bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Experimental and Theoretical Studies on Ag Nanoparticles with Enhanced Plasmonic Response, Formed Within Al2O3 Thin Films Deposited by Magnetron Sputtering
Authors: Sekrafi Houssem Eddine , Costa Daniela S. , Proença Manuela , Meira Diana I. , Vaz Filipe , Borges Joel 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Reactive magnetron sputtering was employed to prepare nanocomposite thin films of Ag/Al2O3, on a glass substrate. The films are characterized by the formation of Ag nanoparticles embedded in the Al2O3 matrix, after thermal treatment at 600 °C, which are responsible for the appearance of an outstanding pronounced and narrow localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) band. Electron microscopy analysis also revealed the presence of larger Ag fractal aggregates at the film’s surface, responsible for a broad band absorption. Noteworthily, the LSPR band maximum remains at the same position (about 412 nm) for Ag concentrations ranging from 23 to 34 at.%, despite some discernible alterations in both LSPR band intensity and width. An optimized thin film is characterized by full transparency in non-resonant wavelengths due to suppression of Ag aggregates at the film’s surface, while maintaining the LSPR behavior. To better explain the plasmonic behavior of the Ag/Al2O3 films, discrete dipole approximation was used to determine the extinction, scattering, and absorption efficiencies of Ag spheres surrounded by an Al2O3 cap layer. This allowed to ascertain some nanostructural features of the films, pointing to the formation of Ag nanoparticles with average sizes in the order of 40 nm.
Chancen und Herausforderungen der redaktionellen Umsetzung von Audience Engagement – eine Fallstudie am Beispiel des Projektes #unserWasser
Authors: Uth Bernadette 
Published: February 2024

ZusammenfassungRedaktionen müssen angesichts einer zunehmend fragmentierten Publikumsbeziehung neue Wege finden, ihre Rezipierenden an sich zu binden. Eine in diesem Kontext oftmals diskutierte Strategie ist die des Audience-Engagements. Im Rahmen einer Fallstudie untersucht dieser Beitrag Chancen und Herausforderung der redaktionellen Umsetzung von Audience-Engagement anhand eines Projekts einer öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalt. In der qualitativen Analyse zeigen sich klare Chancen des Audience-Engagements: der Aufbau von Legitimität, Relevanzgewinn, Repräsentation, neue Finanzierungsmöglichkeiten sowie Vertrauensbildung und Beziehungspflege. Zugleich zeigen sich jedoch auch einige Herausforderungen, die es bei der Planung und Umsetzung derartiger Projekte zu berücksichtigen gilt: Der hohe Organisations- und Koordinationsaufwand, redaktionelle Selbstverpflichtung, Themen- und Formatauswahl, Erwartungsmanagement sowie ethische und datenschutzrechtliche Aspekte stellen sich als Erfolgsfaktoren für die Durchführung von Audience-Engagement-Projekten heraus. Daraus lassen sich diverse Implikationen für die Umsetzung von Audience-Engagement-Projekten ableiten – zentral wird insbesondere die Institutionalisierung sein. Die Ergebnisse bieten sowohl für die Forschung als auch für die journalistische Praxis vielfältige Anknüpfungspunkte.
Energy recovery and waste valorization in a frozen food processing facility: a case study from Lazio, Italy
Authors: Di Fraia Simona , Di Meglio Armando , Massarotti Nicola , Vanoli Laura , Bentivoglio Riccardo , Volpecina Valerio 
Published: February 2024

AbstractFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that food, beverage, and tobacco sector is currently responsible for about 30% of total world energy consumption and approximately the same percentage of food is wasted during its industrial transformation. Improving the sustainability of food processing is fundamental to reduce the environmental impact of this sector as well as to lower the disposal cost of industrial waste. The objective of this work is to propose an efficient and technically feasible solution for the management and energy recovery of residual biomasses and industrial processing by-products, such as sewage sludge produced by industrial wastewater treatment. The above solution is developed for a real frozen food factory operating in Lazio region (Italy) introducing a sewage sludge dryer and a gasifier to produce syngas. The software Aspen Plus is adopted to numerically simulate the gasification process, using a literature validated model, while the dryer and the already present combined heat and power (CHP) plant are dynamically modelled in TRNSYS environment. The results demonstrate that the proposed solution is feasible and attractive from both an environmental and an economic perspective. The Simple Pay Back of the investment is less than 3 years, while the Net Present Value stands at about 2.4 M€. Furthermore, the CO2 proposed system allows to save 179 t of equivalent CO2 emissions compared to the current system.
The mediating effect of growth mindset in the relationship between adolescents’ optimism and grit
Authors: Pyo Dasol , Kwak Keumjoo , Kim Yeonsoo 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThis study investigated the relationship between optimism, growth mindset, and grit among adolescents. In particular, we explored the mediating effect of growth mindset on the relationship between optimism and grit. Based on a cross-sectional study, participants were 647 Korean adolescents from age 12 to 16 years (M = 14.3 years). The main findings were as follows. First, adolescents’ optimism significantly predicted grit. Second, growth mindset significantly predicted grit. Finally, growth mindset partially and significantly mediated the relationship between optimism and grit. Additionally, we analyzed the two components of grit, consistency of interest and perseverance of effort, respectively. The results showed that growth mindset partially mediated the association between optimism and perseverance of effort, while consistency of interest did not. The empirical findings in this study provided a psychological mechanism on the path from optimism to grit by demonstrating the mediating effect of growth mindset. To our knowledge, this study is the first empirical study to investigate the mediating effect of growth mindset on the relationship between optimism and grit in Korean adolescents.
On linearisation and existence of preduals
Authors: Kruse Karsten 
Published: February 2024

AbstractWe study the problem of existence of preduals of locally convex Hausdorff spaces. We derive necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a predual with certain properties of a bornological locally convex Hausdorff space X. Then we turn to the case that $$X=\mathcal {F}(\Omega )$$

X
=
F
(
Ω
)

is a space of scalar-valued functions on a non-empty set $$\Omega $$
Ω
and characterise those among them which admit a special predual, namely a strong linearisation, i.e. there are a locally convex Hausdorff space Y, a map $$\delta :\Omega \rightarrow Y$$

δ
:
Ω
→
Y

and a topological isomorphism $$T:\mathcal {F}(\Omega )\rightarrow Y_{b}'$$

T
:
F

(
Ω
)

→

Y

b

′

such that $$T(f)\circ \delta = f$$

T
(
f
)
∘
δ
=
f

for all $$f\in \mathcal {F}(\Omega )$$

f
∈
F
(
Ω
)

.
Nonparametric efficiency measurement of undergraduate teaching by university size
Authors: Salas-Velasco Manuel 
Published: February 2024

AbstractConventional data envelopment analysis (DEA) models assume that all decision-making units (DMUs) are homogenous. While higher education institutions (HEIs) of very different sizes challenge the homogeneity of DMUs, DEA studies have paid relatively little attention to university size when assessing the performance of HEIs. This article proposes novel, effective methods for evaluating university performance and identifying useful benchmarks for improving the operations of inefficient performers. Specifically, DEA and cluster analysis (CA) are applied for the evaluation of the performance of traditional Spanish public universities. DEA is utilized to examine the relative performance of these universities in terms of undergraduate teaching output. CA is applied to find similar-in-scale universities prior to the DEA to facilitate peer-groupings. The advantage of this method is that when DMUs are clustered based on their size, one can obtain homogenous groups of units with comparable operating environments. Furthermore, using the meta-frontier framework, this research finds significant evidence that there is an efficiency advantage for medium- and large-sized universities over small ones in providing undergraduate teaching. A bootstrapped, non-parametric meta-frontier approach also verifies this latter result. Some of the factors that contribute to the differences in the relative efficiencies are identified as well.
Exploring the Role of Sociability, Ownership, and Affinity for Technology in Shaping Acceptance and Intention to Use Personal Assistance Robots.
Authors: Roesler Eileen , Rudolph Sophie , Siebert Felix Wilhelm 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Personal assistance robots are making inroads into our private and public life. At the same time, most humans are still unfamiliar with this technology and hesitate to accept and use it for daily tasks. Fortunately, the designs of robots can be adjusted to yield greater acceptance, subsequently enabling their utilization across various tasks. Using a scenario-based online experiment, we explored how sociability (low vs. high), ownership (private vs. public), and affinity for technology influence the acceptance and intention to use a robot for grocery shopping. Moreover, to assess users’ preference for robots’ morphology, participants were asked to choose a robot (technical vs. anthropomorphic design) that they would prefer to use in a supermarket. We found that low sociability of the service robot and a higher affective affinity for technology led to a higher level of acceptance. For more sociable robots, higher levels of anthropomorphism were preferred. Our results point to the importance of task-specific robot design that exceeds functional considerations.
Delineating the role of nuclear receptors in colorectal cancer, a focused review
Authors: Manickasamy Mukesh Kumar , Jayaprakash Sujitha , Girisa Sosmitha , Kumar Aviral , Lam Hiu Yan , Okina Elena , Eng Huiyan , Alqahtani Mohammed S. , Abbas Mohamed , Sethi Gautam , Kumar Alan Prem , Kunnumakkara Ajaikumar B. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractColorectal cancer (CRC) stands as one of the most prevalent form of cancer globally, causing a significant number of deaths, surpassing 0.9 million in the year 2020. According to GLOBOCAN 2020, CRC ranks third in incidence and second in mortality in both males and females. Despite extensive studies over the years, there is still a need to establish novel therapeutic targets to enhance the patients’ survival rate in CRC. Nuclear receptors (NRs) are ligand-activated transcription factors (TFs) that regulate numerous essential biological processes such as differentiation, development, physiology, reproduction, and cellular metabolism. Dysregulation and anomalous expression of different NRs has led to multiple alterations, such as impaired signaling cascades, mutations, and epigenetic changes, leading to various diseases, including cancer. It has been observed that differential expression of various NRs might lead to the initiation and progression of CRC, and are correlated with poor survival outcomes in CRC patients. Despite numerous studies on the mechanism and role of NRs in this cancer, it remains of significant scientific interest primarily due to the diverse functions that various NRs exhibit in regulating key hallmarks of this cancer. Thus, modulating the expression of NRs with their agonists and antagonists, based on their expression levels, holds an immense prospect in the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutical modalities of CRC. In this review, we primarily focus on the role and mechanism of NRs in the pathogenesis of CRC and emphasized the significance of targeting these NRs using a variety of agents, which may represent a novel and effective strategy for the prevention and treatment of this cancer.
Graphical Abstract
Evaluation of the effect of sagging correction calibration errors in radiotherapy software on image matching
Authors: Yamazawa Yumi , Osaka Akitane , Fujii Yasushi , Nakayama Takahiro , Nishioka Kunio , Tanabe Yoshinori 
Published: February 2024

AbstractTo investigate the impact of sagging correction calibration errors in radiotherapy software on image matching. Three software applications were used, with and without a polymethyl methacrylate rod supporting the ball bearings (BB). The calibration error for sagging correction across nine flex maps (FMs) was determined by shifting the BB positions along the Left–Right (LR), Gun–Target (GT), and Up–Down (UD) directions from the reference point. Lucy and pelvic phantom cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images underwent auto-matching after modifying each FM. Image deformation was assessed in orthogonal CBCT planes, and the correlations among BB shift magnitude, deformation vector value, and differences in auto-matching were analyzed. The average difference in analysis results among the three softwares for the Winston–Lutz test was within 0.1 mm. The determination coefficients (R2) between the BB shift amount and Lucy phantom matching error in each FM were 0.99, 0.99, and 1.00 in the LR-, GT-, and UD-directions, respectively. The pelvis phantom demonstrated no cross-correlation in the GT direction during auto-matching error evaluation using each FM. The correlation coefficient (r) between the BB shift and the deformation vector value was 0.95 on average for all image planes. Slight differences were observed among software in the evaluation of the Winston–Lutz test. The sagging correction calibration error in the radiotherapy imaging system was caused by an auto-matching error of the phantom and deformation of CBCT images.
Factors Impacting Participatory Post-Disaster Relocation and Housing Reconstruction: The Case of Tsholotsho District, Zimbabwe
Authors: Ngulube Nombulelo Kitsepile , Tatano Hirokazu , Samaddar Subhajyoti 
Published: February 2024

AbstractRelocation is not typically considered the best planning option for post-disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation, but it may be necessary if the site has suffered severe damage or is at imminent risk. There is a growing recognition that strong community participation is necessary in the post-disaster relocation decision-making process since relocation can have detrimental effects on a community’s livelihood, cultural system, and way of life, among others. However, the realization of this still needs to be improved. As of yet, few studies have examined a comprehensive account of meaningful community engagement in post-disaster relocation and reconstruction, particularly in developing countries. This study investigated what factors influenced local communities’ participation in post-disaster relocation and reconstruction works after the 2017 Cyclone Dineo flood disaster in the Tsholotsho District of Zimbabwe. Qualitative research methods such as face-to-face interviews, observations, and focus groups were used to collect qualitative data from a purposive sample of 25 community members and 6 stakeholders. This empirical investigation showed that despite the fact that the relocation project was conceived as a community-centered project, there was no meaningful community engagement, due to the absence of a participatory framework or planning guidelines for stakeholder engagement, as well as the lack of political willingness among government officials. The study concluded that the lack of community involvement led to local communities abandoning the reconstruction sites because relocation projects failed to accommodate the cultural beliefs, place attachments, and livelihood concerns of local communities. This study suggested that it is imperative to enhance the awareness of government officials and other stakeholders about the importance of community participation for the effective implementation of post-disaster relocation works. Meaningful community participation can also provide avenues for incorporating local needs and concerns, cultural beliefs, and alternative and sustainable livelihood restoration, which are essential for effective reconstruction after disasters. This research aimed to enrich the academic discourse by providing valuable insights into the intricacies of post-disaster recovery initiatives in the country.
Estimate and needs of the transgender adult population: the SPoT study
Authors: Fisher A. D. , Marconi M. , Castellini G. , Safer J. D. , D’Arienzo S. , Levi M. , Brogonzoli L. , Iardino R. , Cocchetti C. , Romani A. , Mazzoli F. , Matarrese P. , Ricca V. , Vignozzi L. , Maggi M. , Pierdominici M. , Ristori J. 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
Despite the increasing interest in transgender health research, to date little is known about the size of the transgender and gender diverse (TGD) population.

Methods
A web-based questionnaire survey was developed, including a collection of socio-demographic characteristics and disseminated online through social media. Gender incongruence was evaluated by using a 2-item approach assessing gender recorded at birth and gender identity. The primary objective of the present population-based study was to estimate the proportion of TGD people across ages among a large sample of people who answered a web-based survey. The secondary endpoints were to identify gender-affirming needs and possible barriers to healthcare access.

Results
A total of 19,572 individuals participated in the survey, of whom 7.7% reported a gender identity different from the sex recorded at birth. A significantly higher proportion of TGD people was observed in the youngest group of participants compared with older ones. Among TGD people who participated in the study, 58.4% were nonbinary, and 49.1% experienced discrimination in accessing health care services. Nonbinary TGD participants reported both the need for legal name and gender change, along with hormonal and surgical interventions less frequently compared to binary persons.

Conclusions
Being TGD is not a marginal condition In Italy. A large proportion of TGD persons may not need medical and surgical treatments. TGD people often experience barriers to healthcare access relating to gender identity.
Dual-Atom Nanozyme Eye Drops Attenuate Inflammation and Break the Vicious Cycle in Dry Eye Disease
Authors: Chu Dandan , Zhao Mengyang , Rong Shisong , Jhe Wonho , Cai Xiaolu , Xiao Yi , Zhang Wei , Geng Xingchen , Li Zhanrong , Zhang Xingcai , Li Jingguo 
Published: February 2024

AbstractDry eye disease (DED) is a major ocular pathology worldwide, causing serious ocular discomfort and even visual impairment. The incidence of DED is gradually increasing with the high-frequency use of electronic products. Although inflammation is core cause of the DED vicious cycle, reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a pivotal role in the vicious cycle by regulating inflammation from upstream. Therefore, current therapies merely targeting inflammation show the failure of DED treatment. Here, a novel dual-atom nanozymes (DAN)-based eye drops are developed. The antioxidative DAN is successfully prepared by embedding Fe and Mn bimetallic single-atoms in N-doped carbon material and modifying it with a hydrophilic polymer. The in vitro and in vivo results demonstrate the DAN is endowed with superior biological activity in scavenging excessive ROS, inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation, decreasing proinflammatory cytokines expression, and suppressing cell apoptosis. Consequently, the DAN effectively alleviate ocular inflammation, promote corneal epithelial repair, recover goblet cell density and tear secretion, thus breaking the DED vicious cycle. Our findings open an avenue to make the DAN as an intervention form to DED and ROS-mediated inflammatory diseases.
Quantitative investigation of rock dynamic failure using Voronoi-based discontinuous deformation analysis
Authors: Zhang Kaiyu , Zhang Lei , Liu Feng , Yu Yuchao , Wang Shuai 
Published: February 2024

AbstractDynamic failure widely exists in rock engineering, such as excavation, blasting, and rockburst. However, the quantitative measurement of the dynamic damage process using experimental methods remains a challenge. In this study, a SHPB modeling technique is established based on Voronoi-based DDA to study the damage evolution of Fangshan granite under dynamic loading. The assessment of cracking along the artificial joints among Voronoi sub-blocks is conducted using the modified contact constitutive law. A calibration procedure has been implemented to investigate the rock dynamic properties quantitatively. The dispersion and damping effect can be effectively eliminated by regular discretization in SHPB bars, based on which the dynamic stress equilibrium can be satisfied. To reproduce the loading rate effect of the dynamic compressive strength, which has been observed in the experiment, a modification strategy considering the influence of the rate effect on the strength meso-parameters is proposed. Using this strategy, the peak stresses of the transmitted waves predicted by DDA match well with those obtained from experiments conducted at different loading rates. The simulation results show that more microcracks are generated and the proportion of tensile cracks decreases as the loading rate increases. Furthermore, the dynamic mechanical behavior and fracturing process have also been discussed and compared with the experiments. The results show that the established SHPB system is a powerful tool for quantitative analysis of rock dynamics problems and can handle more complex problems in the future.
Blue-Green Horizons: Redefining Alginate Bioplastics with Spirulina Dyes
Authors: Delgado Carolina , Forman Gabriela , Apolinário Arlete 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThis study introduces a novel, eco-friendly approach for the extraction and application of Spirulina (Sp.) pigments in alginate bioplastics, representing a significant advancement over traditional dyeing methods. The research explores a zero waste model process in a Fab Lab setting, involving three stages, liquid dye preparation, fibre dyeing, and bioplastic dyeing, with a focus on utilizing all by-products sustainably. In the liquid dye preparation phase, vibrant blue-green pigments were successfully extracted from Spirulina powder. The colour depth depended on the Spirulina concentration and the precipitation method used, with pH playing a critical role in achieving a range of green–blue hues. The fibre dyeing phase tested Spirulina dyes on various natural fibres, examining the impact of alum mordant pre-treatment on colour absorption and stability. Optimal dyeing results were obtained with a 1:1 ratio of Spirulina-filtered powder suspension to alum acid precipitation solution at a pH of 4. The techniques optimized were then applied to alginate bioplastics, including bio-yarns and bio-films, yielding a wide spectrum from green to blue. Bio-yarns showed better colour retention compared to bio-films, possibly due to residual alum. However, challenges in long-term colour stability and structural integrity against environmental factors like oxidation and humidity were observed. The study contributes valuable insights into the application of natural dyes in bioplastics, particularly in achieving blue and green shades with a Spirulina zero waste model. This work is significant for future sustainable material science research and emphasizes the importance of balancing aesthetic, functional, and environmental factors in circular design.
Graphical Abstract