bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digital Communication as a Creative Tool
Authors: Earnshaw Rae , Liggett Susan
Published: April 2023

The progress of computing and digital media is a relevant and useful case study in tools for creativity. Which visions of the future in the early days of computing have stood the test of time, and which have vanished without trace? Can this be used as guide for current and future areas of research and development? If one Internet year is equivalent to seven calendar years, are virtual worlds being utilized as an effective accelerator for these new creative ideas and their implementation and evaluation? The nature of digital media and its constituent parts which integrate technology and various forms of creative media provides a diverse environment which can be viewed as a testbed for current and future ideas. Individual disciplines utilize virtual worlds in different ways. As collaboration is often involved in such research environments, does the technology make these collaborations more creative and effective? Three Case Studies (European Projects) are included to illustrate how creativity can be enabled and stimulated in three kinds of collaborative virtual environments. Two further Case Studies are also included to illustrate how multimedia assets may be harnessed and made available to viewers.
Einleitung – die Unterrichtsnachbesprechung
Authors: Bührig-Hollmann Annette
Published: April 2023

Die Unterrichtsnachbesprechung (UNB) in der zweiten Phase der Lehrerausbildung ist bisher nur ansatzweise empirisch erforscht. Mit der Rekonstruktion programmatischer Leitideen erwachsenenpädagogischer Prinzipien einerseits und den Positionierungen der Auszubildenden andererseits offenbaren sich diverse Spannungslagen in der Lehrkräfteausbildung. Neben der strukturell angelegten Doppelfunktion der Ausbildung (Beratung und Beurteilung) sind es vor allem diese unterschiedlichen Orientierungen der Beteiligten mit ihrer heterogenen Erwartungskultur, die die Kommunikation im Ausbildungskontext stören.
Die Lehrkräfteausbildung im Spiegel der Sozialforschung
Authors: Bührig-Hollmann Annette
Published: April 2023

In diesem Kapitel wird ein Überblick über Forschungsarbeiten zur Lehrer:innenausbildung gegeben. An dieser Stelle sei darauf hingewiesen, dass die Darstellung der hier zitierten Studien und Evaluationen keinen repräsentativen Überblick über den Forschungsstand zur Ausbildung im Vorbereitungsdienst leistet. Das Ziel ist vielmehr, die relevanten Fragestellungen und die damit verknüpften methodischen Herangehensweisen aufzuzeigen. Dies geschieht vor dem Hintergrund, die eigene Fragestellung und die daraus resultierenden methodischen Entscheidungen zur Datenerhebung und -auswertung einzuordnen und die getroffenen Entscheidungen nachvollziehbar zu machen.
The Critical Digital Model and Two Case Studies: the Churches of Santa Margherita and Santo Spirito in Bologna
Authors: Apollonio Fabrizio Ivan , Fallavollita Federico , Foschi Riccardo
Published: April 2023

Two case studies of hypothetical reconstruction are presented according to the principles of the Critical Digital Model [Apollonio et al. 2019]. One of the case studies is an architecture that was designed but never realized, and the other is the reconstruction of a historical art exhibition hosted into an architecture still existing today. This study is part of a wider research which is being currently carried out in the international Erasmus + project CoVHer. The main objective of the CoVHer project is to identify shared standards for the construction, evaluation and sharing of 3D hypothetical reconstructions. This research exploits the diversities of the two case studies to classify and re-define the methods of digital representation, which deal with the geometrical/mathematical nature of the models themselves and tries to define good practices to produce scientifically valid, sharable, and reusable 3D reconstructions.
Location attributes explaining the entry of firms in creative industries: evidence from France
Authors: Arauzo-Carod Josep-Maria , Coll-Martínez Eva , Turcu Camelia
Published: April 2023

This paper focuses on creative industries and the role played by the existing spatial distribution and agglomeration economies of these activities in relation to their entry decisions. We rely on employment and firm-level data in the creative industries (provided by INSEE) and compare the location of new establishments in the creative and non-creative industries between 2009 and 2013 in French departments (NUTS 3 regions). We use count data models and spatial econometrics to show that location determinants are rather similar in creative and non-creative industries and that specialisation in creative industries positively influences the entry of all other industries. The French case provides new insights to understand the geographical patterns of creative industries.
Imaging findings for response evaluation of ductal carcinoma in situ in breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant systemic therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ploumen Roxanne A. W. , de Mooij Cornelis M. , Gommers Suzanne , Keymeulen Kristien B. M. I. , Smidt Marjolein L. , van Nijnatten Thiemo J. A.
Published: April 2023

Objectives

In approximately 45% of invasive breast cancer (IBC) patients treated with neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is present. Recent studies suggest response of DCIS to NST. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to summarise and examine the current literature on imaging findings for different imaging modalities evaluating DCIS response to NST. More specifically, imaging findings of DCIS pre- and post-NST, and the effect of different pathological complete response (pCR) definitions, will be evaluated on mammography, breast MRI, and contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM).

Methods

PubMed and Embase databases were searched for studies investigating NST response of IBC, including information on DCIS. Imaging findings and response evaluation of DCIS were assessed for mammography, breast MRI, and CEM. A meta-analysis was conducted per imaging modality to calculate pooled sensitivity and specificity for detecting residual disease between pCR definition no residual invasive disease (ypT0/is) and no residual invasive or in situ disease (ypT0).

Results

Thirty-one studies were included. Calcifications on mammography are related to DCIS, but can persist despite complete response of DCIS. In 20 breast MRI studies, an average of 57% of residual DCIS showed enhancement. A meta-analysis of 17 breast MRI studies confirmed higher pooled sensitivity (0.86 versus 0.82) and lower pooled specificity (0.61 versus 0.68) for detection of residual disease when DCIS is considered pCR (ypT0/is). Three CEM studies suggest the potential benefit of simultaneous evaluation of calcifications and enhancement.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

Calcifications on mammography can remain despite complete response of DCIS, and residual DCIS does not always show enhancement on breast MRI and CEM. Moreover, pCR definition effects diagnostic performance of breast MRI. Given the lack of evidence on imaging findings of response of the DCIS component to NST, further research is demanded.

Key Points

• Ductal carcinoma in situ has shown to be responsive to neoadjuvant systemic therapy, but imaging studies mainly focus on response of the invasive tumour.

• The 31 included studies demonstrate that after neoadjuvant systemic therapy, calcifications on mammography can remain despite complete response of DCIS and residual DCIS does not always show enhancement on MRI and contrast-enhanced mammography.

• The definition of pCR has impact on the diagnostic performance of MRI in detecting residual disease,and when DCIS is considered pCR, pooled sensitivity was slightly higher and pooled specificity slightly lower.
Frictional Locomotion of a Radially Symmetric Tripedal Robot
Authors: Hermes Mark , Luhar Mitul
Published: April 2023

This study seeks to provide physical insight into the friction-driven crawling locomotion of systems with radially symmetric bodies. Laboratory experiments with a tripedal robot show that both translation and rotation can be achieved with just three independently actuated rigid limbs, i.e., with 3 degrees-of-freedom. These observations are rationalized using a simple mathematical model, which assumes that the friction at each limb is linearly proportional to the normal force at the contact point, and opposes the direction of motion. This dynamic model reproduces experimental observations across an extensive parametric sweep involving sinusoidal rotation of the limbs with varying amplitudes and phase shifts. Model predictions highlight the role played by time-varying normal forces at the contact points. These predictions are confirmed using embedded force transducers in the limbs. We present a further simplified analysis explaining that a geometric nonlinearity is induced in the dynamics from the radial symmetry and that this nonlinearity is essential to the generation of pure translation. We also show that this nonlinearity can be amplified by a cyclic time-varying limb length variation. These results provide a framework for further study of radially symmetric movers.
Sc2O3 on sapphire all-crystalline grating–waveguide resonant reflectors
Authors: Mourkioti Georgia , Bashir Danish , Govindassamy Goby A. , Li Fangfang , Eason Robert W. , Graf Thomas , Abdou Ahmed Marwan , Mackenzie Jacob I.
Published: April 2023

This paper reports the fabrication and first demonstration of all-dielectric crystalline grating–waveguide reflectors comprising a Sc2O3 waveguide grown on a sub-wavelength-patterned sapphire substrate. Rigorous coupled-wave analysis is employed to simulate the operation of the structure, suggesting a 100% resonance reflectivity in theory. Structuring of the sapphire substrate is achieved using inductively coupled plasma etching, whilst pulsed laser deposition is used for epitaxial growth of the Sc2O3 crystalline waveguide. Devices with distinct TE- and TM-polarisation resonances around 1030-nm for an angle of incidence near 10° are demonstrated, with reflectance approaching 90%. The discrepancy in reflectivity is attributed to the waveguide thickness variation and surface roughness. Refinement of the fabrication processes and tolerances should lead to improvement in the surface quality of the crystalline grating–waveguide structure and operation closer to the ideal resonance reflectivity.
Laparoscopic versus open resection of primary colorectal cancers and synchronous liver metastasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Morarasu Stefan , Clancy Cillian , Gorgun Emre , Yilmaz Sumeyye , Ivanecz Arpad , Kawakatsu Shoji , Musina Ana Maria , Velenciuc Natalia , Roata Cristian Ene , Dimofte Gabriel Mihail , Lunca Sorinel
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Combined resection of primary colorectal cancer and associated liver metastases is increasingly common. This study compares peri-operative and oncological outcomes according to surgical approach.

Methods

The study was registered with PROSPERO. A systematic search was performed for all comparative studies describing outcomes in patients that underwent laparoscopic versus open simultaneous resection of colorectal primary tumours and liver metastases. Data was extracted and analysed using a random effects model via Rev Man 5.3

Results

Twenty studies were included with a total of 2168 patients. A laparoscopic approach was performed in 620 patients and an open approach in 872. There was no difference in the groups for BMI (mean difference: 0.04, 95% CI: 0.63–0.70, p = 0.91), number of difficult liver segments (mean difference: 0.64, 95% CI:0.33–1.23, p = 0.18) or major liver resections (mean difference: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.69–1.35, p = 0.83). There were fewer liver lesions per operation in the laparoscopic group (mean difference 0.46, 95% CI: 0.13–0.79, p = 0.007). Laparoscopic surgery was associated with shorter length of stay (p < 0.00001) and less overall postoperative complications (p = 0.0002). There were similar R0 resection rates (p = 0.15) but less disease recurrence in the laparoscopic group (mean difference: 0.57, 95% CI:0.44–0.75, p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Synchronous laparoscopic resection of primary colorectal cancers and liver metastases is a feasible approach in selected patients and does not demonstrate inferior peri-operative or oncological outcomes.
Late complications of cochlear implant: a case report of necrotizing meningoencephalitis similar to a CPA tumor
Authors: Di Rubbo Vittoria , Morelli Luca , Zangrandi Adriano , Lauda Lorenzo , Piras Gianluca , Sanna Mario
Published: April 2023

Objective

Report a case of localized necrotizing meningoencephalitis as the cause of functional hearing loss after cochlear implant (CI) surgery.

Case report

A 12-year-old with bilateral CI presented to our quaternary center due to severe functional hearing loss after 11 years since left ear CI surgery. CT with contrast was conducted showing a CPA tumor-like mass. Pre-operative computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed at the age of 1 year showed no inner ear abnormalities and in particular no evidence of a tumor in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA).

Conclusion

Following removal of the CI and the mass, histopathological, immunohistochemical and cultural examinations revealed a necrotizing meningoencephalitis, with the CI electrode as the focus.
Yearning for machine learning: applications for the classification and characterisation of senescence
Authors: Hughes Bethany K. , Wallis Ryan , Bishop Cleo L.
Published: April 2023

Senescence is a widely appreciated tumour suppressive mechanism, which acts as a barrier to cancer development by arresting cell cycle progression in response to harmful stimuli. However, senescent cell accumulation becomes deleterious in aging and contributes to a wide range of age-related pathologies. Furthermore, senescence has beneficial roles and is associated with a growing list of normal physiological processes including wound healing and embryonic development. Therefore, the biological role of senescent cells has become increasingly nuanced and complex. The emergence of sophisticated, next-generation profiling technologies, such as single-cell RNA sequencing, has accelerated our understanding of the heterogeneity of senescence, with distinct final cell states emerging within models as well as between cell types and tissues. In order to explore data sets of increasing size and complexity, the senescence field has begun to employ machine learning (ML) methodologies to probe these intricacies. Most notably, ML has been used to aid the classification of cells as senescent, as well as to characterise the final senescence phenotypes. Here, we provide a background to the principles of ML tasks, as well as some of the most commonly used methodologies from both traditional and deep ML. We focus on the application of these within the context of senescence research, by addressing the utility of ML for the analysis of data from different laboratory technologies (microscopy, transcriptomics, proteomics, methylomics), as well as the potential within senolytic drug discovery. Together, we aim to highlight both the progress and potential for the application of ML within senescence research.
Shifting climate zones and expanding tropical and arid climate regions across Kenya (1980–2020)
Authors: Lawrence Ted J. , Vilbig Justin M. , Kangogo Geoffrey , Fèvre Eric M. , Deem Sharon L. , Gluecks Ilona , Sagan Vasit , Shacham Enbal
Published: April 2023

Human-induced climate change significantly alters the spatiotemporal characteristics of climate zones, which drives agricultural land use and ecosystem change. However, the detectability of shifting climate zones and the rate and time of the changes has yet to be adequately addressed at the regional-to-local scale. We mapped and analyzed changes to temperature and precipitation across Kenya during the past four decades, and linked those changes to shifts in the geographic distribution and arrangement of climate zones at regional scales. We observed an approximate 1 °C increase in average annual temperature over the 40-year period. A total of 76,346 km2 shifted from cooler to hotter zones, while 1298 km2 shifted from hotter to cooler zones. Tropical climate regions expanded from 91 to 93%, with over 13,000 km2 shifting from alpine and temperate to tropical regions. Average annual precipitation demonstrated little or no trend, but substantial spatial changes were observed. A total of 136,129 km2 shifted from wetter to drier zones, while 23,317 km2 shifted from drier to wetter zones. Arid climate regions expanded from 72 to 81%, a roughly 50,000 km2 shift from humid and semi-humid-to-semi-arid to arid regions. Overall, there was a 207,557 km2 shift in temperature and precipitation zones. As the climate zones predominately shift toward hotter and drier conditions, climatic diversity will decline, and in turn, ecosystem diversity and the ecosystem goods and services to society will decline. The changes also have broader global implications in terms of their contribution to global drylands as well as influencing earth system cycles. Overall, such information can better inform the Kenyan National Climate Change Response Strategy and be used to reach the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Co-producing representations of summer rainfall in Bangladesh
Authors: Bremer Scott , Stiller-Reeve Mathew , Mamnun Nabir , Lazrus Heather
Published: April 2023

Climate adaptation governance increasingly investigates the cultural capacities of communities to cope with climate variability and change. This paper reports on research of the symbolic representations of summer rainfall in the cultural repertoires guiding diverse institutionalised fields of activity in Sylhet Division. The research conducted interviews and co-created ‘cognitive maps’ with communities, to critically reflect on their changing seasonal symbols. The study revealed a common stock of summer symbols in Sylhet communities, which individuals reconfigure for strategizing and justifying particular practices. Symbols are stable but not static. As people’s uses of knowledge systems change—moving toward scientific representations—so too does their use of symbols. Moreover, environmental and climatic changes, such as a drying summer, are undermining long-held semiotic templates. Many local and traditional signs no longer hold, leaving communities without cultural templates for timely seasonal action. This work highlights the importance of cultural frameworks for organising communities’ seasonal adaptation, and the imperative for critically revisiting frameworks in rapid flux.
Construction of a pancreatic cancer prediction model for oxidative stress-related lncRNA
Authors: Huang Hao , Wei Yaqing , Yao Hao , Chen Ming , Sun Jinjin
Published: April 2023

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) may play a role in oxidative stress by altering the tumor microenvironment, thereby affecting pancreatic cancer progression. There is currently limited information on oxidative stress-related lncRNAs as novel prognostic markers of pancreatic cancer. Gene expression and clinical data of patients with pancreatic cancer were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA-PAAD) and the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC-PACA) database. A weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was constructed to identify genes that were differentially expressed between normal and tumor samples. Based on the TCGA-PAAD cohort, a prediction model was established using lasso regression and Cox regression. The TCGA-PAAD and ICGC-PACA cohorts were used for internal and external validation, respectively. Furthermore, a nomogram based on clinical characteristics was used to predict mortality of patients. Differences in mutational status and tumor-infiltrating immune cells between risk subgroups were also explored and model-based lncRNAs were analyzed for potential immune-related therapeutic drugs. A prediction model for 6-lncRNA was established using lasso regression and Cox regression. Kaplan–Meier survival curves and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves indicated that patients with lower risk scores had a better prognosis. Combined with Cox regression analysis of clinical features, risk score was an independent factor predicting overall survival of patients with pancreatic cancer in both the TCGA-PAAD and ICGC-PACA cohorts. Mutation status and immune-related analysis indicated that the high-risk group had a significantly higher gene mutation rate and a higher possibility of immune escape, respectively. Furthermore, the model genes showed a strong correlation with immune-related therapeutic drugs. A pancreatic cancer prediction model based on oxidative stress-related lncRNA was established, which may be used as a biomarker related to the prognosis of pancreatic cancer to evaluate the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients.
Is Social Gender Transition Associated with Mental Health Status in Children and Adolescents with Gender Dysphoria?
Authors: Morandini James S. , Kelly Aidan , de Graaf Nastasja M. , Malouf Pia , Guerin Evan , Dar-Nimrod Ilan , Carmichael Polly
Published: April 2023

Social gender transition is an increasingly accepted intervention for gender variant children and adolescents. To date, there is scant literature comparing the mental health of children and adolescents diagnosed with gender dysphoria who have socially transitioned versus those who are still living in their birth-assigned gender. We examined the mental health of children and adolescents referred to the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), a specialist clinic in London, UK, who had socially transitioned (i.e., were living in their affirmed gender and/or had changed their name) versus those who had not socially transitioned. Referrals to the GIDS were aged 4–17 years. We assessed mental health correlates of living in one’s affirmed gender among 288 children and adolescents (208 birth-assigned female; 210 socially transitioned) and of name change in 357 children and adolescents (253 birth-assigned female; 214 name change). The presence or absence of mood and anxiety difficulties and past suicide attempts were clinician rated. Living in role and name change were more prevalent in birth-assigned females versus birth-assigned males. Overall, there were no significant effects of social transition or name change on mental health status. These findings identify the need for more research to understand how social transition influences mental health, including longitudinal studies that allow for more confident inferences to be made regarding the relationship between social transition and mental health in young people with gender dysphoria.
A Rawlsian Rule for Corporate Governance
Authors: Rönnegard David , Smith N. Craig
Published: April 2023

Business ethics can be regarded as a field dealing with corporate self-regulation as it relates to the treatment of stakeholders. However, a concern for corporate stakeholders need not take a corporate-centric perspective, as shown by recent efforts (especially Singer in Bus Ethics Q 25(1):65–92, 2015) to situate corporate conduct within Rawls’ political theory. Although Rawls was largely mute on the subject himself, his theory has implications for business ethics and corporate governance more specifically. Given an understanding of a “Rawlsian society” as a whole—where corporations as associations are a part—this paper addresses how a Rawlsian perspective would safeguard against corporate harms in society. We argue that a Rawlsian society would primarily regulate corporate conduct through exogenous constraints in the form of legislation. To the extent that business ethics is concerned with endogenous constraints in the form of corporate-centric self-regulation regarding stakeholders, to adopt a Rawlsian perspective is to assume instead a society-centric perspective and to impose exogenous constraints on corporate conduct in the form of legislation for the benefit of citizens. In the context of Rawls’ political liberalism, normative concerns in business are accounted for through legislation and the system of background justice. In a clear departure from Singer (Bus Ethics Q 25(1):65–92, 2015, Bus Ethics J Rev 6(3):11–17, 2018a), we further develop our argument to propose that Rawls' theory can be interpreted as providing a rule for corporate governance. The rule—which is imposed exogenously for the good of society—states: After choosing the corporate constraint mechanism (exogenous vs. endogenous) that best promotes the Liberty Principle, choose the corporate control regime (shareholder vs. stakeholder) that maximizes economic efficiency.
Improved degradability and mechanical properties of bacterial cellulose grafted with PEG derivatives
Authors: Rusen Edina , Isopencu Gabriela , Toader Gabriela , Diacon Aurel , Dinescu Adrian , Mocanu Alexandra
Published: April 2023

New functional materials based on bacterial cellulose (BC) grafted with poly(ethylene glycol) PEG derivatives for food packaging applications and a facile method for assessing the degradation rates of the final materials are presented. Two types of materials were obtained by grafting the BC films (BCF), respectively lyophilized BC pellicles (BCL) with three PEG derivatives of different molecular weights through radical polymerization. The BC based polymer materials were characterized by SEM, FT-IR, contact angle measurements, and TGA. Tensile tests and DMA analysis were used to compare the two types of materials in terms of shear-modulus, tensile strength and performance giving suitable information for food packaging applications. A new degradation evaluation method, that we propose herein, offers quantitative information about the degradation process in contrast with the SEM analysis, primarily used in literature, which is not decisive in all cases because it characterizes only small parts of the sample. The degradation rates evidenced that the PEG derivatives of higher molecular weight grafted on the surface of BCF led to an acceleration of the degradation process compared with the pristine samples. A good correlation was obtained between the samples analyzed by SEM after the degradation process and their degradation rates were mathematically determined.
Understanding perceived climate risks to household water supply and their implications for adaptation: evidence from California
Authors: Dobbin Kristin B. , Fencl Amanda L. , Pierce Gregory , Beresford Melissa , Gonzalez Silvia , Jepson Wendy
Published: April 2023

Rapid adaptation is necessary to maintain, let alone expand, access to reliable, safe drinking water in the face of climate change. Existing research focuses largely on the role, priorities, and incentives of local managers to pursue adaptation strategies while mostly neglecting the role of the broader public, despite the strong public support required to fund and implement many climate adaptation plans. In this paper, we interrogate the relationship between personal experiences of household water supply impacts from extreme weather events and hazard exposure with individual concern about future supply reliability among a statewide representative sample of California households. We find that more than one-third of Californians report experiencing impacts of climate change on their household water supplies and show that these reported impacts differently influence residents’ concern about future water supply reliability, depending on the type of event experienced. In contrast, residents’ concern about future water supplies is not significantly associated with hazard exposure. These findings emphasize the importance of local managers’ attending to not only how climate change is projected to affect their water resources, but how, and whether, residents perceive these risks. The critical role of personal experience in increasing concern highlights that post-extreme events with water supply impacts may offer a critical window to advance solutions. Managers should not assume, however, that all extreme events will promote concern in the same way or to the same degree.
Managerial Beliefs and Banking Behavior
Authors: Silipo Damiano B. , Verga Giovanni , Hlebik Sviatlana
Published: April 2023

We use a large sample of US banks to construct a new indicator of managerial beliefs based on bank provisioning. This indicator does not only anticipate a future charge-off but also explains future loan growth and other variables. In particular, the indicator shows that an increase in managerial optimism (pessimism) leads to expanded (tight) lending, leverage, and a riskier (less risky) portfolio. Our findings confirm that widespread managerial optimism (pessimism) prevailed before (during) the 2007-2008 financial crisis and that changes in managerial beliefs played an important role in the lending and leverage cycles.
Modelling crack propagation during relaxation of viscoelastic material
Authors: Sharma Prateek , Diebels Stefan
Published: April 2023

A viscoelastic material which is stretched and is then held at constant elongation, normally results in decreasing stresses till the equilibrium has been reached. With the decreasing stresses a crack propagation is not expected as the energy of the system is decreasing. However, an initial damage could lead to an increase in the mechanical load on the undamaged chains during relaxation, leading to material degradation and crack propagation. While experimental investigations have been presented in the literature, modelling such an effect has not been thoroughly investigated. In this work, an initial framework for modelling the damage evolution during relaxation is presented. A mechanical model is coupled with a phase field to model the crack propagation. For simplicity, a linear viscoelastic model is implemented for the mechanical part. A mobility constant is employed to model the evolution of the phase field with the changing mechanical energy during relaxation. The evolution of phase field can be interpreted as the evolution with which the polymer chains get damaged. Different load conditions and geometries are simulated, which shows that the proposed framework is able to model the damage evolution during viscoelastic relaxation. Thus, with the help of the numerical model a physical explanation for the failure during relaxation is presented.

Graphical abstract
Stabilizing Discontinuous Galerkin Methods Using Dafermos’ Entropy Rate Criterion: I—One-Dimensional Conservation Laws
Authors: Klein Simon-Christian
Published: April 2023

A novel approach for the stabilization of the discontinuous Galerkin method based on the Dafermos entropy rate crition is presented. The approach is centered around the efficient solution of linear or nonlinear optimization problems in every timestep as a correction to the basic discontinuous Galerkin scheme. The thereby enforced Dafermos criterion results in improved stability compared to the basic method while retaining a high order of accuracy in numerical experiments for scalar conservation laws. Further modification of the optimization problem allows also to enforce classical entropy inequalities for the scheme. The proposed stabilization is therefore an alternative to flux-differencing to enforce entropy inequalities. As the shock-capturing abilities of the scheme are also enhanced is the method also an alternative to finite-volume subcells, artificial viscosity, modal filtering, and other shock capturing procedures in one space dimension. Tests are carried out for Burgers’ equation.
Proximal Stabilized Interior Point Methods and Low-Frequency-Update Preconditioning Techniques
Authors: Cipolla Stefano , Gondzio Jacek
Published: April 2023

In this work, in the context of Linear and convex Quadratic Programming, we consider Primal Dual Regularized Interior Point Methods (PDR-IPMs) in the framework of the Proximal Point Method. The resulting Proximal Stabilized IPM (PS-IPM) is strongly supported by theoretical results concerning convergence and the rate of convergence, and can handle degenerate problems. Moreover, in the second part of this work, we analyse the interactions between the regularization parameters and the computational footprint of the linear algebra routines used to solve the Newton linear systems. In particular, when these systems are solved using an iterative Krylov method, we are able to show—using a new rearrangement of the Schur complement which exploits regularization—that general purposes preconditioners remain attractive for a series of subsequent IPM iterations. Indeed, if on the one hand a series of theoretical results underpin the fact that the approach here presented allows a better re-use of such computed preconditioners, on the other, we show experimentally that such (re)computations are needed only in a fraction of the total IPM iterations. The resulting regularized second order methods, for which low-frequency-update of the preconditioners are allowed, pave the path for an alternative class of second order methods characterized by reduced computational effort.
Habitat loss for black flying foxes and implications for Hendra virus
Authors: Baranowski Kelsee , Bharti Nita
Published: April 2023

Context

Environmental change impacts natural ecosystems and wildlife populations. In Australia, native forests have been heavily cleared and the local emergence of Hendra virus (HeV) has been linked to land-use change, winter habitat loss, and changing bat behavior.

Objectives

We quantified changes in landscape factors for black flying foxes (Pteropus alecto), a reservoir host of HeV, in sub-tropical Queensland, Australia from 2000–2020. We hypothesized that native winter habitat loss and native remnant forest loss were greatest in areas with the most human population growth.

Methods

We measured the spatiotemporal change in human population size and native ‘remnant’ woody vegetation extent. We assessed changes in the observedP. alectopopulation and native winter habitats in bioregions whereP. alectoare observed roosting in winter. We assessed changes in the amount of remnant vegetation across bioregions and within 50 km foraging buffers around roosts.

Results

Human populations in these bioregions grew by 1.18 M people, mostly within 50 km foraging areas around roosts. Remnant forest extent decreased overall, but regrowth was observed when policy restricted vegetation clearing. Winter habitats were continuously lost across all spatial scales. Observed roost counts ofP. alectodeclined.

Conclusion

Native remnant forest loss and winter habitat loss were not directly linked to spatial human population growth. Rather, most remnant vegetation was cleared for indirect human use. We observed forest loss and regrowth in response to state land clearing policies. Expanded flying fox population surveys will help better understand how land-use change has impactedP. alectodistribution and Hendra virus spillover.
Emergent agent causation
Authors: Morales Juan
Published: April 2023

In this paper I argue that many scholars involved in the contemporary free will debates have underappreciated the philosophical appeal of agent causation because the resources of contemporary emergentism have not been adequately introduced into the discussion. Whereas I agree that agent causation’s main problem has to do with its intelligibility, particularly with respect to the issue of how substances can be causally relevant, I argue that the notion of substance causation can be clearly articulated from an emergentist framework. According to my proposal, a free agent isa causally powerful substance that emerges in an anomic way from her constitutive mental events, downwardly constraining, selecting and, in this way, having control on them. As we shall see, this particular concept of agent causation not only makes sense of the deep insight behind agent libertarianism, but it also provides us with the resources to solve some of the main objections that have been raised against it. It is true that here I cannot develop a complete defense of the evidential credentials of emergentism. Still, even if the considerations that follow do not serve to convince detractors of agent causal libertarian accounts of free will, they do suggest that libertarian agent causation is more promising than is typically acknowledged.
Balanced crystalloid solutions versus normal saline in intensive care units: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Puze , Huang Yin , Li Jin , Cao Dehong , Chen Bo , Chen Zeyu , Li Jinze , Wang Ruyi , Liu Liangren
Published: April 2023

Background

Intravenous fluid therapy is important for pediatric and adult patients in intensive care units (ICUs). However, medical professionals continue to struggle to determine the most appropriate fluids to obtain the best possible outcomes for each patient.

Objective

We conducted a meta-analysis involving cohort studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to compare the influence of balanced crystalloid solutions and normal saline among patients in ICUs.

Patients and methods

Studies that compared balanced crystalloid solutions and saline in ICU patients from databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were systematically searched up to July 25, 2022. The primary outcomes were mortality and renal-related outcomes, which included major adverse kidney events within 30 days (MAKE30), acute kidney injury (AKI), new receipt of renal replacement therapy (RRT), maximum creatinine increasing, maximum creatinine level, and final creatinine level ≥ 200% of baseline. Service utilization including length of hospital stay, ICU stay, ICU-free days and ventilator-free days were also reported.

Results

A total of 13 studies (10 RCTs and 3 cohort studies) involving 38,798 patients in ICUs met the selection criteria. Our analysis revealed that each subgroup had no significant difference in mortality outcomes among ICU patients between balanced crystalloid solutions and normal saline. A significant difference was detected between the adult groups (odds ratio [OR], 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], [0.86, 1.00]; p = 0.04) indicating that the AKI in the balanced crystalloid solutions group was lower than that in the normal saline group. Other renal-related outcomes, such as MAKE30, RRT, maximum creatinine increasing, maximum creatinine level, and final creatinine level ≥ 200% of baseline showed no significant difference between the two groups. Regarding secondary outcomes, the balanced crystalloid solution group had a longer ICU stay time (WMD, 0.02; 95% CI, [0.01, 0.03]; p = 0.0004 and I2 = 0%; p = 0.96) than the normal saline group among adult patients. Furthermore, children treated with balanced crystalloid solution had a shorter hospital stay time (WMD, − 1.10; 95% CI, [− 2.10, − 0.10]; p = 0.03 and I2 = 17%; p = 0.30) than those treated with saline.

Conclusions

Compared with saline, balanced crystalloid solutions could not reduce the risk of mortality and renal-related outcomes, including MAKE30, RRT, maximum creatinine increasing, maximum creatinine level, and final creatinine level ≥ 200% of baseline, but the solutions may reduce total AKI incidence among adult patients in ICUs. For service utilization outcomes, balanced crystalloid solutions were associated with a longer length of ICU stay in the adult group and shorter length of hospital stay in the pediatric group.
A Novel Corner Etched Rectangular Shaped Ultrawideband Antenna Loaded with Truncated Ground Plane for Microwave Imaging
Authors: Kumar Om Prakash , Ali Tanweer , Kumar Pramod
Published: April 2023

Microwave imaging has become a popular research issue in recent decades as a result of its several benefits over traditional imaging technologies. To analyze biological tissues in depth, a microwave imaging instrument is employed. The test determines the presence and location of morphological alterations in specific biological tissues. Ultrawideband (UWB) microwave imaging is a new technique that produces improved results while avoiding the use of ionizing radiation. Antennas play a critical part in these systems, and as a result, antenna optimization has become a hot topic due to the device's proximity to the human body. Recent research has revealed a number of initiatives to improve the electromagnetic sensors employed in these systems, whether as single or array components. In this article, the development of a compact ultrawideband (UWB) antenna functioning in the frequency range of 3.25–14.63 GHz is proposed. The reported antenna comprises of a rectangular patch and a modified ground plane "etched on an FR4" substrate excited by a 50 Ω feed line. The overall dimension of the antenna is $$0.44 {\lambda }_{0}\times 0.38 {\lambda }_{0}\times 0.02{\lambda }_{0}$$

0.44

λ
0

×
0.38

λ
0

×
0.02

λ
0

. The proposed antenna has been fabricated on FR-4 substrate. Measured and simulated results are in good agreement. The proposed antenna is compact and displays good radiation characteristics along with good gain.
New Zealand’s Approaches to Regulating the Commodification of the Female Body
Authors: Otterman Lauren S.
Published: April 2023

In 2003 and 2004, Aotearoa New Zealand enacted two key laws that regulate two very different ways in which the female body may be commodified. The Prostitution Reform Act 2003 (PRA) decriminalized prostitution, removing legal barriers to the buying and selling of commercial sexual services. The Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Act 2004 (HART Act), on the other hand, put a prohibition on commercial surrogacy agreements. This paper undertakes a comparative analysis of the ethical arguments underlying New Zealand’s legislative solutions to prostitution and commercial surrogacy. While the regulation of prostitution is approached with a Marxist feminist lens with the aim to ensure the health and safety of sex workers, commercial surrogacy is prohibited outright for concerns of negative impacts on present and future persons. I ground the principles of each Act in their ethical foundations and compare these two against one another. I conclude that New Zealand’s legislative approach to regulating the commodification of the female body is ethically inconsistent.
Pregnancy-associated aortopathy and sudden postpartum death
Authors: Byard Roger W
Published: April 2023

A 39-year-old woman who had undergone an uncomplicated elective cesarean section for a low-lying placenta collapsed and died the following day. At autopsy, there was dissection of an aneurysmally-dilated thoracic aorta with 400 mls of fluid and clotted blood in the pericardial sac. There were no features of Marfan syndrome or other connective tissue disorders. Histology revealed thinning of the aortic wall with fragmentation of elastic fibers and no inflammation. Vessels elsewhere were normal. This case demonstrates a rare complication of pregnancy that may not present until after delivery with unexpected collapse and sudden death. Predisposing factors include an increased cardiac output, reduction in systemic vascular resistance, an increase in left ventricular muscle mass, and alterations in serum progesterone and estrogen levels which may cause structural changes to the aortic wall. The possibility of syndromic and familial connective tissue disorders should also be considered.
Numerical solution of a new mathematical model for intravenous drug administration
Authors: Alijani Zahra , Shiri Babak , Perfilieva Irina , Baleanu Dumitru
Published: April 2023

We develop and analyze a new mathematical model for intravenous drug administration and the associated diffusion process. We use interval analysis to obtain a system of weakly singular Volterra integral equations over ordinary functions. We then use the operational method based on Chebyshev polynomials for obtaining an approximate solution of the numerical form. We show that for a certain class of fuzzy number valued functions, their generalized Hukuhara derivatives can be reduced to the derivatives of ordinary real-valued functions. By using our approach, we are able to estimate numerical solutions very accurately.
Explaining skills of prospective teachers – Findings from a simulation study
Authors: Findeisen Stefanie , Seifried Juergen
Published: April 2023

Providing instructional explanations is a central skill of teachers. Using interactive simulations, we examined the explaining skills of 48 prospective teachers attending a teacher education program for accounting in vocational schools in Germany. We used a performance-based assessment that relies on explanatory quality as an indicator of teacher candidates’ explaining skills. Video analysis was used to assess the quality of prepared and impromptu explanations in respect of different quality aspects. We found that the prepared explanations of prospective teachers were of high quality in terms of student–teacher interaction and language. With respect to the quality of content (e.g., accuracy, multiple approaches to explaining) and representation (e.g., visualization, examples), prospective teachers performed significantly worse. The quality of teacher candidates’ improvised explanations was significantly lower. This was especially true for the quality of representations, the process structure, and the interaction between student and teacher. For four of the five quality criteria examined, no correlation could be found between the quality of prepared and improvised explanations. For the language criterion, however, there was a correlation between the two types of explaining situations. Implications on how to support teacher candidates in developing explaining skills during teacher education are discussed.
Prediction of the debulking effect of rotational atherectomy using optical frequency domain imaging: a prospective study
Authors: Hamana Tomoyo , Kawamori Hiroyuki , Toba Takayoshi , Nishimori Makoto , Tanimura Kosuke , Kakizaki Shunsuke , Nakamura Koichi , Fujimoto Daichi , Sasaki Satoru , Osumi Yuto , Fujii Masayoshi , Iwane Seigo , Yamamoto Tetsuya , Naniwa Shota , Sakamoto Yuki , Fukuishi Yuta , Matsuhama Koshi , Hirata Ken-ichi , Otake Hiromasa
Published: April 2023

This study determined the predictive accuracy of optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) on debulking effects of rotational atherectomy (RA) and compared the predictive accuracy of OFDI catheter-based with Rota wire-based prediction methods. This prospective, single-center, observational study included 55 consecutive patients who underwent OFDI-guided RA. On pre-RA OFDI images, a circle, identical to the Rota burr was drawn at the center of the OFDI catheter (OFDI catheter-based prediction method) or wire (wire-based prediction method). The area overlapping the vessel wall was defined as the predicted ablation area (P-area). The actual ablated area (A-area) was measured by superimposing the OFDI images before and after RA. The overlapping P-area and A-area were defined as overlapped ablation area (O-area), and the predictive accuracy was evaluated by %Correct area (O-area/P-area) and %Error area (A-area  − O-area/A-area). The median %Correct and %Error areas were 47.8% and 41.6%, respectively. Irrelevant ablation (low %Correct-/high % Error areas) and over ablation (high %Correct-/high % Error areas) were related to deep vessel injury and intimal flap outside the P-area. The predictive accuracy was better in the OFDI catheter-based prediction method than the wire-based prediction method in the cross sections where the OFDI catheter and wire came in contact. However, it was better in the latter than the former where the OFDI catheter and wire were not in contact. OFDI-based simulation of the RA effect is feasible though accuracy may be affected by the OFDI catheter and wire position. OFDI-based simulation of RA effect might reduce peri-procedural complications during RA.