bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nutritional status in pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Kwant Chermaine T. , van der Horst Frans A. L. , Bogaard Harm J. , de Man Frances S. , Vonk Noordegraaf Anton
Published: December 2022

Nutritional deficiencies have been described in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), such as in iron and vitamin D. However, an extensive description of vitamin and mineral status is lacking and until now there is no data on dietary intake in PAH patients. We analyzed blood samples and determined nutritional intake using a food frequency questionnaire (HELIUS) in a cohort of prevalent PAH patients at a single center in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Quality of life (QoL) was assessed by the SF‐36 questionnaire. In total, 37 patients were included (6 males, 31 females; 48 ± 16 years). The dietary intake of sugar was above 25 g in 87% of the patients and fluid intake was above 1500 ml in 78% of the patients. Sodium intake was below 1800 mg in the majority (56%) of the patients. Sugar and fluid intake were linear related. We confirm previously observed deficiencies of iron and vitamin D in our study population. In addition, we observed a functional vitamin B12 deficiency in 29% of patients, which coincided with an increased expression of methylmalonic acid. 60% of patients had a low vitamin K1 status (<0.8 nmol/L). Finally, 40% of patients had selenium levels below <100 μg/L and low selenium levels associated with reduced vitality in these patients. Besides the known deficiencies in iron and vitamin D levels, we observed in a subset of patients signs of vitamin B12, vitamin K1 and selenium deficiencies. There is room for improving dietary intake. Future research aims to demonstrate the clinical importance and reveal the effect of nutritional interventions.
Cognitive and behavioral processes predict anxiety and depression in patients with pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Rawlings Gregg H. , Thompson Andrew R. , Armstrong Iain , Novakova Barbora , Beail Nigel
Published: December 2022

Emotional and psychological difficulties cannot fully be explained by disease‐related factors in people with pulmonary hypertension (PH). This study examined the relationship between anxiety, depression, demographic, objective and subjective PH factors, and self‐reported cognitive and behavioral processes, which have been associated with mood in clinical and nonclinical samples. This is a secondary analysis of baseline data from 77 adults with PH who took part in a randomized controlled trial of a self‐help intervention targeting anxiety in PH. Participants completed self‐report measures including: demographic (age, gender, ethnicity, education, employment) and clinical questionnaire (PH diagnosis, functional class, years since diagnosis), depression (PHQ‐9), anxiety (GAD‐7), health‐related quality of life (emPHAsis‐10), dyspnea (D12), and cognitive and behavioral processes (CBP‐Q) scale. Data were analyzed using correlational and regression analyses. Overall, 70% and 63% of participants scored above the clinical cut off for anxiety and depression, respectively. Demographics were not associated with anxiety or depression. PH‐related factors were correlated with depression but not anxiety. A multiple regression analysis suggested dyspnea and cognitive processes significantly predicted anxiety whereas behavioral processes were not a unique predictor. In contrast, dyspnea and behavioral processes predicted depression whereas cognitive processes did not. While a body of evidence exists demonstrating people with PH are more likely to experience anxiety and depression, less is known about factors that cause and maintain these disorders. Findings highlight the significance of subjective factors that could be a target for screening and psychological treatments for emotional difficulties, such as cognitive behavioral therapy.
Vagus nerve‐guided (modified Bai‐Jiang‐style) robotic‐assisted laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection
Authors: Bai Dou‐Sheng , Jin Sheng‐Jie , Zhou Bao‐Huan , Xiang Xiao‐Xing , Qian Jian‐Jun , Zhang Chi , Gao Tian‐Ming , Jiang Guo‐Qing
Published: December 2022

Background

How to precisely protect and preserve anterior and posterior vagal trunks and all their branches during the procedure of splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection is studied rarely. We firstly developed a vagus nerve‐guided robotic‐assisted laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection (VGRSD). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether VGRSD is feasible and safe and to determine whether VGRSD can effectively eliminate postoperative digestive system complications by protecting vagal nerve precisely.

Method

In this prospective clinical study, 10 cirrhotic patients with oesophagogastric variceal bleeding and hypersplenism who underwent VGRSD between January 2022 and March 2022 were gathered, and compared with a retrospective cohort who received a part of the vagus nerve‐preserving robotic‐assisted laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection (VPRSD). They were all followed up for 6 months.

Results

In VGRSD group, the operation time was 173.5 ± 16.2 min, blood loss was 68.0 ± 39.1 ml, VAS pain score on the first day was 1.9 ± 0.7, and the postoperative hospital stay was 7.7 ± 0.7 days. There was no incisional complications, pneumonia, gastric fistula, pancreatic fistula, and abdominal infection. No patients suffered from diarrhoea, delayed gastric emptying, and epigastric fullness. Compared with VPRSD, operation time was significantly longer for VGRSD (p < 0.05). However, VGRSD was significantly associated with less diarrhoea and shorter postoperative hospital stay (all p < 0.05).

Conclusion

VGRSD procedure is not only technically feasible and safe, it also effectively eliminate postoperative digestive system complications.

Trial registration

We registered our research at https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/. The name of research registered is ‘Vagus Nerve‐guided Robotic‐assisted Splenectomy and Azygoportal Disconnection’. The trial registration identifier at clinicaltrials.gov is NCT05300516.
Fully distributed event‐driven cooperation with unknown parameters under directed graphs
Authors: Liu Shu , Sun Jiayue , Zhang Huaguang
Published: December 2022

In this article, a novel fully distributed dynamic event‐driven strategy is designed for linear multi‐agent systems (MASs) containing unknown parameters under general directed graphs. Each agent can achieve consensus asymptotically by communicating with its neighbors and does not need to use global information, so the proposed dynamic event‐driven algorithm can work in a fully distributed manner. Existing fully distributed event‐based consensus works rely on two or more event monitoring conditions. Too much event monitoring logic will put an extra computational burden on the MASs; instead, for the first time, this article proposes a fully distributed event‐driven strategy with a single event monitoring condition under directed graphs. In addition, the proposed strategy (adaptive control law and event monitoring condition) does not involve the dynamics parameters of MASs and provides better applicability. Finally, we rule out Zeno behavior by showing that any adjacent event interval for each agent is greater than zero. The simulations verify our results.
Network aspects of integrating 5G and satellite communication
Authors: Norp Toon , Fine Jean‐Yves , Djapic Relja
Published: December 2022

Since 2017, 3rd Generation Partnership Program (3GPP) is working on integration of satellite communication in 3GPP. This paper discusses the results of the work on service and network architecture aspects in 3GPP Technical Specification Group (TSG) Service and System Aspects (SA) and 3GPP TSG Core Networks and Terminals (CT). This paper does not discuss radio aspects as are specified in 3GPP TSG radio access network (RAN). 3GPP first specified requirements and use cases for satellite access. Subsequently, architecture and protocol specifications were created for integration scenarios, direct access, network selection, mobility management, and satellite backhaul with quality of service (QoS). Also, impacts of regulatory aspects on satellite integration have been discussed in 3GPP. With the completion of Release 17, 3GPP specifications are now ready for implementation of integrated 5G satellite networks. 3GPP will continue with further development of satellite integration in Release 18 and Release 19.
Sample processing by Bi‐FIB for in situ TOF‐SIMS imaging of buried interfaces
Authors: Iida Shin‐ichi , Fisher Gregory L. , Miyayama Takuya
Published: December 2022

Focused ion beam (FIB) is commonly used as a standard machining technique in failure analysis, quality control, reverse engineering, material research, and so on, for the samples having microstructures and nanostructures. FIB combined with time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF‐SIMS), so‐called FIB‐TOF, has attracted attention as a method to determine the three‐dimensional (3D) chemical distributions of complex samples. In general, a highly focused Ga+ ion beam is used for FIB, however, the FIB‐milled area is limited and it was difficult to expand the Ga‐FIB to hundreds of micron length scale for sample fabrication. In order to overcome the drawback, we proposed the Bi‐FIB approach for large scale sample cross‐sectioning. Although the possibility of Bi‐FIB has been reported, there were almost no performance examinations as well as practical applications. In this study, therefore, the authors summarize the comparison of milling rate and milling damage between Ga‐FIB and Bi‐FIB. As a result, it was found that Bi‐FIB can provide a higher milling rate with thinner milling damage. Finally, the Bi‐FIB approach was applied to the interfacial analysis of all‐solid‐state battery (ASSB) material. With this approach, the detailed chemical distributions at the interface were discovered, leading to the better understanding of battery behaviors.
Swarming Magnetic Microrobots for Pathogen Isolation from Milk
Authors: Mayorga‐Martinez Carmen C. , Castoralova Marketa , Zelenka Jaroslav , Ruml Tomas , Pumera Martin
Published: December 2022

Bovine mastitis produced by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) causes major problems in milk production due to the staphylococcal enterotoxins produced by this bacterium. These enterotoxins are stable and cannot be eradicated easily by common hygienic procedures once they are formed in dairy products. Here, magnetic microrobots (MagRobots) are developed based on paramagnetic hybrid microstructures loaded with IgG from rabbit serum that can bind and isolate S. aureus from milk in a concentration of 3.42 104 CFU g−1 (allowable minimum level established by the United States Food and Drug Administration, FDA). Protein A, which is present on the cell wall of S. aureus, selectively binds IgG from rabbit serum and loads the bacteria onto the surface of the MagRobots. The selective isolation of S. aureus is confirmed using a mixed suspension of S. aureus and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Moreover, this fuel‐free system based on magnetic robots does not affect the natural milk microbiota or add any toxic compound resulting from fuel catalysis. This system can be used to isolate and transport efficiently S. aureus and discriminate it from nontarget bacteria for subsequent identification. Finally, this system can be scaled up for industrial use in food production.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties Evaluation of Microalloyed Low‐Carbon Reduced Activation Ferritic/Martensitic Steel
Authors: Cao Haibo , Chen Wei
Published: December 2022

A novel method for reducing the amount of M23C6 carbides, increasing the amount of MX carbonitrides, and decreasing the coarsening rate of M23C6 carbides is put forward to improve the high‐temperature properties of reduced activation ferritic/martensitic (RAFM) steel. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, tensile tests, and impact tests are used to systematically investigate the microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of RAFM (RAFM‐0.1C) steel, low‐carbon RAFM (RAFM‐0.04C) steel, and minor boron and nitrogen microalloyed low‐carbon RAFM (RAFM‐CBN) steel. Some δ ferrite develops when C decreases from 0.1 to 0.04 wt% and subsequently disappears after 0.01 wt% N addition. The amount and size of M23C6 carbides and dislocation density decrease with the decrease of C (RAFM‐0.04C), while the amount of MX carbonitrides is 2‐3 times, and dislocation density is ≈2 times higher than that of RAFM‐0.04C steel after 0.01 wt% N addition (RAFM‐CBN). Compared with RAFM‐0.1C steel, the yield strength at room temperature and 550 °C slightly decreases for RAFM‐0.04C steel and considerably increases for RAFM‐CBN steel. The contributions of microalloy on strengthening mechanisms of RAFM steel at room temperature are also systematically revealed by combining the experimental and theoretical data.
Validation of stricture length, duration and obstructive symptoms as predictors for intervention in ileal stricturing Crohn's disease
Authors: El Ouali Sara , Baker Mark E. , Lyu Ruishen , Fletcher Joel G. , Bruining David H. , Holubar Stefan D. , Click Benjamin , Qazi Taha , Cohen Benjamin L. , Rieder Florian ,   Stenosis Therapy and Anti‐Fibrotic Research (STAR) Consortium
Published: December 2022

Background

Risk factors for intervention in terminal ileal (TI) stricturing Crohn's disease (CD) are poorly defined. Novel and rigorous definitions for TI strictures recently became available.

Objective

We aimed to describe the rates of symptoms or need for endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) or surgery as well as risk factors of progression in a well‐defined stricturing CD cohort.

Methods

Consecutive adult patients with non‐penetrating stricturing TI CD, as defined by centrally‐read magnetic resonance enterography CONSTRICT criteria, were separated into a derivation and validation cohort. Clinical and imaging characteristics were collected following prespecified scoring conventions. Primary outcome was a composite endpoint of EBD or surgery (“intervention”). Multivariable analysis was performed.

Results

Eighty‐six patients (48.8% female, median age 36 years) met selection criteria, 17.4% had prior EBD, 59.3% previously received biologics and 58.1% of strictures were anastomotic. Median follow‐up was 63.4 [95% CI: 57, 68.9] months. In the derivation cohort, at 12 and 48 months, 26% and 45% of patients had intervention, respectively. Multivariable analysis showed obstructive symptoms (Hazard ratio [HR] 1.444; 95% CI 1.126–1.852), stricture duration (HR 0.974; 95% CI, 0.954–0.995) and length (HR 1.039; 95% CI, 1.011–1.069) predicted intervention. The concordance index for split‐sample validation was 0.74 and 0.67, respectively. Biologics were not associated with intervention. An online risk calculator was constructed.

Conclusion

In patients with TI stricturing CD, 26% and 45% required intervention at 1 and 4 years. Obstructive symptoms, stricture duration and length were independent and validated predictors of the need for intervention. These findings are important for clinical practice and aid in the design of future trials for CD strictures.
New perspectives on historical climatology
Authors: White Sam , Pei Qing , Kleemann Katrin , Dolák Lukáš , Huhtamaa Heli , Camenisch Chantal
Published: December 2022

Historical climatology is an interdisciplinary field of research encompassing the reconstruction of past climate and weather from written sources and artifacts, as well the application of climate reconstructions to the study of human history. Historical climatology has grown in recent years, and this growth has brought both insights and challenges. Research has expanded into new regions and periods and diversified into novel sources, methods, and interdisciplinary collaborations. At the same time, the heterogeneity of evidence and approaches has complicated the integration of multiple climate and weather reconstructions. Moreover, the diversity of disciplinary perspectives, terminologies, and perspectives can create miscommunication among scholars in the field, particularly on issues of historical knowledge and causation. Innovative approaches in the field, including Bayesian methods, may help address these challenges.

This article is categorized under:

Climate, History, Society, Culture > Disciplinary Perspectives

Climate, History, Society, Culture > World Historical Perspectives

Assessing Impacts of Climate Change > Representing Uncertainty

The Social Status of Climate Change Knowledge > Knowledge and Practice
Design of a new polyethersulfone nanofiltration membrane with anti‐fouling properties using supported protic ionic liquid modification for dye/salt removal
Authors: Gholami Foad , Ghanizadeh Ghader , Zinatizadeh Ali Akbar , Zinadini Sirus , Masoumbeigi Hossein
Published: December 2022

Facile techniques to fabricate the nanofiltration membranes with ideal molecular sieving is one of the most interesting subjects in membrane separation technology. In this study, the application of modified graphene oxide (GO) with triethylenetetramine (TETA), CuFe2O4, and acetic acid (AC) (supported GO‐TETA‐CuFe2O4@AC) as a supported protic ionic liquid (PIL) modifier for polyethersulfone (PES) membrane was evaluated to approve the improvement of anti‐fouling properties and wastewater rejection of the fabricated membranes. To enhance the key properties of graphene oxide, it was modified by hydrophilic nanomaterials (TETA‐CuFe2O4). High flux and promising flux recovery ratio (up to 95% compared to the unmodified membrane) can be observed in the modified membranes. The modified membranes by GO‐TETA‐CuFe2O4@AC were studied at optimum concentrations (0.5 wt.%) for salt rejection and different dyes. The obtained data indicated that the modified membranes by GO‐TETA‐CuFe2O4@AC indicated higher salt removal (up to 97% for BaCl2 than the unmodified membrane), which was related to the efficient modification. The obtained pure water flux (PWF) for bare and optimal modified membrane from 13.11 to 27.87 kg/m2·h, respectively. To exact evaluate the effect of membrane modification on performance examination, the modified membranes were evaluated for chlorine resistance testing. This study aimed to develop cost‐effective nanofiltration (NF) membranes with high anti‐fouling properties and to determine the maximum filtration capacity of in‐time dyes and salts in effluents.

Practitioner Points

A GO‐TETA‐CuFe2O4 mixed matrix membrane was prepared for removal of salts and dyes.

The effect of GO‐TETA‐CuFe2O4 enhanced the hydrophilicity and porosity.

The membrane exhibited superior antifouling properties and ions rejection.
Effects of a modern exhibit design on captive tiger welfare
Authors: Smith Kirsten D. , Snider Richard J. , Dembiec Daniel P. , Siegford Janice M. , Ali Ahmed B.
Published: December 2022

Offering captive animals larger, more complex spaces are thought to benefit their welfare. To this end, some zoos use trail systems linked to several enclosures. Since little is known about the effects of such designs on the welfare of captive carnivores specifically, we timed the behaviors exhibited by four tigers (Panthera tigris [Linnaeus]) given access to three exhibit configurations: one exhibit only (E, baseline); one exhibit and approximately 19 m2 of trail (ET); and two exhibits connected by approximately 46 m2 of trail (E2T). Behaviors were recorded during 1‐h AM, Noon, and PM periods in Phase I (2017), and 2‐h AM and PM periods in Phase II (2018). Percentages of behavior occurrence were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models (GLMM), with treatment and time of day as fixed effects. Tigers were least active at noon (Phase I), while active behaviors were prevalent during mornings and afternoons in both Phases. In Phase II (E2T vs. E), active and exploratory behaviors such as sniffing increased, while pacing and inactivity decreased (all p ≤ .001). We also examined nocturnal tiger movement using infrared motion‐activated cameras. In parallel with diurnal observations, tiger activity in E2T greatly exceeded that in E. Nocturnal movement was most pronounced from 1800 to 2200 and least frequent from 0100 to 0400, closely matching patterns observed in the wild. Results indicate that offering tigers voluntary access to larger and more complex spaces stimulates natural behaviors and decreases stereotypical behaviors.
International Relations and Military Sciences
Authors: Roennfeldt Carsten F.
Published: December 2022

For all who consider war a political instrument it should be clear that the role and missions of armed forces can only be properly understood in the context of international relations whereby military professionals must have a solid understanding of this subject. This chapter reaches out to students at military and civilian educational institutions and offers a big-picture introduction to the academic field of International Relations (IR) with emphasis on military matters. It does so by presenting four major debates that highlight key questions and divergent theories and approaches that have shaped this field. The second part of the chapter relates these debates to IR’s scientific foundation in a way that can inspire current academic endeavors to develop the military sciences.
Thinking About Failing
Authors: Jancovich Leila , Stevenson David
Published: December 2022

This chapter explores how academic researchers have understood the concept of failure. The chapter focuses on public policy literature to develop an understanding of the relational and contextual nature of success and failure. After a brief discussion on what we can understand by cultural policy and who has a role in its inception and delivery, this chapter considers the ways in which academics have attempted to define what policy failure constitutes and how we might identify its occurrence. This chapter also reflects upon the relationship between failure and learning. Here, we highlight that the fields of business and entrepreneurship have undertaken the most work to understand the opportunities that learning from failure can afford.
The Failures of Policy
Authors: Jancovich Leila , Stevenson David
Published: December 2022

This chapter examines the purpose of cultural participation policies from the perspective of those who design and deliver them. It considers whether policymakers are open to the possibility of failure, both in terms of those whom they fund but also in relation to their own work and asks whether the context within which they work may support or hinder this openness. Finally, this chapter considers the types of failure that are acknowledged and how we can address learning from these failures that do occur. Throughout this chapter, we return to Creative People and Places as an example of policy in practice to illustrate key points in our analysis.
Failing the Participant
Authors: Jancovich Leila , Stevenson David
Published: December 2022

This chapter focuses on participants; the supposed beneficiary of cultural participation polices. We argue that literature on cultural participation too often overlooks the participants’ narratives. This chapter thus considers how the participant frames their own participation and how they define their success and failure in relation to the work that supports it. It examines this situation both in relation to work that professionals facilitate and the work of volunteers. Finally, it considers the implications of these different working styles for policymakers. Fun Palaces serves as the illustrative example of an ongoing participatory project throughout this chapter.
A Failure Framework
Authors: Jancovich Leila , Stevenson David
Published: December 2022

This chapter synthesises the findings from our research and introduces a new framework for discussing and evaluating failure in relation to cultural participation projects and policies. In it, we argue for the importance of acknowledging that any given project or policy can succeed or fail in different facets, to different degrees, for different people, and over different timescales. We then offer some thoughts about how the policymaking process might adapt to encourage greater recognition of this complexity, including the inevitable presence of failures.
Firms’ influence on the evolution of published knowledge when a science-related technology emerges: the case of artificial intelligence
Authors: Jee Su Jung , Sohn So Young
Published: December 2022

Firms with the assets complementary to Artificial Intelligence (AI) have actively conducted AI research and selectively published their results since AI has resurged around 2006. Focusing on the recent AI development, we investigate how and to what extent firms’ deep engagement in the publication of emerging science-related technology can influence the evolution of published knowledge. Using bibliometric analyses applied to the papers in major AI conferences and journals, we find that papers with at least one author affiliated to a firm, and particularly papers with only firm-affiliated author(s), have had higher influence on the formation of published knowledge trajectory than other papers. In addition, papers from firm and non-firm (university and public research institution) collaborations show higher novelty and conventionality than other papers. These findings deepen our understanding of the role of firms in the evolution of emerging science-related technology.
Current role of systematic biopsy in diagnosis of clinically significant prostate cancer in primary combined MRI-targeted biopsy: a high-volume single-center study
Authors: Krausewitz Philipp , Fostitsch Dorothea , Weiten Richard , Kluemper Niklas , Stein Johannes , Luetkens Julian , Kristiansen Glen , Ellinger Jörg , Ritter Manuel
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Additive systematic biopsy (SB) contributes to prostate cancer (PCA) detection in MRI-targeted biopsy (TB). However, the reasons for this are not yet clear. We compared the performance of TB, SB and the combined approach (CB) in biopsy-naive men to determine the added value of SB for tumor grading and spatial tumor distribution.

Methods

Two hundred and fifty-nine men with PI-RADS 3–5 graded lesions who underwent CB were enrolled. Data were prospectively collected, and cancer detection rates (CDR) were compared at patient and lesion level. Gleason grade up- and down-grading from biopsy to prostatectomy specimens (n = 56; 21.6%) were determined. Clinically significant cancer (csPCA) was defined as Gleason grade ≥ 2.

Results

CDR by CB based on PI-RADS categories 3, 4 and 5 for PCA were 24%, 72% and 98% and 17%, 64% and 96% for csPCA. CB detected more PCA and csPCA than TB (p < 0.001). However, TB showed higher efficiency, defined as CDR per biopsy core, for PCA and csPCA in PI-RADS 4–5 rated patients (p < 0.001). Concordance between biopsy and prostatectomy grading was highest in CB with misdiagnosis of csPCA in 25% of men. TB missed cancer attributed to the index lesion in 10.2% and underestimated csPCA in 7%. In these cases, 76% of csPCA were detected and 85% were upgraded to csPCA by SB in adjacent sectors.

Conclusion

SB cannot be safely abundant without increased diagnostic uncertainty. When TB missed csPCA, SB detected it close to the MRI-target lesion. Therefore, perifocal biopsies could potentially replace 12-core SB with increased efficiency in taking manageable risks.
Stature estimation by semi-automatic measurements of 3D CT images of the femur
Authors: Kira Kei , Chiba Fumiko , Makino Yohsuke , Torimitsu Suguru , Yamaguchi Rutsuko , Tsuneya Shigeki , Motomura Ayumi , Yoshida Maiko , Saitoh Naoki , Inokuchi Go , Hoshioka Yumi , Saitoh Hisako , Yajima Daisuke , Iwase Hirotaro
Published: December 2022

Stature estimation is one of the most basic and important methods of personal identification. The long bones of the limbs provide the most accurate stature estimation, with the femur being one of the most useful. In all the previously reported methods of stature estimation using computed tomography (CT) images of the femur, laborious manual measurement was necessary. A semi-automatic bone measuring method can simplify this process, so we firstly reported a stature estimation process using semi-automatic bone measurement software equipped with artificial intelligence. Multiple measurements of femurs of adult Japanese cadavers were performed using automatic three-dimensional reconstructed CT images of femurs. After manually setting four points on the femur, an automatic measurement was acquired. The relationships between stature and five femoral measurements, with acceptable intraobserver and interobserver errors, were analyzed with single regression analysis using the standard error of the estimate (SEE) and the coefficient of determination (R2). The maximum length of the femur (MLF) provided the lowest SEE and the highest R2; the SEE and R2 in all cadavers, males and females, respectively, were 3.913 cm (R2 = 0.842), 3.664 cm (R2 = 0.705), and 3.456 cm (R2 = 0.686) for MLF on the right femur, and 3.837 cm (R2 = 0.848), 3.667 cm (R2 = 0.705), and 3.384 cm (R2 = 0.699) for MLF on the left femur. These results were non-inferior to those of previous reports regarding stature estimation using the MLF. Stature estimation with this simple and time-saving method would be useful in forensic medical practice.
52 Jahre Erfahrungen mit Transidentität
Authors: Rauchfleisch Udo
Published: December 2022

Der Autor gibt einen Überblick über seine 52-jährigen Erfahrungen mit transidenten Personen. Vieles hat sich im Sinne der Entpathologisierung in Diagnostik und Begleitung von transidenten Personen verändert. Nach wie vor sind transidente Personen jedoch in unserer cisheteronormativen Gesellschaft Diskriminierungen ausgesetzt und, mit zunehmender Sichtbarkeit, vermehrt Ziel von Hass und Gewalt. Insgesamt bewegt sich der Diskurs zwischen Psychotherapeut:innen und transidenten Personen stärker als früher „auf Augenhöhe“. Dennoch sind transidente Personen nach wie vor in vielfältiger Weise abhängig von Fachleuten, wenn es um die Bewilligung juristischer und körperlicher Transitionsschritte geht. In den letzten Jahren sind zwei Themen besonders aktuell geworden: die vermehrte Zahl von transidenten Kindern und Jugendlichen und das Thema Nonbinarität, obwohl beide bereits in den 1970er- und 1980er-Jahren von erwachsenen transidenten Personen erwähnt worden sind. Die Psychoanalyse hat sich erst seit Beginn des 21. Jahrhunderts, vor allem unter dem Einfluss der Queer Theory, ernsthaft mit der Transidentität auseinandergesetzt und hat sich in Richtung Entpathologisierung entwickelt. Dennoch sind transidente Kolleg:innen unter den psychoanalytischen Ausbildungskandidat:innen nach wie vor deutlich unterrepräsentiert.
Three age ranges of Cenozoic basaltic rocks from Lower Silesia (SW Poland) based on 40Ar/39Ar step-heating data
Authors: Pańczyk Magdalena , Nawrocki Jerzy , Aleksandrowski Paweł , Przybylski Bogusław
Published: December 2022

The precise ages of Cenozoic basaltic rocks from 20 localities (24 samples) in south-western Poland were studied by means of the 40Ar/39Ar isotope method. Three phases of volcanic activity were identified in this area. The older, Ruphelian phase took place 31–29 Ma ago and the younger, Aquitanian phase occurred 22–21 Ma ago. Significantly younger ages (4.8–4.6 Ma: Zanclean phase) were obtained for the basalts cropping out in the vicinity of Lądek Zdrój only. Most of the analyzed basalts from the Ruphelian phase are classified as nephelinites. They occur in the area of Lausitz Masif, south of Sudetic Marginal Fault and in the Opole Depression. The volcanic rocks from the Aquitanian phase crop out in the wide area north of the Sudetic Marginal Fault. They are composed of alkali basalts. The youngest phase is represented by the basanites only. The deep discontinuous tectonic structures intersecting the areas of volcanic activity in SW Poland, parallel or oblique to the tectonic stress directions previously reconstructed for the Oligocene and Miocene in the Bohemian Massif, were most probably reactivated by an extension approximately parallel or slightly oblique to them, thus opening pathways for the migration of basaltic magma in the Sudetes and their foreland.
Predictors of five-repetition sit-to-stand test performance in patients with lumbar degenerative disease
Authors: Klukowska Anita M. , Staartjes Victor E. , Vandertop W. Peter , Schröder Marc L.
Published: December 2022

Background

The five-repetition sit-to-stand test (5R-STS) has recently been validated as an objective measure of functional impairment in patients with lumbar degenerative disease (LDD). Knowledge of factors influencing 5R-STS performance is useful to correct for confounders, create personalized adjusted test times, and potentially identify prognostic subgroups. We evaluate factors predicting the 5R-STS performance in patients with LDD.

Methods

Patients with LDD requiring surgery were included. Each participant performed the 5R-STS and completed a questionnaire that included their age, gender, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, education level, employment type, ability to work, analgesic drug usage, history of previous spinal surgery, and EQ5D depression and anxiety domain. Surgical indication and index level of the spinal pathology were also recorded. Predictors of 5R-STS were identified through multivariable linear regression.

Results

The cohort consisted of 240 patients, 47.9% being female (mean age, 47.7 ± 13.6 years). In the final multivariable model incorporating confounders, height (regression coefficient (RC), 0.08; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.003/0.16, p = 0.042) and being an active smoker (RC, 2.44; 95%CI, 0.56/4.32, p = 0.012) were significant predictors of worse 5R-STS performance. Full ability to work (RC, − 2.39; 95%CI, − 4.39/ − 0.39, p = 0.020) was associated with a better 5R-STS performance. Age, height, surgical indication, index level of pathology, history of previous spine surgery, history of pain, analgesic drug use, employment type, and severity of anxiety and depression symptoms demonstrated confounding effect on the 5R-STS time.

Conclusions

Greater height, being an active smoker, and inability to work are significant predictors of worse 5R-STS performance in patients with LDD.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03303300 and NCT03321357.
Determination of equilibria constants of arginine:glycine amidinotransferase (AGAT)-catalyzed reactions using concentrations of circulating amino acids
Authors: Tsikas Dimitrios
Published: December 2022

Arginine:glycine amidinotransferase (AGAT) catalyzes mainly two reactions that generate 1) L-homoarginine (hArg) from L-arginine and L-lysine (Kharg) and 2) guanidinoacetate (GAA) and L-ornithine from L-arginine and glycine (Kgaa). Previously, we found that pharmacological treatment of Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) patients with metformin or L-citrulline resulted in antidromic effects on serum hArg and GAA concentrations, seemingly acting as an inhibitor and effector of AGAT activity, respectively. Here, we used data of this study as a model to determine Kharg and Kgaa values by using the concentrations of the participating amino acids measured in serum samples of the BMD patients. The study aimed to prove the general utility of this approach to investigate effects of amino acids and drugs on AGAT-catalyzed reactions in vivo in humans.
Feasibility of a Morphing Rocket Nozzle for Thrust Vector Control based on Corrugated Composite Laminates
Authors: Airoldi Alessandro , Boiocchi Matteo , Natali Maurizio , Mirani Chiara , Di Pancrazio Luca , Consiglio Gabriele , Ballarin Pietro , Riva Marco
Published: December 2022

The paper presents technological, experimental and numerical studies aimed at the development of a morphing nozzle in composite material with a deformable divergent section, which is designed to control the vector of thrust in rockets without using mechanisms or localized flexible joints. The nozzle design is characterized by corrugated composite walls and longitudinal elements that make possible a separation of load paths involved in bending response, bearing of internal pressures and related force resultants. Mechanical requirements and conditions of pressure, temperature and gas velocity in the morphing part of the nozzle are defined by selecting and investigating two potential application scenarios. Thereafter, both technological aspects and the assessment of mechanical performances are addressed by designing, manufacturing and testing a composite demonstrator with morphing capabilities. A lightweight and flexible thermal protection system is proposed, designed and numerically analyzed. Finally, a virtual demonstrator of the composite morphing nozzle is developed. Results point out the possibility of manufacturing composite elements with axial load bearing capability that may undergo significant bending deformation without failures. The integration of a flexible thermal protection systems leads to a promising concept for the development of innovative morphing nozzle for rocket engine applications.
COVID vaccine stigma: detecting stigma across social media platforms with computational model based on deep learning
Authors: Straton Nadiya
Published: December 2022

The study presents the first computational model of COVID vaccine stigma that can identify stigmatised sentiment with a high level of accuracy and generalises well across a number of social media platforms. The aim of the study is to understand the lexical features that are prevalent in COVID vaccine discourse and disputes between anti-vaccine and pro-vaccine groups. This should provide better insight for healthcare authorities, enabling them to better navigate those discussions. The study collected posts and their comments related to COVID vaccine sentiment in English, from Reddit, Twitter, and YouTube, for the period from April 2020 to March 2021. The labels used in the model, “stigma”, “not stigma”, and “undefined”, were collected from a smaller Facebook (Meta) dataset and successfully propagated into a larger dataset from Reddit, Twitter, and YouTube. The success of the propagation task and consequent classification is a result of state-of-the-art annotation scheme and annotated dataset. Deep learning and pre-trained word vector embedding significantly outperformed traditional algorithms, according to two-tailed P(T≤t) test and achieved F1 score of 0.794 on the classification task with three classes. Stigmatised text in COVID anti-vaccine discourse is characterised by high levels of subjectivity, negative sentiment, anxiety, anger, risk, and healthcare references. After the first half of 2020, anti-vaccination stigma sentiment appears often in comments to posts attempting to disprove COVID vaccine conspiracy theories. This is inconsonant with previous research findings, where anti-vaccine people stayed primarily within their own in-group discussions. This shift in the behaviour of the anti-vaccine movement from affirming climates to ones with opposing opinions will be discussed and elaborated further in the study.
Probabilistic linguistic evolutionary game with risk perception in applications to carbon emission reduction decision making
Authors: Hao Zhinan , Wang Xiang , Zhang Yaojia , Zhang Ren
Published: December 2022

Carbon emission reduction, an effective way to facilitate carbon neutrality, has gained increasing attention in government policy and scientific research. However, the establishment of a sustainable carbon emission reduction market is a complex game between governments and enterprises. In addition, it is difficult to obtain precise evaluations of the political and environmental factors in most cases. Irrational enterprises with a profit-seeking nature bring challenges to the strategy selection. To bridge this gap, we propose a probabilistic linguistic evolutionary game to model strategic behavior in carbon emission reduction assistant decision making. First, we introduce a probabilistic linguistic payoff matrix to describe the uncertain payoffs of players. A new distance measure for the probabilistic variables is also proposed to construct the prospect payoff matrix in the prospect theory framework. Then, the evolutionary dynamics and the probabilistic linguistic evolutionary stability of the proposed methods are analyzed. A comprehensive case study for carbon emission reduction with comparisons is presented for validation.
Financialization and Sustainable Credit: Lessons from Non-Intermediated Transactions?
Authors: Svetiev Y. , Dermineur E. , Kolanisi U.
Published: December 2022

Does increasing access to finance promote human flourishing? And if so, are there pathways to sustainable credit and finance in the face of the perceived excesses of financialization? Can we reform or regulate the financial sector to promote sustainable credit and avoid over-indebtedness? These and similar questions have attracted considerable scholarly and public debate in the aftermath of the 2007 global financial crisis, with a growing focus on institutional alternatives to market exchange in finance and beyond. In this article, we study the persistence of non-intermediated credit, whereby lenders and borrowers engage in transactions directly and without financial intermediaries. Peer lending was a mainstay source of credit prior to the emergence of financial intermediaries and our benchmark case study outlines common features of credit relationships before modern banking in Europe. The other two case studies come from jurisdictions where non-intermediated credit persists on a broad scale, despite parties having formal access to modern finance. The aim of our contribution is threefold. First, we identify features of non-intermediated transactions that are consistent with a notion of sustainable credit, in the sense that they are not destabilising for the transacting parties (or the broader community). Secondly, we highlight the normative mechanisms that support non-intermediated credit across different settings to identify the scope conditions and limits for such transactions. Third, we evaluate such credit transactions along a set of normative benchmarks to draw out lessons for contemporary finance and financial regulation. We argue that even if non-intermediated credit cannot provide an alternative to modern finance, such transactions can help financial institutions tailor products to the needs of specific consumers or outsource credit assessment and repayment, while also allowing policymakers and regulators to identify and resolve concrete credit access problems for disadvantaged communities.
Student and the Lanarkshire milk experiment
Authors: Senn Stephen
Published: December 2022

A detailed examination of the 1930 Lanarkshire Milk Experiment (LME) by the famous statistician William Sealy Gossett (“Student”), which appeared in Biometrika in 1931, is re-examined from a more modern perspective. The LME had a complicated design whereby 67 schools in Lanarkshire were allocated to receive either raw or pasteurised milk but pupils within the schools were allocated to either receive milk or to act as controls. Student’s criticisms are considered in detail and examined in terms of subsequent developments on the design and analysis of experiments, in particular as regards appropriate estimation of standard errors of treatment estimates when an incomplete blocks structure has been used. An analogy with a more modern trial in osteoarthritis is made. Suggestions are made as to how analysis might proceed if the original data were available. Some lessons for observational studies in epidemiology are drawn and it is speculated that hidden clustering structures might be an explanation as to why results may vary from observational study to observational study by more than conventionally calculated standard errors might suggest.
Embedded in the Bark: Kimberley Boab Trees as Sites of Historical Archaeology
Authors: K. Frederick Ursula , Balme Jane , Jamieson Jeffrey , Marshall Melissa , O’Connor Sue
Published: December 2022

This paper discusses the Australian boab tree and its potential for research as living historical archaeology. Boab trees play an important role in the economy, culture, and cosmology of Indigenous people in northwest Australia and continue to hold a powerful presence in the Kimberley region today. Working with Nyikina and Mangala Traditional Owners we have undertaken to document examples of this iconic tree and its cultural and historical associations, particularly in the form of carvings and inscriptions embedded in the bark. Focusing on four individual trees located in the Kimberley region of northwest Australia, we propose that the modification of boab trees, as a practice undertaken by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, offers important insights into the everyday lives and historic events that shaped this cultural landscape.
Photopyroelectric Investigation of the trans–cis Isomerization Effect on the Nematic- Isotropic Phase Transition of a Liquid Crystalline Azobenzene
Authors: Paoloni S. , Mercuri F. , Zammit U. , Orazi N.
Published: December 2022

Photopyroelectric calorimetry has been applied to the study of the effects of different concentration of photo-induced cis isomeric molecules on the characteristics of the nematic – isotropic phase transition in p,p’-diheptylazobenzene (7AB) samples. The investigations could be carried out by monitoring the behavior of the thermal diffusivity over the phase transition before and during the sample irradiation with UV light of varying intensity. Among other, it is shown that the monitoring of the time dependence of the thermal diffusivity at fixed sample temperature enabled the comparative study of the dynamics of the trans–cis and cis–trans isomeric transitions. It was shown that the increasing cis isomers concentration caused an increase in the fraction of material undergoing the phase transitions and increased the cis–trans conversion rate. Finally, polarization microscopy observations of the sample texture, which could be carried out together with the calorimetric evaluations proved useful for a more comprehensive analysis of the obtained results.
Generic Exact Combinatorial Search at HPC Scale
Authors: MacGregor Ruairidh , Archibald Blair , Trinder Phil
Published: December 2022

Exact combinatorial search is essential to a wide range of important applications, and there are many large problems that need to be solved quickly. Searches are extremely challenging to parallelise due to a combination of factors, e.g. searches are non-deterministic, dynamic pruning changes the workload, and search tasks have very different runtimes. YewPar is a C++/HPX framework that generalises parallel search by providing a range of sophisticated search skeletons.This paper demonstrates generic high performance combinatorial search, i.e. that a variety of exact combinatorial searches can be easily parallelised for HPC using YewPar. We present a new mechanism for profiling key aspects of YewPar parallel combinatorial search, and demonstrate its value. We exhibit, for the first time, generic exact combinatorial searches at HPC scale. We baseline YewPar against state-of-the-art sequential C++ and C++/OpenMP implementations. We demonstrate that deploying YewPar on an HPC system can dramatically reduce the runtime of large problems, e.g. from days to just 100s. The maximum relative speedups we achieve for an enumeration search are near-linear up to 195(6825) compute-nodes(workers), super-linear for an optimisation search on up to 128(4480) (pruning reduces the workload), and sub-linear for decision searches on up to 64(2240) compute-nodes(workers).