bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self‐Reconstructed Amorphous CoOx/NiCoB Heterostructure Catalysts for Enhanced HER Performance
Authors: Lu Bowen , Wang Wei , Huang Jian , Gao Haohao , Chen Suhui , Xu Haiwei , Hua Zile , Shi Jianlin
Published: November 2024

Amorphous electrocatalysts exhibit potentials as precursors for triggering the in situ reconstruction to generate the real catalytic active species toward electrochemical processes. In this work, a new kind of amorphous Ni‐Co‐B alloy pre‐catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is reported, which is obtained via a facile electroless plating strategy on the nickel foam (NF). Interestingly, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X‐ray absorption spectroscopy and morphological characterizations identify the in situ reconstruction process during HER accompanied by the preferential leaching of surface B species and the formation of amorphous CoOx nanosheet arrays as the real active sites. Benefiting from the synergistic effect between the surface CoOx layer and the inner unaltered NiCoB phase, the resultant CoOx/NiCoB heterostructure catalyst achieves a low overpotential of 209 mV at the elevated current density of 500 mA cm−2 and maintains stability for 300 h without significant attenuation. Theoretical calculation reveals the electron reconfiguration at the interfaces between the newly formed CoOx and inner NiCoB phases, which is favorable for the stabilization of reconstructed active oxide layers at the reductive potentials for catalyzing HER. Moreover, the CoOx/NiCoB heterostructure optimizes hydrogen adsorption free energies, thereby enhancing HER catalytic activity.
Guiding pulmonary vasodilatory therapy in systemic sclerosis associated pulmonary hypertension using morphology of the right ventricle outflow tract velocity time integral
Authors: Velasco‐Malagon Sergio , Recalde‐Reyes Julia
Published: November 2024

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic, autoimmune disease involving small vessels characterized by skin and internal organs fibrosis. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the main findings, along with pulmonary hypertension, as a marker of morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis is usually late, and therefore treatment is established in the advanced stages of the disease. Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) emerges as a tool at the bedside for shortening diagnostic times and guiding therapy. Here, we performed a multi‐organ POCUS, evidencing the presence of ILD and pulmonary hypertension in a patient with no cardiovascular symptoms suggestive of advanced disease. We did real‐time monitoring of pulmonary vasodilator therapy at the patient's bedside using right ventricle outflow tract velocity time integral morphology (RVOT VTI). Midsystolic notching of RVOT VTI is highly specific for pulmonary hypertension. POCUS is a valuable tool that could improve diagnostic times and optimize therapy monitoring in asymptomatic patients with early manifestations of organic involvement in patients with SSc. This case demonstrates the value of POCUS as a follow‐up tool in treating patients with SSc.
Cyberbullying Detection and Prevention System for Enhancing Online Platform Safety Using Maximum Entropy Model
Authors: Abikoye Oluwakemi Christiana , Gboyega Oluwagbemi , Ogundokun Roseline Oluwaseun , Babatunde Abdulrauph Olarenwaju , Lee Cheng‐Chi
Published: November 2024

The widespread proliferation of social media platforms in the 21st century has undoubtedly brought about a significant shift in how individuals establish connections. However, it is essential to acknowledge that this technological innovation has also given rise to negative repercussions. The proliferation of online abuse, harassment, cyberbullying, and trolling has emerged as a significant concern, overshadowing the otherwise advantageous aspects of digital networking platforms. The detrimental effect of cyberbullying is of considerable concern, which often causes profound psychological and physiological anguish among its targets, sometimes resulting in contemplation of suicide. The proliferation of online harassment occurrences, including disclosing confidential dialogues and spreading detrimental rumors, has engendered extensive apprehension. The present research aims to address the pressing need to identify and mitigate cyberbullying within the context of social media platforms. A rigorous approach was used to gather data from Kaggle, which was further processed utilizing sophisticated methods like tokenization, stemming, and lemmatization. The research used the Maximum Entropy Model to develop a detection system to identify instances of bullying in texts or messages shared on social media sites. The algorithm exhibited a praiseworthy mean accuracy rate of 77% in detecting cases of cyberbullying. The results highlight the capacity of the algorithm to anticipate if remarks entered by individuals on social media might be classified as cyberbullying, representing a noteworthy advancement in addressing this widespread problem. This study supports the broader deployment of the created cyberbullying detection system across all social media platforms. The proactive use of this novel technology enables online platforms to effectively detect and mitigate cyberbullying, cultivating a digital environment characterized by enhanced safety and respect. This research illuminates the significant issue of cyberbullying. It presents a concrete remedy to protect the welfare of those who engage in online activities, particularly those more susceptible to harm, such as women and children.
A Systematic Exploration of Mutation‐Based Fault Localization Formulae
Authors: Wang Bo , Wei Jinkang , Chen Mingda , Chen Chong , Lin Youfang , Zhang Jie M.
Published: November 2024

Fault localization (FL) aims to automatically find the location of bugs in a software program. In the family of FL approaches, spectrum‐based fault localization (SBFL) is the most widely used and has been extensively studied, which computes the suspicious scores of a code element to be buggy via test coverage information. Mutation‐based fault localization (MBFL) further analyses the relationship between mutants and test results. Although MBFL involves more information, it also faces the following limitations. (1) To precisely evaluate suspicious sources, SBFL approaches proposed dozens of formulae based on coverage, while only a few of them have been adopted by MBFL. (2) The current MBFL approaches are based on the assumption that the capability in localizing bugs of each mutant is the same, so they assign the same weight to the mutants that change the test outputs and consider the mutant from the same code element equivalent. In this paper, we intend to enrich the MBFL family by the following two approaches. First, we collect 25 typical SBFL formulae and transform them into MBFL versions. Second, we propose new assumptions that the mutants should have different weights in computing suspicious sources and propose BLMu, a novel MBFL approach that treats mutants differently. We also propose novel metrics for MBFL by considering the high cost of mutation analysis. We perform large‐scale experiments by evaluating all the MBFL approaches against 395 real‐world Java bugs of the Defects4J benchmark. Our evaluation results reveal that BLMu demonstrates a substantial improvement over both MUSE and Metallaxis, the most popular MBFL approaches, at both the statement level and the method level. Specifically, in terms of Top‐1, BLMu improves by 106% at the statement level and 69% at the method level. When compared with other types of FL approaches, MBFL outperforms typical SBFL approaches while still far behind the state‐of‐the‐art learning‐based FL approaches.
The Digital Markets Act and the Principle of Ne Bis in Idem: A Revolution in the Enforcement of EU Competition Law?
Authors: Engel Annegret , Groussot Xavier , Holmberg Emilia
Published: November 2024

This chapter will be discussing the development of the ne bis in idem principle and assessing whether its judicial interpretation and application in the last years can be said to constitute a revolution for the enforcement of EU competition law. The analysis will be divided into pre- and post-DMA litigation, starting from the creation of the principle of ne bis in idem in the interaction between the CJEU and ECtHR case law until after the adoption of the DMA with particular focus on two recent Grand Chamber cases of the CJEU: bpost and Nordzucker. Our main argument is that the post-DMA case law constitutes a major shift in the application of the principle of ne bis in idem and will thus significantly contribute to the enforcement practices under the DMA in particular and EU competition law in general.
A New Framework for Limitation of Fundamental Rights in EU Law?
Authors: Petursson Gunnar Thor
Published: November 2024

Soon the EU Charter will have been a binding part of EU law for 15 years. Different tasks and challenges are facing the EU legislator and the EU Member States now as compared to in 2009, when it entered into force. Therefore, a focused stock-taking is both timely and relevant. In this chapter, the attention will be on the methodological implications the EU Charter has had, when and once it is the starting point and reference legislation in adjudication of Charter rights, in particular in the context of their limitations. Here Article 52(1) of the EU Charter is the focal point, since steering limitation of its rights, and therefore, appropriately considered to be a pivotal provision in the EU Charter. In this article, the evolution of this provision will be analysed, not least in the light of the more recent case-law of the CJEU, with a specific focus on privacy rights, personal data protection and digital rights in general.
EU Digital Competition Law: Starting from Scratch
Authors: Andriychuk Oles
Published: November 2024

The paper discusses the theoretical foundations underpinning the regulatory reform of competition in digital markets introduced by the Digital Markets Act. The area is subject to paradigmatic recalibration, opening up various opportunities as well as raising challenges to the effective functioning of competition in digital markets. The purpose of the paper is to articulate some of these metamorphoses and to offer the preliminary conceptualisation to these processes.
Kraske-Zugang für Tumoren im kaudalen retrorektalen Raum
Authors: Sortino Rosita , Christen Sebastian , Steinemann Daniel , Füglistaler Ida
Published: November 2024

Der Kraske-Zugang, zunächst Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts beschrieben für die Behandlung von Rektumtumoren, verlor seine Popularität zugunsten der von Mills beschriebenen Rektumamputation aufgrund der besseren onkologischen Resultate. Dieser posteriore parasakrale Zugang hat jedoch einen Platz im chirurgischen Angebot gefunden zur Behandlung von retrorektalen Tumoren. Diese werden dank großzügigem Einsatz bildgebender Diagnostik vermehrt diagnostiziert und stellen heutzutage die häufigste Indikation für diese Operationstechnik dar. Die meisten Läsionen sind benigne, jedoch können in diesem Bereich auch primär maligne Tumoren entstehen, oder zunächst benigne Raumforderungen können im Verlauf der Zeit entarten. Außerdem handelt es sich um Entitäten, die oft lange Zeit asymptomatisch bleiben oder unspezifische Symptome zeigen und damit als Zufallsbefund oder erst nach Entwicklung von Komplikationen diagnostiziert werden. Aus diesen Gründen besteht immer die Indikation zur Resektion. Bei einer Lage unterhalb von S3 sollte ein posteriorer Zugang wie der Zugang nach Kraske gewählt werden. In diesem Beitrag wird diese Operationsmethode Schritt für Schritt mit Illustrationen dargestellt. Zusätzlich werden das prä- und postoperative Management und eigene Ergebnisse beschrieben.
Efficacy of palliative hemostatic radiotherapy for tumor bleeding and pain relief in locally advanced pelvic gynecological malignancies
Authors: Meixner Eva , Hoeltgen Line , Dinges Lisa A. , Harrabi Semi , Seidensaal Katharina , Weykamp Fabian , Hoegen-Sassmanshausen Philipp , Vinsensia Maria , König Laila , Deng Maximilian , Debus Jürgen , Hörner-Rieber Juliane
Published: November 2024

Purpose

The appearance of symptomatic tumor-related vaginal bleeding and pain in advanced incurable cancer patients with pelvic gynecological malignancies remains a therapeutic challenge in oncological treatment. The aim of our analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of palliative hemostatic radiotherapy.

Methods

We retrospectively identified patients who had received palliative hemostatic radiotherapy (RT) at our institution between 2011 and 2023 and evaluated acute toxicity, local control, cessation of bleeding, and pain relief.

Results

In total, 40 patients with a median planning target volume of 804 cm3 were treated with a median total dose of 39 Gy in 13 fractions, resulting in 6‑month and 1‑year local control rates of 66.9 and 60.8%, respectively. No higher-grade (>grade III) acute RT-induced toxicity appeared. Complete cessation of bleeding was achieved in 80.0% of all patients after a median of 16 days and pain relief was documented in 60.9% at first follow-up. 37.5% of the women required a blood transfusion and 25% an additional tamponade with local hemostatic agents. Successful stopping of bleeding was significantly less frequent in patients receiving anticoagulation concurrently with radiation and in the case of infield re-irradiation. Patients with a higher total RT dose had cessation of bleeding significantly more often, with a cut-off value of at least EQD2 (α/β = 10) = 36 Gy. The applied RT technique and planning target volume had no significant influence on the occurrence of bleeding cessation.

Conclusion

Palliative hemostatic radiotherapy for locally advanced pelvic gynecological malignancies is safe and effective in achieving high control rates of hemostasis in tumor bleeding and pain relief.
The prognostic importance of glioblastoma size and shape
Authors: Johnstad Claes , Reinertsen Ingerid , Thurin Erik , Dunås Tora , Bouget David , Sagberg Lisa M , Jakola Asgeir S , Solheim Ole
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Extent of resection, MGMT promoter methylation status, age, functional level, and residual tumor volume are established prognostic factors for overall survival in glioblastoma patients. Preoperative tumor volume has also been investigated, but the results have been inconclusive. We hypothesized that the surface area and the shape were more representative of the tumor’s infiltrative capacities, and thus, the purpose of this study was to assess the prognostic value of tumor size and shape in patients with glioblastoma.

Methods

In total, 271 patients with primary, unifocal glioblastoma were included from two centers in Norway and Sweden, respectively. All tumors were automatically segmented on preoperative MRI scans and manually validated. Tumor volume was used as a measurement of size, whereas sphericity index and area-to-volume ratio defined the shape complexity of the tumor. Contact surface area of the tumor was considered a measurement of both size and shape. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the prognostic value of the respective tumor measurements, with previously established prognostic factors as covariates.

Results

There were no associations between preoperative tumor volume and overall survival. Contact surface area (HR = 1.013, p = 0.002) and sphericity index (HR = 2.223, p = 0.001) were both significant independent prognostic factors for survival in the multivariable Cox models. Contact surface area was also associated with MGMT promoter methylation (p = 0.039) and extent of resection (p = 0.017).

Conclusion

Tumor shape complexity appears to be an independent prognostic factor in glioblastoma patients and may also be associated with MGMT promoter methylation status and extent of surgical resection.
Classification of Finite Groups: Recent Developements and Open Problems
Authors: Eick Bettina
Published: November 2024

The theory of group classifications has undergone significant changes in the past 25 years. New methods have been introduced, some difficult problems have been solved and group classifications have become widely available through computer algebra systems. This survey describes the state of the art of the group classification problem, its history, its recent advances and some open problems.
Comparison and identification of human coronary plaques with/without erosion using patient-specific optical coherence tomography-based fluid–structure interaction models: a pilot study
Authors: Zhu Yanwen , Zhao Chen , Wu Zheyang , Maehara Akiko , Tang Dalin , Wang Liang , Gao Zhanqun , Xu Yishuo , Lv Rui , Huang Mengde , Zhang Xiaoguo , Zhu Jian , Jia Haibo , Yu Bo , Chen Minglong , Mintz Gary S.
Published: November 2024

Plaque erosion (PE) with secondary thrombosis is one of the key mechanisms of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) which often leads to drastic cardiovascular events. Identification and prediction of PE are of fundamental significance for disease diagnosis, prevention and treatment. In vivo optical coherence tomography (OCT) data of eight eroded plaques and eight non-eroded plaques were acquired to construct three-dimensional fluid–structure interaction models and obtain plaque biomechanical conditions for investigation. Plaque stenosis severity, plaque burden, plaque wall stress (PWS) and strain (PWSn), flow shear stress (FSS), and ΔFSS (FSS variation in time) were extracted for comparison and prediction. A logistic regression model was used to predict plaque erosion. Our results indicated that the combination of mean PWS and mean ΔFSS gave best prediction (AUC = 0.866, 90% confidence interval (0.717, 1.0)). The best single predictor was max ΔFSS (AUC = 0.819, 90% confidence interval (0.624, 1.0)). The average of maximum FSS values from eroded plaques was 76% higher than that from the non-eroded plaques (127.96 vs. 72.69 dyn/cm2) while the average of mean FSS from erosion sites of the eight eroded plaques was 48.6% higher than that from sites without erosion (71.52 vs. 48.11 dyn/cm2). The average of mean PWS from plaques with erosion was 22.83% lower than that for plaques without erosion (83.2 kPa vs. 107.8 kPa). This pilot study suggested that combining plaque stress, strain and flow shear stress could help better identify patients with potential plaque erosion, enabling possible early intervention therapy. Further studies are needed to validate our findings.
Exploring the Nature-Creativity Connection Across Different Settings: A Scoping Review
Authors: Vella-Brodrick Dianne A. , Lewis Kelsey J. , Gilowska Krystina
Published: November 2024

The widespread benefits of creativity have become more salient in recent years. This has led to scholarly interest in finding ways to foster creativity. Nature immersion may be one way to enhance creativity, particularly as many individuals involved in creative pursuits have found nature to be a source of inspiration and a haven for restoration. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) extension for scoping reviews and the PRISMA-ScR 22 item checklist, we conducted a scoping review to examine the evidence on the relationship between nature and creativity as well as any underlying mechanisms facilitating this relationship. A scoping review was deemed appropriate given the infancy of the topic and the need to understand the broad landscape. Our aim was to present a range of interdisciplinary applications of nature interventions on different types of creative performance. We found 45 publications exploring the relationship between nature and creativity, with the majority (n = 36, 80%) published within the past seven years. Overall, the quantitative studies in our scoping review provided evidence of a significant positive relationship, or effect, between nature and creativity. These relationships held across various types of nature including for wilderness, rural and urban settings, as well as in different applications of creativity such as in the arts, workplace, education, and laboratory conditions. Qualitative and case study research also supported the positive relationship between nature and creativity including in diverse nature settings and in different applications such as in visual arts, design, writing, music, free play in kindergartens, and work. Qualitative studies highlighted potential mechanisms behind this relationship, including time in solitude, appreciation of impermanence, relaxation and inspiration, and disconnection from technology. Moreover, the degree of exposure to nature may be an important consideration for creative performance with more immersive, real-life experiences typical of outdoor nature, tending to be more effective than indoor spaces with window views or indoor plants. These preliminary findings suggest that more opportunities to connect with nature, especially in the outdoors, may help to stimulate creativity in a wide range of settings including education, the creative arts, and workplaces, although more high-quality research examining the sustained effects of nature on creativity is needed.
Biocompatibility and antibacterial properties of medical stainless steel and titanium modified by alumina and hafnia films prepared by atomic layer deposition
Authors: Spajić Ivan , Morais Miguel Gonçalves , Monteiro Cláudia , Martins M. Cristina L. , Pêgo Ana Paula , Milošev Ingrid
Published: November 2024

New methods for producing surfaces with suitable biocompatible properties are desirable due to increasing demands for biomedical devices. Stainless steel 316 L and cp- titanium specimens were coated with thin films of alumina and hafnia deposited using the atomic layer deposition method at two temperatures, 180 and 260 °C. The morphology of the films was analysed using scanning electron microscopy, and their surface energies were determined based on drop contact angle measurements. Biocompatibility assays performed using mesenchymal stem cells were evaluated by incubating the specimens and then exposing their extracts to the cells or directly seeding cells on the specimen surfaces. No detrimental effect was noticed for any of the specimens. Antibacterial properties were tested by directly incubating the specimens with the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Overall, our data show that all prepared films were biocompatible. Alumina films deposited on cp-titanium at 260 °C outperform the other prepared and tested surfaces regarding antiadhesive properties, which could be related to their low surface energy.
Yeast β‒fructosidase-catalyzed synthesis of tyrosol fructoside in mono- and biphasic organic–aqueous systems
Authors: Karkeszová Klaudia , Antošová Monika , Mastihuba Vladimír , Polakovič Milan
Published: November 2024

Tyrosol and its glycosides offer cell protection from oxidative stress and various health benefits. In this study, Saccharomyces cerevisiae β‒fructosidase potential for synthesizing tyrosol fructoside in mono- and biphasic solvent systems was assessed using 1.5 M sucrose, 10 g/L or 25 g/L tyrosol, at pH 6 and 40°C. Monophasic organic–water systems were designed with nine organic solvents (log P ranging from -1.35 to 0.5). Initial rates of sucrose hydrolysis, tyrosol and sucrose transfructosylation and tyrosol fructoside yields were evaluated. The hydrolytic activity increased with the addition of 5–15% organic solvents, revealing no clear correlation between the log P and sucrose hydrolysis rate. Simultaneously, transfructosylation reaction rates decreased, despite lower water activity. Notably, the effect of log P on tyrosol transfructosylation was observed in 70:30 (v/v) aqueous/organic biphasic systems. Differences in tyrosol fructoside synthesis in six biphasic reaction media were attributed to the unequal solubility of tyrosol in the organic phase, impacting its availability for the enzyme. Product yields were either similar to or lower than those in aqueous media, with no tyrosol fructoside partitioning into the organic phase, thus no effect of product stripping could be observed. Consequently, transfructosylation of tyrosol proves most effective in organic solvent-free media.
Mehrfachbenachteiligungen in den Studiengängen des Sozialwesens
Authors: Verlinden Karla , Wen Sebastian
Published: November 2024

Dieser Beitrag untersucht auf Basis der Daten der Sozialerhebung des Sommersemesters 2016, wie häufig unter Studierenden des Sozialwesens Mehrfachbenachteiligungen in Form von kumulierten ökonomischen, sozialen und emanzipatorischen sozialen Ungleichheiten vorkommen und in welchen intersektionalen Strukturkategorien diese gehäuft auftreten. Die Ergebnisse zeigen auf Basis eines gestuften Regressionsmodells besonders häufig Mehrfachbenachteiligungen bei der Gruppe Studierender mit gesundheitlichen Beeinträchtigungen. Betroffen sind jedoch auch ältere Studierende, jene aus finanzschwachen Elternhäusern und weiblich gelesene. Als nicht prädiktiv erweist sich dagegen die Migrationsgeschichte. Die Analysen untermauern die Relevanz der Betrachtung intersektional verschränkter Strukturkategorien. Sie geben allerdings auch Hinweise darauf, dass die herangezogenen Differenzlinien nicht per se zu Benachteiligungen führen.
Mindfulness Meditation Improves Mental Health in Flood Survivors and Disaster Volunteers: A Randomized Wait-List Controlled Trial
Authors: Müller Lena , Rapoport Olga , Rahe Martina
Published: November 2024

Objectives

Being affected by a natural disaster or helping victims can impact mental health. This study aimed to examine whether a digital mindfulness intervention positively affects self-compassion, life satisfaction, and positive affect, and alleviates negative affect, perceived stress, and pathological symptoms in victims and volunteers of the flood disaster in Germany in July 2021.

Method

Participants were 146 people affected by the flood (via house, n = 88; friends, n = 100; workplace, n = 54) and/or volunteered after the disaster (n = 86). After the randomized assignment, 74 received a 6-week application-based mindfulness intervention, and 72 were allocated to the wait-control condition. The control group received the same intervention 6 weeks later. Before (T1) and after (T2) the intervention of the first group and after the intervention of the control group (T3), participants filled out questionnaires regarding different aspects of mental health.

Results

We found significant interaction effects of time and intervention for all variables (self-compassion, life satisfaction, positive and negative affect, perceived stress, and pathological symptoms), indicating effectiveness of the digital mindfulness intervention. No deterioration were found between T2 and T3 in the intervention group for any of the variables.

Conclusions

The 6-week digital mindfulness program positively affected the mental health of both disaster victims and volunteers. Therefore, a digital mindfulness intervention could be a good alternative in situations where group programs or face-to-face meetings are infeasible.
Unveiling user identity across social media: a novel unsupervised gradient semantic model for accurate and efficient user alignment
Authors: Peng Yongqiang , Chen Xiaoliang , Miao Duoqian , Qin Xiaolin , Gu Xu , Lu Peng
Published: November 2024

The field of social network analysis has identified User Alignment (UA) as a crucial area of investigation. The objective of UA is to identify and connect user accounts across diverse social networks, even when there are no explicit interconnections. UA plays a pivotal role in synthesising coherent user profiles and delving into the intricacies of user behaviour across platforms. However, traditional approaches have encountered limitations. Singular embedding techniques have been found to fall short in fully capturing the semantic essence of user profile attributes. Furthermore, classification-based embedding methods lack definitive criteria for categorisation, thereby constraining both the efficacy and applicability of these models. This paper presents a novel unsupervised Gradient Semantic Model for User Alignment (GSMUA) for the purpose of identifying common user identities across social networks. GSMUA categorises user profile information into weak, sub, and strong gradients based on the semantic intensity of attributes. Different gradient semantic levels direct attention to literal features, semantic features, or a combination of both during feature extraction, thereby achieving a full semantic representation of user attributes. In the case of strongly semantic long texts, GSMUA employs Named Entity Recognition (ENR) technology in order to enhance the inefficient handling of such texts. Furthermore, GSMUA compensates for missing user profile attributes by utilising profile information from user neighbours, thereby reducing the negative impact of missing user profile attributes on model performance. Extensive experiments conducted on four pairs of real datasets demonstrate the superiority of our approach. In comparison to the most effective previously developed unsupervised methods, GSMUA demonstrates improvements in hit-precision ranging from 5.32 to 12.17%. When compared to supervised methods, the improvements range from 0.71 to 11.79%.
Ökonomische Auswirkungen eines Werbe- und Sponsoringverbots im geplanten Kinder-Lebensmittel-Werbegesetz (KLWG) für die Medien- und Werbewirtschaft
Authors: Haucap Justus , Loebert Ina , Thorwarth Susanne
Published: November 2024

Das Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft (BMEL) plant ein Gesetz zum Schutz von Kindern vor Werbung für Lebensmittel mit hohem Zucker‑, Fett- oder Salzgehalt (Kinder-Lebensmittel-Werbegesetz – KLWG). Das BMEL möchte so Übergewicht und ernährungsmitbedingte Erkrankungen wie z. B. Adipositas bei Kindern und Jugendlichen reduzieren. Dem bisher bekannten Entwurf des Gesetzes zufolge würde jedoch nicht nur an Kinder, d. h. Personen unter 14 Jahren, gerichtete Werbung für Lebensmittel mit verhältnismäßig hohem Gehalt an Zucker, Salz oder Fett untersagt. Vielmehr würde das KLWG in der vorgeschlagenen Fassung ein nahezu generelles Werbeverbot für fast alle Lebensmittel jenseits von Frischfleisch, Frischfisch, Obst, Gemüse, Hülsenfrüchten, Milch und (ungesüßten) Säften implizieren. Ein Inkrafttreten des Gesetzes würde somit die Werbe- und Kommunikationsmöglichkeiten für (viele) Unternehmen in der Lebensmittelbranche massiv einschränken. Nicht nur auf dem Lebensmittelmarkt wären erhebliche Wettbewerbseffekte zu erwarten, sondern insbesondere auch in der Medienwirtschaft für privatwirtschaftliche Rundfunkunternehmen und Medienagenturen. Damit wirkt das geplante Werbeverbot als „Brandbeschleuniger“ für das schleichende „Mediensterben“ und gefährdet letztlich auch die Meinungs- und Medienvielfalt in Deutschland. In der Konsequenz droht vor allem im dualen Rundfunksystem eine fundamentale Verschiebung.
Planning and Optimisation of Renewable Energy Systems for Decarbonising Operations of Oil Refineries
Authors: Lau Clarence Yii Fang , Chew Yick Eu , How Bing Shen , Andiappan Viknesh
Published: November 2024

Given the urgency to transition to low carbon future, oil refineries need to identify feasible strategies for decarbonisation. One way to address this is by integrating renewable energy systems. However, the high initial costs and intermittency appeared to be the key barriers for the adoption of renewable energy technologies. Hence, a multi-period optimisation model is developed via mixed integer linear programming in this work to determine the optimal renewable energy system in terms of cost and its optimal energy storage technology to enhance its flexibility for oil refinery operations. This model aims to minimise the costs of the renewable energy system while considering its ability to accommodate the varying energy demands across the time periods. An oil refinery case study is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed model. The developed model is expected to propose an optimal renewable energy system that meets the energy demands and, at the same time, achieves the decarbonisation goal. Based on the results, the optimal renewable energy system comprises cost-effective technologies to generate various energy outputs including electricity, hydrogen, high-pressure and medium-pressure steam to meet energy demands. Additionally, the result of the case study shows that the integration of renewable energy systems achieves a reduction of 5,353 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Apart from that, the incorporation of energy-efficient energy storage results in a 10% reduction in the total cost of the optimal renewable energy system. Compressed hydrogen gas storage and battery were used to store excess hydrogen and electricity during periods with low demands and subsequently consumed during peak demand periods. This can, therefore, reduce the technological capacity required. With the aid of storage facilities, the flexibility of the renewable energy system is elevated in meeting varied demands, which otherwise would incur additional expenses.
Factors contributing to severe scoliosis after open chest surgery for congenital heart disease: a case–control analysis
Authors: Kawamura Ichiro , Yamaguchi Toru , Yanagida Haruhisa , Tominaga Hiroyuki , Yamamoto Takuya , Ueno Kentaro , Taniguchi Noboru
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Previous reports have identified factors associated with open chest surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD) and scoliosis. However, these reports included conditions such as Down syndrome and Marfan syndrome, which involve both cardiac disease and scoliosis. The relationships between these factors and open chest surgery remain unclear. This study aimed to identify factors contributing to severe scoliosis in CHD patients who have undergone open chest surgery.

Methods

Seventy-four post-CHD surgery patients with severe scoliosis (Scoliosis group) and 30 post-CHD surgery patients without scoliosis (NS group), excluding those with any syndrome or intellectual disability, were retrospectively analyzed. Patient background characteristics and radiographic parameters were compared between the NS and Scoliosis groups. Furthermore, the patients in the Scoliosis group were classified into three categories, namely, mild scoliosis, moderate scoliosis, and severe scoliosis, and the results were compared among the four groups.

Results

Eighteen patients in the NS group and 63 in the Scoliosis group met the inclusion criteria. Compared with the NS group, the Scoliosis group included significantly more girls and patients who had younger ages at first CHD surgery and multiple open chest surgeries. Severe scoliosis progression was observed in patients who underwent multiple surgeries for severe CHD with cardiomegaly.

Conclusions

Progression to severe scoliosis was noted in patients with younger ages at first CHD surgery and those who underwent multiple surgeries for severe CHD. Assessing spinal deformities should be a key aspect of postoperative care for CHD, particularly in patients with severe CHD who are undergoing multiple chest surgeries.

Level of evidence

III.
Assessing the impact of agriculture value chains on food and water environments in Meerut District, India
Authors: Shahnum Sajida , Shah Mohd Sajid
Published: November 2024

Water and food are interconnected elements crucial for agricultural production and food security. While sufficient water resources have facilitated significant food production, intensive agricultural practices have contributed to the degradation of water resources. Agriculture value chains play a pivotal role in shaping food systems and can lead to virtual water movement through the production and trade of water-intensive crops. These chains affect both water and food environments, with water being a driver and food determining factors like availability and accessibility. Despite the economic benefits, agriculture value chains pose non-economic challenges, including environmental and social impacts. The focus on profitability often overlooks sustainability and equity concerns, leading to mono cropping and exclusion of small farmers from markets. This trend is evident in Meerut district, situated in the fertile Indo Gangetic plain and a top farming state in India. Despite its agricultural potential, the district has shifted towards sugarcane monoculture, impacting water and food environments. This study aims to explore the complex relationship between agriculture value chains, water sustainability, food availability and accessibility. The objectives include understanding these interlinkages, analyzing baseline scenarios, and assessing the implications of value chains on food and water environments. The analysis reveals the adverse effects of sugarcane monoculture on water environment, food environment and agricultural sustainability. To address these challenges, the study puts a way forward to adopt value chains approach for the strategical promotion of crop diversification, emphasizing resilience and sustainability.
Surface Modification of Glass Fiber-Reinforced Composite Posts by Hydrogen Peroxide: A Scoping Review
Authors: Fernandes Valter , Tuttle Camilia , Carvalho Óscar , Henriques Bruno , Novaes de Oliveira Antonio Pedro , Özcan Mutlu , Souza Júlio C. M.
Published: November 2024

On the rehabilitation of endodontic treated teeth using intraradicular retention, adhesive failures often occur between the intraradicular post and the resin-matrix cement. The main aim of this study was to conduct a scoping review on the surface modification of glass fiber-reinforced composite posts by hydrogen peroxide solutions. An electronic search was performed in the PubMed database, using combinations of keywords pursuing articles published between 2010 and 2024 in English language. Of the 13 selected studies, 12 investigated the bond strength between the  glass fiber-reinforced composite (GFRC) post and the resin-matrix cement after the surface treatment of the post, 5 articles analyzed failures using a stereomicroscope, and 7 studies analyzed the surface topography by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Etching procedures with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) altered the surface of the GFRC post by selectively dissolving the matrix without damaging the fibers, resulting in a larger surface area of exposed fibers available to react with the adhesive system or silane. Studies revealed  high bond strength values between the etched GFRC posts to the resin-matrix materials. Surface treatment of GFRC posts with hydrogen peroxide seems promising considering the feasibility on the surface modification resulting in the improvement of bond strength of intraradicular posts to resin-matrix cements.
Minimizing postharvest food losses: a vital strategy to alleviate food insecurity and malnutrition in developing nations: a review
Authors: Khan Ayesha Ashraf , Siddiqui Yasmeen , Siddique Kadambot H. M. , Bobo Jack A. , Ali Asgar
Published: November 2024

As global food production encounters escalating challenges, postharvest losses (PHLs) emerge as a critical yet often overlooked issue. Despite considerable progress in food production, PHLs remain a significant concern, accounting for an average of 14% of food production in 2021. Against the backdrop of 811 million people facing food insecurity and the triple burden of malnutrition, it becomes increasingly evident that reducing food losses offers a sustainable solution to enhancing global food and nutritional security, particularly in developing countries. This review aims to underscore the significance of PHLs, their impact on global food security, and the current PHL scenario in developing nations. Despite the abundance of innovative technologies developed by researchers, accessibility to these technologies remains limited for farmers in many countries. The ongoing struggle and dire circumstances surrounding proper food handling in developing nations necessitate immediate action. Research efforts must focus on assessing the regional applicability, costs, and economic returns of existing technologies for mitigating PHLs. In addition to capital investments, the long-term sustainability of reducing PHLs hinges on ensuring the effective use of these technologies through education and training.

Graphical Abstract
Design and simulation of a smart master switch system based on multi-input XOR logic gate
Authors: Wanzala Jimmy Nabende , Atim Michael Robson
Published: November 2024

Mechanical switches have been the conventional way of controlling electrical energy in different electrical systems such as: lighting systems, socket systems, and circuit breakers, especially in domestic, hospital, and industrial applications. Mechanical switches often require physical access to control different electrical devices that are connected to the power sources. The work presented in this paper aimed at designing and simulating a multi-input based Exclusive-Or master switch system that remotely controls the lighting and socket systems using the wireless switching mechanisms of Global System for Mobile communication and Bluetooth. The system therefore limits physical interaction that require use of the single pole double throw and keypad mechanical switches that are however included to act as fall-back mechanism in control of electrical devices. Within the recommended electrical safety measures, the design can be streamlined and integrated to remotely control lighting systems and sockets alongside the conventional mechanical switches in the consumer control unit.
Augmented reality about Tropical Cyclones in the Dominican Republic: evaluation of learning and cognitive load
Authors: Michel-Acosta Pamela , Pepín-Ubrí Josefina , Chaljub-Hasbún Jeanette
Published: November 2024

Introduction

The Dominican Republic, due to its nature as a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), faces several challenges in the face of extreme weather phenomena such as hurricanes. Therefore, integrating technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) in teaching these topics in class can influence student motivation and improve learning.

Aim

This article has three objectives: 1) to evaluate the learning results of the participating students using the pre-test and post-test methodology; 2) to find out the cognitive load it produces in the participating students and 3) to analyze the relationships between the different types of cognitive load.

Methodology

It has a quantitative approach, with a quasi-experimental design using the pre-test-post-test technique. It was carried out between May and July 2024 and consists of a non-probabilistic sample (N = 45). In addition, the student’s cognitive load was measured when interacting with the AR object, in its three types: internal, external, and relevant.

Results

When comparing the results of the pre-test and post-test, we obtained average values of 3.84 with a high level of variability and 4.75, with less dispersion in the answers. On the other hand, the cognitive load instrument shows high levels of internal consistency with 0.93 for the total instrument. The strongest correlation, 0.93, was obtained between external cognitive load and mental effort invested.

Conclusions

The hypothesis has been tested: participating students have better learning outcomes about hurricanes (tropical cyclones) after interacting with the learning object in AR format.
Drag reduction on micro-trench and micro-post superhydrophobic surfaces underneath a motorboat on the sea
Authors: Yu Ning , del Campo Melchor Francisco Jose , Li Zhaohui “Ray” , Jeon Jihun , Eldredge Jeff D. , Kim Chang-Jin “CJ”
Published: November 2024

Superhydrophobic (SHPo) surfaces can capture a thin layer of air called a plastron under water to reduce skin friction. Although a ~30 % drag reduction has been recently reported with longitudinal micro-trench SHPo surfaces under a boat and in a towing tank, the results lacked the consistency to establish a clear trend. Designed based on Yu et al. (J. Fluid Mech, vol. 962, 2023, A9), this work develops and tests a series of high-performance SHPo surface coupons that can sustain a pinned plastron underneath a passenger motorboat revamped to reach 14 knots. Importantly, plastrons in a pinned state, not just their existence, are confirmed during flow experiments for the first time. All the drag-reduction data measured on different longitudinal micro-trenches are found to collapse if plotted against slip length in wall units. In comparison, aligned posts and transverse trenches show less and little drag reduction, respectively, confirming the adverse effect of the spanwise slip in turbulent flows. This report not only verifies SHPo surfaces can provide a consistent drag reduction at high speeds in open sea but also shows that one may predict the amount of drag reduction in turbulent flows using the physical slip length obtained for Stokes flows.
Borders, Citizenship, and Global Inequality: What Barriers, Pushbacks, and Passport Controls Reveal About Our Understanding of the Equality of Humankind
Authors: Towfigh Emanuel V. , Weyl Niklas T.
Published: November 2024

Borders are ubiquitous. As invisible lines, they contribute to a functioning world order and guarantee security for the people. In the form of walls and fences, they divide society and establish strongholds of prosperity that are not accessible to everyone. A similar effect can be observed in connection with the concept of citizenship, which binds people fatefully to a particular territory and thus significantly determines an individual’s life chances. This article shows how borders and their protection as well as the concept of citizenship challenge fundamental ideas of justice and traces discourses that seek to evolve the current border and citizenship regimes into a more universal and just form of human coexistence.
Responses to Trisokkas, Torsen and McManus
Authors: Pippin Robert
Published: November 2024

Trisokkas raises two objections to my defence of Heidegger's claim against Hegel. Heidegger's claim is that Hegel had dogmatically assumed the priority of ‘logic’ in any inquiry into the meaning of being, thus inheriting the metaphysical tradition's dual assumptions that what must be said to matter most of all in our attempt understand our place in the world and a possible reconciliation with the world is the knowability of being. Everything else can only matter if the world is first of all available as knowable. The claim is not that Hegel cannot develop a ‘science of logic’ or, to use Hegelian shorthand, that Being cannot be understood as Concept. The issue is the status of the Logic, what significance it has in our attempt to understand ourselves and the meaning of being in general. Ultimately Hegel counts as the culmination of the metaphysical tradition because he believes, citing Aristotle, that ‘nous rules the world’, that everything is primordially available to us as rationally available, explicable. This means that even the meaning of the being of human history, sociality, religion and art is as expressions of reason, even as modes of rationality. Trisokkas objects that it is question-begging to saddle Hegel with a question that he is not, in the Science of Logic at least, attempting to answer. He puts this by saying that Hegel is simply not addressing the question of the status or significance of the Logic, that he has not ‘chosen’ to raise any question about what matters to human beings or to Hegel himself, but has chosen an inquiry into being. (‘Mattering is irrelevant at the beginning of Hegel's Logic.’ ‘All being is taken to be, is simply being.’) According to Trisokkas the Logic is simply an inquiry into being's possible determinacy. Trisokkas's second objection is a classic Hegelian objection, the one he himself raised against Schelling. He alleges that any philosophical understanding, even of the nondiscursive sources of meaningfulness, must itself be discursive in some way, as in Heidegger's own analysis or as in my book, and he cites this as evidence against the priority, at least for philosophy, of a nondiscursive attunement to significances. Mattering is a concept and our account of its significance must remain conceptual, not itself ‘poetic’.