful insights on topics of public interest that result in active discussions on social media platforms.
A systematic review of virtual 3D reconstructions of Cultural Heritage in immersive Virtual Reality
Authors: Rodriguez-Garcia Bruno , Guillen-Sanz Henar , Checa David , Bustillo Andres
Published: April 2024

Immersive Virtual Reality (iVR) devices are increasingly affordable and accessible to consumers. The widespread adoption of this technology for professional training is now finding its way into various other fields. One field that is gaining significant popularity is Cultural Heritage (CH), where iVR enables the reconstruction and exploration of lost heritage. However, an up-to-date systematic review of iVR within this field will be of great benefit. Hence, the present review of 94 papers published between 2013 and 2022 that follows PRISMA methodology on virtual reconstruction of CH for iVR. The aim is to identify the key factors behind the development of these applications and their standards. To do so, a statistical analysis on the following topics was performed: (1) nationality, publication date, and article type; (2) heritage type and its current state of preservation; (3) the area of final application and the features of the reconstructions; (4) the characteristics of the iVR experience; and (5) the assessment of the iVR applications. Finally, a roadmap of best practices is outlined for the virtual reconstruction of CH using iVR and some of the most promising future research lines are outlined.
Gravity Models for Global Migration Flows: A Predictive Evaluation
Authors: Caballero Reina Juan , Crespo Cuaresma Jesus , Fenz Katharina , Zellmann Jakob , Yankov Teodor , Taha Amr
Published: April 2024

This study introduces a comprehensive econometric framework based on gravity equations and designed to forecast migrant flows between countries. The model’s theoretical underpinnings are validated through empirical data, and we show that the model has better out-of-sample predictive ability than alternative global models. We explore the quantitative effects of various socioeconomic, demographic, and geographic factors on migration and illustrate its use to obtain scenario-driven projections of bilateral migration, assessing the potential contributions of migration to population and GDP dynamics in Germany and Portugal for the period 2021–2025. Our projection results highlight the critical role of immigration in sustaining population levels and economic growth, particularly in the context of ageing populations and decreasing fertility rates across Europe.
The Gendered Division of Housework in China: Parenthood Effects and Heterogeneity Across Parenthood Stages
Authors: Chen Xueqian
Published: April 2024

Research documents that the gender gap in housework is substantially larger among parents compared to couples without children. Because most evidence is from developed countries, it is unclear if a similar pattern exists in China, where couples have fewer children and the gendered division of household labor is more pronounced. Based on longitudinal survey data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (1997–2015) and two-way person-based fixed effects models, the present study examined the effects of parenthood on spouses’ housework time and share, as well as the heterogeneity across different parenthood stages within heterosexual marriages. The findings suggest that the birth of a child widens the gendered division of housework for Chinese families by substantially increasing housework time for mothers and reducing it for fathers. This gendered division of housework is most pronounced when the youngest child is a preschooler and remains unequal in subsequent parenthood stages. Overall, the study is among the first to demonstrate that parenthood is a highly gendered process in China that widens the gender divide of housework for married couples.
Within-field extrapolation away from a soil moisture probe using freely available satellite imagery and weather data
Authors: Bramley R. G. V. , Perry E. M. , Richetti J. , Colaço A. F. , Mowat D. J. , Ratcliff C. E. M. , Lawes R. A.
Published: April 2024

Recognition of the importance of soil moisture information to the optimisation of water-limited dryland cereal production has led to Australian growers being encouraged to make use of soil moisture sensors. However, irrespective of the merits of different sensing technologies, only a small soil volume is sensed, raising questions as to the utility of such sensors in broadacre cropping, especially given spatial variability in soil water holding capacity. Here, using data collected from contrasting sites in South Australia and Western Australia over two seasons, during which either wheat or barley were grown, we describe a method for extrapolating soil moisture information away from the location of a probe using freely-available NDVI time series and weather data as covariates. Relationships between soil moisture probe data, cumulative NDVI (ΣNDVI), cumulative net precipitation (ΣNP) and seasonal growing degree days (GDD) were significant (P < 0.0001). In turn, these could be used to predict soil moisture status for any location within a field on any date following crop emergence. However, differences in ΣNDVI between different within-field zones did not fully explain differences in the soil moisture from multiple sensors located in these zones, resulting in different calibrations being required for each sensor or zone and a relatively low accuracy of prediction of measured soil moisture (R2adj ~ 0.4–0.7) which may not be sufficient to support targeted agronomic decision-making. The results also suggest that at any location within a field, the range of variation in soil moisture status down the soil profile on any given date will present as greater than the spatial variation in soil moisture across the field on that date. Accordingly, we conclude that, in dryland cereal cropping, the major value in soil moisture sensors arises from an enhanced ability to compare seasons and to relate similarities and differences between seasons as a guide to decision-making.
Nothing to fear: strong corporate culture and workplace safety
Authors: Haga Jesper , Huhtamäki Fredrik , Sundvik Dennis , Thor Timmy
Published: April 2024

In this paper, we investigate the link between corporate culture and workplace safety. Using a machine learning based measure of corporate culture and data on employee- and safety-related violations, we find that firms with stronger corporate culture are less likely to be penalized, incur lower regulatory fines, and have a reduced number of violations. As a potential channel, we document higher safety expenditures with stronger corporate culture. When we examine establishment-level data on actual injuries and illnesses, we find that firms with stronger corporate culture have significantly lower injury and illness rates. While shareholders have previously been found to benefit from a stronger corporate culture, we contribute with both research and practical implications on the positive effects of a strong corporate culture for employees and society at large.
Migration as Reparation for Colonialism
Authors: Goldstone Zara
Published: April 2024

It is commonly accepted that former European colonising states ought to make reparations for the many harmful legacies of colonialism. I defend an undertheorised case for migration as reparation for one harmful legacy of colonialism in particular, that of exploitation. Making reparations  for the harmful legacy of colonial exploitation requires, among other measures, a redistribution of wealth from former colonising states to their former colonies, and for former colonising states to make symbolic reparations, acknowledging the wrong of exploitation. Often it is assumed that the reparative redistribution can occur through in situ monetary transfers, and that symbolic reparations can involve measures such as apologies. But I highlight an overlooked additional option that should be added to the reparative package: migration rights. Firstly, migration would constitute material reparations, as it is well established that migration from poorer to richer states is an effective mechanism of redistributing wealth, both to the individuals who migrate, but also to those who choose not to migrate through remittances. Secondly, offering postcolonial migrants not only the right to work in their former colonising states, but substantive rights, including immediate access to public funds, would be a powerful means of making symbolic reparations, of former colonising states acknowledging that their key institutions are funded with colonially extracted wealth.
Liquid in vitro culture system allows gradual intensification of osmotic stress in Solanum tuberosum through sorbitol
Authors: Wellpott Katharina , Herde Marco , Winkelmann Traud , Bündig Christin
Published: April 2024

Because of their shallow root system, drought stress is a major problem in potato cultivation. Due to climate change more severe drought periods are expected to occur in the vegetative growth phase of potato growth. Therefore, there is a great need for drought tolerant potato genotypes. Potato responds to drought stress in the field in various ways, including osmoregulation. Osmotic stress can be induced in vitro by adding an osmotic agent and thus lowering the osmotic potential of the medium. In this study, a new, cost-effective in vitro test system is presented, in which the osmotic agent can be gradually added after root formation to prevent an osmotic shock. This is achieved by using sieves as plant holders and liquid medium, which, allows an improved simulation of gradually drying soil. Responses to osmotic stress in four potato genotypes were analysed and an increase in proline under osmotic stress was detected. Moreover, genes of interest that were postulated to be linked to drought stress were shown by quantitative qRT-PCR to be regulated under osmotic stress. Furthermore, we showed that the content of sorbitol, which was used as osmotic agent, was 700- fold higher for ‘Eurostarch’ after seven days under osmotic stress and 1093- fold higher after 14 days, respectively, compared to control plants without sorbitol addition. Therefore, further investigations must show, whether it was taken up through the roots, is metabolised, stored or de novo synthesised by the potato plants.

Keypoints

The established novel in vitro test system for potato allows gradually increasing stress exposition of rooted plants. Sorbitol seems not an ideal osmotic agent as it is likely taken up.
Response surface methodology and artificial intelligence modeling for in vitro regeneration of Brazilian micro sword (Lilaeopsis brasiliensis)
Authors: Ali Seyid Amjad , Aasim Muhammad
Published: April 2024

In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize in vitro regeneration of the Brazilian micro sword (Lilaeopsis brasiliensis) aquatic plant, followed by data prediction and validation using machine learning algorithms. The basal salt, sucrose and Benzyaminopurine (BAP) concentrations were derived from Box-Behnken design of RSM. The response surface regression analysis revealed that 1.0 g/L MS + 0.1 mg/L BAP + 25 g/L sucrose was optimized for maximum regeneration (100%), shoot counts (63.2), and fresh weight (1.382 g). The RSM-based predicted scores were fairly similar to the actual scores, which were 100% regeneration, 63.39 shoot counts, and 1.44 g fresh weight. Pareto charts analysis illustrated the significance of MS for regeneration and fresh weight but remained insignificant. Conversely, MS × BAP was found to be the most crucial factor for the shoot counts, with MS coming in second and having a major influence. The analysis of the normal plot ascertained the negative impact of elevated MS concentration on shoot counts and enhanced shoot counts from the combination of MS × BAP. Results were further optimized by constructing contour and surface plots. The response optimizer tool demonstrated that maximum shoot counts of 63.26 and 1.454 g fresh weight can be taken from the combination of 1.0 g/L MS + 0.114 mg/L BAP + 23.94 g/L. Using three distinct performance criterias, the results of machine learning models showed that the multilayer perceptron (MLP) model performed better than the random forest (RF) model. Our findings suggest that the results may be utilized to optimize various input variables using RSM and verified via ML models.

Key message

Optimization of in vitro whole plant regeneration of Brazilian sword wood using response surface methodology

Data analysis through ANOVA, response surface regression anlaysis and machine learning

Graphical presentation of data via Pareto charts, normal plots, contour plots and surface plots for optimization

Better performance of ANN-based MLP model compared to decision tree based RF model

Graphical abstract
Epistemic Authorities and Skilled Agents: A Pluralist Account of Moral Expertise
Authors: Bina Federico , Bonicalzi Sofia , Croce Michel
Published: April 2024

This paper explores the concept of moral expertise in the contemporary philosophical debate, with a focus on three accounts discussed across moral epistemology, bioethics, and virtue ethics: an epistemic authority account, a skilled agent account, and a hybrid model sharing key features of the two. It is argued that there are no convincing reasons to defend a monistic approach that reduces moral expertise to only one of these models. A pluralist view is outlined in the attempt to reorient the discussion about moral expertise.
Surgical outcomes of endoscopic enucleation of the prostate in community aging males with or without preoperative urinary retention
Authors: Hsu Tung-Shiun , Weng Shu-Chuan , Lin Yu-Hsiang , Chen Chien-Lun , Tsao Shu-Han , Tsai Han-Yu , Juang Horng-Heng , Chang Phei-Lang , Hou Chen-Pang
Published: April 2024

Objectives

This study aims to investigate the surgical outcomes of endoscopic enucleation of the prostate in older males with or without preoperative urinary retention (UR).

Material and methods

We conducted a study on selected patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) who underwent either thulium:YAG laser (vela XL) prostate enucleation (ThuLEP) or bipolar plasma enucleation of the prostate (B-TUEP) at the geriatric urology department of our institution. The studied patients were categorized into two groups, namely the UR group and the non-UR group, on the basis of whether they experienced UR in the 1 month preceding their surgery. Their clinical outcomes following prostate endoscopic surgery were evaluated and analyzed.

Results

Our results revealed comparable outcomes for operation time, length of hospital stay, percentage of tissue removed, re-catheterization rate, and urinary tract infection rate within the 1 month between the B-TUEP and ThuLEP surgery groups, regardless of UR history. However, the non-UR B-TUEP group experienced more blood loss relative to the non-UR ThuLEP group (P = .004). Notably, patients with UR exhibited significantly greater changes in IPSS total, IPSS voiding, and prostate-specific antigen values relative to those without UR.

Conclusions

Both ThuLEP and B-TUEP were effective in treating BPH-related bladder outlet obstruction. Our study identified more pronounced changes in IPSS total, IPSS voiding, and prostate-specific antigens within the UR group. Moreover, the rate of postoperative UR in this group was not higher than that observed in the non-UR group. Our study also revealed that the presumed benefits of laser surgery in reducing blood loss were less pronounced for patients with UR.
DPP-4 inhibitors sitagliptin and PF-00734,200 mitigate dopaminergic neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation and behavioral impairment in the rat 6-OHDA model of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Yu Seong-Jin , Wang Yun , Shen Hui , Bae Eun-Kyung , Li Yazhou , Sambamurti Kumar , Tones Michael A. , Zaleska Margaret M. , Hoffer Barry J. , Greig Nigel H.
Published: April 2024

Epidemiological studies report an elevated risk of Parkinson's disease (PD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that is mitigated in those prescribed dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. With an objective to characterize clinically translatable doses of DPP-4 inhibitors (gliptins) in a well-characterized PD rodent model, sitagliptin, PF-00734,200 or vehicle were orally administered to rats initiated either 7-days before or 7-days after unilateral medial forebrain bundle 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesioning. Measures of dopaminergic cell viability, dopamine content, neuroinflammation and neurogenesis were evaluated thereafter in ipsi- and contralateral brain. Plasma and brain incretin and DPP-4 activity levels were quantified. Furthermore, brain incretin receptor levels were age-dependently evaluated in rodents, in 6-OHDA challenged animals and human subjects with/without PD. Cellular studies evaluated neurotrophic/neuroprotective actions of combined incretin administration. Pre-treatment with oral sitagliptin or PF-00734,200 reduced methamphetamine (meth)-induced rotation post-lesioning and dopaminergic degeneration in lesioned substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and striatum. Direct intracerebroventricular gliptin administration lacked neuroprotective actions, indicating that systemic incretin-mediated mechanisms underpin gliptin-induced favorable brain effects. Post-treatment with a threefold higher oral gliptin dose, likewise, mitigated meth-induced rotation, dopaminergic neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation, and augmented neurogenesis. These gliptin-induced actions associated with 70–80% plasma and 20–30% brain DPP-4 inhibition, and elevated plasma and brain incretin levels. Brain incretin receptor protein levels were age-dependently maintained in rodents, preserved in rats challenged with 6-OHDA, and in humans with PD. Combined GLP-1 and GIP receptor activation in neuronal cultures resulted in neurotrophic/neuroprotective actions superior to single agonists alone. In conclusion, these studies support further evaluation of the repurposing of clinically approved gliptins as a treatment strategy for PD.