bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Angiolytic Effects Between the 445‐nm Blue Laser and 532‐nm Pulsed KTP Laser
Authors: Nguyen Duy Duong , Pang Jing‐Yin , Novakovic Daniel
Published: February 2024

Objective

This study aimed to compare the selective absorption of the 445‐nm Blue laser (BL) and the 532‐nm pulsed potassium‐titanyl‐phosphate (KTP) laser by blood vessels.

Methods

Thirty‐six chicken eggs at day 14 of incubation were dissected to expose the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). Third‐order vessels of the CAM were identified and irradiated using BL and KTP lasers using various settings at a laser‐to‐vessel distance of 3 mm using 0.4 mm fiber size. In total, 494 vessels segments were irradiated. Mean (standard deviation) number of irradiations for each setting was 26.0 (4.6), range from 15 to 39. Outcome measures included ablation rate (AR) and rupture rate (RR).

Results

The two lasers were compared for AR and RR at long and medium pulse width (PW) associated with different power levels. At long PW (above 100 ms), BL showed significantly higher AR than KTP at high energy (600 mJ/pulse) and low energy (400 mJ/pulse); they did not show different AR and RR at medium energy levels (500 mJ/pulse). Using medium PW settings plus high and medium energy levels, BL and KTP showed relatively high AR and did not significantly differ in performance. However, at medium PW plus low energy (400–450 mJ/pulse), KTP showed significantly higher AR compared to BL.

Conclusion

At long PW, BL appeared to show higher AR than KTP at high or low energy levels, but they showed equivalent performance at medium energy. At medium PW, both performed similarly from high to medium energy, but KTP appeared to perform better than BL at lower energy settings.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 134:3220–3225, 2024
Macao's academic book publishing industry: A SWOT and PEST analysis
Authors: Jiagui Li , Lam Johnny F. I.
Published: February 2024

Macao's academic book publishing industry has a rich history and has grown significantly over the past two decades. This study employs a semi‐structured in‐depth interview to evaluate the current and prospective state of Macao's academic book publishing industry. The SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis and the PEST (Political, Economic, Social, and Technological) analysis are used in this study. The strengths of Macao's academic book publishing industry include that requesting an ISBN in Macao is easy and quick under the principle of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ and financial support from the Macao SAR government. However, the industry faces several weaknesses, including an underdeveloped cultural industry, a small seller market and a talent shortage, and less copyright output. Opportunities for the industry exist through constructing a Culture‐based Bay Area in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area and developing an international hub for digital trade in the Guangdong–Macao In‐Depth Cooperation Zone–Hengqin. However, Macao's academic book publishing industry is threatened by emerging Internet technologies, such as augmented reality, the metaverse, and ChatGPT. This paper also proposes strategies for future practice, such as taking the initiative to encourage a group of top‐tier publishers to establish branches in Macao and improve publications’ cultural elements. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the strategic management of Macao's academic book publishing industry and will be of interest to publishers, academic researchers, and policymakers.
Beyond Beall's list: The need for contemporary evaluation tools in predatory publishing research
Authors: Mohammed Karukh K. , Hama Jihad Ibrahim , Kakamad Fahmi H.
Published: February 2024

Key points

Beall's list was an instrumental resource in its prime, however its cessation of updates since 2017 makes its continued use a potential concern.

The landscape of predatory publishing has witnessed profound changes over recent years.

In the context of up‐to‐date evaluations, many researchers and institutions are turning towards Kscien's list.
Impact of the Madden–Julian oscillation and equatorial waves on tracked mesoscale convective systems over southeast Asia
Authors: Crook Julia , Morris Fran , Fitzpatrick Rory Gordon John , Peatman Simon C. , Schwendike Juliane , Stein Thorwald H. , Birch Cathryn E. , Hardy Sam , Yang Gui‐Ying
Published: February 2024

Southeast Asia is a region dominated by high‐impact weather, but numerical weather prediction here is a challenge owing to the complex orography and interactions between small‐ and large‐scale phenomena. Localised mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) can produce intense precipitation. Here, we track MCSs over a 5‐year period in Himawari satellite data, characterise the distribution of MCSs in the region, and investigate how they are modulated by the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) and equatorial waves. Between 10°S and 10°N in southeast Asia, MCSs account for 45–70% of the precipitation during boreal extended winter (November–April). Over most of the region, the fractional MCS contribution to rainfall is higher than average on days with extreme rainfall (>55%). Long‐lived (>12 hr) MCSs contribute disproportionately, providing 85% of the rainfall despite comprising only 34% of all MCSs. Variability in MCS rainfall accounts for >50% of the total rainfall variability during an MJO cycle, mostly due to larger numbers of MCSs in convectively active MJO phases. Variations in MCS size and mean rain rate due to shifts in the stratiform proportion provide compensating effects. In the west of the region, a shift to faster moving MCSs in active MJO phases and slower moving MCSs in inactive phases resulted in fast‐moving MCSs having the greatest impact on the MJO‐associated variability. Variability is larger in the west than in the east. Equatorial Kelvin waves modulate MCS rainfall, with MCSs accounting for 20–50% of local rainfall anomalies. This variability is again enhanced in the west. By contrast, rainfall anomalies due to westward‐propagating mixed Rossby–gravity waves and Rossby‐1 waves are dominated by tropical‐cyclone‐related rainfall. Skill at local scales may be extracted from forecasts of subseasonal drivers such as the MJO and Kelvin waves, by understanding how these modulate the number and characteristics of MCSs.
Gathering Evidence to Leverage Musculoskeletal Magnetic Stimulation Towards Clinical Applicability
Authors: Figueiredo José G. S. , de Sousa Bárbara M. , Soares dos Santos Marco P. , Vieira Sandra I.
Published: February 2024

Musculoskeletal disorders are among the main causes of disease‐associated disability. Moreover, the incidence and prevalence of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, as well as the risk of bone fractures and the need for joint replacements, are expected to increase with longer life expectancy. New approaches based on electromagnetic stimulation have been developed, aiming to shorten bone healing time, attenuate osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, and increase implants' osseointegration. Inductive coupling (IC), a non‐invasive methodology to deliver magnetic stimuli, has reached clinical trials and some clinical practices but is not yet considered a standard procedure. Indeed, its feasibility in clinical use is still under discussion, and optimal stimulation parameters are fairly undefined. This comprehensive review describes the research trends and applicability of IC‐based therapeutics for musculoskeletal disorders, and starts identifying top‐performing magnetic stimulation parameters. Insights into the magnetic stimuli setups that promote osteogenesis are provided, based on pre‐clinical and clinical evidence from 117 in vivo studies in animal models and human patients. Potential cellular and molecular biomechanisms mediating IC‐induced effects on osteoblasts and osteoclasts are also explored. The transversal knowledge herein delivered will hopefully support innovative designs and medical devices that will implement IC stimulation as a clinical standard and effective therapeutic for musculoskeletal disorders.
Adverse pregnancy outcome in fetuses with early increased nuchal translucency: prospective cohort study
Authors: Bet B. B. , Lugthart M. A. , Linskens I. H. , van Maarle M. C. , van Leeuwen E. , Pajkrt E.
Published: February 2024

Objectives

An increased nuchal translucency (NT) thickness of ≥ 3.5 mm is a well‐established marker for congenital anomalies and adverse pregnancy outcome between 11 and 14 weeks' gestation, but little is known about its performance as a screening tool before 11 weeks. We aimed to investigate, in a prospective setting, whether fetuses with increased NT before 11 weeks are at risk for adverse pregnancy outcome.

Methods

This was a prospective cohort study including pregnant women with a viable fetus with NT ≥ 2.5 mm and a crown–rump length (CRL) < 45 mm. All included women were referred to our fetal medicine unit (FMU) and scheduled for a follow‐up scan where the NT was remeasured after 1 week when the CRL was > 45 mm. Two groups were evaluated: cases with a normalized NT (< 3.5 mm) and cases with persistently increased NT (≥ 3.5 mm). The cases were monitored until 4 weeks after delivery. The main outcome was a composite adverse outcome of aneuploidy, other genetic disorders, structural anomalies and pregnancy loss. We performed subgroup analyses of NT thickness at inclusion and normalized or persistently increased NT at follow‐up.

Results

The study included 109 cases, of which 39 (35.8%) had an adverse pregnancy outcome. Of these, 64.1% (25/39) were aneuploid, corresponding to 22.9% (25/109) of the total study population. In the subgroups of NT thickness at inclusion of 2.5–3.4 mm, 3.5–4.4 mm and ≥ 4.5 mm, an adverse outcome was reported in 22.0% (9/41), 40.0% (18/45) and 52.2% (12/23), respectively. In fetuses with a normalized NT and without ultrasound abnormalities at the follow‐up scan, the incidence of adverse outcome was 8.5% (5/59), of which 5.1% (3/59) cases were aneuploid.

Conclusions

Fetuses with an early increased NT thickness are at considerable risk of an adverse pregnancy outcome, even if the NT normalizes after 11 weeks. Not all congenital anomalies can be diagnosed with routine first‐trimester screening, such as non‐invasive prenatal testing and/or a first‐trimester anomaly scan. Therefore, expectant parents should always be referred to a FMU for detailed ultrasonography. Invasive prenatal testing should be offered if an increased NT of ≥ 2.5 mm is observed before 11 weeks' gestation. © 2024 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
On the effects of a surrounding medium and phase split in coupled bone simulations
Authors: Blaszczyk Mischa , Hackl Klaus
Published: February 2024

In our previous contributions we established a multiscale, multiphase material model for the simulation of cancellous bone with the novel idea of including the full coupling of mechanical, electric and magnetic effects, which could be used for example, for the early detection of osteoporosis. While our calculations have already shown promising results, our previous approach lacks very important aspects, strongly limiting the applicability of our findings. In this paper we extend our base model by considering the effect of a surrounding medium on our bone specimen, using improved boundary conditions and differentiating between cortical bone, bone marrow and spongy bone to better reflect the physiological properties of bone. We show numerical results and compare our calculations to our previous modeling.
Geschichte der klinischen Elektrophysiologie in Diagnostik und Therapiekontrolle ventrikulärer Vulnerabilität
Authors: Pfeiffer Dietrich
Published: February 2024

Der Beitrag beschreibt die Geschichte einer Hoffnung in den Jahren 1980 bis 1995, das Risiko eines plötzlichen arrhythmischen Herztodes mit den Methoden der klinischen Elektrophysiologie am einzelnen Patienten ausreichend sicher vorherzusagen. Auch wenn eine solche Wahrscheinlichkeit in ausgewählten Gruppen mit hoher Zuverlässigkeit bestimmt werden kann, so entziehen sich viele klinische Szenarien einer solchen Vorhersage. Letztlich haben umfangreiche Bemühungen nur eine statistische Gruppenwahrscheinlichkeit, nicht eine therapierelevante Wahrscheinlichkeit im Einzelfall ergeben. Es ist die Geschichte einer enttäuschten Hoffnung.
On the density of “wild” initial data for the barotropic Euler system
Authors: Chiodaroli Elisabetta , Feireisl Eduard
Published: February 2024

We show that the set of “wild data”, meaning the initial data for which the barotropic Euler system admits infinitely many admissible entropy solutions, is dense in the $$L^p$$

L
p

-topology of the phase space.
Contest partitioning in binary contests
Authors: Levy Priel , Aumann Yonatan , Sarne David
Published: February 2024

In this work we explore the opportunities presented by partitioning contestants in contest into disjoint groups, each competing in an independent contest, with its own prize. This, as opposed to most literature on contest design, which focuses on the setting of a single “grand” (possibly multi-stage) contest, wherein all potential contestants ultimately compete for the same prize(s), with few exceptions that do consider contest partitioning, yet with conflicting preference results concerning the optimal structure to be used. Focusing on binary contests, wherein the quality of contestants’ submissions are endogenously determined, we show that contest partitioning is indeed beneficial under some condition, e.g., whenever the number of contestants, or the prize amount, are “sufficiently large”, where the exact size requirements are a function of the partitioning cost. When partitioning does not entail any cost, we show that it is either a dominating or weakly dominating strategy, depending on the way the organizer’s expected benefit is determined. The analysis is further extended to consider partitioning where some of the sub-contests used contain a single contestant (a singleton). We conclude that contest partitioning is an avenue that contest designers can and should consider, when aiming to maximize their profit.
Rejection, Disagreement, Controversy and Acceptance in Mathematical Practice: Episodes in the Social Construction of Infinity
Authors: Ernest Paul
Published: February 2024

The concept of infinity has a long and troubled history. Thus it is a promising concept with which to explore rejection, disagreement, controversy and acceptance in mathematical practice. This paper briefly considers four cases from the history of infinity, drawing on social constructionism as the background social theory. The unit of analysis of social constructionism is conversation. This is the social mechanism whereby new mathematical claims are proposed, scrutinised and critiqued. Minimally, conversation is based on the two roles of proponent and critic. The proponent puts forward a proposal, which is reacted to and evaluated by those in the role of critic. There is a continuum of contexts in which such conversations take place from inner conversations the mathematician has within themselves, and casual face-to face interactions between mathematicians at the chalkboard, all the way to the formal responses of referees and editors to submitted journal papers. Such responses vary from unconditional acceptance, partial acceptance through to outright rejection. There may be disagreements between proponents and critics, among those in the joint role of critic, and broader, community-wide disagreements and controversies, according to specific mathematical proposal and the critical judgements of it.
Effect of introduction pathways on the invasion success of non-native plants along environmental gradients
Authors: Riera Marc , Pino Joan , Sáez Llorenç , Aymerich Pere , Melero Yolanda
Published: February 2024

Our understanding on the role of introduction pathways on plant invasions is incomplete because their interaction with other factors remains poorly studied. We contributed to filling this knowledge gap, by analysing temporal trends in pathway importance, pathway-specific differences in the invaded niche, and the effect of pathways on invasion success. We used the non-native flora of Catalonia (NE Spain) as a study system. The contribution of pathways to the non-native flora interacted with time: from before 1500 to the present, gardening replaced agriculture as the main donor of new plants, while the contribution of unintentional introductions fluctuated without a consistent trend. Among neophytes (plants introduced after 1500), introduction pathways influenced differences mainly in habitat type, and secondarily in elevation: natural habitats and high elevation promoted invasion by gardening plants over unintentionally introduced ones. These nuances were unrelated to interactions between environmental variables. Among neophytes, invasion success was unrelated to pathways and interactions between pathways and traits, but was positively related to minimum residence time: older introductions achieved greater area of occupancy, habitat range, and invaded climatic niche breadth. Our results suggest that non-native plants diversified their niches over time (1500-present), a process that resulted in similar area of occupancy and niche breadth across plants with different introduction pathways. This was accompanied by pathway-specific nuances in the type of invaded environmental conditions.
Singularity swap quadrature for nearly singular line integrals on closed curves in two dimensions
Authors: af Klinteberg Ludvig
Published: February 2024

This paper presents a quadrature method for evaluating layer potentials in two dimensions close to periodic boundaries, discretized using the trapezoidal rule. It is an extension of the method of singularity swap quadrature, which recently was introduced for boundaries discretized using composite Gauss–Legendre quadrature. The original method builds on swapping the target singularity for its preimage in the complexified space of the curve parametrization, where the source panel is flat. This allows the integral to be efficiently evaluated using an interpolatory quadrature with a monomial basis. In this extension, we use the target preimage to swap the singularity to a point close to the unit circle. This allows us to evaluate the integral using an interpolatory quadrature with complex exponential basis functions. This is well-conditioned, and can be efficiently evaluated using the fast Fourier transform. The resulting method has exponential convergence, and can be used to accurately evaluate layer potentials close to the source geometry. We report experimental results on a simple test geometry, and provide a baseline Julia implementation that can be used for further experimentation.
Comparing the antimicrobial properties of propolis and silver particle-doped cotton fabric
Authors: Yaman Turan Necla , Korcan Elif , Aydin Büşra
Published: February 2024

This study aims to examine the antimicrobial properties and washing resistance of cotton fabrics coated with propolis-doped hydrogel. More specifically, we compared the hygienic properties of AgNO3 (a common antimicrobial agent in textile materials), and the antimicrobial properties of propolis for the first time. We used PVA and NaCMC for hydrogel production because they are biocompatible and non-toxic. Later, we looked at how effective the propolis or AgNO3-doped hydrogel-coated cotton fabrics are against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and Candida albicans fungus, and compared their findings. Our results demonstrated that propolis could be a natural antibacterial alternative to AgNO3. The more active substance content there was, the more antibacterial and washing resistant it became. We used SEM images of the hydrogel coating and SEM–EDX images to how much silver the silver-doped layers contained. ATR–FTIR results also supported flavonoids and phenol in the structure of propolis itself. The changes in the basic comfort properties of the products were at acceptable levels.

Graphical abstract
Leveraging the Potential of Large Language Models in Education Through Playful and Game-Based Learning
Authors: Huber Stefan E. , Kiili Kristian , Nebel Steve , Ryan Richard M. , Sailer Michael , Ninaus Manuel
Published: February 2024

This perspective piece explores the transformative potential and associated challenges of large language models (LLMs) in education and how those challenges might be addressed utilizing playful and game-based learning. While providing many opportunities, the stochastic elements incorporated in how present LLMs process text, requires domain expertise for a critical evaluation and responsible use of the generated output. Yet, due to their low opportunity cost, LLMs in education may pose some risk of over-reliance, potentially and unintendedly limiting the development of such expertise. Education is thus faced with the challenge of preserving reliable expertise development while not losing out on emergent opportunities. To address this challenge, we first propose a playful approach focusing on skill practice and human judgment. Drawing from game-based learning research, we then go beyond this playful account by reflecting on the potential of well-designed games to foster a willingness to practice, and thus nurturing domain-specific expertise. We finally give some perspective on how a new pedagogy of learning with AI might utilize LLMs for learning by generating games and gamifying learning materials, leveraging the full potential of human-AI interaction in education.
How judicial efficiency impacts trade credit and doubtful receivables
Authors: Aguiar-Díaz Inmaculada , Mruk Ewelina , Ruiz-Mallorquí María Victoria
Published: February 2024

Judicial efficiency has been widely identified as a factor that has an impact on credit markets and firms’ financial decisions. In this paper, we study the relationship between judicial efficiency and trade credit granted by firms to their customers, as well as how the judicial system influences the proportion of those credits that are deemed ‘doubtful’. We test our assumption by analysing a sample of 1526 listed, ‘non-financial’ firms located in countries in the eurozone, during the period 2011–2021. The proxies of judicial efficiency are the length of judicial proceedings and rule of law, obtained from the World Bank’s ‘Doing Business’ and the World Bank Governance Indicators (WGI) databases, respectively. The empirical findings confirm our hypotheses that efficient justice allows for increased supplier confidence when extending financing to their customers and reduces doubtful trade credit.
Finite Additivity, Complete Additivity, and the Comparative Principle
Authors: Seidenfeld Teddy , Kadane Joseph B. , Schervish Mark J. , Stern Rafael B.
Published: February 2024

In the longstanding foundational debate whether to require that probability is countably additive, in addition to being finitely additive, those who resist the added condition raise two concerns that we take up in this paper. (1) Existence: Settings where no countably additive probability exists though finitely additive probabilities do. (2) Complete Additivity: Where reasons for countable additivity don’t stop there. Those reasons entail complete additivity—the (measurable) union of probability 0 sets has probability 0, regardless the cardinality of that union. Then probability distributions are discrete, not continuous. We use Easwaran’s (Easwaran, Thought 2:53–61, 2013) advocacy of the Comparative principle to illustrate these two concerns. Easwaran supports countable additivity, both for numerical probabilities and for finer, qualitative probabilities, by defending a condition he calls the Comparative principle [$${\mathcal{C}}$$
C
]. For numerical probabilities, principle $${\mathcal{C}}$$
C
contrasts pairs, P1 and P2, defined over a common partition $$\prod$$
∏
 = {ai: i ∈ I} of measurable events. $${\mathcal{C}}$$
C
requires that no P1 may be pointwise dominated, i.e., no (finitely additive) probability P2 exists such that for each i ∈ I, P2(ai) > P1(ai). By design, the cardinality of $$\prod$$
∏
is not limited in $${\mathcal{C}}$$
C
, which Easwaran asserts is important when arguing that the principle does not require more, or less, than that probability is countably additive. We agree that a numerical probability P satisfies principle $${\mathcal{C}}$$
C
in all partitions just in case P is countably additive. However, we show that for numerical probabilities, by considering the size of the algebra of events to which probability is applied, principle $${\mathcal{C}}$$
C
is subject to each of the above concerns,  (1) and (2). Also, Easwaran considers principle $${\mathcal{C}}$$
C
with non-numerical, qualitative probabilities, where a qualitative probability may be finer than an almost agreeing numerical probability P. A qualitative probability is regular if possible events are strictly more likely than impossible events. Easwaran motivates and illustrates regular qualitative probabilities using a continuous, almost agreeing quantitative probability that is uniform on the unit interval. We make explicit the conditions for applying principle $${\mathcal{C}}$$
C
with qualitative probabilities and show that $${\mathcal{C}}$$
C
restricts regular qualitative probabilities to those whose almost agreeing quantitative probabilities are completely additive. For instance, Easwaran’s motivating example of a regular qualitative probability is precluded by principle $${\mathcal{C}}$$
C
.
Helmuth Plessner’s Schellingian Reconciliation of Idealism and Realism About the Psyche
Authors: Dornbach Márton
Published: February 2024

While Schelling’s anticipation of Freudian psychoanalysis is well established, it has thus far gone unnoticed that Schelling’s ideas also proved fruitful in the context of a distinctively philosophical theory of the psyche developed by a younger contemporary of Freud. During the 1920s Helmuth Plessner, a key figure of philosophical anthropology, outlined a complex conception of the psyche as an individualized, inner region of reality. Although Plessner did not present his philosophical psychology in a systematic form, its building blocks can be found in The Unity of the Senses, The Limits of Community, and Levels of Organic Life and the Human, among other writings. Moreover, Plessner left a clue as to how these building blocks fit together, which suggests that Plessner viewed his philosophical psychology as structurally analogous to the model of personality outlined in Schelling’s 1809 treatise on human freedom. I propose that Plessner sought to formulate an alternative to both idealism and realism about the psyche that might reconcile the insights motivating these rival positions. Schelling provided Plessner with a workable model for such a reconciliation. After reviewing textual evidence for my hypothesis, I sketch Schelling’s predecessor theory. Based on the Schellingian template, I then reconstruct Plessner’s non-reductively naturalistic theory of the psyche, which aligns the real bodily ground of the psyche with its ideal existence. Highlighting the strengths of Plessner’s philosophical psychology against the foil of Paul Ricoeur’s and John McDowell’s relevant arguments, I argue that the theory reconstructed here deserves contemporary consideration as a plausible contender.
Teachers’ noticing of proportional reasoning
Authors: Amador Julie M. , Glassmeyer David , Brakoniecki Aaron
Published: February 2024

The importance of understanding what and how mathematics teachers notice is well documented, but more research is needed on content-specific noticing. In particular, knowing how teachers notice proportional reasoning, a vital topic spanning all grades of mathematics, could inform measures that support students’ proportional reasoning. We examined how teachers noticed when responding to two prompts (one student-focused and one teacher–student-interaction-focused) after watching a video of a middle grades proportional reasoning lesson. We analyzed the proportional reasoning reported from 13 elementary and 20 secondary prospective teachers and used cooccurrences along with noticing practices to describe how teachers noticed proportional reasoning and what aspects of proportional reasoning they noticed. Results indicate: (a) the two prompts resulted in differences in what and how participants noticed proportional reasoning, (b) participants were primarily descriptive and not interpretative when describing the proportional reasoning they noticed, and (c) the elementary and secondary prospective teachers both noticed similar aspects of proportional reasoning but showed differences in how the proportional reasoning cooccurred with the noticing practices. These findings reiterate the importance of the prompts used with teachers, the potential of using video to advance teachers’ noticing of proportional reasoning, and the methodological potential of using cooccurrences to examine teachers’ content-specific noticing.
Psychosocial Evaluation of Adults with Primary Immunodeficiency
Authors: Gumusburun Reyhan , Altay Sevgi , Cengiz Hasancan , Hakverdioglu Yont Gulendam , Kuman Tuncel Ozlem , Ardeniz Omur
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Primary immunodeficiency disorder (PID) is a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by immune dysregulation and increased susceptibility to infections, with various cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and social effects on patients. This study aimed to evaluate loneliness, social adaptation, anxiety, and depression and to identify associated factors in adults with immunodeficiency.

Methods

A cross-sectional study in Turkey (Feb-Aug 2022) obtained sociodemographic data from patient records. The Social Adaptation Self-Evaluation Scale (SASS), UCLA-Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LS), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were administered in individual patient interviews. HADS-Anxiety (HADS-A) and HADS-Depression (HADS-D) scores were assessed using cut-offs of 10 and 7, respectively; SASS cut-offs for social imbalance and normalcy were < 25 and > 35, respectively.

Results

A total of 104 patients (60 women, 44 men) with a median age of 34 years (range: 18–89) were included in the study. Mean scores were SASS: 34.46 ± 8.11, UCLA-LS: 44.89 ± 12.66, HADS-A: 9.87 ± 4.77, and HADS-D: 9.12 ± 4.80. SASS score was negatively correlated with HADS-A, HADS-D, and UCLA-LS scores. There were positive correlations between UCLA-LS and HADS-A (r = -0.355, p < 0.01) and HADS-D (r = -0.614, p < 0.01) and between HADS-A and HADS-D (r = -0.454, p < 0.01). Low-income level was associated with higher HADS-A, HADS-D, and UCLA-LS scores and lower SASS score (p = 0.012, p = 0.041, p = 0.008, and p = 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

Adults with PID are at risk for depression and experience high levels of loneliness. Social maladjustment and loneliness contribute to anxiety and depression, and loneliness is correlated with impaired social functioning. These findings emphasize the importance of biopsychosocial evaluation of individuals diagnosed with PID.
Psychiatrists’ Perceptions of the Role of Journalists in Suicide Reporting and Prejudices about Mental Illnesses in Portugal
Authors: Ribeiro Eudora , Granado António
Published: February 2024

International studies and the World Health Organization call for collaboration between media and mental health professionals to reduce the risk of imitative suicidal behaviour after suicide reporting – known as the Werther effect – and encourage individuals at risk to seek help. This study explores Portuguese psychiatrists’ perceptions of the practices of journalists, their interaction with those professionals, and their perspectives on the national suicide coverage through an anonymous online questionnaire and ten semi-structured interviews. The questionnaire received 128 responses. Only about 24% of the Portuguese psychiatrists characterized their relationship with journalists as cooperative, and most of them considered suicide reporting to be sensationalist and irresponsible. More than 80% of the participants expressed the view that journalists do not know the guidelines for responsible suicide reporting, but more than 95% considered that they can contribute to suicide prevention. These findings suggest that there is a long way to go to build a constructive partnership for suicide prevention between psychiatrists and journalists in Portugal, focused on improving the quality of suicide reporting. We hope this study may inspire similar studies in other countries, since suicide is an international public health problem and collaboration between media and mental health professionals can help to prevent it on a global scale.
Nanoindentation Hardness and Modulus of Al2O3–SiO2–CaO and MnO–SiO2–FeO Inclusions in Iron
Authors: Slagter Alejandra , Setyadji Jonathan Aristya , Vogt Eva Luisa , Hernández-Escobar David , Deillon Léa , Mortensen Andreas
Published: February 2024

Oxide inclusions appear in steel as a subproduct of steelmaking. These are generally detrimental to alloy properties; however, variations exist in the extent to which different inclusions are harmful because their properties vary as a function of their chemical composition. We use nanoindentation to measure the local elastic modulus and hardness of individual oxide particles, produced by precipitation within liquid iron, that belong to the systems Al2O3–SiO2–CaO and MnO–SiO2–FeO. Measured inclusion hardness values are typically in the range of 8 to 13 GPa and can reach 26 GPa for alumina-rich inclusions. Calcium aluminates rich in alumina are significantly stiffer than iron, with elastic moduli that can reach 350 GPa. On the contrary, calcium aluminates that are expected as a result of successful calcium treatment (i.e., with less than about 80 wt pct Al2O3 content) have elastic moduli below that of iron. This is also the case for the wide range of calcium aluminosilicates and of manganese silicates studied here. In addition, silicates containing about 70 to 80 wt pct MnO are observed to have a fine multiphase structure and an elastic modulus of ≈ 180 GPa. Those inclusions thus emerge as possible candidates if one aims to minimise, in loaded steel, stress concentrations associated with matrix-inclusion elastic mismatch.
Optimizing Interfaces in Laser-Brazed Ceramic-Stainless Steel Joints for Hydrothermal Sensors through Finite-Element Modeling
Authors: Feng Jian , Herrmann Marion , Reinecke Anne-Maria , Hurtado Antonio
Published: February 2024

The development of reliable joining techniques for ceramics and metals is crucial for energy applications, such as fuel cells, nuclear reactors, and high-temperature sensors, most especially for the sealing of hydrothermal sensors to study multiphase flows. However, during one-step active laser brazing it is a serious problem that a high thermal stress concentration can occur at the joint interfaces or on the ceramic side of the joint due to mismatches between the CTEs (coefficients of thermal expansion) and/or elastic constants. The uncontrolled thermal residual stress can lead to cracks and defects in the brazement. In the present work, an elastoplastic finite element method/numerical model was formulated to study the thermal residual stresses developed in the brazement between ceramics and austenitic stainless steel during cooling in active laser brazing. Calculations and comparison experiments were conducted to validate the simulated stress distribution in un-patterned ceramics. Stress analyses were conducted for planar and cylindrical specimen geometries (lab joints) relevant for miniaturized energy sensors. Laser interface patterning was employed to create micro-scale features on ceramic interfaces that reduce thermal stress concentrations. The optimization of the interface designing parameters including hatch size, structure width, pattern depth and metal/ceramic thickness ratio was performed using the Taguchi method with orthogonal arrays. The study suggests that laser interface structuring can modify thermal residual stresses in ceramic-to-metal brazements, thereby increasing the reliability of active brazing joints.
New Evidence of Neolithic Funerary Monuments from the Eastern Margins of the Long Barrows Territory in Central Europe
Authors: Krištuf Petr , Turek Jan , Fišer Jan , Gojda Martin , Chimalová Eliška , Křivánek Roman
Published: February 2024

Late Neolithic long barrows are commonly found throughout Central and Northwestern Europe, within the Funnel Beaker Culture territory. The sites of this Culture are known from Bohemia covering a period between 3900 and 3400 BC. However, long barrows have not been detected in Bohemia for a long time. The main reason is that they are located in areas where they were affected by modern ploughing. A significant contribution to their recognition was the remote sensing of modern fields, especially aerial archaeology. Current research in Bohemia provided new evidence of dozens of long barrows of several types, significantly expanding our knowledge of this phenomenon in the southeastern margins of its distribution. A new type of long barrow has been identified in Bohemia using remote sensing and current excavation data. The characteristic parameters of the long barrows in Bohemia are an east-west orientation with the ceremonial place in the eastern front and the delineation of the perimeter by a palisade trough or a ditch. The mounds can be divided into at least two structural and chronological forms. The first is the narrow and sometimes extremely long mound with perimeter defined by a palisade trough dating to the 3900–3800 BC. The second type of barrow is enclosed by a trapezoidal ditch. Based on radiocarbon dating, these structures were constructed during the 3700–3600 BC. This type of monument is currently known exclusively from Bohemia.
Towards automating microservices orchestration through data-driven evolutionary architectures
Authors: Bergami Giacomo
Published: February 2024

This paper briefly outlines current literature on evolutionary architectures and current links with microservices orchestration and data integration. We also propose future research directions bridging the field of service-oriented architectures with the data science domain.
Global Leadership Dynamics: Refining Executive Selection in Multinational Corporations
Authors: Liu Weng Shih-Kun
Published: February 2024

This research addresses a critical gap in the field of multinational corporations (MNCs) by exploring the decision-making processes involved in selecting senior executives for international assignments. The study acknowledges the escalating competition in global trade and the strategic establishment of overseas subsidiaries by MNCs. Central to the success of these ventures is the effective management of human resources, specifically the recruitment of senior executives, an area currently lacking comprehensive research. Our investigation offers a novel approach by identifying key management competencies, convening expert focus groups, and employing advanced methodologies such as FDM, DEMATEL, DANP, and VIKOR to analyze, prioritize, and rank selection factors. This study transcends academic interests, aiming to revolutionize how MNCs navigate the complexities of global leadership. It proposes a data-driven framework to enhance the understanding of managerial competencies required for successful international business operations. The research methodology includes both qualitative and quantitative analyses, focusing on technical proficiency, social skills, conceptual thinking, individual motivation, and personality as integral components of managerial competence. Particularly, it highlights the importance of “Individual Personality” as a pivotal dimension in the competency framework. Our findings provide MNCs with a structured framework for executive selection, emphasizing comprehensive assessments to ensure candidates possess a balanced mix of skills necessary for global leadership. This research bridges theoretical knowledge and practical requirements, empowering MNCs with tools to succeed in the competitive global marketplace and manage the dynamic landscape of international business effectively.
Can EU competition law save sports governance?
Authors: Zglinski Jan
Published: February 2024

The three December rulings of the Court of Justice of the European Union—European Superleague, International Skating Union, and Royal Antwerp—are important milestones in the development of EU sports law and policy. This article focuses on what is perhaps their most striking feature: the prominent place accorded to competition law. The judgments make several important changes and clarifications to how EU competition rules apply in the sporting context. This paper argues that the new legal framework paves the way for a more active use of competition law in sports cases. Although this is likely to have some positive effects on the quality of sports governance, it also carries the risk of exposing the field to an ill-fitting set of rules which follow a predominantly economic and de-regulatory rationale. Ultimately, even enhanced competition law will not be able to solve the manifold problems marring the world of sports—and is a poor substitute for sports regulation through legislative means.
Modelling cortical network dynamics
Authors: Cooray Gerald Kaushallye , Rosch Richard Ewald , Friston Karl John
Published: February 2024

We have investigated the theoretical constraints of the interactions between coupled cortical columns. Each cortical column consists of a set of neural populations where each population is modelled as a neural mass. The existence of semi-stable states within a cortical column is dependent on the type of interaction between the neuronal populations, i.e., the form of the synaptic kernels. Current-to-current coupling has been shown, in contrast to potential-to-current coupling, to create semi-stable states within a cortical column. The interaction between semi-stable states of the cortical columns is studied where we derive the dynamics for the collected activity. For small excitations the dynamics follow the Kuramoto model; however, in contrast to previous work we derive coupled equations between phase and amplitude dynamics with the possibility of defining connectivity as a stationary and dynamic variable. The turbulent flow of phase dynamics which occurs in networks of Kuramoto oscillators would indicate turbulent changes in dynamic connectivity for coupled cortical columns which is something that has been recorded in epileptic seizures. We used the results we derived to estimate a seizure propagation model which allowed for inversions using the Laplace assumption (Dynamic Causal Modelling). The seizure propagation model was trialed on simulated data, and future work will investigate the estimation of the connectivity matrix from empirical data. This model can be used to predict changes in seizure evolution after virtual changes in the connectivity network, something that could be of clinical use when applied to epilepsy surgical cases.
Petrogenesis and tectonic setting of the mafic rocks from the Mfengou-Manki area, Central Cameroon Shear Zone: constraints from petrology and bulk-rock geochemistry
Authors: Nchouwet Zakari , Ntieche Benjamin , Yongue Fouateu Rose , Ntoumbe Mama , Mounjouohou Mahomed Aziz , Atsalang Chimene Grace Staelle , Abomo Olomo Marcelle Nathalie , Amidou Moundi
Published: February 2024

In the Central Cameroon Shear Zone, several studies were focused on granitoids and very few on mafic rocks. Here we report the petrography, geochemistry and mineralogy of the Mfengou-Manki mafic rocks in order to constrain their petrogenesis and tectonic settings and the role of lithospheric and asthenospheric mantle sources in their genesis. The studied mafic rocks are subdivided into columnar jointed basalts and mafic dykes. Clinopyroxene thermobarometry indicates that the mafic dykes crystallized at a temperature of 1071 to 1193 °C and a pressure of 4 to 12 kbar while the columnar jointed basalts emplaced at a temperature of 1064 to 1152 °C and 2 to 13 kbar pressure. The mafic dykes and columnar jointed basalts present high La/Sm, Sm/Yb, Nb/Yb and Th/Yb ratios, indicating garnet to spinel transition zone mantle source. The multi-element diagram of the mafic dykes display enrichment in Nb, Ta, Pb and Ti and depletion in Th, U, Ce and Zr compared to that of the columnar jointed basalts (slight depletion in Nb and Ta and pronounced depletion in U, Pb and Zr and enrichment in Cs, Ba and Rb) indicating the little involvement of the sub-continental lithospheric mantle to the formation of the columnar jointed basalts. The Nb/La ratio > 1 for the mafic dykes and < 1 for the columnar jointed basalts also suggest the derivation of the mafic dykes from the asthenospheric mantle and the columnar jointed basalts from the mixed lithospheric-asthenospheric mantle due to the sub-continental lithospheric mantle delamination under the Central Cameroon Shear Zone.
Bearing fault feature extraction based on MOMEDA and CS-Wood–Saxon stochastic resonance
Authors: Quan ZhenYa , Zhang XueLiang
Published: February 2024

Since rolling bearing is of great significance to ensure the safe and stable operation of rotating machinery, bearing fault feature extraction then demonstrates a hot topic of general interest in industry. In this work, we applied Multipoint Optimal Minimum Entroy Deconvolution Adjusted preprocessing algorithm to deal with the large amount of background noise containing in the collected bearing fault original signal. Then, the Wood–Saxon stochastic resonance nonlinear system model is adopted to solve the bearing fault feature extraction problem, which avoids the frequency interval and system parameters disadvantages in bistable stochastic resonance system. Furthermore, the parameter step and scale transform factor in the Wood–Saxon stochastic resonance nonlinear system is optimized adaptively by Cuckoo Search algorithm, in which way the output signal-to-noise of bearing fault signal is improved significantly. Therefore, the bearing fault feature can be extracted more effectively compared with the classical bistable stochastic resonance system model. Simulation and examples demonstrated that the proposed method can effectively reduce the noise in the signal and enhance the weak feature in bearing fault signal, so as to realize the accurate early bearing fault diagnosis.
Study of Q-learning and deep Q-network learning control for a rotary inverted pendulum system
Authors: Ben Hazem Zied
Published: February 2024

The rotary inverted pendulum system (RIPS) is an underactuated mechanical system with highly nonlinear dynamics and it is difficult to control a RIPS using the classic control models. In the last few years, reinforcement learning (RL) has become a popular nonlinear control method. RL has a powerful potential to control systems with high non-linearity and complex dynamics, such as RIPS. Nevertheless, RL control for RIPS has not been well studied and there is limited research on the development and evaluation of this control method. In this paper, RL control algorithms are developed for the swing-up and stabilization control of a single-link rotary inverted pendulum (SLRIP) and compared with classic control methods such as PID and LQR. A physical model of the SLRIP system is created using the MATLAB/Simscape Toolbox, the model is used as a dynamic simulation in MATLAB/Simulink to train the RL agents. An agent trainer system with Q-learning (QL) and deep Q-network learning (DQNL) is proposed for the data training. Furthermore, agent actions are actuating the horizontal arm of the system and states are the angles and velocities of the pendulum and the horizontal arm. The reward is computed according to the angles of the pendulum and horizontal arm. The reward is zero when the pendulum attends the upright position. The RL algorithms are used without a deep understanding of the classical controllers and are used to implement the agent. Finally, the outcome indicates the effectiveness of the QL and DQNL algorithms compared to the conventional PID and LQR controllers.