bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incidence, management, and outcome of incidental meningioma: what has happened in 10 years?
Authors: Näslund Olivia , Strand Per Sveino , Solheim Ole , Al Masri Mohammad , Rapi Okizeva , Thurin Erik , Jakola Asgeir S.
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The aim of this study was to study the use of brain scanning, and the subsequent findings of presumed incidental meningioma in two time periods, and to study differences in follow-up, treatment, and outcome.

Methods

Records of all performed CT and MRI of the brain during two time periods were retrospectively reviewed in search of patients with presumed incidental meningioma. These patients were further analyzed using medical health records, with the purpose to study clinical handling and outcome during a 3 year follow up.

Results

An identical number of unique patients underwent brain imaging during the two time periods (n = 22 259 vs. 22 013). In 2018–2019, 25% more incidental meningiomas were diagnosed compared to 2008–2009 (n = 161 vs. 129, p = 0.052). MRI was used more often in 2018–2019 (26.1 vs. 12.4%, p = 0.004), and the use of contrast enhancement, irrespective of modality, also increased (26.8 vs. 12.2%, p < 0.001). In the most recent cohort, patients were older (median 79 years vs. 73 years, p = 0.03). Indications showed a significant increase of cancer without known metastases among scanned patients. 29.5 and 35.4% of patients in the cohorts were deceased 3 years after diagnosis for causes unrelated to their meningioma.

Conclusions

Despite the same number of unique patients undergoing brain scans in the time periods, there was a trend towards more patients diagnosed with an incidental asymptomatic meningioma in the more recent years. This difference may be attributed to more contrast enhanced scans and more scans among the elderly but needs to be further studied. Patients in the cohort from 2018 to 2019 more often had non-metastatic cancer, with their cause of scan screening for metastases. There was no significant difference in management decision at diagnosis, but within 3 years of follow up significantly more patients in the latter cohort had been re-scanned. Almost a third of all patients were deceased within 3 years after diagnosis, due to causes other than their meningioma.
Sensitivity of atom based on slow light propagation and rotary photon drag: an efficient and secure model for quantum-based sensors in Internet of Things
Authors: Sajid Ullah Syed , Khan Aizaz , Hussain Saddam , Alsafyani Majed , Alroobaea Roobaea , Algarni Sultan
Published: November 2023

Quantum technology has the potential to revolutionize sensors and the Internet of Things (IoT). Efficient and secure data transfer among sensors and IoT devices is a major challenge. To address this, the manuscript presents coherent manipulation of the scattering cross section and its sensitivity based on subluminal propagation and rotary photon drag, using an atomic medium with two levels coupled with a cavity. The group index of the proposed atomic medium is measured in the range of $$-0.1\le n_g\le 150$$

-
0.1
≤

n
g

≤
150

and group velocity in the range of $$2\times 10^6$$

2
×

10
6

$$m/s\le v_g\le \pm 2\times 10^9$$

m
/
s
≤

v
g

≤
±
2
×

10
9

m/s. The maximum delay time is reported to $$t_g=0.3$$

t
g

=
0.3

$$\mu s$$

μ
s

and rotary photon drag to $$\theta _d=\pm 5$$

θ
d

=
±
5

micro radian. This effect of photon drag is used in sensing, energy harvesting, and optical switching in IoT. The scattering cross-section of $$0.1\times 10^{21}$$

0.1
×

10
21

$$m^2$$

m
2

is reported. The scattering cross-section impacts the efficiency and reliability of quantum-based communication for IoT. The maximum cross-sectional sensitivity is measured to $$S_\sigma =0.4\times 10^{-19}m^2/n_r$$

S
σ

=
0.4
×

10

-
19

m
2

/

n
r

. The cross-sectional sensitivity potentially impacts secure communication and highly precise detection in sensors and IoT.
The crowding out of conventional electricity generation by renewable energy sources: implications from Greek, Hungarian, and Romanian electricity markets
Authors: Halužan Marko , Verbič Miroslav , Zorić Jelena
Published: November 2023

To achieve ambitious energy-climate targets, all EU member states have introduced policies to support the market introduction of renewable energy sources (RES) generation. Motivated to close the gap of the merit order effect (MOE) in less mature Central and South East European electricity markets, we empirically confirm economic theory predictions that in the short run, an increase in RES generation reduces electricity prices. The merit order effect is initially econometrically confirmed and quantified. Different econometric model specifications are estimated to differentiate the MOE caused by wind and solar generation and to differentiate the MOE on high-load and low-load days. In addition, we simulate the adjustment of the realised day-ahead electricity prices to the no-RES generation scenario. Modern statistical methods are applied to bridge the gap in the limited public data availability to solve simulation models used in the power system or agent-based simulations. A family of data mining algorithms is applied for the merit order estimation used in the dynamic adaptation of the generation mix to the omitted RES generation. The estimated energy imbalance caused by the excluded RES generation is therefore compensated by the additional conventional generation dispatch according to the estimated power plant merit order. The estimated supply curves for each generation technology assist the reasoning behind the established MOE in econometric models. Based on our findings, policymakers should prioritise policies that facilitate the integration of RES into their electricity markets, which would in turn accelerate energy transition. With increasingly growing shares of renewables in the system, the governments need to rethink the support scheme, where the emphasis should be placed on efficiently integrating renewables in the power system by taking into account temporal and spatial dimensions.
A review of limitations and potentials of desalination as a sustainable source of water
Authors: Zolghadr-Asli Babak , McIntyre Neil , Djordjevic Slobodan , Farmani Raziyeh , Pagliero Liliana , Martínez-Alvarez Victoriano , Maestre-Valero José F.
Published: November 2023

For centuries, desalination, in one way or another, has helped alleviate water scarcity. Over time, desalination has gone through an evolutionary process influenced largely by available contemporary technology. This improvement, for the most part, was reflected in the energy efficiency and, in turn, in terms of the cost-effectiveness of this practice. Thanks to such advancements, by the 1960s, the desalination industry experienced notable exponential growth, becoming a formidable option to supplement conventional water resources with a reliable non-conventional resource. That said, often, there are pressing associated issues, most notably environmental, socioeconomic, health, and relatively recently, agronomic concerns. Such reservations raise the question of whether desalination is indeed a sustainable solution to current water supply problems. This is exceptionally important to understand in light of the looming water and food crises. This paper, thus, tends to review these potential issues from the sustainability perspective. It is concluded that the aforementioned issues are indeed major concerns, but they can be mitigated by actions that consider the local context. These may be either prophylactic, proactive measures that require careful planning to tailor the situation to best fit a given region or reactive measures such as incorporating pre- (e.g., removing particles, debris, microorganisms, suspended solids, and silt from the intake water prior to the desalination process) and post-treatments (e.g., reintroducing calcium and magnesium ions to water to enhance its quality for irrigation purposes) to target specific shortcomings of desalination.
The Vagueness of Integrating the Empirical and the Normative: Researchers’ Views on Doing Empirical Bioethics
Authors: Wangmo T. , Provoost V. , Mihailov E.
Published: November 2023

The integration of normative analysis with empirical data often remains unclear despite the availability of many empirical bioethics methodologies. This paper sought bioethics scholars’ experiences and reflections of doing empirical bioethics research to feed these practical insights into the debate on methods. We interviewed twenty-six participants who revealed their process of integrating the normative and the empirical. From the analysis of the data, we first used the themes to identify the methodological content. That is, we show participants’ use of familiar methods explained as “back-and-forth” methods (reflective equilibrium), followed by dialogical methods where collaboration was seen as a better way of doing integration. Thereafter, we highlight methods that were deemed as inherent integration approaches, where the normative and the empirical were intertwined from the start of the research project. Second, we used the themes to express not only how we interpreted what was said but also how things were said. In this, we describe an air of uncertainty and overall vagueness that surrounded the above methods. We conclude that the indeterminacy of integration methods is a double-edged sword. It allows for flexibility but also risks obscuring a lack of understanding of the theoretical-methodological underpinnings of empirical bioethics research methods.
Are children with early literacy difficulties at risk for anxiety disorders in late childhood?
Authors: Kargiotidis Apostolos , Manolitsis George
Published: November 2023

The present study examined whether literacy difficulties in both grades 2 and 3 are associated with social and generalized anxiety within the school environment in grade 5 and if children with different literacy difficulties differ in anxiety levels compared to typically developing children in grade 5 after controlling for inattention. Sixty-nine Greek children with literacy difficulties and fifty-two children with typical literacy development were assessed at the beginning of grade 2 and at the end of grade 3 on standardized literacy measures (reading accuracy, text-reading fluency, reading comprehension, and spelling). In grade 5, teachers were asked to rate their children’s social and generalized anxiety levels and inattentive behavior in the school context. Results of one-way ANCOVAs showed that children with literacy difficulties were experiencing more social anxiety than typically developing children. Furthermore, children with both reading and spelling difficulties, but not those with single reading or spelling difficulties, had more social anxiety. These findings suggest that there is a close connection between early literacy difficulties and social anxiety in upper elementary grades and particularly among children with both reading and spelling difficulties. Implications for both teachers and other professionals who support children’s socioemotional development will be discussed.
How the forensic multidisciplinary approach can solve a fatal dog pack attack
Authors: Di Nunzio M. , Della Valle A. , Serino A. , Corrado F. , Di Nunzio C.
Published: November 2023

The authors present the case of a 61-year-old man found dead in an agricultural plot. The first investigation of the scene revealed the corpse laid face up in a spot of partially dried blood, next to an olive tree. His face, arms, legs, and abdomen showed signs of severe contusion and laceration of dogs’ bite wounds. Next to the victim, an olives bin had been found overturned on the ground. A multi-disciplinary approach, including crime scene analysis, autopsy findings, veterinary animals review, odontologist bite mark study, and forensic genetics DNA correlations, was performed. The present case is a documented watchdogs lethal pack attack and provides an example of how to recognize the more active participants thanks to their odontological alterations. It could be considered the first described dog pack attack case solved by dysgnathia alteration. Comparisons between the dental casts obtained from the dogs and the inflicted wounds were made, resulting in positive correlations between the injuries and the dental arches from two of the six involved dogs, thanks to dental abnormalities and DNA founding. The victim’s clothes were also compared with the dogs’ dental casts, confirming that they were the most active participants during the pack attack. Dogs’ DNA was finally matched with saliva traces found on victim’s clothes and skin bite marks.
Postictal Encephalopathy After Status Epilepticus: Outcome and Risk Factors
Authors: Bode Clara Marie , Kristensen Simon Bruun , Olsen Hanne Tanghus , Cornwall Camilla Dyremose , Roberg Lars , Monsson Olav , Krøigård Thomas , Toft Palle , Beier Christoph P.
Published: November 2023

Background

Postictal encephalopathy is well known after status epilepticus (SE), but its prognostic impact and triggers are unknown. Here, we aimed to establish risk factors for the development of postictal encephalopathy and to study its impact on survival after discharge.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study comprised adult patients diagnosed with first nonanoxic SE at Odense University Hospital between January 2008 and December 2017. Patients with ongoing SE at discharge or unknown treatment success were excluded. Postictal symptoms of encephalopathy were estimated retrospectively using the West Haven Criteria (WHC). WHC grade was determined for postictal day 1 to 14 or until the patient died or was discharged from the hospital. Cumulative postictal WHC during 14 days after SE-cessation was used to quantify postictal encephalopathy. Clinical characteristics, patient demographics, electroencephalographic and imaging features, and details on intensive care treatment were assessed from medical records.

Results

Of all eligible patients (n = 232), 198 (85.3%) had at least WHC grade 2 postictal encephalopathy that lasted for > 14 days in 24.5% of the surviving patients. WHC grade at discharge was strongly associated with poor long-term survival (p < 0.001). Postictal encephalopathy was not associated with nonconvulsive SE, postictal changes on magnetic resonance imaging, or distinct ictal patterns on electroencephalography. Although duration of SE and treatment in the intensive care unit showed an association with cumulative postictal WHC grade, they were not independently associated with the degree of encephalopathy when controlling for confounders. In a linear regression model, etiology, duration of sedation, age, and premorbid modified Rankin Scale were significant and consistent predictors for higher cumulative postictal WHC grade. Exploratory analyses showed an association of a cumulative midazolam dosage (mg/kg/h) with higher cumulative postictal WHC grade.

Discussion

In this cohort, postictal encephalopathy after SE was common and associated with poor long-term survival. Seizure characteristics were not independently associated with postictal encephalopathy; the underlying etiology, long (high-dose midazolam) sedation, high age, and poor premorbid condition were the major risk factors for its development.
Do individualizing moral foundations protect from higher moral disengagement in imprisoned men and women?
Authors: Campos-Rams Maria , Paruzel-Czachura Mariola , Vecina Maria Luisa
Published: November 2023

We aimed to analyze whether the individualizing moral foundations play a protective role against moral disengagement in a sample of 367 women and men in prison, and whether, in addition, moral foundations promote the intention to change the behaviors that led them to prison. Controlling for gender differences, we found support for the hypothesized connection between the individualizing moral foundations, as proposed by the Moral Foundations Theory (i.e., care and fairness), and the vast majority of moral disengagement mechanisms, especially with the two cruelest (attribution of blame and dehumanization). Regarding the intention to change the immoral behavior that brought our participants into prison, we found that, as hypothesized, the individualizing moral foundations positively and victim locus category negatively showed significant predictive power. This particular result could be especially relevant to improve the re-education interventions formulated for people in prison.
Temporal change in phytoplankton diversity and functional group composition
Authors: Di Cavalho Josie Antonucci , Rönn Lena , Prins Theo C. , Hillebrand Helmut
Published: November 2023

One of the key challenges in managing eutrophication in coastal marine ecosystems is the harmonized cross-border assessment of phytoplankton. Some general understanding of the consequences of shifting nutrient regimes can be derived from the detailed investigation of the phytoplankton community and its biodiversity. Here, we combined long-term monitoring datasets of German and Dutch coastal stations and amended these with additional information on species biomass. Across the integrated and harmonized dataset, we used multiple biodiversity descriptors to analyse temporal trends in the Wadden Sea phytoplankton. Biodiversity, measured as the number of species (S) and the effective number of species (ENS), has decreased in the Dutch stations over the last 20 years, while biomass has increased, indicating that fewer species are becoming more dominant in the system. However, biodiversity and biomass did not show substantial changes in the German stations. Although there were some differences in trends between countries, shifts in community composition and relative abundance were consistent across stations and time. We emphasise the importance of continuous and harmonized monitoring programmes and multi-metric approaches that can detect changes in the communities that are indicative of changes in the environment.
Cascading climate effects in deep reservoirs: Full assessment of physical and biogeochemical dynamics under ensemble climate projections and ways towards adaptation
Authors: Mi Chenxi , Shatwell Tom , Kong Xiangzhen , Rinke Karsten
Published: November 2023

We coupled twenty-first century climate projections with a well-established water quality model to depict future ecological changes of Rappbode Reservoir, Germany. Our results document a chain of climate-driven effects propagating through the aquatic ecosystem and interfering with drinking water supply: intense climate warming (RCP8.5 scenario) will firstly trigger a strong increase in water temperatures, in turn leading to metalimnetic hypoxia, accelerating sediment nutrient release and finally boosting blooms of the cyanobacterium Planktothrix rubescens. Such adverse water quality developments will be suppressed under RCP2.6 and 6.0 indicating that mitigation of climate change is improving water security. Our results also suggested surface withdrawal can be an effective adaptation strategy to make the reservoir ecosystem more resilient to climate warming. The identified consequences from climate warming and adaptation strategies are relevant to many deep waters in the temperate zone, and the conclusion should provide important guidances for stakeholders to confront potential climate changes.
Association of microRNA-192, pentraxin-3, and transforming growth factor-beta1 with estimated glomerular filtration rate in adults with diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Negeem Zienab R. , Moneim Adel Abdel , Mahmoud Basant , Ahmed Amr E. , Hasona Nabil A.
Published: November 2023

Objective

Nephropathy is among the most pervasive complications of diabetes; it frequently results in end-stage renal disease and even death. However, current biomarkers for diabetic nephropathy (DN) have limited diagnostic utility. Thus, this present study aims to examine the associations of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with plasma concentrations of microRNA-192 (miR-192), pentraxin-3 (PTX-3), and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) to identify biomarkers able to distinguish late-stage from early-stage DN.

Methods

In total, 50 healthy volunteers and 271 diabetes patients were enrolled in this study. Participants were stratified into seven groups according to eGFR and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), healthy controls, diabetes without DN (G1), diabetes with mild renal impairment (G2), and 4 DN grades (G3a, G3b, G4, and G5).

Results

DN groups exhibited increases in serum miR-192 (p < 0.05), PTX-3(p < 0.05), TGF-β1(p < 0.05), malondialdehyde (p < 0.05), and xanthine oxidase (p < 0.05) levels and reductions in glutathione-s-transferase (p < 0.05) and superoxide dismutase (p < 0.05) compared to healthy controls. Among patients, eGFR was negatively correlated with miR-192, PTX-3, and TGF-β1, and positively correlated with HbA1c. In receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, miR-192 and PTX-3 demonstrated good diagnostic performance in distinguishing early from advanced DN.

Conclusion

Elevated serum miR-192 and PTX-3 are associated with lower eGFR in DN, suggesting their utility as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.
Improvement of nutritional quality of food crops with fertilizer: a global meta-analysis
Authors: Ishfaq Muhammad , Wang Yongqi , Xu Jiuliang , Hassan Mahmood Ul , Yuan Hao , Liu Lianlian , He Boyi , Ejaz Irsa , White Philip J. , Cakmak Ismail , Chen Wei-Shan , Wu Jiechen , van der Werf Wopke , Li Chunjian , Zhang Fusuo , Li Xuexian
Published: November 2023

Providing the world’s population with sufficient and nutritious food through sustainable food systems is a major challenge of the twenty-first century. Fertilizer use is a major driver of crop yield, but a comprehensive synthesis of the effect of fertilizer on the nutritional quality of food crops is lacking. Here we performed a comprehensive global meta-analysis using 7859 data pairs from 551 field experiment-based articles published between 1972 and 2022, assessing the contribution of fertilization with a wide set of plant nutrients to the nutritional quality of food crops (i.e., fruits, vegetables, cereals, pulses/oil crops, and sugar crops). On average, fertilizer application improved crop yield by 30.9% (CI: 28.2–33.7%) and nutritional quality (referring to all nutritionally relevant components assessed; carbohydrates, proteins, oil, vitamin C, representative mineral nutrients, and total soluble solids) by 11.9% (CI: 10.7–12.1%). The improvements were largely nutrient- and crop species dependent, with vegetables being the most responsive. Potassium, magnesium, and micronutrients played important roles in promoting crop nutritional quality, whereas the combined application of inorganic and organic source(s) had the greatest impact on quality. Desirable climatic conditions and soil properties (i.e., silt loam, soil organic matter 2.5–5.0%, and pH 4.5–8.5) supported further enhancements. Considering cross-continent responsiveness, the increase in the nutritional quality of food crops with fertilizer application was greatest in Africa. In a nutshell, our findings pave the way towards a quantitative understanding of nutrient management programs and responsible plant nutrition solutions that foster the sustainable production of nutritious and healthy food crops for human consumption.
Agency, Goal-Directed Behavior, and Part-Whole Relationships in Biological Systems
Authors: Watson Richard
Published: November 2023

In this essay we aim to present some considerations regarding a minimal but concrete notion of agency and goal-directed behavior that are useful for characterizing biological systems at different scales. These considerations are a particular perspective, bringing together concepts from dynamical systems, combinatorial problem-solving, and connectionist learning with an emphasis on the relationship between parts and wholes. This perspective affords some ways to think about agents that are concrete and quantifiable, and relevant to some important biological issues. Instead of advocating for a strict definition of minimally agential characteristics, we focus on how (even for a modest notion of agency) the agency of a system can be more than the sum of the agency of its parts. We quantify this in terms of the problem-solving competency of a system with respect to resolution of the frustrations between its parts. This requires goal-directed behavior in the sense of delayed gratification, i.e., taking dynamical trajectories that forego short-term gains (or sustain short-term stress or frustration) in favor of long-term gains. In order for this competency to belong to the system (rather than to its parts or given by its construction or design), it can involve distributed systemic knowledge that is acquired through experience, i.e., changes in the organization of the relationships among its parts (without presupposing a system-level reward function for such changes). This conception of agency helps us think about the ways in which cells, organisms, and perhaps other biological scales, can be agential (i.e., more agential than their parts) in a quantifiable sense, without denying that the behavior of the whole depends on the behaviors of the parts in their current organization.
COVID-19-Related Risk, Resilience, and Mental Health Among Mexican American Mothers Across the First Year of the Pandemic
Authors: Non Amy L. , Clausing Elizabeth S. , Lara-Cinisomo Sandraluz , D’Anna Hernandez Kimberly L.
Published: November 2023

Background

Latina mothers have been especially affected by the pandemic and historically exhibit high rates of depression and anxiety. However, few longitudinal studies have assessed the effect of the pandemic on this vulnerable population. We hypothesized that COVID-19-related stressors would associate with psychological distress among Latina mothers across the first year of the pandemic.

Methods

We investigated COVID-19-related impact, stigma, and fears across two critical time points and changes in these measures in relation to changes in maternal anxiety and depression among mothers of Mexican descent living in Southern California (n=152). Surveys were administered within 5–16 weeks of the March 19, 2020 stay-at-home COVID-19 order in California and again between June to December 2021.

Results

High proportions of women reported moderate to severe impacts of COVID-19 early in the pandemic, which reduced modestly a year later, e.g., reduced family incomes (55.9% 2020 Lockdown vs 32.7% 1-year follow-up). Anticipatory stigma was high across the first year, e.g., worrying at least some of the time that a family member will be deported (33.1% 2020 Lockdown vs. 14.1% 1-year follow-up), or they would not be able to care for their children (88.5% 2020 lockdown vs 82.2% 1-year follow-up). COVID-19 stigma, impact, and fears were significantly associated with higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms at both time points (p<0.003), and changes in COVID-19 impact were associated with changes in depression (p=0.0004).

Conclusion

Findings emphasize the adverse socioeconomic and psychological effects of the pandemic for Latina mothers.
Hydrocarbon generation and migration in the Fuxin Basin during the Cretaceous evolution of the North China Craton, NE China
Authors: Xie Wenquan , Jia Jianliang , Mansour Ahmed , Wang Xiaoming
Published: November 2023

The extensive thinning and destruction of North China Craton (NCC) during the Early Cretaceous led to the development of numerous rift basins and petroleum systems. However, the specific relationship between NCC evolution and hydrocarbon generation and accumulation in these sedimentary basins is still unclear. In this study organic geochemistry and oil-source correlation analyses were conducted to investigate the hydrocarbons generation potential and migration pathway in the representative Fuxin Basin. Results demonstrate that the semi-deep lacustrine source rocks were developed in the Jiufotang Formation (K1jf) in the west and the upper Shahai Formation (K1sh) in the east, both of which are enriched with organic matter content and hydrocarbon generation potential of kerogen Types II to III. Based on the hierarchical cluster analysis of crude oils biomarker fingerprints, two crude oil types (A and B) were deduced. The Type A crude oil is characterized by high gammacerane, low pristane/phytane, relatively high C29 regular sterane and methylphenanthrene index, which is consistent with the K1jf biomarker characteristics in the west. Therefore, the Type A crude oil is likely generated from the K1jf source rock that accumulated in turbidite sand bodies of the K1jf and/or migrated to the K1sh reservoir through strike-slip faults. Type B crude oil is dominated by low gammacerane, moderate pristane/phytane, high C27 regular sterane and 1,2,5-trimethylnaphthalenes, which is in good agreement with the K1sh4 features. The basin simulation revealed that hydrocarbon generation of source rocks in the Jiufotang and Shahai formations was linked to a rapid subsidence of the basin, which was induced by intense extension with the NCC destruction during the Early Cretaceous. Subsequently, the rapid subduction of the Western Pacific plate during the earliest Late Cretaceous led to the development of extensive epigenetic fractures, enabling extensive hydrocarbon migration in the Fuxin Basin. This study sheds light on oil sources in sedimentary basins in an extensional setting and provides insights into the dynamic process of hydrocarbon generation and migration associated with NCC evolution.
Effect of flexible camshaft technology on dual-fuel engine performance using phenomenological combustion model
Authors: Abaskharon Mina , Cepelak Sebastian , Henke Björn , Schleef Karsten , Buchholz Bert
Published: November 2023

The objective of the current study is to investigate the effect of tunable valve timings on the performance and emissions of a dual-fuel marine engine. A simulation model was developed in MATLAB to simulate the valvetrain mechanism. The model generates different valve lift curves depending on the input conditions, and after that, it tests them against any possible collision with the piston. The valid valve lift curves were exported to a two-zone combustion model in AVL CRUISE-M platform. The combustion model depends on the fractal principle and aims to predict the in-cylinder parameters. In addition, it contains sub-models to calculate the ignition delay and emissions formation. Model results were compared against experimental data, as the latter were obtained from a heavy-duty, medium-speed, single-cylinder research engine, which employs natural gas as a main fuel. The results showed good agreement and the model was used for further investigations with other cam pairs. It has been found that the fractal combustion model can effectively represent the combustion behavior in the dual-fuel engine. Furthermore, valve timing has a significant influence on the engine performance and exhaust emissions. Results also revealed that applying Miller cycle can reduce the nitrogen oxides emissions, while the higher valve overlap period had a negative effect on methane slip.
Leveraging flow chemistry for the synthesis of trisubstituted isoxazoles
Authors: Prieschl Michael , Sulzer Niklas , Sedelmeier Joerg , Kaldre Dainis , Lebl René , Püntener Kurt , Hildbrand Stefan , Williams Jason D. , Kappe C. Oliver
Published: November 2023

The synthesis of trisubstituted isoxazoles generally requires multiple individual chemical steps, making them amenable to improvements in efficiency by telescoping as a multistep flow process. Three steps (oximation, chlorination and cycloaddition) were developed in continuous flow mode, aiming to function as an high-yielding and efficient sequence. We demonstrate this sequence using two aldehyde starting materials of interest: one carbocyclic and one heterocyclic. Between these two substrates, significant differences in solubility and reactivity necessitated modifications to the route. Most notably, the chlorination step could be carried out using either an organic N-Cl source (applicable for the carbocyclic aldehyde) or Cl2 generated on-demand in a flow setup (applicable for the heterocyclic aldehyde). By selecting the most effective method for each substrate, good yields could be achieved over the telescoped sequence.
The ams proteins and the amylovoran biosynthetic pathway: an extensive bioinformatic study
Authors: Carlini Lavinia , Esposito Alfonso , Ambrosino Luca , Bharti Sharda , Invernizzi Luca Mauro , Piazza Silvano , Benini Stefano
Published: November 2023

The genus Erwinia includes plant-pathogenic, non-pathogenic and even opportunistic human pathogens. Among them, Erwinia amylovora is one of the most studied species, as the etiological agent of the relevant necrotic plant disease fire blight. Its most important pathogenicity factor is amylovoran, an exopolysaccharide essential in the formation of a protective biofilm used by the bacterium to escape the plant protection mechanisms. Amylovoran biosynthesis, regulation and secretion require the concerted action of twelve genes clustered in a region spanning 16 kb, the ams operon. Most of the encoded proteins build and polymerize the repeating oligosaccharide units of galactose, glucose, glucuronic acid and pyruvate, others have signalling, regulation and secretion functions. We compared the ams operon organisation, predicted 3D structure of the encoded proteins of Erwinia amylovora in eighteen Erwinia species. We detected the presence of a paralog (for the amsG gene) and some rearrangements in the EPS biosynthetic operon in specific taxa that could be connected to the species-specific pathogenicity profile. The present study adds fundamental information about the genomic determinants of exopolysaccharide secretion in the Erwinia genus, and clarifies the evolutionary relationships among the genes in the ams operon.
A Diversity-Based Synthetic Oversampling Using Clustering for Handling Extreme Imbalance
Authors: Yang Yuxuan , Akbarzadeh Khorshidi Hadi , Aickelin Uwe
Published: November 2023

Imbalanced data are typically observed in many real-life classification problems. However, mainstream machine learning algorithms are mostly designed with the underlying assumption of a relatively well-balanced distribution of classes. The mismatch between reality and algorithm assumption results in a deterioration of classification performance. One form of approach to address this problem is through re-sampling methods, although its effectiveness is limited; most re-sampling methods fail to consider the distribution of minority and majority instances and the diversity within synthetically generated data. Diversity becomes increasingly important when minority data becomes more sparse, as each data point becomes more valuable. They should all be considered during the generation process instead of being regarded as noise. In this paper, we propose a cluster-based diversity re-sampling method, combined with NOAH algorithm. Neighbourhood-based Clustering Diversity Over-sampling (NBCDO) is introduced with the aim to complement our previous cluster-based diversity algorithm Density-based Clustering Diversity Over-sampling (DBCDO). It first uses a neighbourhood-based clustering algorithm to consider the distribution of both minority and majority class instances, before applying NOAH algorithm to encourage diversity optimisation during the generation of synthetic instances. We demonstrate the implementation of both cluster-based diversity methods by conducting experiments over 10 real-life datasets with ≤ 5% imbalance ratio and show that our proposed cluster-based diversity algorithm (NBCDO, DBCDO) brings performance improvements over its comparable methods (DB-SMOTE, MAHAKIL, KMEANS-SMOTE, MC-SMOTE).
A Novel Approach for Specification Testing on Heart Disease Detection Using Feed-Forward Neural Network
Authors: Naresh E. , Darshan S. L. Shiva , Srinidhi N. N. , Niranjanmurthy M. , Dayananda P.
Published: November 2023

The proposed work highlights the importance of testing in machine-learning applications and the ensuing need to increase model quality to decrease the likelihood of errors. The proposed work considers patient health information that may be utilized for decision-making or prediction utilizing various computations, and in this instance, it emphasizes the development of artificial neural networks with the multilayer perceptron method to forecast cardiac abnormalities. The dataset employed in this work includes information about the patient’s demographics, clinical measures, and medical background. Utilizing this labelled dataset, one may estimate if each patient has heart disease or not. We developed a GUI to collect data about a new patient to accomplish the task specified. After the model is generated, effective functionality testing was performed on the model. As a result of the testing report’s assistance in identifying faults and defects, the artificial neural network’s accuracy ultimately improved as a result of its improved accuracy following correction. After undergoing feature testing, the application’s accuracy ascended to 96.69%, which is a higher percentage than was attained using any alternative method.
Douglas fir and Norway spruce have similar effects on small mammal density, but not survival, in Central European managed forests
Authors: Appleby Scott M. , Balkenhol Niko
Published: November 2023

In an effort to ameliorate the impacts of climate change, forest managers in Central Europe increasingly turn to conifer species that produce higher yields and are better adapted to projected future climatic conditions. Though small mammals are an important component of the forest ecosystem, the impacts of enriching native broadleaf forests with conifers on small mammal communities are not well understood. We conducted mark–recapture surveys of small mammals to ascertain differences in their community structure among stands of two conifers (native Norway sprucePicea abiesand non-native Douglas firPseudotsuga menziesii) and the dominant broadleaf in the region, European beech (Fagus sylvatica). After estimating the density of two common species, the yellow-necked mouseApodemus flavicollisand bank voleClethrionomys glareolus, we found that the population density of each is positively related to the proportion of beech and negatively to the proportion of conifers in each stand, though these effects of stand composition are smaller than the positive effect of herb cover. Increasing Norway spruce proportion reduced monthly survival of small mammals, while Douglas fir proportion had a positive effect on survival. We conclude that the two conifer species have similar impacts on small mammal density, though overall small mammal survival was significantly lower on plots with Norway spruce. This suggests that increasing the proportion of Douglas fir at the expense of Norway spruce may be possible without significantly changing local patterns of small mammal population density, but further research is necessary to elucidate the exact impacts of these two conifer species on small mammal demography and behavior.
Employer Perspectives on Hiring Youth Previously Involved with Juvenile Justice: A National Survey
Authors: Unruh Deanne K. , Reardon Kyle , Strycker Lisa
Published: November 2023

Employment is a defining aspect of adult life as well as a protective factor for youth involved in the juvenile justice system, but employment rates for juvenile-justice-involved youth are substantially lower than for their noninvolved peers. Interventions have been developed to increase employment for juvenile-justice-involved youth, yet few studies have examined employer perspectives about hiring them. The purpose of this replication study was to document employer perceptions of hiring youth in the juvenile justice system; whether youth should disclose prior involvement in the system; and the skills and qualifications that employers value in their workers. Findings indicate that, relative to the results of prior studies, employers’ perceptions appear to have improved such that they are more likely to hire youth who have been involved with the juvenile justice system. This research provides insights into how educators, behavior analysts, and other rehabilitation and support personnel can help these youth obtain employment, and suggests future research directions to further reduce hiring stigma.
Climate finance at a crossroads: it is high time to use the global solution for global problems
Authors: Qi Ji , Qian Haoqi
Published: November 2023

The failure of the USD 100-billion climate finance pledge under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) could be attributed to a series of reasons: the inconsistent rules, the ambiguity of accountability issues, the political and economic motivations of donor countries, the weak governance capability of developing countries, etc. In addition to the predicament of climate finance commitments made by industrialized nations, South-South cooperation is becoming an important supplemental approach and is acknowledged by the Paris Agreement as an essential means of support. Through studying a broad set of literature on climate finance governance, the study aims to provide a clear picture of the current muddle in climate finance and China’s new role in the architecture. We do this by first looking into the disjointed system of reporting and accounting standards for climate finance as well as what causes the international climate finance gap. On the one hand, the self-interests and geopolitical concerns of donor countries led to considerable challenges to distributive justice in climate finance allocation. On the other hand, climate finance from rich countries has yet to make a substantial dent in enhancing developing countries’ resilience to climate change. Finally, we argue that China-led climate-related development assistance and South-South cooperation on climate change has a tremendous potential for vulnerable countries to realize their climate action priorities and address the climate injustice.
Auditing of AI: Legal, Ethical and Technical Approaches
Authors: Mökander Jakob
Published: November 2023

AI auditing is a rapidly growing field of research and practice. This review article, which doubles as an editorial to Digital Society’s topical collection on ‘Auditing of AI’, provides an overview of previous work in the field. Three key points emerge from the review. First, contemporary attempts to audit AI systems have much to learn from how audits have historically been structured and conducted in areas like financial accounting, safety engineering and the social sciences. Second, both policymakers and technology providers have an interest in promoting auditing as an AI governance mechanism. Academic researchers can thus fill an important role by studying the feasibility and effectiveness of different AI auditing procedures. Third, AI auditing is an inherently multidisciplinary undertaking, to which substantial contributions have been made by computer scientists and engineers as well as social scientists, philosophers, legal scholars and industry practitioners. Reflecting this diversity of perspectives, different approaches to AI auditing have different affordances and constraints. Specifically, a distinction can be made between technology-oriented audits, which focus on the properties and capabilities of AI systems, and process-oriented audits, which focus on technology providers’ governance structures and quality management systems. The next step in the evolution of auditing as an AI governance mechanism, this article concludes, should be the interlinking of these available—and complementary—approaches into structured and holistic procedures to audit not only how AI systems are designed and used but also how they impact users, societies and the natural environment in applied settings over time.
An Experimental High-Throughput to High-Fidelity Study Towards Discovering Al–Cr Containing Corrosion-Resistant Compositionally Complex Alloys
Authors: Sur Debashish , Holcombe Emily F. , Blades William H. , Anber Elaf A. , Foley Daniel L. , DeCost Brian L. , Liu Jing , Hattrick-Simpers Jason , Sieradzki Karl , Joress Howie , Scully John R. , Taheri Mitra L.
Published: November 2023

Compositionally complex alloys hold the promise of simultaneously attaining superior combinations of properties, such as corrosion resistance, light-weighting, and strength. Achieving this goal is a challenge due in part to a large number of possible compositions and structures in the vast alloy design space. High-throughput methods offer a path forward, but a strong connection between the synthesis of an alloy of a given composition and structure with its properties has not been fully realized to date. Here, we present the rapid identification of corrosion-resistant alloys based on combinations of Al and Cr in a base Al–Co–Cr–Fe–Ni alloy. Previously unstudied alloy stoichiometries were identified using a combination of high-throughput experimental screening coupled with key metallurgical and electrochemical corrosion tests, identifying alloys with excellent passivation behavior. The alloy native oxide performance and its self-healing attributes were probed using rapid tests in deaerated 0.1-mol/L H2SO4. Importantly, a correlation was found between the electrochemical impedance modulus of the exposure-modified air-formed film and self-healing rate of the CCAs. Multi-element extended x-ray absorption fine structure analyses connected more ordered type chemical short-range order in the Ni–Al 1st nearest-neighbor shell to poorer corrosion resistance. This report underscores the utility of high-throughput exploration of compositionally complex alloys for the identification and rapid screening of a vast stoichiometric space.

Graphical Abstract
Difference between days of therapy and days of antibiotic spectrum coverage in an inpatient antimicrobial stewardship program: Vector autoregressive models for time-series analysis
Authors: Murakami Shutaro , Akazawa Manabu , Honda Hitoshi
Published: November 2023

Objective:

The days of therapy (DOT) metric, used to estimate antimicrobial consumption, has some limitations. Days of antibiotic spectrum coverage (DASC), a novel metric, overcomes these limitations. We examined the difference between these 2 metrics of inpatient intravenous antimicrobial consumption in assessing antimicrobial stewardship efficacy and antimicrobial resistance using vector autoregressive (VAR) models with time-series analysis.

Methods:

Differences between DOT and DASC were investigated at a tertiary-care center over 8 years using VAR models with 3 variables in the following order: (1) the monthly proportion of prospective audit and feedback (PAF) acceptance as an index of antimicrobial stewardship efficacy; (2) monthly DOT and DASC adjusted by 1,000 days present as indices of antimicrobial consumption; and (3) the monthly incidence of 5 organisms as an index of antimicrobial resistance.

Results:

The Granger causality test, which evaluates whether incorporating lagged variables can help predict other variables, showed that PAF activity contributed to DOT and DASC, which, in turn, contributed to the incidence of drug-resistant P. aeruginosa. Notably, only DASC helped predict the incidence of drug-resistant Enterobacterales. Another VAR analysis demonstrated that a high proportion of PAF acceptance was accompanied by decreased DASC in a given month, whereas increased DASC was accompanied by an increased incidence of drug-resistant Enterobacterales, unlike with DOT.

Conclusions:

The VAR models of PAF activity, antimicrobial consumption, and antimicrobial resistance suggested that DASC may more accurately reflect the impact of PAF on antimicrobial consumption and be superior to DOT for predicting the incidence of drug-resistant Enterobacterales.