bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The anatomical variations of the cubital tunnel in a South African body donor sample
Authors: Munro Sophie Rose , Mac Dermott Kerryn-Anne , Keet Kerri
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The ulnar nerve (UN) courses through the cubital tunnel, which is a potential site of entrapment. Anatomical variations of the cubital tunnel may contribute towards cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS), however, these are not well described. The aim was to compare the range of variations and dimensions of the cubital tunnel and the UN between sexes and sides of the body.

Methods

Sixty elbows from 30 embalmed bodies (17 males and 13 females) were dissected. The prevalence of the cubital tunnel retinaculum (CuTR) or anconeus epitrochlearis (AE) forming the roof of the tunnel was determined. The length, width, thickness, and diameter of the cubital tunnel and its roof were measured. The diameter of the UN was measured.

Results

The AE was present in 5%, whereas the CuTR was present in the remaining 95% of elbows. The tunnel was 32.1 ± 4.8 mm long, 23.4 ± 14.2 mm wide, 0.18 ± (0.22–0.14) mm thick, and the median diameter was 7.9 ± (9.0–7.1) mm, while the median diameter of the UN was 1.6 ± (1.8–1.3) mm. The AE was thicker than the CuTR (p < 0.001) and the UN was larger in elbows with the AE present (p = 0.002). The tunnel was longer in males (p < 0.001) and wider on the right (p = 0.014).

Conclusion

The roof of the cubital tunnel was more frequently composed of the CuTR. The cubital tunnel varied in size between sexes and sides. Future research should investigate the effect of the variations in patients with CuTS.
Confidence distributions and hypothesis testing
Authors: Melilli Eugenio , Veronese Piero
Published: March 2024

The traditional frequentist approach to hypothesis testing has recently come under extensive debate, raising several critical concerns. Additionally, practical applications often blend the decision-theoretical framework pioneered by Neyman and Pearson with the inductive inferential process relied on the p-value, as advocated by Fisher. The combination of the two methods has led to interpreting the p-value as both an observed error rate and a measure of empirical evidence for the hypothesis. Unfortunately, both interpretations pose difficulties. In this context, we propose that resorting to confidence distributions can offer a valuable solution to address many of these critical issues. Rather than suggesting an automatic procedure, we present a natural approach to tackle the problem within a broader inferential context. Through the use of confidence distributions, we show the possibility of defining two statistical measures of evidence that align with different types of hypotheses under examination. These measures, unlike the p-value, exhibit coherence, simplicity of interpretation, and ease of computation, as exemplified by various illustrative examples spanning diverse fields. Furthermore, we provide theoretical results that establish connections between our proposal, other measures of evidence given in the literature, and standard testing concepts such as size, optimality, and the p-value.
The OxCM contour method solver for residual stress evaluation
Authors: Uzun Fatih , Korsunsky Alexander M.
Published: March 2024

This paper introduces the OxCM contour method solver, a console application structured based on the legacy version of the FEniCS open-source computing platform for solving partial differential equations (PDEs) using the finite element method (FEM). The solver provides a standardized approach to solving linear elastic numerical models, calculating residual stresses corresponding to measured displacements resulting from changes in the boundary conditions after minimally disturbing (non-contact) cutting. This is achieved through a single-line command, specifically in the case of availability of a domain composed of a tetrahedral mesh and experimentally collected and processed profilometry data. The solver is structured according to a static boundary condition rule, allowing it to rely solely on the cross-section occupied by the experimental data, independent of the geometric irregularities of the investigated body. This approach eliminates the need to create realistic finite element domains for complex-shaped, discontinuous processing bodies. While the contour method provides highly accurate quantification of residual stresses in parts with continuously processed properties, real scenarios often involve parts subjected to discontinuous processing and geometric irregularities. The solver’s validation is performed through numerical experiments representing both continuous and discontinuous processing conditions in artificially created domains with regular and irregular geometric features based on the eigenstrain theory. Numerical experiments, free from experimental errors, contribute to a novel understanding of the contour method's capabilities in reconstructing residual stresses in such bodies through a detailed error analysis. Furthermore, the application of the OxCM contour method solver in a real-case scenario involving a nickel-based superalloy finite-length weldment is demonstrated. The results exhibit the expected distribution of the longitudinal component of residual stresses along the long-transverse direction, consistent with the solution of a commercial solver that was validated by neutron diffraction strain scanning.
Optimizing percutaneous reduction and fixation with guidewire modification in pelvic and acetabular fractures: surgical technique and case series
Authors: Mudawi Aiman , Alzobi Osama , Derbas Jawad Nouraldeen , Ahmed Ghalib , Abousamhadaneh Maamoun
Published: March 2024

Background

Minimally invasive percutaneous screw fixation for pelvic ring and acetabular fractures has become increasingly popular due to its numerous benefits. However, the precise placement of the screw remains a critical challenge, necessitating a modification of the current techniques. This paper introduces a refined technique employing a modified guidewire to enhance the precision and efficiency of percutaneous fixation in pelvic and acetabular fractures.

Methods

This study details the surgical techniques implemented for correcting guidewire misdirection in percutaneous screw fixation and includes a retrospective analysis of patients treated with this modified approach over a three-year period.

Results

In this study, 25 patients with pelvic ring and acetabular fractures underwent percutaneous screw fixation. The cohort, predominantly male (23 out of 25), had an average age of 38 years. The majority of injuries were due to traffic accidents (18 out of 25). Types of injuries included pelvic ring (6 cases), acetabular fractures (8 cases), and combined injuries (11 cases). Various screw types, including antegrade and retrograde anterior column screws, retrograde posterior column screws, and lateral compression screws, were used, tailored to each case. Over an average follow-up of 18 months, there were no additional procedures or complications, such as neurovascular injury or hardware failure, indicating successful outcomes in all cases.

Conclusions

This study introduces a simple yet effective method to address guidewire misdirection during percutaneous fixation for pelvic and acetabular fractures, offering enhanced precision and potentially better patient outcomes. Further research with a larger patient cohort is required for a more comprehensive understanding of its efficacy compared to traditional methods.

Level of evidence

IV. Therapeutic Study (Surgical technique and Cases-series).
Polypharmacy, drug-drug interactions, anticholinergic burden and cognitive outcomes: a snapshot from a community-dwelling sample of older men and women in northern Italy
Authors: Perdixi Elena , Cotta Ramusino Matteo , Costa Alfredo , Bernini Sara , Conti Silvia , Jesuthasan Nithiya , Severgnini Marco , Prinelli Federica ,   on behalf of the NutBrain Study Group
Published: March 2024

Polypharmacy (PP) use is very common in older people and may lead to drug-drug interactions (DDIs) and anticholinergic burden (ACB) that may affect cognitive function. We aimed to determine the occurrence of PP, potential DDIs and ACB and their role in cognitive outcomes in an older population. Cross-sectional data from 636 community-dwelling adults (73.2 ± 6.0 SD, 58.6% women) participating in the NutBrain study (2019–2023) were analyzed. Participants were asked about their medication use, and data on potential DDIs and ACB were extracted. The associations of PP (≥ 5 drugs/day), potential DDIs, and ACB with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and specific cognitive domains were assessed using logistic regression adjusted for confounders. Sex-stratified analysis was performed. Overall, 27.2% of the participants were exposed to PP, 42.3% to potential DDIs and 19% to cumulative ACB. Women were less exposed to PP and more exposed to ACB than men. In multivariate analysis, the odds of having MCI (24%) were three times higher in those with severe ACB (≥ 3) (OR 3.34, 95%CI 1.35–8.25). ACB was positively associated with poor executive function (OR 4.45, 95%CI 1.72–11.49) and specifically with the Frontal Assessment Battery and neuropsychological tests of phonological and semantic fluency. In sex-stratified analysis, ACB was statistically significantly associated with MCI and executive function in women and with memory in men. PP, potential DDIs and anticholinergics use are very common in community-dwelling older people. ACB exposure is associated with MCI, particularly with poor executive function. Clinicians are encouraged to be vigilant when prescribing anticholinergics.

Trial registration: Trial registration number NCT04461951, date of registration July 7, 2020 (retrospectively registered, ClinicalTrials.gov).
Anomalous citations detection in academic networks
Authors: Liu Jiaying , Bai Xiaomei , Wang Mengying , Tuarob Suppawong , Xia Feng
Published: March 2024

Citation network analysis attracts increasing attention from disciplines of complex network analysis and science of science. One big challenge in this regard is that there are unreasonable citations in citation networks, i.e., cited papers are not relevant to the citing paper. Existing research on citation analysis has primarily concentrated on the contents and ignored the complex relations between academic entities. In this paper, we propose a novel research topic, that is, how to detect anomalous citations. To be specific, we first define anomalous citations and propose a unified framework, named ACTION, to detect anomalous citations in a heterogeneous academic network. ACTION is established based on non-negative matrix factorization and network representation learning, which considers not only the relevance of citation contents but also the relationships among academic entities including journals, papers, and authors. To evaluate the performance of ACTION, we construct three anomalous citation datasets. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Detecting anomalous citations carry profound significance for academic fairness.
Modelling the spatial abundance of invasive deer and their impacts on vegetation at the landscape scale
Authors: Fedrigo Melissa , Bennett Ami , Stewart Stephen B. , Forsyth David M. , Greet Joe
Published: March 2024

Deer populations and their impacts on forest ecosystems are increasing globally. Given the imperative and expense to mitigate impacts of invasive deer, we aimed to elucidate critical drivers of (i) deer density, (ii) deer impacts, and (iii) the relationship between them, to facilitate targeted management. We used quantile regression forests to model deer density (faecal pellet counts at 1948 locations) and impacts (browsing and other impacts on > 23,000 woody plants at 343 locations) across a mosaic of agricultural and forested ecosystems in Victoria, Australia (12,775 km2). Climate, topography, vegetation cover, and distance to water features were included as model covariates. Modelled deer density (r2 = 0.71, MAE = 0.56 pellets/m2) was most influenced by distance to waterbodies (> 10 ha, 31.2%), elevation (14.3%) and woody vegetation cover (12.9%). Modelled deer impact (r2 = 0.32, MAE = 6.9%) was most influenced by deer density (21.0%), mean annual precipitation (12.8%) and elevation (12.2%). Deer density was typically highest near large waterbodies, at low elevation, and with intermediate tree cover (40–70%). Impacts increased steadily with deer density up to ~ 2 pellets/m2. Our study demonstrates the importance of forest water and forest agricultural interfaces for both deer density and impacts. Deer are likely to be most abundant near waterbodies due to the availability of high-quality forage and water, and prefer lowland locations that have access to both open and forested habitats. Spatial models can be used to predict deer density and associated impacts to facilitate targeted invasive deer management.
Slot-die coating of cellulose nanocrystals and chitosan for improved barrier properties of paper
Authors: Ruberto Ylenia , Vivod Vera , Grkman Janja Juhant , Lavrič Gregor , Graiff Claudia , Kokol Vanja
Published: March 2024

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and chitosan (Cht) have been studied extensively for oxygen and water vapour barrier coatings in biodegradable, compostable or recyclable paper packaging. However, rare studies have been performed by using scalable, inexpensive, and fast continuous slot-die coating processes, and none yet in combination with fast' and high-throughput near-infrared (NIR) light energy drying. In this frame, we studied the feasibility of a moderately concentrated (11 wt%) anionic CNC and (2 wt%) cationic Cht coating (both containing 20 wt% sorbitol related to the weight of CNC/Cht), by using plain and pigment pre-treated papers. The effect of coating parameters (injection speed, dry thickness settings) were investigated on coating quantity (dry weight, thickness) and homogeneity (coverage), papers' structure (thickness, grammage, density), whiteness, surface wettability, barrier (air, oxygen and water vapour) properties and adhesion (surface strength). The coating homogeneity was dependent primarily on the suspensions' viscosity, and secondarily on the applied coating parameters, whereby CNCs could be applied at 1–2 times higher injection speeds (up to 80 mL/min) and versatile coating weights, but required a relatively longer time to dry. The CNCs thus exhibited outstanding air (4.2–1.5 nm/Pa s) and oxygen (2.7–1.1 cm3 mm/m2 d kPa) barrier performance at 50% RH and 22–33 g/m2 deposition, whereas on top deposited Cht (3–4 g/m2) reduced its wetting time and improved the water vapour barrier (0.23–0.28 g mm/m2 d Pa). The balanced barrier properties were achieved due to the polar characteristic of CNCs, the hydrophobic nature of Cht and the quantity of the applied bilayer coating that can provide sustainable paper-based packaging.
Public opinion about solar radiation management: A cross-cultural study in 20 countries around the world
Authors: Contzen Nadja , Perlaviciute Goda , Steg Linda , Reckels Sophie Charlotte , Alves Susana , Bidwell David , Böhm Gisela , Bonaiuto Marino , Chou Li-Fang , Corral-Verdugo Victor , Dessi Federica , Dietz Thomas , Doran Rouven , Eulálio Maria do Carmo , Fielding Kelly , Gómez-Román Cristina , Granskaya Juliana V. , Gurikova Tatyana , Hernández Bernardo , Kabakova Maira P. , Lee Chieh-Yu , Li Fan , Lima Maria Luísa , Liu Lu , Luís Sílvia , Muinos Gabriel , Ogunbode Charles A. , Ortiz María Victoria , Pidgeon Nick , Pitt Maria Argüello , Rahimi Leila , Revokatova Anastasia , Reyna Cecilia , Schuitema Geertje , Shwom Rachael , Yalcinkaya Nur Soylu , Spence Elspeth , Sütterlin Bernadette
Published: March 2024

Some argue that complementing climate change mitigation measures with solar radiation management (SRM) might prove a last resort to limit global warming to 1.5 °C. To make a socially responsible decision on whether to use SRM, it is important to consider also public opinion, across the globe and particularly in the Global South, which would face the greatest risks from both global warming and SRM. However, most research on public opinion about SRM stems from the Global North. We report findings from the first large-scale, cross-cultural study on the public opinion about SRM among the general public (N = 2,248) and students (N = 4,583) in 20 countries covering all inhabited continents, including five countries from the Global South and five ‘non-WEIRD’ (i.e. not Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, and Democratic) countries from the Global North. As public awareness of SRM is usually low, we provided participants with information on SRM, including key arguments in favour of and against SRM that appear in the scientific debate. On average, acceptability of SRM was significantly higher in the Global South than in the ‘non-WEIRD’ Global North, while acceptability in the ‘WEIRD’ Global North was in between. However, we found substantial variation within these clusters, especially in the ‘non-WEIRD’ Global North, suggesting that countries do not form homogenous clusters and should thus be considered individually. Moreover, the average participants’ views, while generally neither strong nor polarised, differed from some expert views in important ways, including that participants perceived SRM as only slightly effective in limiting global warming. Still, our data suggests overall a conditional, reluctant acceptance. That is, while on average, people think SRM would have mostly negative consequences, they may still be willing to tolerate it as a potential last resort to fight global warming, particularly if they think SRM has only minor negative (or even positive) impacts on humans and nature.
Prevalence of functional disorders across Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Rometsch Caroline , Mansueto Giovanni , Maas Genannt Bermpohl Frederic , Martin Alexandra , Cosci Fiammetta
Published: March 2024

Functional Disorders (FD) refer to persistent somatic symptoms caused by changes in the functioning of bodily processes. Previous findings suggest that FD are highly prevalent, but overall prevalence rates for FD in European countries are scarce. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to estimate the point prevalence of FD in adult general populations. PubMed and Web of Science were searched from inception to June 2022. A generalized linear mixed-effects model for statistical aggregation was used for statistical analyses. A standardized quality assessment was performed, and PRISMA guidelines were followed. A total of 136 studies were included and systematically synthesized resulting in 8 FD diagnoses. The large majority of studies was conducted in the Northern Europe, Spain, and Italy. The overall point prevalence for FD was 8.78% (95% CI from 7.61 to 10.10%) across Europe, with the highest overall point prevalence in Norway (17.68%, 95% CI from 9.56 to 30.38%) and the lowest in Denmark (3.68%, 95% CI from 2.08 to 6.43%). Overall point prevalence rates for specific FD diagnoses resulted in 20.27% (95% CI from 16.51 to 24.63%) for chronic pain, 9.08% (95% CI from 7.31 to 11.22%) for irritable bowel syndrome, and 8.45% (95% CI from 5.40 to 12.97%) for chronic widespread pain. FD are highly prevalent across Europe, which is in line with data worldwide. Rates implicate the need to set priorities to ensure adequate diagnosis and care paths to FD patients by care givers and policy makers.
A Precarious Path to Partnership? The Moderating Effects of Labour Market Regulations on the Relationship Between Unstable Employment and Union Formation in Europe
Authors: Hsu Chen-Hao , Engelhardt Henriette
Published: March 2024

Rising employment uncertainty featured by higher risks of being temporarily employed or unemployed is often seen as the driving force behind delayed and declined partnering in Western countries. However, such an employment–partnering relationship is contextualized by labour market institutions and thus could diverge across countries over time. This paper aims to investigate how country-level variations in labour market regulations moderate individual-level effects of unstable employment on union formation, including the transitions into marriage or cohabitation unions. Using comparative panel data for 26 countries from the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (the years 2010–2019), our multilevel fixed effects models showed that temporary employment and unemployment negatively affected the probability of union formation for single women and men in Europe. Moreover, the negative relationship between unstable employment and union formation was reinforced when labour market reforms were stimulating insider–outsider segregations or decreasing welfare provisions. Specifically, stricter employment protection legislations and higher coverage rates of collective bargaining agreements could reinforce the negative effects of temporary employment and unemployment on union formation, while more generous provisions of unemployment benefits could buffer such negative effects.
Contribution of high-technology procedures to public healthcare expenditures: the case of ischemic heart disease in Portugal, 2002–2015
Authors: Ma Wenkang , Timóteo Ana , Ribeiro Vanessa , Mateus Céu , Perelman Julian
Published: March 2024

The magnitude of the impact of technological innovations on healthcare expenditure is unclear. This paper estimated the impact of high-technology procedures on public healthcare expenditure for patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) in Portugal. The Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition method was applied to Portuguese NHS administrative data for IHD discharges during two periods, 2008–2015 vs. 2002–2007 (N = 434,870). We modelled per episode healthcare expenditures on the introduction of new technologies, adjusting for GDP, patient age, and comorbidities. The per episode healthcare expenditure was significantly higher in 2008–2015 compared to 2002–2007 for IHD discharges. The increase in the use of high-technology procedures contributed to 28.6% of this growth among all IHD patients, and to 18.4%, 6.8%, 11.1%, and 29.2% for acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, stable angina, and other IHDs, respectively. Changes in the use of stents and embolic protection and/or coronary brachytherapy devices were the largest contributors to expenditure growth. High-technology procedures were confirmed as a key driver of public healthcare expenditure growth in Portugal, contributing to more than a quarter of this growth.
Coordination, Convention and the Constitution of Physical Objects
Authors: Sus Adán
Published: March 2024

In this paper, I address the significance of the key notions of coordination, constitution and convention. My aim in so doing is to provide a better understanding of their relation to conventionalism and to evaluate the prospects for a version of the relativized a priori based on a refinement of the notion of coordination. I stress the Kantian roots of all three concepts. Moreover, I argue that the link between the early logical positivist requirement for the uniqueness of coordination and the Kantian account of empirical objectivity provides an interpretive key that sheds light on the alleged incompatibility between constitutive principles and conventionalism.
Enhanced performance of microstrip antenna fabricated on a composite dielectric substrate coupled with multiple dielectric superstrates
Authors: Maged Radwa , El-Hameed Answer S. Abd , Mabrook M. Mourad , Said Tarek M.
Published: March 2024

In this study, we introduce a unique geometrical design of a rectangular patch antenna for sub-6 GHz 5G applications. The proposed antenna is designed at 5.2 GHz, and design criteria and performance characteristics have been investigated through numerical simulations and verified using measured data. A composite structure is suggested to overcome the restrictive parameters of conventional antennas. Two different materials, Rogers RT5880, and RT5870, are utilized, achieving a maximum gain of 6.210 dB, and a 90.2% radiation efficiency was attained. Four layers of superstrates are placed above the antenna to enhance the antenna's radiation performance further. The fabricated antenna is evaluated by measuring its radiation characteristics and return loss. The final antenna prototype offers a maximum bandwidth of about 896 MHz at a −10 dB reflection coefficient with a maximum gain of 9 dB. The proposed model achieved ultimate efficiency as high as 89% by employing four superstrates. The results showed good impedance matching (S11, VSWR), high efficiency, and appropriate radiation patterns. The outcomes from simulation and measurement are well aligned, making this antenna suitable for high-performance 5G applications.
Comprehensive performance analysis of perovskite solar cells based on different crystalline structures of MAPbI3
Authors: Gamal Khaled , Gamal Mohammed , Okaz Ali , Shehata Nader , Kandas Ishac
Published: March 2024

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have shown high optical absorption and consequently provide high conversion efficiency with stable performance. In our work, CH3NH3PbI3 (MAPbI3) as an absorber layer is analyzed for different crystalline structures. Cubic, tetragonal, and orthorhombic phases of perovskite material are investigated to check the impact of the crystalline structure on the solar cell performance. Both density of states and band structure are studied using Quantum-ESPRESSO package depending on density functional theory. Then, all relevant parameters were employed in SCAPS software and comprehensive study was done for examining the effect of the crystalline structure of perovskite layer on the solar cell performance. In-depth, analyses were conducted to evaluate key parameters, including open circuit voltage (Voc), short circuit current (Isc), fill factor (FF), and power conversion efficiency (PCE) considering the variations of perovskite layer thickness and bulk defect densities. The obtained results indicate that cells with cubic MAPbI3, which shows a notably higher bandgap of 1.7 eV and an enhanced optical absorption coefficient, especially in the higher wavelength range (around 105 cm−1), show better performance for almost all three scenarios. Cubic MAPbI3 cells achieve relatively higher peak efficiency of 26% when the absorber layer thickness is almost 900 nm. The investigation into absorber bulk defect densities reveals the critical role of defect levels in PSC performance. Adjusting defect levels from 1014 cm−3 to 1018 cm−3 results in deteriorating trends in Voc, Jsc, FF, and PCE. Jsc remains stable until a defect level of 1017 cm−3, highlighting a threshold where defects begin to impact charge carrier generation and separation. Doping effect has been studied, PCE remains stable until a critical doping level of 1016 cm−3 after which it drops significantly which indicates that doping is cautioned against due to its adverse effects on material and carrier transport. This finding holds significant promise for experimental solar cell fabrication, as it suggests that cubic MAPbI3’s superior bandgap and enhanced optical absorption could lead to more efficient and robust photovoltaic devices in real-world applications.
Rodolfo Sacco’s Discovery of Mute Behaviour: A Semiotic Outlook
Authors: Di Lucia Paolo , Fiore Filippo Maria
Published: March 2024

Rodolfo Sacco developed the idea of “mute behaviours” during his studies on mute law. The notion of “mute behaviours” denotes an action that is able to mould a legal relationship without any use of language. Certainly, this concept may give rise to some doubts in relation to the attribution—to a behaviour qualified as mute—of the capability to affect dynamics involving a plurality of people. Aiming to clarify the idea of “mute behaviours” by this point of view, the authors analysed the semiotic terminology used by Sacco himself to explain this notion and the issue of its silent nature. Therefore, the terms “signifying signs” and “symptoms”, deemed by Sacco—respectively—incompatible and compatible with the theory of mute behaviours were considered. The former term was traced back to the notion of conventional and arbitrary sign, the notion of the latter was reconstructed linking it to the concept of signs based on signification and suggesting a possible framework in view of the idea of “presentative meanings” developed by the philosopher Guido Morpurgo-Tagliabue. Clarified this dichotomy by a terminological analysis, the authors noticed—as affirmed by Rodolfo Sacco himself—the impossibility to ascribe the notion of gesture to the mute behaviour’s category, as some exegetes proposed. Consequently to this last remark, the authors tried to analyse the relationship between gestures and “mute behaviours”, identifying the category of “sema-pragmatic acts”, that includes gestures and may be seen as an intermediate phase between “mute behaviours” and legally relevant behaviours operated by speaking.
Does Social Media Penetration Enhance Democratic Institutions? Evidence from Varieties of Democracy Data
Authors: Acheampong Alex O. , Taden John
Published: March 2024

We examine whether social media enhances democracy using cross-sectional data from 145 countries. We used Facebook penetration as a proxy for social media. Also, based on the complex definition of democracy, high-level indices, such as egalitarian, participatory, liberal, electoral, and deliberative democracies, were used to capture democracy. Our endogeneity-corrected results documented that high social media penetration, on average, enhances all forms of democracy. In descending order, social media penetration has contributed more to enhancing democracy in high-income economies, followed by lower-middle and upper-middle income economies. In low-income economies, social media penetration has a negative effect on democracy indices. We also documented heterogeneity in the findings based on regions. Marginal analysis also revealed that the positive effect of social media on democracy is higher in countries with higher internet penetration. We suggest that with appropriate interventions, policymakers could leverage social media to enhance democratic institutions.
Science with a Small Two-Band UV-Photometry Mission III: Active Galactic Nuclei and Nuclear Transients
Authors: Zajaček M. , Czerny B. , Jaiswal V. K. , Štolc M. , Karas V. , Pandey A. , Pasham D. R. , Śniegowska M. , Witzany V. , Suková P. , Münz F. , Werner N. , Řípa J. , Merc J. , Labaj M. , Kurfürst P. , Krtička J.
Published: March 2024

In this review, the third one in the series focused on a small two-band UV-photometry mission, we assess possibilities for a small UV two-band photometry mission in studying accreting supermassive black holes (SMBHs; mass range $\sim 10^{6}$
∼

10

6

–$10^{10}\,M_{\odot }$

10

10

M
⊙

). We focus on the following observational concepts: (i) dedicated monitoring of selected type-I Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) in order to measure the time delay between the far-UV, the near-UV, and other wavebands (X-ray and optical), (ii) nuclear transients including (partial) tidal disruption events and repetitive nuclear transients, and (iii) the study of peculiar sources, such as changing-look AGN, hollows and gaps in accretion disks, low-luminosity AGN, and candidates for Intermediate-Mass Black Holes (IMBHs; mass range $\sim 10^{2}$
∼

10

2

–$10^{5}\,M_{\odot }$

10

5

M
⊙

) in galactic nuclei. The importance of a small UV mission for the observing program (i) is to provide intense, high-cadence monitoring of selected sources, which will be beneficial for, e.g. reverberation-mapping of accretion disks and subsequently confronting accretion-disk models with observations. For program (ii), a relatively small UV space telescope is versatile enough to start monitoring a transient event within ≲ 20 minutes after receiving the trigger; such a moderately fast repointing capability will be highly beneficial. Peculiar sources within the program (iii) will be of interest to a wider community and will create an environment for competitive observing proposals. For tidal disruption events (TDEs), high-cadence UV monitoring is crucial for distinguishing among different scenarios for the origin of the UV emission. The small two-band UV space telescope will also provide information about the near- and far-UV continuum variability for rare transients, such as repetitive partial TDEs and jetted TDEs. We also discuss the possibilities to study and analyze sources with non-standard accretion flows, such as AGN with gappy disks, low-luminosity active galactic nuclei with intermittent accretion, and SMBH binaries potentially involving intermediate-mass black holes.
Climate-friendly healthcare: reducing the impacts of the healthcare sector on the world’s climate
Authors: Leal Filho Walter , Luetz Johannes M. , Thanekar Urvi D. , Dinis Maria Alzira Pimenta , Forrester Mike
Published: March 2024

If the global healthcare sector were a country, it would be the fifth-largest carbon emitter, also producing massive volumes of waste. A revolutionary transition to an environmentally sustainable model of healthcare is required. Decarbonisation efforts are initially focused on transitioning to renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency in healthcare facilities (Scopes 1 and 2). One of the major challenges is to reduce the carbon intensity of the broader healthcare sector, especially operational and supply chain-related emissions, which represent 71% of the sector’s worldwide emissions (Scope 3). This comment briefly describes the connections between the healthcare sector and climate change and describes several high-impact decarbonisation opportunities, focusing on transitioning from current resource and waste-intensive procurement models and highlighting the planetary co-benefits of fostering low-emissions healthcare. To succeed, this transition will require high-level advocacy and policy changes supported by international collaboration at the global level.
Engaging human-centered design to maintain part manufacturing under reduced workforce restrictions
Authors: Khan Taimur K. , Schworm Philipp , Glatt Moritz F. , Ugoji Catherinemary , Ebert Achim , Aurich Jan C.
Published: March 2024

A central element of industrial production is the manufacturing of finished parts from raw material. Even in highly automated environments, processes like milling still rely on human intervention. On-site human operators play a crucial role in ensuring the continuous operation and quality of parts through tasks such as setup and maintenance. This reliance on human involvement makes part manufacturing vulnerable to workforce reductions, whether due to unforeseen circumstances like pandemics or staff shortages. However, new modes of telework collaboration based on interactive systems that comprise visualization and communication technologies, collaborative robots, fast internet, and remote control of machine tools bear potential to overcome these challenges. In consequence, a conceptual framework is proposed that investigates how such modes and systems need to be designed to share the respective tasks between teleworking and on-site employees. As the interactions and systems show a high complexity and since reduced workforce situations often occur suddenly, a high degree of usability must be ensured to enable quick ramp-up and reliable operation. Therefore, an interdisciplinary approach between manufacturing engineering, ergonomics/human factors and human–computer interaction investigates how the concept of human-centered design (HCD) needs to be adapted to ensure this usability. While the initial study focuses on how to integrate human workers in the design of such a system, it also highlights the need to examine different collaboration modes and application scenarios.
Artificial Intelligence and Agency: Tie-breaking in AI Decision-Making
Authors: Swanepoel Danielle , Corks Daniel
Published: March 2024

Determining the agency-status of machines and AI has never been more pressing. As we progress into a future where humans and machines more closely co-exist, understanding hallmark features of agency affords us the ability to develop policy and narratives which cater to both humans and machines. This paper maintains that decision-making processes largely underpin agential action, and that in most instances, these processes yield good results in terms of making good choices. However, in some instances, when faced with two (or more) choices, an agent may find themselves with equal reasons to choose either - thus being presented with a tie. This paper argues that in the event of a tie, the ability to create a voluntarist reason is a hallmark feature of agency, and second, that AI, through current tie-breaking mechanisms does not have this ability, and thus fails at this particular feature of agency.
Primary analysis of a prospective cohort study of Japanese patients with plasma cell neoplasms in the novel drug era (2016–2021)
Authors: Shibayama Hirohiko , Itagaki Mitsuhiro , Handa Hiroshi , Yokoyama Akihiro , Saito Akio , Kosugi Satoru , Ota Shuichi , Yoshimitsu Makoto , Tanaka Yasuhiro , Kurahashi Shingo , Fuchida Shin-ichi , Iino Masaki , Shimizu Takayuki , Moriuchi Yukiyoshi , Toyama Kohtaro , Mitani Kinuko , Tsukune Yutaka , Kada Akiko , Tamura Hideto , Abe Masahiro , Iwasaki Hiromi , Kuroda Junya , Takamatsu Hiroyuki , Sunami Kazutaka , Kizaki Masahiro , Ishida Tadao , Saito Toshiki , Matsumura Itaru , Akashi Koichi , Iida Shinsuke
Published: March 2024

The emergence of novel drugs has significantly improved outcomes of patients with plasma cell neoplasms (PCN). The Japanese Society of Hematology conducted a prospective observational study in newly diagnosed PCN patients between 2016 and 2021. The analysis focused on 1385 patients diagnosed with symptomatic PCN between 2016 and 2018. The primary endpoint was the 3-year overall survival (OS) rate among patients requiring treatment (n = 1284), which was 70.0% (95%CI 67.4–72.6%). Approximately 94% of these patients received novel drugs as frontline therapy. The 3-year OS rate was 90.3% (95%CI 86.6–93.1%) in the 25% of patients who received upfront autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), versus just 61.4% (95%CI 58.0–64.6%) in those who did not receive upfront ASCT. The only unfavorable prognostic factor that affected OS in ASCT recipients was an age of 65 or higher. For patients who did not receive ASCT, independent unfavorable prognostic factors included frontline treatment with conventional chemotherapies, international staging system score of 2/3, extramedullary tumors, and Freiberg comorbidity index of 2/3. This study unequivocally demonstrates that use of novel drugs improved OS in Japanese myeloma patients, and underscores the continued importance of upfront ASCT as the standard of care in the era of novel drugs.
Calibration, validation and uncertainty analysis of a SWAT water quality model
Authors: Das Sushil K. , Ahsan Amimul , Khan Md. Habibur Rahman Bejoy , Yilmaz Abdullah Gokhan , Ahmed Shakil , Imteaz Monzur , Tariq Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman , Shafiquzzaman Md. , Ng Anne W. M. , Al-Ansari Nadhir
Published: March 2024

Sediment and nutrient pollution in water bodies is threatening human health and the ecosystem, due to rapid land use changes and improper agricultural practices. The impact of the nonpoint source pollution needs to be evaluated for the sustainable use of water resources. An ideal tool like the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) can assess the impact of pollutant loads on the drainage area, which could be beneficial for developing a water quality management model. This study aims to evaluate the SWAT model’s multi-objective and multivariable calibration, validation, and uncertainty analysis at three different sites of the Yarra River drainage area in Victoria, Australia. The drainage area is split into 51 subdrainage areas in the SWAT model. The model is calibrated and validated for streamflow from 1990 to 2008 and sediment and nutrients from 1998 to 2008. The results show that most of the monthly and annual calibration and validation for streamflow, nutrients, and sediment at the three selected sites are found with Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency values greater than 0.50. Furthermore, the uncertainty analysis of the model shows satisfactory results where the p-factor value is reliable by considering 95% prediction uncertainty and the d-factor value is close to zero. The model's results indicate that the model performs well in the river's watershed, which helps construct a water quality management model. Finally, the model application in the cost-effective management of water quality might reduce pollution in water bodies due to land use and agricultural activities, which would be beneficial to water management managers.
Crisis talk: analysis of the public debate around the energy crisis and cost of living
Authors: Panchendrarajan Rrubaa , Popova Geri , Russell-Rose Tony
Published: March 2024

A prominent media topic in the UK in the early 2020s is the energy crisis affecting the UK and most of Europe. It brings into a single public debate issues of energy dependency and sustainability, fair distribution of economic burdens and cost of living, as well as climate change, risk, and sustainability. In this paper, we investigate the public discourse around the energy crisis and cost of living to identify how these pivotal and contradictory issues are reconciled in this debate and to identify which social actors are involved and the role they play. We analyse a document corpus retrieved from UK newspapers from January 2014 to March 2023. We apply a variety of natural language processing and data visualisation techniques to identify key topics, novel trends, critical social actors, and the role they play in the debate, along with the sentiment associated with those actors and topics. We combine automated techniques with manual discourse analysis to explore and validate the insights revealed in this study. The findings verify the utility of these techniques by providing a flexible and scalable pipeline for discourse analysis and providing critical insights for cost of living—energy crisis nexus research.
Profiles of well-being in French older adults and associations with successful aging and personality: findings from the SHARE project
Authors: Van Dendaele Elina , Pothier Kristell , Bailly Nathalie
Published: March 2024

Maintaining the well-being of the older adults is a primary concern in gerontology. This study determined different profiles of well-being (WB) and compared the profiles in terms of successful aging (SA), personality, and sociodemographic variables. The study sample consisted of 856 adults aged 65–98 years. WB was taken into account in an eudemonic and hedonic approach. SA was measured by assessing the three distinct components of Rowe and Kahn's model (Successful aging. Gerontol 37(4):433–440. 10.1093/geront/37.4.433, 1997), personality by the Big Five Inventory, and sociodemographic variables. Latent class analyses (LCA) determined the number of WB profiles, and ANOVAs and Chi2 tests to compare them. The LCA revealed three WB profiles: Profile 1 (9.35%, n = 80), Profile 2 (37.38%, n = 320), and Profile 3 (53.27%, n = 456) in which participants reported lower, intermediate, and higher WB scores. Our results confirm that a high level of WB (Profile 3) can be linked to the components of SA and socio-demographic characteristics (age, marital status, level of education, income). This raises questions about the injunctions concerning healthy aging that older people integrate. It's also interesting to note that the intermediate profile (profile 2) can be either close to the "lower WB" profile (Profile 1) in terms of openness, conscientiousness, and agreeableness or to the "higher WB" profile (Profile 3) in terms of extraversion. However the three profiles do not have the same level of neuroticism. These results also showed the importance of adapting the support offered to older people according to their health status and/or individual characteristics.
The degree of commutativity of wreath products with infinite cyclic top group
Authors: de las Heras Iker , Klopsch Benjamin , Zozaya Andoni
Published: March 2024

The degree of commutativity of a finite group is the probability that two uniformly and randomly chosen elements commute. This notion extends naturally to finitely generated groups G: the degree of commutativity $${{\,\textrm{dc}\,}}_S(G)$$

dc

S

(
G
)

, with respect to a given finite generating set S, results from considering the fractions of commuting pairs of elements in increasing balls around $$1_G$$

1
G

in the Cayley graph "Equation missing". We focus on restricted wreath products of the form $$G = H \hspace{1.111pt}{\wr }\hspace{1.111pt}\langle \hspace{1.111pt}t \rangle $$

G
=
H

≀

⟨

t
⟩

, where $$H \ne 1$$

H
≠
1

is finitely generated and the top group $$\langle \hspace{1.111pt}t \rangle $$

⟨

t
⟩

is infinite cyclic. In accordance with a more general conjecture, we show that $${{\,\textrm{dc}\,}}_S(G) = 0$$

dc

S

(
G
)

=
0

for such groups G, regardless of the choice of S. This extends results of Cox who considered lamplighter groups with respect to certain kinds of generating sets. We also derive a generalisation of Cox’s main auxiliary result: in ‘reasonably large’ homomorphic images of wreath products G as above, the image of the base group has density zero, with respect to certain types of generating sets.
Study of the Wear Resistance Plasma Nitrided GGG60 by Optimization of Surface Treatment Conditions Using Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Karamanli İsmail Aykut , Gök Mustafa Sabri , Küçük Yılmaz , Ünal Okan
Published: March 2024

In this study, the wear performance of spheroidal graphite cast iron subjected to plasma nitriding at different temperatures and treatment durations was investigated. The plasma nitriding parameters were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) due to the output performance. Plasma nitriding was applied at three different temperatures (400, 450, 500 °C) and three different heat treatment durations (0.5, 2, 4 h). Wear tests were performed by ball-on-disk method for 60 minutes and for three different wear loads (10, 20, 30 N). The specimens were investigated for hardness, microstructure and wear performance. The RSM model was then created by using the wear resistance features. Plasma nitriding showed better wear performance than the untreated specimen for all treatment conditions. Hardness, nitrided layer thickness and wear performance remarkably improved with increasing temperature and process duration. The parameter that affects volume loss the most is wear load with 70.66% according to RSM modeling results. The most effective parameter in the wear rate change was found to be treatment duration at 42.85%. The model was able to predict the results with an error of 2.11% for volume loss and 9.14% for wear rate. The prediction results are very close to the experimental results. This clearly shows that the model can be used to determine the plasma nitriding parameters.