bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Child- and Parent-Report Measures of Behavioral Avoidance (CAMS/CAMP): Portuguese Validation in Clinical and Non-Clinical Samples
Authors: Caiado Brígida , Canavarro Maria Cristina , Pereira Ana Isabel , Moreira Helena
Published: November 2023

Objective

Behavioral avoidance is a core component in the understanding and treatment of emotional disorders. The Child Avoidance Measure–Self Report (CAMS) and Child Avoidance Measure–Parent Report (CAMP) are two 8-item measures that assess a child’s behavioral avoidance from the child’s and parent´s perspectives, respectively. The present study aimed to analyze the factor structure and psychometric properties of the CAMS and CAMP in clinical and nonclinical samples of Portuguese school-aged children and their parents.

Methods

The clinical sample included 172 parent–child dyads (children: aged 6–13 years; parents: 89% mothers) in which the child had a primary diagnosis of an anxiety or anxiety-related disorder. The nonclinical sample included independent subsamples of 288 children (aged 8–13 years) and 210 parents (93.3% mothers). In both samples, participants completed the CAMS and CAMP; the clinical sample additionally completed a self-report questionnaire assessing anxiety symptoms.

Results

A one-factor structure of the CAMS and CAMP was confirmed in both samples using confirmatory factor analysis. The CAMS and CAMP presented good internal consistency in clinical and nonclinical samples. The convergent validity of the scales was supported by significant correlations with each other and with a measure of anxiety symptomatology. Furthermore, both scales could distinguish between clinical and nonclinical participants. In the clinical sample, the scales demonstrated sensitivity to changes in response to exposure-focused CBT.

Conclusions

The CAMS and CAMP have adequate psychometric properties and provide a multi-informant assessment of children’s behavioral avoidance in clinical and nonclinical samples.
Thermodynamic feasibility and multiobjective optimization of a closed Brayton cycle-based clean cogeneration system
Authors: Rad Ehsan Amiri , Tayyeban Edris , Assareh Ehsanolah , riaz Amjad , Hoseinzadeh Siamak , Lee Moonyong
Published: November 2023

The present research has analyzed the energy and exergy of a combined system of simultaneous power generation and cooling. To provide a comprehensive data sheet of this system, the system has been investigated in the temperature range of 300–800 °C, and 6 working fluids, including air, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon, xenon, and helium, have been investigated. The parameters affecting the performance of the system, namely the compressor inlet pressure, the compressor pressure ratio, and the intermediation pressure ratio were investigated. The power produced by the Brayton cycle at a pressure ratio of 5.2 is the highest due to the increase in compressor power consumption and turbine power generation. The results of the parametric study showed that the exergy efficiency of the system has the maximum value at the pressure ratio of 4.73. The results of the parametric study showed that increasing the pressure of the compressor does not have a significant effect on the electricity consumption and the temperature of the working fluid due to the constant pressure ratio. The input energy to the heat exchanger of the absorption chiller decreases with the increase in the Brayton cycle pressure ratio, and as a result, the cooling created by the chiller also decreases. In this method, three objective functions of exergy efficiency, energy efficiency, and total production power are considered as objective functions. The most optimal value of intermediation pressure ratio was obtained after the optimization process of 1.389. Also, the most optimal value of the pressure ratio of high-pressure and low-pressure turbines was reported as 2.563 and 1.845, respectively.
Long-term maintenance optimization for integrated mining operations
Authors: Yang Yingying , Loxton Ryan , Rohl Andrew L. , Bui Hoa T.
Published: November 2023

Maintenance activities are inevitable and costly in integrated mining operations. Conducting maintenance may require the whole system, or sub-units of the system, to be shut down temporarily. These maintenance activities not only disrupt the unit being shut down, but they also have consequences for inventory levels and product flow downstream. In this paper, we consider an interconnected mining system in which there are complicated maintenance relationships and stock accumulation at intermediate nodes. We propose a time-indexed mixed-integer linear programming formulation to optimize the long-term integrated maintenance plan and maximize the total throughput. We also devise an algorithm, which combines Benders decomposition and Lagrangian relaxation, to accelerate the computational speed. To validate our mathematical model, we perform simulations for a real-world case study in the iron ore industry. The results show that our method can yield better solutions than optimization solver alone in faster time.
Why generative AI can make creative destruction more creative but less destructive
Authors: Norbäck Pehr-Johan , Persson Lars
Published: November 2023

The application of machine learning (ML) to operational data is becoming increasingly important with the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI). We propose a model where incumbents have an initial advantage in ML technology and access to (historical) operational data. We show that the increased application of ML for operational data raises entrepreneurial barriers that make the creative destruction process less destructive (less business stealing) if entrepreneurs have only limited access to the incumbent’s data. However, this situation induces entrepreneurs to take on more risk and to be more creative. Policies making data generally available may therefore be suboptimal. A complementary policy is one that supports entrepreneurs’ access to ML, such as open source initiatives, since doing so would stimulate creative entrepreneurship.
Keyword-labeled self-admitted technical debt and static code analysis have significant relationship but limited overlap
Authors: Rantala Leevi , Mäntylä Mika , Lenarduzzi Valentina
Published: November 2023

Technical debt presents sub-optimal choices made in development, which are beneficial in the short term but not in the long run. Consciously admitted debt, which is marked with a keyword, e.g., TODO, is called keyword-labeled self-admitted technical debt (KL-SATD). KL-SATD can lead to adverse effects in software development, e.g., to a rise in complexity within the developed software. We investigated the relationship between KL-SATD from source code comments and reports from the highly popular industrial program analysis tool SonarQube. The goal was to find which SonarQube metrics and issues are related to KL-SATD introduction and removal and how many KL-SATD in the context of an issue addresses that issue. We performed a study with 33 software repositories. We analyzed the changes in SonarQube reports (sqale index, reliability and security remediation metrics, and SonarQube issues) and the relationship to KL-SATD addition and removal with mixed model analysis. We manually annotated a sample to investigate how many KL-SATD comments are in the context of SonarQube issues and how many address them directly. KL-SATD is associated with a reduction in code maintainability measured with SonarQube’s sqale index. KL-SATD removal is associated with an increase in code maintainability (sqale index) and reliability measured with SonarQube’s reliability remediation effort. The introduction and removal of KL-SATD have a predominantly relationship with code smells, and not with vulnerabilities and bugs. Manual annotation revealed that 36% of KL-SATD comments are in the context of a SonarQube issue, but only 15% of the comment address an issue. This means that despite of statistical relationship between KL-SATD comments and SonarQube reports there is a large set of KL-SATD comments that are in areas that Sonarqube reports as clean or free of maintainability issues. KL-SATD introduction and removal are connected mainly to code smells, connecting them to maintainability rather than reliability or security. This is reinforced by the relationship with the sqale index, as well as the dominance of code smells in SonarQube issues. Many KL-SATD issues have characteristics going beyond static analysis tools and require future studies extending the capabilities of the current tools. As KL-SATD comments and SonarQube reports appear to have limited overlap, it suggests that they are complementary and both are needed for getting a comprehensive view coverage of code maintainability. The study also presents rules violations developers should be aware of regarding KL-SATD introduction and removal.
“The springs are untouchable”: amid community management and government neglect, the last springs in peri-urban areas of Mexico City
Authors: Caro-Borrero Angela , Carmona-Jiménez Javier , Temis-García Lisset , Martínez-Moreno María Fernanda
Published: November 2023

In Latin America, conservation is a subject that cannot be understood outside of the social processes that determine the different conceptions, uses and customs related to nature and water. Mexico is an example of ecosystem diversity, where rural populations see their homes and ecosystems threatened by the uncontrolled advance of urban sprawl. In addition, the lack of governance in water matters leaves both the ecosystem and people in a situation of vulnerability. The aim of this research was to determine the ecological and social indicators of the state of conservation and management of the springs within Mexico City’s Conservation Soils, through: ecological quality, biological diversity and the perceptions of rural-urban communities of water management resources. The springs were found to still conserve elements of good ecological quality and unique traits, making these sites hotspots of local diversity. However, ongoing activities endanger its integrity, such as in situ water extraction, the lack of local organization for water management resources and the poor presence of government institutions to support it. The establishment of a citizen and government participation system for water management is recommended, considering local economic development, socio-cultural complexity, ecosystem richness and fragility, and the socio-ecological context in which these water distribution mechanisms are established. Such actions should include a census of water bodies and the economic activities that depend on them, the ecological evaluation of actively used springs, and water distribution agreements at the local level that consider the previous points.
Bovine neutrophils kill the sexually-transmitted parasite Tritrichomonas foetus using trogocytosis
Authors: Najera Jonathan , Berry Michael M. , Ramirez Ashley D. , Reyes Bryan Ramirez , Angel Arielle , Jellyman Juanita K. , Mercer Frances
Published: November 2023

The protozoan parasite Tritrichomonas foetus (T. foetus) is the causative organism of bovine trichomonosis (also referred to as trichomoniasis), a sexually-transmitted infection that reduces fertility in cattle. Efforts to control trichomonosis on cattle farms are hindered by the discouragement of antibiotic use in agriculture, and the incomplete, short-lived protection conferred by the current vaccines. A more complete mechanistic understanding of what effective immunity to T. foetus entails could enable the development of more robust infection control strategies. While neutrophils, the primary responders to infection, are present in infected tissues and have been shown to kill the parasite in vitro, the mechanism they use for parasite killing has not been established. Here, we show that primary bovine neutrophils isolated from peripheral blood rapidly kill T. foetus in vitro in a dose-dependent manner, and that optimal parasite killing is reduced by inhibitors of trogocytosis. We also use imaging to show that bovine neutrophils surround T. foetus and trogocytose its membrane. These findings are consistent with killing via trogocytosis, a recently described novel neutrophil antimicrobial mechanism.
Evaluation of Using Sequential Electrocoagulation and Chemical Coagulation for Urea Removal from Synthetic and Domestic Wastewater
Authors: Shaban A. , Basiouny M. E. , AboSiada Osama A.
Published: November 2023

The presence of urea in wastewater can give rise to many issues, including the proliferation of algae as a consequence of eutrophication as well as the discharge of ammonia, which exerts a detrimental impact on aquatic organisms. To assess the efficacy of several treatment strategies for lowering urea concentrations, this study compared the removing performances of electrocoagulation (EC) with those of conducting electrocoagulation and chemical coagulation in sequence (EC-CC) or vice versa (CC-EC). Many effective parameters of electrocoagulation have been studied, such as current density, spacing between electrodes, electrolyte type, and electrolysis time. A scanning electron microscope was used to investigate the electrode morphology, and a Fourier transform infrared was conducted to analyze the formed sludge. The electrocoagulation was carried out at its optimum conditions at 30 A/m2, and the chemical coagulation was conducted using three types of iron coagulants: FeSO4, Fe2(SO4)3, and FeCl3. The results showed insufficient improvement in urea removal for synthetic and domestic wastewater via EC-CC, regardless of the coagulant type. The urea removal efficiency via EC-CC improved by less than 0.5% and 5.5% for synthetic and domestic wastewater, respectively. In contrast, CC-EC proved a better improvement for urea removal for both synthetic and domestic wastewater, but only for FeCl3. Treatment by CC-EC at 30 A/m2 for 60 min using iron electrodes and 0.5 g/L of FeCl3 resulted in an improvement in the removal efficiency of urea by about 3.4% and 10.40% for synthetic and domestic wastewater, respectively. CC-EC achieved better removal of COD from domestic wastewater than that achieved by EC-CC by 6%. The results obtained from the study indicate that the CC-EC process is a cost-effective method for removing urea from both synthetic and domestic wastewater.
What Can We Learn from a Semiparametric Factor Analysis of Item Responses and Response Time? An Illustration with the PISA 2015 Data
Authors: Liu Yang , Wang Weimeng
Published: November 2023

It is widely believed that a joint factor analysis of item responses and response time (RT) may yield more precise ability scores that are conventionally predicted from responses only. For this purpose, a simple-structure factor model is often preferred as it only requires specifying an additional measurement model for item-level RT while leaving the original item response theory (IRT) model for responses intact. The added speed factor indicated by item-level RT correlates with the ability factor in the IRT model, allowing RT data to carry additional information about respondents’ ability. However, parametric simple-structure factor models are often restrictive and fit poorly to empirical data, which prompts under-confidence in the suitablity of a simple factor structure. In the present paper, we analyze the 2015 Programme for International Student Assessment mathematics data using a semiparametric simple-structure model. We conclude that a simple factor structure attains a decent fit after further parametric assumptions in the measurement model are sufficiently relaxed. Furthermore, our semiparametric model implies that the association between latent ability and speed/slowness is strong in the population, but the form of association is nonlinear. It follows that scoring based on the fitted model can substantially improve the precision of ability scores.
Open Strategy: Durch offene Strategieprozesse Geschäftsmodelle innovieren
Authors: Matzler Kurt , von den Eichen Stephan Friedrich , Stoiber Kristina , Hautz Julia , Stadler Christian
Published: November 2023

Dieser Artikel untersucht, wie Unternehmen Open Strategy als transparenten und inklusiven Ansatz der Strategiearbeit nutzen können, um disruptiven Gefahren erfolgreich zu begegnen. Es werden verschiedene offene Strategieformate vorgestellt, die es Unternehmen ermöglichen, neue disruptive Geschäftslogiken zu entwickeln und zu implementieren. Anhand von Praxisbeispielen werden die Chancen und Herausforderungen für Unternehmen bei der Öffnung ihrer Strategieprozesse diskutiert und fünf Erfolgsfaktoren einer offenen Strategie identifiziert. Der Artikel schließt mit der Erkenntnis, dass Open Strategy ein effektives Instrument sein kann, um potenziell disruptive Geschäftslogiken zu realisieren.
Classification of rib fracture types from postmortem computed tomography images using deep learning
Authors: Ibanez Victor , Jucker Dario , Ebert Lars C. , Franckenberg Sabine , Dobay Akos
Published: November 2023

Human or time resources can sometimes fall short in medical image diagnostics, and analyzing images in full detail can be a challenging task. With recent advances in artificial intelligence, an increasing number of systems have been developed to assist clinicians in their work. In this study, the objective was to train a model that can distinguish between various fracture types on different levels of hierarchical taxonomy and detect them on 2D-image representations of volumetric postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) data. We used a deep learning model based on the ResNet50 architecture that was pretrained on ImageNet data, and we used transfer learning to fine-tune it to our specific task. We trained our model to distinguish between “displaced,” “nondisplaced,” “ad latus,” “ad longitudinem cum contractione,” and “ad longitudinem cum distractione” fractures. Radiographs with no fractures were correctly predicted in 95–99% of cases. Nondisplaced fractures were correctly predicted in 80–86% of cases. Displaced fractures of the “ad latus” type were correctly predicted in 17–18% of cases. The other two displaced types of fractures, “ad longitudinem cum contractione” and “ad longitudinem cum distractione,” were correctly predicted in 70–75% and 64–75% of cases, respectively. The model achieved the best performance when the level of hierarchical taxonomy was high, while it had more difficulties when the level of hierarchical taxonomy was lower. Overall, deep learning techniques constitute a reliable solution for forensic pathologists and medical practitioners seeking to reduce workload.
FAIR sharing of health data: a systematic review of applicable solutions
Authors: Guillot Paul , Bøgsted Martin , Vesteghem Charles
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Data sharing is essential in health science research. This has also been acknowledged by governments and institutions who have set-up a number of regulations, laws, and initiatives to facilitate it. A large number of initiatives has been trying to address data sharing issues. With the development of the FAIR principles, a set of detailed criteria for evaluating the relevance of such solutions is now available. This article intends to help researchers to choose a suitable solution for sharing their health data in a FAIR way.

Methods

We conducted a systematic literature review of data sharing platforms adapted to health science research. We selected these platforms through a query on Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science and filtered them based on specific exclusion criteria. We assessed their relevance by evaluating their: implementation of the FAIR principles, ease of use by researchers, ease of implementation by institutions, and suitability for handling Individual Participant Data (IPD).

Results

We categorized the 35 identified solutions as being either online or on-premises software platforms. Interoperability was the main obstacle for the solutions regarding the fulfilment of the FAIR principles. Additionally, we identified which solutions address sharing of IPD and anonymization issues. Vivli and Dataverse were identified as the two most all-round solutions for sharing health science data in a FAIR way.

Conclusions

Although no solution is perfectly adapted to share all type of health data, there are work-arounds and interesting solutions to make health research data FAIR.
Barriers and Lifelines for Young Refugee Children’s Education: The Experiences of One Young Iraqi Refugee Living in the Northern Suburbs of Beirut
Authors: El Gemayel Sandra Marie
Published: November 2023

This paper identifies key barriers to young Iraqi and Syrian refugee children’s access to education in Lebanon and highlights how local initiatives serve as glimmers of hope, or ‘lifelines’, for their well-being and learning. Reporting on aspects of my doctoral study, the paper homes in on one case study with an Iraqi family and their 5-year-old son, Kefa. The ‘Day in the Life’ methodology enabled rich insights into Kefa’s home life and the informal school he attended, supplemented by interview data with his schoolteacher and observation of his school. The paper also draws on questionnaire data to situate this case study in a broader spectrum of refugee children’s experiences in Lebanon (n = 100). Framed by sociocultural approaches to learning, the findings illustrate the interplay of social, economic and relational barriers that impede refugee children’s access to quality education, and demonstrate how, despite limited resources, the informal school offered an inclusive and anti-discriminatory environment and pedagogy to break down barriers that bred racism, bullying and isolation. The paper argues that, although important, these lifelines are limited in their scope. State intervention is needed to build non-discriminatory systems that promote inclusive education, so all children can receive quality education, feel safe and belong.
Antimicrobial activity, mechanical and thermal properties of cassava starch films incorporated with beeswax and propolis
Authors: Betancur-D´Ambrosio María Carolina , Pérez-Cervera Carmen Elena , Barrera-Martinez Cindy , Andrade-Pizarro Ricardo
Published: November 2023

Edible films can be formed from different polymeric compounds. The use of starch has gained extra value; because it can be used in combination with plasticizers and lipids, helping to improve mechanical properties. Besides, with the addition of an antimicrobial, the function of these films can be extended. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of native cassava starch, beeswax and ethanolic propolis extract (EPE) on the mechanical, thermal and inhibitory properties against the Aspergillus niger fungus. An experimental Box-Behnken design with three factors: cassava starch concentration (2–4%w/v), beeswax (0.5–0.9%w/w) and EPE (1–4%v/w) was used. The films obtained were opaque and with low mechanical properties. EPE concentration affected tensile strength, elongation at break (EB) and Young’s modulus (YM), and cassava starch content only affected EB and YM. In thermal properties, the weight loss was affected by the cassava starch-beeswax interaction, where the most loss occurred at high levels of these factors in the temperature range of 200–360 °C. The films reduced the growth of the Aspergillus niger by 51%, where the beeswax-EPE interaction had a significant positive effect. The characteristics of the developed films suggest that they would be more acceptable as fruit and vegetable coatings.
Complex effects of the exo-xis region of the Shiga toxin-converting bacteriophage Φ24B genome on the phage development and the Escherichia coli host physiology
Authors: Bloch Sylwia , Nejman-Faleńczyk Bożena , Licznerska Katarzyna , Dydecka Aleksandra , Topka-Bielecka Gracja , Necel Agnieszka , Węgrzyn Alicja , Węgrzyn Grzegorz
Published: November 2023

Lambdoid bacteriophages are excellent models in studies on molecular aspects of virus-host interactions. However, some of them carry genes encoding toxins which are responsible for virulence of pathogenic strains of bacteria. Shiga toxin-converting bacteriophages (Stx phages) encode Shiga toxins that cause virulence of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), and their effective production depends on Stx prophage induction. The exo-xis region of the lambdoid phage genome consists of genes which are dispensable for the phage multiplication under laboratory conditions; however, they might modulate the virus development. Nevertheless, their exact effects on the phage and host physiology remained unclear. Here, we present results of complex studies on the role of the exo-xis region of bacteriophage Φ24B, one of Stx2b phages. Transcriptomic analyses, together with proteomic and metabolomic studies, provided the basis for understanding the functions of the exo-xis region. Genes from this region promoted lytic development of the phage over lysogenization. Moreover, expression of the host genes coding for DnaK, DnaJ, GrpE, and GroELS chaperones was impaired in the cells infected with the Δexo-xis phage mutant, relative to the wild-type virus, corroborating the conclusion about lytic development promotion by the exo-xis region. Proteomic and metabolomic analyses indicated also modulation of gad and nrf operons, and levels of amino acids and acylcarnitines, respectively. In conclusion, the exo-xis region controls phage propagation and host metabolism by influencing expression of different phage and bacterial genes, directing the virus to the lytic rather than lysogenic developmental mode.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-based bioremediation of mercury: insights from zinc and cadmium transporter studies
Authors: Guo Y. , Martin K. , Hrynkiewicz K. , Rasche F.
Published: November 2023

Phytoremediation, a sustainable approach for rehabilitating mercury (Hg)-contaminated soils, can be enhanced by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which promote plant growth and metal uptake, including Hg, in contaminated soils. Hg, despite lacking a biological function in plants, can be absorbed and translocated using Zn and/or Cd transporters, as these elements belong to the same group in the periodic table (12/2B). In fact, the specific transporters of Hg in plant roots remain unknown. This study is therefore to provide fundamental insights into the prospect to remediate Hg-contaminated soils, with a focus on the role of AM fungi. The hypothesis posits that Hg uptake in plants may be facilitated by transporters responsible for Zn/Cd, affected by AM fungi. The Scopus database was used to collect studies between 2000 and 2022 with a focus on the ecological role of AM fungi in environments contaminated with Zn and Cd. Particular emphasis was laid on the molecular mechanisms involved in metal uptake and partitioning. The study revealed that AM fungi indeed regulated Zn and/or Cd transporters, influencing Zn and/or Cd uptake in plants. However, these effects vary significantly based on environmental factors, such as plant and AM fungi species and soil conditions (e.g., pH, phosphorus levels). Given the limited understanding of Hg remediation, insights gained from Zn and Cd transporter systems can guide future Hg research. In conclusion, this study underscores the importance of considering environmental factors and provides fundamental insights into the potential of Hg phytoremediation with the assistance of AM fungi.

Graphical abstract
Kidney Manifestations of Rheumatological Diseases in Children
Authors: Patel Avni , Marro Julien , McCann Liza , Oni Louise
Published: November 2023

Opinion statement

Paediatric rheumatological diseases are a group of multi-systemic inflammatory diseases affecting children and young people. The kidneys constitute a target organ during the acute presentation and life course of several multi-systemic inflammatory conditions including childhood systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE), IgA vasculitis and ANCA-associated vasculitis. Unlike adults with rheumatic diseases, who may have prior concomitant kidney disease, children are more likely to have an acute, potentially reversible inflammatory process that typically requires prompt immunosuppressive treatment. Despite broad-spectrum immunosuppression, kidney outcomes remain suboptimal, with children progressing to irreversible chronic kidney disease and ultimately kidney failure, requiring kidney replacement therapy or transplantation. In cSLE, for example, the kidney failure rate is 1–14% depending on the length of follow-up, with the average age of requiring a kidney transplant reported to be 24 years, thus illustrating the importance of follow-up into adulthood. Advances in improving the outcomes for these patients remain slow, and the recruitment of children to drug trials can be challenging. The aim of this review article is to summarise the key paediatric rheumatic diseases that commonly involve the kidney to highlight the epidemiology and current kidney outcomes. Useful information is also provided on suggested screening to detect the presence of active kidney inflammation and improvements in this field for the future.
Expanding the organizational design space: the emergence of AI robot bosses
Authors: Burton Richard M. , Obel Børge , Håkonsson Dorthe Døjbak
Published: November 2023

AI robot bosses are becoming increasingly prevalent in organizations, and they expand the traditional organizational design space. Organizations can benefit from utilizing both robots and humans as bosses, as they can substitute for each other and work together as complements across different organizational structures. This expanded design space includes different kinds of AI robots and humans as bosses, rather than limiting robots to just being helpers. By considering the different capabilities and relationships of humans and robots, we argue that the organizational design space is expanded to achieve greater effectiveness and efficiency. However, the effectiveness of a robot boss depends on the organizational situation. Robots excel at managing organizational rules and processing large data sets for certain environments. AI robots also excel at predicting future patterns based on large sets of data, while humans are better suited for uncertain situations requiring judgement and creativity. We develop four types of AI robot bosses based on: explainability or how easy it is to understand and explain the decisions made, and supervised learning or how the robots learn and are trained over time in usage. These four types are then matched with leadership styles and organization forms. Organizational charts, or hierarchy charts, visually depict an organization’s structure, showcasing reporting relationships and chains of command. Employees’ names, titles, and job positions are typically represented in boxes or circles connected by lines, indicating their affiliations. However, traditional organization charts lack icons or representations of Artificial intelligent or AI robot bosses. This discrepancy prompts the question not of their inclusion, but of why they are omitted.
Clinical Frailty Scale at presentation to the emergency department: interrater reliability and use of algorithm-assisted assessment
Authors: Albrecht Rainer , Espejo Tanguy , Riedel Henk B. , Nissen Søren K. , Banerjee Jay , Conroy Simon P. , Dreher-Hummel Thomas , Brabrand Mikkel , Bingisser Roland , Nickel Christian H.
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) allows health care providers to quickly stratify older patients, to support clinical decision-making. However, few studies have evaluated the CFS interrater reliability (IRR) in Emergency Departments (EDs), and the freely available smartphone application for CFS assessment was never tested for reliability. This study aimed to evaluate the interrater reliability of the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) ratings between experienced and unexperienced staff (ED clinicians and a study team (ST) of medical students supported by a smartphone application to assess the CFS), and to determine the feasibility of CFS assignment in patients aged 65 or older at triage.

Methods

Cross-sectional study using consecutive sampling of ED patients aged 65 or older. We compared assessments by ED clinicians (Triage Clinicians (TC) and geriatric ED trained nurses (geriED-TN)) and a study team (ST) of medical students using a smartphone application for CFS scoring. The study is registered on Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05400707).

Results

We included 1349 patients aged 65 and older. Quadratic-weighted kappa values for ordinal CFS levels showed a good IRR between TC and ST (ϰ = 0.73, 95% CI 0.69–0.76), similarly to that between TC and geriED-TN (ϰ = 0.75, 95% CI 0.66–0.82) and between the ST and geriED-TN (ϰ = 0.74, 95% CI 0.63–0.81). A CFS rating was assigned to 972 (70.2%) patients at triage.

Conclusion

We found good IRR in the assessment of frailty with the CFS in different ED providers and a team using a smartphone application to support rating. A CFS assessment occurred in more than two-thirds (70.2%) of patients at triage.
Unlocking the Full Potential of Deep Learning in Traffic Forecasting Through Road Network Representations: A Critical Review
Authors: Fafoutellis Panagiotis , Vlahogianni Eleni I.
Published: November 2023

Research in short-term traffic forecasting has been blooming in recent years due to its significant implications in traffic management and intelligent transportation systems. The unprecedented advancements in deep learning have provided immense opportunities to leverage traffic data sensed from various locations of the road network, yet significantly increased the models’ complexity and data and computational requirements, limiting the actionability of the models. Consequently, the meaningful representation of traffic flow data and the road network has been highlighted as a key challenge in improving the efficiency, as well as the accuracy and reliability of forecasting models. This paper provides a systematic review of literature dedicated to spatiotemporal traffic forecasting. Three main representation approaches are identified, namely the stacked vector, image/grid, and graph, and are critically analyzed and compared in relation to their efficiency, accuracy and associated modeling techniques. Based on the findings, future research directions in traffic forecasting are proposed, aiming to increase the adoption of the developed models in real-world applications.
Assessment of heavy metal contents in farm produce around Ewekoro and its health implications on consumers
Authors: Adewoyin Olusegun O. , Omeje Maxwell , Conrad Omonhinmin , Nwinyi Obinna , Arijaje Theophilus , Ayanbisi Oluwasegun , Ogunrinola Iyanuoluwa
Published: November 2023

This study was conducted to assess the risk of exposure to thirteen (13) heavy metals from food products obtained from cassava tubers grown in the limestone mining area of Ewekoro, Ogun State in Nigeria. Four (4) samples each of soil and cassava tubers were collected at three different sites for this study. The first two sample collection sites were at 150 m and 300 m from the mining site while the third or the control samples were collected at a distance of 25 km far away from the mining activities. The collected samples were analyzed by the use of Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry. The concentration average of Fe, Mg, Na, Ag, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn ranged from 2.00–1284.96 to 0.0098–646.31 mg/kg for both soil and cassava tubers, respectively at site 1, which was far higher than 0.26–622.01 and 0.90–514.35 and 0.07–688.37 and 0.07–371.74 mg/kg reported in both soil and cassava tuber samples at the other 2 locations. The transfer factor from the soil to cassava tuber for Fe, Mg, Ag, As, Cd, Cu, Co, Mn and Pb were observed to be < 1. While Na, Cr, Ni and Zn had transfer factor > 1. The estimated average daily intake at site 1 for both adults and children were 0.46 and 1.69 mg kg−1 bw−1 d−1, respectively. These values were far higher than the results noted at sites 2 and 3 for both adults and children. Similarly, the Risk Index for both adults and children at site 1 were reported to be 7.01 and 25.42, which were higher than the values noticed at the other 2 sites. Therefore, it can be concluded that although the concentrations of these heavy metals were higher than the internationally recommended standard, the EADI and RI revealed that children are at higher risk of exposure to the heavy metal contents from food products derived from cassava in the study area.
Programmable mixed-signal circuits
Authors: Tappertzhofen S.
Published: November 2023

A novel concept for programmable mixed-signal circuits is presented based on programmable transmission gates. For implementation, memristively switching devices are suggested as the most promising candidates for realization of fast and small-footprint signal routing switches with small resistance and capacity. As a proof-of-concept, LT Spice simulations of digital and analogue example circuits implemented by the new concept are demonstrated. It is discussed how important design parameters can be tuned in the circuity. Compared to competing technologies such as Field Programmable Analogue Arrays or Application-Specific Integrated Circuits, the presented concept allows for development of ultra-flexible, reconfigurable, and cheap embedded mixed-signal circuits for applications where only limited space is available or high bandwidth is required.
Ice-phobic properties of MoS2-loaded rice straw biogas residue biochar-based photothermal and anti-corrosion coating with low oxygen to carbon ratio
Authors: Liu Zhiyuan , Li Yan , He Zhiyuan
Published: November 2023

Icing of wind turbine blades will seriously hinder the development of the wind power industry, and the use of biomass resources to solve the icing problem is conducive to promoting the synergistic development of biomass and wind energy. In this study, ice-phobic coatings with photothermal and anti-corrosion properties were prepared by surface modification pyrolysis and hydrothermal reaction with rice straw biogas residue as raw material. The erosion of KOH and the surface modification of MoS2 produced a rough structure of the material, and the high-temperature pyrolysis and hydrothermal reaction promoted the dehydrogenation and decarboxylation reactions, which reduced the number of oxygen-containing functional groups and  decreased the surface energy of the material. The ice-phobic coating has superhydrophobic properties with a contact angle of 158.32°. Due to the small surface area in contact with water, the coating was able to significantly reduce the icing adhesion strength to 53.23 kPa. The icing wind tunnel test results showed that the icing area and mass were reduced by 10.54% and 30.08%, respectively, when the wind speed was 10 m s−1 and the temperature was − 10 °C. Photothermal performance tests showed that the MoS2-loaded material  had light absorption properties, and the coating could rapidly warm up to 58.3 ℃ under xenon lamp irradiation with photothermal cycle stability. The loading of MoS2 acts as a physical barrier, reducing the contact of corrosive media with the substrate, thus improving the anti-corrosion of the coating. This study has practical application value and significance for the development of the anti-icing field under complex environmental conditions.

Graphical Abstract
Preparation and properties of composite coatings, based on carbon nanotubes, for medical applications
Authors: Rogala-Wielgus Dorota , Zieliński Andrzej
Published: November 2023

The coatings based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are increasingly developed for their applications, among others, in medicine, in particular for implants in implantology, cardiology, and neurology. The present review paper aims at a detailed demonstration of different preparation methods for such coatings, their performance, and relationships between deposition parameters and microstructure and material, mechanical, physical, chemical, and biological properties. The thermal and electrostatic spraying, electrophoretic and electrocathodic deposition, and laser methods are presented. Characterization of microstructure of coatings, topography, morphology, adhesion of CNTs to a substrate, mechanical behavior, corrosion resistance, wettability, cytotoxicity, bioactivity, and antibacterial protection are reviewed for different deposition methods and parameters. The state-of-the-art in the field of carbon nanotubes shows a considerable number of research performed on CNTs coatings. The different forms of CNTs, deposition methods, parameters, and substrates were applied as process variables. The microstructures and surface homogeneity, chemical and phase compositions, mechanical properties at the micro- and nanoscale such as coating Young`s modulus and hardness, interface adhesion strength and delaminating force, open corrosion potential and corrosion current density, contact angle in wettability assessment, and bioactivity, cytotoxicity, and antibacterial efficiency among biological properties were determined. The summary of so far achievements, strengths and weaknesses, and important future research necessary for clarification of some weak points, development of non-toxic, mechanically and chemically resistant, bioactive, and antibacterial multicomponent coatings based on functionalized CNTs are proposed.
Was ist Empirie? Theoretische Psychologie trifft empirische Psychologie
Authors: Funke Joachim
Published: November 2023

Der Text diskutiert die Bedeutung von Theorie und Empirie in der Psychologie. Es wird betont, dass Empirie (Erfahrung und Datensammlung) für die Psychologie von zentraler Bedeutung ist, aber dass sie auch Theorien benötigt, um die Daten sinnvoll zu interpretieren. Der Text beleuchtet die Unterschiede zwischen Empirismus und Rationalismus in Bezug auf die Erkenntnisgewinnung. Es wird auch auf die Notwendigkeit von guten Theorien und deren Kriterien eingegangen, wobei die logische Konsistenz, der empirischer Gehalt und die empirische Bewährung als Hauptkriterien genannt werden. Schließlich wird die Bedeutung von Universitäten als Orte des Theoretisierens betont und die Rolle von Theoretischer Psychologie diskutiert. Es wird argumentiert, dass Theorie und Empirie in der Psychologie eng miteinander verknüpft sind und dass starke Theorien notwendig sind, um Daten sinnvoll zu interpretieren und kausale Zusammenhänge zu verstehen.
Thermally stable p-wave repulsive Fermi polaron without a two-body bound state
Authors: Hu Hui , Wang Jia , Liu Xia-Ji
Published: November 2023

We theoretically investigate the polaron physics of an impurity immersed in a two-dimensional Fermi sea, interacting via a p-wave interaction at finite temperature. In the unitary limit with a divergent scattering area, we find a well-defined repulsive Fermi polaron at short interaction range, which shows a remarkable thermal stability with increasing temperature. The appearance of such a stable repulsive Fermi polaron in the resonantly interacting limit can be attributed to the existence of a quasi-bound dressed molecule state hidden in the two-particle continuum, although there is no bound state in the two-particle limit. We show that the repulsive Fermi polaron disappears when the interaction range increases or when the scattering area is tuned to the weakly interacting regime. The large interaction range and small scattering area instead stabilize attractive Fermi polarons.
Mandatory Madness
Authors: Sandal-Wilson Chris
Published: November 2023

Mandatory Madness offers a new perspective on a pivotal period in the history of modern Palestine, by putting mental illness and the psychiatric encounters it engendered at the heart of the story. Through a careful and creative reading of an eclectic mix of archival and published material, Mandatory Madness reveals how a range of actors - British colonial officials, Zionist health workers, Arab doctors and nurses, and Palestinian families - responded to mental illness in the decades before 1948. Rather than a concern of European Jewish psychiatric experts alone, questions around the causes, nature, and treatment of mental illness were negotiated across diverse and sometimes surprising sites in mandate Palestine: not only in underfunded and overcrowded government mental hospitals and private Jewish clinics, certainly, but also in family homes and neighbourhood streets, in colonial courtrooms and prisons and census offices, and in the itineraries of shaykhs and patients alike as they crossed newly drawn borders within the Levant. Bringing together histories of medicine, colonialism, and the modern Middle East, Mandatory Madness highlights how the seemingly personal and private matter of mental illness generated distinctive forms of entanglement: between colonial state and society, Arabs and Jews, and Palestine and the wider region.
Corporate Accountability by Treaty: The New North American Rapid Response Labor Mechanism
Authors: Claussen Kathleen , Bown Chad P.
Published: November 2023

For several decades, civil society has sought to impose greater responsibility on companies for cross-border social wrongs. Multiple legal subfields and initiatives have emerged to take on this work: corporate social responsibility (CSR); business and human rights (BHR); responsible business conduct codes; environment, social, and governance (ESG) standards; and corporate due diligence schemes, among them. These many projects have culminated in national legislation across a range of jurisdictions imposing reporting and compliance requirements on companies, as well as in the development of soft law standards. Despite these efforts, international treaty initiatives to create binding obligations on companies and to require them to adopt certain human rights principles have made limited progress.
History from the Dustbins
Authors: Frost Adam K.
Published: November 2023

In this essay, I reflect on the growing political obstacles to doing business history in China and how, in my doctoral dissertation research, I attempted to overcome them. More specifically, I discuss how I drew on unconventional historical sources and novel data to examine the relationship between informal entrepreneurial activity and economic change in Maoist China (1949–1978). Through the quantitative analysis of thousands of case files of individuals prosecuted as “speculators and profiteers”—discarded administrative documents that were recovered from Chinese flea markets—I reassessed the scale and scope of informal entrepreneurial activity in Maoist China. I then went on to triangulate these data with evidence found in other sources to illustrate how, over time, informal entrepreneurial activity became more collusive, encompassing, and impossible to contain. Ultimately, I argued that China’s “Reform and Opening Up” was not the state-led watershed event that it is often made out to be; rather, economic and institutional change was, at least partly, the result of a bottom-up transformation, decades in the making. This essay thus suggests that the use of unconventional sources and mixed methods presents opportunities both for doing research in contexts where history is being actively securitized and for producing countervailing narratives that decenter the state.