bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining the Dimensions, Predictors, and Outcomes of Work Capital
Authors: Kim Taewon , Duffy Ryan D. , Choi Yeonwoo
Published: December 2024

Rapid systemic changes in the United States have exacerbated economic inequity. This trend has prompted increased scholarly attention to social class, classism, and access to work capital. Work capital is a multidimensional concept related to vocational resources, which to date has primarily been discussed in a bimodal fashion (yes vs. no). In the current study, we used latent profile analysis on a sample of 439 working adults in the United States to examine potential unique profiles emerging from work capital’s four dimensions (economic, human, social, and cultural work capital). Our analyses revealed three distinct profiles: Low human and cultural work capital, low economic work capital, and moderate work capital. Next, we identified how theoretically informed contextual (childhood and current social class and downward classism) and vocational (work volition, career adaptability, and decent work) correlates would relate to profile membership. Regarding contextual factors, participants in the low economic work capital group were from lower social class backgrounds, and participants in the low human and cultural work capital group experienced higher levels of downward classism. Regarding vocational factors, participants in the moderate work capital group experienced the highest work volition, career adaptability, and decent work attainment. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction and Immunothrombosis in the Pathogenesis of Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Dungan Gabriel D. , Kantarcioglu Bulent , Odeh Ameer , Hoppensteadt Debra , Siddiqui Fakiha , Rohde Luke , Fareed Jawed , Syed Mushabbar A.
Published: December 2024

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) induces proinflammatory processes which incite vascular endothelial activation and dysfunction. This study seeks to examine the potential relationship between various endothelial, inflammatory, thrombotic, and renin-angiotensin-system (RAS) biomarkers in AF patients.

Blood samples were from AF patients (n = 110) prospectively enrolled in this study prior to their first AF ablation. Control plasma samples (n = 100) were used as reference. All samples were analyzed for endothelial (NO, ICAM-1, VEGF, TF, TFPI, TM, Annexin V), inflammatory (IL-6, TNFα, CRP), thrombotic (vWF, tPA, PAI-1, TAFI, D-dimer), and RAS (Renin, Ang-II) biomarkers using ELISA methods. Biomarker average comparisons and Spearman correlations were performed.

AF patients showed varying levels of biomarker increase compared to controls. We observed a significant decrease of Ang-II in the AF population relative to controls when stratified for the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) upon study enrollment. AF patients showed statistically significant correlations between the following biomarkers: TNFα vs IL-6 (rs = 0.317, p = .004), ICAM-1 vs TNFα (rs = 0.527, p = .012), Annexin V vs VEGF (rs = 0.620, p < .001), CRP vs VEGF (rs = 0.342, p = .031), Ang-II vs tPA (rs = −0.592, p = .010), and tPA vs PAI-1 (rs = 0.672, p < .001).

Our study demonstrated significant elevation of endothelial, inflammatory, and thrombotic biomarkers in AF patients compared to controls, with significant correlations between these biomarkers in the AF population. Future investigations are required to better elucidate the mechanistic pathways that lead to endothelial dysfunction and thromboinflammation in AF. This may provide novel therapeutic targets, that in addition to current anticoagulation practices, can best curtail thrombogenicity in AF.
Bloating, Heavy Legs, and Fatigue: Sport, Menstrual Tracking Apps and More-Than-Hormonal Bodies
Authors: Friedlander Anna , Thorpe Holly , Nelson Monica , Gibbons Agatha
Published: December 2024

A wide array of menstrual tracking apps, including a small number of sport-specific menstrual tracking apps, are increasingly being used by athletes and coaches to better understand the complex relationships between hormonal cycles and sporting performance. To date, however, there have been few qualitative inquiries into the affects, affordances, and knowledge produced by entanglements of these apps and their users. In this article, we present a collaborative feminist experiment in ethnography, in which the authors, from a range of academic, sporting, and cultural positionalities, document, discuss, and creatively write our experiences of the sporting-menstrual tracking app FitrWoman, using both theoretically informed and poetic ways of knowing. We find that hormones emerged as the primary conduit of connection, transmission, sensing, and knowing in app-user intra-actions, which we variously experienced as alignments, misalignments, and discordances, as our understandings and experiences of menstruating, hormonal bodies collided, merged, and conflicted.
Predicting Exploration Crew Medical Officer Training Needs: Applying Evidence-Based Predictive Analytics to Space Medicine Training
Authors: Levin Dana R. , McIntyre Lauren , Steller Jon G. , Nelson Ariana , Zahner Chris , Anderson Arian , Parmar Prashant , Hilmers David C.
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Predictive analytics may be a useful adjunct to identify training needs for exploration class medical officers onboard deep space vehicles.

Methods

This study used a preliminary version of NASA's newest medical predictive analytics tool, the Medical Extensible Database Probabilistic Risk Assessment Tool (MEDPRAT), to test the application of predictive analytics to exploration crew medical officer curriculum design for 5 distinct design reference mission (DRM) profiles. Partial and fully treated paradigms were explored. Curriculum elements were identified using a leave-one-out analysis and a threshold of 5% risk increase over the fully treated baseline.

Results

For the partial treatment scenario, among the 5 DRM profiles 4-32 curriculum elements met the 5% RRI increase. For the absolute treatment scenario, among the 5 DRM profiles, 13-126 curriculum elements met the 5% RRI increase. For the partial treatment paradigm, 13 capabilities are present in at least 3 of the 5 DRM profiles, and these elements may constitute a common baseline curriculum. This covers 41% of the skillsets needed for an ISS-like profile, 100% of a late Artemis-like profile, 41% of a Mars mission-like profile, 100% of a Starship orbital-like profile, and 68% of a Starship lunar flyby-like profile.

Conclusions

This proof-of-concept study demonstrated that predictive analytics can rapidly generate generic and mission profile-specific exploration CMO curricula using an evidence-based process driven by optimizing mission risk reduction. This technique may serve as part of a human-machine team approach to medical curriculum planning for future space missions. It has significant potential to improve astronaut health and save time and effort for planners, trainers, and trainees.
A Framework for Enhancing the Needs Elicitation Process in Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises in Developing Countries
Authors: Sawai Thidarat , Haapala Karl R.
Published: December 2024

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) contribute significantly to a sustainable society but often face challenges in implementing sustainable technologies due to limited resources and the need for specialized knowledge. During the early design phase, including the needs elicitation process, MSMEs struggle in articulating their real needs, while experts may misunderstand these needs due to inherent biases. This paper proposes a novel framework to reduce biases, enhance accuracy of needs elicitation, and foster better communication and understanding between MSMEs and experts. The framework integrates storytelling, the Five Aggregates Model of Buddhism, Bradshaw's Taxonomy of Needs, and the distinction between needs and wants. Storytelling combined with the Five Aggregates Model reduces biases and articulation difficulties by improving understanding of user's cognitive process of thought and action. Bradshaw's Taxonomy of Needs provides a holistic understanding of needs from the perspectives of both the user and expert (engineer). Differentiating between needs and wants establishes a common understanding and prioritization of needs. A User Needs Elicitation Template is developed to assist in applying the framework. The effectiveness of the framework is demonstrated through the design of agricultural post-harvest drying systems in a developing country. This case illustrates how the framework enables engineers to balance empathy with contextual evaluation. By connecting the Five Aggregates elements with MSME contexts, the framework enhances empathy without compromising technical expertise. Clear characterization of needs and wants ensures accuracy and mutual understanding in prioritization of actual needs and preferred needs (wants).
Decolonizing research using gamification: The case of Choco
Authors: Spanellis Agnessa , Zapata-Ramírez Paula A. , Golovátina-Mora Polina , Hernández-Sarmiento José M.
Published: December 2024

New practices, such as virus transmission-prevention practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, often originate in specific environments and fail to transcend in environments that are different from the original one. This was the case in Indigenous communities in Colombia, who perceived them as an extension of colonial practices. In this article, we discuss the impact of co-development of a gamified poster as a medium for decolonizing management research. We conceptualize the poster as a boundary object and demonstrate how gamification becomes a methodological innovation that affords new practices to be negotiated by using the framework of Carlile. Our analysis of the process of co-developing the poster with Indigenous representatives and introducing it in the communities shows that in extreme contexts with little shared knowledge, boundary spanning undergoes several cycles. Each cycle builds and expands shared context and knowledge base and deepens the engagement. We enable better understanding of how boundary objects work in extreme contexts and how the sociomateriality of practice manifested in the gamified boundary object mediates the negotiation of new practices. Furthermore, we propose a novel method within Indigenous research methodologies of using gamification for development in overcoming linguistic challenges and more equitable participation.
The other side of the law: Discrimination and emergency powers
Authors: Young Jermaine , Fatovic Clement
Published: December 2024

Emergency powers have always posed a threat to the rule of law, particularly standards of legality and respect for individual rights. Although system-wide impacts to legal norms and the rights of the general population continue to pose real dangers, we argue that the most egregious violations of the rule of law in liberal democratic societies in times of emergency now tend to be restricted to historically marginalized groups depicted as disorderly, dysfunctional, or pathological. As exemplified in official responses to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, reports of rampant child abuse in aboriginal communities in Australia’s Northern Territory, and high levels of homicide in Jamaica, emergency powers are often applied in discriminatory ways that reflect and reinforce existing disparities in race, gender, and class. Even when emergency measures are nominally adopted for the entire population, their application is often limited to highly specific geographical areas that place marginalized groups into “zones of otherness.” The result, we argue, is to establish a de facto system of legal pluralism that subjects subordinate groups to enhanced forms of regulation, surveillance, detention, and violence, but generally leaves established legal rules and protections intact for everyone else.
‘Taking the border out of politics’?: The 1973 Northern Ireland border poll and the political character of (de)politicisation
Authors: Ward Joseph
Published: December 2024

This article examines governing tactics which, prima facie, seek to remove issues from political contestation, yet utilise democracy in doing so. It explores this tension through the case of the 1973 Northern Ireland border poll. In the context of escalating violence and entrenched political conflict, the Heath government announced the poll alongside direct rule to ‘take the border out of politics’. Although the poll was consistently framed in terms of depoliticisation, it was increasingly viewed by both the government and the public as a means to reassure the unionist community of Northern Ireland’s status in the United Kingdom. This attempt to reassure the unionists exposed the political character of the strategy, strengthening the nationalist boycott campaign. However, this article argues that in reconfiguring legitimacy for the United Kingdom, the poll temporarily defused unionist concerns and allowed the UK government to claim Northern Irish citizens had a democratic right to self-determination.
Your smile works: understanding smiling face emojis in social media interactions
Authors: Yang Kun
Published: December 2024

Previous studies on smiling face emojis mainly focus on how they are employed by the addresser for rapport management, with limited attention given to exploring the addressee’s interpretation of smiling face emojis. This study aims to explore whether smiling face emojis are interpreted as (im)polite in a virtual communication context and what factors might influence the interpretation. When carrying out the research, the author designed stimuli with 10 commonly used smiling face emojis in WeChat and then recruited 192 participants to take part in an experimental study. The results indicate that smiling face emojis enhance the politeness degree of an utterance while mitigating potential impolite intentions. They also indicate that the interpretation of politeness in utterances with smiling face emojis is influenced by age and gender. In addition, the interpretation of smiling face emojis is tightly related to the culture of politeness (礼) and internet culture. This article helps us to understand the use of smiling face emojis and the management of interpersonal relationships in a visual communication context.
Caring for Patients Experiencing Incarceration: Development of an Online Learning Resource for Physicians in Training
Authors: Barnett Heather M. , Adedipe Adeyinka A. , Meggs Juliet , Cuthbert Ingrid , Ann Alieu , McLeod Lindsey A. , Booker Lyndsey , Sacharan Radha , Taylor Zoe , Anscher Jon , Strick Lara B.
Published: December 2024

Many patients experiencing incarceration (PEI) in the United States (U.S.) have significant and complex medical conditions that require offsite consultation and hospitalization. Physicians in our academic medical system report that their education in caring for PEI is limited. We developed an online learning resource for physicians who care for PEI within our institution. Development included project planning, content development, iterative graphical design, feedback incorporation from key constituents, including individuals previously incarcerated, and module launch. The e-module was designed with a graphic user interface including video and case simulations. The curriculum includes background information on the U.S. carceral system, the basics of carceral health care, ethical considerations for community-based health care workers (introducing concepts of “dual loyalty” and examining patient privacy and autonomy for PEI), and policy and procedural considerations specific to our health care system. Future directions include disseminating the module to practicing physicians, advanced practice providers, and other allied health professionals (such as nursing, social work, and skilled therapists) and collecting feedback on user engagement. Institutions and groups wishing to improve care for this vulnerable patient population can implement training to address limitations in knowledge and confidence among staff and providers.
The effect of swearing on error-related negativity as an indicator for state disinhibition
Authors: Beck Venja , Brooks Joseph L , Stephens Richard
Published: December 2024

Swearing has been linked to increased strength performance, and state disinhibition may be the mechanism linking swearing and strength. Error-related negativity (ERN) is a neural signal associated with response monitoring. Its reduction has been proposed as neural marker for state disinhibition, and therefore, we predicted that swearing would lead to a decreased ERN compared with neutral word repetition, indicating state disinhibition. The study ( N = 52) used a within-subjects experimental design with two conditions. Participants repeated either a swear or neutral word aloud for 10 s before engaging in an arrowhead flanker task, a grip strength task, and several questionnaires. ERN was measured continually using electroencephalography (EEG). The study replicated previously found effects of swearing on strength, humour, positive emotion, and distraction. In addition, swearing was found to have a significant effect on state behavioural activation (BAS drive). However, results indicated no significant difference between conditions on ERN amplitude. This pre-registered study has confirmed that, relative to a neutral word, repeating a swear word leads to increased performance on a grip strength task while also confirming effects of swearing on positive emotion, humour, and distraction. Its novel contribution is confirming that swearing raises state behavioural activation. This supports application of Hirsh et al.’s state disinhibition theory to swearing to some extent, although the absence of any effect of swearing on ERN limits this interpretation.
Surgical management of vascular malformations in the hand and wrist
Authors: Luciana Marzella , Alberto Lazzerini , Rocco De Vitis
Published: December 2024

The management of hand and wrist vascular malformations is complex owing to their impact on function and appearance. We present a case and discuss the treatment options based on our experience in 56 patients.

Level of evidence: V
Creative product design in hybrid and virtual teams
Authors: Chamakiotis Petros , Panteli Niki , Narváez Francisco
Published: December 2024

The teaching case is based on two teams that were tasked with the design of two different digital products: a planned five-month project (known internally as Seasonal Sales Team; SST), in view of the forthcoming sales season; and an impromptu 24-hour project (known as Elec24) in response to unexpected national elections. Despite their similarities, the two projects differ in terms of their degree of virtuality (hybrid vs virtual) and temporality (long vs short lifespan). By focussing on Lorena, an experienced product designer who has taken on the responsibility for the two projects, the case explores how virtuality and temporality influence the teams’ coordination plan and creative process.
Electric Vehicles in the Digital Discourse: A Sentiment Analysis of Social Media Engagement for Turkey
Authors: Durmus Senyapar Hafize Nurgul
Published: December 2024

The adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is a critical component of transitioning toward sustainable transportation systems. Understanding public sentiment and engagement regarding EVs is essential for policymakers, industry participants, and scholars to address challenges and opportunities in the EV market effectively. This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of public sentiment and engagement concerning EVs on social media platforms. One thousand posts from Facebook, Instagram, and X were analyzed to provide a cohesive narrative encompassing public opinion toward EVs and offering a roadmap for this disruptive technology’s future. The results indicate a significant level of user engagement, supported by 7,000 collective interactions and an impressive 4,300 shares. Predominantly positive sentiments, comprising 83.2% of the analyzed posts, highlight the widespread optimism regarding EV technology. The discourse encompasses various subjects, including brand preferences, financial implications, infrastructure, and environmental aspects. The insights gleaned from these results are of immense value to policymakers, industry participants, and scholars as they navigate the ever-changing terrain of electric mobility.
Comparison of Factor Retention Methods in Exploratory Factor Analysis: RMSEA, Root Deterioration per Restriction and Parallel Analysis
Authors: Bae Sangyoug , Hong Sehee
Published: December 2024

The primary goal of exploratory factor analysis (EFA) is to determine the number of factors and their structure. Thus, the decision on the number of factors to retain is crucial. Nevertheless, researchers frequently overlook the precision of factor retention techniques and opt for unreliable methodologies instead. The objective of this study is to compare the efficiency of utilizing root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) and parallel analysis (PA) methods for retaining factors in exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Two methods for comparing RMSEA, namely root deterioration per restriction (RDR) and RMSEA difference test, are employed for nested models. Although researchers use RMSEA to compare two different models, no studies have compared RMSEA and RDR methods. Thus, this study examined three different methods for factor retention. Monte-Carlo simulations were utilized to evaluate the accuracy of RDR compared to RMSEA difference testing and PA. The simulations show that RDR performs better than RMSEA difference testing and PA when the number of variables per factor is low. However, as the number of variables per factor increases, PA becomes more effective. This study provides guidance to researchers using EFA to select factor retention methods that suit different conditions.
Balancing Faculty Autonomy with Collaboration, Course Updates, and Consistency in Core Courses: Recommendations for Teaching Teams and Administrators of Schools and Programs of Public Health
Authors: Fortunato Erin K. , Dolan Carol A. , Beard Jennifer , Bor Jacob , Halim Nafisa , Onyango Monica A. , Peters Junenette L. , Schlezinger Jennifer , Godley Sophie
Published: December 2024

Master of Public Health (MPH) “core courses” are essential preparation for advanced study and professional practice. As a multidisciplinary, core course teaching team, we aim to balance collaboration, the need to update content, and consistency across sections with faculty autonomy, while also attending to time constraints and Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accreditation requirements. In this paper, we describe and discuss advantages and disadvantages of the four strategies we used to illuminate how we spend class time, prioritize content, and balance institutional consistency with instructor individuality. The strategies are: create common course materials; hold regular instructional team meetings; capture teacher impressions after each weekly class; and conduct individual syllabus and semester review interviews with the teaching team. Analysis led to seven recommendations for both teaching teams and administrators of schools and programs of public health that have the potential to improve the teaching of core subjects. Core courses present instructors with opportunities to feature our specific departments and potentially inspire students to work in our specialty areas. These findings are relevant to colleagues who are striving to respect the autonomy to which many in academia are accustomed and help ensure students enjoy consistent, high-quality experiences in team-taught courses.
Improving Diversity in Learning Activities in a Teaching Curriculum in Higher Medical Education
Authors: Ishmail Habiba , Ngene Nnabuike Chibuoke
Published: December 2024

The growing demand for medical professionals in undergraduate and graduate/postgraduate medical education to attain comprehensive health training has not abated and necessitates the development of curricula encompassing relevant issues pertaining to clinical practice as well as the educational context. Therefore, diversity in learning activities should be embedded in a teaching curriculum to achieve the required competencies. This includes considering at least the following during the design and analysis of a teaching curriculum: Harden's ten questions to be posed when designing a curriculum; Canadian Medical Education Directives for Specialists (CanMEDS) competency framework which has been approved by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada; 21st-century skills; Diana Laurilliard's conversational framework; and general quality measures to improve diversity in a teaching curriculum.
The diversity-dissent paradox: Navigating police and university recruitment challenges amidst campus protest dynamics
Authors: Asfari Amin , Gacek James
Published: December 2024

Amidst the current wave of social activism sparked by the ongoing crisis in Israel-Palestine, universities across the United States, Canada and Australia are increasingly turning to law enforcement to address social unrest on their campuses. This has been met with vocal support from local politicians in the United States, some of whom advocate for the deployment of the National Guard. However, such reliance on state power comes at a time when law enforcement agencies and universities are grappling with significant challenges in recruiting new cadets and students, particularly from racialised and/or otherwise marginalised communities. This conceptual article delves into the intricate paradox facing both institutions today. While there is a pressing need for a police force that reflects the diversity of the communities it serves, much of police action, often involving the use of force, is directed at these very communities as they voice their grievances against perceived social injustices. Drawing on insights from anticolonial literature, historical and contemporary analyses of police interactions, this article elucidates how policing has historically served to uphold existing power structures and how, in certain cases, the continued alignment of police forces with elite interests exacerbates the difficulty of diversifying the force.
Inflammation-driven NF-κB signaling represses ferroportin transcription in macrophages via HDAC1 and HDAC3
Authors: Marques Oriana , Horvat Natalie K. , Zechner Laura , Colucci Silvia , Sparla Richard , Zimmermann Stefan , Neufeldt Christopher J. , Altamura Sandro , Qiu Ruiyue , Müdder Katja , Weiss Günter , Hentze Matthias W. , Muckenthaler Martina U.
Published: December 2024

Anemia of inflammation is a prevalent comorbidity in patients with chronic inflammatory disorders. Inflammation causes hypoferremia and iron-restricted erythropoiesis by limiting ferroportin (FPN)–mediated iron export from macrophages that recycle senescent erythrocytes. Macrophage cell surface expression of FPN is reduced by hepcidin-induced degradation and/or by repression of FPN (Slc40a1) transcription via cytokine and Toll-like receptor (TLR) stimulation. Although the mechanisms underlying hepcidin-mediated control of FPN have been extensively studied, those inhibiting Slc40a1 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression remain unknown. We applied targeted RNA interference and pharmacological screens in macrophages stimulated with the TLR2/6 ligand FSL1 and identified critical signaling regulators of Slc40a1 mRNA repression downstream of TLRs and NF-κB signaling. Interestingly, the NF-κB regulatory hub is equally relevant for Slc40a1 mRNA repression driven by the TLR4 ligand lipopolysaccharide, the cytokine tumor necrosis factor β/lymphotoxin-alpha (LTA), and heat-killed bacteria. Mechanistically, macrophage stimulation with heat-killed Staphylococcus aureus recruits the histone deacetylases (HDACs) HDAC1 and HDAC3 to the antioxidant response element (ARE) located in the Slc40a1 promoter. Accordingly, pretreatment with a pan-HDAC inhibitor abrogates Slc40a1 mRNA repression in response to inflammatory cues, suggesting that HDACs act downstream of NF-κB to repress Slc40a1 transcription. Consistently, recruitment of HDAC1 and HDAC3 to the Slc40a1 ARE after stimulation with heat-killed S aureus is dependent on NF-κB signaling. These results support a model in which the ARE integrates the transcriptional responses of Slc40a1 triggered by signals from redox, metabolic, and inflammatory pathways. This work identifies the long-sought mechanism of Slc40a1 transcriptional downregulation upon inflammation, paving the way for therapeutic interventions at this critical juncture.
Artificial intelligence in respiratory care: perspectives on critical opportunities and challenges
Authors: Drummond David , Adejumo Ireti , Hansen Kjeld , Poberezhets Vitalii , Slabaugh Gregory , Hui Chi Yan
Published: December 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming respiratory healthcare through a wide range of deep learning and generative tools, and is increasingly integrated into both patients’ lives and routine respiratory care. The implications of AI in respiratory care are vast and multifaceted, presenting both promises and uncertainties from the perspectives of clinicians, patients and society. Clinicians contemplate whether AI will streamline or complicate their daily tasks, while patients weigh the potential benefits of personalised self-management support against risks such as data privacy concerns and misinformation. The impact of AI on the clinician–patient relationship remains a pivotal consideration, with the potential to either enhance collaborative care or create depersonalised interactions. Societally, there is an imperative to leverage AI in respiratory care to bridge healthcare disparities, while safeguarding against the widening of inequalities. Strategic efforts to promote transparency and prioritise inclusivity and ease of understanding in algorithm co-design will be crucial in shaping future AI to maximise benefits and minimise risks for all stakeholders.
Efficient Hierarchical Kriging Modeling Method for High-dimension Multi-fidelity Problems
Authors: He Youwei , Luo Jinliang
Published: December 2024

The multi-fidelity Kriging model is a promising technique in surrogate-based design, balancing model accuracy and the cost of sample generation by combining low- and high-fidelity data. However, the cost of building a multi-fidelity Kriging model increases significantly as problem complexity grows. To address this issue, we propose an efficient Hierarchical Kriging modeling method. In building the low-fidelity model, distance correlation is used to determine the relative value of the hyperparameter. This transforms the maximum likelihood estimation problem into a one-dimensional optimization task, which can be solved efficiently, significantly improving modeling efficiency. The high-fidelity model is built similarly, with the low-fidelity model's hyperparameter used as the relative value for the high-fidelity model's hyperparameter. The proposed method's effectiveness is evaluated through analytical problems and a real-world engineering problem involving modeling the isentropic efficiency of a compressor rotor. Experimental results show that the proposed method reduces modeling time significantly without compromising accuracy. For the compressor rotor isentropic efficiency model, the proposed method yields over 99% cost savings compared to conventional approaches, while also achieving higher accuracy.
A cellular triad for linking cardiac niche to regeneration
Authors: Ma Xiaokai , Hou Junjie , Xiong Jing-Wei
Published: December 2024

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality with very limited therapeutic interventions, thus holding great hope for cardiac regenerative medicine. A recent work from Martin’s laboratory reports their identification of a fetal-like cardiomyocyte progenitor, adult cardiomyocyte type 2 (aCM2), and its potential interactions with C3+ cardiac fibroblasts and C3ar1+ macrophages to form a regenerative cellular triad, which is only present in the regenerative heart models, YAP5SA-expressing adult hearts and neonatal hearts. The complement signaling is essential for cellular interactions in this regenerative triad. This Highlight summarizes these major findings and provides brief perspectives on the impact of this regenerative niche during cardiac regeneration in the future.
A comprehensive review of the functionality and applications of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the realm of agriculture
Authors: Komatineni Bharath Kumar , Makam Swetha , Meena Sanwal Singh
Published: December 2024

In India, there is an urgent need to meet the food production due to the country’s rapidly expanding population. There is a downturn in the farming sector and the farmers are shifting to other firms due to insufficient output in the sector. Furthermore, traditional agricultural practices followed in India are insufficient to meet the increasing food demand. The costs and operational times generally increase as the majority of agricultural activities depend significantly on human labor. The increasing prevalence of machinery on farms is not a substitute for the necessity for human labor completely. This highlights the critical importance of agricultural automation. This study highlights the significant impact of UAVs on precision and smart agriculture through automation. The implementation of drones in diverse agricultural tasks has the potential to reduce labor demands and streamline operational efficiency. This review offers a comprehensive overview of conceptual design, command flow operation, micro-controller boards, remote-control systems, and attachments such as sensors, cameras, and motors in UAVs, aimed at automating agricultural activities. The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), alongside artificial intelligence and machine learning, enhances accuracy and precision in agricultural operations. This study also addresses future advancements, limitations, and challenges that farmers face in adapting to UAVs.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Surveillance System for rare events and disorders: highlighting the need for an international network for surveillance
Authors: Venkatesan Muthukrishnan , Smith Eleanor , Kyriakopoulos Marinos , Sharma Aditya Narain
Published: December 2024

Commonly occurring mental health disorders have been well studied in terms of epidemiology, presentation, risk factors and management. However, rare or uncommon mental health disorders and events are harder to study. One way to do this is active surveillance. This article summarises how the Royal College of Psychiatrists Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Surveillance System was developed, as well as the key studies that have used the system and their impact, to make the case for a wider international surveillance unit for child and adolescent psychiatry. Keeping this surveillance active in different populations across the globe will add to existing knowledge and understanding of these uncommon disorders and events. This will in turn help in developing better frameworks for the identification and management for these disorders and events. It will also facilitate the sharing of ideas regarding current methodology, ethics, the most appropriate means of evaluating units and their potential applications.
Performance of Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate and Baseline Cortisol in Assessing Adrenal Insufficiency
Authors: Han Ashley J , Suresh Malavika , Gruber Lucinda M , Algeciras-Schimnich Alicia , Achenbach Sara J , Atkinson Elizabeth J , Bancos Irina
Published: December 2024

Context

Diagnosing adrenal insufficiency (AI) often requires complex testing, which can be time-consuming and expensive. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) is a promising marker of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function; however, its diagnostic performance has not yet been evaluated in a large-scale study.

Objective

Evaluate the performance of DHEAS and baseline cortisol in assessing AI.

Design

Single-center retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Referral center.

Patients

Adults who underwent cosyntropin stimulation testing (CST) between 2005 and 2023 and had DHEAS measured within 3 months prior to CST.

Main Outcome Measures

Area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for DHEAS and baseline cortisol. Prevalence of AI based on various DHEAS and baseline cortisol concentrations.

Results

Among 1135 patients, 195 (17.2%) had AI. Both baseline cortisol and DHEAS independently had good diagnostic performance with AUROC 0.81 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77-0.84 and 0.81 (95% CI 0.78-0.85)], respectively. Time of CST performance had no significant effect on diagnostic accuracy of baseline cortisol while recent glucocorticoid use decreased diagnostic performance of DHEAS (AUROC 0.72 vs 0.83). Only 1.2% of patients with baseline cortisol ≥10 mcg/dL had AI based on CST. Among patients with baseline cortisol between 5 and 9.9 mcg/dL, only 1.3% had AI if DHEAS was ≥60 mcg/dL. Conversely, the majority (72.2%) of patients with both baseline cortisol <5 mcg/dL and DHEAS <25 mcg/dL were found to have AI.

Conclusion

DHEAS has good diagnostic performance in assessing AI. Measuring both baseline cortisol and DHEAS concentrations may eliminate the need for further dynamic testing in many patients.
Progressive Palaeontology 2024 conference report
Authors: George Hady , Farrell Thomas , Rawson James R. G. , Aguilar-Pedrayes Isaura , Walters Benton , Flett Kirsten E.
Published: December 2024

The 20th instalment of the Progressive Palaeontology conference was held from 17th-20th of June 2024 at the University of Bristol, UK. Progressive Palaeontology gives postgraduate students experience of presenting at a conference to an audience of their peers, and the opportunity to form networks with researchers at their career stage. The conference was organised on behalf of the Palaeontological Association by Hady George, Thomas Farrell, James R. G. Rawson, Isaura Aguilar-Pedrayes, Benton Walters and Kirsten E. Flett, all of whom are postgraduate students in the Bristol Palaeobiology group. The meeting was a great success, featuring a high standard of research presentations on a wide range of topics, and inclusive and educational events hosted throughout the conference.
Pojęcie braterstwa w litewskim językowym obrazie świata
Authors: Papaurėlytė-Klovienė Silvija
Published: December 2024

The research aims to describe the brotherhood category – the part of the content of the concept BROTHER associated with the worldview of the Lithuanian language. The research material is based on the examples of the usage of all forms of the word broliškas and the adverb broliškai collected from the Corpus of Contemporary Lithuanian Language. The theoretical basis of the research presented in the article is close to the ideas of Cognitive Linguistics. The focus is on the contexts of various forms of the adjective broliškas and the adverb broliškai, the names of abstract phenomena and concrete objects which are in the co-text of these words as well as the corresponding described situations. Analysing the examples in which various forms of the word broliškas are used to describe the situation, it is possible to distinguish the dominant of seeking closeness, the desire to be together, to help the person with whom there is the relationship described by the word broliškas. There are not many names of specific emotions that use the word broliškas to describe them, they are associated with different imaginary scales of emotions. Various gatherings of people are described as fraternal. Their largest group is the names of states and countries. In the texts, next to the adverb broliškai, the names of various phenomena of inner life, such as emotions, feelings and relationships that connect people, are mentioned. A brother, based on the variety of abstract phenomena associated with him, is perceived as a person focused on human spiritual values, community, ready to act constructively and be active. The phenomena of emotional life described as fraternal should be treated as those whose expression is stronger than the corresponding prototype. The examples of usage reveal that the brother is associated almost exclusively with positive attitudes, he is not aggressive and does not pose any danger. There are examples of negative evaluation associated with the concept under analysis when it comes to forced, imposed brotherhood. The negative evaluation of the phenomenon is also expressed formally, i.e. with quotation marks. This way of distinguishing is common in texts that are relevant to political topics.
Obraz biedronki w poezji litewskiej
Authors: Kazlauskaitė Rūta
Published: December 2024

The subject of this research is the reconstruction of the image of the ladybird on the basis of lyrical works of Lithuanian poets. The research material consists of fragments of 203 poems by 117 poets. The names of the ladybird will be discussed, its characteristic features and behaviour indicated, its specific habitat. The collected data are compared with the myth reconstructed by Vladimir Toporov (1978, 1981). In the poetry, the ladybird is seen as a representative of the weak sex – a woman with a specific appearance, living on earth and doing earthly work. It is also easy to see the connection between the ladybird and fire (the Sun): the beetle stubbornly ascends towards warmth and light – to heaven, its former home. The ladybird is a creature of divine nature: it can predict the weather, it grazes God or the wind, bathes the rain, etc. The imagery that occurs in the poetry is decidedly positive, which is perhaps why the motif of transgression of the ban and falling is missing, and the theme of expecting a child is omitted.
Learning Product Characteristics and Consumer Preferences from Search Data
Authors: Armona Luis , Lewis Greg , Zervas Georgios
Published: December 2024

The paper proposes a method to jointly learn latent product characteristics and consumer preferences from search data for accurate demand prediction.
Patient-centred stoma care support: urostomy patients
Authors: Marinova Petya , Marinova Rali
Published: December 2024

Urostomy patients are rare as only about 5% of ostomates have urostomies. This can prove challenging because many healthcare professionals do not have experience caring for these patients and may be unfamiliar with their specific needs. As with other ostomates, urostomy patients require specialist nurses with the expertise to provide long-term support. Care for urostomy patients may be provided by urinary diversion specialists or stoma specialist nursing. Patient-centred pathways are needed to cater for their unique needs and ensure good patient outcomes and quality of life. People with urostomy have very post-operative need needs and inadequate care may result in hospital admissions. They need specialised long-term care. It is also crucial to educate the healthcare professionals responsible for their care.
Nursery World visits… Brookhill Nursery School
Authors: Weinstein Nicole
Published: December 2024

Nicole Weinstein checks out sensory play and movement shapes at a baby room in a north London nursery school
The Venezuela–China Strategic Relationship and the Building of a Multipolar World
Authors: Dominguez Francisco
Published: December 2024

No-one could have predicted that the relationship between the South American nation and the rising world economic giant would flourish and reach strategic levels, yet this is exactly what came about. The relationship between Venezuela and China went from being “strategic” to becoming a “strategic partnership,” evolving into one of “comprehensive strategic partnership,” and then to an “all-weather strategic partnership.” Enshrined in many collaboration agreements, the relationship now covers almost every aspect of Venezuela’s economy. From the very start, the leaders of both nations have always understood their collaboration as integral to the emergence of a multipolar geopolitics, an objective they are vigorously constructing. The rise of a multipolar world has been aided by the simultaneous decline of the United States and the meteoric increase in the economic ascendancy of China. Chávez’s development of his country’s relations with China helped open the gates to the building of strong relations between China and Latin America. The ultimate aim is the building of “a community of shared destiny for humanity.”
Coherent diffraction imaging and lens position correction by a transversely moving lens
Authors: Wu Zhengyu , Li Yutong , Wang Qiang , Liu Shutian , Chi Dazhao , Gao Bin , Liu Wei , Liu Zhengjun
Published: December 2024

We introduce what we believe is a novel approach for wavefront reconstruction by a laterally moving lens, in conjunction with amplitude-phase retrieval. Compared to axial multiple-image phase retrieval methods, the proposed lateral methodology exhibits superiority of accuracy. To minimize the effect of position error of lens, we have also developed error models and associated corrective strategies, which may offer valuable guidance for determining axial and lateral errors in optical systems. Furthermore, our investigation reveals that phase conveys crucial information concerning beam propagation, thus playing a significant role in both phase retrieval and lateral error correction. Our experimental outcomes demonstrate the efficacy of our proposed techniques in obtaining the amplitude and phase information of the sample.
Photonic implementation of the input and reservoir layers for a reservoir computing system based on a single VCSEL with two Mach-Zehnder modulators: erratum
Authors: Guo Xingxing , Zhou Hanxu , Xiang Shuiying , Yu Qian , Zhang Yahui , Han Yanan , Hao Yue
Published: December 2024

This erratum corrects an error in Funding of the original paper, Opt. Express, 32(10), 17452 (2024). 10.1364/OE.522336
The role of phase–polarization interactions in the laser processing of polarization-sensitive materials
Authors: Porfirev Alexey , Khonina Svetlana , Porfirev Denis , Ivliev Nikolay
Published: December 2024

Taking into account phase–polarization interactions is crucial for the formation of spatially structured laser beams. The effects that arise in this context can lead to the modulation of individual field components and the transformation of the overall light field. In this study, we investigate the impact of phase and polarization distributions with radial dependencies in polar coordinates on the longitudinal component of laser beams passing through a transmissive spatial light modulator (SLM) based on twisted nematic liquid crystals. Although the amplitude, phase, and polarization distribution of the transformed light field behind the SLM do not depend on the azimuthal angle, the structure of the longitudinal component of the field exhibits a spiral shape. By utilizing the shaped light fields and a projection lithography technique, we demonstrate the feasibility of fabricating spiral microaxicons in thin films of polarization-sensitive materials. We also show that the direction of the spiral twist and the period of the microaxicon can be controlled by manipulating the parameters of the masks displayed on the SLM. Furthermore, we demonstrate the potential for the parallel fabrication of arrays of such microelements. The results obtained show that precise laser processing of photosensitive materials requires taking into account possible phase–polarization interactions of the illuminating laser radiation.