bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hoffa’s fat pad resection during total knee arthroplasty does not affect functioning and gait: a double-blind randomized clinical trial
Authors: Benner Joyce L. , Boerma-Argelo Kirsten D.S. , Simon-Konijnenburg Myrthe D. , Hoozemans Marco J.M. , Burger Bart J.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Hoffa’s fat pad is considered a source of anterior knee pain and may limit prosthetic knee function. Resection of Hoffa’s fat pad in total knee arthroplasty (TKA), however, is controversial, and little is known about the functional outcomes including gait quality. This double-blind randomized controlled trial (i) compared functional recovery between TKAs where Hoffa was resected or preserved, and (ii) compared recovery of self-reported function with objective (gait-related) outcomes.

Materials and methods

Eighty-five patients (age 66.4 ± 8.0 years, 47% women) scheduled to undergo TKA for primary osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to either fat pad resection or preservation. Subjective measures of functioning were assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 12 months postoperatively and included the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Kujala, and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain. Objective measures of functioning were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months postoperatively and included instrumented range-of-motion and gait analysis. Longitudinal analyses (generalized estimating equations) were used to compare recovery between groups, and chi-square tests compared attainment of minimal clinical important difference (MCID) and patient acceptable symptom state (PASS). Finally, correlation analyses explored associations between subjective and objective recovery in function.

Results

Resection patients showed poorer improvement in KOOS quality of life in the first 6 weeks (B=–10.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) [-18.91, -1.12], p = .027), but stronger improvement in knee extension after 3 months (B = 3.02, 95%CI [0.45, 5.60], p = .021) compared to preservation patients. Regarding MCID or PASS, no differences were noted between groups at 3 and 12 months (all p > .05). Subjective function substantially improved in the first 3 months, while objective outcomes improved only between 3 and 12 months. Moderate to strong correlations were identified between changes in knee flexion and gait with Kujala and KOOS in the resection but not in the preservation group.

Conclusions

Similar functional outcomes were achieved after TKA with or without resection of Hoffa’s fat pad. Hence, removing the fat pad to promote surgical exposure will not affect functional outcomes including gait quality. Functional recovery of objective outcomes was not always consistent with subjective recovery, suggesting that both self-reported as well as objective, gait-related outcomes may provide meaningful information on functional recovery following TKA.

Trial registration

This clinical trial was prospectively registered under the Netherlands Trial Registry (# NL3638). This registry has recently been replaced by the Dutch Trial Registry where this study can be accessed via https://onderzoekmetmensen.nl/en/trial/20994.
Gefahren für die Autonomie durch gesundheitsbezogenes Self-Tracking
Authors: Hiekel Susanne
Published: August 2024

Das Self-Tracking – und natürlich auch das gesundheitsbezogene Self-Tracking – übt einen Einfluss auf diejenigen aus, die es betreiben. Dieser Einfluss kann (muss aber nicht notwendigerweise) eine Gefahr für die Autonomie der sich selbst trackenden Personen darstellen.

Die Wahrscheinlichkeit ist nicht gering, dass das Self-Tracking mit einer der drei Bedingungen in Konflikt gerät, die nach Beauchamp, Faden und Childress für Autonomie anzusetzen ist: mit der Freiwilligkeitsbedingung. Auf der Grundlage einer Unterscheidung zwischen verschiedenen Formen von manipulierenden Einflüssen – leicht kontrollierenden und substanziell kontrollierenden – argumentiere ich dafür, dass das gesundheitsbezogene Self-Tracking häufig einen leicht kontrollierend manipulativen Einfluss hat, dass dieser aber auch das Ausmaß eines substanziell kontrollierend manipulativen Einflusses und sogar Formen des Zwangs annehmen kann.

Substantiell manipulierendes sowie Self-Tracking, das mit Zwang verbunden ist, stellt eine Verletzung der Freiwilligkeitsbedingung von Autonomie dar. Diese Gefahr einer Autonomieverletzung gilt es bei der Beurteilung von gesundheitsbezogenem Self-Tracking zu berücksichtigen.
Kognitive Verhaltenstherapie für Frauen mit Insomnie in den Wechseljahren
Authors: Ott Simona
Published: August 2024

Hintergrund

Insomnie ist eines der häufigsten Symptome bei Frauen während der Wechseljahre und beeinträchtigt Betroffene sehr.

Ziel der Arbeit

Ziel der Arbeit ist es, den Effekt kognitiver Verhaltenstherapie bei Insomnie (KVT-I) bei Frauen in der Peri- und Postmenopause zu untersuchen.

Material und Methoden

Es werden Studien berücksichtigt, die auf Ovid Medline und Google Scholar publiziert wurden und die Wirkung der KVT‑I bei Frauen in den Wechseljahren untersucht haben. Für Behandlungsoptionen werden die S3-Leitlinien für Insomnie herangezogen.

Ergebnisse

Die KVT‑I ist eine sehr wirkungsvolle Therapie bei Frauen mit Insomnie während der Wechseljahre. In allen untersuchten Studien war sie die Therapie mit den erfolgreichsten Ergebnissen, egal ob die Therapie persönlich oder telefonisch durchgeführt wurde. Die Schlafrestriktionstherapie (SRT) konnte ähnlich überzeugende Ergebnisse liefern. Vor allem in Bezug auf depressive Symptome, maladaptives Denken und die Übererregung sind für die SRT ähnlich gute Wirkungen belegt wie für die KVT‑I. Nicht eindeutige Ergebnisse liegen für den Effekt auf die Funktionsfähigkeit am Tag, die Arbeitsleistung sowie die allgemeine Lebensqualität vor, jedoch waren die Ergebnisse der KVT‑I und SRT diesbezüglich ebenfalls vergleichbar. Die Schlafhygieneaufklärung (SHA) zeigte in allen Studien einen geringen bis keinen Effekt. Patientinnen mit remittierter Insomnie wiesen nach der Therapie eine generell bessere Gesundheit auf.
Organizational Wrongdoing within the Context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals: An Integrative Review
Authors: Heim Irina , Mergaliyeva Lilya
Published: August 2024

Addressing organizational wrongdoing (OW) is crucial for sustainable development. However, there seems to be a lack of structured analysis of this concept within the realm of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). This study aims to map the economic, business, and management literature on OW in relation to the SDGs using metadata extracted from 374 journal articles indexed in the Web of Science database for the period 2000–2023. This study highlights the need for a more systematic approach to understanding complex OW phenomena in the sustainable context. It proposes the foundation for a novel conceptual framework and suggests future research directions. Additionally, this study emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary research for developing comprehensive strategies that align organizational practices with sustainable development objectives.
Socioeconomic Status and Student Learning: Insights from an Umbrella Review
Authors: Tan Cheng Yong
Published: August 2024

Socioeconomic status (SES) has been widely argued to be an important predictor of students’ learning outcomes; the corollary is that low-SES students face immense challenges in their learning. The present study employed an umbrella review, comprising a thematic review and second-order meta-analysis, of 48 reviews relating SES to student learning to critically examine this argument. Results elucidate three sets of insights on the relationship between SES and student learning. First, researchers need to expand the conceptualization of SES from being an objective, individual attribute measuring hierarchical differences in access to resources to a more comprehensive construct incorporating (a) objective and subjective evaluations of (b) individual and collective SES attributes; (c) emphasizing students’ mobilization of capital; and (d) adopting a more diverse, asset-based perspective of SES. Second, the umbrella review provides a nuanced evaluation of the influence of SES in student learning. It yields a mean SES effect size of r = .22 (deemed as large with reference to educational benchmarks, expected students’ achievement gains, and percentile points in achievement tests) but SES effects may be confounded with other demographics. Third, SES needs to be examined from an ecological perspective, given the different mediating and moderating processes pertaining to SES in student learning. The results imply that policies for improving low-SES students’ learning outcomes should comprehensively address multiple factors influencing student learning and avoid a one-size-fits-all approach, enhance disadvantaged students’ access to educational opportunities and resources, affirm the strengths that disadvantaged students bring to their learning, and address structural and systemic inequalities related to poverty, classism, and segregation.
Violence and the Limits of Experience
Authors: Ciocan Cristian
Published: August 2024

The aim of this article is to explore the question of the limits of experience in light of the phenomenology of violence. I begin by emphasizing the specificity of the phenomenological concept of pre-theoretical experience, in contrast with the traditional concept of experience dominated by theoretical and epistemological motives. Consequently, I underscore that violence can be phenomenologically understood only as a lived experience, given in the first person, belonging to an embodied subject, and placed in an antagonistic intersubjective situation. In order to question how the lived experience of violence discloses the limits of experience, I focus on the concept of the limit and discuss its relevance to phenomenological thought, referring to the limits of phenomenology, limit-problems, limit-phenomena, and limit-situations. I then show that we can differentiate between normal and liminal modes of experience, but we are also dealing with a multitude of levels of experience (visual, auditory, tactile, embodied, affective, intersubjective, comprehensive, and discursive), each of which has its own specific limits. I conclude by analyzing how the phenomenon of violence delineates the limits of experience at each of these levels.
Hereditary C1q Deficiency is Associated with Type 1 Interferon-Pathway Activation and a High Risk of Central Nervous System Inflammation
Authors: Triaille Clément , Rao Neha Mohan , Rice Gillian I. , Seabra Luis , Sutherland Fraser J. H. , Bondet Vincent , Duffy Darragh , Gennery Andrew R. , Fournier Benjamin , Bader-Meunier Brigitte , Troedson Christopher , Cleary Gavin , Buso Helena , Dalby-Payne Jacqueline , Ranade Prajakta , Jansen Katrien , De Somer Lien , Frémond Marie-Louise , Chavan Pallavi Pimpale , Wong Melanie , Dale Russell C. , Wouters Carine , Quartier Pierre , Khubchandani Raju , Crow Yanick J.
Published: August 2024

Hereditary C1q deficiency (C1QDef) is a rare monogenic disorder leading to defective complement pathway activation and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like manifestations. The link between impairment of the complement cascade and autoimmunity remains incompletely understood. Here, we assessed type 1 interferon pathway activation in patients with C1QDef. Twelve patients with genetically confirmed C1QDef were recruited through an international collaboration. Clinical, biological and radiological data were collected retrospectively. The expression of a standardized panel of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) in peripheral blood was measured, and the level of interferon alpha (IFNα) protein in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) determined using SIMOA technology. Central nervous system (encompassing basal ganglia calcification, encephalitis, vasculitis, chronic pachymeningitis), mucocutaneous and renal involvement were present, respectively, in 10, 11 and 2 of 12 patients, and severe infections recorded in 2/12 patients. Elevated ISG expression was observed in all patients tested (n = 10/10), and serum and CSF IFNα elevated in 2/2 patients. Three patients were treated with Janus-kinase inhibitors (JAKi), with variable outcome; one displaying an apparently favourable response in respect of cutaneous and neurological features, and two others experiencing persistent disease despite JAKi therapy. To our knowledge, we report the largest original series of genetically confirmed C1QDef yet described. Additionally, we present a review of all previously described genetically confirmed cases of C1QDef. Overall, individuals with C1QDef demonstrate many characteristics of recognized monogenic interferonopathies: particularly, cutaneous involvement (malar rash, acral vasculitic/papular rash, chilblains), SLE-like disease, basal ganglia calcification, increased expression of ISGs in peripheral blood, and elevated levels of CSF IFNα.
A Microlocal Investigation of Stochastic Partial Differential Equations for Spinors with an Application to the Thirring Model
Authors: Bonicelli Alberto , Costeri Beatrice , Dappiaggi Claudio , Rinaldi Paolo
Published: August 2024

On ad-dimensional Riemannian, spin manifold (M, g) we consider non-linear, stochastic partial differential equations for spinor fields, driven by a Dirac operator and coupled to an additive Gaussian, vector-valued white noise. We extend to the case in hand a procedure, introduced in Dappiaggi et al (Commun Contemp Math 27(07):2150075, 2022), for the scalar counterpart, which allows to compute at a perturbative level the expectation value of the solutions as well as the associated correlation functions accounting intrinsically for the underlying renormalization freedoms. This framework relies strongly on tools proper of microlocal analysis and it is inspired by the algebraic approach to quantum field theory. As a concrete example we apply it to a stochastic version of the Thirring model proving in particular that it lies in the subcritical regime if$$d\le 2$$d≤2.
Bifurcation analysis of piecewise-smooth engineering systems with delays through numeric continuation of periodic orbits
Authors: Iklodi Zsolt , Dombovari Zoltan
Published: August 2024

This paper presents a numeric continuation framework for periodic orbits of piecewise-smooth and hybrid dynamical systems with fixed point delays. For the numeric solution of the corresponding infinite dimensional multi-point boundary value problem, a novel discretization and interpolation scheme is developed employing Chebyshev polynomial based spectral collocation techniques. The same approach is employed for the formulation of the corresponding monodromy matrix enabling stability analysis on the found periodic orbits. Special care is attributed to the accurate detection of discontinuity induced bifurcations such as grazing and sliding, and the implemented pseudo-arclength framework is adapted to allow two parameter continuation of these critical points. The capabilities of the developed algorithms are demonstrated on a set of delayed piecewise-smooth and hybrid dynamical systems, showcasing potential engineering applications from the fields of control theory, traffic dynamics modelling, and machine tool vibrations. Finally, a detailed tutorial is attached in the appendix to accompany the open-source release of the developed codebase.
Design of Oxidation-Resistant Alloys Using Combinatorial Approaches with Chemically Graded Materials
Authors: Ghanes Sabrina , Perrut Mikael , Epifano Enrica , Degeiter Matthieu , Vaubois Thomas , Cosquer Yohan , Monceau Daniel
Published: August 2024

This work introduces a new high-throughput method to characterize the oxidation behavior of chemically graded Ni-based alloys in order to feed databases destined to numerical metallurgy approaches. A Ni–wCr–3Al (w ∈ [0, 30]) chemically graded material was obtained from two homogeneous samples by a diffusion couple method at 1300 °C for 100 h. The composition range was selected in order to observe the three types of oxidation behavior identified in the reference work of Giggins and Pettit (Giggins and Pettit in Journal of The Electrochemical Society 118:1782, 1971). The excellent agreement between simulated and experimental diffusion profiles validated the experimental method used to manufacture the chemically graded material (CGM). The CGM was then oxidized at 1200 °C in air. Surface and cross-section characterization was conducted by SEM/EDS and Raman spectroscopy to identify the oxides formed on the CGM. To accelerate the Raman characterization treatment, a method linking principal component analysis and K-means unsupervised clustering algorithm was developed. It allowed for the identification of the oxide type without peak indexation issues and is well suited for CGM. These results show that results similar to well-recognized reference experiments (Giggins and Pettit in Journal of The Electrochemical Society 118:1782, 1971) can be achieved using only one CGM.
MR Molecular Image Guided Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer with Targeted ECO/miR-200c Nanoparticles in Immunocompetent Mouse Tumor Models
Authors: Laney Victoria , Hall Ryan , Yuan Xueer , Hampson Emma , Halle Augusta , Yeung Grace , Bonk Kristen-Weber , Apte Suneel , Winter Jordan , Keri Ruth , Lu Zheng-Rong
Published: August 2024

Objective

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by desmoplasia due to increased deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. This work investigates the efficacy of targeted ECO/miR-200c nanoparticles (ELNP) on ECM remodeling in PDAC and tumor proliferation with MR molecular imaging (MRMI) with MT218 in immunocompetent mouse models.

Methods

The miR-200c mediated regulation of EMT markers was measured in PDAC cells in vitro. Wild-type mice bearing mutated KRAS-driven KPC subcutaneous or orthotopic tumors were dosed weekly with RGD-ELNP/miR-200c at 1 mg-RNA/kg for a total of 4 doses. We utilized MT218-MRMI to non-invasively monitor the alteration of tumor ECM EDN-FN levels by miR-200c and tumor response to the treatment. The changes were also validated by posthumous histopathology.

Results

Transfection of PDAC cells with ELNP/miR-200c downregulated the expression of FN1 and EDB-FN and some mesenchymal markers, inhibiting 3D spheroid formation and migration of KPC PDAC cells. RGD-ELNP/miR-200c treatment resulted in significant signal reduction in the MT218 enhanced MRMI images of both subcutaneous and orthotopic KPC tumors compared to those prior to treatment and treated with a non-specific control. MT218-MRMI results were suggestive of EDB-FN downregulation in tumors, which was later confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Tumor growth in subcutaneous tumors was significantly attenuated with RGD-ELNP/miR-200c and was an observed trend in orthotopic tumors. Substantial necrosis and remodeling were observed in both models treated with RGD-ELNP/miR-200c based on H&E staining.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate the feasibility of RGD-ELNP/miR-200c in modulating PDAC ECM and restraining tumor growth and the utility of MT218-MRMI for non-invasively monitoring miR-200c efficacy.
Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis/hyponatremia in COVID-19
Authors: Peri Alessandro , Naldi Laura , Norello Dario , Fibbi Benedetta
Published: August 2024

Hyponatremia is the most frequent electrolyte alteration among hospitalized patients and it has been reported in 20–40% of patients with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection. Multiple causes of hyponatremia have been hypothesized in these patients. The syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (SIAD) has been considered one of the main reasons leading to hyponatremia in this condition. SIAD can be secondary to cytokines release, in particular IL-6. Positive pressure ventilation can be another cause of hyponatremia due to SIAD. Other possible etiologies of hyponatremia in COVID-19 patients can be related to secondary hypocortisolism, nausea, vomiting, heart and kidney damage. Similar to many other clinical conditions, there is strong evidence that hyponatremia is associated with a worse prognosis also in patients with COVID-19 infection. In particular, hyponatremia has been identified as an independent risk of ICU transfer, need of non-invasive ventilation and death. Hyponatremia in COVID-19 patients is in principle acute and symptomatic and should be treated as such, according to the published guidelines. Therefore, patients should be initially treated with i.v. hypertonic saline (3% NaCl) infusion and serum [Na+] should be frequently monitored, in order to remain within a safe rate of correction. There is evidence showing that serum [Na+] correction is associated with a better outcome in different pathologies, including COVID-19 infection.
Predicting Solar Cycle 26 Using the Polar Flux as a Precursor, Spectral Analysis, and Machine Learning: Crossing a Gleissberg Minimum?
Authors: Rodríguez José-Víctor , Sánchez Carrasco Víctor Manuel , Rodríguez-Rodríguez Ignacio , Pérez Aparicio Alejandro Jesús , Vaquero José Manuel
Published: August 2024

This study introduces a novel method for predicting the sunspot number ($\mathrm{S}_{\mathrm{N}}$

S
N

) of Solar Cycles 25 (the current cycle) and 26 using multivariate machine-learning techniques, the Sun’s polar flux as a precursor parameter, and the fast Fourier transform to conduct a spectral analysis of the considered time series. Using the 13-month running average of the version 2 of the $\mathrm{S}_{\mathrm{N}}$

S
N

provided by the World Data Center—SILSO, we are thus able to present predictive results for the $\mathrm{S}_{\mathrm{N}}$

S
N

until January 2038, giving maximum peak values of 131.4 (in July 2024) and 121.2 (in September 2034) for Solar Cycles 25 and 26, respectively, with a root mean square error of 10.0. These predicted dates are similar to those estimated for the next two polar flux polarity reversals (April 2024 and August 2034). Furthermore, the values for the $\mathrm{S}_{\mathrm{N}}$

S
N

maxima of Solar Cycles 25 and 26 have also been forecasted based on the known correlation between the absolute value of the difference between the polar fluxes of both hemispheres at an $\mathrm{S}_{\mathrm{N}}$

S
N

minimum and the maximum $\mathrm{S}_{\mathrm{N}}$

S
N

of the subsequent cycle, obtaining similar values to those achieved with the previous method: 142.3 ± 34.2 and 126.9 ± 34.2 for Cycles 25 and 26, respectively. Our results suggest that Cycle 25 will have a maximum amplitude that lies below the average and Cycle 26 will reach an even lower peak. This suggests that Solar Cycles 24 (with a peak of 116.4), 25, and 26 would belong to a minimum of the centennial Gleissberg cycle, as was the case in the final years of the 19th and the early 20th centuries (Solar Cycles 12, 13, and 14).
Sparse Bayesian learning using TMB (Template Model Builder)
Authors: Helgøy Ingvild M. , Skaug Hans J. , Li Yushu
Published: August 2024

Sparse Bayesian Learning, and more specifically the Relevance Vector Machine (RVM), can be used in supervised learning for both classification and regression problems. Such methods are particularly useful when applied to big data in order to find a sparse (in weight space) representation of the model. This paper demonstrates that the Template Model Builder (TMB) is an accurate and flexible computational framework for implementation of sparse Bayesian learning methods.The user of TMB is only required to specify the joint likelihood of the weights and the data, while the Laplace approximation of the marginal likelihood is automatically evaluated to numerical precision. This approximation is in turn used to estimate hyperparameters by maximum marginal likelihood. In order to reduce the computational cost of the Laplace approximation we introduce the notion of an “active set” of weights, and we devise an algorithm for dynamically updating this set until convergence, similar to what is done in other RVM type methods. We implement two different methods using TMB; the RVM and the Probabilistic Feature Selection and Classification Vector Machine method, where the latter also performs feature selection. Experiments based on benchmark data show that our TMB implementation performs comparable to that of the original implementation, but at a lower implementation cost. TMB can also calculate model and prediction uncertainty, by including estimation uncertainty from both latent variables and the hyperparameters. In conclusion, we find that TMB is a flexible tool that facilitates implementation and prototyping of sparse Bayesian methods.
The Lubricity of Gases
Authors: Zhang Jie , Wong Janet S. S. , Spikes Hugh A.
Published: August 2024

A sealed reciprocating tribometer has been used to study the influence of different gaseous environments on the friction and wear properties of AISI52100 bearing steel at atmospheric pressure and 25 °C. Helium, argon, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen all give high friction and wear, suggestive of very little, if any tribofilm formation under the conditions studied. Dry air and oxygen also give high friction, slightly lower than the inert gases, but produce extremely high wear, much higher than the inert gases. This is characteristic of the phenomenon of “oxidational wear”. The two gases ammonia and carbon monoxide give relatively low friction and wear, and XPS analysis indicates that this is due to the formation of adsorbed ammonia/nitride and carbonate films respectively. For the hydrocarbon gases studied, two factors appear to control friction and wear, degree of unsaturation and molecular weight. For the saturated hydrocarbons, methane and ethane give high friction and wear but propane and butane give low friction after a period of rubbing that decreases with molecular weight. The unsaturated hydrocarbons all give an immediate reduction in friction with correspondingly low wear. Raman analysis shows that all the hydrocarbons that reduce friction and wear form a carbonaceous tribofilm on the rubbed surfaces.

Graphical Abstract
Microcystin-degrading bacteria reduce bioaccumulation in Fragaria vulgaris and enhance fruit yield and quality
Authors: Haida Mohammed , Khalloufi Fatima El , Essadki Yasser , Alexandrino Diogo A. M. , Mugani Richard , Hejjaj Abdessamad , Campos Alexandre , Vasconcelos Vitor , Carvalho Maria F. , Díez-Quijada Leticia , Cameán Ana M. , Oudra Brahim
Published: August 2024

In Morocco, red fruit production has thrived, primarily utilizing hydroponic methods to control crops, increase fruit yield and quality, and avoid soil-related problems. However, the irrigation of these expansive hydroponic farms relies heavily on water sourced from dams, many of which are contaminated with Microcystins (MCs). To address this contamination issue, ongoing research is focused on discovering effective and cost-efficient biological solutions for eliminating MCs. In this study, we isolate and identify bacterial strains capable of degrading MCs, evaluate the rate of degradation, and investigate how soil inoculated with these bacteria affects the accumulation of MCs in plant tissue. The partial 16S rRNA analyses of three bacterial sequences were conducted, identifying them through NCBI as follows: Ensifer sp. (B1) isolated from soil, Shinella sp. (B2) from a cyanobacterial bloom, and Stutzerimonas sp. (B3) from water. These bacteria exhibited the ability to degrade MCs, with approximately 34.75%, 73.75%, and 30.1% of the initial concentration (20 µg/L) being removed after a 6-day period for B1, B2, and B3, respectively. Moreover, strawberry plants were cultivated hydroponically in a greenhouse for a duration of 90 days. These plants were subjected to extracts of cyanobacteria containing 10 and 20 µg/L of Microcystins (MC), as well as water from an artificial lake contaminated with MC, both with and without the presence of isolated bacterial strains. Among these strains, Shinella sp. exhibited the highest efficacy in mitigating MC accumulation. Specifically, it resulted in a reduction of approximately 1.159 µg of MC per kilogram of root dry weight, leading to complete elimination in the leaves and fruits. The findings also indicated that the inoculation of perlite with the three MC-degrading bacterial strains significantly enhanced growth, photosynthetic pigments, yield, biochemical constituents, and quality attributes of strawberries (p ≤ 0.05). These promising outcomes suggest the potential of this approach for addressing the adverse impacts of crops irrigated with MC-contaminated water in future agricultural practices.
Optimization of indirect wastewater characterization using led spectrophotometry: a comparative analysis of regression, scaling, and dimensionality reduction methods
Authors: Carreres-Prieto Daniel , Fernandez-Blanco Enrique , Rivero Daniel , Rabuñal Juan R. , Anta Jose , García Juan T.
Published: August 2024

LED spectrophotometry is a robust technique for the indirect characterization of wastewater pollutant load through correlation modeling. To tackle this issue, a dataset with 1300 samples was collected, from both raw and treated wastewater from 45 wastewater treatment plants in Spain and Chile collected over 4 years. The type of regressor, scaling, and dimensionality reduction technique and nature of the data play crucial roles in the performance of the processing pipeline. Eighty-four pipelines were tested through exhaustive experimentation resulting from the combination of 7 regression techniques, 3 scaling methods, and 4 possible dimensional reductions. Those combinations were tested on the prediction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total suspended solids (TSS). Each pipeline underwent a tenfold cross-validation on 15 sub-datasets derived from the original dataset, accounting for variations in plants and wastewater types. The results point to the normalization of the data followed by a conversion through the PCA to finally apply a Random Forest Regressor as the combination which stood out These results highlight the importance of modeling strategies in wastewater management using techniques such as LED spectrophotometry.
On Hillert-Style Non-equilibrium Thermodynamics
Authors: Ågren John
Published: August 2024

Hillert often used the combined first and second law of thermodynamics to discuss and derive the principles of equilibrium as well as non-equilibrium thermodynamics. His method will now be reviewed and applied to reactions in homogeneous systems as well as transport processes As an example of homogeneous systems undercooled liquids and glasses is discussed.
Functional Outcomes of Orthotopic Neobladder in Women
Authors: Nseyo Unwanaobong , Ginsberg David
Published: August 2024

Purpose of Review

This review paper summarizes the available literature on the evolution of surgical approach to radical cystectomy in female bladder cancer patients and its impact on functional outcomes in orthotopic neobladder.

Recent Findings

Traditionally, radical cystectomy in female bladder cancer patients has been maximally extirpative with pelvic exenteration. Recently, new techniques which include pelvic organ-sparing, nerve-sparing and vaginal-sparing have demonstrated improved rates of urinary incontinence and retention. Additional techniques include prophylactic apical suspension which reduces the likelihood of pelvic organ prolapse, a risk factor for voiding dysfunction in the setting of orthotopic neobladder.

Surgical management of bladder cancer in female patients has evolved to include surgical approaches which center quality of life and functional outcomes that are unique to female patients who have undergone radical cystectomy with ileal neobladder and can be optimized based on considerations regarding an approach that limits pelvic floor and pelvic nerve disruption.
Managing Obesity in Heart Failure: Latest Evidence and Knowledge Gaps
Authors: Ibrahim Ramzi , Pham Hoang Nhat , Vest Amanda R. , William Preethi
Published: August 2024

Purpose of Review

This review aims to synthesize the latest evidence focused on therapies related to comorbid obesity and heart failure, with particular attention to lifestyle, pharmacological, and surgical modalities.

Recent Findings

Obesity is a common risk factor for heart failure, which can also exacerbate symptom burden of heart failure. Emerging treatments, such as the use of GLP-1 analogs like semaglutide, have shown promising results in improving symptoms and physical limitations in the setting of comorbid heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and obesity. Conversely, the efficacy of such treatments in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction remains uncertain, with some studies suggesting potential adverse outcomes. Lifestyle interventions, including dietary changes and structured exercise programs, may be associated with benefits in terms of functional capacity and symptom burden, and retrospective cohort studies of surgical weight loss have raised the possibility of improvements in medium term survival for patients with baseline HF, challenging the previous notions of the "obesity survival paradox”.

The management of comorbid obesity and heart failure is a rapidly evolving field. The interplay of pharmacological, lifestyle, and surgical interventions highlights the need for personalized treatment plans to mitigate the risks and enhance the quality of life for patients with heart failure. It is hoped that future guidelines will integrate these findings to address the nuances of optimally treating both heart failure and obesity in patients with both conditions.

Graphical Abstract
Enhancing Job Satisfaction for Oncology Staff: Research Versus Inquisitive Conversations
Authors: Samant Rajiv
Published: August 2024

The burden of cancer is increasing, and this is putting incredible strain on the healthcare system, specifically on frontline oncology health care providers. This is well documented in the published literature, and the situation has been exacerbated following the COVID-19 pandemic. There is ample evidence about the concerns of healthcare staff as to what changes are needed to improve their work lives and make them more efficient and effective at their jobs. There can always be more research done in this area, but, more importantly, there is an urgent need to start taking concrete steps and appropriate action to improve the situation so cancer patients can get the best available care possible.
Student wellbeing in vertical schools: a multilayered student voice approach for inclusion and influence
Authors: Gillett-Swan Jenna K. , Willis Jill , Miles Prue
Published: August 2024

Vertical schools are a new type of school in Australia, with little research available to guide designers and school leaders how to address the physical and social challenges that density and interiority add to the students’ schooling experience. As students capably communicate their experiences and perspectives about school spaces for wellbeing, pioneering students in three new vertical schools demonstrated the power of student voice in the Thriving in Vertical Schools project, a 3-year mixed-methods Australian Research Council Linkage project. Young people showed adults how their school spaces enable them to be, feel, and do activities where they feel capable, and how the vertical school environment contributes to wellbeing. Students communicated their voice through multiple layers: the student voice processes (methods), stories with sensory atmospheres (experience), and participating in impactful discussions with adults (action/influence). Adult designers and education leaders were interviewed several weeks after listening to students, identifying how student perspectives had influenced their work. This paper demonstrates how the combination of participatory voice-inclusive methods enabled students to communicate immersive experiences that brought light to interactions for school wellbeing at a level of granularity that adults had not had access to before to influence future designs. This paper argues for the value of attending to student voice and sensitivity in providing choice and options when doing so, so that students are supported to express themselves and their rich experiences in ways of their choosing and ways comfortable to them.
What is known about simulation technologies and their application to Initial Teacher Education: A scoping review
Authors: Hillyar K. , Smithers K. , Deehan J. , MacDonald A.
Published: August 2024

Simulation technologies are emerging as a possible solution to prepare Initial Teacher Education (ITE) students for the classroom and reduce undue pressure on supervising teachers. This paper presents a scoping review that reports on what is currently known regarding simulated technologies and their application to ITE programs. The review scoped the literature published between January 2013 and March 2023, with 16 studies identified for inclusion. Using descriptive statistics and a narrative synthesis method, this review maps the response to different types of simulation technologies and the impact of simulation on ITE students’ teaching skills and pedagogies. Unanimously, the studies agree that simulation is beneficial to ITE students as an authentic preparation tool to strengthen teaching skills and pedagogies. Conversely, ITE student responses to simulation are mixed. The research identifies the need for continued research and development in this emerging field. Longitudinal impacts of simulation in ITE programs are yet to be reported. This review recommends that future research builds upon the initial evidence, including larger participant numbers, clarifying the ideal duration of simulation for ITE students, and taking up a universal definition of simulation.
Maximizing strength and durability in wood concrete (arbolite) via innovative additive control and consumption
Authors: Yagubkin Aleksandr , Shabanov Dmitry , Niyakovskii Aleksandr , Romanovski Valentin
Published: August 2024

A new approach for assessing the effectiveness and determining the consumption of additives to regulate the structural and mechanical characteristics of wood concrete is proposed, which allows rapid assessment in a short time and reduces the consumption of materials. The period is reduced from 28 to 1 day, and the sample sizes are reduced from 150 × 150 × 150 to 20 × 20 × 20 mm compared to those of the standard method. The results obtained are comparable using both methods within an error of up to 7%. The thermal conductivity of wood concrete with the addition of potassium sulfate was 20.8% less than that with the addition of calcium chloride. This reduction will reduce wall thickness, material consumption, and cost by 20.8%. In this regard, potassium sulfate, which does not form crystalline hydrates and makes it possible to obtain a material with lower thermal conductivity than other additives, all other things being equal, has a new advantage for wood concrete. In addition, potassium sulfate reduces the risk of corrosion of cement stone because one of the main causes of corrosion is crystalline hydrates. Reducing the risk of corrosion will increase the durability of the material.
Fertilizer dependency: a new indicator for assessing the sustainability of agrosystems beyond nitrogen use efficiency
Authors: Quemada Miguel , Lassaletta Luis
Published: August 2024

Cropping systems depend on external nitrogen (N) to produce food. However, we lack metrics to account for society’s fertilizer dependency, although excessive increases in N application damage human and environmental health. The objective of this study is to propose a novel indicator, N fertilizer dependency, calculated as the ratio between human-controllable external inputs and total N inputs. Nitrogen fertilizer dependency has a solid mathematical base being derived from closing the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) equation. This study also tests the value of the N fertilizer dependency concept at the cropping system (plant-soil) scale and at different spatial scales, from field to country, as a complementary indicator to promote sustainable production. The field experiments conducted with grain cereals as a main crop showed that when replacing the barley precedent crop with a legume, N fertilizer dependency accounted for soil legacy and was reduced by 15% in fertilized treatments. In a farm population, N fertilizer dependency ranged from 47 to 95% and accounted for the relevance of biological fixation and irrigation water N inputs, adding pertinent information to performance indicators (i.e., NUE). At the country scale, N fertilizer dependency showed different temporal patterns, depending mainly on the relevance of biological atmospheric N fixation. Nitrogen fertilizer dependency of global cropping systems has risen to ≈83% in the last five decades, even though the N exchange among regions has increased. Nitrogen fertilizer dependency has great potential to monitor the achievements of efforts aiming to boost system autonomy, and within similar agricultural systems, it can be used to identify practices that lead to a reduction of fertilizer needs. In summary, N fertilizer dependency is a new indicator to evaluate the agroenvironmental sustainability of cropping systems across the scales and provides a complementary dimension to the traditional indicators such as NUE, N output, and N surplus.
Cold Region River Flood Mapping and Scour Potential Prediction: Insights from Hydraulic Model Using Advanced Autonomous Surface Vehicles
Authors: Atashi Vida , Lim Yeo Howe , Mahmood Taufiq H.
Published: August 2024

This study aimed to map the 2022 flood with a 16.5-year return period near a bridge on the Red River, close to Grafton City, North Dakota, and evaluate the scour potential around the bridge. The Red River Basin (RRB) near Grand Forks, ND, and Emerson, ND, is a cold region river vulnerable to floods. Local scouring around bridge piers during floods can lead to hydraulic structure failure. An Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV) equipped with LiDAR DEM data from the ND DWR’s LiDAR dataset was used to collect comprehensive bathymetry and discharge data, including the 2022 flood. The HEC-RAS model was used to create flood maps, and the Colorado State University (CSU) methodology was employed to assess local scour around the bridge pier. The study area recorded maximum velocities of 1.71 m/s, 1.87 m/s, and 1.56 m/s for discharge values of 368 m3/s, 784 m3/s, and 1335 m3/s, respectively, with higher velocities recorded upstream of the bridge. The maximum water depth reached 13.14 m during the peak discharge of 1335 m3/s. Higher discharge resulted in increased Froude number and contraction scour depth, with the latter continuing to increase even when the Froude number decreased as water reached the bridge deck. The study highlights the effectiveness of integrating ASVs, bathymetry, and LiDAR data to comprehensively understand flood dynamics and bridge scour in cold region rivers, offering the way for the development of effective flood control measures and strategies to safeguard critical infrastructure.
Firm-specific attributes and capital gains overhang
Authors: Helmi Mohamad Husam , Ahmed Mohamed Shaker
Published: August 2024

This paper investigates the key factors driving the capital gains overhang (hereafter CGO) in the US stock market. We used a sample of 3865 non-financial US companies with 331,023 observations from January 2001 through December 2020. The data is analyzed using a panel regression model. It contributes to the literature by using a new set of firm characteristics, namely, liquidity proxied by turnover, company beta, leverage, EPS, cash flow to price, market to book ratio, and size. This research is interesting as it provides an alternative to the behavioral finance point of view that serves only limited stylized facts. We find that CGO is increasing in some firm attributes, namely earnings per share, leverage, growth, and size, and decreasing in others, namely turnover, beta, and cash flow to price. Our results are robust to cross-sectional regression that checks the stability of estimates over time and to subsample analyses. Finally, our results remain the same even after accounting for endogeneity.
Soft Tissue Sarcomas at Atypical Locations in Gynecologic Oncology: A Series of 3 Cases
Authors: Vineet Kumar , Rai Shweta , Chowdhury Zachariah , Kumar Ravinder , Shinghal Abhishek
Published: August 2024

Purpose

The most frequent primary site of sarcomas in gynecologic oncology is uterus (83%) followed by ovary (8%), vulva and vagina (5%). We present three cases of sarcomas at atypical locations.

Method

Records of cases were retrieved from electronic medical records, and telephonic follow-up was done to know their current status.

Result

Case 1: A 26-year-old parous lady presented with complaint of recurrent vulvar mass. Biopsy at our institute revealed myxoid liposarcoma. Metastatic workup was negative. She underwent radical local excision with VY-plasty and bilateral ovarian transposition (BOT) followed by concurrent chemo-radiotherapy. She is disease free at 12 months. Case 2: A 29-year-old lady presented with large bleeding mass arising from right wall of vagina. Histopathology report of vaginal biopsy was high-grade leiomyosarcoma. MRI pelvis with thorax and abdomen scan, examination under anesthesia and cystoscopy revealed non-metastatic operable disease. She underwent radical hysterectomy with vaginectomy with BOT followed by pelvic radiotherapy. At 4-month follow-up, she presented with scalp lesion. Further workup revealed disseminated metastatic disease. She is on palliative chemotherapy at the time of submission or article. Case 3: A 54-year-old lady underwent evaluation for pain abdomen with contrast-enhanced computed tomography which revealed a large omental mass. She had past history of carcinoma cervix 6 years back treated outside with surgery and chemo-radiotherapy. Image-guided biopsy was reported as leiomyosarcoma. Metastatic workup showed no disease elsewhere. She underwent omental mass excision followed by chemotherapy. She is disease free at 13 months.

Conclusion

Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment in non-metastatic sarcomas. Long-term follow-up of patients is needed in view of their atypical presentation.
EnhancedNet, an End-to-End Network for Dense Disparity Estimation and its Application to Aerial Images
Authors: Kang Junhua , Chen Lin , Heipke Christian
Published: August 2024

Recent developments in deep learning technology have boosted the performance of dense stereo reconstruction. However, the state-of-the-art deep learning-based stereo matching methods are mainly trained using close-range synthetic images. Consequently, the application of these methods in aerial photogrammetry and remote sensing is currently far from straightforward. In this paper, we propose a new disparity estimation network for stereo matching and investigate its generalization abilities in regard to aerial images. First, we propose an end-to-end deep learning network for stereo matching, regularized by disparity gradients, which includes a residual cost volume and a reconstruction error volume in a refinement module, and multiple losses. In order to investigate the influence of the multiple losses, a comprehensive analysis is presented. Second, based on this network trained with synthetic close-range data, we propose a new pipeline for matching high-resolution aerial imagery. The experimental results show that the proposed network improves the disparity accuracy by up to 40% in terms of errors larger than 1 px compared to results when not including the refinement network, especially in areas containing detailed small objects. In addition, in qualitative and quantitative experiments, we are able to show that our model, pre-trained on a synthetic stereo dataset, achieves very competitive sub-pixel geometric accuracy on aerial images. These results confirm that the domain gap between synthetic close-range and real aerial images can be satisfactorily bridged using the proposed new deep learning method for dense image matching.