bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Normalized Pulse Volume as a Superior Predictor of Respiration Recovery and Quantification of Nociception Anti-nociception Balance Compared to Opioid Effect Site Concentration: A Prospective, Observational Study
Authors: Tatsuki Onishi , Onishi Yoshika
Published: March 2024

Background Quantifying pain and the balance between nociception and anti-nociception (NANB) in sedated patients is challenging. Traditional opioid titration methods overlook individual differences, while existing indices like the Noxious Stimulation Response Index (NSRI) lack correlation with effect-site concentration (Ce). The Normalized Pulse Volume (NPV), used in polygraphs, has potential for pain quantification but is underexplored. This study aimed to assess NPV’s efficacy as a pain monitoring tool compared to Ce and to explore its potential in various clinical settings. Methods The study included 39 patients undergoing surgery under total intravenous anesthesia from July 2013 to May 2014. Selection criteria were an American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification system (ASA score) of 1 or 2 and surgeries with minimal fluid resuscitation or blood loss. Exclusion criteria were significant posture changes, massive hemorrhage, and high perfusion index variation. NPV and Ce were measured using the Masimo SET adult SpO2 sensor. Results Out of 39 patients, 9 were excluded. NPV at recovery of spontaneous respiration (RoR) was 2.62 (95% CI: 2.26–2.98) with a coefficient of variation (CoV) of 36.3%, while total Ce was 1.48 ng/ml (95% CI: 1.14–1.84) with a CoV of 62.4%. NPV showed a narrower CoV than Ce (p < 0.05, 1.93*10−5), indicating less variability. NPV outperformed Ce in predicting RoR, suggesting a more accurate reflection of NANB balance. Its superiority in stable measurement underlines its potential as a reliable pain indicator. The study’s limitations include temporal differences in NPV and Ce calculations, affecting comparative analysis. Conclusion NPV demonstrates promise as an objective, reliable indicator of pain or NANB, showing a strong correlation with Ce. Its application could improve pain assessments in clinical settings, optimizing patient care and analgesic administration. Future research should integrate NPV with other vital signs for a comprehensive pain monitoring system.
Strengths and weaknesses of the South-South Learning Exchange: a qualitative analysis of experts’ perspectives
Authors: Triulzi Isotta , Kabra Rita , Allagh Komal Preet , Kiarie James
Published: March 2024

Background South-South learning exchange (SSLE) refers to an interactive learning process where peers exchange knowledge and experience to work towards a beneficial change. Despite organizations having recently increased the opportunity to run SSLEs, the SSLE support mechanisms and processes are not well documented in the scientific literature. This study explored experts’ perspectives on SSLEs, strengths, weaknesses and mechanisms leading to sustainable outcomes. Methods We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews on experiences of participants and organizers of SSLEs. Data were collected between 1st September 2021 to 26th November 2021. All data were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed. In the analysis, we adopted an inductive approach derived from thematic analysis. Results Sixteen experts, who have participated in or facilitated one or more SSLE, were interviewed. The experts’ accounts demonstrated an appreciation of participants’ empowerment, positive peer-to-peer “mind change” and convincing and powerful hands-on learning of this approach as strengths in the implementation of the SSLE. Being resource heavy, participant and donor reluctance and absence of a validated methodology emerged as main weaknesses of the South-South learning approach, which could impair the effectiveness of this scheme. Conclusions The strengths of SSLEs are anchored in the theories of experiential and social learning, highlighting SSLE's potential to create an environment that enhances knowledge exchange. the study highlights the challenges SSLE initiatives face. In particular, these include limited commitment and funds, limited evidence of impact, disparate approaches, and the absence of standardized guidelines and evaluation practices.
Treatment Allocation with Strategic Agents
Authors: Munro Evan
Published: March 2024

There is increasing interest in allocating treatments based on observed individual characteristics: examples include targeted marketing, individualized credit offers, and heterogeneous pricing. Treatment personalization introduces incentives for individuals to modify their behavior to obtain a better treatment. Strategic behavior shifts the joint distribution of covariates and potential outcomes. The optimal rule without strategic behavior allocates treatments only to those with a positive conditional average treatment effect. With strategic behavior, we show that the optimal rule can involve randomization, allocating treatments with less than 100% probability even to those who respond positively on average to the treatment. We propose a sequential experiment based on Bayesian optimization that converges to the optimal treatment rule without parametric assumptions on individual strategic behavior.

This paper was accepted by Vivek Farias, data science.

Supplemental Material: The data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.01629 .
To Interfere or Not To Interfere: Information Revelation and Price-Setting Incentives in a Multiagent Learning Environment
Authors: Birge John R. , Chen Hongfan (Kevin) , Keskin N. Bora , Ward Amy
Published: March 2024

Demand uncertainty and seller competition are substantial challenges for online platforms. In “To Interfere or Not To Interfere: Information Revelation and Price-Setting Incentives in a Multiagent Learning Environment,” Birge, Chen, Keskin, and Ward analyze whether and how an online platform should offer demand information or price incentives to the sellers participating on the platform. The authors show that, when facing uncertain demand, the platform could be better off by doing nothing—that is, not providing any information or incentives to the sellers. They also develop a strategic reveal-and-incentivize policy for the platform to choose when to start sharing information and offering rewards to coordinate the sellers’ pricing. They prove that the strategic reveal-and-incentivize policy achieves near-optimal profit performance for the platform.
Is there a future for nitrous oxide in anaesthetic practice?
Authors: Allen Emma , Whitehouse Katherine
Published: March 2024

Although nitrous oxide is widely used for analgesia and anxiolysis, its use is under scrutiny because of concerns about its environmental impact and potential implications for mental health. This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of this agent.
A Parallel 3-D HIE-FDTD Method using the MPI Library
Authors: Nan Qin , Mou Chunhui , Chen Juan
Published: March 2024

This paper presents the implementation of the parallel hybrid implicit-explicit finite-difference time-domain (HIE-FDTD) method using the Message Passing Interface (MPI) library. The method proves to be very effective in simulating large-scale three-dimensional electromagnetic problems with fine structures in one direction. For the decomposition of the computational volume in the HIE-FDTD method, an MPI Cartesian 2D topology is implemented, allowing arbitrary division of the volume in two directions. Derived data types provided in the MPI library are employed to optimize inter-process communication. High accuracy and efficiency are subsequently demonstrated through a numerical example of a frequency-selected surface (FSS). It shows that the proposed method is very suitable for parallel computing, and the parallel efficiency maintains above 80% for different numbers of processes.
Composite Scattering Study of Layered Rough Surface withTarget based on CCIA
Authors: Zhang Jiaguo , Wei Huan
Published: March 2024

In this paper, a fast Cross Coupling iterative Approach (CCIA) is proposed for studying the composite scattering of the layered rough surfaces with buried target, which uses forward backward method (FBM) to solve the electric field integral equations (EFIE) of the layered rough surface and bi-conjugate gradient method (BI-CG) to solve the EFIE of the target, and the interaction between the rough surface and the target is achieved by updating the excitation term. The algorithm is applied to calculate the composite scattering coefficients of the rough surface with a buried target, the results match with those of the traditional numerical algorithm MOM while the error can be reduced to 10−3 by 6 iterations, and the convergence speed and calculation accuracy meet the requirements. The composite scattering coefficients and Angular Correlation Function (ACF) amplitudes of layered rough surface and dielectric targets with different conditions are calculated, and the effects of various factors such as target size and burial depth on the composite scattering characteristics are discussed. It is found that the buried targets will have a great influence on the scattering characteristics, weakening or neglecting the coupling between them will lead to larger errors. Moreover, the results show that ACF can suppress scattering from rough surfaces well, making the scattering characteristics of the target more obvious, which is important for detecting underground targets.
Multiculturalism and the Fetishization of Ethnic Difference in Mauritius
Authors: Couacaud Leo
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT: Mauritius is often celebrated as a success story in lay and academic discourse. One version of this discourse highlights Mauritius's success in managing its diversity as a multicultural society. But there are a number of reasons to question this assumption. For instance, some writers have claimed that Mauritius's policy of multiculturalism encourages the promotion of ethnic difference and marginalizes certain minorities (Couacaud 2016, Eisenlohr 2006, Vaughan 2001). In this paper, however, I propose to go further and argue that Mauritius's policy of multiculturalism not only promotes ethnic difference and marginalizes certain minorities. It has also led to what one could describe as the "fetishization of ethnic difference." I propose to demonstrate this by discussing how material religious practices act as signs of ethnic difference in everyday life, using ethnographic observations and visual documentation methods for these purposes. Examples cited in the paper include the material culture of temple architecture, religious street-processions, garden shrines, homes, workplaces, and vehicles.
Returning to Normalcy and the Sacrament of Penance
Authors: Findikyan Bishop Daniel
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT: This paper examines the three aspects of its title—normalcy, sacraments, and penance—in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the pandemic left people yearning for a return to normalcy, it also gave them the opportunity to reconsider what normalcy means. The normalcy to which many wish to return is the sinful and illusory normalcy of personal fulfillment without God, but true normalcy is found only in Jesus Christ through the sacrament of penance. The pandemic thus offers an occasion to critically reassess the meaning of penance and its place within sacramental theology, which this paper undertakes, especially in the Armenian Orthodox tradition. Drawing on the Armenian meaning of penance ( abashkharutyun ) as turning away from mourning, the paper proposes an understanding of penance as the joyous center of Christian faith and the norm to which Christians aspire to return.
The Issue of Recognition of Ordinations Performed in Schismatic Communities: Theological, Canonical, and Historical Aspects
Authors: Stoychev Archbishop Sylvester
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT: The proper procedures for receiving those ordained in schismatic ecclesiastical communities has become an especially important issue following the disputes over Ukrainian autocephaly and the Patriarchate of Constantinople's restoration of Ukrainian schismatics to hierarchical and priestly ranks. This article analyzes Patriarch Bartholomew's position on the reception of Ukrainian schismatic clergy and responses by Archbishop Anastasios of Albania. It sets this question against the historical backdrop of the church's reception of clergy ordained by schismatics, looking especially at the church's resolution to the Melitian schism. Following this brief historical survey, the article argues that the leniency displayed by Constantinople towards the Ukrainian schismatics deviates from the church's historical practices and has deepened the threat of schism within global Orthodoxy.
The Specifics of the Palamite Doctrine, Its Origins, and Its Latest Reception in Russia: A Discussion with Dmitry Biriukov
Authors: Kyrlezhev Alexander I. , Biriukov Dmitry
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT: Dmitry Biriukov, PhD, is a scholar of the work of the late Byzantine theologian and authoritative church teacher Gregory Palamas (1296–1359). This conversation with Dr. Biriukov is devoted to the peculiarities of Palamas's doctrine and to the reception of his legacy in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, after centuries of oblivion. In the course of the discussion, the basic metaphysical scheme of Palamite theology is explained—namely, the distinction between essence and energies in God. On the one hand, the continuity of this scheme in relation to the theology of the Cappadocian fathers is traced, and, on the other hand, its novelty is revealed. The origins and parallels of the distinction between essence and energies are discussed, in particular the connection with Christology and the influence of Evagrianism on Palamas. The conversation addresses the types of divine energies in the Palamite doctrine and the question of the difference in theological languages in which the idea of deification ( theosis ) as a union of man with God is expressed. Particular attention is paid to the concept of energy and its various connotations, including those associated with its modern natural-science understanding. The philosophical dimension of the theology of Palamas, including in connection with the intellectual culture of his time, is discussed, as is the relationship between Hesychasm as a monastic practice and Palamism as a theological and philosophical doctrine. The concluding part of the conversation, dedicated to the reception of Palamism after centuries of neglect, traces the history of the study, interpretation, and actualization of the teachings of Gregory Palamas over the past two centuries, from Slavophiles to Soviet and contemporary researchers. Particular attention is paid to the so-called neo-Palamism in its various versions—both religious-philosophical and theological.
“Unimaginable from this distance”: Get Out , Black Speculative Horror, and Captive Embodiment
Authors: Jenkins Candice M.
Published: March 2024

Abstract: In this essay, which attends to Jordan Peele’s 2017 Black horror masterpiece, Get Out , I consider how Peele’s visual narrative employs not only horror’s genre cues, but speculative tropes more broadly, to animate instances of embodied Black trauma and white gratification that can be linked directly to submerged American histories of enslavement. Hortense Spillers has memorably catalogued slavery’s “theft of the body—a willful and violent (and unimaginable from this distance) severing of the captive body from its motive will, its active desire”; my analysis in this essay zeroes in on her almost casual parenthetical recognition that this violence is “unimaginable” from our present vantage and interrogates the ways that Peele’s complex brand of Black horror brings such bodily trespass close. Throughout my discussion here, I consider both the bodily vulnerability of the film’s Black characters to racialized incursion and subjection, and their positioning as literal vehicles for the enactment of white agency, suggesting that the surface critique of liberal racism offered by Get Out is complicated and deepened by the film’s speculative horror elements. By animating and bringing near, via speculative horror tropes, some of the most “unimaginable” elements of anti-Black violence, Peele’s film advances an understanding of Black captive embodiment that uncannily echoes Afro-Pessimism’s sense of the perpetual and proximate nature of Black enslavement in our contemporary moment.
Optical design and fabrication of a multi-channel imaging spectrometer for combustion flame monitoring
Authors: Xie Bingqing , Chang Jun , Cai Jing , Chen Weilin , Wang Wenxi , Zhang Xuecong , Zhang Yang , Jiang Huilin
Published: March 2024

We design and construct a broadband integrated multi-channel imaging spectrometer (MCIS) from visible light to near-infrared. This system can directly obtain spectral images that conform to the consistent visual habits of the human eyes through a single exposure of the detector. The genetic algorithm is used to calculate system parameters to minimize pixel waste between spectral channels, achieving nearly 100% utilization of detector pixels. The field stop suppresses stray light in the system. This device is used for imaging an optical-resolution target, an object, and a furnace to verify the basic principles of the system. The results indicate that the system can effectively utilize detectors to monitor high-temperature objects in the visible to near-infrared wavelength range.
Circular photonic crystal grating design for charge-tunable quantum light sources in the telecom C-band
Authors: Ma Chenxi , Yang Jingzhong , Li Pengji , Rugeramigabo Eddy P. , Zopf Michael , Ding Fei
Published: March 2024

Efficient generation of entangled photon pairs at telecom wavelengths is a key ingredient for long-range quantum networks. While embedding semiconductor quantum dots into hybrid circular Bragg gratings has proven effective, it conflicts with p-i-n diode heterostructures which offer superior coherence. We propose and analyze hybrid circular photonic crystal gratings, incorporating air holes to facilitate charge carrier transport without compromising optical properties. Through numerical simulations, a broad cavity mode with a Purcell factor of 23 enhancing both exciton and biexciton transitions, and exceptional collection efficiency of 92.4% into an objective with numerical aperture of 0.7 are achieved. Furthermore, our design demonstrates direct coupling efficiency over 90.5% into a single-mode fiber over the entire telecom C-band. The hybrid circular photonic crystal grating thereby emerges as a promising solution for the efficient generation of highly coherent, polarization-entangled photon pairs.
High-Q two-dimensional photonic crystal nanocavity on glass with an upper glass thin film
Authors: Kawata Ryusei , Fujita Akinari , Pholsen Natthajuks , Iwamoto Satoshi , Ota Yasutomo
Published: March 2024

We numerically analyze two-dimensional photonic crystal (PhC) nanocavities on glass with a thin glass film on top of the structure. We investigated a multistep heterostructure GaAs PhC nanocavity located on glass. We found that covering the structure even with a very thin glass film efficiently suppresses unwanted polarization mode conversion occurring due to the asymmetric refractive index environment around the PhC. We also uncovered that the glass-covered structure can exhibit a higher Q factor than that observed in the structure symmetrically cladded with thick glass. We point out that the mode mismatch between the PhC nanocavity and modes in the upper glass film largely contributed to the observed Q-factor enhancement. These observations were further analyzed through the comparison among different types of on-glass PhC nanocavities covered with thin glass films. We also discuss that the in-plane structure of the upper glass film is important for additionally enhancing the Q factor of the nanocavity.
Simulating 4D quantum Hall effect with two bosons in a 1D quasicrystal
Authors: Wu Zhaoxin , Li Junkai , Wan Tuo , Yang Zhaoju
Published: March 2024

Recent advances promote the study of topological systems with additional synthetic dimensions. In this work, we propose a method to realize the four-dimensional (4D) quantum hall effect by using two strongly interacting bosons. The 1D lattice of the Aubry-André-Harper (AAH) model with two hard-core bosons can be mapped to a synthetic 4D space. The energy spectrum of this system is similar to that of one particle evolving in a 2D AAH model mimicking the 4D quantum hall effect. The energy spectrum contains bulk, edge, and corner states, which can be interpreted as the summation of two independent single-particle spectra in the 1D Aubry-André-Harper (AAH) model. Our results pave the way to realizing higher-dimension physics such as topology and localization by using many particles.
Sinusoidal parameter estimation technique for three-dimensional object reconstruction from a single object capture
Authors: Zendejas-Hernández Edgar , Trujillo-Schiaffino Gerardo , Anguiano-Morales Marcelino , Salas-Peimbert Didia Patricia , Corral-Martínez Luis Francisco , Mendoza-Villegas Paloma Guadalupe , Tornero-Martínez Nadia
Published: March 2024

Fringe projection profilometry is widely used for three-dimensional measurements. Sinusoidal patterns are commonly used; those patterns are modulated by the object’s topography, raising the necessity to relate this modulation with the object’s shape. Several approaches have been proposed and can be classified as spatial or temporal algorithms, making them suitable for dynamic or static objects. In this paper, an improvement of a different approach to analyze the modulated fringe pattern is proposed; from a single fringe pattern, the object’s shape can be found with the determination of maximums and minimums of the signal, avoiding the use of Fourier transform, wavelet transform, and Riez transform techniques.
Barriers and facilitators to parents’ engagement with and perceived impact of a childhood obesity app: A mixed-methods study
Authors: Milne-Ives Madison , Rahman Em , Bradwell Hannah , Baines Rebecca , Boey Timothy , Potter Alison , Lawrence Wendy , Helena van Velthoven Michelle , Meinert Edward
Published: March 2024

Childhood obesity is a growing global health concern. Although mobile health apps have the potential to deliver behavioural interventions, their impact is commonly limited by a lack of sufficient engagement. The purpose of this study was to explore barriers and facilitators to engagement with a family-focused app and its perceived impact on motivation, self-efficacy, and behaviour. Parents with at least one child under 18 and healthcare professionals working with children were recruited; all participants were allocated to use the NoObesity app over a 6-month period. The mixed-methods design was based on the Non-adoption, Abandonment, Scale-Up, Spread, and Sustainability and Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance frameworks. Qualitative and quantitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, and app use data (logins and in-app self-reported data). 35 parents were included in the final analysis; quantitative results were analysed descriptively and thematic analysis was conducted on the qualitative data. Key barriers to engagement were boredom, forgetting, and usability issues and key barriers to potential impact on behaviours were accessibility, lack of motivation, and family characteristics. Novelty, gamification features, reminders, goal setting, progress monitoring and feedback, and suggestions for healthy foods and activities were key facilitators to engagement with the app and behaviours. A key observation was that intervention strategies could help address many motivation and capability barriers, but there was a gap in strategies addressing opportunity barriers. Without incorporating strategies that successfully mitigate barriers in all three determinants of behaviour, an intervention is unlikely to be successful. We highlight key recommendations for developers to consider when designing the features and implementation of digital health interventions.

Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05261555).
Reinfection of farm dogs following praziquantel treatment in an endemic region of cystic echinococcosis in southeastern Iran
Authors: Borhani Mehdi , Mohammadi Mohammad Ali , Entezami Mahbod , Baneshi Mohammad Reza , Nasibi Saeid , Prada Joaquin M. , Fasihi Harandi Majid
Published: March 2024

Cystic Echinococcosis (CE) as a prevalent tapeworm infection of human and herbivorous animals worldwide, is caused by accidental ingestion of Echinococcus granulosus eggs excreted from infected dogs. CE is endemic in the Middle East and North Africa, and is considered as an important parasitic zoonosis in Iran. It is transmitted between dogs as the primary definitive host and different livestock species as the intermediate hosts. One of the most important measures for CE control is dog deworming with praziquantel. Due to the frequent reinfection of dogs, intensive deworming campaigns are critical for breaking CE transmission. Dog reinfection rate could be used as an indicator of the intensity of local CE transmission in endemic areas. However, our knowledge on the extent of reinfection in the endemic regions is poor. The purpose of the present study was to determine E. granulosus reinfection rate after praziquantel administration in a population of owned dogs in Kerman, Iran. A cohort of 150 owned dogs was recruited, with stool samples collected before praziquantel administration as a single oral dose of 5 mg/kg. The re-samplings of the owned dogs were performed at 2, 5 and 12 months following initial praziquantel administration. Stool samples were examined microscopically using Willis flotation method. Genomic DNA was extracted, and E. granulosus sensu lato-specific primers were used to PCR-amplify a 133-bp fragment of a repeat unit of the parasite genome. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier method to calculate cumulative survival rates, which is used here to capture reinfection dynamics, and monthly incidence of infection, capturing also the spatial distribution of disease risk. Results of survival analysis showed 8, 12 and 17% total reinfection rates in 2, 5 and 12 months following initial praziquantel administration, respectively, indicating that 92, 88 and 83% of the dogs had no detectable infection in that same time periods. The monthly incidence of reinfection in total owned dog population was estimated at 1.5% (95% CI 1.0–2.1). The results showed that the prevalence of echinococcosis in owned dogs, using copro-PCR assay was 42.6%. However, using conventional microscopy, 8% of fecal samples were positive for taeniid eggs. Our results suggest that regular treatment of the dog population with praziquantel every 60 days is ideal, however the frequency of dog dosing faces major logistics and cost challenges, threatening the sustainability of control programs. Understanding the nature and extent of dog reinfection in the endemic areas is essential for successful implementation of control programs and understanding patterns of CE transmission.
Endothelial and inflammatory pathophysiology in dengue shock: New insights from a prospective cohort study in Vietnam
Authors: McBride Angela , Duyen Huynh Thi Le , Vuong Nguyen Lam , Tho Phan Vinh , Tai Luong Thi Hue , Phong Nguyen Thanh , Ngoc Nguyen Thanh , Yen Lam Minh , Nhat Phung Tran Huy , Vi Tran Thuy , Llewelyn Martin J. , Thwaites Louise , Hao Nguyen Van , Yacoub Sophie
Published: March 2024

Dengue shock (DS) is the most severe complication of dengue infection; endothelial hyperpermeability leads to profound plasma leakage, hypovolaemia and extravascular fluid accumulation. At present, the only treatment is supportive with intravenous fluid, but targeted endothelial stabilising therapies and host immune modulators are needed. With the aim of prioritising potential therapeutics, we conducted a prospective observational study of adults (≥16 years) with DS in Vietnam from 2019–2022, comparing the pathophysiology underlying circulatory failure with patients with septic shock (SS), and investigating the association of biomarkers with clinical severity (SOFA score, ICU admission, mortality) and pulmonary vascular leak (daily lung ultrasound for interstitial and pleural fluid). Plasma was collected at enrolment, 48 hours later and hospital discharge. We measured biomarkers of inflammation (IL-6, ferritin), endothelial activation (Ang-1, Ang-2, sTie-2, VCAM-1) and endothelial glycocalyx breakdown (hyaluronan, heparan sulfate, endocan, syndecan-1). We enrolled 135 patients with DS (median age 26, median SOFA score 7, 34 required ICU admission, 5 deaths), together with 37 patients with SS and 25 healthy controls. Within the DS group, IL-6 and ferritin were associated with admission SOFA score (IL-6: βeta0.70, p<0.001 & ferritin: βeta0.45, p<0.001), ICU admission (IL-6: OR 2.6, p<0.001 & ferritin: OR 1.55, p<0.001) and mortality (IL-6: OR 4.49, p = 0.005 & ferritin: OR 13.8, p = 0.02); both biomarkers discriminated survivors and non-survivors at 48 hours and all patients who died from DS had pre-mortem ferritin ≥100,000ng/ml. IL-6 most strongly correlated with severity of pulmonary vascular leakage (R = 0.41, p<0.001). Ang-2 correlated with pulmonary vascular leak (R = 0.33, p<0.001) and associated with SOFA score (β 0.81, p<0.001) and mortality (OR 8.06, p = 0.002). Ang-1 was associated with ICU admission (OR 1.6, p = 0.005) and mortality (OR 3.62, p = 0.006). All 4 glycocalyx biomarkers were positively associated with SOFA score, but only syndecan-1 was associated with ICU admission (OR 2.02, p<0.001) and mortality (OR 6.51, p<0.001). This study highlights the central role of hyperinflammation in determining outcomes from DS; the data suggest that anti-IL-1 and anti-IL-6 immune modulators and Tie2 agonists may be considered as candidates for therapeutic trials in severe dengue.
Initial agronomic benefits of enhanced weathering using basalt: A study of spring oat in a temperate climate
Authors: Skov Kirstine , Wardman Jez , Healey Matthew , McBride Amy , Bierowiec Tzara , Cooper Julia , Edeh Ifeoma , George Dave , Kelland Mike E. , Mann Jim , Manning David , Murphy Melissa J. , Pape Ryan , Teh Yit A. , Turner Will , Wade Peter , Liu Xinran
Published: March 2024

Addressing soil nutrient degradation and global warming requires novel solutions. Enhanced weathering using crushed basalt rock is a promising dual-action strategy that can enhance soil health and sequester carbon dioxide. This study examines the short-term effects of basalt amendment on spring oat (Avena sativa L.) during the 2022 growing season in NE England. The experimental design consisted of four blocks with control and basalt-amended plots, and two cultivation types within each treatment, laid out in a split plot design. Basalt (18.86 tonnes ha−1) was incorporated into the soil during seeding. Tissue, grain and soil samples were collected for yield, nutrient, and pH analysis. Basalt amendment led to significantly higher yields, averaging 20.5% and 9.3% increases in direct drill and ploughed plots, respectively. Soil pH was significantly higher 256 days after rock application across cultivation types (direct drill: on average 6.47 vs. 6.76 and ploughed: on average 6.69 vs. 6.89, for control and basalt-amended plots, respectively), likely due to rapidly dissolving minerals in the applied basalt, such as calcite. Indications of growing season differences in soil pH are observed through direct measurement of lower manganese and iron uptake in plants grown on basalt-amended soil. Higher grain and tissue potassium, and tissue calcium uptake were observed in basalt-treated crops. Notably, no accumulation of potentially toxic elements (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, nickel) was detected in the grain, indicating that crops grown using this basaltic feedstock are safe for consumption. This study indicates that basalt amendments can improve agronomic performance in sandy clay-loam agricultural soil under temperate climate conditions. These findings offer valuable insights for producers in temperate regions who are considering using such amendments, demonstrating the potential for improved crop yields and environmental benefits while ensuring crop safety.
Gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) post-mortem findings from December 2018 through 2021 during the Unusual Mortality Event in the Eastern North Pacific
Authors: Raverty Stephen , Duignan Pádraig , Greig Denise , Huggins Jessica L. , Huntington Kathy Burek , Garner Michael , Calambokidis John , Cottrell Paul , Danil Kerri , D’Alessandro Dalin , Duffield Deborah , Flannery Moe , Gulland Frances MD , Halaska Barbie , Lambourn Dyanna M. , Lehnhart Taylor , Urbán R. Jorge , Rowles Teri , Rice James , Savage Kate , Wilkinson Kristin , Greenman Justin , Viezbicke Justin , Cottrell Brendan , Goley P. Dawn , Martinez Maggie , Fauquier Deborah
Published: March 2024

Beginning in December 2018, increased numbers of gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) strandings were reported along the west coast of Mexico, the United States, and Canada, prompting declaration of a gray whale Unusual Mortality Event (UME) by the United States National Marine Fisheries Service. Although strandings declined in 2020 and 2021 from a peak in 2019, the UME is still ongoing as of fall 2023. Between 17 December 2018 and 31 December 2021, 503 animals stranded along the west coast of North America, with 226 strandings in Mexico, 71 in California, 12 in Oregon, 56 in Washington, 21 in British Columbia, and 117 in Alaska. These included 187 males, 167 females, and 149 whales of undetermined sex; and 193 adults, 194 subadults, 40 calves, 1 fetus, and 75 whales of undetermined age class. We report on 61 of the 503 carcasses (12%) that had external and internal gross necropsy and/or histopathology data: of these 61 whales, findings that contributed to death were identified in 33 (54%) whales. Sixteen of the 61 (26%) were severely emaciated. Gross lesions of blunt force trauma consistent with vessel strike were identified in 11 of the 61 animals (18%), only two of which were emaciated. Two whales (3%) were entangled at time of death, and one died from entrapment. Signs of killer whale (Orcinus orca) interaction were documented in 19 of the 61 animals; five were deemed from recent interactions and three (5%) likely contributed to mortality. A specific cause of death could not be identified in 28 of 61 whales (46%). Additionally, logistical challenges and the advanced state of decomposition of most examined carcasses precluded detection of potential infectious or toxic causes of morbidity or mortality. Up to 2016, the eastern North Pacific population of gray whale population had generally been increasing since the cessation of historic whaling and a prior UME in 1999–2000. However, recent abundance and calf production estimates have declined, a trend that overlaps the current UME. The relative contributions of carrying capacity, environmental change, prey shifts, and infectious, toxic, and other processes to the increased gray whale mortalities have not yet been resolved. Nevertheless, the marked temporal increase in strandings, including findings of malnutrition in some of the whales, along with low calf production, likely represent consequences of complex and dynamic ecological interactions in the ocean impacting the population.
Research on 3D point cloud alignment algorithm based on SHOT features
Authors: Fu Zheng , Zhang Enzhong , Sun Ruiyang , Zang Jiaran , Zhang Wei
Published: March 2024

To overcome the problem of the high initial position of the point cloud required by the traditional Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm, in this paper, we propose a point cloud registration method based on normal vector and directional histogram features (SHOT). Firstly, a hybrid filtering method based on the voxel idea is proposed and verified using the measured point cloud data, and the noise removal rates of 97.5%, 97.8%, and 93.8% are obtained. Secondly, in terms of feature point extraction, the original algorithm is optimized, and the optimized algorithm can better extract the missing part of the point cloud. Finally, a fine alignment method based on normal vector and directional histogram features (SHOT) is proposed, and the improved algorithm is compared with the existing algorithm. Taking the Stanford University point cloud data and the self-measured point cloud data as examples, the plotted iteration-error plots can be concluded that the improved method can reduce the number of iterations by 40.23% and 37.62%, respectively.
Bayesian-knowledge driven ontologies: A framework for fusion of semantic knowledge under uncertainty and incompleteness
Authors: Santos Eugene , Jurmain Jacob , Ragazzi Anthony
Published: March 2024

The modeling of uncertain information is an open problem in ontology research and is a theoretical obstacle to creating a truly semantic web. Currently, ontologies often do not model uncertainty, so stochastic subject matter must either be normalized or rejected entirely. Because uncertainty is omnipresent in the real world, knowledge engineers are often faced with the dilemma of performing prohibitively labor-intensive research or running the risk of rejecting correct information and accepting incorrect information. It would be preferable if ontologies could explicitly model real-world uncertainty and incorporate it into reasoning. We present an ontology framework which is based on a seamless synthesis of description logic and probabilistic semantics. This synthesis is powered by a link between ontology assertions and random variables that allows for automated construction of a probability distribution suitable for inferencing. Furthermore, our approach defines how to represent stochastic, uncertain, or incomplete subject matter. Additionally, this paper describes how to fuse multiple conflicting ontologies into a single knowledge base that can be reasoned with using the methods of both description logic and probabilistic inferencing. This is accomplished by using probabilistic semantics to resolve conflicts between assertions, eliminating the need to delete potentially valid knowledge and perform consistency checks. In our framework, emergent inferences can be made from a fused ontology that were not present in any of the individual ontologies, producing novel insights in a given domain.
Powerful tool or too powerful? Early public discourse about ChatGPT across 4 million tweets
Authors: Ng Reuben , Chow Ting Yu Joanne
Published: March 2024

Background

This paper investigates initial exuberance and emotions surrounding ChatGPT’s first three months of launch (1 December 2022–1 March 2023). The impetus for studying active discussions surrounding its implications, fears, and opinions is motivated by its nascent popularity and potential to disrupt existing professions; compounded by its significance as a crucial inflexion point in history. Capturing the public zeitgeist on new innovations—much like the advent of the printing press, radio, newspapers, or the internet—provides a retrospective overview of public sentiments, common themes, and issues.

Objectives

Since launch, few big data studies delved into initial public discourse surrounding the chatbot. This report firstly identifies highest-engagement issues and themes that generated the most interaction; secondly, identifies the highest-engaged keywords on both sides of the sentiment valence scale (positive and negative) associated with ChatGPT.

Methods

We interrogate a large twitter corpus (n = 4,251,662) of all publicly available English-language tweets containing the ChatGPT keyword. Our first research aim utilizes a prominent peaks model (upper-quartile significance threshold of prominence>20,000). Our second research aim utilized sentiment analysis to identify, week-on-week, highest-frequency negative, and positive keywords and emojis.

Results

Six prominent peaks were identified with the following themes: ‘hype and hesitance’, ‘utility and misuse in professional and academic settings’, ‘demographic bias’, ‘philosophical thought experiments on morality’ and ‘artificial intelligence as a mirror of human knowledge’. Of high-frequency valence, negativity included credibility concerns, implicit bias, environmental ethics, employment rights of data annotators and programmers, the ethicality of neural network datasets. Positivity included excitement over application, especially in coding, as a creative tool, education, and personal productivity.

Conclusions

Overall, sentiments and themes were double-edged, expressing excitement over this powerful new tool and wariness toward its potential for misuse.
The joint profiles of cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength on daily physical activity levels in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Longano Paulo , Costa Eduardo Caldas , Costa Renan Massena , Farah Breno Quintella , Wolosker Nelson , Cucato Gabriel Grizzo , Correia Marilia Almeida , Kanegusuku Hélcio , Ritti-Dias Raphael Mendes
Published: March 2024

Introduction

In peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients, the joint profile of low strength and cardiorespiratory fitness on movement behaviors, specifically physical activity levels and sedentary time, remains unclear.

Purpose

To investigate the joint profiles between cardiorespiratory and neuromuscular fitness and daily physical activity among PAD patients.

Methods

Cross-sectional study in a sample of 155 PAD patients. We measured their physical activity level per week using accelerometers, assessed their muscle strength through a sit-to-stand test and cardiorespiratory fitness through a six-minute walk test. Patients were categorized into three groups: those with high strength and cardiorespiratory fitness (NC, n = 28), those with at least one component classified as low (1C, n = 88), and those with both components classified as low fitness (2C, n = 39).

Results

The patients in the 1C and 2C groups spent less time engaged in low-light and moderate activities compared to the NC group (low-light: NC: 2291 ± 680 minutes/week vs. 1C: 1826 ± 649 minutes/week vs. 2C: 1885 ± 651 minutes/week, p = .005; moderate: NC: 2617 ± 796 minutes/week vs. 1C: 2071 ± 767 minutes/week vs. 2C: 2092 ± 776 minutes/week, p = .005) and the patients in the 2C group spent less time engaged in vigorous activities compared to the NC and 1C groups (NC: 155 ± 148 minutes/week vs. 1C: 110 ± 110 minutes/week vs. 2C: 64 ± 70 minutes/week, p = .003).

Conclusion

PAD patients with low strength and/or cardiorespiratory fitness are more likely to spend less time engaging in low-light and moderate physical activities and patients with low fitness in both components are more likely to spend less time engaging in vigorous physical activity.
How to provide existential and spiritual support to people with mild to moderate dementia and their loved ones. A pilot study
Authors: Haufe Marc , Teunissen Saskia , Leget Carlo
Published: March 2024

Background

People with mild to moderate dementia and their loved ones may experience strong existential and spiritual challenges due to the disease. People with dementia could therefore benefit greatly from ongoing conversational support. Within the literature and in supportive practice, there are very few tools that help professionals provide this type of support. Professionals may therefore be unaware of, or uncertain of, how support can be given.

Objective

To develop and test support approaches that may enable professionals to better conduct conversations with attention for existential and spiritual issues.

Methods

Participatory action research was conducted with dementia care professionals who spoke to 62 clients and 36 loved ones. Research consisted of two cycles of analyzing support, formulating strategies to try, testing and reflecting on the success of these actions and formulating new ones. The Diamond model for existential and spiritual issues regarding mild to moderate dementia, developed in previous research, was used as a framework.

Results

Five types of approaches, corresponding to the five fundamental polarities within the basic framework, were found to be helpful in alleviating tensions and bolstering strengths. For issues of self-confidence and -worth, an approach of exploring the felt self was developed; for issues of capacity and adaptability, an exploring daily routines approach; for issues of security and loss, an exploring a trinity of needs approach; for issues of burden and enrichment, an exploring memory approach; and for issues of faith and meaning, an exploring ones’ predicament approach. When exploring these approaches, participants found sets and sequencing of questions and prompts to be helpful and transformative.

Conclusion

Professionals can use the Diamond framework to provide conversational support to alleviate tension, enhance meaning and bolster strength for clients and loved ones.
The great urban shift: Climate change is predicted to drive mass species turnover in cities
Authors: Filazzola Alessandro , Johnson Marc T. J. , Barrett Kimberly , Hayes Sue , Shrestha Namrata , Timms Laura , MacIvor James Scott
Published: March 2024

Human experiences with nature are important for our culture, economy, and health. Anthropogenically-driven climate change is causing widespread shifts in biodiversity and resident urban wildlife are no exception. We modelled over 2,000 animal species to predict how climate change will impact terrestrial wildlife within 60 Canadian and American cities. We found evidence of an impending great urban shift where thousands of species will disappear across the selected cities, being replaced by new species, or not replaced at all. Effects were largely species-specific, with the most negatively impacted taxa being amphibians, canines, and loons. These predicted shifts were consistent across scenarios of greenhouse gas emissions, but our results show that the severity of change will be defined by our action or inaction to mitigate climate change. An impending massive shift in urban wildlife will impact the cultural experiences of human residents, the delivery of ecosystem services, and our relationship with nature.