bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hybridization of woven kenaf and unidirectional glass fibre roving for unsaturated polyester composite
Authors: Balakrishnan Thinesh Sharma , Sultan Mohamed Thariq Hameed , Shahar Farah Syazwani , Nayak Suhas Yeshwant , Shah Ain Umaira Md , Sebaey Tamer Ali , Basri Adi Azriff
Published: May 2024

This is a study on the mechanical properties of kenaf/glass-reinforced polyester composites intended for use in structural profiles with a wall thickness by max. 6 mm. Mechanical properties such as tensile, compression, bending and interlaminar shear stress were investigated by comparing the hybrid variants with the pure fibreglass variant. According to the study, woven kenaf/unidirectional glass roving (WK/UG) alternate recorded the highest tensile properties among hybrid samples. It demonstrated a decrement of about 8.2% of the tensile strength (404.54 MPa) and 10.7% of tensile modulus (24.54 GPa) compared to conventional fibreglass samples. Alternating WK/UG samples demonstrated higher compressive strength (417.15 MPa) compared to other hybrid specimens, recording a slight decrease at 6.09% compared to pure fibreglass composites. The highest bending properties were also observed in hybrid alternate WK/UG samples among other hybrid laminates with only a decrement of 4.13% in modulus of rupture (456.33 MPa) and 1.9% in modulus of elasticity (14.49 GPa) when compared to the control specimen. The ILSS of hybrid composites 2WK/3UG/2WK (30.97 MPa) and WK/UG alternate (34.90 MPa) showed good agreement with the pure fibreglass (42.33 MPa) composites. Using SEM images, tensile fractured specimens were examined to comprehend composites’ failure mechanism and interfacial adhesion. Overall, woven kenaf/unidirectional glass roving alternate sequence is chosen as a potential alternative in developing structural profiles for moderate load-bearing structural applications. In contrast, 3WK/UG/3WK with a higher kenaf to glass ratio demonstrate potential in low load-bearing structural profile applications.

Graphical abstract
In silico investigation of cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa leaves as a potential anticancer drug to inhibit MAPK-ERK signaling pathway and EMT induction
Authors: Iqbal Shabnoor , Matsabisa Motlalepula
Published: May 2024

Genes related to MAPK-ERK signaling pathways, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition induction is evolutionarily conserved and has crucial roles in the regulation of important cellular processes, including cell proliferation. In this study, six cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa were docked with MAPK-ERK signaling pathways to identify their possible binding interactions. The results showed that all the cannabinoids have good binding affinities with the target proteins. The best binding affinities were MEK- tetrahydrocannabinol (– 8.8 kcal/mol) and P13k-cannabinol (– 8.5 kcal/mol). The root mean square deviation was calculated and used two alternative variants (rmsd/ub and rmsd/lb) and the values of rmsd/lb fluctuated 8.6–2.0 Å and for rmsd/ub from 1.0 to 2.0 Å that suggests the cannabinoids and protein complex are accurate and cannot destroy on binding. The study analyzed the pharmacokinetic and drug-likeness properties of six cannabinoids from C. sativa leaves using the SwissADME web tool. Lipinski's rule of five was used to predict drug-likeness and showed that all compounds have not violated it and the total polar surface area of cannabinoids was also according to Lipinski's rule that is benchmarked of anticancer drugs. Cannabinoids are meet the requirements of leadlikeness and synthetic accessibility values showed they can be synthesized. The molecular weight, XLOGP3, solubility (log S), and flexibility (FLEX) are according to the bioavailability radar. The bioavailability score and consensus Log Po/w fall within the acceptable range for the suitable drug. Pharmacokinetics parameters showed that cannabinoids cannot cross the blood–brain barrier, have high GI absorption as well as cannabinoids are substrates of (CYP1A2, CYP2C19, CYP2C9, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4) but no substrate of P-glycoprotein. Based on these findings, the study suggests that cannabinoids are suitable drugs that could be used as effective inhibitors for target proteins involved in cancer pathways. Among the six cannabinoids, cannabinol and tetrahydrocannabinol exerted maximum binding affinities with proteins of MAPK-ERK signaling pathways, and their pharmacokinetics and drug-likeness-related profiles suggest that these cannabinoids could be superlative inhibitors in cancer treatment. Further in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies are needed to explore their potential in cancer treatment.
Experimental Study on Erosion Process of Expressway Embankment Subjected to Tsunami After Earthquake
Authors: Hayashizaki Shota , Kawajiri Shunzo , Kurokawa Tadanobu , Ogasawara Akinobu , Kawaguchi Takayuki , Nakamura Dai , Minabe Yuki
Published: May 2024

On March 11, 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake triggered tsunamis that reached extensive areas along Japan’s Pacific coast. There have been instances where embankments built on plains for expressways mitigated the impact of tsunami damage. In the vicinity of the Sendai-tobu highway, the presence of an embankment approximately 10 m high altered the course of the advancing tsunami, thereby preventing flooding. Establishing a multiplied defense system using road embankments necessitates understanding the deformation and collapse mechanisms of road embankments impacted by tsunamis following seismic motion. In this study, overtopping experiments were conducted by first applying seismic motion to model embankments, followed by introducing the first wave of breaking bores, and then simulating prolonged overtopping by the tsunami. The experimental findings indicated that within the embankments impacted by the tsunami, there was an immediate increase in what is presumed to be pore air pressure following the arrival of the breaking bores, followed by a rise in pore water pressure during subsequent overtopping. Moreover, embankments subjected to seismic motion exhibited accelerated erosion following the overtopping. These results imply that when embankments settle due to an earthquake, leading to relatively higher anticipated inundation depths and the potential for overtopping, it is crucial to implement measures to prevent the settlement of the crest for embankments expected to serve as part of a multiplied defense system.
How to Improve the Explanatory Power of an Intelligent Textbook: a Case Study in Legal Writing
Authors: Sovrano Francesco , Ashley Kevin , Brusilovsky Peter Leonid , Vitali Fabio
Published: May 2024

Explanatory processes are at the core of scientific investigation, legal reasoning, and education. However, effectively explaining complex or large amounts of information, such as that contained in a textbook or library, in an intuitive, user-centered way is still an open challenge. Indeed, different people may search for and request different types of information, even though texts typically have a predefined exposition and content. With this paper, we investigate how explanatory AI can better exploit the full potential of the vast and rich content library at our disposal. Based on a recent theory of explanations from Ordinary Language Philosophy, which frames the explanation process as illocutionary question-answering, we have developed a new type of interactive and adaptive textbook. Using the latest question-answering technology, our e-book software (YAI4Edu, for short) generates on-demand, expandable explanations that can help readers effectively explore teaching materials in a pedagogically productive way. It does this by extracting a specialized knowledge graph from a collection of books or other resources that helps identify the most relevant questions to be answered for a satisfactory explanation. We tested our technology with excerpts from a textbook that teaches how to write legal memoranda in the U.S. legal system. Then, to see whether YAI4Edu-enhanced textbooks are better than random and existing, general-purpose explanatory tools, we conducted a within-subjects user study with more than 100 English-speaking students. The students rated YAI4Edu’s explanations the highest. According to the students, the explanatory content generated by YAI4Edu is, on average, statistically better than two baseline alternatives (P values below .005).
Quantitative ultrasound techniques and biochemical markers to assess liver steatosis and fibrosis in newly diagnosed acromegaly
Authors: Coskun M. , Sendur H. N. , Babayeva A. , Cerit M. N. , Cerit E. T. , Yalcin M. M. , Altinova A. E. , Akturk M. , Karakoc M. A. , Toruner F. B.
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The liver is known to be protected from steatosis under the influence of high GH/IGF-1. Cytokeratin 18 (CK18) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) increase in liver steatosis and fibrosis. The aim of this study was to use quantitative ultrasound techniques and biochemical markers to assess liver steatosis and liver fibrosis in newly diagnosed acromegaly.

Methods

This single-center, cross-sectional study included 23 patients with newly diagnosed acromegaly and 46 age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC)-matched controls. Liver steatosis was assessed using tissue attenuation imaging (TAI), and stiffness, indicative of fibrosis, was assessed by shear wave elastography (SWE). Serum IGFBP7 and CK18 were studied by ELISA.

Results

The acromegaly group had significantly lower liver steatosis (p = 0.006) and higher liver stiffness (p = 0.004), serum IGFBP7 (p = 0.048) and CK18 (p = 0.005) levels than the control group. The presence of fibrosis (p = 0.012) was significantly higher in the acromegaly group than in the control group. Moreover, CK18 was positively correlated with liver stiffness, WC, HOMA-IR, HbA1c, and triglyceride. In the acromegaly group, liver steatosis was negatively correlated with GH level. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis revealed that BMI (p = 0.008) and CK18 (p = 0.015) were independent risk factors for increased liver stiffness.

Conclusion

This study showed that there was an increased presence of liver fibrosis independent of liver steatosis in newly diagnosed acromegaly. Serum CK18 appears to be a potential marker of increased liver fibrosis in acromegaly.
EU Enlargement Policy Goes East: Historical and Comparative Takes on the EU’s Rule of Law Conditionality vis-à-vis Ukraine
Authors: Rabinovych Maryna
Published: May 2024

The article discusses a unique case of the EU’s application of rule of law conditionality vis-à-vis Ukraine, while the latter is in active war with Russia. It is demonstrated that the EU utilized momentum, created by the confluence of the invasion and Ukraine’s EU candidateship, to apply ambitious rule of law conditionality in its relations with Ukraine. Despite the unique strategic and political context, the conditionality is path-dependent, strongly relying on the achievements and outstanding tasks of the EU’s pre-war rule of law promotion in Ukraine. Also, both the design and substance of EU conditionality vis-à-vis Ukraine strongly resemble the one the EU applied vis-à-vis Western Balkans. This concerns specifically the contents of conditionality, focusing on building effective anticorruption institutions and judicial reform. Current geostrategic pressures have not yet led to major changes in the philosophy behind the enlargement process or the EU’s framing of the rule of law concept. Yet, changes to be underscored include the EU’s focus on specific benchmarks within pre-defined realms and strong alignment between political and financial instruments.
Research on abutment stress distribution of roof-cutting coalface: numerical simulation and field measurement
Authors: Guo Yangyang , Liu Xiaoli , Li Weitao , Du Feng , Ma Ji , Qian Ruipeng , Huo Ningning
Published: May 2024

During the processing of deep mining, revealing the distribution of abutment pressure is significant for controlling stability of the entry. In this study, the abutment pressure distribution of roof-cutting coalface was investigated by FLAC3D and self-developed flexible detection unit (FDU). In the numerical simulation, the double-yield model was built to analyze the goaf abutment pressure under the fracturing roofs to maintain entry (FRME). Compared with the non-fracturing side, the peak value of the advanced abutment pressure on the fracturing side is reduced by 19.29% on average, the influence range (span) increases by 30.78% and the distance between the peak value and the working face increases by 66.7%. The goaf abutment pressure within 23m near the cutting side is significantly higher than other areas along the dip. The FDU was employed in the coalface to record the change of advanced abutment stress. And the field measured results are in well agreement with the numerical results.
Process Evaluation of a Problem-Solving Approach for Analyzing Literacy Practices within a Multi-Tiered System of Supports Framework
Authors: Murdoch Amy , Morrison Julie Q. , Strickler Wendy
Published: May 2024

A Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework features a structured problem-solving process and the use of assessment data to develop, identify, and evaluate the impact of instruction and intervention to meet the needs of all students proactively. The purpose of this process evaluation was to examine the implementation of a novel problem-solving approach for analyzing literacy practices across the tiers of an MTSS framework (i.e., core instruction, strategic intervention). The aim of the initiative was to build the capacity of teachers to provide effective instruction based on the science of reading in two elementary schools. The findings from this process evaluation study provide evidence that a problem-solving approach for analyzing literacy practices resulted in improvements in the core curriculum, instruction, and intervention supports. Implications for improvement efforts at the school district and state department of education levels are discussed.
Advancing Implementation Practice: Supplemental Tools to Aid in Selection of Implementation Strategies and Outcomes for Healthcare Practitioners
Authors: McNett Molly M. , Tucker Sharon J. , Juckett Lisa A. , Bunger Alicia C.
Published: May 2024

The field of implementation science has grown exponentially within healthcare and human service delivery settings. Scientists in the field have made tremendous strides in generating new knowledge aimed at increasing uptake of evidence into practice settings, including development of numerous theories, models, and frameworks to guide the process of implementation, strategies to operationalize optimal methods of implementing an evidence-based practice change, and designated outcomes to evaluate the progress of a change initiative. Despite these gains in scientific discovery surrounding implementation, routine use and application of this knowledge among healthcare practitioners seeking to implement a practice change in real world settings remains fragmented, risking development of a “secondary gap” between what we know from the science of implementation and what is actually done by frontline teams when implementing evidence-based practice changes. To address this gap, we developed two supplemental tools to bridge the language between implementation science and implementation practice: the Implementation Strategies Supplemental Tool (ISST), and the Implementation Outcomes Supplemental Tool (IOST). The purpose of this paper is to describe the development and intended use of these tools for healthcare practitioners seeking to use a science-informed approach when implementing an evidence-based practice change. We include a case example of how healthcare practitioners may apply these tools to improve implementation of evidence-based practices in real-world settings.
AI hype, promotional culture, and affective capitalism
Authors: Bourne Clea
Published: May 2024

This article centres AI hype within promotional culture. It incorporates scholarship on hype, affect and emotion from media, communications and cultural studies, as well as from market studies, to pose the following questions: ‘What role does promotional culture play in AI hype cycles?’ ‘What are the main promotional forms of emotion evident in the 2020s AI hype cycle?’ And finally, ‘What are the ethical implications of promoting emotion in AI hype cycles?’ The article explores the growth of twenty-first century promotional culture, particularly in the global tech sector, before examining links between promotional culture, emotion, affect, media and capitalism. Drawing on interdisciplinary approaches, the article contends that AI hype has successfully persisted because now, more than ever, contemporary promotional culture strategically deploys emotions as part of affective capitalism, and the affective nature of a digital media infrastructure controlled by the tech sector. The ensuing analysis isolates different emotions circulated by AI hype, including doomsday hype, drawing on examples from the 2020s AI hype cycle. The article concludes by examining the ethics of promotional culture as part of the combined knowledge apparatus supporting value construction in AI.
Chaotic-Based Mountain Gazelle Optimizer for Solving Optimization Problems
Authors: Sarangi Priteesha , Mohapatra Prabhujit
Published: May 2024

The Mountain Gazelle Optimizer (MGO) algorithm has become one of the most prominent swarm-inspired meta-heuristic algorithms because of its outstanding rapid convergence and excellent accuracy. However, the MGO still faces premature convergence, making it challenging to leave the local optima if early-best solutions neglect the relevant search domain. Therefore, in this study, a newly developed Chaotic-based Mountain Gazelle Optimizer (CMGO) is proposed with numerous chaotic maps to overcome the above-mentioned flaws. Moreover, the ten distinct chaotic maps were simultaneously incorporated into MGO to determine the optimal values and enhance the exploitation of the most promising solutions. The performance of CMGO has been evaluated using CEC2005 and CEC2019 benchmark functions, along with four engineering problems. Statistical tests like the t-test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test provide further evidence that the proposed CMGO outperforms the existing eminent algorithms. Hence, the experimental outcomes demonstrate that the CMGO produces successful and auspicious results.
Using Improved Hybrid Grey Wolf Algorithm Based on Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm Onlooker and Scout Bee Operators for Solving Optimization Problems
Authors: Ahmad Ishaq , Qayum Fawad , Rahman Sami Ur , Srivastava Gautam
Published: May 2024

Grey Wolf optimization (GWO) is a newly developed stochastic meta-heuristic technique motivated by nature. It shows potential in diverse optimization challenges. It replicates grey wolf hunting behaviour and social hierarchy, exploring the solution space similar to their natural process. The algorithm efficiently explores and converges to the optimal solution. However, a drawback of the standard GWO is its limited exploitation capability due to its exploration-focused iterations. This may hinder finding the optimal solution nearby, leading to lower local convergence rates and degraded solution quality. To address this, the GWO-Employed-Onlooker model suggests incorporating the onlooker and scout bee operators from the artificial bee colony algorithm (ABC) during the position-changing stage of the grey wolves. This enhances exploitation capability, resulting in improved local convergence rates and better solution quality. The proposed method’s performance is evaluated on various optimization functions and compared their convergence rate to standard GWO, Genetic Algorithm (GA), Firefly Algorithm (FA), ABC, and Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) techniques. The results demonstrate that the proposed strategy GWO-Employed-Onlooker is better, indicating that it is valuable in solving optimization problems.
Numerical investigations of the extensive entanglement Hamiltonian in quantum spin ladders
Authors: Li Chengshu , Li Xingyu , Zhou Yi-Neng
Published: May 2024

Entanglement constitutes one of the key concepts in quantum mechanics and serves as an indispensable tool in the understanding of quantum many-body systems. In this work, we perform extensive numerical investigations of extensive entanglement properties of coupled quantum spin chains. This setup has proven useful for e.g. extending the Lieb–Schultz–Mattis theorem to open systems, and contrasts the majority of previous research where the entanglement cut has one lower dimension than the system. We focus on the cases where the entanglement Hamiltonian is either gapless or exhibits spontaneous symmetry breaking behavior. We further employ conformal field theoretical formulae to identify the universal behavior in the former case. The results in our work can serve as a paradigmatic starting point for more systematic exploration of the largely uncharted physics of extensive entanglement, both analytical and numerical.
Anthropogenic soil as an environmental material, as exemplified with improved growth of rice seedlings
Authors: Yang Fan , Lan Yibo , Li Ronghui , Fu Qiang , Cheng Kui , Liu Zhuqing , Antonietti Markus
Published: May 2024

Herein, the feasibility of artificial black soil (ABS) derived from hydrothermal humification-hydrothermal carbonization (HTH-HTC) for restructuration of weak soil was verified. This study breaks through the long history of soil formation and evolution, and obtains reconstructed anthropogenic soil (AS) system which only takes one month, for the further application of rice seedlings. HTH-HTC derived by-products are slightly acidic, which facilitates the effective nutrient uptake and prevention of wilt diseases for acid-loving rice seedlings. AS mainly consists of the inherent components retained from weak soil such as SiO2 and minerals, and exogenous components such as artificial humic substances and hydrochar, as introduced by hydrothermal humification processes. Results exhibit that AS has high contents of ammonium nitrogen, organic matter, organic carbon, and abundant porous structure for nutrient transport and water holding, especially, the community diversity and richness of microbial system gets the expected recovery and new beneficial bacteria (such as Caballeronia calidae) or fungi (such as Humicola) appear. Positive effects of AS on agronomic traits in rice seedlings are quantified. As a general result, this study supports the application of AS in sustainable agriculture, and provides a novel strategy to tackle the already-omnipresent land degradation by anthropogenic misuse and larger scale accidents.
Carbon/C3N4 heterostructures constructed from lignin toward enhanced lithium-ion storage
Authors: Yang Shunsheng , Zhong Lei , Lin Zehua , Zhang Zejie , Liu Qiyu , Zhang Wenli , Qiu Xueqing
Published: May 2024

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are widely used in portable energy storage. The capacity of commercial graphite is difficult to improve due to the stoichiometry limit of LiC6 of graphite, thus new anodes need to be developed to meet the demand of high-energy–density LIB. The growing interest in graphitized carbon nitride (g-C3N4) stems from its structural resemblance to graphite and its capacity to offer abundant adsorption and intercalation sites. However, g-C3N4, as a semiconductor, has a low lithium transfer rate due to its poor conductivity and high diffusion resistance. Improving the electron transport rate of g-C3N4 and reducing the adsorption energy barrier of Li+ in g-C3N4 are the keys to improving the electrochemical performances of g-C3N4. In this study, lignin and melamine were homogeneously mixed using the spray drying method, followed by the preparation of covalently bonded C3N4/LC material through a one-step carbonization process. The uniform dispersion of g-C3N4 in amorphous carbon can improve the conductivity and reduce the diffusion energy barrier of Li+. As a result, the C3N4/LC-x anode has better electrochemical behavior, including higher reversible capacity, better rate performance, and cycle stability.
Biochar as a green solution to drive the soil carbon pump
Authors: Chen Yalan , Van Zwieten Lukas , Xiao Keqing , Liang Chao , Ren Jiaqi , Zhang Anqi , Li Yang , Dong Hailiang , Sun Ke
Published: May 2024

Biochar is a nature-based green solution to lift soil carbon storage and mitigate carbon release. Here, we propose a novel concept of biochar carbon pump (BCP) that bridges microbial carbon pump (MCP) and mineral carbon pump (MnCP), facilitating effective carbon sequestration. The BCP functions to promote carbon storage by introducing biochar-derived persistent C into soil, enhancing negative priming effects, altering soil microbial communities, and reinforcing organo-organic and organo-mineral interactions. Recognizing the value of BCP in bridging MCP and MnCP to facilitate diverse natural reactions for soil carbon sequestration is particularly significant in addressing climate change.
Feasibility of teaching and assessing medical students in the metaverse: design and features for its learning efficiency
Authors: Rodriguez-Florido Miguel Ángel , Reyes-Cabrera José Juan , Melián Aday , Hernández-Flores Carmen Nieves , Ruiz-Azola Juan , Maynar Manuel
Published: May 2024

The metaverse is known as the hypothetical iteration of the Internet as a single, connected, universal and immersive virtual world that can be accessed via immersive technology devices. One approach to this concept can be achieved through the use of multi-user immersive virtual reality applications.

Immersive virtual reality (IVR), which uses gadgets that allow the user to visualize and interact in an enveloping way, is a very attractive technology for teaching purposes. There are many references in the scientific literature about its use for this purpose, including encouraging results in the field of medicine. However, there have not been enough studies assessing how much this type of technology really contributes to learning medicine.

This work investigates the feasibility of using the metaverse as an educational tool in medicine. We propose a multi-user immersive virtual reality application for implementing a scene of the metaverse in which medical students are taught. Our work considers that in order to ensure this type of technology is useful in the education of medical students, the technology itself (multi-user IVR) must be designed and implemented for a medical student profile. They usually spend too much time for adapting themselves to use and manage this kind of technology when they are exposed to it for learning. The technology should not be a barrier to acquiring, or disseminating the academic contents themselves. It should act as a catalyst that enhances the speed and capacity for learning medical educational topics. Thus, we present design and user experience specifications that we implemented in an anatomical dissection room in the metaverse, and with which we conducted experiments with 114 sixth-grade medical students. Our results indicate that, based on the design and user experience characteristics that we propose in this paper, the metaverse can indeed serve as a useful and effective educational resource whose technological complexity is no barrier to medical teaching.
A global pilot comparative, cross-sectional study of clinical research nurses/research midwives: Definition, knowledge base, and communication skills related to the conduct of decentralized clinical trials
Authors: Johnson Elizabeth A. , Hill Gordon , Smith Hazel Ann , Marsh Lisa , Beer Kelly
Published: May 2024

Background:

A gap in the literature exists pertaining to a global research nurse/research midwife resources and communication skill set necessary to engage with participants of diverse populations and geographic regions in the community or home-based conduct of decentralized clinical trials.

Aims:

An embedded mixed methods study was conducted to examine research nurse/research midwife knowledge base, experiences, and communication skill sets pertaining to decentralized trials across global regions engaged in remote research: the USA, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom, and Australia.

Methods:

An online survey was deployed across international research nurse/research midwife stakeholder groups, collecting demographics, decentralized trial experience, barriers and facilitators to optimal trial conduct, and the self-perceived communication competence (SPCC) and interpersonal communication competence (IPCC) instruments.

Results:

86 research nurses and research midwives completed the survey across all countries: The SPCC and IPCC results indicated increased clinical research experience significantly correlated with increased SPCC score (p < 0.05). Qualitative content analysis revealed five themes: (1) Implications for Role, (2) Safety and Wellbeing, (3) Training and Education, (4) Implications for Participants, and (5) Barriers and Facilitators.

Conclusions:

Common trends and observations across the global sample can inform decentralized trial resource allocation and policy pertaining to the research nurse/research midwife workforce. This study demonstrates shared cultural norms of research nursing and midwifery across varied regional clinical trial ecosystems.
Oxidative Stress: An Intersection Between Radiation and Sulfur Mustard Lung Injury
Authors: Day Brian J.
Published: May 2024

Nuclear and chemical weapons of mass destruction share both a tragic and beneficial legacy in mankind’s history and health. The horrific health effects of ionizing radiation and mustard gas exposures unleashed during disasters, wars, and conflicts have been harnessed to treat human health maladies. Both agents of destruction have been transformed into therapies to treat a wide range of cancers. The discovery of therapeutic uses of radiation and sulfur mustard was largely due to observations by clinicians treating victims of radiation and sulfur mustard gas exposures. Clinicians identified vulnerability of leukocytes to these agents and repurposed their use in the treatment of leukemias and lymphomas. Given the overlap in therapeutic modalities, it goes to reason that there may be common mechanisms to target as protective strategies against their damaging effects. This commentary will highlight oxidative stress as a common mechanism shared by both radiation and sulfur mustard gas exposures and discuss potential therapies targeting oxidative stress as medical countermeasures against the devastating lung diseases wrought by these agents.
“You Adore a God Who Makes You Gods”: Augustine’s Doctrine of Deification
Authors: Reardon Michael M. C.
Published: May 2024

Twentieth-century theologians advanced a consensus position that the doctrine of deification was alien to Augustine’s theology—even impossible to square with his other commitments—and that even if traces of the doctrine could be detected, they were, at best, of marginal importance to his intellectual topography. This position, however, has been persuasively challenged by several investigations during the past three decades. This article builds upon these latter investigations to demonstrate how the notion of deification is prevalent throughout his corpus—whether linguistically evident by his use of technical terms such as deificare and cognates, or more often, conceptually in his reflections upon anthropology, Christology, and ecclesiology. The article concludes by noting two of Augustine’s distinctive contributions to the post-Nicene development of deification—that is, an emphasis upon the sacramental and ecclesiological contours of the doctrine.
Clinical outcomes of female external urine wicking devices as alternatives to indwelling catheters: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Pryor Nicholas , Wang JiCi , Young Jordan , Townsend Whitney , Ameling Jessica , Henderson James , Meddings Jennifer
Published: May 2024

Background:

Female patients using indwelling urinary catheters (IUCs) are disproportionately at risk for developing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) compared to males. Female external urine wicking devices (FEUWDs) have emerged as potential alternatives to IUCs for incontinence management.

Objectives:

To assess the clinical risks and benefits of FEUWDs as alternatives to IUCs.

Methods:

Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, CINAHL Complete, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from inception to July 10, 2023. Included studies used FEUWDs as an intervention and reported measures of urinary tract infections and secondary outcomes related to incontinence management.

Results:

Of 2,580 returned records, 50 were systematically reviewed. Meta-analyses assessed rates of indwelling CAUTIs and IUC utilization. Following FEUWD implementation, IUC utilization rates decreased 14% (RR = 0.86, 95% CI = [0.76, 0.97]) and indwelling CAUTI rates nonsignificantly decreased up to 32% (IRR = 0.68, 95% CI = [0.39, 1.17]). Limited only to studies that described protocols for implementation, the incidence rate of indwelling CAUTIs decreased significantly up to 54% (IRR = 0.46, 95% CI = [0.32, 0.66]). Secondary outcomes were reported less routinely.

Conclusions:

Overall, FEUWDs nonsignificantly reduced indwelling CAUTI rates, though reductions were significant among studies describing FEUWD implementation protocols. We recommend developing standard definitions for consistent reporting of non-indwelling CAUTI complications such as FEUWD-associated UTIs, skin injuries, and mobility-related complications.
Early identification of a ward-based outbreak of Clostridioides difficile using prospective multilocus sequence type-based Oxford Nanopore genomic surveillance
Authors: Bloomfield Max , Hutton Samantha , Burton Megan , Tarring Claire , Velasco Charles , Clissold Carolyn , Balm Michelle , Kelly Matthew , Macartney-Coxson Donia , White Rhys
Published: May 2024

Objective:

To describe an outbreak of sequence type (ST)2 Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) detected by a recently implemented multilocus sequence type (MLST)-based prospective genomic surveillance system using Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) sequencing.

Setting:

Hemato-oncology ward of a public tertiary referral centre.

Methods:

From February 2022, we began prospectively sequencing all C. difficile isolated from inpatients at our institution on the ONT MinION device, with the output being an MLST. Bed-movement data are used to construct real-time ST-specific incidence charts based on ward exposures over the preceding three months.

Results:

Between February and October 2022, 76 of 118 (64.4%) CDI cases were successfully sequenced. There was wide ST variation across cases and the hospital, with only four different STs being seen in >4 patients. A clear predominance of ST2 CDI cases emerged among patients with exposure to our hemato-oncology ward between May and October 2022, which totalled ten patients. There was no detectable rise in overall CDI incidence for the ward or hospital due to the outbreak. Following a change in cleaning product to an accelerated hydrogen peroxide wipe and several other interventions, no further outbreak-associated ST2 cases were detected. A retrospective phylogenetic analysis using original sequence data showed clustering of the suspected outbreak cases, with the exception of two cases that were retrospectively excluded from the outbreak.

Conclusions:

Prospective genomic surveillance of C. difficile using ONT sequencing permitted the identification of an outbreak of ST2 CDI that would have otherwise gone undetected.
A bacteriophage-based validation of a personal protective equipment doffing procedure to be used with high-consequence pathogens
Authors: Berryhill Brandon A. , Burke Kylie B. , Smith Andrew P. , Morgan Jill S. , Tarabay Jessica , Mamora Josia , Varkey Jay B. , Mumma Joel M. , Kraft Colleen S.
Published: May 2024

Objective:

To determine if the high-level personal protective equipment used in the treatment of high-consequence infectious diseases is effective at stopping the spread of pathogens to healthcare personnel (HCP) while doffing.

Background:

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is fundamental to the safety of HCPs. HCPs treating patients with high-consequence infectious diseases use several layers of PPE, forming complex protective ensembles. With high-containment PPE, step-by-step procedures are often used for donning and doffing to minimize contamination risk to the HCP, but these procedures are rarely empirically validated and instead rely on following infection prevention best practices.

Methods:

A doffing protocol video for a high-containment PPE ensemble was evaluated to determine potential contamination pathways. These potential pathways were tested using fluorescence and genetically marked bacteriophages.

Results:

The experiments revealed existing protocols permit contamination pathways allowing for transmission of bacteriophages to HCPs. Updates to the doffing protocols were generated based on the discovered contamination pathways. This updated doffing protocol eliminated the movement of viable bacteriophages from the outside of the PPE to the skin of the HCP.

Conclusions:

Our results illustrate the need for quantitative, scientific investigations of infection prevention practices, such as doffing PPE.
Inclusive leadership as a valid assessment center dimension
Authors: Hoover Anna N. , Rupp Deborah E.
Published: May 2024

As organizations are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of selecting inclusive leaders, this paper proposes measuring inclusive leadership proficiency as an assessment center (AC) dimension. We propose that ACs present a novel way to effectively assess inclusive leadership using interpersonal behavioral simulation exercises, such as role plays. It is argued that AC-measured inclusive leadership can provide incremental prediction of leader performance beyond commonly assessed AC dimensions; and that it positively predicts follower performance and follower demographic diversity. We conclude by suggesting ways future research might empirically investigate the validity and reliability of AC-measured inclusive leadership in organizational settings.
Citizen awakening? Exploring legal consciousness in a context of mass political mobilization
Authors: Hilbink Lisa , Salas Ramos Valentina
Published: May 2024

Under what conditions will people be inclined to seek remedy when facing rights violations? While some socio-legal scholars have found structural position and/or the ideological macro-context to be the key factors shaping individuals’ legal consciousness, often inhibiting their pursuit of remedies, others contend that social experiences and political interventions, including participation in social movements, affect people’s willingness to demand redress. What happens, then, when a diffuse popular mobilization challenges a state’s fundamental normative framework and demands justice and rights for long-excluded sectors of the population? This article offers empirical and theoretical insights to these debates based on results from a nationally representative survey conducted in Chile at the height of such a mass political mobilization. In this context of widespread citizen engagement and collective claim-making, we find that participation in the protests and self-perceived knowledge of where to turn are statistically related to individuals’ professed willingness to pursue a formal remedy across two hypothetical rights violation scenarios. These findings suggest that participation in protests might have an empowerment effect on those who take part, even among disadvantaged groups, opening new avenues for research at the intersection of socio-legal and political participation studies.
Votes Can Be Confidently Bought in Some Ranked Ballot Elections, and What to Do about It
Authors: Williams Jack R. , Baltz Samuel , Stewart Charles
Published: May 2024

We show that, in some ranked ballot elections, it may be possible to violate the secret vote. There are so many ways to rank even a handful of candidates that many possible rankings might not be cast by any voter. So, a vote buyer could pay someone to rank the candidates a certain way and then use the announced election results to verify that the voter followed through. We examine the feasibility of this attack both theoretically and empirically, focusing on instant runoff voting (IRV). Although many IRV elections have few enough candidates that this scheme is not feasible, we use data from San Francisco and a proposed election rule change in Oakland to show that some important IRV elections can have large numbers of unused rankings. There is no evidence that this vote-buying scheme has ever been used. However, its existence has implications for the administration and security of IRV elections. This scheme is more feasible when more candidates can be ranked in the election and when the election results report all the ways that candidates were ranked.
Rapid and specific detection of Pentastiridius leporinus by recombinase polymerase amplification assay
Authors: Eini Omid , Pfitzer René , Varrelmann Mark
Published: May 2024

Pentastiridius leporinus (Hemiptera: Cixiidae) is the main vector of an emerging and fast spreading sugar beet disease, the syndrome ‘basses richesses’ (SBR), in different European countries. The disease is caused by the γ-3-proteobacterium ‘Candidatus Arsenophonus phytopathogenicus’ and the phytoplasma ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ which are exclusively transmitted by planthoppers and can lead to a significant loss of sugar content and yield. Monitoring of this insect vector is important for disease management. However, the morphological identification is time consuming and challenging as two additional cixiid species Reptalus quinquecostatus and Hyalesthes obsoletus with a very close morphology have been reported in sugar beet fields. Further, identification of females and nymphs of P. leporinus at species level based on taxonomic key is not possible. In this study, an isothermal nucleic acid amplification based on recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) was developed to specifically detect P. leporinus. In addition, real-time RPA was developed to detect both adults (male and female) and nymph stages using pure or crude nucleic acid extracts. The sensitivity of the real-time RPA for detection of P. leporinus was comparable to real-time PCR, but a shorter time (< 7 min) was required. This is a first report for real-time RPA application for P. leporinus detection using crude nucleic acid templates which can be applied for fast and specific detection of this vector in the field.
SlCarE054 in Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) showed direct metabolic activity to β-cypermethrin with stereoselectivity
Authors: Xu Li , Liu Hongyu , Li Bo , Li Guangling , Liu Runqiang , Li Dongzhi
Published: May 2024

Carboxylesterases (CarEs) is an important detoxification enzyme system in phase Ⅰ participating in insecticides resistance. In our previous study, SlCarE054, a CarEs gene from lepidoptera class, was screened out to be upregulated in a pyrethroids and organophosphates resistant population. Its overexpression was verified in two field-collected populations of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) resistant to pyrethroids and organophosphates by qRT-PCR. Spatiotemporal expression results showed that SlCarE054 was highly expressed in the pupae stage and the digestive tissue midgut. To further explore its role in pyrethroids and organophosphates resistance, its metabolism activity to insecticides was determined by UPLC. Its recombinant protein showed significant metabolism activity to cyhalothrin and fenvalerate, but not to phoxim or chlorpyrifos. The metabolic activity of SlCarE054 to β-cypermethrin showed stereoselectivity, with higher metabolic activity to θ-cypermethrin than the enantiomer α-cypermethrin. The metabolite of β-cypermethrin was identified as 3-phenoxybenzaldehyde. Further modelling and docking analysis indicated that β-cypermethrin, cyhalothrin and fenvalerate could bind with the catalytic triad of the 3D structure of SlCarE054. The interaction of β-cypermethrin with SlCarE054 also showed the lowest binding energy. Our work provides evidence that SlCarE054 play roles in β-cypermethrin resistance in S. litura.
Partisan of the Absolute State: Arnold Ruge, Liberalism, and the Hallische Jahrbücher
Authors: Barbour Charles
Published: May 2024

This article considers the political theory and political theology of Arnold Ruge during the years he edited the Hallische and Deutsche Jahrbücher, paying special attention to his relationship with a variety of “liberalisms” circulating at the time. It argues that Ruge's central and consistent commitment was to the “absolute state,” which he described as “an end in itself.” Such a state, Ruge believed, would constitute a space in which citizens could realize their public freedom. I show how Ruge constructed this approach through critical engagements with three forms of liberalism: the Romantic nationalist liberalism of Ernst Moritz Arndt; the ethical pluralist liberalism of Franz von Flourencourt; and the pragmatic economic liberalism of Karl Biedermann. I conclude with reflections on Ruge's 1843 “Eine Selbstkritik des Liberalismus.”
TWO ATTITUDES TO DIVINATION IN EUNAPIUS
Authors: Parker Robert
Published: May 2024

A passage in Eunapius (476–7, pp. 440–2 Loeb) draws an interesting contrast between the attitudes to divination of the two sophists Maximus and Chrysanthius: Maximus, who manipulates the omens until they say what he wants, and Chrysanthius, who scrupulously obeys their apparent meaning. But a passage a little later (500–1, pp. 542–4 Loeb) apparently ascribes to Chrysanthius the opposite attitude. This article suggests a transposition to restore coherence to the text. Even if the transposition is wrong, the contrast drawn in the first passage between two attitudes to divination, one rigorous and literalist, one manipulative, is important.
Ottoman-Austrian Ceremonial Embassies of the First Half of the Seventeenth Century: The Selection of Ambassador Rıdvan Agha (1633)
Authors: Cevrioğlu Mahmut Halef
Published: May 2024

The Treaty of Zsitvatorok, signed between the Habsburgs and the Ottomans in 1606, has long been accepted as a watershed in the relations between the two dynasties. Nevertheless, interest in its influence on diplomatic practices has flourished only recently. Focusing on the elaboration of new diplomatic traditions, such as the growing retinue sizes, use of titles for Ottoman ambassadors, and exchange of embassies at the border, this study argues that the post-Zsitvatorok period was marked by the Austrian insistence on, and reluctant Ottoman acceptance of, parity and reciprocity. By relying on the reports of Johann Rudolf Schmid von Schwarzenhorn, the Austrian resident representative in Istanbul, it closely scrutinizes the selection and preparation of the Ottoman ambassador (Rıdvan Agha) to Vienna in 1633. The article argues that the terms in the Zsitvatorok Treaty prompted the Ottoman diplomatic mechanism to refine itself in its dealings with the Austrian Habsburgs in the seventeenth century, encouraging the Ottomans to accept elements of modern diplomacy long before the establishment of Ottoman resident embassies in Europe at the turn of the nineteenth century.