bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Closing the supply-side gap: using a novel vulnerability index to identify the right policy mix for coal producing countries
Authors: Yanguas Parra Paola Andrea
Published: April 2024

Rapid coal phaseout is a key measure to reach the 1.5 °C warming target. With projected global coal demand declining faster than global supply, a poorly anticipated and planned transition in coal producing countries would have huge local and national economic and social impacts. Identifying the vulnerabilities of specific coal producing countries and regions to this transition is important for designing appropriate policies to manage its potential local and national impacts. For this purpose, the novel Coal Transitions Vulnerability Index (COTRAVI) is developed, composed by 12 key “transition risk” and “ability to cope” indicators, for the 10 largest coal producing countries. In addition to indicators included in previous transition risks analyses such as energy and economic dependency, coal reserves, and age of coal assets, the COTRAVI includes indicators to account for the likely speed of the transition (based on simulations from the COALMOD World model), the exposure and resilience of coal producing regions, the national economic resilience, and the transition policies in place. This provides a more holistic approach to identifying and comparing the challenges of producing countries. The results show the high importance of Just Transition plans in increasing the ability to cope with the transition, as well as the need for more structural changes and targeted policy efforts in highly vulnerable countries and heavily coal-dependent regions. The COTRAVI analysis also identifies two relevant roadblocks for a globally just coal transition: high cost of capital and stranded assets risk in the coal producing countries.
Experience of an anatomic femoral stem in a UK orthopaedic centre beyond 20 years of follow-up
Authors: Turnbull G. , Blacklock C. , Akhtar A. , Dunstan E. , Ballantyne J. A.
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Increasing interest in the use of anatomical stems has developed as the prevalence of periprosthetic fractures (PPFs) continues to increase. The primary aim of this study was to determine the long-term survivorship and PPF rate of an anatomical femoral stem in a single UK centre.

Patients and methods

Between 2000 and 2002, 94 consecutive THAs were performed using the 170 mm Lubinus SP II anatomical femoral stem in our institution. Patient demographics, operative details and clinical outcomes were collected prospectively in an arthroplasty database. Patient records and national radiographic archives were reviewed finally at a mean of 21.5 years (SD 0.7) following surgery to identify occurrence of subsequent revision surgery, dislocation or periprosthetic fracture.

Results

Mean patient age at surgery was 65.8 years (SD 12.5, 34–88 years). There were 48 women (51%). Osteoarthritis was the operative indication in 88 patients (94%). Analysis of all-cause THA failure demonstrated a survivorship of 98.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 98.0–99.3%) at 10 years and 96.7% (94.5–98.9%) at 21 years. The 20-year stem survival for aseptic loosening was 100% with no cases of significant lysis found (lucent line > 2 mm) and no stems required revision. Patient demographics did not appear to influence risk of revision (p > 0.05). There were 2 revisions in total (2 for acetabular loosening with original stems retained). There were no PPFs identified at mean 21.5 year follow-up and 5 dislocations (5%).

Conclusions

The Lubinus SP II 170 mm stem demonstrated excellent survivorship and negligible PPF rates over 20 years following primary THA.
Klimawandel und psychische Gesundheit
Authors: Tretter Felix , Göd Julia , Löffler-Stastka Henriette
Published: April 2024

Die ökologische Wende der Gesellschaft hat nicht nur die Medizin, sondern auch die Psychiatrie erfasst. So hat der Aufruf der DGPPN (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik und Nervenheilkunde) zu einer „Ökologischen Psychiatrie“ nicht nur fachexterne, sondern auch fachintern viele Gründe: Extremwetterereignisse wirken sich direkt auf das gehäufte Auftreten psychischer Erkrankungen aus. Die Solastalgie, die Trauer um verlorenen Lebensraum und Klimaangst, beschreibt neue psychische Syndrome angesichts der existenziellen Bedrohung durch die Klimakrise. Indirekte Folgen des Klimawandels wie Nahrungsmittelknappheit, ökonomische Krisen und ungewollte Migration stellen zusätzliche psychische Risiko- und Belastungsfaktoren dar. Eine nachhaltige Psychiatrie muss sich dementsprechend auf einen steigenden und veränderten Bedarf einstellen. Psychiatrische Behandlungskonzepte müssen die Prävention stärker in den Fokus rücken, um das Versorgungssystem aufrechterhalten zu können.

Diese Initiative bedarf einiger Grundüberlegungen, um eine fundierte Aktivität zu ermöglichen. Dabei sind mehrere begriffliche und methodologische Überlegungen anzustellen, die zu einem praxisrelevanten und profunden Verständnis führen sollen, denn die zersplitterte Welterfahrung muss durch ein konsistentes Bild vom Ist und Soll der Welt ersetzt werden, um Kognitionen und Affekte vor allem bei vulnerablen Subjekten zu harmonisieren.
Simultaneous biosorption of acid violet and reactive yellow dyes by Cladosporium cladosporioides
Authors: Keskin Can Serkan , Keskin Semra Yılmazer , Topcu Mehmet Can
Published: April 2024

The synthetic dye mixture of Acid Violet 90 and Reactive Yellow 145 was treated with dead Cladosporium cladosporioides biomass. The individual concentrations were calculated with the first-order derivative spectrophotometric method. The calibration curves were plotted at wavelengths of 578.4 nm and 318.2 nm in the derivative spectrum for Acid Violet 90 and Reactive Yellow 145, respectively. The calculated limit of quantitation value is ~ 2.5 mg/L for Acid Violet 90 and ~ 1.5 mg/L for Reactive Yellow 145. The achieved mean recovery percentage values are around 100%. The highest removal efficiency (100%) was obtained for both dyes at pH 4 using 0.25 g biomass and 50 mg/L of each dye in 60 min reaction time with 150 rpm shaking speed. The hydrochloric acid solution was used for biomass regeneration, and the removal efficiencies remained at 99% and 89% for Acid Violet 90 and Reactive Yellow 145 in the third cycle.

Graphical abstract
Investigation of long non-coding RNAs in extracellular vesicles from low-volume blood serum specimens of colorectal cancer patients
Authors: Boudna Marie , Machackova Tana , Vychytilova-Faltejskova Petra , Trachtova Karolina , Bartosova Renata , Catela Ivkovic Tina , Al Tukmachi Dagmar , Jugas Robin , Pifkova Lucie , Orlickova Jana , Kotoucek Jan , Pavlikova Marketa , Sachlova Milana , Bohovicova Lucia , Stanek Teodor , Halamkova Jana , Kiss Igor , Grolich Tomas , Svoboda Martin , Kala Zdenek , Souckova Kamila , Slaby Ondrej
Published: April 2024

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most prevalent cancer type worldwide, which highlights the urgent need for non-invasive biomarkers for its early detection and improved prognosis. We aimed to investigate the patterns of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) collected from low-volume blood serum specimens of CRC patients, focusing on their potential as diagnostic biomarkers. Our research comprised two phases: an initial exploratory phase involving RNA sequencing of sEVs from 76 CRC patients and 29 healthy controls, and a subsequent validation phase with a larger cohort of 159 CRC patients and 138 healthy controls. Techniques such as dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and Western blotting were utilized for sEV characterization. Optimized protocol for sEV purification, RNA isolation and preamplification was applied to successfully sequence the RNA content of sEVs and validate the results by RT-qPCR. We successfully isolated sEVs from blood serum and prepared sequencing libraries from a low amount of RNA. High-throughput sequencing identified differential levels of 460 transcripts between CRC patients and healthy controls, including mRNAs, lncRNAs, and pseudogenes, with approximately 20% being lncRNAs, highlighting several tumor-specific lncRNAs that have not been associated with CRC development and progression. The validation phase confirmed the upregulation of three lncRNAs (NALT1, AL096828, and LINC01637) in blood serum of CRC patients. This study not only identified lncRNA profiles in a population of sEVs from low-volume blood serum specimens of CRC patients but also highlights the value of innovative techniques in biomolecular research, particularly for the detection and analysis of low-abundance biomolecules in clinical samples. The identification of specific lncRNAs associated with CRC provides a foundation for future research into their functional roles in cancer development and potential clinical applications.
Endogeneity in stochastic frontier models with 'wrong' skewness: copula approach without external instruments
Authors: Haschka Rouven E.
Published: April 2024

Stochastic frontier models commonly assume positive skewness for the inefficiency term. However, when this assumption is violated, efficiency scores converge to unity. The potential endogeneity of model regressors introduces another empirical challenge, impeding the identification of causal relationships. This paper tackles these issues by employing an instrument-free estimation method that extends joint estimation through copulas to handle endogenous regressors and skewness issues. The method relies on the Gaussian copula function to capture dependence between endogenous regressors and composite errors with a simultaneous consideration of positively or negatively skewed inefficiency. Model parameters are estimated through maximum likelihood, and Monte Carlo simulations are employed to evaluate the performance of the proposed estimation procedures in finite samples. This research contributes to the stochastic frontier models and production economics literature by presenting a flexible and parsimonious method capable of addressing wrong skewness of inefficiency and endogenous regressors simultaneously. The applicability of the method is demonstrated through an empirical example.
Simultaneous Analysis of Formaldehyde and Methanol Emissions During Curing Reactions of Polyester-melamine Coatings
Authors: Rippatha Elias , Schwarzinger Clemens
Published: April 2024

This paper introduces a new derivatization agent for the simultaneous quantification of formaldehyde and methanol during curing reactions of complex organic coatings. Formaldehyde emitted from a polyester-melamine coating is derivatized in a gas phase reaction with unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) to form formaldehyde dimethylhydrazone (FDMH). UDMH and FDMH tend to degrade at temperatures above 200 °C rather fast. The applicability of derivatization agent and analyte as well as their degradation products are therefore discussed thoroughly. In this method curing temperatures of 150 °C with incubation times between 0.1 and 60 min are used to trigger crosslinking reactions. The emissions of formaldehyde and methanol are continuously quantified with headspace gas chromatography to obtain an emission trend. While one of the main sources of formaldehyde is the demethylolation during crosslinking, methanol is produced via hexamethoxymethylmelamine (HMMM) deetherification and as a condensation byproduct. The emission monitoring shows a high potential for comparative and mechanistic investigations. Results show good repeatability with low standard deviations (< 7%) with a quantification limit of 2.09 µg for formaldehyde and 2.08 µg for methanol.
Quota Consolidation in Norwegian Coastal Fisheries
Authors: Abe Keita , Nøstbakken Linda , Wold Mads Fjeld
Published: April 2024

Balancing the trade-off between economic efficiency and social objectives has been a challenge for natural resource managers under rights-based management. While the actual prioritization should be guided by social preferences, the mechanisms and consequences of the quota transfer system need to be well understood. We investigate the effects of the quota transfer scheme implemented in the Norwegian coastal cod fishery in 2004. This is a small-scale fishery that has traditionally been important for employment in the northern part of Norway. Using vessel-level quota registry data, we estimate the effect of quota trading on vessel exit using a difference-in-differences approach that exploits variation in implementation timing between regulatory groups. In addition, we describe the outcome of quota consolidation with descriptive statistics. Our results confirm that the quota transfer scheme accelerates the exit of vessels from the fishery by at least 5% points in the short run. The descriptive analysis reveals great heterogeneity in both the size and geographic location of exiting vessels, suggesting that the scheme has distributional impacts. While the policy change has the expected effects in the short run, our results suggest that the implications of consolidation last longer. This has implications for policymakers trying to balance economic efficiency and social objectives of rational fishery management.
Measuring Paranoid Beliefs in Adolescents: A Comparison of the Revised-Green et al.’s Paranoid Thoughts Scale (R-GPTS) and the Bird Checklist of Adolescent Paranoia (B-CAP)
Authors: Schlier B. , Ellett L. , Thompson E. , Gaudiano B. , Krkovic K. , Kingston J. L.
Published: April 2024

Research on paranoid beliefs in adolescents is in its infancy. Valid and reliable assessments are essential to advancing the field, yet there is no current consensus as to which are optimal to use in this population. This study compared the psychometric properties of two measures of paranoia in a general population adolescent sample. A cross-sectional study with quota sampling (gender and age) recruited adolescents (14–17 years) from the UK (n = 262) and USA (n = 200), who completed the Revised Green et al. Paranoid Thoughts Scale (R-GPTS) and the Bird Checklist for Adolescent Paranoia (B-CAP). We assessed factor structures, intercorrelations, overlap of participants identified as at-risk for paranoid thoughts via both scales, convergent validity (scales with one another) and discriminant validity (distress, wellbeing, bullying and discrimination). Both scales performed equally well in terms of factorial validity. Intercorrelations between the subscales and with general distress were high for both measures. However, a substantial percentage of participants were identified as having paranoid beliefs according to the R-GPTS but not the B-CAP. Furthermore, the B-CAP showed a very high correlations (0.69 ≤ r ≤ 0.79) with self-reported bullying experiences, which bordered on multicollinearity. Findings highlight the possibility that B-CAP may risk confounding paranoid beliefs with exposure to bullying more so than R-GPTS, and that B-CAP may miss instances of elevated paranoia that are captured by the R-GPTS. Future research needs to further explore this by validating both scales with an external (e.g., interview-based) criterion for paranoia.
K-12 Life Skills Education, Independence, and Employment of Autistic Individuals: Giving Voice to Autistic Adults
Authors: Zatz Jenna Christine , Harrison Judith R.
Published: April 2024

Autistic adults are often challenged to engage in and complete life skill tasks independently and are underrepresented in employment. No prior study has explored the perceptions of autistic individuals regarding K-12 life skills experiences and postsecondary employment. As such, the purposes of this study were to explore the association between components of life skills instruction and employment for 12 autistic individuals, and to elicit the perspectives of and experiences in K-12 education and employment of six autistic adults. As this was a mixed methods study, surveys and semi-structured interviews were conducted. Results of Fisher’s test indicated no statistically significant associations between employment and instructional components; however, the associations between employment and household chores [Cramer’s V = .60]; cooking [Cramer’s V = .66]; one-on-one instruction [Cramer’s V = .63]; and field trips [Cramer’s V = .41]) were large. The associations between employment and job site training [Cramer’s V = .33] and token boards [Cramer’s V = .33]) were moderate. Three themes and 10 subthemes emerged. Specifically, participants remembered Memorable Components from K-12 instruction: (a) job site training, (b) field trips, and (c) household chores. Participants perceived Beneficial Practices as: (a) job site training and (b) skills learned. Participants described shortcomings of K-12 instruction as need (a) for more skills training, (c) for social skills training, (d) to eliminate unnecessary instruction and (e) to carefully consider student placement. In conclusion, participants described experiences that helped them gain and attain post-secondary employment. More specific individualized programming in K-12 instruction would be beneficial to develop independence and post-secondary employment.
Responses of Five Different Artificial Intelligence Chatbots to the Top Searched Queries About Erectile Dysfunction: A Comparative Analysis
Authors: Şahin Mehmet Fatih , Ateş Hüseyin , Keleş Anıl , Özcan Rıdvan , Doğan Çağrı , Akgül Murat , Yazıcı Cenk Murat
Published: April 2024

The aim of the study is to evaluate and compare the quality and readability of responses generated by five different artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots—ChatGPT, Bard, Bing, Ernie, and Copilot—to the top searched queries of erectile dysfunction (ED). Google Trends was used to identify ED-related relevant phrases. Each AI chatbot received a specific sequence of 25 frequently searched terms as input. Responses were evaluated using DISCERN, Ensuring Quality Information for Patients (EQIP), and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) and Reading Ease (FKRE) metrics. The top three most frequently searched phrases were “erectile dysfunction cause”, “how to erectile dysfunction,” and “erectile dysfunction treatment.” Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Ghana exhibited the highest level of interest in ED. None of the AI chatbots achieved the necessary degree of readability. However, Bard exhibited significantly higher FKRE and FKGL ratings (p = 0.001), and Copilot achieved better EQIP and DISCERN ratings than the other chatbots (p = 0.001). Bard exhibited the simplest linguistic framework and posed the least challenge in terms of readability and comprehension, and Copilot’s text quality on ED was superior to the other chatbots. As new chatbots are introduced, their understandability and text quality increase, providing better guidance to patients.
Barriers to and Facilitators for Finding and Keeping Competitive Employment: A Focus Group Study on Autistic Adults With and Without Paid Employment
Authors: Brouwers Evelien P. M. , Bergijk Michel , van Weeghel Jaap , Detaille Sarah , Kerkhof Hanneke , Dewinter Jeroen
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The aim of the study was to gain more insight into barriers to and facilitators for finding and keeping competitive employment for autistic adults. Research questions were: (1) What barriers and facilitators do autistic adults report in finding and keeping competitive employment?; and (2) What are differences and similarities between autistic adults with and without paid employment regarding barriers and facilitators for sustainable employment?

Methods

Eight focus groups were conducted (N = 64 autistic adults). Four groups included only participants without paid employment (N = 24), and four groups consisted exclusively of participants with current paid employment (including part-time, N = 40). All discussions were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim to enable inductive thematic content analysis. Data were analyzed using ATLAS.ti 9.

Results

Ten themes and thirty-four subthemes were found. Many were interconnected. Themes facilitating sustainable employment included a positive workplace atmosphere, a supportive supervisor, being able to do work that aligns with interests and talents, favorable physical working conditions, coaching, higher self-insight, higher self-esteem, and proactivity. Most themes and subthemes emerged from both groups. Differences between the groups were that those with paid employment seemed to have experienced more friendly workplaces and supervisors, had received better coaching in finding and keeping employment, had higher self-insight and higher self-esteem, were more assertive and proactive.

Conclusions

As many (sub-)themes were interrelated, the results suggest that to improve work participation, particularly two key areas are promising: (1) to realize more friendly, well-being oriented and inclusive workplaces, and (2) to increase autistic adults’ self-insight into personal needs for positive wellbeing and self-knowledge regarding talents, wishes and well-being boundaries.
Obstacle Problems with Double Boundary Condition for Least Gradient Functions in Metric Measure Spaces
Authors: Kline Josh
Published: April 2024

In the setting of a metric space equipped with a doubling measure supporting a (1, 1)-Poincaré inequality, we study the problem of minimizing the BV-energy in a bounded domain

$$\Omega $$

Ω

of functions bounded between two obstacle functions inside

$$\Omega $$

Ω

, and whose trace lies between two prescribed functions on the boundary. If the class of candidate functions is nonempty, we show that solutions exist for continuous obstacles and continuous boundary data when

$$\Omega $$

Ω

is a uniform domain whose boundary is of positive mean curvature in the sense of Lahti, Malý, Shanmugalingam, and Speight (2019). While such solutions are not unique in general, we show the existence of unique minimal solutions. Since candidate functions need not agree outside of the domain, standard compactness arguments fail to provide existence of weak solutions as they are defined for the problem with single boundary condition. To overcome this, we introduce a class of

$$ \varepsilon $$

ε

-weak solutions as an intermediate step. Our existence results generalize those of Ziemer and Zumbrun (1999), who studied this problem in the Euclidean setting with a single obstacle and single boundary condition.
Effects of immigration on native entrepreneurship in the US: an analysis of self-employment over 1980–2018
Authors: Unel Bulent
Published: April 2024

This paper examines the causal impact of immigration on entrepreneurship among US-born non-Hispanic whites in non-agricultural private sectors from 1980 to 2018. Using self-employment as a proxy for entrepreneurship and distinguishing between incorporated individuals and unincorporated self-employed workers, I find a sizable negative impact of immigration on native self-employment. Importantly, this effect is consistent across incorporated and unincorporated self-employment and remains robust across demographic groups based on gender, age, and education. Results are robust to the choice of controls and estimation methods.
Belowground exploration by trees and shrubs
Authors: Putz Francis E. , Canham Charles D. , Ollinger Scott V.
Published: April 2024

Unlike trees, shrubs (i.e., multiple-stemmed woody plants) do not need evenly spaced large diameter structural roots and therefore should be more responsive to heterogeneous distributions of soil resources and spread further per unit belowground biomass. We therefore hypothesized that compared to trees, shrubs respond more to asymmetric distributions of nutrients, reach nutrient-rich patches of soil faster, and do so with less below-ground biomass. To test these three hypotheses, we planted individual seedlings of shrubs (Cornus racemosa, Rhus glabra, and Viburnum dentatum) and trees (Acer rubrum, Betula populifolia, and Fraxinus americana) in the centers of sand-filled rectangular boxes. In one direction we created a stepwise gradient of increasing nutrients with slow-release fertilizer; in the other direction, no fertilizer was added. Seedlings were harvested when their first root reached the plexiglass-covered fertilized end of their box; time taken, above-ground biomass, and below-ground biomass per nutrient segment were determined. Shrubs and trees did not consistently differ in precision of root foraging (i.e., the ratio of biomass in the fertilized and unfertilized soil) or in rates (g/day) and efficiencies (cm/day) of lateral root growth. Interspecific variation appeared more related to species’ habitats than to growth form. The fastest and most efficient roots were produced by the shrub (R. glabra) and the tree (B. populifolia), both characteristic of poor and heterogeneous soils. Root foraging by R. glabra was also facilitated by rapid rhizomatous expansion.
Sociocognitive and Argumentation Perspectives on Psychometric Modeling in Educational Assessment
Authors: Mislevy Robert J.
Published: April 2024

Rapid advances in psychology and technology open opportunities and present challenges beyond familiar forms of educational assessment and measurement. Viewing assessment through the perspectives of complex adaptive sociocognitive systems and argumentation helps us extend the concepts and methods of educational measurement to new forms of assessment, such as those involving interaction in simulation environments and automated evaluation of performances. I summarize key ideas for doing so and point to the roles of measurement models and their relation to sociocognitive systems and assessment arguments. A game-based learning assessment SimCityEDU: Pollution Challenge! is used to illustrate ideas.
Natural magnetite as an effective and long-lasting catalyst for CWPO of azole pesticides in a continuous up-flow fixed-bed reactor
Authors: Lopez-Arago Neus , Munoz Macarena , de Pedro Zahara M. , Casas Jose A.
Published: April 2024

The global occurrence of micropollutants in water bodies has raised concerns about potential negative effects on aquatic ecosystems and human health. EU regulations to mitigate such widespread pollution have already been implemented and are expected to become increasingly stringent in the next few years. Catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) has proved to be a promising alternative for micropollutant removal from water, but most studies were performed in batch mode, often involving complex, expensive, and hardly recoverable catalysts, that are prone to deactivation. This work aims to demonstrate the feasibility of a fixed-bed reactor (FBR) packed with natural magnetite powder for the removal of a representative mixture of azole pesticides, recently listed in the EU Watch Lists. The performance of the system was evaluated by analyzing the impact of H2O2 dose (3.6–13.4 mg L−1), magnetite load (2–8 g), inlet flow rate (0.25–1 mL min−1), and initial micropollutant concentration (100–1000 µg L−1) over 300 h of continuous operation. Azole pesticide conversion values above 80% were achieved under selected operating conditions (WFe3O4 = 8 g, [H2O2]0 = 6.7 mg L−1, flow rate = 0.5 mL min−1, pH0 = 5, T = 25 °C). Notably, the catalytic system showed a high stability upon 500 h in operation, with limited iron leaching (< 0.1 mg L−1). As a proof of concept, the feasibility of the system was confirmed using a real wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent spiked with the mixture of azole pesticides. These results represent a clear advance for the application of CWPO as a tertiary treatment in WWTPs and open the door for the scale-up of FBR packed with natural magnetite.
The behavioural effect of short-term cognitive and physical intervention therapies in old dogs
Authors: Bognár Zsófia , Szabó Dóra , Turcsán Borbála , Kubinyi Enikő
Published: April 2024

Efforts to counteract age-related decline have resulted in the emergence of various interventions. However, everyday benefits are rarely reported in elderly people. Dogs provide an excellent model for studying aging and interventions due to their similarities to humans. Our aim was to investigate whether a combined physical and cognitive intervention (most effective in humans) could enhance the performance of pet dogs and lead to far transfer effects (improvement in not just the trained specific task). We examined the impact of three-month-long intervention therapies (cognitive, physical, combined) on the cognitive performance and behaviour of old, healthy dogs (N = 72; aged 7.68–14.54 years) using a 12-subtest behavioural test battery. We did not find the combined intervention group outperforming either the cognitive-only or physical-only therapy groups. Physical interventions, either alone or in combination, improved dogs' behavioural flexibility and social behaviour. Cognitive interventions, either alone or in combination, increased neophilia. Furthermore, all intervention therapies made dogs more engaged with their environment. Moreover, less old, around eight years old dogs, exhibited improved social behaviour, problem solving ability, and increased neophilia by their second test occasion. Additionally, dogs' performance was influenced by their health, training, daily play with the owner, and activity/excitability traits. In sum, both cognitive and physical intervention therapies can have an impact on the behaviour of old, healthy pet dogs. However, these therapies may be more effective when longer or applied at a younger age, as the healthy older dogs were less likely to show improvement.
Inference of fracturing zones and degrees of fluid content in the Las Tres Virgenes volcanic complex based on an analysis of seismic anisotropy
Authors: Chacón-Hernández Francisco , Campos-Enríquez Jose Oscar , Zúñiga Francisco Ramón , Lermo-Samaniego Javier
Published: April 2024

Anisotropy strength in the Tres Vírgenes Volcanic Complex, Baja California Sur, Mexico, is analyzed employing 558 seismic events collected from 2009 to 2013. It was possible to delineate zones and volumes with the highest fracture densities, which are mainly located between the El Viejo and El Azufre volcanoes and around the La Reforma–El Azufre fault system, near some other mapped faults in the area (e.g., El Azufre, El Partido, El Volcán, El Viejo 1, and El Viejo 2 faults); likewise toward the La Virgen volcano and around the La Virgen-El Campamento and El Volcán faults. Individual delay times reached values of up to 0.16 s and an anisotropy percentage of up to 10.3%, with a pervasive anisotropy observed from at least a hypocentral distance of 3.5 km. High fracturing levels are observed from a depth of 7.0 km. Differences between splitting delays and the dominant frequency peaks obtained from the fast S phases allowed considering fracture systems with different degrees of fluid contents. Fractures with minor fluid contents were assumed for delay times higher than 0.03 s with lower dominant frequency peaks (< 1.0 Hz). Higher concentrations of fluid inclusions were assumed for splitting delays higher than 0.03 s but with larger dominant frequency peaks (> 1.0 Hz). Fractures systems chemically sealed or impermeable sealing caps were assumed for low splitting delays (< 0.02 s) with low dominant frequencies (< 1.0 Hz). These different fracture systems seem to be observed at least from 5- to 6-km depth intervals. Likewise, an analysis of the fast polarization directions with respect to different depth ranges (spanning from 3.0 to 8.0 km) has allowed observations of a strong NW–SE regional fracture system accompanied by minor NE–SW fracture systems. However, noteworthy variations from NW–SE to NE–SW, N–S, and E–W in fast polarization directions in rose diagrams have been preferentially observed for those seismic events deeper than 4–5 and 5–6 km in some areas, which could be indicating the location of magmatic bodies that probably caused the reorientation on fracture systems by changes in the local stress field. These magmatic bodies might be supported by a decrease in the dominant frequency peaks (lower than 1.0 Hz), percentage of anisotropy (from 0.1 to 2.5%), and S-wave velocities (from 1.0 to 2.7 km/s), which seem to be located from the 4.0-km depth but more concentrated from the 5–6-km depth interval.
Significance of definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy for vulvar cancer: a Japanese Gynecologic Oncology Group nationwide survey study
Authors: Okonogi Noriyuki , Tsuchida Keisuke , Ando Ken , Ohno Tatsuya , Fujiwara Hiroyuki , Yoshihara Kosuke , Aoki Takuya , Takano Hirokuni , Takekuma Munetaka , Okamoto Aikou , Nishio Shin
Published: April 2024

Objective

This study aimed to show the results of radical radiation therapy (RT) and concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for vulvar cancer (VC) based on data from a Japanese nationwide survey.

Materials and methods

We collected data from 108 institutions on cases of VC diagnosed between January 2001 and December 2010. Patients with histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma with curative intent were selected, and 172 patients with VC were included in this study. The collected data were analyzed for overall survival (OS) using the Kaplan–Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to examine the prognostic factors for patients with VC.

Results

The median follow-up period was 16.8 (range; 3.2–154.8) months. Fifty-five patients received CCRT, and 117 patients received RT alone. The 2-year OS rates (95% confidence interval [CI]) for stages I, II, III, and IV were 77.9% (55.8–100.0), 71.9% (53.8–89.9), 55.4% (42.5–68.3), and 41.5% (27.3–55.7) respectively. Univariate analyses showed that the FIGO stage (p = 0.001), tumor diameter (p = 0.005), and lymph node (LN) status (p = 0.001) were associated with OS. The concurrent use of chemotherapy resulted in a significantly longer OS in Stage III (p = 0.013). Multivariate analysis showed that the hazard ratios (95% CI) for tumor diameter, positivity for LN metastasis, and RT alone (no concurrent chemotherapy) were 1.502 (1.116–2.021), 1.801 (1.287–2.521), and 1.936 (1.187–3.159), respectively.

Conclusions

Our analysis revealed that CCRT should be recommended, especially for Stage III VC patients. Further studies are warranted to determine who benefits from CCRT, considering primary tumor size and LN status.

The study was registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network (protocol number: UMIN000017080) on April 8th, 2015.
NIFTP-adjusted risk estimation of Bethesda thyroid cytology categories should consider the indication for FNA according to TIRADS
Authors: Leoncini Andrea , Camponovo Chiara , Gamarra Elena , Piticchio Tommaso , Ruinelli Lorenzo , Rotondi Mario , Cantisani Vito , Treglia Giorgio , Trimboli Pierpaolo
Published: April 2024

Background

Non-invasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) was firstly described in 2016. Since NIFTP is thought a non-malignant tumor, the Bethesda system for thyroid cytology proposes two estimations of risk of malignancy of the diagnostic categories, one considering NIFTP as cancer and another one considering it as a benign neoplasm. The present study aimed to review NIFTPs in a single center, re-assess them across categories of three Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data Systems (TIRADSs), and define the indication for biopsy according to the category-specific size cut-offs.

Methods

The study period was from 2017 to 2023. The institutional database was searched for histologically proven NIFTPs with preoperative ultrasound images. NIFTPs were re-assessed according to the American College of Radiology (ACR), European (EU), and Korean (K) TIRADSs. The indication for biopsy was defined according to TIRADS category-specific size threshold.

Results

Twenty NIFTPs from 19 patients were included. The median size of the NIFTPs was 23 mm. According to ultrasound, 80–85% of NIFTPs were at low-intermediate risk and 5–15% at high risk without significant difference among the tree TIRADSs (p = 0.91). The indication for FNA, according to three TIRADSs, was found in 52–58% of cases with no significant difference among systems (p = 0.96).

Conclusion

NIFTPs have heterogeneous presentation according to TIRADSs with very low indication rate for FNA.
InDEL instability in two different tumoral tissues and its forensic significance
Authors: Gürel İpek , Aşıcıoğlu Faruk , Ersoy Gökhan , Bülbül Özlem , Öztürk Tülin , Filoğlu Gönül
Published: April 2024

There may be cases where malignant tumor samples can be used for forensic DNA profiling studies. STRs are the first systems preferred in forensic science laboratories for identification purposes. However, genetic instability in tumoral tissues causes STR polymorphism to change, leading to erroneous results. On the other hand, insertion/deletion polymorphism (InDels) are used as genetic markers in forensic science, as they have features that make both STR and SNPs preferable. Although previous studies approved that STR instability is observed in many different tumors, there are only a few studies that have displayed the instability of InDels in tumoral tissues before. In this study, it was aimed to determine whether instability is observed in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded breast and thyroid tumoral tissues at 36plex InDel Panel. A total of 47 cases, 26 of which were diagnosed as breast cancer and 21 as thyroid cancer, were included in the study. In 21 of 26 (80.76%) breast cancers mutational changes were observed, however only 6 of 21 (28.57%) thyroid carcinoma cases displayed instability.Moreover, in these six cases, mutations were detected at only 1 or 2 loci. The most common change in both tissues was loss of heterozygosity. These findings suggest that paraffin embedded tissues of thyroid tumor can be used in cases of forensic genetic identification, however paraffin embedded breast cancer tissues should be examined with care. In conclusion, low InDel mutation rates compared to STR instability, make InDel analysis from paraffin blocks suitable for forensic genetic identification. However, researchers should keep in mind that there may be differences between the profiles of the tumoral tissues taken as reference and the actual case. In addition, by incorporating additional markers such as SNPs and microhaplotypes with low mutation rates into the study alongside Indels, researchers can significantly enhance the discrimination power in identification processes.
Use of an Impact Recording Device to Determine the Risk of Bruising in Packaged Potatoes
Authors: Hendricks R. L. , Olsen N. , Thornton M. , Hatzenbuehler P.
Published: April 2024

Handling potatoes individually or collectively in packages can create opportunities for potatoes to develop quality defects including blackspot and shatter bruise. Three trials were conducted to examine how handling packaged potatoes can influence the risk for physical damage including shatter and blackspot bruise. An impact recording device was used to record peak acceleration (max g-force) in common fresh market packaging options (boxes or bales) at four drop heights (15 to 91 cm) on to three different surface types. When boxed potatoes were dropped onto concrete or a plastic slip, the potatoes on the bottom of the box had the highest risk of damage (greater than 100 g-force). When drop heights were lowered, or when cushioning material was added to hard surfaces (e.g., wooden pallet on top of concrete floor), the risk for impact damage was decreased throughout the box. When palletizing boxed potatoes, the risk of bruise decreased after the first layer was stacked on the pallet. Drop heights need to be below 15 cm, especially when making the first layer in a palletized stack of packaged potatoes to reduce potential bruising. The risk of high peak accelerations was not seen in the dropped or stationary bales for any of the drop heights examined. This study provided information for educating personnel on handling packaged potatoes and determining situations in which robotic stacking equipment needs to be adjusted to lower drop heights of packaged potatoes.
Variances in Smoking Expectancies Predict Moment-to-Moment Smoking Behaviors in Everyday Life
Authors: Halliday Deanna M. , Zawadzki Matthew J. , Song Anna V.
Published: April 2024

Background

Many policy decisions about tobacco control are predicated on rational choice models, which posit (1) that smokers are aware of the risks of cigarettes and (2) that perceived risks have a consistent influence on continued smoking behavior. However, research shows that beliefs about smoking may be vulnerable to changes in internal and external contexts.

Methods

Using ecological momentary assessment, we tested this by measuring how smokers’ (N = 52) beliefs about smoking varied over time. Four times per day over 1 week, participants responded to measures of smoking intentions, risk perceptions, mood and social outcome expectancies, and internal and external contextual factors.

Results

We analyzed this data using multilevel modeling, finding that both smoking intentions, risk perceptions, and expectancies differed between participants as well as between moments.

Conclusion

Risk perceptions and mood expectancies were a significant predictor of intentions to smoke in the next 30 min, illustrating the importance of these beliefs in decisional processes. This study was preregistered at the Open Science Foundation: https://osf.io/wmv3s/?view_only=71ad66d3ce3845fcb3bf2b9860d820c9. Our analytic plan was not preregistered.
Room to Improve: Predictors of Attendance and Outcomes Within Mindfulness-Enhanced Behavioral Parent Training
Authors: Donovan Mark O. , Barkus Emma , Herbert Jane S. , Pickard Judy A.
Published: April 2024

Objectives

Parents across a broad sociodemographic spectrum struggle with their children’s difficult behaviors and need effective and engaging interventions. We developed a mindfulness-enhanced behavioral parent training group program (MeBPT) aiming to be more inclusive and enable positive outcomes. This study investigated whether MeBPT can meet diverse needs across child, parent, family, and program-delivery factors, and explored whether improvements in parent-rated child behavior are predicted by changes in mindful parenting, parenting approach, or both.

Method

Participants were 338 parents of 3- to 12-year-old children presenting with externalizing problems to a university clinic in regional Australia. Factors that significantly correlated with improvements in parent and child outcomes or attendance were included in regression analyses.

Results

Improved parent-rated child behavior was predicted by change in mindful parenting (p = 0.019) but not parenting approach (p = 0.305). Attendance was high across all factors, and particularly for older parents. Improvements in parent well-being, approach, mindfulness, and child behavior were similarly large for families across child and family characteristics. Low-income families exhibited less improvement in parental well-being (p = 0.012), although demonstrated similar improvements in child behavior, parenting approach, and mindful parenting. Families with more severe problems at baseline showed largest gains (p < 0.002). Parental self-awareness and acceptance were important change agents.

Conclusions

MeBPT appears effective across various sociodemographic backgrounds and is particularly beneficial for families presenting with more severe behavioral problems. Controlled research with ethnically diverse families is needed to confirm the benefits of MeBPT and to allow examination of mediators and moderators.
Rediscovery of small-scale fisheries in the era of crises
Authors: Salmi Pekka , Setälä Jari , Saarni Kaija
Published: April 2024

This article analyses the role of small-scale fisheries in the era of crises that increase fisheries’ vulnerability. Crises may also trigger a reconsideration of the value of small-scale fisheries. Thus, our main research questions are twofold: 1) How do the recent crises directly affect small-scale fisheries? and 2) What are the opportunities for reinventing the societal and environmental benefits of small-scale fisheries? Answers to the research questions are based on a selection of interviews, email inquiry, research articles and reports in the context of Finnish small-scale fisheries. By focusing on these fisheries, operated in a Northern European welfare state, we study the potential that the new turbulent and uncertain circumstances could lead to acknowledgement of the multifunctional character of small-scale fisheries. The results show that climate change, Covid-19 pandemic and Russian invasion of Ukraine have challenged the resilience of Finnish small-scale fishing livelihood, albeit moderately. The prospects for new policies triggered by these crises stem from acknowledgement of small-scale fisheries’ contribution to food security, environmental benefits and short supply chains. The best way to secure fish-based food security and sustainability during crises, is to keep the fishing sector and the production and distribution chains vital in normal conditions. We conclude that in a society like Finland the rediscovery of small-scale fisheries’ future necessitates wide societal and political discussion about the pros and cons of the livelihood, together with inclusive governance that recognizes the multifunctional roles of small-scale fisheries in the era of crises.
Serum carnosinase 1, an early indicator for incident microalbuminuria in type 1 diabetes
Authors: Qiu Jiedong , Yard Benito A. , Krämer Bernhard K. , Bilo Henk J. G. , Kannt Aimo , van Goor Harry , van Dijk Peter R.
Published: April 2024

Aims

Carnosinase (CN1) polymorphisms have been linked to diabetic kidney disease (DKD), as CN1 degrades dipeptides which scavenge oxidative metabolites and prevent the formation of advanced glycation end-products. In this work, we studied the association between serum CN1, the systemic redox status and long-term renal outcome in type 1 diabetes.

Methods

Serum CN1 was measured in a prospective type 1 diabetes cohort (n = 218) with a 16-year follow-up. A total of 218 patients treated at the Diabetes Outpatient Clinic of the Weezenlanden Hospital (nowadays Isala Hospital, Zwolle, The Netherlands) were included in this analysis. We assessed whether serum CN1 was associated with renal function and development of DKD as well as other diabetic complications.

Results

At baseline, age, systemic redox status and N-terminal pro brain-natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were associated with serum CN1 concentration (p < 0.05). During follow-up, CN1 concentration in the middle tertile was associated with less incident microalbuminuria (odds ratio = 0.194, 95% C.I.: 0.049—0.772, p = 0.02) after adjustment for age, systemic redox status, NT-proBNP and sex.

Discussion

Serum CN1 could predict incident microalbuminuria and may be used as a novel parameter to identify patients at risk for DKD.
Balance Board Math: Exploring the Sense of Balance as a Basis for Functions and Graphing and Number Line Concepts
Authors: Tancredi Sofia
Published: April 2024

Can math concepts be experienced through the sensory modality of balance? Balance Board Math (BBM) is a set of pedagogical math activities designed to instantiate mathematical concepts through stimulation to the vestibular sense: an organ in the inner ear that detects our bodily balance and orientation. BBM establishes the different ways children spontaneously rock and move as the basis for inclusively exploring mathematical concepts together across diverse sensory profiles. I describe two activity sets where students explore focal concepts by shifting their balance on rockable balance boards: “the Balance Number Line,” using analog materials to foster understandings of the number line and negative numbers, and “Balance Graphing,” using sensors and a digital display to foster exploration of functions and graphing concepts, including the parameters of trigonometric functions and function addition. I outline proposed ways that engaging with concepts through balance-activating movement can change learners’ mathematical thinking and learning.