bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Blockchain technology and Social Life Cycle Assessment: synergies and implications
Authors: D’Eusanio Manuela , Petti Luigia 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Purpose
Social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) allows for quantifying the social aspects related to the life cycle of a product and/or organization through an integrated and holistic approach. While there have been methodological and implementation advancements over the last years, there are still several critical issues, such as concern about the quality and availability of the data used in the assessment process. Therefore, this study aims to discuss the main peculiarities of Blockchain Technology and how it could be useful for S-LCA applications.

Method
The characteristics of Blockchain Technology were investigated in order to understand how and whether can be a synergistic support in the implementation of S-LCA. In order to do this, the main challenges and gaps of S-LCA methodology are identified. Therefore, a literature analysis was performed to identify the characteristics of Blockchain Technology within the context of SCM, how these peculiarities already support the life cycle thinking (LCT) tools, and whether these synergies can support also S-LCA studies.

Results and discussion
Blockchain is considered a revolutionary tool for supporting supply chain management due to its distributed data recording and assets tracking platform, which enhances transparency and provides real-time information. The traceability offered by Blockchain can be a valuable resource for conducting LCT studies, enabling improved data differentiation and origin identification as well as the identification of technology and inputs involved in analyzed product systems. Additionally, modeling a Blockchain to incorporate social data can aid in identifying locations, and the correlated social issues, where potential social risks occur by monitoring them over time. Consequently, a set of social indicators directly linked to social data should be defined for each supply chain evaluated.

Conclusions
The use of Blockchain Technology within S-LCA methodology approach will help organizations toward stronger supply chain management practices by tracing sustainable information related to products. Consequently, it can provide more transparent, reliable, and verifiable information to consumers on the product’s life cycle. From a methodological perspective, Blockchain Technology can serve to collect social data along the supply chain, thereby contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the life cycle of the product. By doing so, it is possible to identify social and socio-economic risks throughout the supply chain and monitor them over time in order to be used as potential internal benchmarks. Further developments will be needed to define the integration of Blockchain Technology within the framework of S-LCA and more broadly in social organizational LCA.
Kontrollierte Politisierung: Bürgerdialoge im Rahmen der Entwicklung der ersten Nationalen Sicherheitsstrategie in Deutschland
Authors: Opitz Christian , Pfeifer Hanna , Geis Anna 
Published: June 2024

ZusammenfassungIm Zuge der Erarbeitung der ersten Nationalen Sicherheitsstrategie Deutschlands führte das federführende Auswärtige Amt eine quantitativ und qualitativ beispiellose Beteiligungsserie durch. Im Sommer 2022 bot das Ministerium hierzu verschiedene Dialog- und Beteiligungsformate quer durch die Republik an, bei denen sich zufällig ausgewählte Bürger*innen mit ihren Meinungen einbringen und Empfehlungen ausarbeiten konnten. Diese innovative Öffnung des Strategieprozesses wurde jedoch von bestimmten Kontrolltechniken begrenzt, die das Auswärtige Amt zugunsten einer besseren Steuerbarkeit und Risikovermeidung anwendete. In diesem Beitrag argumentieren wir daher, dass die Beteiligung rund um die Nationale Sicherheitsstrategie als eine kontrollierte Politisierung verstanden werden kann. Demnach politisiert die Exekutive gezielt manche Aspekte, während zugleich andere intentional entpolitisiert werden. Offen bleibt allerdings, wie kontrollierbar eine Top-down-Politisierung angesichts unintendierter Folgeeffekte sein kann.
Condition monitoring of grinding wheels: Potential of internal control signals
Authors: Denkena B. , Klemme H. , Stoppel D. 
Published: June 2024

Abstract
Monitoring of grinding wheel wear is a crucial task to ensure adequate quality of the manufactured workpiece. While external sensors, such as acoustic emission sensors, are commonly used for this task, the use of internal control signals has been neglected. Consequently, the extent to which degree these signals can be utilized to monitor the grinding process remains uncertain. Therefore, this work focuses on monitoring grinding wheel wear based on internal control signals in the case of surface grinding of 100Cr6. It is shown, that the novel approach can estimate tool life volume with a R² value of 0.98. The results are compared to models using force measurements of a dynamometer as well as sensor fusion approaches relying on both signal sources. Despite its low resolution in the frequency domain, drive signals can be used for grinding wheel wear monitoring. Nevertheless, dynamometer measurements enable more accurate estimations with a R² value of 0.99. The differences have to be considered when scheduling the grinding wheels redressing based on the estimated tool life volume.
Male Fertility in Spondyloarthritis: from Clinical Issues to Cytokines Milieu. A Narrative Review
Authors: Scriffignano Silvia , Perrotta Fabio Massimo , Lubrano Ennio 
Published: June 2024

Abstract
Purposeof Review
Male fertility is an emergent issue that should be considered in clinical practice, when dealing with chronic inflammatory diseases in young men. As it is known, the chronic inflammation is the main pathophysiologic mechanism in some rheumatological conditions such as spondyloarthritis (SpA), Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA). Therefore, it is paramount to be aware if these diseases could impair male fertility, both due to the inflammation or to the treatments needed: we reviewed the literature on the most relevant and recent evidence on male fertility in patients affected by SpA, AS and PsA.

Recent Findings
Rheumatological inflammatory diseases (included SpA, AS and PsA) could impair the family planning in man life, especially when diagnosed at young age. Moreover, focusing on sperm quality, it seems that a link between sperm quality impairment and a higher disease activity exist.
Focusing on therapies, Tumor Necrosis Factor inhibitors showed a safety profile on human male fertility in clinical studies. Recently, a prospective study and two double-blind placebo-controlled trials assessed the impact of methotrexate and Filgotinib on semen parameters, respectively, showing a safety profile of these drugs on human semen quality. However, there are no clinical data on the impact of Interleukin (IL)17 inhibitors(i), IL12-23i and IL23i.

Summary
Concerning male fertility in SpA, AS and PsA, an unmet clinical need is still present and new studies are needed to understand the association between these diseases and male fertility, and the implication of the therapies used for these diseases. This narrative review provides an overview of the available data on male fertility in patients affected by SpA, AS and PsA.
Predicting Cognitive Functioning for Patients with a High-Grade Glioma: Evaluating Different Representations of Tumor Location in a Common Space
Authors: Boelders S. M. , De Baene W. , Postma E. , Gehring K. , Ong L. L. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractCognitive functioning is increasingly considered when making treatment decisions for patients with a brain tumor in view of a personalized onco-functional balance. Ideally, one can predict cognitive functioning of individual patients to make treatment decisions considering this balance. To make accurate predictions, an informative representation of tumor location is pivotal, yet comparisons of representations are lacking. Therefore, this study compares brain atlases and principal component analysis (PCA) to represent voxel-wise tumor location. Pre-operative cognitive functioning was predicted for 246 patients with a high-grade glioma across eight cognitive tests while using different representations of voxel-wise tumor location as predictors. Voxel-wise tumor location was represented using 13 different frequently-used population average atlases, 13 randomly generated atlases, and 13 representations based on PCA. ElasticNet predictions were compared between representations and against a model solely using tumor volume. Preoperative cognitive functioning could only partly be predicted from tumor location. Performances of different representations were largely similar. Population average atlases did not result in better predictions compared to random atlases. PCA-based representation did not clearly outperform other representations, although summary metrics indicated that PCA-based representations performed somewhat better in our sample. Representations with more regions or components resulted in less accurate predictions. Population average atlases possibly cannot distinguish between functionally distinct areas when applied to patients with a glioma. This stresses the need to develop and validate methods for individual parcellations in the presence of lesions. Future studies may test if the observed small advantage of PCA-based representations generalizes to other data.
“The Jim Crow Army Must Have a Scapegoat”: Justice, Cowardice, and the Court Martial of Lieutenant Leon Gilbert (Korea, 1950)
Authors: Dixon Chris , Johnson Jessica 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe story of Lieutenant Leon Gilbert—a Black United States Army officer court-martialed during the Korean War—challenged the United States’ self-declared postwar mission to free oppressed peoples across the world, while continuing to subjugate African Americans at home. Although many critics judged Gilbert’s refusal to return to battle as an act of cowardice, others viewed him as a victim, and even a hero. The Gilbert case revealed that although African Americans were ostensibly making progress in the newly desegregated United States military, the fight for racial justice continued to be impeded by white Americans’ perceptions of Black inadequacy. Amidst a war purportedly being fought for principles of democracy and freedom, Gilbert’s court martial highlighted the connection between American racism and United States foreign policy, as Black military personnel became scapegoats for their nation’s military failures. The prosecution and persecution of Gilbert thus exposed the tension between American rhetoric and American racism.
Establishment and validation of a novel CD8+ T cell-associated prognostic signature for predicting clinical outcomes and immunotherapy response in hepatocellular carcinoma via integrating single-cell RNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq
Authors: Qu Caihao , Yan Xin , Wei Yujie , Tang Futian , Li Yumin 
Published: June 2024

AbstractCD8+ T lymphocytes are critical in the immune response against neoplasms, yet the prognostic relevance of CD8+ T cell-associated genes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not fully understood. We sourced single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bulk RNA-seq data for HCC from the GSE98638 dataset and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) repository. We utilized Weighted Gene Correlation Network Analysis (WGCNA) to identify CD8+ T cell-related genes. A clinical prognostic model for risk stratification was then constructed via Cox-Lasso regression analysis. The Immunophenotypic Score (IPS) was utilized to evaluate the potential of immunotherapeutic interventions in the categorized cohorts. Validation of the expression of CD8+ T cell-associated risk genes was performed using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Integrating scRNA-seq with RNA-seq data, we identified five CD8+ T cell-related signature genes: IKBKE, ATP1B3, MSC, ADA, and BATF. Notably, HCC patients in the high-risk group had markedly decreased overall survival. Elevated infiltration levels of CD8+ T cells, B cells, and macrophages were observed in the high-risk group. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between the risk score and immune checkpoints (ICPs), including PDCD1, CD274, and CTLA4. Patients within the high-risk group subject to PD1 and CTLA4 blockade exhibited higher IPS levels. Additionally, the expression of the five risk genes was upregulated in HCC cell lines and tissues compared to normal cells and tissues. Our findings establish a prognostic signature based on CD8+ T cells, offering a potent predictive model for clinical outcomes and responsiveness to immunotherapy in HCC patients.
Uncertainty analysis of 137Cs measured by shipborne device for radioactive monitoring
Authors: Tao Siyu , Qin Guoxiu , Wang Xurui , Zhang Xiaohui , Jia Xu , Zhang Yuxuan 
Published: June 2024

AbstractUncertainty is a crucial indicator of the performance of monitoring devices. Analyzing and calculating uncertainty is a necessary prerequisite for accurately presenting the results of radioactive monitoring for seawater. This paper evaluates the uncertainty involved in the measurement process of the developed radioactive monitoring device. By measuring the different activity concentrations of 137Cs in seawater samples from around a nuclear power plant, and comparing these measurements with radiochemical analysis results. The results show that the main factors affecting the uncertainty of the device are the uncertainty of the γ count rate of seawater sample, the γ count rate and volume of the standard source, with the uncertainty of the γ count rate of seawater sample being the most significant contributor.
Analysis of Groundwater Time Series With Limited Pumping Information in Unconfined Aquifer: Response Function Based on Lagging Theory
Authors: Lin Ying‐Fan , Tseng Hua‐Ting , Lee Shih‐Yao , Yu Hwa‐Lung 
Published: June 2024

AbstractGroundwater extraction from aquifers is a common practice for human use, and variations in groundwater levels can provide valuable information on the hydrogeological properties of the aquifer. However, reliable data on pumping rates and distribution are often lacking due to unsupervised groundwater pumping activities. This study presents a new mathematical model for transfer function modeling that depicts the drawdown response caused by pumping in an unconfined aquifer system. To account for the dense and unsupervised pumping events, the uniform pumping approach was used to estimate these effects. To more accurately represent unconfined flow, the model first integrates lagging theory into a response function derived from the Boussinesq equation. The lagging theory accounts for the effects of both inertial force and capillary suction. Furthermore, the model has been used to derive both specific yield and transmissivity along with two lagging parameters simultaneously using only groundwater level information from the Choshui River region in Taiwan. The estimated results suggest that this approach provides reliable estimates of hydrogeological parameters, demonstrating its usefulness for water resource management and water budget evaluation.
On the Duration of Tropical Cyclone Rapid Intensification
Authors: Li Lei , Li Yi , Tang Youmin 
Published: June 2024

AbstractRapid intensification (RI) of tropical cyclones (TCs) not only plays a crucial role in the development of major TCs but also poses great challenges to operational forecasting. Previous studies predominantly focused on RI over 24‐hr periods, overlooking the potential for extended durations with intermittent moments. Here, we investigate the actual duration of RI and show that, when considering the interruption and intermittent moments, the longest RI can persist for up to 90 hr. Declines and resurgences in maximum potential intensity (MPI) and tropical cyclone heat potential (TCHP) are associated with the interruption of RI process. Given that the error in TC track prediction is much lower compared with that in intensity prediction, such a local minimum in MPI and TCHP could be better forecasted and potentially assist the prediction of RI, ultimately reducing TC‐related hazards.
Graphene photodetectors integrated with silicon and perovskite quantum dots
Authors: Abbas Kashif , Ji Peirui , Ullah Naveed , Shafique Shareen , Zhang Ze , Ameer Muhammad Faizan , Qin Shenghan , Yang Shuming 
Published: June 2024

AbstractPhotodetectors (PDs) play a crucial role in imaging, sensing, communication systems, etc. Graphene (Gr), a leading two-dimensional material, has demonstrated significant potential for photodetection in recent years. However, its relatively weak interaction with light poses challenges for practical applications. The integration of silicon (Si) and perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) has opened new avenues for Gr in the realm of next-generation optoelectronics. This review provides a comprehensive investigation of Gr/Si Schottky junction PDs and Gr/PQD hybrid PDs as well as their heterostructures. The operating principles, design, fabrication, optimization strategies, and typical applications of these devices are studied and summarized. Through these discussions, we aim to illuminate the current challenges and offer insights into future directions in this rapidly evolving field.
Predictive efficacy of the preoperative neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio in lymph node metastasis of cN0 hormone receptor-positive breast cancer
Authors: Wang Miao-Feng , Cai Jia-Rui , Xia Heng , Chu Xiu-feng 
Published: June 2024

AbstractBreast cancer, as the most common cancer, has surpassed lung cancer worldwide. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been linked to the onset of cancer and its prognosis in recent studies. However, quite a few studies have shown that there is a link between NLR and lymph node metastases in cN0 hormone receptor-positive (HR(+)) breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between NLR and lymph node metastases in cN0 HR(+) breast cancer patients. From January 2012 to January 2022, 220 patients with cN0 HR(+) invasive breast cancers were enrolled in this study. The relationship between NLR and pathological data was statistically examined. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the optimal cutoff of NLR, a chi-squared test was used for the univariate analysis, and logistic analysis was used for the multivariate analysis. The NLR had an optimal cutoff of 2.4 when the Jorden index was at a maximum. Patients with axillary lymph node metastases had a higher NLR (P < 0.05). A Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in cN0 HR(+) breast cancer with axillary lymph node metastasis among different clinical stages, histological grades, Ki-67 levels, tumor sizes, and NLR levels (P < 0.05). Clinical stage, tumor size, and NLR were found to be independent risk factors for lymph node metastases in multifactorial analysis. In cN0 HR(+) breast cancer, NLR is an independent risk factor for lymph node metastases. An NLR ≥ 2.4 indicates an increased probability of lymph node metastases. An elevated preoperative NLR has a high predictive value for axillary lymph node metastases.
Novel complex fuzzy distance measures with hesitance values and their applications in complex decision-making problems
Authors: Khan Madad , Ullah Safi , Zeeshan Muhammad , Shafqat Ramsha , Kebaili Imen , Bedada Tola Bekene , Anis Saima 
Published: June 2024

AbstractA complex fuzzy distance measure (CFDMs) plays a significant role in applications involving complex or high-dimensional data where traditional distance measures may not adequately capture the nuances of the data relationships. The significance of CFDMs lies in their ability to handle uncertainty, imprecision, and complexity in various domains. Numerous researchers introduced different concepts of CFDMs, yet these CFDMs fails to convey any information regarding the hesitancy degree associated with an element. The main objective of this paper is to introduce some new distance measures based on complex fuzzy sets, called complex fuzzy hesitance distance measure and complex fuzzy Euclidean Hesitance distance measure, which is the generalization of complex fuzzy normalized Hamming distance measure and complex fuzzy Euclidean distance measure. Some new operations and primay results are discussed in the environment of proposed CFDMs and complex fuzzy operations. Moreover, we discussed the applications of the proposed CFDMs in addressing decision-making problems. We introduced a new decision-making algorithm that integrates CFDMs into decision-making processes, providing a robust methodology for handling real-world complexities. Further, the comparative study of the proposed CFDMs is discussed with some existing CFDMs.
Network pharmacological prediction of the mechanism of action of Shen-Zhu-Lian-Bai Decoction in the treatment of ulcerative colitis
Authors: Zhu Li , Liang Jinghua 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe incidence of ulcerative colitis (UC) is on the rise globally. Shen-Zhu-Lian-Bai decoction (SZLBD) can relieve the clinical symptoms of UC. This study aimed to investigate the underlying molecular mechanism of SZLBD in the treatment of UC. The key treatment targets of SZLBD for UC were obtained based on the online database, and combined with the STRING database and Cytoscape 3.7.2 software, PPI network was constructed and visualized. The GEO database was utilized to validate the expression levels of core targets in UC. Metascape database GO functional annotation and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Molecular docking technology was used to verify the docking of core compounds with key targets. RT-qPCR and Western Blot were used to detect the expression of key targets in HCoEpiC cells for verification. After screening, 67 targets shared by SZLBD and UC were obtained. It is predicted that IL-6, IL-1B, and AKT1 might be the key targets of SZLBD in the treatment of UC. Quercetin was the main active ingredient. GEO results showed that the expression levels of IL-6, IL-1B and AKT1 were higher in the UC group compared to the control group. GO and KEGG analyses showed that these targets were related to apoptosis and inflammation. The results of molecular docking demonstrated that the AKT1 gene, a key target of quercetin, had the highest affinity of -9.2 kcal/mol. Cell experiments found that quercetin could affect the expression of IL-6, IL-1B, and AKT1. This study preliminarily explored and verified the mechanism of action of SZLBD in the treatment of UC, which provides a theoretical basis for subsequent in vivo mechanism studies.