bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Statins, but not proprotein convertase subtilisin‐kexin type 9 inhibitors, lower chemerin in hypercholesterolemia via low‐density lipoprotein receptor upregulation
Authors: Tan Lunbo , Wang Na , Galema‐Boers Annet M. H. , van Vark‐van der Zee Leonie , van Lennep Jeanine Roeters , Mulder Monique T. , Lu Xifeng , Danser A. H. Jan , Verdonk Koen
Published: August 2024

Hypercholesterolemia is characterized by elevated low‐density lipoprotein (LDL)‐cholesterol levels and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The adipokine chemerin is an additional risk factor. Here we investigated whether cholesterol‐lowering with statins or proprotein convertase subtilisin‐kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) affects chemerin. Both statins and PCKS9i lowered plasma LDL‐cholesterol, triglycerides and total cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic patients, and increased high‐density lipoprotein (HDL)‐cholesterol. Yet, only statins additionally reduced chemerin and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP). Applying PCSK9i on top of statins did not further reduce chemerin. Around 20% of chemerin occurred in the HDL2/HDL3 fractions, while >75% was free. Statins lowered both HDL‐bound and free chemerin. Pull‐down assays revealed that chemerin binds to the HDL‐component Apolipoprotein A‐I (ApoA‐I). The statins, but not PCSK9i, diminished chemerin secretion from HepG2 cells by upregulating LDL receptor mRNA. Furthermore, chemerin inhibited HDL‐mediated cholesterol efflux via its chemerin chemokine‐like receptor 1 in differentiated macrophages. In conclusion, statins, but not PCSK9i, lower circulating chemerin by directly affecting its release from hepatocytes. Chemerin binds to ApoA‐I and inhibits HDL‐mediated cholesterol efflux. Statins prevent this by lowering HDL‐bound chemerin. Combined with their anti‐inflammatory effect evidenced by hsCRP suppression, this represents a novel cardiovascular protective function of statins that distinguishes them from PCSK9i.
A systematic review and meta‐analysis of Nordic walking for chronic heart failure with low left ventricular ejection fraction
Authors: Dhamayanti Aulia Syavitri , Rahmad Rahmad , Rachmawati Samiah , Waranugraha Yoga
Published: August 2024

Background

Nordic walking (NW) has been reported to be beneficial in various chronic diseases.

Objective

To determine whether NW improves function in patients with heart failure (HF) with low left ventricular ejection fraction more than conventional cardiac rehabilitation or usual care.

Methods

Systematic literature searches in PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science were conducted. According to patient, intervention, comparison, and outcome (PICO) principles, a stepwise selection process was completed to identify eligible studies. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in this systematic review and meta‐analysis. Pooled effects were determined using a random effect analysis model for the meta‐analysis.

Results

A total of 282 participants from four RCTs were included. The improvement of peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2) was greater in the NW group than in the control group (mean difference [MD] = 2.18 mL/kg/min; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.35–3.01; p < .01). The improvement of the 6‐minute walk test (6MWT) distance was also greater in the NW group than in the control group (MD = 16.51 meters; 95% CI = 3.23–29.80; p = .01).

Conclusion

This systematic review highlights the benefits of NW training in patients with chronic HF, particularly those with systolic dysfunction. Specifically, NW walking was associated with increased peak VO2 and 6MWT improvement compared to conventional cardiac rehabilitation or usual care. These results suggest that NW may be a useful component of cardiac rehabilitation. However, additional larger studies with a wider range of patients are needed.
Jordanian community pharmacists' perceptions and experiences with continuing professional development – A comprehensive analysis
Authors: Alnahar Saja A. , Darwish Rula M. , Al Shabani Mayada M. , Al Qasas Shatha Z. , Bates Ian
Published: August 2024

Continuing professional development (CPD) is a process by which healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, can be engaged in life‐long learning and development. In 2018, the Jordanian government issued Regulation No. 46, which addresses the CPD and relicensing cycle requirements. This study aims to investigate Jordanian community pharmacists' experiences and perceptions toward CPDs. The study also discussed factors influencing pharmacists' engagement in CPD activities. An online self‐administered questionnaire was distributed between August and October of 2022 using a range of participant identification and recruitment strategies. The questionnaire was designed for community pharmacists who are currently in practice. Descriptive data analysis was carried out. Of the 425 participating community pharmacists, 270 (63.5%) had a positive attitude toward CPD in terms of considering CPD to be a professional responsibility for all practising pharmacists. Almost 50% of recruited community pharmacists had no preference between theoretical and practical activities. Moreover, carrying out research projects and participating in research groups were the least preferred CPD activities. Evidence indicates that the most influencing factors were feasibility and capacity‐related issues such as time, cost, work burden and requirements and the logistics related to CPD activities. Regulators, professional associations, and legislators are responsible for planning and implementing actions that reduce obstacles and increase facilitators. CPD activities should also be made available through various delivery methods and strategies to guarantee relevance, prevent duplication, and promote pharmacists' involvement.
So, you cannot vent: A deep dive into other explosion protection methods
Authors: Murphy Michelle
Published: August 2024

Current NFPA standards for managing combustible dust hazards require equipment with an explosion hazard to be protected from the effects of deflagration. These protections include deflagration venting in accordance with NFPA 68, Standard on Explosion Protection by Deflagration Venting, 2023 Edition, or oxidant concentration reduction, combustible concentration reduction, deflagration suppression, or deflagration pressure containment, via NFPA 69, Standard on Explosion Protection Systems, 2024 Edition. It makes sense to choose the simplest and most cost‐effective option based on the inherent design and risk of the operation. Implementation of any one of these protection methods requires an understanding of the method and all the associated requirements. While the basic methods are fairly straightforward, the associated requirements are often less understood. In this paper, the author will introduce the basic methods and take a deep dive into the associated requirements of each method of protection. Based on the author's experience in evaluating protection systems, common misunderstandings will be highlighted, for example, the margin of safety to apply and the operational limits required to be developed and documented for oxidant concentration reduction systems.
A condition‐based maintenance optimization method with oscillating uncertain degradation process
Authors: Li Shuyu , Wen Meilin , Zu Tianpei , Kang Rui
Published: August 2024

Condition‐based maintenance (CBM) has gradually gained more attention, and the degradation process has been increasingly applied to maintenance optimization models. The insufficient data and the complex degradation process of the equipment conditions will contribute to epistemic uncertainty. Besides, the implementation of maintenance introduces oscillatory features into the equipment degradation process, deviating from a monotonically decreasing trend, complicating the optimization of CBM. In this article, to simultaneously address the problem of epistemic uncertainty and consider the influence of inspection and maintenance, we establish a new type of degradation model based on uncertainty theory to deal with epistemic uncertainty. Then an uncertain maintenance optimization model is proposed to give an optimal CBM strategy. Finally, a case study is provided to illustrate the proposed CBM optimization method.
Data set diversity in crop row detection based on CNN models for autonomous robot navigation
Authors: Costa Igor Ferreira da , Leite Antonio Candea , Caarls Wouter
Published: August 2024

Agricultural automation emerges as a vital tool to increase field efficiency, pest control, and reduce labor burdens. While agricultural mobile robots hold promise for automation, challenges persist, particularly in navigating a plantation environment. Accurate robot localization is already possible, but existing Global Navigation Satellite System with Real‐time Kinematic systems are costly, while also demanding careful and precise mapping. In response, onboard navigation approaches gain traction, leveraging sensors like cameras and light detection and rangings. However, the machine learning methods used in camera‐based systems are highly sensitive to the training data set used. In this paper, we study the effects of data set diversity on a proposed deep learning‐based visual navigation system. Leveraging multiple data sets, we assess the model robustness and adaptability while investigating the effects of data diversity available during the training phase. The system is presented with a range of different camera configurations, hardware, field structures, as well as a simulated environment. The results show that mixing images from different cameras and fields can improve not only system robustness to changing conditions but also its single‐condition performance. Real‐world tests were conducted which show that good results can be achieved with reasonable amounts of data.
LiDAR‐based place recognition for mobile robots in ground/water surface multiple scenes
Authors: Yan Yaxuan , Zhang Haiyang , Zhao Changming , Liu Xuan , Fu Siyuan
Published: August 2024

LiDAR‐based 3D place recognition is an essential component of simultaneous localization and mapping systems in multi‐scene robotic applications. However, extracting discriminative and generalizable global descriptors of point clouds is still an open issue due to the insufficient use of the information contained in the LiDAR scans in existing approaches. In this paper, we propose a novel spatial‐temporal point cloud encoding network for multiple scenes, dubbed STM‐Net, to fully fuse the multi‐view spatial information and temporal information of LiDAR point clouds. Specifically, we first develop a spatial feature encoding module consisting of the single‐view transformer and multi‐view transformer. The module learns the correlation both within a single view and between two views by utilizing the multi‐layer range images generated by spherical projection and multi‐layer bird's eye view images generated by top‐down projection. Then in the temporal feature encoding module, we exploit the temporal transformer to mine the temporal information in the sequential point clouds, and a NetVLAD layer is applied to aggregate features and generate sub‐descriptors. Furthermore, we use a GeM pooling layer to fuse more information along the time dimension for the final global descriptors. Extensive experiments conducted on unmanned ground/surface vehicles with different LiDAR configurations indicate that our method (1) achieves superior place recognition performance than state‐of‐the‐art algorithms, (2) generalizes well to diverse sceneries, (3) is robust to viewpoint changes, (4) can operate in real‐time, demonstrating the effectiveness and satisfactory capability of the proposed approach and highlighting its promising applications in multi‐scene place recognition tasks.
Optimizing PID control for enhanced stability of a 16‐DOF biped robot during ditch crossing
Authors: Khan Moh Shahid , Mandava Ravi Kumar , Panchore Vijay
Published: August 2024

The current research article discusses the design of a proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controller to obtain the optimal gait planning algorithm for a 16‐degrees‐of‐freedom biped robot while crossing the ditch. The gait planning algorithm integrates an initial posture, position, and desired trajectories of the robot's wrist, hip, and foot. A cubic polynomial trajectory is assigned for wrist, hip, and foot trajectories to generate the motion. The foot and wrist joint angles of the biped robot along the polynomial trajectory are obtained by using the inverse kinematics approach. Moreover, the dynamic balance margin was estimated by using the concept of the zero‐moment point. To enhance the smooth motion of the gait planner and reduce the error between two consecutive joint angles, the authors designed a PID controller for each joint of the biped robot. To design a PID controller, the dynamics of the biped robot are essential, and it was obtained using the Lagrange–Euler formulation. The gains, that is, KP, KD, and KI of the PID controller are tuned with nontraditional optimization algorithms, such as particle swarm optimization (PSO), differential evolution (DE), and compared with modified chaotic invasive weed optimization (MCIWO) algorithms. The result indicates that the MCIWO‐PID controller generates more dynamically balanced gaits when compared with the DE and PSO‐PID controllers.
Nanosilicon Stabilized With Ligands: Effect of High‐Energy Proton Beam on Luminescent Properties
Authors: Aslanov Leonid A. , Zaitsev Vladimir B. , Zakharov Valery N. , Kudryavtsev Igor K. , Senyavin Vladimir M. , Lagov Petr B. , Romanteeva Elena P.
Published: August 2024

Silicon nanopowders with nitrogen heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and butyl as stabilizing ligands were synthesized by bottom‐up chemical methods. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to obtain nanoparticle size distribution with 1.8–2.5‐nm average diameter. Optical characteristics (photoluminescence [PL] and infrared [IR] absorption spectra) of samples were investigated as fabricated and on different steps of irradiation by high‐energy 22.5‐MeV protons. The PL spectral changes are slightly different for two cases, but in general, we can see a decrease in luminescence amplitude with fluence growth up to 4·1014 cm−2, mainly for NHC‐stabilized nanosilicon. Main mechanisms of radiation‐induced changes in nanosilicon sample optical properties are discussed by the joint use of PL and IR spectra analysis.
Empowering the helping hands: A positive psychological intervention for enhancing work engagement and reducing stress among preschool social workers in Hong Kong
Authors: Lee Alfred S. Y. , Fung Wing Kai , Chung Kevin Kien Hoa
Published: August 2024

This study explores the efficacy of the Early Advancement in Social‐Emotional Health and Positivity (EASP) programme, designed to enhance personal resources, namely self‐compassion and positivity among preschool social workers, to reduce stress and bolster work engagement. A total of 84 preschool social workers (Mage = 32.47 years, SD = 6.86, range = 22–55; female = 90.48%) participated in a 5‐week randomized control trial. Participants were randomly allocated to either the intervention group (n = 38), which received four online workshops and an online activity, or the wait‐list control group (n = 46), which received the intervention post‐data collection. Self‐compassion, positivity, work engagement, and work stress were measured before and after the intervention. Results from a path analytic model indicated excellent fit with the data, χ2 = 2.08, df = 3, Comparative Fit Index = 1.00, Tucker‐Lewis Index = 1.00, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.00 (90% CI = 0.00–0.16), SRMR = 0.03. The intervention demonstrated direct effects on changes in self‐compassion (β = 0.21, p = 0.04) and positivity (β = 0.28, p = 0.03), with indirect effects on work engagement (β = 0.13, p = 0.02), while no significant impact was observed on work stress (β = −0.09, p = 0.06). These findings underscore the efficacy of positive psychological interventions in fostering work engagement among social workers. Incorporating the EASP programme into ongoing professional development activities is recommended to enhance the job engagement and psychological well‐being of social workers in early childhood education and care sectors.
An explorative Bayesian analysis of functional dependencies in emergency management systems
Authors: Cantelmi Raffaele , Steen Riana , Gravio Giulio Di , Patriarca Riccardo
Published: August 2024

The study of emergency or crisis management practices acquires strategical relevance for resilient decision‐making under uncertainty. The assessment of system resilience is an asset to identify potential design or operational improvements of a complex socio‐technical system, such as an Emergency Management (EM) system. This research aims at analyzing the functional properties of an EM system recurring to a novel integration of the Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM) and Bayesian Belief Networks (BBN). The FRAM is used to model and display the actors and the interactions in the system, while the BBN, dynamically updated when new data becomes available, supports a complementary quantitative assessment. The methodology is iterated in the analysis of an EM procedure, issued by a second‐line Emergency Response organization for Oil and Gas (O&G) operators in Norwegian continental shelf. The results of the study show that the proposed stochastic methodology compensates the drawbacks of traditional FRAM modeling, via the outcomes of BBN quantitative analyses. The findings, contextualized in EM, can be transferred to different socio‐technical contexts, both military and civil ones.
Identification of the sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) bHLH gene family and the role of CsbHLH55 and CsbHLH87 in regulating salt stress
Authors: Zi Yinqiang , Zhang Mengjie , Yang Xiuyao , Zhao Ke , Yin Tuo , Wen Ke , Li Xulin , Liu Xiaozhen , Zhang Hanyao
Published: August 2024

Salt stress is one of the primary environmental stresses limiting plant growth and production and adversely affecting the growth, development, yield, and fruit quality of Citrus sinensis. bHLH (basic helix‐loop‐helix) genes are involved in many bioregulatory processes in plants, including growth and development, phytohormone signaling, defense responses, and biosynthesis of specific metabolites. In this study, by bioinformatics methods, 120 CsbHLHgenes were identified, and phylogenetic analysis classified them into 18 subfamilies that were unevenly distributed on nine chromosomes. The cis‐acting elements of the CsbHLH genes were mainly hormone‐related cis‐acting elements. Seventeen CsbHLH genes exhibited significant differences in expression under salt stress. Six CsbHLH genes with significant differences in expression were randomly selected for quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) validation. The qRT‐PCR results showed a strong correlation with the transcriptome data. Phytohormones such as jasmonic acid (JA) are essential for biotic and abiotic stress responses in plants, and CsbHLH55 and CsbHLH87 are considered candidate target genes for sweet orange MYC2 transcription factors involved in the JA signaling pathway. These genes are the main downstream effectors in the JA signaling pathway and can be activated to participate in the JA signaling pathway. Activation of the JA signaling pathway inhibits the production of reactive oxygen species and improves the salt tolerance of sweet orange plants. The CsbHLH55 and CsbHLH87 genes could be candidate genes for breeding new transgenic salt‐resistant varieties of sweet orange.
The impact of long‐course chemoradiotherapy on the myenteric plexus, neuromuscular functions and responses to prokinetic drugs in the human rectum
Authors: Kung Victor W. S. , Broad John , Makwana Raj , Palmer Alexandra , Baidoo Nicholas , Epton Sarah , Elahi Shezan , Chin‐Aleong Joanne , Thaha Mohamed , Knowles Charles H. , Sanger Gareth J.
Published: August 2024

Background & Aims

The long‐term effects of chemoradiotherapy on human rectum are poorly understood. The aims were to investigate changes in inflammatory status, myenteric neuron numbers/phenotype, neuromuscular functions and prokinetic drug efficacy.

Methods

Macroscopically normal proximal‐to‐mid rectum was obtained from 21 patients undergoing surgery for bowel cancer, 98 days (range: 63–350) after concurrent capecitabine and pelvic radiotherapy, and 19 patients without chemoradiotherapy. Inflammatory status was measured by H&E, CD45 staining and qPCR. Myenteric neurons were examined by immunohistochemistry. Neuromuscular functions and drug efficacy were studied using exogenous agents and electrical field stimulation (EFS) to activate intrinsic nerves.

Results

Inflammation was not detected. Numbers of myenteric ganglia/neurons were unchanged (11.7 ± 2.4 vs. 10.3 ± 2.2 neurons/mm myenteric plexus with/without chemoradiotherapy) as were the numbers of cholinergic/nitrergic neurons. EFS stimulated cholinergic and nitrergic neurons so the contractile response of the muscle was the sum of both but dominated by cholinergic (causing contraction) or less often, nitrergic activity (relaxation), followed, after termination of EFS, by neuronally mediated contraction. Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (by L‐NAME 300 μM) more clearly defined EFS‐evoked contractions. The 5‐HT4 agonist prucalopride 10 μM and the cholinesterase inhibitor donepezil 1 µM, respectively increased and greatly increased the composite contractile response to EFS (measured as ‘area‐under‐the curve’) and the contractions isolated by L‐NAME (respectively, by 22 ± 14% and 334 ± 87%; n = 11/8). After chemoradiotherapy, nitrergic‐mediated muscle relaxations occurred more often during EFS (in 29.8 ± 6.1% preparations vs. 12.6 ± 5.1% without chemoradiotherapy, n = 21/18). With L‐NAME, the ability of prucalopride to facilitate EFS‐evoked contraction was lost and that of donepezil approximately halved (contractions increased by 132 ± 36%; n = 8).

Conclusions

Several months after chemoradiotherapy, the rectum was not inflamed and myenteric neuron numbers/phenotype unchanged. However, nitrergic activity was increased relative to cholinergic activity, and prokinetic‐like drug activity was lost or greatly reduced. Thus, chemoradiotherapy causes long‐term changes in neuromuscular functions and markedly reduces the efficacy of drugs for treating constipation.
Nonlinear free vibration analysis of the rectangular conductive elastic plate in magnetic field based on homotopy perturbation method
Authors: Gu JiaJun , Shi WeiChen
Published: August 2024

This article tries to investigate the nonlinear free vibrations of the rectangular conductive elastic plate in uniform magnetic fields under the classic plate theory considering nonlinear strain‐displacement. The formulation of the governing equations integrates the electromagnetic forces arising from the motion of the plate. The nonlinear motion equations are dimensionless, which takes the effect of in‐plane inertia into account. The equations are solved by the Galerkin method and homotopy perturbation method (HPM). The effectiveness of the solution is verified. According to the solutions by HPM, the effects of the initial conditions, length‐to‐thickness ratio, and magnetic induction intensity on the nonlinear free vibrations behavior of conductive elastic plates are discussed.
14 Accelerating Development of Therapeutics for Preparedness, Response, and a More Secure World
Authors: Higgs Elizabeth S.
Published: August 2024

The accelerated development of therapeutics is essential to infectious disease preparedness and emergency response, just like vaccines and diagnostics. Vaccine research received more public attention than therapeutics during the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, existing drugs, monoclonal antibody cocktails, the combination drug nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid®), and other life-saving interventions for COVID-19 are the result of accelerated therapeutics research during the health emergency. This chapter outlines scientific, regulatory, and social factors that affect the entire therapeutics development process from “bench to bedside,” including preclinical and clinical research, regulatory review, manufacturing, and delivery of safe, effective therapeutics before and during an infectious disease outbreak with pandemic potential. There are both similarities and differences in the processes for vaccines and diagnostics. Still, in all three cases, emergency research response goals are the same: to save lives and avert suffering, accelerate the end of the outbreak, and develop measures to prevent and mitigate future outbreaks. Therapeutics preparedness and response for pathogens with epidemic and/or pandemic potential require innovation to:

Correct market failures in therapeutics development, e.g., lack of commercial investment in therapeutics for diseases that affect few people or predominantly low-income populations.

Accelerate preclinical development.

Receive approvals from oversight bodies for trials in emergencies.

Implement large-scale, well-designed randomized clinical studies following good participatory practice (GPP) guidelines, ideally structured by a master protocol so individual trials contribute to a statistically powerful whole.

Obtain regulatory authorization or approval.

Ensure that the products resulting from research are available to all those who may benefit.

Throughout the process, multitasking, or simultaneously acting on steps normally done in sequence, is a key methodology to accelerate results without compromising ethical and scientific standards. A clear, practical vision of what a therapeutics preparedness state should be is outlined here. It will require political support and human and material resources to make it possible.
2 Clinical Research on Infectious Diseases: An Overview
Authors: Keusch Gerald T. , McAdam Keith
Published: August 2024

This chapter offers a historical introduction and perspective for many of the subjects explored in detail in further chapters of the book. Efforts to discover which medical treatments are safe and effective and which are not date back many centuries. But it has only been 75 years since the current scientifically and ethically sound clinical research gold standard, the randomly controlled, double-blind clinical trial, was widely adopted, representing the maturation of biostatistically based trial design and the development of modern concepts of medical ethics. We are now on the cusp of another revolution as new circumstances highlight the need for innovative, adaptive research models. For example, the need to design and implement clinical trials quickly during an infectious disease outbreak is now an accepted element of response, even—or especially—in countries with limited health resources and research capacity.

The 2014–2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa clearly demonstrated a new set of constraints and the need to initiate research both swiftly and safely. Innovative trial designs such as multi-arm, adaptive trials offer great advantages in certain contexts, but require more sophisticated statistical analysis and currently are more difficult for communities and even review boards to understand. The need for community inclusion in clinical trial implementation is now universally recognized, but how to accomplish it, and the degree to which researchers are committed to it, remains a work in progress. The fundamental ethical and scientific principles of clinical research may seem well established but continue to challenge research study design and the agencies that provide funding for large clinical trials. The combined impacts of innovations in technology and trial design, the need to carry out research on an expedited basis when novel pathogens arise, and the flowering of misinformation in the current media environment make emergency research not only essential, but an exciting and challenging field as well.
16 Challenges for Emergency Research Response and Preparedness in Fragile, Weak, and Failed Nation States
Authors: Katz Rebecca , Phelan Alexandra L. , Shahpar Cyrus
Published: August 2024

Fragile and failed nation states often harbor conditions where emerging and re-emerging infectious disease (EID) outbreaks are likely to occur. Such states may struggle to provide adequate primary health care—hindering detection of new disease events—and often are unable to mount an effective outbreak response. Active conflict and consequences like large-scale displacement of populations increase opportunities for pathogens to emerge and further hinder response. Global efforts to improve capacity for infectious disease response, especially locally based research, have been modestly successful at best in fragile states. While there has been a number of recent efforts to build capacity in fragile states, these efforts must take account of deeper humanitarian obligations, many of them laid out in treaties to which most nation states are parties. Global health actors are working on improvements in governance and EID response in the wake of COVID-19, but the outlook for preparedness and response remains uncertain, particularly in fragile and failed states.
25 Models in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Imai Natsuko , Baguelin Marc , Ferguson Neil M.
Published: August 2024

The scale and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have challenged policymakers globally. Decisions on implementing socially and economically disruptive control measures have often had to be made on limited quantitative evidence. Epidemiological analysis and mathematical modeling are powerful tools for systematically synthesizing the knowns and unknowns to highlight key knowledge gaps and provide quantitative insights into potential policy options. The pandemic has reinforced the role of modeling and advanced analytics in informing policy responses. This chapter explores the advanced analytics and mathematical modeling used during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on key retrospective analyses and prospective modeling approaches.
26 Social Science Evidence for Outbreak and Pandemic Response: Rapid Research and Analytics for Public Health Emergencies
Authors: Gobat Nina , Carter Simone , Kutalek Ruth , Rashid Sabina Faiz , Lees Shelley , Anoko Julienne Ngoundoung
Published: August 2024

Infectious disease outbreaks are social events as much as biomedical ones. They arise and evolve in complex, unpredictable ways that are influenced by interactions within and across human, animal, and environmental ecosystems. Data and evidence from the social sciences bring visibility to the ways in which these dynamics shape outbreak trajectories, and draw attention to social, behavioral, historic, political, economic, and ecological dimensions of public health emergencies. When integrated with biomedical approaches, this evidence contributes to a rich, holistic understanding of disease transmission, prevention, and control. In the acute phase of an emergency, evidence needs to be rapidly produced, provide credible and robust findings, and be relevant to policy and response decisions that have a direct bearing on the trajectory of the outbreak. This chapter takes readers through some key considerations and points of practice for rapidly producing evidence related to social and behavioral dynamics in health emergencies. This chapter also highlights some common challenges and suggests how to overcome them.
29 International Collaboration to Advance Research Preparedness and Response
Authors: Rojek Amanda , Carson Gail
Published: August 2024

Pandemic preparedness and research response bring together multiple disciplines and organizations to coordinate action across geographical and specialty boundaries. At their best, these international collaborations provide rapid, robust answers to key scientific questions. But several recent pandemics, notably coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), have revealed less than ideal levels of international collaboration. This chapter discusses factors that limit collaboration and some of the risks of a global research response ecosystem prone to delay and error. Using several case studies as examples, this chapter proposes measures to better prepare and implement international collaborations in future outbreaks, including the strategic allocation of funding to support well-designed, expedited clinical research to answer key clinical and public health questions.
33 Ethical Review of Clinical Research During an Emergency Response
Authors: Pierson Jerome F.
Published: August 2024

This chapter focuses on the ethical review of clinical research implemented in an emergency response carried out in partnership between two countries. This material could also apply to other research partnerships; the roadmap it provides for investigators and planners in an emergency research response, along with the ethical considerations described, also apply to planning and oversight in non-emergency research. Whether part of an emergency response or not, research must be fully compliant with applicable guidelines for human participant protections. It must also be scientifically sound to be ethical; putting people at risk (however minimal) without a reasonable prospect of health benefits cannot be justified. Diverting scarce clinical research capacity to substandard trials during an emergency is also arguably unethical. Establishing good ethical review for clinical research during an epidemic, especially in low-resource areas, is daunting. However, researchers should never lose sight of their goal: ethically and scientifically sound research that leads to better medical care for people suffering from disease.
The Evolution of Research and Partnership Activities in Support of Urban Transformation: The EU’s Research and Innovation Framework Programme
Authors: Kang Hanna , Kang Moon Jung , Moon Jooyeon
Published: August 2024

Rapid urbanization has been interlinked with sustainability challenges, underscoring the urgency of urban transformation. The EU has established financing initiatives to drive urban transformation actions, including through its research and innovation (R&I) funding programme. Employing a social network analysis approach, this study investigates shifts in partnerships within the programme. In particular, the study’s relevance is noteworthy in light of the EU–Republic of Korea (hereafter referred to as Korea) Green Partnership established in May 2023, and therefore have implications for the forging of impactful green collaborations between the EU and Korea.
Positions of Established and Emerging Powers Towards Climate Finance: The Cases of Germany and Korea
Authors: Baydag R. Melis
Published: August 2024

Climate finance is an increasingly important issue for international cooperation of established and emerging powers as well as their claims of leadership in the global green energy transition. This chapter explores the underpinnings of the positions of Germany and South Korea towards international climate finance from the perspective of ideational and material interest-driven domestic political dynamics.
Multilateralism and Climate Justice
Authors: Han Songhee , Kang Minah , Tosun Jale
Published: August 2024

This chapter investigates the climate justice principles and the mandate and scope of multilateral institutions in pursuit of sustainable and climate-resilient development. Specifically, the climate change operational framework and strategies of key multilateral development banks are analysed from the perspective of climate justice, along with implications for policymakers and practitioners and cases from the Republic of Korea (hereafter referred to as Korea) and Germany. This study sheds new light on the potential for multilateral climate governance to advance climate justice.
Testimonies of Several Hundred Witnesses and 14 Self-Admitted Maidan Snipers
Authors: Katchanovski Ivan
Published: August 2024

This chapter analyzes interviews and statements in the Ukrainian and other media and social media after the Maidan massacre of the Maidan protesters and the police by several hundred witnesses, primarily eyewitnesses among Maidan activists and journalists, concerning Maidan snipers, snipers in the Maidan-controlled buildings, and other evidence of the false-flag massacre in downtown Kyiv in Ukraine on February 18–20, 2014. It also examines interviews and statements by 14 self-admitted members of Maidan sniper groups, in particular, about shooting the police and the protesters in various media and the social media. Many Maidan activists and self-admitted snipers publicly stated that they witnessed involvement of specific top Maidan leaders from the oligarchic parties and far-right organizations in the massacre.
Industrieller E-Commerce. Verfügbarmachung und Transformation von Wertschöpfung in der Teilefertigungsbranche
Authors: Butollo Florian , Schneidemesser Lea , Scheffler Simon
Published: August 2024

In unserem Beitrag analysieren wir distributionszentrierte Ansätze der Digitalisierung industrieller Produktion. Anhand einer Sektorstudie der Teilefertigung beschreiben wir drei Unternehmenstypen, die mit ihren Geschäftsmodellen distributionszentrierte Digitalisierungsansätze verfolgen: Online Kontraktfertiger, Digitale Fertigungsplattformen und Plattformalternativen. Empirische Grundlage sind Fallstudien und Expert*inneninterviews (insgesamt 35 Interviews) als auch ein Onlinesurvey unter 50 Teilefertigern. Im Fokus unserer Analyse stehen die Beschaffenheit neu entstehender Geschäftsmodelle, die Governance der Beziehungen zwischen Digitalunternehmen, ihren Kunden und den etablierten Unternehmen der Branche sowie die räumliche Reorganisation von Produktion und Arbeit. Aus der Perspektive der KMU der Teilefertigungsbranche birgt der Wandel Gefahren einer Verdrängung durch Online Kontraktfertiger und eines verschärften Kostenwettlaufs durch digitale Fertigungsplattformen, die eine größere Transparenz und Vergleichbarkeit der (globalen) Anbieter ermöglichen. Zugleich ermöglichen digitale Vermittlungsformen verbesserte Marktzugänge und Potenziale zur Aufwertung kleinbetrieblicher Produktionsstrukturen. Die Frage, welche Ansätze sich dabei durchsetzen und welche Regulierungsmöglichkeiten ggf. genutzt werden, hat einen hohen Stellenwert für die Entwicklung der Räumlichkeit der Produktion und die Gestaltung von Arbeitsverhältnissen innerhalb der jeweiligen Pfade.
Künstliche Intelligenz in der Praxis der Arbeit. Kontingenz und Selektivität als Merkmale einer systemischen Transformation
Authors: Heinlein Michael , Huchler Norbert
Published: August 2024

Der Beitrag widmet sich der Spannweite des technischen Wirkens von KI in der Praxis von Arbeit und fragt, wie das Verhältnis zwischen neuen bzw. erweiterten Handlungsmöglichkeiten und neuen Einschränkungen bzw. Strukturierungen durch den Einsatz von KI einzuschätzen ist. Dazu wird eine theoretische Figur entwickelt, die Kontingenz und Selektivität als zwei Seiten des technischen Wirkens von KI in der sozialen Praxis von Arbeit beschreibt. Die These lautet, dass neuere Formen von KI (subsymbolische KI) der Arbeitspraxis einen Kontingenzschub verleihen, indem mehr und andere Dinge gewusst und getan werden können als zuvor. Zugleich sind damit aber latente Verengungen und Pfadabhängigkeiten des Wissens und Handelns verbunden. Der Beitrag greift den Aspekt einer verstärkten Durchdringung von Arbeit und Gesellschaft mit KI auf und identifiziert Öffnungen (Kontingenzen) und Schließungen (Selektivitäten) rund um mögliche Verselbständigungsprozesse.
Ironies of automation revisited. Eine experimentelle Studie zur Mensch-Technik-Interaktion bei der Arbeit mit autonomen Systemen
Authors: Krzywdzinski Martin , Wotschack Philip , Vladova Gergana , Gronau Norbert
Published: August 2024

Der vorliegende Beitrag diskutiert den Umgang mit dem Problem der „ironies of automation“ in Industrie-4.0-Konzepten. Das Problem dieser „ironies“ liegt darin, dass sich bei der Arbeit mit autonomen technischen Systemen für die Beschäftigten die Möglichkeiten für direktes Feedback und Lernen reduzieren, während zugleich im Fall von Systemproblemen der Bedarf an menschlicher Problemlösungskompetenz zunimmt. In Industrie-4.0-Konzepten wird die Lösung oftin der Nutzung von Assistenzsystemen gesucht. Der vorliegende Beitrag untersucht, inwieweit holistisches Prozesswissen der Beschäftigten beim Einsatz von Assistenzsystemen wichtig bleibt und die Produktivität und Wahrnehmung der Arbeitsqualität beeinflusst. Konzeptionell schließt die Analyse an die Forschung über die Bedeutung von Arbeitsprozesswissen sowie an konstruktivistische Lernansätze an. Methodologisch wird ein experimentelles Forschungsdesign genutzt und erprobt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass holistisches Prozesswissen sogar im Bereich einfacher Maschinenbedienung einen Mehrwert hat und zu weniger Fehlern und einer höheren Produktivität führt. Dies ist ein Hinweis darauf, dass digitale Assistenzsysteme allein nicht ausreichen, um die „ironies of automation“ zu beherrschen.
Wie nehmen Arbeitnehmende die Digitale Transformation und ihre Auswirkungen wahr? Validierung eines Messinstruments auf Basis der Theory of the Smart Machine
Authors: Guse Richard , Thiebes Scott , Hennel Phil , Rosenkranz Christoph , Sunyaev Ali
Published: August 2024

Die Digitale Transformation (DT) verändert Organisationen und die Arbeitswelten von Mitarbeitenden fundamental und in praktisch allen Branchen. Zusammenfassend deuten aktuelle Studien darauf hin, dass die DT und ihre Auswirkungen einen erheblichen Einfluss auf die Wahrnehmungen der Arbeitnehmenden haben. Es fehlt jedoch ein umfassendes, detailliertes Verständnis der Faktoren, die bei der Untersuchung von DT und ihren wahrgenommenen Auswirkungen auf individueller Ebene zu berücksichtigen sind. Eine Theorie, die in der Vergangenheit explizit zur Erklärung der DT entwickelt wurde, ist die Theory of the Smart Machine (TSM). Mit der TSM können die Nutzung fortschrittlicher Informationstechnologie (IT) und digitaler Werkzeuge, die daraus resultierende DT und ihre Auswirkungen auf Organisationen und ihre Mitglieder beschrieben und begründet werden. Da bisher nur eine erste Operationalisierung und ein Vorschlag für ein Messinstrument für die TSM existieren, wird die TSM durch die Validierung eines Messinstruments für die Forschung nutzbar gemacht. Es wird über die Evaluierung eines mehrstufigen Messinstruments berichtet, mit dem Schlüsselkonzepte des TSM-Modells insbesondere mit Bezug zu den allgemeinen Bewegungsdynamiken Verfügbarmachung und Verselbstständigung getestet werden können. Dafür wurden 479 Arbeitnehmende aus verschiedenen Branchen befragt, die einschlägige Erfahrungen mit einem digitalen Transformationsprojekt gesammelt haben. Die vorliegende Arbeit leistet dabei drei wichtige Beiträge zur Forschung und Praxis. Erstens wird erstmals ein Instrument zur Messung von Schlüsselkonzepten der TSM validiert. Damit wird die Grundlage für die Untersuchung weiterer Konzepte und Beziehungen im Gesamtmodell gelegt und damit entscheidend die Validierung des gesamten TSM-Modells unterstützt. Zweitens hilft das validierte Messinstrument, verschiedene Wissensbereiche um die DT zu strukturieren, sodass weitere Theorien entwickelt werden können, sowohl auf der Mikroebene (bezogen auf Effekte der DT auf Arbeitnehmende) als auch auf der Mesoebene (bezogen auf Effekte der DT auf Organisationen). Drittens werden Erkenntnisse über relevante Faktoren der DT gewonnen, die von Forschenden und politischen Entscheidungstragenden bei der Untersuchung der DT und ihrer Auswirkungen berücksichtigt werden sollten.
Analyzing Distributed Action in the Making by Comparing Human-Robot Co-Work Scenarios
Authors: Schulz-Schaeffer Ingo , Clausnitzer Tim , Wiggert Kevin , Meister Martin
Published: August 2024

This article presents a methodological approach to analyzing distributed action in the making and applies it to projects of developing human-robot co-work processes. We employ this methodical approach to point out different ways of making robotic labor available for work tasks previously inaccessible to robots. The empirical research was conducted as part of the research project “The social construction of human-robot co-work by means of prototype work settings (SoCoRob)” within the DFG Priority Program 2267 “The digitalization of working worlds. Conceptualizing and capturing a systemic transformation.”
Flavor dependence of unpolarized quark transverse momentum distributions from a global fit
Authors:   The MAP collaboration, Bacchetta Alessandro , Bertone Valerio , Bissolotti Chiara , Bozzi Giuseppe , Cerutti Matteo , Delcarro Filippo , Radici Marco , Rossi Lorenzo , Signori Andrea
Published: August 2024

Abstract

We present an extraction of the unpolarized transverse-momentum-dependent parton distribution and fragmentation functions that takes into account possible differences between quark flavors and final-state hadrons. The extraction is based on experimental measurements from Drell-Yan processes and semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering, whose combination is essential to distinguish flavor differences. The analysis is carried out at N3LL accuracy. The extracted flavor-dependent distributions give a very good description of the data (χ2/Ndat = 1.08). The resulting error bands take fully into account also the uncertainties in the determination of the corresponding collinear distributions.
Classifying post-Minkowskian geometries for gravitational waves via loop-by-loop Baikov
Authors: Frellesvig Hjalte , Morales Roger , Wilhelm Matthias
Published: August 2024

Abstract

We use the loop-by-loop Baikov representation to investigate the geometries in Feynman integrals contributing to the classical dynamics of a black-hole two-body system in the post-Minkowskian expansion of general relativity. These geometries determine the spaces of functions to which the corresponding Feynman diagrams evaluate. As a proof of principle, we provide a full classification of the geometries appearing up to three loops, i.e. fourth post-Minkowskian order, for all diagrams relevant to the conservative as well as the dissipative dynamics, finding full agreement with the literature. Moreover, we show that the non-planar top topology at four loops, which is the most complicated sector with respect to integration-by-parts identities, has an algebraic leading singularity and thus can only depend on non-trivial geometries through its subsectors.
Higher Order Geometric Algebras and Their Implementations Using Bott Periodicity
Authors: Stodola Marek , Hrdina Jaroslav
Published: August 2024

Using the classification of Clifford algebras and Bott periodicity, we show how higher geometric algebras can be realized as matrices over classical low dimensional geometric algebras. This matrix representation allows us to use standard geometric algebra software packages more easily. As an example, we express the geometric algebra for conics (GAC) as a matrix over the Compass ruler algebra (CRA).