bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evolution of Next-Generation Communication Technology
Authors: Sil Riya , Chatterjee Ritwesh
Published: August 2023

In this technological era of wireless communication, various Internet devices and Wi-Fi zone play a significant role in the fast growth of data usage. The communication of people has been revolutionized by mobile communication systems. The rapid increase in the number of users, higher data rate, and requirement for higher bandwidth and voluminous data has become a challenge for Internet service providers. All these requirements are expected to be met by the next-generation communication network. The evolution of next-generation communication technology aims to emphasize the user terminal development that will provide access to various technologies and combine several flows from numerous technologies. In this paper, the authors have provided a detailed overview of the various wireless communication technologies and how it can be enhanced in future. A comparative study of the different generations of communication technologies has been done which includes 1G which has contented the elementary mobile voice, and 2G which has familiarized us with capacity and coverage. The quest continued with 3G for high-speed data that in turn provided a true experience to mobile bandwidth with 4G and finally the next-generation communication technology—5G. The varied variety of telecommunication services such as advanced mobile services, with the help of mobile and fixed networks, can be accessed with the help of the Fourth Generation (4G). The technology in the Fifth Generation (5G) is more advanced, and intelligent and it interconnects with the entire world. Moreover, in this paper, the authors have discussed the various issues and challenges faced in the existing cellular network, the limitation of conventional cellular systems, and the reason for the need for next-generation communication technology. Also, a detailed study on 5G network communication has been deliberated.
Securing the IoT-Based Wireless Sensor Networks in 5G and Beyond
Authors: Ambika N.
Published: August 2023

The previous contribution uses the k-means procedure to create clusters. It converts into a chain route when the threshold content goes beyond the energy of the devices in the system. The information transmitter fuel includes the power of the machine circuitry and the magnitude of facts communication and blowout. The vibrancy helps in communication circuitry. The knowledge packages ship to the destination. The architecture has two stages. The groups form during the clustering stage. The Optimal CBR method uses the k-means procedure to construct groups. It selects the cluster head based on the Euclidean length and device fuel. The verge posted by the group head to the individual set associates is the characteristic weight above which the machine transmits the data to the head. When two-thirds of the devices are lifeless, the instruments use the greedy procedure to construct a chain-like multiple-hop methodology to reach the base station. A beacon transmission is sent by the base station to the active devices in the chaining stage (when the energy of the nodes is lower). The base station creates the path using multiple-hop chain routing and the greedy technique. The devices send the notification to the base station using the chain track. The proposed work increases security by 9.67% when transmitting data and by 11.38% (device getting compromised).
5G and Internet of Things—Integration Trends, Opportunities, and Future Research Avenues
Authors: Bahalul Haque A. K. M. , Oahiduzzaman Mondol Zihad Md. , Rifat Hasan Md.
Published: August 2023

The Fifth Generation Communication System (5G) has revolutionized data (voice, text, and hybrid) transmission and communication. Advanced communication protocol and sophisticated technology open up the opportunity to integrate 5G with other state-of-the-art technologies. Similarly, the Internet of Things combines sensors, actuators, and other devices that network together to collect contextual and environmental data for application-specific purposes. Nowadays, the applications of IoT need a fast data transfer to ensure smooth service. 5G has the potential to achieve this function for IoT. However, the energy-efficient architecture and easy-to-manage 5G-enabled IoT are still developing. Hence, the potential vulnerability issues of 5G-enabled IoT architecture need to be studied. In this paper, firstly, we have comprehensively discussed the fundamental architecture and characteristics of the 5G ecosystem. Later, the paper comprehensively outlined the characteristics and layered architecture of the internet of things. Then, this chapter also explores the requirements of 5G-enabled IoT, Blockchain-based 5G IoT, and 5G with artificial intelligence. Followed by this discussion, the chapter investigates the opportunities of 5G IoT in different domains. Finally, this paper investigates and analyzes the research gaps, challenges, and probable solutions comprehensively in a tabular format.
Enhanced Energy Efficiency and Scalability in Cellular Networks for Massive IoT
Authors: Rajab Husam , Cinkler Tibor
Published: August 2023

The significant expansion of cellular networks has increased their potential to support a wide range of use cases beyond their original purpose of providing broadband access. One such development is using cellular networks to support the Internet of Things (IoT), called Cellular IoT (CIoT). The growth of CIoT is an important trend in the evolution of cellular networks, it leads to broader and more comprehensive ecosystem circumstances. The extensive IoT business evolution is transforming a diverse sector, including health, smart cities, security, and agriculture. Nevertheless, a large scale with very different characteristics and use cases struggle with connectivity challenges due to the unique traffic features of massive IoT and the tremendous density of IoT devices. This study aims to identify the critical obstacles that hinder the widespread deployment of IoT over cellular networks and suggest an innovative algorithm to mitigate them effectively. We discovered that the primary challenges revolve around three specific areas: connection setup, network resource management, and energy consumption. In this regard, we investigate the integration of massive Machine-Type Communication (mMTC) into cellular networks, focusing on the performance of Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) in supporting mMTC.
Security Attacks and Vulnerability Analysis in Mobile Wireless Networking
Authors: Malik Ayasha , Bhushan Bharat , Bhatia Khan Surbhi , Kashyap Rekha , Chaganti Rajasekhar , Rakesh Nitin
Published: August 2023

Security of data is very important while providing communication either by the wired or wireless medium. It is a very challenging issue in the world and the wireless mobile network makes it more challenging. In a wireless mobile network, there is a cluster of self-contained, self-organized networks that form a temporarily multi-hop peer-to-peer radio network, lacking any use of the pre-determined organization. As these networks are mobile and wireless connection links are used to connect these networks through each other, many of the times these kinds of networks are accomplished of self-manage, self-define, and self-configure. Due to their dynamic nature, wireless mobile networks/systems do not have a fixed infrastructure and, due to this, it is more vulnerable to many types of hostile attacks. Different kinds of security attacks that are present in wireless mobile networks are stated in the paper with their spotting and precaution techniques. Furthermore, the paper deliberates on the various types of mobile networks along with their numerous challenges and issues. Moreover, the paper defines the need and goals of security in wireless mobile networks as well as many security attacks along with their detection or prevention methods.
Utilities of 5G Communication Technologies for Promoting Advancement in Agriculture 4.0: Recent Trends, Research Issues and Review of Literature
Authors: Majumdar Parijata , Bhattacharya Diptendu , Mitra Sanjoy
Published: August 2023

The ultrafast 5G network will play a significant role in the farming industry over the upcoming couple of years, serving to boost crop yield and quality while requiring minimal labour. Farmers will be more informed to make smart decisions regarding irrigation by using smart and precision farming. The introduction of 5G will significantly alter the farming characteristics and agriculture practices in this era of Agriculture 4.0. 5G network’s IoT-based cloud computing service offers smart farming solutions that are both flexible and resourceful. This will permit the seamless operation of various unmanned agricultural devices during ploughing, sowing seed and managing phases of crop farming, resulting in secure, dependable, environment-friendly and energy-efficient operations, as well as the creation of unmanned farms. This paper examines the need for and role of smart and precision farming in the agricultural sector incorporating 5G applications in precision farming in the present era of Agriculture 4.0, such as real-time monitoring, data analytics, cloud repositories, virtual consultation and predictive maintenance and also discusses upcoming opportunities. 5G-based IoT solutions focusing towards Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC) like automated control and self-driven vehicles to support rapid response times and higher dependability will diminish communication delays in time-sensitive agriculture applications and non-public networks to allocate part of frequency spectrum on demand, network slicing alternatives are also discussed here.
Security Attacks and Countermeasures in 5G Enabled Internet of Things
Authors: Bahalul Haque A. K. M. , Nausheen Tasfia , Al Mahfuj Shaan Abdullah , Murad Saydul Akbar
Published: August 2023

The use of previous generation networks like 4G was vastly used in the Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The constant need to grow and develop just so the network can fulfill the requirement of IoT devices is still going on. The exponential growth of the data services substantially challenged the security and the networks of IoT because they were run by the mobile internet requiring high bit rate, low latency, high availability, and performances within various networks. The IoT integrates several sensors and data to provide services and a communication standard. Fifth Generation Communication System (5G) enabled IoT devices to allow the seamless connectivity of billions of interconnected devices. Cellular connections have become a central part of the society that powers our daily lives. Numerous security issues have come to light because of the exponential expansion of 5G technologies and the adaptation of the slow counterpart of IoT devices. Network services without security and privacy pose a threat to the infrastructure and sometimes endanger human lives. Analyzing security threats and mitigation is a crucial and fundamental part of the IoT ecosystem. Authorization of data, confidentiality, trust, and privacy of 5G enabled IoT devices are the most challenging parts of the system. And to provide a solution to these, we need a robust system to handle cyberattacks and prevent vulnerabilities by countermeasures. This paper includes a comprehensive discussion of 5G, IoT fundamentals, the layered architecture of 5G IoT, security attacks and their mitigation, current research, and future directions for 5G enabled IoT infrastructure.
Experimental evidence for a thermal limitation of plant cell wall lignification at the alpine treeline
Authors: Büntgen Ulf
Published: August 2023

In their recent article in Alpine Botany (133:63-67, 2023a), Körner et al. revisit the outcome of an interesting experiment from 2009 (Lenz et al., Plant Ecolog Divers 6:365–375, 2013). Although I appreciate the new focus on cell wall lignification, I disagree with their main conclusion. Rather than questioning the role cold temperatures play in cell wall lignification, the authors provide experimental evidence for a thermal threshold under which the secondary cell walls of mountain pines (Pinus uncinata) at the upper treeline in the Swiss Alps exhibit a reduced lignin content.
Adverse outcomes following pelvic fracture: the critical role of frailty
Authors: Forssten Maximilian Peter , Sarani Babak , Mohammad Ismail Ahmad , Cao Yang , Ribeiro Marcelo A. F. , Hildebrand Frank , Mohseni Shahin
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Pelvic fractures among older adults are associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes, with frailty likely being a contributing factor. The current study endeavors to describe the association between frailty, measured using the Orthopedic Frailty Score (OFS), and adverse outcomes in geriatric pelvic fracture patients.

Methods

All geriatric (65 years or older) patients registered in the 2013–2019 Trauma Quality Improvement Program database with an isolated pelvic fracture following blunt trauma were considered for inclusion. An isolated pelvic fracture was defined as any fracture in the pelvis with a lower extremity AIS ≥ 2, any abdomen AIS, and an AIS ≤ 1 in all other regions. Poisson regression models were employed to determine the association between the OFS and adverse outcomes.

Results

A total of 66,404 patients were included for further analysis. 52% (N = 34,292) were classified as non-frail (OFS 0), 32% (N = 21,467) were pre-frail (OFS 1), and 16% (N = 10,645) were classified as frail (OFS ≥ 2). Compared to non-frail patients, frail patients exhibited a 88% increased risk of in-hospital mortality [adjusted IRR (95% CI): 1.88 (1.54–2.30), p < 0.001], a 25% increased risk of complications [adjusted IRR (95% CI): 1.25 (1.10–1.42), p < 0.001], a 56% increased risk of failure-to-rescue [adjusted IRR (95% CI): 1.56 (1.14–2.14), p = 0.006], and a 10% increased risk of ICU admission [adjusted IRR (95% CI): 1.10 (1.02–1.18), p = 0.014].

Conclusion

Frail pelvic fracture patients suffer from a disproportionately increased risk of mortality, complications, failure-to-rescue, and ICU admission. Additional measures are required to mitigate adverse events in this vulnerable patient population.
Preliminary comparative study on the behaviour of highly-loaded glue laminated timber and wood-CFRP composite beams exposed to local fire
Authors: Kawecki B. , Pieńko M. , Lipecki T. , Stachowicz A.
Published: August 2023

The paper presents a complex solution for testing loaded structural-sized glue laminated timber and innovative wood-carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRP) composite beams exposed to local fire. It shows the entire procedure from predicting a static behaviour and a combustion time (from reaching 300 °C temperature of the element up to its fracture) of the tested elements, designing and building an experimental stand, through conducting preliminary tests and discussing the results. The research included combustion of three glue laminated timber (BSH) and three wood-CFRP composite (BSH-CFRP) structural-sized beams in the most loaded section (region of highest bending moment) under three-point bending. A furnace was set under the centre of the beam on one-third of its span. The dimensions of the basket are based on physical properties of firewood providing proper burning conditions of the elements. The self-designed and self-constructed experimental stand enabled applying high load and provided a stable loading during local fire exposure. The preliminary tests showed that using CFRP tapes inside the section may both increase or decrease fire resistance of wooden members depending on the width of wood material covering CFRP tape. CFRP tapes provide a different nature of beam failure, which is changing from sudden fracture (BSH) to plastic flow of the material (BSH-CFRP).
Autologous minced cartilage repair for chondral and osteochondral lesions of the knee joint demonstrates good postoperative outcomes and low reoperation rates at minimum five‐year follow‐up
Authors: Runer Armin , Ossendorff Robert , Öttl Felix , Stadelmann Vincent A. , Schneider Stefan , Preiss Stefan , Salzmann Gian M. , Hax Jakob
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Minced cartilage is a one‐step, autologous procedure with promising short‐term results. The aim of the present study was to evaluate mid‐term results in a patient cohort with chondral and osteochondral lesions in the knee joint treated with minced cartilage.

Methods

From 2015 through 2016, a total of 34 consecutive patients were treated with a single‐step, autologous minced cartilage for knee chondral and osteochondral lesions. Numeric analogue scale (NAS) for pain and knee function were obtained prior to surgery and at 12, 24 and 60 months postoperatively. Secondary outcomes, including Lysholm score, Tegner activity score, and the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, were recorded at final follow‐up. MRI examinations of patients with unplanned radiological follow‐up were analysed using the MOCART (Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue) score.

Results

A total of 28 patients (44.1% females, age at surgery: 29.5 ± 11.5 years) were available at a mean follow‐up of 65.5 ± 4.1 months. Mean defect size was 3.5 ± 1.8 cm2. NAS for pain decreased from a median of 7 (range: 2–10) preoperatively to 2 (0–8) postoperatively. NAS knee function improved from a median of 7 (range: 2–10) to 3 (0–7) after five years, respectively. Satisfactory Lysholm (76.5 ± 12.5), IKDC (71.6 ± 14.8) and Tegner activity (4, range 3–9) scores were reported at final follow‐up. Of all patients, 21(75%) and 19 (67.9%) reached or exceeded the PASS for the IKDC‐ and Lysholm score at final follow‐up, respectively. The average overall MOCART 2.0 scores for all postoperatively performed MRIs (n = 23) was 62.3 ± 17.4. Four (14.2%) postoperative complications were directly linked to minced cartilage, one (3.5%) of which required revision surgery.

Conclusion

One‐step, autologous minced cartilage repair of chondral and osteochondral lesions of the knee without the necessity for subchondral bone treatment demonstrated good patient‐reported outcomes, low complication rates, and graft longevity at mid‐term follow‐up. Minced cartilage represents a viable treatment option to more traditional cartilage repair techniques even in mid‐term.

Level of evidence

Level III.
Soft pneumatic actuators with integrated resistive sensors enabled by multi-material 3D printing
Authors: Lalegani Dezaki Mohammadreza , Sales Rylz , Zolfagharian Ali , Yazdani Nezhad Hamed , Bodaghi Mahdi
Published: August 2023

The concept of soft robots has garnered significant attention in recent studies due to their unique capability to interact effectively with the surrounding environment. However, as the number of innovative soft pneumatic actuators (SPAs) continues to rise, integrating traditional sensors becomes challenging due to the complex and unrestricted movements exhibited by SPA during their operation. This article explores the importance of utilising one-shot multi-material 3D printing to integrate soft force and bending sensors into SPAs. It highlights the necessity of a well-tuned and robust low-cost fabrication process to ensure the functionality of these sensors over an extended period. Fused deposition modelling (FDM) offers a cost-effective solution for embedding sensors in soft robots, directly addressing such necessity. Also, a finite element method (FEM) based on the nonlinear hyper-elastic constitutive model equipped with experimental input is developed to precisely predict the deformation and tip force of the actuators measured in experiments. The dynamic mechanical test is conducted to observe and analyse the behaviour and resistance changes of conductive thermoplastic polyurethane (CTPU) and varioShore TPU (VTPU) during a cyclic test. The flexible sensor can detect deformations in SPAs through the application of air pressure. Similarly, the force sensor exhibits the ability to detect grasping objects by detecting changes in resistance. These findings suggest that the resistance change corresponds directly to the magnitude of the mechanical stimuli applied. Thus, the device shows potential for functioning as a resistive sensor for soft actuation. Furthermore, these findings highlight the significant potential of 3D and 4D printing technology in one-shot fabrication of soft sensor-actuator robotic systems, suggesting promising applications in various fields like grippers with sensors and rehabilitation devices.
Simulation of local metastable microstructural states in large tools: construction and validation of the model
Authors: Schuppener Jannik , Berger Aaron , Benito Santiago , Weber Sebastian
Published: August 2023

This study presents the development and experimental verification of a simulation model for estimating the local microstructure of a tool geometry after heat treatment. The experiment involved subjecting a metallic block of dimensions 40 × 50 × 50 mm, made of the ledeburitic cold work steel DIN EN 1.2379 (X153CrMoV12; AISI D2), to a heat treatment in a laboratory furnace at 1000 °C for 20 min. Thermocouples were strategically placed to record time-temperature profiles at different locations within the block. Following the heat treatment, the local microstructure was determined through quantitative image analysis, and the local hardness was measured as a function of the distance from the block’s edge to its core. These measurements were then correlated with the corresponding time-temperature curves obtained from the thermocouples. To replicate the local time-temperature profiles, the thermophysical properties of the steel were experimentally determined and incorporated into a finite element analysis heat transfer simulation using Abaqus FEA® software. This simulation approach, combined with the MatCalc software, facilitated the calculation of various local microstructural characteristics such as carbide content, carbide type, carbide distribution, and chemical composition of the matrix. Furthermore, the content fractions of the microconstituents of the matrix, including martensite and retained austenite, were determined based on the simulated martensite start temperature, employing an optimized function fitted to experimental data. The developed simulation model offers potential applications in two important areas. Firstly, it can be used to adapt heat treatment processes for tools of different sizes in production, optimizing their mechanical properties. Secondly, it enables efficient optimization of heat treatment routes by considering changing initial states, leading to high process quality in terms of mechanical properties. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the estimation and control of local microstructure in tool geometries through the use of a validated simulation model.
Effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Androgenic Alopecia: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Li Meijia , Qu Kaipan , Lei Qiang , Chen Mingrui , Bian Donghui
Published: August 2023

Background

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common yet difficult-to-treat condition, which is an important psychosocial problem. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy has been considered as a promising treatment for AGA. However, the current evidence on the efficacy of PRP for treating AGA is still controversial. This study evaluated the efficacy of PRP monotherapy in the treatment of AGA.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science to collect randomized controlled trials on use of PRP in AGA for a meta-analysis.

Results

Ten trials with a total 555 treatment units were identified. The hair density in PRP group was significantly higher than control group [MD = 25.09, 95%CI: 9.03–41.15, p = 0.002], but there was no significant difference in hair diameter between two groups [SMD = 0.57, 95%CI: − 0.23 to 1.38, p = 0.16]. Subgroup analyses indicated that hair density was significantly higher among the male-only trials than in the mixed-sex samples (p = 0.02). In addition, neither the split-head design nor the year of publication affected hair density (p = 0.05, p = 0.06). However, hair density was significantly higher in trials with a sample size less than 30 (p = 0.0004).

Conclusions

PRP treatment increased hair density in participants with AGA, but not hair diameter. In terms of hair density, PRP elicits stronger effects in male patients. There was a trend toward differed treatment effect by gender with PRP injection, which warrants further investigation. Especially in the case of female.

Level of Evidence III

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors https://www.springer.com/00266.
Archaeobotanical and palaeoenvironmental analyses from the easternmost Early Neolithic sites at Kamyane-Zavallia (Ukraine) and Nicolaevca V (Moldova)
Authors: Moskal-del Hoyo Magdalena , Kapcia Magda , Salavert Aurélie , Alexandrowicz Witold P. , Saile Thomas , Kiosak Dmytro , Dębiec Maciej
Published: August 2023

Recent archaeological excavations at two Early Neolithic settlements at Kamyane-Zavallia (Ukraine) and Nicolaevca V (Moldova) have provided new plant assemblages. The sites belong to the Linearbandkeramik culture (LBK) and represent its easternmost settlements. In these regions, charred plant macro-remains are still very rarely sampled for and investigated, so these results may shed light on the plant-based economy of the first farmers of this area. Both sites are located in the area of loess soils, in the border zone between deciduous woodland, woodland steppe and steppe. A dominance of Triticum monococcum (einkorn) was evident at both sites, preserved both as grains and chaff (spikelet bases and glume base). Other cereals, including cf. T. dicoccum (emmer), cf. T. timopheevii and Hordeum vulgare (barley) were less frequent. Among wild herbaceous plants, ruderal and segetal communities were represented by species commonly found at LBK sites, including Chenopodium album type, Fallopia convolvulus, Echinochloa crus-galli and Lapsana communis. The majority of these plants are edible and it is also likely that they were used as food. At both sites, remains of awns of Stipa sp. (feather grass) were found, which indicate the existence of grasslands and/or open woodlands in the vicinity. The charcoal assemblages were dominated by a few taxa, such as Fraxinus sp., Quercus sp. and Cornus sp., suggesting that there were some wooded steppe and deciduous forests. Selected plant macro-remains were radiocarbon dated and the results show that they are from ca. 5200 − 5000 cal bc. From the same archaeobotanical samples, snails were analysed and the resulting malacofauna shows a dominance of open-country snails as well as those which might indicate local agricultural practices at both settlements.
Pre-Hispanic terrace agricultural practices and long-distance transfer of plant taxa in the southern-central Peruvian Andes revealed by phytolith and pollen analysis
Authors: Handley Josephine , Branch Nicholas , Meddens Frank M. , Simmonds Michael , Iriarte José
Published: August 2023

The archaeological excavation of two abandoned prehispanic agricultural terraces (Infiernillo and Tocotoccasa) in the Chicha-Soras Valley (Apurimac) in southern-central Peru revealed the presence of palaeosols. The palaeosols represent soil that developed following construction of agricultural terraces during the Middle Horizon. The soil profiles at the current surface developed following reconstruction of the terraces during the Late Intermediate Period. Phytolith analysis revealed an unexpected presence of Arecaceae (palm family) and Marantaceae (arrowroot family) in both terraces, which has been attributed to local cultivation and/or transportation and use of soil, dung, plant material or implements (made of Arecaceae) on the terrace surfaces. Pollen analysis of a nearby wetland (Ayapampa) did not provide evidence for Arecaceae or Marantaceae. Both phytolith and pollen analysis of the terraces and wetland (respectively) indicated thatZea mayswas cultivated locally during the Middle Horizon and Late Intermediate Period, although phytoliths of maize are absent from the wetland record during the Middle Horizon. The presence of Solanaceae and Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae pollen in the wetland may be indicative of cultivation of further important taxa during the Middle Horizon and Late Intermediate Period, which continued into the Late Horizon together withZea mays.
Microsurgical training curriculum in a gynecological breast cancer center: a benefit for patients and surgeons?
Authors: Schmidt Georg , Mayo Theresa , Paepke Stefan , Kiechle Marion , Müller Daniel
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Autologous breast reconstruction improves patient satisfaction and quality of life after mastectomy. In Germany, free flap surgery and implant-based reconstruction is usually separate between reconstructive surgery and gynecology. Cooperation between the specialist disciplines and implementation of microsurgery into breast surgeon training could enhance surgical treatment for breast cancer patients. This evaluation is intended to demonstrate the learning progress within a microsurgical training program and the complication rate in relation to microsurgical experience.

Methods

At the breast cancer center at Klinikum rechts der Isar, TU Munich, a three-stage training program for autologous breast reconstruction and microsurgery for gynecological breast surgeons was developed. Between 2019 and 2022, 74 women received autologous free flap breast reconstruction by a consistent team consisting of a gynecological surgeon in training and an expert microsurgeon. Peri- and postoperative data were collected to analyze the feasibility and safety of a microsurgical training in gynecology.

Results

Within the training, operative steps of free autologous breast reconstruction were increasingly taken over by the gynecological surgeon in training. The analysis showed a decrease in operating times with consistently low complication rates during the training.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that a training in free autologous breast reconstruction for gynecological surgeons is safely feasible through close cooperation between gynecological and reconstructive surgery.
Duodenal neuroendocrine neoplasms on enhanced CT: establishing a diagnostic model with duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumors in the non-ampullary area and analyzing the value of predicting prognosis
Authors: Feng Na , Chen Hai-Yan , Lu Yuan-Fei , Pan Yao , Yu Jie-Ni , Wang Xin-Bin , Deng Xue-Ying , Yu Ri-Sheng
Published: August 2023

Objective

To identify CT features and establish a diagnostic model for distinguishing non-ampullary duodenal neuroendocrine neoplasms (dNENs) from non-ampullary duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (dGISTs) and to analyze overall survival outcomes of all dNENs patients.

Materials and methods

This retrospective study included 98 patients with pathologically confirmed dNENs (n = 44) and dGISTs (n = 54). Clinical data and CT characteristics were collected. Univariate analyses and binary logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent factors and establish a diagnostic model between non-ampullary dNENs (n = 22) and dGISTs (n = 54). The ROC curve was created to determine diagnostic ability. Cox proportional hazards models were created and Kaplan–Meier survival analyses were performed for survival analysis of dNENs (n = 44).

Results

Three CT features were identified as independent predictors of non-ampullary dNENs, including intraluminal growth pattern (OR 0.450; 95% CI 0.206–0.983), absence of intratumoral vessels (OR 0.207; 95% CI 0.053–0.807) and unenhanced lesion > 40.76 HU (OR 5.720; 95% CI 1.575–20.774). The AUC was 0.866 (95% CI 0.765–0.968), with a sensitivity of 90.91% (95% CI 70.8–98.9%), specificity of 77.78% (95% CI 64.4–88.0%), and total accuracy rate of 81.58%. Lymph node metastases (HR: 21.60), obstructive biliary and/or pancreatic duct dilation (HR: 5.82) and portal lesion enhancement ≤ 99.79 HU (HR: 3.02) were independent prognostic factors related to poor outcomes.

Conclusion

We established a diagnostic model to differentiate non-ampullary dNENs from dGISTs. Besides, we found that imaging features on enhanced CT can predict OS of patients with dNENs.
There is no stationary cyclically monotone Poisson matching in 2d
Authors: Huesmann Martin , Mattesini Francesco , Otto Felix
Published: August 2023

We show that there is no cyclically monotone stationary matching of two independent Poisson processes in dimension $$d=2$$

d
=
2

. The proof combines the harmonic approximation result from Goldman et al. (Commun. Pure Appl. Math. 74:2483–2560, 2021) with local asymptotics for the two-dimensional matching problem for which we give a new self-contained proof using martingale arguments.
Topological Art in Simple Galleries
Authors: Bertschinger Daniel , El Maalouly Nicolas , Miltzow Tillmann , Schnider Patrick , Weber Simon
Published: August 2023

Let P be a simple polygon, then the art gallery problem is looking for a minimum set of points (guards) that can see every point in P. We say two points $$a,b\in P$$

a
,
b
∈
P

can see each other if the line segment $${\text {seg}} (a,b)$$

seg
(
a
,
b
)

is contained in P. We denote by V(P) the family of all minimum guard placements. The Hausdorff distance makes V(P) a metric space and thus a topological space. We show homotopy-universality, that is, for every semi-algebraic set S there is a polygon P such that V(P) is homotopy equivalent to S. Furthermore, for various concrete topological spaces T, we describe instances I of the art gallery problem such that V(I) is homeomorphic to T.
A social-aware video sharing solution using demand prediction of epidemic-based propagation in wireless networks
Authors: Jia Shijie , Cui Yan , Su Xiaoyan , Liang Zongzheng
Published: August 2023

The video services that account for the majority of global network traffic consume significant amounts of electricity and network resources to meet the large-scale demand of users. Variations in user interest and social influence lead to high maintenance costs for achieving a dynamic balance between supply and demand, which negatively impacts the sustainable development of video services. In this paper, we propose a social-aware video-sharing solution using demand prediction of epidemic-based propagation in wireless networks (SDPEP). SDPEP constructs a video propagation model based on user “pull” and “push” sharing behaviors and designs an estimation method for calculating the probability of video fetching by investigating user interests and social relationships. SDPEP uses the probability of video fetching to calculate the basic reproduction number during epidemic-based video propagation, predicting user demand during the propagation process. To ensure efficient caching with low-cost adjustments to video distribution, SDPEP employs a caching-based adjustment strategy for distributing videos while maintaining dynamic balance between supply and demand. Extensive testing shows that SDPEP outperforms other state-of-the-art solutions.
Heidelberg ETV score to assess success of ETV in patients with occlusive hydrocephalus: a retrospective single-center study
Authors: Issa Mohammed , Younsi Alexander , Paggetti Filippo , Miotk Nikolai , Seitz Angelika , Bendszus Martin , Wisoff Jeffrey H. , Unterberg Andreas , El Damaty Ahmed
Published: August 2023

In aqueduct stenosis, pressure difference below and above level of obstruction leads to bulging of third ventricular floor (TVF) and lamina terminalis (LT). Endoscopic third ventriculocisternostomy (ETV) is the standard treatment in these patients. We tried to assess success of ETV depending on those two radiological changes in aqueduct stenosis. We implemented “Heidelberg ETV score” retrospectively to assess the state of TVF as well as LT in same manner in midsagittal MR image. Every patient had a preoperative, direct, 3-months and one-year postoperative score from -2 to + 2. We correlated the scores to clinical course to decide whether the score is reliable in defining success of ETV. Between 2017–2021, 67 (mean age 25.6 ± 23.9y) patients treated with ETV were included. Success rate of primary and Re-ETVs was 91% over 46.8 ± 19.0 months. A marked shift of score to the left after surgery in success group was noticed through the distribution of score immediate postoperative, 3-months later; 70.2% showed (+ 2) before surgery, 38.9% scored (0) after surgery and 50.9% showed further score drop to (-1) 3 months later, p < 0.001. In cases of failure, there was initial decrease after surgery followed by increase with ETV-failure (mean time to failure: 7.2 ± 5.7 months) in 100%. Significant difference was noticed in Heidelberg score at postoperative 1-year- and failure-MRI follow-up between two groups, p < 0.001. Heidelberg score describes anatomical changes in third ventricle after ETV and can serve in assessment of MR images to define success of the procedure in patients with aqueduct stenosis.
Emergence, Continuity, and Scientific Realism
Authors: Dieks Dennis
Published: August 2023

Scientific realism postulates that science aims for truth in both the domains of the observable and the unobservable, and is capable of achieving this aim, at least approximately. From the realist perspective our current scientific theories are on the right path to their aim, encapsulating a significant degree of theoretical truth. A key argument supporting this viewpoint is the continuity observed between successive scientific theories, interpreted as the preservation of truth. However, we contend that this continuity argument is problematic in significant cases. Features of older theoretical schemes frequently do not persist in subsequent theories but emerge as limiting cases with restricted applicability domains and fine-grained structures that differ from what the older theories deemed possible. The alterations accompanying theory replacement are often more drastic than what is assumed by realist intuition, justifying skepticism about continuity serving as an indicator of theoretical truth preservation. We propose an argument wherein continuity is instead viewed as a consequence of empirical success preservation.
The role of aftercare in plant translocation
Authors: Corli Anna , Rocchetti Giulia Albani , Orsenigo Simone , Possley Jennifer , Abeli Thomas
Published: August 2023

Plant translocation can increase the chances of long-term survival of threatened plant species; nevertheless, can be costly and challenging, with unknowns in the pre- and post-release phases, limiting success. Methodological advances have been made in the pre-release phase but long-term monitoring and post-release site management (i.e., “aftercare”) are not always applied and almost neglected in the literature despite being frequently effective for identifying and mitigating unexpected threats (e.g., interspecific competition, herbivory) to outplant survival.

Aiming to fill this gap, we reviewed published and gray literature on 296 translocations to shed light on the importance of aftercare on translocation outcome. We identified the most common aftercare techniques, then we performed a meta-analysis on a subset of studies that were specifically designed to test the effect of aftercare against a control (i.e., no aftercare).

The most common aftercare techniques were competition reduction, water irrigation and plant protection. Aftercare significantly increased the percentage of survival of plants when herbivory reduction and other understorey species were enhanced. Aftercare reported also a positive trend toward improved qualitative outcome when plants were protected or competition was mitigated. Nevertheless, more evidence is needed on the importance and effectiveness of aftercare techniques.

Long-term monitoring and post-release site management should be the post-translocation standard in plant translocations when ethical and possible, with plant protection, competition limitation and water irrigation being applied when needed to reduce transplant mortality. To provide statistically supported data on the effect of aftercare on translocation outcome, aftercare should be tested against a control when feasible.
Two-Dimensional Population Receptive Field Mapping of Human Primary Somatosensory Cortex
Authors: Asghar Michael , Sanchez-Panchuelo Rosa , Schluppeck Denis , Francis Susan
Published: August 2023

Functional magnetic resonance imaging can provide detailed maps of how sensory space is mapped in the human brain. Here, we use a novel 16 stimulator setup (a 4 × 4 grid) to measure two-dimensional sensory maps of between and within-digit (D2–D4) space using high spatial-resolution (1.25 mm isotropic) imaging at 7 Tesla together with population receptive field (pRF) mapping in 10 participants. Using a 2D Gaussian pRF model, we capture maps of the coverage of digits D2–D5 across Brodmann areas and estimate pRF size and shape. In addition, we compare results to previous studies that used fewer stimulators by constraining pRF models to a 1D Gaussian Between Digit or 1D Gaussian Within Digit model. We show that pRFs across somatosensory areas tend to have a strong preference to cover the within-digit axis. We show an increase in pRF size moving from D2–D5. We quantify pRF shapes in Brodmann area (BA) 3b, 3a, 1, 2 and show differences in pRF size in Brodmann areas 3a-2, with larger estimates for BA2. Generally, the 2D Gaussian pRF model better represents pRF coverage maps generated by our data, which itself is produced from a 2D stimulation grid.
Profane Pregnant Bodies Versus Sacred Organizational Systems: Exploring Pregnancy Discrimination at Work (R2)
Authors: Gatrell Caroline , Ladge Jamie J. , Powell Gary N.
Published: August 2023

This paper explores how pregnancy discrimination at work is perceived by both employers and pregnant employees. Using a public, qualitative dataset collected by the UK Equality and Human Rights Commission that offers perspectives from both employers and pregnant employees, we explore the unfair and unethical treatment of pregnant employees at work. Our findings show how pregnant workers are expected to conform with workplace systems that are treated as sacred. We suggest that employer valorization of the mythical figure of ‘ideal worker’ disadvantages pregnant workers. We observe how, even if this contravenes maternity protection laws, some employers self-justify discrimination against pregnant employees who they perceive to have transgressed ‘appropriate’ workplace behaviors as ethical and reasonable. To illuminate and conceptualize the notion of transgression, our analysis has led us to the ideas of philosopher Georges Bataille, specifically his reflections on how individuals who ‘transgress’ social norms are treated as taboo, as well as his metaphorical descriptions of people and practices as either sacred or profane. We theorize that pregnant workers who are treated as profane should be reclassified as sacred, opening up this idea for debate so as to disrupt long-standing patterns of discrimination.
The geometry of $$(t\mod q)$$-arcs
Authors: Kurz Sascha , Landjev Ivan , Pavese Francesco , Rousseva Assia
Published: August 2023

In this paper, we give a geometric construction of the three strong non-lifted

$$(3\mod 5)$$

(
3

mod

5
)

-arcs in

$${{\,\textrm{PG}\,}}(3,5)$$

PG

(
3
,
5
)

of respective sizes 128, 143, and 168, and construct an infinite family of non-lifted, strong

$$(t\mod q)$$

(
t

mod

q
)

-arcs in

$${{\,\textrm{PG}\,}}(r,q)$$

PG

(
r
,
q
)

with

$$t=(q+1)/2$$

t
=
(
q
+
1
)
/
2

for all

$$r\ge 3$$

r
≥
3

and all odd prime powers q.
The impact of electronic word-of-mouth on corporate performance during COVID-19
Authors: Haj Khalifa Ali , Najaf Khakan , Atayah Osama Fayez , Dhiaf Mohamed
Published: August 2023

This study attempts to understand the impact of electronic Word of Mouth (eWOM) on corporate financial performance during the COVID-19 pandemic. A supervised machine learning is used to determine the investors’ sentiment of a news story (eWOM) towards a given company from a long position (buying) investors perspective. Ordinary Least Square (OLS) and dynamic quantile regression are used to test the role of eWOM on financial performance. Results reveal no significant relationship between eWOM and the firm’s financial performance. Similarly, we do not find any evidence of an association between eWOM and corporate performance at different quantiles of financial performance. The findings contribute to the existing literature on eWOM and its impact on the financial performance during specific circumstances or financial crises. This study offers insights to researchers, policymakers, regulators, financial report users, investors, employees, clients, and society.
Rating ESG key performance indicators in the airline industry
Authors: Caraveo Gomez Llanos Alan Francisco , Vijaya Annas , Wicaksono Hendro
Published: August 2023

The environmental, social, and governance (ESG) integration finds itself in a transition with rapid developments worldwide, given that the pandemic incentivized companies and investors to focus on other social and governance measures such as ESG ratings. However, the divergence of ratings from the ESG and a lack of transparency lead the companies to report voluntary indicators without standardization. This study aimed to identify the ESG criteria and the most suitable set of key performance indicators (KPIs) in the airline industry after the impact of COVID-19. Furthermore, the second objective was to determine the appropriate weights and ranking of the identified criteria. The multi-criteria decision-making analytical hierarchical process was applied for this purpose. Additionally, the use of intuitionistic variables delivers a comprehensive model for rating the airlines according to their ESG performance. The most relevant criteria found in the study were critical risk management, greenhouse gas emissions, and systemic risk management. Regarding the KPIs, the top-3 weights were the number of flight accidents, jet fuel consumed and sustainable aviation used, and the number of digital transformation initiatives.
Who Asks Questions and Who Benefits from Answers: Understanding Institutions in Terms of Social Epistemic Dependencies
Authors: Werner Konrad
Published: August 2023

The paper develops the idea that institutions are enablers. However, they do not only enable individuals and collectives to achieve their goals; first and foremost, they enable individuals and collectives to have a goal, to select and recognize certain possible states of affairs as targets of action, and as a result, to have a demand – especially a demand for further institutions. I make the case that properly functioning institutions are dedicated to making these states of affairs epistemically acquaintable. What I will stress in particular is that acquaintance is first realized in the form of questions, which are linguistic expressions of acts of problematization. However, I will discuss less what an individual subject questions, but rather what the social dynamic of questioning is. This dynamic will be conceptualized in terms of epistemic dependence, and it will be singled out as the dynamic that gives rise to institutions.