julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Doing youth in time? A relational perspective on the temporal constructions of youth
2024-07-23

Temporality is a key principle of the constitution of youth as a life phase. Historically, ,invented‘ and institutionalized as moratorium, youth has been reserved for preparation for adulthood, thus contributing to the sequential order of the modern life course. Institutional age marks in school, youth welfare or citizenship claim to explicitly demarcate beginning and ending of youth in a linear way. Not only but most lately in the context of the activating welfare state, temporal normativities and normalities of growing up seem to have lost consistency. Consequently, young people have to position themselves with regard to chrononormative markers of the ‘right age’ reflected by distinctions from, ‘too young for ...’ or, ‘too old for ...’. The article analyses blurring temporalities of the youth phase by relating changes of the temporal regime(s) of young people's growing up and their individual and collective time work from a doing transitions perspective. The complexity and paradox of these temporalities are illustrated by three exemplary empirical case vignettes: Coping with suspended transitions in the pandemic; Fridays for Future as intergenerational struggle for future; and youth cultural practices expressing attempts of slowing down. In these constellations tensions of temporality emerge: the tension between moratorium and acceleration, between orientation towards the future and orientation towards the present, between simultaneity and linear sequentiality. A relational approach to the temporalities of youth is developed along with concepts like relative time and asynchronicity while young people's time work is reinterpreted in terms of doing youth in time. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of relational temporality for conceptualizing young people's agency and consequences for youth research.
Birding specialization and satisfaction in Australian birders – a Big Year is not a big issue
2024-07-23

Birding as a non-consumptive, nature-related outdoor activity is becoming increasingly popular. Here, using an online survey of Australian birders, we focussed on birding as a construct of recreation specialization and considered three aspects: perceived level of skill/knowledge, behaviour, and involvement. We analysed demographic effects (age, degree and payment for birding services) in relation to level of birding specialization, as well as leisure satisfaction for the first time in Australian birders. We further studied the "Big Year". Birders can be classified into three groups: casual/novice, intermediate and advanced. Their satisfaction with birding as a leisure activity was generally high. More highly skilled and committed birders reported higher satisfaction, as did birders who participated more frequently. We also found that paid birders reported higher skill/knowledge compared to unpaid birders. Most respondents never participated in a Big Year, but if they did, it was most often in their local geographic area. From a theoretical viewpoint, leisure activity satisfaction should be studied on the general (trait) level as well as on the situational place level in situ. As a managerial implication, institutionalizing a local Big Year in a nearby birding hotspot (with minimal travelling time and costs) may be an enhancing and satisfying task.
Collagen Fleece Grafting for Surgical Treatment of Patients with Mild to Severe Peyronie’s Curvatures
2024-07-23

<title>Abstract</title> Background Collagen Fleece Grafting (CFG) for Peyronie’s Disease (PD) is a recommended treatment option for severe curvature &gt; 60 degrees. However, little is known about its utility in mild curvatures. A subgroup of patients with a significant risk of penile shortening or symptomatic plaques might benefit from the approach in mild curvatures &lt; 60°. We aimed to analyze the treatment indications, surgical technique, and early postoperative results of CGF in this scenario. We performed a retrospective review of patients undergoing surgical treatment for PD using partial plaque excision or incision and CFG. Patients were referred for surgery when the duration of PD was at least 9 months and previous conservative therapies had failed. Clinical parameters and complications were reviewed. Subgroup analysis was performed in patients with curvatures of &gt; 60° and mild curvatures ≤ 60. Results A total of 89 patients were identified. Median (range) age was 59 (38–73) years, and median (range) curvature was 70 (20–90)°. Curvature was dorsal in 66% of cases, ventral in 8%, lateral in 16%, and complex in 10% of cases. Partial plaque excision was performed in 87 (98%) patients. The mean (SD) surface area of grafting was 2.1 (1.9) cm<sup>2</sup>. The number of penile plaques was only one in 63 (71%) patients and 2 or more in 26 (29%) patients. There was no difference between the two groups (Curvature ≤ 60 vs. &gt;60) regarding mean operation time (86.3 <italic>vs.</italic> 94.4 min, p = 0.13) or mean hospital stay (5 <italic>vs.</italic> 5 days, p = 0.77). There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the incidence of post-operative glans necrosis nor glans hypoesthesia, ecchymosis, bleeding, hematoma, infection, residual curvature, revision surgery, or pain. Conclusions In patients with mild and severe PD deformities, early post-operative outcomes and complications after partial plaque incision or excision and grafting with CFG seemed similar. The technique may be safely applied in select patients with mild penile curvature.
Antimicrobial Evaluation of Two Polycyclic Polyprenylated Acylphloroglucinol Compounds: PPAP23 and PPAP53
2024-07-23

Polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs) comprise a large group of compounds of mostly plant origin. The best-known compound is hyperforin from St. John’s wort with its antidepressant, antitumor and antimicrobial properties. The chemical synthesis of PPAP variants allows the generation of compounds with improved activity and compatibility. Here, we studied the antimicrobial activity of two synthetic PPAP-derivatives, the water-insoluble PPAP23 and the water-soluble sodium salt PPAP53. In vitro, both compounds exhibited good activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium. Both compounds had no adverse effects on Galleria mellonella wax moth larvae. However, they were unable to protect the larvae from infection with S. aureus because components of the larval coelom neutralized the antimicrobial activity; a similar effect was also seen with serum albumin. In silico docking studies with PPAP53 revealed that it binds to the F1 pocket of human serum albumin with a binding energy of −7.5 kcal/mol. In an infection model of septic arthritis, PPAP23 decreased the formation of abscesses and S. aureus load in kidneys; in a mouse skin abscess model, topical treatment with PPAP53 reduced S. aureus counts. Both PPAPs were active against anaerobic Gram-positive gut bacteria such as neurotransmitter-producing Clostridium, Enterococcus or Ruminococcus species. Based on these results, we foresee possible applications in the decolonization of pathogens.
A systematic review and meta-analysis on early-childhood-caries global data
2024-07-24

Abstract Objectives The present study systematically reviewed and provided a meta-analysis on early childhood caries (ECC) global prevalence and its association with socioeconomic indicators, both geographical and regarding unemployment rate, national income as well as income inequalities. Methods Only cross-sectional or cohort studies covering ECC prevalence and experience in children younger than 71 months, reporting sample size, diagnostic criteria and conducted in urban and rural communities were considered. No language restriction was selected. Studies published from 2011 to 2022 available in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Open Grey literature were retrieved by ad hoc prepared search strings. The meta-analyses were conducted for both overall ECC prevalence and experience stratified by country of publication as well as measures of socioeconomic indicators using a random effects model using STATA 18 ® . Results One hundred publications reporting ECC data from 49 countries (published from 2011 to 2022) were included and summarized by meta-analysis. The lowest prevalence was reported in Japan (20.6%) and Greece (19.3%). The global estimated random-effect pooled prevalence of ECC was 49% (95%CI: 0.44–0.55). The random-effect pooled caries prevalence (ECC) was 34% (95%CI: 02.20–0.48) (Central/South America), 36% (95%CI: 0.25–0.47) (Europe), 42% (95%CI: 0.32–0.53) (Africa), 52% (95%CI: 0.45–0.60) (Asia-Oceania), 57% (95%CI: 0.36–0.77) (North America) and 72% (95%CI: 0.58–0.85) (Middle East). When stratified by gross national income (GNI) the ECC prevalence ranged from 30% ( 39,999) to 57% in countries with the lowest GNI (&lt;$5000). Stratification by inequality index (Gini index) resulted in an ECC prevalence range of 39% (low inequality) to 62% (no inequality), while for life expectancy the ECC prevalence ranged from 28% in countries with the highest life expectancy (&lt; 80 years) to 62% in countries with 71–75 years life expectancy. Discussion Within the limitations of this study (lack of certainty about the results as many countries are not represented and lack of uniformity in prevalence and experience data represented), results from 49 different countries reported a wide range of ECC prevalence. These reports indicated persisting high worldwide distribution of the disease. Both ECC prevalence and experience were associated with geographical areas and GNI. Registration PROSPERO: CRD-42,022,290,418.
BCL-2 and BOK regulate apoptosis by interaction of their C-terminal transmembrane domains
2024-07-24

Abstract The Bcl-2 family controls apoptosis by direct interactions of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins. The principle mechanism is binding of the BH3 domain of pro-apoptotic proteins to the hydrophobic groove of anti-apoptotic siblings, which is therapeutically exploited by approved BH3-mimetic anti-cancer drugs. Evidence suggests that also the transmembrane domain (TMD) of Bcl-2 proteins can mediate Bcl-2 interactions. We developed a highly-specific split luciferase assay enabling the analysis of TMD interactions of pore-forming apoptosis effectors BAX, BAK, and BOK with anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins in living cells. We confirm homotypic interaction of the BAX-TMD, but also newly identify interaction of the TMD of anti-apoptotic BCL-2 with the TMD of BOK, a peculiar pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein. BOK-TMD and BCL-2-TMD interact at the endoplasmic reticulum. Molecular dynamics simulations confirm dynamic BOK-TMD and BCL-2-TMD dimers and stable heterotetramers. Mutation of BCL-2-TMD at predicted key residues abolishes interaction with BOK-TMD. Also, inhibition of BOK-induced apoptosis by BCL-2 depends specifically on their TMDs. Thus, TMDs of Bcl-2 proteins are a relevant interaction interface for apoptosis regulation and provide a novel potential drug target.
Solving the Synthetic Riddle of Colloidal Two-Dimensional PbTe Nanoplatelets with Tunable Near-Infrared Emission
2024-07-24

Near-infrared emitting colloidal two-dimensional (2D) PbX (X = S, Se) nanoplatelets (NPLs) have emerged as interesting materials with strong size quantization in the thickness dimension. They act as model systems for efficient charge carrier multiplication and hold potential as intriguing candidates for fiber-based photonic quantum applications. However, synthetic access to the third family member, 2D PbTe, remains elusive due to challenging precursor chemistry. Here, we report a direct synthesis for 2D PbTe NPLs with tunable photoluminescence [PL, 910–1460 nm (1.36–0.85 eV), PL quantum yields 1–15%], based on aminophosphine precursor chemistry. Ex situ transamination of tris(dimethylamino)phosphine telluride with octylamine is confirmed by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance and yields a reactive tellurium precursor for the formation of 2D PbTe NPLs at temperatures as low as 0 °C. The PL position of the PbTe NPLs is tunable by controlling the Pb/Te ratio in the reaction. Grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering confirms the 2D geometry of the NPLs and the formation of superlattices. The importance of a postsynthetic passivation of PbTe NPLs by PbI2 to ensure colloidal stability of the otherwise oxygen-sensitive samples is supported by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Our results expand and complete the row of lead chalcogenide-based 2D NPLs, opening up new ways for further pushing the optical properties of 2D NPLs into the infrared and toward technologically relevant wavelengths.
Sorghum landraces perform better than a commonly used cultivar under terminal drought, especially on sandy soil
2024-07-24

Landraces of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] have a high potential for drought adaptations to increasingly extreme climates. We investigated the performance of five sorghum genotypes (four landraces and one commonly grown elite line) under water-limited conditions. Plants were grown until maturity in field-like columns on soils of four textures (silty clay, sandy loam, loamy sand, sand), which were dried during flowering stage down to 30 % usable field capacity. Plant transpiration, physiological characteristics, and yield were measured. For most of the measured parameters, the interaction between genotypes and soils was statistically significant. Alongside the gradient in available water between soils, plants had the highest total transpiration, transpiration efficiency (TE), harvest index (HI), and nutrient uptake in silty clay, steadily reduced towards soils with higher sand content. Especially in sandy soil, all measured plant performance parameters were significantly reduced compared to the other soils. There was a significant negative relationship between later flowering time and HI. While the elite cultivar M35–1 showed the highest TE, it suffered from late flowering and yield loss on all soils, especially when growing on sandy soil. The landraces IS 29914 and IS 8348 had a stable HI irrespective of their lowest TE. The shorter the plant, the better it coped with water and nutrient limitation and high transpiration efficiency was not connected to water conservation. The study overall emphasizes the high potential of sorghum landraces to overcome more extreme droughts as imposed by climate change. It also underlines the importance and strong interaction effect of soil texture on plant performance and transpiration efficiency, which is crucial to be considered in crop production. This outlines that specifically regions with sandy soils, characterized by low water-holding capacities, need genotypes that efficiently utilize the limited available water and nutrient resources – a genetic potential hidden in many landraces.
Genome Editing Dilemma: Navigating Dual-Use Potential and Charting the Path Forward
2024-07-24

Abstract Contemporary genome editing techniques have made genomic intervention—from microorganism to human—more accessible, easier to use, and more accurate than previous methods. We argue that, notwithstanding its merits in treating and preventing disease in humans, genome editing represents a potential threat for domestic and international security, requiring an integrated approach in regulating, detecting, preventing, and mitigating the risk of its use for malicious purposes. Despite the global regulatory ambitions of the 2021 WHO framework, we see insufficient attention given to the future prospect of dual-use genomic technology. Drawing parallels with the nuclear field, we suggest tentative practical steps for a way forward in dealing with genome editing technologies, such as: 1) adapting national (bio)security and defence strategies to include genome editing as a possible threat (with conceivable WMD potential); 2) enhancing the international dialogue on genome editing and raising the issue at the highest level; 3) working towards a global, legally binding verification mechanism; 4) tracking genome editing technologies.
Conflict Processing Is Unaffected by Stimulus Duration Across Multiple Visual Tasks: Evidence for Transient over Permanent Activation Models
2024-07-24

Abstract Permanent activation models of conflict tasks assume that the distractor constantly provides input into the response selection process as long as the stimulus is presented, whereas transient activation models assume that the influence of distractors is independent of stimulus duration. In the present study, we contrasted the prediction of these two architectures across different visual conflict tasks with manual responses. Specifically, we investigated the effects of short (150 ms) versus response-terminated stimulus duration on the delta plot (DP) slopes in a classic and accessory Simon task (Experiment 1), in a classic Simon and Eriksen flanker task (Experiment 2), and in a word-based (semantic) Simon and classic Stroop task (Experiment 3). Contrary to permanent activation models, all experiments revealed that the DP slopes were largely unaffected by stimulus duration. This result pattern is consistent with transient activation models such as the diffusion model for conflict tasks (DMC). Coherently, DMC was successfully fitted to the data. Importantly, the <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mi>τ</mml:mi> </mml:math> parameter reflecting the time course of distractor activation, as well as other parameters, were largely unaffected by stimulus duration. In conclusion, our results suggest that distractor activation in visual conflict tasks with manual responses is transient rather than permanent, and stimulus duration generally has no meaningful influence on conflict processing.
Pulsed inhibition of corticospinal excitability by the thalamocortical sleep spindle
2024-07-24

Abstract Thalamocortical sleep spindles, i.e., oscillatory bursts at ∼12-15 Hz of waxing and waning amplitude, are a hallmark feature of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and believed to play a key role in sleep-dependent memory reactivation and consolidation. Generated in the thalamus and projecting to neocortex and hippocampus, they are phasically modulated by neocortical slow oscillations (&lt;1 Hz) and in turn phasically modulate hippocampal sharp-wave ripples (&gt;80 Hz). This hierarchical cross-frequency nesting may enable phase-dependent plasticity in the neocortex, and spindles have thus been considered windows of plasticity in the sleeping brain. However, the assumed phasic excitability modulation had not yet been demonstrated for spindles. Utilizing a recently developed real-time spindle detection algorithm, we applied spindle phase-triggered transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to the primary motor cortex (M1) hand area and measured motor evoked potentials (MEP) to characterize corticospinal excitability during sleep spindles. We found a net suppression of MEP amplitudes during spindles, driven by selective inhibition during the falling flank of the spindle oscillation, but no inhibition during its peak, rising flank, and trough. Importantly, this phasic inhibition occurred on top of the general sleep-related inhibition observed during spindle-free NREM sleep and did not extend into the immediate refractory post-spindle periods. We conclude that spindles exert asymmetric “pulsed inhibition” of corticospinal excitability, which is assumedly relevant for processes of phase-dependent plasticity. These findings and the developed real-time spindle targeting methods will enable future studies to uncover the causal role of spindles in synaptic plasticity and systems memory consolidation.
A BODIPY-Containing Covalent Organic Framework as a Highly Porous Photosensitizer for Environmental Remediation and Pollutants Adsorption
2024-07-24

The direct incorporation of borondipyrromethene (BODIPY) subunits into the structural backbone of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) gives facile access to porous photosensitizers but is still a challenging task. Here, we introduce β ketoenamine-linked BDP TFP COF, which crystallizes in AA stacking mode with hcb topology. A comprehensive characterization reveals high crystallinity and enhanced stability in a variety of solvents, excellent porosity (SABET = 1042 m2/g), broad light absorption in the visible region, and red emission upon the exfoliation of few-layer COF nanosheets. The versatility of multifunctional BODIPY-COFs is highlighted in various applications. Pollutants Bisphenol A (BPA, qmax = 426 mg/g) and Methylene Blue (MB, qmax = 96 mg/g) have been efficiently removed from H2O. Fluorescence quenching or enhancement of exfoliated BDP TFP COF nanosheets have been utilized for dual-mode sensing of MB or NEt3, respectively. Ultimately, the photosensitizing effect of the BODIPY units is retained in the COF. Thus, BPD TFP COF was established as a metal-free triplet photosensitizer, which efficiently oxidized a mustard gas simulant under visible light irradiation.
A ONECUT1 regulatory, non-coding region in pancreatic development and diabetes
2024-07-24

In a patient with permanent neonatal syndromic diabetes clinically similar to cases with ONECUT1 biallelic mutations, we identified a disease-causing deletion located upstream of ONECUT1. Through genetic, genomic and functional studies we identified a crucial regulatory region acting as an enhancer of ONECUT1 specifically during pancreatic development. This enhancer region contains a low-frequency variant showing strong association with type 2 diabetes and other glycemic traits, thus extending the contribution of this region to common forms of diabetes. Clinical relevance is provided by experimentally tailored therapy options for patients carrying ONECUT1 coding or regulatory mutations.
Kṛpa
2024-07-24

In a recent study (Pontillo 2016) it has been argued that the Mahābhārata contains traces of a heterodox culture, the Vrātya-culture, and these emerge most clearly in connection with Bhīṣma and Droṇa. In this article it will be strongly suggested that any analysis of these two epic characters should take Kṛpa into account as well, since he has many features in common with them, especially with Droṇa. Furthermore, after a briefly outlined proposal to explain these commonalities, the function of the narrative character of Kṛpa will be examined.
Evaluation of Engineering Models for Large‐Scale Cluster Wakes With the Help of In Situ Airborne Measurements
2024-07-25

ABSTRACT The planned expansion of wind energy in the German Bight is creating much more densely staggered wind farms and wind farm clusters. This results in a significantly greater influence of the generated wakes on energy production of neighboring wind farms. The Dornier‐128 research aircraft operated by the Technische Universität of Braunschweig was used to measure the wind field in the lee of single and multiple wind farm clusters in the German Bight on 4 days during July 2020 and July 2021. The data at 120 m aMSL (above mean sea level) were analyzed to identify wake areas and the wind speed decrease behind the wind farm clusters. The observations were then compared to a range of numerical data including the mesoscale model Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) applying a wind farm parameterization (WRF with wind farm parameterization [WRF‐WF]) to model wake effects and an engineering model with different setups. A model calibrated on a single wind farm is established as the baseline. A modification with a lower wake recovery, the TurbOPark model, and a WRF‐coupled model make up the three additional declinations considered. Overall, the models compared well to the measurement data in the direct vicinity of the wind farms and up to 20–30 km downstream of the wind farm clusters. The accuracy in wind speed prediction of the model results decreased with distance to the wind farms, where the mesoscale model (WRF‐WF) exhibited a more consistent performance across varying distances.