bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A systematic decision-making framework for tackling quantum software engineering challenges
Authors: Akbar Muhammad Azeem , Khan Arif Ali , Rafi Saima
Published: July 2023

Quantum computing systems harness the power of quantum mechanics to execute computationally demanding tasks more effectively than their classical counterparts. This has led to the emergence of Quantum Software Engineering (QSE), which focuses on unlocking the full potential of quantum computing systems. As QSE gains prominence, it seeks to address the evolving challenges of quantum software development by offering comprehensive concepts, principles, and guidelines. This paper aims to identify, prioritize, and develop a systematic decision-making framework of the challenging factors associated with QSE process execution. We conducted a literature survey to identify the challenging factors associated with QSE process and mapped them into 7 core categories. Additionally, we used a questionnaire survey to collect insights from practitioners regarding these challenges. To examine the relationships between core categories of challenging factors, we applied Interpretive Structure Modeling (ISM). Lastly, we applied fuzzy TOPSIS to rank the identified challenging factors concerning to their criticality for QSE process. We have identified 22 challenging factors of QSE process and mapped them to 7 core categories. The ISM results indicate that the ‘resources’ category has the most decisive influence on the other six core categories of the identified challenging factors. Moreover, the fuzzy TOPSIS indicates that ‘complex programming’, ‘limited software libraries’, ‘maintenance complexity’, ‘lack of training and workshops’, and ‘data encoding issues’ are the highest priority challenging factor for QSE process execution. Organizations using QSE could consider the identified challenging factors and their prioritization to improve their QSE process.
Preparation of β-Cyclodextrin Conjugated, Gelatin Stabilized SBA 15-CuInS2/ZnS Quantum Dot Nanocomposites for Camptothecin Release
Authors: Rajendran Jose Varghese , Parani Sundararajan , Remya Vasudevan Pillay R. , Lebepe Thabang C. , Maluleke Rodney , Aladesuyi Olanrewaju A. , Thomas Sabu , Oluwafemi Oluwatobi Samuel
Published: July 2023

Camptothecin (CPT) is a potential anticancer drug. However, it faces challenges due to its poor water solubility and the need for an efficient drug release system. Herein, we developed a novel system composed of gelatin stabilized, mesoporous silica SBA15 encapsulated CuInS2/ZnS (CIS/ZnS) quantum dots (QDs) conjugated with β-cyclodextrin (β-CDs) for its potential use in the release of CPT. In this multifunctional system, β-CDs served as the drug carrier, SBA15 encapsulated QDs is capable of imaging and the gelatin was used to enhance the carrier-drug interaction. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis confirmed the successful conjugation of β-CDs to the Gel-SBA15 CIS/ZnS QDs, while optical analyses revealed excellent emission properties and high photostability. The β-CD-conjugated Gel-SBA15-CIS/ZnS QD nanocomposite was used to obtain the soluble derivate of CPT which further demonstrated a drug release profile following the triphasic model. Overall, the improved photostability and acceptable drug release profile of the β-CD conjugated Gel-SBA15-CIS/ZnS QD nanocomposite hold great promise for both imaging and therapeutic applications.

Graphical Abstract
Avatars as Proxies
Authors: Sweeney Paula
Published: July 2023

Avatars will represent us online, in virtual worlds, and in technologically supported hybrid environments. We and our avatars will stand not in an identity relation but in a proxy relation, an arrangement that is significant not least because our proxies’ actions can be counted as our own. However, this proxy relation between humans and avatars is not well understood and its consequences under-explored. In this paper I explore the relation and its potential ethical consequences.
Association of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy with survival in newly diagnosed glioblastoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ballo Matthew T. , Conlon Patrick , Lavy-Shahaf Gitit , Kinzel Adrian , Vymazal Josef , Rulseh Aaron M.
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy, an electric field-based cancer treatment, became FDA-approved for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM) in 2015 based on the randomized controlled EF-14 study. Subsequent approvals worldwide and increased adoption over time have raised the question of whether a consistent survival benefit has been observed in the real-world setting, and whether device usage has played a role.

Methods

We conducted a literature search to identify clinical studies evaluating overall survival (OS) in TTFields-treated patients. Comparative and single-cohort studies were analyzed. Survival curves were pooled using a distribution-free random-effects method.

Results

Among nine studies, seven (N = 1430 patients) compared the addition of TTFields therapy to standard of care (SOC) chemoradiotherapy versus SOC alone and were included in a pooled analysis for OS. Meta-analysis of comparative studies indicated a significant improvement in OS for patients receiving TTFields and SOC versus SOC alone (HR: 0.63; 95% CI 0.53–0.75; p < 0.001). Among real-world post-approval studies, the pooled median OS was 22.6 months (95% CI 17.6–41.2) for TTFields-treated patients, and 17.4 months (95% CI 14.4–21.6) for those not receiving TTFields. Rates of gross total resection were generally higher in the real-world setting, irrespective of TTFields use. Furthermore, for patients included in studies reporting data on device usage (N = 1015), an average usage rate of ≥ 75% was consistently associated with prolonged survival (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Meta-analysis of comparative TTFields studies suggests survival may be improved with the addition of TTFields to SOC for patients with newly diagnosed GBM.
Capsaicin, The Vanilloid Receptor TRPV1 Agonist in Neuroprotection: Mechanisms Involved and Significance
Authors: Abdel-Salam Omar M.E. , Mózsik Gyula
Published: July 2023

Hot peppers, also called chilli, chilli pepper, or paprika of the plant genus Capsicum (family Solanaceae), are one of the most used vegetables and spices worldwide. Capsaicin (8-methyl N-vanillyl-6-noneamide) is the main pungent principle of hot green and red peppers. By acting on the capsaicin receptor or transient receptor potential cation channel vanilloid subfamily member 1 (TRPV1), capsaicin selectively stimulates and in high doses defunctionalizes capsaicin-sensitive chemonociceptors with C and Aδ afferent fibers. This channel, which is involved in a wide range of neuronal processes, is expressed in peripheral and central branches of capsaicin-sensitive nociceptive neurons, sensory ganglia, the spinal cord, and different brain regions in neuronal cell bodies, dendrites, astrocytes, and pericytes. Several experimental and clinical studies provided evidence that capsaicin protected against ischaemic or excitotoxic cerebral neuronal injury and may lower the risk of cerebral stroke. By preventing neuronal death, memory impairment and inhibiting the amyloidogenic process, capsaicin may also be beneficial in neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s diseases. Capsaicin given in systemic inflammation/sepsis exerted beneficial antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects while defunctionalization of capsaicin-sensitive vagal afferents has been demonstrated to increase brain oxidative stress. Capsaicin may act in the periphery via the vagal sensory fibers expressing TRPV1 receptors to reduce immune oxidative and inflammatory signalling to the brain. Capsaicin given in small doses has also been reported to inhibit the experimentally-induced epileptic seizures. The aim of this review is to provide a concise account on the most recent findings related to this topic. We attempted to delineate such mechanisms by which capsaicin exerts its neuronal protective effects. We also aimed to provide the reader with the current knowledge on the mechanism of action of capsaicin on sensory receptors.
A multilevel analysis of educational transition rates at secondary level in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Delprato Marcos , Farieta Alejandro
Published: July 2023

Estimates show that, in 2019, only 41 per cent of students completed lower secondary and 28 per cent upper secondary education in the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region (UNESCO, 2021). One of the reasons for the low completion rates is the poor transition across secondary education due to the significant impact of factors at individual, household, and community levels shaping demand and supply constraints. This article employs a three-level logit to investigate the key determinants for transitions and their variability across countries and communities, and explores whether less wealth inequality is at odds with increasing countries’ and communities’ performances. It finds that variation on transition rates is 40–50 per cent larger between communities within countries than between countries themselves, and that heterogeneity is larger for upper secondary transition. Leading sources of inequality are wealth, gender, and communities’ prevalence of early marriage. Further, the article finds that the equity–performance trade-off does not hold across countries, but it does at the community level where communities with stronger rates of transitions are more unequal. The analysis suggests policies to improve SSA youth chances to move up to the next level of secondary education, starting for narrowing heterogeneity across communities, boosting chances for the poorest groups and female youth living in communities with weak social norms, and measures to diminish the impact of community wealth on their transition performance.
Spatial and temporal variations of geochemical processes and toxicity of water, sediments, and suspended solids in Sibuti River Estuary, NW Borneo
Authors: Gantayat Rakesh Roshan , Mohan Viswanathan Prasanna , Ramasamy Nagarajan , Sabarathinam Chidambaram
Published: July 2023

A comprehensive geochemical study was conducted in the Sibuti River estuary by considering water, suspended solids (SS), and sediment samples from 36 stations during southwest monsoon (SWM) and northeast monsoon (NEM). In this study, the distribution of in situ parameters, major ions, nutrients, trace metals, and isotopes (δD, δ18O) were analyzed in water samples, whereas sediments and SS were studied for trace metals. The distribution revealed that suspended solids were the major carrier of Cd, Zn, and Mn, whereas sediments worked as a major source of Co, Cr, Ba, Se, Cu, and Pb. Na-Cl water type and ion exchange dominated the lower part of the estuary during both seasons. However, the mixed mechanism of Ca–Cl, Ca–Mg–Cl, and higher weathering indicated reverse ion exchange in the intermediate and upper parts of the estuary. Isotopic signatures of δD and δ18O in estuarine water indicate that the precipitation over the Limbang area dominates during SWM, whereas higher evaporation was confirmed during NEM. The factor analysis revealed that seawater influence in the estuary majority controlled the water chemistry irrespective of seasons. Major ions were mainly regulated by the tidal influence during the low flow time of the river (SWM), whereas the mixing mechanism of weathering and seawater controlled the concentrations during NEM. Nutrients such as NO3, SO42−, NH3, and NH4+ mainly originated from the agricultural fields and nitrification along with ammonification were responsible for the recycling of such nutrients. Trace metals except Cd were found to be geogenic in nature and originating mainly from the oxidation of pyrites present in the sandstone and mudstones of the Sibuti Formation. Redox condition was catalyzed by microorganisms near the river mouth, whereas Al-oxyhydroxides and Fe-oxyhydroxides complexes in the intermediate and upper part under oxygenated conditions controlled the absorption of metals. Overall, the estuary was found to be absorptive in nature due to ideal pH conditions and was confirmed by the saturation index (SI) of minerals.
The multifaceted benefits of walking for healthy aging: from Blue Zones to molecular mechanisms
Authors: Ungvari Zoltan , Fazekas-Pongor Vince , Csiszar Anna , Kunutsor Setor K.
Published: July 2023

Physical activity, including walking, has numerous health benefits in older adults, supported by a plethora of observational and interventional studies. Walking decreases the risk or severity of various health outcomes such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cognitive impairment and dementia, while also improving mental well-being, sleep, and longevity. Dose-response relationships for walking duration and intensity are established for adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Walking’s favorable effects on cardiovascular risk factors are attributed to its impact on circulatory, cardiopulmonary, and immune function. Meeting current physical activity guidelines by walking briskly for 30 min per day for 5 days can reduce the risk of several age-associated diseases. Additionally, low-intensity physical exercise, including walking, exerts anti-aging effects and helps prevent age-related diseases, making it a powerful tool for promoting healthy aging. This is exemplified by the lifestyles of individuals in Blue Zones, regions of the world with the highest concentration of centenarians. Walking and other low-intensity physical activities contribute significantly to the longevity of individuals in these regions, with walking being an integral part of their daily lives. Thus, incorporating walking into daily routines and encouraging walking-based physical activity interventions can be an effective strategy for promoting healthy aging and improving health outcomes in all populations. The goal of this review is to provide an overview of the vast and consistent evidence supporting the health benefits of physical activity, with a specific focus on walking, and to discuss the impact of walking on various health outcomes, including the prevention of age-related diseases. Furthermore, this review will delve into the evidence on the impact of walking and low-intensity physical activity on specific molecular and cellular mechanisms of aging, providing insights into the underlying biological mechanisms through which walking exerts its beneficial anti-aging effects.
Variation in Larval Fish Assemblage Dynamics Associated with Harmful Algal Blooms in a Temperate Estuary, South Africa
Authors: Smit Taryn , Lemley Daniel Alan , Bornman Eugin , Adams Janine Barbara , Strydom Nadine Amelia
Published: July 2023

Eutrophication and concomitant harmful algal blooms (HABs) are on the rise globally and pose a threat to larval stages of fishes that rely on estuarine nursery habitats for growth and survival. The anthropogenically altered low inflow estuary (LIE), Sundays Estuary, South Africa, supports persistent and predictable HABs. This study investigated the effects of HABs on the environmental conditions and larval fish assemblage of this warm temperate nursery area. Sampling took place during the austral spring of 2016 and 2018 at three sites in the mesohaline zone where both larval fish abundance and HABs are known to reach maxima. Physico-chemical and phytoplankton data were collected during the day and night, while larval fishes were sampled after nightfall. Physico-chemical parameters and larval fish assemblages were compared by water column (surface and bottom) and sites within the mesohaline zone, years, and HAB intensity (hypereutrophic ≥ 2781 H. akashiwo cells•mL−1; standard ≥ 205 H. akashiwo cells•mL−1; none < 205 H. akashiwo cells•mL−1). A longer period of consecutive hypereutrophic bloom conditions was recorded during 2018 compared to 2016. Dissolved oxygen concentration was notably higher during hypereutrophic blooms (χ2 = 23.759, df = 2, P < 0.001) and reached a maximum of approximately 21 mg•L−1 during the day and 13 mg•L−1 at night. Density and similarity of estuarine resident larval assemblages were negatively correlated to supersaturated dissolved oxygen concentrations. Greater mean densities of estuarine resident larvae were recorded during hypereutrophic blooms compared to standard blooms and bloom absence and diversity was lower during 2018 when hypereutrophic bloom conditions were more persistent. These changes may have major implications for successful early development of fishes that rely on the Sundays Estuary and similar LIEs as a nursery.
Benchmarking Generations of You Only Look Once Architectures for Detection of Defective and Normal Long Rod Insulators
Authors: Békési Gergő Bendegúz
Published: July 2023

Effective infrastructure monitoring is a priority in all technical fields in this century. In high-voltage transmission networks, line inspection is one such task. Fault detection of insulators is crucial, and object detection algorithms can handle this problem. This work presents a comparison of You Only Look Once architectures. The different subtypes of the last three generations (v3, v4, and v5) are compared in terms of losses, precision, recall, and mean average precision on an open-source, augmented dataset of normal and defective insulators from the State Grid Corporation of China. The primary focus of this work is a comprehensive subtype analysis, providing a useful resource for academics and industry professionals involved in insulator detection and surveillance projects. This study aims to enhance the monitoring of insulator health and maintenance for industries relying on power grid stability. YOLOv5 subtypes are found to be the most suitable for this computer vision task, considering their mean average precision, which ranges between 98.1 and 99.0%, and a frame per second rate between 27.1 and 212.8, depending on the architecture size. While their predecessors are faster, they are less accurate. It is also discovered that, for all generations, normal-sized and large architectures generally demonstrate better accuracy. However, small architectures are noted for their significantly faster processing speeds.
Impact of Melt Flow and Surface Tension on Gap Bridging During Laser Beam Welding
Authors: Volpp Joerg
Published: July 2023

Laser beam welding is an essential technology to enable the transformation to enforce e-mobility. When manufacturing light weight structures like the chassis, precision, speed, quality and low deformation can be expected when using the laser beam as a welding heat source. However, the laser beam is typically used at small dimensions and can fail to transfer its energy to the joining partners when the gap between them becomes large. Beam shaping technologies have developed in the last years to be flexibly used for high-power processes and provide an opportunity to alter the energy input and thereby improve the welding quality and gap bridgability. In this work, multi-spot beam shaping was analyzed using up to nine spots. Experiments were performed using different beam shapes in order to redistribute the energy input, recording the process using high-speed imaging for detection of melt pool dimensions. Those were used as input for a simplified analytical model predicting the process collapse based on the available melt material. Several beam shapes created melt pools that support the material availability behind the keyhole(s). Numerical simulations showed that directed melt flows induced by the keyhole(s) can increase the gap bridgability.
Twelve weeks of combined physical and cognitive intradialytic training preserves alertness and improves gait speed: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Bogataj Špela , Pajek Maja , Mesarič Katja Kurnik , Kren Aljaž , Pajek Jernej
Published: July 2023

Background

Hemodialysis (HD) patients often experience cognitive deficits and reduced mobility. While studies have shown promising results of physical and/or cognitive training in older adults, their effects in HD patients remain understudied.

Aims

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a 12-week intradialytic training program combining cognitive training with physical exercise on attention domains and spontaneous gait speed (SGS) in HD patients.

Methods

Forty-four HD patients were randomly assigned to either intradialytic cognitive and physical exercise training (EXP group; n = 22) or a standard care control group (CON group; n = 22). The EXP group performed intradialytic cycling and tablet-based cognitive training three days per week for 12 weeks. The primary outcome of the study was performance on the computerized test battery ‘Test of Attentional Performance.’ Secondary study outcome was patient mobility assessed by the four-meter SGS. Outcomes were assessed pre- and post-intervention.

Results

Significant group x time interaction was observed in alertness (F(1,41) = 6.15, p = 0.017) and SGS (F(1,41) = 18.33, p < 0.001) in favor of the EXP group. Within-group analysis revealed a significant pre–post decline in the CON group in alertness test (−26.7 s; p = 0.04) and an improvement of SGS in EXP group (+ 0.07 s; p < 0.001).

Discussion

This original study demonstrated that a combined physical and cognitive intradialytic training intervention led to improvements in SGS and preservation in alertness compared to a deterioration in the CON group.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that the intervention may serve as an effective tool to prevent the physical and cognitive decline in this patient population.
Cheating Automatic Short Answer Grading with the Adversarial Usage of Adjectives and Adverbs
Authors: Filighera Anna , Ochs Sebastian , Steuer Tim , Tregel Thomas
Published: July 2023

Automatic grading models are valued for the time and effort saved during the instruction of large student bodies. Especially with the increasing digitization of education and interest in large-scale standardized testing, the popularity of automatic grading has risen to the point where commercial solutions are widely available and used. However, for short answer formats, automatic grading is challenging due to natural language ambiguity and versatility. While automatic short answer grading models are beginning to compare to human performance on some datasets, their robustness, especially to adversarially manipulated data, is questionable. Exploitable vulnerabilities in grading models can have far-reaching consequences ranging from cheating students receiving undeserved credit to undermining automatic grading altogether—even when most predictions are valid. In this paper, we devise a black-box adversarial attack tailored to the educational short answer grading scenario to investigate the grading models’ robustness. In our attack, we insert adjectives and adverbs into natural places of incorrect student answers, fooling the model into predicting them as correct. We observed a loss of prediction accuracy between 10 and 22 percentage points using the state-of-the-art models BERT and T5. While our attack made answers appear less natural to humans in our experiments, it did not significantly increase the graders’ suspicions of cheating. Based on our experiments, we provide recommendations for utilizing automatic grading systems more safely in practice.
Condom Use at Last Sex and Sexual Negotiation Among Young African American Women in North Carolina: Context or Personal Agency
Authors: Osakwe Chukwunomso E. , van der Drift Isa , Opper Claudia A. , Zule William A. , Browne Felicia A. , Wechsberg Wendee M.
Published: July 2023

African American women are 10.8 times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV compared with White women. This descriptive study fills a gap by examining associations among social and contextual factors and sexual communication, condom use, and safer sex negotiation among African American women. Study participants between 18 and 25 years of age and who reported recent substance use were recruited from three North Carolina counties. A risk behavior survey was administered via audio computer-assisted self-interview, and logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess associations between social and contextual variables and condom use at last sex with a main partner. Education (AOR: 2.078; 95% CI: 1.214, 3.556), sexual communication with a main partner (AOR: 1.079; 95% CI: 1.050, 1.109), and condom use relationship scale (AOR: 1.059; 95% CI: 1.023, 1.098) were positively associated with condom use at last sex, whereas living with a main partner (AOR: 0.447; 95% CI: 0.210, 0.950) and the alcohol and drug problem scale (AOR: 0.971; 95% CI: 0.944, 0.998) were negatively associated with condom use (p < 0.05). The study findings show that among young African American women at risk for HIV, contextual and personal factors may influence condom use. A socio-ecological approach combining personal empowerment, interpersonal, structural, and biobehavioral strategies is necessary in implementing holistic gender-focused HIV prevention programs.
Il magnesio, lo ione dimenticato
Authors: Lunetti Stefano , Taus Marina , Arnaldi Giorgio
Published: July 2023

Sommario

Il magnesio è il quarto elemento più abbondante dell’organismo umano e risulta fondamentale per circa l’80% delle reazioni metaboliche intracellulari; è, pertanto, necessario per il corretto sviluppo corporeo, la trasmissione degli impulsi nervosi ma anche per l’utilizzo dell’energia a livello cellulare. Sebbene presente in numerosi alimenti di origine vegetale, la sua quantità e biodisponibilità risulta influenzata da fattori legati alla coltivazione, all’associazione con altri alimenti e ioni: è per questo motivo che diete di tipo “Western” ne risultano spesso carenti, e sono tra le cause di ipomagnesemia. Questa condizione può essere presente in stati para-fisiologici o patologici: patologie metaboliche (Diabete Mellito tipo 2, Sindrome Metabolica), gravidanza, patologie gastrointestinali (diarrea, vomito, fistole) o legate all’intervento nutrizionale (s. da refeeding), così come a numerosi farmaci (inibitori pompa protonica, diuretici, antiriassorbitivi, antidiabetici). La terapia prevede integrazione per e.v. nei casi gravi o a rischio di vita del paziente, integrazione orale (con forme organiche) nei casi meno gravi. L’ipermagnesemia è una condizione più rara, quasi sempre legata all’associazione di insufficienza renale e abuso di magnesio a scopo lassativo, e risulta pericolosa solo per livelli sierici elevati: in questo caso la terapia prevede l’interruzione dell’integrazione, l’idratazione forzata, l’utilizzo di diuretici e, in casi estremi, il ricorso all’emodialisi.
Lifestyles of Older Adults in Castilla-La Mancha (Spain): Influence of Sex, Age, and Habitat
Authors: Portal Martínez Esther , Lirio Castro Juan , Alonso González David , Gómez Ramos José Luis
Published: July 2023

This paper presents the quantitative research results of a comprehensive study titled “Current Profile of Older Adults in Castilla-La Mancha (Spain).” The study aims to understand and describe the characteristics of individuals aged 65 and above within this autonomous region, with a focus on the variables of sex, age, and habitat. A cross-sectional approach was employed, utilizing quantitative methods to collect data. To gather information, a customized questionnaire was developed to address the study objectives, covering various aspects such as sociodemographic factors, living conditions, leisure activities, social participation, and cultural interests. The survey was conducted via telephone, ensuring representation by employing gender quotas, age-group stratification, and considerations for habitat size. A representative sample of 1,065 participants was included in the study. The findings reveal a degree of homogeneity in the lifestyles of older adults, with discernible variations influenced by factors such as sex, habitat, and age. These results shed light on the diverse habits and experiences of older adults, emphasizing the significance of habitat conditions, social participation, and the aging process.
The Implications of the Russia–Ukraine War on Sustainable Development Goals in Africa
Authors: Mhlanga David , Ndhlovu Emmanuel
Published: July 2023

The existing discourses on the Russia–Ukraine war mainly focus on the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and the implications for the global economy. There is a lack of policy and scholarly attention to how the war threatens the prospects for realising Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Underpinned by a critical document analysis of secondary sources available in academic and grey literature and focusing on Africa, the article explores various global challenges ensuing from the crisis. It demonstrates how such challenges impact prospects for achieving SDGs in Africa. Using the first two SDGs as an example, the study found that with the disruption of the global supply chain by the war and the international sanctions imposed on Russia, Africa now experiences food commodity and energy shortages, soaring inflation, and commodity price hikes which now threatens to worsen poverty and hunger. The article recommends that Africa prioritise structural change and regional cooperation, reconsidering the global financial system and how development finance is structured and maintaining a steady commitment to building resilience. Future research could be focused on the effectiveness of non-sanctions-based conflict resolutions.
Effects of temperature and leaf wetness duration on pathogens causing preharvest fruit rots on tomato
Authors: Thomidis Thomas , Prodromou Ioanna , Paresidou Maria , Damos Petros
Published: July 2023

Preharvest fruit rots are serious tomato diseases. This study showed that Botrytis cinerea was a significant problem, and that Alternaria (A. alternata, A. solani) was the main pathogen identified from tomatoes showing the symptoms of preharvest fruit rots. Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani were also found causing important preharvest fruit rots in tomatoes. This is the first time F. oxysporum and R. solani have been identified in Greece as pathogens causing preharvest fruit rots on tomatoes. The optimal temperatures for A. alternata, A. solani, B. cinerea, and F. oxysporum mycelial growth and conidial germination were generally found to be between 20 and 30 °C, while the wetness duration of 24 hours seemed to be optimal for conidial germination and 84 hours for R. solani sclerotial germination. Based on the above findings, logistic regression models that adequately described the impact of pre-inoculation temperature and wetness on infection incidence in tomato fruit can be created. As the minimum, maximum, optimal temperatures and wetness duration are generally similar for the main pathogens causing preharvest fruit rots in tomato, it is possibly to develop a predicting predictive model to forecast the preharvest infection of tomato fruit. So enabling advice to be given to growers to when control methods should be applied.
Assessment of reliability and validity of a handheld surface spine scanner for measuring trunk rotation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
Authors: Wei Jack Z. , Cheung Berry K. C. , Chu Sunny L. H. , Tsang Parker Y. L. , To Michael K. T. , Lau Johnson Y. N. , Cheung Kenneth M. C.
Published: July 2023

Purpose

To assess the reliability and validity of a handheld scanner (SpineScan3D) for trunk rotation measurement in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) subjects, as compared with Scoliometer.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study with AIS subjects recruited. Biplanar spine radiographs were performed using an EOS imaging system with coronal Cobb angle (CCA) determined. The angle of trunk rotation (ATR) was measured using Scoliometer. SpineScan3D was employed to assess the axial rotation of subjects’ back at forward bending, recorded as surface tilt angle (STA). Intra- and inter-examiner repeats were conducted to evaluate the reliability of SpineScan3D.

Results

97 AIS patients were recruited. Intra- and inter-examiner reliability of STA measures were good to excellent in major thoracic and lumbar curves (p < 0.001). A strong correlation was found between STA and ATR measures in both curve types (p < 0.001) with a standard error of the ATR estimate of between 1 and 2 degrees from linear regression models (R squared: 0.8–0.9, p < 0.001). A similar correlation with CCA was found for STA and ATR measures (r: 0.5–0.6, p < 0.002), which also demonstrated a similar sensitivity (72%-74%) and specificity (62%-77%) for diagnosing moderate to severe curves.

Conclusion

SpineScan3D is a handheld surface scanner with a potential of wide applications in subjects with AIS. The current study indicated that SpineScan3D is reliable and valid for measuring trunk rotation in AIS subjects, comparable to Scoliometer. Further studies are planned to investigate its measurements in coronal and sagittal planes and the potential of this device as a screening and monitoring tool.

Trial registration number (date of registration)

HKUCTR-2288 (06 Dec 2017).

Level of evidence

Level III.
Influence of induced magnetic field and surface roughness of Casson nanofluid flow over an exponentially stretching sheet
Authors: Kotnurkar Asha S. , Mali Gayitri
Published: July 2023

In the present analysis, we have discussed the mixed convective of flow over an exponential sheet in presence of induced magnetic field and surface roughness. The effects of hall current and chemical reaction on flow are also considered. The non-Newtonian model behavior is characterized by Casson nanofluid. The similarity transformations are employed for the transformation of partial differential equations into non-dimensional form and obtained equations are solved by employing the Differential transformation method (DTM). Further, the importance of various parameters on various profiles and gradients are explored graphically with some suitable discussion. At the wall, the small ($$\alpha$$
α
) and frequency ($$n$$
n
) parameters influence on gradients are illustrated.
Precision Medicine Using Simultaneous Monitoring and Assessment with Imaging and Biomarkers to Manage Mechanical Ventilation in ARDS
Authors: Abbott Megan , Li Yuchong , Brochard Laurent , Zhang Haibo
Published: July 2023

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has a ~ 40% mortality rate with an increasing prevalence exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mechanical ventilation is the primary means for life-saving support to buy time for lung healing in ARDS patients, however, it can also lead to ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). Effective strategies to reduce or prevent VILI are necessary but are not currently delivered. Therefore, we aim at evaluating the current imaging technologies to visualize where pressure and volume being delivered to the lung during mechanical ventilation; and combining plasma biomarkers to guide management of mechanical ventilation. We searched PubMed and Medline using keywords and analyzed the literature, including both animal models and human studies, to examine the independent use of computed tomography (CT) to evaluate lung mechanics, electrical impedance tomography (EIT) to guide ventilation, ultrasound to monitor lung injury, and plasma biomarkers to indicate status of lung pathophysiology. This investigation has led to our proposal of the combination of imaging and biomarkers to precisely deliver mechanical ventilation to improve patient outcomes in ARDS.
Phonetics and Phonology in Multilingual Language Development
Authors: Gut Ulrike , Kopečková Romana , Nelson Christina
Published: July 2023

This Element focuses on phonetic and phonological development in multilinguals and presents a novel methodological approach to it within Complex Dynamic Systems Theory (CDST). We will show how the traditional conceptualisations of acquisition with a strong focus on linear, incremental development with a stable endpoint can be complemented by a view of language development as emergent, self-organised, context-dependent and highly variable across learners. We report on a longitudinal study involving 16 learners with L1 German, L2 English and L3 Polish. Over their ten months of learning Polish, the learners' perception and production of various speech sounds and phonological processes in all of their languages were investigated. Auditory and acoustic analyses were applied together with group and individual learner statistical analyses to trace the dynamic changes of their multilingual phonological system over time. We show how phonetic and phonological development is feature-dependent and inter-connected and how learning experience affects the process.
Neuroimaging Features in Children with Optic Nerve Hypoplasia and Septo-Optic-Pituitary Dysplasia
Authors: Salman Michael S. , Hossain Shakhawat , Rozovsky Katya
Published: July 2023

Background:

Optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH) and septo-optic-pituitary dysplasia (SOD) are common causes of congenital visual impairment. Our primary aim was to investigate the prevalence of abnormal neuroimaging features in patients with these disorders in Manitoba, Canada, and compare them with published reports.

Methods:

A retrospective neuroimaging review was performed in patients resident in Manitoba with ONH/SOD.

Results:

There were 128 patients (M = 70) with ONH/SOD who had neuroimaging. Their mean age (SD) at the end of the study was 13.2 (7.5) years. Males were significantly more likely to have bilateral ONH and a small optic chiasm size, while females were more likely to have a left ONH and a small left optic chiasm size on neuroimaging (p = 0.049). ONH and small optic chiasm size were seen in most patients on neuroimaging. Absent septum pellucidum was noted in 40%, small pituitary gland size in 28%, neuronal migration disorders (NMD) in 20% (>1 type and bilateral in 13 cases), corpus callosum abnormalities were present in 9%, while olfactory bulbs-tracts and olfactory sulci were absent in 8.6% of cases. Unilateral ONH was not significantly associated with other structural brain abnormalities, while NMD were significantly associated with other midline brain abnormalities including a symmetrically small optic chiasm size.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of structural neuroimaging abnormalities in our cohort with ONH/SOD was generally in the same range reported in other studies with corpus callosum abnormalities being relatively less common in our study. Bilateral NMD were relatively common among patients with NMD. The association between sex and ONH laterality requires further study.
Examining barriers to implementing a surgical-site infection bundle
Authors: Dukes Kimberly C. , Reisinger Heather Schacht , Schweizer Marin , Ward Melissa A. , Chapin Laura , Ryken Timothy C. , Perl Trish M. , Herwaldt Loreen A.
Published: July 2023

Background:

Surgical-site infections (SSIs) can be catastrophic. Bundles of evidence-based practices can reduce SSIs but can be difficult to implement and sustain.

Objective:

We sought to understand the implementation of SSI prevention bundles in 6 US hospitals.

Design:

Qualitative study.

Methods:

We conducted in-depth semistructured interviews with personnel involved in bundle implementation and conducted a thematic analysis of the transcripts.

Setting:

The study was conducted in 6 US hospitals: 2 academic tertiary-care hospitals, 3 academic-affiliated community hospitals, 1 unaffiliated community hospital.

Participants:

In total, 30 hospital personnel participated. Participants included surgeons, laboratory directors, clinical personnel, and infection preventionists.

Results:

Bundle complexity impeded implementation. Other barriers varied across services, even within the same hospital. Multiple strategies were needed, and successful strategies in one service did not always apply in other areas. However, early and sustained interprofessional collaboration facilitated implementation.

Conclusions:

The evidence-based SSI bundle is complicated and can be difficult to implement. One implementation process probably will not work for all settings. Multiple strategies were needed to overcome contextual and implementation barriers that varied by setting and implementation climate. Appropriate adaptations for specific settings and populations may improve bundle adoption, fidelity, acceptability, and sustainability.
Oil exploitation and food insecurity in Nigeria's Niger Delta
Authors: Babatunde Abosede Omowumi
Published: July 2023

The destructive impacts of oil exploitation on the natural environment, which the inhabitants of the Niger Delta depend on for their livelihood, pose major threats to food security. Environmental damage alienates the local people from their ancestral lands and erodes their sources of livelihood. This study examines the effect of oil exploitation on the local people's access to sufficient, safe and culturally acceptable food. The study is based on data collected through interviews with key informants and Focus Group Discussions in the oil communities in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States. Environmental and livelihood sustainability are intricately interconnected. They have significant implications for food security of people in the oil-rich region. Nutritional adequacy is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for food security because cultural acceptability is also required. This study addresses the interplay between these factors and their implications for household food security in the Niger Delta.
Why time matters for understanding the ASM-LSM nexus in south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Cuvelier Jeroen
Published: July 2023

This article highlights the importance of studying the politics of time in the copper and cobalt mining sector of south-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where a tense coexistence can be observed between artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) and large-scale mining (LSM). It is argued that inequality in ASM-LSM settings not only manifests itself spatially but also temporally. Faced with an uncertain future, ASM and LSM actors do not have the same capacity to control time and plan their futures. Drawing on data from several rounds of ethnographic fieldwork in Katanga's mining areas between 2005 and 2022, the article advocates an approach which pays more attention to issues of time and temporality in places where large-scale forms of mineral extraction clash with small-scale ones.
The waxing and waning of ethnic boundaries: violence, peace and the ubwoko in Burundi
Authors: Ingelaere Bert , Paviotti Antea
Published: July 2023

Violence based on identity constructs reinforces the experience of ethnic boundaries as felt distance between in-groups and out-groups. But what makes such an experience of rigid ethnic boundaries fade or disappear, if anything? We examined this in Burundi, a country characterised by repeated episodes of violence between Hutu and Tutsi since independence. We analysed the waxing and waning of ethnic boundaries through the (life) stories of 202 individuals collected through an iterative research process in two rural villages that were seriously touched by (ethnic) violence. Rigid boundaries between ethnic in- and out-group appeared to fade through non-violent interactions; when categorisations other than ethnic emerged; and when awareness of interstitiality, being in-between salient groups, contested the relevance and meaning of the ethnic boundary as such. These insights invite us to bring in multiple temporalities and identities when aiming to understand legacies of violence in conflict-affected societies such as Burundi. This would allow us to avoid treating groups as substantial entities, which reinforces boundaries between in-groups and out-groups.
Black-bellied pangolin Phataginus tetradactyla documented in Deng Deng National Park, Cameroon, using camera traps
Authors: Difouo Ghislain F. , Simo Franklin T. , Kekeunou Sévilor , Olson David , Ingram Daniel J.
Published: July 2023

Information on pangolin life history and ecology is becoming increasingly available in African countries through community-based surveys and camera-trapping. However, there is a paucity of information on the largely arboreal black-bellied pangolin Phataginus tetradactyla, which is categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. By targeting fallen trees or logs with camera traps we recorded the black-bellied pangolin opportunistically in Deng Deng National Park (East Region, Cameroon), a locality within the presumed distribution of the species within Cameroon. We obtained a low trapping rate of 0.063 events per 100 trap-days and the capture probability was one event recorded over 1,571 trap-days (0.0006 captures per day). Deploying camera traps that focus on fallen trees or logs could be explored as a method for detecting black-bellied pangolins.
Computational modelling of language acquisition: an introduction
Authors: BENDERS Titia , BLOM Elma
Published: July 2023

One approach to studying how children acquire language is to simulate language acquisition through computational modelling. Computational models implement theories of language acquisition and simulation outcomes can then be tested against existing real-world data or in new empirical research. It is more than ten years ago that Journal of Child Language published a special issue on the topic, edited and introduced by Brian MacWhinney (MacWhinney, 2010). Now is thus a good time to take stock of recent developments by bringing together a collection of articles that explore recent research and insights from computational modelling of child language acquisition.
Improving Transitional Care for Older Adults: Results of a Patient-Centred Quality Improvement Intervention
Authors: McCusker Jane , Beauchamp Sylvie , Lambert Sylvie , Yaffe Mark , Meguerditchian Ari Nareg , John Beverley-Tracey , Bourbonnais Marie-Pierre , Fung Shek , de Raad Manon , Belzile Eric
Published: July 2023

The objective of this study was to evaluate the implementation and outcomes of a quality improvement intervention for older adults discharged from hospital to home, that used a patient-centred discharge education tool called the Patient-Centered Discharge Plan (PCAP). We conducted a pre–post evaluation of PCAP implementation among patients 65 years and older and discharged home from an acute medical or geriatric admission at two general hospitals. Two patient cohorts, PRE and POST, were analysed using administrative data (n = 3,309) and post-discharge structured interviews in a subset of patients (n = 326). Outcomes were 90-day readmissions and return emergency department (ED) visits, and transition experiences (10-item scale). The PCAP was provided to 20 per cent of 1,683 patients. Transition experience scores increased from PRE to POST at both hospitals (adjusted beta 1.3; 95% CI: 0.8, 1.7), and return ED visits declined in one of the two hospitals (adjusted decline 1.3%; 95% CI: -3.7, 6.2). In conclusion, dedicated resources are needed to support future PCAP implementation.
Embracing Background Knowledge in the Analysis of Actual Causality: An Answer Set Programming Approach
Authors: GELFOND MICHAEL , FANDINNO JORGE , BALAI EVGENII
Published: July 2023

This paper presents a rich knowledge representation language aimed at formalizing causal knowledge. This language is used for accurately and directly formalizing common benchmark examples from the literature of actual causality. A definition of cause is presented and used to analyze the actual causes of changes with respect to sequences of actions representing those examples.