bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Designing a minimum data set for the information management system (registry) of spinal canal stenosis: An applied‐descriptive study
Authors: Zarei Javad , Mohammadi Ali , Akrami Mohamad Reza , Jeihooni Kalhori Azar
Published: November 2023

Background and Aims

Spinal canal stenosis is one of the most common vertebral column diseases, which can lead to disability. Developing a registry system can help in research on the prevention and effective treatment of it. This study designs a minimum data set (MDS) as the first step in creating a registry system for spinal canal stenosis.

Method

The present research is of applied‐descriptive type, performed in 2022. First, the applicable data elements about the disease were selected from a vast range of English and Farsi references, including peer reviewed articles, academic books, credible websites, and medical records of hospitalized patients. Through the extracted data, the primary MDS plan was designed as a questionnaire. The validity of the questionnaire was conducted via asking the opinion of experts (neurosurgeons, physiotherapists, epidemiologists, and health information management specialists). Also, its reliability was calculated via Cronbach ⍺ coefficient, which was 86%. Finally, the MDS of the spinal canal stenosis national registry system (for Iran) was confirmed through a two stage Delphi technique. Data analysis was applied through descriptive statistics via SPSS21 software.

Results

The proposed MDS is offered in two general sets of data: administrative and clinical. For the administrative data set, 40 data elements had been proposed, as five classes. Twenty‐six of them were confirmed. In the clinical section, 95 data elements had been proposed in 14 classes; 94 of which were finally confirmed.

Conclusion

Since there is no spinal canal stenosis MDS available, this study can be a turning point in the standardization of the data on this disease. Moreover, these precise, coherent, and standard data elements can be contributed to improving disease management and enhancing the public healthcare quality. Also, the MDS proposed in this study can help researchers and experts, design a spinal canal stenosis registry system in other countries.
Removal of ochratoxin A in wine by Cryptococcus albidus and safety assessment of degradation products
Authors: Wang Leran , Cai Rui , Zhang Jierong , Liu Xiaoshuang , Wang Saiqun , Ge Qian , Zhao Zidan , Yue Tianli , Yuan Yahong , Wang Zhouli
Published: November 2023

BACKGROUND

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin that contaminates grape‐based products and is extremely harmful to the health of the host. It is effectively removed by yeast during the fermentation of wine, whereas the removal mechanism of OTA remains unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the removal mechanism of ochratoxin A by yeast and to evaluate the safety of its degradation products.

RESULTS

Cryptococcus albidus (20‐G) with better effect on ochratoxin A (OTA) was screened out in the main fermentation stage of wine. The results showed that 20‐G removed OTA through biosorption and biodegradation. Intracellular enzymes played the main role (18.44%) and yeast cell walls adsorbed a small amount of OTA (8.44%). Furthermore, the identification of proteins in 20‐G revealed that the decrease in OTA content was mainly a result of the action of peroxidase, and validation tests were carried out. By analyzing the degradation products of OTA, OTα and phenylalanine with lower toxicity were obtained. Animal experiments showed that the intervention of yeast 20‐G reduced the damage and adverse effects caused by OTA toxicity to the mice.

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrates the mechanism of OTA removal by 20‐G and the toxicity of OTA was reduced by peroxidase in 20‐G. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
User preferences and consumer acceptability of boiled plantain in rural and urban localities in Cameroon
Authors: Ngoh Newilah Gérard , Kendine Vepowo Cédric , Nya Nzimi Raymonde , Kuate Kengne Cédric , Takam Ngouno Annie , Nana Claudin Karim , Meli Meli Vivien , Gouado Inocent , Dufour Dominique , Mbeguie‐A‐Mbeguie Didier
Published: November 2023

BACKGROUND

An understanding of the preferences of different stakeholders in the plantain value chain in rural and urban segments in Cameroon is important for the selection and adoption of new plantain cultivars. Boiled plantain is one of the most commonly consumed food products from this crop in Cameroon. Gendered food mapping and consumer testing with two plantain landraces (Batard and Big Ebanga) and a plantain‐like hybrid (CARBAP K74) was carried out in rural and urban areas in the West and Littoral regions of Cameroon.

RESULTS

Plantain users in these two regions were categorized into producers, traders, processors, and consumers. Preferences indicated that raw plantain should bear long and large fruits, with heavy bunches, and an orange pulp color, whereas boiled plantain should present with a yellow color and a soft and mealy pulp, with a good plantain aroma. Batard and Big Ebanga were liked moderately by consumers, whereas CARBAP K74 was liked slightly. CARBAP K74 was on par with Batard and Big Ebanga for some attributes, except for color and sweetness.

CONCLUSION

More emphasis should be given to attributes such as color, firmness, and taste for the development of new plantain clones to be adopted by end users consuming boiled green plantain. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
The limits of awards for anti‐corruption: Experimental and ethnographic evidence from Uganda
Authors: Buntaine Mark T. , Bagabo Alex , Bangerter Tanner , Bukuluki Paul , Daniels Brigham
Published: November 2023

Conventional anti‐corruption approaches focus on detecting and punishing the misuse of public office. These approaches are often ineffective in settings where social norms do not support reporting and punishing corruption. Attempting to build anti‐corruption norms, we conducted a field experiment in Uganda that offered elected, local leaders the chance to earn awards for overseeing development projects according to legal guidelines. We then conducted a second field experiment that informed other leaders and the public about the award winners. Offering leaders the chance to earn recognition did not improve the management of projects or change leaders’ norms about corruption. Informing other leaders and residents about the award winners also did not change behaviors or attitudes related to corruption. A paired ethnographic study shows that the possibility for recognition generated excitement but was not able to overcome resignation by local leaders. Our study provides some of the first experimental evidence about using awards to motivate public officials to act with integrity and to build anti‐corruption norms among both leaders and the public. The results imply that awards have limited effects for anti‐corruption in settings with endemic corruption and where they cannot be used instrumentally by awardees.
Additive manufacturing of high‐strength polyamide 6 composites reinforced with continuous carbon fiber prepreg
Authors: Chen Wei , Hu Zhonglue , Li Xiping , He Jiawen , Wang Sisi , Zhao Yuan , Li Mengjia , Zhang Jiazhen
Published: November 2023

The additive manufacturing of continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTPs) paves way for the high‐strength, light‐weight components for variety of load‐bearing applications. In this work, the continuous carbon fiber reinforced PA6 (CCF‐PA6) composites was successfully printed from the prepreg filament. The prepreg filament was prepared in‐house by impregnating the heat‐and‐acid treated 1 K carbon fiber bundle with the molten PA6. The tensile strength of the prepreg filament, which contained with 40 vol% CF, reached 984 MPa. The unidirectional CCF‐PA6 specimens were subsequently 3D‐printed with the prepreg filament, and the mechanical strength of those 3D‐printed specimens were tunable by adjusting a set of printing parameters, such as layer thickness, hatch spacing and printing temperatures. The highest tensile strength of the specimen reached 555 MPa. Those specimens also exhibited outstanding mechanical strength at elevated temperatures, still reaching 184 MPa at 150°C. The mechanical strength of those specimens was dependent on the content of the fiber. This study can hopefully provide new insights for feedstock design and spur novel ideas in tailoring the mechanical properties of the 3D‐printed CFRTPs.
Tertiary amine oxides as perovskite nanocrystal ligands and components of polymeric nanocomposites
Authors: Leone Grace , Cueto Christopher , Hu Mingqiu , Russell Thomas P. , Emrick Todd
Published: November 2023

As a class of semiconductor nanocrystals that exhibit high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) at tunable wavelengths, perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) are attractive candidates for optoelectronic and light‐emitting devices. However, attempts to optimize PNC integration into such applications suffer from PNC instability and loss of PL over time. Here, we describe the impact of organic and polymeric N‐oxides when used in conjunction with PNCs, whereby a significant increase in PNC quantum yield is observed in solution, and stable PL emission is obtained in polymeric nanocomposites. Specifically, when using aliphatic N‐oxides in ligand exchange with CsPbBr3 PNCs in solution, a substantial boost in PNC brightness is observed (~40% or more PLQY increase), followed by an alteration of the perovskite chemistry. When N‐oxide substituents are positioned pendent to a poly(n‐butyl methacrylate) backbone, the optically clear flexible nanocomposite films obtained have bright PL emission and maintain optical clarity for months. X‐ray diffraction is useful for characterizing the PNC crystalline structure following exposure to aliphatic N‐oxides, while electron microscopy (EM) and small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) measurements of the PNC‐polymer nanocomposites show this polymeric N‐oxide platform to cleanly disperse PNCs in flexible polymer films.
Maximum likelihood gradient‐based iterative estimation for closed‐loop Hammerstein nonlinear systems
Authors: Xia Huafeng
Published: November 2023

This article studies a new iterative method for a class of closed‐loop Hammerstein systems. The new iterative method solves the crossproducts between the parameters of the linear block and the nonlinear block by using the key term separation technique, decomposes a system into two subidentification models by utilizing the hierarchical identification principle for reduced computational complexity, and maximizes the maximum likelihood cost function by using the input and output data with a data window for improved parameter estimation accuracy. A numerical simulation example and a continuous stirred tank reactor experiment are presented to demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can work effectively.
The Polifonia Ontology Network: Building a Semantic Backbone for Musical Heritage
Authors: de Berardinis Jacopo , Carriero Valentina Anita , Jain Nitisha , Lazzari Nicolas , Meroño-Peñuela Albert , Poltronieri Andrea , Presutti Valentina
Published: November 2023

In the music domain, several ontologies have been proposed to annotate musical data, in both symbolic and audio form, and generate semantically rich Music Knowledge Graphs. However, current models lack interoperability and are insufficient for representing music history and the cultural heritage context in which it was generated; risking the propagation of recency and cultural biases to downstream applications. In this article, we propose the Polifonia Ontology Network (PON) for music cultural heritage, centred around four modules: Music Meta (metadata), Representation (content), Source (provenance) and Instrument (cultural objects). We design PON with a strong accent on cultural stakeholder requirements and competency questions (CQs), contributing an NLP-based toolkit to support knowledge engineers in generating, validating, and analysing them; and a novel, high-quality CQ dataset produced as a result. We show current and future use of these resources by internal project pilots, early adopters in the music industry, and opportunities for the Semantic Web and Music Information Retrieval communities.
Investigation of 300M ultra-high-strength steel deposited by wire-based gas metal arc additive manufacturing
Authors: Wang Jun , Diao Chenglei , Taylor Mark , Wang Chong , Pickering Ed , Ding Jialuo , Pimentel Misael , Williams Stewart
Published: November 2023

300 M ultra-high-strength steel (UHSS) is widely used to produce landing gear components for aircraft. The conventional manufacturing route for these components involves extensive machining and significant material wastage. Here, the application of wire-based gas metal arc additive manufacturing to produce 300 M UHSS parts was investigated. In particular, the influence of torch shielding atmosphere on the process stability and material performance of 300 M UHSS was investigated. The shielding gases used for comparison are pure Ar, Ar with 2.5% CO2, Ar with 8% CO2, Ar with 20% CO2, and Ar with 2% CO2 and 38% He. It was found that the arc length decreased, the transfer mode changed from spray to droplet mode, and spattering became more severe as the CO2 proportion increased. Additionally, replacing Ar with He led to a broader arc core, and a slightly shorter arc length and maintained a spray transfer, which decreased spatter. The wall surface roughness followed the trend in spatter, becoming worse with the increasing CO2 proportion, and better with He addition. Adding CO2 and He in pure Ar significantly increased the bead and wall width. The microstructure and mechanical properties exhibited a strong location dependence in the as-built state, with fresh martensite and higher strength in the top region, and tempered martensite and better ductility in the reheated bulk. Generally, torch shielding gas composition appeared to have no significant effect on the microstructure evolution. This study provides a reference for the subsequent application of gas metal arc additive manufacturing to aircraft landing gear mass production to achieve a high deposition rate and process stability simultaneously.
Repro-protective activity of amygdalin and spirulina platensis in niosomes and conventional forms against aluminum chloride–induced testicular challenge in adult rats: role of CYP11A1, StAR, and HSD-3B expressions
Authors: Abo El-Ela Fatma I. , Gamal Amr , El-Banna Hossny A. , Ibrahim Marwa A , El-Banna Ahmed H. , Abdel-Razik Abdel-Razik H. , Abdel-Wahab Ahmed , Hassan Walid Hamdy , Abdelghany Asmaa K.
Published: November 2023

The male reproductive system is negatively influenced by Al exposure. Al represented a considerable hazard to men’s reproduction capabilities. Amygdalin (AMG) and spirulina platensis (SP) have been considered to have a strong antioxidant and repro-protective activity; also, targeted drug delivery systems called niosomes improve the distribution of water-soluble medications like amygdalin and spirulina. Current study targeted to determine the effectiveness of AMG and SP against negative reproductive impact resulted by aluminum chloride (AlCl3) toxicity. Sixty adult male albino rats were separated into 6 groups, including the control group, which received distilled water; AlCl3 group, which received AlCl3; AMG+AlCl3 group, which received AlCl3+AMG; AMGLN+AlCl3 group, which received AlCl3+amygdalin-loaded niosomes; SP+AlCl3 group, which received AlCl3+SP; and SPLN+AlCl3 group, which received AlCl3+spirulina-loaded niosomes. All treatments were orally gavaged daily for 5 weeks, and rats were weighed weekly. At the termination of the experiment, some males (three from each group) were used for fertility traits via mating thirty virgin rat females (in a ratio of 1:2 and 2:3 male:female, respectively) followed by recording of birth weights and litter size (number of pups per each female) at birth to assess males’ reproductive capability. Other males were euthanized for collection of serum, epididymal semen samples, and tissue samples for biochemical, sperm evaluation, gene expression, and histopathological measurements. There are a considerable number of negative impacts of AlCl3 on male fertility clarified by declined serum testosterone levels; an increased oxidative stress (MDA, TAC); deteriorated semen quality; down-regulation of CYP11A1, StAR, and HSD-3b gene expressions; and testicular tissue degenerative changes. In addition, litter size (number of pups per each female) and birth weights of pups obtained from mated females were affected. AMG and SP treatments, either in niosomal or conventional form, alleviated the AlCl3 negative effects by reducing oxidative stress; increasing testosterone levels; improving semen quality; upregulating of CYP11A1, StAR, and HSD-3b gene expressions; and reducing degenerative changes of testicular tissue. Besides, negative reproductive effect was diminished as observed by changes in the litter size (number of pups per each female) and birth weights of pups obtained from mated females. AMG and SP treatments (either in niosomal or conventional form), ameliorated the AlCl3 negative effects as they possess powerful antioxidant activity, as well as they have the ability to improve the reproductive activity of affected males.

Graphical abstract
Reliability of the global cortical atrophy visual rating scale applied to computed tomography versus magnetic resonance imaging scans in acute stroke
Authors: Hobden Georgina , Colbourne Emma , Pendlebury Sarah T. , Demeyere Nele
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Research using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggests regional cerebral atrophy measures (e.g., frontal lobe, temporal lobe) may predict post-stroke outcomes. Clinical CT scans have excellent potential for use in research but it is unclear whether regional atrophy measures from CT are reliable compared to MRI reference standards.

Methods

We used the Global Cortical Atrophy (GCA) scale to investigate reliability of atrophy measures on CT versus MRI scans from stroke patients originally recruited to the Oxford Cognitive Screening programme. Two raters provided standardised visual ratings at two timepoints. Weighted Kappa statistics assessed the reliability of regional atrophy scores. Spearman’s correlation and a two-way repeated measures ANOVA assessed the reliability of the total score.

Results

On clinically acquired neuroimaging from 98 stroke patients (mean/SD age = 70.97/11.99, 42 female, 84 ischaemic stroke), regional GCA scores on CT versus MRI showed fair to almost perfect intra-rater agreement (κ = .50–.87), substantial to almost perfect intra-rater agreement on CT (κ = .67–.88), and moderate to almost perfect intra-rater reliability on MRI (κ = .50–.89). Regional GCA scores showed mostly moderate to substantial inter-rater reliability on both CT and MRI (κ = .43–.69), except the temporal horns and parieto-occipital region. There was a strong correlation between total GCA scores on CT and MRI (r (96) = .87–.88, p < .001).

Conclusions

These results support the use of cerebral atrophy measures from CT in clinical research, as visual ratings showed generally good agreement between CT and MRI, between raters, and between timepoints.
Evolution of Flame Displacement Speed Within Flame Front in Different Regimes of Premixed Turbulent Combustion
Authors: Chakraborty Nilanjan , Dopazo Cesar , Dunn Harry , Ahmed Umair
Published: November 2023

A transport equation for the flame displacement speed evolution in premixed flames is derived from first principles, and the mean behaviours of the terms of this equation are analysed based on a Direct Numerical Simulation database of statistically planar turbulent premixed flames with a range of different Karlovitz numbers. It is found that the regime of combustion (or Karlovitz number) affects the statistical behaviour of the mean contributions of the terms of the displacement speed transport equation which are associated with the normal strain rate and curvature dependence of displacement speed. The contributions arising from molecular diffusion and flame curvature play leading order roles in all combustion regimes, whereas the terms arising from the flame normal straining and reactive scalar gradient become leading order contributors only for the flames with high Karlovitz number values representing the thin reaction zones regime. The mean behaviours of the terms of the displacement speed transport equation indicate that the effects arising from fluid-dynamic normal straining, reactive scalar gradient and flame curvature play key roles in the evolution of displacement speed. The mean characteristics of the various terms of the displacement speed transport equation are explained in detail and their qualitative behaviours can be expounded based on the behaviours of the corresponding terms in the case of 1D steady laminar premixed flames. This implies that the flamelet assumption has the potential to be utilised for the purpose of any future modelling of the unclosed terms of the displacement speed transport equation even in the thin reaction zones regime for moderate values of Karlovitz number.
A new fast screening method for estimating building materials hazard indices with correlated inputs
Authors: Rocznik Joanna , Pluta Julia , Tudyka Konrad , Poręba Grzegorz , Szymak Agnieszka
Published: November 2023

In this work we investigate a new fast screening method for estimation of chosen hazard indices (HI) using correlated inputs dedicated for small 3.00 g samples using a novel μDOSE. The system detects α and β particles separately, along with 220Rn/216Po, 219Rn/215Po, 212Bi/212Po and 214Bi/214Po decay pairs. Four separate decay pairs along with α and β particle count rates are used to quantify decay chains. The excess β count rates is used to quantify the 40K radioactivity. This provides radionuclide estimates that are correlated—and this correlation is taken into account in calculating hazard indices with their corresponding uncertainties. Calculated hazard indices are verified against state-of-the-art High Resolution Gamma Spectrometry (HRGS) equipped with a High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector manufactured by Canberra. This research shows that results obtained with the μDOSE system correspond to the results obtained with HRGS and when the activity correlation is taken into account the HI uncertainties are similar in value for both methods.
Envisioning knowledge exchange in a gift economy
Authors: Lewis Leslie W.
Published: November 2023

Key to a new contract for education is understanding that knowledge is not scarce, it is not a commodity, and it does not belong in a market economy. Instead, knowledge exchange is gift exchange, and education, when not thwarted or constricted, demonstrates its abundance. The abundance of knowledge operates in ways similar to the abundance of nature, as described by the ecologist Robin Wall Kimmerer in her essay “The serviceberry: An economy of abundance”. We can therefore draw productive parallels between education and the new agroecology, which recognizes the intertwining nature and importance of the diversity of life and the gifts that come from the synergy of that diversity. Just as monoculture farming gives way to holistic farming, monoculture learning must also give way to a paradigm shift. Helping us envision this shift are arguments made in a court case in the US brought by the Department of Justice against 23 universities, including those in the Ivy League (US v Brown, 1992 and 1993). Through ideas expressed in court in defense of admissions practices, we can see how the cooperation necessary for a new education paradigm might be constructed. This essay invites us to more fully envision this new paradigm by focusing on the key shift that happens when knowledge exchange is understood to be gift exchange.
Affective memory, imagined emotion, and bodily imagery
Authors: Todd Cain
Published: November 2023

This paper examines two phenomena that are usually treated separately but which resemble each other insofar as they both raise questions concerning the difference, if there is one, between so-called ‘real’ and ‘as if’ emotions: affective memory and imagined emotion. The existence of both states has been explicitly denied, and there are very few positive accounts of either. I will argue that there are no good grounds for scepticism about the existence of ‘as if’ emotions, but also that the existing positive accounts of them are all explanatorily inadequate. Comparing the two phenomena directly, I contend, allows us to defend the existence of both by showing how they essentially involve the same ‘affective bodily imagery’. The final part of the paper offers an original, empirically informed account of the nature of this imagery, the role it plays in ‘as if’ emotions, and how it may help illuminate some important connections between memory, imagination, and emotion.
Evaluating virtualization for fog monitoring of real-time applications in mixed-criticality systems
Authors: Cinque Marcello , De Simone Luigi , Mazzocca Nicola , Ottaviano Daniele , Vitale Francesco
Published: November 2023

Technological advances in embedded systems and the advent of fog computing led to improved quality of service of applications of cyber-physical systems. In fact, the deployment of such applications on powerful and heterogeneous embedded systems, such as multiprocessors system-on-chips (MPSoCs), allows them to meet latency requirements and real-time operation. Highly relevant to the industry and our reference case-study, the challenging field of nuclear fusion deploys the aforementioned applications, involving high-frequency control with hard real-time and safety constraints. The use of fog computing and MPSoCs is promising to achieve safety, low latency, and timeliness of such control. Indeed, on one hand, applications designed according to fog computing distribute computation across hierarchically organized and geographically distributed edge devices, enabling timely anomaly detection during high-frequency sampling of time series, and, on the other hand, MPSoCs allow leveraging fog computing and integrating monitoring by deploying tasks on a flexible platform suited for mixed-criticality software, leading to so-called mixed criticality systems (MCSs). However, the integration of such software on the same MPSoC opens challenges related to predictability and reliability guarantees, as tasks interfering with each other when accessing the same shared MPSoC resources may introduce non-deterministic latency, possibly leading to failures on account of deadline overruns. Addressing the design, deployment, and evaluation of MCSs on MPSoCs, we propose a model-based system development process that facilitates the integration of real-time and monitoring software on the same platform by means of a formal notation for modeling the design and deployment of MPSoCs. The proposed notation allows developers to leverage embedded hypervisors for monitoring real-time applications and guaranteeing predictability by isolation of hardware resources. Providing evidence of the feasibility of our system development process and evaluating the industry-relevant class of nuclear fusion applications, we experiment with a safety-critical case-study in the context of the ITER nuclear fusion reactor. Our experimentation involves the design and evaluation of several prototypes deployed as MCSs on a virtualized MPSoC, showing that deployment choices linked to the monitor placement and virtualization configurations (e.g., resource allocation, partitioning, and scheduling policies) can significantly impact the predictability of MCSs in terms of Worst-Case Execution Times and other related metrics.
Association between ambient air pollution exposure in pregnant women with antiphospholipid syndrome in Nanjing, China
Authors: Hu Bimei , Xu Linjie , Yang Xu , Qu Shiwen , Wu Lan , Sun Yumei , Yan Jun , Zhang Yexiao , Yu Zhaoer , Wang Yixiao , Jia Ruizhe
Published: November 2023

Antenatal exposure to air pollutants is thought to be associated with a variety of maternal blood markers as well as adverse birth outcomes. However, the dysgenic influence of air pollutants on the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) in mothers and their pregnancy outcomes remains unclear. In the current study, 371 mother-infant pairs (189 healthy: 182 APS) from Nanjing Maternal and Child Health Hospital as well as air pollutants concentration from their living environment were used to investigate correlations between air pollution with maternal blood indicators and fetal birth weight in the groups of APS and healthy mothers. Generalized linear model was used to evaluate the contributions of air pollutant exposure during pregnancy to the blood indicators variation. The relationships between birth weight with specific air pollutant and blood index were analyzed using ridge regression. Results showed that APS fetal birth weight was significantly impacted by air pollutant exposure during pregnancy, in particular, the birth weight decreased significantly along with increasing fine particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) and fine particulate matter 10 (PM10) exposure concentrations throughout pregnancy. In contrast, birth weight increased significantly with sulfur dioxide (SO2) exposure. In addition, APS-related blood indicators comprised of platelet distribution width (PDW), total bilirubin (TBIL), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet-larger cell ratio (P_LCR), homocysteine (HCY), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), direct bilirubin (DBIL), basophilic granulocyte (BAS), platelet thrombocytocrit (PCT), preprandial glucose levels (OGTT0), monocytes (MON), and monocytes ratio (MON_ratio) were also strongly related with prenatal exposure to PM2.5 and PM10, in which PDW levels showed most strongly negative impaction on fetal birth weight. Together, we showed that prenatal exposure to air pollutant (PM2.5 and PM10) may exacerbate the poor birth outcomes of low birth weight by impacting APS maternal blood indicators especially for PDW.
Population-level impact of adjuvant trastuzumab emtansine on the incidence of metastatic breast cancer: an epidemiological prediction model of women with HER2-positive early breast cancer and residual disease following neoadjuvant therapy
Authors: Williamson Mellissa , Press David J. , Hansen Svenn Alexander , Tomar Akanksha , Jhuti Gurleen Singh , Revil Cedric , Gururaj Kaustubh
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Treating early-stage breast cancer (eBC) may delay or prevent subsequent metastatic breast cancer (mBC). In the phase 3 KATHERINE study, women with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive eBC with residual disease following neoadjuvant therapy containing trastuzumab and a taxane experienced 50% reductions in disease recurrence or death when treated with adjuvant trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) vs adjuvant trastuzumab. We predicted the population-level impact of adjuvant T-DM1 on mBC occurrence in five European countries (EU5) and Canada from 2021–2030.

Methods

An epidemiological prediction model using data from national cancer registries, observational studies, and clinical trials was developed. Assuming 80% population-level uptake of adjuvant treatment, KATHERINE data were extrapolated prospectively to model projections. Robustness was evaluated in alternative scenarios.

Results

We projected an eligible population of 116,335 women in Canada and the EU5 who may be diagnosed with HER2-positive eBC and have residual disease following neoadjuvant therapy from 2021–2030. In EU5, the cumulative number of women projected to experience relapsed mBC over the 10-year study period was 36,009 vs 27,143 under adjuvant trastuzumab vs T-DM1, a difference of 8,866 women, equivalent to 25% fewer cases with the use of adjuvant T-DM1 in EU5 countries from 2021–2030. Findings were similar for Canada.

Conclusion

Our models predicted greater reductions in the occurrence of relapsed mBC with adjuvant T-DM1 vs trastuzumab in the indicated populations in EU5 and Canada. Introduction of T-DM1 has the potential to reduce population-level disease burden of HER2-positive mBC in the geographies studied.
Cardiac output, cerebral blood flow and cognition in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation: design and rationale of the CAPITA study
Authors: van Nieuwkerk Astrid C. , Hemelrijk Kimberley I. , Bron Esther E. , Leeuwis Anna E. , Majoie Charles B. L. M. , Daemen Mat J. A. P. , Moonen Justine E. F. , de Sitter Alexandra , Bouma Berto J. , van der Flier Wiesje M. , Baan Jan , Piek Jan J. , Biessels Geert Jan , Delewi Ronak ,   the Heart-Brain Connection Consortium
Published: November 2023

Background

Approximately one-third of patients with symptomatic severe aortic valve stenosis who are scheduled for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) have some degree of cognitive impairment. TAVI may have negative cognitive effects due to periprocedural micro-emboli inducing cerebral infarction. On the contrary, TAVI may also have positive cognitive effects due to increases in cardiac output and cerebral blood flow (CBF). However, studies that systematically assess these effects are scarce. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to assess cerebral and cognitive outcomes in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis undergoing TAVI.

Study design

In the prospective CAPITA (CArdiac OutPut, Cerebral Blood Flow and Cognition In Patients With Severe Aortic Valve Stenosis Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) study, cerebral and cognitive outcomes are assessed in patients undergoing TAVI. One day before and 3 months after TAVI, patients will undergo echocardiography (cardiac output, valve function), brain magnetic resonance imaging (CBF, structural lesions) and extensive neuropsychological assessment. To assess longer-term effects of TAVI, patients will again undergo echocardiography and neuropsychological assessment 1 year after the procedure. The co-primary outcome measures are change in CBF (in ml/100 g per min) and change in global cognitive functioning (Z-score) between baseline and 3‑month follow-up. Secondary objectives include change in cardiac output, white matter hyperintensities and other structural brain lesions. (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT05481008)

Conclusion

The CAPITA study is the first study designed to systematically assess positive and negative cerebral and cognitive outcomes after TAVI. We hypothesise that TAVI improves cardiac output, CBF and cognitive functioning.
Using institutional ethnography and students’ voices to explore capacity to learn
Authors: Talbot Debra
Published: November 2023

As a response to declining student results on certain academic measures, a great deal of government policy intervention in Australia and internationally has been directed towards correcting a perceived deficit in teachers. Such interventions deliberately ignore the possibility that other factors might also be impacting student learning. The study reported here employed Institutional ethnography (IE) to begin from the standpoint of students, across all secondary year groups, and trace the factors that students perceive influence their capacity to learn. The voices of these students provided new and surprising insights to teachers and to the school executive. Surprising in the sense that other large scale, institutionalised data collection methods had not revealed the factors considered important by students. The study demonstrated the efficacy of an IE approach to student voice in uncovering a broad range of student views.
Enhanced Efficiency in Fog Computing: A Fuzzy Data-Driven Machine Selection Strategy
Authors: Zavieh Hadi , Javadpour Amir , Ja’fari Forough , Sangaiah Arun Kumar , Słowik Adam
Published: November 2023

With the rapid proliferation of IoT and Cloud networks and the corresponding number of devices, handling incoming requests has become a significant challenge. Task scheduling problems have emerged as a common concern, necessitating the exploration of new methods for request management. This paper proposes a novel approach called the Fuzzy Inverse Markov Data Envelopment Analysis Process (FIMDEAP). Our method combines the strengths of the Fuzzy Inverse Data Envelopment Analysis (FIDEA) and Fuzzy Markov Decision Process (FMDP) techniques to enable the efficient selection of physical and virtual machines while operating in a fuzzy mode. We represent data as triangular fuzzy numbers and employ the alpha-cut method to solve the proposed models. The paper provides a mathematical optimization model for the proposed method and presents a numerical example for illustration. Furthermore, we evaluate the performance of our method in a cloud environment through simulations. The results demonstrate that our approach outperforms existing methods, namely PSO + ACO and FBPSO + FBACO, in terms of key metrics, including energy consumption, execution cost, response time, gain of cost, and makespan.
The temptation to cheat in online exams: moving beyond the binary discourse of cheating and not cheating
Authors: Henderson Michael , Chung Jennifer , Awdry Rebecca , Ashford Cliff , Bryant Mike , Mundy Matthew , Ryan Kris
Published: November 2023

Discussions around assessment integrity often focus on the exam conditions and the motivations and values of those who cheated in comparison with those who did not. We argue that discourse needs to move away from a binary representation of cheating. Instead, we propose that the conversation may be more productive and more impactful by focusing on those who do not cheat, but who are tempted to do so. We conceptualise this group as being at risk of future cheating behaviour and potentially more receptive of targeted strategies to support their integrity decisions. In this paper we report on a large-scale survey of university students (n = 7,511) who had just completed one or more end of semester online exams. In doing so we explore students’ reported temptation to cheat. Analysis surrounding this “at risk” group reveals students who were Tempted (n = 1379) had significant differences from those who Cheated (n = 216) as well as those who were Not tempted (n = 5916). We focus on four research questions exploring whether there are specific online exam conditions, security settings, student attitudes or perceptions which are more strongly associated with the temptation to cheat. The paper offers insights to help institutions to minimise factors that might lead to breaches of assessment integrity, by focusing on the temptation to cheat during assessment.
Pinch Analysis for Land-Constrained Agriculture Sector Planning
Authors: Andiappan Viknesh , Rajakal Jaya Prasanth , Wan Yoke Kin
Published: November 2023

Agriculture is an essential economic sector as it plays an important role in providing growing populations with sufficient food. Thus, it is imperative for policymakers to plan sufficient food stockpiles based on consumption requirements while ensuring lands are used in an efficient manner for producing a range of crops. Land is a limited resource and should be utilised efficiently to meet crop/food production demands. Thus, this work presents land use pinch analysis (LUPA), to aid planning of crop based on land footprint. LUPA is a novel application that allows the decision maker to determine the minimum amount of low land footprint crop required to achieve reductions in land usage and to meet food product demands. To illustrate LUPA, this work provides a numerical case study intended to highlight the benefits and features of the methodology. The case study aims to determine the amount of low land footprint oil crop (e.g., palm oil) that could replace other oil crops to meet a given edible oil demand and achieve reductions in land footprint. Results from the case study suggest that policymakers can opt for around 1 million hectares of low land footprint oil crop to meet the specified edible oil demand and replacing about 8 million hectares of a higher land footprint oil crop in the process. The case study is revisited analyse the impact of crop yield on the planning. This evidently shows that LUPA can be used as a means for strategising land allocation and land use reductions to meet edible oil demands.
Understanding the clinical and molecular basis of thyroid orbitopathy: a review of recent evidence
Authors: Nivean Pratheeba Devi , Madhivanan Nivean , Kumaramanikavel Govindasamy , Berendschot Tos T. J. M. , Webers Carroll A. B. , Paridaens Dion
Published: November 2023

Thyroid eye disease (TED) is an autoimmune orbital inflammatory disease which ranges from mild to severe. Tissue remodeling, fibrosis and fat proliferation cause changes in the orbital tissues which can affect esthetics and visual function. In its severe form, it is sight threatening, debilitating, and disfiguring and may lead to social stigma, the embarrassment about which has an impact on the quality of life of those affected and the family members. The pathogenesis of TED, which is influenced by genetic, immunological, and environmental factors, is complex and not fully elucidated. However, it remains unknown what factors determine the severity of the disease. Recent research has revealed a number of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of this disease. In this overview of TED, we focus on new insights and perspectives regarding biological agents that may provide a basis for new treatment modalities.
Controllable phase transition of two-dimensional ferromagnetic chromium telluride thin films grown by molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Huang Haili , Shen Jinbo , Chen Jiayi , Shen Qia , Lin Gaoting , Zhu Zhen , Wu Jiangtao , Ma Jie , Yang Hao , Liu Xiaoxue , Liu Liang , Guan Dandan , Wang Shiyong , Li Yaoyi , Liu Canhua , Zheng Hao , Lu Yunhao , Jia Jinfeng
Published: November 2023

Two-dimensional (2D) Cr(1+δ)Te2 materials exhibit strong magnetic ordering and high Curie temperatures, making them attractive for various applications. It is crucial to achieve controllable synthesis for their successful integration into device technologies. In this study, we present the synthesis of phase-controllable 2D Cr(1+δ)Te2 films on the Si (111) substrate via molecular beam epitaxy. The composition and phase transition of the as-grown Cr(1+δ)Te2 films are characterized by using in-situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction, scanning tunneling microscopy, ex-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and theoretical calculations. At low growth temperatures, by carefully adjusting the film thickness from 2 to more than 3 layers, we achieve precise control over the phase of Cr(1+δ)Te2, from CrTe2 to Cr intercalated Cr2Te3. At a relatively elevated growth temperature, it is demonstrated that the Cr(1+δ)Te2 phase is independent of the film thickness, only Cr2Te3 forms and its growth mode is thickness-dependent. These phase transitions at low growth temperatures and growth mode changes at elevated growth temperatures are attributed to interfacial effects and the phase stability of Cr(1+δ)Te2 compounds. Additionally, we utilize scanning tunneling spectroscopy and computations to gain insights into the electronic properties of Cr2Te3. The magnetic measurements reveal that the 30-nm Cr2Te3 film exhibits ferromagnetic behavior with a Curie temperature of about 180 K. Our work offers a robust method for the controllable growth of high-quality 2D Cr(1+δ)Te2 films on Si substrates, providing an ideal platform for investigating their intrinsic properties and advancing the development of 2D magnet-based spintronics devices.
The Losing Battle Against Neoliberal Trade Agreements in Latin America: Social Resistance Against the MTA Between Ecuador, Peru, and the European Union
Authors: Preusser Manuel
Published: November 2023

This article studies the influence of the antineoliberal social movements in Peru and Ecuador in the face of the Multiparty Trade Agreement (MTA) between both countries and the European Union (EU). To identify and analyze this influence, a transdisciplinary theoretical framework was created, integrating debates and concepts from social movement theory and critical international political economy. In Peru, the movement used European allies to establish their demands on the EU’s agenda, which resulted in increased pressure on the government to enforce labor rights and environmental standards. In Ecuador, the movement was able to establish food sovereignty and the rejection of free trade in the national constitution. As a result, the negotiations with the EU were delayed and Ecuador achieved certain exceptions in its adhesion protocol. Nevertheless, both movements were unable to maintain their influence, due to political and socioeconomic dynamics on the domestic and global levels.
The Multiplatform Precipitation Feature (MPF) Database: A Storm‐Centric Synthesis of Space‐ and Ground‐Based Precipitation and Lightning Data Sets for Convective Studies
Authors: Bang Sarah D. , Stough Sarah M. , Lang Timothy J. , Gatlin Patrick N.
Published: November 2023

This paper outlines the construction of a new Multiplatform Precipitation Feature (MPF) framework designed to facilitate storm‐based analyses of data sets from multiple independent observing platforms for convective studies. The MPF approach is applied to ground‐ and space‐based precipitation observations and retrievals from the Global Precipitation Measurement mission Validation Network with space‐based lightning measurements from the Lightning Imaging Sensor on board the International Space Station to create a prototype MPF database. The data are synthesized in a thunderstorm‐like, feature‐based framework that enables broad statistical analyses of the storm‐based relationships between the microphysics, kinematics, and electrical properties of convection that can contribute insight into their morphological, regional, and seasonal variations. This manuscript details how MPFs are defined from precipitation data and how observations from multiple additional platforms are combined within the context of an MPF thunderstorm boundary and used to characterize the feature. A demonstration of the prototype database as a proof‐of‐concept showcases its flexibility to conduct both large‐scale storm‐based statistical studies as well as MPF‐facilitated thunderstorm case studies.
Tropical Convection Overshoots the Cold Point Tropopause Nearly as Often Over Warm Oceans as Over Land
Authors: Nugent Jacqueline M. , Bretherton Christopher S.
Published: November 2023

Tropical convection that overshoots the cold point tropopause can impact the climate by directly influencing water vapor, temperatures, and thin cirrus in the upper troposphere‐lower stratosphere (UTLS) region. The distribution of cold point overshoots between land and ocean may help determine how the overshoots will affect the UTLS in a changing climate. Using 4 years of satellite and reanalysis data, we test a brightness temperature proxy calibrated by radar/lidar data to identify cold point‐overshooting convection across the global tropics. We find evidence of cold point‐overshooting convection throughout the tropics, though other cirrus above the cold point cover an area 100 times larger than overshooting tops. Cold point‐overshooting convection occurs 30%–40% more often over convectively active land areas than over the warmest oceans. This proxy can be generalized to evaluate the fidelity of cold point overshoots simulated by storm‐resolving models.
Skillful Seasonal Forecast of Sargassum Proliferation in the Tropical Atlantic
Authors: Jouanno Julien , Morvan Guillaume , Berline Léo , Benshila Rachid , Aumont Olivier , Sheinbaum Julio , Ménard Frederic
Published: November 2023

The large‐scale proliferation of pelagic Sargassum in the Tropical Atlantic from 2011 has been the subject of increasing attention because of its negative consequences on the environment, fishing, and socioeconomic activities when stranding on coastal areas. This recurrent phenomenon presents strong seasonal and year to year variations. Anticipating the abundances and stranding on seasonal scale poses important challenges in terms of observations and modeling. We show that skillful seasonal forecast of Sargassum distribution can be achieved with up to 7 months in advance over the Tropical Atlantic, by integrating both transport and current knowledge on physiology of Sargassum. This forecast is designed to help marine stakeholders to develop mitigation and resilience strategies through anticipatory decision‐making.