bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Meme marketing: How can marketers drive better engagement using viral memes?
Authors: Malodia Suresh , Dhir Amandeep , Bilgihan Anil , Sinha Pranao , Tikoo Tanishka
Published: June 2022

Scholars and industry stakeholders have exhibited an interest in identifying the underlying dimensions of viral memes. However, the recipe for creating a viral meme remains obscure. This study makes a phenomenological contribution by examining viral memes, exploring the antecedents (i.e., content‐related factors, customer‐related factors, and media‐related factors), consequences, and moderating factors using a mixed‐method approach. The study presents a holistic framework for creating viral memes based on the perceptions of customers and industry stakeholders. Four quantitative studies (i.e., a lab experiment, an online quasi‐experiment, an event study, and a brand recall study) validate the theoretical model identified in the qualitative study. The research underlines the potential of viral memes in marketing communications as they enhance brand recall and brand engagement. The study found that viral memes are topical and highly relatable and are thus well received by the target groups, which increases customer engagement and brand recall. Marketers can adopt the findings of this study to design content for memes that consumers find relevant, iconic, humorous, and spreadable. Furthermore, marketers can use customer‐related factors suggested in the theoretical framework for enhancing escapism, social gratification, and content gratification for their target customers which in turn shall organically increase their reach within their target segments and enhance brand performance in terms of brand recall and brand engagement.
The consistent production routing problem
Authors: Alvarez Aldair , Cordeau Jean‐François , Jans Raf
Published: June 2022

This article introduces the consistent production routing problem in a setting with multiple plants and products. The problem consists in finding minimum‐cost production‐routing plans that also meet specific consistency requirements. In our context, consistency is defined as the degree to which some specified features of the solution remain invariant over time. We consider four forms of consistency, namely: driver, source, product, and plant consistency. For each of these consistency requirements, there is a target maximum value defining the decision‐maker's tolerance to deviations from a perfectly consistent solution. These targets are enforced as soft constraints whose violations need to be minimized when optimizing the integrated production and routing plan. We present a mathematical formulation for the problem and an exact branch‐and‐cut algorithm, enhanced with valid inequalities and specific branching priorities. We also propose a heuristic solution method based on iterated local search and several mathematical programming components. Experiments on a large benchmark set of newly introduced instances show that the enhancements substantially improve the performance of the exact algorithm and that the heuristic method performs robustly for production routing problems with different consistency requirements as well as for standard versions of the problem. We also analyze the cost‐consistency trade‐off of the solutions, confirming that it is possible to impose consistency without excessively increasing the cost. The results also reveal the impact of the first time period when optimizing and measuring the consistency features we study.
Triglyceride and glucose index is a simple and easy‐to‐calculate marker associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Kim Kyung‐Soo , Hong Sangmo , Ahn Hong‐Yup , Park Cheol‐Young
Published: June 2022

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the triglyceride and glucose (TyG) index and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using a large, population‐based cohort study database.

Methods

A total of 52,575 participants were enrolled from 2007 to 2013 in the Kangbuk Samsung Health Study cohort. The presence of NAFLD was ascertained by ultrasonography in the absence of other known liver diseases.

Results

Over a median 5.1 years of follow‐up, 7,292 participants (13.87%) were diagnosed with NAFLD. In a multivariate‐adjusted model, the hazard ratio for NAFLD of the TyG index was 1.413 (95% CI: 1.349‐1.480) in the first 6 months, 1.480 (95% CI: 1.408‐1.556) in months 6 to 12, 1.427 (95% CI: 1.370‐1.485) in months 12 to 18, and 1.246 (95% CI: 1.159‐1.339) in months >18. The hazard ratios of triglycerides, glucose, fatty liver index, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance for NAFLD in months >18 were 1.124 (95% CI: 1.061‐1.190), 1.037 (95% CI: 0.970‐1.109), 1.508 (95% CI: 1.417‐1.605), and 1.177 (95% CI: 1.116‐1.242), respectively. The NAFLD‐free rate decreased with increasing TyG index quartile (p < 0.001). The TyG index level from which the risk of NAFLD increased appeared to be 8.24.

Conclusions

This study found that the TyG index is a simple and easy‐to‐calculate marker associated with NAFLD.
Critical Evaluation of Reactive Force Fields for Vibrational Spectra: Case Study of Crystalline Cellulose Iβ
Authors: Liu Zhiyu , Chung Peter W.
Published: June 2022

Lattice dynamical calculations based on atomic potentials are used in the study of energetic materials for vibrational spectra. Features in the potential energy surface, however, can lead to negative eigenvalues of the dynamical matrix which can signify artifactual underlying dynamic or configurational instabilities or underconvergence. In this paper, using crystalline cellulose Iβ as a representative material, we show that a reactive force field (ReaxFF) necessarily yields structures associated with negative eigenvalues. We then propose a modification through a tapering function to eliminate barriers to potential energy minimization and thereby yield structures with no associated negative eigenvalues. Three particular ReaxFF parameterizations are evaluated with the tapering modification by comparing available electronic structure and experimental results from the literature. The newly minimized structures were evaluated using lattice properties, elastic constants, phonon dispersion, temperature‐dependent entropy, and heat capacity. Though the modification allows the models to produce only non‐imaginary vibrational spectra, the variations in computed properties can be large between the parameterizations, especially for those being used outside of the context for which the parameters were developed. Our calculations provide important information for the study of the phonon properties of molecular crystals such as cellulose and energetic materials.
Evidence of Laser‐Induced Amplification of Random Noise in WS2 Nanosheets Based Resistive System
Authors: Neog Ashamoni , Biswas Rajib
Published: June 2022

Electronic noises are indispensable part of stochastic resonance (SR) and other molecular neuromorphic devices. Considering the paramount significance of such devices, investigation of artificial noise generation with further amplification attributes of WS2 nanosheets based resistive unit is endeavored. To realize it, Cu interdigital electrodes (IDE) are fabricated on copper clad and chemically exfoliated hexagonal WS2 nanosheets are drop‐casted on the surface of as‐fabricated IDE. In ambient conditions as well as in the presence of resistance fluctuations and defects in the layered material, the resistive unit is found to develop noise with an average peak‐to‐peak fluctuation of ≈13 nA on the linear current–voltage (I–V) characteristics of the device. On performing irradiation with 5 mW red, green, and blue laser on to the very fabricated unit, a maximum ≈60 nA current fluctuations in the I–V characteristics are detected. Additionally, the current fluctuation is found to be more prominent for green laser than that of red and blue laser.
Regulating the Crystallinity and Self‐Aggregation of Fused Ring Electron Acceptors via Branched Side‐Chain Engineering for Efficient Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Ouyang Jinyang , Wu Fan , Zhao Xiaoli , Yang Xiaoniu
Published: June 2022

Fine‐tuning the crystallinity and self‐aggregation features of donors/acceptor materials toward high‐efficiency organic solar cells (OSCs) is of crucial importance. Here, a convenient yet effective way to simultaneously control the crystallinity and self‐aggregation of the fused ring electron acceptor (FREA) is demonstrated by altering the length of the first‐position branched alkyl chain on the cyclic unit. Specifically, three carbazole‐based FREAs, 4TC‐4F‐C6C6, 4TC‐4F‐C8C8, and 4TC‐4F‐C10C10, are synthesized by changing the length of the first‐position branched alkyl chain on the carbazole unit. The crystallinity of the studied acceptors decreases as the branched alkyl chain is lengthened. The ability of the acceptors to undergo self‐aggregation decreases in the order 4TC‐4F‐C10C10, 4TC‐4F‐C6C6, and 4TC‐4F‐C8C8. The medium crystallinity and lower self‐aggregation properties of 4TC‐4F‐C8C8 result in favorable phase separation when blended with poly‐[(2,6‐(4,8‐bis(5‐(2‐ethylhexyl‐3‐fluoro)thiophen‐2‐yl)‐benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene))‐alt‐(5,5‐(1′,3′‐di‐2‐thienyl‐5′,7′‐bis(2‐ethylhexyl)benzo[1′,2′‐c:4′,5′‐c′]dithiophene‐4,8‐dione))] (PM6), which is conducive to effective exciton dissociation and charge transport. Consequently, the OSC device based on PM6:4TC‐4F‐C8C8 delivers the best power conversion efficiency of 14.85%.
The Microstructure Prediction during the Welding Process of Fe–C–Si Steel Using Physical and Numerical Simulation: A Comparative Study
Authors: Królicka Aleksandra , Zalecki Władysław , Kuziak Roman , Szczepański Łukasz , Kustroń Paweł , Radwański Krzysztof , Ambroziak Andrzej
Published: June 2022

Overall, medium‐carbon, multiphase steels subjected to welding processes can be described as difficult and require dedicated process conditions. In these investigations, an attempt is made to characterize the welding process of commercial 55Si7 steel with a high carbon equivalent (CE = 0.73). An experimental tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding process is performed by the use of preheating. Then, to understand and explain the processes during welding, a numerical (finite element method [FEM]) and physical (dilatometry) simulation is carried out. Measurement points located in the heat‐affected zone (HAZ) are selected based on the obtained data of thermal cycles. Significant differences in the results obtained with the three approaches are assessed and indicated. The cause of the discrepancies in the test results is also identified. The essence of the implementation of material data, which precisely defines the kinetics of phase transformation, is confirmed. A detailed analysis of the contribution of the phases is performed, together with their morphological assessment, as well as the hardness distributions are conscientiously compared. Moreover, it seems that the segregation of the chemical composition of austenite and the initial microstructure plays a crucial role in terms of the quality of the prediction.
The Coupling Effect of Hierarchical Structures and MN‐Type Precipitates on the Creep Resistance for the High N Heat‐Resistant Martensitic Steel
Authors: Shi Tianyu , Sun Deshan , Ning Baoqun , Chen Yulin , Dong Zhizhong
Published: June 2022

Microstructure of the high nitrogen heat‐resistant martensitic steel (HNHM) crept using 140–170 MPa loading stresses at 923 K is investigated in correlation with creep lifetime and creep rupture strength. Upon creep deformation, both recrystallized grains and the preexisted hierarchical structures grow via strain‐induced boundaries migration (SIBM) induce the degradation of strengthening. For preexisted hierarchical structures in HNHM, martensitic packets and blocks are more inclined to form at higher stresses (170 MPa), causing the degradation of strength, while laths retain easily at lower stresses (140–155 MPa), retarding the creep damage. Additionally, under all stresses and upon 923 K, the highly stabilized MN precipitates not only pin the hierarchical structural boundaries effectively, but also act as the core for the nucleation of Laves, realizing strengthening. The findings elucidate the coupling contribution of hierarchical structures and MN‐type precipitates on the creep strengthening for HNHMs, challenging the common viewpoint that the coupling coarsening of lath and precipitates dominates the degradation of strengthening, and thus, deepens the understanding of the creep resistance of the HNHM and provides the first insights into obtaining reliable predicted creep life of the novel HNHMs.
A Fundamental Investigation of Decarburization Reactions in the Argon–Oxygen Decarburization Converter Using Coupled Computational Fluid Dynamics and Thermodynamics Databases
Authors: Chanouian Serg , Ahlin Björn , Tilliander Anders , Ersson Mikael
Published: June 2022

Metallurgical converters such as the argon–oxygen decarburization (AOD) converter generally utilize gas blowing for the mixing and refinement of liquid steel. Due to the harsh environment of the complex and opaque system, it is common practice to study the stirring of the process through physical and numerical models. Effective mixing in the bath has an important role in refinement such as decarburization and has been vividly studied before. However, high‐temperature chemical reactions that also play a major role are sparsely investigated. With the help of modeling, a computational fluid dynamics model coupled with chemical reactions is developed, allowing the study of both dynamic fluid transport and chemical reactions. Herein, the chemical reactions for a single gas bubble in the AOD are investigated. The study shows that a 60 mm oxygen gas bubble rapidly reacts with the melt and is saturated with carbon in 0.2–0.25 s at low‐pressure levels. The saturation time is affected by the pressure and the composition of the injected gas bubble. The impact of ferrostatic pressure on the reactions is more significant at larger depth differences.
Gleitfeste Verbindungen mit Imperfektionen
Authors: Stranghöner Natalie , Makevičius Lukas , Flügge Wilko , Henkel Knuth‐Michael , Glienke Ralf , Dörre Maik , Schwarz Mathias , Rudolf Andrea , Fiedler Susanne
Published: June 2022

Geschraubte gleitfeste Verbindungen werden traditionell im Stahl‐ und Anlagenbau immer dann eingesetzt, wenn Schlupf und Verformung in den geschraubten Anschlüssen minimiert werden müssen. Die derzeitige Prüfprozedur der DIN EN 1090‐2, Anhang G ist auf das grundlegende Tragverhalten unter Laborbedingungen beschränkt. Seitens der Industrie treten wiederkehrend Fragestellungen auf, inwieweit fertigungs‐, montage‐ und betriebsbedingte Einflüsse bei der Ausführung von gleitfesten Verbindungen zu berücksichtigen sind, da diese die Wirtschaftlichkeit dieser Verbindungsform beeinträchtigen. Im Rahmen des IGF‐Forschungsvorhabens Nr. 19749 BG „Einfluss von fertigungs‐ und montagebedingten Imperfektionen auf das Tragverhalten geschraubter gleitfester Verbindungen im Stahlbau“ wurden systematische Untersuchungen an gleitfest vorgespannten Verbindungen der Kategorien B/C nach DIN EN 1993‐1‐8 vom Institut für Metall‐ und Leichtbau der Universität Duisburg‐Essen (IML) in Kooperation mit dem Fraunhofer‐Institut für Großstrukturen in der Produktionstechnik in Rostock (IGP) und dem Institut für Korrosionsschutz Dresden GmbH (IKS) durchgeführt. Hierbei wurden zunächst Referenzversuche ohne eingebrachte Imperfektionen vorgenommen und diese anschließend den Verbindungen mit künstlich hervorgerufenen Imperfektionen gegenübergestellt. Anhand der Versuchsergebnisse konnte der Einfluss verschiedener Imperfektionen auf das Tragverhalten gleitfester Schraubverbindungen im Stahlbau erfasst werden.
CT findings of bleeding from a canine gall bladder carcinoid tumour
Authors: Tanaka Toshiyuki , Akiyoshi Hideo , Hirata Shogo , Shimada Dai , Nishida Hidetaka
Published: June 2022

A 10‐year‐old, male Boston terrier was presented with chronic haematemesis and melena. On computed tomography, a mass arising from the gall bladder was observed to be homogeneous and strongly enhanced compared with surrounding liver in the arterial phase. The attenuation of lesion around the mass in the gall bladder showed 60 Hounsfield units and no contrast enhancement. Endoscopic examination revealed haemorrhage around the duodenal papilla. Surgery revealed that the gall bladder was filled with a blood clot originating from the mass. Histopathology of the mass in the gall bladder revealed it to be a carcinoid tumour. The dog survived and remained disease‐free for 45 months without adjuvant chemotherapy.
Design and Validation of a Capability Measurement Instrument for DevOps Teams
Authors: Plant Olivia H. , van Hillegersberg Jos , Aldea Adina
Published: June 2022

This paper reports on the design and validation of a capability measurement instrument for software delivery teams that make use of the DevOps approach. The instrument is based on the results of a systematic literature review and was developed and validated by involving a total of five domain experts and conducting a field study among six DevOps team members. To this end, we used qualitative and survey-based data collection methods from participatory action research as well as design science. The resulting instrument encompasses five dimensions, covering seventeen capabilities and thirty-eight associated practices. The practices are evaluated on five capability levels. The results of the validation process indicate clear agreement of the domain experts and team members with all aspects of the instrument. As a contribution to practice, this research offers a pragmatic tool for IS practitioners which provides insight into the status of their DevOps transformation and offers directions for improving DevOps team performance. Furthermore, this research contributes to the ongoing research stream on DevOps by providing novel insights into the nature of DevOps capabilities and their potential configurations.
Investigating the Current State of Security in Large-Scale Agile Development
Authors: Nägele Sascha , Watzelt Jan-Philipp , Matthes Florian
Published: June 2022

Agile methods have become the established way to successfully handle changing requirements and time-to-market pressure, even in large-scale environments. Simultaneously, security has become an increasingly important concern due to more frequent and impactful incidents, stricter regulations with growing fines, and reputational damages. Despite its importance, research on how to address security in large-scale agile development is scarce. Therefore, this paper provides an empirical investigation on tackling software product security in large-scale agile environments. Based on a literature review and preliminary interviews, we identified four essential categories that impact how to handle security: (i) the structure of the agile program, (ii) security governance, (iii) adaptions of security activities to agile processes, and (iv) tool-support and automation. We conducted semi-structured interviews with nine experts from nine companies in five industries based on these categories. We performed a content-structuring qualitative analysis to reveal recurring patterns of best practices and challenges in those categories and identify differences between organizations. Among the key findings is that the analyzed organizations introduce cross-team security-focused roles collaborating with agile teams and use automation where possible. Moreover, security governance is still driven top-down, which conflicts with team autonomy in agile settings.
Work Engagement in Agile Teams: The Missing Link Between Team Autonomy, Trust, and Performance?
Authors: Buvik Marte Pettersen , Tkalich Anastasiia
Published: June 2022

To have engaged and high-performing agile teams are what most organizations strive for. At the same time, there is little research on the drivers of team work engagement in the software context. Team autonomy and trust are crucial for agile teams and are suggested as potential boosters of team work engagement and performance. In this study, we apply the Job Demands-Resources model to examine the role of autonomy and trust and their impact on work engagement and team performance in agile teams. We analyze quantitative survey data from 236 team members in 43 agile teams to examine how team autonomy and trust relate to team work engagement and how engagement mediates the relationship between these factors and performance. Our results show that while both autonomy and trust are positively related to team work engagement, team trust plays a more critical role than team autonomy. Teams with high team trust showed higher engagement, which enhanced team performance. Our results highlight the importance of social factors such as trust in creating conditions for high performance in agile teams through its effect on team work engagement.
Open Issues and Conclusions
Authors: Mantelero Alessandro
Published: June 2022

Having discussed in previous chapters the valuable contribution that an assessment model encompassing human rights, ethical and societal issues can provide to the development and regulation of AI, these concluding remarks address some of the challenges we face in implementing this approach in tangible reality. The focus on future global regulatory scenarios in the field of AI shows how the holistic HRESIA model, which includes the contextualisation of human rights and socio-ethical values in a given area, could be an effective answer for both the countries which have a human rights-based AI regulation and those who do not. In addition, holistic assessment and values-oriented design procedures can build trust in the development of AI, addressing the increasing public concern for invasive and pervasive AI applications, as well as the growing attention of policy makers to the side effects of AI use in the presence of concentration of power in digital services.
Introduction
Authors: Nishi Maiko , Subramanian Suneetha M. , Gupta Himangana
Published: June 2022

This chapter provides a context for discussing the relevance of socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes (SEPLS) to the nexus between biodiversity, health, and sustainable development. It begins with an introduction to the idea of a nexus approach to landscape and seascape management, which can help minimise trade-offs and create synergies among different sectors and various global goals for sustainability. With a view to the multiple benefits derived from SEPLS, which extend beyond biodiversity conservation to human and ecosystem health, the chapter then explores how SEPLS management on the ground can contribute to more sustainable management of natural resources, achievement of global targets for biodiversity and sustainable development, and good health for all. Finally, it describes the scope, objectives, and structure of the book, including an overview of the case studies compiled in the subsequent chapters.
Reducing Commodity-Driven Biodiversity Loss: The Case of Pesticide Use and Impacts on Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes (SEPLs) in Ghana
Authors: Osei-Owusu Yaw , Owusu-Achiaw Raymond , Osei-Owusu Paa Kofi , Atayi Julia
Published: June 2022

Ghana’s Western North and Central Regions are biodiversity-rich landscapes. Cocoa is a major commodity produced in these two regions, accounting for over 50% of Ghana’s cocoa output. As part of the efforts to further improve productivity and ecological health of the landscape, the Government of Ghana initiated the Cocoa Disease and Pests Control Programme primarily to control cocoa pests and diseases, including the use of pesticides. In recent times, however, there has been an upsurge in the use of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs) that have far-reaching consequences on human and ecological health of the cocoa production landscape. To gain a better understanding of pesticide-use patterns on cocoa farms and address HHP-driven biodiversity loss, Conservation Alliance International (CA) conducted a study within the landscape. The study was based on both qualitative and quantitative research approaches to understand pesticide use and resulting impacts on human and ecological health. In all, 306 cocoa farmers were surveyed. Analysis of the data revealed that about 81% of the cocoa farmers use pesticides to address pests and diseases, causing visible impacts on humans and the environment, including skin irritation, eye irritation, and death of pollinators. Pesticide use was exacerbated by the adverse economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Policymakers are therefore advised to take steps to phase out HHPs, promote integrated pest management, and tackle the spread of COVID-19 infections.
Linking Biocultural Memory Conservation and Human Well-Being in Indigenous Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes in the Colombian Pacific Region
Authors: Quintero-Angel Andrés , López-Rosada Andrés , Quintero-Angel Mauricio , Quintero-Angel David , Mendoza-Salazar Diana , Rodríguez-Díaz Sara Catalina , Orjuela-Salazar Sebastian
Published: June 2022

The Colombian Pacific region is one of the most biodiverse areas in the world; however, it is severely threatened by anthropogenic pressures. In addition, armed conflict and poverty are compounding factors causing the loss of biodiversity and cultural identity. In response to this situation, theWounaan-Nonamoriginal people of Puerto Pizario and Santa Rosa de Guayacán declared five Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA) in 2008. We conducted a study to highlight the link between the conservation of biocultural memory and contributions to human well-being, particularly to human health, in indigenous socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes (SEPLS). Since 2013, the research-action-participation methodology has been applied to recover ecological traditional knowledge on how ancestors managed nature and elements associated with their cosmovision. Following the TNC conservation of areas methodology, eight biological and cultural conservation values were identified for the IPAs and 5-year management plans for conservation were formulated. As a result of this process, we created a tool that involves traditional knowledge to administer the total 1850 hectares covered by the five IPAs. We also found that the main challenges faced by indigenous communities in the management of IPAs as an integral part of the indigenous SEPLS are associated with weak organisational and governance processes. Additionally, we identified the main opportunities ecosystem services offer in the IPAs, which enhance the quality of life and health of the original peoples and ecosystems at a regional level. Finally, the making of handicrafts is identified as an opportunity in these SELPS, as it represents an alternative for generating income through sustainable productive chains in biotrade strategies.
SEPLS Well-Being as a Vision: Co-managing for Diversity, Connectivity, and Adaptive Capacity in Xinshe Village, Hualien County, Chinese Taipei
Authors: Karimova Paulina G. , Yan Shao-Yu , Lee Kuang-Chung
Published: June 2022

Since 2016, a 600 hectare “ridge-to-reef” watershed of the Jialang River in Xinshe Village, Hualien County, Chinese Taipei, has been adaptively co-managed by a multi-stakeholder platform uniting two indigenous tribes (Fuxing and Xinshe) and four regional government agencies subordinate to the Council of Agriculture. The Five Perspectives of the Satoyama Initiative formed the core of the Xinshe SEPLS adaptive co-management model. The year 2020 marked the end of the short-term phase (2016–2019) and a transition period to the midterm phase (2021–2026) of the Xinshe “Forest-River-Village-Ocean” Eco-Agriculture Initiative (the Xinshe Initiative). How could the midterm management of the Xinshe Initiative most effectively enhance the Xinshe SEPLS well-being by 2026? To answer this question, we developed a set of 20 Localised Indicators of Resilience in the Xinshe SEPLS, analysed the concept of SEPLS well-being on the basis of the 5R conceptual framework (“ridge-to-reef”, risks, resources, and resilience), and contributed the results of our study to the midterm action plan of the Xinshe Initiative.
“To Take Care of the Land Means Taking Care of Ourselves”: Local Perceptions on Human and Environmental Health in a High Agro-Biodiversity Landscape in the Yucatan Peninsula
Authors: Méndez-López María Elena , Cepeda-González María Fernanda , Rodríguez-Robayo Karla Juliana , Juárez-Téllez Lilian , Rivera-De Velasco Mariana , Peralta-Blanco Rosa Martha , Chan-Chuc Nicolás , Serrano-Ysunza Andrea A. , Riveros-Cañas R. Antonio , Sánchez-Siordia Oscar G. , Proust Sebastien
Published: June 2022

The Forest and Milpa Landscape (FML) is a territory comprising 64 municipalities in the Yucatan Peninsula where the rainforest and the milpa system coexist. The ecosystems that predominate in the FML are sub-deciduous and subtropical evergreen forests, which represent an essential carbon reservoir worldwide. The use of natural resources for food security of FML families is associated with the milpa, which is a system that depends on the rainfall and the soil’s ability to retain water. Within the framework of the 2020–2030 Country Strategy of the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP), 20 indicators associated with the FML’s resilience were evaluated through a participatory approach. The methodological route consisted of adapting the Toolkit for the Indicators of Resilience in Socio-ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes (SEPLS). A topic that generated much concern among participants was human health. The reflection generated around this indicator recognised problems associated with water contamination by agrochemicals and changes in diet, resulting in recurrent diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. The solutions proposed by the small producers are linked to the sustainable management of ecosystems and education on values towards traditional and agroecological food production.
Existence of Zero-Damped Quasinormal Frequencies for Nearly Extremal Black Holes
Authors: Joykutty Jason
Published: June 2022

It has been observed that many spacetimes which feature a near-extremal horizon exhibit the phenomenon of zero-damped modes. This is characterised by the existence of a sequence of quasinormal frequencies which all converge to some purely imaginary number $$i\alpha $$

i
α

in the extremal limit and cluster in a neighbourhood of the line $${{\,\mathrm{Im}\,}}s=\alpha $$

Im

s
=
α

. In this paper, we establish that this property is present for the conformal Klein–Gordon equation on a Reissner–Nordström–de Sitter background. This follows from a similar result that we prove for a class of spherically symmetric black hole spacetimes with a cosmological horizon. We also show that the phenomenon of zero-damped modes is stable to perturbations that arise through adding a potential.
The space of homogeneous probability measures on $$\overline{\Gamma \backslash X}^S_\mathrm{max}$$ is compact
Authors: Daw Christopher , Gorodnik Alexander , Ullmo Emmanuel
Published: June 2022

In this paper we prove that the space of homogeneous probability measures on the maximal Satake compactification of an arithmetic locally symmetric space is compact. As an application, we explain some consequences for the distribution of weakly special subvarieties of Shimura varieties.
Bott–Chern and $$\bar{\partial }$$ harmonic forms on almost Hermitian 4-manifolds
Authors: Holt Tom
Published: June 2022

We prove that on a compact almost Hermitian 4-manifold the space of $${\bar{\partial }}$$

∂

¯

-harmonic (1, 1)-forms always has dimension $$h_{{\bar{\partial }}}^{1,1} = b_- +1$$

h

∂

¯

1
,
1

=

b
-

+
1

or $$b_-$$

b
-

, whilst the space of Bott–Chern harmonic (1, 1)-forms always has dimension $$h_{BC}^{1,1} = b_- +1$$

h

BC

1
,
1

=

b
-

+
1

. We also perform calculations of $$h^{2,1}_{BC}$$

h

BC

2
,
1

and $$h^{1,2}_{BC}$$

h

BC

1
,
2

on the Kodaira–Thurston manifold, thereby providing a full account of when $$h^{p,q}_{BC}$$

h

BC

p
,
q

is or is not invariant of the choice of almost Hermitian metrics. Finally, we introduce a decomposition of the space of $$L^2$$

L
2

functions on all torus bundles over $$S^1$$

S
1

, which has proven useful for solving linear PDEs, and we demonstrate its use in the calculation of $$h^{p,q}_{{\bar{\partial }}}$$

h

∂

¯

p
,
q

.
CXCR4-targeted theranostics in oncology
Authors: Buck Andreas K. , Serfling Sebastian E. , Lindner Thomas , Hänscheid Heribert , Schirbel Andreas , Hahner Stefanie , Fassnacht Martin , Einsele Hermann , Werner Rudolf A.
Published: June 2022

A growing body of literature reports on the upregulation of C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) in a variety of cancer entities, rendering this receptor as suitable target for molecular imaging and endoradiotherapy in a theranostic setting. For instance, the CXCR4-targeting positron emission tomography (PET) agent [68 Ga]PentixaFor has been proven useful for a comprehensive assessment of the current status quo of solid tumors, including adrenocortical carcinoma or small-cell lung cancer. In addition, [68 Ga]PentixaFor has also provided an excellent readout for hematological malignancies, such as multiple myeloma, marginal zone lymphoma, or mantle cell lymphoma. PET-based quantification of the CXCR4 capacities in vivo allows for selecting candidates that would be suitable for treatment using the theranostic equivalent [177Lu]/[90Y]PentixaTher. This CXCR4-directed theranostic concept has been used as a conditioning regimen prior to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and to achieve sufficient anti-lymphoma/-tumor activity in particular for malignant tissues that are highly sensitive to radiation, such as the hematological system. Increasing the safety margin, pretherapeutic dosimetry is routinely performed to determine the optimal activity to enhance therapeutic efficacy and to reduce off-target adverse events. The present review will provide an overview of current applications for CXCR4-directed molecular imaging and will introduce the CXCR4-targeted theranostic concept for advanced hematological malignancies.
A 10-year retrospective observational study on the utility and prescription standards of dexamethasone in pediatric neuro-oncosurgery in a tertiary care center
Authors: Chumbala Na Ayudhaya Anutra , Morrison Scott R. , Kaliaperumal Chandrasekaran , Gallo Pasquale
Published: June 2022

Object

This study aimed to retrospectively assess dexamethasone utility in pediatric CNS tumor patients over a 10-year period, to better understand dosing variability, and highlight optimal practice.

Methods

All pediatric CNS tumor cases managed operatively for a 10-year period at a single center were reviewed. Information was gathered on demographics, dexamethasone doses, course durations, weaning regimes, PPI co-prescription, adverse events, and route of administration. Comparison within these groups was analyzed through use of statistical testing.

Results

One hundred twenty-seven patients received 193 dexamethasone courses. Median age was 7 years, with a median weight of 27.9 kg. Most common tumor type was astrocytoma (24.8%). Median daily dose was 8 mg, with twice-daily dosing most common. Median course duration was 8 days, ranging from 1 to 1103 days. Median weaning duration was 11.5 days. Daily dose was not correlated with patient weight and the median daily dose per kg was 0.2319 mg/kg. Incidence of adverse effects was 14.5% across all course lengths, with weight gain most common. The short-term course duration (<14 days) had the lowest adverse event incidence, with direct correlation between course length and adverse effect incidence. Dexamethasone dose per kg was not significantly different between patients with and without adverse effects. No relationship was noted between adverse effects incidence and administration route (intravenous compared to oral). 64.2% of patients received concurrent PPI with 35.8% receiving no PPI, with 1 gastrointestinal side effect noted in the PPI-receiving population.

Conclusions

Large variation was seen in practice, with prescriptions appearing based on clinician preference and symptom severity rather than patient age or weight. Future guidelines should consider lower dose regimens than are currently presented with less frequent dosing as these may benefit quality of life. Weaning period can be relatively rapid for most patients, taking place in 2–3 days. PPI co-prescription does not seem to add significant benefit. We recommend using a standardized guideline of 0.2 mg/kg/day (max 8 mg/day) given OD or BD, with PPI cover where necessary. For acute presentations, we recommend limiting dexamethasone treatment to <14 days. These recommendations can be adjusted for individual cases to yield optimal results.
A journey towards the forbidden zone: a new, cold, UHP unit in the Dora-Maira Massif (Western Alps)
Authors: Manzotti Paola , Schiavi Federica , Nosenzo Francesco , Pitra Pavel , Ballèvre Michel
Published: June 2022

The distribution of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism (UHP) at the scale of a mountain belt is of prime importance for deciphering its past subduction history. In the Western Alps, coesite has been recognized in the southern Dora-Maira Massif, in the lens-shaped Brossasco-Isasca Unit, but has not been found up to now in the other parts of the massif. We report the discovery of a newUHPunit in the northern Dora-Maira Massif (Western Alps), named Chasteiran Unit. It is only a few tens of metres thick and consists of graphite-rich, garnet–chloritoid micaschists, whose protoliths may be black shales of Silurian age. Garnet inclusions (chloritoid, rutile) and its growth zoning allow to precisely model theP–Tevolution. Coesite crystals, which are pristine or partially transformed to palisade quartz occur as inclusions in the garnet outer cores. According to thermodynamic modelling, garnet displays a continuous record of growth during the prograde increase inPandT(25–27 kbar 470–500 °C) (stage 1), up to the coesite stability field (27–28 kbar 510–530 °C) (stage 2), as well as sub-isothermal decompression of about 10 kbar (down to 15 kbar 500–515 °C) (stage 3). The main regional, composite, foliation, marked by chloritoid and rutile, began to develop during this stage, and was then overprinted by chlorite–ilmenite (stage 4). The Chasteiran Unit is discontinuously exposed in the immediate hangingwall of the Pinerolo Unit, and it is located far away from, and without physical links to the classicUHPBrossasco-Isasca Unit. Moreover, it records a different, much colder,P–Tevolution, showing that different slices were detached from the downgoing subduction slab. The Chasteiran Unit is the fourth and the coldest AlpineUHPunit known so far in the entire Alpine belt. ItsP–Tconditions are comparable to the ones of the Tian Shan coesite–chloritoid-bearing rocks.
Core values of patients with advanced cancer considering participation in an early-phase clinical trial: a qualitative study
Authors: van Gurp Jelle L. P. , van Lent Liza G. G. , Stoel Nicole , van der Rijt Carin C. D. , de Jonge Maja J. A. , Pulleman Saskia M. , van Weert Julia C. M. , Hasselaar Jeroen
Published: June 2022

Objective

This article identifies the core values that play a role in patients’ decision-making process about participation in early-phase clinical cancer trials.

Methods

Face-to-face, semi-structured serial interviews (n = 22) were performed with thirteen patients with advanced cancer recruited in two Dutch specialized cancer centers. In a cyclic qualitative analysis process, open and axial coding of the interviews finally led to an overview of the values that are woven into patients’ common language about cancer and clinical trials.

Results

Six core values were described, namely, acceptance creates room for reconsideration of values, reconciliation with one’s fate, hope, autonomy, body preservation, and altruism. Previously found values in advanced cancer, such as acceptance, hope, autonomy, and altruism, were further qualified. Reconciliation with one’s fate and body preservation were highlighted as new insights for early-phase clinical cancer trial literature.

Conclusions

This article furthers the understanding of core values that play a role in the lives and decision-making of patients with advanced cancer who explore participation in early-phase clinical cancer trials. These values do not necessarily have to be compatible with one another, making tragic choices necessary. Understanding the role of core values can contribute to professional sensitivity regarding what motivates patients’ emotions, thoughts, and decisions and help patients reflect on and give words to their values and preferences. It supports mutual understanding and dialog from which patients can make decisions according to their perspectives on a good life for themselves and their fellows in the context of participation in an early-phase clinical cancer trial.
Distance to home does not influence treatment success during and after inpatient treatment in adolescents with anorexia nervosa
Authors: Meule Adrian , Kolar David R. , Naab Silke , Voderholzer Ulrich
Published: June 2022

Current treatment guidelines recommend that inpatients with eating disorders—particularly adolescents with anorexia nervosa—should receive treatment at facilities within close distance to their home. However, whether distance to home actually influences short- and long-term treatment outcome in adolescents with anorexia nervosa has not been investigated yet. We re-analyzed data at admission, discharge, and 1-year follow up from a recent study with N = 142 female, adolescent inpatients with anorexia nervosa. Distance to home did not moderate changes in body weight, eating disorder symptoms, depressive symptoms, compulsive exercise, and life satisfaction. This is the first analysis that indicates that specialized inpatient treatment for adolescents with anorexia nervosa is effective both close to and away from home.
Sex and gender differences in migraines: a narrative review
Authors: Rossi Maria Francesca , Tumminello Antonio , Marconi Matteo , Gualano Maria Rosaria , Santoro Paolo Emilio , Malorni Walter , Moscato Umberto
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Gender medicine is a new medical approach aimed at the study of the differences between women and men in terms of prevention, diagnosis, and the outcome of all diseases. Migraines are among these. They represent the most common neurological illness; they are most prevalent in adults between 20 and 50 years of age and are three to four times more frequent in woman than in men. Affecting people in working age, migraines are a problem that strongly impacts the psychophysical health and productivity of workers, regardless of the specific job task they have.

Methods

A narrative review was performed, searching for the most relevant articles describing gender differences in people suffering from migraines, and particularly in workers.

Results

Migraine global prevalence is 20.7% in women and 9.7% in men whereas prevalence in Italy is 32.9% for women and only 13.0% for men. This difference is partly explained by hormonal differences, as well as by differences in brain structure, genetic polymorphisms and neuronal pathways. Sex differences may also play a role in the progression from episodic to chronic migraine. In workers, migraines are mostly associated with strenuous physical work in men, whilst migraines triggered by night shifts, lack of sleep, or irregular sleep patterns are more common in women.

Conclusions

To this day, the reasons of sex/gender disparity for migraine are still obscure. However, migraines, chronic migraine in particular, have a negative impact on the lives of all individuals affected by this disease, but particularly in women in which family cares and working activity are often superimposed. Migraine prevention strategies should be planned in workers through the occupational health physician.
Retraction Maps: A Seed of Geometric Integrators
Authors: Barbero-Liñán María , de Diego David Martín
Published: June 2022

The classical notion of retraction map used to approximate geodesics is extended and rigorously defined to become a powerful tool to construct geometric integrators and it is called discretization map. Using the geometry of the tangent and cotangent bundles, we are able to tangently and cotangent lift such a map so that these lifts inherit the same properties as the original one and they continue to be discretization maps. In particular, the cotangent lift of a discretization map is a natural symplectomorphism, what plays a key role for constructing geometric integrators and symplectic methods. As a result, a wide range of (higher-order) numerical methods are recovered and canonically constructed by using different discretization maps, as well as some operations with Lagrangian submanifolds.
A large family with MSH3-related polyposis
Authors: Aelvoet Arthur S. , Hoekman Daniël R. , Redeker Bert J. W. , Weegenaar Jitske , Dekker Evelien , van Noesel Carel J. M. , Duijkers Floor A. M.
Published: June 2022

Biallelic MSH3 germline variants are a rare cause of adenomatous polyposis as yet reported in two small families only. We describe the phenotype of a third family, the largest thus far, with adenomatous polyposis related to compound heterozygous MSH3 pathogenic variants. The index patient was a 55-years old male diagnosed with rectal cancer and adenomatous polyposis (cumulatively 52 polyps), with a family history of colorectal polyposis with unknown cause. Next-generation sequencing and copy number variation analysis of a panel of genes associated with colorectal cancer and polyposis revealed compound heterozygous germline pathogenic variants in the MSH3 gene. Nine out of 11 siblings were genotyped. Three siblings carried the same compound heterozygous MSH3 variants. Colonoscopy screening showed predominantly right-sided adenomatous polyposis in all compound heterozygous siblings, with a cumulative number of adenomas ranging from 18 to 54 in an average of four colonoscopies, and age at first adenoma detection ranging from 46 to 59. Microsatellite analysis demonstrated alterations at selected tetranucleotide repeats (EMAST) in DNA retrieved from the rectal adenocarcinoma, colorectal adenomas as well as of normal colonic mucosa. Gastro-duodenoscopy did not reveal adenomas in any of the four patients. Extra-intestinal findings included a ductal adenocarcinoma in ectopic breast tissue in one female sibling at the age of 46, and liver cysts in three affected siblings. None of the three heterozygous or wild type siblings who previously underwent colonoscopy had adenomatous polyposis. We conclude that biallelic variants in MSH3 are a rare cause of attenuated adenomatous polyposis with an onset in middle age.
The impact of selected input and output factors on measuring research efficiency of university research fields: insights from a purpose-, field-, and method-specific perspective
Authors: Ahn Heinz , Clermont Marcel , Langner Julia
Published: June 2022

The measurement of universities’ efficiency is gaining importance due to the increasing competitive pressure. As the results of such a measurement depend especially on the included input and output factors, it is essential to select them carefully to generate valid results. Against this background, we analyze the impact of including selected input and output factors on measuring the research efficiency of university research fields by applying best-practice frontier benchmarking methods. Based on a standard scenario, we consider the additional inclusion of expenditures, research grants, and bibliometric indicators. In doing so, we take account of different research fields as well as methods and purposes of measuring efficiency. Regarding the latter aspect, we distinguish between the computed efficiency degrees and the resulting ranking. We observe that the additional input and output factors have a quite heterogeneous impact on the respective evaluation criteria. The corresponding findings are relatively robust with respect to the research fields and methods considered. Our results provide guidance for evaluators as well as university and political decision-makers.