bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flea Burden on Rodents and Its Associated Determinants in Plague‐Endemic Localities of Karatu District, Tanzania: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Jakoniko Joshua Reuben , Massawe Apia , Mwega Elisa Daniel , Kessy Stella Thadeus
Published: June 2024

Background

Fleas infest rodents and other small mammals, serving as vectors for zoonotic diseases such as plague. This study investigates the flea burden on rodents and its associated determinants within the plague‐endemic localities of Karatu district, Tanzania.

Methods

A repeated cross‐sectional design was employed to capture rodents with Sherman traps in farmland, peridomestic area, bush land, and forest buffer zones across the wet and dry seasons of 2022 in plague and nonplague foci villages. Captured rodents were anaesthetized and thoroughly brushed to collect fleas, which were then identified using a dichotomous key.

Results

A total of 291 rodents (9 species) were captured, from which 190 fleas (4 species) were collected. The collected fleas were Dinopsyllus lypusus (46.32%), Ctenophthalmus sp (26.84%), Xenopsylla brasiliensis (16.32%), and Xenopsylla cheopis (10.53%). Approximately 38.42% of fleas were found on Mastomys natalensis, 22.63% on Lemniscomys striatus, and 18.42% on Rattus rattus. High flea abundance was recorded in farmland and peridomestic areas. The specific flea index (SFI) of X. cheopis on R. rattus was 1.0 in plague foci and <0.5 in nonplague foci. A generalized linear model revealed significant influences of rodent species, season, habitats, rodent weight, sex, and plague locations on flea abundance. Significant variation was observed between rodent sexes (p = 0.009), and a weak positive correlation existed between rodent weight and flea abundance (R = 0.17, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Villages in plague foci exhibited higher abundances of fleas in comparison to nonplague foci villages. The SFI results for X. cheopis on rats in both types of villages did not surpass critical thresholds. Factors such as dry season, farmlands, and rodent characteristics influenced flea abundance on rodents in the study area.
Direct evidence on the impact of organic amendments on carbon stabilization in soil microaggregates
Authors: Pitumpe Arachchige Pavithra S. , Hettiarachchi Ganga M. , Rice Charles W. , Dynes James J. , Maurmann Leila , Kilcoyne A. L. David , Attanayake Chammi P.
Published: June 2024

Direct evidence‐based approaches are vital in understanding the involvement of abiotic/biotic factors and evaluating the newly proposed theories on soil carbon (C) stabilization. Microaggregates (150–250 µm) collected from a corn system (>22 years; Kansas, USA), which had been under no‐till with different nitrogen (N) treatments were analyzed (N treatments: manure/compost, urea, zero fertilizer). We studied C stabilization in free soil microaggregates (with preserved aggregate architecture), directly using scanning transmission X‐ray microscopy coupled with near edge X‐ray absorption fine structure (STXM‐NEXAFS) spectroscopy. Submicron scale findings were complemented with bulk chemical analysis. The STXM‐NEXAFS analysis revealed soil organic carbon (SOC) preservation inside nano‐ and micro‐pores and organo–mineral association, various degrees of humification, and high molecular diversity. The presence of microbial‐derived C was found in manure‐/compost‐added microaggregates highlighting the contribution of organic amendments in facilitating microbial diversity. The incidence of aragonite‐like minerals suggested the biologically/chemically active nature of microaggregate cores. Bulk analysis of free microaggregates showed a higher concentration of SOC (6.5%), ammonium oxalate extractable Fe/Al/Si), and higher aliphaticity of humic acid in manure‐/compost‐added soils compared to inorganic fertilizer (3% SOC) and control (2.7% SOC) treatments. The co‐existence of elements (calcium [Ca]/C, iron [Fe]/N, Fe/C, aluminum [Al]/C, and silicon [Si]/C) was partially supported by bulk chemical analysis that indicated a strong association between ammonium oxalate extractable Fe/Al/Si and SOC (R2 = 0.63—0.77). Overall, our study provided direct/indirect evidence for the complex and interactive involvement of chemical, mineralogical, and biological mechanisms that may have been stimulated by the long‐term addition of compost/manure in stabilizing SOC.
Contrasting soil management systems had limited effects on soil health and crop yields in a North Central US Mollisol
Authors: Crespo Cecilia , O'Brien Peter L. , Nunes Márcio R. , Ruis Sabrina J. , Emmett Bryan D. , Rogovska Natalia , Malone Rob W. , Cambardella Cindy , Kovar John L.
Published: June 2024

Management practices such as relay cropping, cover crops, and no‐tillage may promote soil health in the North Central United States. However, soil health indicators in corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] systems involving multiple management practices are not well documented. The objective of this study was to determine the sensitivity of soil health metrics and the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) to contrasting management systems with different tillage, crops, and fertilization in a North Central US Mollisol. Different management systems, including conservation tillage and nitrogen fertilization strategies, cover cropping, and camelina [Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz] relay intercropping, were compared to a conventional corn–soybean system. Different systems did not affect most soil health indicators compared to the conventional system. Aggregate stability was the only indicator to change due to management, where no‐till with cover crops increased aggregate stability by 38% compared with camelina relay cropping. The SMAF scores for all the soil quality indices were unaffected by treatments but displayed high values of over 90%. Overall, crop yields were more closely related to weather conditions and management systems than to soil health indicators. Soybean yields were decreased (between 1 and 2 Mg ha−1) in the camelina relay cropping system, while corn yields were lower (up to 70%) in the treatment that received no N fertilization. Ultimately, these findings suggest that soil health indicators are resilient to change due to management in these highly productive Mollisols and may not be closely associated with crop yields.
How does soil organic matter affect potato productivity on sandy soil?
Authors: Rawal Ashmita , Lankau Richard A. , Ruark Matthew D.
Published: June 2024

While many studies note the positive effects of soil organic matter (SOM) on crop yields, there is limited quantitative information on the influence of increased SOM on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) productivity in sandy soil. This study estimated the impact of varying SOM on potato productivity in sandy soils and explored whether nitrogen (N) mineralization served as a primary mediator. Soil from nine fields in Wisconsin (SOM range of 1.1%–3.8%) was collected for a greenhouse study. Both NH4‐N and NO3‐N extracted from ion strips and potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN) were used as the proxies for N mineralization. Linear mixed effect models indicated that fresh matter whole biomass and dry matter vine biomass were 0.45 and 0.54 times greater at 3.8% SOM compared to 1.1% SOM at an optimal soil pH of 5.2, respectively. Similarly, total N uptake in the whole and vine biomass was 0.51 and 1.0 times higher at 3.8% SOM than 1.1% SOM, respectively. While PMN demonstrated a positive correlation with SOM, it only partially mediated the effect of SOM on productivity, specifically in N uptake in the vines. However, for most productivity measures, including PMN with SOM in the models did not substantially reduce the estimated SOM effect on productivity, indicating that SOM affected productivity mostly through mechanisms other than N acquisition by plants available through mineralization of OM. The study underscored the complex interplay between SOM and potato productivity, urging further research into the multifaceted roles of SOM in sandy soils.
Abnormal Magnetic Phase Transition in Mixed‐Phase (110)‐Oriented FeRh Films on Al2O3 Substrates via the Anomalous Nernst Effect
Authors: Choi Jae Won , Park Chanho , Kim Gil‐Sung , Cho Jung‐Min , Park No‐Won , Kim Yun‐Ho , Jung Min Young , Chang Seo Hyoung , Akhanda Md Sabbir , Shivaram Bellave , Bennett Steven P. , Zebarjadi Mona , Lee Sang‐Kwon
Published: June 2024

Iron rhodium (FeRh) undergoes a first‐order anti‐ferromagnetic to ferromagnetic phase transition above its Curie temperature. By measuring the anomalous Nernst effect (ANE) in (110)‐oriented FeRh films on Al2O3 substrates, the ANE thermopower over a temperature range of 100–350 K is observed, with similar magnetic transport behaviors observed for in‐plane magnetization (IM) and out‐of‐plane magnetization (PM) configurations. The temperature‐dependent magnetization–magnetic field strength (M–H) curves revealed that the ANE voltage is proportional to the magnetization of the material, but additional features magnetic textures not shown in the M‐H curves remained intractable. In particular, a sign reversal occurred for the ANE thermopower signal near zero field in the mixed‐magnetic‐phase films at low temperatures, which is attributed to the diamagnetic properties of the Al2O3 substrate. Finite element method simulations associated with the Heisenberg spin model and Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert equation strongly supported the abnormal heat transport behavior from the Al2O3 substrate during the experimentally observed magnetic phase transition for the IM and PM configurations. The results demonstrate that FeRh films on an Al2O3 substrate exhibit unusual behavior compared to other ferromagnetic materials, indicating their potential for use in novel applications associated with practical spintronics device design, neuromorphic computing, and magnetic memory.
Freeze‐Casting Mold‐Based Scalable Synthesis of Directional Graphene Aerogels with Long‐Range Pore Alignment for Energy Applications
Authors: Joshi Dhavalkumar N , Han Seunghun , Kim Duckjong
Published: June 2024

In various applications, the pore structure of a porous medium must be controlled to facilitate heat and mass transfer, which considerably influence the system performance. Freeze‐casting is a versatile technique for creating aligned pores; However, because of the complexity of the associated equipment and the energy inefficiency of liquid‐nitrogen‐based cooling in a room‐temperature environment, limits scalability for industrial applications. This study is aimed at establishing a novel freeze‐casting strategy with a simple mold design combining heat‐conductive and insulating materials for long‐range pore alignment via directional ice growth under deep‐freezing conditions, rendering it feasible for large‐scale production. Using this technique, axially aligned (Axial‐GA) is developed, radially aligned (Radial‐GA), and randomly distributed (Random‐GA) pore structures within NaBr‐impregnated graphene aerogel (GA‐NaBr) configurations, demonstrating enhanced ammonia adsorption for thermal energy management. The pore structure exerted notable effects on the ammonia adsorption behavior, with Radial‐GA exhibiting a higher adsorption rate due to reduced ammonia transit distance. The Radial‐GA‐NaBr structure demonstrated unique adsorption characteristics, retaining ≈85% of the adsorption capacity and achieving a ≈270% adsorption rate gain compared with pure NaBr powder. Overall, this research demonstrates the fabrication of aerogels with various configurations and orientations using facile and scalable methods, thereby expanding their industrial applications.
Cyclic loading test for prefabricated ultra‐high performance concrete columns with bellows grouting connection
Authors: Fu Jundong , Wan Shui , Xiao Jie , Wang Xiao , Zhou Peng , Dekemele Kevin
Published: June 2024

Accelerated bridge construction is crucial in bridge engineering. In order to improve the seismic performance of prefabricated columns, this study proposes using ultra‐high performance concrete (UHPC) in the plastic hinge areas of prefabricated columns with bellows grouting connections. In particular, cyclic loading tests are carried out on four 1/3‐scaled columns, including two cast‐in‐place columns and two bellows grouting connection columns. The results show that columns with UHPC in the plastic hinge areas exhibit larger lateral and ultimate bearing capacity, ductility, cumulative energy dissipation, and stiffness compared to those with conventional concrete. Additionally, bellows grouting connection column with UHPC shows superior seismic performance compared to cast‐in‐place column with conventional concrete. The proposed finite element analysis model is in a good agreement with the test results. Through using finite element analysis, three key parameters influencing the seismic performance of bellows grouting columns are examined, and the optimal combination of these parameters is identified.
Five Recommendations to Implementing Cross‐Age Tutoring in Reading
Authors: Chang Andrew , Mauer Emily
Published: June 2024

Teaching elementary students how to read is undeniably crucial, yet a substantial number of children encounter difficulties despite early interventions. Cross‐age tutoring, a pedagogical approach that pairs older students with younger peers, emerges as a cost‐effective solution that brings academic and social benefits to both the tutor and the tutee. Consequently, cross‐age tutoring programs are widely adopted globally. To maximize the effectiveness of cross‐age tutoring, we offer five evidence‐based recommendations tailored for its implementation. When integrated into the preparation and implementation steps, these recommendations hold the potential to significantly improve learning outcomes for both tutors and tutees.
Architecture as Educator for Sustainable Grown-Upness: An ESD Performance Framework for School Habitats
Authors: Vanderveen Anna W. , Mohammadi Masi , Lichtenberg Jos J. N.
Published: June 2024

Physical environments influence how children develop. Therefore, they matter in education. Relating school habitats to the whole school approach to education for sustainable development (ESD) shows that, beyond their ecological performance, school habitats also deliver an educational performance through their own ‘hidden’ curriculum and pedagogy. Yet, the educational role of school habitats hardly gains attention in global research and action on ESD. This chapter departs from ESD as a concept in education that contributes to ‘sustainable grown-upness’, understood as the development of a mature relationship with our own desires and forces from ‘elsewhere’. Building on this interpretation, this chapter presents a framework revealing educational performance characteristics of school habitats, which describe educational performances. The framework builds on the ‘heart, head and hands’ model and comprises three areas for the educational performance of school habitats: (1) engage the heart, (2) exemplify the head and (3) enable the hands.
A Whole School Approach Towards Sustainability: Assessing the Implementation of a School Programme “Recreos Residuos Cero” (Zero Waste Break Time)
Authors: Ballegeer Anne-Marie , Murciego Álvaro Lozano , Lagos Enzo Rainiero Ferrari , Leirós Miriam , Gloder Carmen , Ruiz Camilo
Published: June 2024

In this study, we discuss the alignment of the programme “Recreos Residuos Cero” (zero waste break time) with the theoretical framework of the Whole School Approach (WSA) and use different instruments to evaluate the impact of a WSA approach towards waste management and sustainability in Spanish schools. The first instrument is an app that was designed to track the waste generated in different classrooms informing us on the efficiency of the program in terms of waste reduction. The second instrument is a questionnaire among the participating teachers that evaluates the implementation of 6 WSA principles during the RR0 programme. Lastly, we use the experiences of the participating schools and teachers to identify the strengths and challenges of each of the principles and as a general reflection of the effectiveness of the RR0 program within the WSA.
Utilizing Collaborative Self-Study to Explore Pedagogies for Sustainability
Authors: Phillips Christina , Howard Patrick
Published: June 2024

Whole school approaches (Wals and Mathie, Whole school approaches to sustainability: Exemplary practices from around the world. Wageningen University, Education and Learning Sciences, 2022) to sustainability where various facets or currents of environmental education (e.g., Sauvé, Can J Environ Educ 10(1): 11–37, 2005) are seamlessly integrated with disciplinary subject matter, leadership practices, and everyday classroom routines remain elusive in many contexts as they serve as counter-narratives to the status quo promoting over-consumption and exploitation of environments and people. We present a case study exploring how a Canadian post-secondary institution, Cape Breton University, has enacted inclusive (e.g., Indigenous perspectives), whole school approaches to sustainability in novel and immersive ways. We present this work as a reflexive, collaborative self-study examining program objectives in teacher education and how these sustainability goals have been interpreted, translated, and implemented at the course level in pre-service teacher education (i.e., science methods courses) and at the graduate level (i.e., an applied research project course for the Master of Education in Sustainability, Creativity, and Innovation).
Critical Eco-Reflexive Approaches: A Case Study of “Teaching for Sustainability” Towards SDG 4.7 Transition Via a Whole School Approach Perspective in Higher Education
Authors: Nordén Birgitta
Published: June 2024

Rarely conducted in teacher training and professional development programmes, this case study focuses on achievable co-determining indicators of progress and on reflexive methodologies for transformative teaching towards sustainability as an essential component of learning-based change and innovation. It aims to examine how heterogenous groups of international teacher education students experience their learning process in the context of a student-led non-traditional inquiry-based learning assessment. With a critical eco-reflexive approach assisted by participatory action research, the students analyse and describe their interpretation of critical consciousness, critical literacy (content), and critical agency (mode) involved in sustainability education. They also reflect upon the standards of their upcoming profession. The findings indicate that the current teacher education ought to be revised didactically towards a Whole Institution Approach. The context of our global challenges requires a holistic approach to HESD-based teacher education embedded in integrative worldview perspectives, pluralism, and sustainability awareness.
Whole-School Project-Based Approach to Promote Education for Sustainability: A Mauritian Experience
Authors: Rumjaun Anwar , Atchia Shakeel M. C.
Published: June 2024

The whole-school approach to education for sustainability (WSAES) involves calls for sustainable development to be integrated in the school curriculum in a holistic manner where sustainability also is incorporated through sustainable school operations such as integrated governance, stakeholder and community engagement, long-term planning and sustainability monitoring and evaluation. The WSAES advocates for active and participatory learning, calling for the engagement of the entire school community including students, educators, administrators and other stakeholders.

This chapter showcases the Mauritian experience of using WSAES in 30 primary schools in Mauritius. Drawing from the UNESCO whole-school 4Cs (culture, campus, curriculum and community) model, each school was engaged in (i) setting up a school-based sustainability team, (ii) identifying a sustainability related issue in their school context, (iii) conceptualising, developing and designing a school project to address the issue and (iv) a reflection on the challenges and learning experiences that students gained through the implementation of the project.
It Takes a Whole School: A Synthesis
Authors: Bjønness Birgitte , Eikeland Ingrid , Sinnes Astrid , Wals Arjen E. J.
Published: June 2024

The whole-school approach offers a structure and language to exchange and celebrate diverse educational perspectives, priorities, and practices. Our goal in assembling this collection is not to offer a blueprint, a narrowing solution to problems of schooling in contemporary times, but to share promising and inspiring cases, to provoke dialogue and open conversations, but also to question, resist, struggle, and break with restricting traditions and orders. Of course, all schools are unique, contextually rich, complex, dynamic, and ever-evolving. They are educational communities, education homes assembled through scholarly expertise, professional practices, institutional structures, and lots of dedication, love, and care. Professional growth, Maxine Greene writes, requires a “quest for a better state of things for those we teach and the world we share” (Greene, 1995, p. 1). This quest brings together the innovative practices outlined in this collection. Here, we showcase diverse professional communities reflexively engaged in working together, teaching and learning together, in particular contexts and times. We offer this book as an invitation to think differently about schools and schooling. Above all else, this invitation is deeply educational. In this closing chapter, we highlight tensions, common threads, and noticeable absences that might inform the future development of the WSA in our pursuit of a world that is more sustainable than the one currently in prospect.
Insights, Challenges, and Prospects on Whole School Approach to Sustainability in the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Region
Authors: Zachariou Aravella , Hadjiachilleos Stella , Beltran Chrysanthi-Kadji , van Raaij Roel
Published: June 2024

This chapter examines the implementation of the whole school approach (WSA) to education for sustainable development in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) region through 34 national reports submitted by its member states. The reports were analyzed under six axes: schools’ vision, ethos, leadership, and coordination; curriculum; pedagogy and didactics; school management and operations; professional development; and school environment. Despite a clear orientation toward a whole school approach, the analysis showed that within the UNECE region, the six axes were unevenly addressed and some were poorly reported, leading to a partial view of the state (e.g., school infrastructure). The results are discussed in the framework of the whole school approach literature providing insights on ways to strengthen the approach and eliminate gaps and challenges through the new implementation framework of the UNECE Strategy on ESD 2021–2030.
How to Institutionalize a Whole School Approach to ESD
Authors: Gericke Niklas , Seiser Anette Forssten , Mogren Anna , Berglund Teresa , Olsson Daniel
Published: June 2024

The literature on whole school approach (WSA) to education for sustainable development (ESD) has mainly been practice-based, lacking empirical and theoretical grounding. Moreover, the existing literature shows that it is difficult to accomplish WSA to ESD. This chapter addresses these issues by grounding WSA to ESD in applied methods and theories from the field of school improvement research and exemplifying with empirical findings of how to build the capacity to reform a local school in line with WSA to ESD. Four identified themes for developing a local school’s capacity are discussed: improvement history of the school, infrastructure of the school organization, improvement processes, and improvement roles. The chapter takes a novel process-oriented perspective and discusses the school improvement process longitudinally from initiation via implementation to reach institutionalization of WSA to ESD. The main conclusion is that it may take 5–8 years to institutionalize WSA to ESD.
Dimensions and Conditions of the Development of a Sense of Empowerment in a Whole School Approach
Authors: Morin Émilie , Therriault Geneviève , Bader Barbara
Published: June 2024

Educating youth is an essential way to deal with climate change (Kwauk, Roadblocks to quality education in a time of climate change. Center for Universal Education, 2020). A transformative and sociocritical epistemological and pedagogical approach (Jickling & Wals, Curriculum and environmental education: Perspectives, priorities and challenges. Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, 2018) supports the idea that youth must be recognized as full-fledged actors in the resolution of the climate crisis. Doing so is essential to develop their sense of empowerment. However, the notion of “sense of empowerment” has not been conceptualized yet in the scientific literature on education. The capability approach (Sen, Commodities and capabilities. North Holland, 1985a) underscores the relevance of taking into consideration different types of freedoms that youth need to be given. In the doctoral thesis underpinning this chapter, we used a qualitative methodology to interview youth in the province of Québec (Canada). In this chapter, we illustrate how youth express what is needed to reinforce their sense of empowerment when it comes to climate change and how this sense is consistent with a whole school approach (WSA).
Accelerating Change-Making: Reflections on Embedding Regenerative Practices in School Climate Action
Authors: Field Ellen , Andrews Michèle , Hannah John , Kerr Eleonor , Stephens Drew , Elliott Alison
Published: June 2024

This chapter explores how three schools in Canada are accelerating climate action through a whole school approach, facilitated by the Climate Action Accelerator Program (CAAP). Teachers and administrators from three different schools and at different stages (early, intermediate, and advanced) of whole school sustainability, engaged in critical reflection on their schools’ journeys, shared through three vignettes. The vignettes are followed by a discussion of shared approaches across the schools that we noted as important—including regenerative practice as a paradigm shift—for moving schools along climate action pathways and whole school journeys as well as shared challenges and emerging opportunities.
The Whole-School Alignment Model: Facilitating a Teacher Team in Sustainable Entrepreneurship Education
Authors: Hugo Aksel , Iversen Elisabeth
Published: June 2024

In this chapter, we explore a whole-school alignment model (WSAM) as a tool for facilitating a team of teachers in developing their sustainable entrepreneurship programme at a vocational upper secondary school in Norway. Its aim was to attune key actors (teacher team, students and leadership) and align key operational processes (yearly lesson plans, aims and assessment goals). The WSAM facilitation processes enabled the teacher team to coherently align their own innovation process within the whole-school context. A collaborative culture of inquiry was built, taking ownership of their own process and recreating their school’s identity. The central role of liminal spaces in sustainable entrepreneurship education was revealed, also clear limits of the linear, instrumental approaches to institutional coherence on sustainability. Consequently, a redesigned WSAM is proposed, where the liminal space of collaborative inquiry processes forms a navigation centre, attuning tensions and aligning the structures, programme designs, spaces and pedagogies, cultivating transformative coherency.
Causal Talk Permeates Ordinary Language
Authors: Johansson Lars-Göran , Banitz Thomas , Grimm Volker , Hertz Tilman , Lindkvist Emilie , Martínez Peña Rodrigo , Radosavljevic Sonja , Ylikoski Petri , Schlüter Maja
Published: June 2024

This chapter gives an overview of causal idiom in ordinary language and introduces some fundamental semantic distinctions. The main points are:

The words ‘cause’ and ‘effect’ have quite a number of near synonyms.

‘Cause’ and ‘effect’ are relational terms.

Causal relations relate three kinds of things: events, categories of events and variables used in statistical treatments of such categories.

A mathematical relation between variables does not in itself tell us whether they are causally related or not.
Causation, Laws and Regularities
Authors: Johansson Lars-Göran , Banitz Thomas , Grimm Volker , Hertz Tilman , Lindkvist Emilie , Martínez Peña Rodrigo , Radosavljevic Sonja , Ylikoski Petri , Schlüter Maja
Published: June 2024

In this chapter we explore the connections between on the one hand causal relations and on the other hand strict and less strict laws, i.e., regularities, expressed as correlations and regressions.

It is tempting to think that laws and regularities describe general causal relations. They do not. Neither laws nor regularities distinguish between cause and effect, they state relations between quantities only; the causal aspect is connected to the manipulation and this aspect is not represented in formulations of laws and regularities.

Non-strict laws, often called ‘regularities’, differ from strict laws in that they are conditioned on ceteris paribus clauses, i.e., unspecified clauses of the form ‘all else the same’. This makes generalisations, i.e., inferences to unobserved situations, difficult.

The main points of this chapter are:

Laws, strict and non-strict, express relations between quantities, not cause-effect relations.

Regularities are expressed by two measures, coefficient of correlation and regression.

Inferring causal relations from laws and regularities requires additional information.

Having such information one may represent causal relations using directed graphs and/or structural equations.
Causal Explanations
Authors: Johansson Lars-Göran , Banitz Thomas , Grimm Volker , Hertz Tilman , Lindkvist Emilie , Martínez Peña Rodrigo , Radosavljevic Sonja , Ylikoski Petri , Schlüter Maja
Published: June 2024

There are several forms of explanation, one of which being causal explanations. Causal explanations are often descriptions of mechanisms, i.e., descriptions of how a state change in one object, labelled ‘the cause’, is transmitted through a number of intermediate objects to the final effect, i.e., a state change in another object. So the fundamental structure of mechanistic explanations is that of chained cause-effect relations.

The main points of this chapter are:

Causal explanation is one kind of explanation beside several other kinds.

A causal explanation often consists of describing the mechanism by which the cause produces its effect.

Reasons for human actions are often viewed as causes of those actions, but that is controversial.

Three types of causal explanations in terms of mechanisms are confounder mechanisms, feedbacks, and bifurcations.
Positivity-causality competition: a road to ultimate EFT consistency constraints
Authors: Carrillo González Mariana , de Rham Claudia , Jaitly Sumer , Pozsgay Victor , Tokareva Anna
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Effective field theories (EFT) are strongly constrained by fundamental principles such as unitarity, locality, causality, and Lorentz invariance. In this paper, we consider the EFT of photons (or other U(1) gauge field) and compare different approaches to obtain bounds on its Wilson coefficients. We present an analytic derivation of the implications of unitarity (linear and non-linear positivity bounds) and compare these constraints with the requirement of causal propagation of the photon modes around non-trivial backgrounds generated by external sources. Within this setup, we find that the low energy causality condition can give complementary constraints to our analytic positivity bounds. In other words, simple analytic techniques can give strong constraints on the allowed region of the photon EFT parameters even when the positivity bounds are not numerically optimized.
NS5-brane backgrounds and coset CFT partition functions
Authors: Dei Andrea , Martinec Emil J.
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Worldsheet string theory is solvable for a variety of backgrounds involving Neveu-Schwarz fivebranes, in terms of gauged nonlinear sigma models on group manifolds. We compute the worldsheet torus partition function of these models, and propose gauging of null isometries as a unifying principle and conceptual framework for this large family of string backgrounds. In the process, we explain how partition functions of asymmetrically gauged Wess-Zumino-Witten models can be computed from the path integral, and organize and systematize various results scattered throughout the literature.
Combination of tumor antigen drainage and immune activation to promote a cancer-immunity cycle against glioblastoma
Authors: Xu Han , Zhao Xiaomei , Luo Jincai
Published: June 2024

While conventional cancer modalities, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, act through direct killing of tumor cells, cancer immunotherapy elicits potent anti-tumor immune responses thereby eliminating tumors. Nevertheless, promising outcomes have not been reported in patients with glioblastoma (GBM) likely due to the immune privileged status of the central nervous system and immunosuppressive micro-environment within GBM. In the past years, several exciting findings, such as the re-discovery of meningeal lymphatic vessels (MLVs), three-dimensional anatomical reconstruction of MLV networks, and the demonstration of the promotion of GBM immunosurveillance by lymphatic drainage enhancement, have revealed an intricate communication between the nervous and immune systems, and brought hope for the development of new GBM treatment. Based on conceptual framework of the updated cancer-immunity (CI) cycle, here we focus on GBM antigen drainage and immune activation, the early events in driving the CI cycle. We also discuss the implications of these findings for developing new therapeutic approaches in tackling fatal GBM in the future.
Characterising trees and hyperbolic spaces by their boundaries
Authors: Davies Isobel
Published: June 2024

We use the language of proper CAT(-1) spaces to study thick, locally compact trees, the real, complex and quaternionic hyperbolic spaces and the hyperbolic plane over the octonions. These are rank 1 Euclidean buildings, respectively rank 1 symmetric spaces of non-compact type. We give a uniform proof that these spaces may be reconstructed using the cross ratio on their visual boundary, bringing together the work of Tits and Bourdon.
Best Approximation and Inverse Results for Neural Network Operators
Authors: Coroianu Lucian , Costarelli Danilo
Published: June 2024

In the present paper we considered the problems of studying the best approximation order and inverse approximation theorems for families of neural network (NN) operators. Both the cases of classical and Kantorovich type NN operators have been considered. As a remarkable achievement, we provide a characterization of the well-known Lipschitz classes in terms of the order of approximation of the considered NN operators. The latter result has inspired a conjecture concerning the saturation order of the considered families of approximation operators. Finally, several noteworthy examples have been discussed in detail
Investigation of laser-material interaction in picosecond single-point laser ablation of bronze
Authors: Ghadiri Zahrani Esmaeil , Soltani Babak , Azarhoushang Bahman
Published: June 2024

Comprehending the laser ablation mechanism is fundamental in determining how diverse laser parameters affect the quality of the ablation process. A finite difference model was developed in this study to investigate the ablation depth and temperature distribution in picosecond ablation process. The investigation involved conducting single-point laser experiments on bronze material using an ultrashort pulse laser with a pulse duration of 12 ps. The experiments were carried out with varying numbers of pulses, ranging from 1 to 80 pulses. The calculated depths of ablations were compared with experimental results. The variation of the ablation mechanism on the workpiece's surface during laser radiation was also investigated. The model established the laser-material interaction mechanisms under different incident pulses. The ionization temperature and ablated material temperature during laser processing are also determined. The results show that for the number of pulses higher than 10, the laser-material interaction changes from Multi-Photon Ionization to ablation, while in lower numbers, there are no effects of thermal damages adjacent to the laser points. The relationship between variations in the ablation depth and changes in the incidence angle was also investigated. As the incidence angle increases, the removal mechanism changes from MPI to the thermal.
The landscape of current trends and procedures in plastic surgery practices across the D-A-CH region: An in-depth analysis of 511 websites
Authors: Alfertshofer Michael , Sherwani Khalil , Machens Hans-Günther , Broer Niclas , Schenck Thilo , Moellhoff Nicholas , Frank Konstantin , Knoedler Samuel , Knoedler Leonard , Cotofana Sebastian
Published: June 2024

Background

Recent data shows a 139.9% global increase in aesthetic procedures since 2011, with a notable 190.5% rise in Germany. This study analyzes the current landscape of plastic surgery in German-speaking European countries, focusing on the range of procedures offered in plastic surgery practices in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

We aimed to provide an overview of the current trends and procedures of plastic surgery in the practice setting in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Methods

The information sampled from the websites of n = 511 plastic surgery practices (314 German, 113 Austrian, 84 Swiss) were analyzed with regards to general information, as well as procedures offered on the websites. A set of different procedures, belonging to each pillar of plastic surgery (i.e., Aesthetic, Reconstructive, Hand, Burn surgery) as well as non-surgical aesthetic procedures was analyzed.

Results

Aesthetic surgical procedures were offered most often with 98.8% (506) of all websites analyzed, followed by Hand surgery at 29.7% (152), Reconstructive surgery at 27.8% (142) and Burn surgery at 5.7% (29). Reconstructive and Hand surgery were statistically significantly most commonly offered on Austrian plastic surgery websites, with p = 0.011 and p < 0.001, respectively. Among aesthetic surgical procedures, statistically significant regional differences were found for head and neck, body and breast procedures most commonly offered on Swiss plastic surgery with p = 0.041, p = 0.010 and p = 0.003, respectively, while the procedures of the intimate region were most commonly offered on German websites with p = 0.007.

Conclusions

Plastic surgery websites in German-speaking European countries predominantly advertise aesthetic surgical procedures, with other domains of plastic surgery such as reconstructive, hand, and burn surgery being less prominent, suggesting an underrepresentation. Regional differences between the countries investigated are evident, underscoring the need for a more balanced approach in plastic surgery care in the practice setting. 

Level of Evidence: Not gradable
Understanding cosmetic consumers: exploring consumption patterns and predictors through a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Hermans Anne-Mette , Decates Tom , Boerman Sophie C.
Published: June 2024

Background

Previous reports have provided (some) demographics of the cosmetic consumer; however, findings are not unequivocal. This relates to differences in the studies’ categorizations, samples, and contextual factors.

Methods

Employing a cross-sectional survey design, which was disseminated by 11 cosmetic clinics and consumer platforms in the Netherlands, this study provides a clear overview of a total of 734 Dutch cosmetic consumers’ (a) demographic characteristics; (b) motivations for undergoing a range of specific cosmetic procedures; (c) cosmetic procedure frequency, i.e., how frequently they undergo particular procedures; and (d) frequency of, and motivations for, switching clinics. Relations between cosmetic consumers’ demographics, motivations for cosmetic procedures, and different procedures chosen were also established.

Results

There is no unequivocal characterization of ‘the’ cosmetic consumer in the Netherlands, although they mostly identified as heterosexual women from Dutch descent with relatively high educational attainment levels and a high income. Some regional differences in terms of cosmetic procedure engagement were observed. Motivations for cosmetic procedure engagement were multifaceted, and responses varied between open- and closed-ended questions. Few relations between predictors and (a selection of) cosmetic procedures proved significant. (Higher) age and high educational attainment positively correlated with undergoing botulinum toxin injections and eyelid corrections. Gender and daily use of highly visual social media positively correlated with undergoing dermal filler injections. Lastly, lower-educated consumers were significantly more likely to have breast enlargements than higher-educated consumers.

Conclusions

This study provides a comprehensive overview of the demographic characteristics and motivations of a varied sample of cosmetic consumers, and the types and quantities of cosmetic procedures they undergo. In terms of demographics, we can conclude that there is no unequivocal characterization of ‘the’ cosmetic consumer in the Netherlands, although she frequently identifies as a heterosexual female of Dutch descent.

Level of Evidence

Not gradable
Continuous-Time Mean Field Markov Decision Models
Authors: Bäuerle Nicole , Höfer Sebastian
Published: June 2024

We consider a finite number ofNstatistically equal agents, each moving on a finite set of states according to a continuous-time Markov Decision Process (MDP). Transition intensities of the agents and generated rewards depend not only on the state and action of the agent itself, but also on the states of the other agents as well as the chosen action. Interactions like this are typical for a wide range of models in e.g. biology, epidemics, finance, social science and queueing systems among others. The aim is to maximize the expected discounted reward of the system, i.e. the agents have to cooperate as a team. Computationally this is a difficult task whenNis large. Thus, we consider the limit for$$N\rightarrow \infty .$$N→∞.In contrast to other papers we treat this problem from an MDP perspective. This has the advantage that we need less regularity assumptions in order to construct asymptotically optimal strategies than using viscosity solutions of HJB equations. The convergence rate is$$1/\sqrt{N}$$1/N. We show how to apply our results using two examples: a machine replacement problem and a problem from epidemics. We also show that optimal feedback policies from the limiting problem are not necessarily asymptotically optimal.
Knowledge, perceptions, and practices of axial spondyloarthritis diagnosis and management among healthcare professionals: an online cross-sectional survey
Authors: Zimba Olena , Kocyigit Burhan Fatih , Kadam Esha , Haugeberg Glenn , Grazio Simeon , Guła Zofia , Strach Magdalena , Korkosz Mariusz
Published: June 2024

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a group of inflammatory disorders, including axial SpA (axSpA), characterized by inflammation in the spine and sacroiliac joints. Healthcare professionals have a crucial role in diagnosing and managing axSpA. Assessing their knowledge, perceptions, and practices is essential to enhance patient care. The objective of this study is to evaluate these factors by conducting an online survey. This online survey was performed using SurveyMonkey.com to assess healthcare professionals’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices related to axSpA diagnosis, management, and monitoring. The questionnaire included questions about definitions, management strategies, monitoring approaches, treatment options, and barriers to care. Convenience sampling was used, and the data were analyzed descriptively by Microsoft Excel. One hundred sixty-four healthcare professionals participated; most respondents were rheumatologists from various geographic locations (27 countries). Most participants were familiar with axSpA definitions and diagnostic criteria, demonstrating high expertise. Variations were seen in follow-up intervals and diagnostic preferences, reflecting clinical heterogeneity. Seventy-two (43.9%) individuals had a multidisciplinary team, frequently including rheumatologists, physiotherapists, and radiologists. Of the participants, 73 (44.5%) had online/telephone follow-up sessions. The pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment approaches varied, pointing to the importance of personalized care. Glucocorticoid use varied among countries. Recognizing inflammatory back pain, interpreting radiographs, and diagnosing early was essential to medical education. This study provides beneficial data on healthcare professionals’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices regarding axSpA. While diagnostic familiarity and multidisciplinary approach are positives, there is a potential to standardize management, improve telemedicine services, remove barriers to physical activity, and optimize treatment options.
Ferumoxtran-10-enhanced MRI for pre-operative metastatic lymph node detection in pancreatic, duodenal, or periampullary adenocarcinoma
Authors: Litjens Geke , Nakamoto Atsushi , Brosens Lodewijk A. A. , Maas Marnix C. , Scheenen Tom W. J. , Zámecnik Patrik , van Geenen Erwin J. M. , Prokop Mathias , van Laarhoven Kees J. H. M. , Hermans John J.
Published: June 2024

Objectives

To assess 3-Tesla (3-T) ultra-small superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO)-enhanced MRI in detecting lymph node (LN) metastases for resectable adenocarcinomas of the pancreas, duodenum, or periampullary region in a node-to-node validation against histopathology.

Methods

Twenty-seven consecutive patients with a resectable pancreatic, duodenal, or periampullary adenocarcinoma were enrolled in this prospective single expert centre study. Ferumoxtran-10-enhanced 3-T MRI was performed pre-surgery. LNs found on MRI were scored for suspicion of metastasis by two expert radiologists using a dedicated scoring system. Node-to-node matching from in vivo MRI to histopathology was performed using a post-operative ex vivo 7-T MRI of the resection specimen. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated using crosstabs.

Results

Eighteen out of 27 patients (median age 65 years, 11 men) were included in the final analysis (pre-surgery withdrawal n = 4, not resected because of unexpected metastases peroperatively n = 2, and excluded because of inadequate contrast-agent uptake n = 3). On MRI 453 LNs with a median size of 4.0 mm were detected, of which 58 (13%) were classified as suspicious. At histopathology 385 LNs with a median size of 5.0 mm were found, of which 45 (12%) were metastatic. For 55 LNs node-to-node matching was possible. Analysis of these 55 matched LNs, resulted in a sensitivity and specificity of 83% (95% CI: 36–100%) and 92% (95% CI: 80–98%), respectively.

Conclusion

USPIO-enhanced MRI is a promising technique to preoperatively detect and localise LN metastases in patients with pancreatic, duodenal, or periampullary adenocarcinoma.

Clinical relevance statement

Detection of (distant) LN metastases with USPIO-enhanced MRI could be used to determine a personalised treatment strategy that could involve neoadjuvant or palliative chemotherapy, guided resection of distant LNs, or targeted radiotherapy.

Registration

The study was registered on clinicaltrials.gov NCT04311047. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04311047?term=lymph+node&cond=Pancreatic+Cancer&cntry=NL&draw=2&rank=1.

Key Points

LN metastases of pancreatic, duodenal, or periampullary adenocarcinoma cannot be reliably detected with current imaging.

This technique detected LN metastases with a sensitivity and specificity of 83% and 92%, respectively.

MRI with ferumoxtran-10 is a promising technique to improve preoperative staging in these cancers.