bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimizing Resource Consumption and Reducing Power Usage in Data Centers, A Novel Mathematical VM Replacement Model and Efficient Algorithm
Authors: Rabieyan Reza , Yahyapour Ramin , Jahnke Patrick
Published: June 2024

This study addresses the issue of power consumption in virtualized cloud data centers by proposing a virtual machine (VM) replacement model and a corresponding algorithm. The model incorporates multi-objective functions, aiming to optimize VM selection based on weights and minimize resource utilization disparities across hosts. Constraints are incorporated to ensure that CPU utilization remains close to the average CPU usage while mitigating overutilization in memory and network bandwidth usage. The proposed algorithm offers a fast and efficient solution with minimal VM replacements. The experimental simulation results demonstrate significant reductions in power consumption compared with a benchmark model. The proposed model and algorithm have been implemented and operated within a real-world cloud infrastructure, emphasizing their practicality.
Critical Mentorship in Undergraduate Research Experience BUILDs Science Identity and Self-Efficacy
Authors: Moon Sungmin , Guan Shu-Sha Angie , Vargas Jose H. , Lin Judith C. P. , Kwan Patchareeya , Saetermoe Carrie L. , Flores Gilberto , Chavira Gabriela
Published: June 2024

In 2014, the NIH Diversity Program Consortium (DPC) launched an initiative to implement and evaluate novel interventions at a variety of academic institutions across the country to engage undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds in biomedically-related research. The local intervention examined in the current study provides Critical Race Theory (CRT)-informed mentoring, more broadly called critical mentoring, for its participants. We examined the relationship between critical mentoring and student outcomes. In this study, student outcomes consisted of three components: (a) mentor satisfaction, (b) science identity, and (c) science self-efficacy. To determine student outcomes, we used the 2020 Student Annual Follow-up Survey (SAFS). We found that participants in the intervention program reported higher levels of critical mentoring than non-intervention participants and critical mentoring was, in turn, predictive of higher. mentorship satisfaction, science identity, and science self-efficacy. This finding implies that the CRT-informed intervention was more effective by developing an environment in which high-quality, critical mentors influenced students’ sense of science identity and self-efficacy. Additionally, we also found that intervention participants reported higher science identity and science self-efficacy than non-intervention participants, which suggests that the intervention cultivated science identity and self-efficacy in other ways outside of critical mentorship as well. The current study highlights how participation in an intervention program can increase science identity and self-efficacy, two factors predictive of science career intentions. The connection between critical mentoring practices and increased science identity and self-efficacy underscores the significance of culturally and racially relevant social support in science education.
Evaluation of Moisture Diffusivity from Pore Distribution Curves for a Ceramic Brick
Authors: Medved’ Igor , Černý Robert
Published: June 2024

The 1D moisture diffusivity of porous materials may strongly depend on the content of moisture in the materials, varying over an order of magnitude or more. In this paper we present a new model from which the diffusivity can be evaluated, using the pore size distribution and water absorption coefficient. We point out that this is a more efficient approach than the standard Boltzmann–Matano (BM) method, because measurements of pore curves and water absorption are much shorter and rather accurate compared to moisture profile experiments needed in the BM method. As an example, we apply our model to two samples of a ceramic brick for which experimental data on both pore curves and moisture profiles had been measured. A very good quantitative agreement in the diffusivity is obtained for early stage profiles. For later stages, however, the model predicts three to four times higher diffusivity than the BM method. The reasons for this discrepancy are discussed and further tasks to validate the effectiveness of the new model are proposed. We also compare our model with the pore models of Burdine and Mualem.
Cognitive manufacturing: definition and current trends
Authors: El Kalach Fadi , Yousif Ibrahim , Wuest Thorsten , Sheth Amit , Harik Ramy
Published: June 2024

Manufacturing systems have recently witnessed a shift from the widely adopted automated systems seen throughout industry. The evolution of Industry 4.0 or Smart Manufacturing has led to the introduction of more autonomous systems focused on fault tolerant and customized production. These systems are required to utilize multimodal data such as machine status, sensory data, and domain knowledge for complex decision making processes. This level of intelligence can allow manufacturing systems to keep up with the ever-changing markets and intricate supply chain. Current manufacturing lines lack these capabilities and fall short of utilizing all generated data. This paper delves into the literature aiming at achieving this level of complexity. Firstly, it introduces cognitive manufacturing as a distinct research domain and proposes a definition by drawing upon various preexisting themes. Secondly, it outlines the capabilities brought forth by cognitive manufacturing, accompanied by an exploration of the associated trends and technologies. This contributes to establishing the foundation for future research in this promising field.
Dynamic Modelling and Optimal Sliding Mode Control of the Wearable Rehabilitative Bipedal Cable Robot with 7 Degrees of Freedom
Authors: Sajedifar A. , Korayem M. H. , Allahverdi F.
Published: June 2024

Although robot-assisted physiotherapy has gained increasing attention in recent years, the use of wearable rehabilitation robots for lower limbs has shown reduced efficiency due to additional equipment and motors located at the center of the joint, increasing complexity and load on disabled patients. This paper proposes a novel rehabilitation approach by eliminating motors and equipment from the center of joints and placing them on a fixed platform using cable-based power transmission. A proposed model of a 14 cable-driven bipedal robot with 7 degrees of freedom has been used to model a lower limb rehabilitation robot corresponding to it. The dynamic equations of the robot are derived using the Euler-Lagrange method. The sliding mode control technique is utilized to offer accurate control for tracking desired trajectories, ensuring smoothness despite disturbances, and reducing tracking errors. This approach is employed to help prevent patients from falling and support them in maintaining balance during rehabilitative exercises. To ensure that cables exert positive tension, the sliding mode controller was combined with quadratic programming optimization, minimizing path error while constraining the controller input torque to be non-negative. The performance of the proposed controller was assessed by considering several control gains resulting in K = 10 identified as the most effective one. The feasibility of this approach to rehabilitation is demonstrated by the numerical results in MATLAB simulation, which show that the RMSE amount of the right and left hip and thigh angles are 0.29, 0.37, 0.31, and 0.44, respectively which verified an improved rehabilitation process. Also, the correlation coefficient between the Adams and MATLAB simulation results for motor torque was found to be 0.98, indicating a high degree of correlation between the two simulation results.
Titanium-doped phosphate glasses containing zinc and strontium applied in bone regeneration
Authors: Tang Tianyi , Wandless Rachel , Keskin-Erdogan Zalike , Mandakhbayar Nandin-Erdene , Park Jeong-Hui , Kim Hae-Won , Abramchuk Morgana , Daltoe Felipe P. , Knowles Jonathan C.
Published: June 2024

Phosphate bioactive glass has been studied for its advanced biodegradability and active ion release capability. Our previous research found that phosphate glass containing (P2O5)–(Na2O)–(TiO2)–(CaO)–(SrO) or (ZnO) showed good biocompatibility with MG63 and hMSCs. This study further investigated the application of 5 mol% zinc oxide or 17.5 mol% strontium oxide in titanium-doped phosphate glass for bone tissue engineering. Ti-Ca-Na-Phosphate glasses, incorporating 5% zinc oxide or 17.5% strontium oxide, were made with melting quenching technology. The pre-osteoblast cell line MC3T3-E1 was cultured for indirect contact tests with graded diluted phosphate glass extractions and for direct contact tests by seeding cells on glass disks. The cell viability and cytotoxicity were analysed in vitro over 7 days. In vivo studies utilized the tibial defect model with or without glass implants. The micro-CT analysis was performed after surgery and then at 2, 6, and 12 weeks. Extractions from both zinc and strontium phosphate glasses showed no negative impact on MC3T3-E1 cell viability. Notably, non-diluted Zn-Ti-Ca-Na-phosphate glass extracts significantly increased cell viability by 116.8% (P < 0.01). Furthermore, MC3T3-E1 cells cultured with phosphate glass disks exhibited no increase in LDH release compared with the control group. Micro-CT images revealed that, over 12 weeks, both zinc-doped and strontium-doped phosphate glasses demonstrated good bone incorporation and longevity compared to the no-implant control. Titanium-doped phosphate glasses containing 5 mol% zinc oxide, or 17.5 mol% strontium oxide have promising application potential for bone regeneration research.

Graphical Abstract
Local coordinates on Lie groups for half-explicit time integration of Cosserat-rod models with constraints
Authors: Tumiotto Denise , Arnold Martin
Published: June 2024

Explicit Runge–Kutta methods are the gold standard of time-integration methods for nonstiff problems in system dynamics since they combine a small numerical effort per time step with high accuracy, error control, and straightforward implementation. For the analysis of beam dynamics, we couple them with a local coordinates approach in a Lie group setting to address large rotations. Stiff shear forces and inextensibility conditions are enforced by internal constraints in a coarse-grid discretization of a geometrically exact beam model. The resulting nonstiff constrained systems are handled by a half-explicit approach that relies on the constraints at velocity level and avoids all kinds of Newton–Raphson iteration. We construct half-explicit Runge–Kutta Lie group methods of order up to five that are equipped with an adaptive step-size strategy using embedded Runge–Kutta pairs for error estimation. The methods are tested successfully for a roll-up maneuver of a flexible beam and for the classical flying-spaghetti benchmark.
SS-CRE: A Continual Relation Extraction Method Through SimCSE-BERT and Static Relation Prototypes
Authors: Chen Jinguang , Wang Suyue , Ma Lili , Yang Bo , Zhang Kaibing
Published: June 2024

Continual relation extraction aims to learn new relations from a continuous stream of data while avoiding forgetting old relations. Existing methods typically use the BERT encoder to obtain semantic embeddings, ignoring the fact that the vector representations suffer from anisotropy and uneven distribution. Furthermore, the relation prototypes are usually computed by memory samples directly, resulting in the model being overly sensitive to memory samples. To solve these problems, we propose a new continual relation extraction method. Firstly, we modified the basic structure of the sample encoder to generate uniformly distributed semantic embeddings using the supervised SimCSE-BERT to obtain richer sample information. Secondly, we introduced static relation prototypes and dynamically adjust their proportion with dynamic relation prototypes to adapt to the feature space. Lastly, through experimental analysis on the widely used FewRel and TACRED datasets, the results demonstrate that the proposed method effectively enhances semantic embeddings and relation prototypes, resulting in a further alleviation of catastrophic forgetting in the model. The code will be soon released at https://github.com/SuyueW/SS-CRE.
Comparing ground-based lightning detection networks near wildfire points-of-origin
Authors: Hatchett Benjamin J. , Nauslar Nicholas J. , Brown Timothy J.
Published: June 2024

Lightning detection and attribution to wildfire ignitions is a critical component of fire management worldwide to both reduce hazards of wildfire to values-at-risk and to enhance the potential for wildland fire to provide resource benefits in fire-adapted ecosystems. We compared two operational ground-based lightning detection networks used by fire managers to identify cloud-to-ground strokes within operationally-relevant distances (1.6 km) of the origins of 4408 western United States lightning-ignited wildfires spanning May–September 2020. Applying two sets of constraints–varying holdover time and applying a quality control measure–we found strokes were co-detected near 55–65% of fires, increasing to 65–79% for detection by at least one network, with neither network detecting lightning near 1024–1666 fires. Because each network detected strokes near 136–376 unique fires, the use of both networks is suggested to increase the probability of identifying potential fire starts. Given the number of fires with network-unique detections and no detections by either network, improvements in lightning detection networks are recommended given increasing fire hazard.
Drought acclimation of beech seedlings depends largely on their rooting patterns and less on the fungal communities in soils
Authors: Danzberger Jasmin , Hikino Kyohsuke , Landhäusser Simon M. , Hesse Benjamin D. , Meyer Sophie , Buegger Franz , Weikl Fabian , Grams Thorsten E. E. , Pritsch Karin
Published: June 2024

Aims

The composition of soil fungal communities is known to impact tree performance. However, fungal communities differ among soils with different precipitation histories and may change during drought. This study aimed to determine the influence of soil origin and associated climate adaptation of fungal communities on European beech seedlings’ drought responses.

Methods

Seedlings were established from the same seed source and grown in three soils with different precipitation histories but similar water retention properties. One year after establishment, half of the seedlings were exposed to a two-month drought with predawn leaf water potentials of about –1.5 MPa, the other half remained well-watered (control). Before and during the drought, soil and root fungal community composition, root architecture, seedling growth, carbon allocation and leaf physiology were determined.

Results

The drought effect on the fungal community composition was the lowest in dry region soils, suggesting a natural adaptation of the fungal communities to dry environments. Nevertheless, contrary to our expectations, the seedlings grown in dry region soils with respective adapted fungal communities were most affected by drought. This was evidenced by a lower predawn water potential, probably due to shorter root systems with higher root branching compared to those grown in moist region soils where a greater taproot length was observed.

Conclusion

Beech seedlings´ drought responses depend largely on their different rooting patterns and less on the soil fungal communities that are adapted to long-term precipitation conditions. Yet, microbial effects cannot be excluded. Future research should focus more on the role of specific microbial species on plant root growth and drought responses.
Who do I Look like More, Mom or Dad? An Exploratory Survey about Primary Students’ Ideas about Heredity
Authors: Zudaire Isabel , Ayuso G. Enrique , Napal María , Uriz Irantzu
Published: June 2024

Unlike in other countries, heredity and genetics appear first in Spanish science standards in secondary levels. However, some researchers have suggested the need of progressively introducing some basic genetic ideas already from primary education levels. In this context of no formal instruction in early stages, the objectives of our work were to characterize the incipient heredity model of primary school pupils and to evaluate its progression, to identify the most appropriate time to introduce these ideas. We designed a 12-item questionnaire referred to two constructs: (1) the difference between biologically inherited and environmental acquired traits and (2) the mechanism of inheritance. 535 primary school pupils (6–12 years; grades 1–6) took part in the study. In addition, 1–2 pupils per class were interviewed, totalling 30 interviewees. The results showed that pupils clearly identified physical resemblance as inheritable but had more difficulties in assessing physiological traits. Most pupils (84%) correctly identified that accidentally acquired traits were not transmitted to the descendance. However, only 32,2% of them use terms related to inheritance (77,1% of them in G4 – G6). Regarding the mechanism of inheritance, the idea that siblings express traits of both parents becomes more prevalent from grade 3, even suggesting the appearance of new traits or the mixture of previous ones. Older pupils accepted that a trait could skip a generation, although most of them were unable to explain the mechanism, that involves the idea of dominance/ recessiveness. These results allow identifying key leverage points for constructing the inheritance model at Primary levels.
Checking in to Check out? The Effect of Boredom on Craving, Behavioural Inhibition and Social Networking Site Use
Authors: Kolas Janelle , von Mühlenen Adrian
Published: June 2024

Mood modification is widely considered a motive of social networking site (SNS) use, especially among problematic users, but few empirical studies on this topic have been published. The present study aims to investigate the impacts of boredom on craving, behavioural inhibition and SNS usage for users at greater and lesser risk of “addiction”. One hundred fourteen undergraduate students (85.09% female) were presented with either a boredom-inducing or control manipulation in this experiment. Following this mood induction, participants completed a Go/No-Go task modified with control and SNS-related visual cues. Participants were then presented with an unexpected, real-world boring situation, and SNS use during this period was noted. Subjective levels of craving and boredom were measured throughout the experiment. Findings demonstrate that users may view SNS as a mood modifier in the sense that craving was found to increase following experiences of boredom, and bored participants were more likely to use SNS during a waiting period. However, no differences were found between participants based upon risk of SNS addiction. These findings demonstrate that the typical experiential pattern found within addiction of dysphoric mood, enhanced craving and usage may simply be, in the context of SNS, a behavioural pattern of modern life.
Biofilm formation by the fungus Phaeomoniella chlamydospora: a causal agent of esca disease of grapevine
Authors: Karácsony Zoltán , Molnár Nikolett , Szabó Dóra , Bakos-Barczi Nóra , Lovas Miklós , Pálfi Xénia , Váczy Kálmán Zoltán
Published: June 2024

The present study suggests that the Esca pathogenic fungus Phaeomoniella chlamydospora can form biofilm in vitro and possibly in the grapevine host tissues. This phenomenon was revealed by the detailed examination of the development of three isolates of the fungus, showing dimorphic growth with the formation of yeast-like cells in the center, which were embedded in a polysaccharide-rich extracellular matrix, and filamentous growth at the colony margins. The colonies produced acetate, which chemical proved to be an enhancer of yeast-like growth and extracellular matrix production. The dynamic of biofilm formation was correlated with the ability of the strains to produce acetate, suggesting that it acts as a quorum sensing molecule in the process. The dimorphic growth of P. chlamydospora was also demonstrated in host tissues as a sole nutrient source, suggesting that biofilm can be produced in planta and take part in the pathogenesis of Esca. The biofilms formed by the fungus may contribute to the previously reported inhibition of sap flow in the infected plants, while its quorum sensing-mediated nature may partly explain the controversial literature data on the occurrence of the pathogen and symptom severity in the host.
Meticulous Closure of Mesenteric Defects Effectively Reduces the Incidence of Internal Hernia After Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
Authors: Vuagniaux Aurélie , Barberá-Carbonell Beatriz , Dayer Anna , Mantziari Styliani , Suter Michel
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Internal hernia (IH) after Roux-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) can lead to extended small bowel ischemia if it not recognized and treated promptly. The aim of this study is to show whether improvement in mesenteric defect (MD) closure reduces the incidence of IH.

Patients and Methods

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from our database including all patients who underwent laparoscopic RYGB between 1999 and 2015. The usual technique was a retrocolic/retrogastric RYGB. We divided patients in four groups according to the closure technique for MD and compared incidences of IH between groups. All patients had at least 8 years of follow-up.

Results

A total of 1927 patients (1497 females/460 males, mean age of 41.5 ± 11 years) were operated. A retrocolic/retrogastric RYGB was performed in 1747 (90.7%) and an antecolic RYGB in 180 patients. Mean duration of follow-up was 15 (8–24) years. 111 patients (5.8%) developed IH, the majority through the jejunojejunostomy (JJ, 3.7%) and Petersen (1.7%) defects. With improvement of closure technique, the incidence decreased over time, from 12.9% in the group with separate sutures to 1.05% in the most recent group with running non-absorbable sutures and an additional purse-string at the JJ defect (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Meticulous closure of MD during RYGB is a very important step that significantly reduces the IH risk after RYGB, even with a retrocolic/retrogastric anatomy. Using running non absorbable braided sutures and an additional purse-string suture at the JJ is the most effective technique, but a small IH risk persists. A high index of suspicion remains necessary in patients who present with acute abdominal pain after RYGB.

Graphical Abstract
Beyond Control: Temperature Burden in Patients with Spontaneous Subarachnoid Hemorrhage—An Observational Study
Authors: Rass Verena , Ianosi Bogdan-Andrei , Lindner Anna , Kindl Philipp , Schiefecker Alois J. , Helbok Raimund , Pfausler Bettina , Beer Ronny
Published: June 2024

Background

Temperature abnormalities are common after spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Here, we aimed to describe the evolution of temperature burden despite temperature control and to assess its impact on outcome parameters.

Methods

This retrospective observational study of prospectively collected data included 375 consecutive patients with SAH admitted to the neurological intensive care unit between 2010 and 2022. Daily fever (defined as the area over the curve above 37.9 °C multiplied by hours with fever) and spontaneous hypothermia burden (< 36.0 °C) were calculated over the study period of 16 days. Generalized estimating equations were used to calculate risk factors for increased temperature burdens and the impact of temperature burden on outcome parameters after correction for predefined variables.

Results

Patients had a median age of 58 years (interquartile range 49–68) and presented with a median Hunt & Hess score of 3 (interquartile range 2–5) on admission. Fever (temperature > 37.9 °C) was diagnosed in 283 of 375 (76%) patients during 14% of the monitored time. The average daily fever burden peaked between days 5 and 10 after admission. Higher Hunt & Hess score (p = 0.014), older age (p = 0.033), and pneumonia (p = 0.022) were independent factors associated with delayed fever burden between days 5 and 10. Increased fever burden was independently associated with poor 3-month functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale 3–6, p = 0.027), poor 12-month functional outcome (p = 0.020), and in-hospital mortality (p = 0.045), but not with the development of delayed cerebral ischemia (p = 0.660) or intensive care unit length of stay (p = 0.573). Spontaneous hypothermia was evident in the first three days in patients with a higher Hunt & Hess score (p < 0.001) and intraventricular hemorrhage (p = 0.047). Spontaneous hypothermia burden was not associated with poor 3-month outcome (p = 0.271).

Conclusions

Early hypothermia was followed by fever after SAH. Increased fever time burden was associated with poor functional outcome after SAH and could be considered for neuroprognostication.
The role of artificial intelligence in the supply chain finance innovation process
Authors: Ronchini Alessio , Guida Michela , Moretto Antonella , Caniato Federico
Published: June 2024

Leveraging on ten case studies, the paper examines the Supply Chain Finance (SCF) innovation process through a multiple stakeholder perspective (buyers, suppliers, and SCF providers). The aim is to identify the phases of the process impacted by Artificial Intelligence (AI), as well as its benefits and challenges. AI affects several activities in the Initiation phase of the innovation process, supporting the SCF provider’s commercial activities and contributing to assessing the buyer’s creditworthiness, detecting fraud, or proposing the right SCF solution. In the Implementation phase, AI supports assessing the supplier’s credit rating, categorizing and onboarding suppliers, and fastening the administrative tasks. Formulating 9 propositions, this study supports the theory related to the SCF by providing empirical evidence about the role of AI in the SCF innovation process and also identifying the resulting benefits and challenges for all the actors involved.
Truth-Ratios, Evidential Fit, and Deferring to Informants with Low Error Probabilities
Authors: Roche Michael , Roche William
Published: June 2024

Suppose that an informant (test, expert, device, perceptual system, etc.) is unlikely to err when pronouncing on a particular subject matter. When this is so, it might be tempting to defer to that informant when forming beliefs about that subject matter. How is such an inferential process expected to fare in terms of truth (leading to true beliefs) and evidential fit (leading to beliefs that fit one’s total evidence)? Using a medical diagnostic test as an example, we set out a formal framework to investigate this question. We establish seven results and make one conjecture. The first four results show that when the test’s error probabilities are low, the process of deferring to the test can score well in terms of (i) both truth and evidential fit, (ii) truth but not evidential fit, (iii) evidential fit but not truth, or (iv) neither truth nor evidential fit. Anything is possible. The remaining results and conjecture generalize these results in certain ways. These results are interesting in themselves—especially given that the diagnostic test is not sensitive to the target disease’s base rate—but also have broader implications for the more general process of deferring to an informant. Additionally, our framework and diagnostic example can be used to create test cases for various reliabilist theories of inferential justification. We show, for example, that they can be used to motivate evidentialist process reliabilism over process reliabilism.
Measurement invariance and preliminary psychometric properties of the young positive schema questionnaire in a Portuguese European sample
Authors: Faustino Bruno , Louis John. Philip
Published: June 2024

Early Adaptive Schemas have been proposed as adaptive counterparts to Early Maladaptive Schemas, which are longstanding dysfunctional psychological structures associated with psychopathology. The Young Positive Schema Questionnaire (YPSQ) was recently developed to complement the Young Schema Questionnaire 3 Short-Form. This study describes the cultural adaptation of YPSQ to European Portuguese. A sample of European Portuguese-speaking participants (N = 430, Mage = 30.31, DP = 12.75), fulfilled self-report questionnaires in a cross-sectional/transversal design. Confirmatory Factor Analysis, multi-group confirmatory group analysis and Pearson correlations were used to explore the psychometric properties of the YPSQ. A 14-factorial model was identified with 56 items with excellent goodness-of-fit indices χ2(426) = 3252.165, TLI = 0.92, CFI = 0.93, RMSEA = 0.056[0.053 − 0.058]. Almost all the positive schemas correlated negatively with symptomatic domains (e.g., depression, anxiety), assessed using the Brief Symptomatic Inventory, which supported adequate construct validity. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis using the original samples from Asia and the West when YPSQ was initially developed and the portuguese sample, showed invariance of the factor structure across these cultures including Portugal. The factor structure of the YPSQ was confirmed, suggesting that this measure may be adequate to assess positive schemas in the European Portuguese-speaking Population. More research is still required to demonstrate other psychometric properties of the instrument using clinical populations.
A phenomenological study on the life experiences of parents of children with ADHD
Authors: Yurdakul Yeşim , Şirin Hande , Uzun Mehmet Erdem , Beyazit Utku , Bütün Ayhan Aynur , Günbayi İlhan
Published: June 2024

ADHD negatively affects the functionality of families and parents; however, no studies have examined the experiences of Turkish families with children diagnosed with ADHD. In this context, the present study aimed to explore the life experiences of Turkish parents with children diagnosed with ADHD. For this purpose, a descriptive phenomenological research design was used. Data were collected using a personal information and semi-structured interviews, while analysis was conducted using Giorgi’s phenomenological method. As a result of the content analysis, five main themes were identified, namely experiences regarding the diagnosis process, emotional reactions related to the diagnosis, experiences with social relations, influences of ADHD diagnosis on the family, and academic difficulties. In line with the results, it is suggested that mental health professionals and other related specialists should include the findings of parents’ life experiences in the treatment planning of children with ADHD and intervention programs should be developed for parents.
A Transformative Trip? Experiences of Psychedelic Use
Authors: Neitzke-Spruill Logan , Beit Caroline , Robinson Jill , Blevins Kai , Reynolds Joel , Evans Nicholas G. , McGuire Amy L.
Published: June 2024

Psychedelic experiences are often compared to “transformative experiences” due to their potential to change how people think and behave. This study empirically examines whether psychedelic experiences constitute transformative experiences. Given psychedelics’ prospective applications as treatments for mental health disorders, this study also explores neuroethical issues raised by the possibility of biomedically directed transformation—namely, consent and moral psychopharmacology. To achieve these aims, we used both inductive and deductive coding techniques to analyze transcripts from interviews with 26 participants in psychedelic retreats. Results indicate that psychedelic experiences can constitute transformative experiences. Twenty participants reported experiences or insights that were seemingly inaccessible or impossible to attain if not for the psychoactive effects of psychedelics. All participants besides one reported some change in identity, values, beliefs, desires, and behavior—changes in behavior being the most common. Participants also reported feeling capable deciding to use psychedelics in part due to information seeking prior to their retreats. Finally, several participants reported an enhanced capacity for enacting changes in their lives. Our results underscore both the importance of subjective embodiment to transformation and the role of transformative agency in shaping outcomes of the psychedelic experience. We examine our results relative to neuroethical issues and advocate for centering the person in psychedelic research and neuroethical inquiry about psychedelics to avoid pitfalls associated with psychedelics’ potential as moral psychopharmacological agents.
Predictors of mortality of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia and the role of infectious diseases consultation and source control; a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Papadimitriou-Olivgeris Matthaios , Senn Laurence , Jacot Damien , Guery Benoit
Published: June 2024

Purpose

To determine predictors of mortality among patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia.

Methods

Retrospective study.

Setting

This study conducted at the Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland included adult patients with P. aeruginosa bacteraemia from 2015 to 2021.

Results

During the study period, 278 episodes of P. aeruginosa bacteraemia were included. Twenty (7%) isolates were multidrug-resistant. The most common type of infection was low respiratory tract infection (58 episodes; 21%). Sepsis was present in the majority of episodes (152; 55%). Infectious diseases consultation within 48 h of bacteraemia onset was performed in 203 (73%) episodes. Appropriate antimicrobial treatment was administered within 48 h in 257 (92%) episodes. For most episodes (145; 52%), source control was considered necessary, with 93 (64%) of them undergoing such interventions within 48 h. The 14-day mortality was 15% (42 episodes). The Cox multivariable regression model showed that 14-day mortality was associated with sepsis (P 0.002; aHR 6.58, CI 1.95–22.16), and lower respiratory tract infection (P < 0.001; aHR 4.63, CI 1.78–12.06). Conversely, interventions performed within 48 h of bacteraemia onset, such as infectious diseases consultation (P 0.036; HR 0.51, CI 0.27–0.96), and source control (P 0.009; aHR 0.17, CI 0.47–0.64) were associated with improved outcome.

Conclusion

Our findings underscore the pivotal role of early infectious diseases consultation in recommending source control interventions and guiding antimicrobial treatment for patients with P. aeruginosa bacteraemia.
Toward energy-efficient urban rail transit with capacity constraints under a public health emergency
Authors: Huang Kang , Liao Feixiong , Rasouli Soora , Gao Ziyou
Published: June 2024

Urban rail transit (URT) plays a pivotal role in mitigating urban congestion and emissions, positioning it as a sustainable transportation alternative. Nevertheless, URT’s function in transporting substantial numbers of passengers within confined public spaces renders it vulnerable to the proliferation of infectious diseases during public health crises. This study proposes a decision support model that integrates operational control strategies pertaining to passenger flow and train capacity utilization, with an emphasis on energy efficiency within URT networks during such crises. The model anticipates a URT system where passengers adhere to prescribed routes, adhering to enhanced path flow regulations. Simultaneously, train capacity utilization is intentionally limited to support social distancing measures. The model’s efficacy was assessed using data from the COVID-19 outbreak in Xi’an, China, at the end of 2021. Findings indicate that focused management of passenger flows and specific risk areas is superior in promoting energy efficiency and enhancing passenger convenience, compared to broader management approaches.
Traffic state estimation incorporating heterogeneous vehicle composition: A high-dimensional fuzzy model
Authors: Wang Shengyou , Dong Chunjiao , Shao Chunfu , Luo Sida , Zhang Jie , Meng Meng
Published: June 2024

Accurate traffic state estimations (TSEs) within road networks are crucial for enhancing intelligent transportation systems and developing effective traffic management strategies. Traditional TSE methods often assume homogeneous traffic, where all vehicles are considered identical, which does not accurately reflect the complexities of real traffic conditions that often exhibit heterogeneous characteristics. In this study, we address the limitations of conventional models by introducing a novel TSE model designed for precise estimations of heterogeneous traffic flows. We develop a comprehensive traffic feature index system tailored for heterogeneous traffic that includes four elements: basic traffic parameters, heterogeneous vehicle speeds, heterogeneous vehicle flows, and mixed flow rates. This system aids in capturing the unique traffic characteristics of different vehicle types. Our proposed high-dimensional fuzzy TSE model, termed HiF-TSE, integrates three main processes: feature selection, which eliminates redundant traffic features using Spearman correlation coefficients; dimension reduction, which utilizes the T-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding machine learning algorithm to reduce high-dimensional traffic feature data; and FCM clustering, which applies the fuzzy C-means algorithm to classify the simplified data into distinct clusters. The HiF-TSE model significantly reduces computational demands and enhances efficiency in TSE processing. We validate our model through a real-world case study, demonstrating its ability to adapt to variations in vehicle type compositions within heterogeneous traffic and accurately represent the actual traffic state.
Language Assemblages
Authors: Pennycook Alastair
Published: June 2024

What are languages? An assemblage approach to language gives us ways of thinking about language as dynamic, constructed, open-ended, and in and of the world. This book unsettles regular accounts of knowledge about language in several ways, presenting an innovative and provocative framework for a new understanding of language from within applied linguistics. The idea of assemblages allows for a ﬂexibility about what languages are, not just in terms of having fuzzy linguistic boundaries but in terms of what constitutes language more generally. Languages are assembled from different elements, both linguistic elements as traditionally understood, as well as items less commonly included. Language from this point of view is embedded in diverse social and physical environments, distributed across the material world and part of our embodied existence. This book looks at what language is and what languages are with a view to understanding applied linguistics itself as a practical assemblage.
The Distinct Composition and Transformation of Terrestrial Organic Carbon in the Yukon River Delta and Plume During the Mighty Spring Freshet
Authors: Burns A. J. , Spencer R. G. M. , Kellerman A. M. , Yan G. , Leonard L. , Kaiser K. , Mannino A. , Tzortziou M. , Hernes P. J.
Published: June 2024

Arctic amplification is leading to increased terrestrial organic carbon (terrOC) mobilization with downstream impacts on riverine and marine biogeochemistry. To improve quantification and characterization of terrOC discharged to the Arctic Ocean, Yukon River delta samples were collected during three stages of the annual hydrograph (ascending limb/peak freshet, descending limb, late summer) and across a land‐to‐ocean salinity gradient (0.08–29.06 ppt). All samples were analyzed for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration and lignin phenols to determine seasonal variability in riverine terrOC and salinity‐induced transformation of highly aromatic terrestrial compounds. Additionally, the relationship between lignin and absorbance at 350 and 412 nm was assessed to determine the feasibility of using optical proxies for accurate quantification, both seasonally and across expansive salinity gradients. Lignin phenols were highest during the ascending limb/peak freshet (0.58–0.97 mg/100 mg OC) when riverine DOC was dominated by young vascular plant sources, whereas lignin phenols were lower (0.15–0.89 mg/100 mg OC) and riverine DOC more variable in terrestrial source and diagenetic state during the descending limb and late summer. Across the sampled salinity gradient, there was disproportionate depletion of lignin (up to 73%) compared to DOC (up to 22%). Finally, while optical proxies can be used to quantify lignin within seasonal or spatial contexts, increased uncertainty is likely when expanding linear correlations across Arctic land‐ocean continuums. Overall, results indicate seasonal, spatial, interannual, and climatic controls that are amplified during high‐flow conditions and important to constrain when investigating Arctic terrOC cycling and land‐ocean DOC flux.
Providing a common language for obesity: the European Association for the Study of Obesity obesity taxonomy
Authors: Bowman-Busato Jacqueline , Schreurs Lucas , Halford Jason C. G. , Yumuk Volkan , O’Malley Grace , Woodward Euan , De Cock Diederik , Baker Jennifer L.
Published: June 2024

Background

The basis for a high-performing and resilient healthcare system is having a common, precise, and scientifically accurate language used across all stakeholder groups. However, such a common language is lacking for obesity. Therefore, the European Association for the Study of Obesity undertook a taxonomy initiative to provide standardised language for obesity as commonly used from policy to practice for other major policy-prioritised non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Methods

An online Delphi consensus study was conducted, involving a panel of experts representing stakeholder groups of policymakers, healthcare professionals, people with lived experience, and researchers. Based on the understanding of obesity as an adiposity-based chronic disease, 54 statements demarcated into definition, scope and contextual usage were developed across six themes: Definition of obesity, Causes, onset and progression, Obesity prevention, Screening and early diagnosis, Treatment and management, Obesity consequences.

Results

Of the 194 invited experts, 70 (36%), 63 (33%), and 58 (30%) experts participated in rounds one, two, and three, respectively. Consensus was achieved on 70% of the proposed definitions, scope, and contextual usage after round one, 94% after round two and 100% after round three. The Definition of Obesity theme included distinctions between population-level indicators and individual-level signs of obesity, and how pre-obesity was defined. The Causes, Onset and Progression theme characterised the timing of obesity development. The Obesity Prevention theme explicitly differentiated between health promotion and primary prevention. Both the Screening and Early Diagnosis, and the Treatment and Management themes defined concepts supporting a continuum of care model. The Consequences of Obesity theme encompassed health and socio-economic outcomes.

Conclusion

The taxonomy provides a contemporary evidence-based language about obesity that aligns with language used for policy-prioritised NCDs. The taxonomy is useful for education, advocacy, and communication and can be used by policymakers, healthcare professionals, people living with obesity, researchers, and health system users.
Impact of COVID-19 on the management of hypertension: a perspective on disease severity, service use patterns and expenditures from Ghana’s health insurance claims data
Authors: Fenny Ama Pokuaa , Otieku Evans , Owusu Achiaw Samuel , Okoe Boye Bernard , Asenso-Boadi Francis , Addo-Cobbiah Vivian , Musah Mariam
Published: June 2024

Hypertension is a leading cause of morbidity in Ghana and other sub-Saharan African countries, but management has historically suffered from the fragility of health systems in these countries. This has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated measures. Our study examines and quantifies the effect of the pandemic on the management of hypertension in Ghana by determining changes in disease severity and presentation, as well as changes in health service use patterns and expenditures. We used cross-sectional data to perform an impact evaluation of COVID-19 on hypertension management before and during the pandemic. We employed statistical tests including t-tests, z-tests, and exact Poisson tests to estimate and compare hypertension episode intensity and related claim expenditures before and during the pandemic using medical claims data from Ghana’s National Health Insurance Authority database. The study duration includes a 12-month reference/pre-pandemic period (March 2019–February 2020) relative to the target/pandemic period (March 2020–February 2021). We observed that although there was a 20% reduction in the number of hypertension claimants in the pandemic year, there was an increase in hypertension severity as measured by the number of hypertension episodes per claimant. There was also an 18.64% or $22.88 (95% CI: $21–$25, p = 0.01042) increase in the average cost per hypertension claimant in the pandemic year. The increase in episodes per claimant had the largest financial impact on the average cost per claimant. The findings from our studies are relevant for future policymaking and strategy implementation for hypertension control in Ghana.
The in vitro dynamics of pseudo-vascular network formation
Authors: Oraiopoulou Mariam-Eleni , Couturier Dominique-Laurent , Bunce Ellie V. , Cannell Ian G. , Sweeney Paul W. , Naylor Huw , Golinska Monika , Hannon Gregory J. , Sakkalis Vangelis , Bohndiek Sarah E.
Published: June 2024

Background/Objectives

Pseudo-vascular network formation in vitro is considered a key characteristic of vasculogenic mimicry. While many cancer cell lines form pseudo-vascular networks, little is known about the spatiotemporal dynamics of these formations.

Methods

Here, we present a framework for monitoring and characterising the dynamic formation and dissolution of pseudo-vascular networks in vitro. The framework combines time-resolved optical microscopy with open-source image analysis for network feature extraction and statistical modelling. The framework is demonstrated by comparing diverse cancer cell lines associated with vasculogenic mimicry, then in detecting response to drug compounds proposed to affect formation of vasculogenic mimics. Dynamic datasets collected were analysed morphometrically and a descriptive statistical analysis model was developed in order to measure stability and dissimilarity characteristics of the pseudo-vascular networks formed.

Results

Melanoma cells formed the most stable pseudo-vascular networks and were selected to evaluate the response of their pseudo-vascular networks to treatment with axitinib, brucine and tivantinib. Tivantinib has been found to inhibit the formation of the pseudo-vascular networks more effectively, even in dose an order of magnitude less than the two other agents.

Conclusions

Our framework is shown to enable quantitative analysis of both the capacity for network formation, linked vasculogenic mimicry, as well as dynamic responses to treatment.