bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tilapia as a model fish for biomonitoring of metal pollution in dams associated with mining watersheds: contrasting diagnosis from different tissues and health risk assessment
Authors: Páez-Osuna Federico , Espinoza Aldivar Castro , Figueroa Eduardo Tirado , Saucedo Barrón César J. , Bergés-Tiznado Magdalena E.
Published: September 2024

Tilapia is a model fish species used as a pollution biomonitor due to its tolerance and availability in many contaminated sites. Blue tilapia Oreochromis aureus specimens (n = 320) were collected in eleven dams influenced by mining in the SE Gulf of California region (dams 1, 2 and, 3 comprise 55 mining sites; dam 4 comprises 8; dams 6, 8, 10, and 11, ≤ 6; and dams 5, 7, and 9 include 19, 20, and 16 mining sites, respectively). Cadmium, Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations were analyzed in the muscle, liver, gills, and guts to identify metal pollution and evaluate risks and seasonal changes. The distinct tissues exhibited different metal accumulation capacities, therefore allowed develop a diagnosis comparative between the eleven dams. In general, metal concentrations were higher in dams 1, 2, 5, and 9, which are associated with more mining sites in their sub-basins. The four metals exhibited the highest levels in the tilapia liver in dams 1 and 2, which can be related to the present and past mining activity in the lower watershed (55 sites) and the geothermal activity in these dams. In general, Zn exhibited the highest level in the tilapia livers from dams 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10 compared to the maximum mean (220 µg/g) concentrations previously recorded. The non-carcinogenic risks indicated that the Pb risk was enhanced when the intake was ≥ 231.5 g week−1 of tilapia muscle, indicating a potential risk of adverse health effects for the entire population.
Constraining mapping class group homomorphisms using finite subgroups
Authors: Chen Lei , Lanier Justin
Published: September 2024

We classify homomorphisms from mapping class groups by using arguments involving finite subgroups. First, we give a new proof of a result of Aramayona–Souto that all homomorphisms between certain mapping class groups of closed surfaces are trivial. Second, we show that only finitely many mapping class groups of closed surfaces have nontrivial homomorphisms to $$\text {Homeo}(\mathbb {S}^n)$$

Homeo
(

S

n

)

for any n, where $$\mathbb {S}^n$$

S

n

is the n-sphere. We also effectivize this result for small values of n; for instance, we prove that every homomorphism from $$\text {Mod}(S_g)$$

Mod
(

S
g

)

to $$\text {Homeo}(\mathbb {S}^2)$$

Homeo
(

S

2

)

or $$\text {Homeo}(\mathbb {S}^3)$$

Homeo
(

S

3

)

is trivial if $$g\ge 3$$

g
≥
3

, extending a result of Franks–Handel.
The Autism Program Environment Rating Scale in Swedish Primary School: Cultural Adaptation and Content Validation
Authors: Wenneborg Klara , Pettersson Roll Lise , Bölte Sven , Odom Samuel , Bejnö Hampus
Published: September 2024

There is a recognized need to improve inclusive learning environments for autistic children in primary school settings in Sweden. This study aimed to translate, cross-culturally adapt, and assess the content validity of the Swedish primary school version of the Autism Program Environment Scale (APERS), originally developed to evaluate autism program quality in educational settings in the United States. Following the translation into Swedish and the first cultural adaptation of the APERS, a content panel group of 14 professionals rated its content validity. Four of the content panel members also participated in individual interviews that provided a qualitative evaluation of the instrument’s content validity. Finally, the authors piloted the APERS in 10 Swedish primary school classrooms to assess its feasibility. The ratings and qualitative information from the content panel members indicated a substantial need for the Swedish APERS in primary school, resulting in the culturally adapted APERS-Primary-Sweden (SE). The instrument demonstrated a high level of cross-cultural content validity for assessing the quality of the learning environment for students with autism in Swedish primary school settings. The pilot testing of the instrument resulted in further cultural adaptations. In conclusion, APERS-Primary-SE is a comprehensive scale that can be used to assess the quality of primary school learning environments for children with autism in Sweden. Further research is needed to evaluate the adapted instrument’s effectiveness in improving the learning environment in Swedish primary school classrooms.
Multiferroic properties of electrospun CoFe2O4–(Ba0.95Ca0.05)(Ti0.89Sn0.11)O3 nanocomposites for magnetoelectric and magnetic field sensing applications
Authors: Hadouch Youness , Abdallah Nayad , Mezzane Daoud , Amjoud M’barek , Dolocan Voicu , Hoummada Khalid , Novak Nikola , Razumnaya Anna , Rozic Brigita , Fisinger Val , Ursic Hana , Laguta Valentin , Kutnjak Zdravko , El Marssi Mimoun
Published: September 2024

Multiferroic CoFe2O4–Ba0.95Ca0.05Ti0.89Sn0.11O3 composite nanofibers (CFO–BCTSn NFs) were synthesized using a sol–gel electrospinning method. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the morphology of the composites, with fiber diameters ranging from 120 to 150 nm. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the structure of the nanofibers, while X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy verified the formation of the spinel structure of CFO and the perovskite structure of BCTSn, with no additional phases detected. The magnetic properties of the CFO–BCTSn NFs were demonstrated by magnetic hysteresis loops (M-H), and piezoresponse force microscopy confirmed their piezoelectricity. Magnetoelectric coupling was evidenced by comparing the M-H hysteresis loops of electrically poled and unpoled CFO–BCTSn NFs samples. These composite nanofibers have the potential to be utilized in innovative, lead-free magnetoelectric and magnetic field sensing technologies at the nanoscale.
A multi-lingual sign language recognition system using machine learning
Authors: Najib Fatma M.
Published: September 2024

Recently, automatic sign language recognition field gets a great attention. Machine learning algorithms are mainly used to recognize hand gestures. Most of recent studies train their machine learning model using a specific sign language of a specific country such as the American Sign Language. In this paper, we propose a multi-lingual sign language system based machine learning that is called Multi-lingual Sign Languages Interpreter (MSLI) system. MSLI trains a machine learning model based on hand signs of multiple languages. It can detect the language of the input signs and their labels. In a case of input testing signs with the same language, the proposed system can provide two-steps recognition, where it only detects the language of the first sign, and then the rest signs are tested according to the recognized language. Also, MSLI can provide separate classification of signs per each language. Experiments were performed using 11 datasets with different languages. Separate and combined classification was performed on the input data. Experimental results show the accuracy of the proposed system. Training accuracy of the proposed system over most of the used separate different sign language datasets is approximately ranged from 90 to 100%. Also, most classification accuracy results of the test data of the separate datasets exceeded 90%. The combined classification of proposed MSLI archived training accuracy of 95.87% and testing accuracy of 92.33%.
A computer-vision based framework for virtual 3D garment reconstruction
Authors: Dang Ying , Ruan Wan Tao , Xi Long , Tang Wen
Published: September 2024

Existing 3D garment reconstruction methods are difficult to implement for online fashion design and e-commerce or special applications. This paper proposes a novel computer-vision framework for 3D garment digital reconstruction, which aims to reconstruct high-quality and realistic virtual 3D garments with fabric mechanic properties for 3D virtual try-on. The new segmentation scheme is proposed to separate the 3D garment point clouds from background points, which is suitable for 3D human shapes and is adaptive for different 3D garment models in different scenes. The new Statistical Outlier Removal algorithm and the learning-based method PointCleanNet are combined to remove noise and outliers in 3D garment point clouds, which provides high-fidelity and high-quality 3D garment point clouds. The 3D garment meshes are then reconstructed from their corresponding point clouds with a modified rolling ball algorithm. Finally, the meshes are improved and converted into physics-based virtual try-on 3D garments with fabric mechanic properties added, which enables the assessment of different body shapes with varied sizes for the same reconstructed 3D garment. Comparison experiments demonstrate that our framework achieves high-quality and realistic 3D garment reconstruction and accurate 3D virtual try-on from 2D garment images. We also demonstrate the proposed framework on a large range of various garments to show this approach has a great potential for garment future technology, such as online garment shopping, garment design and manufacturing.
Ethnicity in neuro-oncology research: How are we doing and how can we do better?
Authors: Baig Mirza Asfand , Fayez Feras , Rashed Sami , Burn Layla , Evans Zachariah M. , Karagozlu Zekiye , Vastani Amisha , Lavrador Jose Pedro , Vergani Francesco , Gullan Richard , Bhangoo Ranjeev , Ashkan Keyoumars
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This study systematically reviews and meta-analyses the extent of ethnic minority representation in neuro-oncology Phase III and IV clinical trials, explores the effect of ethnicity on outcomes, and identifies predictors for the inclusion of ethnicity data in publications.

Methods

Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive literature search across multiple databases, on Phase III and IV trials in neuro-oncology that reported on adult and/or paediatric subjects. Through meta-analysis, we synthesized information on overall survival, event-free survival, and the incidence of adverse outcomes across ethnicities.

Results

From 448 identified articles, a fraction reported ethnicity data, with an even smaller number providing outcome data stratified by ethnicity. Most study participants were identified as White, underscoring a significant underrepresentation of minorities. Our meta-analysis did not reveal significant outcome differences by ethnicity, which may be attributed to the limited and inadequate reporting of data. Predictors for including ethnicity data were identified, including trials in North America(OR2.39, 95%CI 1.18–5.12, p < 0.02),trials of drugs or biologic agents(OR 5.28, 95%CI 1.43–3.42, p < 0.05),and trials funded by charities(OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.04–5.27, p < 0.05) or pharmaceutical companies(OR 3.98, 95% CI 1.60–10.0, p < 0.005).

Conclusion

The underrepresentation of minorities in neuro-oncology clinical trials and the inadequately characterized impact of ethnicity on treatment outcomes highlight a critical need for more inclusive recruitment strategies and improved reporting standards. Change is necessary to ensure trials reflect the diversity of the patient population, which is essential for developing tailored strategies and improving outcomes. Future research should prioritize understanding the role of ethnicity in neuro-oncology to facilitate personalized treatment approaches.
Determinants of long-term survival in patients with IDH-mutant gliomas
Authors: Katzendobler Sophie , Niedermeyer Sebastian , Blobner Jens , Trumm Christoph , Harter Patrick N. , von Baumgarten Louisa , Stoecklein Veit M. , Tonn Joerg-Christian , Weller Michael , Thon Niklas , Weller Jonathan
Published: September 2024

Background

Survival times of patients with IDH-mutant gliomas are variable and can extend to decades. Many studies provide progression-free rather than overall survival times and prognostic factors remain ill-defined. Here we explored characteristics of short- and long-term survivors within a cohort of patients with extended follow-up.

Methods

This single-center, case-control study included 86 patients diagnosed between 1998 and 2023 who either died within 6 years after diagnosis or survived at least 15 years. Patient characteristics and prognostic factors were stratified by short- (< 6 years) versus long-term (≥ 15 years) survival.

Results

Forty-seven patients (55%) diagnosed with astrocytoma and 39 patients (45%) with oligodendroglioma were included retrospectively. Median follow-up of the survivors was 16.6 years (range 15-28.9). Thirty-four deaths (40%) had been reported at database closure. Long-term survival was associated with CNS WHO grade 2 (p < 0.01), smaller tumor volumes (p = 0.01), lack of contrast enhancement (p < 0.01), wait-and-scan strategies (p < 0.01) and female sex (p = 0.04). In multivariate analyses for oligodendroglioma, larger T2 tumor volumes were associated with shorter survival (HR 1.02; 95% CI 1.01–1.05; p = 0.04). In patients with astrocytoma, lack of contrast enhancement (HR 0.38; 95% CI 0.15–0.94; p = 0.04) and wait-and-scan strategies (HR 5.75; 95% CI 1.66–26.61; p = 0.01) were associated with longer survival.

Conclusion

Large T2 tumor volume and contrast enhancement may be important risk factors for shorter survival, while age might be of lesser importance. Wait-and-scan strategies may yield excellent long-term survival in some patients with astrocytoma.
Incommensurability, the sequence argument, and the Pareto principle
Authors: Arrhenius Gustaf , Stefánsson H. Orri
Published: September 2024

Parfit (Theoria 82:110–127, 2016) responded to the Sequence Argument for the Repugnant Conclusion by introducing imprecise equality. However, Parfit’s notion of imprecise equality lacked structure. Hájek and Rabinowicz (2022) improved on Parfit’s proposal in this regard, by introducing a notion of degrees of incommensurability. Although Hájek and Rabinowicz’s proposal is a step forward, and may help solve many paradoxes, it can only avoid the Repugnant Conclusion at great cost. First, there is a sequential argument for the Repugnant Conclusion that uses weaker and intuitively more compelling assumptions than the Sequence Argument, and which Hájek and Rabinowicz’s proposal only undermines, in a principled way, by allowing for implausible weight to be put on the disvalue of inequality. Second, if Hájek and Rabinowicz do put such implausible weight on the disvalue of inequality, then they will have to accept that a population A is not worse than another same sized population B even though everyone in B is better off than anyone in A.
Family Check-Up Online: Effects of a Virtual Randomized Trial on Parent Stress, Parenting, and Child Outcomes in Early Adolescence
Authors: Mauricio Anne Marie , Hails Katherine A. , Caruthers Allison S. , Connell Arin M. , Stormshak Elizabeth A.
Published: September 2024

We adapted the Family Check-Up Online (FCU-O) (1) to support families coping with pandemic-related stressors to prevent behavioral and emotional problems among middle school youth and (2) for smartphone delivery to increase access and reach during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study evaluated the direct and indirect effects of the adapted FCU-O at 4-months post-baseline. The FCU-O combines online parenting support with telephone coaching. Participants were primary caregivers of children ages 10 to 14 years. Eligibility included endorsing depression on the PHQ-2 or significant stress on a 4-item version of the Perceived Stress Scale. We randomly assigned participants to the adapted FCU-O (N = 74) or a waitlist control condition (N = 87). Participants predominantly self-identified as female (95%), 42.77 years old on average, and White (84.6%). Outcomes included caregiver reports of perceived stress and parenting, and youth conduct problems and depressive symptoms. Using a multilevel modeling approach, we tested intent-to-treat intervention effects at 4-months, with time points nested within participants. The FCU-O reduced caregiver stress and improved proactive parenting and limit setting but had no effects on youth outcomes. Effect sizes were small to moderate (Cohen’s d ranged from .37 to .57). We examined indirect effects on youth outcomes at 4-months via changes in caregiver stress and parenting at 2-months. Mediation analyses suggested indirect effects on youth depressive symptoms via reductions in caregiver stress and increases in proactive parenting. Results indicate the FCU-O has potential as a public health intervention for families facing extreme stressors such as those during the COVID-19 pandemic. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT 05117099.
A Linear Analysis of Torsional Alfvén Waves in Open Twisted Divergent Magnetic Flux Tubes for Coronal Heating
Authors: Pradhan Bivek , Mishra Gobinda Chandra , Karmakar Pralay Kumar , Deka Utpal
Published: September 2024

The torsional Alfvén wave is highly regarded as the carrier of the energy from the photosphere to the corona in the solar atmosphere. This paper presents a comprehensive linear analysis of the wave behavior and energy transfer within an open, twisted, divergent magnetic flux tube configuration, considering the impact of wave guide structure on the propagation of these waves using the magneto-hydrodynamic approach. The study shows that waves with frequencies between 0.001 Hz and 1 Hz can effectively penetrate the transition region, with the most efficient energy transfer occurring in the 0.1 Hz to 1 Hz frequency range. The research findings suggest that waves with certain intermediate frequencies are able to transmit energy to the coronal region of the Sun, contributing to its active heating.
Multiple belief states in social learning: an evidence tokens model
Authors: Lawry Jonathan
Published: September 2024

In social learning the way in which agents represent their beliefs motivates and constrains both how they learn individually from the environment and socially from one another. Assuming that agents can only hold beliefs drawn from a finite set of possible belief states, in this paper we investigate the effect that varying the number of those belief states has on the efficacy of social learning. To this end we propose an evidence tokens model for social learning, in which agents transfer tokens between competing hypotheses on the basis both of evidence that they receive directly and of information received from their peers. Using agent-based simulations and difference equations we show that this model is effective in social learning for boundedly rational agents and scales well to the case where there are multiple hypotheses under consideration. We show that varying the number of belief states (as determined by the number of evidence tokens available) has a clear effect both on accuracy and on the time taken for the agent population to reach agreement about which hypothesis is true, so that the optimal belief granularity in social learning is strongly influenced by macro properties of the whole population governing the way that agents interact with each other and the environment.
A new species of Neoergasilus Yin 1956 (Copepoda: Cyclopoida: Ergasilidae) parasitic on the catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) (Siluriformes: Clariidae) from South Africa
Authors: Fikiye Precious P. , Van As Liesl L. , Truter Marliese , Smit Nico J. , Hadfield Kerry A.
Published: September 2024

Twenty-one specimens of an ergasilid were collected from the gills of the sharptooth catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell), from the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The first leg and antennae morphology conformed to the genus Neoergasilus Yin, 1956. While the invasive Neoergasilus japonicus (Harada, 1930) is the only Neoergasilus species that has been reported from Africa, the combination of several characteristics, separates the Eastern Cape specimens from N. japonicus and the other eight Neoergasilus congeners. These include an inflated cephalothorax; the presence of an oval dorsal ornamentation anterior to the cephalosome; a spine on the posterodistal margin of the first antennal segment; a cone-like process at the proximal margin of the second antennal segment; a knob-like process on the inner distal margin of the first exopodal segment of leg 1 and two forked spines on the third exopodal segment; leg 4 bearing a 2-segmented exopod and 3-segmented endopod; a single-segmented fifth leg with a seta extending from the base of the pedigerous somite and three unequal setae on its free segment; and a median caudal rami seta with an array of spines. Supporting genetic data were generated using two partial ribosomal RNA genes, 18S and 28S, and one partial mitochondrial DNA gene, COI. The Eastern Cape species is here proposed as new to science and described as Neoergasilus africanusn. sp. (Ergasilidae: Cyclopoida). This is the first Neoergasilus species described from the sharptooth catfish and from the southern hemisphere. Additionally, a key to all the species of this genus is provided.
FastComposer: Tuning-Free Multi-subject Image Generation with Localized Attention
Authors: Xiao Guangxuan , Yin Tianwei , Freeman William T. , Durand Frédo , Han Song
Published: September 2024

Diffusion models excel at text-to-image generation, especially in subject-driven generation for personalized images. However, existing methods are inefficient due to the subject-specific fine-tuning, which is computationally intensive and hampers efficient deployment. Moreover, existing methods struggle with multi-subject generation as they often blend identity among subjects. We present FastComposer which enables efficient, personalized, multi-subject text-to-image generation without fine-tuning. FastComposer uses subject embeddings extracted by an image encoder to augment the generic text conditioning in diffusion models, enabling personalized image generation based on subject images and textual instructions with only forward passes. To address the identity blending problem in the multi-subject generation, FastComposer proposes cross-attention localization supervision during training, enforcing the attention of reference subjects localized to the correct regions in the target images. Naively conditioning on subject embeddings results in subject overfitting. FastComposer proposes delayed subject conditioning in the denoising step to maintain both identity and editability in subject-driven image generation. FastComposer generates images of multiple unseen individuals with different styles, actions, and contexts. It achieves 300

$$\times $$

×

–2500

$$\times $$

×

speedup compared to fine-tuning-based methods and requires zero extra storage for new subjects. FastComposer paves the way for efficient, personalized, and high-quality multi-subject image creation. Code, model, and dataset are available here (https://github.com/mit-han-lab/fastcomposer).
SchoolHEAT: Racial and Ethnic Inequity in School Temperature
Authors: Jones Kelly K. , Vijay Varsha , Zenk Shannon N.
Published: September 2024

Exposure to high environmental temperature is detrimental to health through multiple pathways. This paper describes disparities in school-based high-temperature exposure at metropolitan schools in the United States. Using school location and sociodemographic data from the National Center for Education Statistics, neighborhood data from the US Census Bureau, and land surface temperature (LST) data from the Aqua Earth-observing satellite mission, we find that for every 10% more Black or Hispanic residents in the neighborhood, schools have LST 0.25 °C and 0.38 °C hotter, respectively. When the Black or Hispanic student population is greater than the neighborhood population, LST is an additional 0.20 °C and 0.40 °C for each 10% increase in students over neighborhood population, respectively. Black and Hispanic students are overrepresented in the hottest schools, making up 58.7% of students in the hottest 20% of schools, compared to only 30.0% of students in the coolest 20% of schools.
Leader ideology and state commitment to multilateral treaties
Authors: Vignoli Valerio , Onderco Michal
Published: September 2024

The existing literature argues that the left is generally more supportive of multilateralism in foreign policy than the right. However, the impact of ideology on state commitment to multilateral cooperation have not yet been empirically tested adequately. We assess the presence of such a left–right divide on state commitment to multilateral treaties employing an original dataset, containing all the available information about the ratification of the multilateral treaties deposited with the UN Secretary General since 1945. Our results indicate that indeed countries led by left-wing leaders are generally faster at ratifying treaties than those led by right-wing leaders. However, the association between leader ideology and commitment to multilateral treaties is substantially conditioned by regime type and the international context. In fact, we find robust evidence of a significant gap in ratification duration between states led by left-wing and right-wing leaders in democracies but not in other regime types, and during the Cold War but not after. Through such findings, this article provides a contribution to the debate on the impact of ideology on international relations and the drivers of global support for multilateralism.
Can AI-Generated Clinical Vignettes in Japanese Be Used Medically and Linguistically?
Authors: Yanagita Yasutaka , Yokokawa Daiki , Uchida Shun , Li Yu , Uehara Takanori , Ikusaka Masatomi
Published: September 2024

Background

Creating clinical vignettes requires considerable effort. Recent developments in generative artificial intelligence (AI) for natural language processing have been remarkable and may allow for the easy and immediate creation of diverse clinical vignettes.

Objective

In this study, we evaluated the medical accuracy and grammatical correctness of AI-generated clinical vignettes in Japanese and verified their usefulness.

Methods

Clinical vignettes were created using the generative AI model GPT-4–0613. The input prompts for the clinical vignettes specified the following seven elements: (1) age, (2) sex, (3) chief complaint and time course since onset, (4) physical findings, (5) examination results, (6) diagnosis, and (7) treatment course. The list of diseases integrated into the vignettes was based on 202 cases considered in the management of diseases and symptoms in Japan’s Primary Care Physicians Training Program. The clinical vignettes were evaluated for medical and Japanese-language accuracy by three physicians using a five-point scale. A total score of 13 points or above was defined as “sufficiently beneficial and immediately usable with minor revisions,” a score between 10 and 12 points was defined as “partly insufficient and in need of modifications,” and a score of 9 points or below was defined as “insufficient.”

Results

Regarding medical accuracy, of the 202 clinical vignettes, 118 scored 13 points or above, 78 scored between 10 and 12 points, and 6 scored 9 points or below. Regarding Japanese-language accuracy, 142 vignettes scored 13 points or above, 56 scored between 10 and 12 points, and 4 scored 9 points or below. Overall, 97% (196/202) of vignettes were available with some modifications.

Conclusion

Overall, 97% of the clinical vignettes proved practically useful, based on confirmation and revision by Japanese medical physicians. Given the significant effort required by physicians to create vignettes without AI, using GPT is expected to greatly optimize this process.
Eliten der Digitalisierung. Führungswechsel in der deutschen Wirtschaft?
Authors: Hubrich Lion , Staab Philipp
Published: September 2024

Die Digitalisierung der Wirtschaft sorgt für eine Dynamisierung der politischen Ökonomie. Neue und etablierte Akteur:innen konkurrieren um die Kontrolle digitalisierter Wertschöpfungsketten. Der vorliegende Beitrag unternimmt eine erste Strukturanalyse der Eliten dieses Feldes in Deutschland. Für die Untersuchung werden Lebensläufe und Netzwerke von 254 Personen analysiert, die Schlüsselpositionen im Kontext der Digitalisierung der deutschen Wirtschaft einnehmen. Es wird geprüft, inwiefern die Koordinations- und Personalstruktur des Feldes von Logiken der Transnationalisierung und Finanzialisierung geprägt ist, die für die digitale Ökonomie leitend sind. An einigen Stellen lässt sich eine Anpassung von Reproduktionsstrategien an die veränderten Spielregeln der Digitalisierung beobachten: so bei der zunehmenden Verbreitung kurzer Auslandsaufenthalte oder beim Bedeutungsgewinn finanzialisierter Managementkompetenz in der New Economy. Die Grundpfeiler der deutschen Elitenreproduktion bleiben jedoch unangetastet. Im Gegensatz zu soziologischen Erwägungen, die schon im Kontext der Globalisierung einen Bedeutungsverlust nationaler Eliten erwarteten, zeigt sich: Erstens besteht in Deutschlands digitalisierter Wirtschaft ein nationales industrielles Netzwerk von Spitzenmanager:innen fort, welches über Aufsichtsräte sowie Konsultations- und Verbandsgremien integriert ist. Zweitens konnten kaum Ausländer:innen in die digitale Elite aufrücken und finden prägende Karriereschritte überwiegend im Inland statt. Drittens dominieren weiterhin charakteristische Merkmale der deutschen Elitenformation – wie Hauskarrieren, das Studium an deutschsprachigen Massenuniversitäten oder die Möglichkeit von Karrieren, die auf technischer Kompetenz beruhen. Diese Ergebnisse sprechen dafür, dass die angestammten Eliten der deutschen Wirtschaft durch eine inkrementelle Anpassung ihrer Reproduktionsstrategien ihre Positionen auch im digitalen Kapitalismus behalten.
Perspectives of healthcare providers on osteoporosis, falls and fracture risk: a systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies
Authors: Cho Catherine , Bak Grace , Sumpton Daniel , Richards Bethan , Sherrington Catherine
Published: September 2024

Objective

Osteoporosis and falls are major risk factors for osteoporotic fractures, with significant detriment to patients’ quality of life. We aimed to describe healthcare provider (HCP) perspectives and experiences in the diagnosis, management and prevention of osteoporosis, falls and fractures obtained through primary qualitative research.

Methods

Thematic synthesis was performed on articles identified through a search of electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsychINFO and CINAHL), which were searched from inception to May 2023.

Results

Twenty-seven studies including 1662 HCPs, including general practitioners (GPs), physicians, surgeons, physiotherapists (PTs), occupational therapists (OTs), pharmacists and nurses, were included, with identification of six themes: overshadowed as a disease entity, uncertainty in decision making, frustration with interdisciplinary and systemic tension, avoiding medical paternalism, desire for improved care and embracing the responsibility.

Conclusion

Osteoporotic fracture and fall prevention in routine clinical care is hampered by inadequate priority and lack of perceived connection with morbidity and mortality, deficits in interdisciplinary collaboration, lack of clinical confidence and health resourcing. However, HCPs acknowledge their role in promoting healthy ageing, thus providing support through appropriate continuing education, resourcing and public health campaigns that are significant future directions, which may improve osteoporotic fracture prevention.
Dissolution Behaviors of Recycled Cement Paste and Lime in EAF Slag Under Static Conditions
Authors: Yang Mingrui , Yan Zhiming , Li Zushu
Published: September 2024

Recycled cement paste (RCP) is a CaO-rich resource that is recycled from waste concrete and waste cement. For reducing environmental impact and promoting comprehensive resource utilization, RCP could partially replace lime as flux in electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking process. In this study, the dissolution behaviors of RCP and lime in EAF slag at 1400 °C and 1500 °C were investigated using static dissolution experiments. The measured dissolution rate constant of lime at 1400 °C and 1500 °C is 3.12×10−5 and 8.42×10−5 m/s, respectively, while that for RCP is 1.37×10−4 and 2.91×10−4 m/s, respectively. For the lime dissolution, a dense dicalcium silicate (C2S) product layer was generated at the dissolution interface, with the diffusion of Ca2+ in the C2S layer being the limiting step for the lime dissolution. However, for the RCP dissolution, no product layer was observed at the dissolution interface. Instead, a dissolution intermediate layer forms due to slag penetration. During the dissolution of RCP, Ca2+ and SiO44− diffuse from RCP layer to slag, while Fe2+ and AlO45− diffuse from slag to RCP layer accumulating in the dissolution intermediate layer. Furthermore, a dissolution model was developed based on current experimental results, which helps to predict dynamic dissolution process of lime and RCP in EAF slag. In general, the dissolution rate of RCP in EAF slag was much higher than that of lime, partially adding RCP as flux in EAF could accelerate the liquid slag formation in EAF steelmaking process.
Compassionate Principlism: Towards a Novel Alternative to Standard Principlism in Bioethics
Authors: Braus Adam J.
Published: September 2024

Principlism appears to be the prevailing applied ethical framework in bioethics. Despite the view’s various strengths, critics point out that since the principles are ad hoc, conflicts indubitably emerge leading to inconsistency. There is debate around whether principlism can provide definitive action-guiding moral prescriptions or only help structure intelligent analyses and justifications of moral choices. In this paper, I contend that applying concepts of moral symmetry and moral asymmetry allows us to modify one of principlism’s principles—the principle of beneficence—into what I will call the principle of compassion. I argue that the principle of compassion can function as an arbitrating or primary principle within the principlist framework. The result is a view we might call compassionate principlism. Arguably, compassionate principlism leads to fewer inconsistencies and provides more acceptable action-guiding moral prescriptions than traditional principlism.
Eating frequency, timing of meals, and sleep duration before and after a randomized controlled weight loss trial for breast cancer survivors
Authors: D’cunha Kelly , Park Yikyung , Leech Rebecca M. , Protani Melinda M. , Marquart-Wilson Louise , Reeves Marina M.
Published: September 2024

Purpose

To examine eating frequency, timing of meals, and sleep duration before and after a weight loss intervention for breast cancer survivors.

Methods

Female breast cancer survivors (n = 159; 55 ± 9 years; 31.4 ± 5.0 kg/m2; stage I–III, median [IQR] 9.5 [5.5] months post-diagnosis) participated in a randomized controlled trial of a 12-month weight loss intervention versus usual care. Eating frequency, proportion of daily calories consumed after 5 PM, eating after 8 PM, nightly fasting duration, and sleep duration were estimated and categorized based on existing associations with factors influencing breast cancer prognosis and breast cancer outcomes. These behaviors at baseline were compared to women from an Australian national survey with similar age and BMI range. Mixed-effects linear regression models were used to examine the changes in health behaviors from baseline to 18 months between intervention and usual care groups.

Results

Before the trial, eating after 8 PM (67%) was higher, and short nightly fasting duration (< 13 h, 83%) and long sleep duration (> 9 h/day, 26%) were marginally higher, in breast cancer survivors than women in the national survey (52%, 75%, and 17%, respectively). “Less optimal” eating behaviors and sleep duration tended to co-occur. Behaviors remained unchanged over the 18-month follow-up, irrespective of the study group (p > 0.05; Cohen’s effect sizes < 0.3).

Conclusions

Later timing of eating and long sleep duration were prevalent in breast cancer survivors and continued following a weight loss intervention.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

Future multi-behavior interventions in breast cancer survivors should consider specific messages to target eating timing behaviors and sleep.
Interrater agreement and variability in visual reading of [18F] flutemetamol PET images
Authors: Takenaka Akinori , Nihashi Takashi , Sakurai Keita , Notomi Keiji , Ono Hokuto , Inui Yoshitaka , Ito Shinji , Arahata Yutaka , Takeda Akinori , Ishii Kazunari , Ishii Kenji , Ito Kengo , Toyama Hiroshi , Nakamura Akinori , Kato Takashi ,   BATON Study Group
Published: September 2024

Objective

The purpose of this study was to validate the concordance of visual ratings of [18F] flutemetamol amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) images and to investigate the correlation between the agreement of each rater and the Centiloid (CL) scale.

Methods

A total of 192 participants, clinically classified as cognitively normal (CN) (n = 59), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (n = 65), Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (n = 55), or non-AD dementia (n = 13), participated in this study. Three experts conducted visual ratings of the amyloid PET images for all 192 patients, assigning a confidence level to each rating on a three-point scale (certain, probable, or neither). The positive or negative determination of amyloid PET results was made by majority vote. The CL value was calculated using the CapAIBL pipeline.

Results

Overall, 101 images were determined to be positive, and 91 images were negative. Of the 101 positive images, the three raters were in complete agreement for 92 images and in disagreement for 9 images. Of the 91 negative images, the three raters were in complete agreement for 75 images and in disagreement for 16 images. Interrater reliability among the three experts was particularly high, with both Fleiss’ kappa and Conger’s kappa measuring 0.83 (0.76–0.89). The CL values of the unanimous positive group were significantly greater than those of the other groups, whereas the CL values of the unanimous negative group were significantly lower than those of the other groups. Images with rater disagreement had intermediate CLs. In cases with a high confidence level, the positive or negative visual ratings were in almost complete agreement. However, as confidence levels decreased, experts’ visual ratings became more variable. The lower the confidence level was, the greater the number of cases with disagreement in the visual ratings.

Conclusion

Three experts independently rated 192 amyloid PET images, achieving a high level of interrater agreement. However, in patients with intermediate amyloid accumulation, visual ratings varied. Therefore, determining positive and negative decisions in these patients should be performed with caution.
Positieve Gezondheid: naar meer conceptuele helderheid
Authors: Steverink Nardi
Published: September 2024

Samenvatting

Het concept Positieve Gezondheid (PG) wordt breed omarmd en toegepast in het Nederlandse gezondheidsveld, maar de conceptualisering en het meetbaar maken van PG blijken nog om verfijning te vragen. Dit essay wil bijdragen aan meer conceptuele helderheid over PG en daarmee aan een meer solide basis voor de ontwikkeling van meetinstrumenten, interventies en beleid. Door de dimensies en aspecten van PG naast die van de Zelf-Management-van-Welbevinden-theorie te leggen, ontstaat mogelijk een nieuw perspectief op de conceptualisering van PG, met implicaties voor het ontwerpen van meetinstrumenten, interventies en beleid.
User's Dilemma: A Qualitative Study on the Influence of Netflix Recommender Systems on Choice Overload
Authors: Romero Meza Laura , D’Urso Giulio
Published: September 2024

In the digital era, where choices saturate daily life, the phenomenon of choice overload becomes a significant concern in consumer behavior and psychology. Recommender systems, exemplified by Netflix's sophisticated model, play a transformative role in navigating the vast landscape of digital entertainment. This qualitative study examines the impact of recommender systems on choice overload through 12 semi-structured interviews with Netflix users, revealing the intricate dynamics between personalization algorithms and user decision-making processes. The study is guided by the following research questions: (1) How does the Netflix recommendation system influence users' experiences of choice overload and ease of decision-making? (2) To what extent do users perceive Netflix's recommended content as appealing and diverse, and how reliant are they on these recommendations for content selection? (3) How do user interactions with Netflix's recommendation system, including user feedback, impact variables such as search time, choice effort, and choice satisfaction? The findings reveal a notable absence of explicit user feedback and the presence of choice overload in Netflix users. This is evident in prolonged search times, heightened choice effort, and moderate satisfaction levels, coupled with perceptions of unattractiveness and limited diversity in the recommended content. Negative emotional responses during content selection further underscore the challenges users face on the platform. Paradoxically, this gives rise to a potential “user's dilemma,” as the study exposes a high reliance and trust in recommendation lists. However, this reliance also results in users frequently experiencing frustration and disappointment when recommendations fail to meet expectations. The study provides valuable insights into the nuanced interactions between users and the Netflix platform and offers a foundational framework for ongoing refinement of recommender systems in the ever-evolving landscape of streaming services and emphasizes the need for recommendation lists to strike a delicate balance between effective guidance and user exploration.
On court wingwave® coaching improves accuracy and confidence in basketball athletes
Authors: Weiland Frank P. G. , Schrödter Robin , Schul Karsten E. , Klatt Stefanie
Published: September 2024

The short-term oriented coaching method known as wingwave® (Besser-Siegmund Institute, Hamburg, Germany) has demonstrated efficacy in boosting individuals’ confidence related to future tasks, enhancing overall performance in sports motor tasks, and improving concentration abilities. Its procedure incorporates elements of eye movement and desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and adds a muscular strength test to reduce stress and anxiety for the athletes. In this study, amateurs and experts were observed performing a basketball-specific task. In two sets of 30 free throws, with a 1 h break between sets, 44 participants (aged 16–32), consisting of 22 experts and 22 novices in basketball, were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group. The experimental group received one coaching session using the wingwave® method during the break. During coaching, specific emotional obstacles or blockades were identified and addressed using the wingwave® method by six qualified coaches. The findings reveal a statistically significant increase in accuracy, F(1.40) = 4.74, p = 0.036, η2 = 0.106, Wilk’s Λ = 0.894, in free throws as well as a notable boost in task-specific confidence (i.e., subjective perception; F(1.40) = 4.21, p = 0.047, η2 = 0.095, Wilk’s Λ = 0.905) in the experimental group compared to the control group. Based on these findings, it can be deduced that the wingwave® method holds promise as a valuable tool for mitigating stress and anxiety, while bolstering self-assurance and fostering confidence in one’s own capabilities within a defined sporting context.
Air vehicle system health and asset management: modeling, simulation, and decision support
Authors: Candell Olov , Hällqvist Robert , Olsson Ella , Fransson Torbjörn , Thaduri Adithya , Karim Ramin
Published: September 2024

Effective Asset Management (AM) is essential to achieve operational excellence in the context of large complex Cyber-Physical Systems (CPSs). It involves coordinated activities across all life-cycle stages, including information and service exchange within and between adjacent air operations domains, for effective air operations and collaboration. For enterprises and military air operations, AM presuppose information and service exchange between the adjacent domains of air operations. Important aspects of aviation AM are that CPSs include Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM), CPS models, and Digital Twin (DT), as central concepts used to predict and optimize asset performance. This article provides an overview of the aviation AM phenomenology, environment, and challenges, and how they may impact envisioned realisations of effective AM solutions for support to enterprise air vehicle operations. The article serves as an extension of the paper Cyber-physical Asset Management of Air Vehicle Systems presented at the International Congress and Workshop of Industrial AI and Maintenance (Candell et al., in Proceedings of the IAI2023–7th international congress and workshop on industrial AI and eMaintenance, Luleå, Sweden, 2023). A comprehensive approach is presented, comprising interdependent dimensions of the problem domain, and how they may be integrated into a framework and a platform concept addressing aviation AM needs.
La sindrome da insensibilità agli androgeni: gestione e outcomes a lungo termine
Authors: Mangone Alessandra , Profka Eriselda
Published: September 2024

Sommario

La sindrome da insensibilità agli androgeni è causata da una mutazione recettoriale che risulta in un variabile grado di resistenza all’azione androgenica. Lo spettro clinico di questa condizione è particolarmente variegato e spazia dalla forma completa, dove l’azione degli androgeni è completamente assente in vivo, a diversi stadi di insensibilità parziale che determinano vari gradi di ambiguità genitale esterna. Infine, sono descritte forme caratterizzate unicamente da infertilità o ridotta virilizzazione. La cura dei pazienti con insensibilità androgenica è complessa e necessita di un approccio integrato e multidisciplinare. I punti più critici riguardano l’attribuzione del sesso nelle forme ambigue e la decisione e il timing adeguato sull’eventuale gonadectomia, in considerazione del potenziale rischio di sviluppo tumorale gonadico. Infine, non va dimenticata l’importanza degli aspetti psicologici e della sessualità, nonché il monitoraggio delle possibili complicanze sistemiche, in particolare scheletriche, della sindrome.
Percutaneous and Surgical Pulmonary Valve Replacement Options in Adult Congenital Heart Disease: a Review
Authors: Ashfaq Awais , Faateh Muhammad , Shahanavaz Shabana
Published: September 2024

Purpose of the Review

Adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients are increasing. Valve replacements are one of the most common procedures performed in these subset of patients, especially pulmonary valve replacement. The purpose of the review is to discuss the indications, pre-procedure planning, spectrum of surgical and percutaneous valve replacement options, choice of prosthetic valves and post procedure management in ACHD.

Recent Findings

The choice of prosthesis for pulmonary valve replacement is an ever-evolving process. Various options exist and none have proven to be the standard of care. We discuss different valve prosthesis and their indications.

Pulmonary valve replacements in ACHD patients continue to increase. Bioprosthetic valves are the most common replacement options, however newer valves with novel technologies are on the horizon. Transcatheter valve replacement has proven to be the preferred approach wherever feasible.