bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Energy Efficiency Impact of Processing in Memory: A Comprehensive Review of Workloads on the UPMEM Architecture
Authors: Falevoz Yann , Legriel Julien
Published: April 2024

Processing-in-Memory (PIM) architectures have emerged as a promising solution for data-intensive applications, providing significant speedup by processing data directly within the memory. However, the impact of PIM on energy efficiency is not well characterized. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive review of workloads ported to the first PIM product available on the market, namely the UPMEM architecture, and quantify the impact on each workload in terms of energy efficiency. Less than the half of the reviewed papers provide insights on the impact of PIM on energy efficiency, and the evaluation methods differ from one paper to the other. To provide a comprehensive overview, we propose a methodology for estimating energy consumption and efficiency for both the PIM and baseline systems at data center level, enabling a direct comparison of the two systems. Our results show that PIM can provide significant energy savings for data intensive workloads. We also identify key factors that impact the energy efficiency of UPMEM PIM, including the workload characteristics. Overall, this paper provides valuable insights for researchers and practitioners looking to optimize energy efficiency in data-intensive applications using UPMEM PIM architecture.
Experiences and Lessons Learned from PHYSICS: A Framework for Cloud Development with FaaS
Authors: Kousiouris George , Patiño Marta , Sánchez Carlos , Tomás Luis
Published: April 2024

The PHYSICS European project aims at developing a set of tools for application developers, system administrators and cloud providers that ease the development, deployment and optimization of resources in Function-as-a Service (FaaS) environments in the cloud. PHYSICS provides a visual development framework for abstracting cloud application development, an optimized platform level FaaS toolkit for the deployment of FaaS applications in the cloud and back-end optimization toolkit for local resource management. In this paper we present the main experiences and lessons learned during the project execution as well as some of the solutions adopted in the project.
Exploring Mapping Strategies for Co-allocated HPC Applications
Authors: Vardas Ioannis , Hunold Sascha , Swartvagher Philippe , Träff Jesper Larsson
Published: April 2024

In modern HPC systems with deep hierarchical architectures, large-scale applications often struggle to efficiently utilize the abundant cores due to the saturation of resources such as memory. Co-allocating multiple applications to share compute nodes can mitigate these issues and increase system throughput. However, co-allocation may harm the performance of individual applications due to resource contention. Past research suggests that topology-aware mappings can improve the performance of parallel applications that do not share resources. In this work, we implement application-oblivious, topology-aware process-to-core mappings via different core enumerations that support the co-allocation of parallel applications. We show that these mappings have a significant impact on the available memory bandwidth. We explore how these process-to-core mappings can affect the individual application duration as well as the makespan of job schedules when they are combined with co-allocation. Our main objective is to assess whether co-allocation with a topology-aware mapping can be a viable alternative to the exclusive node allocation policies that are currently common in HPC clusters.
National Funding of Higher Education from a Non-affirmative Perspective
Authors: Kivistö Jussi , Elo Janne , Uljens Michael
Published: April 2024

This chapter aims to demonstrate that the non-affirmative theory of education offers conceptual tools to analyse the tension between universities´ autonomy and accountability. The autonomy of universities becomes affirmative in character when it is geared towards finding the most functional and efficient ways of reaching externally defined performance targets and thereby to implicitly affirm the norms, values and standards that the performance targets rest upon. At the same time societal accountability measures make visible what is hidden or concealed: governmental objectives in higher education and the instrumental emphasis of universities in attaining those objectives. This exemplifies that the second regulative principle of the non-affirmative theory of education always is tied to the first: the governance of education is always linked with the current idea of the role of education in society at large. The non-affirmative theory of education provides us with a view that makes this relative autonomy visible. The chapter argues that the key aspect for universities and their stakeholders today is to find an appropriate balance between instrumental and institutional approaches, accountability and autonomy as well as affirmative and non-affirmative orientations.
Affirmative and Non-affirmative Dimensions in Quality Assurance: Balancing the Accountability–Improvement Dilemma as a Matter of Trust and Learning
Authors: Hybertsen Ingunn Dahler , Stensaker Bjørn
Published: April 2024

Today, given the build-up of national quality assurance systems, ‘quality management’ within higher education institutions requires critical attention. This management operates as a balance between accountability, which is outward oriented, and improvement, which covers internal pedagogical and research activities. This accountability–improvement dilemma has been intensively researched over the years, not least by focusing on how the relationship between national quality assurance agencies and individual higher education institutions can be developed with respect to mutual trust. Applying insights from non-affirmative theory, this chapter investigates external judgements of quality management at the institutional level in the Nordic context. The investigation addresses how external evaluation reports may function as a mediating tool for balancing the accountability–improvement dilemma in quality assurance. Using conceptualisations of educational and pedagogical leadership derived from non-affirmative theory, we analyse how expectations of leadership are expressed in external evaluation reports. The framework comprises dimensions of pedagogical leadership that are (1) to organise learning processes in professional learning communities, (2) to negotiate practices of quality work in the academic community, both within and across institutions, and (3) to protect professional, academic and institutional autonomy. We analyse the alignment between this conceptualisation of and the expectations of leadership expressed in external reports and add (4) trust in quality management as a fourth dimension. Balancing the accountability and improvement dilemma is not only a matter of trust between the institution and the national agencies but also within the academic community. Discussing the importance of mutual trust in quality work can add value to our understanding of pedagogical leadership in non-affirmative education theory.
Rejuvenating ‘on Campus’ Education to Reinforce the Particular Response-Ability of the University
Authors: Masschelein Jan , Simons Maarten
Published: April 2024

In recent years, the effects of climate change, accelerating disparities between the rich and poor, popular discontent, intractable political conflicts, and major population movements in the world have meant that universities have increasingly mobilised to address societal challenges. In this contribution, we assert that to take up their responsibility, universities should sustain their delivery of education as a particular (pedagogical) form requiring a campus since it embodies forces that sustain students’ and academics’ power to study and think. We first sketch how two trends threaten to make the university (as an institution and campus) increasingly irrelevant by calling into being two figures: the independent personalised (vulnerable) learner and the innovative autonomous researcher. These figures require the university merely as a protecting and facilitating infrastructure for their increasingly personalised learning and research trajectories, which have to lead to excellence and employability. In the second step, we explore how to reclaim the university as a particular arrangement of study practices that contributes to the future in a particular way by complicating learning and exposing the ‘learner’ and the ‘researcher’ to practices of public and collective study and common pedagogical infrastructures (embodied in the campus). We propose that these pedagogical infrastructures help students and scholars become ever more sensitive to different worlds and what those worlds have to say, and in this way, increasingly response-able.
Conclusions
Authors: Elo Janne , Uljens Michael
Published: April 2024

In this concluding chapter we aim at tying together the volume. First, we return to and remind of the points of departure from chapter one. Thereafter, we return to each chapter briefly to recapitulate, and point out some of the key points in each one. At the end, we summarise the insights from the volume, pointing out both possibilities and limitations for NAT as a point of departure for approaching multilevel pedagogical leadership in higher education.
Relativistic single-electron wavepacket in quantum electromagnetic fields: quantum coherence, correlations, and the Unruh effect
Authors: Lin Shih-Yuin , Hu Bei-Lok
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Conventional formulation of QED since the 50s works very well for stationary states and for scattering problems, but with newly arisen challenges from the 80s on, where real time evolution of particles in a nonequilibrium setting are required, and quantum features such as coherence, dissipation, correlation and entanglement in a system interacting with its quantum field environment are sought after, new ways to formulate QED suitable for these purposes beckon. In this paper we present a linearized effective theory using a Gaussian wavepacket description of a charged relativistic particle coupled to quantum electromagnetic fields to study the interplay between single electrons and quantum fields in free space, at a scale well below the Schwinger limit. The proper values of the regulators in our effective theory are determined from the data of individual experiments, and will be time-dependent in the laboratory frame if the single electrons are accelerated. Using this new theoretical tool, we address the issues of decoherence of flying electrons in free space and the impact of Unruh effect on the electrons. Our result suggests that vacuum fluctuations may be a major source of blurring the interference pattern in electron microscopes. For a single electron accelerated in a uniform electric field, we identify the Unruh effect in the two-point correlators of the deviations from the electron’s classical trajectory. From our calculations we also bring out some subtleties, involving the bosonic versus fermionic spectral functions.
Anomaly constraints for heterotic strings and supergravity in six dimensions
Authors: Basile Ivano , Leone Giorgio
Published: April 2024

Abstract

The landscape of six-dimensional supergravities is dramatically constrained by the cancellation of gauge and gravitational anomalies, but the full extent of its implications has not been uncovered. We explore the cancellation of global anomalies of the Dai-Freed type in this setting with abelian and simply laced gauge groups, finding novel constraints. In particular, we exclude arbitrarily large abelian charges in an infinite family of theories for certain types of quadratic refinements, including a specific one defined in the literature. We also show that the Gepner orientifold with no tensor multiplets is anomaly-free for a different choice, as well as a number of heterotic models with and without spacetime supersymmetry in six dimensions. The latter analysis extends previous results in ten dimensions to some lower-dimensional settings in the heterotic landscape.
Revisiting metastable cosmic string breaking
Authors: Chitose Akifumi , Ibe Masahiro , Nakayama Yuhei , Shirai Satoshi , Watanabe Keiichi
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Metastable cosmic strings appear in models of new physics with a two-step symmetry breaking G → H → 1, where π1(H) ≠ 0 and π1(G) = 0. They decay via the monopole-antimonopole pair creation inside. Conventionally, the breaking rate has been estimated by an infinitely thin string approximation, which requires a large hierarchy between the symmetry breaking scales. In this paper, we reexamine it by taking into account the finite sizes of both the cosmic string and the monopole. We obtain a robust lower limit on the tunneling factor $$ {e}^{-{S}_B} $$

e

−

S
B

even for regimes the conventional estimate is unreliable. In particular, it is relevant to the cosmic string interpretation of the gravitational wave signals recently reported by pulsar timing array experiments.
Dark sector glueballs at the LHC
Authors: Batz Austin , Cohen Timothy , Curtin David , Gemmell Caleb , Kribs Graham D.
Published: April 2024

Abstract

We study confining dark sectors where the lightest hadrons are glueballs. Such models can provide viable dark matter candidates and appear in some neutral naturalness scenarios. In this work, we introduce a new phenomenological model of dark glueball hadronization inspired by the Lund string model. This enables us to make the most physically-motivated predictions for dark glueball phenomenology at the LHC to date. Our model approximately reproduces the expected thermal distribution of hadron species as an emergent consequence of hadronization dynamics. The ability to predict the production of glueball states heavier than the lightest species significantly expands the reach of long-lived glueball searches in MATHUSLA compared to previous simplified estimates. We also characterize regions of parameter space where emerging and/or semivisible jets could arise from pure-glue dark sectors, thereby providing new benchmark models that motivate searches for these signatures.
Improved Standard-Model prediction for KL → ℓ+ℓ−
Authors: Hoferichter Martin , Hoid Bai-Long , de Elvira Jacobo Ruiz
Published: April 2024

Abstract

We present a comprehensive calculation of the KL → γ∗γ∗ form factor in dispersion theory, using input from the leptonic decays KL → ℓ+ℓ−γ, $${K}_{L}\to {{\ell}}_{1}^{+}{{\ell}}_{1}^{-}{{\ell}}_{2}^{+}{{\ell}}_{2}^{-}$$, the hadronic mode KL → π+π−γ, the normalization KL → γγ, and the matching to asymptotic constraints. As key result we obtain an improved determination of the long-distance contribution to KL → ℓ+ℓ−, leading to the Standard-Model predictions Br[KL → μ+μ−] = $${7.44}_{-0.34}^{+0.41}$$ × 10−9, Br[KL → e+e−] = 8.46(37) × 10−12, and more stringent limits on physics beyond the Standard Model. We provide a detailed breakdown of the current uncertainty, and delineate how future experiments and the interplay with lattice QCD could help further improve the precision.
Elastic Kink-Meson scattering
Authors: Evslin Jarah , Liu Hui
Published: April 2024

Abstract

In classical field theory, radiation does not reflect off of reflectionless kinks. In quantum field theory, radiation quanta, called mesons, can be reflected. We provide a general analytical formula for the leading order amplitude and probability for the elastic scattering of mesons off of reflectionless quantum kinks. In the case of the Sine-Gordon model we verify that, due to a cancellation of six contributing processes, our general formula yields an amplitude of zero, as is required by integrability.
Instanton NDA and applications to axion models
Authors: Csáki Csaba , D’Agnolo Raffaele Tito , Kuflik Eric , Ruhdorfer Maximilian
Published: April 2024

Abstract

We present a simple set of power counting rules which allows us to easily estimate calculable instanton effects up to $$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
(1) factors. We apply the resulting Instanton NDA to examine the effects of small instantons on various axion models. We confirm that mechanisms that increase the axion mass via small instantons generically also lead to an enhancement of misaligned instanton contributions to the axion potential, deepening the axion quality problem. For generic models, new sources of CP violation in the UV must be absent in order to raise the axion mass above the QCD prediction. However, we find that ZN and composite axions are UV-safe against these misalignment effects. Axion GUT models are also insensitive to UV contributions at the GUT scale, unless a very large number of extra states are introduced below this scale.
On the breakdown of eikonal approximation and survival of Reggeization in presence of dimension-5 Higgs-gluon coupling
Authors: Fucilla Michael , Nefedov Maxim A. , Papa Alessandro
Published: April 2024

Abstract

We consider the one-loop effective vertex for the interaction of a gluon with a Reggeized gluon and a Higgs boson in the infinite-top-mass limit, which is described by a dimension-5 non-renormalizable operator. This vertex enters the calculation of differential cross sections for the forward inclusive production of a Higgs boson in high-energy proton-proton collisions, possibly in association with a backward jet or identified hadron, in a framework where next-to-leading logarithms of the energy are resummed to all orders. The effective vertex is extracted from the high-energy behavior of two-to-two amplitudes for the Higgs production in parton-parton collisions and relies on the validity of the Regge form for these amplitudes. We find that the usual eikonal approximation (Gribov prescription) for the Regge limit and the known region-expansion technique in this limit lead to an incomplete result for the amplitude. The discrepancy is traced back to the non-renormalizable nature of the involved operator. However, the Regge limit of the exact QCD amplitude agrees with the Regge-pole exchange form at one loop, nontrivially supporting the Reggeization hypothesis.
Functional myelin in cognition and neurodevelopmental disorders
Authors: Khelfaoui Hasni , Ibaceta-Gonzalez Cristobal , Angulo Maria Cecilia
Published: April 2024

In vertebrates, oligodendrocytes (OLs) are glial cells of the central nervous system (CNS) responsible for the formation of the myelin sheath that surrounds the axons of neurons. The myelin sheath plays a crucial role in the transmission of neuronal information by promoting the rapid saltatory conduction of action potentials and providing neurons with structural and metabolic support. Saltatory conduction, first described in the peripheral nervous system (PNS), is now generally recognized as a universal evolutionary innovation to respond quickly to the environment: myelin helps us think and act fast. Nevertheless, the role of myelin in the central nervous system, especially in the brain, may not be primarily focused on accelerating conduction speed but rather on ensuring precision. Its principal function could be to coordinate various neuronal networks, promoting their synchronization through oscillations (or rhythms) relevant for specific information processing tasks. Interestingly, myelin has been directly involved in different types of cognitive processes relying on brain oscillations, and myelin plasticity is currently considered to be part of the fundamental mechanisms for memory formation and maintenance. However, despite ample evidence showing the involvement of myelin in cognition and neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by cognitive impairments, the link between myelin, brain oscillations, cognition and disease is not yet fully understood. In this review, we aim to highlight what is known and what remains to be explored to understand the role of myelin in high order brain processes.
The Achievement Set of Generalized Multigeometric Sequences
Authors: Karvatskyi Dmytro , Murillo Aniceto , Viruel Antonio
Published: April 2024

We study the topology of all possible subsums of the generalized multigeometric series$$k_1f(x)+k_2f(x)+\dots +k_mf(x)+\dots + k_1f(x^n)+\dots +k_mf(x^n)+\dots ,$$

k
1

f

(
x
)

+

k
2

f

(
x
)

+
⋯
+

k
m

f

(
x
)

+
⋯
+

k
1

f

(

x
n

)

+
⋯
+

k
m

f

(

x
n

)

+
⋯
,

where $$k_1, k_2, \dots , k_m$$

k
1

,

k
2

,
⋯
,

k
m

are fixed positive real numbers and f runs along a certain class of non-negative functions on the unit interval. We detect particular regions of this interval for which this achievement set is, respectively, a compact interval, a Cantor set and a Cantorval.
A global method for relaxation for multi-levelled structured deformations
Authors: Barroso Ana Cristina , Matias José , Zappale Elvira
Published: April 2024

We prove an integral representation result for a class of variational functionals appearing in the framework of hierarchical systems of structured deformations via a global method for relaxation. Some applications to specific relaxation problems are also provided.
On the Transport of Currents
Authors: Bonicatto Paolo
Published: April 2024

In this work, we consider some evolutionary models for k-currents in $$\mathbb {R}^d$$

R

d

. We study a transport-type equation which can be seen as a generalisation of the transport/continuity equation and can be used to model the movement of singular structures in a medium, such as vortex points/lines/sheets in fluids or dislocation loops in crystals. We provide a detailed overview of recent results on this equation obtained mostly in (Bonicatto et al. Transport of currents and geometric Rademacher-type theorems. arXiv:2207.03922, 2022; Bonicatto et al. Existence and uniqueness for the transport of currents by Lipschitz vector fields. arXiv:2303.03218, 2023). We work within the setting of integral (sometimes merely normal) k-currents, covering in particular existence and uniqueness of solutions, structure theorems, rectifiability, and a number of Rademacher-type differentiability results. These differentiability results are sharp and can be formulated in terms of a novel condition we called “Negligible Criticality condition” (NC), which turns out to be related also to Sard’s Theorem. We finally provide a new stability result for integral currents satisfying (NC) in a uniform way.
Analysis of Deep Generative Model Impact on Feature Extraction and Dimension Reduction for Short Utterance Text-Independent Speaker Verification
Authors: Farhadipour Aref , Veisi Hadi
Published: April 2024

Speaker verification is a biometric-based method for individual authentication. However, there are still several challenging problems in achieving high performance in short utterance text-independent conditions, maybe for weak speaker-specific features. Recently, deep learning algorithms have been used extensively in speech processing. This manuscript uses a deep belief network (DBN) as a deep generative method for feature extraction in speaker verification systems. This study aims to show the impact of using the proposed method in various challenging issues, including short utterances, text independence, language variation, and large-scale speaker verification. The proposed DBN uses MFCC as input and tries to extract more efficient features. This new representation of speaker information is evaluated in two popular speaker verification systems: GMM-UBM and i-vector-PLDA methods. The results show that, for the i-vector-PLDA system, the proposed feature decreases the EER considerably from 15.24 to 10.97%. In another experiment, DBN is used to reduce feature dimension and achieves significant results in decreasing computational time and increasing system response speed. In a case study, all the evaluations are performed for 1270 speakers of the NIST SRE2008 dataset. We show deep belief networks can be used in state-of-the-art acoustic modeling methods and more challenging datasets.
Interobserver variability in preclinical assessment of collision variables following traffic accidents
Authors: Hetz Michael , Rosch Julius , Unger Thomas , Struck Manuel F. , Schaser Klaus-Dieter , Kleber Christian
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Traffic accidents persist as a leading cause of death. European law mandates the integration of automatic emergency call systems (eCall). Our project focuses on an automated injury prediction device for car accidents, correlating technical and epidemiological input data, such as age, gender, seating position, impact on the passenger compartment, seatbelt usage, impact direction, EES, vehicle class, and airbag deployment. This study aims to explore interobserver variability in data collection quality in real accident scenarios. The assessment will evaluate the impact of user training and measure the time needed for data collection to inform user recommendations for the prehospital assessment.

Insights from this study can aid in evaluating the ability of different professional groups to identify potential accident-independent parameters at accident scenes. This includes, among other things, relaying information to dispatchers at rescue control centers, also within the context of telemedicine approaches.

Methods

During group sessions, real accident scenarios were presented both before and after a training presentation. Participants, including laypersons, accident research staff, emergency services, hospital physicians, and emergency physicians, visually assessed injury prediction parameters within a time limit. Training involved defining and explaining parameters using accident images. The study analyzed participant demographics, prediction accuracy, and time required, comparing assessment quality between professional groups and before and after training.

Results

In summary, the study demonstrates that training had a significantly positive impact on the quality of assessment for technical accident parameters. The processing time decreased significantly after training. A notable training effect was observed, particularly for the parameters of rigid collision object, affected passenger compartment, energy equivalent speed (EES), and front and side airbags. It was recommended that individuals without prior knowledge should receive training on assessing EES. Overall, it was evident that technical parameters following a traffic accident can be well assessed through training, irrespective of the professional group.

Conclusion

Significant differences in the assessment quality of technical accident parameters were observed based on technical and medical expertise. After user training, interdisciplinary differences were reconciled, and all professional groups yielded comparable results, indicating that training can enhance the assessment abilities of all participants in the rescue chain, while the time required for assessing accident parameters was significantly reduced with training.
Comparative durability tests of preservative-treated and chemically modified wood – Assessment and classification on the basis of different decay tests
Authors: Brischke Christian , Bollmus Susanne , Emmerich Lukas
Published: April 2024

Not before the year 2016, the European standard system did allow for classifying the durability of treated wood in addition to natural durability of untreated wood species. After its latest revision, EN 350 (2016) allows a durability classification of solid wood and wood-based materials with the help of five durability classes (DC) between ‘very durable’ (DC 1) and ‘non-durable’ (DC 5). However, different test methods, assessment measures, and calculation methods can be used for durability classification. This inevitably leads to different assessments of the biological durability of wood. This study aimed therefore on a comparative durability classification of preservative-treated and chemically modified wood (here: treated with 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethyleneurea, DMDHEU) using different laboratory and field test methods. Durability classes of the tested timbers differed not only between tested materials, but depended also on the applied test, assessment, and calculation method. In this respect, the use of relative values (x-values), i.e., mass loss (ML) or MOE loss data compared with a non-durable reference material can help to harmonize the classification and make DCs more comparable. The use of relative values can also help to reduce the effect of varying virulence of test fungi, activity of test soil substrates, and the climate-induced hazard of test sites.
Gestational age at birth and type 1 diabetes in childhood and young adulthood: a nationwide register study in Finland, Norway and Sweden
Authors: Metsälä Johanna , Risnes Kari , Persson Martina , Veijola Riitta , Pulakka Anna , Heikkilä Katriina , Alenius Suvi , Gissler Mika , Opdahl Signe , Sandin Sven , Kajantie Eero
Published: April 2024

Aims/hypothesis

Children and adults born preterm have an increased risk of type 1 diabetes. However, there is limited information on risk patterns across the full range of gestational ages, especially after extremely preterm birth (23–27 weeks of gestation). We investigated the risk of type 1 diabetes in childhood and young adulthood across the full range of length of gestation at birth.

Methods

Data were obtained from national registers in Finland, Norway and Sweden. In each country, information on study participants and gestational age was collected from the Medical Birth Registers, information on type 1 diabetes diagnoses was collected from the National Patient Registers, and information on education, emigration and death was collected from the respective national register sources. Individual-level data were linked using unique personal identity codes. The study population included all individuals born alive between 1987 and 2016 to mothers whose country of birth was the respective Nordic country. Individuals were followed until diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, death, emigration or end of follow-up (31 December 2016 in Finland, 31 December 2017 in Norway and Sweden). Gestational age was categorised as extremely preterm (23–27 completed weeks), very preterm (28–31 weeks), moderately preterm (32–33 weeks), late preterm (34–36 weeks), early term (37–38 weeks), full term (39–41 weeks; reference) and post term (42–45 weeks). HRs and 95% CIs from country-specific covariate-adjusted Cox regression models were combined in a meta-analysis using a common-effect inverse-variance model.

Results

Among 5,501,276 individuals, 0.2% were born extremely preterm, 0.5% very preterm, 0.7% moderately preterm, 4.2% late preterm, 17.7% early term, 69.9% full term, and 6.7% post term. A type 1 diabetes diagnosis was recorded in 12,326 (0.8%), 6364 (0.5%) and 16,856 (0.7%) individuals at a median age of 8.2, 13.0 and 10.5 years in Finland, Norway and Sweden, respectively. Individuals born late preterm or early term had an increased risk of type 1 diabetes compared with their full-term-born peers (pooled, multiple confounder-adjusted HR 1.12, 95% CI 1.07, 1.18; and 1.15, 95% CI 1.11, 1.18, respectively). However, those born extremely preterm or very preterm had a decreased risk of type 1 diabetes (adjusted HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.45, 0.88; and 0.78, 95% CI 0.67, 0.92, respectively). These associations were similar across all three countries.

Conclusions/interpretation

Individuals born late preterm and early term have an increased risk of type 1 diabetes while individuals born extremely preterm or very preterm have a decreased risk of type 1 diabetes compared with those born full term.

Graphical Abstract
The In-Ga-Sb association of the post-Variscan Zn-Pb-Ag vein deposit at Lautenthal, Upper Harz Mountains, Germany: sphalerite mineral chemistry
Authors: Graupner Torsten , Henning Sören , Goldmann Simon , Fuchs Sebastian , Stedingk Klaus , Liessmann Wilfried , Birkenfeld Sven
Published: April 2024

The Lautenthal sphalerite-galena vein deposit is part of the world-class Upper Harz Pb-Zn-Ag district in the Harz uplift block of the Paleozoic Variscan fold belt in Germany. Its sphalerite-dominated mineral association was studied using bulk-ore chemistry, electron probe microanalysis, and laser ablation-ICP-mass spectrometry. Gallium and locally In are the main high-tech-relevant trace elements hosted by sphalerite, with up to 150 ppm Ga and up to 380 ppm In in hand-picked sphalerite samples (mean In/Zn, 0.70 × 10−3). Ore concentrates (≤ 50 kg) contain up to 65 ppm Ga and up to 109 ppm In (mean In/Zn, 0.36 × 10−3). Accessory Fe-Co-rich gersdorffite-1 occurs in the earlier quartz-sulfide ore stage and Sb-rich gersdorffite-2 in the later carbonate-sulfide stage. Enrichment patterns of In are either defined by overprinting textures in the Fe-richer sphalerite-1 of the earlier stage, or relate to primary growth zoning in Fe-poor sphalerite-2 of the later stage. Using the sphalerite geothermometer GGIMFis, formation temperatures (median) of sphalerite-1 were estimated at ~ 230 °C for the Lautenthal orebody and at ~ 175 °C for the Bromberg orebody, which may indicate lateral T-zonation for the earlier ore stage. Sphalerite-2 data indicate formation temperatures of ~ 185 °C (median). Copper-bearing brines of the carbonate-sulfide stage with assumed temperatures of ~ 250 °C initiated replacement of In-poor sphalerite-1 by chalcopyrite and remobilization of Zn and trace elements. Indium-rich sphalerite-2 occurs associated with calcite and fine-grained galena. A direct spatial or temporal link of ore formation to a magmatic-hydrothermal system is unlikely, which contrasts to In-rich epithermal and tin-polymetallic vein deposits worldwide.
Navigating frugality and creativity urgencies: the role of diagnostic use of budgets and goal clarity
Authors: Appuhami Ranjith , Bhuiyan Faruk , Boedker Christina
Published: April 2024

Organizations increasingly promote individual creativity as a strategy to manage their performance and financial strain. Drawing on self-regulation and goal-setting theories, this study examines whether the diagnostic use of budgets stifles or stimulates managers’ creativity directly or indirectly through frugal spending behaviour and perceived goal clarity. Budgetary controls and frugal spending behaviour—with the focus on conserving resources and constraining spending—have traditionally been suggested as hindering individual creativity. However, by analysing survey data collected from middle-level managers in Indonesia, our findings show that the diagnostic use of budgets increases managers’ frugal spending behaviour which, in turn, enhances their creativity. Furthermore, the diagnostic use of budgets increases managers’ perceived goal clarity, with goal clarity and frugal spending behaviour fully mediating the relationship between the diagnostic use of budgets and creativity. The study contributes to the budgeting literature by showing that diagnostic use of budgets encourages managers’ frugal spending behaviour to effectively manage organisational costs and stimulate their creativity.
The public provision of goods in democracies: Do age and inequality matter?
Authors: Mitra Anirban
Published: April 2024

We build a multi-dimensional model of political decision-making with endogenous political parties to analyse the effect of inequality and demography on public spending. Voters differ in terms of income and age. Political competition determines in equilibrium the tax rate and the allocation of revenue between income redistribution and two forms of public spending—a capital good and a neutral good. All agents value the neutral good equally but the young like capital spending more than the old do. We show that the effect of age (resp., inequality) on equilibrium public spending can go in any direction based on the underlying level of inequality (resp., age). Our findings reconcile a large body of seemingly contradictory stylised empirical findings in public economics.
Nonlinear Stability and Asymptotic Behavior of Periodic Wave Trains in Reaction–Diffusion Systems Against $$C_{\textrm{ub}}$$-perturbations
Authors: de Rijk Björn
Published: April 2024

We present a nonlinear stability theory for periodic wave trains in reaction–diffusion systems, which relies on pure $$L^\infty $$

L
∞

-estimates only. Our analysis shows that localization or periodicity requirements on perturbations, as present in the current literature, can be completely lifted. Inspired by previous works considering localized perturbations, we decompose the semigroup generated by the linearization about the wave train and introduce a spatio-temporal phase modulation to capture the most critical dynamics, which is governed by a viscous Burgers’ equation. We then aim to close a nonlinear stability argument by iterative estimates on the corresponding Duhamel formulation, where, hampered by the lack of localization, we must rely on diffusive smoothing to render decay of the semigroup. However, this decay is not strong enough to control all terms in the Duhamel formulation. We address this difficulty by applying the Cole–Hopf transform to eliminate the critical Burgers’-type nonlinearities. Ultimately, we establish nonlinear stability of diffusively spectrally stable wave trains against $$C_{\textrm{ub}}$$

C
ub

-perturbations. Moreover, we show that the perturbed solution converges to a modulated wave train, whose phase and wavenumber are approximated by solutions to the associated viscous Hamilton–Jacobi and Burgers’ equation, respectively.
Impact of the reduction or replacement of NaCl during production and ripening of raw cured pork and turkey sausages
Authors: Wagner Mona , Ploetz Madeleine , Krischek Carsten
Published: April 2024

There are health concerns with regard to the consumption of sodium. Excessive consumption of sodium is suspected to cause high blood pressure, among other things. Therefore, sodium should be reduced or replaced during the production of food. In the present study, in the first part, raw fermented sausages from pork and turkey meat, produced with reduced NaCl concentrations, were investigated. In a second part, the salts, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, and calcium chloride were added to the sausages, replacing 50% of NaCl. To elucidate, if the reduction or replacement influences the quality of the sausages, physicochemical and microbiological parameters of the products were analyzed. The data show that a reduction of sodium chloride partly influences the hardness and water activity results of raw fermented sausages, made from pork and turkey meat, the redness and nitrite content of the pork sausages, and the ripening losses and total viable counts of the turkey products. Raw fermented sausages with potassium, magnesium, and calcium as partial substitutes for sodium had differing water activity, pH, hardness, and microbiological results using pork and differing pH, hardness, and microbiological results using turkey meat. A bactericidal effect was observed in raw fermented sausages with calcium chloride in inoculation tests with Listeria monocytogenes due to the pH reduction due to calcium. The results indicate that reduction and replacement of NaCl can influence the final products. Therefore, the producers should carefully evaluate before alteration the NaCl content, if this change influences the product acceptability.
Heat transfer in Z-scan experiments
Authors: Miedzinski Rafal , Fuks-Janczarek Izabela , Kassab Luciana R. P.
Published: April 2024

In this study, we present the results of theoretical calculations concerning heat exchange in materials subjected to laser irradiation, with particular emphasis on Z-scan experiments. Using explicit difference methods, we model the temperature distribution in three-dimensional samples of various sizes, such as [4 $$\times$$
×
4 $$\times$$
×
2] mm, [5 $$\times$$
×
5 $$\times$$
×
2] mm, and [6 $$\times$$
×
6 $$\times$$
×
2] mm. The simulations encompass two different types of pulsed lasers with durations of 10 (ns) and 100 (ps), adjusting laser parameters to achieve a peak irradiance intensity of 5 GW/cm$${^2}$$

2

. The temperature distribution in samples, denoted as T(x, y, z, t), is computed using a novel laser heat source model specifically designed for this problem. The computational program Z-lambda enables not only the simulation of thermal processes during the Z-scan experiment but also post-experiment analysis. The development of this software was one of the main objectives of this study. The results indicate that the thermal analysis of Z-scan experiments requires consideration of factors such as laser pulse duration, laser repetition time, sample geometry, and heat exchange between the studied material and the surroundings. Especially in the Z-scan technique, controlling thermal parameters before the experiment is crucial for obtaining precise and reproducible results. It is noteworthy that sample heating during the experiment can significantly influence charge carrier density, subsequently affecting the parameters of nonlinear optics (NLO). Tools like the Z-lambda program allow for the optimization of laser parameters, minimizing sample heating, and reducing the thermal impact on NLO parameters.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on renal cancer care
Authors: Yildirim Hilin , Bins Adriaan D. , van den Hurk Corina , van Moorselaar R. Jeroen A. , van Oijen Martijn G. H. , Bex Axel , Zondervan Patricia J. , Aben Katja K. H.
Published: April 2024

Purpose

To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on renal cell carcinoma (RCC) care in the Netherlands.

Methods

Newly diagnosed RCCs between 2018 and 2021 were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry; 2020–2021 was defined as COVID period and 2018–2019 as reference period. Numbers of RCCs were evaluated using 3-week-moving averages, overall and by disease stage and age. Changes in treatment were evaluated with logistic regression analyses. To evaluate possible delays in care, time to start of treatment was assessed. The cumulative number of metastatic RCC (mRCC) over time was assessed to evaluate stage shift.

Results

During the 1st COVID wave (weeks 9–22, 2020), the number of new RCC diagnoses decreased with 15%. Numbers restored partially in 2020, but remained 10% lower compared to 2018/2019. The decline was mostly due to a drop in T1a/T1b RCCs and in age > 70 years. 2021 showed similar numbers of new RCC diagnoses compared to 2018/2019 without an increase due to previously missed RCCs. Treatment-related changes during the 1st COVID wave were limited and temporarily; less surgery in T1a RCCs in favor of more active surveillance, and in mRCC targeted therapy was preferred over immunotherapy. Time to start of firstline treatment was not prolonged during the 1st COVID wave. No increase in mRCC was found until the end of 2021.

Conclusions

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in fewer RCC diagnoses, especially T1a/T1b tumors. Treatment-related changes appeared to be limited, temporarily and in accordance with the adapted guidelines. The diagnostic delay could lead to more advanced RCCs in later years but there are no indications for this yet.
Associations between gestational weight gain and weight development of the offspring: Differences depending on maternal pre-pregnancy BMI
Authors: Barzen Charlotte , Vogel Mandy , Kiess Wieland , Poulain Tanja
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Obesity rates are rising, and the gestational weight gain (GWG) of most women does not comply with current guidelines. This study assesses the association of pre-pregnancy BMI (ppBMI) and GWG with the child’s weight development and investigates whether associations with GWG differ depending on ppBMI.

Methods

Data were obtained from the cohort study LIFE Child (Germany), comprising 691 mother–child pairs. Children’s weight was followed until age five. Associations between maternal ppBMI, GWG, and children’s weight were evaluated using regression analyses.

Results

The association between GWG and birth weight (BW) was significantly positive in normal and underweight (n/u) women (βGWG = 0.05, p < 0.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.03—0.07), but not in women with overweight or obesity (o/o) (βGWG = 0.0002, p = 0.99, 95% CI −0.03 to 0.03). The risk of giving birth to an infant who was large for gestational age (LGA) increased with rising GWG in n/u women (OR = 1.6, p < 0.01, 95% CI 1.23—2.25). Women with o/o were at increased risk for a LGA baby regardless of GWG (OR = 3, p < 0.01, 95% CI 1.34—6.97). This trend persisted in the child’s weight development during the first 5 years of life.

Conclusion

Women with o/o might increase their offspring’s risk for higher weight at birth and in early childhood. In n/u women, GWG might be the more influential factor. Women should strive for normal weight before conception and should be more attentive to GWG.
The boon and bane of nitrous oxide
Authors: Kronenberg Golo , Schoretsanitis Georgios , Seifritz Erich , Olbrich Sebastian
Published: April 2024

Nitrous oxide (N2O) has been known since the end of the eighteenth century. Today, N2O plays a huge role as a greenhouse gas and an ozone-depleting stratospheric molecule. The main sources of anthropogenic N2O emissions are agriculture, fuel combustion, wastewater treatment, and various industrial processes. By contrast, the contribution of medical N2O to the greenhouse effect appears to be small. The recreational and medical uses of N2O gradually diverged over time. N2O has analgesic and anesthetic effects, making it widely used in modern dentistry and surgery. New research has also begun studying N2O’s antidepressant actions. N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonism and opioid effects are believed to be the main underlying biochemical mechanisms. At this point, numerous questions remain open and, in particular, the conduct of larger clinical trials will be essential to confirm N2O’s use as a rapid-acting antidepressant. The N2O concentration delivered, the duration of a single inhalation, as well as the number of inhalations ultimately required, deserve to be better understood. Finally, the non-medical use of N2O has gained significant attention in recent years. Sudden deaths directly attributed to N2O are primarily due to asphyxia. Heavy, chronic N2O use may result in vitamin B12 deficiency, which, among other things, may cause megaloblastic anemia, venous thrombosis, myeloneuropathy, and skin pigmentation. Helpful biochemical tests include homocysteine and methylmalonic acid. The centerpiece of treatment is complete cessation of N2O use together with parenteral administration of vitamin B12.
Criminal behavior in alcohol-related dementia and Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome: a Nationwide Register Study
Authors: Palm Anniina , Talaslahti Tiina , Vataja Risto , Ginters Milena , Kautiainen Hannu , Elonheimo Henrik , Suvisaari Jaana , Lindberg Nina , Koponen Hannu
Published: April 2024

Background

Chronic heavy alcohol use may lead to permanent brain damage, cognitive impairment, and dementia. While the link between alcohol use and crime is strong, virtually no research exists on the criminal behavior of patients with the alcohol-related neurocognitive disorders of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) and alcohol-related dementia (ARD).

Methods

The study population included all persons diagnosed with WKS (n = 1149) or ARD (n = 2432) in Finland in 1998–2015. Data on diagnoses, mortality, and crime were obtained from Finnish nationwide registers. Crime incidences were calculated 4 years before and after diagnosis. Crime types, incidences, and mortality were compared between disorders and with the general population.

Results

Altogether 35.6% of WKS patients and 23.6% of ARD patients had committed crimes in the 4 years preceding diagnosis, most commonly property and traffic crimes, followed by violent crimes. The incidence of criminal behavior decreased significantly after diagnosis; in WKS patients, the standardized criminality ratio (SCR), the ratio of observed to expected number of crimes (95% CI), was 3.91 (3.72–4.10) in 4 years before and 2.80 (2.61–3.00) in 4 years after diagnosis. Likewise, in ARD patients, the SCRs were 2.63 (2.51–2.75) before and 0.84 (0.75–0.92) after diagnosis. No significant difference emerged in mortality between persons with and without a criminal history.

Conclusions

Persons with alcohol-related neurocognitive disorders frequently engage in criminal behavior prior to diagnosis, especially multiple offending. In the 4 years before and after diagnosis, crime rates declined in a linear fashion, with a marked reduction after diagnosis.