bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gendered Asylum in the Black Mediterranean: Two Nigerian Women’s Experiences of Reception in Italy
Authors: Paynter Eleanor
Published: October 2023

Women comprise less than 15% of people crossing the Central Mediterranean, yet their representation in or erasure from accounts of precarious migration influences public notions of migrant deservingness in critical ways. This chapter recognizes European border spectacle as both racialized and gendered and posits the post-arrival reception period as a key site of negotiation of notions of deservingness. Drawing on ethnographic research I conducted in Italian reception centers, I discuss how these dynamics are especially salient in the case of Nigerian women who confront widespread associations of their presence in Italy with sex trafficking. In oral history interviews with two Nigerian women, interviewees described how they navigate “invisible obstacles” during reception: their awareness of others’ assumptions about them affected how they positioned themselves in relation to others, and where they spent time. Situating this discussion within the Black Mediterranean framework, I show how these circumstances are not new aspects of migration “crises” but in fact recall colonial notions of foreignness and blackness. My discussion advocates for an intersectional approach to the study of Mediterranean migration that engages migrant reception as a racialized, gendered set of processes, as well as, for migrants, a period of active, rather than passive, waiting.
The Questions to Be Investigated
Authors: Pedersen Mette
Published: October 2023

In collaboration with girls and boys elementary- and high school and their teachers, the following questions were devised as the basis for the investigation:
Materials and Method
Authors: Pedersen Mette
Published: October 2023

48 boys and 47 girls took part in the stratified study. 4–5 pupils came randomly from 3 to 12 school classes, ages 8 to 19 years. All of them had passed a test at the entrance to the school, which included reproducing a rhythm by clapping, repeating tones by singing, and singing a given song (Figs. 3.1 and 3.2) as it is done by others [1]. The tests were also used for determining the type of voice (the voice category) because hormonal changes were thought eventually to be related. The test was necessary to define a standard of the study for comparison with other studies but was later considered without specific influence on the general results. Video analysis showed no neoplasms or other anatomic abnormalities of the larynx for all of them. The Tanner stage of puberty was measured by our pediatrician for the age of each pupil [2, 3].
Top tree amplitudes for higher order calculations
Authors: Campbell John M. , Ellis R. Keith
Published: October 2023

Abstract

We present compact analytic results for tree-level amplitudes containing a $$ t\overline{t} $$
t

t
¯

pair accompanied by up to four massless partons, $$ t\overline{t} gg $$
t

t
¯

gg
, $$ t\overline{t} ggg $$
t

t
¯

ggg
, $$ t\overline{t} gggg $$
t

t
¯

gggg
, $$ t\overline{t}q\overline{q} $$
t

t
¯

q

q
¯

, $$ t\overline{t}q\overline{q}g $$
t

t
¯

q

q
¯

g
, $$ t\overline{t}q\overline{q} gg $$
t

t
¯

q

q
¯

gg
and $$ t\overline{t}q\overline{q}{q}^{\prime }{\overline{q}}^{\prime } $$
t

t
¯

q

q
¯

q
′

q
¯

′

. The results, obtained using BCFW on-shell recursion, are based both on previous published results and on the new calculations performed in this paper. These amplitudes are sufficient to calculate the production of a $$ t\overline{t} $$
t

t
¯

pair and zero, one, or two light parton jets, with the option to include the tree-level decays t → bνe+ and $$ \overline{t} $$

t
¯

→ $$ \overline{b}e $$

b
¯

e
−$$ \overline{\nu} $$

ν
¯

efficiently. Our results are part of the NNLO corrections to $$ t\overline{t} $$
t

t
¯

production including the decay correlations for on-shell top quarks.
Contralateral hamstring autografts do not provide benefit compared to ipsilateral hamstring autografts in primary or revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a systematic review
Authors: Vivekanantha Prushoth , Nedaie Soroush , Hassan Zackariyah , Abdel Khalik Hassaan , Carsen Sasha , Nagai Kanto , Hoshino Yuichi , de SA Darren
Published: October 2023

Purpose

To evaluate the clinical outcomes of primary or revision ACL reconstruction (ACLR) after contralateral hamstring autografts versus ipsilateral hamstring autograft harvest.

Methods

Three databases (MEDLINE, PubMed and EMBASE) were searched from inception to April 27th, 2023 for studies investigating contralateral hamstring autografts in primary or revision ACLR. The authors adhered to the PRISMA and R‐AMSTAR guidelines as well as the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Data on demographics, strength measures, patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs), and rates of positive Lachman test, positive pivot‐shift test and graft rupture were extracted. PROMs included Lysholm, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Tegner scores.

Results

Nine studies comprising 371 patients were included in this review. In primary ACLR, there were no significant differences between contralateral and ipsilateral groups in isokinetic hamstring torque in the non‐ACLR limb or isokinetic quadriceps torque in both limbs when tested at 60, 90, 120 or 180 degrees/second. Isokinetic hamstring torque in the non‐ACLR limb was significantly weaker in the contralateral group at six months for primary ACLR; however, these deficits did not persist. There were no significant differences in postoperative median Tegner scores and Lysholm scores between contralateral and ipsilateral groups in primary ACLR. There were no significant differences in postoperative median Tegner, mean Lysholm and IKDC scores between groups in revision ACLR. There were no significant differences in positive Lachman, positive pivot‐shift and rupture rates in primary ACLR between groups. Rates of positive Lachman and pivot‐shift were slightly higher in the contralateral than ipsilateral group for revision ACLR.

Conclusion

Contralateral hamstring autografts results in comparable muscle strength to ipsilateral hamstring autografts, with the exception of weaker hamstring strengths in the early postoperative period. Patient‐reported outcome measures were similar between the two groups across both primary and revision ACLR, with rates of instability and failure being similar between groups for primary ACLR. Contralateral hamstring grafts do not provide additional benefit when compared to ipsilateral options for either primary or revision ACLR, and should be used only in select circumstances including insufficient ipsilateral hamstring grafts or situations where quadriceps or patella autografts are not optimal.

Level of evidence

Level IV.
Convolutional neural networks for melt depth prediction and visualization in laser powder bed fusion
Authors: Ogoke Francis , Lee William , Kao Ning-Yu , Myers Alexander , Beuth Jack , Malen Jonathan , Barati Farimani Amir
Published: October 2023

Powder bed fusion is a method of additive manufacturing (AM) where parts are constructed by iteratively melting metal cross-sections to build complex 3D structures. Defects often form during the printing process, where the dynamics of the melt pool can directly contribute to the formation of porous defects in the final part. For instance, insufficient overlap of the produced melt pools can result in unmelted regions of powder, while deep, unstable vapor depression cavities can lead to spherical voids becoming trapped in the substrate. Therefore, in situ of monitoring the melt pool during the melting process can telegraph the formation of defects and assist the creation of fully dense parts. Here, we augment data-driven-based monitoring techniques to enable the 3D visualization of the melt pool underneath the surface, based on the melt pool surface temperature and processing parameters. Specifically, a convolutional neural network (CNN) predicts the topography of the melt pool and keyhole cavity, based on the surface temperature data near the laser focal point and the nominal operating conditions. The data for the laser powder bed fusion process used to train the model is produced by full-field simulations of the meso-scale melting process, with the CFD software FLOW-3D. Data augmentation techniques are implemented to ensure generalizable performance in cases where the temperature data may be obscured and to ensure sharp, accurate predictions of the melt pool boundaries.
Space for power: feeling powerful over others’ behavior affects peri-personal space representation
Authors: Bertoni Tommaso , Paladino Maria Paola , Pellencin Elisa , Serino Silvia , Serino Andrea
Published: October 2023

We investigated whether and how social power affects the representation of peri-personal space (PPS). We applied a multisensory interaction task to assess PPS representation and the Personal Sense of Power Scale to assess participants’ feelings of power over others’ behaviors and over others’ opinions. In Study 1, we probed PPS representation in a virtual social context. Participants with a higher sense of power showed a less defined differentiation between the close and far space as compared to participants with a lower sense of power. This effect was replicated in Study 2 when participants performed the task in a non-social context (with no person in the scene), but only after they were reminded of an episode of power. Thus, social power—the perception of power over others’ behavior—affects the multisensory representation of the self in space by blurring the differentiation between one’s own PPS and the space of others.
The MultiFurcating Neighbor-Joining Algorithm for Reconstructing Polytomic Phylogenetic Trees
Authors: Fernández Alberto , Segura-Alabart Natàlia , Serratosa Francesc
Published: October 2023

Results from phylogenetic analyses that study the evolution of species according to their biological characteristics are frequently structured as phylogenetic trees. One of the most widely used methods for reconstructing them is the distance-based method known as the neighbor-joining (NJ) algorithm. It is known that the NJ algorithm can produce different phylogenetic trees depending on the order of the taxa in the input matrix of evolutionary distances, because the method only yields bifurcating branches or dichotomies. According to this, results and conclusions published in articles that only calculate one of the possible dichotomic phylogenetic trees are somehow biased. We have generalized the formulas used in the NJ algorithm to cope with Multifurcating branches or polytomies, and we have called this new variant of the method the multifurcating neighbor-joining (MFNJ) algorithm. Instead of the dichotomic phylogenetic trees reconstructed by the NJ algorithm, the MFNJ algorithm produces polytomic phylogenetic trees. The main advantage of using the MFNJ algorithm is that only one phylogenetic tree can be obtained, which makes the experimental section of any study completely reproducible and unbiased to external issues such as the input order of taxa.
Lateral versus medial approach for total knee arthroplasty for valgus knee deformity shows comparable functional outcomes, hip–knee–ankle angle values, and complication rates: a meta-analysis of comparative studies
Authors: Mercurio Michele , Gasparini Giorgio , Galasso Olimpio , Familiari Filippo , Cofano Erminia , Sanzo Valentina , Ciolli Gianluca , Corona Katia , Cerciello Simone
Published: October 2023

Introduction

The aim of this meta-analysis of comparative studies was to update the current evidence on functional and radiographic outcomes and complications between medial and lateral approaches for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for valgus knee deformity.

Materials and methods

The PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central databases were used to search keywords and a total of ten studies were included. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed. Data extracted for quantitative analysis included the Knee Society score (KSS), range of motion (ROM), surgical time, hip–knee–ankle angle (HKA), and number and types of complications. Random- and fixed-effect models were used for the meta-analysis of pooled mean differences (MDs) and odds ratios (ORs). The Mantel–Haenszel method was adopted.

Results

A total of 1008 patients were identified, of whom 689 and 319 underwent TKA for valgus knee deformity with lateral and medial approach, respectively. The mean age was 70 ± 9.5 and 67.3 ± 9.6 years for the lateral and medial approaches, respectively. The mean follow-up was 37.8 ± 21.9 and 45.9 ± 26.7 months for the lateral and medial approach groups, respectively. Significantly higher functional outcomes were found for the medial approach, as measured by the postoperative KSS (MD = 1.8, 95% CI [0.48, 3.12], P = 0.007) and flexion ROM (MD = 3.12, 95% CI [0.45, 5.79], P = 0.02). However, both of these differences were lower than the minimal clinically important difference. Comparable surgical time and postoperative HKA angle values (MD = 0.22, 95% CI [− 0.30, 0.75], P = 0.40) between the two surgical approaches were found. The incidence of periprosthetic joint infections, fractures, transient peroneal nerve injuries, and deep vein thrombosis was comparable.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis of comparative studies showed that when lateral and medial approaches are used for total knee arthroplasty for valgus knee deformity, comparable functional outcomes in terms of the KSS and ROM, surgical time, and postoperative hip–knee–ankle angle values can be expected. Similar rates of periprosthetic joint infection, fracture, and peroneal nerve injury were also found.

Level of evidence

I.

PROSPERO registration number ID

CRD42023392807.
Cold-induced vasodilation during sequential immersions of the hand
Authors: Weller Rebecca S. , Daanen Hein A. , McClintock Rebecca J. , Roberts Nicholas A. , Dunn Timothy L. , Jones Douglas M.
Published: October 2023

A common practice for those operating in cold environments includes repetitive glove doffing and donning to perform specific tasks, which creates a repetitive cycle of hand cooling and rewarming. This study aimed to determine the influence of intraday repeated hand cooling on cold-induced vasodilation (CIVD), sympathetic activation, and finger/hand temperature recovery. Eight males and two females (mean ± SD age: 28 ± 5 year; height: 181 ± 9 cm; weight: 79.9 ± 10.4 kg) performed two 30-min hand immersions in cold (4.3 ± 0.92 °C) water in an indoor environment (18 °C). Both immersions (Imm1; Imm2) were performed on the same day and both allowed for a 10-min recovery. CIVD components were calculated for each finger (index, middle, ring) during each immersion. CIVD onset time (index, p = 0.546; middle, p = 0.727; ring, p = 0.873), minimum finger temperature (index, p = 0.634; middle, p = 0.493; ring, p = 0.575), and mean finger temperature (index, p = 0.986; middle, p = 0.953; ring, p = 0.637) were all similar between immersions. Recovery rates generally demonstrated similar responses as well. Findings suggest that two sequential CIVD tests analyzing the effect of prior cold exposure of the hand does not impair the CIVD response or recovery. Such findings appear promising for those venturing into cold environments where hands are likely to be repeatedly exposed to cold temperatures.
Modulating cardiac physiology in engineered heart tissue with the bidirectional optogenetic tool BiPOLES
Authors: Schwarzová Barbora , Stüdemann Tim , Sönmez Muhammed , Rössinger Judith , Pan Bangfen , Eschenhagen Thomas , Stenzig Justus , Wiegert J. Simon , Christ Torsten , Weinberger Florian
Published: October 2023

Optogenetic actuators are rapidly advancing tools used to control physiology in excitable cells, such as neurons and cardiomyocytes. In neuroscience, these tools have been used to either excite or inhibit neuronal activity. Cell type–targeted actuators have allowed to study the function of distinct cell populations. Whereas the first described cation channelrhodopsins allowed to excite specific neuronal cell populations, anion channelrhodopsins were used to inhibit neuronal activity. To allow for simultaneous excitation and inhibition, opsin combinations with low spectral overlap were introduced. BiPOLES (Bidirectional Pair of Opsins for Light-induced Excitation and Silencing) is a bidirectional optogenetic tool consisting of the anion channel Guillardia theta anion-conducting channelrhodopsin 2 (GtACR2 with a blue excitation spectrum and the red-shifted cation channel Chrimson. Here, we studied the effects of BiPOLES activation in cardiomyocytes. For this, we knocked in BiPOLES into the adeno-associated virus integration site 1 (AAVS1) locus of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC), subjected these to cardiac differentiation, and generated BiPOLES expressing engineered heart tissue (EHT) for physiological characterization. Continuous light application activating either GtACR2 or Chrimson resulted in cardiomyocyte depolarization and thus stopped EHT contractility. In contrast, short light pulses, with red as well as with blue light, triggered action potentials (AP) up to a rate of 240 bpm. In summary, we demonstrate that cation, as well as anion channelrhodopsins, can be used to activate stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes with pulsed photostimulation but also to silence cardiac contractility with prolonged photostimulation.
Diverse strategies are needed to support physical activity engagement in women who have had breast cancer
Authors: Inam Farha , Bergin Rebecca J. , Mizrahi David , Dunstan David W. , Moore Melissa , Maxwell-Davis Natalie , Denehy Linda , Lynch Brigid M. , Swain Christopher T. V.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Physical activity can improve health in people living with and beyond breast cancer; however, how to best support physical activity participation in this population is unclear. This qualitative study sought to identify important physical activity program components for breast cancer.

Methods

Women with previous breast cancer (n = 11) and allied health professionals (n = 7) participated in one-on-one semi-structured interviews (n = 15) or focus groups (n = 1). Qualitative data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis methods.

Results

Four main themes were generated including (1) the need for physical activity programs; (2) person-centered programs; (3) flexible physical activity programs; and (4) systems factors. These reflected the health and non-health benefits of physical activity, the need to facilitate agency, the diversity in individual characteristics, preferences, abilities, and commitments of people with lived experience of cancer, as well as the need for physical activity programs to be integrated within the broader health system.

Conclusion

Strategies to support physical activity engagement for breast cancer should embrace the diversity of those who are diagnosed with cancer as well as the diversity in which physical activity can be achieved.
Regularity theory for non-autonomous problems with a priori assumptions
Authors: Hästö Peter , Ok Jihoon
Published: October 2023

We study weak solutions and minimizers u of the non-autonomous problems $${\text {div}} A(x, Du)=0$$

div
A
(
x
,
D
u
)
=
0

and $$\min _v \int _\Omega F(x,Dv)\,dx$$

min
v

∫
Ω

F

(
x
,
D
v
)

d
x

with quasi-isotropic (p, q)-growth. We consider the case that u is bounded, Hölder continuous or lies in a Lebesgue space and establish a sharp connection between assumptions on A or F and the corresponding norm of u. We prove a Sobolev–Poincaré inequality, higher integrability and the Hölder continuity of u and Du. Our proofs are optimized and streamlined versions of earlier research that can more readily be further extended to other settings. Connections between assumptions on A or F and assumptions on u are known for the double phase energy $$F(x, \xi )=|\xi |^p + a(x)|\xi |^q$$

F

(
x
,
ξ
)

=

|
ξ
|

p

+
a

(
x
)

|
ξ
|

q

. We obtain slightly better results even in this special case. Furthermore, we also cover perturbed variable exponent, Orlicz variable exponent, degenerate double phase, Orlicz double phase, triple phase, double variable exponent as well as variable exponent double phase energies and the results are new in most of these special cases.
Platelet-rich fibrin ensures hemostasis after single-tooth removal under factor Xa inhibitors — a clinical prospective randomized split-mouth study
Authors: Kyyak Solomiya , Jari Ali , Heimes Diana , Heider Julia , Kämmerer Peer W.
Published: October 2023

Objectives

In this prospective, double-blinded, randomized split-mouth study, the local hemostatic effect of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) inserted into the extraction socket in patients taking factor Xa (FXa) inhibitors (apixaban, rivaroxaban, edoxaban) was compared to a hemostatic gelatine sponge (GS) as the “therapeutic gold standard” without withdrawal of oral anticoagulant therapy.

Materials and methods

Single-tooth extraction was conducted under local anesthesia in n = 21 patients using a split-mouth design (42 teeth). Using a double-blind approach, the extraction socket on one side of the jaw was filled with PRF and on the other with a GS. Bleeding was assessed immediately after surgery, in 30 min, 1 h, 1.5 h, and on follow-up appointments in 24 h and on the 7th day.

Results

In 67% of cases, mild postoperative oozing could be stopped 30–90 min after tooth extraction via gauze pressure without any delayed bleeding. Concerning bleeding events, there was no difference among the PRF and GS groups and no significant difference among rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban (all p > 0.15).

Conclusion

PRF and GS are reliable hemostatic methods in postextraction sockets of patients taking FXa inhibitors.

Clinical relevance

Consequently, there is no need to discontinue FXa inhibitors because of a single-tooth removal, eliminating the risk of thrombus formation.
miR-21-5p inhibits the growth of brain glioma cells through regulating the glycolysis mediated by PFKFB2
Authors: Zhang Lei , Liu Jianmin
Published: October 2023

Brain glioma is a common gynecological tumor. MicroRNA (miRNA) plays a very important role in the pathogenesis and development of tumors. It was found that glycolysis played important regulatory roles in tumor growth. The present study aims to investigate the expression pattern of miR-21-5p in brain glioma cells. We examined miR-21-5p and PFKFB2 levels in brain glioma cells via qRT-PCR. Then we performed CCK-8 and Transwell migration assays and determined glucose uptake and lactose production to unveil the properties of miR-21-5p in invasion, cell viability, along with glycolysis in brain glioma cells. Luciferase activity assay was implemented to elucidate if PFKFB2 was a miR-21-5p target gene. Western blotting and qRT-PCR were executed to further validate that miR-21-5p targeted PFKFB2. We repeated these functional assays to observe whether miR-21-5p could impede the function of PFKFB2. qRT-PCR signified that miR-21-5p was elevated in brain glioma tissues in contrast to matching adjacent normal tissues. Functional assays disclosed that elevation of miR-21-5p promoted cell viability, invasion, together with glycolysis. Luciferase assay indicated that PFKFB2 was a miR-21-5p target gene. Moreover, miR-21-inhibit could hinder cell viability, invasion, and glycolysis triggered by overexpression of PFKFB2 in brain glioma cells. miR-21-5p level is elevated in brain glioma and can impede brain glioma cell growth via regulating the glycolysis mediated by PFKFB2, thus is a potential target of treating brain glioma.

Graphical abstract
DOR: a novel dual-observation-based approach for recommendation systems
Authors: Wang Mengyan , Li Weihua , Shi Jingli , Wu Shiqing , Bai Quan
Published: October 2023

As online social media platforms continue to proliferate, users are faced with an overwhelming amount of information, making it challenging to filter and locate relevant information. While personalized recommendation algorithms have been developed to help, most existing models primarily rely on user behavior observations such as viewing history, often overlooking the intricate connection between the reading content and the user’s prior knowledge and interest. This disconnect can consequently lead to a paucity of diverse and personalized recommendations. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to tackle the multifaceted issue of recommendation. We introduce the Dual-Observation-based approach for the Recommendation (DOR) system, a novel model leveraging dual observation mechanisms integrated into a deep neural network. Our approach is designed to identify both the core theme of an article and the user’s unique engagement with the article, considering the user’s belief network, i.e., a reflection of their personal interests and biases. Extensive experiments have been conducted using real-world datasets, in which the DOR model was compared against a number of state-of-the-art baselines. The experimental results explicitly demonstrate the reliability and effectiveness of the DOR model, highlighting its superior performance in news recommendation tasks.
Exposure to different residential indoor characteristics during childhood and asthma in adolescence: a latent class analysis of the Danish National Birth Cohort
Authors: Keller Amélie , Groot Jonathan , Clippet-Jensen Clara , Pinot de Moira Angela , Pedersen Marie , Sigsgaard Torben , Loft Steffen , Budtz-Jørgensen Esben , Nybo Andersen Anne-Marie
Published: October 2023

Background

Many residential indoor environments may have an impact on children’s respiratory health.

Objectives

The aims of this study were to identify latent classes of children from the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC) who share similar patterns of exposure to indoor home characteristics, and to examine the association between membership in the latent classes and asthma in adolescence.

Methods

We included data on residential indoor characteristics of offspring from the DNBC whose mothers had responded to the child’s 11-year follow-up and who had data on asthma from the 18-year follow-up. Number of classes and associations were estimated using latent class analysis. To account for sample selection, we applied inverse probability weighting.

Results

Our final model included five latent classes. The probability of current asthma at 18 years was highest among individuals in class one with higher clustering on household dampness (9, 95%CI 0.06–0.13). Individuals in class four (with higher clustering on pets ownership and living in a farm) had a lower risk of current asthma at age 18 compared to individuals in class one (with higher clustering on household dampness) (OR 0.53 (95%CI 0.32–0.88), p = .01).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that, in a high-income country such as Denmark, groups of adolescents growing up in homes with mold and moisture during mid-childhood might be at increased risk of current asthma at age 18. Adolescents who grew-up in a farmhouse and who were exposed to pets seem less likely to suffer from asthma by age 18.
Assessing the suitability of lakes and reservoirs for recreation using Landsat 8
Authors: Keith Darryl J. , Salls Wilson , Schaeffer Blake A. , Werdell P. Jeremy
Published: October 2023

Water clarity has long been used as a visual indicator of the condition of water quality. The clarity of waters is generally valued for esthetic and recreational purposes. Water clarity is often assessed using a Secchi disk attached to a measured line and lowered to a depth where it can be no longer seen. We have applied an approach which uses atmospherically corrected Landsat 8 data to estimate the water clarity in freshwater bodies by using the quasi-analytical algorithm (QAA) and Contrast Theory to predict Secchi depths for more than 270 lakes and reservoirs across the continental US. We found that incorporating Landsat 8 spectral data into methodologies created to retrieve the inherent optical properties (IOP) of coastal waters was effective at predicting in situ measures of the clarity of inland water bodies. The predicted Secchi depths were used to evaluate the recreational suitability for swimming and recreation using an assessment framework developed from public perception of water clarity. Results showed approximately 54% of the water bodies in our dataset were classified as “marginally suitable to suitable” with approximately 31% classed as “eminently suitable” and approximately 15% classed as “totally unsuitable–unsuitable”. The implications are that satellites engineered for terrestrial applications can be successfully used with traditional ocean color algorithms and methods to measure the water quality of freshwater environments. Furthermore, operational land-based satellite sensors have the temporal repeat cycles, spectral resolution, wavebands, and signal-to-noise ratios to be repurposed to monitor water quality for public use and trophic status of complex inland waters.
Multi-experiment assessment of soil nitrous oxide emissions in sugarcane
Authors: Galdos M. V. , Soares J. R. , Lourenço K. S. , Harris P. , Zeri M. , Cunha-Zeri G. , Vargas V. P. , Degaspari I. A. M. , Cantarella H.
Published: October 2023

Soil nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes comprise a significant part of the greenhouse gas emissions of agricultural products but are spatially and temporally variable, due to complex interactions between climate, soil and management variables. This study aimed to identify the main factors that affect N2O emissions under sugarcane, using a multi-site database from field experiments. Greenhouse gas fluxes, soil, climate, and management data were obtained from 13 field trials spanning the 2011–2017 period. We conducted exploratory, descriptive and inferential data analyses in experiments with varying fertiliser and stillage (vinasse) type and rate, and crop residue rates. The most relevant period of high N2O fluxes was the first 46 days after fertiliser application. The results indicate a strong positive correlation of cumulative N2O with nitrogen (N) fertiliser rate, soil fungi community (18S rRNA gene), soil ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3−); and a moderate negative correlation with amoA genes of ammonia-oxidising archaea (AOA) and soil organic matter content. The regression analysis revealed that easily routinely measured climate and management-related variables explained over 50% of the variation in cumulative N2O emissions, and that additional soil chemical and physical parameters improved the regression fit with an R2 = 0.65. Cross-wavelet analysis indicated significant correlations of N2O fluxes with rainfall and air temperature up to 64 days, associated with temporal lags of 2 to 4 days in some experiments, and presenting a good environmental control over fluxes in general. The nitrogen fertiliser mean emission factors ranged from 0.03 to 1.17% of N applied, with urea and ammonium nitrate plus vinasse producing high emissions, while ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate without vinasse, calcium nitrate, and mitigation alternatives (nitrification inhibitors and timing of vinasse application) producing low N2O-EFs. Measurements from multiple sites spanning several cropping seasons were useful for exploring the influence of environmental and management-related variables on soil N2O emissions in sugarcane production, providing support for global warming mitigation strategies, nitrogen management policies, and increased agricultural input efficiency.
Achieving Food Supply Chain Resilience During Natural Disasters Through Industry 5.0 Enablers—Empirical Insights Based on an FsQCA Approach
Authors: Mandal Subhadeep , Kar Arpan Kumar , Gupta Shivam , Sivarajah Uthayasankar
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this research is to establish the necessary and sufficient conditions for food safety and security during pandemic outbreaks, focusing on the case of COVID-19 to ensure resilience of the food supply chain. The study emphasises on the complexity theory of fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), to establish a result-driven definition of Industry 5.0 (I5.0) during and post pandemics. The results of this study revealed that a combination of conditions derived from pandemic policy related reforms and I5.0 enablers will assist manufacturers and suppliers in establishing food safety and security during and post the COVID-19 era in a developing economy. Food safety and security being the goal, based on a survey of 140 food companies, this study provides insights to manufacturers and policymakers to enable selective implementation of I5.0 enabling technologies and pandemic policies.
Postoperative circadian patterns in wearable sensor measured heart rate: a prospective observational study
Authors: Mestrom Eveline H.J. , van der Stam Jonna A. , Nienhuijs Simon W. , de Hingh Ignace H.J.T. , Boer Arjen-Kars , van Riel Natal A.W. , Scharnhorst Volkher , Bouwman R. Arthur
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aimed to describe the 24-hour cycle of wearable sensor-obtained heart rate in patients with deterioration-free recovery and to compare it with patients experiencing postoperative deterioration.

Methods

A prospective observational trial was performed in patients following bariatric or major abdominal cancer surgery. A wireless accelerometer patch (Healthdot) continuously measured postoperative heart rate, both in the hospital and after discharge, for a period of 14 days. The circadian pattern, or diurnal rhythm, in the wearable sensor-obtained heart rate was described using peak, nadir and peak-nadir excursions.

Results

The study population consisted of 137 bariatric and 100 major abdominal cancer surgery patients. In the latter group, 39 experienced postoperative deterioration. Both surgery types showed disrupted diurnal rhythm on the first postoperative days. Thereafter, the bariatric group had significantly lower peak heart rates (days 4, 7–12, 14), lower nadir heart rates (days 3–14) and larger peak-nadir excursions (days 2, 4–14). In cancer surgery patients, significantly higher nadir (days 2–5) and peak heart rates (days 2–3) were observed prior to deterioration.

Conclusions

The postoperative diurnal rhythm of heart rate is disturbed by different types of surgery. Both groups showed recovery of diurnal rhythm but in patients following cancer surgery, both peak and nadir heart rates were higher than in the bariatric surgery group. Especially nadir heart rate was identified as a potential prognostic marker for deterioration after cancer surgery.
Learning pharmacometric covariate model structures with symbolic regression networks
Authors: Wahlquist Ylva , Sundell Jesper , Soltesz Kristian
Published: October 2023

Efficiently finding covariate model structures that minimize the need for random effects to describe pharmacological data is challenging. The standard approach focuses on identification of relevant covariates, and present methodology lacks tools for automatic identification of covariate model structures. Although neural networks could potentially be used to approximate covariate-parameter relationships, such approximations are not human-readable and come at the risk of poor generalizability due to high model complexity.In the present study, a novel methodology for the simultaneous selection of covariate model structure and optimization of its parameters is proposed. It is based on symbolic regression, posed as an optimization problem with a smooth loss function. This enables training of the model through back-propagation using efficient gradient computations.Feasibility and effectiveness are demonstrated by application to a clinical pharmacokinetic data set for propofol, containing infusion and blood sample time series from 1031 individuals. The resulting model is compared to a published state-of-the-art model for the same data set. Our methodology finds a covariate model structure and corresponding parameter values with a slightly better fit, while relying on notably fewer covariates than the state-of-the-art model. Unlike contemporary practice, finding the covariate model structure is achieved without an iterative procedure involving manual interactions.
In Defence of Böðvarr bjarki
Authors: Grant Tom
Published: October 2023

For almost two centuries, Böðvarr bjarki has been a household name in Beowulf studies. The exploits of this monster-slaying champion of the Danish king match those of the epic hero at many points, and this has made Bjarki the subject of critical fascination. Many scholars have viewed the correspondences between Beowulf and Bjarki as evidence that certain aspects of Beowulf’s career may have been modelled on existing Scandinavian legend — a view with clear implications for our understanding of the originality of Beowulf. The value of the Bjarki story has also been challenged, largely on the basis that Scandinavian evidence is inconsistent in its presentation of this tradition. This article defends the usefulness of the Bjarki analogue by returning to the Scandinavian source material. It demonstrates that the various versions of the Bjarki story across Old Norse and Latin sources are structurally consistent and point to the existence of a coherent underlying tradition. This reopens the possibility that Beowulf and Bjarki may independently derive from the same legendary archetype.
High birefringence photonic crystal fiber for glucose sensing
Authors: Sewidan Muhamed A. , Othman Muhammad A. , Swillam Mohamed A.
Published: October 2023

This paper focuses on designing a simple photonic crystal fiber (PCF) biosensor. The proposed glucose sensor is modelled by Lumerical software using the finite element method. To evaluate the efficiency of this model, different sensing properties such as birefringence, coupling length, and relative sensitivity are calculated at different air-filling fractions. The principle of this PCF is to detect the variations in the refractive index of the different concentration glucose solutions. The analyte will be injected into an elliptical channel surrounded by two rings of air holes in a hexagonal shape. Numerical simulations show that increasing the air-filling fraction yields high performance and more light confinement. At the air-filling fraction of 0.45, the maximum birefringence and relative sensitivity were 4.01 × 10−3 and 91%, respectively. Also, the coupling length reaches a minimum of 162.09 μm.
Teacher noticing in mathematics education: a review of recent developments
Authors: Weyers Jonas , König Johannes , Scheiner Thorsten , Santagata Rossella , Kaiser Gabriele
Published: October 2023

The teacher noticing construct is widely recognized in teacher competence and education research, particularly in the field of mathematics education. This paper surveys recent research on mathematics teacher noticing published between July 2019 and 2022, following an earlier literature review on teacher noticing across different disciplines. The study presented here analyzed 118 English-language articles published in peer-reviewed journals, focusing on conceptualizations, research methods, and relationships with other constructs, including teacher knowledge and beliefs. The findings suggest that the cognitive-psychological perspective on noticing, which emphasizes a set of cognitive processes, remains the predominant conceptualization. Recent research on noticing is characterized by a high proportion of studies based on small samples and qualitative research methods. While several studies have demonstrated the interrelatedness of noticing and professional knowledge, the relationship between noticing and beliefs and between noticing and instructional quality has rarely been addressed. Based on these findings, we highlight noteworthy contributions and critical shortcomings, and suggest directions for future research.
Governing the underworld: how organized crime governs other criminals in Colombian cities
Authors: Badillo-Sarmiento Reynell , Trejos-Rosero Luis Fernando
Published: October 2023

This article explores how organized criminal organizations exercise criminal governance over other organized and non-organized criminals using public messaging, lethal and extra-lethal violence. Drawing on extensive fieldwork, over 350 press reports, and an original database on inter-criminal lethal violence, we show, in line with recent literature on organized crime, that while these organizations use violence to build their reputation as actors willing to use force, they also provide benefits to other criminals such as financing and protection from state and competitors. This article contributes to the literature on criminal governance by elaborating on the mechanisms shown in recent work and by detailing an unexplored case study in Barranquilla (Colombia).
Non-Factualist Interpretation of the Skeptical Solution and the Self-Refutation Argument
Authors: Wieczorkowski Michał
Published: October 2023

The skeptical solution is based on two assumptions — the rejection of semantic facts and the denial of semantic nihilism. On the basis of the non-factualist interpretation of this solution, these two assumptions are reconciled by stating that meaning ascriptions possess non-descriptive function. Nonetheless, Alexander Miller argues that this position is self-refuting since, as despite its non-descriptivism, by rejecting any kind of semantic facts, it inevitably leads to semantic nihilism. In this text, I demonstrate that Miller’s argument is not sound. I argue that a coherent non-factualist way of formulating the conditions of correct use of meaning ascriptions may be performed by rejecting the closure principle of assertibility of meaning ascriptions. On this basis, I demonstrate that argument formulated against non-factualist interpretation by Miller may be refuted. What is more, I argue that rejection of the closure principle should be regarded as the central aspect of Kripke’s skeptical solution.
Body and appearance-related self-conscious emotions, emotional regulation strategies, and disordered eating in adult men
Authors: Mendia Jara , Zumeta Larraitz N. , Pascual Aitziber , Conejero Susana , Caicedo-Moreno Angélica , Díaz Virginia
Published: October 2023

Eating disorders (ED) in men are the great unknown. Although several studies have been carried out, it is still understood how men develop these disorders. In this regard, this paper explores the relationship between body and appearance-related self-conscious emotions and ED symptoms and the mediating role of emotional regulation strategies in this association. Participants were 127 (S1) and 163 (S2) adult men who responded to an online questionnaire at two different times and were classified into risk groups (general, high, and low) and healthy groups. Body shame and body guilt were positively related to ED symptoms and maladaptive strategies, whereas they were negatively associated with adaptive strategies. In contrast, authentic and hubristic body pride were negatively associated with ED symptoms (except for authentic body pride in S1), maladaptive strategies such as emotional suppression (S1), psychological withdrawal (S2) and upward social comparison (S2), and positively with adaptive strategies. Likewise, those at risk, compared to the healthy, presented more body shame and body guilt and less hubristic body pride (S2) and used more maladaptive and less adaptive strategies. Finally, maladaptive strategies partially mediated the effect of body shame and body guilt on ED symptoms (in the case of BG also adaptive ones), whereas in the case of the relationship between body pride and ED symptoms, only adaptive strategies and emotional suppression mediated. Our findings show the importance of reducing risk factors (e.g., maladaptive strategies) as well as enhancing protective factors (e.g., adaptive strategies) in prevention and intervention programs.
Inflammatory Factor IL1α Induces Aberrant Astrocyte Proliferation in Spinal Cord Injury Through the Grin2c/Ca2+/CaMK2b Pathway
Authors: Xia Yu , Ding Lu , Zhang Changlin , Xu Qi , Shi Ming , Gao Tianshun , Zhou Feng-Quan , Deng David Y. B.
Published: October 2023

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most devastating traumas, and the aberrant proliferation of astrocytes usually causes neurological deficits. However, the mechanism underlying astrocyte over-proliferation after SCI is unclear. Grin2c (glutamate ionotropic receptor type 2c) plays an essential role in cell proliferation. Our bioinformatic analysis indicated that Grin2c and Ca2+ transport functions were inhibited in astrocytes after SCI. Suppression of Grin2c stimulated astrocyte proliferation by inhibiting the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase 2b (CaMK2b) pathway in vitro. By screening different inflammatory factors, interleukin 1α (IL1α) was further found to inhibit Grin2c/Ca2+/CaMK2b and enhance astrocyte proliferation in an oxidative damage model. Blockade of IL1α using neutralizing antibody resulted in increased Grin2c expression and the inhibition of astrocyte proliferation post-SCI. Overall, this study suggests that IL1α promotes astrocyte proliferation by suppressing the Grin2c/Ca2+/CaMK2b pathway after SCI, revealing a novel pathological mechanism of astrocyte proliferation, and may provide potential targets for SCI repair.
A unique case of lymphoepithelioma-like HCC with osteoclast-like giant cells: CT imaging features with pathologic correlations
Authors: Frittoli Barbara , Castaldo Anna , Santarsiere Marika , Ascione Raffaele , Tanzi Giulia , Ponsiglione Andrea , Baiocchi Gian Luca , Grazioli Luigi
Published: October 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary malignancy of the liver, with several histological variants being reported in literature. Hereby, we describe a case of a 77-year-old man with chronic liver disease referred to our department for performing a computed tomography (CT) due to a liver mass discovered at an abdominal ultrasound follow-up. At CT, a large, ill-defined lesion in the third hepatic segment was detected, characterized by progressive and delayed enhancement with minimal retraction of the hepatic capsule, associated with perihepatic adipose tissue inhomogeneity, mimicking a cholangiocarcinoma. At histopathological evaluation, the lesion turned out to be an HCC with lymphoepithelioma-like component and osteoclastic-like giant cells. This report focuses on the clinicopathological and radiological features of this unique case.
Magnetic resonance imaging of knees: a novel approach to predict recombinant human growth hormone therapy response in short-stature children in late puberty
Authors: Bai Xi , Zhou Zhi-Bo , Guo Xiao-Yuan , He Yi-Ling , Zhang Yue-Lun , Wang Feng-Dan , Feng Feng , Yang Hong-Bo , Chen Shi , Gong Feng-Ying , Zhu Hui-Juan , Pan Hui
Published: October 2023

Background

There is no appropriate tool to predict recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) response before therapy initiation in short-stature children in late puberty. The current study aimed to explore the associations between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) stages of the knee growth plates and rhGH response in short-stature children in late puberty.

Methods

In this prospective cohort study, short-stature children in late puberty were treated with rhGH and followed up for 6 months. We proposed a novel knee MRI staging system according to the growth plate states of distal femurs or proximal tibias and divided the participants into three groups: unclosed growth plate group, marginally closed growth plate group, and nearly closed growth plate group. The primary outcomes were height gain and growth velocity (GV), which were assessed three months later.

Results

Fifty participants were enrolled, including 23 boys and 27 girls. GV and height gain after 6 months of rhGH therapy decreased successively in the three groups with an increased degree of growth plate fusion, especially when grouped by proximal tibias (GV1-3 mon from 9.38 to 6.08 to 4.56 cm/year, GV4-6 mon from 6.75 to 4.92 to 3.25 cm/year, and height gain from 4.03 to 2.75 to 1.95 cm, all P < 0.001). Moreover, the MRI stages of growth plates independently served as a significant variable for GV and height gain after therapy, especially when grouped by proximal tibias (all P < 0.01).

Conclusion

The MRI staging method is expected to be an effective tool for predicting rhGH response before therapy initiation in short-stature children in late puberty.

Graphical abstract