bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accelerated biological aging six decades after prenatal famine exposure
Authors: Cheng Mengling , Conley Dalton , Kuipers Tom , Li Chihua , Ryan Calen , Taubert Jazmin , Wang Shuang , Wang Tian , Zhou Jiayi , Schmitz Lauren L. , Tobi Elmar W. , Heijmans Bas , Lumey L.H. , Belsky Daniel W.
Published: November 2023

To test the hypothesis that early-life adversity accelerates the pace of biological aging, we analyzed data from the Dutch Hunger Winter Families Study (DHWFS, N=951). DHWFS is a natural-experiment birth-cohort study of survivors of in-utero exposure to famine conditions caused by the German occupation of the Western Netherlands in Winter 1944-5, matched controls, and their siblings. We conducted DNA methylation analysis of blood samples collected when the survivors were aged 58 to quantify biological aging using the DunedinPACE, GrimAge, and PhenoAge epigenetic clocks. Famine survivors had faster DunedinPACE, as compared with controls. This effect was strongest among women. Results were similar for GrimAge, although effect-sizes were smaller. We observed no differences in PhenoAge between survivors and controls. Famine effects were not accounted for by blood-cell composition and were similar for individuals exposed early and later in gestation. Findings suggest in-utero undernutrition may accelerate biological aging in later life.

Significance Statement

Environmental conditions during gestation are hypothesized to shape health across the life course. The Dutch Hunger Winter, a famine caused by a German blockade of the Western Netherlands in late 1944 and ended by the allied liberation of the Netherlands in Spring 1945, has been studied as a “natural experiment” in which the timing of a child’s conception determined their exposure to severe under-nutrition during gestation. We applied this natural-experiment design to test effects of in-utero adversity on midlife biological aging, as measured by epigenetic clocks. We found that individuals with in-utero famine exposure had a faster pace of biological aging six decades later. The environmental conditions surrounding pregnancy have potential to shape aging trajectories for the next generation.
Plasma proteome signature of canine acute haemorrhagic diarrhoea syndrome (AHDS)
Authors: Huber Lukas , Kuropka Benno , Doulidis Pavlos G. , Baszler Elisabeth , Martin Lukas , Rosu Anda , Kulmer Lisa , Ramos Carolina Frizzo , Rodríguez-Rojas Alexandro , Burgener Iwan A.
Published: November 2023

Acute haemorrhagic diarrhoea is a common complaint in dogs. In addition to causes like intestinal parasites, dietary indiscretion, intestinal foreign bodies, canine parvovirus infection, or hypoadrenocorticism, acute haemorrhagic diarrhoea syndrome (AHDS) is an important and sometimes life-threatening differential diagnosis. There is some evidence supporting the link betweenClostridium perfringenstoxins and AHDS. These toxins may be partially responsible for the epithelial cell injury, but the pathogenesis of AHDS is still not fully understood. Recent studies have suggested that severe damage to the intestinal mucosa and associated barrier dysfunction can trigger chronic gastrointestinal illnesses. Besides bloodwork and classical markers for AHDS such as protein loss and intestinal bacterial dysbiosis, we focused mainly on the plasma-proteome to identify systemic pathological alterations during this disease and searched for potential biomarkers to improve the diagnosis. To accomplish the goals, we used liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. We compared the proteomic profiles of 20 dogs with AHDS to 20 age-, breed-, and sex-matched control dogs. All dogs were examined, and several blood work parameters were determined and compared, including plasma biochemistry and cell counts. We identified and quantified 207 plasmatic proteins, from which dozens showed significantly altered levels in AHDS. Serpina3, Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, several Ig-like domain-containing proteins, Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and Serum amyloid A were more abundant in plasma from AHDS affected dogs. In contrast, other proteins such as Paraoxonase, Selenoprotein, Amine oxidases, and Apolipoprotein C-IV were significantly less abundant. Many of the identified and quantified proteins are known to be associated with inflammation. Other proteins like Serpina3 and RPLP1 have a relevant role in oncogenesis. Some proteins and their roles have not yet been described in dogs with diarrhoea. Our study opens new avenues that could contribute to the understanding of the aetiology and pathophysiology of AHDS.
Understanding consumers' interest in social commerce: the role of privacy, trust and security
Authors: Tseng Hsiao-Ting , Nadeem Waqar , Hajli M. Sam , Featherman Mauricio , Hajli Nick
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Consumers may enjoy the information sharing and social support made available when a social media platform is used for pre-purchase research; however, do consumers reevaluate the privacy and security of the platform differently when ordering and payment capabilities are added? As social media systems have evolved into social commerce platforms (SCPs), individuals are often faced with whether to complete a purchase they have been researching or switch to a traditional e-commerce platform to complete the transaction. This research examines consumer trust formation in the SCP channel and how consumer interest and engagement in the channel are maintained and influence consumer decisions to purchase via the SCP.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on trust and involvement literature, a research model was conceptualized to capture consumer beliefs about SCP privacy and security and whether the SCP can be trusted, using these inputs into subsequent consumer interest, engagement and decisions on whether to use the SCP for purchasing. The research model was empirically tested using the panel data's structural equation modeling (AMOS) (n = 405). The data showed acceptable reliability and convergent validity, while the original research model provides predictive validity and theory-confirming insights.

Findings

Results confirm that consumer perceptions of privacy and security play a crucial role as decision criteria, informing their judgments of whether a new social commerce channel can be trusted enough to conduct purchases. Further, consumer trust supports their interest in the SCP, resulting in enduring and enhanced behavioral use and, to a lesser extent, purchase intent. Still, a majority of this sample declined to purchase using the SCP and rather preferred to transact on tried and trusted traditional e-commerce sites.

Originality/value

This study is among the first to examine trust formation in new SCPs, where consumers are deciding to expand their engagement level from social and informational to commercial.
Phenobarbital treatment of alcohol withdrawal in the emergency department: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Lee Carmen M. , Dillon David G. , Tahir Peggy M. , Murphy Charles E.
Published: November 2023

Objective

Despite frequent treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) in the emergency department (ED), evidence for phenobarbital (PB) as an ED alternative therapy is mixed. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis comparing safety and efficacy of PB to benzodiazepines (BZDs) for treatment of AWS in the ED.

Methods

We searched articles and references published in English in PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase from inception through May 2022. We included randomized trials and cohort studies comparing treatment with PB to BZD controls and excluded studies focused on non‐AWS conditions. Review was conducted by two blinded investigators and a third author; eight of 59 (13.6%) abstracts met inclusion criteria for review and meta‐analysis using a random‐effects model. Treatment superiority was evaluated through utilization, pharmacologic, and clinical outcomes. Primary outcomes for meta‐analysis were the proportion of patients (1) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), (2) admitted to the hospital, (3) readmitted to the ED after discharge, and (4) who experienced adverse events.

Results

Eight studies (two randomized controlled trials, six retrospective cohorts) comprised data from 1507 patients in 2012 treatment encounters for AWS. All studies were included in meta‐analysis for adverse events, seven for hospital admission, five for ICU admission, and three for readmission to the ED after discharge. Overall methodological quality was low‐moderate, risk of bias moderate‐high, and statistical heterogeneity moderate. Pooled relative risk of ICU admission for those treated with PB versus BZD was 0.92 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.54–1.55). Risk for admission to the hospital was 0.98 (95% CI 0.89–1.07) and for any adverse event was 1.1 (95% CI 0.78–1.57); heterogeneity prevented meta‐analysis for ED readmission.

Conclusions

The current literature base does not show that treatment with PB significantly reduces ICU admissions, hospital admissions, ED readmissions, or adverse events in ED patients with AWS compared with BZDs alone.
Mechanism of potentiation of contractor responses to catecholamines by methylxanthines in aortic strips
Authors: KALSNER S.
Published: November 2023

Caffeine and theophylline increased the amplitude of contractor esponses of untreated and reserpine pretreated rabbit aortic strips to catecholamines (adrenaline, α‐methylnoradrenaline, noradrenaline). Responses to amines without both the 3‐ and 4‐OH groups in the benzene ring (methoxamine, phenylephrine, Synephrine) were not increased by theophylline and only those to Synephrine were slightly enhanced by caffeine.

Compounds which inhibit catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (pyrogallol, tropolone, U‐0521) potentiated responses to catecholamines and abolished the enhancing effect of theophylline and caffeine. Also, the potentiation produced by inhibitors of O‐methylation was significantly reduced in the presence of the methylxanthines.

Experiments done with the aid of the technique of oil immersion, to eliminate the diffusion of drug from the tissue into the bathing medium, showed that theophylline and caffeine decreased the rate of inactivation of adrenaline by O‐methylation.

These findings indicate that methylxanthines potentiate the contractor responses to catecholamines in aortic strips by inhibiting their extraneuronal inactivation.
Accuracy of digital duplication scanning methods for complete dentures
Authors: Alehaideb Abdullah , Lin Wei‐Shao , Levon John A. , Chu Tien‐Min G. , Yang Chao‐Chieh
Published: November 2023

Purpose

To compare the accuracy of four digital scanning methods in duplicating a complete denture.

Material and Methods

Four scanning methods were used: cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), Straumann desktop scanner (DS), Trios intraoral scanner (TIO), and Virtuo Vivo intraoral scanner (VVIO). Each method was used to duplicate all the surfaces of a printed complete denture. The denture was scanned 10 times in each group. The trueness (in root mean square, RMS) and precision (in standard deviation, SD) were calculated by comparing the combined dentition, denture extension, and intaglio surfaces with the reference file. One‐way analysis of variance and F‐tests were used to test statistical differences (α = 0.05).

Results

For the scanning accuracy of the whole denture, CBCT showed the highest RMS (0.249 ± 0.020 mm) and lowest trueness than DS (0.124 ± 0.014 mm p < 0.001), TIO (0.131 ± 0.006 mm p < 0.001), and VVIO (0.227 ± 0.020 mm p = 0.017), while DS and TIO showed smaller RMS than VVIO (p < 0.001). For the trueness of dentition, denture extension, and intaglio surfaces, CBCT also showed the highest mean RMS and lowest trueness among all groups (p < 0.001). DS and TIO had smaller mean RMS and higher trueness among all groups in all surfaces (p < 0.001, except VVIO in intaglio surface, p > 0.05). TIO had significantly lower within‐group variability of RMS and highest precision compared to DS (p = 0.013), CBCT (p = 0.001), and VVIO (p < 0.001) in the combined surface. For dentition and denture extension surfaces, TIO showed similar within‐group variability of RMS with the DS group (p > 0.05) and lower than CBCT and VVIO (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The 7 Series desktop scanner and Trios 4 intraoral scanner can duplicate dentures in higher trueness than CBCT and the Virtuo Vivo intraoral scanner. The Trios 4 intraoral scanner was more precise in the combined surfaces than other scanning methods, while the 7 Series desktop scanner and Trios 4 intraoral scanner were more precise in the denture extension surface.
Supersymmetric higher-derivative models in quantum cosmology
Authors: Martínez-Pérez Nephtalí Eliceo , Ramírez Cupatitzio
Published: November 2023

We study the quantum cosmology of supersymmetric, homogeneous and isotropic, higher derivative models. We recall superfield actions obtained in previous works and give classically equivalent actions leading to second order equations for the bosons, and first order for the fermions. Upon quantization, the algebra of fermions leads to a multi-component state, which is annihilated by the Hamiltonian and supersymmetric constraint operators. We obtain asymptotic wave functions of the oscillatory type, whose classical limit corresponds to inflationary evolution, and exact exponential wave functions. We use the latter to derive probability distributions of the initial curvature that are compatible with those obtained using the non-supersymmetric model.
Metaheuristics in the Balance: A Survey on Memory‐Saving Approaches for Platforms with Seriously Limited Resources
Authors: Khalfi Souheila , Caraffini Fabio , Iacca Giovanni
Published: November 2023

In the last three decades, the field of computational intelligence has seen a profusion of population‐based metaheuristics applied to a variety of problems, where they achieved state‐of‐the‐art results. This remarkable growth has been fuelled and, to some extent, exacerbated by various sources of inspiration and working philosophies, which have been thoroughly reviewed in several recent survey papers. However, the present survey addresses an important gap in the literature. Here, we reflect on a systematic categorisation of what we call “lightweight” metaheuristics, i.e., optimisation algorithms characterised by purposely limited memory and computational requirements. We focus mainly on two classes of lightweight algorithms: single‐solution metaheuristics and “compact” optimisation algorithms. Our analysis is mostly focused on single‐objective continuous optimisation. We provide an updated and unified view of the most important achievements in the field of lightweight metaheuristics, background concepts, and most important applications. We then discuss the implications of these algorithms and the main open questions and suggest future research directions.
The Interplay between Adipose Tissue Properties and Levels of NT-proBNP in People with HIV
Authors: Jacobsen Mads-Holger Bang , Reimer Jensen Anne Marie , Knudsen Andreas Dehlbæk , Benfield Thomas , Frikke-Schmidt Ruth , Nordestgaard Børge , Afzal Shoaib , Kofoed Klaus Fuglsang , Gelpi Marco , Nielsen Susanne Dam
Published: November 2023

Objective. We aimed to assess the association between low N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and body mass index (BMI), adipose tissue distribution, adiponectin, and HIV-specific risk factors among people with HIV (PWH). Methods. We included 811 PWH with measurement of height, weight and waist circumference, blood samples analyzed for NT-proBNP, and visceral-(VAT) and subcutaneous (SAT) adipose tissue areas measured from CT-scans. Low concentrations of NT-proBNP were defined as concentrations below the limit of quantification (5.9 pmol/L). Associations were explored with multivariable logistic regression analyses adjusted for relevant confounders. Results. We identified 471 (58%) individuals with low concentrations of NT-proBNP. Increasing BMI was associated with higher odds of low NT-proBNP (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.06 (95% CI: 1.01–1.11) per 1 kg/m2). Central obesity and large areas of VAT were associated with higher odds of low NT-proBNP (aOR 1.66 (1.16–2.36) and aOR 1.69 (1.09–2.62), respectively). Higher adiponectin was associated with lower odds of low NT-proBNP (aOR 0.86 (0.79–0.95) per 10% increase). No associations were found between low NT-proBNP and HIV-specific risk factors. Conclusions. In PWH, low NT-proBNP is associated with an adverse adipose tissue profile with high BMI, central obesity, accumulation of VAT, and low adiponectin.
The relationship of body colouration to morphological traits in a population of green frogs from Georgia, USA
Authors: Stephenson Barry P. , Christensen Jorden
Published: November 2023

Sexually dimorphic body colouration can serve to signal quality in vertebrates, but less is known about its importance in amphibians when compared to some other groups. The green frog (Lithobates clamitans) is a common anuran of aquatic habitats in eastern North America. In adults of both sexes, the dorsal abdomen is green or brown, and the ventral abdomen usually white. In contrast, throat colouration is sexually dimorphic; adult male throats are usually bright yellow in colour, whereas females and some males express white throats. We assessed body colouration in males and females from a population in Georgia, USA using spectrophotometry to quantify variation in these features and determine if hidden dimorphism was present. We then asked whether this spectral variation correlated with aspects of phenotype linked to fitness in anurans. Male throats were higher in Green-Yellow Chroma and lower in UV Chroma than those of females, but the sexes did not differ in ventral or dorsal abdominal colour. Male SVL was related to ventral abdominal colouration; larger males tended to have ventral abdomens with longer-wavelength Hue and reduced Green-Yellow Chroma compared to smaller males. However, throat or dorsal abdominal colouration was unrelated to any morphometric trait examined in either sex. Overall, variation in male throat and abdominal colour was only weakly related to indices of male quality; instead, we hypothesize that the persistence of white-throated males in populations throughout the range of green frogs is related to the presence of sex-reversed males and intersex individuals recently described from other populations.
The Alchemies of Science: The Kīmīyā Concept Across Persian and Urdu Intellectual Worlds
Authors: Siddiqui Osama
Published: November 2023

This article explores the transformation of the kīmīyā concept across Persian and Urdu intellectual worlds in South Asia. It shows how kīmīyā, a premodern alchemical tradition, transformed in the nineteenth century to become the primary Urdu translative equivalent to chemistry and a popular synonym for wealth. The article argues that these changes were a result of changing conditions of knowledge production, specifically the expansion of print, as well as the arrival of new forms of knowledge, such as chemistry and political economy. In doing so, the article offers a new case study to think about the semantic and conceptual transformation of premodern bodies of scientific knowledge in colonial modernity.
Marching Band Injuries in Children Presenting to Emergency Departments in the United States, 2012-2021: A Trebling Tale
Authors: Coene Jacob R. , Reeves Patrick T.
Published: November 2023

Marching band is both a sport and a performance art. Organized athletics like American football, soccer, and cheerleading all have established epidemiologic trends of injury, including stigmata from head trauma. Despite the potential for mild to severe injury, there is a paucity of data on marching band-related morbidity. We examined the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System from 2012 to 2021 to describe demographic information and injury patterns. There were an estimated 20 335 marching band injuries (95% confidence interval: 12 892-27 777). The majority of injuries occurred in females (70%), and those aged 14 to 18 years (85%). Fifty percent of all injuries occurred in the lower extremity, and soft tissue injuries were the most frequently observed diagnosis (49%). Mild traumatic brain injury accounted for 6% of all injuries. Of marching band injury, 98% did not require escalation of care. Based on these findings, we suggest targeted public health intervention by sports medicine teams.
Heidegger and Mindfulness Meditation: Making Peace With the Abyss
Authors: Kuravsky Erik
Published: November 2023

In this article, an attempt is made to free mindfulness from its modern psychologically utilitarian interpretation and display its ontological-existential essence. To do that, the essay offers the existential roots of human suffering and the ontological meaning of attachment that is found at the basis of suffering. Heidegger’s philosophy is used to show that due to our anxious rejection of the nothingness that co-constitutes the Being of beings, we exist in a mode in which beings can only be experienced as objects of attachment. This ontological predicament is explicated in terms of radical alienation from the world, which takes the form of the subject–object dualism and founds what we normally take to be our psychological identity. The essay stresses that this predicament cannot be overcome by mindfulness as long as mindfulness is understood as a technique used to utilize one’s psychological resources. This impossibility is tightly related to the paradox that one cannot achieve liberation by intending to do so. Heidegger’s ideas of “letting-be,” “objectless waiting,” and “attention to Beyng” are then applied to show how mindfulness meditation can afford one to become acquainted with a nonintentional dimension of experience wherein liberation from suffering may occur.
State Priorities and Needs: The Role of Block Grants
Authors: Balio Casey P. , Mathis Stephanie M. , Francisco Margaret M. , Meit Michael , Beatty Kate E.
Published: November 2023

Objectives:

Block grant funding provides federal financial support to states, with increased flexibility as to how those funds can be allocated at the community level. At the state level, block grant amounts and distributions are often based on outdated formulas that consider population measures and funding environments at the time of their creation. We describe variation in state-level funding allocations for 5 federal block grant programs and the extent to which funding aligns with the current needs of state populations.

Methods:

We conducted an analysis in 2022 of state block grant allocations as a function of state-level characteristics for 2015-2019 for all 50 states. We provide descriptive statistics of state block grant allocations and multivariate regression models for each program. Models include base characteristics relevant across programs plus supplemental characteristics based on program-specific goals and state population needs.

Results:

Mean state block grant allocations per 1000 population by program ranged from $618 to $21 528 during 2015-2019. Characteristics associated with state allocations varied across block grants. For example, for every 1-percentage-point increase in the percentage of the population living in nonmetropolitan areas, Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant funding was approximately $7 per 1000 population higher and Community Services Block Grant funding was approximately $40 per 1000 population higher. Few supplemental characteristics were associated with allocations.

Conclusions:

Current block grant funding does not align with state characteristics and needs. Future research should consider how funds are used at the state level or allocated to local agencies or organizations and compare state block grant allocations with other types of funding mechanisms, such as categorical funding.
Trends in Hepatitis C Virus and HIV Care Outcomes Among People With HIV in Georgia, United States, 2014-2019
Authors: Evans Kimberly N. , Wortley Pascale M. , Gandhi Ami , Bradley Heather
Published: November 2023

Objective:

If untreated, hepatitis C virus (HCV) leads to poor health outcomes, including liver disease and death, particularly among people with HIV (PWH). We describe trends over time in incidence rates of HCV diagnoses among PWH in the state of Georgia.

Methods:

We constructed a retrospective cohort of PWH in Georgia by using matched HIV and HCV case surveillance data from people diagnosed with HCV infection from January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2019. We calculated annual incidence rates per 1000 person-years and estimated trends over time in HCV diagnoses among the cohort of PWH by demographic characteristics and HIV care outcomes using Poisson regression analysis, with α = .05 considered significant.

Results:

From 2014 through 2019, among 49 530 PWH in Georgia, 1945 (3.9%) were diagnosed with HCV infection. During this period, overall incidence per 1000 person-years of newly diagnosed HCV infection among PWH decreased from 8.7 to 4.5 ( P for trend < .001). However, from 2014 through 2019, the annual incidence rates of PWH who were newly diagnosed with HCV infection increased from 4.6 to 7.1 ( P for trend = .003) among people born from 1980 through 1989 and from 3.3 to 12.8 ( P for trend < .001) among people born in 1990 or later.

Conclusion:

Strategies are needed to increase prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of HIV/HCV coinfection, particularly among PWH born in 1980 and later. Routine linkage of state surveillance data can inform prioritization of PWH at highest risk of HCV infection.
Reclaiming data for improved city governance: Barcelona’s New Data Deal
Authors: Fernandez-Monge Fernando , Barns Sarah , Kattel Rainer , Bria Francesca
Published: November 2023

Cities today are key sites for the operation of global digital marketplaces. It is on the curbsides and at the intersections of cities where technology companies and digital platforms gain access to valuable urban data to be used in the delivery of data-driven services. In this context, urban data ownership and control have become a central policy arena for smart city governance. This article argues that, given the increased policy activism by city governments, there is an urgent need to better understand the key goals and instruments deployed by cities to resist corporate control of urban data. It first reviews the treatment of the topic by different strands in the literature on smart city governance and then uses the ‘New Data Deal’ programme launched by the city of Barcelona to draw empirical data from one of the author’s involvement leading the programme, interviews with actors involved in the programme as well as from key policy and evaluation documents. By studying the design and implementation of Barcelona’s ‘New Data Deal’, an early mover and leading reference in the academic and policy debates, the article presents the key successes, limitations and tensions faced by a city government trying to regain access and control over urban data, including a reflection on the role that city governments can play in shaping a global agenda around improved data governance.
Consensus of impulsive coupled networked delay systems under edge-based attacks
Authors: Zhang Huihui , Li Lulu , Sun Yifan
Published: November 2023

This paper investigates the consensus of impulsive coupled networked delay systems (NDSs) under edge-based attacks. First, an edge-based attack model is established, which is asynchronous and can change the states of nodes. Next, according to the number of edges allowed to be attacked at a time instant, the edge-based attack is divided into two cases. For each case, the sufficient condition is given to guarantee the system consensus against the edge-based attacks. Then, by considering a special type of edge-based attacks on the NDSs with star topology, a less conservative consensus criterion is obtained. Finally, two numerical examples are given to verify the correctness of the obtained results.
A reverse chain search algorithm for the resource constraint in deep space detectors
Authors: Qi Yu-Heng , Liu Yuan , Gu De-Feng , Zhu Ju-Bo
Published: November 2023

Deep space exploration activities can effectively promote the development and application of space technology, which holds significant scientific and strategic value. Detectors operating in deep space are of long mission periods and substantial distance from Earth, posing challenges in timely resource replenishment. Moreover, scheduled missions may face external uncertainties, hindering their smooth execution. Therefore, resource constraint processing strategies that possess dynamic adjustment capabilities play a crucial role in ensuring the successful execution of deep space detectors. Existing methods mainly focus on studying fixed mission sequences, and the efficiency of planning methods is not high. Specifically, the single uncertainty is only considered, and there is a lack of detection and processing mechanisms, rendering the requirements of deep space detectors inadequate. In this paper, we propose a reverse chain search algorithm, aiming to efficiently plan missions subject to resource constraints and let the mission sequence to possess a certain degree of dynamic repair capability. The results have demonstrated that the resource allocated to each mission is within the resource value range. Compared with the classic algorithm, the proposed algorithm has fewer iterations and whose maximum flow value is accurate. Meanwhile, the potential resource constraints problem during execution can be alerted with the detection and warning system. The missions that were warned are repaired by a dynamic resource repair system, and the proposed algorithm is of higher efficiency and a certain ability to resist external uncertainties. Overall, this paper lays a solid foundation for the processing of resource constraints for deep space detectors.
Comparison of Size of Posterior Tibial Slope and Medial Tibial Depth in Patients With an Isolated Meniscal Tear Requiring Surgery and Matched Uninjured Controls
Authors: Barnett Samuel C. , Portila Gabriella , Sanborn Ryan , Perone Gabrielle S. , Emami Alex , Kiapour Ata M.
Published: November 2023

Background:

Meniscal injuries are extremely common. Several anatomic features of the knee, including the tibial plateau morphology, have been shown to influence knee biomechanics and the risk of ligamentous injuries. Little is known, however, how these morphological features influence the risk of isolated meniscal injuries in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)–intact knee.

Hypothesis:

There are differences in the slopes and concavity of the tibial plateau between patients with isolated meniscal tears and matched uninjured controls.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

In total, 89 patients with first-instance isolated medial (n = 37) or lateral (n = 52) meniscal injuries requiring surgical treatment (mean age, 16 ± 1 years; 35% female) were matched to 89 controls with uninjured knees and no previous injuries (mean age, 16 ± 2 years; 35% female) based on age and sex. Magnetic resonance imaging scans (preoperative for injured group) were used to measure the coronal slope of the tibial plateau, posterior slope of the medial and lateral tibial plateaus, and maximum depth of the medial tibial plateau. General linear models were used to evaluate the differences in tibial plateau morphology between the knees with and without meniscal injuries, with and without adjustment for age and sex.

Results:

Compared with matched controls, patients with surgically treated isolated meniscal tears had a smaller lateral tibial slope (by 2.2° [medial meniscal injury] and 1.6° [lateral meniscal injury]; P < .02), a smaller medial tibial slope (by 2.3° [medial meniscal injury] and 2.4° [lateral meniscal injury]; P < .001) and a larger medial tibial depth (by 0.8 mm [medial meniscal injury] and 0.9 mm [lateral meniscal injury]; P < .001). There were no differences in coronal tibial slope between the injured and uninjured groups. There were no differences in quantified anatomic features between the isolated medial and lateral meniscal injury groups. The same trends were observed after adjusting for age and sex.

Conclusion:

This study suggests that patients with an isolated meniscal tear requiring surgery have a smaller posterior tibial slope and a larger medial tibial depth (more concave medial tibial plateau) than matched uninjured controls. This is contrary to what is known for ACL tears, in which a steeper posterior tibial slope and a shallower medial tibial depth have been associated with an increased risk of ACL tear.
Exploring Student, Faculty, and Staff Support for Concealed Firearms on Campus Over Time
Authors: De Angelis Joseph , Benz Terressa A.
Published: November 2023

Campus carry has become an important issue in higher education. This study examines how stakeholder attitudes changed in the period following the legalization of campus carry in one rural state. The data for the study were drawn from two electronic surveys administered to separate random samples of students, faculty, and staff at one university in 2015 and 2018. This study addresses two research questions. Do patterns in attitudes toward concealed campus carry change over time in the period following the legalization of campus carry? Do the predictors of support for campus carry change over time? The results suggest that support for concealed carry was higher among students than faculty, staff, and other nonfaculty professional across both time periods. However, there were only limited changes in the predictors of support over time. Policy issues are discussed.
A feature and optimized RRT algorithm-based assembly path planning method of complex products
Authors: Tao Shuai , Wang Duan-Yan , Zhang Sheng-Wen
Published: November 2023

Currently, manufacturing enterprises lack strict regulations and plans for complex products. The actual assembly path mainly relies on technicians’ experience, leading to an unreasonable assembly path for each part at the workstation, an unreasonable transportation path across the workstation, and the problem of mutual interference between parts. To solve these problems, this paper studies the assembly path planning technology of complex products based on the basic geometric features and assembly sequence information. The complexity of assembly path planning is reduced by converting the assembly problem into a disassembly problem. The disassembly direction and distance of each part are determined based on the geometric feature type of each mating face, and the rapid disassembly of the assembly body is achieved. The Rapidly-exploring Random Trees (RRT) algorithm is optimized by target-tendency and double random tree strategy, and the optimal assembly path of each component is quickly generated by combining the path optimization method and interference checking method. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method and the superiority of the path planning algorithm are verified using the cylinder head of a Marine diesel engine (MDE) as a case study.
Parameters optimization of electrolytic plasma polishing of austenitic stainless steel and surface performance analysis
Authors: Liu Xuexiang , Li Xuezhi , Zhang Jiajun
Published: November 2023

Electrolytic plasma polishing is a new type of surface finishing technology, widely used for high-quality polishing of metals and alloys due to its excellent processability. In this paper, the austenitic stainless steel (302) is the processing material, and the electrolyte temperature, electrolyte concentration, voltage, and polishing time are used as influencing factors. The surface roughness of the material is used as the evaluation index for electrolytic plasma polishing experiments. The orthogonal experimental group is designed to obtain the best process parameters of electrolytic plasma polishing through range analysis, and the influence laws of various factors on surface roughness is studied. The property of the polished sample from the aspects of surface morphology, elemental composition, X-ray diffraction analysis, hardness changes, and corrosion resistance are characterized. The experimental results show that the surface profile of the polished sample has better consistency, and overall it is flat and smooth, with the original scratches are completely removed. The surface roughness is significantly reduced from the initial 0.3–0.076 μm. The content of Cr element has increased to a certain extent, while the content of Fe element has decreased, and surface impurities have been removed. There is no phase transition on the surface of the sample, the diffraction peak intensity significantly increases, the half width prominently decreases, the crystalline grain size increases, and the surface hardness decreases. During electrochemical test, the self-corrosion potential increases, the self-corrosion current density decreases, and the corrosion resistance of the sample surface increases.
Finite element analysis and experiment of cutting rape shoot stalks based on Ansys
Authors: Xiong Dengyu , Ai Jinlong , Fu Min , Yu Wuyang , Li Xiaocong , Luo Haifeng
Published: November 2023

The cutting device is a key component of the rape shoot stalks harvester, and currently there is little research on the cutting device for edible rape shoots. Based on the material characteristics of edible rape shoot stalks, this paper conducts mechanical and finite element analysis on the cutting device to ensure low-resistance and high-efficiency cutting operations. Slip cutting angle of the cutter is set at 20° to ensure that the stalk is clamped during cutting, and the cutting speed ratio of the cutter is determined to be 0.8 to avoid missed cuts and overcuts. The cutting angle of inclination is upward to assist the post-cutting rape shoot stalks to tilt backward. The maximum cutting stress and cutting energy consumption of the blade are used as evaluation indicators for the experiment. Through single-factor simulation experiments, it is found that the cutting speed and cutting angle of inclination have a significant impact on the low-resistance and high-efficiency cutting of the device. Through multi-factor simulation experiments, the optimal working parameter combination of the device is determined to be a cutting speed of 0.3 m/s and a cutting angle of inclination of 7.13°. At this working parameter, the device can achieve low-resistance and high-efficiency cutting, and it has been verified that the cutting device can cut the stalk in one go with a smooth cut without tearing. This paper provides a theoretical basis for the design and parameter determination of the cutting device for vegetable rape shoot stalks harvesters.
Energy harvesting potential assessment and systematic design for energy-regenerative shock absorbers on railway freight wagons
Authors: Dong Liwei , Zhang Heli , Yu Jie , Hu Guobiao
Published: November 2023

A large amount of vibration energy is dissipated in the secondary suspension systems of railway freight wagons, which can be harvested as renewable power supplies to serve more smart devices for onboard applications. This paper explores the vibration energy harvesting potential of freight wagons and deals with the systematic design issues of energy-regenerative shock absorbers (ERSAs). By considering the ERSA force interaction and realistic track irregularity, a vehicle-track coupled model is established to predict a more accurate vibration response. The parameter sensibility analysis reveals that the operation speed, vehicle load, and track irregularity are the most critical factors that can significantly affect the power generation performance. In addition, vibration energy harvesting potential assessment is conducted on American, German, and Chinese track spectrums and several field-measured freight lines, indicating an average power potential ranging from 33 to 960 W per absorber with a full-loaded freight wagon running at 90 km/h. Finally, a systematic design approach for ERSAs is proposed based on the prior feasibility assessment, a hybrid Grey Wolf Optimization and Particle Swarm Optimization (GWO-PSO) algorithm, and the vehicle-ERSA coupled model. The digital twin of an ERSA has been established and validated by a series of experimental tests. Taking the average power as the objective and setting the suspension vibration velocity, maximum generator rotation velocity, and maximum ERSA force as constraints, the optimized ERSA exhibits an output power of 63 W and 20.22% shock absorption on the secondary suspension. Meanwhile, the GWO-PSO has demonstrated an enhanced exploration ability than the conventional GWO in dealing with the constrained optimization problem of the ERSA design.
Seeking Comfort and Demanding Agency—An Autoethnographic Exploration of a Patient and Partner Experience
Authors: Aimers Jenny , Walker Peter
Published: November 2023

This article applies an autoethnographic approach to the journey a patient and their partner undertook as they negotiated a medical adverse event. The resultant cascade of conditions lasted almost 4 years and resulted in the eventual death of the patient. The narrative is told from the dual perspectives of both the patient and their partner, providing a valuable resource for the practice of patient and family-centered care. This article illuminates the patient's experience of comfort across a continuum of healthcare settings and how both the patient and their partner were able to enact agency despite challenging institutional barriers, to become partners in their healthcare journey.
Harness collaboration between manufacturing Small and medium-sized enterprises through a collaborative platform based on the business model canvas
Authors: Proulx Mélick , Gardoni Mickaël
Published: November 2023

Innovation, open innovation, and collaborative platforms are concepts in effervescence in the last few years. Innovation’s future will observe a growing number of collaborations. The links between collaboration and collaborative platforms are known in the transport and accommodation sector (such as Uber) however are less used in manufacturing. This paper aims to identify the main challenges between manufacturing firms which intend to collaborate enabled by a prototype platform. A collaborative business model was designed using the business model canvas and tested using a real case to generate valuable collaboration. Collaboration experimentation was monitored over 21 weeks between two firms of the Quebec aerospace cluster and ended with a semi-structured interview. Six challenges were identified: partner selection, commitment and trust, intellectual property management, collaboration evaluation, collaboration symmetry and terminology difficulties. Suggested solutions included, compatibility criteria between the partners, creating a vocabulary lexicon, and establishing collaboration expectations prior to collaboration.
The Political Economy of Donor Control and Elite Capture in Arsenic Mitigation in Bangladesh
Authors: Brazys Samuel , Mahmud Minhaj
Published: November 2023

Numerous parts of the developing world are afflicted by pollution and poison from both man-made and natural sources. Efforts to mitigate these environmental contaminants are often inherently political, and it is difficult to discern if those efforts reach all intended beneficiaries. We argue that as spatial precision increases, it is likely that donors lose control of foreign aid. Using geo-spatial data, we find evidence in Bangladesh that efforts to mitigate groundwater arsenic are generally directed to broad areas with higher levels of contamination. However, within those areas, we find that mitigation measures supported by foreign aid only reduce arsenic when they are located near (politically important) exporting firms. We argue that this supports a political economy rationale wherein donors may be able to target their assistance at a mezzo level, while powerful socio-economic interests are able to capture and direct resources at a micro level, potentially exacerbating intra-country inequality.
A hierarchy of asymptotic models for a fluid-loaded elastic layer
Authors: Kaplunov Julius , Prikazchikova Ludmila , Shamsi Sheeru
Published: November 2023

A hierarchy of asymptotic models governing long-wave low-frequency in-plane motion of a fluid-loaded elastic layer is established. In contrast to a layer with traction-free faces, modelled by Neumann boundary conditions, a fluid-loaded one assumes more involved conditions along the interfaces, dictating a special asymptotic scaling. The latter corresponds to a fluid-borne bending wave, controlled by elastic stiffness of the layer and fluid inertia. In this case, the transverse inertia of the layer and fluid compressibility do not appear at zero-order approximation. The first-order approximation is associated with a Kirchhoff plate, immersed into incompressible fluid. In the studied free vibration setup, the fluid compressibility has to be taken into account only at third order, along with elastic rotary inertia. Transverse shear deformation enters the second-order approximation along with a few other corrections. The conventional impenetrability condition has to be also refined at second order. Dispersion relations corresponding to the developed asymptotic models are compared with the polynomial expansions of the full dispersion relation, obtained from the plane-strain problem of linear elasticity.
Cinephilia, take three?: Availability, reliability, and disenchantment in the streaming era
Authors: McGowan David
Published: November 2023

This article proposes a modified reading of Thomas Elsaesser’s theories of cinephilia, taking into account the new viewing practices established by the rise of online media streaming. Elsaesser characterised early film culture (labelled as ‘take one’) as rooted in celluloid and marked by a longing to view films that were not always easily available. By contrast, his characterisation of the later ‘take two’ era is one in which each new distribution technology (television, VHS, and so on) promises greater abundance and convenience, to the point where this new generation of cinephiles – in response to the widespread success of DVD – were perceived as having to deal with the ‘anachronisms generated by total availability’. Amanda D. Lotz argues that streaming services appear to provide an extension of the ‘take two’ ideal, offering assurances of ‘ availability (on-demand libraries with many choices) and reliability (you don’t have to watch it now or it’s gone)’. I suggest, however, that the underlying impermanence of streaming has prompted fears related to both access and ownership, marking a break from the expectations surrounding the DVD (as well as its successors Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD). The impact of content migration – fracturing access between a greater number of paid platforms – and particularly content delisting – the outright removal of access to a given text – can place certain works in a form of limbo. This article proposes the dawn of a new generation of cinephilia – a potential take three – marked by a newfound concern of ephemerality, albeit much more potential and localised than the widespread unavailability of the take one era. In essence, then, take three wrestles with the anachronisms of loss in a media landscape that, in many other ways, offers unprecedented levels of access to film and television content.