bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Game accessibility for visually impaired people: a review
Authors: Agrimi Emanuele , Battaglini Chiara , Bottari Davide , Gnecco Giorgio , Leporini Barbara
Published: July 2024

Playing games is an important way to promote the integration, inclusion, and socialization of participants. This is especially the case of persons with disabilities, such as visually impaired people. Unfortunately, very few games are accessible to such persons. Hopefully, in many digital games, this accessibility can be enabled in principle by assistive technologies, such as screen readers. The aim of this work consists in reviewing the recent literature on game accessibility for people with visual impairment and discussing benefits, limitations, and possible improvements of currently available accessibility solutions. After providing a definition of visual impairment and describing its relationship with gaming, the work reviews general techniques for designing more accessible games. Subsequently, it focuses on specific techniques based on replacing visual stimuli with auditory stimuli (e.g., sonification and sound-source simulation), also presenting some recently proposed sonification-mapping strategies. Then, the application of machine-learning techniques to the development of accessible interfaces for online versions of board games is illustrated by a recent case study. Finally, a discussion and some conclusions are provided, with a particular focus on policy implications of improvements in game accessibility for visually impaired people.
The impact of non- and anthracycline-based chemotherapy on fatigue in breast cancer survivors: results from WF-97415
Authors: Avis Nancy E. , Levine Beverly J. , Klepin Heidi D. , Mihalko Shannon L. , Brubaker Peter H. , Moore Tonya , Ladd Amy C. , Dent Susan F. , Hackney Mary Helen , Ky Bonnie , Ntim William O. , Wagner Lynne I. , Weaver Kathryn E. , Hundley W. Gregory ,   the UPBEAT study team
Published: July 2024

Purpose

To examine the differential effect of non- and anthracycline-based chemotherapy on fatigue over 12 months post-diagnosis among breast cancer survivors.

Methods

This study is based on a prospective Wake Forest NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) multicenter cohort study (WF-97415) of women with stage I to III breast cancer and non-cancer controls. Analyses compared those: 1) receiving, or 2) not receiving anthracycline chemotherapy, 3) receiving aromatase inhibitors (AIs) without chemotherapy, with 4) a comparator group without a history of cancer. In-person clinic assessments were conducted at: baseline (prior to chemotherapy or start of AI therapy), and 3 and 12 months after baseline. The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue scale was the primary outcome. Estimated least squares means by group using mixed models with a random subject effect, fixed effects of time and group, and the interaction between time and group was used to compare groups across time, controlling for age, comorbidities, and treatment variables.

Results

Among 284 women (mean age = 53.4 years, sd 11.9 years), there was a significant (p < 0.0001) group by time interaction, with a sharp increase in fatigue at 3 months in the two chemotherapy groups in comparison to the non-chemotherapy and non-cancer controls. The two chemotherapy groups did not significantly differ in fatigue at any time point.

Conclusion

Women with breast cancer who receive non- or anthracycline-based chemotherapy experience similar trends in and levels of fatigue within the first year of treatment and greater fatigue than women receiving AIs alone or women without breast cancer.
Impact of postoperative spinal malalignment on postoperative health-related quality of life after long-level fixation for degenerative lumbar scoliosis: does residual coronal angularity matter?
Authors: Zhang Jiaqi , Liu Yinhao , Zeng Yan , Li Weishi , Chen Zhongqiang
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study evaluates the influence of spinal malalignment on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a long-level fusion spine.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of 121 consecutive patients with DLS after long-segment fusion. HRQOL and radiographic parameters were collected at final follow-up. For postoperative residual Cobb angle (CA), patients were divided as follows: group (0) (CA < 10°), group (+) (CA 10°∼20 °), and group (++) (CA > 20°). For postoperative coronal vertical axis (CVA), patients were separated as follows: group (0) (CVA < 2 cm), group (+) (CVA 2 ∼ 3 cm), and group (++) (CVA > 3 cm). Patients were also grouped by the sagittal modifiers as group (0), group (+), and group (++) according to the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-Schwab classification, respectively.

Results

Visual analog scale (VAS) for back was significantly lower in CA 10°∼20° group compared to other groups. Patients with remnant CA > 20° showed worse Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), SRS-22 and the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) - physical component scores (PCS). Sagittal vertical axis (SVA) showed significant correlation with HRQOLs after surgery, and the statistical significance of ODI, SRS-22 and SF-36 scores was observed among subgroups.

Conclusions

In long-level fused spine, residual CA > 20° resulted in worse clinical outcomes and was recommended to avoid during surgery. And 10° to 20° residual CA was acceptable in DLS patients and even better than Cobb angle < 10° in several HRQOLs, therefore strictly pursing upright alignment seems unnecessary. SVA also showed effectiveness in assessing HRQOL in the fixed spine.
Modified Rosi–Cahill technique after left extended colectomy for splenic flexure advanced tumors
Authors: Segura-Sampedro J. J. , Cañete-Gómez J. , Craus-Miguel A.
Published: July 2024

Advanced splenic flexure tumors are uncommon and have a higher risk of relapse. To ensure that the resection includes the entire area of lymphatic drainage with a complete mesocolic excision (CME), a left extended colectomy is needed. In peritoneal carcinomatosis, there is often extensive involvement of the sigma and splenic flexure of the colon. In many instances, total colectomies are chosen for these patients, even when a significant portion of the colon could be preserved. The potential impact on quality of life after splenic flexure colon resection is discussed, as well as the importance of anatomical knowledge and expertise in performing this type of surgery. Overall, this work presents a modified technique that aims to improve the outcomes and quality of life for patients with splenic flexure colon cancer. Creating a tension-free anastomosis after extended left-sided colorectal resection is challenging. There is a negative impact on quality of life when an ileorectal anastomosis is created. The colorectal anastomosis performed after modified Rosi–Cahill or Deloyers’ technique allows reduced small bowel bacterial overgrowth, achieves better water and sodium absorption, and altogether permits improved stool consistency. There are potential advantages of the Rosi–Cahill technique over other popular options such as Deloyers’ procedure as there is no torsion of the ileocolic vessels and no mesenteric windows. A video was recorded showing a potential pitfall during Deloyers’ technique resulting in the creation of a mesenteric window. The proper rotation of the colon during the modified Rosi–Cahill procedure was also filmed. Overall, this work presents a modified technique for reconstruction after left extended colectomy that aims to improve the outcomes and quality of life for patients with splenic flexure colon cancer.
The use of self-expanding metallic stents in the management of benign colonic obstruction: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Fardanesh Armin , George Jayan , Hughes Daniel , Stavropoulou-Tatla Stavroula , Mathur Pawan
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Patients presenting with large bowel obstruction (LBO) frequently undergo emergency surgery that is associated with significant morbidity. In malignant LBO, endoscopic approaches with placement is a self-expanding metal stent (SEMS), have been proposed to prevent emergency surgery and act as a bridge to an elective procedure—with the intention of avoiding a stoma and reducing morbidity. This systematic review aims to assess the quality and outcomes of data available on the use of SEMS in benign causes of colonic obstruction.

Methods

This systematic review was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, and the protocol was registered on Prospero (ID: CRD42021239363). PUBMED, MEDLINE, HMIC, CINAHL, AMED, EMBASE, APA and Cochrane databases were searched. Studies were assessed for quality utilising the MINORS criteria. Pooled odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using random effects models.

Results

Sixteen studies were included for analysis. 300 patients were included with an average age of 68, and a male predominance of 57%. The quality of the papers included were at risk of bias. The pooled rate of technical success of procedure was 94.4% (95% CI 90.5–96.8%) The pooled rate of clinical success was 77.6% (95% CI: 66.6–85.7%). Adverse effects were low, with perforation 8.8% (4.5–16.6%), recurrence 26.5% (17.2–38.5%) and stent migration 22.5% (14.1–33.8%).

Discussion

This systematic review demonstrated that SEMS for benign colonic obstruction can be a safe and successful procedure. The utilisation of SEMS in malignant disease as a bridge to surgery has been well documented. Whilst the limitations of the data interpreted are appreciated, we postulate that SEMS could be utilised to decompress patients acutely and allow pre-operative optimisation, leading to a more elective surgery with less subsequent morbidity.
Diabetic kidney disease: the kidney disease relevant to individuals with diabetes
Authors: Kanasaki Keizo , Ueki Kohjiro , Nangaku Masaomi
Published: July 2024

In individuals with diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major comorbidity. However, it appears that there is worldwide confusion regarding which term should be used to describe CKD complicated with diabetes: diabetic nephropathy, diabetic kidney disease (DKD), CKD with diabetes, diabetes and CKD, etc. Similar confusion has also been reported in Japan. Therefore, to provide clarification, the Japanese Diabetes Society and the Japanese Society of Nephrology collaborated to update the corresponding Japanese term to describe DKD and clearly define the concept of DKD. In this review, we briefly described the history of kidney complications in individuals with diabetes and the Japanese definition of the DKD concept and provided our rationale for these changes.
Adaptive choice of near-optimal expansion points for interpolation-based structure-preserving model reduction
Authors: Aumann Quirin , Werner Steffen W. R.
Published: July 2024

Interpolation-based methods are well-established and effective approaches for the efficient generation of accurate reduced-order surrogate models. Common challenges for such methods are the automatic selection of good or even optimal interpolation points and the appropriate size of the reduced-order model. An approach that addresses the first problem for linear, unstructured systems is the iterative rational Krylov algorithm (IRKA), which computes optimal interpolation points through iterative updates by solving linear eigenvalue problems. However, in the case of preserving internal system structures, optimal interpolation points are unknown, and heuristics based on nonlinear eigenvalue problems result in numbers of potential interpolation points that typically exceed the reasonable size of reduced-order systems. In our work, we propose a projection-based iterative interpolation method inspired by IRKA for generally structured systems to adaptively compute near-optimal interpolation points as well as an appropriate size for the reduced-order system. Additionally, the iterative updates of the interpolation points can be chosen such that the reduced-order model provides an accurate approximation in specified frequency ranges of interest. For such applications, our new approach outperforms the established methods in terms of accuracy and computational effort. We show this in numerical examples with different structures.
Blue rings in Bristlecone pine as a high resolution indicator of past cooling events
Authors: Siekacz Liliana , Pearson Charlotte , Salzer Matthew , Soja-Kukieła Natalia , Koprowski Marcin
Published: July 2024

This study develops the use of ‘blue rings’ (BR), reflecting incomplete cell wall lignification, as a sensitive thermal indicator in bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva D.K. Bailey). Using double-stained anatomical thin-sections, we explore the climatic and topographical constraints governing BR formation by developing a time-series from 83 cores and comparing BR occurrence with the full temporal span of available climatic data (1895–2008 CE). Lignification is temperature-dependent and continues at a cellular level post-radial growth completion. As BRs reflect incomplete lignification, they can serve as a higher resolution and more sensitive proxy for past cooling than previously established tree-growth indicators. Results indicate that blue ring formation is primarily induced by low September temperatures and responds more sensitively to cooling than the well-established frost-ring record. Additionally, the occurrence and intensity of blue rings decreases gradually below the upper tree line. Bristlecone pine BRs are demonstrated to have significant capacity to enhance the reconstruction of past cooling events in North America connected with both localized and hemispheric scale forcing over multi-millennial timescales. Given its unmatched longevity, the species offers an unparalleled potential for Holocene length climate reconstruction. Findings also highlight the potential for blue rings to provide a more nuanced understanding of past temperature fluctuations across multi-millennial timescales.
Has Mutual Recognition in the EU Failed?—A Legal-Empirical Analysis on the Example of Food Supplements Containing Botanicals and Other Bioactive Substances
Authors: Warda R. , Purnhagen K. , Molitorisová M.
Published: July 2024

The European Union lacks comprehensive legislation pertaining to food supplements containing botanical or bioactive substances other than nutrients, resulting in disparate regulatory frameworks among European Member States. Previous studies predominantly focused on the doctrinal analysis of these diverse regulations at both European and national levels, offering limited insights into their practical implementation by governing bodies. This research endeavours to scrutinize administrative practices governing legislation on food supplements featuring botanical or other bioactive constituents, which are subject to varying approaches across Member States. Employing a combination of doctrinal and empirical legal research methodologies, this approach involved a meticulous examination of the regulatory landscape governing food supplements at both EU and Member State levels. Simultaneously, an empirical investigation, conducted through expert interviews, aimed to elucidate whether discrepancies among national legal systems translate into discernible variations in the operational strategies of competent authorities. Additionally, this empirical inquiry shed light on the efficacy of specific EU directives aimed at harmonizing food supplement regulations at the national level. These findings delineate a fragmented regulatory environment for botanical and bioactive food supplements across Member States. Noteworthy disparities were observed not only in national legislative frameworks but also in the enforcement practices of regulatory authorities. Union-level governance efforts in particular by adopting a mutual recognition approach to mitigate fragmentation proved ineffective. Consequently, this research underscores an urgent imperative to expedite the harmonization of regulations governing botanicals and other bioactive substances present in food supplements across the European Union.
Factors that influence the criminal justice response to human trafficking: a systematic review of North American and European studies
Authors: Cooper Fallon Isabella , van Bemmel Sjoerd Robert , van der Leun Joanne Pauline , Kunst Maarten Jacob Johannes
Published: July 2024

Human trafficking, the recruitment and transportation of persons by use of force, coercion, or deception for exploitation is one of the largest illicit industries worldwide. In the execution of anti-trafficking policies to combat this phenomenon, nation-states have assigned a decisive role to criminal justice actors as they are not only responsible for the detection, investigation, and prosecution of perpetrators but also for the identification and (legal) protection of victims of human trafficking. However, research has shown that criminal justice actors encounter many challenges whilst carrying out their tasks, which is also reflected in the low numbers of successful prosecutions and identified victims. To our knowledge, the reasons behind this observation have never been studied systematically. This systematic review aims to collect and synthesise empirical literature on factors that influence the criminal justice response to human trafficking to better understand and identify gaps in knowledge. In total, 35 empirical studies were included. Findings were discussed in light of theory and previous research and were used to provide recommendations for policy and future research. These studies suggest that factors such as prevailing stereotypes, an absence of legal guidance and a lack of capacity and expertise interact and even amplify each other and that strengthening the criminal justice response to human trafficking requires a multi-layered approach that simultaneously addresses several challenges.
International higher education scholarships: a pathway for Palestinians’ academic recovery
Authors: Almassri Anas N.
Published: July 2024

Scholarships offer one significant pathway for higher education recovery and development in Global South contexts. Although some research exists to illustrate this significance, the case of Palestine remains virtually unresearched. This article is a first contribution to bridging this gap. It draws on qualitative data collected through interviews with and pre-existing documents from 32 Palestinian scholarship alumni and alumnae. Four experiential themes emerged through critical realist thematic analysis of this data. Two of these themes are reported in this article. First, the participants reflected a range of negative and positive motivations for pursuing their funded graduate education abroad: escaping limited opportunities in Palestine, actualizing potential, and serving Palestine. Second, they described experiencing a mix of exciting and challenging (re)adaptations while appreciating new approaches to the content and practice of their academic learning. Together with the identified participants’ demographic and academic backgrounds, these thematic findings extend global empirical evidence of the contribution of international scholarships to higher education access, recovery, and development. They also avail a useful and timely frame of reference to inform future research and practice of higher education scholarships for Palestinians.
Trivalent chromium versus baricitinib for rheumatoid arthritis treatment: first phase 2/3 randomized controlled trial, is trivalent chromium the upcoming immune-modulator?
Authors: Hassouna Sally S. , Abdel-Moniem Omneya Mohamed-Ayman
Published: July 2024

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a debilitating disease mainly treated by DMARDs. Baricitinib is one of the emerging DMARDs with strong anti-rheumatic effects but has serious side effects. Trivalent chromium (Cr III) is a natural element with anti-inflammatory properties. Trivalent chromium (Cr III) is introduced for the first time to study its effect and safety in treatment of RA patients and compared to those of baricitinib.

Methods

This is a phase 2/3 randomized controlled trial where RA patients were divided in a ratio of 2:1 according to the newly introduced medication either Cr (III) (group A) or baricitinib (group B). Patients attended three visits on day 0, after 3 weeks and 12 weeks, disease activity was scored. Hands ultrasound was done and reassessed. Side effects were monitored throughout the study.

Results

DAS28-CRP improved by 26.9% and 11.8% on third visit for Cr III and baricitinib, respectively (p = 0.001). DAS28-ESR improved by 25.6% and 7.74% on third visit for Cr III and baricitinib, respectively (p =  < 0.001). ACR 50 was 18.8% for Cr III and 5.7% for baricitinib on second visit. ACR 70 was 25% for Cr III and 0% for baricitinib on third visit (P =  < 0.001). Ultrasound GLOESS, SH, PDUS, joints effusions improved by 38.9%, 38.4%, 56.7% and 74.8% for Cr III, while by 10.5%, 3.75%, 59.6% and worsening of joints effusions happened with baricitinib on third visit. p = 0.022 and 0.002 between groups for GLOESS and SH improvement, respectively.

Conclusions

Cr III has shown very promising fast clinical and sonographic results in treating RA patients which were surprisingly superior to baricitinib in most aspects. Furthermore, Cr III is potentially safe with evidently fewer side effects than baricitinib and other DMARDs, however, long-term safety is still not established.

(IRB No.: 00012098- FWA No.: 00018699, Serial number: 040457) ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05545020.
Ultrasound pretreatment of third-generation biomass (invasive macroalga Rugulopteryx okamurae) to obtain platform biocommodities
Authors: León-Marcos Ludisbel , Fuente-Zapico Elsa , Romero-Vargas Agustín , Blandino Ana , Romero-García Luis Isidoro
Published: July 2024

Volatile fatty acids (VFA) and reducing sugars (RS) are widely used as platform molecules in biorefineries, facilitating the production of valuable biofuels and chemicals. From an environmental, economic and social perspective, third generation biomass, including macroalgae beach-cast, represents an innovative and optimal solution for the production of these commodities. This study explores the impact of ultrasound pretreatment on the invasive macroalga Rugulopteryx okamurae, aiming to produce RS and VFA through enzymatic hydrolysis and dark fermentation. Several ultrasound conditions were tested: amplitudes (0, 70-100 %), suspension volumes (300, 600 mL), and algal concentrations (4-8 %). Optimal results emerged with 100 % amplitude, 300 mL volume, and 4 % (w/v) algal concentration, leading to the maximum COD solubilization of 61.5 mg COD g-biomass-1. For enzymatic hydrolysis, the pretreated sample achieved maximum RS concentrations (0.124 g-RS g-biomass-1) with half the enzyme dosage required by the non-pretreated alga (25 vs 50 FPU g-biomass-1), implying significant economic benefits for large-scale processes. The kinetic model proposed by Romero-Vargas et al. aligned perfectly with the experimental data, obtaining higher values of all the kinetic parameters for the pretreated sample. Dark fermentation showed substantial increases in organic matter solubilization and VFA production (10.36 mg-HAc g-biomass-1) post ultrasound pretreatment: 21.1 % higher solubilization and 9.4 % increased VFA compared to non-pretreated biomass. The resulting VFA composition comprised 73 % acetic acid, 13 % propionic acid, and 8 % butyric acid. Utilization of chemical agents during sonication may further enhance overall processing yields.
Towards efficient AutoML: a pipeline synthesis approach leveraging pre-trained transformers for multimodal data
Authors: Moharil Ambarish , Vanschoren Joaquin , Singh Prabhant , Tamburri Damian
Published: July 2024

This paper introduces an Automated Machine Learning (AutoML) framework specifically designed to efficiently synthesize end-to-end multimodal machine learning pipelines. Traditional reliance on the computationally demanding Neural Architecture Search is minimized through the strategic integration of pre-trained transformer models. This innovative approach enables the effective unification of diverse data modalities into high-dimensional embeddings, streamlining the pipeline development process. We leverage an advanced Bayesian Optimization strategy, informed by meta-learning, to facilitate the warm-starting of the pipeline synthesis, thereby enhancing computational efficiency. Our methodology demonstrates its potential to create advanced and custom multimodal pipelines within limited computational resources. Extensive testing across 23 varied multimodal datasets indicates the promise and utility of our framework in diverse scenarios. The results contribute to the ongoing efforts in the AutoML field, suggesting new possibilities for efficiently handling complex multimodal data. This research represents a step towards developing more efficient and versatile tools in multimodal machine learning pipeline development, acknowledging the collaborative and ever-evolving nature of this field.
The changing mix of fossil fuels used and the related evolution of CO2 emissions
Authors: Hefner Matthew , Marland Gregg , Oda Tomohiro
Published: July 2024

To limit global climate change, ultimately it will be necessary to minimize the use of all fossil fuels for energy. Because the rate of CO2 emissions per unit of primary energy varies among the fossil fuels, it is useful to focus first on reducing the use of coal, the fuel with the most CO2 per unit of energy used. Although multiple factors are involved in the choice of which fuel will be used for a given purpose, data on CO2 emissions show that over the last 25 years there has been an evolution in the fraction of emissions away from coal and toward natural gas. That is, although total emissions have continued to increase globally, the fraction attributable to coal has been decreasing in many places. This is true for the global sum of emissions, for Annex I countries, and for all regions except Asia Pacific. The fraction of emissions from oil products has varied largely with growth in the contribution of petroleum transportation fuels. Focus on decreasing the sum of all fossil fuels is needed, especially among the major energy users in the Asia Pacific region, but progress in the decreasing relative use of coal is promising.
Benzimidazole scaffold as a potent anticancer agent with different mechanisms of action (2016–2023)
Authors: Hagar Fatma Fouad , Abbas Samar H. , Atef Eman , Abdelhamid Dalia , Abdel‐Aziz Mohamed
Published: July 2024

Benzimidazole scaffolds have potent anticancer activity due to their structure similarity to nucleoside. In addition, benzimidazoles could function as hydrogen donors or acceptors and bind to different drug targets that participate in cancer progression. The literature had many anticancer agents containing benzimidazole cores that gained much interest. Provoked by our endless interest in benzimidazoles as anticancer agents, we summarized the successful trials of the benzimidazole scaffolds in this concern. Moreover, we discuss the substantial opportunities in cancer treatment using benzimidazole-based drugs that may direct medicinal chemists for a compelling future design of more active chemotherapeutic agents with potential clinical applications. The uniqueness of this work lies in the highlighted benzimidazole scaffold hybridization with different molecules and benzimidazole-metal complexes, detailed mechanisms of action, and the IC50 of the developed compounds determined by different laboratories after 2015.
Examining the simulation-to-reality gap of a wheel loader digging in deformable terrain
Authors: Aoshima Koji , Servin Martin
Published: July 2024

We investigate how well a physics-based simulator can replicate a real wheel loader performing bucket filling in a pile of soil. The comparison is made using field-test time series of the vehicle motion and actuation forces, loaded mass, and total work. The vehicle was modeled as a rigid multibody system with frictional contacts, driveline, and linear actuators. For the soil, we tested discrete-element models of different resolutions, with and without multiscale acceleration. The spatiotemporal resolution ranged between 50–400 mm and 2–500 ms, and the computational speed was between 1/10,000 to 5 times faster than real time. The simulation-to-reality gap was found to be around 10% and exhibited a weak dependence on the level of fidelity, e.g., compatible with real-time simulation. Furthermore, the sensitivity of an optimized force-feedback controller under transfer between different simulation domains was investigated. The domain bias was observed to cause a performance reduction of 5% despite the domain gap being about 15%.
Estimating changes in distribution trend of alien birds in urban areas using citizen science data
Authors: Lourenço Rui , Godinho Carlos , Salgueiro Pedro A. , Silva Rui R. , Pereira Pedro F.
Published: July 2024

Urban ecosystems are suitable for the introduction and spread of alien bird species, and early detection of their establishment and expansion is crucial to reduce potential negative impacts. In this context, the use of opportunistic citizen science data can have considerable advantages in relation to conventional scientific approaches. We gathered records of parakeets and parrots (Psittaciformes) and mynas and starlings (Sturnidae) for the urban area of Lisbon (Portugal) from the eBird database. We used this opportunistic citizen science data to document the establishment and expansion and to estimate distribution trends of alien bird species in urban ecosystems. In the last decade there has been a considerable increase in the amount of opportunistic citizen science data available in eBird for our study area. The probability of presence of the Senegal parrot, rose-ringed parakeet, blue-crowned parakeet, and crested myna was positively influenced by the number of lists. For the rose-ringed parakeet, blue-crowned parakeet, and crested myna, the year positively influenced the probability of presence, suggesting an increase in distribution range. We observed that spatio-temporal variations in effort associated to opportunistic citizen science data sources may generate bias in trend estimates, and therefore we recommend the effort should always be accounted for. Our approach agreed with the documented expansion of alien bird species in the study area, supporting the potential usefulness of opportunistic citizen science in providing early detection on biological invasions in urban ecosystems, particularly where this is the best or the only source of information available.
Development of LC–MS/MS Method for the Simultaneous Detection of Emerging Contaminants in Aquatic Matrices
Authors: Ramadan Lama , Ozturk-Ufuk Irem , Yuksel Ebubekir , Topuz Emel
Published: July 2024

Emerging contaminants (ECs) are substances that have no defined environmental quality standards or regulations, and have the potential to pose major adverse impacts on the environment and human health. The detection of contaminants in the natural environment is the key step for establishing precise environmental risk assessment approach for ECs. However, ECs come from different origins with various physicochemical properties, making their detection a complicated process. Moreover, their presence in the aquatic environment at trace concentration range (ng/L-µg/L), requires an accurate detection at low concentration levels. This study aims to develop an efficient analytical method for simultaneous determination of 5 different ECs in aqueous solution based on solid phase extraction technique (SPE) followed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). High recovery rates (72% to 114%) were achieved for all targeted compounds. Ciprofloxacin (CIP), diuron (DIU), terbutryn (TER) and diclofenac (DIC) had a limit of detection (LOD) of 5 µg/L and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 10 ng/L, while LOD and LOQ for EE2 were 25 µg/L and 50 ng/L, respectively. These results confirm that the optimized method can be applied for extraction and analysis of ECs from different classes in the aquatic environment.
Unintended consequences of in-store technology for frontline employees: An empirics-first approach
Authors: Nanni Anastasia , Ordanini Andrea
Published: July 2024

This work illustrates a case in which the implementation of automated digital screens in an apparel retail store led to unintended side effects involving decreased customer spending. Using an empirics-first approach, researchers have investigated this topic through the conducting of field experiments, intercept surveys, and online experiments involving both consumers and frontline employees (FLEs). In this research, the unintended outcomes of technology implementation are first revealed, and then the potential reasons and boundary conditions underlying those outcomes are explored. The findings indicate that while automated digital screens increase customer convenience, they can also restrict the ability of FLEs to perform extrarole behavior. This restriction results in a negative shopping experience and reduced spending, particularly in settings in which FLE interaction is critical. The research also reveals that reintroducing extrarole behavior in the presence of technology can offset this negative effect. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are then discussed, and future research directions are proposed.
Genomic profiling of lymph node and distant metastases from papillary and poorly differentiated thyroid carcinomas
Authors: Máximo Valdemar , Melo Miguel , Sobrinho-Simões Manuel , Soares Paula , Da Cruz Paula Arnaud
Published: July 2024

Purpose

To perform a molecular profiling of the metastases from papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) and poorly differentiated thyroid carcinomas (PDTCs).

Methods

We retrieved and analyzed the molecular and clinical features of 136 metastases from PTCs and 35 metastases from PDTCs subjected to targeted DNA sequencing, from cBioPortal. The clinicopathological data included the number and location of the metastases, and genomic data included mutations, translocations, copy number alterations and fraction of the genome altered (FGA).

Results

Bone metastases from PTCs had a lower frequency of BRAF mutations than the lymph node metastases (LNMs) (43% vs 88%, p < 0.01), and a higher frequency of RBM10 and NRAS mutations than the LNMs (21% vs 3% for both, p < 0.05). The FGA of the bone metastases was higher than the FGA of the lung metastases (5.6% vs 1.3%, p < 0.05). The frequency of RET translocations was higher in the lung metastases from PTCs than the LNMs (15% vs 3%, p < 0.05). The LNMs from PTC patients harboring 4 or more distant metastases (DMs) had a higher frequency of TERT promoter mutations than the LNMs from patients harboring less than 4 DMs (96% vs 65%, p < 0.001). SDHA gene amplifications were enriched in the bone metastases from PDTCs and absent in the LNMs (38% vs 0%, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Metastases from PTCs and PDTCs harbor clinically relevant alterations affecting distinct body locations, such as NRAS and RBM10 mutations, RET translocations and SDHA amplifications that may be explored therapeutically.
Zeitschriften als Common Grounds früher Popkulturen
Authors: Lickhardt Maren
Published: July 2024

Der Artikel untersucht Strukturen in illustrierten Unterhaltungsmagazinen der Weimarer Republik, die dazu dienen, Leser:innen dauerhaft zu binden und die das Gefühl erzeugen, als Rezeptionsgemeinschaft einen Common Ground auszubilden. Ostentative Serialität, Mitmachangebote, die Suggestion einer gemeinsamen Bewertungskultur etc. sorgen für eine ästhetische Kopplung der Zeitschriften mit den Leser:innen und gefühlt auch unter den Leser:innen. Dasclose readingausgewählter Zeitschriftenausgaben basiert auf linguistischen und interaktionsanalytischen Grounding-Theorien.
Optimum design of a coaxial magnetic gear integrated with a permanent magnet synchronous generator of a wind turbine based on the pelican optimization algorithm
Authors: Kassab Yasser , Gouda Eid , Ghanem Abdelhady
Published: July 2024

This paper presents an optimum design of a coaxial magnetic gear (CMG) Integrated with a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator (PMSG) of a wind turbine using a pelican optimization algorithm (POA) launched in 2022. In order to evaluate the proposed system design based on POA, the well-known Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is implemented for the same CMG under the same conditions and constraints. Also, a Taguchi-method-based sensitivity analysis for the key design variables is employed to determine their impact on the system’s performance. The optimization process for the CMG design based on POA and PSO is executed based on the 2-D Finite element analysis (FEA) using the Finite Element Method Magnetics (FEMM) program. The results obtained from the POA and PSO are compared and analyzed. The results underline that the optimum design for the CMG/PMSG integrated system based on POA achieves more torque/weight ratio and then more generated power and currents as compared to PSO. It is concluded that the proposed design based on POA gives a superior and efficient design with substantial stability and rapid convergence.
Measurement and thermodynamic correlation of liquid–liquid equilibria of water + n-propanol + toluene at 20°C and atmospheric pressure
Authors: Hamamah Zaid Alkhier , Grützner Thomas
Published: July 2024

Although the system water + n-propanol + toluene is important for research and industry, its liquid–liquid equilibria LLE are scarcely covered in literature, with no thermodynamic modeling reported using typical equations of state or activity coefficient models. The current work addresses this gap by presenting the equilibria of the system at 20°C and atmospheric pressure. That includes the binodal curve and twelve tie lines covering the entire miscibility gap, whereby the compositions of the conjugate phases are determined using high-precision refractive index measurements. The quality of the data is verified by applying the techniques of conjugate lines and mass balances, whereas it is shown that empirical correlations cannot be used for that purpose. Three different methods to extrapolate the critical point are then employed and, using the more reliable one, that point is located and added to the dataset. Further thermodynamic correlation of the data is conducted using the activity coefficient models, UNIQUAC and NRTL. While the former did not perform well, the latter was able to model the LLE and adapt to temperature changes.
Development of gluten-free and gum-free rice bread: influence of ingredients, hydration and processing time on bread quality
Authors: González Luciana C. , Contigiani Eunice V. , Tolaba Marcela P.
Published: July 2024

Gluten-free and gum-free breads were developed, with the focus on the impact of raw materials (rice grain or flour) and processing conditions (pre-hydration and mixing time). The evaluation of bread quality primarily involved after the measurement of specific volume (BV), alveolar area (AA), and crumb hardness both before and storage. BV varied within 1.99–2.97 ml/g for rice bread and 2.14–2.26 ml/g for flour bread, with control (containing xanthan gum) values of 2.65 and 3.11 ml/g for rice and flour bread, respectively. An increase in AA was observed (rice: 0.5–1.9 mm2 and flour: 0.76–2.0 mm2) compared to controls with gum (rice: 0.36 and flour: 1.41 mm2). Pre-hydration of ingredients and reduced mixing time improved bread quality: volume of bread from hydrated rice and 4 min of mixing time was comparable to that of gum control. Although the aging process, measured by hardness, was faster than in gum-containing bread, process conditions were identified that delayed aging. This information is essential and valuable for future research.
Unveiling the Emotional Dynamics of Sports
Authors: Fritsch Julian
Published: July 2024

Abstract: The variety of visible behaviors after winning or losing in sports reveals a lot about the psychological challenges players face during a sport competition. In this article, grounded in appraisal emotion approaches, self-regulation theory, as well as the biocultural framework of nonverbal behavior, I present findings on (a) how these affective expressive behaviors can partially be explained (i. e., their antecedents) and (b) how they might influence sport performance (i. e., their consequences). Regarding their antecedents, situational factors related to the importance of the situation, the outcome of the point, as well as players’ self-talk have been shown to be associated with these behaviors. While players report various performance-related inter- and intrapersonal consequences, the findings on associations with objective performance indicators show some inconsistency. Several directions for future research are subsequently discussed that may help improve the understanding of affective expressive behaviors in sport.
Inner Sustainability in Sports: Promoting Internal Transformative Qualities in Athletes
Authors: Jansen Petra
Published: July 2024

Abstract: Sport and physical activity are crucial for social transformations, such as sustainable transformation. Drawing on evidence from positive and environmental psychology, this paper argues, within the context of sports, that the inner transformative qualities of athletes, the so-called inner sustainability, are crucial factors for the transition to a higher level of sustainable behavior. Evidence is presented that inner sustainability is connected to well-being and is a significant driver of sustainable behavior. This paper presents a road map for researchers investigating the internal transformative qualities in sports. Furthermore, examples of exercises to foster inner sustainability in sports are given. Given that sports often mirror sociopolitical dynamics, advocating for the enhancement of internal transformative qualities in sports becomes a pursuit of individual well-being and a conscientious effort toward the well-being of the entire ecosystem.
Projecting Surface Water Area Under Different Climate and Development Scenarios
Authors: Gaines Mollie D. , Tulbure Mirela G. , Perin Vinicius , Composto Rebecca , Tiwari Varun
Published: July 2024

Changes in climate and land‐use/land‐cover will impact surface water dynamics throughout the 21st century and influence global surface water availability. However, most projections of surface water dynamics focus on climate drivers using local‐scale hydrological models, with few studies accounting for climate and human drivers such as land‐use/land‐cover change. We used a data‐driven, machine learning model to project seasonal surface water areas (SWAs) in the southeastern U.S. from 2006 to 2099 that combined land‐cover and climate projections under eight different development and emissions scenarios. The model was fitted with historic Landsat imagery, land‐use/land‐cover, and climate observation data (mean squared error 0.14). We assessed the change in SWA for each scenario, and we compared the surface water projections from our data‐driven model and a process‐based model. We found that the scenario with the largest forest‐dominated land cover loss and most extreme climate change had watersheds with the greatest projected increases (in the South Atlantic Gulf) and decreases (in the Lower Mississippi) in SWA. When compared to the increase or decrease in surface water projected by the process‐based model, most of the watersheds across scenarios agreed on the direction of change. Our findings highlight the importance of forest‐dominated land cover in maintaining stable surface water availability throughout the 21st century, which can inform land‐use management policies for adaptation and water‐stress mitigation as well as strategies to prepare for future flood and drought events.
Mantle Upwelling May Have Triggered Morocco Earthquake
Authors: Owen Rebecca
Published: July 2024

Researchers glean new information about the deep origins of a deadly event.
Prediction of Distributed River Sediment Respiration Rates Using Community‐Generated Data and Machine Learning
Authors: Gary Stefan F. , Scheibe Timothy D. , Rexer Em , Torreira Alvaro Vidal , Garayburu‐Caruso Vanessa A. , Goldman Amy , Stegen James C.
Published: July 2024

River sediment microbial respiration is a key indicator of ecosystem functioning and the biogeochemical fluxes across this critical zone link surface and subsurface waters. As such, there is tremendous interest in measuring and mapping these respiration rates. Respiration observations are expensive and labor intensive; there is limited data available to the community. An open science, collaborative initiative is collecting samples for respiration rate analysis and multi‐scale metadata; this evolving data set is being used for making machine learning (ML) predictions at unsampled sites to help inform continued community engagement. However, it is a challenge to find an optimum configuration for ML models to work with this feature‐rich (i.e., 100+ possible input variables) data set. Here, we present results from a two‐tiered approach to managing the analysis of this complex data set: (a) a stacked ensemble of models that automatically optimizes hyperparameters and manages the training of many models and (b) feature permutation importance to detect the most important features in the models. The major elements of this workflow are modular, portable, open, and cloud‐based thus making this implementation a potential template for other applications. The models developed here predict that sediment organic matter chemistry is one of the most important features for predicting sediment respiration rate. Other larger‐scale, important features fall into the categories of climatic, ecological, geological, and fluvial settings. Leveraging these larger‐scale features to generate data‐driven estimates of river sediment respiration rates reveals spatially consistent but heterogeneous patterns across the river network of the Columbia River Basin.
Maternal, neonatal, and nutritional risk factors for medical and surgical necrotizing enterocolitis
Authors: Essex Clare , Hegedus Clifford , Vincent Katherine , Shiflett Alanna , Rohrer Allison , Chetta Katherine E.
Published: July 2024

Objective

To identify maternal and neonatal risk factors associated with progression to surgery or death after diagnosis of NEC.

Study design

Forty-seven demographic and clinical factors were evaluated across 216 validated cases of NEC occurring between 2010–2020. Nutrition at NEC onset was evaluated in 149 cases. The binary outcome of surgical NEC (progressing to surgery or death) vs. medical NEC (resolved with antibiotic/bowel rest) was compared across variables.

Results

Elevated CRP, rapidly decreasing platelet counts, inotropic medication, intubation, and positive blood cultures within 24 h of diagnosis were associated with progression to surgery/death. Infants with surgical NEC had higher abdominal circumferences at birth. Maternal milk intake and receipt of human milk fortifiers were associated with medical NEC, and infants receiving fortified, maternal milk showed the lowest progression to surgery/death.

Conclusion

The index of suspicion should be heightened for surgical NEC when these risk factors are present.