bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Eine der zufriedensten Berufsgruppen: Entwicklung, Ausmaß und Determinanten der Arbeitszufriedenheit von Sozialarbeiterinnen und Sozialarbeitern
Authors: Bauknecht Jürgen , Baldschun Andreas
Published: April 2024

Die Studienlage zur Arbeitszufriedenheit von Sozialarbeiterinnen und Sozialarbeitern in Deutschland ist, v. a. bezüglich längsschnittlicher und untergruppenspezifischer (z. B. Altersgruppen) Betrachtungen, nicht zufriedenstellend. Diese Arbeitszufriedenheit wird im Beitrag längsschnittlich, im Vergleich mit anderen Berufsgruppen und innerhalb der Berufsgruppe im Alters- und Geschlechtsvergleich untersucht. Es zeigt sich, dass auch durch einen deutlichen Anstieg in den letzten Jahren die Sozialarbeiterinnen und Sozialarbeiter zu den Berufsgruppen mit der höchsten Arbeitszufriedenheit gehören (Platz 8 in den 66 größten Berufen), wobei diese hohe Zufriedenheit weniger bei der jüngsten Gruppe (bis 34 Jahre) zu finden ist. Aufgezeigt werden – auch längsschnittlich und gruppenvergleichend – zunächst deskriptiv mögliche Determinanten der Arbeitszufriedenheit. Die Zufriedenheit mit dem Einkommen ist nur leicht unterhalb jener anderer Berufsgruppen. Die Zufriedenheit mit den Aufstiegsmöglichkeiten hingegen ist leicht oberhalb der anderen Berufe. Sehr stark im Vergleich mit anderen Berufsgruppen ist das Gefühl ausgeprägt, dass die eigene Tätigkeit wichtig sei. Auch in der Zufriedenheit mit dem Betriebsklima sind die Werte vergleichsweise hoch. Als weitere mögliche Determinanten der Arbeitszufriedenheit werden Belastungsfaktoren und Erschöpfungssymptome dargestellt. Die multivariate Analyse zeigt für drei Faktoren statistisch signifikante Einflüsse auf die Wahrscheinlichkeit, mit der Arbeit „sehr zufrieden“ zu sein. Die „harten Faktoren“ Zufriedenheit mit Einkommen und Aufstiegsmöglichkeiten sind vergleichsweise schwach mit einer hohen Arbeitszufriedenheit verbunden. Wesentlich bedeutsamer scheint hierfür die Zufriedenheit mit dem Betriebsklima zu sein. Belastung und Erschöpfung wirkt erwartungsgemäß negativ. Das Ergebnis legt nahe, dass organisationale Maßnahmen auch bei gegebenen äußeren Umständen einen deutlichen Einfluss auf die Arbeitszufriedenheit von Sozialarbeitern und Sozialarbeitern haben können.
Integrating iron metabolism-related gene signature to evaluate prognosis and immune infiltration in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Su Jiaming , Zhong Guanlin , Qin Weiling , Zhou Lu , Ye Jiemei , Ye Yinxing , Chen Chang , Liang Pan , Zhao Weilin , Xiao Xue , Wen Wensheng , Luo Wenqi , Zhou Xiaoying , Zhang Zhe , Cai Yonglin , Li Cheng
Published: April 2024

Background

Dysregulation of iron metabolism has been shown to have significant implications for cancer development. We aimed to investigate the prognostic and immunological significance of iron metabolism-related genes (IMRGs) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods

Multiple Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets were analyzed to identify key IMRGs associated with prognosis. Additionally, the immunological significance of IMRGs was explored.

Results

A novel risk model was established using the LASSO regression algorithm, incorporating three genes (TFRC, SLC39A14, and ATP6V0D1).This model categorized patients into low and high-risk groups, and Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed significantly shorter progression-free survival for the high-risk group (P < 0.0001). The prognostic model’s accuracy was additionally confirmed by employing time-dependent Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves and conducting Decision Curve Analysis (DCA). High-risk patients were found to correlate with advanced clinical stages, specific tumor microenvironment subtypes, and distinct morphologies. ESTIMATE analysis demonstrated a significant inverse relationship between increased immune, stromal, and ESTIMATE scores and lowered risk score. Immune analysis indicated a negative correlation between high-risk score and the abundance of most tumor-infiltrating immune cells, including dendritic cells, CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, and B cells. This correlation extended to immune checkpoint genes such as PDCD1, CTLA4, TIGIT, LAG3, and BTLA. The protein expression patterns of selected genes in clinical NPC samples were validated through immunohistochemistry.

Conclusion

This study presents a prognostic model utilizing IMRGs in NPC, which could assist in assessing patient prognosis and provide insights into new therapeutic targets for NPC.
Real-world effectiveness of sotrovimab for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection during Omicron BA.2 and BA.5 subvariant predominance: a systematic literature review
Authors: Drysdale Myriam , Berktas Mehmet , Gibbons Daniel C. , Rolland Catherine , Lavoie Louis , Lloyd Emily J.
Published: April 2024

Purpose

To evaluate clinical outcomes associated with sotrovimab use during Omicron BA.2 and BA.5 predominance.

Methods

Electronic databases were searched for observational studies published in peer-reviewed journals, preprint articles and conference abstracts from January 1, 2022 to February 27, 2023.

Results

The 14 studies identified were heterogeneous in terms of study design, population, endpoints and definitions. They included > 1.7 million high-risk patients with COVID-19, of whom approximately 41,000 received sotrovimab (range n = 20–5979 during BA.2 and n = 76–1383 during BA.5 predominance). Four studies compared the effectiveness of sotrovimab with untreated or no monoclonal antibody treatment controls, two compared sotrovimab with other treatments, and three single-arm studies compared outcomes during BA.2 and/or BA.5 versus BA.1. Five studies descriptively reported rates of clinical outcomes in patients treated with sotrovimab. Rates of COVID-19-related hospitalization or mortality (0.95–4.0% during BA.2; 0.5–2.0% during BA.5) and all-cause mortality (1.7–2.0% during BA.2; 3.4% during combined BA.2 and BA.5 periods) among sotrovimab-treated patients were consistently low. During BA.2, a lower risk of all-cause hospitalization or mortality was reported across studies with sotrovimab versus untreated cohorts. Compared with other treatments, sotrovimab was associated with a lower (molnupiravir) or similar (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) risk of COVID-19-related hospitalization or mortality during BA.2 and BA.5. There was no significant difference in outcomes between the BA.1, BA.2 and BA.5 periods.

Conclusions

This systematic literature review suggests continued effectiveness of sotrovimab in preventing severe clinical outcomes during BA.2 and BA.5 predominance, both against active/untreated comparators and compared with BA.1 predominance.
Addressing Health Disparities in Violence
Authors: Castater Christine , Jaeger Briana Woods , Hampton-Anderson Joya , Smith Randi N.
Published: April 2024

Purpose of Review

Healthcare disparities exist throughout the medical field and are highly pronounced concerning violence in the Black community. Addressing it involves not just an understanding of the problem, but the ability to enact widespread interventions at multiple levels, particularly the systemic level.

Recent Findings

Historically, investigations into the drivers of firearm violence have been largely at the individual or interpersonal level, but recent research has centered social determinants of health and structural racism as potential drivers of disparities in firearm violence. Understanding these potential contributors of these disparities allows for targeted solutions to combat violence and promote health equity.

A full investigation into the drivers of disparities is the key to successful implementation of public health strategies that promote health equity.
Visualizing Self: Altruism is (Un)Affected by Field Versus Observer Representations of Self
Authors: Weathers Shelby E. , Saven Helena Q. , Apicella Coren L.
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This study examines the impact of first-person versus third-person mental visualizations of self on prosocial behavior, building on research that links perspective-taking to differences in moral judgments, agency, and self-awareness. A first-person perspective of self typically enhances feelings of agency, personal responsibility, and empathy, which has been hypothesized to lead to greater helping. However, a third-person perspective of self may heighten self-awareness, potentially leading to a greater focus on reputation management and consequently, helping.

Methods

In two preregistered experiments we test the impact of perspective taking of self on altruistic behavior. Experiment One (n = 599) manipulates generalized perspective taking of self during memory recall and assesses its effect on the amount of time individuals engage in a charitable activity. Experiment Two (n = 271) extends this investigation to explore how targeted perspective taking of self while visualizing a future volunteer activity influences intention to volunteer and actual volunteering.

Results

Across both experiments we found no evidence of an effect of perspective taking on altruistic behavior.

Conclusion

Our results contrast with previous research suggesting that differences in mental visualizations of self influence prosocial behaviors. These findings underscore the complexity of this research area and call for a deeper examination of the theoretical frameworks and methodology used in studies.
Quantitative Insight into the Compressive Strain Rate Sensitivity of Polylactic Acid, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, Polyamide 12, and Polypropylene in Material Extrusion Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Vidakis N. , Petousis M. , Ntintakis I. , David C. , Sagris D. , Mountakis N. , Moutsopoulou A.
Published: April 2024

Herein, a research and engineering gap, i.e., the quantitative determination of the effects of the compressive loading rate on the engineering response of the most popular polymers in Material Extrusion (MEX) Additive Manufacturing (AM) is successfully filled out. PLA (Polylactic Acid), ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), PP (Polypropylene), and PA12 (Polyamide 12) raw powders were evaluated and melt-extruded to produce fully documented filaments for 3D printing. Compressive specimens after the ASTM-D695 standard were then fabricated with MEX AM. The compressive tests were carried out in pure quasi-static conditions of the test standard (1.3 mm/min) and in accelerated loading rates of 50, 100, 150, and 200 mm/min respectively per polymer. The experimental and evaluation course proved differences in engineering responses among different polymers, in terms of compressive strength, elasticity modulus, toughness, and strain rate sensitivity index. A common finding was that the increase in the strain rate increased the mechanical response of the polymeric parts. The increase in the compressive strength reached 25% between the lowest and the highest strain rates the parts were tested for most polymers. Remarkable variations of deformation and fracture modes were also observed and documented. The current research yielded results with valuable predictive capacity for modeling and engineering modeling, which hold engineering and industrial merit.
Sensemaking Process of Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Identification of Specific Clusters of “Sense of Grip”
Authors: De Luca Picione Raffaele , Freda Maria Francesca , Bianco Roberto , Capelli Francesca , De Fortuna Angelo Maria , Dioni Barbara , Fante Chiara , Raffin Cinzia , Rollo Simone , Troisi Gina , Sandomenico Carmelo , Musetti Alessandro
Published: April 2024

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) represents a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent atypicalities in social communication and social interactions across different domains of life, often with restricted, repetitive, stereotyped patterns of behaviors, interests, and activities. A large corpus of previous research shows that parental involvement in caregiving is perceived as stressful and challenging, in many cases resulting in poorer parental quality of life. The authors present a quali-quantitative mixed method research on sensemaking process of 34 parents (16 mothers and 18 fathers) of children with ASD. The interviews were collected and analyzed according to the “Sense of Grip” (SoG) methodology. SoG indeed refers to the sensemaking processes that a person realizes to manage the relationship with diseases or disorders by organizing several degrees of flexibility, differentiation, and adaptation to the variability of experiences and contexts of life. This construct of health psychology—semiotically and clinically oriented—is based on specific narrative functions (i.e., temporal, integrative, emotional, sharing, and agentive functions). The cluster analysis procedure allowed to identify three different SoG profiles: (a) enterprising (parents who are able to construct flexible and dynamic familiar routines), (b) opposing (parents who experience the ASD disorder as a deep unacceptable crisis, hindering the rest of familiar and professional activities), and (c) condescending (parents who organize family life completely on adherence to medical prescriptions and care protocols). These profiles show interesting implications for clinical practice and support as showing specific aspects of treating, managing, and sharing children conditions within family and relational contexts of life.
Optimization of the QuEChERS Extraction of Mycotoxins in Maize Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM)
Authors: Mbisana Mesha , Mogopodi Dikabo , Tshepho Rebagamang , Chibua Inonge , Nkoane Bonang
Published: April 2024

Several methods have been developed for the analysis and detection of mycotoxins in food; however, most do not make use of critical statistics and mathematical tools for precise optimization. This study developed, optimized, and validated a modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) extraction procedure for the extraction of multiple mycotoxins in maize and subsequent validation using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Central composite design (CCD) was used to optimize extraction conditions. Data analysis of full factorial screening experiments revealed that MeCN (%), FA (%), and extraction time significantly affected the mycotoxins recovery. Assessment of the statistical significance of the generated model using analysis of variance (ANOVA), coefficient tables, and surface plots showed the relative interactions of factors and the adequacy of the model. Thus, P values from the lack of fit (LOF) test ranged from 0.137– 0.467 and a composite desirability function of 0.91 was obtained. Using the optimum extraction conditions of 0.1% (v/v) FA in 80.2% MeCN for 74 min, 10 mycotoxins were effectively extracted with satisfactory recoveries (85–114%), coefficients of regression (R2 > 0.98), coefficients of variation (CVs < 15%), limit of quantifications (LOQs) (0.33–60.45 µg/kg), and other associated method validation parameters. The method validation was carried out according to Commission Implementing Regulation 2021/808 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 401/2006 of 23 February 2006. Application of this method to 20 maize samples collected from markets in Botswana showed detectable mycotoxins in 13 samples, with 2 exceeding the European Union (EU) maximum aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) limit, suggesting potential exposure to high levels of toxic mycotoxins in Botswana.
Performing Sentiment Analysis Using Natural Language Models for Urban Policymaking: An analysis of Twitter Data in Brussels
Authors: Tori Floriano , Tori Sara , Keseru Imre , Ginis Vincent
Published: April 2024

Objectives

Mobility is a core challenge to transition towards sustainability. Cities are, therefore, rethinking their mobility to reduce negative externalities such as (greenhouse) gas emissions or congestion. When trying to implement sustainable urban mobility plans, there is often resistance from citizens. This can indicate a disconnect between the public and policymakers due to a lack of participation, coupled with the fact that current data-collection methods often used (such as travel surveys) are limited in scope. Advances in big data analysis and user-generated content provide opportunities to gain deeper insights into citizens' perceptions of mobility policy changes. This paper explores how sentiment analysis through deep learning can be used in transport planning.

Materials and Methods

In this research, we analyse the sentiments of citizens towards recent changes in mobility policy in Brussels, Belgium, through Twitter data. We analyse 1998 tweets about changing mobility policy in Brussels between July 18th, 2019 (forming of the last Brussels regional government), and December 31st, 2022 (starting date of the analyses). For our analysis, we employ two pre-trained language models: XLM-T and GPT4.

Results

Our results show that the sentiment with regard to the new mobility interventions is, as reflected by Twitter posts, not overwhelmingly negative. Furthermore, we find that the performance scores of XLM-T when no domain-specific fine-tuning has occurred (zero-shot evaluation) is fairly low (0.48). Once the model is trained on our domain-specific data, it reaches an accuracy of 0.67. When using GPT4, the model reaches an accuracy of 0.66. Additionally, GPT4 seems better suited at identifying mismatched tweets, i.e. tweets using vocabulary that has a different sentiment than the one the tweets expresses (e.g., sarcasm). This might indicate that large language models might be better suited to obtain implicit sentiments expressed in a text.

Conclusions

From a machine learning perspective, our experiments highlight the difficulty of recognising contextual sentiment (in this case, a sentiment towards changes in mobility policies), which may differ from the sentiment reflected in the vocabulary used. This is especially important if these two sentiments do not correspond, a problem both models struggled with. Additionally, we show that GPT4 can provide additional information when performing sentiment analysis by prompting it to attribute scores to texts. This paper opens new perspectives on understanding and addressing public sentiment in urban mobility policies. The advancements in language models, and the effective integration of user-generated content, can provide policymakers with a more comprehensive understanding of public sentiment, facilitating the implementation of certain policies.

Clinical Relevance

None.
Dominance of transposable element-related satDNAs results in great complexity of “satDNA library” and invokes the extension towards “repetitive DNA library”
Authors: Tunjić-Cvitanić Monika , García-Souto Daniel , Pasantes Juan J. , Šatović-Vukšić Eva
Published: April 2024

Research on bivalves is fast-growing, including genome-wide analyses and genome sequencing. Several characteristics qualify oysters as a valuable model to explore repetitive DNA sequences and their genome organization. Here we characterize the satellitomes of five species in the family Ostreidae (Crassostrea angulata, C. virginica, C. hongkongensis, C. ariakensis, Ostrea edulis), revealing a substantial number of satellite DNAs (satDNAs) per genome (ranging between 33 and 61) and peculiarities in the composition of their satellitomes. Numerous satDNAs were either associated to or derived from transposable elements, displaying a scarcity of transposable element-unrelated satDNAs in these genomes. Due to the non-conventional satellitome constitution and dominance of Helitron-associated satDNAs, comparative satellitomics demanded more in-depth analyses than standardly employed. Comparative analyses (including C. gigas, the first bivalve species with a defined satellitome) revealed that 13 satDNAs occur in all six oyster genomes, with Cg170/HindIII satDNA being the most abundant in all of them. Evaluating the “satDNA library model” highlighted the necessity to adjust this term when studying tandem repeat evolution in organisms with such satellitomes. When repetitive sequences with potential variation in the organizational form and repeat-type affiliation are examined across related species, the introduction of the terms “TE library” and “repetitive DNA library” becomes essential.
Identifying influential climatic factors for urban risk studies in rapidly urbanizing Region
Authors: Mangal Saloni , Kumar Deepak , Dhupper Renu , Kumari Maya , Gupta Anil Kumar
Published: April 2024

Severe weather events, such as heat waves, floods, pollution, and health threats, are becoming more common in metropolitan places across the world. Overcrowding, poor infrastructure, and fast, unsustainable urbanization are some of the problems that India faces, and the country is also susceptible to natural disasters. This research analyzes climatic variables affecting urban hazards in Bangalore (also known as Bengaluru) via a thorough review. Heat waves, urban floods, heat islands, and drought were identified in 156 qualifying publications using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) method. Contributing variables were also considered. City development and urbanization were key to changing climate and increasing urban dangers. While long-term climatic variable distribution is uneven, warming is evident. The report promotes strong urban planning techniques, comprehensive policies, more green areas, and sustainable development beyond short-term heat response programs to boost urban climate resilience. This study shows how climate, land use, and urban dangers are interconnected. Future studies may benefit by categorizing urban risk studies and identifying climatic factors.
Multi-objective Geometric Mean Optimizer (MOGMO): A Novel Metaphor-Free Population-Based Math-Inspired Multi-objective Algorithm
Authors: Pandya Sundaram B. , Kalita Kanak , Jangir Pradeep , Ghadai Ranjan Kumar , Abualigah Laith
Published: April 2024

This research introduces a novel multi-objective adaptation of the Geometric Mean Optimizer (GMO), termed the Multi-Objective Geometric Mean Optimizer (MOGMO). MOGMO melds the traditional GMO with an elite non-dominated sorting approach, allowing it to pinpoint Pareto optimal solutions through offspring creation and selection. A Crowding Distance (CD) coupled with an Information Feedback Mechanism (IFM) selection strategy is employed to maintain and amplify the convergence and diversity of potential solutions. MOGMO efficacy and capabilities are assessed using thirty notable case studies. This encompasses nineteen multi-objective benchmark problems without constraints, six with constraints and five multi-objective engineering design challenges. Based on the optimization results, the proposed MOGMO is better 54.83% in terms of GD, 64.51% in terms of IGD, 67.74% in terms of SP, 70.96% in terms of SD, 64.51% in terms of HV and 77.41% in terms of RT. Therefore, MOGMO has a better convergence and diversity for solving un-constraint, constraint and real-world application. Statistical outcomes from MOGMO are compared with those from Multi-Objective Equilibrium Optimizer (MOEO), Decomposition-Based Multi-Objective Symbiotic Organism Search (MOSOS/D), Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II), Multi-Objective Multi-Verse Optimization (MOMVO) and Multi-Objective Plasma Generation Optimizer (MOPGO) algorithms, utilizing identical performance measures. This comparison reveals that MOGMO consistently exhibits robustness and excels in addressing an array of multi-objective challenges. The MOGMO source code is available at https://github.com/kanak02/MOGMO.
Finding Discriminative Subsequences Via a Coverage Measure and Mutual Information Selection Strategy for Multi-Class Time Series Classification
Authors: Yang Jun , Jing Siyuan
Published: April 2024

Time series classification (TSC) has attracted considerable attention from the data mining community over the past decades. One of the effective ways to handle this task is to find discriminative subsequences in time series to train a classifier. Obviously, how to measure the discriminative power of subsequences and find the optimal combination of subsequences is crucial to the accuracy of TSC. In this paper, we introduce a new method, CRMI, to find high-quality discriminative subsequences for multi-class time series classification (MC-TSC). Different from existing methods, there are two significant innovations in the work. At first, we propose a novel measure, named coverage ratio, to evaluate the discriminative power of a subsequence based on a coverage matrix which is figured out by the clustering technique. Second, a heuristic algorithm based on mutual information (MI) is proposed to find the optimal combination of subsequence candidates. The calculation of MI is also based on the coverage matrix. Extensive experiments were conducted on 54 UCR time series datasets with at least 3 categories, and the results show that (1) the proposed algorithm achieves the highest average accuracy and outperforms most of the existing shapelet-based TSC algorithms; (2) compared with existing methods, the proposed algorithm performs better on datasets with a large number of categories.
Creating data-driven products and services in industry 4.0: a case study on companies in the German machine and tool industry
Authors: Permin Eike , Castillo Lina
Published: April 2024

During the past ten years, lots of new data-driven products and services for tools, machinery and equipment have been developed. While several new players from other industries gained a certain market share, plant and machinery producers also started to enhance their portfolio to take on new data-driven products and services because of the technological changes in Industry 4.0. As a first part of the research, an extensive market study was carried out to analyze how many German companies already offer data-based products and services in addition to their core machines and understand what kind of offerings they make. To classify these offerings, a scheme based on established Industry 4.0 maturity models was developed. In brief, the market for data-driven products and services is still developing, with few technology leaders and fast movers taking the largest share. While the market study gave an overview of what was on offer, the second part of this contribution analyzes how the fast movers with a high level of Industry 4.0 maturity conducted their data-driven services and products. Thus, these few companies were analyzed in more detail, based on public material as well as subsequent expert interviews. Most fast movers in this study relied on the same patterns and approaches, especially when looking at organizational issues such as customer-driven innovation, agile organization of operations, mixed teams, partnering and portfolio enhancement.
Homer's Living Language
Authors: Bozzone Chiara
Published: April 2024

What if formularity, meter, and Kunstsprache in Homer weren't abstract, mechanical systems that constrained the poet's freedom, but rather adaptive technologies that helped poets to sustain feats of great creativity? This book explores this hypothesis by reassessing the key formal features of Homer's poetic technique through the lenses of contemporary linguistics and the cognitive sciences, as well as by drawing some unexpected parallels from the contemporary world (from the dialects of English used in popular music, to the prosodic strategies employed in live sports commentary, to the neuroscience of jazz improvisation). Aimed at Classics students and specialists alike, this book provides thorough and accessible introductions to the main debates in Homeric poetics, along with new and thought-provoking ways of understanding Homeric creativity.
Clinical and Diagnostic Virology
Authors: Wreghitt Tim , Kudesia Goura
Published: April 2024

Since the first edition was published in 2009, there have been significant advances in diagnostics and management of viral infections, as well as newly discovered viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and Zika virus. This new edition provides up-to-date information on the key developments in clinical and diagnostic virology, especially molecular diagnosis, with guidance on new molecular and bedside tests. Effective antiviral treatments and novel combinations of treatments recently introduced are covered in depth. Infection control precautions and pandemic preparedness are discussed, with a focus on recent outbreaks. As with the first edition, coverage is succinct and practical with easily accessible information in algorithms and tables, and standardised chapter layouts organised from A to Z. This is an ideal introduction to complex topics for healthcare trainees, as well as a handy and easily accessible reference for more experienced hospital clinicians and primary care physicians.
Aerothermal and aerodynamic characteristics of reusable hypersonic vehicles with heat transfer minimised sweepback
Authors: Shilwant R.B. , Mahulikar S.P.
Published: April 2024

Establishing aerothermal criteria for swept leading-edge hypersonic vehicle design is the predominant purpose of this work. This study is focused on two different configurations of vehicles based on the swept-back angle (
$\varLambda$
) viz. minimum drag (
$\varLambda$
Drag-min), and minimum heat transfer to vehicle (
$\varLambda$
HT-min). Maximum wall temperatures obtained from the simulation performed in ANSYS 2020 with the k-epsilon turbulence model are 1,013 and 970K for
$\varLambda$
Drag-min and
$\varLambda$
HT-min, respectively. These temperatures are used to obtain the corresponding thicknesses of thermal protection systems to maintain inner wall temperature at 323K. Further study is divided into two cases depending on the direction of thickness of thermal protection system with respect to vehicle body. For constant payload capacity, the direction of thickness is outside; whereas for constant overall volume case, direction of thickness is inside. For constant payload volume case, the percentage weight reduction of thermal protection system is 4.8%. For constant overall volume case, the percentage payload capacity increases with design at
$\varLambda$
HT-min by 4.04% in addition to thermal protection system weight reduction. The lift-induced drag on vehicles with design at
$\varLambda$
HT-min is significantly reduced for both cases, by 47.68% (for constant payload volume) and 45.27% (for constant overall volume).
Piecing together ‘big pictures’ with social network analysis and digital tools
Authors: Kaye Aleksandra
Published: April 2024

When considering the ‘big picture’ in the history of science, what or who is considered important depends upon the focal point of the analysis. Social network analysis, equipped with digital methods, offers historians a way to help generate alternative perspectives for analysis by revealing elusive patterns obscured by the apparent ‘centre/periphery’ dichotomy or ‘great-men’ narratives. The presented methods are focused on studying connections, relationships and structural characteristics in networks and can thus help bridge global and local perspectives and suggest new historical lines of argument. This point is illustrated with a case study of Polish oil prospectors working in Argentina in the 1880s, which problematizes the narrative of the formation of transnational networks based on this mineral resource. The article discusses the place of digital methods within historical research, arguing that good skills in the interpretation and communication of outputs produced through digital research methods, coupled with familiarity with their associated theories, strengths and weaknesses, are indispensable.
On the Hausdorff dimension of invariant measures of piecewise smooth circle homeomorphisms
Authors: TRUJILLO FRANK
Published: April 2024

We show that, generically, the unique invariant measure of a sufficiently regular piecewise smooth circle homeomorphism with irrational rotation number and zero mean nonlinearity (e.g. piecewise linear) has zero Hausdorff dimension. To encode this generic condition, we consider piecewise smooth homeomorphisms as generalized interval exchange transformations (GIETs) of the interval and rely on the notion of combinatorial rotation number for GIETs, which can be seen as an extension of the classical notion of rotation number for circle homeomorphisms to the GIET setting.
Dimensionality of the Swahili version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) in a Kenyan population: A confirmatory factor analysis
Authors: Keyan Dharani , Hadzi-Pavlovic Dusan , Akhtar Aemal , Dawson Katie , Koyiet Phiona Naserian , Bryant Richard
Published: April 2024

The current study evaluated the Kiswahili version of General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) in a Kenyan context comprising of women exposed to gender-based violence. Participants were randomly drawn from community sampling using household screening methods in peri-urban areas in Nairobi. A total of 1,394 participants with varying levels of literacy (years of education: mean [M] = 9.42; standard deviation [SD] = 3.73) and aged between 18 and 89 years were recruited for the study. The observed factor structure of the GHQ-12 was evaluated using six most tested models querying the dimensionality of the instrument insofar as the impacts of positive and negative wording effects in driving multidimensionality. Results from the confirmatory factor analysis supported a bifactor model, consisting of a general distress factor and two separate factors representing common variance due to the positive and negative wording of items. Overall, the findings support the use of the Kiswahili version of the GHQ-12 as a unidimensional construct with method-specific variance owing to wording effects. Importantly, GHQ-12 responses from a sample of Kenyan women with relatively low levels of literacy are congruent with the factor structure observed in other cross-cultural settings in low- and-middle-income countries.
Breakdown and reform: the Chilean road to the creation of ministries of hygiene and social welfare 1892–1931
Authors: Barría Traverso Diego , Romero Pavez Diego
Published: April 2024

Doctors have played an important role in the development of health institutions in Latin America. However, they are not the only profession that has had a voice in these matters. There are also other factors influencing the development of ministries of health. This issue has gone unnoticed in the literature. This article suggests that it is possible to identify two distinct trends in the creation of health ministries in Latin America. The first, of an early nature, was seen principally in Central America and the Caribbean in countries dependent on or under the influence of the United States which, from the 1880s, promoted health Pan-Americanism. The second trend, which became apparent from 1924, was characterised by the emergence of ministries in a context of institutional breakdown and the appearance of new actors (military or populist leaders). This second trend was first seen in Chile in 1924. This article analyses the creation of the Ministerio de Higiene, Asistencia y Previsión Social (Ministry of Hygiene, Assistance and Social Security) in Chile in 1924 and its subsequent development through to 1931. The analysis looks at the health measures adopted, the context in which this occurred and the debates triggered by the ministry’s process of institutional development, based on parliamentary discussions, presidential speeches, official statistics, legislation, documents prepared by key actors and the press of the time.
VaTEST III: Validation of eight potential super-earths from TESS data
Authors: Mistry Priyashkumar , Prasad Aniket , Maity Mousam , Pathak Kamlesh , Gharat Sarvesh , Lekkas Georgios , Bhattarai Surendra , Kumar Dhruv , Lissauer Jack J. , Twicken Joseph D. , Soubkiou Abderahmane , Pozuelos Francisco J. , Jenkins Jon , Horne Keith , Giacalone Steven , Barkaoui Khalid , Timmermans Mathilde , Watkins Cristilyn N. , Sefako Ramotholo , Collins Karen A. , Ciardi David R. , Clark Catherine A. , Safonov Boris S. , Shporer Avi , Schlieder Joshua E. , Benkhaldoun Zouhair , Stockdale Chris , Ziegler Carl , Gilbert Emily A. , Emmanuël Jehin , Murgas Felipe , Crossfield Ian J. M. , Paegert Martin , Lund Michael B. , Narita Norio , Schwarz Richard P. , Goeke Robert F. , Fajardo-Acosta Sergio B. , Howell Steve B. , Tan Thiam-Guan , Barclay Thomas , Kawai Yugo
Published: April 2024

NASA’s all-sky survey mission, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), is specifically engineered to detect exoplanets that transit bright stars. Thus far, TESS has successfully identified approximately 400 transiting exoplanets, in addition to roughly 6 000 candidate exoplanets pending confirmation. In this study, we present the results of our ongoing project, the Validation of Transiting Exoplanets using Statistical Tools (VaTEST). Our dedicated effort is focused on the confirmation and characterisation of new exoplanets through the application of statistical validation tools. Through a combination of ground-based telescope data, high-resolution imaging, and the utilisation of the statistical validation tool known as TRICERATOPS, we have successfully discovered eight potential super-Earths. These planets bear the designations: TOI-238b (1.61

$^{+0.09} _{-0.10}$

R

$_\oplus$

), TOI-771b (1.42

$^{+0.11} _{-0.09}$

R

$_\oplus$

), TOI-871b (1.66

$^{+0.11} _{-0.11}$

R

$_\oplus$

), TOI-1467b (1.83

$^{+0.16} _{-0.15}$

R

$_\oplus$

), TOI-1739b (1.69

$^{+0.10} _{-0.08}$

R

$_\oplus$

), TOI-2068b (1.82

$^{+0.16} _{-0.15}$

R

$_\oplus$

), TOI-4559b (1.42

$^{+0.13} _{-0.11}$

R

$_\oplus$

), and TOI-5799b (1.62

$^{+0.19} _{-0.13}$

R

$_\oplus$

). Among all these planets, six of them fall within the region known as ‘keystone planets’, which makes them particularly interesting for study. Based on the location of TOI-771b and TOI-4559b below the radius valley we characterised them as likely super-Earths, though radial velocity mass measurements for these planets will provide more details about their characterisation. It is noteworthy that planets within the size range investigated herein are absent from our own solar system, making their study crucial for gaining insights into the evolutionary stages between Earth and Neptune.
Global centres in a class of quintic polynomial differential systems
Authors: da Cruz Leonardo P. C. , Llibre Jaume
Published: April 2024

A centre of a differential system in the plane

$ {\mathbb {R}}^2$

is an equilibrium point

$p$

having a neighbourhood

$U$

such that

$U\setminus \{p\}$

is filled with periodic orbits. A centre

$p$

is global when

$ {\mathbb {R}}^2\setminus \{p\}$

is filled with periodic orbits. In general, it is a difficult problem to distinguish the centres from the foci for a given class of differential systems, and also it is difficult to distinguish the global centres inside the centres. The goal of this paper is to classify the centres and the global centres of the following class of quintic polynomial differential systems

\begin{align*} \dot{x}= y,\quad \dot{y}={-}x+a_{05}\,y^5+a_{14}\,x\,y^4+a_{23}\,x^2\,y^3+a_{32}\,x^3\,y^2+a_{41}\,x^4\,y+a_{50}\,x^5, \end{align*}

in the plane

$ {\mathbb {R}}^2$

.
On almost quotient Yamabe solitons
Authors: Tokura Willian , Barboza Marcelo , Batista Elismar , Kai Priscila
Published: April 2024

In this paper, we investigate the structure of certain solutions of the fully nonlinear Yamabe flow, which we call almost quotient Yamabe solitons as they extend quite naturally those already called quotient Yamabe solitons. We present sufficient conditions for a compact almost quotient Yamabe soliton to be either trivial or isometric with an Euclidean sphere. We also characterize noncompact almost gradient quotient Yamabe solitons satisfying certain conditions on both its Ricci tensor and potential function.
Helminth infections in Apodemus sylvaticus in southern England: interactive effects of host age, sex and year on the prevalence and abundance of infections
Authors: Behnke J. M. , Lewis J. W. , Zain S. N. Mohd , Gilbert F. S.
Published: April 2024

Helminth parasites were studied in the wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus, in southern England in September of each of four successive years (1994–1997). Nine species of helminths were recorded: five nematodes (Heligmosomoides polygyrus, Syphacia stroma, Pelodera strongyloides, Trichuris muris, Capillaria murissylvatici), two cestodes (Microsomacanthus crenata, Taenia taeniaeformis) and two trematodes (Corrigia vitta, Brachylaemus recurvum). In total, 134 mice were examined and 91.8% carried at least one species of helminth. The majority of mice carried two to three species (60.5%) and the highest combination was six of the nine species recorded in the study. The patterns of between-year variations in the prevalence and abundance of infection were different for each of the six species for which sufficient quantitative data were available to enable statistical analysis. For H. polygyrus, the most important source of variation arose from between-year differences, host age and the interaction of these factors: abundance increased with host age but in 1995 the age pattern was markedly different from that in the remaining years. The abundance of C. vitta also varied significantly between years but additionally there was a strong independent age effect. For M. crenata, the year × age interaction was significant, indicating that abundance among different age cohorts varied from year to year but there was also a weak significant main effect of age arising from the youngest age cohort carrying no parasites and the oldest age cohort the heaviest infections. For P. strongyloides the only significant factor was between-year variation with 1995 being a year of exceptionally low prevalence and abundance of infection. No significant between-year variation was detected for S. stroma but there was a strong sex effect (males carrying heavier infections) and an age effect (older mice of both sexes carrying heavier infections). The abundance of Trichuris muris varied only in relation to host age, worm burdens growing in intensity with increasing age, but there was also a significant interaction between year and host sex with respect to prevalence. For the remaining three species, the prevalence of infections was too low (< 8.2%) to enable any meaningful interpretation. This analysis emphasizes the need for carefully controlled statistical procedures in aiding the interpretation and the prioritization of the factors affecting worm burdens in wild rodents.
Scanning electron microscopy of the collar region of Deropristis inflata and Echinostoma revolutum
Authors: Kanev I. , Dezfuli B.S. , Nestorov M. , Fried B.
Published: April 2024

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the collar region of Deropristis inflata (Molin, 1858), an intestinal digenean of fish, and Echinostoma revolutum (Froelich, 1802), an intestinal digenean of birds. The results showed basic differences in the following morphological features. The collar of D. inflata was open ventrally and dorsally whereas that of E. revolutum was closed dorsally and ventrally, forming a kidney-like ring. The collar of D. inflata was located posterior to the oral sucker, some distance behind the anterior end of the body. That of E. revolutum was located terminally around the oral sucker. The collar of D. inflata had numerous collar spines which varied in size, shape and position. That of E. revolutum had 37 collar-spines, mainly homogenous in their general morphology and with a typical arrangement pattern for 37-collar-spined echinostomes. The collar of D. inflata had few tegumentary papillae whereas that of E. revolutum had abundant papillae. A ventral depressed area occurred in D. inflata, between the acetabulum and oral sucker, dividing the collar into two left and right independent parts. The ventral depression in E. revolutum extended from the ventral sucker to the posterior end of the collar, and was not divided. In D. inflata, tegumentary spines were located on the oral sucker, and the collar was posterior to the sucker. In E. revolutum, the oral sucker and the collar lacked tegumentary spines. The region immediately posterior to the collar also lacked spines in E. revolutum. The collar pattern of D. inflata is undoubtedly more primitive than that of E. revolutum.
Karyotypic characterization of Apatemon gracilis
Authors: Petkevičiūtė R. , Stanevičiūtė G.
Published: April 2024

The cytotaxonomical characteristics of parthenitae of Apatemon gracilis (Rudolphi, 1819) Szidat, 1928 were studied using karyometric analysis to extend our knowledge of chromosome morphology and karyosystematics among trematodes. The karyotype, reported here for the first time, consists of ten pairs (2n = 20) of chromosomes divided into two size groups: five pairs of comparatively large and five pairs of small chromosomes. Biarmed chromosomes prevail in the chromosome set. According to centromere index values, chromosome 1 is submetacentric to metacentric, 2 is subtelocentric, 3 and 5 are acrocentric, 4, 9 and 10 are metacentric, 6 is submetacentric and 7 and 8 are submeta-subtelocentric. The small uniarmed B-chromosome was found in the chromosome set of parthenitae of A. gracilis from one snail. Data are discussed with reference to the karyotypes previously described within the Strigeidae.
Trichinella nativa in sylvatic wild boars
Authors: Pozio E. , Kapel C.M.O.
Published: April 2024

Of 17 Trichinella isolates from domestic pigs and wild boars (Sus scrofa) in regions where Trichinella nativa is widespread among sylvatic animals, two wild boars from Estonia were found to be naturally infected with this Trichinella species. The other 15 animals were infected with Trichinella spiralis. Trichinella nativa is tolerant to freezing when in the muscles of carnivores. The biological characteristics and temperature tolerance of this species in swine need to be further investigated if pork is certified for consumption following freezing.
Digenean metacercariae (Timoniella spp., Labratrema minimus and Cryptocotyle concava) from the flounder, platichthys flesus, in the tidal Thames
Authors: El-Darsh H.E.M. , Whitfield P.J.
Published: April 2024

A detailed examination of the abundant flatfish species Platichthys flesus, the flounder, in the tidal Thames has revealed the presence of four digenean metacercarial parasites, Cryptocotyle concava (Creplin, 1825), Timoniella imbutiforme (Molin, 1859), T. praeterita (Looss, 1901) and Labratrema minimus (Stossich, 1887). Flounders were recorded as a new second intermediate host for T. praeterita and L. minimus. They were also recorded as second intermediate hosts for the first time in British waters for T. imbutiforme. The temporal and spatial characteristics of these infections were examined and were believed to provide indirect parasitological evidence of the movement patterns of flounders during their utilization of the Thames Estuary as a nursery ground. From these data it was also surmised that the first intermediate host of T. imbutiforme, T. praeterita and C. concava was probably the molluscan species Hydrobia ulvae in the lower Thames Estuary, whereas L. minimus was most likely to occur in the molluscan host Cerastoderma edule, also present in the lower estuary.
Variation in resistance to haemonchosis: selection of female sheep resistant to Haemonchus contortus
Authors: Hooda V. , Yadav C.L. , Chaudhri S.S. , Rajpurohit B.S.
Published: April 2024

Seventy female lambs (6–7 months old) which were exposed to natural infections of Haemonchus contortus were designated as responders or non-responders on the basis of 10 weekly cumulative faecal egg counts. Selected responder and non-responder lambs were treated with ivermectin, housed separately and 6 weeks post-housing, seven lambs from each group were given a trickle infection of Haemonchus contortus at 1000 L3 daily for 5 days per week up to 2 weeks and examined weekly for 10 weeks after first infection. Analysis of data revealed significantly lower mean faecal egg counts and non-significantly less weight loss in responder than non-responder lambs. Mean values of haemoglobin, packed cell volume, total serum protein and peripheral eosinophil counts were significantly higher in responders than non-responders. In contrast, serum pepsinogen concentration was significantly less in responders than in non-responders. At 10 weeks post-infection, there were fewer pathological lesions and significantly lower worm burdens in responders than in non-responders. These results demonstrate a distinct resistance in responders to Haemonchus contortus infection.