bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Athletic bioimpedance-based equations underestimate fat free mass components in male elite soccer players: development and validation of new soccer-specific predictive models
Authors: Campa Francesco , Bongiovanni Tindaro , Rossi Alessio , Cerullo Giuseppe , Casolo Andrea , Martera Giulia , Trecroci Athos , Moro Tatiana , Paoli Antonio
Published: December 2023

Background

Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a rapid and user-friendly technique for assessing body composition in sports. Currently, no sport-specific predictive equations are available, and the utilization of generalized formulas can introduce systematic bias. The objectives of this study were as follows: (i) to develop and validate new predictive models for estimating fat-free mass (FFM) components in male elite soccer players; (ii) to evaluate the accuracy of existing predictive equations.

Methods

A total of 102 male elite soccer players (mean age 24.7 ± 5.7 years), participating in the Italian first league, underwent assessments during the first half of the in-season period and were randomly divided into development and validation groups. Bioelectrical resistance (R) and reactance (Xc), representing the bioimpedance components, were measured using a foot-to-hand BIA device at a single frequency of 50 kHz. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was employed to acquire reference data for FFM, lean soft tissue (LST), and appendicular lean soft tissue (ALST). The validation of the newly developed predictive equations was conducted through regression analysis, Bland–Altman tests, and the area under the curves (AUC) of regression receiver operating characteristic (RROC) curves.

Results

Developed models were: FFM = − 7.729 + (body mass × 0.686) + (stature2/R × 0.227) + (Xc × 0.086) + (age × 0.058), R2 = 0.97, Standard error of estimation (SEE) = 1.0 kg; LST = − 8.929 + (body mass × 0.635) + (stature2/R × 0.244) + (Xc × 0.093) + (age × 0.048), R2 = 0.96, SEE = 0.9 kg; ALST = − 24.068 + (body mass × 0.347) + (stature2/R × 0.308) + (Xc × 0.152), R2 = 0.88, SEE = 1.4 kg. Train-test validation, performed on the validation group, revealed that generalized formulas for athletes underestimated all the predicted FFM components (p < 0.01), while the new predictive models showed no mean bias (p > 0.05), with R2 values ranging from 0.83 to 0.91, and no trend (p > 0.05). The AUC scores of the RROC curves indicated an accuracy of 0.92, 0.92, and 0.74 for FFM, LST, and ALST, respectively.

Conclusions

The utilization of generalized predictive equations leads to an underestimation of FFM and ALST in elite soccer players. The newly developed soccer-specific formulas enable valid estimations of body composition while preserving the portability of a field-based method.
Clinical implications of peripheral eosinophil count at diagnosis in patients newly diagnosed with microscopic polyangiitis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis
Authors: Ha Jang Woo , Ahn Sung Soo , Song Jason Jungsik , Park Yong-Beom , Lee Sang-Won
Published: December 2023

Background

This study investigated the clinical implications of peripheral eosinophil count at diagnosis in estimating cross-sectional antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) activity and predicting all-cause mortality during follow-up in patients newly diagnosed with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA).

Methods

This study included 224 immunosuppressive drug-naïve patients with peripheral eosinophil count at diagnosis < 1,000/mm3. The Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS), the Five-Factor Score (FFS), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) at diagnosis were assessed.

Results

The median age of the 224 patients (152 MPA and 72 GPA) was 62.0 years; 35.3% of them were men. At diagnosis, peripheral eosinophil count was significantly correlated with BVAS (P = 0.001), FFS (P = 0.046), ESR (P < 0.001), and CRP (P < 0.001). Deceased patients had a significantly higher median peripheral eosinophil count at diagnosis than surviving patients (310.0/mm3 vs. 170.0/mm3, P = 0.004). In addition, patients with MPA and those with cardiovascular and renal manifestations at diagnosis exhibited significantly higher peripheral eosinophil counts than those without. When the optimal cut-off of peripheral eosinophil count at diagnosis for all-cause mortality during follow-up was set at 175.0/mm3, Patients with peripheral eosinophil count at diagnosis ≥ 175.0/mm3 exhibited a significantly lower cumulative patients’ survival rate than those with peripheral eosinophil count at diagnosis < 175.0/mm3 (P = 0.008).

Conclusions

This study was the first to demonstrate that peripheral eosinophil count at diagnosis could estimate cross-sectional AAV activity at diagnosis and contribute to predicting all-cause mortality during follow-up in MPA and GPA patients.
Study on the soil microbial community structure of the Rhizosphere of Camellia sinensis L. in Anping Village, Kaiyang County, Guizhou Province
Authors: Guo Jinmei , Li Jianfeng , Zhang Shuqing , Chen Ping
Published: December 2023

Background

To determine the differences in the microbial communities in the Camellia sinensis L. hairy root, lateral root, and main root rhizospheres in Anping Village, Kaiyang County, Guizhou Province, the community structure, diversity, and main dominant species of bacteria and fungi in different parts of the soil were analyzed by ITS and 16S sequencing.

Results

In the rhizosphere soil of the main root, lateral root, and hairy root of Camellia sinensis L., there were significant differences in the diversity and richness of the bacterial and fungal communities. The bacterial diversity was the highest and the fungal richness was the lowest in the rhizosphere soil of the main root. In the bacterial community, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Gemmatimonadetes were the common dominant bacteria. Rhodospirillaceae, Bradyrhizobiaceae, Hyphomicrobiaceae, Solibacteraceae, and Koribacteraceae were the common dominant bacteria in the rhizosphere soil of different parts of the root system, but the relative abundance of bacteria in different parts of the rhizosphere soil varied greatly. The dominant groups of fungal communities in different parts of the rhizosphere soil were Basidiomycota, Ascomycota, Mortierellomycota, and Sebacinaceae. The structure of the fungal community is similar in different parts.

Conclusions

Compared with the different parts of the hairy root, lateral root, and main root of rhizosphere soil of Camellia sinensis L. in Anping village, it was found that the abundance of fungal community decreased with the increase of bacterial community abundance, and there were significant differences in bacterial community diversity and structure. However, the fungal community maintained stability among different parts.
Differential infection behavior of African swine fever virus (ASFV) genotype I and II in the upper respiratory tract
Authors: Oh Dayoung , Han Shaojie , Tignon Marylène , Balmelle Nadège , Cay Ann Brigitte , Griffioen Friso , Droesbeke Brecht , Nauwynck Hans J.
Published: December 2023

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a substantial threat to pig populations worldwide, contributing to economic disruption and food security challenges. Its spread is attributed to the oronasal transmission route, particularly in animals with acute ASF. Our study addresses the understudied role of nasal mucosa in ASFV infection, using a nasal explant model. The explants remained viable and revealed a discernible ASFV infection in nasal septum and turbinates post-inoculation. Interestingly, more infected cells were found in the turbinates despite its thinner structure. Further analyses showed (i) a higher replication of genotype II strain BEL18 than genotype I strain E70 in the epithelial cell layer, (ii) a preference of ASFV infection for the lamina propria and a tropism of ASFV for various susceptible cell types in different areas in the nasal mucosa, including epithelial cells, macrophages, and endothelial cells. Using porcine respiratory epithelial cells (PoRECs), isolated from nasal tissue, we found a difference in infection mechanism between the two genotypes, with genotype I favoring the basolateral surface and genotype II preferring the apical surface. Moreover, disruption of intercellular junctions enhanced infection for genotype I. This study demonstrated that ASFV may use the respiratory mucosa for entry using different cell types for replication with a genotype difference in their infection of respiratory epithelial cells.
ICD-11 complex posttraumatic stress disorder and subclasses of borderline personality disorder in a South Korean adult population with childhood abuse experiences: a latent class analysis
Authors: Lee Jisu , Choi Hyunjung
Published: December 2023

Background

Complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD), which are distinctive diagnoses, share the common risk factor of childhood abuse experiences. However, additional evidence is needed to determine which factors contribute to the manifestation of different symptoms.

Method

Participants were 499 South Korean early and midlife adults with primarily college level education who reported experiences of childhood abuse. They were enrolled from an online panel using a stratified sampling considering gender, age, and residence information. A latent class analysis (LCA) was conducted to identify the patterns of CPTSD and BPD symptoms. We adopted a three-step LCA to compare types of childhood abuse, invalidating environments, attachment styles, and pathological personality traits among different classes.

Results

The LCA revealed four classes. Class 1 showed the highest scores in all symptoms and risk factors. Class 2 was distinguished from Class 3 by the externalizing versus internalizing associated pathological personality traits. Class 3 experienced high emotional neglect in addition to other types of abuse and it also showed an additional avoidant attachment style. Class 4 showed low symptomatology.

Conclusion

Class 1 was named as a CPTSD and BPD “comorbid” class, Class 2 as an “externalizing BPD” class, Class 3 as an “avoidant BPD” class, and Class 4 as a “low symptom” class. Childhood abuse may heighten the risk for high comorbidity of CPTSD and BPD as well as externalizing-internalizing subgroups of BPD. Beyond the identification of CPTSD and BPD, assessing attachment styles and pathological personality traits based on dimensional approaches would benefit the tailoring of effective treatment.
Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of [18F]FDG-PET/CT for investigation of persistent or recurrent neutropenic fever in high-risk haematology patients
Authors: Tew Michelle , Douglas Abby P. , Szer Jeff , Bajel Ashish , Harrison Simon J. , Tio Shio Yen , Worth Leon J. , Hicks Rodney J. , Ritchie David , Slavin Monica A. , Thursky Karin A. , Dalziel Kim
Published: December 2023

Background

A recent randomised trial demonstrated [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography in combination with low-dose CT (FDG-PET/CT), compared to standard of care computed tomography (CT) imaging, positively impacted antimicrobial management and outcomes of acute leukaemia and haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients with persistent and recurrent neutropenic fever. We conducted an economic evaluation from a healthcare perspective alongside the clinical trial.

Methods

Unit costs in Australian dollars were applied to all resources used (antimicrobials, diagnostic tests, ICU and hospital bed days). Effectiveness was measured as number of patients with antimicrobial rationalisation, 6-month mortality and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) derived from patient-reported trial-based health-related quality-of-life. Generalised linear models were used to analyse costs and outcomes. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) for all outcomes and net monetary benefit (NMB) for QALYs were calculated. We performed bootstrapping with 1000 replications using the recycled predictions method.

Results

The adjusted healthcare costs were lower for FDG-PET/CT (mean $49,563; 95%CI 36,867, 65,133) compared to CT (mean $57,574; 95% CI 44,837, 73,347). The difference in QALYs between the two groups was small (0.001; 95% CI -0.001, 0.004). When simulated 1000 times, FDG-PET/CT was the dominant strategy as it was cheaper with better outcomes than the standard CT group in 74% of simulations. The estimated NMBs at willingness-to-pay thresholds of $50,000 and $100,000 per QALY were positive, thus FDG-PET/CT remained cost-effective at these thresholds.

Conclusions

FDG-PET/CT is cost effective when compared to CT for investigation of persistent/recurrent neutropenic fever in high-risk patients, providing further support for incorporation of FDG-PET/CT into clinical guidelines and funding.

Trial registration

This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03429387.
A polymeric nanocarrier that eradicates breast cancer stem cells and delivers chemotherapeutic drugs
Authors: Lv Li , Shi Yonghui , Deng Zhicheng , Xu Jiajia , Ye Zicong , He Jianxiong , Chen Guanghui , Yu Xiaoxia , Wu Junyan , Huang Xingzhen , Li Guocheng
Published: December 2023

Background

Drug nanocarriers can markedly reduce the toxicities and side effects of encapsulated chemotherapeutic drugs in the clinic. However, these drug nanocarriers have little effect on eradicating breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs). Although compounds that can inhibit BCSCs have been reported, these compounds are difficult to use as carriers for the widespread delivery of conventional chemotherapeutic drugs.

Methods

Herein, we synthesize a polymeric nanocarrier, hyaluronic acid-block-poly (curcumin-dithiodipropionic acid) (HA-b-PCDA), and explore the use of HA-b-PCDA to simultaneously deliver chemotherapeutic drugs and eradicate BCSCs.

Results

Based on molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies, HA-b-PCDA delivers 35 clinical chemotherapeutic drugs. To further verify the drug deliver ability of HA-b-PCDA, doxorubicin, paclitaxel, docetaxel, gemcitabine and camptothecin are employed as model drugs to prepare nanoparticles. These drug-loaded HA-b-PCDA nanoparticles significantly inhibit the proliferation and stemness of BCSC-enriched 4T1 mammospheres. Moreover, doxorubicin-loaded HA-b-PCDA nanoparticles efficiently inhibit tumor growth and eradicate approximately 95% of BCSCs fraction in vivo. Finally, HA-b-PCDA eradicates BCSCs by activating Hippo and inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Conclusion

HA-b-PCDA is a polymeric nanocarrier that eradicates BCSCs and potentially delivers numerous clinical chemotherapeutic drugs.

Graphical Abstract
General anesthesia for cesarean section in a pregnant woman with systemic vascular malformation: a case report
Authors: Takeuchi Noriko , Koshihara Misa , Motoyasu Akira , Tokumine Joho , Nakazawa Harumasa , Ozaki Mine , Yorozu Tomoko
Published: December 2023

Background

Vascular malformations are composed of morphologically abnormal vascular tissue, and when located in the head and neck region, they can make it difficult to secure the airway during general anesthesia.

Case presentation

A 28-year-old pregnant woman with vascular malformations in the pharynx was scheduled to undergo a cesarean section, for which spinal anesthesia was initially chosen. However, after magnetic resonance imaging results revealed the presence of multiple vascular malformations in the lumbar multifidus muscles, spinal anesthesia was considered to be of high risk. Thus, the patient was subjected to general anesthesia tracheal intubation under sedation, and the course of the surgery was without complications.

Conclusions

Because the pathophysiology and clinical sequelae of vascular malformations may be involved in complications, thorough presurgical evaluation of the patient’s physical condition and careful anesthesia planning should be done.
Activity budget and gut microbiota stability and flexibility across reproductive states in wild capuchin monkeys in a seasonal tropical dry forest
Authors: Webb Shasta E. , Orkin Joseph D. , Williamson Rachel E. , Melin Amanda D.
Published: December 2023

Background

Energy demands associated with pregnancy and lactation are significant forces in mammalian evolution. To mitigate increased energy costs associated with reproduction, female mammals have evolved behavioural and physiological responses. Some species alter activity to conserve energy during pregnancy and lactation, while others experience changes in metabolism and fat deposition. Restructuring of gut microbiota with shifting reproductive states may also help females increase the energy gained from foods, especially during pregnancy. The goal of this study was to examine the relationships among behaviour, gut microbiota composition, and reproductive state in a wild, non-human primate to better understand reproductive ecology. We combined life history data with > 13,000 behavioural scans and 298 fecal samples collected longitudinally across multiple years from 33 white-faced capuchin monkey (Cebus imitator) females. We sequenced the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene and used the DADA2 pipeline to analyze microbial diversity. We used PICRUSt2 to assess putative functions.

Results

Reproductive state explained some variation in activity, but overall resting behaviours were relatively stable across pregnancy and lactation. Foraging was less frequent among females in the early stage of nursing compared to the cycling stage, though otherwise remained at comparable levels. Maximum temperature was a strong, significantly positive predictor of resting, while social dominance had a small but significantly negative effect on resting. Ecological variables such as available fruit biomass and rainfall had a small but significantly positive effects on measures of foraging time. Gut microbial community structure, including richness, alpha diversity, and beta diversity remained stable across the reproductive cycle. In pairwise comparisons, pregnant females exhibited increased relative abundances of multiple microbial ASVs, suggesting small changes in relation to reproductive state. Reproductive state was not linked to differential abundance of putative metabolic pathways.

Conclusions

Previous data suggest that activity budget and the gut microbiome shifts considerably during reproduction. The present study finds that both activity and gut microbial communities are less associated with reproduction compared to other predictors, including ecological contexts. This suggests that behavioural flexibility and gut microbial community plasticity is contrained by ecological factors in this population. These data contribute to a broader understanding of plasticity and stability in response to physiological shifts associated with mammalian reproduction.
Exploring the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliance in cloud services: insights from Swedish public organizations on privacy compliance
Authors: Issaoui Awatef , Örtensjö Jenny , Islam M. Sirajul
Published: December 2023

The adoption of cloud services offers manifold advantages to public organizations; however, ensuring data privacy during data transfers has become increasingly complex since the inception of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This study investigates privacy concerns experienced by public organizations in Sweden, focusing on GDPR compliance. A qualitative interpretative approach was adopted, involving semi-structured interviews with seven employees from five public organizations in Sweden. Additionally, secondary data were gathered through an extensive literature review. The collected data were analyzed and classified using the seven privacy threat categories outlined in the LINDDUN framework. The key findings reveal several significant privacy issues when utilizing public cloud services, including unauthorized access, loss of confidentiality, lack of awareness, lack of trust, legal uncertainties, regulatory challenges, and loss of control. The study underscores the importance of implementing measures such as anonymization, pseudonymization, encryption, contractual agreements, and well-defined routines to ensure GDPR compliance. The findings emphasize the importance of implementing measures such as anonymization, pseudonymization, encryption, contractual agreements, and well-defined routines to ensure GDPR compliance. Furthermore, this research highlights the critical aspect of digital sovereignty in addressing privacy challenges associated with public cloud service adoption by public organizations in Sweden.
Optimization and evaluation of microwave-assisted curcumin-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers: a green approach
Authors: Lohan Sunidhi , Verma Ravinder , Kaushik Deepak , Bhatia Meenakshi
Published: December 2023

Background

The goal of current research work is to develop and optimize curcumin-encapsulated nanostructured lipid carriers and to enhance therapeutic effect of curcumin after oral administration.

Method

Curcumin-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers were developed by a single-step one-pot microwave-assisted technique. The preparation of curcumin-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers was optimized by employing two factors and three levels central composite design (Design Expert® software) taking concentration of lipid blend and surfactant as independent variables and particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential as dependent variables, to investigate the effect of formulation ingredients on the physicochemical characteristics of nanostructured lipid carriers. The optimized batch was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, in vitro drug release, stability studies, cytotoxicity, and in vivo anthelmintic studies.

Results

The average particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential of the optimized batch were found to be 144 nm, 0.301, and − 33.2 mV, respectively, with an entrapment efficiency of 92.48%. The results of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy confirmed spherical shape of particles. In vivo antiparasitic studies included determining the duration of paralysis and eventual death of earthworms in the presence of test samples. The results of in vivo studies showed good anthelmintic potential for curcumin-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers as compared to albendazole in different concentrations. Cytotoxicity studies also confirmed the formulation to be nontoxic to Vero cells. In vitro drug release study showed 90.76 ± 0.01% release of curcumin in 24 h by following the Korsmeyer-Peppas model of release kinetics.

Conclusion

The aforementioned results imply that microwave-developed nanostructured lipid carriers could be promising drug carriers and will aid in their fabrication for oral administration as a possible alternative for the treatment of other parasitic infections.

Graphical Abstract
Not niche: eating disorders as an example in the dangers of overspecialisation
Authors: Haynos Ann F. , Egbert Amy H. , Fitzsimmons-Craft Ellen E. , Levinson Cheri A. , Schleider Jessica L.
Published: December 2023

Labelling specific psychiatric concerns as ‘niche’ topics relegated to specialty journals obstructs high-quality research and clinical care for these issues. Despite their severity, eating disorders are under-represented in high-impact journals, underfunded, and under-addressed in psychiatric training. We provide recommendations to stimulate broad knowledge dissemination for under-acknowledged, yet severe, psychiatric disorders.
The new European Medicines Agency guideline on antidepressants: a guide for researchers and drug developers
Authors: Butlen-Ducuing Florence , Haberkamp Marion , Aislaitner Georgios , Bałkowiec-Iskra Ewa , Mattila Taina , Doucet Marika , Kollb-Sielecka Marta , Balabanov Pavel , Leuchs Ann-Kristin , Elferink André
Published: December 2023

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depressive disorders are currently considered as one of the most disabling medical conditions in the world with one of the highest disability-adjusted life years [1] and this situation has apparently been further worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic [2]. Up to two thirds of patients with major depressive disorders (MDD) do not achieve full remission following an adequate first line standard of care and/or experience residual symptoms such as anxiety, impaired cognition, fatigue, sleep disturbance, or anhedonia [3]. Several attempts are often needed to find the most suitable treatment [4]. Thus, there is a need for medicinal products with better efficacy (e.g., faster onset of action, higher rates of response and remission), improved safety and/or more personalised profiles [5].
The Saccharo-Polariscope
Authors: Hendry William
Published: December 2023

The instruments usually figured as employed in the polarization of saccharine solutions are, for the most part, of costly and complex character. Having experienced a little curiosity in the subject, induced through a desire to investigate diabetic urine microscopically, I had occasion to refer to an article contained in ‘Morfit’s Chemical Manipulations,’ and, in pursuance of the methods therein described of Professor M’Culloch, Soleil, Clerget, and others, I have been enabled to fit up an apparatus which will be found efficient, convenient, and inexpensive, whereby the beauteous phenomena of right- and left-handed polarization indicative of cane or grape sugar may be readily exhibited, or the arcs of prismatic coloration measured, as occasion may require.
Identification of signalling pathways involved in gill regeneration in zebrafish
Authors: Cadiz Laura , Reed Maddison , Monis Simon , Akimenko Marie-Andrée , Jonz Michael G.
Published: December 2023

The occurrence of regeneration of the organs involved in respiratory gas exchange amongst vertebrates is heterogeneous. In some species of amphibians and fishes, the gills regenerate completely following resection or amputation, whereas in mammals, only partial, facultative regeneration of lung tissue occurs following injury. Given the homology between gills and lungs, the capacity of gill regeneration in aquatic species is of major interest in determining the underlying molecular or signalling pathways involved in respiratory organ regeneration. In the present study, we used adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) to characterize signalling pathways involved in the early stages of gill regeneration. Regeneration of the gills was induced by resection of gill filaments and observed over a period of up to 10 days. We screened for the effects on regeneration of the drugs SU5402, dorsomorphin and LY411575, which inhibit FGF, BMP or Notch signalling pathways, respectively. Exposure to each drug for 5 days significantly reduced regrowth of filament tips in regenerating tissue, compared with unresected controls. In separate experiments under normal conditions of regeneration, we used reverse transcription quantitative PCR and observed an increased expression of genes encoding for the bone morphogenetic factor, Bmp2b, fibroblast growth factor, Fgf8a, a transcriptional regulator (Her6) involved in Notch signalling, and Sonic Hedgehog (Shha), in regenerating gills at 10 day post-resection, compared with unresected controls. In situ hybridization confirmed that all four genes were expressed in regenerating gill tissue. This study implicates BMP, FGF, Notch and Shh signalling in gill regeneration in zebrafish.
TOWARDS MULTILEVEL MODELLING OF TRAIN PASSING EVENTS ON THE STAFFORDSHIRE BRIDGE
Authors: BULL LAWRENCE A. , JEON CHIHO , GIROLAMI MARK , DUNCAN ANDREW , SCHOOLING JENNIFER , HARO MIGUEL BRAVO
Published: December 2023

We suggest a multilevel model, to represent aggregate train-passing events from the Staffordshire bridge monitoring system. We formulate a combined model from simple units, representing strain envelopes (of each train passing) for two types of commuter train. The measurements are treated as a longitudinal dataset and represented with a (low-rank approximation) hierarchical Gaussian process. For each unit in the combined model, we encode domain expertise as boundary condition constraints and work towards a general representation of the strain response. Looking forward, this should allow for the simulation of train types that were previously unobserved in the training data. For example, trains with more passengers or freights with a heavier payload. The strain event simulations are valuable since they can inform further experiments (including FEM calibration, fatigue analysis, or design) to test the bridge in hypothesised scenarios.
PREDICTING AXIAL STRESS IN CONTINUOUS WELDED RAILS USING MACHINE LEARNING
Authors: BELDING MATTHEW , ENSHAEIAN ALI , RIZZO PIERVINCENZO
Published: December 2023

Buckling is a major contributor to derailments on continuous welded rails (CWRs) and is caused by extreme compression due to high temperatures. Thus, the determination of the axial stress is necessary to gauge when buckling may occur. As many techniques are often invasive, this study focuses on the latest advancements of an ongoing noninvasive technique based on the use of low-frequency vibrations using machine learning (ML). Based on the theory seen in guitar strings, the relationship between the frequency of vibration and tension/compression is used to associate spectral features to axial stress. This in turn enables the determination of the rail neutral temperature (RNT), which is the point at which the net longitudinal force is zero. As the RNT is not only a function of the stress but also varying boundary conditions associated with the ballast, fasteners, and ties, the RNT can change frequently over time. This stresses the need for a system that is also flexible to this variability. In order to capture some of this, field data was captured twice in Pueblo Colorado using several accelerometers where vibrations were induced with an instrumented hammer. Both a wood-tie and concrete-tie rail section were experimented on with the latter having a 5o curve. The accelerometers consisted of both wired and wireless sensors, with the wireless counterpart being used to prove the replacement of the wired in the second field test. Using the power spectral densities (PSDs) associated with the lateral and vertical direction as input to an artificial neural network (ANN), the RNTs were predicted and compared to those determined by an independent third party. Our predictions showed very good agreement with the RNT captured by conventional strain-gage rosettes. In this paper, an analysis of our two field tests as well as the impact of boundary conditions data on ML predictions is explored.
RAIL ROUGHNESS IDENTIFICATION VIA ON-BOARD ACCELERATION DATA AND BAYESIAN FILTERING
Authors: STOURA CHARIKLEIA D. , DERTIMANIS VASILIS K. , CHATZI ELENI N.
Published: December 2023

The global demand for transportation has resulted in extensive expansion of railway networks. However, ensuring the safety, reliability, and efficiency of these rapidly expanding railway infrastructures requires monitoring of their structural health. Focusing on tracks, traditional visual inspections and portable measuring devices are commonly used to gather geometric data for diagnosing and predicting track defects. In recent years, railway operators worldwide have employed specialized diagnostic vehicles equipped with optical and inertial sensors to collect track data and assess its condition. This approach has revolutionized rail condition assessment by introducing a mobile data acquisition platform for track inspection. Nevertheless, deploying these specialized vehicles disrupts regular rail service, limiting their frequency of operation and the continuous collection of rail data. To address this limitation, this study explores an on-board monitoring (OBM) method that focuses on collecting vibration data from traveling trains. The proposed methodology involves gathering acceleration data from axle boxes of trains running at normal speeds. What sets this approach apart is its use of realistic train models and the consideration of the dynamic interaction between the trains and tracks, which is typically oversimplified. The train model employed is simplified to reduce computational requirements. The identification process relies on sequential Bayesian inference for joint input and state estimation. By estimating the input, the relevant rail roughness profile can be identified, thereby providing information on the presence of isolated defects, such as welded joints and squats, along the track system.
IMPROVING HYBRID MODEL ACCURACY FOR STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS: THE EFFECTS OF PARAMETERIZED JOINT STIFFNESS ON SYSTEM EQUIVALENT MODEL MIXING
Authors: PARK KANG-JAE , PARK YONG-HWA
Published: December 2023

System equivalent model mixing (SEMM) is a hybrid model that integrates experimental data and numerical analysis to obtain an unmeasured degree-of-freedom (DoF). SEMM extends the frequency response functions obtained from experimental data to a finite element method (FEM) model, resulting in a highly accurate and precise hybrid model that enables the measurement of joint behavior and characteristics. By leveraging the precision of experimental data and the expansion of numerical models, SEMM can acquire frequency response functions from inaccessible joints. This approach provides researchers with more complete information on joint behavior and characteristics than traditional modeling approaches that rely solely on either experimental or numerical data, allowing for more accurate and comprehensive analysis. A common method for implementing SEMM involves using a virtual point transformation (VPT) that accounts for the rotational degrees of freedom of the joint by employing three tri-axial sensors near the joint, or by attaching a transmission simulator (TS) to the joint to mitigate the influence of rotational degrees of freedom. However, the accuracy of the expansion DoF using SEMM is determined not only by the initial boundary condition of the analytical model but also by the boundary condition error between the experiment and the analytical model. Therefore, the accurate establishment of system boundary conditions in the numerical model is crucial for SEMM modeling to improve the reliability and correctness of the resulting hybrid model. This paper describes the development of hybrid models for structural analysis by incorporating parameterized joint stiffness to optimize boundary conditions in numerical models and enhance the accuracy of the resulting hybrid models. The accuracy of the proposed approach based on SEMM is evaluated using the frequency response assurance criterion (FRAC). The results show that the FRAC is sensitive to changes in boundary stiffness and that the accuracy of FRFs is directly proportional to the similarity between the numerical and experimental boundaries. To further investigate the impact of the measured DoF, we applied classical sequential sensor placement optimization techniques to select the optimal DoF in the experiment and evaluated their performance accordingly.
Un huerfanito de leyenda. Crítica historiográfica sobre lo que nunca ocurrió con el sismo de Pamplona, Nueva Granada, en 1644.
Authors: Altez Rogelio
Published: December 2023

El 16 de enero de 1644 tuvo lugar un terremoto que dañó severamente a Pamplona, en la Nueva Granada, así como a numerosos pueblos de la región. Sobre este hecho se han entretejido enredos historiográficos que condujeron a la creación de una leyenda sobre una devoción ya existente, la del Niño Huerfanito en esa ciudad, así como también se consolidaron datos científicos sobre efectos del temblor que jamás ocurrieron, como el caso del supuesto daño a Mérida, en la actual Venezuela. Este trabajo se propone revisar tales enredos y desarrollar una mirada crítica sobre el proceso que construyó estos equívocos y estableció una memoria colectiva en tomo a sucesos inexistentes.
La inmigración en la prensa argentina durante el Desarrollismo, 1958-1962
Authors: Redondo Carrero Emilio
Published: December 2023

Hacia finales de la década de 1950, Argentina inició un proyecto de desarrollo económico sin precedentes. En este contexto, la imagen pública de la inmigración mejoró, considerada ahora como el medio más rápido para suministrar mano de obra. El presente artículo investiga esa imagen a través de la prensa y examina los factores concretos que posibilitaron tal mejora, sus límites, y hasta qué punto dicha percepción se ajustó a la realidad de los flujos recibidos.
Storied Hills
Authors: Dębicka-Borek Ewa
Published: December 2023

Taking as the point of departure the Ahobilamāhātmya narratives that depict local hills as Narasiṃha‘s residence, the paper considers those hill narratives as a product of interrelatedness of nature and culture and examines the crucial role such a product may play in vesting Ahobilam with the notion of sacredness. To this end, the narratives‘ ability to mediate various concepts is explored from the wider perspective of cultural ecology of literature, which allows them to be viewed as a site where besides nature and culture other domains can be reintegrated and reconciled, e.g., the elements of local and Brahmanic traditions. In addition, as I argue, such narratives may also convey some shifts in perceiving the landscape.
Transformación productiva e inseguridad alimentaria en zonas de conflicto armado. El caso de María la Baja, Colombia
Authors: Arrieta Flórez Rosaura , Alvis-Arrieta Jorge , Espinosa- Espinosa Aarón
Published: December 2023

El artículo analiza la transformación productiva en el marco del conflicto armado interno co­lombiano y sus efectos sobre las dinámicas  económicas, sociales y ambientales de las poblaciones campesinas de María La Baja (Montes de María). Mediante un análisis cuantitativo se verifican las relaciones intertemporales entre las manifestaciones del conflicto y la expansión y concen­tración de cultivos de palma de aceite, en detrimento de la producción y acceso de alimentos. Así mismo, se documenta el papel de los actores armados en la fase previa de la expansión agroindustrial y su incidencia en el acceso a los alimentos. Se encontró que la expansión de la producción agroindustrial en María La Baja se correlaciona con hechos violentos del conflicto armado. El trabajo pone en valor las visiones territoriales que ayudan a comprender la natura­leza de las transformaciones productivas aupadas por políticas públicas agroempresariales que redujeron la autonomía y autosuficiencia alimentaria en comunidades campesinas.
Bounds and Heuristics for Multiproduct Pricing
Authors: Gallego Guillermo , Berbeglia Gerardo
Published: December 2023

For a large class of demand models that allow for multiple consumer types, we present performance guarantees for simple nonpersonalized pricing heuristics relative to optimal personalized pricing. Our results demonstrate that in a general setting, the effectiveness of pricing along a positive vector depends on how the price vector aligns with optimal personalized price vectors. We propose two positive direction vectors: the “economic” and “robust” directions. The economic direction is a convex combination of the optimal personalized price vectors and aims to do well on average. The robust direction offers the best worst-case performance guarantee. By judiciously selecting pricing directions, our results also provide performance guarantees of simple pricing strategies relative to more sophisticated pricing strategies. In particular, we provide performance guarantees for nonpersonalized, optimal linear pricing relative to optimal nonlinear, personalized pricing. Our research also examines the performance of common heuristics for bundle pricing relative to optimal, personalized, bundle-size pricing. Our experiments show that performance often improves when consumer types are clustered and each cluster is offered a price direction. We compared the performance of the k-means clustering heuristic and the farthest point first clustering heuristic. Our findings indicated that k-means clustering has significantly superior performance on average. This suggests that businesses could potentially benefit from implementing k-means clustering in their pricing strategies. In conclusion, our study offers valuable insights and performance guarantees for various pricing strategies and their relative effectiveness. These findings could inform pricing decisions and potentially lead to improved outcomes for firms.

This paper was accepted by Chung-Piaw Teo, optimization.

Funding: This work was supported by Collaborative Research Funding (CRF) Hong Kong [Grant (CRF) C6032-21G], RGC Hong Kong [Grant 16502819], and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Supplemental Material: The data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2021.04173 .
Local nurse-led outpatient follow-up pathway to identify and meet the needs of ostomates: a service evaluation
Authors: Ndlovu Simekuhle
Published: December 2023

Background:

In the changing face of healthcare, the number of nurse-led clinics has increased. This is also the case for stoma clinics in the UK. Although there is no standardised pathway, ostomates (person living with a stoma) in the UK are routinely followed up either by telephone or face-to-face depending on the need to deliver timely patient care. High-quality care and experience are important determinants of patient satisfaction in healthcare and align with the government's long-term plan, which expects this as standard. Therefore, this study explored the views and needs of ostomates to better understand the experiences and wishes of ostomates that attend a nurse-led clinic at a local hospital.

Background/Aims:

The aim of this study was to evaluate ostomates’ experience of care delivered on the stoma care nurse-led outpatient follow-up pathway.

Methods:

An adapted data collection tool was used to evaluate face-to-face and telephone clinics in a 3-month period (December-February). A non-probability convenience sample of 246 patients who accessed the pathway face to face (n=122) or by telephone (n=124) were surveyed. The questionnaires were sent to consenting respondents who had either a colostomy ileostomy or urostomy.

Results:

A total of 117 questionnaires were returned, with a response rate of 48%. The results showed that 98% of respondents on the face-to-face pathway said the nurse had answered all their questions compared to 80% on the telephone. Nine out of 10 (90%) of respondents were very satisfied with the overall telephone consultation, while only 68% of respondents were very satisfied with the overall face-to-face consultation. Almost all (97%) of ostomates from the face-to-face clinic were happy with the length of their appointment, compared with 81% of those from the telephone clinic. Overall, the respondents are generally happy with the service offered to them and they valued the role of the stoma nurses.

Conclusions:

The service evaluation highlighted several good areas of practice and identified areas that need improvement, including offering preference of type of clinics to ostomates. Both options of face-to-face and telephone consultations could be presented to ostomates to ensure appropriate quality of care. In addition, an action plan has been put in place to improve identified needs.
Crazy, Stupid, Lying, Traitors: Eritrean Politics and Extreme Speech Online
Authors: Bernal Victoria
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT: This essay explores the dynamics of extreme speech online in the context of Eritrea's fraught politics. I find the public sphere that Eritreans in diaspora established on a website as constantly open to collapse and subversion, and thus requiring on-going negotiation among participants. The analysis draws on a close reading of a set of online exchanges in response to a narrative posted on a leading Eritrean news and discussion website. The operation of an open public sphere online is especially significant for Eritreans since there is no right to freedom of expression and no independent media inside the country. In heated exchanges online, people’s identities as Eritreans and their loyalties are questioned in spectacular attempts to silence, intimidate, and exclude certain people or ideas. What I also uncover are the strategies used by some posters and the moderator to assert the value of civil discourse and to keep the public forum open and inclusive. The ways that Eritreans engage in and respond to extreme speech in an online forum are interesting for what they reveal about Eritrean politics, but furthermore shed light on the global issue of extreme speech, digital media, and public spheres.
Springing from the Land of Music: Hollywood's Film Music Between "Austrian" Entertainment and "German" Arts
Authors: Zechner Ingeborg
Published: December 2023

Abstract: The article investigates how national artistic ideologies of German-ness and Austrian-ness were incorporated in Hollywood film music of the 1930s and 1940s and in the general discourse in the American press. It argues that these stereotypes were indeed important in Hollywood's marketing strategies toward the middlebrow, which emerged as a wealthy branch in America's society at the time. Among these strategies was the promotion of film music as a 'serious' art form that was historiographically grounded in a 'German' art music tradition, in contrast to 'Austrian' light musical entertainment.
"Yugoslavia Does Not Exist Anymore, but Yugoslavia's Capital Does, and It Is Called Vienna": Revisiting Vienna through the Lens of (Post-)Yugoslav Migration Practices
Authors: Tyll-Schranz Julia Anna
Published: December 2023

Abstract: Austrian history since the second half of the twentieth century is a history of immigration and thus a history of transregional entanglements. The fact that people from all over the world now live in Austria has changed how events all over the world shape the country's history. This article explores the long history of Vienna as a (post-)Yugoslav city as well as the effect of Yugoslavia's violent disintegration in the 1990s on the city's migrant communities from the region. Revisiting Austria's capital through the lens of (post-)Yugoslav migration practices serves as a case study from which to draw broader conclusions for new directions in Austrian Studies.
Terrains of Struggle: Grounding the Open Field
Authors: Carter Fred
Published: December 2023

Abstract: Grounded in the material and historical specificity of the Durham Coalfield, this essay engages two unlikely modes of field theory: the vein of radical poetry associated with the “open field” in the 1970s, and the parallel resurgence of a vernacular Marxism committed to reorienting the critique of capital “from below.” Tracing the intersection of open field poetics and partisan knowledge through Barry MacSweeney’s Black Torch (1978) and Bill Griffiths’s Coal (1990–91) as practices that come to militate against dominant methods of reading or rendering the coalfield, field theory is recast against a critical terrain of struggle over labor, energy, and infrastructure in the twentieth century.
Active multi-focus vortex beam terahertz encoding metasurface based on Dirac semimetals
Authors: Zhang Huiyun , Lv Xinyu , Jiang Chunyang , Sang Xiaotong , Li Zhenkai , Wang Kun , Sun Xiangzhe , Liu Meng , Ma Huifang , Zhang Yuping
Published: December 2023

An electromagnetic wavefront can be flexibly manipulated by discrete
phase coding on the coding unit. In this paper, we designed two coding
metasurfaces with 1-bit and 3-bit based on active tuning of Dirac
semimetals by controlling the Fermi level (E
F
) with an external polarization
voltage. The size and structure of the metasurface remain unchanged
with this strategy. Both designs were found to be dynamically tunable.
The 1-bit coding metasurface enables beam conversion, single-focus
switching, and switching between single-focus and multi-focus. On the
other hand, the 3-bit coding metasurface enables the switching between
vortex beams and single-beam mirror reflections. These proposed
structures have potential applications in terahertz (THz)
communications and terahertz-focused imaging, opening up new
possibilities for the dynamic modulation of THz waves.