bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ancient and modern wheat varieties: A trade‐off between soil CO2 emissions and grain yield?
Authors: Rouch Laly , Follain Stéphane , Pimet Eric , Bizouard Florian , Cognard Elodie , Mathieu Olivier , Blouin Manuel
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Humanity is facing two great challenges: producing enough food for a growing population and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. In this study, we investigated the choice of specific wheat varieties to improve carbon storage in soil while producing enough grain to assure food security. We hypothesize that ancient wheat varieties could store more carbon than modern ones, due to a likely bigger and deeper root system or to more recalcitrant root organic matter.

Materials and Methods

We conducted a field experiment with four modern and four ancient wheat varieties, on four different sites with contrasted soil properties. Root morphology was assessed by image analysis and potential CO2 emissions by incubation for 60 days. Since in situ carbon storage differences between ancient and modern varieties were expected to be weak and not cumulated due to rotation, we estimated expected CO2 emissions from root biomass and potential CO2 emissions. The grain yield was also measured.

Results

The breeding type (ancient vs. modern varieties) affected root length in two of our four sites, with longer roots for ancient varieties, but it did not affect other root traits such as biomass. The breeding type also affected CO2 emissions, with higher measured CO2 emissions for modern than ancient varieties in Arenic Cambisol conditions (Morvan), and higher estimated (considering root biomass variations) CO2 emissions for modern varieties in Rendzic Leptosol conditions (Saint Romain). Root traits and estimated CO2 emissions were also dependent on the soil properties of the different sites. We did not find any significant differences in grain yield between ancient and modern varieties.

Conclusion

A possible trade‐off between carbon storage and grain production was expected, but our results suggest that some types of soil can support both high grain yield and C storage, especially those with an important depth, a neutral pH and a fine texture.
Electrochemical Etching Switches Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Pathway of IrOx/Y2O3 from Adsorbate Evolution Mechanism to Lattice‐Oxygen‐Mediated Mechanism
Authors: Tan Xiaohe , Zhang Mingkai , Chen Da , Li Wenbin , Gou Wangyan , Qu Yongquan , Ma Yuanyuan
Published: June 2023

Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) plays key roles in electrochemical energy conversion devices. Recent advances have demonstrated that OER catalysts through lattice oxygen‐mediated mechanism (LOM) can bypass the scaling relation‐induced limitations on those catalysts through adsorbate evolution mechanism (AEM). Among various catalysts, IrOx, the most promising OER catalyst, suffers from low activities for its AEM pathway. Here, it is demonstrated that a pre‐electrochemical acidic etching treatments on the hybrids of IrOx and Y2O3 (IrOx/Y2O3) switch the AEM‐dominated OER pathway to LOM‐dominated one in alkali electrolyte, delivering a high performance with a low overpotential of 223 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and a long‐term stability. Mechanism investigations suggest that the pre‐electrochemical etching treatments create more oxygen vacancies in catalysts due to the dissolution of yttrium and then provide highly active surface lattice oxygen for participating OER, thereby enabling the LOM‐dominated pathway and resulting in a significantly increased OER activity in basic electrolyte.
Recent Progresses on Transparent Electrodes and Active Layers Toward Neutral, Color Semitransparent Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Guo Haikuo , Hou Fuhua , Ren Xiaoqi , Ning Xuli , Wang Yulong , Yang Haoran , Wei Jiali , Guo Jingwei , Li Tiantian , Zhu Chengjun , Zhao Ying , Zhang Xiaodan
Published: June 2023

Semitransparent perovskite solar cells (ST‐PSCs) are highly promising for application in building‐integrating photovoltaics (BIPVs) due to their potential in tunable transparency and color. However, the comprehensive performance of ST‐PSCs falls quite short of the ideal requirements for BIPV. Herein, more attention is to review how to balance transparency and power conversion efficiency for ST‐PSCs. Optimizing transparent electrodes and the active layers are interesting strategies to achieve the transparency required by devices. In addition, to obtain color ST‐PSCs, tuning the bandgap of perovskite layers and designing the optical structure of the electrode are effective strategies. Last but not least, three significant optical evaluation indexes of ST‐PSCs are described in the supporting information: average visible transmittance, color rendering index, and light utilization efficiency.
Amide‐Based Ionic Liquid Electrolytes for Alkali‐Metal‐Ion Rechargeable Batteries
Authors: Yamamoto Takayuki , Nohira Toshiyuki
Published: June 2023

Ionic liquids (ILs) have a wide variety of applications in energy storage and material production. ILs are composed of only cations and anions, without any molecular solvents, and are generally known as “designer liquids (solvents)” because their physicochemical properties can be tuned by the combination of ionic species. In recent several decades, research and development activities of rechargeable batteries have garnered considerable attention because certain groups of ILs exhibit high electrochemical stability and moderate ionic conductivity, rendering them suitable for application in high‐voltage batteries. ILs with amide anions are representative electrolytes and are extensively researched by many research groups, including our group. This paper focuses on amide‐based ILs as electrolytes for alkali‐metal‐ion rechargeable batteries, introducing their history, characteristics, and existing challenges to be addressed.
A multimedia learning theory‐informed perspective on self‐regulated learning
Authors: Kuhlmann Shelbi L. , Bernacki Matthew L. , Greene Jeffrey A.
Published: June 2023

The affordances of computer‐based learning environments make them powerful tools for conveying information in higher education. However, to most effectively use these environments, students must be adept at self‐regulating their learning. This self‐regulation is effortful, including a myriad of processes, including defining tasks, making plans, using and monitoring the efficacy of high‐quality learning strategies, and reflecting on the learning process and outcomes. Therefore, higher education instructors and course designers should design computer‐based learning environments to ease learning and free up mental resources for self‐regulation. This chapter describes how design principles from the cognitive theory of multimedia learning can facilitate learning in computer‐based learning environments and promote self‐regulated learning. Examples of the multimedia, personalization, and generative activity principles are presented to show how the cognitive theory of multimedia learning can guide design and promote students’ selection, organization, and integration of content, resulting in better understanding and more mental resources available for self‐regulated learning and the deeper learning it can afford.
More than just fun and games: The role of games in postsecondary education to support self‐regulated learning
Authors: Nietfeld John L. , Sperling Rayne A. , Young Taylor M.
Published: June 2023

In this chapter, we explore how faculty employ the use of gamification and game‐based learning environments (GBLE) in postsecondary education. Gamification refers to the use of game‐design elements while game‐based learning refers to the use of digital education games. Both are increasingly popular instructional practices and, in this chapter, we specifically examine their potential for supporting students’ self‐regulated learning (SRL). Important for academic success, SRL refers to the active, cyclical process of intentionally directing one's metacognition, motivation, and behavior to achieve a learning goal. Findings from the extant research on gamification and GBLEs conducted in postsecondary settings are reported with connections to SRL processes throughout. Furthermore, we review the effects of games on varied learning, motivation, and SRL outcomes. Finally, we conclude with recommendations for future research and practice, with a primary suggestion of more explicitly addressing SRL in research related to gamification and game‐based learning.
Indications, strategies, and development on prostate targeted biopsy: Report of the Panjiayuan Consensus Conference 2022
Authors: Song Gang , Li Yajian , Hou Huimin , Wang Yichen , Wang Xuejuan , Niu Shaoxi , Tu Xiang , Shen Hongliang , Zhou Zhien , Wang Yinbing , Yan Ruiyi , Xu Ning , Zhang Gejun , Hao Hailong , Zhang Shudong , Liu Ben , Yang Bin , Wang Baojun , Wang Haifeng , Huang Haifeng , Zhang Qian , Dong Baijun , Li Yonghong , Bi Jianbin , Yan Weigang , Guo Hongqian , Niu Yuanjie , Yang Guosheng , Liu Ming , Wei Qiang , Xing Nianzeng
Published: June 2023

Prostate biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosing prostate cancer (PCa). Prostate targeted biopsy (TB) having a higher rate of detecting clinically significant PCa (csPCa) than traditional systematic biopsy (SB) is supported by high‐quality evidence. However, the TB indications and strategies are controversial. The National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, invited a panel of recognized urology experts in PCa to address these topics at the Panjiayuan Consensus Conference 2022. The conference results on prostate TB are presented herein. The National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences identified 10 key areas of prostate biopsy: (1) selection of imaging examination; (2) indications of TB; (3) transperineal and transrectal prostate biopsy; (4) TB pathways; (5) TB and SB; (6) three techniques of TB; (7) the number of TB cores needed for one lesion; (8) core number for SB; (9) free‐hand TB; (10) future development of TB/prostate diagnosis. Thus, a panel of 25 recognized urologists and 2 radiologists from China were invited to attend this conference. The panel voted anonymously on 14 predetermined questions. Voting was based on the panelists' clinical practice and opinion, rather than high‐level evidence. The voting outcomes were supported by the panel unequally, and details of the voting results were reported. The voting results can help clinicians to decide on biopsy timing and proper strategies, for which guidelines are sparse. We also focused on the future development of TB and SB, such as the combined pathway of TB and SB, techniques of TB, biopsy cores, free‐hand TB, and prostate‐specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography.
Renal histiocytic sarcoma in a cat undergoing nephrectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy
Authors: Catania Emanuela , Ingraffia Sara , Ferriani Riccardo , Torrigiani Filippo , Treggiari Elisabetta
Published: June 2023

A 6‐year‐old, male neutered, domestic shorthair cat was presented for further investigation of a right‐sided kidney mass. A contrast‐enhanced computed tomography scan of head, thorax and abdomen showed a right‐sided renal mass, with infiltration of the surrounding tissue, but no evidence of distant metastasis. Cytology was consistent with a poorly differentiated neoplasia, and nephrectomy was performed. Following surgery, the cat underwent multiple blood transfusions due to severe anaemia and developed tricavitary effusion compatible with a protein‐rich transudate. The tumour was confirmed to be a histiocytic sarcoma on histopathology and immunohistochemistry, and the patient received adjuvant chemotherapy with lomustine. Restaging procedures were performed 121 days following surgery and documented recurrence at the previous surgical site together with cutaneous metastasis, therefore a rescue protocol with single agent doxorubicin was started. The patient was euthanased after worsening of its clinical conditions, 152 days since nephrectomy was performed.
Hydrometeorological observations from the Upper Kentucky headwaters flash floods, 26–29 July 2022
Authors: Day C. A. , Chen J.
Published: June 2023

In late July 2022, heavy rains resulted in localised flash flooding across the Upper Kentucky River. To quantify the scale of this event, we analysed hydrometeorological activity using radar, precipitation and stream gauge data for three unregulated watersheds within the headwater forks of the Kentucky River Basin. The July 2022 event resulted from warm‐season elevated thunderstorm activity generating record flooding for the Whitesburg branch of the headwaters. Steeper topography and barren surface cover may have also influenced flooding on a local scale. A better understanding of local flood responses may mitigate future impacts of these events.
Ambrosia Beetles
Authors: Hulcr Jiri , Skelton James
Published: June 2023

The term “ambrosia beetles” refers to an ecological strategy shared by thousands of species of wood-boring weevils from multiple lineages, rather than a single taxonomic group. Most ambrosia beetle groups evolved from within the bark battles (Curculionidae; Scolytinae), which are a diverse group of weevils which bore into trees and whose progeny develop by feeding on the host tree tissue.
Sap-Sucking Forest Pests
Authors: Branco Manuela , Franco José Carlos , Mendel Zvi
Published: June 2023

Sap-sucker insects are distinguished by their specialized mouthparts, adapted to penetrate and suck fluids from plant tissues. Many sap-sucking insect species are of major economic importance for forests, forest nurseries, and urban trees, causing plant stress, distortion, shoot stunting, and gall formation, or transmitting plant pathogens. In this chapter, we give an overview of the diversity and biology of sap-sucker insects of forest trees, with an emphasis on the two major groups, aphids, and scale insects. We further present their ecology highlighting their biotic interactions with other organisms. Finally, we discuss sap-sucking forest pests and their management.
Spatial Dynamics of Forest Insects
Authors: Tobin Patrick C. , Haynes Kyle J. , Carroll Allan L.
Published: June 2023

The study of the spatial dynamics of forest insects has a long history, and many forest insect species have served as model systems for studying conceptual processes of population biology and ecology. Because forest insect population data were often collected from georeferenced locations, even prior to the development of geodatabases and spatial statistical software, they provide an important historical resource for understanding insect population dynamics and changes in those dynamics through time. Advances in spatial statistics have furthermore enabled forest entomologists to consider forest insect dynamics over multiple spatial and temporal scales, and vast spatial and temporal extents. In this chapter, we first introduce the importance of scaling in studies of spatial dynamics, and review spatial pattern formation in forest insect populations. We conclude the chapter by addressing metapopulation dynamics, and the concept of spatial synchrony in outbreaking forest insects.
Silviculture
Authors: Waring Kristen M. , Bucholz Ethan
Published: June 2023

Silviculture is the art and science of managing forest stands to meet landowner goals and objectives; traditional examples of goals and objectives include managing for timber production, improved wildlife habitat, fuels reduction, and maintenance or improvement of forest health.
Forest Health in the Anthropocene
Authors: Carroll Allan L.
Published: June 2023

Forests cover approximately one third of Earth’s terrestrial surface (FAO and UNEP 2020). They provide a wide range of vital environmental and socioeconomic benefits to all people in the form of ecosystem services.
The Impacts of an Urban Cable Car System on Liveability: A Mixed Methods Study in Bogotá, Colombia
Authors: Rubio María Alejandra , Sarmiento Olga L. , Guevara Tomás , O’Donovan Gary , Muñoz Anamaría , Guzman Luis A. , Arellana Julián , Molano Lucy , Huertas Bernardo , Indvik Katherine , Segura Ethel , King Abby C. , Diez Roux Ana V.
Published: June 2023

Cable cars represent an integral element of urban transport systems designed to connect underserved communities in Latin America. However, evaluations of the liveability impacts of cable cars are scarce. The TransMiCable cable car in Colombia connects the peripheral neighbourhoods of Ciudad Bolívar with the integrated public transport system of Bogotá. This study assessed the effect of TransMiCable on domains of liveability, including transport, public open space, social cohesion, local democracy, and security. Urban Transformations and Health: The Case of TransMiCable in Bogotá was a natural experiment involving participatory mixed methods. Household surveys, the Our Voice citizen science research method, and the Ripple Effects Mapping technique were applied to capture baseline measurements before TransMiCable’s inauguration and follow-up measurements afterwards in both intervention and control areas. Following a simultaneous bidirectional approach, quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analysed separately, then merged for interpretation. The mixed methods approach revealed concordance and complementarity among the multiple effects of the TransMiCable intervention across domains of liveability. These impacts included shorter travel times, increased satisfaction with public transport, increased access to parks, perceived reduction in the neighbourhood’s social stigma, increased pride in community, and decreased perceived insecurity. The participatory process facilitated dialogue between community leaders and public sector decision-makers on the ways transportation interventions can improve liveability. This multisectoral engagement enabled a broad understanding of the ongoing transformation of the Ciudad Bolívar area after the implementation of TransMiCable, providing lessons for effectively engaging with local stakeholders to support the sustainability of urban transformations.
Einleitung
Authors: Krohn Markus
Published: June 2023

Obwohl es im deutschen Gesundheitssystem bei stationär erbrachten Leistungen aufgrund der Entgeltfixierung durch Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs) und Zusatzentgelte seit Jahren zu einem erhöhten Kostendruck kommt, sind exakte, interventionsbezogene Modelle zur Kostenermittlungen im Krankenhaus nur rudimentär ausgeprägt. Dem Leistungserbringer ist folglich oftmals unbekannt, welche Ressourcen in welchem Umfang für die Leistungserstellung tatsächlich eingesetzt werden und ob eine einzelne Intervention kostendeckend erbracht wird. Diese tiefgreifende Fokussierung auf eine einzelne Intervention gewinnt besonders vor dem Hintergrund einer sich verändernden Patientenstruktur an Bedeutung.
Verfahren an der Universitätsmedizin Greifswald
Authors: Krohn Markus
Published: June 2023

Die Darstellung der möglichen OPS-Kodes im Abschnitt 2.1.3 hat gezeigt, dass das Set an Verfahren der extrakorporalen Dialyse vielfältig ist. Weiterhin wurde ersichtlich, dass die Verfahrensart (HF, HD, HDF) sowie die Art der Antikoagulation durch die entsprechenden OPS-Kodes abgebildet werden können. Auch wird durch den OPS-Kode – sofern davon ausgegangen wird, dass kontinuierliche Verfahren nur auf Intensivstationen erbracht werden – in Teilen ersichtlich, an welchem Ort im Krankenhaus die Leistung durchgeführt wird. Weitere Informationen lassen sich anhand des OPS-Kodes nicht gewinnen.
Szenarienanalyse und vergleichende Diskussion
Authors: Krohn Markus
Published: June 2023

Im dritten Kapitel wurden die Entwicklungen der Verfahrenszahlen an der UMG sowie in Deutschland vorgestellt und diskutiert. Das darauffolgende Kapitel zeigte die Kosten der einzelnen Verfahren an der UMG für das Prognosejahr 2019 auf und diskutierte diese. Innerhalb der Diskussionskapitel der jeweiligen Hauptkapitel wurden Fragen aufgezeigt, für dessen Beantwortung neben den Prognosedaten 2019 der UMG auch die Daten der drei Vergleichsszenarien aus Abschnitt 3.5 herangezogen werden sollen. Hierbei geht es vorrangig darum, inwieweit die vormals aufgezeigten Ergebnisse als „stabil“ angesehen werden und ob die Ergebnisse somit auf die weiteren Szenarien übertragen werden können. Weiterhin erfolgt neben der reinen Kostenbetrachtung auch der Vergleich bzw. die Diskussion der Ergebnisse vor dem Hintergrund der Ausgestaltungen im Finanzierungssystem. Hierbei wird unter anderem Bezug auf die Ausgestaltung der OPS-Kodierung bzw. auf die Definition der Zusatzentgelte genommen.
Prospects for a Sustainable Housing Transition
Authors: Moore Trivess , Doyon Andréanne
Published: June 2023

In this final chapter, we revisit the core ideas woven throughout the book. We summarize the current situation and how the current provision of housing will not meet our environmental or societal needs moving forward. Despite the mounting evidence of the benefits of sustainable housing, we still face key challenges that need to be urgently addressed to ensure we can facilitate a sustainable housing transition that includes everyone. We discuss the prospects for change and explore where that change needs to occur. We finish the chapter with some concluding reflections.
Algebra of operators in an AdS-Rindler wedge
Authors: Bahiru Eyoab
Published: June 2023

Abstract

We discuss the algebra of operators in AdS-Rindler wedge, particularly in AdS5/CFT4. We explicitly construct the algebra at N = ∞ limit and discuss its Type III1 nature. We will consider 1/N corrections to the theory and using a novel way of renormalizing the area of Ryu-Takayanagi surface, describe how several divergences can be renormalized and the algebra becomes Type II∞. This will make it possible to associate a density matrix to any state in the Hilbert space and thus a von Neumann entropy.
Jet substructure probe to unfold singlet-doublet dark matter in the presence of non-standard cosmology
Authors: Das Prasanta Kumar , Konar Partha , Kundu Saumyen , Show Sudipta
Published: June 2023

Abstract

We examine the singlet-doublet fermionic dark matter model, where the non-thermal production of the dark matter in light of a non-standard cosmology demands a significantly large interaction rate than the typical radiation-dominated Universe. Despite being a model of freeze-in light dark matter and heavy mediator, the characteristic long-lived particle searches at the collider experiment and the displaced vertex signature do not help in probing such a dark sector since this non-standard interaction mandates nearly prompt decay. We make a counterproposal to probe such signal with di-fat-jets generated from the boosted decays of massive vector bosons and Standard Model Higgs, along with the substantial missing transverse momentum to probe the dark matter at LHC. Interestingly, substructure variables associated with these fat jets have an additional handle to tackle the extensive QCD background as it encodes implicit footmarks of their origin. We adopt the multivariate analysis with the booted decision tree to constrain the measured relic density allowed parameter space of dark matter in the presence of the modified cosmological scenario. Our study shows how the non-trivial expansion affects dark matter production in the early Universe and alters the required search strategies at colliders. This probe provides the best discovery prospect at the HL-LHC for extended parameter space now opened up in the dark sector.
Double Higgs production at NNLO interfaced to parton showers in GENEVA
Authors: Alioli Simone , Billis Georgios , Broggio Alessandro , Gavardi Alessandro , Kallweit Stefan , Lim Matthew A. , Marinelli Giulia , Nagar Riccardo , Napoletano Davide
Published: June 2023

Abstract

In this work, we study the production of Higgs boson pairs at next-to-next-to-leading order in QCD matched to parton showers, using the Geneva framework and working in the heavy-top-limit approximation. This includes the resummation of large logarithms of the zero-jettiness $$ \mathcal{T} $$
T
0 up to the next-to-next-to-next-to-leading-log accuracy. This process features an extremely large momentum transfer, which makes its study particularly relevant for matching schemes such as that employed in Geneva, where the resummation of a variable different from that used in the ordering of the parton shower is used. To further study this effect, we extend the original shower interface designed for Pythia8 to include other parton showers, such as Dire and Sherpa.
Current status and future prospects of activated recombinant coagulation factor VIIa, NovoSeven®, in the treatment of haemophilia and rare bleeding disorders
Authors: Shima Midori
Published: June 2023

rFVIIa, a human recombinant activated coagulation factor VII, has been used worldwide for more than two decades for the treatment of bleeding episodes and prevention of bleeding in patients undergoing surgery/invasive procedures with congenital haemophilia A or B with inhibitors (CHwI A or B), acquired haemophilia (AH), congenital factor VII deficiency and Glanzmann thrombasthenia (GT), refractory to platelet transfusion. The approved dosage, administration and indication of rFVIIa in the US, Europe and Japan differ, depending on the needs of the patient population and regulatory practices. This review presents an overview of the current status and future prospects, including that from a Japanese perspective, of using rFVIIa in the treatment of approved indications. The efficacy and safety of rFVIIa in the approved indications has been demonstrated in several randomised and observational studies and data from registries. The overall incidence of thrombosis across all approved indications in a retrospective safety assessment of clinical trials and registries, prelicensure studies and postmarketing surveillance studies of rFVIIa use was 0.17%. Specifically, the risk of thrombotic events was 0.11% for CHwI, 1.77% for AH, 0.82% for congenital factor VII deficiency and 0.19% for GT. Emerging non-factor therapies such as emicizumab have changed the treatment landscape of haemophilia A, including preventing bleeding in patients with CHwI. However, rFVIIa will continue to play a significant role in the treatment of such patients, particularly during breakthrough bleeding or surgical procedures.
Single-injection nerve blocks for total knee arthroplasty: femoral nerve block versus femoral triangle block versus adductor canal block—a randomized controlled double-blinded trial
Authors: de Arzuaga Carlos I. Salvadores , Miguel Marcos , Biarnés Alfons , García Marcelo , Naya José , Khoudeir Andrea , Minguell Joan , Pujol Oriol
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Femoral nerve block (FNB) is a well-established analgesic technique for TKA. However, it associates quadriceps weakness. Therefore, femoral triangle block (FTB) and adductor canal block (ACB) were proposed as effective alternative motor-spearing techniques. The primary objective was to compare quadriceps muscle strength preservation between FNB, FTB and ACB in TKA. The secondary objective was to analyze pain control and functional outcomes.

Methods

This is a prospective, double-blinded RCT. From April 2018 to April 2019, patients who undergo a primary TKA were randomized into three experimental groups: FNB-G1/FTB-G2/ACB-G3. Quadriceps strength preservation was measured as the difference in maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) preoperatively and postoperatively.

Results

Seventy-eight patients (G1, n = 22; G2, n = 26; G3, n = 30) met our inclusion/exclusion criteria. Patients with FNB retained significantly lower baseline MVIC at 6 h postoperatively (p = 0.001), but there were no differences at 24 and 48 h. There were no differences between the groups in functional outcomes at any time point. Patients in the FNB-G1 presented significant lower pain scores at 6 h (p = 0.01), 24 h (p = 0.005) and 48 h (p = 0.01). The highest cumulative opioid requirement was reported in ACB-G3.

Conclusion

For patients undergoing TKA, FTB and ACB preserve quadriceps strength better than FNB at 6 h postoperatively, but there are no differences at 24 and 48 h. Moreover, this early inferiority does not translate to worse functional outcomes at any time point. FNB is associated with better pain control at 6, 24 and 48 h after surgery, while ACB presents the highest cumulative opioid requirement.

Clinical trial registration

This study was registered in clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03518450; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03518450; submitted March 17, 2018).
Fatty acid isotopic composition in Atlantic pollock is not influenced by environmentally relevant dietary fat concentrations
Authors: Budge Suzanne M. , Townsend Kathryn , Ziegler Susan E. , Lall Santosh P.
Published: June 2023

The application of fatty acid (FA) isotopic analysis has great potential in elucidating food web structure, but it has not experienced the same wide-spread use as amino acid isotopic analyses. The failure to adopt FA isotopic methods is almost certainly linked to a lack of reliable information on trophic fractionation of FA, particularly in higher predators. In this work, we attempt to address this shortfall, through comparison of FA δ13C values in captive Atlantic pollock (Pollachius virens) liver and their known diets. Since catabolism is likely the main cause of fractionation and it may vary with dietary fat content, we investigated the impact of dietary fat concentration on isotopic discrimination in FA. We fed Atlantic pollock three formulated diets with similar FA isotopic compositions but different fat concentrations (5–9% of diet), representative of the range found in natural prey, for 20 weeks. At the conclusion of the study, δ13C values of liver FA were very similar to the FA within the corresponding diets, with most discrimination factors < 1. For all FA except 22:6n-3, dietary fat had no effect on discrimination factors. Only for 22:6n-3 did fish fed the highest fat diet have lower δ13C values than the diet consumed. Thus, these FA-specific discrimination factors can be applied to evaluate diets in marine fish consuming natural diets and will serve as additional and valuable biomarkers in fish feeding ecology.
Assessment tools for patient-reported outcomes in multiple myeloma
Authors: Wang Ting , Lu Qin , Tang LeiWen
Published: June 2023

Background

Patients with multiple myeloma experience severe symptom burden. Patient participation in self-reporting is essential as medical staff’s assessment of patient symptom severity is often lower than patient self-reporting. This article reviews patient-reported outcome (PRO) assessment tools and their application in the field of multiple myeloma.

Results

The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) is the universal patient-reported outcome assessment tool most frequently used to evaluate the life quality in people with multiple myeloma. Among the specific patient-reported outcome assessment tools, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Multiple Myeloma Module (EORTC QLQ-MY20), the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Multiple Myeloma (FACT-MM), and the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory-Multiple Myeloma Module (MDASI-MM) are the most widely used, with some scholars using the EORTC QLQ-MY20 as a calibration correlate for scale development.

Most current assessment instruments were developed using classical measurement theory methods; future researchers could combine classic theory tests and item response theory to create scientific assessment instruments.

In addition, researchers select the appropriate assessment tool based on the purpose of the study. They can translate high-quality assessment tools into different languages and consider applying them more often to assessing multiple myeloma patients. Finally, most existing PROs focus on measuring life quality and symptoms in people with multiple myeloma, with less research on outcomes such as adherence and satisfaction, thus failing to comprehensively evaluate the patient treatment and disease management.

Conclusions

Research has shown that the field of PROs in multiple myeloma is in an exploratory phase. There is still a need to enrich the content of PROs and develop more high-quality PRO scales for multiple myeloma based on the strengths and weaknesses of existing tools. With the successful advancement of information technology, PROs for people with multiple myeloma could be integrated with electronic information systems, allowing patients to report their health status in real time and doctors to track their condition and adjust their treatment, thereby improving patient outcomes.
On the applicability of hybrid systems safety verification tools from the automotive perspective
Authors: Schupp Stefan , Ábrahám Erika , Waez Md Tawhid Bin , Rambow Thomas , Qiu Zeng
Published: June 2023

Traditionally, extensive vehicle testing is applied to assure the robustness and safety of automotive systems. This approach is highly challenged by increasing system complexity. Formal verification lends a powerful framework for model-based safety assurance, but due to the mixed discrete–continuous behavior of automotive systems, traditional tools for discrete program verification are helpful but not sufficient.

In academia, during the last two decades new approaches arose for the formal verification of such mixed discrete-continuous systems. However, the industry is not fully aware of this development, the tools are seldom tried and their applicability is not well examined. In a Ford–RWTH research alliance project, we aimed at evaluating the potential of knowledge and technology transfer in this area.

This paper has two main objectives. Firstly, we want to report on the state-of-the-art in the above-mentioned academic development in a generally understandable form, targeted to interested potential users. Secondly, we want to share our observations after testing different available tools for their applicability and usability in the automotive sector and as a conclusion devise some recommendations.
Numerical simulation of a managed aquifer recharge system designed to supply drinking water to the city of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Authors: Pokhrel Pranisha , Zhou Yangxiao , Smits Frank , Kamps Pierre , Olsthoorn Theo
Published: June 2023

Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) is increasingly used to secure drinking water supply worldwide. The city of Amsterdam (The Netherlands) depends largely on the MAR in coastal dunes for water supply. A new MAR scheme is proposed for the production of 10 × 106 m3/year, as required in the next decade. The designed MAR system consists of 10 infiltration ponds in an artificially created sandbank, and 25 recovery wells placed beneath the ponds in a productive aquifer. Several criteria were met for the design, such as a minimum residence time of 60 days and maximum drawdown of 5 cm. Steady-state and transient flow models were calibrated. The flow model computed the infiltration capacity of the ponds and drawdowns caused by the MAR. A hypothetical tracer transport model was used to compute the travel times from the ponds to the wells and recovery efficiency of the wells. The results demonstrated that 98% of the infiltrated water was captured by the recovery wells which accounted for 65.3% of the total abstraction. Other sources include recharge from precipitation (6.7%), leakages from surface water (13.1%), and natural groundwater reserve (14.9%). Sensitivity analysis indicated that the pond conductance and hydraulic conductivity of the sand aquifer in between the ponds and wells are important for the infiltration capacity. The temperature simulation showed that the recovered water in the wells has a stable temperature of 9.8–12.5 °C which is beneficial for post-treatment processes. The numerical modelling approach is useful and helps to gain insights for implementation of the MAR.
Inter-group alliance dynamics in Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus)
Authors: Friedman Whitney R. , Krützen Michael , King Stephanie L. , Allen Simon J. , Gerber Livia , Wittwer Samuel , Connor Richard C.
Published: June 2023

The social intelligence hypothesis holds that complex social relationships are the major selective force underlying the evolution of large brain size and intelligence. Complex social relationships are exemplified by coalitions and alliances that are mediated by affiliative behavior, resulting in differentiated but shifting relationships. Male Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins in Shark Bay, Australia, form three alliance levels or ‘orders’, primarily among non-relatives. Strategic alliance formation has been documented within both first- and second-order alliances and between second-order alliances (‘third-order alliances’), revealing that the formation of strategic inter-group alliances is not limited to humans. Here we conducted a fine-scale study on 22 adult males over a 6-year period to determine if third-order alliance relationships are differentiated, and mediated by affiliative interactions. We found third-order alliance relationships were strongly differentiated, with key individuals playing a disproportionate role in maintaining alliances. Nonetheless, affiliative interactions occurred broadly between third-order allies, indicating males maintain bonds with third-order allies of varying strength. We also documented a shift in relationships and formation of a new third-order alliance. These findings further our understanding of dolphin alliance dynamics and provide evidence that strategic alliance formation is found in all three alliance levels, a phenomenon with no peer among non-human animals.
Validation of the test for finding word retrieval deficits (WoFi) in detecting Alzheimer's disease in a naturalistic clinical setting
Authors: Georgiou Eleni-Zacharoula , Skondra Maria , Charalampopoulou Marina , Felemegkas Panagiotis , Pachi Asimina , Stafylidou Georgia , Papazachariou Dimitrios , Perneczky Robert , Thomopoulos Vasileios , Politis Antonios , Leroi Iracema , Economou Polychronis , Alexopoulos Panagiotis
Published: June 2023

Background

Detecting impaired naming capacity contributes to the detection of mild (MildND) and major (MajorND) neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The Test for Finding Word retrieval deficits (WoFi) is a new, 50-item, auditory stimuli-based instrument.

Objective

The study aimed to adapt WoFi to the Greek language, to develop a short version of WoFi (WoFi-brief), to compare the item frequency and the utility of both instruments with the naming subtest of the widely used Addenbrooke’s cognitive examination III (ACEIIINaming) in detecting MildND and MajorND due to AD.

Methods

This cross-sectional, validation study included 99 individuals without neurocognitive disorder, as well as 114 and 49 patients with MildND and MajorND due to AD, respectively. The analyses included categorical principal components analysis using Cramer’s V, assessment of the frequency of test items based on corpora of television subtitles, comparison analyses, Kernel Fisher discriminant analysis models, proportional odds logistic regression (POLR) models and stratified repeated random subsampling used to recursive partitioning to training and validation set (70/30 ratio).

Results

WoFi and WoFi-brief, which consists of 16 items, have comparable item frequency and utility and outperform ACEIIINaming. According to the results of the discriminant analysis, the misclassification error was 30.9%, 33.6% and 42.4% for WoFi, WoFi-brief and ACEIIINaming, respectively. In the validation regression model including WoFi the mean misclassification error was 33%, while in those including WoFi-brief and ACEIIINaming it was 31% and 34%, respectively.

Conclusions

WoFi and WoFi-brief are more effective in detecting MildND and MajorND due to AD than ACEIIINaming.
Knowledge as a (Non-factive) Mental State
Authors: Bricker Adam Michael
Published: June 2023

The thesis that knowledge is a factive mental state plays a central role in knowledge-first epistemology, but accepting this thesis requires also accepting an unusually severe version of externalism about the mind. On this strong attitude externalism, whether S is in the mental state of knowledge can and often will rapidly change in virtue of changes in external states of reality with which S has no causal contact. It is commonly thought that this externalism requirement originates in the factivity of knowledge. However, despite a number of recent defenses of non-factive accounts of knowledge, epistemology has yet to consider whether a non-factive approach might produce a version of the mental state thesis that can avoid strong externalism. Here I do just that, exploring how three different proposals for weakening factivity might be adapted to theories of knowledge as a non-factive mental state. Contrary to what we might expect, however, none of these proposals are compatible with anything close to attitude internalism about knowledge—or even a substantially weaker externalism. All told, the widespread view that wraps up the severe externalism required for knowledge to be a mental state in factivity is mistaken. Knowledge’s external-world connection runs far deeper than the factivity constraint.
A generic approach to extract object-centric event data from databases supporting SAP ERP
Authors: Berti Alessandro , Park Gyunam , Rafiei Majid , van der Aalst Wil M. P.
Published: June 2023

Process mining provides a collection of techniques to gain insights into business processes by analyzing event logs. Organizations can gain various insights into their business processes by using process mining techniques. Such techniques use event logs extracted from relational databases supporting the business process as input. However, extracting event logs is challenging due to the size of the data, and it remains ad-hoc. Existing commercial tools partly support the extraction of event logs, but they are proprietary and focus on the mainstream processes such as Purchase-To-Pay (P2P) and Order-To-Cash (O2C). Moreover, the extracted event logs suffer from well-known deficiency, convergence, and divergence issues. For example, due to convergence events are unintentionally duplicated causing unreliable or confusing performance diagnostics. In this paper, we propose an approach to extract event logs while avoiding the aforementioned issues. More in detail, we extract object-centric event logs by using an abstraction layer of the database, called Graph of Relationships (GoRs), designing blueprints with domain knowledge, and converting the database and blueprint into object-centric event logs.We fully implemented the proposed approach, which can extract object-centric event logs from SAP ERP systems, and evaluate the utility and scalability of the proposed approach.
Ontological insecurity in the post-covid-19 fallout: using existentialism as a method to develop a psychosocial understanding to a mental health crisis
Authors: Oakes Matthew Bretton
Published: June 2023

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic we are witnessing a significant rise in mental illness diagnosis and corresponding anti-depressant prescription uptake. The drug response to this situation is unsurprising and reinforces the dominant role (neuro)biology continues to undertake within modern psychiatry. In contrast to this biologically informed, medicalised approach, the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued a statement stressing the causal role of psychological and social factors.

Using the concept of ontological insecurity, contextualised within the WHO guidance, the interrelation of psychological and social factors is illuminated, and a psychosocial framework is produced as a means of understanding the mental health consequence of the post-Covid-19 fallout.

The psychosocial framework generated provides a rationale to revise and reprioritise how we engage with the biopsychosocial model that is intended to underpin modern psychiatry. This framework establishes a connection between psychological and social theory which are too often addressed as disparate terrains within mental health services and policy creation.
Approximation by polynomials in Sobolev spaces associated with classical moment functionals
Authors: García-Ardila Juan C. , Marriaga Misael E.
Published: June 2023

Let $$\textbf{u}$$
u
be a moment functional associated with the Hermite, Laguerre, or Jacobi classical orthogonal polynomials. We study approximation by polynomials in $$H^r(\textbf{u})$$

H
r

(
u
)

, the Sobolev space consisting of functions whose derivatives of consecutive orders up to r belong to the $$L^2$$

L
2

space associated with $$\textbf{u}$$
u
. This requires the simultaneous approximation of a function f and its consecutive derivatives up to order $$N\leqslant r$$

N
⩽
r

. We explicitly construct orthogonal polynomials that achieve such simultaneous approximation and provide error estimates in terms of $$E_n(f^{(r)})$$

E
n

(

f

(
r
)

)

, the error of best approximation of $$f^{(r)}$$

f

(
r
)

in $$L^{2}(\textbf{u})$$

L
2

(
u
)

.
Dreaming of God and the Role of Faith in Everyday Life: An Empirical Study
Authors: Schredl Michael , Mönch Jan-Hendrik
Published: June 2023

In Christian faith, dreams – at least some – have been seen as messages from God; very powerful examples can be found in the Bible. However, empirical research regarding dreams of God is relatively scarce. Four hundred and fifty-two persons participated in the present survey, including a group from theology-related professions (theology students, priests, etc.). The findings indicate that the belief that dreams can be messages from God is related to the importance of faith in the everyday life of the dreamer and a positive attitude towards dreams. About 20% of the participants reported having dreams about encountering God, which was related to their waking life religiosity. On the one hand, the findings support the continuity hypothesis of dreaming, that is, that dreaming reflects waking life, while, on the other hand, these special dreams might help the dreamer to deepen their faith. Longitudinal studies are necessary to study this bidirectional relationship between waking life faith and religious dreams.
Associations between treatments, comorbidities and multidimensional aspects of quality of life among patients with advanced cancer in the Netherlands—a 2017–2020 multicentre cross-sectional study
Authors: Malhotra Ananya , Fransen Heidi P. , Quaresma Manuela , Raijmakers Natasja , Versluis Moyke A. J. , Rachet Bernard , van Maaren Marissa C. , Leyrat Clémence
Published: June 2023

Objective

To investigate associations between quality of life (QoL) and 1) immunotherapy and other cancer treatments received three months before QoL measurements, and 2) the comorbidities at the time of completion or in the year prior to QoL measurements, among patients with advanced cancer.

Methods

A cross-sectional study is conducted on patients with advanced cancer in the Netherlands. The data come from the baseline wave of the 2017–2020 eQuiPe study. Participants were surveyed via questionnaires (including EORTC QLQ-C30). Using multivariable linear and logistic regression models, we explored statistical associations between QoL components and immunotherapy and other cancer treatments as well as pre-existing comorbidities while adjusting for age, sex, socio-economic status.

Results

Of 1088 participants with median age 67 years, 51% were men. Immunotherapy was not associated with global QoL but was associated with reduced appetite loss (odds ratio (OR) = 0.6, 95%CI = [0.3,0.9]). Reduced global QoL was associated with chemotherapy (adjusted mean difference (β) = − 4.7, 95% CI [− 8.5,− 0.8]), back pain (β = − 7.4, 95% CI [− 11.0,− 3.8]), depression (β = − 13.8, 95% CI [− 21.5,− 6.2]), thyroid diseases (β = − 8.9, 95% CI [− 14.0,− 3.8]) and diabetes (β = − 4.5, 95% CI [− 8.9,− 0.5]). Chemotherapy was associated with lower physical (OR = 2.4, 95% CI [1.5,3.9]) and role (OR = 1.8, 95% CI [1.2,2.7]) functioning, and higher pain (OR = 1.9, 95% CI [1.3,2.9]) and fatigue (OR = 1.6, 95% CI [1.1,2.4]).

Conclusion

Our study identified associations between specific cancer treatments, lower QoL and more symptoms. Monitoring symptoms may improve QoL of patients with advanced cancer. Producing more evidence from real life data would help physicians in better identifying patients who require additional supportive care.