bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High‐performance concrete with fine recycled concrete aggregate: Experimental assessment
Authors: Pavlů Tereza , Fořtová Kristina , Mariaková Diana , Řepka Jakub , Vlach Tomáš , Hájek Petr
Published: December 2022

High‐performance concrete (HPC) is a cement‐based material with excellent properties and durability which determines high‐level structural utilization. However, the necessity of high‐quality natural resources such as quartz powder and sand and a high amount of cement and silica fume and reinforcement by fibers causes a high environmental footprint and costs. One of the possible ways to reduce the environmental footprint and cost of the HPC/UHPC is to replace the powder or sand with secondary raw materials. In this study, the two types and three fractions of fine recycled concrete aggregate (fRCA) are used as supplementary materials in HPC. The reference mixture is based on the UHPC mixture without reinforcement to find out the influence of aggregate replacement. The properties of fresh and hardened concrete are examined. The results show a slight decline of mechanical properties however the autogenous shrinkage decrease with the replacement of natural aggregate by fRCA, which shows the possibilities of natural resources savings and thus leads to a lower environmental footprint of concrete structures as a contribution to the solution of sustainable development goals set by the United Nations in 2015 as an action plan up to 2030.
Autochthonous infection with Ehrlichia Canis and Hepatozoon Canis in dogs from Serbia
Authors: Sukara Ratko , Andrić Nenad , Andrić Jelena Francuski , Mihaljica Darko , Veinović Gorana , Ranković Vladan , Tomanović Snežana
Published: December 2022

Background

The epidemiological status concerning many canine tick‐borne diseases (TBDs) in Serbia is still insufficiently known.

Objectives

Our study aimed to investigate the presence of tick‐borne pathogens of the family Anaplasmataceae and Hepatozoon spp., as a cause of illnesses accompanied by clinical signs that can occur in dogs with anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and hepatozoonosis.

Methods

Dogs are included in the study based on the presence of a minimum of three clinical and/or pathological findings that could be associated with anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and hepatozoonosis. During the study (April–October 2018), 11 dogs met the conditions to be included in the survey. Identification of the causative agent in the blood of diseased dogs was performed by conventional PCR followed by sequencing.

Results

The presence of the pathogens was confirmed in three animals (3/11, 27.3%). The presence of Ehrlichia canis was confirmed in 3‐month‐old female Rottweiler puppy, an 8‐year old Miniature Schnauzer female was positive for Hepatozoon canis infection, while 4‐year‐old mixed breed male dog was co‐infected with both mentioned pathogens. These are the first cases of autochthonous infection with E. canis and H. canis in dogs from Serbia confirmed by molecular methods.

Conclusions

The results of our study indicate the importance of molecular methods to establish a reliable diagnosis of TBDs. Also, the confirmed presence of causative agents of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis and hepatozoonosis in Serbia appeals to veterinary practitioners that it is necessary to exclude the presence of those diseases in suspicious dogs.
Success is dependent on effort: Unraveling characteristics of successful deer and elk hunters
Authors: Rowland Mary M. , Nielson Ryan M. , Wisdom Michael J. , Clark Darren A. , DiDonato Guy T. , Hafer Jennifer M. , Naylor Bridgett J. , Johnson Bruce K.
Published: December 2022

The pursuit of ungulates as game animals, whether for recreation, cultural tradition, or meat, is a dominant activity on public and private lands in North America and much of the world. Strategic regulation of hunting is key for managing game population abundance, age and sex structure, and distribution, with harvest rates a function of both hunter success and participation. Hunter satisfaction is often linked to success and ultimately with hunter recruitment and retention, a growing concern for wildlife agencies. Yet knowledge is lacking about what hunter characteristics or behaviors are linked with success, and how these may differ among common hunt types. We used survey and spatial data from hunters (n = 416) during a 6‐year observational study in northeastern Oregon, USA to characterize hunter traits associated with success for 3 hunt types for antlered males: rifle deer (Odocoileus spp.), archery elk (Cervus canadensis), and rifle elk. We modeled the success for rifle deer and rifle elk hunters using logistic regression models in a Bayesian hierarchical approach. Annual success rates were highly variable, ranging from 4 to 76% for rifle deer and 20 to 56% for rifle elk hunters, and from 0 to 14% for archery elk. Age distributions of hunters were similar across hunt types ( = 47.2 years), and male hunters were ~8 times as common as females (n = 370 vs. n = 46, respectively). Success rates for men and women, however, were comparable within hunt types. Successful hunters spent more hours per day outside camp ( = 7.4 vs. 6.4 for unsuccessful hunters) and expended a slightly larger percentage of their hunting effort on foot ( = 87.8%) than did unsuccessful hunters ( = 84.6%). The best model predicting success of rifle deer hunters was based on hours per day spent outside camp during the hunting hours, with each additional hour increasing odds of success by 26%. For rifle elk hunters, the best model included time outside camp and a binary covariate for scouting. The odds of success increased by 418% for hunters who scouted versus those who did not, and by 18% with each additional hour per day spent hunting outside of camp. Summed model weights indicated that hours per day outside camp and scouting were most informative, and that use of an all‐terrain vehicle, age, and experience were unrelated to hunter success. Both models performed reasonably well (correct classification rates of 0.74 and 0.70 for rifle deer and rifle elk models, respectively). Our study augmented the relatively limited published information about behavioral factors associated with successful harvest of deer and elk, and we recommend additional research to better unravel the nexus of success and hunter characteristics and behavior to help sustain recreational hunting and big game populations.
Analysis of heat transfer using Local thermal non‐equilibrium conditions for a non‐Newtonian fluid flow containing Ti6Al4V and AA7075 nanoparticles in a porous media
Authors: Alsulami M. D. , Naveen Kumar R. , Punith Gowda R. J. , Prasannakumara B. C.
Published: December 2022

The accurate forecasting of thermal processes is one of the primary concerns of those working in the area of heat transfer as well as those in the energy research community. The present investigation makes use of a simplified mathematical model as an illustration in order to investigate the properties of heat transport under the lack of local thermal equilibrium conditions. The LTNE model results in two distinct primary thermal gradients, one for the fluid phase and another for the solid phase. The non‐Newtonian fluid flow containing Ti6Al4V and AA7075 nanoparticles with a base fluid sodium alginate over a stretching sheet in a porous media with magnetic effect is studied here. The shooting approach is used to transform the resultant equations of boundary value problems into initial value problems, which are subsequently solved using Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg 45 process. The impact of pertinent parameters on the involved fields have been discussed graphically. Results reveal that the increase in porosity and magnetic parameters value decreases velocity and increases thermal performance. An upsurge in inter‐phase heat transfer parameter increases the heat transport rate of solid phase but, decreases the liquid phase heat transport rate.
Introduction
Authors: Peter Henry , Vargas Vasserot Carlos , Alcalde Silva Jaime
Published: December 2022

Over the last two decades, entrepreneurs’ activities and business approaches have evolved considerably. Since the 2008 crisis, and even more so due to the awareness and expectations derived from adopting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, entrepreneurship has shifted toward more social, environmental, and (good) corporate governance. Many researchers have suggested that laws should be adapted for this new paradigm. The objective is to go beyond the corporate social responsibility practices that a particular company can or has to adopt as a unilateral and external commitment. Therefore, company law has been amended to create new forms or statuses for social enterprises. However, this (r)evolution is far from complete. Different initiatives, including legal reforms in fields other than company law (e.g., public procurement law or competition law), and the commitment from the business community itself, are spreading these ideas as part of the new theory of the firm reflecting companies’ new role in society. The reception of the United Nations’ SDGs foretells that we are facing a paradigm shift in the expectations of companies to obtain a social license to operate. It also exceeds the legal sphere and poses important economic challenges.
How Social Entrepreneurs Create Systemic Change
Authors: Massa Saluzzo Federica , Luzzini Davide , Ricucci Rosa
Published: December 2022

This chapter summarizes the main results of a qualitative study conducted in collaboration with Ashoka Spain regarding systemic change and the mechanisms to achieve it. This is part of a larger study that will be conducted over the next few months. This qualitative study compares the characteristics of systemic change in for-profit and nonprofit social enterprises with the goal of understanding the specific mechanisms put in place by the two types of organizations to achieve such deep and sustainable change.
Benefit Corporations and the Common Law Tradition
Authors: McCall Brian M.
Published: December 2022

The phenomenon of benefit corporations is examined from the historical perspective within the common law tradition. In many ways, the recent history of benefit corporations is a restoration of aspects of corporation law that were obscured during the last century. After placing the history of benefit corporations in the broader historical context, this chapter presents an overview of the issues in corporation law that need to be addressed in some way—either legislatively, through court decisions, or private agreement—in order for benefit corporations to function.
Viability of Non-Recognised Benefit Corporations
Authors: Irujo José Miguel Embid
Published: December 2022

This chapter assesses the viability of benefit corporations within jurisdictions that have not enacted regulations on the issue. In Roman-Latin systems, including Spain, profit is considered to be the cause of the contract from which a company arises. As a result, profit shall be the only purpose of a company. Throughout the 20th century, the academic discussion fostered the view that such a restrictive approach to profit should be abandoned in favour of a more flexible notion of company. Accordingly, these may pursue a wider range of lawful purposes, including ideal or non-profitable goals. Such a flexible approach is supported by most of the legal scholarship although courts maintain a more restrictive view. This chapter reviews the academic debate and sustains the view that benefit corporations may be formed without prior legislative intervention even in jurisdictions that have traditionally applied a for-profit requirement.
Real-World Lessons on Stakeholder Capitalism: How B Lab and B Corp Movement Catalyze Change in Society
Authors: Normand Jonathan , Devenin Veronica
Published: December 2022

B Lab started in 2006, developing standards, a legal framework and certification to take into account all stakeholders for businesses that wanted to be not only the best in the world but also the best for the world. The objective was finding a way to harness capitalism’s positive elements while also protecting individuals and society from its negative aspects and, at the same time, helping scale businesses while remaining true to their social or environmental mission and creating a credible system of social and environmental transparency and accountability to engage consumers. Fifteen years later, B Lab and the B Corp movement are considered relevant actors in the purpose ecosystem, which are actively creating favorable framings, systems, policy change, and infrastructures to support the development of purpose-driven businesses. B Lab considers that businesses can act as a starting point to catalyze systemic change, given their direct relationship with multiple stakeholders within the economic system and society at large in order. This chapter presents B Lab’s theory of change and how it is developing its corresponding global strategies in practice.
Social Enterprises and Benefit Corporations in Colombia
Authors: Villamizar Francisco Reyes
Published: December 2022

Colombian corporate law has been at the forefront of Latin American systems for the last decade. In 2008, it introduced the simplified corporation (SC), becoming the first country in the region to adopt a hybrid company form. The Colombian legislator has also been a pioneer in the enactment of norms related to benefit corporations introduced by Law 1901 of June 18, 2018 (referred to under the law as benefit and collective interest companies (BICs). Colombian legislation has adopted a highly flexible model of a benefit and collective interest company that does not represent high transaction costs for those entrepreneurs who wish to adopt it. The BIC model has been very successful in Colombia. In fact, the growth of this business model has been exponential within the last few years. It remains to be seen if there will be a convergence between Colombian BIC companies and the few corporations that have been certified by System B in this country.
Social Enterprises and Certified B Corporations in Hong Kong: Development, Key Lessons Learnt, and Ways Forward
Authors: Tse Ka Kui , Choy Yung Rebecca , Chandra Yanto , Lee Gilbert
Published: December 2022

Social enterprise (SE) has experienced rapid development over the last 15 years in Hong Kong both in quantity and quality of its solutions and models and the diversity of social issues tackled. In this chapter, we reflect on the journey of the rise of this sector in Hong Kong, the key drivers of and players in the sector, and some of the encouraging and discouraging lessons we learned so far––as observers and operators––in the sector. However, SE are not alone since there are other newer developments such as Certified B Corporation (B Corp)––starting six years ago in Hong Kong––which has a shared interest but follows a different trajectory and model closer to the business world. Following these insights, we conducted focus groups to further understand key businesspeople and social enterprise players’ views about what B Corp can do to achieve “shared prosperity” in Hong Kong. While this chapter does not offer a formula to resolve Hong Kong’s problems, it provides some useful recommendations on the applicability of B Corp as a framework to inspire and guide mainstream businesses to become purpose-driven companies that strike a healthy balance of people, profit, and planet.
Social Enterprises and Benefit Corporations in the United States
Authors: Plerhoples Alicia E.
Published: December 2022

The United States is the birthplace of benefit corporations precisely because of American society’s over-reliance on the private sector to solve societal problems. U.S. federal and state regulation continuously fails to provide robust social safety nets or prevent ecological disasters. American society looks to companies to do such work. U.S. social enterprise entities attempt to upend the U.S. legal framework which binds fiduciaries to focus on shareholder value. These entities are permitted, and sometimes required, to consider environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) impacts of their operations, essentially internalizing ESG costs that would otherwise be paid by American communities and the environment. This chapter traces social enterprise development under U.S. law, starting with a brief discussion of corporate law as a creature of state law. It then provides an overview of the two major types of social enterprise entities in the United States: (1) the Delaware Public Benefit Corporation, and (2) the California Social Purpose Corporation. The chapter briefly discusses other types of U.S. social enterprise entities, including hybrid ventures, worker cooperatives, and the low-profit liability company. The chapter concludes with a discussion of responses to companies’ ESG efforts by legal scholars, asset managers, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These responses and the uptake of publicly traded public benefit corporations indicate a seismic shift forward in the use of ESG frameworks in the United States.
Legal Regulation of Social Enterprises in Other European Countries
Authors: Vasserot Carlos Vargas
Published: December 2022

This chapter deals with the legal regulation of social enterprises in several European countries not analyzed in the previous chapters. These countries adopted specific laws to regulate this type of entity. Nine countries were studied: Finland, Slovenia, Denmark, Romania, Greece, Latvia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Lithuania. Most of these countries are small sized economically but have been very active in enacting special legislation on social enterprises. Hence, it would be interesting to briefly describe their respective legal regime.
Models and Trends of Social Enterprise Regulation in the European Union
Authors: Fici Antonio
Published: December 2022

This chapter examines the regulation of social enterprises in the EU Member States. After highlighting the essential role of government regulation in promoting social enterprise, the chapter presents two different models of social enterprise legislation. The first model is that according to which social enterprise is a specific legal form, in most cases a social cooperative. The second model is that according to which social enterprise is a legal qualification or accreditation that can be obtained by organizations that satisfy certain requirements, regardless of their legal form of incorporation, which may be that of a cooperative, a company, or even an association or a foundation. This second model is becoming increasingly popular. The chapter analyzes and compares these different models and describes the most recent legislative trends.
Social Enterprises in the Social Cooperative Form
Authors: Hernández Cáceres Daniel
Published: December 2022

Despite the many similarities, cooperatives cannot be considered directly as social enterprises because they do not meet all the requirements to be so. However, within this type of entity, a type of cooperative has emerged—the social cooperative. It adapts some of the attributes of the social enterprise while respecting cooperative principles, and is considered by many to be a type of social enterprise. This type of cooperative is increasing its presence by leaps and bounds worldwide, especially in Europe, where more than ten states have already adjusted their legislation to introduce them. However, the regulation of this type of cooperative has been carried out unevenly, using different names to refer to them and without a clear consensus on how they should be configured. This study analyzed the different legislations of the main countries that regulate this type of cooperative to establish some common characteristics that may allow the identification of the distinctive features of this type of cooperative.
The large D effective theory of black strings in AdS
Authors: Licht David , Suzuki Ryotaku , Way Benson
Published: December 2022

Abstract

We study black strings/funnels and other black hole configurations in AdS that correspond to different phases of the dual CFT in black hole backgrounds, employing different approaches at large D. We assemble the phase diagram of uniform and non-uniform black strings/funnels and study their dynamical stability. We also construct flowing horizons. Many of our results are available analytically, though some are only known numerically.
Fibrations and Hasse diagrams for 6d SCFTs
Authors: Bourget Antoine , Grimminger Julius F.
Published: December 2022

Abstract

We study the full moduli space of vacua of 6d worldvolume SCFTs on M5 branes probing an A-type singularity, focusing on the geometric incarnation of the discrete gauging mechanism which acts as a discrete quotient on the Higgs branch fibered over the tensor branch. We combine insights from brane constructions and magnetic quiver techniques, in which discrete gauging is implemented through the concept of decoration introduced in [1]. We discover and characterize new transverse slices between phases of 6d SCFTs, identifying some of them with a family of isolated symplectic singularities recently discovered in [2], and conjecturing the existence of two new isolated symplectic singularities.
Tachyon-dependent Chern-Simons terms and the V-QCD baryon
Authors: Järvinen M. , Kiritsis E. , Nitti F. , Préau E.
Published: December 2022

Abstract

The structure of the five-dimensional Tachyon-Chern-Simons action and its relevance to single-baryon states in the context of the V-QCD models for holographic QCD with backreacting flavor are analyzed. The most general form of the Tachyon-Chern-Simons 5-form, compatible with symmetries and flavor anomalies is determined. It is the sum of a non-trivial gauge-invariant 5-dimensional form and a non-invariant closed 5-form that reproduces the flavor anomalies. Single-baryon solutions of the gravity theory, arising from the DBI plus Tachyon-Chern-Simons actions are considered. The baryon is realised as a bulk axial instanton. The baryon ansatz and the field equations are derived and the boundary conditions are determined, which ensure that the solution has finite boundary energy and unit baryon charge. The boundary baryon number, which is computed from the universal (closed) part of the Tachyon-Chern-Simons action, is shown to coincide with the bulk axial instanton number.
Holographic RG flows on Squashed S3
Authors: Kiritsis E. , Litos C.
Published: December 2022

Abstract

Holographic RG flows dual to QFTs on a squashed S3 are considered in the framework of Einstein dilaton gravity in four dimensions. A general dilaton potential is used and flows are driven by a scalar relevant operator. The general properties of such flows are analysed and the UV and IR asymptotics are computed. Exotic asymptotics are found, that are different from the standard Fefferman-Graham asymptotics.
Screening vs. no screening for preterm delivery in low-risk singleton pregnancies: comparison by propensity score analysis
Authors: Souka Athena P. , Maritsa Vasiliki Areti , Eleftheriades Makarios
Published: December 2022

Purpose

To compare the effect of a policy of screening for spontaneous preterm delivery (SPD) by transvaginal cervical length (CL) measurement versus a no screening policy in the prevention of severe prematurity.

Methods

Retrospective study on low-risk singleton pregnancies examined at 20–24 weeks. Two cohorts, one with SPD screening and the other without screening, were matched using propensity analysis to create the study groups. Women with short CL were treated with vaginal progesterone and/or cervical cerclage/pessary. The outcomes examined were SPD < 32 weeks (SPD 32) and SPD between 20 and 32 weeks (SPD 20–32).

Results

Screening for SPD was associated with a significant reduction in the rate of SPD at less than 32 weeks (0.3 vs. 0.8%, p = 0.001 in the screened and no screened pregnancies, respectively) and in the rate of SPD 20–32 (0.3 vs. 0.9%, p = 0.005 in the screened and no screened pregnancies, respectively). After adjusting for maternal age, parity, body mass index, smoking and mode of conception, the screening group had significantly lower hazard for SPD 20–32 (HR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.18–0.75, p = 0.006) and SPD32 (HR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.19–0.82, p = 0.013).

Conclusion

Screening for SPD by transvaginal CL measurement in mid-pregnancy may reduce the incidence of severe prematurity in low-risk singleton pregnancies.
Myokardinfarkt als Lebenschance
Authors: Broschmann Daniel , Herrmann-Lingen Christoph
Published: December 2022

Einen Myokardinfarkt zu er- und überleben stellt für die Betroffenen häufig eine vital und emotional bedrohliche Situation dar. Copingmechanismen im Umgang mit der Herzerkrankung können z. B. eine komplette Verleugnung oder psychische Dekompensation bewirken. Dagegen kann ein Verständnis des Myokardinfarktes als Grenz- oder Kairós-Situation eine theoretische Bereicherung für Kliniker*innen darstellen und auf einen dritten Verarbeitungsweg hindeuten: Dieser wurde als „posttraumatisches Wachstum“ beschrieben und wird von Betroffenen selbst als ein Weckruf bezeichnet. Für Behandler*innen ist das Wissen bedeutsam, dass sich nach einem Myokardinfarkt nicht selten ein Zeitfenster öffnet, das eine Möglichkeit sowohl für Lebensstilveränderungen als auch persönliche und emotionale Wachstumschancen der Patient*innen bietet. Ein solches Zeitfenster entsteht, sobald das akute und lebensbedrohliche Herzereignis bewältigt wurde und ein Veränderungsspielraum durch die Infragestellung der bisherigen Lebensführung entsteht. Als „teachable moment“, der von der*dem Behandler*in erkannt werden sollte, ist diese Phase nicht quantifizierbar und unterliegt intra- und interindividuellen Schwankungen. Daher soll im Folgenden der Versuch unternommen werden, die Frage zu beantworten, inwiefern das Wissen um philosophische und ethische Konzepte (z. B. gutes Leben, Grenzsituation und Kairós-Situation) und ein deliberatives Gesprächsmodell der Behandler*in-Patient*in-Kommunikation dazu beitragen kann, die Patient*innen in dieser vulnerablen Zeit nach der akuten Bewältigung eines Myokardinfarkts zu begleiten und – im Sinne eines posttraumatischen Wachstums – zu neuen Sichtweisen auf ein für sie gutes Leben zu befähigen.
How I do it—Helsinki style mini-pterional craniotomy for clipping of middle cerebral artery bifurcation aneurysms
Authors: Veldeman Michael , Rossmann Tobias , Niemelä Mika , Lehecka Martin
Published: December 2022

Background

Different versions of the mini-pterional (MPT) approach have been described often with the idea the smaller the better. Attempts to reduce incision and craniotomy size for better cosmetic results should not be performed at the expense of safety.

Method

We present our take on the MPT as a balance between size and safety which can be adopted by vascular neurosurgeons in training. The craniotomy stays within the confines of the superior temporal line and is completely covered by temporal muscle after closure.

Conclusion

This approach is cosmetically superior while still offering anatomical familiarity and sufficient instrument maneuverability.
Characteristics and changes in the atmospheric water cycle of the Tibetan Plateau Vortex
Authors: Cheng Qiaoxi , Fan Guangzhou , Zhu Lihua
Published: December 2022

The Tibetan Plateau Vortex (TPV) is an important low-pressure system that affects the weather and climate in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It is of great importance to study the water cycle of the TPV to further understand the TPV and its resulting disastrous weather. This study is different from the previous studies of TPV cases or of the atmospheric water cycle of the Qinghai Tibet Plateau. Focusing on the moving TPV weather system, from the perspective of climatology, the characteristics of the atmospheric water cycle of the TPV and the atmospheric circulation that affects the activity of the TPV water cycle are studied using statistical methods based on the reanalysis data. The results show that the TPV water cycle is mainly affected by external circulation. The overall water vapour utilization efficiency of the TPV water cycle first decreases and then increases, and its activity degree first decreases and then increases. The high-value area of TPV precipitation is located in the middle of the plateau and annual TPV precipitation has a good correlation with TPV water cycle activity. The large-scale system is closely related to the vortex water cycle of the plateau. When the intensity of the South Asian high (SAH) is relatively strong, the West Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) advances westward, and there is a stronger warm rising area over the main body of the plateau. When the southerly airflow on the south side of the low-level plateau is strong, the water cycle of the TPV is more active, easily moves eastward and produces more precipitation, and vice versa.
Biosensoren bei Multipler Sklerose
Authors: Altmann Patrick , Stark Rosa , Fasching Bernhard
Published: December 2022

Der Begriff „Biosensoren“ ist ein Sammelwort für tragbare Anwendungen, die biologische Funktionen erfassen. Die gängigsten Biosensoren sind Akzelerometer mit zunehmenden Anwendungsbereichen als Multi-Sensor-Anwendungen oder elektrodermale Sensoren. Akzelerometer nehmen eine Bewegung bzw. Beschleunigung von Objekten im Raum wahr und im Zuge der technischen Entwicklungen der letzten Jahre werden sie heutzutage bereits in viele „smart devices“ eingebaut (z. B. in Smartphones, Smartwatches etc.). Für Menschen mit Multipler Sklerose (MS) gibt es mittlerweile zahlreiche Studien, die eine Korrelation von Akzelerometriedaten mit der körperlichen Behinderung, insbesondere der Gehfähigkeit, nachweisen können. Sind differenziertere Analysen eines möglicherweise pathologischen Gangbilds notwendig, werden mit modernen dreidimensionalen Ganganalysen einzelne betroffene Muskelgruppen identifiziert. Gezielten Therapien etwa mit Botulinumtoxin oder angepassten Sprunggelenksorthesen werden auf Basis dieser Analysen durchgeführt bzw. angefertigt. Dieser Artikel beschreibt exemplarisch moderne Konzepte digitaler Bewegungsanalysen und gibt einen Ausblick auf mögliche digitale Anwendungsverfahren in der Betreuung von Menschen mit MS.
Regionale Dynamik der Pestizid-Konzentration unterhalb der Wurzelzone
Authors: Lischeid Gunnar , Steidl Jörg , Engelke Clemens , Koch Franka
Published: December 2022

In Ackerbaugebieten werden häufig Belastungen des Grundwassers durch Pflanzenschutzmittel und ihre Metaboliten gefunden. Zur Untersuchung direkter kausaler Zusammenhänge mit einzelnen Bewirtschaftungsmaßnahmen wurden über sieben Monate hinweg wöchentlich an acht verschiedenen Ackerflächen in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern die Ausläufe von Rohrdränen zur Bestimmung der Austräge mit dem Sickerwasser beprobt.

Von den 26 untersuchten Substanzen wurden 10 wiederholt und zwei Substanzen in allen Proben nachgewiesen. Die zeitliche Dynamik der Konzentrationen der sechs am häufigsten nachgewiesenen Stoffe konnte mit einem Verfahren des maschinellen Lernens als Funktion der Schüttung der Dräne abgebildet werden. Offensichtlich erfolgt die Mobilisierung dieser Substanzen aus dem Oberboden in einer für alle Substanzen ähnlichen Weise und auf der Skala eines Bundeslandes weitgehend synchron. Das eröffnet die Option, mittels bodenhydrologischer Modelle die Zeiträume hoher Schadstoffeinträge in das oberflächennahe Grundwasser zu bestimmen und somit Monitoring-Kampagnen zu optimieren.
Comparative efficacy of medicaments or techniques for pulpotomy of primary molars: a network meta-analysis
Authors: Guo Jiehua , Zhang Na , Cheng Yuzhao
Published: December 2022

Objectives

We performed this network meta-analysis to determine the comparative efficacy of formocresol (FC), ferric sulfate (FS), sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), calcium hydroxide (CH), mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), biodentine, and laser for pulpotomy of molar teeth.

Materials and methods

An updated search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published before October 30, 2022, after screening previous meta-analyses. The Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool was used to appraise the methodological quality of included studies. Clinical and radiographic success rates were assessed as outcomes. Random network meta-analysis was performed by using STATA software (version 14.0) with “network” command.

Results

A total of 43 RCTs were included. Network meta-analysis indicated that CH was inferior to other medicaments and techniques in all outcomes, and MTA and biodentine was better than FC, FS, and NaOCl in terms of clinical and radiographic success rates. Results of ranking probabilities suggested that MTA ranked first in all outcomes except for clinical success at both 6 months.

Conclusions

Our results suggested that MTA was associated with significant improvement in both clinical and radiographic success than other pulpotomy medicaments and techniques, with the highest probability of being the optimal option.

Clinical relevance

The current network meta-analysis determined the comparative efficacy and safety of 7 common pulpotomy medicaments in molar pulpotomy, including FC, FS, NaOCl, CH, MTA, biodentine, and laser, and the pooled results revealed comparable efficacy in clinical and radiographic success rates at 6 and 12 months between FC, FS, and NaOCl in primary molars pulpotomies. However, MTA, biodentine and laser may have more advantages than other pulpotomy medicaments for clinical and radiographic success. Therefore, in clinical practice, practitioners should select MTA, biodentine, or laser as pulpotomy medicaments in molar pulpotomy.
A validity and reliability study of the formative model for the indicators of STEAM education creations
Authors: Hsu Ting-Chia , Chang Yu-Shan , Chen Mu-Sheng , Tsai I.-Fan , Yu Cheng-Yen
Published: December 2022

There is a growing number of products for learning the interdisciplinary application of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) in K-12. However, there is no general assessment tool for those STEAM creations, so as to help parents or instructors to experience and evaluate the STEAM products created or sold by companies or proposed by academic institutes when they want to introduce one to their children or students. Therefore, this study developed and validated an assessment of STEAM Creation with formative constructs by utilizing the PLS-SEM technique. The four constructs taken into account based on the theoretical foundations were computational thinking (CT) levels, design thinking (DT) levels, STEAM interdisciplinary levels, and literacy-oriented (LO) levels. CT was operationalized as four indicators (i.e., problem decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithm steps), and DT was operationalized as another four indicators (i.e., analysis of design requirements, creative brainstorming, hands-on experience, and test and verification). Meanwhile, STEAM was operationalized with five indispensable indicators, where each indicator refers to one discipline. LO was operationalized with three indicators (i.e., cooperation and co-creation, problem solving, and daily application). There were 16 indicators in total. Therefore, the formative relationship was established and evaluated in this study. This paper assessed STEAM creations with a formative measurement model comprising four hypotheses indicating that CT has a significant direct effect on STEAM and LO, DT has a significant direct effect on STEAM while STEAM has a significant direct effect on LO. The results reveal that all four hypotheses were accepted and the paths in the model were confirmed. CT has a significant indirect effect on LO through STEAM, which was also deeply discussed.
Machine Learning in Hypertension Detection: A Study on World Hypertension Day Data
Authors: Montagna Sara , Pengo Martino Francesco , Ferretti Stefano , Borghi Claudio , Ferri Claudio , Grassi Guido , Muiesan Maria Lorenza , Parati Gianfranco
Published: December 2022

Many modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors have been associated with hypertension. However, current screening programs are still failing in identifying individuals at higher risk of hypertension. Given the major impact of high blood pressure on cardiovascular events and mortality, there is an urgent need to find new strategies to improve hypertension detection. We aimed to explore whether a machine learning (ML) algorithm can help identifying individuals predictors of hypertension. We analysed the data set generated by the questionnaires administered during the World Hypertension Day from 2015 to 2019. A total of 20206 individuals have been included for analysis. We tested five ML algorithms, exploiting different balancing techniques. Moreover, we computed the performance of the medical protocol currently adopted in the screening programs. Results show that a gain of sensitivity reflects in a loss of specificity, bringing to a scenario where there is not an algorithm and a configuration which properly outperforms against the others. However, Random Forest provides interesting performances (0.818 sensitivity – 0.629 specificity) compared with medical protocols (0.906 sensitivity – 0.230 specificity). Detection of hypertension at a population level still remains challenging and a machine learning approach could help in making screening programs more precise and cost effective, when based on accurate data collection. More studies are needed to identify new features to be acquired and to further improve the performances of ML models.
Evaluation of the Marburg Heart Score and INTERCHEST score compared to current telephone triage for chest pain in out-of-hours primary care
Authors: Manten A. , De Clercq L. , Rietveld R. P. , Lucassen W. A. M. , Moll van Charante E. P. , Harskamp R. E.
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Chest pain is a common and challenging symptom for telephone triage in urgent primary care. Existing chest-pain-specific risk scores originally developed for diagnostic purposes may outperform current telephone triage protocols.

Methods

This study involved a retrospective, observational cohort of consecutive patients evaluated for chest pain at a large-scale out-of-hours primary care facility in the Netherlands. We evaluated the performance of the Marburg Heart Score (MHS) and INTERCHEST score as stand-alone triage tools and compared them with the current decision support tool, the Netherlands Triage Standard (NTS). The outcomes of interest were: C‑statistics, calibration and diagnostic accuracy for optimised thresholds with major events as the reference standard. Major events are a composite of all-cause mortality and both cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular urgent underlying conditions occurring within 6 weeks of initial contact.

Results

We included 1433 patients, 57.6% women, with a median age of 55.0 years. Major events occurred in 16.4% (n = 235), of which acute coronary syndrome accounted for 6.8% (n = 98). For predicting major events, C‑statistics for the MHS and INTERCHEST score were 0.74 (95% confidence interval: 0.70–0.77) and 0.76 (0.73–0.80), respectively. In comparison, the NTS had a C-statistic of 0.66 (0.62–0.69). All had appropriate calibration. Both scores (at threshold ≥ 2) reduced the number of referrals (with lower false-positive rates) and maintained equal safety compared with the NTS.

Conclusion

Diagnostic risk stratification scores for chest pain may also improve telephone triage for major events in out-of-hours primary care, by reducing the number of unnecessary referrals without compromising triage safety. Further validation is warranted.
Distance from Unimodality for the Assessment of Opinion Polarization
Authors: Pavlopoulos John , Likas Aristidis
Published: December 2022

Commonsense knowledge is often approximated by the fraction of annotators who classified an item as belonging to the positive class. Instances for which this fraction is equal to or above 50% are considered positive, including however ones that receive polarized opinions. This is a problematic encoding convention that disregards the potentially polarized nature of opinions and which is often employed to estimate subjectivity, sentiment polarity, and toxic language. We present the distance from unimodality (DFU), a novel measure that estimates the extent of polarization on a distribution of opinions and which correlates well with human judgment. We applied DFU to two use cases. The first case concerns tweets created over 9 months during the pandemic. The second case concerns textual posts crowd-annotated for toxicity. We specified the days for which the sentiment-annotated tweets were determined as polarized based on the DFU measure and we found that polarization occurred on different days for two different states in the USA. Regarding toxicity, we found that polarized opinions are more likely by annotators originating from different countries. Moreover, we show that DFU can be exploited as an objective function to train models to predict whether a post will provoke polarized opinions in the future.
Where do migrants and natives belong in a community: a Twitter case study and privacy risk analysis
Authors: Kim Jisu , Pratesi Francesca , Rossetti Giulio , Sîrbu Alina , Giannotti Fosca
Published: December 2022

Today, many users are actively using Twitter to express their opinions and to share information. Thanks to the availability of the data, researchers have studied behaviours and social networks of these users. International migration studies have also benefited from this social media platform to improve migration statistics. Although diverse types of social networks have been studied so far on Twitter, social networks of migrants and natives have not been studied before. This paper aims to fill this gap by studying characteristics and behaviours of migrants and natives on Twitter. To do so, we perform a general assessment of features including profiles and tweets, and an extensive network analysis on the network. We find that migrants have more followers than friends. They have also tweeted more despite that both of the groups have similar account ages. More interestingly, the assortativity scores showed that users tend to connect based on nationality more than country of residence, and this is more the case for migrants than natives. Furthermore, both natives and migrants tend to connect mostly with natives. The homophilic behaviours of users are also well reflected in the communities that we detected. Our additional privacy risk analysis showed that Twitter data can be safely used without exposing sensitive information of the users, and minimise risk of re-identification, while respecting GDPR.
Multiplex PCR assay for the simultaneous identification of race specific and non-specific leaf resistance genes in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Noweiska Aleksandra , Bobrowska Roksana , Spychała Julia , Tomkowiak Agnieszka , Kwiatek Michał T.
Published: December 2022

Race-nonspecific resistance is a key to sustainable management of pathogens in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) breeding. It is more durable compared to race-specific immunity, conferred by the major genes (R), which are often overcome by pathogens. The accumulation of the genes, which provide the resistance to a specific race of a pathogen, together with the introduction of race-non-specific resistance genes is the most effective strategy aimed at preventing the breakdown of genetically conditioned immunity. PCR markers improved the productivity and accuracy of classical plant breeding by means of marker-assisted selection (MAS). Multiplexing assays provide increased throughput, reduced reaction cost, and conservation of limited sample material, which are beneficial for breeding purposes. Here, we described the process of customizing multiplex PCR assay for the simultaneous identification of the major leaf rust resistance genes Lr19, Lr24, Lr26, and Lr38, as well as the slow rusting, race-nonspecific resistance genes: Lr34 and Lr68, in thirteen combinations. The adaptation of PCR markers for multiplex assays relied on: (1) selection of primers with an appropriate length; (2) selection of common annealing/extension temperature for given primers; and (3) PCR mixture modifications consisting of increased concentration of primers for the scanty band signals or decreased concentration of primers for the strong bands. These multiplex PCR protocols can be integrated into a marker-assisted selection of the leaf rust-resistant wheat genotypes.
Determination of the frequency- and temperature-dependent stiffness and damping properties of thermoplastics for the prediction of the vibration and heating behaviour during ultrasonic welding
Authors: Hopmann Christian , Dahlmann Rainer , Weihermüller Max , Wipperfürth Jens , Sommer Jan
Published: December 2022

The precise and realistic simulation of the vibration and heating behaviour of thermoplastics in the ultrasonic welding process has so far been associated with great challenges. In particular, the determination of the required frequency- and temperature-dependent mechanical stiffness and damping properties in the high-frequency vibration range is only insufficiently possible according to the current state of the art, which prevents an early and valid numerical prediction of the weldability in the development process of new joining components. In order to provide more precise input data (storage and loss modulus) for describing the material behaviour of thermoplastics in the ultrasonic welding process in the future, a novel measurement concept was implemented that is based on the adaptation of simulation results to real structure-borne sound measurements. The test rig concept was successfully commissioned and calibrated at room temperature and the calculation routine for material data determination was implemented. On the basis of the generated material data, an increase in the prediction quality of the vibration behaviour in a frequency range of 1 Hz to 22.5 kHz of rectangular specimens at room temperature could already be achieved compared to the state of the art using dynamic mechanical analysis and a time–temperature shift approach. Measurements at different ambient temperatures up to 60 °C were also carried out. Although the prediction quality of the vibration behaviour was slightly improved at 60 °C, there is still a need for optimisation with regard to the test specimen geometry and the further development of the evaluation routine in order to increase the analysable temperature range on the one hand and the quality of the generated material data on the other.
A Review of In-Situ Techniques for Probing Active Sites and Mechanisms of Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Reactions
Authors: Zhao Jinyu , Lian Jie , Zhao Zhenxin , Wang Xiaomin , Zhang Jiujun
Published: December 2022

Electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is one of the most important reactions in electrochemical energy technologies such as fuel cells and metal–O2/air batteries, etc. However, the essential catalysts to overcome its slow reaction kinetic always undergo a complex dynamic evolution in the actual catalytic process, and the concomitant intermediates and catalytic products also occur continuous conversion and reconstruction. This makes them difficult to be accurately captured, making the identification of ORR active sites and the elucidation of ORR mechanisms difficult. Thus, it is necessary to use extensive in-situ characterization techniques to proceed the real-time monitoring of the catalyst structure and the evolution state of intermediates and products during ORR. This work reviews the major advances in the use of various in-situ techniques to characterize the catalytic processes of various catalysts. Specifically, the catalyst structure evolutions revealed directly by in-situ techniques are systematically summarized, such as phase, valence, electronic transfer, coordination, and spin states varies. In-situ revelation of intermediate adsorption/desorption behavior, and the real-time monitoring of the product nucleation, growth, and reconstruction evolution are equally emphasized in the discussion. Other interference factors, as well as in-situ signal assignment with the aid of theoretical calculations, are also covered. Finally, some major challenges and prospects of in-situ techniques for future catalysts research in the ORR process are proposed.