bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Monte Carlo study of the free radical yields in minibeam radiation therapy
Authors: Masilela Thongchai A. M. , Prezado Yolanda
Published: May 2023

Background

Minibeam radiation therapy (MBRT) is a novel technique which has been shown to widen the therapeutic window through significant normal tissue sparing. Despite the heterogeneous dose distributions, tumor control is still ensured. Nevertheless the exact radiobiological mechanisms responsible for MBRT efficacy are not fully understood.

Purpose

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) resulting from water radiolysis were investigated given their implications not only on targeted DNA damage, but also for their role in the immune response and non‐targeted cell signalling effects: two potential drivers of MBRT efficacy.

Methods

Monte Carlo simulations were performed using TOPAS‐nBio to carry out the irradiation of a water phantom with beams of protons (pMBRT), photons (xMBRT), 4He ions (HeMBRT), and 12C ions (CMBRT). Primary yields at the end of the chemical stage were calculated in spheres of 20 μm diameter, located in the peaks and valleys at various depths up to the Bragg peak. The chemical stage was limited to 1 ns to approximate biological scavenging, and the yield of · OH, H2O2, and was recorded.

Results

Beyond 10 mm, there were no substantial differences in the primary yields between peaks and valleys of the pMBRT and HeMBRT modalities. For xMBRT, there was a lower primary yield of the radical species · OH and at all depths in the valleys compared to the peaks, and a higher primary yield of H2O2. Compared to the peaks, the valleys of the CMBRT modality were subject to a higher · OH and yield, and lower H2O2 yield. This difference between peaks and valleys became more severe in depth. Near the Bragg peak, the increase in the primary yield of the valleys over the peaks was 6% and 4% for · OH and respectively, while there was a decrease in the yield of H2O2 by 16%. Given the similar ROS primary yields in the peaks and valleys of pMBRT and HeMBRT, the level of indirect DNA damage is expected to be directly proportional to the peak to valley dose ratio (PVDR). The difference in the primary yields implicates a lower level of indirect DNA damage in the valleys compared to the peaks than what would be suggested by the PVDR for xMBRT, and a higher level for CMBRT.

Conclusions

These results highlight the notion that depending on the particle chosen, one can expect different levels of ROS in the peaks and valley that goes beyond what would be expected by the macroscopic PVDR. The combination of MBRT with heavier ions is shown to be particularly interesting as the primary yield in the valleys progressively diverges from the level observed in the peaks as the LET increases. While differences in the reported · OH yields of this work implicated the indirect DNA damage, H2O2 yields particularly implicate non‐targeted cell signalling effects, and therefore this work provides a point of reference for future simulations in which the distribution of this species at more biologically relevant timescales could be investigated.
Solving the time capacitated arc routing problem under fuzzy and stochastic travel and service times
Authors: Martin Xabier A. , Panadero Javier , Peidro David , Perez‐Bernabeu Elena , Juan Angel A.
Published: May 2023

Stochastic, as well as fuzzy uncertainty, can be found in most real‐world systems. Considering both types of uncertainties simultaneously makes optimization problems incredibly challenging. In this paper we propose a fuzzy simheuristic to solve the Time Capacitated Arc Routing Problem (TCARP) when the nature of the travel time can either be deterministic, stochastic or fuzzy. The main goal is to find a solution (vehicle routes) that minimizes the total time spent in servicing the required arcs. However, due to uncertainty, other characteristics of the solution are also considered. In particular, we illustrate how reliability concepts can enrich the probabilistic information given to decision‐makers. In order to solve the aforementioned optimization problem, we extend the concept of simheuristic framework so it can also include fuzzy elements. Hence, both stochastic and fuzzy uncertainty are simultaneously incorporated into the CARP. In order to test our approach, classical CARP instances have been adapted and extended so that customers' demands become either stochastic or fuzzy. The experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed approach when compared with more traditional ones. In particular, our fuzzy simheuristic is capable of generating new best‐known solutions for the stochastic versions of some instances belonging to thetegl,tcarp,val, andruralbenchmarks.
Interventions for family support in cardiometabolic disease: An integrative review
Authors: Nguyen Angelina P. , Mai Lan Anh T. , Spies Lori A. , Carriveau Kenneth L.
Published: May 2023

Aim

To evaluate how family support affects cardiometabolic outcomes.

Design

Integrative literature review.

Sources

PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE and Scopus were searched for peer‐reviewed primary research published between 2016 and 2021.

Methods

Independent screening of 1661 citations resulted in 17 international publications involving 16 experimental studies selected. Data were analysed using a constant comparison method.

Results

While the interventions varied regarding target, duration, setting and the profession of the interventionists, all studies demonstrated some level of the effectiveness for family involvement and support in the management of cardiometabolic diseases. The studies found improvement in health behaviours and clinical/psychosocial outcomes for the patients and the family members.

Conclusion

Based on the findings from this review, we recommend utilizing the following for future family interventions in the management of diabetes and/or hypertension: (1) broader definitions of family and structures; (2) a community participatory/action‐research method with embedded healthcare workers; (3) an interdisciplinary approach with attention to goal‐setting; (4) multimodal interventions including technology; (5) culturally tailoring interventions for relevance as needed; and (6) clear direction regarding support role and tools.
Effect of a multidisciplinary approach on hospital visit continuation in the treatment of patients with alcohol dependence
Authors: Kurata Tsutomu , Hashimoto Tasuku , Suzuki Hitoshi , Ishige Minoru , Kikuchi Shuichi
Published: May 2023

Aims

Given the high dropout rates from initial treatment for alcoholism among patients with alcohol dependence, it is highly essential to prevent alcohol‐dependent patients from early dropout. This study aims to investigate whether a multidisciplinary approach can help achieve continuous hospital visits for this patient population for initial treatment.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study based on the medical records of all sequential alcohol‐dependent outpatients who visited Sodegaura Satsukidai Hospital for alcoholism at least once between October 2017 and March 2019. The primary outcome was the difference in the rates of patients who achieved 6 and 12 months of continuous hospital visits following the first visit with and without the multidisciplinary approach.

Results

Of all the participants (n = 67), the female‐to‐male ratios for patients supported with and without the multidisciplinary approach were 6:30 and 5:26, respectively. It was found that the rate of alcoholic patients treated with the multidisciplinary approach (n = 33, 91.7%), who had continuous hospital visits, was significantly higher than that of those without (n = 12, 38.7%) (χ2 = 21.2, p < 0.0001) during the first 6 months of treatment. Similarly, the rate of alcoholic patients treated with the multidisciplinary approach (n = 29, 90.6%) having continuous visits was significantly higher than that of those who did not receive such support (n = 8, 25.8%) (χ2 = 27.3, p < 0.0001) during the first 12 months.

Conclusion

A multidisciplinary approach can be used to reduce dropout from initial treatment among outpatients with alcohol dependence.
On the optimal control problem for a model of the synergy of chemo‐ and immunotherapy
Authors: Ledzewicz Urszula , Schättler Heinz
Published: May 2023

The release of tumor antigens during traditional cancer treatments leads to a stimulation of the immune response which provides synergistic effects these treatments have when combined with immunotherapies (e.g., based on check‐point blockade). Based on a low‐dimensional mathematical model, the interactions between chemo‐ and immunotherapy are analyzed and optimal control problems for the combination therapy are considered.
Interfacial tailoring of basalt fiber/epoxy composites by metal–organic framework based oil containers for promoting its mechanical and tribological properties
Authors: Li Menghan , Pan Bingli , Liu Hongyu , Zhu Liming , Fan Xiaobing , Yue Enxi , Li Ming , Qin Yibo
Published: May 2023

The chemical inertness of the basalt felt (BF) results in a weak interface bonding between BF and polymer matrix, which hinders the further application of BF reinforced composites. In this study, nickel‐based metal–organic framework (Ni‐MOF) sheets were decorated on the surface of BF by a facile one‐step hydrothermal method to improve the interfacial bonding between BF and epoxy resin (EP) matrix and embed solid paraffin. The mechanical and tribological properties of EP composites reinforced with BF were evaluated. The interfacial shear strength (IFSS) between BF and EP was measured by a single‐fiber drawing test, and the results indicated that the IFSS increased by 15.19% after MOF modification. The surface of BF transformed from hydrophilicity to hydrophobicity, therefore significantly improving the compatibility between EP and BF. Compared with pure EP, the composites exhibited improvements of 37.55% and 203.39% in tensile strength and tensile modulus, respectively. Meanwhile, the friction coefficient and specific wear rate of the composite decreased by 58.82% and 56.50%, respectively. The solid paraffin was observed to be enclosed by Ni‐MOF sheets, which endowed the composite with a self‐lubricating behavior during friction. This study will advance the comprehensive performance of EP and provide a versatile strategy for tuning the interface compatibility between the reinforcement material and the matrix.

Highlights

A novel Ni‐MOF decorated BF was developed for storage of PW.

The BF/MOF/PW can simultaneously boost the tribological and mechanical properties of EP.

Surface tailoring of BF was realized with decorating MOF sheets and embedding PW.

A decline in friction coefficient by 58.82% was achieved.
Effects of chocolate on cognitive function in healthy adults: A systematic review and meta‐analysis on clinical trials
Authors: Shateri Zainab , Kooshki Akram , Hormoznejad Razie , Hosseini Seyed Ahmad , Mousavi Reihaneh , Foroumandi Elaheh
Published: May 2023

Cognitive function is defined as performance in objective tasks that need conscious mind effort. It has been shown that consuming foods rich in flavanols causes neurobiological effects and improves learning, memory, and global cognitive function. This study aimed to investigate the impact of chronic chocolate consumption on cognitive function in healthy adults based on published trials. The PICO strategy was applied to examine the research question in this study. Researchers searched the Web of Science, Science Direct, Pubmed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases. Related articles of randomized controlled trials that evaluated the chronic effect of chocolate on cognitive function were selected (all published from their inception to February 2021). The difference in means of the last and first measurements was the main effect measure between the control and intervention groups. For quantitative data synthesis, weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were performed in the random effect model. Of the initial 340 articles identified, seven trials met the eligibility criteria. Chronic chocolate intake significantly reduced executive function time (WMD: −11.77, 95% CI: −22.49, −1.05, p = 0.03) of the participants. Further, the language and executive function (WMD: 6.38, 95% CI: 5.97, 6.80, p < 0.001) was raised by 6.38 times after the intervention with chocolate. We could not perform subgroup analysis due to insufficient trials and significant heterogeneity in some studies. It is concluded that daily consumption of cocoa may provide short and middle‐term effects on young adults and make them better cognitive performance in learning, memory, and attention.
Optimisation of laser welding of deep drawing steel for automotive applications by Machine Learning: A comparison of different techniques
Authors: Maculotti Giacomo , Genta Gianfranco , Galetto Maurizio
Published: May 2023

Laser welding is particularly relevant in the industry thanks to its simplicity, flexibility and final quality. The industry 4.0 and sustainable manufacturing framework gives massive attention to in situ and non‐destructive inspection methods to predict laser weld final quality. Literature often resorts to supervised Machine Learning approaches. However, selecting the ApTest method is non‐trivial and often decision making relies on diverse and unclearly defined criteria. This work addresses this task by proposing a statistical comparison method based on nonparametric tests. The method is applied to the most relevant supervised Machine Learning approaches exploited in literature to predict laser weld quality, specifically, considering the optimisation of a new production line, hence focussing on supervised Machine Learning methods that do not require massive data set, that is, Generalized Linear Model (GLM), Gaussian Process Regression, Support Vector Machine, Classification and Regression Tree, and Genetic Algorithms. The statistical comparison is carried out to select the best‐performing model, which is then exploited to optimise the production process. Additionally, an automatic process to optimise Machine Learning models and process parameters is resorted to, basing on Bayesian approaches, to reduce operator effect. This work provides quality and process engineers with a simple framework to compare Machine Learning approaches performances and select the most suitable process modelling technique.
A synthesis of mathematical wordproblem‐solvinginstructions for English learners with learning disabilities in mathematics
Authors: Lei Qingli , Xin Yan Ping
Published: May 2023

Mathematics problem‐solving is a fundamental aspect of school mathematics that requires an integrated set of skills, such as comprehending the problems and mathematics computation. Providing useful problem‐solving interventions and instructions is essential for students who are English learners (ELs) with learning disabilities or at risk for learning disabilities in mathematics (LDM). This study aims to synthesise current word problem‐solving intervention studies targeted at improving the mathematic problem‐solving performance of ELs with LDM. Fourteen studies were reviewed under three instructional categories: culturally responsive scaffolding, linguistic scaffolding, and mathematical model‐based visual scaffolding. The limitations and implications for future research and practice are also discussed.

Context and implications

Rationale for this study

The task of teaching mathematics word problems to English learners (ELs) with learning disabilities in mathematics (LDM) is challenging due to the additional cultural and language barriers that may coexist with disability‐related factors. This review was conducted to identify effective instructional strategies that can support ELs with LDM in overcoming these challenges and succeeding in solving mathematical word problems.

Why the new findings matter

The findings from this study matter because they provide educators with valuable insights into effective instructional scaffolding that can assist ELs with LDM in solving mathematical word problems. Knowing which scaffolds are effective can help teachers provide better support to ELs with LDM in their classrooms.

Implications

Implications for teachers are that providing multi‐component instructions during word problem solving, such as combining culturally responsive scaffolding with linguistically relevant instruction and domain‐specific instruction, can benefit ELs with LDM in solving mathematical word problems. For researchers, further studies are necessary to explore the effectiveness of incorporating non‐linguistic visual representations into interventions as a means of helping ELs make sense of mathematical tasks and express their ideas. Understanding the effectiveness of various instructional strategies can inform the development of more effective interventions and better support ELs with LDM in their academic pursuits.
Inhibiting Osteolytic Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis by Bone‐Targeted Nanoagent via Remodeling the Bone Tumor Microenvironment Combined with NIR‐II Photothermal Therapy
Authors: Zeng Yaoxun , Pan Zhenxing , Yuan Jiongpeng , Song Yuqiong , Feng Zhenzhen , Chen Zefeng , Ye Zhaoyi , Li Yushan , Bao Ying , Ran Zhili , Li Xinyi , Ye Huiling , Zhang Kun , Liu Xujie , He Yan
Published: May 2023

Bone is one of the prone metastatic sites of patients with advanced breast cancer. The “vicious cycle” between osteoclasts and breast cancer cells plays an essential role in osteolytic bone metastasis from breast cancer. In order to inhibit bone metastasis from breast cancer, NIR‐II photoresponsive bone‐targeting nanosystems (CuP@PPy‐ZOL NPs) are designed and synthesized. CuP@PPy‐ZOL NPs can trigger the photothermal‐enhanced Fenton response and photodynamic effect to enhance the photothermal treatment (PTT) effect and thus achieve synergistic anti‐tumor effect. Meanwhile, they exhibit a photothermal enhanced ability to inhibit osteoclast differentiation and promote osteoblast differentiation, which reshaped the bone microenvironment. CuP@PPy‐ZOL NPs effectively inhibited the proliferation of tumor cells and bone resorption in the in vitro 3D bone metastases model of breast cancer. In a mouse model of breast cancer bone metastasis, CuP@PPy‐ZOL NPs combined with PTT with NIR‐II significantly inhibited the tumor growth of breast cancer bone metastases and osteolysis while promoting bone repair to achieve the reversal of osteolytic breast cancer bone metastases. Furthermore, the potential biological mechanisms of synergistic treatment are identified by conditioned culture experiments and mRNA transcriptome analysis. The design of this nanosystem provides a promising strategy for treating osteolytic bone metastases.
A discussion of critical errors in a longitudinal study on the deterrent effect of drug‐induced homicide laws on opioid‐related mortality across 92 counties and the District of Columbia in the United States
Authors: Carroll Jennifer J. , Bevis Leah , El‐Sabawi Taleed , Figgatt Mary , Dasgupta Nabarun , Beletsky Leo , Leiberman Amy J. , Dennis Ashleigh , Davis Corey S.
Published: May 2023

Drug overdose claimed more than 100,000 lives in the United States in 2021. Drug‐induced homicide (DIH) laws create specific criminal liability for individuals who provide drugs that cause or contribute to the death of another person. DIH prosecutions in the United States have increased substantially over the past decade despite the absence of meaningful evidence of their individual‐ or community‐level impacts. Recently, Lee et al. analyzed the impact of DIH laws on county‐level opioid overdose mortality across 92 counties in 10 states and concluded that DIH laws are associated with significant reductions in rates of opioid overdose death. In this commentary, we present evidence demonstrating that the Lee et al. study is fundamentally flawed. Specifically, the legal data used by Lee et al. to define their treatment condition (the presence or absence of a state‐level DIH law) is incorrect in almost every aspect. We also describe significant methodological weaknesses, including flawed sampling strategies that resulted in a biased sample of county overdose rates as well as flawed modeling strategies that cannot effectively evaluate the hypothesis that DIH laws negatively impact opioid overdose mortality. More research on the individual‐ and community‐level impacts of DIH laws is needed. In the meantime, we advise policymakers to strengthen state 911 Good Samaritan laws, as DIH laws appear to erode the efficacy of this proven overdose‐prevention strategy.
Introduction: Self-Harm from Social Setting to Neurobiology
Authors: Millard Chris
Published: May 2023

Self-harm is a significant mental health issue in the twenty-first century. The recorded rise in various behaviours, including deliberate self-cutting and self-burning, have been widely remarked upon and lamented.1 Eminent cultural historian Sander Gilman has recently written of a global ‘sharp public awareness of self-harm as a major mental health issue’.2 The behaviour is usually said to be motivated by a desire to regulate feelings of intolerable tension, sadness or emotional numbness, and is almost always reported to be ‘on the increase’; it is also often reported as a problem primarily affecting young women.3 Despite a steady stream of books and articles on this emotive subject from the 1980s onwards — from psychiatrists, social workers and sociologists among others — there remains little meaningful historical analysis of this phenomenon.
Venous thromboembolism following colectomy for diverticular disease: an English population-based cohort study
Authors: Yapa Anjali K D S , Humes David J , Crooks Colin J , Lewis-Lloyd Christopher A
Published: May 2023

Aim

This study reports venous thromboembolism (VTE) rates following colectomy for diverticular disease to explore the magnitude of postoperative VTE risk in this population and identify high risk subgroups of interest.

Method

English national cohort study of colectomy patients between 2000 and 2019 using linked primary (Clinical Practice Research Datalink) and secondary (Hospital Episode Statistics) care data. Stratified by admission type, absolute incidence rates (IR) per 1000 person-years and adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRR) were calculated for 30- and 90-day post-colectomy VTE.

Results

Of 24,394 patients who underwent colectomy for diverticular disease, over half (57.39%) were emergency procedures with the highest VTE rate seen in patients ≥70-years-old (IR 142.27 per 1000 person-years, 95%CI 118.32–171.08) at 30 days post colectomy. Emergency resections (IR 135.18 per 1000 person-years, 95%CI 115.72–157.91) had double the risk (aIRR 2.07, 95%CI 1.47–2.90) of developing a VTE at 30 days following colectomy compared to elective resections (IR 51.14 per 1000 person-years, 95%CI 38.30–68.27). Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) was shown to be associated with a 64% reduction in VTE risk (aIRR 0.36 95%CI 0.20–0.65) compared to open colectomies at 30 days post-op. At 90 days following emergency resections, VTE risks remained raised compared to elective colectomies.

Conclusion

Following emergency colectomy for diverticular disease, the VTE risk is approximately double compared to elective resections at 30 days while MIS was found to be associated with a reduced risk of VTE. This suggests advancements in postoperative VTE prevention in diverticular disease patients should focus on those undergoing emergency colectomies.
Winter storm risk assessment in forests with high resolution gust speed data
Authors: Zeppenfeld Thorsten , Jung Christopher , Schindler Dirk , Sennhenn-Reulen Holger , Ipsen Marie Josefin , Schmidt Matthias
Published: May 2023

Winter storms pose a major threat to forest management in Central Europe. They affect forests at a large spatial scale and produce large losses in standing and merchantable timber within few hours. The assessment of winter storm vulnerability by statistical modelling serves as an important tool to tackle uncertainities about the damage risk and to inform management decision processes. This study made use of an extensive forest inventory data set from South-West Germany before and after winter storm Lothar in 1999, one of the most severe storm events in Germany over the last decades. Hierarchical logistic models were fitted to relate storm damage probability on individual tree level to features of dendrometry, site, orography, and storm-specific high resolution data of maximum gust speed. We developed two different approaches to implement gust speed as a predictor and compared them to a baseline model with a structured spatial effect function with no gust speed information. Regional and local variability which could not be described by the predictors was modelled by multi-level group effects. Generalisation performance was tested with a spatially and temporally independent data set on storm separation between explicit spatial gust speeds and unknown variability achieved with the parametric multi-level approach led to a higher degree of transparency and utilisability.
nmODE: neural memory ordinary differential equation
Authors: Yi Zhang
Published: May 2023

Brain neural networks are regarded as dynamical systems in neural science, in which memories are interpreted as attractors of the systems. Mathematically, ordinary differential equations (ODEs) can be utilized to describe dynamical systems. Any ODE that is employed to describe the dynamics of a neural network can be called a neuralODE. Inspired by rethinking the nonlinear representation ability of existing artificial neural networks together with the functions of columns in the neocortex, this paper proposes a theory of memory-based neuralODE, which is composed of two novel artificial neural network models: nmODE and $$\epsilon$$
ϵ
-net, and two learning algorithms: nmLA and $$\epsilon$$
ϵ
-LA. The nmODE (neural memory Ordinary Differential Equation) is designed with a special structure that separates learning neurons from memory neurons, making its dynamics clear. Given any external input, the nmODE possesses the global attractor property and is thus embedded with a memory mechanism. The nmODE establishes a nonlinear mapping from the external input to its associated attractor and does not have the problem of learning features homeomorphic to the input data space, as occurs frequently in most existing neuralODEs. The nmLA (neural memory Learning Algorithm) is developed by proposing an interesting three-dimensional inverse ODE (invODE) and has advantages in memory and parameter efficiency. The proposed $$\epsilon$$
ϵ
-net is a discrete version of the nmODE, which is particularly feasible for digital computing. The proposed $$\epsilon$$
ϵ
-LA ($$\epsilon$$
ϵ
learning algorithm) requires no prior knowledge of the number of network layers. Both nmLA and $$\epsilon$$
ϵ
-LA have no problem with gradient vanishing. Experimental results show that the proposed theory is comparable to state-of-the-art methods.
Transient population dynamics drive the spread of invasive wild pigs and reveal impacts of management in North America
Authors: Miller Ryan S. , Tabak Michael A. , Wolfson David W. , Burdett Christopher L.
Published: May 2023

Invasion of nonindigenous species is considered one of the most urgent problems affecting native ecosystems and agricultural systems. Mechanistic models that account for short-term population dynamics can improve prediction because they incorporate differing demographic processes that link the environmental conditions of a spatial location explicitly with the invasion process. Yet short-term population dynamics are rarely accounted for in spatial models of invasive species spread.

Accounting for transient (short-term) population dynamics that arise from the interaction of age structure and vital rates, we predict the stochastic population growth rate and establishment probability of wild pigs following introduction into any location in North America. Established ecological theory suggests that the rate of spatial spread is proportional to population growth rate. Using observed geographic distribution data for wild pigs we calculated geographic spread rates (watersheds/year) from 1982 to 2021. We investigated if observed spread rates increased in watersheds with higher stochastic population growth rates. Stochastic population growth rate and establishment probability of wild pigs increased with increasing initial population (propagule) size and length of establishment time. Areas along the Mississippi, Ohio, and lower portions of the Missouri river drainages had the highest probability of wild pig establishment with many regions having probabilities close to 1. Spread rates demonstrated strong spatial heterogeneity with the greatest rates of spread (5.8 watersheds/year) occurring from 2008 to 2013 prior to the establishment of a National wild pig control program in 2013. Spread rates declined 82% (0.57 watersheds/year) in the period from 2013 to 2021 compared to the period from 1982 to 2013. We found significant positive associations among stochastic population growth rate and observed geographic rates of spread. Stochastic population growth rate explained a large amount of variation (79.3–92.1%) in annual rate of watershed spread of wild pigs. Our predicted probabilities of establishment and population growth can be used to inform surveillance and control efforts to reduce the potential for establishment and spread of wild pigs.
Ranking Trust Factors Affecting Risk Perception in Illicit Drug Purchase on the Darknet: A Large-Scale Survey Study in Hungary
Authors: Kiss Tibor , Szigeti Ákos
Published: May 2023

The process of illicit drug trafficking on darknet markets is highly affected by various trust factors. Although the factors potentially affecting customers’ risk perception can be identified based on previous research, cyber criminology has not produced empirical research ranking the importance of the specific factors. This study was designed to fill this gap by developing a tool that measures the importance of the various trust factors. To test out the measurement tool, a large-scale survey with projective situational questions was conducted among university students in Hungary. The sample (n = 5481) was compiled to include potential darknet market customers, respondents with above-average computer skills needed to access the darknet, and taking into account that university students are a group of society particularly exposed to drug consumption. The end product of this research is a trust matrix ranking the factors affecting illicit drug purchases on darknet markets. Among the factors, the survey’s target group ranked reliable and undamaged delivery of goods and the reliability of vendors as the most important. The measurement tool developed in this research will facilitate further criminological research on vendor reputation. Its findings also point to the need for further research on delivery providers and predict that influencing the delivery-related risk perception of potential customers could effectively reduce demand.
Fingerprinting and analysis of Bluetooth devices with automata learning
Authors: Pferscher Andrea , Aichernig Bernhard K.
Published: May 2023

Automata learning is a technique to automatically infer behavioral models of black-box systems. Today’s learning algorithms enable the deduction of models that describe complex system properties, e.g., timed or stochastic behavior. Despite recent improvements in the scalability of learning algorithms, their practical applicability is still an open issue. Little work exists that actually learns models of physical black-box systems. To fill this gap in the literature, we present a case study on applying automata learning on the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol. It shows that not only the size of the system limits the applicability of automata learning. Also, the interaction with the system under learning creates a major bottleneck that is rarely discussed. In this article, we propose a general automata learning architecture for learning a behavioral model of the BLE protocol implemented by a physical device. With this framework, we can successfully learn the behavior of six investigated BLE devices. Furthermore, we extended the learning technique to learn security critical behavior, e.g., key-exchange procedures for encrypted communication. The learned models depict several behavioral differences and inconsistencies to the BLE specification. This shows that automata learning can be used for fingerprinting black-box devices, i.e., characterizing systems via their specific learned models. Moreover, learning revealed a crashing scenario for one device.
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Times of COVID-19: Examining Emotional and Behavioral Problems, Parental Well-Being, and Resilience
Authors: de Maat Donna A. , Van der Hallen Ruth , de Nijs Pieter F. A. , Visser Kirsten , Bastiaansen Dennis , Truijens Femke L. , van Rijen Elisabeth H. M. , Ester Wietske , Prinzie Peter , Jansen Pauline W. , Dekker Linda P.
Published: May 2023

This longitudinal study assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; n = 62; M
age = 13 years) by measuring emotional and behavioral problems before and during the pandemic, and by comparing this change to a matched sample of children without ASD (n = 213; M
age = 16 years). Moreover, we examined whether indicators of parental well-being promoted resilience of children with ASD. Results showed that the mean change in problems did not differ between children with and without ASD. Importantly, some children showed an increase in problems, while others showed resilience. Parental well-being indicators were not related to resilience among children with ASD. The interindividual variability in responses, particularly among children with ASD, highlights the need for personalized support.
Should Private Exchanges of List Price Information Be Presumed to Be Anticompetitive?
Authors: Klein Timo , Neurohr Bertram
Published: May 2023

Harrington (2022) provides a novel theory that explains how a private information exchange involving gross list prices can lead to higher transaction prices. On this basis, he considers that private list price exchanges between competitors should be presumed to harm competition. The theory, which has received much attention in the context of the EU trucks cartel case, was recently referred to by the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal as a “unilateral effects” theory, given that it involves no coordination once list prices have been exchanged. Unlike conventional collusion, the theory does not rely on a monitoring and retaliation mechanism. Given its novelty and relevance for recent competition cases, we consider it useful to explore its potential limitations. We show that both the scope for and magnitude of harm are sensitive to key modelling parameters such as the number of firms, the degree of product substitutability, and the level of marginal cost—sometimes in opposite directions. We also show that there may be no scope for the anticompetitive effect when firms are capacity constrained. Finally, we discuss several additional qualitative aspects that may undermine the theory of harm: the adaptability of internal pricing processes over time, the lack of verifiability of exchanged list price information (especially when the exchange is private), and possible procompetitive or competitively neutral reasons for the conduct. We conclude that, although Harrington provides an insightful addition to the wider literature on the competitive effects of information exchanges, the effects of list price exchanges are not sufficiently unambiguous to justify a general presumption of competitive harm.
Examining Student Testing and Debugging Within a Computational Systems Modeling Context
Authors: Bowers Jonathan , Eidin Emanuel , Stephens Lynn , Brennan Linsey
Published: May 2023

Interpreting and creating computational systems models is an important goal of science education. One aspect of computational systems modeling that is supported by modeling, systems thinking, and computational thinking literature is “testing, evaluating, and debugging models.” Through testing and debugging, students can identify aspects of their models that either do not match external data or conflict with their conceptual understandings of a phenomenon. This disconnect encourages students to make model revisions, which in turn deepens their conceptual understanding of a phenomenon. Given that many students find testing and debugging challenging, we set out to investigate the various testing and debugging behaviors and behavioral patterns that students use when building and revising computational system models in a supportive learning environment. We designed and implemented a 6-week unit where students constructed and revised a computational systems model of evaporative cooling using SageModeler software. Our results suggest that despite being in a common classroom, the three groups of students in this study all utilized different testing and debugging behavioral patterns. Group 1 focused on using external peer feedback to identify flaws in their model, group 2 used verbal and written discourse to critique their model’s structure and suggest structural changes, and group 3 relied on systemic analysis of model output to drive model revisions. These results suggest that multiple aspects of the learning environment are necessary to enable students to take these different approaches to testing and debugging.
Smiling at moral misbehaviors: the effect of violation benignness and psychological distance
Authors: Franchin Laura , Osler Gabriele , Frizzera Martina , Geraci Alessandra , Surian Luca , Hadjichristidis Constantinos
Published: May 2023

Why do certain moral violations elicit amusement while others do not? According to McGraw and Warren’s (2010) benign-violation theory of humor, for a situation to elicit amusement it should involve a benign violation. Furthermore, the greater the psychological distance from the situation, the greater the amusement it will elicit. We tested this theory by recording spontaneous facial expressions and collecting self-ratings of amusement in response to classic scenarios of purity and harm violations, which we stated either from a psychologically close second-person perspective or a psychologically distant third-person perspective. A feature of these classic scenarios is that purity violations are relatively more benign (less malignant) than harm violations, which we independently found. The theory thus predicts more amusement elicitation for purity violations, which would be more pronounced when the hypothetical transgressor is a third party rather than the participant. We found that amusement was exclusively elicited by the more benign purity violations but no effect of psychological distance. Furthermore, the judged malignance of a violation was a strong predictor of amusement. Overall, the results partially support the benign violation theory of humor.
A puzzle about moral responsibility
Authors: Lampert Fabio , Waldrop John William
Published: May 2023

We present a new puzzle about logical truth, necessity, and moral responsibility. We defend one solution to the puzzle. A corollary of our preferred solution is that prominent arguments for the incompatibility of determinism and moral responsibility are invalid.
How to threaten in Russian: a constructionist approach
Authors: Zhukova Valentina
Published: May 2023

The article analyzes various linguistic means to carry out threats in Russian with special focus on 27 constructions tagged as “Threat” in the Russian Constructicon, a linguistic repository of more than 2200 constructions in the Russian language. The major purpose of the current study is to investigate what constitutes a threat in Russian and how threats are related to other constructions. Unlike talking about threats, performing them in Russian does not involve the verbs ugrožatʹ and grozitʹ ‘threaten’. Instead, speakers prefer to use various indirect strategies, such as the construction Pogovori mne eščë!‘Don’t you dare talk like that!’. Although the constructions involve considerable variation in form and content, they share a common structure. The proposed taxonomy suggests that threats comprise three components that can be referred to as “Cause” (the undesired action of the threatenee), “Condition” (the action that the threatenee should take to avoid the Content of the threat), and “Content” (the harmful action that the threatener promises to carry out). In most cases one or two components are left out and the remaining components are often referred to through metonymy. The article furthermore contributes to Construction Grammar: it is proposed that lateral relationships between constructions can be of two types, referred to as “Overlap” (sharing a common semantic schema) and “Disambiguation in context” (sharing a common constructional schema).
Comparative safety assessment of genetically modified crops: focus on equivalence with reference varieties could contribute to more efficient and effective field trials
Authors: Kleter Gijs A. , van der Voet Hilko , Engel Jasper , van der Berg Jan-Pieter
Published: May 2023

The initial compositional analysis of plants plays an important role within the internationally harmonized comparative safety assessment approach for genetically modified plants. Current EFSA guidance prescribes two types of comparison, namely difference tests with regard to a conventional comparator or control, and equivalence tests with regard to a collection of commercial reference varieties. The experience gained so far shows that most of the statistically significant differences between the test and control can be discounted based on the fact that they are still within equivalence limits of reference varieties with a presumed history of safe use. Inclusion of a test variety and reference varieties into field trial design, and of the statistical equivalence test would already suffice for the purpose of finding relevant parameters that warrant further assessment, hence both the inclusion of a conventional counterpart and the performance of difference testing can be omitted. This would also allow for the inclusion of safety testing regimes into plant variety testing VCU (value for cultivation and use) or other, independent variety trials.
Higher education graduates, vocational qualification, and income. Is higher education worthwhile for dual qualifiers?
Authors: Ordemann Jessica
Published: May 2023

This article explores the income of higher education graduates who have also completed vocational and educational training. I use data from a linked data set of the student cohort SC5 of the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) and the Institute for Employment Research (IAB), NEPS-SC5-ADIAB. The sample contains 3483 direct qualifiers, 1002 dual qualifiers with and 213 without Abitur. Longitudinal and pooled Poisson regressions are estimated to explore the income trajectories within the careers of dual qualifiers and for comparison with direct qualifiers. The results are ambiguous—from an intragenerational perspective only dual qualifiers without Abitur and a master’s degree earn more after studying. Measured against direct qualifiers, however, dual qualifiers with a bachelor’s degree earn more. An important influencing factor remains the labor market and the jobs held there.
Effect of Substrate Bed Temperature on Solute Segregation and Mechanical Properties in Ti–6Al–4V Produced by Laser Powder Bed Fusion
Authors: Pedrazzini S. , Pek M. E. , Ackerman A. K. , Cheng Q. , Ali H. , Ghadbeigi H. , Mumtaz K. , Dessolier T. , Britton T. B. , Bajaj P. , Jägle E. , Gault B. , London A. J. , Galindo-Nava E.
Published: May 2023

Titanium alloys are particularly sensitive to temperature during additive manufacturing processes, due to their dual phase microstructure and sensitivity to oxygen uptake. In this paper, laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) was used in conjunction with a heated substrate bed at 100 °C, 570 °C and 770 °C to produce specimens of Ti–6Al–4V, to investigate the change in mechanical properties and segregation of alloying elements. An initial increase in ductility was observed when increasing the temperature from 100 °C to 570 °C, followed by a significant loss in ductility when samples were produced at 770 °C. A suite of multi-scale characterisation techniques revealed that the as-printed microstructure was drastically different across the range of temperatures. At 100 °C, α + α′ phases were identified. Deformation twinning was extensively observed in the a phase, with Al and V segregating at the twin interfaces. At 570 °C (the most ductile sample), α′, α and nano-particles of β were observed, with networks of entangled dislocations showing V segregation. At 770 °C, no martensitic α′ was identified. The microstructure was an α + β microstructure and an increased volume fraction of tangled dislocations with localised V segregation. Thermodynamic modelling based on the Gibbs-free energy of formation showed that the increased V concentration at dislocations was insufficient to locally nucleate β phase. However, b-phase nucleation at grain boundaries (not dislocations) caused pinning of grain boundaries, impeding slip and leading to a reduction in ductility. It is likely that the increased O-content within specimens printed at increased temperatures also played a key role in high-temperature embrittlement. Building operations are therefore best performed below sub-transus temperatures, to encourage the growth of strengthening phases via solute segregation, and the build atmosphere must be tightly controlled to reduce oxygen uptake within the samples.
Medium Term Outcomes of Revision Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy after Gastric Banding: A Propensity Score Matched Study
Authors: Huang Brenda W. , Shahul Sarfraz S. , Ong Marcus K.H. , Fisher Oliver M. , Chan Daniel L. , Talbot Michael L.
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Revision bariatric surgery may be undertaken after weight loss failure and/or complications following primary bariatric surgery. This study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of revision laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (RLSG) after gastric banding (GB) to those of primary laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (PLSG).

Materials and Methods

A retrospective, propensity-score matched study was conducted to compare between PLSG (control) patients and RLSG after GB (treatment) patients. Patients were matched using 2:1 nearest neighbor propensity score matching without replacement. Patients were compared on weight loss outcomes and postoperative complications for up to five years.

Results

144 PLSG patients were compared against 72 RLSG patients. At 36 months, PLSG patients had significantly higher mean %TWL than RLSG patients (27.4 ± 8.6 [9.3–48.9]% vs. 17.9 ± 10.2 [1.7–36.3]%, p < 0.01). At 60 months, both groups had similar mean %TWL (16.6 ± 8.1 [4.6–31.3]% vs. 16.2 ± 6.0 [8.8–22.4)]%, p > 0.05). Early functional complication rates were slightly higher with PLSG (13.9% vs. 9.7%), but late functional complication rates were comparatively higher with RLSG (50.0% vs. 37.5%). The differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Both early (0.7% vs 4.2%) and late (3.5% vs 8.3%) surgical complication rates were lower in PLSG patients compared to RLSG patients but did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

RLSG after GB has poorer weight loss outcomes than PLSG in the short-term. Although RLSG may carry higher risks of functional complications, the safety of RLSG and PLSG are overall comparable.

Graphical abstract