bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simple and sensitive voltammetric sensor for in‐situ clinical and environmental 17‐β‐estradiol monitoring
Authors: Tortolini Cristina , Gigli Valeria , Angeloni Antonio , Isidori Andrea , Antiochia Riccarda
Published: February 2024

The direct electrochemical oxidation of 17‐β‐estradiol (E2) at conventional electrodes gives weak current signals making detection at trace levels difficult, as required for clinical and environmental applications. In order to strengthen the electrochemical behavior of E2, a simple and sensitive sensor has been realized based on a graphite screen printed electrode (GSPE) functionalized according to a two‐step procedure: i) drop‐casting deposition of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs); ii) electropolymerization of methylene blue (MB). The final PMB‐AuNPs‐GSPE platform was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The pH value was optimized in order to obtain the best detection efficiency and the highest peak current response was obtained at pH 7.0. The synergistic contributions of both AuNPs and PMB allowed the proposed sensor to show a wide linear range from 0.5 to 125.0 μmol L−1 with a LOD of 41 nmol L−1, long‐term stability and good reproducibility (RSD=2.9 % for n=10). Moreover, the sensor was able to distinguish E2 from several interfering compounds commonly present in urine and river water as well as from other endocrine‐ disrupting chemicals (EDCs), denoting its high specificity to E2 molecule. Finally, the developed electrode platform was successfully applied to the determination of E2 in both human urine and river water samples without any purification step under the standard addition method.
Effects of fencing project on wind erosion reduction in Alpine grassland and its impact on the development of climbing dunes in southern Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Liu Lin , Yuan Yong , Xiong Donghong , Zhang Baojun , Zhang Yunqi , Zhang Jiaqiong , Wu Han , Zhang Wenduo , Wang Xiaodan
Published: February 2024

Alpine grassland in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) of China is one of the most susceptible regions to wind erosion in recent decades. The fencing project, grassland enclosure using fencing, has been a common strategy for land degradation counteraction in the TP. However, the wind erosion reduction effects of fencing project remain largely unclear, especially in the regions lacking continuous observations such as Southern TP. In this study, a sand source area with fencing protection (fencing land, a mainly eroded grazing grassland before being fenced) and a near‐source climbing dune were selected to illustrate the effect of fencing project on wind erosion using 137Cs and 210Pbex tracing techniques. An adjacent perennial grazing land was selected for comparison. The results showed that the wind erosion rate in sand source area was 17.18 t·ha−1·year−1 before the implementation of project, while that was −6.67 t·ha−1·year−1 since fencing. The wind erosion rates in perennial grazing land were 24.91 t·ha−1·year−1 for 20 years ago to 1963 and 24.33 t·ha−1·year−1 for almost 20 years. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) of sand source area increased from 0.098 before fencing to 0.137 after fencing; the latter was 1.63 times higher than that of grazing land during the same period. After the implementation of fencing project in sand source area, it was found that the sand supply to the climbing dune was mainly reduced, thus stabilizing it and promoting NDVI increase, especially in the middle‐lower part of the climbing dune. These results would benefit the evaluation of grassland restoration effectiveness in the TP.
Impact of post‐harvest drying on the volatile flavours of spiny coriander (Eryngium foetidum L.): Emphasis on fatty aldehyde reduction
Authors: Borah Gitasree , Mahanta Bhaskar Protim , Samia Begom Rifah , Saikia Siddhartha Proteem , Haldar Saikat
Published: February 2024

Spiny coriander (Eryngium foetidum L.) is a traditional food flavouring herb of tropics with coriander‐like odour. This study evaluated six different drying conditions (sun, shade, oven at 40°C and 60°C, microwave, freeze‐drying) for spiny coriander leaves, emphasizing on the drying time, essential oil yield and composition. Fatty aldehydes, especially trans‐2‐dodecenal, majorly abundant key aromatic flavour of spiny coriander underwent probable enzymatic reduction to alcohols upon long‐term oven‐drying, affecting the oil quality. Non‐conventional techniques like microwave and freeze‐drying, despite their certain advantages significantly reduced the oil yield (0.030%–0.031%) in comparison to fresh leaves (0.045%). Sun drying was found to be superior among the tested conditions, considering a reasonable drying time (4 h) and ability to retain the oil yield (0.043%), composition (quality) and chlorophyll content. It can be a sustainable drying technique for spiny coriander in the tropical region with abundant sunlight, especially for its value addition and commercialization in future.
Enhancing hydrological model calibration through hybrid strategies in data‐scarce regions
Authors: Anand Vicky , Oinam Bakimchandra , Wieprecht Silke , Singh Shailesh Kumar , Srinivasan Raghavan
Published: February 2024

Calibration of a hydrological model is a challenging task, especially in basins that are data scarce. With the incorporation of regional information and integration with satellite data, the parameters of hydrological models can be estimated for a basin with scant or no discharge records. The main objective of this study is to calibrate and validate a hydrological model based on a limited amount of in‐situ measured and remote sensing satellite datasets in a data‐sparse region. Multiple techniques were applied for the model calibration: (1) stage‐discharge curves using a spatial proximity approach, (2) Simplified Surface Energy Balance actual evapotranspiration, (3) river discharge using a physical similarity regionalization approach, and (4) a new hybrid approach by integrating remote sensing datasets along with field measured river bathymetry data to estimate the river discharge. To demonstrate the methodology, we employed the widely used Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) hydrological model in Manipur River Basin, India. The sensitivity, calibration, and validation of the SWAT model were carried out by using the Sequential Uncertainty Fitting Technique. During calibration, the coefficient of determination (R2) and the Kling Gupta Efficiency (KGE) were found to be in the range of 0.46–0.81 and 0.41–0.83, whereas during validation R2 and KGE were found to be in the range of 0.40–0.79 and 0.53–0.77 for the four different techniques. Among all the four techniques applied in this study, calibration based on (i) stage‐discharge curve using spatial proximity approach and (ii) new hybrid approach by integrating remote sensing datasets and river bathymetry were found as the better approaches as indicated by the statistical indices. The performance evaluation of the model through a new hybrid approach by integrating remote sensing and in‐situ measured datasets for rivers with narrow width represents a promising technique for use in a data sparse region.
Enhancing hydrologic modelling through the representation of traditional rainwater harvesting systems: A case study of water tanks in South India
Authors: Mahmoodi Nariman , Wagner Paul D. , Lei Chaogui , Narasimhan Balaji , Fohrer Nicola
Published: February 2024

Water tanks as traditional rainwater harvesting systems for agriculture are widely distributed in South India. They have a strong impact on hydrological processes, affecting streamflow in rivers as well as evapotranspiration. This study aims at an accurate representation of water harvesting systems in a hydrologic model to improve model performance and assessment of the catchment water balance. To this end, spatio‐temporal variations of water bodies between the years 2016 and 2018 and the months of January and May 2017 were derived from Sentinel‐2 satellite data to parameterize the water tanks (reservoir) parameters in the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT+) model of the Adyar basin, Chennai, India. Approximately 16% of the basin is covered by water tanks. The initial model performance was evaluated for two model setups, with and without water tanks. The best model run was selected with a multi‐metric approach comparing observed and modelled monthly streamflow for 5000 model runs. The final model evaluation was carried out by comparing estimated water body areas by the model and remote sensing observations for January to May 2017. The results showed that representing water tanks in the hydrologic model led to an improvement in the representation of the seasonal variations of streamflow for the whole simulation period (2004–2018). The model performance was classified as good and very good for the calibration (2004–2011) and validation (2012–2018) periods as NSE varies between 0.67 and 0.85, KGE varies between 0.65 and 0.72, PBIAS varies between −24.1 and −23.6, and RSR varies between 0.57 and 0.39. The best fit was shown for the high and middle flow segments of the hydrograph where the coefficient of determination (R2) ranges from 0.81 to 0.97 and 0.75 to 0.81, respectively. The monthly variation of water body areas in 2017 estimated by the hydrologic model was consistent with changes observed in remote sensing surveys. In summary, the water tank parametrization using remote sensing techniques enhanced the hydrologic model's efficiency and applicability for future studies.
Comparison of radium‐226 separation methods based on chromatographic and extraction resins for its determination by ICP‐MS in drinking waters
Authors: Roulier Marine , Baya Pascale Anabelle , Roberge Steeve , Larivière Dominic
Published: February 2024

Over the past century, human activities have contributed to the release of 226Ra (t½ = 1,600 y) in the environment, increasing the potential risks for human exposure and thus prompting scientists to monitor it. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) is an alternative to alpha‐spectrometry for the quantification of 226Ra. However, the performances of radioanalytical procedures are rarely compared in a rigorous framework, which means that researchers may choose one on subjective factors or guesses.

This article compares five published methods for the separation and preconcentration of 226Ra in drinking waters based on chromatographic and extraction resins prior to its analysis by ICP‐MS. We evaluated the turnaround time, generated wastes, and final cost of each protocol as the economic aspect can be an important criterion when selecting a method, particularly for sustainable environmental monitoring. Our results showed that 226Ra was successfully separated and preconcentrated, yielding recoveries ranging between 84% and 105%. Method detection and quantification limits of respectively 2–7 fg L−1 (0.1–0.3 mBq L−1) and 6–24 fg L−1 (0.2–0.9 mBq L−1) were achieved when the separation method was coupled with ICP‐MS. The turnaround times ranged between 6 and 21 hours, whereas the cost of the methods varied between 40 and 132 USD.

This study highlights for the first time that methodologies recently published on the evaluation of 226Ra levels in drinking water by ICP‐MS have comparable figures of merit. Our results offer essential insights into the selection of the most suitable separation method.
Exploring the population dynamics of waterfowl hunters using a mark‐recapture approach
Authors: Graham Katherine A. , Vrtiska Mark P. , Humburg Dale D. , Powell Larkin A. , Raedeke Andrew H. , Devers Patrick K. , Chizinski Christopher J.
Published: February 2024

The number of waterfowl hunters in the United States has declined since the 1980s despite relatively abundant waterfowl populations and liberal hunting regulations. Programs focused on recruiting, retaining, and reactivating (R3) waterfowl hunters have become important to avoid further losses in traditional revenue for habitat management and protection and political support for waterfowl conservation and management. We focus on 4 waterfowl hunter population vital rates (i.e., recruitment rate, retention probability, license purchase probability, realized population growth rate), which can be used to improve the effectiveness of waterfowl hunter R3 activities and initiatives by providing a deeper understanding of waterfowl hunter population dynamics to determine who programs should target, where programs should be targeted, and finally the evaluation of programs. To do so, we analyzed Nebraska state electronic license data from 2012–2019 using Pradel survival and recruitment models in a mark‐recapture framework. Female waterfowl hunter recruitment was higher than males; however, retention and license purchase probabilities were lower. Recruitment was highest in younger generations and retention highest in older generations. License purchase probabilities were highest among those in the oldest and youngest generations. The availability of hunting opportunity increased license purchase probabilities but had a minimal influence on retention and no association with recruitment. There were weak relationships between rurality and recruitment, and retention and license purchase probabilities. Finally, belonging to Ducks Unlimited was positively associated with higher license purchase and retention probabilities. Targeting an increase in license purchase probability by promoting social support for hunters through conservation organization membership should be a focus of waterfowl hunter R3 efforts to have the greatest influence on increasing waterfowl hunter participation.
Multi‐soliton solutions of the three‐level coupled Schrödinger Maxwell‐Bloch equations via the Riemann‐Hilbert approach
Authors: Peng Li , Dong Huanhe , Wang Xiangrong
Published: February 2024

In this paper, a study of the coupled Schrödinger Maxwell‐Bloch equations, which described the propagation of two optical pulses in an optical medium with coherent three‐level atoms, is presented via the Riemann‐Hilbert approach. First, we performed a spectral analysis on the basis of Lax pair with the negative flow, and then the Jost function, scattering matrix, and their analytic and symmetric properties are given. Second, the Riemann‐Hilbert problem is established successfully through a standard dressing procedure via the Riemann‐Hilbert approach, and then the potential function related to the solution of the Riemann‐Hilbert problem is reconstructed. By introducing the special matrix functions, we can transform the irregular Riemann‐Hilbert problem into the regular one, which can be solved by the Plemelj formula. Finally, some applications are given to solve the Riemann‐Hilbert problem without reflection for the coupled Schrödinger Maxwell‐Bloch equation, and the multi‐soliton solutions are obtained explicitly. Moreover, the dynamic behaviors of some soliton solutions are discussed graphically by choosing appropriate parameters.
Antiobesity effects of intestinal gluconeogenesis are mediated by the brown adipose tissue sympathetic nervous system
Authors: Vily‐Petit Justine , Soty‐Roca Maud , Silva Marine , Micoud Manon , Evrard Félicie , Bron Clara , Raffin Margaux , Beiroa Daniel , Nogueiras Rubén , Roussel Damien , Gautier‐Stein Amandine , Rajas Fabienne , Cota Daniela , Mithieux Gilles
Published: February 2024

Objective

Intestinal gluconeogenesis (IGN), via the initiation of a gut‐brain nervous circuit, accounts for the metabolic benefits linked to dietary proteins or fermentable fiber in rodents and has been positively correlated with the rapid amelioration of body weight after gastric bypass surgery in humans with obesity. In particular, the activation of IGN moderates the development of hepatic steatosis accompanying obesity. In this study, we investigated the specific effects of IGN on adipose tissue metabolism, independent of its induction by nutritional manipulation.

Methods

We used two transgenic mouse models of suppression or overexpression of G6pc1, the catalytic subunit of glucose‐6 phosphatase, which is the key enzyme of endogenous glucose production specifically in the intestine.

Results

Under a hypercaloric diet, mice overexpressing IGN showed lower adiposity and higher thermogenic capacities than wild‐type mice, featuring marked browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) and prevention of the whitening of brown adipose tissue (BAT). Sympathetic denervation restricted to BAT caused the loss of the antiobesity effects associated with IGN. Conversely, IGN‐deficient mice exhibited an increase in adiposity under a standard diet, which was associated with decreased expression of markers of thermogenesis in both BAT and WAT.

Conclusions

IGN is sufficient to activate the sympathetic nervous system and prevent the expansion and the metabolic alterations of BAT and WAT metabolism under a high‐calorie diet, thereby preventing the development of obesity. These data increase knowledge of the mechanisms of weight reduction in gastric bypass surgery and pave the way for new approaches to prevent or cure obesity.
Load frequency control in deregulated power system with renewable energy sources: Hybrid GOA‐SNN technique
Authors: Srisailam C. , Manjula M. , Goud K. Muralidhar
Published: February 2024

This paper proposes a hybrid technique for load frequency control (LFC) in an inter‐connected deregulated power‐system. The proposed method is the combination of a gannet optimization algorithm (GOA) and spiking neural network (SNN), hence, it is named as GOA‐SNN technique. The objective of the proposed method is to minimize frequency deviations within the power system (PS). By lessening the frequency‐deviation and tie‐line power variation, this approach ensures system frequency‐control under the effect of load disturbances. The GOA method is utilized to generate the set of control signals of the controller. The SNN method is used to predict the optimum gain parameter of the controller. By then the proposed method is run in MATLAB software and evaluated their performance with various existing approaches. The proposed method shows better results than other existing methods, such as Ant Lion Optimization (ALO), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and Salp Swarm Algorithm (SSA). The GOA‐SNN approach shows a low Area control error is 0.48% and a high efficiency is 96% compared with other existing approaches.
Study of human error from incident investigation in upstream facilities
Authors: Abd Halim Abdul Hafiz , Mohd Ghazi Tinia Idaty , Mohd Yassin Faizah , Mohd Tohir Mohd Zahirasri
Published: February 2024

Human failures are a major cause of breakdowns in upstream facilities because of challenging working conditions. A study of human errors from an incident investigation in upstream facilities was carried out to understand the topography of human errors. A Tripod Beta diagram was developed from 107 incidents gathered during 2017–2020, and the human error taxonomy was used to identify the human errors caused by individuals and contributory human factors responsible for the incidents. A mistake is the most common human failing in a major incident, contributing to 59%, followed by a violation and a skill‐based error with scores of 36% and 5%, respectively. Knowledge‐based mistakes were prevalent in 48% of the analyzed reports, indicating a significant gap in any decision involving problem‐solving and diagnosis. Situational and routine violations with 14% and 10% scoring, respectively, show the complexity of the offshore work environment, which prompts workers to violate and believe that jobs cannot be completed without violations. Disciplinary action, providing a safer workplace, and enhancing the safety culture were proposed to combat workplace violations. Meanwhile, an up‐skilling of the workforce with adequate information and instruction will mitigate human errors leading to a mistake. Lastly, revisiting human factor engineering is required to prevent slip and lapse errors.
Photothermally and optomechanically induced transparency in a hybrid optomechanical system
Authors: Hu Huayin , Gao Fan , Guan Zixiang , Xu Jinzhao , Chen Jianhao , Yu Chunchao , Chen Fang , Wang Boyun , Zhang Huafeng , Sun Lihui
Published: February 2024

We theoretically investigated the photothermally and optomechanically induced transparency (PTIT and OMIT) in an optomechanical system filled with quantum dots (QDs). In our proposed system, the right mechanical resonator couples with the optical cavity via radiation pressure, and the left mechanical resonator couples with the optical cavity through the photothermal effects. The system is driven by a strong pump field and a weak probe field. It is shown that double transparency windows can be observed due to PTIT and OMIT. When considering the Jaynes‐Cummings coupling between the QDs and the optical cavity, three transparency windows are observed. We also show that the PTIT can be adjusted by the OMIT and the QDs in the optical cavity. What is more, the coupling strength and the frequency detuning can be used effectively to change the system absorption and dispersion in the PITT transparency window. This indicates that the group delay of the probe light can also be manipulated by the system parameters. The obtained results may be applied in the optical communication such as optical buffer, and so forth.
Mineralogical differences between seam and prism material in loess‐derived fragipans in western Kentucky
Authors: Shepard Christopher , Somerville Hannah , Matocha Christopher , Ramsey Rebecca C. , Obura Pamela A. , McCauley Matt
Published: February 2024

Fragipan horizons are common diagnostic subsurface features typically identified by their dense, brittle nature under field conditions. Fragipan horizons are often hypothesized to contain various silicate bonding agents, including phyllosilicates, amorphous aluminosilicates/silica, and silica sorbed to iron oxyhydroxides. However, the association of silica (Si) with other minerals in these horizons remains uncertain. To fill this knowledge gap, we sampled the prism and seam material of four loess‐derived fragipan horizons in western Kentucky. We characterized and compared the clay mineral composition of the prism and seam material using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), selective extractions, and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS). Fragipan prism and seam material exhibited a mixed clay mineralogy comprised of vermiculite, mixed layer minerals (hydroxyl‐interlayered vermiculite), illite, kaolinite, and quartz. We identified goethite in fragipan prisms in much greater quantities when compared to seam material, confirmed by both XRD and DRIFTS and corroborated by higher dithionite‐extractable iron in prisms. DRIFT spectra showed a peak near 3180 cm−1 assigned to OH‐stretching mode of goethite, which was prominent in prism materials. Goethite 110 XRD peak positions were negatively correlated to dithionite‐extractable aluminum (Al) and Si content of the prism material, which may suggest greater Si sorbed to the surfaces of Al‐substituted goethite. These results demonstrate the potential importance of Al‐substituted goethite in fragipan prisms and provide insight about possible associations with Si.
Artificial intelligence for atrial fibrillation detection, prediction, and treatment: A systematic review of the last decade (2013–2023)
Authors: Salvi Massimo , Acharya Madhav R. , Seoni Silvia , Faust Oliver , Tan Ru‐San , Barua Prabal Datta , García Salvador , Molinari Filippo , Acharya U. Rajendra
Published: February 2024

Atrial fibrillation (AF) affects more than 30 million individuals worldwide, making it the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia on a global scale. This systematic review summarizes recent advancements in applying artificial intelligence (AI) techniques for AF detection, prediction, and guiding treatment selection and risk stratification. In adherence with the PRISMA guidelines (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses), a total of 171 pertinent studies conducted between 2013 and 2023 were examined. Studies applying machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) to electrocardiogram (ECG), photoplethysmography (PPG), wearable data, and other sources were evaluated. For AF detection, most works employed DL (48 studies) and ML (28 studies) on ECG data. DL methods directly analyzed ECG waveforms and outperformed approaches relying on hand‐crafted features. For prediction and risk stratification, 22 studies used ML while 7 leveraged DL on ECG. An emerging trend showed the growing potential of PPG for AF screening. Overall, AI demonstrated promising capabilities across various AF‐related tasks. However, real‐world implementation faces challenges including a lack of interpretability, the need for multimodal data integration, prospective performance validation, and regulatory compliance. Future research directions involve quantifying model uncertainty, enhancing transparency, and conducting population‐based clinical trials to facilitate translation into practice.

This article is categorized under:

Application Areas > Health Care

Application Areas > Science and Technology

Technologies > Artificial Intelligence
Future Battery Market
Authors: Wolf Stefan , Lüken Michael
Published: February 2024

This chapter explores the future trends in the battery market and analyzes the mutual interdependence of market demands and technological advances. First, most recent market volume projections are summarized, and the related uncertainties are described. Next, the interaction of foreseeable developments in battery technologies and demand scenarios is discussed along most relevant battery use cases. It turns out that current KPI expectations on the demand side and projected KPI on the supply side do not fully coincide yet. However, the market introduction of novel cell chemistries as well as improvements in cell design, manufacturing processes, and advanced material recycling concepts bears large potential for improving the efficiency of the overall battery supply chain and reducing costs. This chapter concludes that technological research and development, collaboration within the battery industry, public funding, and a stringent strategic research agenda are essential to secure the accelerating market growth for batteries.
Die „ungebundene Freiheit der Poesie“. Metrik, Reim, Religion und Politik in den frühen deutschen Übersetzungen von Miltons Paradise Lost
Authors: Klimek Sonja , Schindler Kilian
Published: February 2024

This chapter discusses the first German translation of Paradise Lost, which was begun by Theodor Haak and revised, completed, and published by Ernst Gottlieb von Berg in 1682. After situating Haak and Berg in their social, political, and religious contexts, we consider the several processes of linguistic, political, and metrical translation involved in this publication – not only from Milton to Haak, but also from Haak to Berg’s revision. While Haak retains the political topicality of Milton’s poem, Berg’s version neutralises its republican dimension in favour of an aesthetic and religious interpretation, which was eventually also championed by Johann Jakob Bodmer in his influential prose translation of Paradise Lost (1732). Notably, Berg’s edition is also the first published work of blank verse in German literature. However, while Haak closely reproduces the liberties of Milton’s poetic form, Berg consistently regularises Haak’s metre in terms of Opitz’ principle of alternation.
Übersetzung des Mediums – Medialität der Übersetzung. Die deutschen Ausgaben der Schriften Jane Leades
Authors: van de Löcht Joana
Published: February 2024

This article examines the German translations of the English visionary Jane Leade (1623–1704). The co-founder of the London „Philadelphian Society“ published numerous religious writings from 1681 onwards, which were translated into German by Loth Fischer starting in the mid-1690s. Fischer’s translations are characterised by a high degree of faithfulness to the original. He also supplemented the German editions with additional paratexts to support their reception. The importance of fidelity to the original can be gauged from the traces of reading found in a Viennese copy of „Die Nun brechende und sich zertheilende Himmlische Wolcke“ (1694). In addition, the article asks what influence visions have on central concepts of literary studies such as that of the author or mediality.
Francis Bacon in Deutschland. Johann Wilhelm von Stubenbergs Übersetzung der Essays (1654)
Authors: Werle Dirk
Published: February 2024

The article is devoted to one of the few 17th century translations of Francis Bacon’s works into German, namely Johann Wilhelm von Stubenberg’s translation of the Essays published in 1654. The genesis of the translation and, in particular, questions concerning the motivation for the project are discussed, as well as Stubenberg’s method of translation. Moreover, the article highlights the context of the publication, namely its anchoring in the network of the Fruchtbringende Gesellschaft, as a member of which Stubenberg acted, and the group-specific reading interests and formation of tradition associated with it.
Weibliche Autorschaft im deutsch-englischen Kulturtransfer des 17. Jahrhunderts. Margareta Maria von Buwinghausen und Walmerode und die Fruchtbringende Gesellschaft
Authors: Ball Gabriele
Published: February 2024

Margareta Maria von Buwinghausen and Walmerode (1629-after 1679), born in Lutheran Stuttgart, was the first woman to earn public recognition in the realm of English-German cultural transfer in 17th century Germany. She translated Joseph Hall’s treatise, Heaven upon Earth, from French into German: Waarer und großmütiger Christen Krieg- Sieg- und Frieden-Spiegel. [Tübingen: Werlin 1652]. The young noblewoman wrote her reliable friend, Johann Valentin Andreae, in a surprisingly confident style and tone about the genesis of this translation. Support from the network of largely aristocratic and Protestant Fruchtbringende Gesellschaft, represented by well-known members such as Andreae, Georg Philipp Harsdörffer and Johann Wilhelm von Stubenberg, was fundamental for the realization of the project in order to equalize gender-based obstructions, such as lack of cavalier tours and exclusion from university education. Therewith, in Buwinghausen’s case, members of a ‘European’ society paved the way for a young, ambitious and intellectually alert noblewoman to become an author and thus visible in the early modern republic of letters as well as on the contemporary book market.
(Fehl-)Übersetzung, (Miß-)Deutung? Was die Vernünftigen Tadlerinnen mit The Tatler anstellen
Authors: Kaminski Nicola
Published: February 2024

Based on the variance of early German translations of the Tatler, which appeared from April 1709 onwards – ‘Der Plauderer’ vs. ‘Der Tadler’ – this article takes a walk through the history of meaning. In two synchronous sections in 1716/17 and 1725/26, dictionary entries on the one hand and literary-critical contexts in which the Tatler is referred to on the other are examined. Repeated semantic and performative interweaving between reprimanding and verbal excess can be observed, which suggests that the early word history of ‘Tadel’ or ‘tadeln’ should be investigated. The Teutsche Sprachschatz of 1691, which defines ‘tadeln’ in its basic meaning as an intensified ‘talen’ (‘to make words’), is informative. Against this background, the choice of title and the public appearance of the Vernünftige Tadlerinnen 1725/26 present themselves as an implication-rich ‘translation’ of The Tatler that exhausts the semantic and performative scope, which precisely evades normative judgement in the sense of ‘rebuke’ in favour of linguistic staging.
Transference and Restriction of Bilinear Fourier Multipliers on Orlicz Spaces
Authors: Blasco Oscar , Üster Rüya
Published: February 2024

Let G be a locally compact abelian group with Haar measure $$m_G$$

m
G

and let $$\Phi _i$$

Φ
i

, $$i=1,2,3$$

i
=
1
,
2
,
3

, be Young functions. A bounded measurable function m on $$G\times G$$

G
×
G

is a $$(\Phi _1,\Phi _2;\Phi _3)$$

(

Φ
1

,

Φ
2

;

Φ
3

)

-bilinear multiplier if there exists $$C>0$$

C
>
0

such that the bilinear map $$\begin{aligned} B_m (f,g)(\gamma )= \int _{G}\int _{G} m(x,y) {{\hat{f}}}(x) {{\hat{g}}}(y) \gamma (x+y) dm_G(x)dm_G(y), \end{aligned}$$

B
m

(
f
,
g
)

(
γ
)

=

∫
G

∫
G

m

(
x
,
y
)

f
^

(
x
)

g
^

(
y
)

γ

(
x
+
y
)

d

m
G

(
x
)

d

m
G

(
y
)

,

satisfies $$N_{\Phi _3}(B_m(f,g))\le CN_{\Phi _1}(f)N_{\Phi _2}(g)$$

N

Φ
3

(

B
m

(
f
,
g
)

)

≤
C

N

Φ
1

(
f
)

N

Φ
2

(
g
)

for functions in $$f,g\in L^1({{\hat{G}}})$$

f
,
g
∈

L
1

(

G
^

)

such that $${{\hat{f}}},{{\hat{g}}}\in L^1(G)$$

f
^

,

g
^

∈

L
1

(
G
)

. We denote by $${\mathcal {B}}{\mathcal {M}}_{(\Phi _1,\Phi _2;\Phi _3)}(G)$$

B

M

(

Φ
1

,

Φ
2

;

Φ
3

)

(
G
)

the space of all bilinear multipliers on $$G\times G$$

G
×
G

and study some properties of this class. We consider $$(\Phi _1,\Phi _2;\Phi _3)$$

(

Φ
1

,

Φ
2

;

Φ
3

)

-bilinear multipliers on various groups such as $${\mathbb {R}}\times {\mathbb {R}},\, \textbf{D}\times \textbf{D},\, {\mathbb {Z}}\times {\mathbb {Z}}$$

R
×
R
,

D
×
D
,

Z
×
Z

and $${\mathbb {T}}\times {\mathbb {T}}$$

T
×
T

. In particular we prove, under certain assumptions involving the norm of the dilation operator on the Orlicz spaces, that regulated bilinear multipliers in $${\mathcal {B}}{\mathcal {M}}_{(\Phi _1,\Phi _2;\Phi _3)}({\mathbb {R}})$$

B

M

(

Φ
1

,

Φ
2

;

Φ
3

)

(
R
)

coincide with $${\mathcal {B}}{\mathcal {M}}_{(\Phi _1,\Phi _2;\Phi _3)}(\textbf{D})$$

B

M

(

Φ
1

,

Φ
2

;

Φ
3

)

(
D
)

with where $$\textbf{D}$$
D
stands for the real line with the discrete topology. Moreover, we investigate several transference and restriction results on multipliers acting on $${\mathbb {Z}}\times {\mathbb {Z}}$$

Z
×
Z

and $${\mathbb {T}}\times {\mathbb {T}}$$

T
×
T

.
Radiomics in differential diagnosis of Wilms tumor and neuroblastoma with adrenal location in children
Authors: Koska Ilker Ozgur , Ozcan H. Nursun , Tan Aziz Anil , Beydogan Beyza , Ozer Gozde , Oguz Berna , Haliloglu Mithat
Published: February 2024

Objectives

Machine learning methods can be applied successfully to various medical imaging tasks. Our aim with this study was to build a robust classifier using radiomics and clinical data for preoperative diagnosis of Wilms tumor (WT) or neuroblastoma (NB) in pediatric abdominal CT.

Material and methods

This is a single-center retrospective study approved by the Institutional Ethical Board. CT scans of consecutive patients diagnosed with WT or NB admitted to our hospital from January 2005 to December 2021 were evaluated. Three distinct datasets based on clinical centers and CT machines were curated. Robust, non-redundant, high variance, and relevant radiomics features were selected using data science methods. Clinically relevant variables were integrated into the final model. Dice score for similarity of tumor ROI, Cohen’s kappa for interobserver agreement among observers, and AUC for model selection were used.

Results

A total of 147 patients, including 90 WT (mean age 34.78 SD: 22.06 months; 43 male) and 57 NB (mean age 23.77 SD:22.56 months; 31 male), were analyzed. After binarization at 24 months cut-off, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups for age (p = .07) and gender (p = .54). CT clinic radiomics combined model achieved an F1 score of 0.94, 0.93 accuracy, and an AUC 0.96.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the CT-based clinic-radiologic-radiomics combined model could noninvasively predict WT or NB preoperatively. Notably, that model correctly predicted two patients, which none of the radiologists could correctly predict. This model may serve as a noninvasive preoperative predictor of NB/WT differentiation in CT, which should be further validated in large prospective models.

Clinical relevance statement

CT-based clinic-radiologic-radiomics combined model could noninvasively predict Wilms tumor or neuroblastoma preoperatively.

Key Points

• CT radiomics features can predict Wilms tumor or neuroblastoma from abdominal CT preoperatively.

• Integrating clinic variables may further improve the performance of the model.

• The performance of the combined model is equal to or greater than human readers, depending on the lesion size.
Sd-net: a semi-supervised double-cooperative network for liver segmentation from computed tomography (CT) images
Authors: Huang Shixin , Luo Jiawei , Ou Yangning , shen Wangjun , Pang Yu , Nie Xixi , Zhang Guo
Published: February 2024

Introduction

The automatic segmentation of the liver is a crucial step in obtaining quantitative biomarkers for accurate clinical diagnosis and computer-aided decision support systems. This task is challenging due to the frequent presence of noise and sampling artifacts in computerized tomography (CT) images, as well as the complex background, variable shapes, and blurry boundaries of the liver. Standard segmentation of medical images based on full-supervised convolutional networks demands accurate dense annotations. Such a learning framework is built on laborious manual annotation with strict requirements for expertise, leading to insufficient high-quality labels.

Methods

To overcome such limitation and exploit massive weakly labeled data, we relaxed the rigid labeling requirement and developed a semi-supervised double-cooperative network (SD- Net). SD-Net is trained to segment the complete liver volume from preoperative abdominal CT images by using limited labeled datasets and large-scale unlabeled datasets. Specifically, to enrich the diversity of unsupervised information, we construct SD-Net consisting of two collaborative network models. Within the supervised training module, we introduce an adaptive mask refinement approach. First, each of the two network models predicts the labeled dataset, after which adaptive mask refinement of the difference predictions is implemented to obtain more accurate liver segmentation results. In the unsupervised training module, a dynamic pseudo-label generation strategy is proposed. First each of the two models predicts unlabeled data and the better prediction is considered as pseudo-labeling before training.

Results and discussion

Based on the experimental findings, the proposed method achieves a dice score exceeding 94%, indicating its high level of accuracy and its suitability for everyday clinical use.
Multiple Krisen und Globale Produktionsnetzwerke: Neue Sojapartnerschaften zwischen China und Tansania im Rahmen der Belt and Road Initiative
Authors: Tups Gideon , Mbunda Richard , Ndunguru Moses , Dannenberg Peter
Published: February 2024

Dieser Artikel analysiert die Umsetzung eines Handelsabkommens zwischen China und Tansania, welches die tansanische Peripherie als Zulieferregion in das chinesische Produktionsnetzwerk für Sojabohnen integrieren soll. Basierend auf Forschungsdaten aus Tansania betrachtet der Artikel dazu Maßnahmen, die seit der Coronapandemie einen unerwarteten Sojaboom an einem Zulieferende der Belt and Road Initiative (BRI, auch als neue Seidenstraße bekannt) ausgelöst haben. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, dass China aufgrund des Handelskriegs mit den USA, der Coronapandemie und neuen geopolitischen Konfliktlinien spätestens seit dem Krieg in der Ukraine neue afrikanische Zulieferregionen für Sojabohnen strategisch im Rahmen der Belt and Road Initiative erschließt. Diese krisengetriebenen Interessen konvergieren mit tansanischen Interessen, die historische „Allwetterfreundschaft“ mit China zu revitalisieren und die tansanische Blockfreiheit strategisch zur wirtschaftlichen Transformation des Agrarsektors zu nutzen. Mit Blick auf die angewandte Geographie zeigt das Fallbeispiel deshalb auf, dass der neue geopolitische Zeitgeist, der von Geopolitik und multiplen Krisen gestaltet ist, die dynamische Organisation von Produktionsnetzwerken beeinflusst. Neue, krisenbedingte Imperative erklären dabei emergente Organisationsformen, die nicht nur überraschende Akteure zusammenbringen, sondern auch überraschende Räume transformativ formen.
Analysis of adjacent vertebral fracture after percutaneous vertebroplasty: do radiological or surgical features matter?
Authors: Tang Benqiang , Liu Liang , Cui Libin , Wang Yanhui , Yuan Xin , Liu Yadong , Chen Xueming
Published: February 2024

Purpose

To report the incidence and risk factors of adjacent vertebral fracture (AVF) after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). We focused to investigate effect of radiological or surgical features on AVF.

Methods

All patients with OVCFs who were treated with PVP between January 2016 and December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were followed up at least 12 months after procedure according to treatment protocol. AVF was defined as postoperatively recurrent intractable back pain and subsequently presence of fracture on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in adjacent levels. Clinical, radiological, and surgical factors potentially affecting occurrence of AVF were recorded and analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis.

Results

Totally, 1077 patients with 1077 fractured vertebrae who underwent PVP were enrolled in the study, after inclusion and exclusion criteria were met. Mean follow-up time was 24.3 ± 11.9 months (range, 12–59 months). AVF was identified in 98 (9.1%) patients. Univariate analysis showed that seven significant factors related to AVF were older age, non-traumatic fracture, cortical disruption on anterior wall, cortical disruption on lateral wall, basivertebral foramen, type-B leakage and type-C leakage. In multivariate analysis, two clinical factors, older age (P = 0.031) and non-traumatic fracture (P = 0.002), were significantly associated with AVF. However, any radiological or surgical factor did not reach significance in final model analysis.

Conclusions

Incidence of AVF after PVP in patients with OVCFs was 9.1% (98/1077). Older age and non-traumatic fracture were two clinical risk factors for AVF. Neither radiological nor surgical feature was significantly correlated with AVF.
Critical ICP thresholds in relation to outcome: Is 22 mmHg really the answer?
Authors: Riparbelli Agnes C. , Capion Tenna , Møller Kirsten , Mathiesen Tiit I. , Olsen Markus H. , Forsse Axel
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Intensive care for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) aims, among other tasks, at avoiding high intracranial pressure (ICP), which is perceived to worsen motor and cognitive deficits and increase mortality. International recommendations for threshold values for ICP were increased from 20 to 22 mmHg in 2016 following the findings in a study by Sorrentino et al., which were based on an observational study of patients with TBI of averaged ICP values. We aimed to reproduce their approach and validate the findings in a separate cohort.

Methods

Three hundred thirty-one patients with TBI were included and categorised according to survival/death and favourable/unfavourable outcome at 6 months (based on Glasgow Outcome Score—Extended of 6–8 and 1—5, respectively). Repeated chi-square tests of survival and death (or favourable and unfavourable outcome) vs. high and low ICP were conducted with discrimination between high and low ICP sets at increasing values (integers) between 10 and 35 mmHg, using the average ICP for the entire monitoring period. The ICP limit returning the highest chi-square score was assumed to be the threshold with best discriminative ability. This approach was repeated after stratification by sex, age, and initial Glasgow Coma Score (GCS).

Results

An ICP limit of 18 mmHg was found for both mortality and unfavourable outcome for the entire cohort. The female and the low GCS subgroups both had threshold values of 18 mmHg; for all other subgroups, the threshold varied between 16 and 30 mmHg. According to a multiple logistic regression analysis, age, initial GCS, and average ICP are independently associated with mortality and outcome.

Conclusions

Using identical methods and closely comparable cohorts, the critical thresholds for ICP found in the study by Sorrentino et al. could not be reproduced.
Eye-tracking on virtual reality: a survey
Authors: Moreno-Arjonilla Jesús , López-Ruiz Alfonso , Jiménez-Pérez J. Roberto , Callejas-Aguilera José E. , Jurado Juan M.
Published: February 2024

Virtual reality (VR) has evolved substantially beyond its initial remit of gaming and entertainment, catalyzed by advancements such as improved screen resolutions and more accessible devices. Among various interaction techniques introduced to VR, eye-tracking stands out as a pivotal development. It not only augments immersion but offers a nuanced insight into user behavior and attention. This precision in capturing gaze direction has made eye-tracking instrumental for applications far beyond mere interaction, influencing areas like medical diagnostics, neuroscientific research, educational interventions, and architectural design, to name a few. Though eye-tracking’s integration into VR has been acknowledged in prior reviews, its true depth, spanning the intricacies of its deployment to its broader ramifications across diverse sectors, has been sparsely explored. This survey undertakes that endeavor, offering a comprehensive overview of eye-tracking’s state of the art within the VR landscape. We delve into its technological nuances, its pivotal role in modern VR applications, and its transformative impact on domains ranging from medicine and neuroscience to marketing and education. Through this exploration, we aim to present a cohesive understanding of the current capabilities, challenges, and future potential of eye-tracking in VR, underscoring its significance and the novelty of our contribution.
Using the ‘Leapfrog’ Design as a Simple Form of Adaptive Platform Trial to Develop, Test, and Implement Treatment Personalization Methods in Routine Practice
Authors: Blackwell Simon E.
Published: February 2024

The route for the development, evaluation and dissemination of personalized psychological therapies is complex and challenging. In particular, the large sample sizes needed to provide adequately powered trials of newly-developed personalization approaches means that the traditional treatment development route is extremely inefficient. This paper outlines the promise of adaptive platform trials (APT) embedded within routine practice as a method to streamline development and testing of personalized psychological therapies, and close the gap to implementation in real-world settings. It focuses in particular on a recently-developed simplified APT design, the ‘leapfrog’ trial, illustrating via simulation how such a trial may proceed and the advantages it can bring, for example in terms of reduced sample sizes. Finally it discusses models of how such trials could be implemented in routine practice, including potential challenges and caveats, alongside a longer-term perspective on the development of personalized psychological treatments.