bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of fine-needle aspiration cytology in thyroidectomy extent and associated surgical morbidity in thyroid cancer
Authors: Lind Patrik , Nordenström Erik , Johansson Lars , Wallin Göran , Daskalakis Kosmas
Published: February 2024

Purpose

To assess the impact of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the extent of surgery in patients with thyroid cancer (TC) and the associated surgical morbidity in primary and completion setting.

Methods

A Swedish nationwide cohort of patients having surgery for TC (n = 2519) from the Scandinavian Quality Register for Thyroid, Parathyroid and Adrenal surgery between 2004 and 2013 was obtained. Data was validated through scrutinizing FNAC and histology reports.

Results

Among the 2519 cases operated for TC, the diagnosis was substantiated and validated through the histology report in 2332 cases (92.6%). Among these, 1679 patients (72%) were female, and the median age at TC diagnosis was 52.3 years (range 18–94.6). Less than total thyroidectomy (LTT) was undertaken in 944 whereas total thyroidectomy (TT) in 1388 cases. The intermediate FNAC categories of atypia of undetermined significance/follicular lesion of undetermined significance (AUS/ FLUS), as well as suspicion for follicular neoplasm (SFN) lesions were more often encountered in LTT (n = 314, 33.3%) than TT (n = 63, 4.6%), whereas FNACs suspicion for malignancy and/or malignancy were overrepresented in TT (n = 963, 69.4%). Completion thyroidectomies were undertaken in 553 patients out of 944 that initially had LTT. In 201 cases with cancer lesions > 1 cm, other than FTC (Follicular TC)/ HTC (Hürthle cell TC) subjected to primary LTT, inadequate procedures were undertaken in 81 due to absent, Bethesda I or II FNAC categories, preoperatively. Complications at completion of surgery in this particular setting were 0.5% for RLN palsy (n = 1) and 1% (n = 2) for hypoparathyroidism 6 months postoperatively. The overall postoperative complication rate was higher in primary TT vs. LTT for RLN palsy (4.8% [n = 67] vs. 2.4% [n = 23]; p = 0.003) and permanent hypoparathyroidism (6.8% [n = 95] vs. 0.8% [n = 8]; p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

FNAC results appear to affect surgical planning in TC as intermediate FNAC categories lead more often to LTT. Overall, inadequate procedures necessitating completion surgery are encountered in up to 15% of TC patients subjected to LTT due to absent, inconclusive, or misleading FNAC, preoperatively. However, completion of thyroidectomy in this setting did not yield significant surgical morbidity. Primary LTT is a safer primary approach compared to TT in respect of RLN palsy and permanent hypoparathyroidism complication rates; therefore, primary TT should probably be reserved for lesions > 1 cm or even larger with suspicion for malignancy or malignant FNAC.
Bicarbonate secretion and acid/base sensing by the intestine
Authors: Becker Holger M. , Seidler Ursula E.
Published: February 2024

The transport of bicarbonate across the enterocyte cell membrane regulates the intracellular as well as the luminal pH and is an essential part of directional fluid movement in the gut. Since the first description of “active” transport of HCO3− ions against a concentration gradient in the 1970s, the fundamental role of HCO3− transport for multiple intestinal functions has been recognized. The ion transport proteins have been identified and molecularly characterized, and knockout mouse models have given insight into their individual role in a variety of functions. This review describes the progress made in the last decade regarding novel techniques and new findings in the molecular regulation of intestinal HCO3− transport in the different segments of the gut. We discuss human diseases with defects in intestinal HCO3− secretion and potential treatment strategies to increase luminal alkalinity. In the last part of the review, the cellular and organismal mechanisms for acid/base sensing in the intestinal tract are highlighted.
Modelling the mechanical behaviour of clay using particle-scale simulations
Authors: de Bono John , McDowell Glenn
Published: February 2024

This paper demonstrates the latest developments in particle-scale modelling of a clay. It shows that by creating an initial sample of platelets featuring aggregated stacks, excellent macroscopic behaviour is achieved. This approach is justified by examining SEM images of clay slurries, and is consistent with the behaviour of real clays. The use of aggregated stacks allows a wider range of platelet interactions and micro properties to be simulated and investigated, and significantly, enables interactions to be modelled that are based on a range of real measurements obtained from surface force experiments.

Graphical Abstract
Integrating geological, hydrogeological and geophysical data to identify groundwater resources in granitic basement areas (Guéra Massif, Chad)
Authors: Nouradine H. , Schamper C. , Valdes D. , Moussa I. , Ramel D. , Plagnes V.
Published: February 2024

In Chad, hard-rock aquifers are the main source of drinking water for the population located on basement areas. In these basement aquifers, and in particular those of the Guéra region, water drilling failure rates remain high despite research on one- and two-dimensional electrical resistivity techniques and lineaments as a means to improve access to the resource, mainly because these techniques are only used on an observational and structural basis to locate fractures. This study combines electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) with geology, hydrogeology and geomorphology, in order to characterise the structure and geometry of the aquifer system, assess borehole productivity and determine the factors controlling it. After validating the large dataset and its representativeness, 315 high- and low-yield wells, of which 41 have complete geophysical datasets, were selected. This large dataset allows a multi-parameter approach to (1) better characterise each facies according to its electrical resistivity and (2) clearly identify the main formations constituting the local conceptual hydrogeological model. The most suitable areas for productive boreholes are characterised by the presence of an overburden of <20 m depth, well-developed weathered and fractured horizons of granites and biotite granites (preferably) containing little or no clay, and a nearby drainage network. The most substantial flow rates are found in the first 30 m of the fissured horizon, below the base of the alterites. The experience gained from the present study will guide future analysis of ERT sections in order to reduce the probability of drilling dry wells.
Verteilung und Einsatz mobiler Ultraschallgeräte in der präklinischen Notfallmedizin in Österreich
Authors: Halsegger K. , Haller K. , Kollmann Chr.
Published: February 2024

Ziel der Arbeit

In den letzten Jahren haben mobile, handliche Ultraschallgeräte (US-Geräte) auch im präklinischen notfallmedizinischen Bereich eine Verbreitung gefunden. In dieser Arbeit wird erstmalig ein Überblick über die Anzahl mobiler US-Geräte in notfallmedizinischen Einsatzfahrzeugen (EFZ) in Österreich gegeben. Da in diesem präklinischen Setting die Geräte extremen Gegebenheiten ausgesetzt sein können, werden darüber hinaus die am meisten beanspruchten Gerätekomponenten erörtert.

Methodik

Mittels Online-Recherche als auch telefonischer Kontaktaufnahme mit Personen aus dem Notarztwesen erfolgte die Ermittlung der Anzahl der mobilen US-Geräte in Österreich. Die Erhebung bezüglich der Verteilung der Geräte wurde von Mai bis November 2021 durchgeführt. Darüber hinaus wurde eine Online-Umfrage für alle in Österreich aktiv tätigen NotärztInnen geschaltet, um unter anderem deren Erfahrungen bezüglich der Anwendung und Sicherstellung der Qualität der mobilen US-Geräte eruieren zu können.

Ergebnisse

Zum Zeitpunkt der Datenerhebung besitzen 65,85 % aller luftraumgebundenen und 31,97 % aller bodengebundenen EFZ für die Notfallmedizin in Österreich mobile US-Geräte. Im Zuge der Umfrage konnten 271 TeilnehmerInnen ausgewertet werden, wovon 186 Personen (68,64 %) ein mobiles US-Gerät zur Verfügung haben. 153 TeilnehmerInnen (82,26 %) setzen dieses aktiv, vor allem für den Ausschluss eines Pneumothorax oder freier Flüssigkeit, ein und führten an, dass bezüglich der Geräte vor allem Kabel, gefolgt von US-Sonden, am meisten mechanisch beansprucht werden.

Diskussion

Durch die Erhebung der Verteilung der mobilen US-Geräte in der präklinischen Notfallmedizin in Österreich wurde ein Anhaltspunkt für zukünftige Entwicklungen des US in diesem Setting geschaffen. Darüber hinaus konnten die wichtigsten Einsatzgebiete und Herausforderungen für Geräte und NotärztInnen aufgezeigt werden.
MILP models of a patient transportation problem
Authors: Tóth Martin , Hajba Tamás , Horváth Adrián
Published: February 2024

With ageing societies and increasing number of patients, there is a growing need for quality services that help transporting non-urgent patients to hospitals. In logistics, patient transportation problems are usually modeled as a dial-a-ride problem. In a Dial-a-Ride problem, a fleet of vehicles is providing the delivery services between the loading points and the delivery destinations. The demands are known in advance. In most cases the total travel distance of the vehicles is to be minimized. In this paper, we consider a specific dial-a-ride problem, where a single vehicle is used to transport patients to the same hospital. In determining the optimal route, the multiple and different travel needs of patients, such as their maximum travel time, are also taken into consideration. We introduce 4 different mixed integer linear programming models of the routing problem. Finally, the efficiency of the four models was compared using some real-life problems by solving them with a commercial solver.
Geomorphological assessment as basic complement of InSAR analysis for landslide processes understanding
Authors: Torre Davide , Galve Jorge Pedro , Reyes-Carmona Cristina , Alfonso-Jorde David , Ballesteros Daniel , Menichetti Marco , Piacentini Daniela , Troiani Francesco , Azañón José Miguel
Published: February 2024

Landslide research has benefited greatly from advances in remote sensing techniques. However, the recent increase in available data on land surface movement provided by InSAR techniques can lead to identifying only those areas that were active during data acquisition as hazardous, overlooking other potentially unsafe areas or neglecting landslide-specific geological settings in hazard assessments. Here, we present a case study that serves as a reminder for landslide researchers to carefully consider the geology and geomorphology of study areas where complex active movements are detected using InSAR technology. In an area extensively studied using InSAR and UAV-related techniques, we provide new insights by applying classical approaches. The area is the coastal stretch of La Herradura, and its importance lies in the fact that it has served as an illustrative example in the Product User Manual of the European Ground Motion Service, a platform that provides ground motion data on a European scale. Our approach is to revisit the area and carry out qualitative geological and geomorphological assessments supported by UAV surveys and GIS spatial analysis on a broader scale than previously published investigations. Our classical approach has yielded the following new observations, crucial for risk assessment and land management: active landslides identified by InSAR techniques since 2015 are bodies nested within large mass movements that affect entire slopes. A variety of processes contribute to slope dynamics, such as large slumps, marble rock spreading and block sliding, and surface rock falls and topples. The revised delineation of the landslide bodies reveals an area almost five times larger than previously mapped. These new findings in a well-known area highlight (1) the importance of updating and downscaling previous maps and (2) the ongoing importance of classical fieldwork and desk studies as basic complements to modern InSAR analyses.
Deepfakes: current and future trends
Authors: Gambín Ángel Fernández , Yazidi Anis , Vasilakos Athanasios , Haugerud Hårek , Djenouri Youcef
Published: February 2024

Advances in Deep Learning (DL), Big Data and image processing have facilitated online disinformation spreading through Deepfakes. This entails severe threats including public opinion manipulation, geopolitical tensions, chaos in financial markets, scams, defamation and identity theft among others. Therefore, it is imperative to develop techniques to prevent, detect, and stop the spreading of deepfake content. Along these lines, the goal of this paper is to present a big picture perspective of the deepfake paradigm, by reviewing current and future trends. First, a compact summary of DL techniques used for deepfakes is presented. Then, a review of the fight between generation and detection techniques is elaborated. Moreover, we delve into the potential that new technologies, such as distributed ledgers and blockchain, can offer with regard to cybersecurity and the fight against digital deception. Two scenarios of application, including online social networks engineering attacks and Internet of Things, are reviewed where main insights and open challenges are tackled. Finally, future trends and research lines are discussed, pointing out potential key agents and technologies.
Deep learning for survival analysis: a review
Authors: Wiegrebe Simon , Kopper Philipp , Sonabend Raphael , Bischl Bernd , Bender Andreas
Published: February 2024

The influx of deep learning (DL) techniques into the field of survival analysis in recent years has led to substantial methodological progress; for instance, learning from unstructured or high-dimensional data such as images, text or omics data. In this work, we conduct a comprehensive systematic review of DL-based methods for time-to-event analysis, characterizing them according to both survival- and DL-related attributes. In summary, the reviewed methods often address only a small subset of tasks relevant to time-to-event data—e.g., single-risk right-censored data—and neglect to incorporate more complex settings. Our findings are summarized in an editable, open-source, interactive table:https://survival-org.github.io/DL4Survival. As this research area is advancing rapidly, we encourage community contribution in order to keep this database up to date.
Bacterial consortium based on Pseudomonas fluorescens, Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus and Bacillus velezensis reduces clubroot disease in broccoli
Authors: Moreno-Velandia Carlos Andrés , Izquierdo-García Luisa Fernanda , García-Arias Francy Liliana , Patiño-Moscoso Manuel Alfonso
Published: February 2024

Clubroot disease caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae is the most devastating disease in Brassicaceae plants. Control of clubroot is limited because of the survival of resting spores of the pathogen in the soil for years. Crop rotation, liming of the soil, fungicides and resistant cultivars have not been totally efficient in reducing the damages of the disease or pathogen spread. Although biocontrol with microorganisms has shown potential against clubroot, the variable results when using individual strains have made implementation difficult. Thus, the aim of this work was to determine whether a consortium of selected beneficial microorganisms is more efficient in controlling clubroot in broccoli than single strains. Single strains of bacteria from the Lysinibacillus, Bacillus and Pseudomonas genera (5 × 107 cells ml−1) and Trichoderma spp. (1 × 106 conidia ml−1) were evaluated in an initial screening. Four strains showing the best performance on plant growth and reduction of clubroot were evaluated as consortia in a further experiment. Treatments were applied in nursery (4 ml plant−1), and to the soil one week before transplant and the day of transplant (60 ml plant−1 each time). Plant shoot and root dry weight and the incidence and severity of clubroot were recorded. Supernatant from liquid cultures of Pseudomonas migulae Pf014 and Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus Br042, and washed cells of Bacillus velezensis Bs006 and B. pumilus Br019 promoted shoot growth of the plants. Single applications of Trichoderma asperellum Th034, Bs006, Br042 and Pseudomonas fluorescens Ps006 showed biocontrol potential against clubroot. However, the consortia built of Bs006, Br042 and Ps006 showed the highest reduction of clubroot incidence (78%) and severity (74%). A synergistic interaction by this consortium was found compared with the efficacy of single strains. To our knowledge, this work reports for the first time a consortium based on three rhizobacteria with high potential to control clubroot disease.
Religion and Fertility: A Longitudinal Register Study Examining Differences by Sex, Parity, Partner’s Religion, and Religious Conversion in Finland
Authors: Kolk Martin , Saarela Jan
Published: February 2024

We use longitudinal data on religious affiliation in Finland to examine childbearing behavior. All analyses are based on detailed fertility information from the Finnish national register of each person’s religious denomination for men and women born in 1956–1975. We identify higher fertility according to parity among members of the Evangelical Lutheran state church and other Protestant churches, and lower fertility among individuals with no religious affiliation. Most other religious groups—Orthodox Christians, Jews, Muslims, and adherents of Eastern religions—have intermediate levels of fertility. We also find that religious converts, that is, those observed with more than one religious denomination over their life course, typically are similar to the non-converts of the group they convert to, though with more distinct deviations from the Finnish population. Women show larger differences by religious affiliation than men. We find the largest differences across religions when we examine the proportion of childless men and women. Overall, differences between religious groups are rather modest, and childbearing patterns are quite similar. Our results provide, to our knowledge, the first examination of religion and fertility using national-level longitudinal data.
Complete Calabi–Yau metrics from smoothing Calabi–Yau complete intersections
Authors: Firester Benjy J.
Published: February 2024

We construct complete Calabi–Yau metrics on non-compact manifolds that are smoothings of an initial complete intersection $$V_0$$

V
0

that is a Calabi–Yau cone, extending the work of Székelyhidi (Duke Math J 168(14):2651–2700, 2019). The constructed Calabi–Yau manifold has tangent cone at infinity given by $${\mathbb {C}}\times V_0$$

C
×

V
0

. This construction produces Calabi–Yau metrics with fibers having varying complex structures and possibly isolated singularities.
The Child Protection Response to Domestic Violence and Abuse: a Scoping Review of Interagency Interventions, Models and Collaboration
Authors: Hale Hannah , Bracewell Kelly , Bellussi Laura , Jenkins Ruth , Alexander Joanne , Devaney John , Callaghan Jane E. M.
Published: February 2024

Purpose

There is a growing acknowledgement that children are direct victims of domestic violence and abuse, and require support and protection in their own right. However, professional interventions designed to protect children may unintentionally further victimise parents, most often mothers. In response, a number of new interagency approaches have been developed.

Method

Updating a previous review by Macvean et al. (Australian Social Work,71(2), 148–161, 2018), we report the findings of a scoping review of models of interagency working between child protection and either domestic abuse services or family law services, or all three services, to improve understanding of practices that may facilitate collaboration between child protection and other agencies in the context of domestic violence and abuse. We also consider the effectiveness of such approaches in improving the safety of child and adult victims.

Results

A systematic search of all sources identified 4103 documents that were screened for inclusion. The outcome of this screening was the identification of thirteen papers or reports dated between 2018 and 2022 that comprised an evaluation of six models of interagency interventions. Nine publications originated in Australia, three in the UK and one in the USA. The most referenced model was Safe & Together, primarily due to the number of publications from the same research team in Australia. None of the included studies reported the outcomes or impact for children and families.

Conclusions

While there are a growing number of promising approaches identified, there is little evidence of effectiveness, or the views of child and adult family members about the acceptability and utility of such approaches.
Accurate heat capacity determination of solids and liquids using a heat conduction calorimeter
Authors: Hothar Marcus , Wadsö Lars
Published: February 2024

This study investigates the suitability of heat conduction calorimeters for determining the specific heat capacity of solid and liquid substances. Accurate and precise measurements were obtained for various substances, including water, ethylene glycol, the ionic liquid [EMIM][TCM], and copper, with relative standard deviations averaging less than 1%. Measurements on [EMIM][DCA] indicated a systematic deviation from the literature values. The study highlights the repeatability of the measurement method, which worked well for both temperature increases and decreases, as well as for the mean of the two. The influence of sample size on the results when it came to liquids was also investigated, revealing that large sample sizes led to underpredictions; while, small sizes yielded the opposite effect. The best results were obtained with half-filled vials; a similar filling level as was used in the electrical calibrations of the calorimeters with heaters in the vials. Additionally, no significant differences were observed among the eight calorimeters of the I-Cal Flex instrument, and different baseline calculation methods had negligible impact on the results. Overall, this study illustrates how a heat conduction calorimeter can be utilized for accurate and precise heat capacity measurements for both solid and liquid substances.
Cost-effective biodiversity protection through multiuse-conservation landscapes
Authors: Peura Maiju , Eyvindson Kyle , Burgas Daniel , Mönkkönen Mikko , Raatikainen Kaisa J. , Kotiaho Janne S.
Published: February 2024

Context

Intensive land use and exploitation of natural resources are the main direct drivers of biodiversity loss. Transformative changes in land management are called for as conservation and management actions have not been sufficient to support the viability of species populations. It has been proposed that to solve the sufficiency problem one could segregate the landscape into an intensively managed part, and into so-called multiuse-conservation landscapes that aggregate set asides with managed areas for multiple uses.

Objectives

We describe a scenario analysis where we evaluate the effects and cost-efficiency of transforming the boreal forest from intensively managed production landscapes progressively towards multiuse-conservation landscapes.

Methods

We simulated Finnish boreal forests under various managements and optimized management to produce six scenarios to reveal the ecological, economic, climate and management regime implications of multiuse-conservation landscapes. Ecological effects explored included habitat availability and metacommunity capacity of dead wood dependent species.

Results

Increasing the area of set aside and multiuse management increased the habitat availability and metacommunity capacity as well as climate benefits but caused economic losses in terms of timber revenues. Pooling the set asides and multiuse management areas together into the same landscapes reduced the economic losses, had negligible added climate benefits and produced mixed biodiversity effects: pooling decreased habitat availability but increased metacommunity capacity across all landscapes.

Conclusions

Changing land management and aggregating conservation efforts can be a cost-efficient way to protect biodiversity. Our results suggest biodiversity benefits in landscapes where the set aside and multiuse is aggregated. Careful spatial planning can also alleviate the conflicts between ecological and economic values of land.
Assessing pollinator habitat suitability considering ecosystem condition in the Hannover Region, Germany
Authors: Hinsch Malte , Zulian Grazia , Stekker Stefanie , Rega Carlo , Nabuurs Gert-Jan , Verweij Peter , Burkhard Benjamin
Published: February 2024

Context

Habitat suitability for pollinator species is an important indicator for pollination ecosystem service potential, i.e. for biodiversity and crop provision. Modelling habitat suitability using an expert- and process-based models such as ESTIMAP-pollination is a common and accepted approach to spatially analyse pollination service potential and to make recommendations for planning.

Objectives

However, the suitability as a pollinator habitat depends not only on the land use type. It is also important to consider the condition of the habitat. For this reason, ecosystem condition information was used as a parameter for ESTIMAP modelling for the first time. Ecosystem condition data was used besides the commonly (in ESTIMAP) used information from expert assessments and from land use data.

Methods

As parameters for ecosystem condition, the management intensity in agro ecosystems, the management of forests and the proportion of green space in urban areas were included and affected the modelled habitat suitability for wild bees.

Results

Not all ecosystem types of the region were equally affected by the inclusion of the ecosystem condition parameter in the model. The most affected types were agricultural areas, such as arable and horticultural biotopes, whose suitability values decreased by 25.7%. As a result, areas with low suitability account for 41% of the region and 76.6% of the agro ecosystems. In forest, shrubs and woody plants land use types, the suitability decreased respectively by 4.3 and 6%. On the other hand, urban ecosystems in the city of Hannover were characterised by relatively good habitat suitabilities, especially in the proximity of wide urban forests. In 3.4% of the agricultural land, measures to support pollinators have been established. 1.6% of these measures are located in areas with low suitability.

Conclusions

The results show that ecosystem condition is, in addition to land use type, an important parameter to indicate habitat suitability for pollinators. Especially for ecosystem types with varying habitat suitabilities, such as agro ecosystems, the implementation of ecosystem condition parameters is recommendable. However, the selection of suitable ecosystem condition indicators still requires further research and concise definitions.
On Survival of Coherent Systems Subject to Random Shocks
Authors: Goyal Dheeraj , Kamal Hazra Nil , Finkelstein Maxim
Published: February 2024

We consider coherent systems subject to random shocks that can damage a random number of components of a system. Based on the distribution of the number of failed components, we discuss three models, namely, (i) a shock can damage any number of components (including zero) with the same probability, (ii) each shock damages, at least, one component, and (iii) a shock can damage, at most, one component. Shocks arrival times are modeled using three important counting processes, namely, the Poisson generalized gamma process, the Poisson phase-type process and the renewal process with matrix Mittag-Leffler distributed inter-arrival times. For the defined shock models, we discuss relevant reliability properties of coherent systems. An optimal replacement policy for repairable systems is considered as an application of the proposed modeling.
Frequency-response curves for rate-independent hysteretic mechanical responses of complex shape
Authors: Capuano Raffaele , Vaiana Nicolò , Rosati Luciano
Published: February 2024

We illustrate the performances of a brand new hysteretic model, recently proposed and denominated VRM+D, to characterize the nonlinear response of mechanical systems endowed with quite complex hysteretic behaviors. To this end, we combine the VRM+D with a continuation procedure based on Poincaré maps developed by Lacarbonara et al. in 1999. In this way, the steady-state response, as well as stability and bifurcation, of a large class of mechanical systems can be analyzed. In particular, we show the effectiveness of the VRM+D, in conjunction with the Poincaré map-based continuation procedure, in accurately predicting periodic solutions of the above-mentioned systems independently of the form of the hysteresis loop shapes. Furthermore, we draw some general considerations on the potential applications of the proposed approach in different fields of engineering to get an improved understanding of the dynamics of hysteretic mechanical systems subjected to cyclic loading.
Whittle index approach to multiserver scheduling with impatient customers and DHR service times
Authors: Aalto Samuli
Published: February 2024

We consider the optimal scheduling problem in a multiserver queue with impatient customers belonging to multiple classes. We assume that each customer has a random abandonment time, after which the customer leaves the system if its service has not been completed before that. In addition, we assume that the scheduler is not able to anticipate the expiration of the abandonment times but only knows their distributions and how long each customer has been in the system. Many papers consider this scheduling problem under Poisson arrivals and linear holding costs assuming further that both the service times and the abandonment times have exponential distributions. Even with these additional assumptions, the exact solution is known only in very few special cases. To tackle this tricky problem, we apply the Whittle index approach. Unlike the earlier papers, which were restricted to exponential service times, we allow the service time distributions for which the hazard rate is decreasing. The Whittle index approach is applied to the discrete-time multiserver queueing problem with discounted costs. As our main theoretical result, we prove that the related relaxed optimization problem is indexable and derive the corresponding Whittle index explicitly. Based on this discrete-time result, we develop a reasonable heuristic for the original continuous-time multiserver scheduling problem. The performance of the resulting policy is evaluated in the M/G/M setup by numerical simulations, which demonstrate that it, indeed, gives better performance than the other policies included in the comparison.
Forest waste composting—operational management, environmental impacts, and application
Authors: Silva Maria Elisabete Ferreira , Saetta Raffaella , Raimondo Roberta , Costa José Manuel , Ferreira José Vicente , Brás Isabel
Published: February 2024

In Portugal, the number of fires and the size of burnt areas are rising dramatically every year, increasing with improper management of agroforestry wastes (AFRs). This work aims to study the composting of these wastes with minimal operational costs and understand the environmental impact and the compost application on burnt soil. Thus, a study of life cycle assessment (LCA) was carried out based on windrow composting processes, considering the avoided environmental impacts associated with the end-product quality and its application as an organic amendment. Three composting piles were made with AFRs from the Residual Biomass Collection Centre (RBCC) in Bodiosa (Portugal). Sewage sludges (SS) from an urban wastewater treatment plant were used as conditioning agent. One pile with AFRs (MC) and another with AFRs and SS (MCS) were managed according to good composting practices. Another pile with the AFRs was developed without management (NMC), thus with a minimal operational cost. Periodically, it was measured several physical and chemical parameters according to standard methodologies. Eleven environmental impacts of compost production, MC and MCS, were analyzed by a LCA tool, and their effect on the growth of Pinus pinea was evaluated, using peat as reference. Composting evolution was expected for both piles. Final composts, MC and MCS, were similar, complying with organic amendment quality parameters. Compost NMC, with no operational management, showed the highest germination index. Piles MC and MCS showed similar environmental impacts, contributing to a negative impact on global warming, acidification, and eutrophication. Greater growth was obtained with application of MCS, followed by MC, and finally, peat. Composting is a sustainable way to valorize AFRs wastes, producing compost that could restore burnt soils and promote plant growth and circular economy.

Graphical Abstract
Impact of tropical storms on the banking sector in the British Colonial Caribbean
Authors: Huesler Joel
Published: February 2024

This paper investigates the impact of four historical tropical storms on the Colonial Bank’s operations in the British Caribbean between 1922 and 1927. By employing a high-frequency data set of bank transactions, this study reveals how these severe shocks influenced the banking activities of clients. The findings reveal a multifaceted and significant impact of tropical storm strikes on the banks’ operations, particularly a surge in borrowing via overdrafts of current accounts. Moreover, the study reveals the multifaceted nature of such storms’ impact on the bank’s functionality, with affected branches demonstrating an uptick in deposits and savings as a strategy to mitigate funding shocks. The results of the econometric analysis indicate that the impact of such storms on banks’ functionality during the early 20th century was significant and multidimensional. It highlights the critical role that the Colonial Bank plays in facilitating recovery from these devastating events and contributes to the existing literature by studying multiple shocks at different geographical locations and time frames.
What Do We Teach to Engineering Students: Embedded Ethics, Morality, and Politics
Authors: Ferdman Avigail , Ratti Emanuele
Published: February 2024

In the past few years, calls for integrating ethics modules in engineering curricula have multiplied. Despite this positive trend, a number of issues with these ‘embedded’ programs remains. First, learning goals are underspecified. A second limitation is the conflation of different dimensions under the same banner, in particular confusion between ethics curricula geared towards addressing the ethics of individual conduct and curricula geared towards addressing ethics at the societal level. In this article, we propose a tripartite framework to overcome these difficulties. Our framework analytically decomposes an ethics module into three dimensions. First, there is the ethical dimension, which pertains to the learning goals. Second, there is the moral dimension, which addresses the moral relevance of engineers’ conduct. Finally, there is the political dimension, which scales up issues of moral relevance at the civic level. All in all, our framework has two advantages. First, it provides analytic clarity, i.e. it enables course instructors to locate ethical dilemmas in either the moral or political realm and to make use of the tools and resources from moral and/or political philosophy. Second, it depicts a comprehensive ethical training, which enables students to both reason about moral issues in the abstract, and to socially contextualize potential solutions.
Dancing program and young children’s social development
Authors: Kotaman Hüseyin , İnceoğlu Seval Ördek , Kotaman Şeyma
Published: February 2024

The purpose of the study was to investigate impact of dancing program on early childhood children’s pro-social skills, aggression and shyness. Treatment group applied eight weeks long dancing program which contained two dance activities for each week. Control group had not applied the dance program. Forty-five children from treatment and 62 children from control group participated the study. Teachers rated their children’s social skills before and after the dancing program. Findings showed that treatment children’s pro-social skills significantly increased from pretest to posttest and aggression and shyness scores significantly decreased from pretest to posttest. Similar findings were not detected for control group. Two groups’ posttest minus pretest differences for three sub dimension compared and comparison revealed significant difference in favor of treatment group. These findings pointed the dancing program which was developed by investigators as a practical intervention tool to promote young children’s social skills.
The Effect of Water Injection on a Naturally Aspirated Spark-Ignited Engine
Authors: Kim Woojae , Chung Jongwon , Kim Junghyun , Myung Cha-Lee , Lee Kyeonghyeon , Park Jongbum , Min Kyungdoug
Published: February 2024

Water injection (WI) is a well-known technique to mitigate knocking phenomena, reducing the in-cylinder gas temperature with a high heat of vaporization and specific heat of water. In this study, the effect of WI directly into the cylinder on fuel efficiency was investigated using a 2.0 L naturally aspirated (NA), four-cylinder, port fuel injection (PFI)-spark-ignited (SI) engine. Spray visualization of water injection by a commercial gasoline direct-injection (GDI) injector was performed to elucidate the water evaporation characteristics. In engine experiments, combustion characteristics were analyzed by adjusting the WI timing and amount. Synergistic effects with other gas dilution techniques, such as EGR and Lean burn, were also investigated. The spray image of WI showed poor evaporation of water compared to gasoline, even at high fuel temperatures. The optimal timing of WI was advanced up to the early intake stroke due to the harsh conditions of NA engines for water evaporation compared to turbocharged engines. With the combination of EGR, the optimal WI timing was advanced by the compression stroke, and further fuel efficiency improvement was achieved. In lean combustion, WI can improve both combustion stability and fuel efficiency.
Cultural versus demic diffusion in agricultural expansions according to three definitions of dispersal distances
Authors: Bancells Pere , Fort Joaquim
Published: February 2024

Mathematical models of agricultural spread use distances between birthplaces of parents and their children (often called “birthplace distances”). However, the difficulty to find those distances for pre-industrial farmers has often led to the use of other kinds of distances. One example is the distance between the birthplace and the place of residence of each individual (“residence distances”). Another example is the separation between the birthplaces of parents (“mating distances”). It is poorly known to what extent the latter two distances are valid approximations to birthplace distances. In order to address this question, we have prepared a database with the three distances for a specific pre-industrial agricultural population (the Yanomamö). For the spread of the Neolithic in Europe, all three kinds of distances yield spread rates consistent with the archaeological data, as well as cultural effects below 50% (so demic diffusion was more important than cultural diffusion). The three kinds of distances also yield estimations for the percentage of early farmers who interbred with hunter-gatherers that are consistent with the corresponding estimation from genetics. There is wide agreement for the cultural and demic effects in other expansions of agriculture and/or herding (the spread of the Neolithic in Asia, Bantu, and Khoikhoi expansions; the spread of rice in Asia, etc.) and using distances measured for other populations. We conclude that estimates are largely insensitive to the kind of distances used. This implies that the conclusions drawn so far in the literature using these three kinds of distances are robust.
Transmission of Viruses from Restroom Use: A Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment
Authors: Abney Sarah E. , Higham Ciara A. , Wilson Amanda M. , Ijaz M. Khalid , McKinney Julie , Reynolds Kelly A. , Gerba Charles P.
Published: February 2024

Restroom use has been implicated in a number of viral outbreaks. In this study, we apply quantitative microbial risk assessment to quantify the risk of viral transmission by contaminated restroom fomites. We estimate risk from high-touch fomite surfaces (entrance/exit door, toilet seat) for three viruses of interest (SARS-CoV-2, adenovirus, norovirus) through eight exposure scenarios involving differing user behaviors, and the use of hand sanitizer following each scenario. We assessed the impacts of several sequences of fomite contacts in the restroom, reflecting the variability of human behavior, on infection risks for these viruses. Touching of the toilet seat was assumed to model adjustment of the seat (open vs. closed), a common touch point in single-user restrooms (home, small business, hospital). A Monte Carlo simulation was conducted for each exposure scenario (10,000 simulations each). Norovirus resulted in the highest probability of infection for all exposure scenarios with fomite surfaces. Post-restroom automatic-dispensing hand sanitizer use reduced the probability of infection for each virus by up to 99.75%. Handwashing within the restroom, an important risk-reduction intervention, was not found to be as effective as use of a non-touch hand sanitizer dispenser for reducing risk to near or below 1/1,000,000, a commonly used risk threshold for comparison.
Feasibility analysis of arterial CT radiomics model to predict the risk of local and metastatic recurrence after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer
Authors: Lv Huawang , Zhou Xiaozhou , Liu Yuan , Liu Yuting , Chen Zhiwen
Published: February 2024

Purpose

To construct a radiomics-clinical nomogram model for predicting the risk of local and metastatic recurrence within 3 years after radical cystectomy (RC) of bladder cancer (BCa) based on the radiomics features and important clinical risk factors for arterial computed tomography (CT) images and to evaluate its efficacy.

Methods

Preoperative CT datasets of 134 BCa patients (24 recurrent) who underwent RC were collected and divided into training (n = 93) and validation sets (n = 41). Radiomics features were extracted from a 1.5 mm CT layer thickness image in the arterial phase. A radiomics score (Rad-Score) model was constructed using the feature dimension reduction method and a logistic regression model. Combined with important clinical factors, including gender, age, tumor size, tumor number and grade, pathologic T stage, lymph node stage and histology type of the archived lesion, and CT image signs, a radiomics-clinical nomogram was developed, and its performance was evaluated in the training and validation sets. Decision curve analyses (DCA) the potential clinical usefulness.

Results

The radiomics model is finally linear combined by 8 features screened by LASSO regression, and after coefficient weighting, achieved good predictive results. The radiomics nomogram developed by combining two independent predictors, Rad-Score and pathologic T stage, was developed in the training set [AUC, 0.840; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.743–0.937] and validation set (AUC, 0.883; 95% CI 0.777–0.989). The calibration curve showed good agreement between the predicted probability of the radiomics-clinical model and the actual recurrence rate within 3 years after RC for BCa. DCA show the clinical application value of the radiomics-clinical model.

Conclusion

The radiomics-clinical nomogram model constructed based on the radiomics features of arterial CT images and important clinical risk factors is potentially feasible for predicting the risk of recurrence within 3 years after RC for BCa.
Stabilization of Expansive Clays with Basalt Fibers and Prediction of Strength by Machine Learning
Authors: Sert Sedat , Arslan Eylem , Ocakbaşı Pınar , Ekinci Ekin , Garip Zeynep , Özocak Aşkın , Bol Ertan , Ndepete Cyrille Prosper
Published: February 2024

Expansive clays with high plasticity need to be stabilized to prevent hazards that may arise due to the extreme volume changes experienced with moisture fluctuations. Utilizing a kind of natural and eco-friendly sustainable fiber named as basalt fiber into the soils has become a new issue that needs to be expanded in scope. In this paper, a high plastic soil was stabilized by these natural basalt fibers to reduce possible soil-induced disasters. Basalt fibers in different lengths were mixed into the clay at varied amounts. Due to the soil’s sensitivity to water, the samples were prepared at distinct water contents, 2 on the dry and 3 on the wet side of the optimum. To question whether the strength loss due to the moisture change can be regained with basalt fibers or not, the strength tests were performed on both natural and stabilized samples. Through the tests, it was revealed that the strength of the expansive clays can be enhanced up to 280% at a fiber content of 2%. The highest strength was obtained at approximately 880 kPa by mixing 24 mm fibers with 15% water at 1 and 2% ratios. As anticipated, the long fibers (24 mm) supplied a real reinforcement even at high water contents. In addition, the obtained data set was used to train machine learning algorithms (linear, ridge, lasso, support vector, decision tree) that have just started to be applied in geotechnical engineering. Results have proved that, the decision tree regression outperformed the stress and strain with 0.85 R-squared (R2) in stress and 0.91 R2 in strain estimation. Additionally, it was revealed from the feature importance analyses that water content has an importance of approximately 85% on stress and up to 97% on strain.
A Framework to Assess Possible Sources of Stakeholder Exploitation: A Developing Country Case
Authors: Shafique Kamran , Shams Syed , Sarker Tapan
Published: February 2024

Solving complex post-disaster reconstruction challenges requires the altruistic involvement of heterogeneous stakeholder groups. However, small, more organized groups, such as government parastatals, private developers, and contractors often exploit large, unorganized groups, such as affected communities, leaving them more vulnerable to future disasters. Based on data collected from a case study in Pakistan, this study proposed a framework to assess, anticipate, and mitigate the exploitation of vulnerable stakeholders in post-disaster reconstruction projects. The framework draws on influential management theories and utilizes reciprocal relationships between stakeholder attributes (power, legitimacy, and urgency), participation, and exploitation. The study also argued for non-binary treatment of stakeholder attributes. The framework will allow practitioners to address issues around the exploitation of stakeholder interests in future post-disaster reconstruction projects.
Iliotibial Band Syndrome Current Evidence
Authors: Bonoan Marcus , Morales Marjorie , Liu Xiao Wei , Oyeniran Olutimilehin , Zheng Kevin , Palatulan Eugene
Published: February 2024

Purpose of Review

The goal of this paper was to synthesize the most up-to-date information on iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS).

Recent Findings

Progression of running volume was not more significantly associated with ITBS incidence than progression of running intensity. Functional motor control exercises may be superior to traditional exercise. ESWT (extracorporeal shockwave therapy) is shown to be an effective treatment for ITBS.

ITBS has the second-highest incidence rate of all knee pathologies in runners. The pathophysiology of ITBS is still unknown as recent studies have shown the original theory that the disease is caused by friction between the ITB and lateral femoral epicondyle is unlikely. Conservative management continues to be the main course of treatment for ITBS. Different exercise programs may yield different results, but a consistent program typically results in improvement of symptoms. More studies are required to evaluate the effectiveness of alternative therapies. Recent studies support the use of ESWT for the treatment of ITBS.