bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting Adolescent Intervention Non-responsiveness for Precision HIV Prevention Using Machine Learning
Authors: Wang Bo , Liu Feifan , Deveaux Lynette , Ash Arlene , Gerber Ben , Allison Jeroan , Herbert Carly , Poitier Maxwell , MacDonell Karen , Li Xiaoming , Stanton Bonita
Published: October 2022

Interventions to teach protective behaviors may be differentially effective within an adolescent population. Identifying the characteristics of youth who are less likely to respond to an intervention can guide program modifications to improve its effectiveness. Using comprehensive longitudinal data on adolescent risk behaviors, perceptions, sensation-seeking, peer and family influence, and neighborhood risk factors from 2564 grade 10–12 students in The Bahamas, this study employs machine learning approaches (support vector machines, logistic regression, decision tree, and random forest) to identify important predictors of non-responsiveness for precision prevention. We used 80% of the data to train the models and the rest for model testing. Among different machine learning algorithms, the random forest model using longitudinal data and the Boruta feature selection approach predicted intervention non-responsiveness best, achieving sensitivity of 85.4%, specificity of 78.4% and AUROC of 0.93 on the training data, and sensitivity of 84.3%, specificity of 67.1%, and AUROC of 0.85 on the test data. Key predictors include self-efficacy, perceived response cost, parent monitoring, vulnerability, response efficacy, HIV/AIDS knowledge, communication about condom use, and severity of HIV/STI. Machine learning can yield powerful predictive models to identify adolescents who are unlikely to respond to an intervention. Such models can guide the development of alternative strategies that may be more effective with intervention non-responders.
Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay and metal ion homeostasis and detoxification in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Zhang Xinyi , Kebaara Bessie W.
Published: October 2022

The highly conserved Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) pathway is a translation dependent mRNA degradation pathway. Although NMD is best known for its role in degrading mRNAs with premature termination codons (PTCs) generated during transcription, splicing, or damage to the mRNAs, NMD is now also recognized as a pathway with additional important functions. Notably, NMD precisely regulates protein coding natural mRNAs, hence controlling gene expression within several physiologically significant pathways. Such pathways affected by NMD include nutritional bio-metal homeostasis and metal ion detoxification, as well as crosstalk between these pathways. Here, we focus on the relationships between NMD and various metal homeostasis and detoxification pathways. We review the described role that the NMD pathway plays in magnesium, zinc, iron, and copper homeostasis, as well as cadmium detoxification.
“Vascular inflammation and cardiovascular disease: review about the role of PET imaging”
Authors: Sammartino Antonio Maria , Falco Raffaele , Drera Andrea , Dondi Francesco , Bellini Pietro , Bertagna Francesco , Vizzardi Enrico
Published: October 2022

Inflammation characterizes all stages of atherothrombosis and provides a critical pathophysiological link between plaque formation and its acute rupture, leading to coronary occlusion and heart attack. In the last 20 years the possibility of quantifying the degree of inflammation of atherosclerotic plaques and, therefore, also of vascular inflammation aroused much interest. 18Fluoro-deoxy-glucose photon-emissions-tomography (18F-FDG-PET) is widely used in oncology for staging and searching metastases; in cardiology, the absorption of 18F-FDG into the arterial wall was observed for the first time incidentally in the aorta of patients undergoing PET imaging for cancer staging. PET/CT imaging with 18F-FDG and 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) has been shown to assess atherosclerotic disease in its molecular phase, when the process may still be reversible. This approach has several limitations in the clinical practice, due to lack of prospective data to justify their use routinely, but it’s desirable to develop further scientific evidence to confirm this technique to detect high-risk patients for cardiovascular events.
Benthic studies adjacent to Sakhalin Island, Russia, 2015 II: energy content of the zoobenthos in western gray whale feeding grounds
Authors: Maresh Jennifer L. , Blanchard Arny L. , Demchenko Natalia L. , Shcherbakov Ilya , Aerts Lisanne , Schwarz Lisa K.
Published: October 2022

The waters adjacent to the northeastern coast of Sakhalin Island, Russia, are an important feeding ground for the endangered western gray whale. Data on the energy available to foraging whales from their prey resources is required for researchers interested in modeling the bioenergetics of whale foraging, but little energy content information is available for the benthic prey communities of gray whales in this region. In this study, we describe the energy density (ED), biomass, and total energy availability (ED × biomass) of benthic prey sampled from two gray whale foraging areas adjacent to Sakhalin Island: the nearshore and offshore feeding areas. ED varied almost seven-fold among benthic taxa, ranging from 1.11 to 7.62 kJ/g wet mass. Although there was considerable variation within most prey groups, amphipods had the highest mean ED of all of groups examined (5.58 ± 1.44 kJ/g wet mass). Small sample sizes precluded us from detecting any seasonal or spatial differences in mean ED within or among taxa; however, mean biomass in the offshore feeding area was, in some cases, an order of magnitude higher than mean estimates in the nearshore feeding area, resulting in higher mean total energy available to foraging gray whales offshore (958–3313 kJ/m2) compared to nearshore (223–495 kJ/m2). While the proportion of total energy accounted for by amphipods was variable, this prey group generally made up a higher proportion of the total energy available in the benthos of the offshore feeding area than in the benthos of the nearshore feeding area. Data presented here will be used to inform bioenergetics modeling of the vital rates of mature females in an effort to improve understanding of population growth limits for western gray whales.
Western gray whales on their summer feeding ground off Sakhalin Island in 2015: who is foraging where?
Authors: Schwarz Lisa K. , Gailey Glenn , Tyurneva Olga , Yakovlev Yuri , Sychenko Olga , van der Wolf Peter , Vertyankin Vladimir V.
Published: October 2022

In the face of cumulative effects of oil and gas activities on the endangered western gray whale, informed management decisions rely on knowledge of gray whale spatial use patterns as a function of demographic group and prey energy. In particular, the gray whale foraging ground off Sakhalin Island consists of two distinct areas (nearshore and offshore) with the offshore feeding area exhibiting markedly high prey energy content. Based on photo-identification data collected from 2002 to 2015, we determined that gray whale use of the offshore feeding area increased with age. Pregnant females were more likely to be sighted only nearshore when nearshore prey energy and the proportion of nearshore energy from amphipods were higher. Likewise, females arriving with calves were less likely to be sighted offshore when the proportion of nearshore energy from amphipods was higher. Photo-identification effort in 2015 was increased substantially, with the intent of maximizing resighting data of individual whales to determine the relative proportion of different demographic groups utilizing the nearshore and offshore feeding areas. Comparing sighting data collected in 2015 with data from all previous years combined, mothers arriving with calves were sighted in the offshore feeding area earlier in 2015, with no evidence that they returned to forage nearshore later in the season. Other reproductive females constituted a higher proportion of the animals foraging nearshore prior to 2015, while juveniles were a higher proportion during 2015. Thus, the offshore feeding area is an important component of the gray whales’ annual life cycle, particularly if nearshore prey energy continues to decline, and offshore anthropogenic activities need to be monitored and addressed.
Gray whale habitat use and reproductive success during seismic surveys near their feeding grounds: comparing state-dependent life history models and field data
Authors: Schwarz Lisa , McHuron Elizabeth , Mangel Marc , Gailey Glenn , Sychenko Olga
Published: October 2022

We used a stochastic dynamic programming (SDP) model to quantify the consequences of disturbance on pregnant western gray whales during one foraging season. The SDP model has a firm basis in bioenergetics, but detailed knowledge of minimum reproductive length of females (Lmin) and the relationship between length and reproductive success (Rfit) was lacking. We varied model assumptions to determine their effects on predictions of habitat use, proportion of animals disturbed, reproductive success, and the effects of disturbance. SmallerLminvalues led to higher predicted nearshore habitat use. Changes inLminandRfithad little effect on predictions of the effect of disturbance. Reproductive success increased with increasedLminand with higher probability of reproductive success by length. Multiple seismic surveys were conducted in 2015 off the northeast coast of Sakhalin Island, with concomitant benthic prey surveys, photo-identification studies, and whale distribution sampling, thus providing a unique opportunity to compare output from SDP models with empirical observations. SDP model predictions of reproductive success and habitat use were similar with and without acoustic disturbance, and SDP predictions of reproductive success and large-scale habitat use were generally similar to values and trends in the data. However, empirical estimates of the proportion of pregnant females nearshore were much higher than SDP model predictions (a large effect, measured by Cohen’sd) during the first week, and the SDP model overestimated whale density in the south and underestimated density around the mouth of Piltun Bay. Such differences in nearshore habitat use would not affect SDP predictions of reproductive success or survival under the current seismic air gun disturbance scenario.
Access to Credit in a Market Downturn
Authors: Casu Barbara , Chiaramonte Laura , Croci Ettore , Filomeni Stefano
Published: October 2022

Using a unique proprietary dataset from a large European commercial bank containing granular loan-level information on credit lines to mid-corporate firms, we investigate the bank’s decisions to allow firms to retain existing credit at a time of acute financial instability. Our results highlight the importance of bank-firm relationships during crisis times. Existing borrowers who actively used their credit lines were not rationed, unless they posed an increased credit risk. We do not find evidence of evergreening practices.
Seasonal variation in cuckoldry rates in the socially monogamous cichlid fish Variabilichromis moorii
Authors: Zimmermann Holger , Bose Aneesh P. H. , Eisner Helgit , Henshaw Jonathan M. , Ziegelbecker Angelika , Richter Florian , Bračun Sandra , Katongo Cyprian , Fritzsche Karoline , Sefc Kristina M.
Published: October 2022

Mating patterns in animal populations can respond to environmental conditions and consequently vary across time. To examine this variation in nature, studies must include temporal replicates from the same population. Here, we report temporal variation in genetic parentage in the socially monogamous cichlid Variabilichromis moorii from Lake Tanganyika, using samples of broods and their brood-tending parents that were collected across five field trips from the same study population. The sampled broods were either spawned during the dry season (three field trips) or during the rainy season (two trips). In all seasons, we detected substantial rates of extra-pair paternity, which were ascribed to cuckoldry by bachelor males. Paternity shares of brood-tending males were consistently higher, and the numbers of sires per brood were consistently lower, in broods that were spawned in the dry seasons compared to broods from the rainy seasons. In contrast, the strength of size-assortative pairing in our V. moorii population did not vary temporally. Seasonal fluctuations in environmental conditions, such as water turbidity, are proposed as a mechanism behind variable cuckolder pressure. Our data demonstrate the utility of long-term monitoring to improve our understanding of animal mating patterns.
Successful Steps in Higher Education to Stop Computer Science Students from Attrition
Authors: Takács Rita , Kárász Judit T. , Takács Szabolcs , Horváth Zoltán , Oláh Attila
Published: October 2022

Currently, the dropout rate is crucial in the field of Computer Science (CS) higher education. In CS education it is usually the mathematically oriented subjects that are blamed for the high dropout rates. Implementing a theoretical framework into practice, we have been able to prevent 28% of our students from dropping out in the last 2 years due to our education reform. The aim of the present study is to analyse the results of the students through the curriculum of the CS program by factor analysis. Nearly 4000 first-year students’ results were analysed. One of the most important steps of the education reform was that all of the lectures became compulsory to attend. Another step was the introduction of a prevention and skills-training program for every first-year student in order to develop their study skills. Our findings highlighted that as a consequence of the education reform, more students stayed until the end of the first and second semesters and try taking exams in the exam period. Analysing the subjects as factors in the CS curriculum could (1) help faculty staff introduce an education reform, and (2) help decision-makers develop prevention and promotion programs in order to develop students’ study skills. The results reveal that we have managed to successfully engage first year students in the academic environments.
What Factors Predict a Positive Change in a Consumer’s Financial Capability over Time? The New Evidence from Poland
Authors: Potocki Tomasz , Białowąs Sylwester
Published: October 2022

Despite the significant attention that financial capability has received in the last 20 years, many of its aspects are poorly understood, and the term itself is ambiguously defined. Consequently, different measures of financial capability are used in empirical research creating a tendency to let the data dictate the conceptualization of the financial capability itself. This creates concerns about the reliability of the general findings for countries in Eastern Europe such as Poland. Therefore, the following study is carried out to address these limitations and contribute to the advancement of the literature on financial capability, first, by extending the mainstream of the theoretical work on financial capability with the conceptual proposition framed within Sen’s Capability Approach; second, by proposing the measurement model of financial capability; and third, by using data from the Polish household panel study, Social Diagnosis (SD), to identify factors which predict a positive change in consumer’s financial capability over time. Across these three aims, we found that higher income was a key predictor and substantially improved financial capability in Poland. We also showed the strong and positive link between financial capability and all included psychological variables. Our findings also highlighted the differential impact of demographic variables on financial capability. The findings of this study yield implications for scholars who would like to analyze financial capability in transition or developing countries, but are constrained by limited financial resources to create their own database or have no access to national financial capability studies.
Scheduling a pick and place packaging line
Authors: Schettini Tommaso , Malucelli Federico , Ramalhinho Helena
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we introduce the Pick and Place Packaging Problem (P4), for optimally scheduling a packaging system with one input conveyor (pick) and one output conveyor (place). We give a formal definition of the underlying dynamic optimization problem. We describe two properties that hold for its solutions and present an efficient row generation approach exploiting these properties. Starting from a basic version of the problem, we introduce two variants where we account for the possibility of holding the grip of items and variable conveyor speed. We extend the proposed exact solution method to these two cases. Then, we present an efficient Iterated Local Search heuristic for the problem and its variants. Numerical results show the effectiveness of our approach.
About reversibility in sP colonies and reaction systems
Authors: Cienciala Ludek , Ciencialová Lucie , Csuhaj-Varjú Erzsébet
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we study reversibility in sP colonies and in reaction systems. sP colony is a  bio-inspired computational model formed from an environment and a finite set of agents. The current state of the environment is represented by a finite set of objects and the current state of the agent is given by a finite multiset of objects. By execution of a program from a set of programs associated with the agent, the agent can change the objects in its own state and possibly in the environment, too. Reaction systems are a  bio-inspired computational model where reactants are transformed into products only if some inhibitors are not present. We define sP colonies without input influence and prove that to any reversible sP colony of such type an inverse sP colony can be constructed that performs inverse computation. In the second part of the paper, we show that the concept of a reversible reaction system and the notion of an inverse reaction system can be defined in a similar way, and partially reversible reaction systems can simulate reversible logic gates and reversible Turing machines.
Sensitivity analysis of the dynamics of fine and ultrafine particles using DEM
Authors: Leszczyński Jacek S.
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we focus on particle–particle and particle–wall interactions considering tiny particle dimensions and the processes and phenomena arising from the contact dynamics. This has the important implication that the discrete element method can be used for large-scale computations as well as for tiny particles, i.e. particles with fine and ultrafine dimensions. Particular attention is paid to the granular cohesion dynamics where the particles interact prior to their physical stick. We investigate the sensitivity of the interactions, i.e. we assess how particle size distribution, frictional forms of particle–particle and particle–wall collisions and Van der Waals or liquid cohesive forces shape the particle motions. Through computations, we show how neglecting the above features influences computations of particle positions and particle linear and angular velocities over time.
Assessment of goodness of fit of income distribution in France and Germany based on the Zenga distribution
Authors: Ćwiek Małgorzata , Trzcińska Kamila
Published: October 2022

The aim of this paper is to apply the Zenga distribution for equivalent disposable income from the last two waves of European Quality of Life Surveys for Germany and France (both for total society and selected socio-economic groups) and to assess the goodness of fit to empirical data. The Zenga distribution has not been used to describe the income distribution in these countries yet. The obtained parameters were assessed for fitting to empirical data using two measures—the Wasserstein-Kantorovich and the Wasserstein-Kantorovich standardized measure. The analysis of the results received allows for the conclusion that the Zenga distribution can fit the income distributions both for small as well as large values. It was also shown that the Zenga distribution fits the data well even with small and very small samples. The article uses a new measure to assess the fit of the distribution to empirical data, based on the Wasserstein-Kantorovich measure assessing the distance between the empirical and theoretical cumulative distribution function. The modification consisted in standardizing the Wasserstein-Kantorovich measure by dividing the field between distributors by the rectangle area, where length is maximum income and width is maximum value of the cumulative distribution function. The proposed measure is not sensitive to extreme values, often found in the analysis of income distribution, and can be applied even in very small samples.
Development and function of the fetal adrenal
Authors: Pignatti Emanuele , du Toit Therina , Flück Christa E.
Published: October 2022

The adrenal cortex undergoes multiple structural and functional rearrangements to satisfy the systemic needs for steroids during fetal life, postnatal development, and adulthood. A fully functional adrenal cortex relies on the proper subdivision in regions or ‘zones’ with distinct but interconnected functions, which evolve from the early embryonic stages to adulthood, and rely on a fine-tuned gene network. In particular, the steroidogenic activity of the fetal adrenal is instrumental in maintaining normal fetal development and growth. Here, we review and discuss the most recent advances in our understanding of embryonic and fetal adrenal development, including the known causes for adrenal dys-/agenesis, and the steroidogenic pathways that link the fetal adrenal with the hormone system of the mother through the fetal-placental unit. Finally, we discuss what we think are the major open questions in the field, including, among others, the impact of osteocalcin, thyroid hormone, and other hormone systems on adrenal development and function, and the reliability of rodents as models of adrenal pathophysiology.
Consumption with earnings, liquidity, and market based models
Authors: Snigaroff Robert , Wroblewski David
Published: October 2022

The market, earnings, and liquidity growth combine to form a proxy for wealth growth, allowing a recursive consumption model with a low risk aversion coefficient, a risk-free rate close to historical, a high equity premium, and a reasonable elasticity of intertemporal substitution. The empirical consumption model does well against major asset pricing puzzles. Tested over 118 years it is not rejected while a forward-looking consumption model using the market alone as a wealth proxy fails. Changing liquidity and earnings forecast consumption and their ‘crashes’ precede consumption declines. We also demonstrate related stock level factors have similar economic magnitude and are significant. These models are consistent to the financial intermediary economic growth literature. Such consistency across approaches adds credence to common earnings and liquidity factors as important risks to investors.
The Group Knobe Effect revisited: epistemic and doxastic side-effect effects in intuitive judgments concerning group agents
Authors: Tarnowski Maciej , Ziółkowski Adrian , Tałasiewicz Mieszko
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we investigate the effect described in the literature as the Group Knobe Effect, which is an asymmetry in ascription of intentionality of negative and positive side-effects of an action performed by a group agent. We successfully replicate two studies originally conducted by Michael and Szigeti (Philos Explor 22:44–61, 2019), who observed this effect and provide empirical evidence of the existence of two related effects—Group Epistemic and Doxastic Knobe Effects—which show analogous asymmetry with respect to knowledge and belief ascriptions. We explain how the existence of the Group Knobe Effect and its epistemic and doxastic counterparts affects the philosophical debate on collective agency and intentionality and supports the intuitiveness of realism about collective agency among laypeople. We also critically assess the reasoning presented by Michael and Szigeti (2019) in favor of the realist-collectivist interpretation of their results (as opposed to the realist-distributivist interpretation). We argue that a thorough analysis of both their data and our new findings shows a rather wide range of differing intuitions among laypeople regarding the status of groups as agents. These results show that while some laypeople may have realist-collectivist intuitions, the contrary realist-distrubutivist intuitions are also widespread and the claim that the majority of laypeople hold collectivist intuitions regarding group agency is unjustified.
Application of temporary immersion system RITA® for efficient biomass multiplication and production of artificial seeds for ex situ conservation of Linnaea borealis L
Authors: Kikowska Małgorzata , Danek Kamil , Gornowicz-Porowska Justyna , Thiem Barbara
Published: October 2022

Linnaea borealis L., belonging to the Linnaeaceae family, in some European countries including Poland, is a protected species. Phytochemical studies indicate the presence of pharmacologically important secondary metabolites, which may indicate undiscovered biological activity and untapped therapeutic potential of this species. Harvesting the raw material from natural sites is impossible due to the protection status of this glacial relict in many countries. The aim of the current work was to develop an efficient protocol of Linnaea borealis L. var. borealis shoot multiplication via the development of axillary buds in an agitated culture and a temporary-immersion system as well as to establish the production of artificial seeds via alginate encapsulated nodes for short-time storage. The highest results of growth parameters were obtained for shoots agitated in MS (Murashige & Skoog) liquid medium enriched with cytokinin, auxin and gibberellin (18.3 ± 0.4 shoots per explant and 2185 ± 98% biomass increase, respectively). The growth of shoots in the RITA® bioreactor was highly efficient, especially when hormone supplementation in MS medium was used, the amount of medium in the culture vessel was 100 or 150 ml, and the immersion time of the shoots was 1 or 2 min. The survival and recovery rates of L. borealis artificial seeds, regardless of encapsulation matrix used, subsequently decreased with the increased storage duration up to 6 months (from 100 to 60% at 4 °C and from 100 to 54% at -18 ºC, respectively). This is the first report on twinflower shoot multiplication in a temporary-immersion system and artificial seeds production of this species.
Visual Object Tracking in First Person Vision
Authors: Dunnhofer Matteo , Furnari Antonino , Farinella Giovanni Maria , Micheloni Christian
Published: October 2022

The understanding of human-object interactions is fundamental in First Person Vision (FPV). Visual tracking algorithms which follow the objects manipulated by the camera wearer can provide useful information to effectively model such interactions. In the last years, the computer vision community has significantly improved the performance of tracking algorithms for a large variety of target objects and scenarios. Despite a few previous attempts to exploit trackers in the FPV domain, a methodical analysis of the performance of state-of-the-art trackers is still missing. This research gap raises the question of whether current solutions can be used “off-the-shelf” or more domain-specific investigations should be carried out. This paper aims to provide answers to such questions. We present the first systematic investigation of single object tracking in FPV. Our study extensively analyses the performance of 42 algorithms including generic object trackers and baseline FPV-specific trackers. The analysis is carried out by focusing on different aspects of the FPV setting, introducing new performance measures, and in relation to FPV-specific tasks. The study is made possible through the introduction of TREK-150, a novel benchmark dataset composed of 150 densely annotated video sequences. Our results show that object tracking in FPV poses new challenges to current visual trackers. We highlight the factors causing such behavior and point out possible research directions. Despite their difficulties, we prove that trackers bring benefits to FPV downstream tasks requiring short-term object tracking. We expect that generic object tracking will gain popularity in FPV as new and FPV-specific methodologies are investigated.
Organizations on stage: organizational research and the performing arts
Authors: Komander Verena , König Andreas
Published: October 2022

Management and organization scholars have long been intrigued by the performing arts—music, theater, and dance—as a rich context for studying organizational phenomena. Indeed, a plethora of studies suggest that the performing arts are more than an interesting sideline for authors, as they offer unique theoretical and empirical lenses for organization studies. However, this stream of literature spreads across multiple research areas, varies with regard to its underlying theories and methods, and fails to pay sufficient attention to the contextuality of the findings. We address the resulting limitations by identifying and reviewing 89 articles on management and organization related to the performing arts published in 15 top-tier journals between 1976 and 2022. We find that research in the performing arts advances organizational theory and the understanding of organizational phenomena in four key ways, namely by studying (1) organizational phenomena in performing-arts contexts; (2) performing-arts phenomena in organizational contexts; (3) organizational phenomena through the prism of performing-arts theories; and (4) organizational phenomena through the prism of performing-arts practices. We also find that, in contrast to other settings, the performing arts are uniquely suited for immersive participant-observer research and for generating genuine insights into fundamental organizational structures and processes that are generic conditions of the performing arts and management alike, such as leadership, innovation, and the management of uncertainty. Finally, based on our consolidation of the research gaps and limitations of the reviewed studies, we develop a comprehensive agenda for future research.
Postoperative results of the in situ fenestrated open stent technique for acute aortic dissection type A
Authors: Azuma Shuhei , Shimada Ryo , Motohashi Yoshikazu , Yoshii Yasuyoshi
Published: October 2022

Objective

Total arch replacement is commonly used for acute aortic dissection type A at some facilities, especially since open stent grafting became commercially available in Japan. Left subclavian artery (LSCA) reconstruction involves deep view manipulation, is difficult to expose and anastomose, and involves the risk of complications and surrounding vascular injury.

Methods

We evaluated 137 patients (mean age 73.8 ± 15.6 years) who underwent total arch replacement for acute aortic dissection type A, at our hospital between September 2014 and March 2022, and divided them into two groups: 70 patients for total arch replacement with fenestrated open stent technique (FeneOS), and 67 for conventional total arch replacement with the reconstruction of three-branch cerebral vessels. We performed FeneOS by deploying the graft from the entry of the left subclavian artery into the descending aorta and fenestrating the LSCA side of the stenting portion. The four-branched artificial vessel was then anastomosed between the left common carotid artery and LSCA.

Results

The surgical results of FeneOS were satisfactory and enabled significant reductions in operative time, selective cerebral perfusion time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, and lower body circulatory arrest time. Long-term observation (mean follow-up = 5.5 years) showed no left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy or postoperative problems with left subclavian artery blood flow.

Conclusions

FeneOS can minimize LSCA exposure because there is no need for LSCA reconstruction, reducing operation time and avoiding the risk of left recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and bleeding problems associated with LSCA exposure and anastomosis during left subclavian artery exposure.
Performance and Durability of Reversible Solid Oxide Cells with Nano-electrocatalysts Infiltrated Electrodes
Authors: Yu Miao , Tong Xiaofeng , Sudireddy Bhaskar Reddy , Chen Ming
Published: October 2022

This work focuses on improving the durability of Ni/yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) fuel electrode-supported solid oxide cells under the reversible operation mode by infiltrating nano-sized electrocatalysts into both electrodes. The resulting cell consists of a CGO (Gd-doped CeO2) scaffold-based oxygen electrode that is infiltrated with LSC (La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-δ) and CGPO (Gd, Pr-co-doped CeO2) nanocomposite infiltrates and a Ni/YSZ fuel electrode modified with nano-CGO infiltrates. Constant-current tests at + 0.5 A/cm2and  − 0.5 A/cm2are carried out, followed by cycling between fuel-cell and electrolysis modes at ± 0.5 A/cm2and ± 1.25 A/cm2. Under the reversible operation at ± 0.5 A/cm2, the cell showed lower degradation rates than under the single mode operation, with cell voltage degradation of 1.23%/kh in fuel cell mode and 0.53%/kh in electrolysis mode. During the cycling operation at ± 1.25 A/cm2, the overall degradation rate under the electrolysis mode was only 0.46%/kh. Compared to the previously tested cells with only LSC infiltrated oxygen electrodes, the cell tested in this work shows better durability with degradation rates of less than half of the previous tests. The results in this work demonstrate that infiltrating nano-electrocatalysts into both electrodes is an effective solution to boost cell performance and durability under reversible operation.
Geoheritage of the Kandalaksha region (Kola Peninsula, White Sea, Arctic Russia), Evaluation, and Geotourism Opportunities
Authors: Miłosz Huber , Galina Zhigunova , Mariya Menshakova , Ramziya Gainanova , Olga Iakovleva
Published: October 2022

The subarctic Kandalaksha region abounds in many tourist values and is notably characterized by a richness of geology, nature, history, and landscape. Its mountains are located directly on the coast of the White Sea. The skerry-fiord coast is the habitat of many seabirds that nest on its many islands. There is also large mammals such as seals and bears. The coastal area and islands are a reserve within the National Park that was established to protect the breeding areas of the seabirds. Despite its location near the Arctic Circle, the area has a relatively mild climate. Many of the villages and towns in the area have a centuries-old history inextricably linked to the indigenous peoples (Karelians, Sami) who inhabited the area, as well as to the “Pomors,” the first Russian colonizers of the area. On top of this, this is a location with an environment that contains numerous examples of flora and fauna, as well as a geologically and geomorphologically interesting landscape connected with glaciation, abrasion, and isostatic movements. Here, the geological substrate, made up of Paleoproterozoic collisional structures of the Lapland Granulite Belt, was repeatedly tectonically rejuvenated within the forming aulacogen of the White Sea and the Kola-Lapland Mobile Belt, along with numerous Paleozoic intrusions of kimberlite and alkaline rocks. The youngest processes are associated with Pleistocene glaciation and isostatic relaxation in the Holocene. All these features contribute to the high tourist potential of the area. At present, it is being developed in a more or less organized way with the participation of private capital. This article presents a proposal for the systematic development of the area in question and the formalization of tourist routes in the area. This article aims to meet this need by proposing a tourist trail in the Kandalaksha area so as to enable tourists to explore this remarkable area.
Using soil erosion as an indicator for integrated water resources management: a case study of Ruiru drinking water reservoir, Kenya
Authors: Kamamia Ann W. , Vogel Cordula , Mwangi Hosea M. , Feger Karl-heinz , Sang Joseph , Julich Stefan
Published: October 2022

Functions and services provided by soils play an important role for numerous sustainable development goals involving mainly food supply and environmental health. In many regions of the Earth, water erosion is a major threat to soil functions and is mostly related to land-use change or poor agricultural management. Selecting proper soil management practices requires site-specific indicators such as water erosion, which follow a spatio-temporal variation. The aim of this study was to develop monthly soil erosion risk maps for the data-scarce catchment of Ruiru drinking water reservoir located in Kenya. Therefore, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation complemented with the cubist–kriging interpolation method was applied. The erodibility map created with digital soil mapping methods (R2 = 0.63) revealed that 46% of the soils in the catchment have medium to high erodibility. The monthly erosion rates showed two distinct potential peaks of soil loss over the course of the year, which are consistent with the bimodal rainy season experienced in central Kenya. A higher soil loss of 2.24 t/ha was estimated for long rains (March–May) as compared to 1.68 t/ha for short rains (October–December). Bare land and cropland are the major contributors to soil loss. Furthermore, spatial maps reveal that areas around the indigenous forest on the western and southern parts of the catchment have the highest erosion risk. These detected erosion risks give the potential to develop efficient and timely soil management strategies, thus allowing continued multi-functional use of land within the soil–food–water nexus.
Prostate cancer induced bone pain: pathobiology, current treatments and pain responses from recent clinical trials
Authors: Smith A. E. , Muralidharan A. , Smith M. T.
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Metastatic spread of prostate cancer to the skeleton may result in debilitating bone pain. In this review, we address mechanisms underpinning the pathobiology of metastatic prostate cancer induced bone pain (PCIBP) that include sensitization and sprouting of primary afferent sensory nerve fibres in bone. We also review current treatments and pain responses evoked by various treatment modalities in clinical trials in this patient population.

Methods

We reviewed the literature using PubMed to identify research on the pathobiology of PCIBP. Additionally, we reviewed clinical trials of various treatment modalities in patients with PCIBP with pain response outcomes published in the past 7 years.

Results

Recent clinical trials show that radionuclides, given either alone or in combination with chemotherapy, evoked favourable pain responses in many patients and a single fraction of local external beam radiation therapy was as effective as multiple fractions. However, treatment with chemotherapy, small molecule inhibitors and/or immunotherapy agents, produced variable pain responses but pain response was the primary endpoint in only one of these trials. Additionally, there were no published trials of potentially novel analgesic agents in patients with PCIBP.

Conclusion

There is a knowledge gap for clinical trials of chemotherapy, small molecule inhibitors and/or immunotherapy in patients with PCIBP where pain response is the primary endpoint. Also, there are no novel analgesic agents on the horizon for the relief of PCIBP and this is an area of large unmet medical need that warrants concerted research attention.
Investigating the Decentralized Governance of Distributed Ledger Infrastructure Implementation in Extended Enterprises
Authors: Anthony Jnr. Bokolo
Published: October 2022

Distributed ledger technology (DLT) is a disruptive technology with the potential of improving extended enterprise (EE) which comprises organizations that combine their capabilities and knowhow to achieve a common goal. Within the extended enterprise, governance enables distributed ledger control and stewardship and provides effective ways for enforcing ledger access and ownership policies. Although research related to DLT has received attention from academics and industries, the decentralized governance perspective of DLT remains less explored, and it is uncertain how decisions are made concerning the deployment of DLT within EE. These call for governance policies to protect the interests and needs of all stakeholders within the extended enterprise. Therefore, there is need for research that provides insight regarding the decentralized governance of DLT, showing how stakeholders and actors within EE make informed decisions. Accordingly, grounded on academic literature, this study develops governance of DLT framework for extended enterprises which comprises DLT governance dimensions, stakeholder/actors, and DLT governance mechanisms. The findings also present the governance actors and categories of DLTs, potentials, and challenges regarding decentralized governance of DLT in extended enterprises. Findings provide implications to enterprises, researchers, practitioners, industries, and policymakers on the concept of decentralized governance for organizational transformation. Finally, findings from this research are instrumental for designing governance policies to support DLT implementation and stimulate potential research within this direction.
Habitat structure and the presence of large carnivores shape the site use of an understudied small carnivore: caracal ecology in a miombo woodland
Authors: Davis Robert S. , Gentle Louise K. , Mgoola William O. , Stone Emma L. , Uzal Antonio , Yarnell Richard W.
Published: October 2022

Basic ecological knowledge on African small carnivores and how they interact with the wider carnivore guild are lacking for many species. The caracal (Caracal caracal) has a widespread distribution across Africa, yet there is a paucity of information on this species outside of savannah and agricultural landscapes. Using camera trap data from Kasungu National Park, Malawi, we provide novel information on caracal habitat use in a miombo woodland and compare the spatiotemporal dynamics between caracal and members of the large carnivore guild (leopard, Panthera pardus and spotted hyaena, Crocuta crocuta). We found that caracal were more likely to use sites with higher grass cover and further away from permanent water sources. Caracal site use increased in areas with lower spotted hyaena abundance and caracal exhibited different temporal activity patterns to spotted hyaena. In contrast, caracal did not exhibit spatial or temporal avoidance of leopard at the scale investigated here. However, the probability of detecting caracal at sites of higher leopard abundance was significantly lower, suggesting possible behavioural mechanisms to avoid interaction. Our study provides an insight into caracal ecology in a miombo woodland and improves our understanding of community dynamics between a lesser-studied small carnivore and the large carnivore guild.
Innovating for Sustainability: Attributes, Motivations, and Responsibilities in the Finnish Food Packaging Ecosystem
Authors: Ruippo Lotta , Koivula Hanna , Korhonen Jaana , Toppinen Anne , Kylkilahti Eliisa
Published: October 2022

Without food packaging, the global food supply chain could not function. Packaged food products are protected in transportation and retail, reducing food waste. Packaging is also a visible feature of environmental debates, as concerns over solid waste have become a part of public discussion. Responding to both challenges requires the packaging sector to develop and adopt sustainable innovations. This study seeks to understand the role of sustainability in food packaging innovation through expert interviews. The results of this study aid in clarifying actor roles for innovation processes in the packaging sector through encouraging collaboration and integrating socioeconomic dimensions of sustainability into innovation. The findings suggest that actors are primarily concerned with the ecological sustainability of packaging while economic or social factors in sustainable innovation play a more minor role. Finally, the study finds that much responsibility over developing innovations is placed on governmental organizations and brand owners in the food and beverage industry.
Himalayan ecosystem services and climate change driven agricultural frontiers: a scoping review
Authors: KC Krishna Bahadur , Tzadok Edan , Pant Laxmi
Published: October 2022

Climate change, rising temperatures, snow melts and more frequent droughts and floods are disproportionately affecting food and water security, habitat health, and agricultural productivity in the Himalayan region. These climatic changes are negatively impacting productivity of staple crops including wheat, maize, and rice at lower altitudes, but may provide opportunities to utilize Climate Change Driven Agricultural Frontiers [CCDAFs] at higher altitudes. Agricultural expansion into CCDAFs paired with behavioural shifts such as replacing traditional crop systems with commercial crops will predominantly affect forests, water resources, and soil health, which are already negatively affected by climate change unless adaptation options are directed to just and sustainable agroecological transitions. By trading regulating, supporting, and cultural services for food and water provisioning services, as are evident in land sparing strategy, the utilization of CCDAFs will have long-term implications for the sustainability of mountain farming systems. Climate change is affecting Himalayan agriculture, food security, and ecosystem services, and scientific literature predominantly focus on one of these topics in isolation, occasionally connecting results to another topic. By classifying literature as predominantly agriculture, food security, or ecosystem service themed, this scoping review identifies sources with multiple dominant themes and explores how the relationships between these topics are represented in literature to provide research based evidence to promote the future expansion of agriculture that is low-carbon, just and sustainable. Gaps in the literature reveal that research is needed on the extent of CCDAFs in the Himalayas and the potential trade-offs on utilizing the frontier areas.
Public Reason and Diversity
Authors: Gaus Gerald
Published: October 2022

Gerald Gaus was one of the leading liberal theorists of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. He developed a pioneering defence of the liberal order based on its unique capacity to handle diversity and disagreement, and he presses the liberal tradition towards a principled openness to pluralism and diversity. This book brings together Gaus's most seminal and creative essays in a single volume for the first time. It also covers a broad span of his career, including essays published shortly before his death, and topics including reasonable pluralism, moral rights, public reason, and the redistributive state. The volume makes accessible the work of one of the most important recent liberal theorists. Many readers will find it of value, especially those in political philosophy, political science, and economics.
A Concise History of Albania
Authors: Fischer Bernd J. , Schmitt Oliver Jens
Published: October 2022

A Concise History of Albania charts the history of Albania and its people, within their Balkan and European contexts. It shows the country's journey from its ancient past, still shrouded in mystery and controversy, through its difficult transition from a particularly brutal form of communism to an evolving form of democracy and a market economy. Bernd Fischer and Oliver Schmitt challenge some of the traditional narratives concerning the origins of the Albanians, and the relations between Albanians and their Balkan neighbours. This authoritative and up-to-date single-volume history analyses the political, social, economic, and cultural developments which led to the creation of the Albanian state and the modern nation, as well as Albania's more recent experience with authoritarianism, war, and communism. It greatly contributes to our understanding of the challenges facing contemporary Albanians, as well as the issues confronting the region as a whole as it attempts to grapple with one of the last remaining significant ethnic issues in the Balkans.