bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The probable role of tissue plasminogen activator/neuroserpin axis in Alzheimer’s disease: a new perspective
Authors: Ali Naif H. , Al-kuraishy Hayder M. , Al-Gareeb Ali I. , Alnaaim Saud A. , Alexiou Athanasios , Papadakis Marios , Saad Hebatallah M. , Batiha Gaber El-Saber 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia associated with amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition. Dysfunction of the neuronal clearance pathway promotes the accumulation of Aβ. The plasminogen-activating system (PAS) is controlled by various enzymes like tissue plasminogen activators (tPA). Neuronal tPA enhances the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin, which cleaves Aβ; this function is controlled by many inhibitors of PAS, including a plasminogen-activating inhibitor (PAI-1) and neuroserpin. Therefore, the objective of the present narrative review was to explore the potential role of tPA/neuroserpin in the pathogenesis of AD. PAI-1 activity is increased in AD, which is involved in accumulating Aβ. Progressive increase of Aβ level during AD neuropathology is correlated with the over-production of PAI-1 with subsequent reduction of plasmin and tPA activities. Reducing plasmin and tPA activities promote Aβ by reducing Aβ clearance. Neuroserpin plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of AD as it regulates the expression and accumulation of Aβ. Higher expression of neuroserpin inhibits the neuroprotective tPA and the generation of plasmin with subsequent reduction in the clearance of Aβ. These observations raise conflicting evidence on whether neuroserpin is neuroprotective or involved in AD progression. Thus, neuroserpin over-expression with subsequent reduction of tPA may propagate AD neuropathology.

Graphical abstract
Familiale Bildungsorientierungen von First Generation Studierenden
Authors: Hermes Michael , Petzold-Rudolph Kathrin , Lotze Miriam 
Published: November 2023

ZusammenfassungVor dem Hintergrund anhaltender Chancenungleichheiten in der Teilhabe an hochschulischer Bildung werden im Rahmen einer Forschungskooperation familiale Bildungsorientierungen von Studierenden des Lehramtes für berufsbildende Schulen sowie im Studiengang Soziale Arbeit untersucht, die mit nicht-traditionellen Bildungsbiographien und -hintergründen in die akademische Bildung einmünden. Fokussiert werden individuelle (familien-)biographische Verlaufsmuster, verstanden als Wechselspiel zwischen den Polen der Entfremdung sowie der ‚Bewährung‘ des Habitus im neuen Feld Hochschule. Auf gesamtgesellschaftlicher Ebene rücken entsprechende Mechanismen, die wir als ‚Aufstiegsmobilität‘ fassen, in den forschenden Blick. Gefragt wird nach der innerfamilialen Bearbeitung von Relationen, Überlagerungen und Diskrepanzen zwischen dem familialen und hochschulischen Erfahrungsraum, woraus sich eine Verortung innerhalb qualitativ-rekonstruktiver Sozialforschung ergibt. Die narrativ fundierten, biografischen Einzelinterviews mit First Generation Studierenden und ihren Eltern werden auf Grundlage der Dokumentarischen Methode vertiefend analysiert und interpretiert.Im Beitrag werden zentrale Projektbefunde vorgestellt. Die Ergebnisse verweisen auf einen Zusammenhang zwischen familialer Sozialisation sowie Prägung und dessen bildungsbiographische Integrationsprozesse. Auch wird deutlich, dass grundlegende Orientierungen zu Bildung, Lernen und Persönlichkeitsentwicklung Bildungsentscheidungen und entsprechende (berufs-)biografische Handlungen prägen und diese vor dem Hintergrund der sozial-familialen Einbindung begründungspflichtig werden. Zugleich wird die zentrale Bedeutung der biographischen Passage zwischen schulisch-beruflichem Abschluss und dem Übergang in das Feld akademischer Bildung erkennbar.
Influence of welding thermal cycles on properties of TMCP and Q&T steels evaluated by thermo-physical simulation
Authors: Neumann Martin , Hälsig André , Hensel Jonas 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThe welding process represents an unintentional, but unavoidable, heat treatment in the form of soft annealing or tempering, but also hardening during the cooling of the melt. Particularly in the case of high-strength fine-grained structural steels, this leads to critical states of the mechanical-technological properties of the base material. In order to investigate the influence of the heat input during welding on the resulting properties of the heat-affected areas, a thermo-physical simulation was carried out on a quenching and forming dilatometer Bähr DIL 805 A/D, considering low-alloyed quenched and tempered (Q&T) and low-alloyed thermo-mechanically controlled processed steels (TMCP) with yield strengths in the range of 500 to 960 MPa (S500MC, S700MC, S770QL, and S960QL). For this purpose, time–temperature cycles based on gas metal arc welding (GMAW) were simulated with different maximum temperatures (1200 °C; 1000 °C; 800 °C), representing the typical microstructural regions of the heat-affected zones (HAZ), and cooling times t8/5 (5 s; 12 s; 20 s; 25 s) on miniature tensile specimens. To evaluate the property changes of the characteristic HAZ, tensile tests, hardness measurements, and microstructural investigations were analyzed. The investigations illustrate the significant influence of heat input during the welding process on the resulting mechanical-technological properties and microstructure for both kinds of steel. It was demonstrated that all the steels investigated tend to soften with increasing cooling times. The investigated Q&T steels have a lower risk of falling below the strength of the untreated base material than the investigated TMCP fine-grained structural steels. The considerably pronounced softening also resulted in the minimum strength values not being achieved for certain cooling time ranges.
Design control and actuator selection of a lower body assistive exoskeleton with 3-D passive compliant supports
Authors: Masud Nauman , Rafique Sajid , Smith Christian , Isaksson Magnus 
Published: November 2023

AbstractPhysical human–robotic interaction is a crucial area of concern for robotic exoskeletons. Lower weight requirement for the worn exoskeletons limits the number and size of joint actuators, resulting in a low active degree of freedom for the exoskeletons with joint actuators having limited power and bandwidth. This limitation invariably results in reduced physical human–robotic interaction performance for the exoskeleton. Recently several techniques have been proposed for the low active degree of freedom exoskeletons with improved physical human–robotic interaction performance using better load torque compensators and improved active compliance. However, effective practical implementation of these techniques requires special hardware and software design considerations. A detailed design of a new lower body exoskeleton is proposed in this paper that can apply these recently developed techniques to practically improve the physical human–robotic interaction performance of the worn exoskeletons. The design presented includes the exoskeleton's structural design, new joint assemblies and the design of novel 3-D passive, compliant supports. A methodology of selecting and verifying the joint actuators and estimating the desired assistive forces at the contact supports based on human user joint torque requirements and the degree of assistance is also thoroughly presented. A new CAN-based master–slave control architecture that supports the implementation of recent techniques for improved physical human–robotic interaction is also fully presented. A new control strategy capable of imparting simultaneous impedance-based force tracking control of the exoskeleton in task space using DOB-based-DLTC at joint space is also thoroughly presented. Simulation verification of the proposed strategy based on the actual gait data of elderly is presented lastly.
Factors Associated with Self-reported COVID-19 Infection and Hospitalization among Patients Seeking Care at a Comprehensive Cancer Center
Authors: Amorrortu Rossybelle P. , Zhao Yayi , Keenan Robert J. , Gilbert Scott M. , Rollison Dana E. 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Background
COVID-19 infection severity differs by race and ethnicity, but its long-term effect on cancer-related outcomes is unknown. Therefore, information on COVID-19 history is critical to ascertain among new cancer patients in order to advance research on its impact on cancer outcomes and potentially related health disparities.

Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 16,025 new patients seeking care at Moffitt Cancer Center (MCC) between 2021 and 2022. Patient self-reported histories of COVID-19 infection and other pre-existing health conditions were obtained from electronic questionnaires administered to all new MCC patients. Associations between demographics and COVID-19 infection and hospitalization were examined.

Results
A total of 1,971 patients (12.3%) reported ever having COVID-19. Self-reported COVID-19 history was significantly more prevalent in Hispanic vs. non-Hispanic patients (OR = 1.24, 1.05–1.45) and less prevalent in Asian versus White patients (OR = 0.49, 95% 0.33–0.70). Among patients who ever had COVID-19, 10.6% reported a COVID-19-related hospitalization. Males had higher odds of a COVID-19 related hospitalization than females (OR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.09–2.05), as did Black/African American patients (OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.18–3.60) and patients of races other than Black/African American and Asian (OR = 2.61, 95% CI = 1.43–4.54) compared to White patients. Hispanic patients also experienced higher odds of hospitalization (OR = 2.06, 95% CI-1.29- 3.23) compared with non-Hispanic patients of all races in a sensitivity analysis that combined race/ethnicity. Pre-existing lung and breathing problems were associated with higher odds of being hospitalized with COVID-19 (OR = 2.38, 95% CI = 1.61–3.48), but these and other health conditions did not explain the observed associations between race and COVID-19 hospitalization.

Conclusions
Higher rates of COVID-19 hospitalization were observed among patients identifying as Black/African American or Hispanic independent of pre-existing health conditions. Future studies evaluating long-term effects of COVID-19 should carefully examine potential racial/ethnic disparities in cancer outcomes.
An Integrated General Theory of Psychopathology and Suicide
Authors: Soper C. A. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThis article presents biological meta-theory that is intended to serve as a shared key to progress in psychiatry and suicidology. It argues that diverse forms of psychopathology, widely believed to cause suicide, may instead manifest the organism’s last-ditch efforts to avoid that lethal outcome. The analysis elaborates on the pain-brain theory, which views suicide as a costly by-product of human sapience, with the cost managed by serial lines of evolved anti-suicide defenses. The last of these, emergency interventions that function to block the enacting of suicidal ideas, are hypothesized to display in an array of psychiatric phenomena, including mood disorders, substance and behavioral addictions, and psychoses.The etiology of psychiatric syndromes is explained in three parts. First, psychopathology associates with suicidal ideation because the two outcomes share a causal root: the individual’s experience of chronic psychological pain (psychache), subject to a threshold of intellectual maturation. An evolved system utilizes these inputs to evaluate the risk of suicide and to release commensurately severe countermeasures, which manifest non-specifically as psychopathology. Second, the configuration of symptoms is determined by other aspects of individual differences: reflecting contextual needs, individualized blends of motivational and/or cognitive modifications seek to make lethal escape unnecessary and/or impracticable. Third, psychiatric syndromes can be understood as often-observed, heterogeneous clusters of anti-suicide symptoms, combined with psychache and side effects.The model integrates ultimate and proximate explanation, aligns with the epidemiological record, and yields testable predictions. It offers foundations for advancing research, policy, and clinical practice in suicide prevention and mental health.
Teaming mit Robotern – Prinzipien nachhaltig menschengerechter Arbeitsgestaltung
Authors: Tausch Alina , Kluge Annette 
Published: November 2023

ZusammenfassungDer Einsatz zunehmend autonomer und kollaborativer agierender sozialer Roboter oder Cobots kann und sollte als Chance für die menschengerechte Gestaltung von mit Technologien angereicherten Arbeitsplätzen verstanden werden. Dazu gilt es, den Einsatz menschzentriert zu gestalten und unter anderem drei wesentliche Voraussetzungen sicherzustellen: (1) die Gestaltung der Arbeit von Menschen mit Robotern im Sinne einer Teamarbeit, (2) eine dynamische Zuteilung von Aufgaben und (3) die Anpassbarkeit von Robotern durch Beschäftigte. Zu diesen Aspekten präsentieren wir jeweils drei Handlungsempfehlungen, die in einem Anwender‑/innenschema so aufbereitet werden, dass sie bei der Gestaltung von Mensch-Roboter-Arbeitsplätzen mit einfachen Entscheidungsschritten berücksichtig werden können. Dadurch sollen Arbeitsgestalter‑/innen, Betriebsrät‑/innen und Interessensvertreter‑/innen befähigt werden, für nachhaltig menschen-gerechte Arbeitsbedingungen zu sorgen.
Genetic diversity and population structure of Mastacembelus armatus in the river systems of southern China revealed by microsatellites
Authors: Lin Tingting , Yang Jinlin , Yu Zhide , Feng Yuwei , Qin WeiJian , Lu Baoyue , Cui Mingxiang , Han Chong , Shu Hu 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThe Zig-zag eel (Mastacembelus armatus) is an economically important species in southern China. Its natural resources have declined year by year due to overfishing. Understanding its genetic diversity and population structure is very important for resource conservations. Here, we first successfully developed 28 polymorphic microsatellite markers for zig-zag eels and ten of them were used to examine the genetic diversity and differentiation of 7 populations collected from the major river systems of south China. In total, 224 alleles were found with the 10 microsatellite loci in 7 populations, ranging from 4.6 (Nandujiang: NDJ) to 11.1 (Xijiang, XJ), with an average of 8.871 alleles. The average observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.550 (NDJ) to 0.964 (Yuangjiang, YJ) and from 0.537 (NDJ) to 0.775 (Tanjiang, TJ), respectively. The average polymorphism-information content ranged from 0.472 (NDJ) to 0.757 (TJ). Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium test results revealed the loci showed differing deviation in different populations. In total, low level of genetic diversity was only found in HJ (Hanjiang) and NDJ populations. Besides, evidence of recent bottleneck was found in the HJ populations. Analysis of molecular variation showed that the percent variation within individuals (75.00%) was higher than that among populations (25%). In addition, population structure and the pairwise FST revealed that there was low differentiation among XJ, TJ and YJ populations. These data provide important genetic resources for understanding the population differentiation and facilitating genetic conservation and utilization of this species.
The Development of User Requirements as a Framework for the Design and Evaluation of a Fit-for-Purpose Missing Person Locator System for Underground Mines
Authors: Ngwenyama Philani Larrance , Webber-Youngman Ronald C.W. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractEntrapments are a huge risk in underground mines. This happens when miners (or any other persons who have entered underground) survive the initial event of an accident, become trapped or lost in unknown and life-threatening locations after evacuation, and remain unaccounted for. At this point, every second counts, and emergency response is highly desired for any chances of saving survivors. The survival chances of the missing persons depend on how quickly they can be located. Rescue teams are often deployed to search for the missing persons underground. However, the rescue teams are forced to search in random and presumed areas of the mine. This is due to the unavailability of information pertaining to the whereabouts of the missing persons. Not only the provision of accurate locations, but various other types of information such as post-accident two-way communication can enhance the survival chances of the missing persons. This information can be provided by a fit-for-purpose missing person locator system. A wide variety of missing person locator systems are already commercially available, some are in testing phases and others in prototype and development phases. This includes tracking, tracing, location detectors and post-accident two-way communication systems. These systems have unique functionalities, capabilities and limitations; making it difficult for mines to select the most effective, applicable and suitable system specific to their mine. In this study, the user requirements for a fit-for-purpose missing person locator system were developed. The purpose of the user requirements was to provide a guideline to facilitate the system selection process. The user requirements can also be used as a tool to measure and evaluate the performance of the selected missing person locator system. The user requirements were also used to predict the success of the selected system under different missing person incident scenarios. The development of the user requirements showed a potential for many other benefits for missing person locator systems.
The Impact of Humic Acid and Moringa Treatments on Enhancing Arsenic Tolerance in Broccoli Plants: Modulation of Sulphur Components and Enzymatic Antioxidant Defense
Authors: Radi Abeer A. , Abdel-Wahab Dalia A. , Hamada Afaf M. , Farghaly Fatma A. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractCompared with the lowlands of Asia, the ecological exposure to arsenic (As) in Egypt has not received much attention. Recent studies have discovered geogenic As-polluted soil and groundwater in numerous areas in Egypt. The behavior of metals can be affected by the complexation of humic acid (HA), a significant soil organic component, and moringa leaf extract (MLE), a superb source of phytohormones, amino acids, minerals, and antioxidants. This research investigated whether soaking broccoli in HA (0.1%) or MLE (25%) may boost the vegetable’s tolerance to various doses of As (0, 0.75, 1.50, and 3.0 mM Na2HAsO4. 7H2O; AsV). The results of this research demonstrated that HA and MLE enhanced the tolerance index (TI) of shoots, roots, and thiol compounds in leaves (cysteine (Cys), glutathione (GSH), and non-protein thiols (NPTs)) of As-treated plants. The content of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and proline in leaves and roots, phenolic compounds (free and bound), and activity of lipoxygenase (LOX), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) in leaves under As stress were substantially increased while they were decreased by HA and MLE treatments. These results provide insight into the regulation of As pollution by HA and MLE, which is relatively safer and more adaptable to the environment. Further research in this field is necessary to declare that HA and MLE are the most efficient treatments for As stress.
The role of microfinance service in the sustainable development goals of women's empowerment: a glimpse from Amhara Credit and Savings Institution (ACSI)
Authors: Wondimu Habtamu , Terefe Dagnachew , Melkamu Girum 
Published: November 2023

AbstractGender equality and women’s empowerment are major concerns under Goal 5 of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved by 2030. Therefore, microfinance institutions in developing nations have been working on these issues by providing loans to married women and others in need. As a result, this paper focuses on one such microfinance institution in Ethiopia, called ACSI (Amhara Credit and Saving Institution), and its role in fostering economic independence for married women and their involvement in various public social schemes. The study utilized a qualitative approach, collecting data through in-depth interviews (26), focus group discussions (1), and life histories from ACSI experts (4) and key informants from Women's and Children's Affairs (6). Specifically, the study focused on married women in Basona Werana Woreda and examined the impact of ACSI's credit services on their social conditions. The empirical findings of the study reveal that the social condition of married women clients has improved due to the credit services provided by ACSI. Women's social empowerment indicators have shown positive changes after utilizing the credit services. However, the study also identified challenges faced by the institution, such as a lack of adequate transportation means and a shortage of personnel to reach remote residents and fulfill their mission of improving the situation of vulnerable low-income and productive poor resident women. Additionally, cultural attitudes pose significant challenges to the social empowerment of women. The empirical implementation of this study provides insights into the achievements and hurdles that need to be addressed in enhancing economic security for married women through microfinance initiatives.
Sorghum stover and winery solid wastes co-digestion: application of iron oxide nanoparticles for biogas yield optimisation
Authors: Ossinga Carrelle G. , Okudoh Vincent I. , Chowdhury Mahabubur R. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractOne approach to addressing energy security issues is to produce renewable and sustainable bioenergy using abundant waste resources through anaerobic co-digestion (AcoD). However, the lignocellulosic nature of these biomass resources makes them recalcitrant, and pretreatment is required to make them more amenable to conversion. Iron oxide nanoparticles (ION) have been shown to increase methane yield significantly when added to biomass resources. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ION application on Sorghum stover (SS) and Winery solid waste (WSW) under mesophilic conditions. Hydrothermal synthesis was used to obtain Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Biomethane potential (BMP) tests were carried out in semi-continuous batch reactors with and without ION singly and combined SS: WSW (1:1) during a 30-day retention period. The results showed that the ION application on WSW delivered a higher biogas yield (380 mL), indicating an increase of 162% in biogas production compared to the sample without ION (145 mL). In addition, CH4 generation went from 30 to 114 mLCH4, indicating a 280% increase. However, adding ION to SS inhibited CH4 production. The study found that ION addition significantly improved biogas yield, especially with WSW, where the increase was more than triple, of interest to bioenergy and waste management practitioners.
Graphic Abstract
Inland Waters can Act as Nitrous Oxide Sinks: Observation and Modeling Reveal that Nitrous Oxide Undersaturation May Partially Offset Emissions
Authors: Aho K. S. , Maavara T. , Cawley K. M. , Raymond P. A. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractInland waters are significant, yet highly uncertain, natural sources of nitrous oxide (N2O). Many emission models assume that N2O is only emitted from freshwaters, and that N2O sink behavior is negligible. However, observational studies have reported N2O undersaturation, suggesting that inland waters can act as N2O sinks due to net N2O consumption. This study leverages data from the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) and an existing global emission model to examine the prevalence of and controls on N2O undersaturation in streams, rivers, and lakes across scales and biomes. We find that N2O undersaturation is prevalent in the NEON data set (14%–30% of samples) and process‐based model outputs (38%), occurring across biomes and spatial scales. Failing to account for undersaturation in the NEON data set could result in an 100% overestimation of N2O emissions. These results show that consideration of N2O sink behavior is needed for accurate emission estimates.