bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pediatric multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis in Germany – diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of an “orphan disease”
Authors: Schäfer Hannah-Lena , Barker Michael , Follmann Peter , Günther Annette , Hörning André , Kaiser-Labusch Petra , Kerzel Sebastian , Maier Christoph , Roth Samra , Schmidt Christian , Schütz Katharina , Stehling Florian , Struffert Marie , Timmesfeld Nina , Vöhringer Paul , Brinkmann Folke
Published: September 2023

Delay in diagnosing multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-pTB) in children prolongs time to effective treatment. Data on risk factors for pediatric MDR from low-incidence countries are scarce. Retrospective nationwide case–control study to analyze MDR-pTB cases in Germany between 2010 and 2020 in comparison to a drug-susceptible (DS)-pTB group. We included 52 MDR cases (24 tuberculosis (TB), 28 TB infection (TBI); mean age 7.3 years) and 56 DS cases (31 TB, 26 TBI; mean age 7.9 years). Groups were similar for sex, household size, and migration background. Compared to the DS group, more children with MDR were born in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) (22% MDR-pTB vs. 13% DS-pTB, n.s.) and had more MDR index cases (94% MDR-pTB, 5% DS-pTB, p < 0.001). The interval between first healthcare contact and initiation of effective therapy was significantly longer in MDR-pTB (47 days) than in DS-pTB (11 days, p < 0.001), correlating with disease progression. Treatment for MDR-pTB was successful in 74%, but 22% experienced long-term adverse effects (e.g., hepatopathy, hearing loss).

Conclusions: Close contact to MDR cases or birth in MDR-TB-high-incidence countries are risk factors for MDR-pTB. Early identification of potential MDR index cases by contact investigation, and susceptibility testing in children from high-burden MDR-TB countries are essential for timely diagnosis and treatment, reducing the severity of disease and treatment side effects.

Trial Registration: Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien (https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00023817), DRKS00023817, 2020–09-08.

What is Known:•Management of children with MDR-TB remains challenging due to difficulties in diagnosing MDR-TB (lack of information on MDR index case, lack of microbiological confirmation in paucibacillary disease).•Choice of treatment regimen and monitoring of side effects.

What is New:•Children with an MDR-TB index or born in a MDR-TB-high-incidence country are at higher risk of developing MDR-TB in a low incidence country.•The time lag to initiate treatment in MDR-TB is longer than in DS-TB and MDR-TB treatment involves a higher risk of adverse effects in longer treatment regimens especially with injectables.
Die Kommunikation von Risiken in der Onkologie
Authors: Wegwarth Odette
Published: September 2023

Eine effiziente Gesundheitsversorgung braucht gut informierte ÄrztInnen und PatientInnen. In unserem gegenwärtigen Gesundheitssystem gibt es beide nicht. Um das Problem zu illustrieren: In einer nationalen Studie mit 412 US-amerikanischen ÄrztInnen wusste die Mehrzahl nicht, dass die Fünf-Jahres-Überlebensstatistik eine irreführende Metrik im Kontext von Screenings ist und basierten fälschlicherweise ihre Screeningempfehlung darauf. Unter deutschen GynäkologInnen gab es nicht eine einzige, die alle Informationen zu Nutzen und Schaden des Mammographiescreenings bereitstellte, deren es für eine informierte Entscheidung bedürfte. Und in einer nationalen Stichprobe von 300 US-BürgerInnen, die an einer oder mehreren Früherkennungsuntersuchungen teilgenommen hatten, waren 91 % von ihren ÄrztInnen nie über die größten Schäden von Früherkennungsuntersuchungen – Überdiagnosen und Überbehandlungen – informiert worden. Warum haben wir diesen Mangel an Risikokompetenz? Die Forschung dokumentiert, dass es weniger kognitive oder emotionale Defizite sind, die Menschen davon abhalten, Evidenz richtig zu verstehen, sondern vielmehr die Art und Weise, wie statistische Informationen präsentiert werden. Was kann gegen den Mangel getan werden? Medizinische Fakultäten sollten damit beginnen, StudentInnen die simplen Techniken der Risikokommunikation beizubringen, um sie dabei zu unterstützen, medizinische Statistiken richtig zu verstehen. Leitlinien zur vollständigen und transparenten Berichterstattung in Fachzeitschriften, Broschüren und den Medien müssen besser durchgesetzt werden, um die Vermittlung tatsächlicher Fakten zu fördern. Eine kritische Masse informierter Menschen wird nicht alle Probleme unseres Gesundheitssystems lösen, aber sie kann der auslösende Faktor für eine bessere Versorgung sein.
Reactive oxygen species creation by laser-irradiated indocyanine green as photodynamic therapy modality: an in vitro study
Authors: Atta Diaa , Elarif Abdelrahman , Al Bahrawy Mohamed
Published: September 2023

Applications of lasers in phototherapy have been the trend for the last few decades. The photodynamic therapy process normally depends on photosensitizers and laser beams. Through this study, indocyanine green has been used as a photosensitizer, which is normally activated using laser lines between 750 and 805 nm. The activity of the indocyanine green to do fluorescence by other pulsed laser sources has been tested by fluorescence technique, and it has been proven that the laser lines at 810, 940, and 980nm are able to excite the indocyanine green with different extents. The indocyanine green activation has been tested by several laser lines (810, 940, and 980 nm) commonly used as surgical lasers. The generated oxygen has been measured after irradiating the indocyanine green with the different laser lines. A comparison has been made between laser irradiation as a pinpoint and a broad beam. It is found that the wide beam is more effective in activating oxygen production. In the end, it is concluded that lines 810 and 940nm were effective in activating the used dye, while the 980nm activity did not show enough efficiency.
Evaluating the impact of public health messages for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in South Africa: temporal versus geospatial trends (2021–2022)
Authors: Wand Handan , Moodley Jayajothi , Derrick Kate , Vujovich-Dunn Cassandra , Reddy Tarylee , Naidoo Sarita
Published: September 2023

Aim

Despite intensive efforts to increase vaccine coverage, South Africa still has a low vaccination rate for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the African region. A comprehensive evaluation of the current vaccine promotion programs is urgently needed to guide policymakers to develop effective tailored programs.

Method

Geoadditive models were used to investigate the geospatial variations in correlates of vaccine hesitancy in South Africa. We used consecutive rounds of “COVID-19 Vaccine Surveys” (CVACS 1, n = 3510 and CVACS 2, n = 3608), which were implemented in 2021–22.

Results

We observed a considerable reduction in vaccine acceptability within less than 3 months. The model predicted degrees of freedom ranged from 4.13 to 12.66 and provided compelling evidence for sub-geographical level variations in vaccine hesitancy across the country. Our data visualization analysis showed strong geospatial correlations between vaccine hesitancy and beliefs. We found that most vaccine hesitancy could be avoided by increasing trust in the vaccine and the government.

Conclusion

Investigating geospatial heterogeneity in correlates of vaccine acceptability may assist in modifying the current vaccine promotion strategies by targeting those who are vaccine hesitant due to unjustified/wrong rumors.
An algorithm based on fuzzy ordinal classification to predict students’ academic performance
Authors: Gámez-Granados Juan C. , Esteban Aurora , Rodriguez-Lozano Francisco J. , Zafra Amelia
Published: September 2023

Predicting students’ performance in distance courses is a very relevant task to help teachers identify students who need reinforcement or extension activities. Nevertheless, identifying the student’s progress is highly complicated due to the large number of students and the lack of direct interaction. Artificial intelligence algorithms contribute to overcoming this problem by automatically analyzing the features and interactions of each student with the e-learning platform. The main limitations of the previous proposals are that they do not consider a ranking between the different marks obtained by students and the most accurate models are usually black boxes without comprehensibility. This paper proposes to use an optimized ordinal classification algorithm, FlexNSLVOrd, that performs a prediction of student’s performance in four ranking classes (Withdrawn < Fail < Pass < Distinction) by generating highly understandable models. The experimental study uses the OULA dataset and compares 10 state-of-the-art methods on 7 different courses and 3 classical classification metrics. The results, validated with statistical analysis, show that FlexNSLVOrd has higher performance than the other models and achieves significant differences with the rest of the proposals. In addition, the interpretability of FlexNSLVOrd is compared with other rule-based models, and simpler and more representative rules are obtained.
Keeping the archives above water: preserving regional heritage in times of accelerated climate change
Authors: Wessell Adele , Thorpe Clare
Published: September 2023

The critical question of how sustainability and resilience can inform archival practice in regional communities is motivated by the experience of flooding in Lismore, Australia, which exposed the vulnerability of local archives to the effects of climate change and the limitations of local infrastructure. Regional historical societies and community organisations serve as a repository for the history of particular communities, preserving records, artefacts and other materials that document the unique stories and experiences of that place. Collections are independently curated and generally run by volunteers but poorly resourced with insufficient space. They are more likely to be subject to extreme weather events that disproportionately impact regional Australia compared to its cities. Regional collections fall outside national strategies for sustainability, digitisation or investment. Without urgent attention to the fate of regional archives, local heritage is under threat, and with it, an understanding of how that history contributes to the national past and the connection to place and community. This paper explores regional archives from the perspective of the local historical records of Lismore, Northern New South Wales, where flooding is a familiar experience that has reached a new intensity in recent years.
Disrupted HSF1 regulation in normal and exceptional brain aging
Authors: Trivedi Rachana , Knopf Bailey , Rakoczy Sharlene , Manocha Gunjan D. , Brown-Borg Holly , Jurivich Donald A.
Published: September 2023

Brain aging is a major risk factor for cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular dementia. The rate of aging and age-related pathology are modulated by stress responses and repair pathways that gradually decline with age. However, recent reports indicate that exceptional longevity sustains and may even enhance the stress response. Whether normal and exceptional aging result in either attenuated or enhanced stress responses across all organs is unknown. This question arises from our understanding that biological age differs from chronological age and evidence that the rate of aging varies between organs. Thus, stress responses may differ between organs and depend upon regenerative capacity and ability to manage damaged proteins and proteotoxicity. To answer these questions, we assessed age-dependent changes in brain stress responses with normally aged wild type and long-lived Dwarf mice. Results from this study show that normal aging unfavorably impacts activation of the brain heat shock (HS) axis with key changes noted in the transcription factor, HSF1, and its regulation. Exceptional aging appears to preserve and strengthen many elements of HSF1 activation in the brain. These results support the possibility that reconstitution of aging brain stress responses requires a multi-factorial approach that addresses HSF1 protein levels, its DNA binding, and regulatory elements such as phosphorylation and protein interactions.
Bloom succession and nitrogen dynamics during snowmelt in a mid-order montane river
Authors: Valett H. Maurice , de Lima Rafael Feijó , Peipoch Marc , Engstrom Royce C.
Published: September 2023

The Upper Clark Fork River (UCFR), Montana, a mid-order well-lit system with contemporary anthropogenic nitrogen (N) enrichment and natural geogenic sources of phosphorus (P), experiences annual algal blooms that influence ecosystem structure and function. This study was designed to assess the occurrence of riverine algal blooms (RABs) in the UCFR by characterizing the succession of periphyton and biogeochemical conditions following annual snowmelt runoff through autumnal baseflow conditions, and to provide a framework for assessing RAB progression in montane mid-order rivers more broadly. Using a 21-year database (2000–2020) collected over the growing season at three sites, historical assessment of the persistent and recurrent character of RABs in the UCFR showed that the magnitude of the summer bloom was, in part, moderated by snowmelt disturbance. Abundance and growth forms of benthic algae, along with river physicochemistry (e.g., temperature) and water chemistry (N and P concentration), were measured over the course of snowmelt recession for three years (2018–2020) at the same three sites. Results documented the onset of major blooms of the filamentous green algae Cladophora across all sites, commensurate with declines in dissolved inorganic N. Atomic N:P ratios of river water suggest successional transitions from P- to N-limitation associated with mid-season senescence of Cladophora and development of a secondary bloom of N-fixing cyanobacteria, dominated by Nostoc cf. pruniforme. Rates of N-fixation, addressed at one of the sites during the 2020 snowmelt recession, increased upon Cladophora senescence to a maximal value among the highest reported for lotic systems (5.80 mg N/m2/h) before decreasing again to background levels at the end of the growing season. Based on these data, a heuristic model for mid-order rivers responding to snowmelt disturbance suggests progression from phases of physical stress (snowmelt) to optimal growth conditions, to conditions of biotic stress later in the growing season. Optimal growth is observed as green algal blooms that form shortly after peak snowmelt, then transition to stages dominated by cyanobacteria and autochthonous N production later in the growing season. Accordingly, interactions among algal composition, reactive N abundance, and autochthonous N production, suggest successional progression from reliance on external nutrient sources to increased importance of autochthony, including N-fixation that sustains riverine productivity during late stages of snowmelt recession.
Pulp delignification and refining: impact on the supramolecular structure of softwood fibers
Authors: Esteves Cláudia Vicente , Brännvall Elisabet , Stevanic Jasna S. , Larsson Per Tomas
Published: September 2023

The effect on softwood fiber wall nanostructure of kraft cooking, oxygen delignification and refining was evaluated by X-ray scattering. A recently developed simulation method for modelling small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data was used to estimate the apparent average sizes of solids (AAPS) and interstitial spaces in the fiber wall (AACS). Fiber saturation point and wide angle X-ray scattering were also used to calculate the pore volume in the fiber wall and the crystallite size of the fibril, respectively. The experimental modelled SAXS data was able to give consistent values for each kraft-cooked and oxygen-delignified pulp. Kraft delignification seems to have the major influence on the fiber nanostructure modification, while oxygen delignification has little or no significant impact even for different kappa numbers. The particle sizes values were more stable than the cavities sizes and no significant differences were seen between different delignification processes, refining or delignification degree. Pulps evaluated after PFI-refining, showed an increase in the fiber wall porosity evaluated by FSP and an increase in the interstitial spaces in the fiber wall, while the crystallite size and the particle sizes were very little or not affected at all.
The Road to a Low Emission Society: Costs of Interacting Climate Regulations
Authors: Bye Brita , Kaushal Kevin R. , Rosnes Orvika , Turner Karen , Yonezawa Hidemichi
Published: September 2023

Transportation is one of the main contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Climate regulations on transportation are often a mix of sector-specific regulations and economy-wide measures (such as emission pricing). In this paper we consider how different and partly overlapping climate regulations interact and what are the effects on economic welfare, abatement costs and emissions? Our focus is on Norway, a nation where high taxation of conventional fossil-fuelled cars has paved the floor for another pillar of climate policies: promotion of electric vehicles (EVs) in private transport. Our contribution to the literature is two-fold. First, we analyse the costs and impacts of the partly overlapping climate regulations in transportation—the cap on domestic non-ETS emissions and the goal of all new cars for private households being EVs—focussing on the outcome in 2030. Second, we respond to a gap in the literature through a methodological development in economy-wide computable general equilibrium (CGE) approaches for climate policy by introducing EV technologies as an explicit transport equipment choice for private households. We find that, for the case of Norway, combining a specific EV target with policy to cap emissions through a uniform carbon price more than doubles the welfare costs.
Weaving together the threads of Indigenous knowledge and mathematics
Authors: Hunter Jodie , Hunter Roberta
Published: September 2023

As in many countries, for decades in Aotearoa (New Zealand), we have heard the story of the Pacific and Māori achievement gap in mathematics. This has become a widely accepted part of beliefs constructed across multiple communities about students and schools and who can do and learn mathematics successfully. A common response by policy makers and educators alike is to fix the problem of those deemed academically bleak by putting in place a range of interventions. In this article, we challenge the positioning of Pacific students as a problem to be fixed and instead focus on how we can address the practices inherent in historical forms of institutionalised racism related to colonisation. We use an Indigenous research model—Tivaevae—to develop an exemplary case study of the teachers and students from one low socio-economic urban school as they were involved in conscientisation and the reconstitution of educational practices to privilege indigenous knowledge systems. The findings highlight one model of how teachers and students can change institutionalised Western world practices in the mathematics classroom. We argue that the shift to honouring indigenous knowledge systems and a strength-based approach provided opportunities for Pacific students to learn mathematics in ways that supported them to build strong mathematical dispositions, and rather than being assimilated, retain their cultural identity.
Does e-commerce ease or intensify tax competition? Destination principle versus origin principle
Authors: Aiura Hiroshi , Ogawa Hikaru
Published: September 2023

This study examines the relationship between e-commerce development and the intensity of commodity tax competition under two tax principles for goods purchased online: the destination principle and the origin principle. The main findings are as follows: Given that origin-based tax is applied to purchases made in brick-and-mortar stores, (i) tax competition under destination-based taxation on e-commerce is more intense than tax competition under origin-based taxation; and (ii) the expansion of the online market intensifies destination-based tax competition while easing origin-based tax competition. The main factor leading to the results is that replacing the choice of “where to purchase” goods, consumers will have a new choice of “how to purchase” when online purchasing becomes available, and destination-based taxation distorts the latter choice, while origin-based taxation is neutral.
Preprocessing of Propagation Redundant Clauses
Authors: Reeves Joseph E. , Heule Marijn J. H. , Bryant Randal E.
Published: September 2023

The propagation redundant (PR) proof system generalizes the resolution and resolution asymmetric tautology proof systems used by conflict-driven clause learning (CDCL) solvers. PR allows short proofs of unsatisfiability for some problems that are difficult for CDCL solvers. Previous attempts to automate PR clause learning used hand-crafted heuristics that work well on some highly-structured problems. For example, the solver SaDiCaL incorporates PR clause learning into the CDCL loop, but it cannot compete with modern CDCL solvers due to its fragile heuristics. We present PReLearn, a preprocessing technique that learns short PR clauses. Adding these clauses to a formula reduces the search space that the solver must explore. By performing PR clause learning as a preprocessing stage, PR clauses can be found efficiently without sacrificing the robustness of modern CDCL solvers. On a large portion of SAT competition benchmarks we found that preprocessing with PReLearn improves solver performance. In addition, there were several satisfiable and unsatisfiable formulas that could only be solved after preprocessing with PReLearn. PReLearn supports proof logging, giving a high level of confidence in the results. Lastly, we tested the robustness of PReLearn by applying other forms of preprocessing as well as by randomly permuting variable names in the formula before running PReLearn, and we found PReLearn performed similarly with and without the changes to the formula.
Brief Parenting Seminars for Preventing Child Behavioral and Emotional Difficulties: a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Foskolos Konstantinos , Gardner Frances , Montgomery Paul
Published: September 2023

Early parenting programs can prevent the development of child behavioral and emotional difficulties. Despite the high prevalence of these difficulties in Greek children aged 2 to 12, no evidence-based parenting programs have been tested in randomized trials in Greece. We pilot-tested the efficacy of a brief parenting intervention for universal prevention of child behavioral and emotional difficulties. Parents from the general population (N = 124) were randomly assigned to receive the Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) Seminar Series (n = 83), or leaflet information on child health (n = 41). Most participants were highly educated mothers with boys and girls aged 2–12, from middle-income, inner-city households. Participants reported on child behavior, parenting style and parenting adjustment, before and after the intervention and six months later. At post-intervention, parent-reported behavioral problems were reduced in the intervention group, but increased in the control group (p = 0.001); these differences remained at 6-month follow-up. Of those in the clinical range (28%) at baseline, significantly more intervention children than control children moved to normal range six months later. Disrupted parenting practices were reduced more in intervention parents at post-intervention but were not maintained at follow-up. No significant differences were found in secondary child behavioral difficulties, child emotional difficulties, parenting confidence and distress over time. This Seminar Series is a brief, easily replicable and likely cost-effective early intervention leading to significant medium-sized reductions over six months in behavioral difficulties, and improvements in disrupted parenting. These findings broadly support other evidence about effective transportability of parenting interventions across countries.
Initial assessment to understand the effect of air temperature on bees as floral visitors in urban orchards
Authors: Ludewig María José , Landaverde-González Patricia , Götz Klaus-Peter , Chmielewski Frank-M.
Published: September 2023

Bees are the most important pollinators and, like many other insects, are facing a global decline that threatens crop pollination services. Both honey bees and some wild bee species are used commercially for pollination, including pollination in blueberry and cherry orchards. In our study, we assessed bee visits to experimental blueberry and cherry orchards immersed in an urban landscape to understand how air-temperature affects the potential contribution of honey bees and wild bees to pollination services. The potential contribution to pollination services was estimated using the Pollination Importance Value index, where the pollen collected by the floral visitor is a determining variable. In our study, bumble bees and honey bees were the most important floral visitors in the orchards, followed by the wild beeAnthophora plumipes. We found that honey bees were affected by changes in air-temperature and their decrease in the potential contribution to pollination services was offset by the niche complementarity provided by bumble bees.

Implications for insect conservation Even small changes in air-temperature can alter bee communities by affecting bee species susceptible to low temperatures. Our work is a first assessment of how climate change may affect the complementarity of pollinator communities in orchards. We suggest that strategies to mitigate local air-temperature changes in urban areas, focusing primarily on these species, could potentially have cascading effects that would support the overall pollination services provided by bee communities.
Pore tracing in additive manufactured and hot isostatic pressed components
Authors: Nudelis Natan , Mayr Peter
Published: September 2023

Despite past scientific efforts and the increased use of hot isostatic pressing (HIP) in additive manufacturing applications, a complete understanding of the exact pore-closing behaviour has yet to be achieved. The present research focuses on laser powder bed fused (LPBF), hot isostatic pressed components made of AlSi10Mg, and process-related defects. The study shows the effect of HIPing in relation to various pore characteristics, such as pore shape, size, and type. A pore tracing method using X-ray data was developed to characterise the pores before and after HIP. The method is based on the k-nearest neighbours approach and allows to match leftover pores with the initial ones. Hence, the efficiency of the pore-closing behaviour for different HIP settings can be analysed. Moreover, the exact number of pore transformations can be tracked, providing a comprehensive insight into the change of pore characteristics during HIP. In this framework, eight different HIP settings and a total number of 274,886 pores were examined and discussed. The findings demonstrate that longer treatment times and higher pressure and temperature settings accelerated the pore transformation. Irregularly shaped and large pores close faster than spherically shaped and smaller ones. Furthermore, regardless of the initial pore type, all pores started transforming their shape towards irregular shapes and small pore diameters. Some pores remained after the HIP treatments, probably due to the inefficiency of HIP in closing pores connected with the component surface or the presence of oxide particles interfering with the diffusion bonding process.
Humans as Creativity Gatekeepers: Are We Biased Against AI Creativity?
Authors: Magni Federico , Park Jiyoung , Chao Melody Manchi
Published: September 2023

With artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly involved in the creation of organizational and commercial artifacts, human evaluators’ role as creativity gatekeepers of AI-produced artifacts will become critical for innovation processes. However, when humans evaluate creativity, their judgment is clouded by biases triggered by the characteristics of the creator. Drawing from folk psychology and algorithm aversion research, we examine whether the identity of the producer of a given artifact as artificial intelligence (AI) or human is a source of bias affecting people’s creativity evaluation of such artifact and what drives this effect. With four experimental studies (N = 2039), of which two were pre-registered, using different experimental designs and evaluation targets, we found that people sometimes—but not always—ascribe lower creativity to a product when they are told that the producer is an AI rather than a human. In addition, we found that people consistently perceive generative AI to exert less effort than humans in the creation of a given artifact, which drives the lower creativity ratings ascribed to generative AI producers. We discuss the implication of these findings for organizational creativity and innovation in the context of human-AI interaction.
A Minimal Probability Space for Conditionals
Authors: Wójtowicz Anna , Wójtowicz Krzysztof
Published: September 2023

One of central problems in the theory of conditionals is the construction of a probability space, where conditionals can be interpreted as events and assigned probabilities. The problem has been given a technical formulation by van Fraassen (23), who also discussed in great detail the solution in the form of Stalnaker Bernoulli spaces. These spaces are very complex – they have the cardinality of the continuum, even if the language is finite. A natural question is, therefore, whether a technically simpler (in particular finite) partial construction can be given. In the paper we provide a new solution to the problem. We show how to construct a finite probability space $$\mathrm {S}^\#=\left(\mathrm\Omega^\#,\mathrm\Sigma^\#,\mathrm P^\#\right)$$

S

#

=

Ω
#

,

Σ
#

,

P
#

in which simple conditionals and their Boolean combinations can be interpreted. The structure is minimal in terms of cardinality within a certain, naturally defined class of models – an interesting side-effect is an estimate of the number of non-equivalent propositions in the conditional language. We demand that the structure satisfy certain natural assumptions concerning the logic and semantics of conditionals and also that it satisfy PCCP. The construction can be easily iterated, producing interpretations for conditionals of arbitrary complexity.
Mobile software aids for people with low vision
Authors: Vrysis Lazaros , Almaliotis Diamantis , Almpanidou Stavroula , Papadopoulou Eleni P. , Oikonomides Konstantinos , Chatzisavvas Konstantinos Ch. , Karampatakis Vasileios
Published: September 2023

The usage of smartphones is increasingly widespread, and the usefulness of mobile applications as low-vision aids is evident but not thoroughly examined. In this study, we surveyed people with low vision to assess the usability of common, preloaded mobile applications, to evaluate the usage of typical assistive technologies of smartphones, and to measure the usefulness, and usability of recent software advancements that can be used as visual aids. We invited 134 low-vision individuals to participate, and 45 of them met the eligibility criteria and completed an in-person survey. The eligibility criteria were as follows: aged 18 years or older and mentally competent, visual acuity worse than 0.4 logMAR with best-corrected glasses in the better-seeing eye, ownership of a smartphone and familiarity with visual assistive technologies. All testing scenarios were carried out using the participants' smartphones, either with Android or iOS operating systems. Participants reported the usefulness and ease of use for common visual display enhancements (i.e., text size, bold text, increased contrast, inverted colors, and dark mode), audio feedback capabilities, four primary preloaded apps (Dialer, Clock, Calculator, and Calendar), and four usage scenarios that serve as low-vision aids (magnify with camera, hard-copy text-to-speech, voice typing, and voice commands). Participants also indicated whether they could use the apps or execute the scenarios independently. The Dialer and Clock apps, text enhancements, camera magnification, and voice typing were rated as highly useful, while the Calendar application received lower ratings. Most of the selected apps or services were rated as easy to use, with lower ratings recorded for the Calendar and Select to Speak ones. Considering the positive results across all options, this collection of apps and services proved useful for all age groups, regardless of gender, technological familiarity, or education. The feedback received in this study can help towards improving the everyday lives of low-vision people as well as informing the design of apps and assistive features, guiding future research and development to enhance visual accessibility on mobile computing devices.
Somatostatin receptor subtype expression and radiomics from DWI-MRI represent SUV of [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC PET in patients with meningioma
Authors: Iglseder Sarah , Iglseder Anna , Beliveau Vincent , Heugenhauser Johanna , Gizewski Elke R. , Kerschbaumer Johannes , Stockhammer Guenther , Uprimny Christian , Virgolini Irene , Dudas Jozsef , Nevinny-Stickel Meinhard , Nowosielski Martha , Scherfler Christoph
Published: September 2023

Objective

This retrospective study aimed to analyse the correlation between somatostatin receptor subtypes (SSTR 1–5) and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) in meningioma patients using Gallium-68 DOTA-D-Phe1-Tyr3-octreotide Positron Emission Tomography ([68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC PET). Secondly, we developed a radiomic model based on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps derived from diffusion weighted magnetic resonance images (DWI MRI) to reproduce SUVmax.

Method

The study included 51 patients who underwent MRI and [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC PET before meningioma surgery. SUVmax values were quantified from PET images and tumour areas were segmented on post-contrast T1-weighted MRI and mapped to ADC maps. A total of 1940 radiomic features were extracted from the tumour area on each ADC map. A random forest regression model was trained to predict SUVmax and the model’s performance was evaluated using repeated nested cross-validation. The expression of SSTR subtypes was quantified in 18 surgical specimens and compared to SUVmax values.

Results

The random forest regression model successfully predicted SUVmax values with a significant correlation observed in all 100 repeats (p < 0.05). The mean Pearson’s r was 0.42 ± 0.07 SD, and the root mean square error (RMSE) was 28.46 ± 0.16. SSTR subtypes 2A, 2B, and 5 showed significant correlations with SUVmax values (p < 0.001, R2 = 0.669; p = 0.001, R2 = 0.393; and p = 0.012, R2 = 0.235, respectively).

Conclusion

SSTR subtypes 2A, 2B, and 5 correlated significantly with SUVmax in meningioma patients. The developed radiomic model based on ADC maps effectively reproduces SUVmax using [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC PET.
Future Directions for the Investigation of Surface-Bounded Exospheres in the Inner Solar System
Authors: Milillo Anna , Sarantos Menelaos , Grava Cesare , Janches Diego , Lammer Helmut , Leblanc Francois , Schorghofer Norbert , Wurz Peter , Teolis Benjamin D. , Murakami Go
Published: September 2023

Surface-bounded exospheres result from complex interactions between the planetary environment and the rocky body’s surface. Different drivers including photons, ion, electrons, and the meteoroid populations impacting the surfaces of different bodies must be considered when investigating the generation of such an exosphere. Exospheric observations of different kinds of species, i.e., volatiles or refractories, alkali metals, or water group species, provide clues to the processes at work, to the drivers, to the surface properties, and to the release efficiencies. This information allows the investigation on how the bodies evolved and will evolve; moreover, it allows us to infer which processes are dominating in different environments. In this review we focus on unanswered questions and measurements needed to gain insights into surface release processes, drivers, and exosphere characterizations. Future opportunities offered by upcoming space missions, ground-based observations, and new directions for modelling are also discussed.
The societal role of universities and their alliances: the case of the EuroTeQ Engineering University
Authors: Fuchs Lukas , Cuevas-Garcia Carlos , Bombaerts Gunter
Published: September 2023

We analyse the creation of European university alliances as an effort to build learning networks between universities in light of newly perceived needs in Europe. The rationales for such alliance formation include cultural integration, grand societal challenges and reforms in the European innovation ecosystem. We consider how alliance formation may be instrumental in achieving closer cooperation and understand alliances as learning networks where universities can share know-how, define strategies and pursue moral reflection. How such learning may take place is illustrated with a case study of the “EuroTeQ Collider”, a joint educational programme by one of the European university alliances. The case illustrates how uneven experience with novel educational formats and stakeholder engagement creates opportunities for exchange and how formulating a common language for joint activities can make universities align their strategies and deliberation.
Microplastic on Mountain Trails—a Case Study from the Carpathian and Sudetes Mountains in Poland
Authors: Lasota Jarosław , Błońska Ewa , Piaszczyk Wojciech , Tabor Sylwester
Published: September 2023

Microplastics are becoming an increasingly common pollutant that can pose a threat to living organisms. The aim of this research was to determine the amount, type, and diversity of microplastics along mountain trails. The study includes three mountain trails, differing in terms of length, difficulty, and number of visitors. The trails were located in the massif of Babia Góra, in the Kościeliska Valley, and Izerska Meadow. During the research, microplastics were determined in snow during the winter period. The research shows high microplastic contamination along the trails. The study area was characterized by the highest content of polyurethane, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, and polypropylene. The tiniest plastic below 0.5 mm dominated in all the sampling points, with a small share of sizes within the range of 3.1–4.0 mm and 4.1–5.0 mm. The isolated microplastics varied in color and shape. The conducted analyses confirm that easier, more frequented trails are characterized by a higher content of microplastics. Trails to Babia Góra, which are more demanding, are characterized by a different composition of microplastics as well as a variety of microplastics in terms of size, shape, and color. In addition, the lower-lying fragments of the examined trails were the most heavily contaminated with microplastics. The results indicate the need for further research on microplastic contamination of the soil environment along mountain trails.
Exploration on the scientific rationality of low-carbon investment projects from the perspective of supply chain: a case study of CS thermal power plant
Authors: Li Zhen , Tian Yushi , Li Shenglan , Huo Zhuoyu , Zhang Hua
Published: September 2023

Climate warming has gradually become a major problem threatening human survival, and countries have begun to pay attention to carbon emissions. Energy conservation and emission reduction has become a central task in China’s economic development since the 14th Five-Year Plan. As the main force of carbon emissions in China, thermal power industry is bound to become the focus of attention in China’s low-carbon development strategy and energy conservation and emission reduction. Moreover, with the marketization of the power industry, the state has joined the market competition at the power generation sectors and the power sale sectors, and implemented the “opening the middle of the two pipes.” Therefore, the coverage of influence of carbon emissions and carbon investment behavior of power generation companies is not limited to itself, but will also be extended to the supply chain level. Based on the above background, this paper evaluates the scientific rationality of low-carbon investment projects of thermal power enterprises from the perspective of low-carbon supply chain, which not only can help enterprises achieve a win–win situation of economic and environmental benefits, but also contribute to the carbon emission reduction of the entire supply chain, thereby promoting China’s entire social and economic energy conservation and emission reduction work.
Evaluating environmental, economic, and social aspects of an intensive pig production farm in the south of Brazil: a case study
Authors: Savian Michelle , da Penha Simon Carla , Holden Nicholas M.
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The objective of this work was to quantify and understand the impacts of intensive pig production at family-farm level. A case study from the west of Santa Catarina State was used to identify adverse issues (hotspots) of pig production by integrating the assessment of the environmental, economic, and social aspects of the system. The quantitative and qualitative indicators calculated can guide and support the decision-making processes for a variety of stakeholders and actors.

Methods

The environmental performance of the pig production system was assessed from cradle-to-farm gate using environmental Life Cycle Assessment methodology set out in ISO 14040 (ISO 2006a). The functional unit (FU) was 1 kg of Liveweight (kg-LW). The structure of the Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) was based on Neugebauer et al. (J Clean Prod 102:165–176, 2015) and Chen and Holden (J Clean Prod 172:1169–1179, 2018), who proposed a tiered framework to evaluate the impacts on the environmental, social, and financial aspects of a product. The economic dimension or Life Cycle Cost (Hunkeler et al. in Environmental life cycle costing. Crc Press, London, 2008) focused on farm-level activities. The social impact was calculated based on the UNEP/SETAC (2009) guidelines.

Results and discussion

The environmental performance of the finishing pig production was slightly lower than reference value for climate impacts, acidification, and eutrophication. The economic impacts tended to be positive, reflecting the efforts of the farmer and employee to maintain high productivity and reduce the number of pig losses in comparison with the reference values. However, this effort did not result in greater profitability, causing low farm income. The impacts of low profitability were not transferred to the employee since the wage were above the reference value. There is a need for more education for small farmers, which is known to have a positive correlation with the adoption of new technologies, thus reducing adverse environmental and social impacts and increasing economic return.

Conclusions

The interaction of social and economic factors suggests it is unlikely that the farm can achieve better environmental performance. The limited economic return and low level of education have a negative impact on the farmer’s capacity to adopt new technologies to improve environmental outcomes. The use of LCSA, based on a consistent model across the three aspects of sustainability, made it possible to understand the interaction of these factors.
On pseudo-Hermitian quadratic nilpotent lie algebras
Authors: Bachaou Mustapha , Bajo Ignacio , Louzari Mohamed
Published: September 2023

We study nilpotent Lie algebras endowed with a complex structure and a quadratic structure which is pseudo-Hermitian for the given complex structure. We propose several methods to construct such Lie algebras and describe a method of double extension by planes to get an inductive description of all of them. As an application, we give a complete classification of nilpotent quadratic Lie algebras where the metric is Lorentz-Hermitian and we fully classify all nilpotent pseudo-Hermitian quadratic Lie algebras up to dimension 8 and their inequivalent pseudo-Hermitian metrics.
Enhanced anaerobic digestion of brewers’ spent grain: effect of inoculum, poultry manure application and iron (iii) chloride supplementation on biogas production and its kinetics
Authors: Edunjobi Tunde David , Agbede Oluseye Omotoso , Aworanti Oluwafunmilayo Abiola , Adebayo Ademola Oyejide , Agarry Samuel Enahoro , Ogunkunle Oyetola , Laseinde Opeyeolu Timothy
Published: September 2023

The brewery industry generates a huge quantity of brewers’ spent grain (BSG) which can pose waste disposal and pollution problems. Anaerobic digestion of BSG, a recalcitrant lignocellulosic waste, is slow but can be enhanced by bioaugmentation, biostimulation and co-digestion to obtain a higher biogas yield. Hence, the effect of inoculum from brewery wastewater sludge (BWWS), iron (III) chloride (FeCl3) and co-digestion with poultry manure (PM) on the production of biogas from BSG was investigated. Cumulative biogas and biomethane yields of 588.19 NL/kgVS and 400.34 NLCH4/kgVS, respectively, were obtained from a slurry consisting of a blend of 60% BSG and 40% PM plus 15 mg L-1 FeCl3 in BWWS, after 30 day retention time at 37 oC. However, mono-digestion of BSG in only water yielded 402.17 NLbiogas/kgVS and 262.86 NLCH4/kgVS. The synergistic effects of inoculum from BWWS, FeCl3 and poultry manure on anaerobic digestion of BSG resulted in 46% and 52% increases in biogas and methane yields, respectively, compared with BSG mono-digestion. The biogas and biomethane production kinetics were well described by the dual pooled first order, logistic and modified Gompertz models.
Dynamic scheduling method for data relay satellite networks considering hybrid system disturbances
Authors: Li Zongling , Chen Xinjiang , Luo Qizhang , Wu Guohua , Wang Ling
Published: September 2023

System disturbances, such as the change of required service durations, the failure of resources, and temporary tasks during the scheduling process of data relay satellite network (DRSN), are difficult to be predicted, which may lead to unsuccessful scheduling of tasks. A high-efficiency and robust DRSN calls for smarter and more flexible disturbances elimination strategies. Here, we unify the above three system disturbances as temporary task arrival and extend the static scheduling model of DRSN. Specifically, we derive and define a scheduling model that unifies the static scheduling and dynamic scheduling processes. Meanwhile, we propose a k-step dynamic scheduling algorithm considering breakpoint transmission (k-steps-BT) to solve the above model. Based on the principle of backtracking algorithm and search tree, k-steps-BT can eliminate disturbances quickly by rescheduling tasks and can determine the rescheduling scheme when temporary tasks arrive. Finally, extensive experiments are carried out to verify the proposed model and algorithm. The results show that the proposed model and algorithm can significantly improve the task completion rate of dynamic scheduling without drastic adjustments to the static scheduling scheme.