bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social costs associated with fibromyalgia in Spain
Authors: Oliva-Moreno J , Vilaplana-Prieto C
Published: July 2024

Background

Fibromyalgia is a chronic rheumatic disease of unknown aetiology, highly disabling and mainly affecting women. The aim of our work is to estimate, on a national scale, the economic impact of this disease on the employment of patients and non-professional (informal) care dimension.

Methods

Survey on Disabilities, Autonomy and Dependency carried out in Spain in 2020/21 was used to obtain information on disabled individuals with AD and their informal caregivers. Six estimation scenarios were defined as base case, depending on whether the maximum daily informal caregiving time was censored or not, and on the approach chosen for the valuation of informal caregiving time (contingent valuation and replacement time). Another six conservative scenarios were developed using the minimum wage for the estimation of labour losses.

Results

Our estimates range from 2,443.6 (willingness to pay, censored informal care time) to 7,164.8 million euros (replacement cost, uncensored informal care time) (base year 2021). Multivariate analyses identified that the degree of dependency of the person suffering from fibromyalgia is the main explanatory variable for both the probability of being employed and the time spent in informal care. Conservative scenarios estimates range from 1,807 to 6,528 million euros.

Conclusions

The high economic impact revealed should help to position a health problem that is relatively unknown in society and for which there are significant research and care gaps to be filled.
SUMOylation of nuclear receptor Nor1/NR4A3 coordinates microtubule cytoskeletal dynamics and stability in neuronal cells
Authors: Gagnon Jonathan , Caron Véronique , Tremblay André
Published: July 2024

Background

Nor1/NR4A3 is a member of the NR4A subfamily of nuclear receptors that play essential roles in regulating gene expression related to development, cell homeostasis and neurological functions. However, Nor1 is still considered an orphan receptor, as its natural ligand remains unclear for mediating transcriptional activation. Yet other activation signals may modulate Nor1 activity, although their precise role in the development and maintenance of the nervous system remains elusive.

Methods

We used transcriptional reporter assays, gene expression profiling, protein turnover measurement, and cell growth assays to assess the functional relevance of Nor1 and SUMO-defective variants in neuronal cells. SUMO1 and SUMO2 conjugation to Nor1 were assessed by immunoprecipitation. Tubulin stability was determined by acetylation and polymerization assays, and live-cell fluorescent microscopy.

Results

Here, we demonstrate that Nor1 undergoes SUMO1 conjugation at Lys-89 within a canonical ψKxE SUMOylation motif, contributing to the complex pattern of Nor1 SUMOylation, which also includes Lys-137. Disruption of Lys-89, thereby preventing SUMO1 conjugation, led to reduced Nor1 transcriptional competence and protein stability, as well as the downregulation of genes involved in cell growth and metabolism, such as ENO3, EN1, and CFLAR, and in microtubule cytoskeleton dynamics, including MAP2 and MAPT, which resulted in reduced survival of neuronal cells. Interestingly, Lys-89 SUMOylation was potentiated in response to nocodazole, a microtubule depolymerizing drug, although this was insufficient to rescue cells from microtubule disruption despite enhanced Nor1 gene expression. Instead, Lys-89 deSUMOylation reduced the expression of microtubule-severing genes like KATNA1, SPAST, and FIGN, and enhanced α-tubulin cellular levels, acetylation, and microfilament organization, promoting microtubule stability and resistance to nocodazole. These effects contrasted with Lys-137 SUMOylation, suggesting distinct regulatory mechanisms based on specific Nor1 input SUMOylation signals.

Conclusions

Our study provides novel insights into Nor1 transcriptional signaling competence and identifies a hierarchical mechanism whereby selective Nor1 SUMOylation may govern neuronal cytoskeleton network dynamics and resistance against microtubule disturbances, a condition strongly associated with neurodegenerative diseases.
Predictive enrichment for the need of renal replacement in sepsis-associated acute kidney injury: combination of furosemide stress test and urinary biomarkers TIMP-2 and IGFBP-7
Authors: Palmowski Lars , Lindau Simone , Henk Laura Contreras , Marko Britta , Witowski Andrea , Nowak Hartmuth , Stoll Sandra E. , Zacharowski Kai , Böttiger Bernd W. , Peters Jürgen , Adamzik Michael , Dusse Fabian , Rahmel Tim
Published: July 2024

Background

In sepsis, initial resuscitation with fluids is followed by efforts to achieve a negative fluid balance. However, patients with sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI) often need diuretic or renal replacement therapy (RRT). The dilemma is to predict whether early RRT might be advantageous or diuretics will suffice. Both the Furosemide Stress Test (FST) and measurements of the urinary biomarkers TIMP-2*IGFBP-7, if applied solely, do not provide sufficient guidance. We tested the hypothesis that a combination of two tests, i.e., an upstream FST combined with downstream measurements of urinary TIMP-2*IGFBP-7 concentrations improves the accuracy in predicting RRT necessity.

Methods

In this prospective, multicenter study 100 patients with sepsis (diagnosed < 48h), AKI stage ≥ 2, and an indication for negative fluid balance were included between 02/2020 and 12/2022. All patients received a standardized FST and urinary biomarkers TIMP-2*IGFBP-7 were serially measured immediately before and up to 12 h after the FST. The primary outcome was the RRT requirement within 7 days after inclusion.

Results

32% (n = 32/99) of SA-AKI patients eventually required RRT within 7 days. With the FST, urine TIMP-2*IGFBP-7 decreased within 2 h from 3.26 ng2/mL2/1000 (IQR: 1.38–5.53) to 2.36 ng2/mL2/1000 (IQR: 1.61–4.87) in RRT and 1.68 ng2/mL2/1000 (IQR: 0.56–2.94) to 0.27 ng2/mL2/1000 (IQR: 0.12–0.89) and non-RRT patients, respectively. While TIMP-2*IGFBP-7 concentrations remained low for up to 12 h in non-RRT patients, we noted a rebound in RRT patients after 6 h. TIMP-2*IGFBP-7 before FST (accuracy 0.66; 95%-CI 0.55–0.78) and the FST itself (accuracy 0.74; 95%-CI: 0.64–0.82) yielded moderate test accuracies in predicting RRT requirement. In contrast, a two-step approach, utilizing FST as an upstream screening tool followed by TIMP-2*IGFBP-7 quantification after 2 h improved predictive accuracy (0.83; 95%-CI 0.74–0.90, p = 0.03) compared to the FST alone, resulting in a positive predictive value of 0.86 (95%-CI 0.64–0.97), and a specificity of 0.96 (95%-CI 0.88–0.99).

Conclusions

The combined application of an upstream FST followed by urinary TIMP-2*IGFBP-7 measurements supports highly specific identification of SA-AKI patients requiring RRT. Upcoming interventional trials should elucidate if this high-risk SA-AKI subgroup, identified by our predictive enrichment approach, benefits from an early RRT initiation.
Adaptive multi-task learning for speech to text translation
Authors: Feng Xin , Zhao Yue , Zong Wei , Xu Xiaona
Published: July 2024

End-to-end speech to text translation aims to directly translate speech from one language into text in another, posing a challenging cross-modal task particularly in scenarios of limited data. Multi-task learning serves as an effective strategy for knowledge sharing between speech translation and machine translation, which allows models to leverage extensive machine translation data to learn the mapping between source and target languages, thereby improving the performance of speech translation. However, in multi-task learning, finding a set of weights that balances various tasks is challenging and computationally expensive. We proposed an adaptive multi-task learning method to dynamically adjust multi-task weights based on the proportional losses incurred during training, enabling adaptive balance in multi-task learning for speech to text translation. Moreover, inherent representation disparities across different modalities impede speech translation models from harnessing textual data effectively. To bridge the gap across different modalities, we proposed to apply optimal transport in the input of end-to-end model to find the alignment between speech and text sequences and learn the shared representations between them. Experimental results show that our method effectively improved the performance on the Tibetan-Chinese, English-German, and English-French speech translation datasets.
Trade-offs in biomethane production by substrate mixture optimization under German market conditions
Authors: Güsewell Joshua , Rousta Milad , Eltrop Ludger
Published: July 2024

Background

New regulations and market conditions in Germany affect the profitability of biomethane upgrading as a repowering option for existing biogas plants following on-site CHP utilization. These conditions present trade-off challenges between higher sustainability requirements, maintaining production capacity and new revenue opportunities. Optimization methods, such as linear programming (LP), are essential for determining the ideal substrate mixture and profitable solutions amidst multiple market conditions, plant-specific process constraints, and substrate properties.

Methods

We updated a substrate mixture optimization model within an assessment framework for the repowering of existing biogas plants (BGPs), which focuses on the operator’s perspective. By integrating multiple German biomethane markets for various BGPs, we assessed changes in the substrate mixture, GHG emissions, contribution margins, and constraint parameters to derive conclusions for operators and future framework design.

Results

Integrating market revenues and constraints can increase contribution margins by 12–55%. Additional gains can be achieved by considering multiple markets simultaneously but limited to a few BGPs. The plant-specific LP solution space and used benchmark market are decisive. The former limits the potential of high substrate-specific contribution margins, which has a significantly higher impact than the relation between plant-specific characteristics and process constraints. The advanced fuel market is currently the lead market for biomethane, incentivizing GHG-emission extensive substrates, decreasing gas production and GHG emissions but increasing levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and partially CO2 abatement costs.

Conclusions

The key to improve profitability and to supply an increasing biomethane demand while fulfilling new requirements is a large LP solution space. Increasing market options, substrate availability, and digestion system capacity achieve this on the operator’s side. Policy makers could reduce normative requirements such as the maize cap or double counting of advanced fuels and favor high but uniform GHG requirements. Operators can prepare robustly for the future substrate mixture by adding digester volume and pre-treatment tech, ensuring long-term and diverse substrate availability, and contracts with flexible components. Although current market conditions can improve specific GHG emissions, they do not necessarily increase manure usage when other options, such as straw, are viable. Other regulatory support systems will be required to do so.
Dietary silymarin improves performance by altering hepatic lipid metabolism and cecal microbiota function and its metabolites in late laying hens
Authors: Guo Yanghao , Xu Yudong , Wang Derun , Yang Shihao , Song Zehe , Li Rui , He Xi
Published: July 2024

Background

Liver lipid dysregulation is one of the major factors in the decline of production performance in late-stage laying hens. Silymarin (SIL), a natural flavonolignan extracted from milk thistle, is known for its hepatoprotective and lipid-lowering properties in humans. This study evaluates whether SIL can provide similar benefits to late-stage laying hens. A total of 480 68-week-old Lohmann Pink laying hens were randomly assigned into 5 groups, each group consisting of 6 replicates with 16 hens each. The birds received a basal diet either without silymarin (control) or supplemented with silymarin at concentrations of 250, 500, 750, or 1,000 mg/kg (SIL250, SIL500, SIL750, SIL1000) over a 12-week period.

Results

The CON group exhibited a significant decline in laying rates from weeks 9 to 12 compared to the initial 4 weeks (P = 0.042), while SIL supplementation maintained consistent laying rates throughout the study (P > 0.05). Notably, the SIL500 and SIL750 groups showed higher average egg weight than the CON group during weeks 5 to 8 (P = 0.049). The SIL750 group had a significantly higher average daily feed intake across the study period (P < 0.05), and the SIL500 group saw a marked decrease in the feed-to-egg ratio from weeks 5 to 8 (P = 0.003). Furthermore, the SIL500 group demonstrated significant reductions in serum ALT and AST levels (P < 0.05) and a significant decrease in serum triglycerides and total cholesterol at week 12 with increasing doses of SIL (P < 0.05). SIL also positively influenced liver enzyme expression (FASN, ACC, Apo-VLDL II, FXR, and CYP7A1; P < 0.05) and altered the cecal microbiota composition, enhancing species linked to secondary bile acid synthesis. Targeted metabolomics identified 9 metabolites predominantly involved in thiamin metabolism that were significantly different in the SIL groups (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated that dietary SIL supplementation could ameliorate egg production rate in late stage laying hens, mechanistically, this effect was via improving hepatic lipid metabolism and cecal microbiota function to achieve. Revealed the potentially of SIL as a feed supplementation to regulate hepatic lipid metabolism dysregulation. Overall, dietary 500 mg/kg SIL had the best effects.

Graphical Abstract
Post-implantation analysis of genomic variations in the progeny from developing fetus to birth
Authors: Zheng Yingming , Lin Chuanping , Wang Wen-Jing , Wang Liya , Qian Yeqing , Mao Luna , Li Baohua , Lou Lijun , Mao Yuchan , Li Na , Zheng Jiayong , Jiang Nan , He Chaying , Wang Qijing , Zhou Qing , Chen Fang , Jin Fan
Published: July 2024

The analysis of genomic variations in offspring after implantation has been infrequently studied. In this study, we aim to investigate the extent of de novo mutations in humans from developing fetus to birth. Using high-depth whole-genome sequencing, 443 parent-offspring trios were studied to compare the results of de novo mutations (DNMs) between different groups. The focus was on fetuses and newborns, with DNA samples obtained from the families’ blood and the aspirated embryonic tissues subjected to deep sequencing. It was observed that the average number of total DNMs in the newborns group was 56.26 (54.17–58.35), which appeared to be lower than that the multifetal reduction group, which was 76.05 (69.70–82.40) (F = 2.42, P = 0.12). However, after adjusting for parental age and maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), significant differences were found between the two groups. The analysis was further divided into single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and insertion/deletion of a small number of bases (indels), and it was discovered that the average number of de novo SNVs associated with the multifetal reduction group and the newborn group was 49.89 (45.59–54.20) and 51.09 (49.22–52.96), respectively. No significant differences were noted between the groups (F = 1.01, P = 0.32). However, a significant difference was observed for de novo indels, with a higher average number found in the multifetal reduction group compared to the newborn group (F = 194.17, P < 0.001). The average number of de novo indels among the multifetal reduction group and the newborn group was 26.26 (23.27–29.05) and 5.17 (4.82–5.52), respectively. To conclude, it has been observed that the quantity of de novo indels in the newborns experiences a significant decrease when compared to that in the aspirated embryonic tissues (7–9 weeks). This phenomenon is evident across all genomic regions, highlighting the adverse effects of de novo indels on the fetus and emphasizing the significance of embryonic implantation and intrauterine growth in human genetic selection mechanisms.
The other side of the coin: expectations of Polish and Hungarian students on soft skills in the labour market – a futures perspective
Authors: Laurisz Norbert , Gáspár Tamás , Gałat Wioleta , Juhász Tímea
Published: July 2024

There is common agreement that we are facing a great transition, which poses a challenge for the labour market, too. The expending literature on soft skills reflects the restructuring of the competition factors, and several papers discuss the future of the labour market: what new professions may emerge and what new skills these jobs demand. However, the attention on the expectations of the future generation of the labour market is more neglected, mainly in terms of what they perceive of companies’ expectations. The present research seeks information what soft skills university students think to possess and their views on companies' expectations for the future. In addition, we aimed at detecting the possible cultural differences between two similar countries. The study makes a comparative quantitative analysis of 931 Polish and Hungarian students by analysis of variance, logistic regression and cluster analysis with the PS Imago Pro and PAST programmes. The results reflect that students have a relevant perception of company needs; however, Polish and Hungarian future employees clearly differ in terms of both possession and expectations on soft skills. Additionally, these differences create patterns as well. Polish students are more team-related and prefer collaborative skills, while being more present-oriented. In terms of the future, the preferred skills rather help avoid uncertainties, and serve problem-solving, and hence, planning. Hungarian students highlight professional and individualistic skills to improve competitive abilities. They are more open to the future and recognise the importance of skills that help to unfold optional futures.
Is creativity a reality in Bulgaria cities? An empirical study in the pre-pandemic period
Authors: Rodrigues Margarida , Franco Mário , Filipova Hristina , Silva Rui Jorge , Kazandzhieva Velina , Nacheva Radka , Koleva Velina , Lyubenov Lyubomir , Oliveira Cidália , Borges Ana Pinto , Braga José , Ivanova Pavlina , Antonova Katya
Published: July 2024

This study aims to obtain a composite index characterizing Bulgarian districts about their creativity by presenting results for the pre-pandemic. The composite index developed by Rodrigues and Franco (2019), use of quantitative method and multivariate statistical techniques have been used to answer this objective. From the data gathered primarily from NSI- The National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria, the results show that creativity is one of the pillars of economic growth, and financial resources and local and foreign investment for its development are still very limited. The government and cultural organisations supported initiatives to showcase the country's cultural diversity and historical significance. The creative sector, including design, arts, media, and technology started to be seen as a driving force for the country's economic growth. Startups and creative entrepreneurs are increasingly gaining weight, which has led to the creation of creative centers, and co-working spaces. Therefore, this study contributes to the intelligent application of creative cities’ ideas in the creative industries and contemporary cities’ management.
Thermal Earth model for the conterminous United States using an interpolative physics-informed graph neural network
Authors: Aljubran Mohammad J. , Horne Roland N.
Published: July 2024

This study presents a data-driven spatial interpolation algorithm based on physics-informed graph neural networks used to develop a thermal Earth model for the conterminous United States. The model was trained to approximately satisfy Fourier’s Law of conductive heat transfer by simultaneously predicting subsurface temperature, surface heat flow, and rock thermal conductivity. In addition to bottomhole temperature measurements, we incorporated other spatial and physical quantities as model inputs, such as depth, geographic coordinates, elevation, sediment thickness, magnetic anomaly, gravity anomaly, gamma-ray flux of radioactive elements, seismicity, electrical conductivity, and proximity to faults and volcanoes. With a spatial resolution of $$18 \ km^2$$

18

k

m
2

per grid cell, we predicted heat flow at surface as well as temperature and rock thermal conductivity across depths of $$0-7 \ km$$

0
-
7

k
m

at an interval of $$1 \ km$$

1

k
m

. Our model showed temperature, surface heat flow and thermal conductivity mean absolute errors of $$6.4^\circ C$$

6
.

4
∘

C

, $$6.9 \ mW/m^2$$

6.9

m
W
/

m
2

and $$0.04 \ W/m-K$$

0.04

W
/
m
-
K

, respectively. This thorough modeling of the Earth’s thermal processes is crucial to understanding subsurface phenomena and exploiting natural underground resources. Our thermal Earth model is available as web application at https://stm.stanford.edu, feature layers on ArcGIS at https://arcg.is/nLzzT0, and tabulated data on the Geothermal Data Repository at https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/1592.
A low-cost robotic system for simultaneous localization and mapping
Authors: Kassem Ayman Hamdy , Asem Muhammad
Published: July 2024

This paper presents a low-cost system for simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) for unknown indoor environments. The system is based on a low-cost mobile-robot platform. The low-cost mobile robot is designed and fabricated in our control laboratory. The Rao-Blackwellized particle filter algorithm is used for SLAM computations, Xbox 360 Kinect module is utilized for stereo-camera imaging, and a Linux-based microcomputer (Raspberry Pi3) was used as the main onboard processing unit. An Arduino board is used to control the DC motors for mobile robot wheels. Raspberry Pi unit was wirelessly connected to a ground station machine that processes the information sent by the robot to build the environment map and estimate its pose. ROS (Robot Operating System) is used for map visualization, data-handling, and communication between different software nodes. The system has been tested virtually on a simulator and in real indoor environments and has successfully identified objects greater than 30 cm × 30 cm × 30 cm and added it to the map. It also shows promising capability to work autonomous missions independently without aid from any external sensors and with a fraction of the cost of similar systems based on Lidars.
Damage assessment on the discarded macro-benthic fauna in the Italian striped venus clam (Chamelea gallina) fisheries
Authors: BARGIONE GIADA , GUICCIARDI STEFANO , VIRGILI MASSIMO , BARONE GIULIO , LUCCHETTI ALESSANDRO
Published: July 2024

The striped venus clam fishery in Italy is carried out by means of hydraulic dredges and it is one of the most important socio- economic activities in the Italian fisheries sector. Dredging has traditionally been considered among fishing activities with the greatest impact at the ecosystem level. Here, therefore, we investigated the disturbance level exerted by dredging on the studied area. Also, damage and mortality rates exerted by dredging on the discarded macro-benthic fauna living associated with Chamelea gallina during the summer season were investigated using a four-level damage scale, given three different haul time duration (3, 6 and 9 minutes). Despite the fact that macro-benthic fauna represented on average only 4.4% of the total catch, the most represented taxa in terms of both abundance and number were Malacostraca, Bivalvia, and Echinoidea. The analysis of the macro-benthic communities’ structure between hauls revealed that the species composition was very similar, and ABC plots together with the Warwick Statistics (W) revealed a moderately disturbed macro-benthic community. No significant difference was found in damage and mortality rates between hauls duration when stratified at taxon or species level. Overall, 61.0% of individuals of the catch were undamaged, whereas 16.1%, 3.7%, and 19.2% displayed slight, intermediate, and severe damage, respectively. We found that soft-shelled or soft-bodied species were the most affected by the harvesting process, whereas thick-shelled or thick-bodied species suffered the slightest damage. In particular, the species suffering major (severe) damage were the sea urchin Echinocardium cordatum (84.6%), the bivalves Mactra stultorum and Polititapes aureus (32.5% and 20.0%, respectively), the crab Liocarcinus vernalis (4.0%), and the sea star Astropecten irregularis (4.8%). The overall mortality rate of all discarded individuals was 22.9%, with E. cordatum showing the highest mortality rate of 96.0%. These findings highlight the importance of guaranteeing the integrity of the entire ecosystem through the adoption of suitable management plans and actions.
Black women and the entrepreneurial professional building process
Authors: Da Silva Oliveira Sara Letícia , Von Fruauff Pavan Nilara Izabel , Benetti Tonani Tosta Kelly Cristina , Tonani Tosta Humberto
Published: July 2024

The work sought to understand how the difficulties and perspectives of black female students on the Administration course at UFFS Chapecó are perceived in the professional construction process. The field research, using non-probabilistic convenience sampling, collected data with a questionnaire via Google Form, using the Likert scale and open questions, which were subjected to content analysis and descriptive statistics. The research exposed gender issues, their influence on the lives and professional construction of such women, highlighting a sense of double effort in search of valorization and the fight against racism, affirming the premise of the double struggle faced by black women: gender and race.
Managerial skills and learning modalities of family business managers
Authors: Alves da Silva Vilson , Cristino de Souza-Silva Jader , Gilberto dos Santos Marcos
Published: July 2024

O estudo busca investigar as modalidades de aprendizagem organizacional que mais impactam o desenvolvimento das competências gerenciais em empresas familiares. As modalidades de aprendizagem organizacional são agrupadas em duas abordagens: Individual-cognitiva e Socio-prática. Foi utilizada uma abordagem quantitativa e realizada uma pesquisa com 165 gestores. Os resultados indicam que as modalidades de aprendizagem organizacional individual-cognitiva, como o treinamento, não possuem uma relação positiva com o desenvolvimento de competências gerenciais nas empresas familiares estudadas. Contrariamente, os gestores pesquisados desenvolvem suas habilidades gerenciais, exceto as habilidades reflexivas, através de todos os tipos de modalidades socio-práticas, sendo a mentoria particularmente eficaz.
The impact of climate change on mental health of children and adolescents
Authors: Bolek Monika , Dobrzeniecki Krzysztof , Błaszczyszyn Katarzyna , Hopej Natalia , Muc Katarzyna , Turek Kacper
Published: July 2024

Climate change can affect the mental health of children and adolescents. This age group is considered particularly vulnerable to this impact because they are in a period of cognitive and emotional development, during which they are still developing their coping skills. Children and teenagers with pre-existing mental health disorders, such as depression or anxiety, are especially at risk.
It is important for parents, medical personnel, and others working with children and adolescents to have the necessary knowledge to help them cope with these challenges. This publication aims to present the current state of knowledge regarding the impact of climate change on the mental health of children and adolescents. Both the direct and indirect effects of these changes will be analyzed, along with strategies for coping with them. By understanding the potential risks, it is possible to develop effective psychological support strategies to minimize the negative impact of climate change on children and adolescents.
Optimality Conditions in Control Problems with Random State Constraints in Probabilistic or Almost Sure Form
Authors: Geiersbach Caroline , Henrion René
Published: July 2024

In this paper, we discuss optimality conditions for optimization problems involving random state constraints, which are modeled in probabilistic or almost sure form. Although the latter can be understood as the limiting case of the former, the derivation of optimality conditions requires substantially different approaches. We apply them to a linear elliptic partial differential equation with random inputs. In the probabilistic case, we rely on the spherical-radial decomposition of Gaussian random vectors in order to formulate fully explicit optimality conditions involving a spherical integral. In the almost sure case, we derive optimality conditions and compare them with a model based on robust constraints with respect to the (compact) support of the given distribution.

Funding: The authors thank the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [Projects B02 and B04 in the “Sonderforschungsbereich/Transregio 154 Mathematical Modelling, Simulation and Optimization Using the Example of Gas Networks”] for support. C. Geiersbach acknowledges support from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [Germany’s Excellence Strategy–the Berlin Mathematics Research Center MATH+ Grant EXC-2046/1, Project 390685689]. R. Henrion acknowledges support from the Fondation Mathématique Jacques Hadamard [Program Gaspard Monge in Optimization and Operations Research, including support to this program by Electricité de France].
Improving Blockchain Consistency Bound by Assigning Weights to Random Blocks
Authors: Gong Xueping , Zhang Qing , Li Huizhong , Zhang Jiheng
Published: July 2024

Ironclad Method Boosts Blockchain Consistency and Speeds up Block Production

Researchers have developed a novel method called Ironclad to address the scalability limitations of blockchains based on the Nakamoto consensus protocol. Although these blockchains have shown promise in various applications, the consensus properties of the protocol impose inherent scalability constraints. A key property, known as consistency, poses a challenge by presenting a trade-off between block production speed and the system’s security against adversarial attacks. To overcome this, the researchers propose the Ironclad method, which introduces a unique approach by assigning different weights to randomly selected blocks. By applying the Ironclad method to the original Nakamoto protocol and conducting rigorous analysis of its consensus properties, the researchers demonstrate a significant improvement in the consistency bound. This advancement allows for a much faster block production rate compared with the original protocol while maintaining the same level of security guarantees. The Ironclad method presents a promising solution to enhance blockchain scalability, overcoming the limitations of the Nakamoto consensus protocol. This breakthrough has the potential to unlock new possibilities for blockchain applications, paving the way for improved transaction speeds and increased efficiency in various industries.
Care-experience Fellowship
Authors: Hayes Derren
Published: July 2024

Churchill Fellowship-led partnership is seeking innovative ideas for new theme with focus on care system
Dietary and nursing management of calcium oxalate renal stones in patients with a jejunocolic anastomosis: a narrative review
Authors: Griffith Daniel J , Cooper Sheldon C , Fletcher Jane
Published: July 2024

Jejunocolic anastomosis (JCA) is a surgical procedure that can result in various complications. Depending on how much of the jejunum remains, these patients are often defined as having intestinal failure (IF) because of short bowel syndrome (SBS). One of the significant complications among these patients is the formation of calcium oxalate renal stones. It has been estimated that 24% of patients with a JCA develop symptomatic renal stones. This narrative review aims to explore the nursing and dietary management strategies for individuals with oxalate stones following JCA. This includes providing adequate hydration, limiting dietary intakes of fat and oxalate, and optimising dietary intake of fluid and calcium whilst discussing the evidence for dietary magnesium, vitamin C and citric acid.
Corridor care: the impact on gastrointestinal nursing
Authors: Harrison Penny
Published: July 2024

Penny Harrison examines the ongoing issue of corridor care and the considerations GI nurses have to make surrounding it
Latest clinical research
Authors: Greener Mark
Published: July 2024

The latest studies of interest to primary care clinicians, rounded up by Mark Greener
Bronchiectasis: Understanding diagnosis and management
Authors: Barber David , Rickards Emma
Published: July 2024

David Barber and Emma Rickards, look at this common, yet serious, respiratory condition
Tropical arboviruses: coming to a country near you
Authors: Umeed Margaret
Published: July 2024

Margaret Umeed explains why nurses need to be on the lookout for dengue and its related viruses
Governing queer activism: power and visibility in state funding of international LGBTI organizations
Authors: Edenborg Emil , Strand Cecilia
Published: July 2024

This article examines how international lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) activism is governed through state funding. Through archival material documenting the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency’s (SIDA’s) funding of two international LGBTI organizations – the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association and the Swedish Federation of LGBTQI Rights – complemented with interviews, we analyse power relations and management practices, how these are reconciled with SIDA’s efforts to make LGBTI funding more partner oriented, and the consequences for recipients. Our main finding is that within the funding schemes, control is exercised in less direct, hierarchical and overt ways than seems to be implied in some critiques of donor influence and ‘neocolonialism’ in the Western promotion of LGBTI rights. Instead, government takes place in multifaceted and horizontal ways, involving a variety of actors, which makes the exercise of power less visible but nonetheless far-reaching. Through SIDA’s funding schemes, power relations are reproduced in specific ways, including the partial reshaping of activist organizations into bureaucratized and depoliticized state ‘partners’.
An ecological crisis of reason: using creative and arts-based research methods for exploring affective-emotional life and just transitions
Authors: Evers Clifton
Published: July 2024

In 2017, the Swedish parliament committed to making the country fossil-free by 2045, prompting an exploration of experiences and perceptions of transition in three cities hosting carbon-intensive industries – steel, cement and petrochemicals, which currently top the list of Sweden’s industrial emitters. From 2019 to 2024, a Swedish–UK research team employed conventional qualitative methods to gather insights from various stakeholders, including industry, municipal actors, and residents, supplemented by arts-based research methods for co-creating data on affective-emotional life in transition towns. This article argues that arts-based research serves as a valuable tool for accounting for and understanding affective-emotional life in frontline transition towns. The arts-based research (ABR) challenges prevailing technocratic and rational frameworks, aligning with ecofeminist Val Plumwood’s call to address the ‘ecological crisis of reason’ that serves to inhibit achieving sustainable futures. The primary value of this article lies in its contribution to the development and refinement of ABR within the context of just transition studies that I argue can help add citizen perspectives and consideration of affective-emotional life to the just transition discourse.
Queer Home on the Road: Lesbian Escape and the Great American Road Trip
Authors: Klein Kathryn
Published: July 2024

Abstract: The road trip narrative is a quintessentially American form of prose. Traditionally, road trip narratives not only exclude women, but female subjectivity more generally. There are, however, some notable early and midcentury contributions to the genre from a queer female perspective that have currently gone understudied. Novels like Patricia Highsmith's Price of Salt (1952), Lilyan Brock's Queer Patterns (1935), and Tiffany Thayer's Thirteen Women (1932) posit an alternative paradigm for the iconic American road trip story. This paper explores how the road trip allows for lesbian escape from the confines of hetero-patriarchal gender norms and domestic constraints through a new, queer definition of "home" on the road. In Highsmith, Brock, and Thayer's novels, the road trip functions as a radical act of queer self-preservation and invention.
Tweaking the Tradition: Gawain as Perceval in David Lowery's The Green Knight
Authors: Rasmussen Mark
Published: July 2024

Abstract: In The Green Knight , David Lowery's 2021 film version of the Middle English romance Sir Gawain and the Green Knight , Gawain is portrayed as a Perceval figure. Recognizing this aspect of Lowery's approach to the film allows for a fuller understanding of many of the choices that the director has made in crafting it and demonstrates the work's intricate engagement with the Arthurian tradition, both in writing and on film. (MR)
Geoffrey of Monmouth's Vita Merlini as Trauma Narrative
Authors: Winstead Karen A.
Published: July 2024

Abstract: The Vita Merlini is an early example of medical narrative. It describes a recognizable mental illness: the origin, the effects on the sufferer and those around him, the cure, and the sufferer's resumption of a normal but altered life. It speaks to our situation in the twenty-first century. (KAW)
Acoustic Decorum and the Materiality of Stage Speech: Voice Training at the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing, 1953–1961
Authors: Jiang Hanyang
Published: July 2024

Abstract: This paper tracks the formation of a voice training program at the Central Academy of Drama (CAD) in Beijing. Informed by the rules of acoustic decorum and Mao Zedong’s “national, scientific, and popular” formulation of socialist culture, phoneticians, repetiteurs, spoken drama ( huaju ) celebrities, and folk artists made common cause to explore vocal pedagogy. The program was embedded in the evolving intellectual landscape of modern China, in which a premium was put on a unified spoken standard and the folk tradition of oral performance was transvalued through scientific lenses. My paper begins with an in-depth study of a 1954 pronouncement made by the CAD president, Ouyang Yuqian, the architect of the program who enjoined huaju actors to learn rhyming and singing. I then proceed to examine a 1957 Symposium on Voice Pedagogy ( Taicike jiaoxue zuotanhui ) convened at the CAD. As a consequence, a four-year curriculum was drawn up, while a twin-track approach to training that combined the domains of diction and vocal production was settled on. After limning the given circumstances, I offer close readings of two mimeographed textbooks tailor-made for the CAD student actors, which address orthoepy (zhengyin) and vocal production (fasheng), respectively. Through musical and phonological analyses, I demonstrate how the voice of a student actor could be instrumentalized after training. Such an instrumentalized voice could in turn serve the theatrical purposes of experiencing and embodying dramatic characters.
Kant’s Offer to the Skeptical Empiricist
Authors: Goldhaber Charles
Published: July 2024

abstract: There is little consensus about whether Kant intends his Critique of Pure Reason to change the mind of a skeptical empiricist such as Hume. I challenge a common assumption made by both sides of the debate. This is the thought that Kant can convince skeptics only if he does not beg the question against them. Surprisingly, I argue, that is not how Kant sees things. On Kant’s view, skeptical empiricism is an inherently unstable and unsatisfying position, which skeptics cannot help wanting to escape. Kant’s Critique , and especially its Transcendental Deduction, offers thinkers like Hume an appealing means of escape, by explaining a possible relation of the mind to the objects of knowledge that skeptics have overlooked. On Kant’s view of skeptics as inherently dissatisfied with their position, the offer of an explanation can change their minds while neither refuting nor appealing to their skeptical empiricism.
Acoustic Patterns in Hong Kong Cantonese Hesitation Markers: Vowel Quality and Omnisyllabic Tone
Authors: Sevilla Robert Marcelo
Published: July 2024

犹豫标记置身语言学与副语言学的边界，占据一个既有跨语言共性又具特定语言特征的区域(Candea et al. 2005; Dingemanse and Woensdregt 2020)。本研究旨在透过分析犹豫标记在香港粤语中，包含元音音色及F0的声学特性，扩充对这些语义周边项目的理解。Dingemanse and Woensdregt(2020)最近的研究论及犹豫标记有跨语言声学相似性，亦受制于各语言对自身的音段音韵学的持守。不过，香港粤语作为“全音节语言”(Matisoff 1995)，每个音节均附上声调，犹豫标记应如何纳入香港粤语的声调音韵学，这仍不清楚。本研究从理工大学中文口语语料库(PolyU Corpus of Spoken Chinese, http://wongtaksum.no-ip.info:81/corpus.htm)集结F0、F1–F2及时长的声学资料，横跨十位语者，共196个犹豫标记，与525个词汇作比较分析。F1–F2的结果围绕半开前元音/ɛ/丛集，与跨语言趋势及香港粤语音韵学均能匹配。F0的结果则丛集于近乎最低的音高，接近调三及调六，合乎最少付出倾向的预想。可是，要与特定字词声调建立联系仍很复杂，因为调三及调六相似，不能以统计学区分。夸语者分析显示F0有相当变化，提示语境、语调或个人习语变化可能有重大影响。这对理解全音节语言如粤语如何应对犹豫标记等等周边项目有所提示。
Community engagement in research addressing infectious diseases of poverty in sub-Saharan Africa: A qualitative systematic review
Authors: Koricha Zewdie Birhanu , Abraha Yosef Gebreyohannes , Ababulgu Sabit Ababor , Abraham Gelila , Morankar Sudhakar
Published: July 2024

Though engaging communities in research processes has several advantages and implications, research efforts are poorly embedded in and linked with communities, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). There is also a need for more empirical evidence on effectively engaging communities in research in LMICs, specifically in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Thus, there is an urgent need to synthesize existing evidence on community engagement experiences in research in SSA. Therefore, this review aimed to synthesize the existing community engagement experiences and related barriers to engaging communities in health research focusing on infectious diseases of poverty in SSA. The systematic review was conducted following the JBI methodology for qualitative systematic reviews. The review included both published and unpublished studies. A thematic analysis approach was used for data synthesis. A total of 40 studies were included in the review. Community engagement in the conceptualization of the research project, analysis, dissemination, and interpretation of the result was rare. On top of this, almost all the research projects engaged the community at a lower level of engagement (i.e., informing or consulting the community at some point in the research process), suggesting the importance of integrating communities in the entire research cycle. The lack of shared control over the research by the community was one of the significant challenges mentioned. This review uncovered that community engagement in the research process is minimal. Nevertheless, the review generated valuable evidence that can inform researchers and research stakeholders to promote effective community engagement in the research process addressing infectious diseases of poverty. Despite these, it requires rigorous primary studies to examine the applicability and usefulness of community engagement, including developing valid metrics of engagement, standardizations of reporting community engagements, and views and understandings of communities and stakeholders on the values, expectations, and concepts of community engagement in research.
Performance evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 rapid diagnostic tests in Nigeria: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Omonkhua Akhere A. , Faneye Adedayo , Akinwande Kazeem S. , Evaezi Okpokoro , Shehu Nathan Y. , Onayade Adedeji , Ochu Chinwe Lucia , Popoola Mustapha , Emmanuel Nnadi , Ojo Temitope , Ohonsi Cornelius , Abubakar Abdullahi , Odeh Elizabeth , Akinduti Paul , Folarin Onikepe , Bimba John Samson , Igumbor Ehimario , Elimian Kelly , Edem Victory Fabian , Pam D. Luka , Olusola Tunde , Ntoimo Loretta , Olugbile Michael , Opayele Adewale Victor , Kida Ibrahim , David Shwe , Onyeaghala Augustine , Igbarumah Isaac , Maduka Omosivie , Mahmoud Magaji A. , El-Fulatty Abdul Rahman , Olaleye David O. , Simon Omale , Osaigbovo Iriagbonse Iyabo , Obaseki Darlington Ewaen , Tolulupe Afolaranmi , Happi Christian , Jibrin Yusuf Bara , Okonofua Friday , Eliya Timan , Simji Gomerep , Abi Izang, Joy , Ameh Emmanuel , Maigari Ibrahim Mahmood , Alhaji Sulaiman , Adetifa Ifedayo , Salako Babatunde , Bogoro Suleiman , Ihekweazu Chikwe , Odaibo Georgina N. ,   COVID-19 RDT Validation in Nigeria (CORVAN) study group
Published: July 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic challenged health systems globally. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the gold standard for detecting the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in clinical samples. Rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits for COVID-19 have been widely used in Nigeria. This has greatly improved test turnover rates and significantly decreased the high technical demands of RT-PCR. However, there is currently no nationally representative evaluation of the performance characteristics and reliability of these kits. This study assessed the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of ten RDT kits used for COVID-19 testing in Nigeria. This large multi-centred cross-sectional study was conducted across the 6 geo-political zones of Nigeria over four months. Ten antigen (Ag) and antibody (Ab) RDT kits were evaluated, and the results were compared with RT-PCR. One thousand, three hundred and ten (1,310) consenting adults comprising 767 (58.5%) males and 543 (41.5%) females participated in the study. The highest proportion, 757 (57.7%), were in the 20–39 years’ age group. In terms of diagnostic performance, Lumira Dx (61.4, 95% CI: 52.4–69.9) had the highest sensitivity while MP SARS and Panbio (98.5, 95% CI: 96.6–99.5) had the highest specificity. For predictive values, Panbio (90.7, 95% CI: 79.7–96.9) and Lumira Dx (81.2, 95% CI: 75.9–85.7) recorded the highest PPV and NPV respectively. Ag-RDTs had better performance characteristics compared with Ab-RDTs; however, the sensitivities of all RDTs in this study were generally low. The relatively high specificity of Ag-RDTs makes them useful for the diagnosis of infection in COVID-19 suspected cases where positive RDT may not require confirmation by molecular testing. There is therefore the need to develop RDTs in-country that will take into consideration the unique environmental factors, interactions with other infectious agents, and strains of the virus circulating locally. This may enhance the precision of rapid and accurate diagnosis of COVID-19 in Nigeria.
The peer effects of corporate poverty alleviation behavior: Empirical evidence from China
Authors: Fang Kang , Zheng Li , Zhai Ningning
Published: July 2024

This study explores the peer and economic effects of corporate poverty alleviation behavior. Using the data of A-share non-financial listed corporates in Shanghai and Shenzhen of China from 2016 to 2020, the empirical analysis of this study finds that: corporate poverty alleviation behavior has significant peer effects; the guidance of local poverty alleviation policies weakens the peer effects of corporate poverty alleviation behavior; compared to private enterprises, the poverty alleviation behavior of the peer firms has a more significant impact on state-owned enterprises; and corporate poverty alleviation behavior can result in the backflow of economic benefits and achieve the organic unity of economic and social benefits. The purpose of this paper is to explore the peer effects of corporate poverty alleviation behaviors through empirical analysis using available public data. The results of the study not only increase the motivation of corporate to participate in poverty alleviation from a peer effects perspective, but also reveal key factors for sustaining corporate poverty alleviation behaviors.