bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Psychological Resilience on Posttraumatic Growth Among Midwives: The Mediating Roles of Perceived Stress and Positive Coping Strategies
Authors: Zheng Yu , Wang Xin , Deng Yuan , Wang Jia
Published: November 2024

Aim

To explore the relationship between midwives' psychological resilience and posttraumatic growth, and the mediating role of perceived stress and positive coping strategies.

Design

A multicentre cross‐sectional survey was used.

Review Methods

Data were conducted among 339 midwives from 24 Grade III A hospitals in Sichuan Province from April to July 2023, using the Chinese version of the Connor Davidson Resilience Scale, Chinese version Perceived Stress Scale, Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire, Chinese‐Posttraumatic Growth Inventory and General Demographic Data Questionnaire. A descriptive statistical approach, Pearson's correlation analysis and the Mplus 8.3 were used to analyse the available data.

Results

There was a significant correlation between psychological resilience, perceived stress, positive coping strategies and PTG. Psychological resilience could have a direct positive impact on PTG of midwives, but it could also indirectly affect PTG of midwives through three pathways: the mediating effect of perceived stress, the mediating effect of positive coping strategies and the chain mediating effect of perceived stress and positive coping strategies.

Conclusion

Results suggest that nursing managers should help to improve the psychological resilience of midwives and to reduce individual stress perception, enhance coping abilities and achieve positive growth.

Impact

Prior to data collection, we obtained approval from the nursing department of each hospital. Midwives who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria gave informed consent and invited to participate in this study.

Reporting Method

This study was guided by STROBE.

Patient or Public Contribution

During the data collection phase, 349 midwives took the time to carefully answer the questionnaire items related to this study.
Discrete and Parallel Frequency‐Bin Entanglement Generation from Quantum Frequency Comb
Authors: Lu Chi , Wu Xiaoyu , Wen Wenjun , Ma Xiao‐song
Published: November 2024

Photons’ frequency degree of freedom is promising to realize large‐scale quantum information processing. Quantum frequency combs (QFCs) generated in integrated nonlinear microresonators can produce multiple frequency modes with narrow linewidth. Here, polarization‐entangled QFCs are utilized to generate discrete frequency‐bin entangled states. Fourteen pairs of polarization‐entangled photons with different frequencies are simultaneously transformed into frequency‐bin entangled states. The characteristic of frequency‐bin entanglement is demonstrated by Hong‐Ou‐Mandel interference, which can be performed with single or multiple frequency pairs in parallel. This work paves the way for harnessing large‐scale frequency‐bin entanglement and converting between different degrees of freedom in quantum information processing.
Intensity of synthetic and organic fertilizers use among Indian paddy growers: Determinants and implications for productivity and sustainability
Authors: Jha Girish Kumar , Velayudhan Praveen Koovalamkadu , Begho Toritseju , Eory Vera , Bhatia Arti
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is lower for South Asia than for most other regions of the world, and average crop NUE is on the decline in India. This inefficient use of nitrogen fertilizers has implications for agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability.

Materials and Methods

Using data from 14,669 farmers in India, this paper examined the determinants of synthetic fertilizer and manure adoption and intensity of use for rice (Oryza sativa L.) production. The latter was assessed through fertilizer expenditure rather than the traditional weight‐based method. A double hurdle model was estimated.

Results

The study showed that farmers' decisions to adopt fertilizer or manure and the decision on use intensity were independent. Both synthetic fertilizers and manure adoption were influenced by common drivers such as access to financial resources through instruments like the Kisan Credit Card and loans, expenditure on irrigation and labour, and geographical location. In terms of barriers, the likelihood of adoption of both synthetic fertilizer and manure was lower among landowners and paddy area cultivated. The intensity of fertilizer and manure use was higher for older farmers and was positively influenced by expenditure on labour but negatively influenced by ownership of livestock. Also, synthetic fertilizers and manure use intensity were determined by regional temperature and geographical zones.

Conclusion

The results of this study are useful for targeted interventions to promote sustainable fertilizer use with a focus on following recommendations in zones or among demographic groups that are currently more likely to have a high intensity of use. Similarly, the findings inform support towards increased adoption and sustainable use where fertilizer is underutilised.
Tailored Growth of Transition Metal Dichalcogenides’ Monolayers by Chemical Vapor Deposition
Authors: Turchanin Andrey , George Antony
Published: November 2024

Here, results on the tailored growth of monolayers (MLs) of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are presented using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques. To enable reproducible growth, the flow of chalcogen precursors is controlled by Knudsen cells providing an advantage in comparison to the commonly used open crucible techniques. It is demonstrated that TMD MLs can be grown by CVD on large scale with structural, and therefore electronic, photonic and optoelectronic properties similar to TMD MLs are obtained by exfoliating bulk crystals. It is shown that besides the growth of the “standard” TMD MLs also the growth of MLs that are not available by the exfoliation is possible including examples like lateral TMD1–TMD2 ML heterostructures and Janus TMDs. Moreover, the CVD technique enables the growth of TMD MLs on various 3D substrates on large scale and with high quality. The intrinsic properties of the grown MLs are analyzed by complementary microscopy and spectroscopy techniques down to the nanoscale with a particular focus on the influence of structural defects. Their functional properties are studied in devices including field‐effect transistors, photodetectors, wave guides and excitonic diodes. Finally, an outlook of the developed methodology in both applied and fundamental research is given.
Charge Modulation at the Liquid Crystal Droplet‐Aqueous Interface Enables Ultrasensitive, Nonspecific Protein Detection
Authors: Maheshwari Harsha , Naveenkumar Parinamipura M. , Singh Raju Kumar , Soni Lokesh , Sharma Kamendra P.
Published: November 2024

Thermotropic nematic liquid crystals (LC) have been utilized to sense/detect various analytes such as polymers, surfactants, lipids, etc. However, their use for protein detection depends on pre‐adsorbed molecules, co‐nematogens, or biomolecular agents for specificity. This approach impedes the platform's sensitivity with a detection limit for the folded proteins generally reported in the micromolar concentration range. Here, this work provides fundamental insights into the type of molecular interactions and their modulation that can drive ultrasensitive protein detection at an LC microdroplet/aqueous interface formed without adding an auxiliary co‐nematogen. Using ultraviolet (UV) light treated 4‐cyano‐4′‐pentylbiphenyl (5CB) LC and a flow‐focused microfluidic device, we prepared different populations of monodisperse and highly negatively charged microdroplets in water. Adding an aqueous solution of various model proteins (α‐synuclein, α‐chymotrypsin, myoglobin, or bovine serum albumin, BSA) with different secondary structures and surface charges triggers a rapid radial‐ to bipolar‐defect transition in these microdroplets. Isothermal titration calorimetry measurement and molecular dynamic simulation studies attribute this to the dominant electrostatic force‐mediated adsorption of proteins at the LC/aqueous interface. Further, bioconjugation‐based variation of protein surface charge allows tuning their detection limit. These findings can provide crucial physical cues for designing responsive LC systems and establishing a foundation for developing versatile, molecularly tailored, and highly specific biomolecular detection platforms.
Cornu‐Spiral‐Like Organic Crystal Waveguide Providing Discriminatory Optical Pathway for Smart Organic Photonic Circuit
Authors: Rohullah Mehdi , Chosenyah Melchi , Kumar Avulu Vinod , Chandrasekar Rajadurai
Published: November 2024

In the era of artificial intelligence, developing advanced and intelligent photonic circuits has become essential. In this work, the fabrication of a smart organic photonic circuit (OPC), is illustrated which utilizes a Cornu‐spiral‐like waveguide (CSW) to produce discriminating optical pathways in the circuit. The mechanical flexibility of Schiff base, (E)‐1‐(((5‐iodopyridin‐2‐yl)imino)methyl)naphthalen‐2‐ol (IPyIN) facilitates the fabrication of a first‐of‐its‐kind, two‐ring‐based CSW via the atomic force microscopy cantilever tip‐assisted mechanophotonics approach. The photonic studies suggest that the CSW structure routes optical signals in discriminating trajectories. To capitalize on the discriminatory properties of the CSW, two linear waveguides are integrated onto both rings of the CSW to create a smart OPC. This smart OPC can selectively route photons depending on the pathways determined by the CSW to switch it ON or OFF completely depending on partial or complete flow of optical signals in the circuit. Such intelligent photonic circuits are essential for advancing smart technologies.
Functional Separator with Poly(Acrylic Acid)‐Enabled Li2CO3‐Free Garnet Coating for Long‐Cycling Lithium Metal Batteries
Authors: Tang Cheng , Fan Zengjie , Ding Bing , Xu Chong , Wu Haiyang , Dou Hui , Zhang Xiaogang
Published: November 2024

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) possess a theoretical energy density far surpassing that of commercial lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs), positioning them as one of the most promising next‐generation energy storage systems. Modifying separators with composite coatings comprising oxide solid‐state electrolyte (SSE) particles and polymers can improve the cycling stability and safety of LMBs. However, exposure to air forms Li2CO3 on oxide SSE particles, diminishing their ion flux regulation at the electrode/electrolyte interface. Utilizing the reaction of Li2CO3 with polyacrylic acid (PAA) to form lithium polyacrylate (LiPAA), an ultra‐thin composite coating on polyethylene (PE) separator with Li2CO3‐free Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 (LLZTO) particles and LiPAA binder is fabricated in one step. The exposed Li2CO3‐free LLZTO surface increases the ionic conductivity and lithium ion (Li+) transference number of the functional separator, resulting in small resistance and uniform Li deposition of the Li metal anode. Consequently, the Li//LiCoO2 cell with the functional separator exhibits a significantly improved life of 980 cycles with 80.9% capacity retention under lean‐electrolyte conditions. Both the Li//LiCoO2 coin cell and pouch cell using thin Li foil anode demonstrate good cycling stability and high mechanical robustness. This study provides a green and scalable approach for fabricating advanced separators for LMBs.
Cyanogel‐Transformed Porous Palladium and Iron Framework Intermixed with rGO for Wearable Hydrogen Sensing
Authors: Zhao Xinhua , Xing Xiaxia , Li Zhenxu , Lang Xiaoyan , Chen Xiaoyu , Zhang Yi , Yang Dachi
Published: November 2024

Wearable hydrogen (H2) sensing is necessary to monitor the H2 leakage in its transportation and storage, of which ppm‐concentration detection limit and fast response at room temperature are highly desired. Here, a wearable H2 sensing working at room temperature is developed with palladium and iron framework intermixed with reduced graphene oxide (rGO//Pd–Fe FW), which is synthesized by combined Pd–Fe cyanogel immobilized with graphene oxide as precursor and in situ reduction. As‐prepared rGO//Pd–Fe FW is observed with porous FW structure composed of interconnected Pd–Fe nanoparticles, in which rGO is evenly intermixed. Beneficially, rGO//Pd‐Fe FW exhibits 2 ppm low detection limit and 2 s fast response (1 v/v% H2) at room temperature. Such excellent H2 sensing performance may be attributed to the synergistic effect of the optimized Pd–Fe FW's catalytic activity, boosted electron transfers between Pd hydride and rGO, and enriched adsorption sites over porous FW's surface. Practically, the perceptron learning algorithm combined with principal component analysis is conducted to identify the H2 leakage, and the wearable H2 sensing devices are built by integrating rGO//Pd–Fe FW over the paper and flexible printed circuit board with reliable sensing responses.
Precursor‐Driven Confined Synthesis of Highly Pure 5‐Armchair Graphene Nanoribbons
Authors: Cui Weili , Zhang Wendi , Tang Kunpeng , Chen Yingzhi , Cao Kecheng , Shi Lei , Yang Guowei
Published: November 2024

Armchair graphene nanoribbons (AGNRs) known as semiconductors are holding promise for nanoelectronics applications and sparking increased research interest. Currently, synthesis of 5‐AGNRs with a quasi‐metallic gap has been achieved using perylene and its halogen‐containing derivatives as precursors via on‐surface synthesis on a metal substrate. However, challenges in controlling the polymerization and orientation between precursor molecules have led to side reactions and the formation of by‐products, posing a significant issue in purity. Here a precision synthesis of confined 5‐AGNRs using molecular‐designed precursors without halogens is proposed to address these challenges. Perylene and its dimer quaterrylene are utilized for filling into single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), following a precursor‐driven transition into 5‐AGNRs by heat‐induced polymerization and cyclodehydrogenation. SWCNTs restrict the alignment of confined quaterrylene enabling their polymerization with a head‐to‐tail arrangement, which results in the formation of pure 5‐AGNRs with three times higher yield than that of perylene, as the free rotation capability of perylene molecules inside SWCNTs lead to the formation of 5‐AGNRs concomitant with by‐products. This work provides a templated route for synthesizing desired GNRs based on molecular‐designed precursors and confined polymerization, bringing advantages for their applications in electronics and optoelectronics.
“I felt like I was being judged…”: A duoethnography exploring international language teacher educator identities
Authors: Lu Xinyue , Iswandari Yuseva Ariyani , Weng Zhenjie , Troyan Francis John
Published: November 2024

Given the need to explore the nature of language teacher educator (LTE) identities, this duoethnography centers the identity journeys of three language teacher educators—Lu, Yuseva, and Zhenjie—as they evolved together and in dialogue with their advisor, Francis. To this end, they began with the central identity task, the Language Use Profile—part of the foundations course in their language teacher education programs and their language teacher educator development. As a point of departure for their duoethnography, this task allowed them to examine their understandings of their bi−/multilingual language use, language ideologies, and identities, and subsequently engage in a dialogic spiral that centered “reciprocity, care, and critical listening in research activities” (San Pedro & Kinloch, 2017, p. 391S). Their findings point to the importance of these spaces in LTE development as a means for centering identities in doctoral programs, in particular to better support the development of language teacher educators in ways that are both humanizing and acknowledge the complex nature of the work that they do.
The utility of alcohol saliva test strips compared to the breathalyzer in trauma patients in a resource‐limited setting
Authors: Davis Dylane N. , Gondwe Jotham , An Selena J. , Gallaher Jared , Charles Anthony
Published: November 2024

Introduction

The correlation between alcohol consumption and injury is undeniable. However, past research relying on self‐reporting alcohol use likely resulted in underreporting and emphasizing the need to increase alcohol testing, especially in resource‐limited settings where the burden of injuries is highest.

Methods

This is a prospective analysis of injured patients presenting to the trauma center at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi. We collected information including patient age, sex, admission date, mechanism of injury, breathalyzer test and Rapid ResponseTM Alcohol Saliva Test Strips (AST) result, and survival.

Results

A total of 805 trauma patients were included. The overall prevalence of alcohol consumption in this trauma cohort is 18.3%. There was a 95.5% agreement between the AST and breathalyzer test with a Kappa coefficient of 0.83. The sensitivity and specificity of the AST were determined to be 78.5% (CI 75.7–81.2) and 99.3% (CI 98.7–99.9), respectively. ROC analyses showed the AST to have excellent discrimination with an area under the curve of 0.88 (95% CI 0.85–0.92).

Conclusion

The prevalence of alcohol‐related injury is high in Malawi and the use of the Alcohol Saliva Test Strips is feasible and correlated with results derived from the breathalyzer. Routine alcohol testing for trauma patients presenting to a resource‐limited setting is imperative and should be implemented.
Statistical analysis of bioconvective EMHD tangent hyperbolic nanofluid with thermal radiation and heat source/sink
Authors: Senbagaraja Palani Kumar , De Poulomi
Published: November 2024

This study examines the influence of thermal radiation and heat source/sink of the tangent hyperbolic fluid on EMHD boundary layer flow through stretching sheets. Motile gyrotactic microorganism is considered in the fluid flow and the flow is analyzed with the impact of thermal radiation, heat source/sink, and electromagnetohydrodynamic. By utilizing the proper similarity transformations, partial differential systems are converted to ordinary differential systems. The Runge–Kutta fifth‐order method with shooting technique is used in the converted systems to solve numerically. Velocity, temperature, concentration, and microorganism density profile are discussed and represented graphically. The numerical values of drag force rate, heat transfer rate, mass transfer rate, and density of motile microorganisms are specified, compared, and results enhancement in heat transfer rate as 64.31% by radiation parameter, mass transfer rate as 97.28% by heat source/sink parameter and microorganism density rate as 28.33% by Peclet number, respectively. The buoyancy parameter diminishes the drag force by 30.39%. The multiple and quadratic regression coefficient for adjusted , multiple , residual standard error, F‐statistic, and p‐value is estimated for skin friction, Nusselt number, Sherwood number, and density of microorganism. It has significant applications which are widely used to transport biological material in bio‐microfluidics, enhance heat dissipation in high‐performance electronics, thermal management systems on spacecraft and satellites, and solar energy systems.
Universal Suffrage, Inequalities, Welfare, and the ‘Gendered Voter’ in India: 1917 to the Present
Authors: Roy Anupama
Published: November 2024

Universal franchise is integral to citizenship’s promise of equality. Since they introduced the principle of collective bargaining, historically, political rights were handed down ‘cautiously,’ denying political personhood to large sections of people. The struggle for universal suffrage in India can be traced to the claims of the colonised to equality and self-determination. The adoption of universal franchise by the Constituent Assembly of India in November 1949, established political equality in a single moment of rupture. Yet, the insertion of voters in the electoral roll as individuals was difficult in a context where both access and intelligibility presented bureaucratic and political challenges. The persistence of deference in a caste-based society bound the vote to traditional systems of authority. With popular mobilisations in the late 1980s the ‘voter’ finally emerged as a significant political category. The potential of universal suffrage to attenuate the inequalities of social class has shown two tendencies—of reinforcement, where the ‘excluded’ have ushered in a different politics through the power of ‘irruption’ in the electoral domain, and of enervation—where the power to change is enfeebled by turning the working class into ‘beneficiaries’ binding them in a relationship of indebtedness to the state.
Earning the Vote with Honour. Suffrage, Economic Independence, and Gender in Norway, ca. 1814–1919
Authors: Larsen Eirinn
Published: November 2024

The Norwegian Constitution of 1814, written after Napoleon’s defeat, was inspired by American and French suffrage laws; it reserved the right to vote for men who paid land taxes and high-level civil servants. The reasoning was that these men could act independently and for the common good, thus receiving trust and esteem from other eligible citizens. Consequently, to paraphrase the British sociologist T. H. Marshall, political rights in Norway were not secondary to civil rights. Economic and moral measures were also used to define honour among men on whom the vote depended. Nevertheless, Norway was the first among Nordic countries to remove an article from the constitution that suspended the vote for citizens who enjoy “or within the last year have enjoyed support for the poor.”
Winning the Vote in a “World Without Welfare”: Aotearoa New Zealand from Representative Government to a Universal Franchise, 1840–1933
Authors: Keating James
Published: November 2024

Following the institution of responsible government in 1852, New Zealand rushed towards “full” democracy. Within seventeen years manhood suffrage was won and, by 1893, all adults could vote. The feat stood foremost among the “firsts” that allowed the colony to style itself as a “social laboratory.” Unlike most competitors in the “race” to universal suffrage, New Zealand’s franchise was not accompanied by citizenship disqualification for welfare recipients. Instead, Pākehā (white settlers) had long determined that welfare would not be a public provision. Rather than distribute aid, the state regulated migration to maintain wages and alienated Māori land to settlers. 1893 constituted a turning point; thereafter the colony gradually replaced its ad-hoc charitable aid system with an expansive notion of citizenship. The vote bridged the settlers’ “world without welfare” and the social experiments of the fin-de-siècle. Nevertheless, not all enjoyed the fruits of democracy. Attending to the subsequent contraction of the polity, women’s struggle for substantive equality, and the racialized limits of citizenship—extended unequally to Māori and denied to “Asiatic peoples”—this chapter troubles Pākehā claims to have built a truly democratic society and challenges linear narratives of franchise expansion with a contingent history of Aotearoa New Zealand’s path towards universal suffrage.
Constitutional rights in conflict. The evolution of political and social rights in Denmark, 1849–1961
Authors: Rasmussen Leonora Lottrup
Published: November 2024

On June 5, 1849, King Frederik VII signed Denmark's first Constitution, marking the shift from autocracy to constitutional monarchy. The Constitution granted suffrage to a substantial portion of the male population but excluded women, servants, criminals, bankrupt individuals and recipients of poor relief. Although amendments in 1915 extended the vote to women and servants, exclusions based on economic independence persisted until 1959, when restrictions on bankrupt individuals and criminals were lifted. The final exclusion, which affected recipients of poor relief, was abolished in 1961. However, the 1849 Constitution also established poor relief as a constitutional right, creating a conflict between the political right to vote and the social right to receive relief. This chapter examines this conflict by focusing on the public poor relief recipients and their gradual political inclusion. Through the lens of citizenship, the chapter explores the interplay between gender, marital status and the practice of citizenship at the local level, illustrating the complex relationship between political and social rights in Danish history.
Money and the Vote: Economic Suffrage Restrictions in Sweden, Before and After the Introduction of “Universal Suffrage” in 1921
Authors: Cottrell-Sundevall Fia
Published: November 2024

In the late 1800s, Sweden had a higher proportion of disenfranchised adults compared to many European counterparts due to significant economic inequalities and a censitary suffrage system that tied voting rights to income and property ownership. Although early twentieth-century suffrage reforms weakened the link between money and voting rights, they did not eradicate it. Even with the introduction of so-called universal suffrage in 1921, financial conditions such as tax arrears and bankruptcy could still disenfranchise voters. Delving into the formal barriers to voting rights associated with financial status, this chapter traces their evolution, the lawmakers’ rationale behind them, and their impact on various societal groups. By incorporating empirical results and theoretical insights from recent studies, the chapter challenges the linear progress narrative of Sweden’s suffrage history and re-evaluates the notion that universal suffrage was won in 1921, a perspective still echoed in contemporary Swedish parliamentary commemorations.
Exclusion in Fine Print: Antidemocratic Ideals and Strategies for Electoral Exclusion in Brazil, 1881–1930
Authors: Azevedo e Souza Felipe
Published: November 2024

At the turn of the twentieth century, while many nations were expanding their democratic franchises, Brazil enacted restrictive electoral reforms that severely limited voter participation. This chapter explores these antidemocratic strategies, focusing on reforms in 1881, 1904, and 1916. Ostensibly aimed at reducing electoral fraud, these reforms instead created bureaucratic barriers that excluded the poor, illiterate, and Afro-descendant populations from voting. Rooted in a so-called conservative liberalism resistant to democratisation, these measures reflected a deliberate effort by the political elite to maintain control. Through an analysis of parliamentary debates and electoral data, the chapter reveals the intentional tactics used to restrict suffrage. These exclusionary practices entrenched structural inequalities and weakened Brazil’s democratic institutions, contributing to the political instability that culminated in the First Republic’s overthrow in 1930. The study underscores how the calculated restriction of voting rights perpetuated social disparities and hindered the expansion of political participation in Brazil, shaping the nation’s political landscape for decades to come.
The Politics, Practices, and Emotions of Suffrage Exclusion in Iceland, 1915–1934
Authors: Kristjánsdóttir Ragnheiður
Published: November 2024

This chapter focuses on the politics of poor women and men in Iceland who were denied voting rights due to their dependency on poor relief. By analysing contemporary political discourses and drawing on the testimonies of excluded individuals, voting registers, and poor relief records, I demonstrate how the citizenship of the poor was contested not only at the national level but also at the local and individual levels, even at the polling station. In effect, this was a quest to uproot prejudice against those living in economic insecurity and to establish a new notion of citizenship that protected the poor from the shame associated with disenfranchisement and acceptance of social relief. First, I outline the rationale behind suffrage exclusions in Iceland. Next, I explore how the labour movement fought to include the “deserving poor” in the electorate. Then, I describe the development of the legal framework that culminated in a 1934 constitutional amendment, which enfranchised (most) of the people dependent on poor relief. Finally, I provide examples illustrating how these legal changes impacted the political citizenship of individual voters.
The Limits of Citizenship: Economic Barriers to Suffrage in Nineteenth and Twentieth-Century Canada
Authors: Sangster Joan
Published: November 2024

This chapter explores long-lasting economic and class-based restrictions on suffrage rights in Canada over the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, with a focus on property and taxpayer voting qualifications, and secondly, exclusions of those receiving state or charitable assistance, including the aged, sick, and poor. These prohibitions denoting class and wealth were intertwined with changing gender-based, racial, and colonial voting restrictions and structures of inequality, always in complicated ways. By focusing on legislated economic exclusions at all three levels of government, we can see how struggles over suffrage remained embedded in social and economic relations of power long after it was claimed “universal” suffrage prevailed. The paper also notes the longest barrier to voting, namely incarceration, which might be interpreted as a race and class-based exclusion. Understanding the rationales for, and longevity of exclusions based on class/property and poverty, as well as gender and race, offers a correction to whig narratives of inevitable suffrage progress, highlighting the resilient power relations, both material and ideological, which characterised a profoundly unequal society.
On the spectral gap of one-dimensional Schrödinger operators on large intervals
Authors: Kerner Joachim , Täufer Matthias
Published: November 2024

We study the effect of non-negative potentials on the spectral gap of one-dimensional Schrödinger operators in the limit of large intervals. We derive upper bounds on the gap for different classes of potentials and show, as a main result, that the spectral gap of a Schrödinger operator with a non-zero and sufficiently fast decaying potential closes strictly faster than the gap of the free Laplacian. We show optimality of this result in some sense and establish a conjecture towards the actual decay rate of the spectral gap.
Artificial intelligence in abdominal and pelvic ultrasound imaging: current applications
Authors: Cai Lie , Pfob André
Published: November 2024

Background

In recent years, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques into medical imaging has shown great potential to transform the diagnostic process. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current state-of-the-art applications for AI in abdominal and pelvic ultrasound imaging.

Methods

We searched the PubMed, FDA, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases for applications of AI in abdominal and pelvic ultrasound imaging.

Results

A total of 128 titles were identified from the database search and were eligible for screening. After screening, 57 manuscripts were included in the final review. The main anatomical applications included multi-organ detection (n = 16, 28%), gynecology (n = 15, 26%), hepatobiliary system (n = 13, 23%), and musculoskeletal (n = 8, 14%). The main methodological applications included deep learning (n = 37, 65%), machine learning (n = 13, 23%), natural language processing (n = 5, 9%), and robots (n = 2, 4%). The majority of the studies were single-center (n = 43, 75%) and retrospective (n = 56, 98%). We identified 17 FDA approved AI ultrasound devices, with only a few being specifically used for abdominal/pelvic imaging (infertility monitoring and follicle development).

Conclusion

The application of AI in abdominal/pelvic ultrasound shows promising early results for disease diagnosis, monitoring, and report refinement. However, the risk of bias remains high because very few of these applications have been prospectively validated (in multi-center studies) or have received FDA clearance.
Interdependence of coagulation with immunotherapy and BRAF/MEK inhibitor therapy: results from a prospective study
Authors: Beckmann Malte , Schlüter Julian , Erdmann Michael , Kramer Rafaela , Cunningham Sarah , Hackstein Holger , Zimmermann Robert , Heinzerling Lucie
Published: November 2024

Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapies effectively treat a broadening spectrum of cancer entities but induce various immune-related side effects (irAEs). Recent reports suggest a correlation between ICI-induced systemic inflammation and thromboembolic events as well as an increased effectiveness by coadministration of anticoagulants. With cancer patients having a higher risk of thrombotic events per se, it is crucial to dissect and characterize the mechanisms that cause pro-coagulative effects induced by systemic tumor therapies and their potential interplay with anti-tumor response. A total of 31 patients with advanced skin cancer treated with either ICIs (n = 24) or BRAF/MEK inhibitors (n = 7) were longitudinally assessed for blood and coagulation parameters before as well as 7, 20 and 40 days after initiation of systemic tumor therapy. Changes were analyzed and compared between both groups. In addition, the influence of coagulation parameters on progression-free, recurrence-free and overall survival was investigated. The ICI cohort presented significantly increased factor VIII activity after one week of therapy (p 0.0225); while, protein S activity was reduced during the whole observation period. Additionally, von Willebrand factor activity and tissue factor concentrations increased under immunotherapy. Similar changes occurred under BRAF/MEK inhibitor therapy (BRAF/MEKi). Increased baseline levels of von Willebrand factor antigen and factor VIII:C before the start of ICI therapy correlated with a significantly higher risk of recurrence for patients receiving adjuvant immunotherapy. The findings suggest the induction of a pro-coagulant state under ICI and BRAF/MEKi and a role of coagulation parameters in the efficacy of ICI therapies.
Neutron tomography and image registration methods to study local physical deformations and attenuation variations in treated archaeological iron nail samples
Authors: Shakoorioskooie Mahdieh , Granget Elodie , Cocen Ocson , Hovind Jan , Mannes David , Kaestner Anders , Brambilla Laura
Published: November 2024

This study presents a preliminary examination of the effects of environment changes post-excavation on heavily corroded archaeological Roman iron nails using neutron tomography and image registration techniques. Roman nails were exposed to either a high relative humidity environment, or fast thermal drying as primary experiments to show the power of this imaging technique to monitor and quantify the structural changes of corroded metal artifacts. This research employed a series of pre- and post-treatment tomography acquisitions (time-series) complemented by advanced image registration methods. Based on mutual information (MI) metrics, we performed rigid body and affine image registrations to meticulously account for sample repositioning challenges and variations in imaging parameters. Using non-affine local registration results, in a second step, we detected localized expansion and shrinkage in the samples attributable to imposed environmental changes. Specifically, we observed local shrinkage on the nail that was dried, mostly in their Transformed Medium (TM), the outer layer where corrosion products are cementing soil and sand particles. Conversely, the sample subjected to high relative humidity environment exhibited localized expansion, with varying degrees of change across different regions. This work highlights the efficacy of our registration techniques in accommodating manual removal or loss of extraneous material (loosely adhering soil and TM layers around the nails) post-initial tomography, successfully capturing local structural changes with high precision. Using differential analysis on the accurately registered samples we could also detect and volumetrically quantify the variation in moisture and detect changes in active corrosion sites (ACS) in the sample. These preliminary experiments allowed us to advance and optimize the application of a neutron tomography and image registration workflow for future, more advanced experiments such as humidity fluctuations, corrosion removal through micro-blasting, dechlorination and other stabilization treatments.
Influence of metastatic sites and burden on oncological outcomes in patients progressing to metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer
Authors: Wenzel Mike , Hoeh Benedikt , Humke Clara , Koll Florestan , Cano Garcia Cristina , Siech Carolin , Steuber Thomas , Graefen Markus , Traumann Miriam , Kluth Luis , Chun Felix K. H. , Mandel Philipp
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients harbor reduced life expectancy after first-line treatment progression. Currently, no information is available regarding the influence of metastatic sites and osseous burden on progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of mCRPC patients.

Methods

We relied on the Frankfurt Metastatic Cancer Database of the Prostate (FRAMCAP) database to select patients progressing to mCRPC and stratified them according to lymph node vs. osseous vs. visceral metastatic sites. Moreover, we stratified osseous mCRPC patients regarding the number of metastatic lesions. Endpoints were PFS and OS in uni- and multivariable Cox regression models.

Results

Of 363 patients, 9.4% harbored M1a vs. 78% M1b vs. 12% M1c mCRPC with significantly higher PSA in M1b (9 vs. 22 vs. 8ng/ml). Rates of DeNovo (15% vs. 60% vs. 56%) were significantly lower in the M1a mCRPC group, compared to M1b and M1c (p < 0.001). In PFS analyses, a median of 12.7 vs. 10.1 vs. 15.9 months for M1a vs. M1b vs. M1c mCRPC was observed (p > 0.05). In multivariable Cox regression models, M1c mCRPC was independently at higher risk for progression (hazard ratio [HR]: 5.93, p = 0.048), relative to M1a. Regarding OS, significant differences were observed (p = 0.002), with median OS of 58 vs. 42 vs. 25 months for M1a vs. M1b vs. M1c mCRPC and corresponding HRs of 1.54 (p = 0.11) and 2.76 (p < 0.01). In multivariable models M1c mCRPC was associated with higher risk of death (HR: 3.56, p = 0.049), relative to M1a. No differences were observed after stratification according to number of bone lesions (all p ≥ 0.05).

Conclusion

M1c mCRPC patients are independently at higher risk for progression and death, while M1a patients harbor best cancer-control outcomes.
Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy and clinical associations with renal and hematological toxicities and survival in patients with neuroendocrine tumors: an analysis from two U.S. medical centers
Authors: Xu Tao , Dillon Joseph S. , Maluccio Mary A. , Quelle Dawn E. , Nash Sarah H. , Cho Hyunkeun , Limbach Kristen E. , Skill Nicholas J. , Bren-Mattison Yvette , O’Rorke Michael A.
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Renal and hematological toxicity are side effects and dose-limiting factors of Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT). We aimed to assess the changes in renal and hematological function and associations with survival in neuroendocrine tumor (NET) patients treated with PRRT.

Methods

A retrospective cohort of 448 NET patients treated with either 177Lu-DOTATATE or 90Y-DOTATOC were followed for changes of renal and hematological function. Renal function was assessed by monitoring changes in serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and estimated glomerular filtration rate. Hematological function was determined by examining changes in white blood cell counts (WBC), platelet counts, and hemoglobin levels over time. Piecewise linear mixed effect models were applied to model the longitudinal repeated measurements of renal and hematological function. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were modelled using Cox proportional hazard regressions.

Results

Of the 448 PRRT treated patients, 335 received 177Lu-DOTATATE (74.78%) and 113 were treated with 90Y-DOTATOC (25.22%). Comparing patients treated with 177Lu-DOTATATE to those treated with 90Y-DOTATOC, renal function did not differ significantly prior to, during or after PRRT. Compared with patients treated with 90Y-DOTATOC, significantly decreased indicators of hematological function were observed in those treated with 177Lu-DOTATATE prior to and during PRRT treatment (WBC: estimate, -0.10, 95% CI, -0.15 to -0.05; P < 0.001; platelet count: estimate, -2.53, 95% CI, -3.83 to -1.24; P < 0.001), and no significant recovery was observed in hematological function post PRRT. Individuals who received 177Lu-DOTATATE tended to have a longer PFS (hazard ratio, 0.47, 95%CI: 0.28–0.79, P = 0.004) compared with 90Y-DOTATOC, but there was no difference in OS.

Conclusion

There was no significant renal, but minor hematological toxicity, in patients treated with 177Lu-DOTATATE compared with 90Y-DOTATOC. Compared to 90Y-DOTATOC, 177Lu-DOTATATE appears to enhance PFS, but not OS. Treatment with 177Lu-DOTATATE may necessitate follow-up for hematological toxicity irrespective of other therapies prior to PRRT.
Machine learning and FPGA implementation for predicting luminance decay and temperature distribution in micro-LED displays
Authors: Chao Paul C. -P. , Lin Chi-En , Chen Hao-Ren , Nguyen Duc Huy
Published: November 2024

A machine learning-based method predicts the luminance decay of micro light emitting diode (micro-LED) displays, utilizing temperature distribution and degradation experiments alongside implementation on field-programmable gate array (FPGA). Micro-LEDs, used in outdoor and indoor billboards, experience degradation due to harsh environmental conditions. To model temperature distribution in indoor advertising displays using minimal data, a temperature model is constructed based on sensor from the panel and thermal images captured by a camera, in relation to the display pattern. The input data is processed using an FPGA, which transmits the sensed temperatures and display patterns to the micro-LED panel. Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), a type of neural network, predicts the temperature distribution over the panel surface, achieving an error of less than 1.1 °C. Separate degradation models forecast luminance decay, factoring in enclosure temperature, input current, and usage time, with distinct models for red, green, and blue LEDs. Exponential curve-fitting and interpolation, following TM-21 standards, ensure long-term accuracy. The luminance decay predictions have an average error below 1.05% (approximately 9 nits). The FPGA implementation minimizes resource consumption while maintaining prediction accuracy, making it suitable for real-time applications. The degradation model accurately predicts performance over tens or even hundreds of thousands of hours, aligning with the exponential decay trends defined by TM-21.
Notfallreform konkret: Handlungsempfehlungen der „Fürther Gespräche“ zur zukunftsfähigen Professionalisierung im Rettungsdienst
Authors: Meyer Klaus , Dormann Harald , Reifferscheid Florian , Gottschalk Johannes , Hahnen Dominik , Gistrichovsky Marc , Prescher Thomas
Published: November 2024

Bei den „Fürther Gesprächen“, einem interdisziplinären Expertenforum aus Interessenverbänden, Fachgesellschaften, Hilfsorganisationen, Feuerwehren, Universitäten und Berufsschulen, ging es um die nachhaltige Professionalisierung des Rettungsdiensts. Im Mittelpunkt stand nicht die Frage, wer was macht, sondern wie der Rettungsdienst zur Verbesserung der Notfallversorgung beitragen kann. Im Mittelpunkt der Diskussionen standen die für eine Reform der Notfallversorgung notwendigen Qualitäts‑, Ausbildungs- und Professionalisierungsstrukturen sowie die spezifischen Kompetenz- und Qualifikationsanforderungen für ein gestuftes Notfallversorgungssystem. Das Forum analysierte aktuelle Entwicklungen und formulierte Empfehlungen für ein nachhaltiges, patientenzentriertes und effizientes Notfallversorgungssystem.

Zu den wichtigsten Themen gehörten: Präventive Rettungsmedizin und nicht dringende Hilfeanfragen: Integration von Versorgungsbedarf und -strukturen, „Ein Anruf für alle“: Leitstellen als Torwächter für komplexe Versorgungspfade, Gestuftes und flexibles Qualifikationssystem: Von der ehrenamtlichen Tätigkeit bis zur erweiterten Notfallversorgun, Gestuftes Notarztsystem: Komplexitätsbasierte Ressourcenzuweisung und Qualifikationen.
Evidence for a general cognitive structure in pigeons (Columba livia)
Authors: Flaim Mary , Blaisdell Aaron P.
Published: November 2024

A well replicated result in humans is that performance, whether good or bad, is consistent across a wide variety of cognitive tasks. Factor analysis extracts one factor that can account for approximately half of the variance in performance. This factor is termed g and almost all cognitive tasks positively load onto this factor. While some neurobiological correlates of g have been identified in humans, causal experiments are only feasible in animals. When mice and some avian species are assessed with cognitive test batteries, performance positively correlates, and the first component extracted has similar properties to g. There are some limitations to the species tested thus far, including comparability in the cognitive domains assessed. The pigeon is an ideal subject to overcome these issues since pigeons, humans, and other primates are frequently given similar tasks and many neural correlates of performance have been identified in the pigeon. We created a test battery that assessed different domains, including associative learning, memory, cognitive flexibility, and reaction time. When all tasks were included, there was evidence for a two-component structure that was influenced by subjects’ age. When the reaction time task was excluded, there was a g-like component. The implications for these results when constructing future test batteries and comparing across species are discussed.
Algebraic combinatorial optimization on the degree of determinants of noncommutative symbolic matrices
Authors: Hirai Hiroshi , Iwamasa Yuni , Oki Taihei , Soma Tasuku
Published: November 2024

We address the computation of the degrees of minors of a noncommutative symbolic matrix of form $$ A[c] :=\sum _{k=1}^m A_k t^{c_k} x_k, $$

A

[
c
]

:
=

∑

k
=
1

m

A
k

t

c
k

x
k

,

where $$A_k$$

A
k

are matrices over a field $$\mathbb {K}$$
K
, $$x_k$$

x
k

are noncommutative variables, $$c_k$$

c
k

are integer weights, and t is a commuting variable specifying the degree. This problem extends noncommutative Edmonds’ problem (Ivanyos et al. in Comput Complex 26:717–763, 2017), and can formulate various combinatorial optimization problems. Extending the study by Hirai 2018, and Hirai, Ikeda 2022, we provide novel duality theorems and polyhedral characterization for the maximum degrees of minors of A[c] of all sizes, and develop a strongly polynomial-time algorithm for computing them. This algorithm is viewed as a unified algebraization of the classical Hungarian method for bipartite matching and the weight-splitting algorithm for linear matroid intersection. As applications, we provide polynomial-time algorithms for weighted fractional linear matroid matching and for membership of rank-2 Brascamp–Lieb polytopes.