bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Introduction
Authors: Jarvis Charlotte
Published: May 2024

Trawling has been recognised as a profoundly damaging practice with lasting negative consequences on seabed ecology and marine life since its first mention in a 1376 parliamentary petition. Mobile fishing gear (including any dredge, trawl, or similar device) is used to tow or push a net with a boat to catch fish. Bottom trawling, in particular, grew from a need to keep up with declining fish stocks and developed further with technological changes and increased demands, though it created ‘anger and resentment’ within the fishing communities (Bolster, 2012, p. 236). All three trawling revolutions—invention, mechanisation, and later deep-water expansion—have been met with controversy and pushback by the public and environmentalists alike (Roberts, 2008).
History of Trawling and Ecological Impact
Authors: Jarvis Charlotte , Brennan Michael L.
Published: May 2024

Bottom trawling developed from the practice of fishing with a net or long lines, but that older style was able to be more controlled and discriminate in its catch. With bottom trawling, nets are weighted to keep them low along the seafloor and a large beam on deck spreads nets wide to increase catch. Marine biologists and environmentalists have been concerned about trawling since it began. As far back as 1376, the English parliament highlighted the destructive nature of the practice to fish populations and habitats, noting that it ‘runs so heavily and hardly over the ground when fishing that it destroys the flowers of the land’ and takes so many fish ‘to the great damage of the commons and the destruction of the fisheries’ (Petition by the Commons to King Edward III, 1376 seen in Bolster, 2012). This first known mention of trawling calls for the removal of the practice and yet the activity endures. Trawling in Europe continued sporadically through the medieval and early modern periods using mainly the beam trawl method until the early nineteenth century when the industrial revolution pushed the technology further.
Holographic renormalization of Horndeski gravity
Authors: Cáceres Nicolás , Corral Cristóbal , Díaz Felipe , Olea Rodrigo
Published: May 2024

Abstract

We study the renormalization of a particular sector of Horndeski theory. In particular, we focus on the nonminimal coupling of a scalar field to the Gauss-Bonnet term and its kinetic coupling to the Einstein tensor. Adopting a power expansion on the scalar function that couples the Gauss-Bonnet term, we find specific conditions on their coefficients such that the action and charges are finite. To accomplish the latter, we add a finite set of intrinsic boundary terms. The contribution of the nonminimal coupling generates an effective scalar mass, allowing us to recover a modified Breitenlohner-Freedman bound. Furthermore, we compute the holographic 1-point functions and Ward identities associated with the scalar field and the metric. We constrain the parameter space of the theory by taking into account the preservation of scaling symmetry at the boundary.
On Left T-Nilpotent Rings
Authors: Andruszkiewicz Ryszard R. , Kȩpczyk Marek
Published: May 2024

It is shown that any ring being a sum of two left T-nilpotent subrings is left T-nilpotent. The paper contains the description of all the semigroups S such that an S-graded ring $$R=\bigoplus _{s\in S}A_s$$

R
=

⨁

s
∈
S

A
s

has the property that the left T-nilpotency of all subrings among the subgroups $$A_s$$

A
s

of the additive group of R implies the left T-nilpotency of R. Furthermore, this result is extended to rings R being S-sums.
Existence Theorems for Parameter Dependent Weakly Continuous Operators with Applications
Authors: Andrzejczak Grzegorz , Galewski Marek , Motreanu Dumitru
Published: May 2024

The paper presents results on the solvability and parameter dependence for problems driven by weakly continuous potential operators with continuously differentiable and coercive potential. We provide a parametric version on the existence result to nonlinear equations involving coercive and weakly continuous operators. Applications address a variant of elastic beam equation.
Layered Patterns in Reaction–Diffusion Models with Perona–Malik Diffusions
Authors: De Luca Alessandra , Folino Raffaele , Strani Marta
Published: May 2024

In this paper we deal with a reaction–diffusion equation in a bounded interval of the real line with a nonlinear diffusion of Perona–Malik’s type and a balanced bistable reaction term. Under very general assumptions, we study the persistence of layered solutions, showing that it strongly depends on the behavior of the reaction term close to the stable equilibria $$\pm 1$$

±
1

, described by a parameter $$\theta >1$$

θ
>
1

. If $$\theta \in (1,2)$$

θ
∈
(
1
,
2
)

, we prove existence of steady states oscillating (and touching) $$\pm 1$$

±
1

, called compactons, while in the case $$\theta =2$$

θ
=
2

we prove the presence of metastable solutions, namely solutions with a transition layer structure which is maintained for an exponentially long time. Finally, for $$\theta >2$$

θ
>
2

, solutions with an unstable transition layer structure persist only for an algebraically long time.
Exploring the effectiveness of negative and positive inserts in machining Inconel 718 alloy: a comparative study
Authors: Żyłka Łukasz , Płodzień Marcin , Krupa Krzysztof , de Lacalle Luis Norberto López , Fernandez Asier
Published: May 2024

Inconel 718 alloy is characterised by high strength and corrosion resistance and remains stable at high temperatures, so it is widely used in the energy and aerospace industries. However, machining this material is difficult due to its high strength, hardness, and high specific force coefficient exceeding 3000 MPa. Turning of the Inconel 718 alloy can be carried out with negative and positive inserts. Therefore, the impacts of the insert geometry on the turning process of Inconel 718, cutting force components, and surface roughness were studied. Three positive and three negative insert geometries were tested. It was shown that the key influence on the active components of the cutting force is the effective rake angle. The surface roughness, on the other hand, depends mainly on the cutting-edge radius. It has been shown that the negative insert geometry with γ = 6° and rn=22 μm provides a 30% lower cutting force than the positive inserts and the same surface roughness. The developed models of the cutting force components proved that when cutting with positive inserts, a higher specific cutting force occurs for the Inconel 718 alloy than for the negative insert. It was shown that technological parameters had a very similar effect on the cutting force components and surface roughness parameters regardless of the blade geometry. It was proven that the use of positive inserts makes sense only for depths of cut no greater than the size of the corner radius.
Novel prognostic impact and cell specific role of endocan in patients with coronary artery disease
Authors: Lin Liang-Yu , Chang Ting-Ting , Leu Hsin-Bang , Huang Chin-Chou , Wu Tao-Cheng , Chou Ruey-Hsin , Huang Po-Hsun , Yin Wei-Hsian , Tseng Wei-Kung , Wu Yen-Wen , Lin Tsung-Hsien , Yeh Hung-I , Chang Kuan-Cheng , Wang Ji-Hung , Wu Chau-Chung , Chen Jaw-Wen
Published: May 2024

Background

Both the clinical and mechanistic impacts of endocan were not well elucidated especially in coronary artery disease (CAD).

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the prognostic and potential pathological role of endocan for cardiovascular (CV) events in stable CAD patients.

Methods

A total of 1,071 stable CAD patients with previous percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were enrolled prospectively in a nationwide Biosignature study. Another cohort of 76 CAD patients with or without PCI were enrolled for validation. Baseline biomarkers including endocan level was measured and total CV events especially hard CV events (including CV mortality, non-fatal myocardial infection and stroke) during follow-up were identified. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) as an in vivo biological contributor to vascular repairment from CAD patients were used for the in vitro functional study.

Results

After 24 months, there were 42 patients (3.92%) with hard CV events and 207 (19.3%) with total CV events in the study group. The incidence of both events was increased with the tertiles of baseline endocan level (hard events: 1.7%,3.4%, and 6.7% in 1st,2nd, and 3rd tertile respectively, p = 0.002; total events: 13.8%vs.16.2%vs.28.0%, p < 0.0001). Multivariate regression analysis revealed the independent association of endocan level with total and hard CV events. These findings were validated in another cohort with a 5-year follow-up. Furthermore, in vitro inhibition of endocan improved cell migration and tube formation capacities, and reduced cell adhesiveness of EPCs from CAD patients.

Conclusions

Endocan might be a novel prognostic indicator, mechanistic mediator, and potential therapeutic target for clinical CAD.

Graphical abstract
Population-specific climate sensitive top height curves and their applications to assisted migration
Authors: Luo Dawei , O’Neill Gregory A. , Yang Yuqing , Galeano Esteban , Wang Tongli , Thomas Barb R.
Published: May 2024

Growth and yield (G&Y) of forest plantations can be significantly impacted by maladaptation resulting from climate change, and assisted migration has been proposed to mitigate these impacts by restoring populations to their historic climates. However, genecology models currently used for guiding assisted migration do not account for impacts of climate change on cumulative growth and assume that responses of forest population to climate do not change with age. Using provenance trial data for interior lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta subsp. latifolia Douglas) and white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) in western Canada, we integrated Universal Response Functions, representing the relationship of population performance with their provenance and site climates, into top height curves in a G&Y model (Growth and Yield Projection System, GYPSY) to develop population-specific climate sensitive top height curves for both species. These new models can estimate the impact of climate change on top height of local populations and populations from a range of provenances to help guide assisted migration. Our findings reveal that climate change is expected to have varying effects on forest productivity across the landscape, with some areas projected to experience a slight increase in productivity by the 2050s, while the remainder are projected to face a significant decline in productivity for both species. Adoption of assisted migration, however, with the optimal populations selected was projected to maintain and even improve productivity at the provincial scale. The findings of this study provide a novel approach to incorporating assisted migration approaches into forest management to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change.
Stakeholder perspectives on landslide triggers and impacts in five countries
Authors: Tayebi Safiyeh , Jabed Md. Akib , Ruano Ana Lorena , Lee Gwenyth O , da Silva Paula F. , Ahmed Saleh , G. Edier V. Aristizábal , Dahal Ranjan Kumar , Soltani Arezoo , Imran Khan Mohammad , Rahman Md. Atiqur , Islam M Ashraful , Haque Ubydul
Published: May 2024

Expert perspectives drive landslide mitigation and post-disaster policy planning. This study examines landslide risk perceptions among the stakeholders (government officials, academics, policy experts, local community representatives, and representatives of NGOs/civil society) across Brazil, Colombia, Nepal, Iran, and Pakistan, identifying both shared concerns and local heterogeneity. Key informants revealed a discrepancy in their degree of concern about landslides, with government officials exhibiting greater apprehension compared to local community representatives. Local community representatives incorrectly perceived landslides to be the result of natural phenomena. In contrast, governmental and academic stakeholders felt that human-induced triggers, specifically those related to land use and land cover change, were significant contributors to landslide occurrences, necessitating stringent law enforcement. The comprehensive impacts of landslides included economic losses, infrastructure disruption, agricultural losses, and food security concerns, underscoring the multifaceted nature of this hazard. Our results suggest the need for proactive citizen engagement in landslide monitoring, recognizing the importance of local contexts. We end by proposing a dual-pronged policy approach that emphasizes the socio-economic context of each region.
The Impact of Drop Test Conditions on Brain Strain Location and Severity: A Novel Approach Using a Deep Learning Model
Authors: Stilwell George , Stitt Danyon , Alexander Keith , Draper Nick , Kabaliuk Natalia
Published: May 2024

In contact sports such as rugby, players are at risk of sustaining traumatic brain injuries (TBI) due to high-intensity head impacts that generate high linear and rotational accelerations of the head. Previous studies have established a clear link between high-intensity head impacts and brain strains that result in concussions. This study presents a novel approach to investigating the effect of a range of laboratory controlled drop test parameters on regional peak and mean maximum principal strain (MPS) predictions within the brain using a trained convolutional neural network (CNN). The CNN is publicly available at https://github.com/Jilab-biomechanics/CNN-brain-strains. The results of this study corroborate previous findings that impacts to the side of the head result in significantly higher regional MPS than forehead impacts. Forehead impacts tend to result in the lowest region-averaged MPS values for impacts where the surface angle was at 0° and 45°, while side impacts tend to result in higher regional peak and mean MPS. The absence of a neck in drop tests resulted in lower regional peak and mean MPS values. The results indicated that the relationship between drop test parameters and resulting regional peak and mean MPS predictions is complex. The study’s findings offer valuable insights into how deep learning models can be used to provide more detailed insights into how drop test conditions impact regional MPS. The novel approach used in this paper to predict brain strains can be applied in the development of better methods to reduce the brain strain resulting from head accelerations such as protective sports headgear.
Sound and Noise Sources in Sonotubometry: An Investigation of Eustachian Tube Assessment
Authors: Nava Tobia Sebastiano , Nussbaumer Maximilian , Tysome James R. , Sutcliffe Michael P. F.
Published: May 2024

This research aims to enhance the understanding of the acoustic processes occurring during sonotubometry, a method used to assess the Eustachian tube (ET) function. Recent advancements in digital signal processing enable a more comprehensive data analysis. In this project, a silicone model of the ET was developed to systematically study the existing noise and sound sources. These measurements were then compared with recordings from human subjects. Three distinct ’noise sources’ were identified, which can influence the assessment of the ET opening using transmission measurements of the imposed signal: sound leakage from the speaker, a clicking noise at the initiation of ET opening, and rumbling/swallowing noise. Through spectral analysis, it was also possible to ascertain the spectral and temporal occurrence of these sound and noise types. The silicone model exhibited remarkable similarity to the healthy human ET, making it a robust experimental model for investigating the acoustics of sonotubometry. The findings underscore the significance of delving deeper into the analysed sound, as the noise occurring during sonotubometry can be easily misconstrued as an actual ET opening. Particularly, careful consideration is warranted when evaluating data involving clicking and swallowing noise.
Anti-oppression pedagogy in health professions: a scoping review
Authors: Smith Meredith , McGuire-Adams Tricia , Eady Kaylee
Published: May 2024

Health professional learners are increasingly called to learn about health inequity to reduce inequities and improve patient care and health outcomes. Anti-oppression pedagogy (AOP) addresses the need for health professional learners to understand multiple health inequities and the structures and systems that produce inequities. However, the inclusion of AOP in health professions education varies and there is a lack of clarity in its conceptualization and integration. A scoping review was conducted to address this gap and to understand how AOP is conceptualized and integrated in health professions education. Thirty-six articles met the inclusion criteria. The articles demonstrated that AOP is not commonly utilized terminology within health professions education. When AOP is integrated, it is not consistently conceptualized but is generally viewed as a broad concept that focuses on antiracism; decoloniality; intersectionality; and supporting learners to understand, critically reflect on, and act against structural and systemic forms of oppressions. In addition, there is variation in the integration of AOP in health professions education with the most common methods consisting of discussions, cases, reflection, learning through lived experiences, and the incorporation of humanities within a longitudinal curriculum. The results of this scoping review highlight the need for health professions education to develop one clear concept that educators use when teaching about anti-oppression, which may reduce working in silos and allow educators to better collaborate with each other in advancing this work. In addition, this review suggests that health professional programs should consider incorporating AOP in curricula with a broad and longitudinal approach utilizing the common methods of delivery. To better support programs in including AOP in curricula, further research is required to emphasize the benefits, provide clarity on its conceptualization, and determine the most effective methods of integration.
Optimal operation of reverse osmosis desalination process with deep reinforcement learning methods
Authors: Golabi Arash , Erradi Abdelkarim , Qiblawey Hazim , Tantawy Ashraf , Bensaid Ahmed , Shaban Khaled
Published: May 2024

The reverse osmosis (RO) process is a well-established desalination technology, wherein energy-efficient techniques and advanced process control methods significantly reduce production costs. This study proposes an optimal real-time management method to minimize the total daily operation cost of an RO desalination plant, integrating a storage tank system to meet varying daily freshwater demand. Utilizing the dynamic model of the RO process, a cascade structure with two reinforcement learning (RL) agents, namely the deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) and deep Q-Network (DQN), is developed to optimize the operation of the RO plant. The DDPG agent, manipulating the high-pressure pump, controls the permeate flow rate to track a reference setpoint value. Simultaneously, the DQN agent selects the optimal setpoint value and communicates it to the DDPG controller to minimize the plant’s operation cost. Monitoring storage tanks, permeate flow rates, and water demand enables the DQN agent to determine the required amount of permeate water, optimizing water quality and energy consumption. Additionally, the DQN agent monitors the storage tank’s water level to prevent overflow or underflow of permeate water. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness and practicality of the designed RL agents.
A comparison study of spatial and temporal schemes for flow and transport problems in fractured media with large parameter contrasts on small length scales
Authors: Gao Wansheng , Neuweiler Insa , Wick Thomas
Published: May 2024

In this work, various high-accuracy numerical schemes for transport problems in fractured media are further developed and compared. Specifically, to capture sharp gradients and abrupt changes in time, schemes with low order of accuracy are not always sufficient. To this end, discontinuous Galerkin up to order two, Streamline Upwind Petrov-Galerkin, and finite differences, are formulated. The resulting schemes are solved with sparse direct numerical solvers. Moreover, time discontinuous Galerkin methods of order one and two are solved monolithically and in a decoupled fashion, respectively, employing finite elements in space on locally refined meshes. Our algorithmic developments are substantiated with one regular fracture network and several further configurations in fractured media with large parameter contrasts on small length scales. Therein, the evaluation of the numerical schemes and implementations focuses on three key aspects, namely accuracy, monotonicity, and computational costs.
Relational Quantum Mechanics: Ozawa’s Intersubjectivity Theorem as Justification of the Postulate on Internally Consistent Descriptions
Authors: Khrennikov Andrei
Published: May 2024

The Ozawa’s intersubjectivity theorem (OIT) proved within quantum measurement theory supports the new postulate of relational quantum mechanics (RQM), the postulate on internally consistent descriptions. But from OIT viewpoint postulate’s formulation should be completed by the assumption of probability reproducibility. We remark that this postulate was proposed only recently to resolve the problem of intersubjectivity of information in RQM. In contrast to RQM for which OIT is a supporting theoretical statement, QBism is challenged by OIT.
A variational formulation for three-dimensional linear thermoelasticity with ‘thermal inertia’
Authors: Giorgio Ivan , Placidi Luca
Published: May 2024

A variational model has been developed to investigate the coupled thermo-mechanical response of a three-dimensional continuum. The linear Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) of this problem are already well-known in the literature. However, in this paper, we avoid the use of the second principle of thermodynamics, basing the formulation only on a proper definition (i) of kinematic descriptors (the displacement and the entropic displacement), (ii) of the action functional (with kinetic, internal and external energy functions) and (iii) of the Rayleigh dissipation function. Thus, a Hamilton–Rayleigh variational principle is formulated, and the cited PDEs have been derived with a set of proper Boundary Conditions (BCs). Besides, the Lagrangian variational perspective has been expanded to analyze linear irreversible processes by generalizing Biot’s formulation, namely, including thermal inertia in the kinetic energy definition. Specifically, this implies Cattaneo’s law for heat conduction, and the well-known Lord–Shulman model for thermo-elastic anisotropic bodies is then deduced. The developed variational framework is ideal for the perspective of analyzing the thermo-mechanical problems with micromorphic and/or higher-order gradient continuum models, where the deduction of a coherent system of PDEs and BCs is, on the one hand, not straightforward and, on the other hand, natural within the presented variational deduction.
Crossroads between Big Data and entrepreneurship: current key trends
Authors: Lull Juan J. , Cervelló-Royo Roberto , Galdón José Luis
Published: May 2024

Entrepreneurship is vital for economic growth and development, as it fosters innovation, creates jobs, and enhances competition and competitiveness. At the same time, in contemporary society, where the Internet has assumed the role of the primary instrument for both communication and commerce, effective utilisation of vast amounts of data has become imperative for businesses, especially in the entrepreneurial environment. To identify the main connections in two of the currently most trending concepts in business, we undertook a systematic literature review focusing on Big Data, entrepreneurship, and their interconnections in business management through 301 research documents. While numerous studies have already delved individually into Big Data and entrepreneurship, the interconnection between these concepts still has research potential. Our results reflect a growing interest in leading research on these topics, with specific leading authors and countries. Furthermore, we show and discuss a conceptual map consisting of five clusters, unveiling interesting connections such as the impact of blockchain on firms, the correlation between Big Data and firm performance, the role of data science, and the significance of Big Data analytics for operational performance. The article ends by examining how Big Data and entrepreneurship change the business landscape. While entrepreneurs use data for decision-making, innovation, and tailored customer experiences, there are lingering concerns such as data security and privacy. The future of business and innovation will depend, in part, on the crossroads between entrepreneurs and Big Data technologies.
Can the cyanide metabolite, 2-aminothiazoline-4-carboxylic acid, be used for forensic verification of cyanide poisoning?
Authors: Alluhayb Abdullah H. , Severance Carter , Hendry-Hofer Tara , Bebarta Vikhyat S. , Logue Brian A.
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Forensic verification of cyanide (CN) poisoning by direct CN analysis in postmortem blood is challenging due to instability of CN in biological samples. CN metabolites, thiocyanate (SCN−) and 2-aminothiazoline-4-carboxylic acid (ATCA), have been proposed as more stable biomarkers, yet it is unclear if either is appropriate for this purpose. In this study, we evaluated the behavior of CN biomarkers in postmortem swine and postmortem blood to determine which serves as the best biomarker of CN exposure.

Methods

CN, SCN−, and ATCA were measured in postmortem swine (N = 8) stored at 4 °C and postmortem blood stored at 25 °C (room temperature, RT) and 37 °C (typical human body temperature, HBT).

Results

Following CN poisoning, the concentration of each CN biomarker increased well above the baseline. In postmortem swine, CN concentrations declined rapidly (t1/2 = 34.3 h) versus SCN− (t1/2 = 359 h, 15 days) and ATCA (t1/2 = 544 h, 23 days). CN instability in postmortem blood increased at RT (t1/2 = 10.7 h) and HBT (t1/2 = 6.6 h). SCN− and ATCA were more stable than CN at all storage conditions. In postmortem swine, the t1/2s of SCN− and ATCA were 15 and 23 days, respectively. While both the t1/2s of SCN− and ATCA were relatively lengthy, endogenous levels of SCN− were much more variable than ATCA.

Conclusion

While there are still questions to be answered, ATCA was the most adept forensic marker of CN poisoning (i.e., ATCA produced the longest half-life, the largest increase above baseline levels, and most stable background concentrations).
Cultural semiotic resources in young children’s science drawings
Authors: Monteira Sabela F. , Jiménez-Aleixandre María Pilar , Martins Isabel
Published: May 2024

This study aims to explore the meanings communicated by young children with visual cultural semiotic resources available in the science classroom. It is a case study in an Early Childhood Education classroom of 23 children (3–4 years old) and their teacher, all engaged in a long-term science project about snails. We focus on the analysis of two series of drawings of snails made by children a month apart, examined through two complementary lenses: comparative content and social semiotics. The findings show that, during their first year of formal schooling, children acquired a range of semiotic resources to communicate to others, which are part of their classroom culture, rather than explicitly taught. Children used these resources to construct sophisticated meanings through their science drawings, highlighting what they considered important and accounting for different modalities and categories. These results point to the importance of supporting drawing tasks in early years, as well as providing opportunities for discussing and interpreting representations. A methodological contribution of this research regards the combination of two complementary foci in the analysis of children’s drawings that allows for a nuanced examination of their learning and abilities for meaning making.
Linking self-regulated learning to community of inquiry in online undergraduate courses: A person-centered approach
Authors: Na Chungsoo , Jeong Soojeong , Clarke-Midura Jody , Shin Youngin
Published: May 2024

The Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework has gained widespread recognition as a theoretical model for understanding student learning in online environments. Despite its prevalence, CoI has been critiqued for its limited emphasis on learners’ proactive roles in self-regulating their own learning. To address this, researchers have suggested integrating self-regulated learning (SRL) into the CoI framework. This integration calls for empirical research to explore the relationship between SRL and the three established CoI presences: teaching, social, and cognitive. Using a person-centered approach, this study examines how varying SRL skills among 750 undergraduate students in an online introductory mathematics course are related to the three CoI components. Latent profile analyses identified five distinct SRL profiles: minimal regulators, low regulators with limited social skills, low regulators, moderate regulators, and competent regulators. We found that students in higher SRL profiles demonstrated higher perception of CoI, whereas those in relatively lower SRL profiles showed lower levels of perceived CoI. Our findings underscore the importance of incorporating self-regulation in the CoI framework for a more comprehensive understanding of online learning.
Segmentation of mediastinal lymph nodes in CT with anatomical priors
Authors: Mathai Tejas Sudharshan , Liu Bohan , Summers Ronald M.
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Lymph nodes (LNs) in the chest have a tendency to enlarge due to various pathologies, such as lung cancer or pneumonia. Clinicians routinely measure nodal size to monitor disease progression, confirm metastatic cancer, and assess treatment response. However, variations in their shapes and appearances make it cumbersome to identify LNs, which reside outside of most organs.

Methods

We propose to segment LNs in the mediastinum by leveraging the anatomical priors of 28 different structures (e.g., lung, trachea etc.) generated by the public TotalSegmentator tool. The CT volumes from 89 patients available in the public NIH CT Lymph Node dataset were used to train three 3D off-the-shelf nnUNet models to segment LNs. The public St. Olavs dataset containing 15 patients (out-of-training-distribution) was used to evaluate the segmentation performance.

Results

For LNs with short axis diameter $$\ge $$
≥
8 mm, the 3D cascade nnUNet model obtained the highest Dice score of 67.9 ± 23.4 and lowest Hausdorff distance error of 22.8 ± 20.2. For LNs of all sizes, the Dice score was 58.7 ± 21.3 and this represented a $$\ge $$
≥
10% improvement over a recently published approach evaluated on the same test dataset.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, we are the first to harness 28 distinct anatomical priors to segment mediastinal LNs, and our work can be extended to other nodal zones in the body. The proposed method has the potential for improved patient outcomes through the identification of enlarged nodes in initial staging CT scans.
What is it Like to Evolve? Cultural Evolution as a Lived Experience
Authors: Baldus Bernd
Published: May 2024

The evolution of human culture continues to divide social and biological science. Key issues for both sides are the complexity and variability of culture, the frequency of cultural traits that have no adaptive or functional value, and the apparent exceptionality of human creativity and rationality. This article argues that an examination of how evolution affects the lifetime experience of evolution can reconcile these features of human culture with Darwin’s contention that natural and cultural selection follow the same process of evolution. The article offers a new paradigm that focuses on the relationship between uncertainty and choice in human cultural evolution.
Societal costs before and up to 1 year after the first fracture liaison service visit in patients requiring anti-osteoporosis treatments
Authors: Maas Lieke , Boonen Annelies , Wyers Caroline E. , Bours Sandrine , van den Bergh Joop P. , Evers Silvia M. , van Kuijk Sander M. J. , Hiligsmann Mickaël
Published: May 2024

This study aimed to estimate societal and healthcare costs incurred before and 1 year after the first fracture liaison services (FLS) visit and to explore differences in fracture type. All costs after 1 year significantly decreased compared to costs preceding the first visit. Fracture type did not significantly affect costs.

Introduction

Limited literature is available on resource utilization and costs of patients visiting fracture liaison services (FLS). This study aimed to estimate the societal and healthcare costs incurred by patients with a recent fracture requiring anti-osteoporosis medication before and 1 year after the first FLS visit and to explore differences according to fracture type.

Methods

Resource utilization was collected through a self-reported questionnaire with a 4-month recall on health resource utilization and productivity losses immediately following the first FLS visit, and 4 and 12 months later. Unit costs derived from the national Dutch guideline for economic evaluations were used to compute societal and healthcare costs. Linear mixed-effect models, adjusted for confounders, were used to analyze societal and healthcare costs over time as well as the effect of fracture type on societal and healthcare costs.

Results

A total of 126 patients from two Dutch FLS centers were included, of whom 72 sustained a major fracture (hip, vertebral, humerus, or radius). Societal costs in the 4 months prior to the first visit (€2911) were significantly higher compared to societal costs 4 months (€711, p-value = 0.009) and 12 months later (€581, p-value = 0.001). Fracture type did not have a significant effect on total societal or healthcare costs. All costs 12 months after the initial visit were numerically lower for major fractures compared to others.

Conclusion

Societal and healthcare costs in the year following the first FLS visit significantly decreased compared to those costs preceding the first visit.
Health-related conditions among long-term cancer survivors diagnosed in adolescence and young adulthood (AYA): results of the SURVAYA study
Authors: Janssen Silvie H. M. , Vlooswijk Carla , Bijlsma Rhodé M. , Kaal Suzanne E. J. , Kerst Jan Martijn , Tromp Jacqueline M. , Bos Monique E. M. M. , van der Hulle Tom , Lalisang Roy I. , Nuver Janine , Kouwenhoven Mathilde C. M. , van der Graaf Winette T. A. , Husson Olga
Published: May 2024

Background

With 5-year survival rates > 85%, gaining insight into the long-term and late health-related conditions of cancer survivors diagnosed in adolescence and young adulthood is of utmost importance to improve their quantity and quality of survival. This study examined the prevalence of and factors associated with, patient-reported health-related conditions and their latency times among long-term adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors.

Methods

AYA cancer survivors (5–20 years after diagnosis) were identified by the population-based Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR), and invited to participate in the SURVAYA questionnaire study. Participants reported the prevalence and date of diagnosis of health-related conditions. Clinical data were retrieved from the NCR.

Results

Three thousand seven hundred seventy-six AYA cancer survivors (response rate 33.4%) were included for analyses. More than half of the AYAs (58.5%) experienced health-related conditions after their cancer diagnosis, of whom 51.4% were diagnosed with two or more conditions. Participants reported conditions related to vision (15.0%), digestive system (15.0%), endocrine system (14.1%), cardiovascular system (11.7%), respiratory system (11.3%), urinary tract system (10.9%), depression (8.6%), hearing (7.4%), arthrosis (6.9%), secondary malignancy (6.4%), speech-, taste and smell (4.5%), and rheumatoid arthritis (2.1%). Time since diagnosis, tumor type, age at diagnosis, and educational level were most frequently associated with a health-related condition.

Conclusions

A significant proportion of long-term AYA cancer survivors report having one or more health-related conditions.

Implications for cancer survivors

Future research should focus on better understanding the underlying mechanisms of, and risk factors for, these health-related conditions to support the development and implementation of risk-stratified survivorship care for AYA cancer survivors to further improve their outcomes.

Clinical trials registration

NCT05379387.
Modeling Zinc Absorption in the Adult Population of Colombia: Insights for Nutritional Evaluation and Intervention Strategies
Authors: Alvarez-Bustamante José Alexander , Muñoz Angélica María
Published: May 2024

Zinc is a vital trace element, yet its deficiency is common in various populations. This study addresses the gap in understanding zinc intake and its relationship with key nutritional parameters in a Colombian population. We analyzed data from 12,987 individuals, focusing on the daily intake of zinc, phytate, protein, and calcium, and used the phytate/zinc molar ratio as an input parameter in the Miller et al. (2013) model. This model was employed to estimate the total absorbed zinc (TAZ) and the fractional absorption of zinc (FAZ). Our findings highlight a general trend towards insufficient intake compared to the standards of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and Colombia, with a significant percentage of the population falling below the estimated average requirement (EAR) and recommended daily allowance (RDA) for zinc, underscoring the need for targeted nutritional strategies. Our study contributes to a broader understanding of zinc nutrition and public health implications in Colombia, providing a basis for future dietary guidelines and health interventions.
Tumor microenvironment and clinical efficacy of first line immunotherapy-based combinations in metastatic renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Sammarco Enrico , Rossetti Martina , Salfi Alessia , Bonato Adele , Viacava Paolo , Masi Gianluca , Galli Luca , Faviana Pinuccia
Published: May 2024

The impact of tumor microenvironment (TME) in influencing clinical response to first-line immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based treatment in advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is unclear. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) could identify biomarkers related to immune checkpoints and immune cell population. This study retrospectively characterized TME from 28 RCC patients who received first line ICI-based therapy through IHC assessment of selected markers and explored preliminary evidence about their possible correlation with treatment efficacy. We found a significantly higher count of CD80+, CD163+ cells and their ratio in RCC with clear cell component compared to those without clear cell features; additionally, patients with metastatic disease at diagnosis were associated with higher expression of CD163+ cells, while higher count of CD4+ cells and CD4+/CD8+ ratio were found in RCC with sarcomatoid features. Patients achieving partial or complete response were associated with lower expression of CD163+ cells (median 28 vs 47; p = 0.049). Furthermore, lower expression of CD163+ was associated with better PFS (median PFS 20.0 vs 4.7 months; HR 0.22 p = 0.011) and OS (median OS NR vs 14.4 months; HR 0.28 p = 0.036). A longer OS was reported in PD-L1 CPS negative patients (median OS NR vs 11.8 months; HR 0.20 p = 0.024). High infiltration of CD163+ macrophages, who typically present “anti-inflammatory” M2-like phenotype, could identify a subgroup of patients with poor survival after receiving first-line ICI.
Efficacy and safety of robotic versus laparoscopic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma: a propensity score-matched retrospective cohort study
Authors: Li He , Meng Lingzhan , Yu Simiao , Zheng Haocheng , Yu Lingxiang , Wang Hongbo , Ren Hui , Li Hu , Zhang Xiaofeng , Wang Zizheng , Yu Peng , Hu Xiongwei , Yang Muyi , Yan Jin , Shao Yanling , Cao Li , Ding Xia , Hong Zhixian , Zhu Zhenyu
Published: May 2024

Background

Evidence concerning long-term outcome of robotic liver resection (RLR) and laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients is scarce.

Methods

This study enrolled all patients who underwent RLR and LLR for resectable HCC between July 2016 and July 2021. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to create a 1:3 match between the RLR and LLR groups. A comprehensive collection and analysis of patient data regarding efficacy and safety have been conducted, along with the evaluation of the learning curve for RLR.

Results

Following PSM, a total of 341 patients were included, with 97 in the RLR group and 244 in the LLR group. RLR group demonstrated a significantly longer operative time (median [IQR], 210 [152.0–298.0] min vs. 183.5 [132.3–263.5] min; p = 0.04), with no significant differences in other perioperative and short-term postoperative outcomes. Overall survival (OS) was similar between the two groups (p = 0.43), but RLR group exhibited improved recurrence-free survival (RFS) (median of 65 months vs. 56 months, p = 0.006). The estimated 5-year OS for RLR and LLR were 74.8% (95% CI: 65.4–85.6%) and 80.7% (95% CI: 74.0–88.1%), respectively. The estimated 5-year RFS for RLR and LLR were 58.6% (95% CI: 48.6–70.6%) and 38.3% (95% CI: 26.4–55.9%), respectively. In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, RLR (HR: 0.586, 95% CI (0.393–0.874), p = 0.008) emerged as an independent predictor of reducing recurrence rates and enhanced RFS. The operative learning curve indicates that approximately after the 11th case, the learning curve of RLR stabilized and entered a proficient phase.

Conclusions

OS was comparable between RLR and LLR, and while RFS was improved in the RLR group. RLR demonstrates oncological effectiveness and safety for resectable HCC.
Thalamic Nucleus Reuniens Glutamatergic Neurons Mediate Colorectal Visceral Pain in Mice via 5-HT2B Receptors
Authors: Li Di , Du Han , Qu Shu-Ting , Wu Jing-Lai , Li Yong-Chang , Xu Qi-Ya , Chen Xia , Dai Xiao-Xuan , Xu Ji-Tian , Wang Qian , Xu Guang-Yin
Published: May 2024

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional bowel disorder characterized by abdominal pain and visceral hypersensitivity. Reducing visceral hypersensitivity is the key to effectively relieving abdominal pain in IBS. Increasing evidence has confirmed that the thalamic nucleus reuniens (Re) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) neurotransmitter system play an important role in the development of colorectal visceral pain, whereas the exact mechanisms remain largely unclear. In this study, we found that high expression of the 5-HT2B receptors in the Re glutamatergic neurons promoted colorectal visceral pain. Specifically, we found that neonatal maternal deprivation (NMD) mice exhibited visceral hyperalgesia and enhanced spontaneous synaptic transmission in the Re brain region. Colorectal distension (CRD) stimulation induced a large amount of c-Fos expression in the Re brain region of NMD mice, predominantly in glutamatergic neurons. Furthermore, optogenetic manipulation of glutamatergic neuronal activity in the Re altered colorectal visceral pain responses in CON and NMD mice. In addition, we demonstrated that 5-HT2B receptor expression on the Re glutamatergic neurons was upregulated and ultimately promoted colorectal visceral pain in NMD mice. These findings suggest a critical role of the 5HT2B receptors on the Re glutamatergic neurons in the regulation of colorectal visceral pain.
A Screening Instrument for Trauma-Related Behavior Among Young Primary School Students: Development and Validation of the RaPTOSS
Authors: Leeuwestein Hanneke , Kupers Elisa , Boelhouwer Marieke , Tondera Paul , van Dijk Marijn
Published: May 2024

This article reports on the development and psychometric evaluation of a new teacher observation instrument to systematically assess young primary school students’ well-being and detect potential indicators of psychological trauma, the RaPTOSS: Risk and Protective factors Trauma Observation School Situations. The RaPTOSS is developed specifically for preschool and early primary school teachers, because of the limited abilities their young students have to verbally reflect and report on their well-being and stressful experiences. We examined the factor structure, internal consistency, convergent validity and criterion validity of the RaPTOSS in a sample of 406 4- to 8-year-old regular education students. Exploratory factor analyses yielded a four-factor structure for the risk items with the following factors: Withdrawn, Dysphoria, Destructive and Inattentive. The protective factor items revealed a four-factor structure closely aligning the theoretical factor structure: Safety and Relations, Self-Image, Everyday Life and Self-Regulation. All factors exhibited good to excellent internal consistency. Correlations between the RaPTOSS and existing measures of psychosocial well-being without a specific focus on trauma-related behavior demonstrated good convergent validity. Criterion validity was supported, as indicated by moderate to large positive correlations between teacher worries about a student and RaPTOSS risk factors, and moderate to large negative correlations between teacher worries and RAPTOSS protective factors. We conclude that the RaPTOSS is a promising measure for trauma-informed teaching and research, although future research is needed to establish its psychometric qualities in specific samples such as children diagnosed with PTSD and refugee children.
Developing a 3D hydrostratigraphical model of the emerged part of the Pelotas Basin along the northern coast of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil
Authors: Marquetto Luciano , Jüstel Alexander , Troian Guilherme Casarotto , Reginato Pedro Antonio Roehe , Simões Jefferson Cardia
Published: May 2024

The coastal plain of Rio Grande do Sul state, in Brazil, is highly vulnerable to expected changes in sea level, while having an increasing population and consequently increasing water demands. Adequate management is essential to restrain contamination, depletion and salinization of the region’s aquifers considering current and future challenges, but geologic knowledge is essential to guide groundwater sustainable practices. To contribute to this discussion, this work integrated existing geological data from the northern coast of Rio Grande do Sul state to create a three-dimensional representation of the main hydrostratigraphical units of the region and its relation to the basement rocks, expanding the current knowledge of the coastal aquifer system. A review of existing data was carried out, consisting of 307 borehole logs from 13 municipalities inside the area of interest, as well as 19 vertical electrical soundings and 37 logs from oil and coal exploratory drillings, that resulted in 315 input points for the model. This work builds up on the conceptual model previously developed for the area, that defined four hydrostratigraphical units for the region, and was able to constrain the geometries of the main aquifers (unit 1 and 3) and aquitards (unit 2 and 4) and their relation to the basement rocks, showing them to be more heterogeneous in thicknesses and extent than previously thought. In addition, this work was able to model what could be a fifth hydrostratigraphical unit, that strongly differs from the other four and could be an indication of the alluvial fans previously described in the literature.
Birational reparameterizations of surfaces
Authors: Caravantes Jorge , Pérez-Díaz Sonia , Sendra J. Rafael
Published: May 2024

Given a unirational parameterization of a surface, we present a general algorithm to determine a birational parameterization without using parameterization algorithms. Additionally, if the surface is assumed to have a birational parameterization with empty base locus, and the input parameterization is transversal, the degree of the solution is determined in advance and the dimension of the space of solutions is reduced. As a consequence, for these cases, we present a second faster algorithm.