bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determinants of survival in patients with chronic heart failure: a population‐based study in Reggio Emilia, Italy
Authors: Pedroni Cristina , Djuric Olivera , Mancuso Pamela , Navazio Alessandro , Pinotti Mirco , Greci Marina , Giorgi Rossi Paolo
Published: October 2023

Aims

We aim to monitor and improve the quality of the heart failure (HF) integrated assistance model defined by national and regional guidelines and implemented in the province of Reggio Emilia, Italy. Specific aims of the audit were to estimate the prevalence of HF, describe the characteristics of patients with HF and the rate of patients enrolled in the integrated care treated in primary care, and identify socioeconomic and geographic determinants of the 4‐year survival of these patients.

Methods and results

Retrospective analysis of a cohort of prevalent cases of HF, diagnosed before 31 December 2015 in Reggio Emilia, Italy, alive on 1 January 2016, and residing at the time of diagnosis on the provincial territory. Age and sex‐adjusted prevalence of HF by area of residence were calculated according to the standard European population 2013. Patients were followed until death or 31 December 2019, whatever came first. The outcome measure of the study was four‐year case fatality. Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for age, sex, and duration of disease were used to determine the association between socio‐geographic factors and death. The 4‐year case‐fatality rate was 36.7%, and it was the highest in the mountains (50.8%) compared with hills (34.6%), lowland (35.4%) and city (37.7%). The prevalence of HF was the lowest in the mountain [149.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 112.1–187.7] and the highest in the lowland (340.8, 95% CI 308.7–372.9) and city (308, 95% CI 276.0–321.2). Patients living in the mountains had a lower deprivation index, and fewer hospitalizations prior to official diagnosis, although these characteristics were not statistically significant determinants of HF death in multivariate analysis. Behavioural (smoking and obesity) and socio‐geographic characteristics (educational level, deprivation index and area of residence) were not significantly associated with mortality in both univariable and multivariable analysis; however, patients who live in mountains (hazard ratio 1.10, 95% CI 0.73–1.66) or hills (hazard ratio 1.11, 95% CI 0.90–1.37) had a slightly higher risk of death than those living in the city. Only 197 (12.1%) of patients in the cohort were enrolled in the integrated care pathway over the course of 4 years.

Conclusions

Although clinical determinants outweigh the geographic and behavioural disparities in the survival of patients with CHF treated in primary care, effective prevention strategies are needed to address environmental and socio‐geographic inequalities in access to primary care and to hasten equitable linkage to integrated care.
Single‐cell multi‐omics analysis of COVID‐19 patients with pre‐existing autoimmune diseases shows aberrant immune responses to infection
Authors: Barmada Anis , Handfield Louis‐François , Godoy‐Tena Gerard , de la Calle‐Fabregat Carlos , Ciudad Laura , Arutyunyan Anna , Andrés‐León Eduardo , Hoo Regina , Porter Tarryn , Oszlanczi Agnes , Richardson Laura , Calero‐Nieto Fernando J. , Wilson Nicola K. , Marchese Domenica , Sancho‐Serra Carmen , Carrillo Jorge , Presas‐Rodríguez Silvia , Ramo‐Tello Cristina , Ruiz‐Sanmartin Adolfo , Ferrer Ricard , Ruiz‐Rodriguez Juan Carlos , Martínez‐Gallo Mónica , Munera‐Campos Mónica , Carrascosa Jose Manuel , Göttgens Berthold , Heyn Holger , Prigmore Elena , Casafont‐Solé Ivette , Solanich Xavier , Sánchez‐Cerrillo Ildefonso , González‐Álvaro Isidoro , Raimondo Maria Gabriella , Ramming Andreas , Martin Javier , Martínez‐Cáceres Eva , Ballestar Esteban , Vento‐Tormo1 Roser , Rodríguez‐Ubreva Javier
Published: October 2023

In COVID‐19, hyperinflammatory and dysregulated immune responses contribute to severity. Patients with pre‐existing autoimmune conditions can therefore be at increased risk of severe COVID‐19 and/or associated sequelae, yet SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in this group has been little studied. Here, we performed single‐cell analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with three major autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, or multiple sclerosis) during SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. We observed compositional differences between the autoimmune disease groups coupled with altered patterns of gene expression, transcription factor activity, and cell–cell communication that substantially shape the immune response under SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. While enrichment of HLA‐DRlow CD14+ monocytes was observed in all three autoimmune disease groups, type‐I interferon signaling as well as inflammatory T cell and monocyte responses varied widely between the three groups of patients. Our results reveal disturbed immune responses to SARS‐CoV‐2 in patients with pre‐existing autoimmunity, highlighting important considerations for disease treatment and follow‐up.
Electroanalytical sensor based on CuInSe2/carbon sphere towards the non‐invasive determination of dopamine
Authors: Ren Shufang , Feng Runyan , Guo Tong , Cao Li , Lv Rui , Liu Xiaohang , Wang Qingtao , Zheng Zhixiang
Published: October 2023

Dopamine (DA) is known as a crucial neurotransmitter synthesized and secreted by dopaminergic neurons and plays a role in regulating human emotions and behaviors. The determination of DA content is of great significance in clinical application and physiological function research. An electroanalytical sensor based on the ternary semiconductor material copper indium selenide (CuInSe2) coated carbon spheres functionalized glassy carbon electrode (CuInSe2@CS/GCE) towards the non‐invasive determination of DA was constructed in this study. The performances of the sensor were characterized using cyclic voltammetry, impedance method, and differential pulse voltammetry. The results show that wrinkled CuInSe2 completely coated on CS. The sensor exhibits good electrochemical kinetics and response signal towards DA, which results from the good electrochemical activity and excellent electroconductibility of transition metal centers of the composite. The determination limit of the proposed sensor towards DA is 0.59 μM (S/N=3), and the linear measuring range is between 1–800 μM. In addition, the sensor exhibits desirable long‐term robustness, reproducibility, repetitiveness, and interference immunity. In the non‐invasive determination towards real samples of human urine and sweat, the sensor provides good recovery rate and small determination deviation.
Spatiotemporal dedifferentiation of the global brain signal topography along the adult lifespan
Authors: Ao Yujia , Yang Chengxiao , Drewes Jan , Jiang Muliang , Huang Lihui , Jing Xiujuan , Northoff Georg , Wang Yifeng
Published: October 2023

Age‐related variations in many regions and/or networks of the human brain have been uncovered using resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging. However, these findings did not account for the dynamical effect the brain's global activity (global signal [GS]) causes on local characteristics, which is measured by GS topography. To address this gap, we tested GS topography including its correlation with age using a large‐scale cross‐sectional adult lifespan dataset (n = 492). Both GS topography and its variation with age showed frequency‐specific patterns, reflecting the spatiotemporal characteristics of the dynamic change of GS topography with age. A general trend toward dedifferentiation of GS topography with age was observed in both spatial (i.e., less differences of GS between different regions) and temporal (i.e., less differences of GS between different frequencies) dimensions. Further, methodological control analyses suggested that although most age‐related dedifferentiation effects remained across different preprocessing strategies, some were triggered by neuro‐vascular coupling and physiological noises. Together, these results provide the first evidence for age‐related effects on global brain activity and its topographic‐dynamic representation in terms of spatiotemporal dedifferentiation.
Morphometric properties, scaling laws and hydrologic response of the Greater Paris combined sewer system
Authors: Achour Mohamad , Chahinian Nanée , Chancibault Katia , Andrieu Hervé , Moussa Roger
Published: October 2023

Morphometric properties of channel networks are useful tools to classify catchments and calculate their hydrological response. Scaling laws have been established for Optimal Channel Networks (OCNs), which are defined based on a generative geomorphological mechanism of minimizing the total energy dissipation. However, sewer networks obey engineering efficiency rules and are conceived based on local optimizations, both in time and space, for minimal costs. Not all the scaling laws have been verified for artificial sewer networks found in urban areas. This raises questions regarding the applicability of OCN scaling laws to sewer networks and their potential impact on the shape of the Geomorphological Instantaneous Unit Hydrograph (GIUH). Hence, this work aims to study the morphometric properties of the Greater Paris combined sewer system through a case study on twelve nested subcatchments. A two‐step methodology is used. First, the morphometric properties are analysed using the reference Horton‐Strahler, Rodríguez‐Iturbe and Moussa‐Bocquillon scaling laws. The results show that Horton‐Strahler's laws of bifurcation are verified while the length and area laws are not always verified. Rodriguez‐Iturbe and Moussa‐Bocquillon laws are verified with slightly different values of the descriptors in comparison to OCNs. Second, these morphometric properties are used to calculate four GIUHs: the reference Width Function (GWF), the Nash unit hydrograph (GN) using Horton‐Strahler ratios, the Nash Unit Hydrograph equivalent (GNe) using Moussa‐Bocquillon descriptors, and the Hayami function (GH) solution of the diffusive wave equation. We identified four catchments for which the scaling laws are verified and therefore all GIUHs are similar while for four other catchments the scaling laws are not verified and strongly impact the GIUHs. These morphometric descriptors and the GIUHs can be considered as ‘hydrological signatures’ of Combined Sewer Systems (CSSs) and are useful for the comparison and classification of hydrological responses.
Effect of abdominal hot pack application on gastrointestinal motility recovery after comprehensive gynecologic staging surgery
Authors: Güngördük Kemal , Selimoğlu Berfin , Gülseren Varol , Yasar Eylem , Comba Cihan , Özdemir İsa Aykut
Published: October 2023

Objective

To evaluate whether abdominal hot water pack application improves gastrointestinal motility following gynecological oncology surgery.

Methods

The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04833699). (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04833699?cond=NCT04833699&draw=2&rank=1). In this randomized controlled trial, participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to the hot water pack group (standardized enhanced recovery protocols plus rubber water bag with a fluffy cover filled with boiled tap water [80°C] and placed on the abdomen at 3, 6, 9, and 12 h postoperatively for 30 min each time) or the control group (standardized enhanced recovery protocols). A subumbilical or supraumbilical vertical midline incision was made to perform staging surgery procedures, including hysterectomy, salpingo‐oophorectomy with retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy. The primary outcome was the time to first passage of flatus from the end of the staging procedure.

Results

In total, 121 women were randomized to the control (n = 62) or hot water pack (n = 59) group. The use of an abdominal hot water pack significantly reduced the mean time to passing first flatus (25.2 ± 3.6 vs. 30.6 ± 3.9 h; hazard ratio [HR] = 4.4; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.8–7.1; P < 0.0001), mean time to first bowel movements (28.4 ± 4.0 vs. 34.4 ± 4.5 h; HR = 4.9; 95% CI: 3.0–7.9; P < 0.0001), mean time to first defecation (33.4 ± 4.9 vs. 41.0 ± 7.6 h; HR = 4.3; 95% CI: 2.1–6.8; P < 0.0001), and mean time to tolerating solid diet (2.1 ± 0.6 vs. 2.8 ± 1.0 days; HR = 4.4; 95% CI: 2.2–8.7; P < 0.0001) compared to the control group. The postoperative ileus incidence was significantly lower in the hot water pack group (3.4%) than the control group (16.1%) (P = 0.01).

Conclusion

Abdominal hot water pack application improved gastrointestinal function recovery in women following surgical staging procedures for gynecological malignancy.
Fostering humanistic counseling via utilizing the Search Institute's Asset Checklist: An outcome study
Authors: Coll Kenneth M. , Stewart Roger A. , Sawyer Stephanie , Woodliff Tricia , Fear Clark , Scholl Stacey , Hauser Nicole
Published: October 2023

This study combined asset (i.e., strength) assessment, measured by the Search Institute's Asset Checklist, and humanistic counseling approaches to measure effects on self‐reported assets in two similar vulnerable adolescent populations in therapeutic residential treatment centers located in the rural Rocky Mountain West. Results indicated that seven of eight asset categories increased from baseline to follow‐up assessment, with four of those categories having statistically significant increases. Total Asset scores also indicated substantial overall asset building during treatment. Suggestions are included, especially for one concerning area, Constructive Use of Time.
A Temperature and pH Dual‐Sensitive Multifunctional Polyurethane with Bacteria‐Triggered Antibacterial Activity
Authors: Gao Qinwei , Chen Zhaobin , Yang Xiaoniu
Published: October 2023

An effective and practical antibacterial strategy is to design multifunctional and stimuli‐responsive materials that exhibit antibacterial activity in response to bacterial triggers. In this study, because the metabolism of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) can acidify the surrounding environment and pH level can affect the lower critical solution temperature of temperature/pH dual‐sensitive polymers, a monomer containing a temperature‐sensitive N‐isopropyl amide derivative and pH‐sensitive tertiary amine groups is first synthesized. Then, the monomer is copolymerized with a polyurethane chain, and partial tertiary amine groups are quaternized to obtain bactericidal activity. The modified polyurethane exhibits temperature/pH sensitivity, antibacterial adhesion activity, bactericidal activity, and good cytocompatibility. An in situ investigation of bacterial behavior and pH changes in the bacterial suspension during the process confirms that the temperature/pH dual‐sensitive polyurethane successfully achieves antibacterial activity though the metabolic activity of S. aureus without external intervention. This design concept provides a new perspective for antibacterial material design.
Effectiveness of visual biofeedback–guided respiratory‐correlated 4D‐MRI for radiotherapy guidance on the MR‐linac
Authors: Keijnemans Katrinus , Borman Pim T. S. , Raaymakers Bas W. , Fast Martin F.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Respiratory‐correlated 4D‐MRI may provide motion characteristics for radiotherapy but is susceptible to irregular breathing. This study investigated the effectiveness of visual biofeedback (VBF) guidance for breathing regularization during 4D‐MRI acquisitions on an MR‐linac.

Methods

A simultaneous multislice‐accelerated 4D‐MRI sequence was interleaved with a one‐dimensional respiratory navigator (1D‐RNAV) in 10 healthy volunteers on a 1.5T Unity MR‐linac (Elekta AB, Stockholm, Sweden). Volunteer‐specific breathing amplitudes and periods were derived from the 1D‐RNAV signal obtained during unguided 4D‐MRI acquisitions. These were used for the guidance waveform, while the 1D‐RNAV positions were overlayed as VBF. VBF effectiveness was quantified by calculating the change in coefficient of variation () for the breathing amplitude and period, the position SD of end‐exhale, end‐inhale and midposition locations, and the agreement between the 1D‐RNAV signals and guidance waveforms. The 4D‐MRI quality was assessed by quantifying amounts of missing data.

Results

VBF had an average latency of 520 ± 2 ms. VBF reduced median breathing variations by 18% to 35% (amplitude) and 29% to 57% (period). Median position SD reductions ranged from −3% to 35% (end‐exhale), 29% to 38% (end‐inhale), and 25% to 37% (midposition). Average differences between guidance waveforms and 1D‐RNAV signals were 0.0 s (period) and +1.7 mm (amplitude). VBF also decreased the median amount of missing data by 11% and 29%.

Conclusion

A VBF system was successfully implemented, and all volunteers were able to adapt to the guidance waveform. VBF during 4D‐MRI acquisitions drastically reduced breathing variability but had limited effect on missing data in respiratory‐correlated 4D‐MRI.
Generalized Ng–Kundu–Chan model of adaptive progressive Type‐II censoring and related inference
Authors: Schmiedt Anja Bettina , Cramer Erhard
Published: October 2023

The model of adaptive progressive Type‐II censoring introduced by Ng et al. (2009) (referred to as Ng–Kundu–Chan model) is extended to allow switching from a given initial censoring plan to any arbitrary given plan of the same length. In this generalized model, the joint distribution of the failure times and the corresponding likelihood function is derived. It is illustrated that the computation of maximum likelihood and Bayesian estimates are along the same lines as for standard progressive Type‐II censoring. However, the distributional properties of the estimators will usually be different since the censoring plan actually applied in the (generalized) Ng–Kundu–Chan model is random. As already mentioned in Cramer and Iliopoulos (2010), we directly show that the normalized spacings are independent and identically exponentially distributed. However, it turns out that the spacings themselves are generally dependent with mixtures of exponential distributions as marginals. These results are used to study linear estimators. Finally, we propose an algorithm for generating random numbers in the generalized Ng–Kundu–Chan model and present some simulation results. The results obtained also provide new findings in the original Ng–Kundu–Chan model; the corresponding implications are highlighted.
Effect of productive capacities on tax revenue mobilization: Evidence from Sub‐Saharan African countries
Authors: Tchagnao Abdou‐Fataou
Published: October 2023

This paper analyzes the effects of productive capacities on tax revenue mobilization in 37 Sub‐Saharan African countries. Using the Generalized Method of Moment (GMM) approach, the results show that productive capacities measured by the aggregate Productive Capacity Index (PCI) and its eight components, namely human and natural capital, energy, transport, Information and communication technologies, private sector, institutions and structural change positively and significantly affect total tax revenue mobilization. For example, an increase in one point of the PCI corresponds to an increase in total tax revenues by 0.0016 point. The effect of productive capacities also remains positive and significant on tax revenues, even when disaggregated into direct and indirect taxes. This paper contributes empirically to highlighting the importance of productive capacity in tax revenue mobilization. Hence, strengthening productive capacities is important to enhance tax revenue mobilization in Sub‐Saharan African countries. To meet the current challenges of mobilizing the fiscal resources needed to meet international agendas, Sub‐Saharan African countries must not only work to strengthen overall productive capacity, but also promote the quality of institutions, transport and energy, invest in human capital, create the conditions for real structural transformation, promote good digital governance and a more dynamic private sector.
Soil carbon mineralization, enzyme activities, and crop residue decomposition under varying soil moisture regimes
Authors: Chatterjee Amitava , Taylor Jason M. , Strauss Alana , Locke Martin A.
Published: October 2023

In the Lower Mississippi River Basin, farmlands are flooded in late fall and winter by impeding drainage to provide a habitat for migratory birds stopover. A laboratory incubation study was conducted to study the influence of temporary wetting of these soils on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) mineralization from residue decomposition. Surface soils (0–15 cm) were collected from fields with clay and silty clay loam soils. Both soils were incubated with five crop residues—corn (Zea mays), soybean (Glycine max), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), and sweet potato (Ipomea batatus)—at 50% and 100% water holding capacity (WHC). Soil carbon dioxide (CO2) efflux was measured during 74 days of incubation. Soil moisture had the largest effect on soil CO2efflux and most of the enzyme activities followed by residue and soil type. Cumulative soil CO2efflux was reduced by 46% at 100% WHC compared to 50% WHC. Clay soil had higher cumulative CO2efflux, aryl sulfatase, aryl phosphatase, and β‐N‐acetyl glucose aminidase activities than silty clay loam soil. Residue type had the largest effect on post‐incubation soil inorganic‐N, remaining biomass, and residue C and residue N. Sweet potato residue had the lowest remaining biomass, significantly lower than cotton, corn, and sorghum, but statistically similar to soybean. After incubation, residue N concentration had a positive association with cumulative CO2efflux and a negative association with remaining residue biomass percentage. Winter flooding might limit the loss of soil C as CO2depending on the crops grown and soil type.
Bone‐Targeted Nanoparticle Drug Delivery System‐Mediated Macrophage Modulation for Enhanced Fracture Healing
Authors: Xiao Baixue , Liu Yuxuan , Chandrasiri Indika , Adjei‐Sowah Emmanuela , Mereness Jared , Yan Ming , Benoit Danielle S. W.
Published: October 2023

Despite decades of progress, developing minimally invasive bone‐specific drug delivery systems (DDS) to improve fracture healing remains a significant clinical challenge. To address this critical therapeutic need, nanoparticle (NP) DDS comprised of poly(styrene‐alt‐maleic anhydride)‐b‐poly(styrene) (PSMA‐b‐PS) functionalized with a peptide that targets tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and achieves preferential fracture accumulation has been developed. The delivery of AR28, a glycogen synthase kinase‐3 beta (GSK3β) inhibitor, via the TRAP binding peptide‐NP (TBP‐NP) expedites fracture healing. Interestingly, however, NPs are predominantly taken up by fracture‐associated macrophages rather than cells typically associated with fracture healing. Therefore, the underlying mechanism of healing via TBP‐NP is comprehensively investigated herein. TBP‐NPAR28 promotes M2 macrophage polarization and enhances osteogenesis in preosteoblast‐macrophage co‐cultures in vitro. Longitudinal analysis of TBP‐NPAR28‐mediated fracture healing reveals distinct spatial distributions of M2 macrophages, an increased M2/M1 ratio, and upregulation of anti‐inflammatory and downregulated pro‐inflammatory genes compared to controls. This work demonstrates the underlying therapeutic mechanism of bone‐targeted NP DDS, which leverages macrophages as druggable targets and modulates M2 macrophage polarization to enhance fracture healing, highlighting the therapeutic benefit of this approach for fractures and bone‐associated diseases.
Microphysiological Constructs and Systems: Biofabrication Tactics, Biomimetic Evaluation Approaches, and Biomedical Applications
Authors: Zhang Shuyu , Xu Guoshi , Wu Juan , Liu Xiao , Fan Yong , Chen Jun , Wallace Gordon , Gu Qi
Published: October 2023

In recent decades, microphysiological constructs and systems (MPCs and MPSs) have undergone significant development, ranging from self‐organized organoids to high‐throughput organ‐on‐a‐chip platforms. Advances in biomaterials, bioinks, 3D bioprinting, micro/nanofabrication, and sensor technologies have contributed to diverse and innovative biofabrication tactics. MPCs and MPSs, particularly tissue chips relevant to absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity, have demonstrated potential as precise, efficient, and economical alternatives to animal models for drug discovery and personalized medicine. However, current approaches mainly focus on the in vitro recapitulation of the human anatomical structure and physiological‐biochemical indices at a single or a few simple levels. This review highlights the recent remarkable progress in MPC and MPS models and their applications. The challenges that must be addressed to assess the reliability, quantify the techniques, and utilize the fidelity of the models are also discussed.
A Long‐Life and Excellent Rate‐Capability Aqueous Zn‐Benzoquinone Battery Enabled by Iodine‐Catalyzed Cathode
Authors: Song Chunlai , Wang Qiang , Wen Ruihang , Tang Qiben , Luo Zhiqiang , Yuan Zhihao
Published: October 2023

Benzoquinone (BQ) is considered to be a desirable cathode material for aqueous zinc‐based batteries. The major limitations of BQ electrode are the severe sublimation and poor electrical conductivity, which results in serious mass loss during electrode preparation and inferior rate performance. In this study, iodine (I2) species are utilized as an efficient catalyst for the highly reversible conversion of BQ/BQ2− couple in the Zn‐BQ battery system, wherein N‐doped porous carbon is employed as a host material for anchoring the BQ molecule. In the combination electrode (denoted as BQ‐I@NPC) with 1wt% I2 additive where I2 can serve as a carrier to accelerates the Zn2+ transmission, and reduce the voltage hysteresis of the electrode. As a result, the BQ‐I@NPC cathode delivers a high specific capacity of ≈482 mAh g−1 at 0.25 A g−1, realizing a high energy density of 545 Wh kg−1 (based on BQ), which is the highest values among reported organic cathode materials for aqueous Zn‐based batteries. Also, a high BQ loading (8 mg cm−2) can be attained, and achieving a superior cycling stability with a capacity retention of ≈80% after 20,000 times at 10 C. The work proposes an effective approach toward high performance organic electrode materials.
CDTC: Automatically establishing the trace links between class diagrams in design phase and source code
Authors: Chen Fangwei , Zhang Li , Lian Xiaoli
Published: October 2023

Context

The UML class diagram is commonly used to model functional structures and software code structures in both the preliminary and detailed design stages. And the abstraction level of UML class diagrams is usually higher than that of source code. Usually, there is a lack of trace links between these class diagrams and the source code, which may cause difficulties in understanding the source code, and affect the software evolution and maintenance.

Objective

The main goal of this article is to establish the trace links between highly abstracted UML class diagrams in the design phase and source code, and eventually help practitioners better understand source code.

Method

We propose an approach for the automated trace link establishment between UML class diagrams in the design phase and source code. To address the problem of abstraction level gap between them, we extend the UML class diagram by mining the synonymous phrases of class names and deducing the latent missing relationships between classes from multiple design documents. Then we build the trace links with a two‐phase approach including initial construction with fuzzy matching and further optimization by class relationship inference.

Results

Experiments on five open‐source projects show that the recalls of our approach are over 94%, and the F2‐scores are over 88%, with the gains of 30% to 60% than the four baselines.

Conclusion

Our work can be a reference for establishing the initial trace links between highly‐abstracted UML class diagrams and source code. Towards the higher abstraction of design diagrams, we extend UML class diagrams with the statistical analysis on multiple design documents. To guarantee the quality of trace links, we design a two‐phase approach by obtaining the “full but not good enough” trace links and filtering the “probably wrong” links. Experiments show that the main techniques of our approach behave as important role for tracing between high‐level class diagrams and source code.
Challenges and Reflections for Developing Leadership in Educational Contexts
Authors: Ahtiainen Raisa , Hanhimäki Eija , Leinonen Jaana , Risku Mika , Smeds-Nylund Ann-Sofie
Published: October 2023

This volume was inspired by the observation that over the past 20 years, the educational system and public administration in general have changed enormously due to ideological, political and structural transformation. In practice, the mode of operation in educational organisations is characterised by a complex interplay between political and administrative objectives, negotiations and promotion of various perspectives, cultural features, professional sights and aims to adapt to external and internal pressures and influences. This has affected educational leadership that should also be seen from a complex perspective that includes relationships and active social interaction in various networks. However, there have been very few publications of the specifics of leadership in educational contexts with a wide-ranging perspective for the radically evolving operational environments and written by researchers in educational leadership and governance. Therefore, this volume has presented a joint effort for positioning, conceptualising and describing the nature and future of Finnish educational leadership for both the international and Finnish readers.
Exploring Social Representations of Nature-Based Tourism, Development Conflict, and Sustainable Development Futures in Chilean Patagonia
Authors: Inostroza Villanueva Gabriel , Bourlon Fabien , Gale-Detrich Trace , Blair Heidi
Published: October 2023

This chapter explored howModernization,Transformation, andControlSustainable Development (SD) imaginaries and trajectories interacted, nuanced, and mediated the approaches of neoliberaldevelopment initiatives and the conflicts which surrounded them. A collective case study approach was employed to better understand actors, their strategies, and perceptions about three large-scale development proposals, the Patagonia National Parks network, the HidroAysén hydroelectric project, and the Río Cuervo hydroelectric project. We identified six themes that characterized participants’ preferences related to processes: a desire for greater proactiveness aroundtransparency, abindingparticipationprocess of governance,bottom-updecision making,re-empowermentof local groups,decentralization, andimproved oversightpractices. Further, directed content analysis revealed numerous manifestations of the three SD futures trajectories and several examples of interactions and overlap between the SD imaginaries. Seemingly, some development actors navigated between SD imaginaries and tactics to maneuver between local and national actors, agendas, and decision-making processes. We have termed these tactics asSD agility, which are initially defined as: “the strategic ability to maneuver between SD imaginaries and trajectories to achieve strategic SD outcomes.” SD agility tactics merit additional study as we believe they may represent an important capacity for SD futures trajectories.
Territorializing Capital: Moreno’s Gift and the Political Economy of Nature in Argentine Patagonia
Authors: Mendoza Marcos
Published: October 2023

This chapter examines the political economy of nature and the legacy of Francisco Moreno, scientist and explorer, within ArgentinePatagonia. Moreno is institutionally recognized for a land donation he made to the federalgovernment in 1903, which is celebrated for inaugurating the national park conservation movement. This Moreno-centric official history, however, has rendered invisible state violence and Indigenous dispossession as preconditions of national conservation. Moving beyond this official history of conservation, the discussion highlights two histories of capitalist territorialization. The first focuses on the clearing-out strategy pursued by the Argentine government to open Patagonia for colonization and agrarian capitalism. The second attends to the re-territorialization of space through the creation of national parks and the promotion of leisure capitalism. Using the concept of “the gift” to assess Moreno’s legacy, this chapter shows that the “spirit of the gift”—heralded by the Argentine federal government—is chained to these two projects of capitalist territorialization. These territorialization histories challenge the halcyon representation of Moreno’s gift promoted by the state. Drawing upon scholarship in politicalecology, this study is a contribution to an emerging critical assessment of “the gift” within Patagonian conservation.
Entanglement of harmonic systems in squeezed states
Authors: Katsinis D. , Pastras G. , Tetradis N.
Published: October 2023

Abstract

The entanglement entropy of a free scalar field in its ground state is dominated by an area law term. It is noteworthy, however, that the study of entanglement in scalar field theory has not advanced far beyond the ground state. In this paper, we extend the study of entanglement of harmonic systems, which include free scalar field theory as a continuum limit, to the case of the most general Gaussian states, namely the squeezed states. We find the eigenstates and the spectrum of the reduced density matrix and we calculate the entanglement entropy. We show that our method is equivalent to the correlation matrix method. Finally, we apply our method to free scalar field theory in 1+1 dimensions and show that, for very squeezed states, the entanglement entropy is dominated by a volume term, unlike the ground-state case. Even though the state of the system is time-dependent in a non-trivial manner, this volume term is time-independent. We expect this behaviour to hold in higher dimensions as well, as it emerges in a large-squeezing expansion of the entanglement entropy for a general harmonic system.
The impact of usage on the performance of lubricating emulsions in micro-forming
Authors: Arinbjarnar Úlfar , Rahemipoor Sahand , Christiansen Rune J. , Bissacco Giuliano , Nielsen Chris V.
Published: October 2023

Lubricants are known to change over time, both in terms of aging of the oil and additives, and additive depletion through use. Samples were extracted at intervals from an industrial micro-deep drawing process line to evaluate how the lubricant changes over time. Four-ball testing showed that the tribological performance degraded quickly but stabilised after one million strokes. Measuring of the pH-level and correlation with the oil concentration showed that the emulsion initially becomes more acidic but stabilises after one million strokes, despite changes in oil concentration. Elemental analysis using water inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis standard showed that particles in the lubricant could be related to an increasing formation of wear debris. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis was used to evaluate changes in chemical composition of the base oil. Lubricant properties were found to degrade in samples obtained from the onset of the production, while they stabilised for samples that had been in use for a period of more than 1 week. The performance of the used lubricant is therefore different from that of the fresh lubricant, with four-ball wear scars increasing by approximately 30%. These results show that when tribological tests are tailored to industrial tribo-systems, the lubricant that is used in the test should be the steady state lubricant found in the real system rather than fresh lubricant.
Dynamic preference foundations of expected exponentially-discounted utility
Authors: Webb Craig S.
Published: October 2023

Expected exponentially-discounted utility (EEDU) is the standard model of choice over risk and time in economics. This paper considers the dynamic preference foundations of EEDU in the timed risks framework. We first provide dynamic preference foundations for a time-invariant expected utility representation. The new axioms for this are called foregone-risk independence and strong time invariance. This class of dynamic preferences includes EEDU as a special case. If foregone-risk independence is strengthened to a new condition called conditional consistency, then an EEDU representation results. Alternative approaches for extending exponential discounting axioms to risk are considered, resulting in five new preference foundations of EEDU.
Reproductive biology of male common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in New Zealand waters
Authors: Palmer Emily I. , Betty Emma L. , Murphy Sinéad , Perrott Matthew R. , Smith Adam N. H. , Stockin Karen A.
Published: October 2023

Reproductive parameters were assessed in 64 male common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) examined post-mortem from strandings and bycatch in New Zealand between 1999 and 2020. The stages of male sexual maturation were assessed using morphological measurements and histological examination of testicular tissue. Age was determined via growth layer groups (GLGs) in teeth. The average age (ASM) and length (LSM) at attainment of sexual maturity were estimated to be 8.8 years and 198.3 cm, respectively. Individual variation in ASM (7.5–10 years) and LSM (190–220 cm) was observed in New Zealand common dolphins. However, on average, sexual maturity was attained at a similar length but at a marginally younger age (< 1 year) in New Zealand compared to populations in the Northern Hemisphere. All testicular variables proved better predictors of sexual maturity compared to demographic variables (age and total body length), with combined testes weight the best outright predictor of sexual maturity. Reproductive seasonality was observed in male common dolphins, with a significant increase in combined testes weight in austral summer. This aligns with most other studied populations, where seasonality in reproduction is typically observed. Given the known anthropogenic impacts on New Zealand common dolphins, we recommend that these findings be used as a baseline from which to monitor population-level changes as part of conservation management efforts.
Functional properties of ant queen pheromones as revealed by behavioral experiments
Authors: Zeng Haolin
Published: October 2023

An ant colony is the epitome of social organization where up to millions of individuals cooperate to survive, compete, and reproduce as a single superorganism, Female members of ant colonies typically are categorized into a reproductive queen caste and a non-reproductive worker caste. The queen(s) conveys her fertility condition and in cases, genotype status, via a suite of queen pheromones whose various functions are crucial to the superorganismal nature of ant colonies. Knowledge of these functional properties is fundamental for identifying constituent chemicals and understanding corresponding modes of actions. In this review, I summarize functional properties of ant queen pheromones learned from seven decades of behavioral experiments, and contextualize this knowledge within the broader understanding of queen pheromones in other major groups of social insects. The effects include promotion of colony integrity and coherence, maintenance of reproductive dominance of the queen, and regulation of colony social structure. Additionally, general characteristics of queen pheromones are discussed and potential avenues for future research are highlighted.
The value of routine blood work-up in clinical stratification and prognosis of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Gentile Francesco , Maranzano Alessio , Verde Federico , Bettoni Veronica , Colombo Eleonora , Doretti Alberto , Olivero Marco , Scheveger Francesco , Colombrita Claudia , Bulgarelli Ilaria , Spinelli Edoardo Gioele , Torresani Erminio , Messina Stefano , Maderna Luca , Agosta Federica , Morelli Claudia , Filippi Massimo , Silani Vincenzo , Ticozzi Nicola
Published: October 2023

Background

There is an unmet need in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to provide specific biomarkers for the disease. Due to their easy availability, we aimed to investigate whether routine blood parameters provide useful clues for phenotypic classification and disease prognosis.

Methods

We analyzed a large inpatient cohort of 836 ALS patients who underwent deep phenotyping with evaluation of the clinical and neurophysiological burden of upper (UMN) and lower (LMN) motor neuron signs. Disability and progression rate were measured through the revised ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) and its changes during time. Cox regression analysis was performed to assess survival associations.

Results

Creatinine significantly correlated with LMN damage (r = 0.38), active (r = 0.18) and chronic (r = 0.24) denervation and baseline ALSFRS-R (r = 0.33). Creatine kinase (CK), alanine (ALT) and aspartate (AST) transaminases correlated with active (r = 0.35, r = 0.27, r = 0.24) and chronic (r = 0.37, r = 0.20, r = 0.19) denervation, while albumin and C-reactive protein significantly correlated with LMN score (r = 0.20 and r = 0.17). Disease progression rate showed correlations with chloride (r = −0.19) and potassium levels (r = −0.16). After adjustment for known prognostic factors, total protein [HR 0.70 (95% CI 0.57–0.86)], creatinine [HR 0.86 (95% CI 0.81–0.92)], chloride [HR 0.95 (95% CI 0.92–0.99)], lactate dehydrogenase [HR 0.99 (95% CI 0.99–0.99)], and AST [HR 1.02 (95% CI 1.01–1.02)] were independently associated with survival.

Conclusions

Creatinine is a reliable biomarker for ALS, associated with clinical features, disability and survival. Markers of nutrition/inflammation may offer additional prognostic information and partially correlate with clinical features. AST and chloride could further assist in predicting progression rate and survival.
Current challenges and practical aspects of molecular pathology for non-small cell lung cancers
Authors: Hofman Paul , Berezowska Sabina , Kazdal Daniel , Mograbi Baharia , Ilié Marius , Stenzinger Albrecht , Hofman Véronique
Published: October 2023

The continuing evolution of treatment options in thoracic oncology requires the pathologist to regularly update diagnostic algorithms for management of tumor samples. It is essential to decide on the best way to use tissue biopsies, cytological samples, as well as liquid biopsies to identify the different mandatory predictive biomarkers of lung cancers in a short turnaround time. However, biological resources and laboratory member workforce are limited and may be not sufficient for the increased complexity of molecular pathological analyses and for complementary translational research development. In this context, the surgical pathologist is the only one who makes the decisions whether or not to send specimens to immunohistochemical and molecular pathology platforms. Moreover, the pathologist can rapidly contact the oncologist to obtain a new tissue biopsy and/or a liquid biopsy if he/she considers that the biological material is not sufficient in quantity or quality for assessment of predictive biomarkers. Inadequate control of algorithms and sampling workflow may lead to false negative, inconclusive, and incomplete findings, resulting in inappropriate choice of therapeutic strategy and potentially poor outcome for patients. International guidelines for lung cancer treatment are based on the results of the expression of different proteins and on genomic alterations. These guidelines have been established taking into consideration the best practices to be set up in clinical and molecular pathology laboratories. This review addresses the current predictive biomarkers and algorithms for use in thoracic oncology molecular pathology as well as the central role of the pathologist, notably in the molecular tumor board and her/his participation in the treatment decision-making. The perspectives in this setting will be discussed.
Roboterbasierter 3D-Druck mit neuen Dimensionen
Authors: Brandstötter Mathias , Petersmann Sandra , Bosch Julian
Published: October 2023

Der roboterbasierte 3D-Druck ermöglicht neue Dimensionen der additiven Fertigung. Im Gegensatz zu herkömmlichen 3D-Druckern, die in der Regel auf einem festen Druckbett arbeiten, wird ein Roboterarm als Bewegungsplattform verwendet. Dies eröffnet neue Möglichkeiten in Bezug auf Designfreiheit, Material- und Prozessvielfalt. Da Roboterarme komplexe Bewegungen ausführen können, sind sie in der Lage, 3D-Objekte mit sehr komplexen Strukturen und Geometrien zu drucken, die Notwendigkeit von Stützmaterial zu reduzieren oder zu eliminieren sowie eine Vielzahl von Materialien zu verarbeiten, darunter auch solche mit sehr unterschiedlichen Eigenschaften, wie Elastomere, Metalle oder Verbundwerkstoffe. Das Druckverfahren kann je nach Material und Anforderungen angepasst werden. Dies eröffnet die Möglichkeit, ein breites Spektrum von Anwendungen zu optimieren, insbesondere im Hinblick auf Design, Funktionsintegrität und Prozessoptimierung.
The contested role of AI ethics boards in smart societies: a step towards improvement based on board composition by sortition
Authors: Conti Ludovico Giacomo , Seele Peter
Published: October 2023

The recent proliferation of AI scandals led private and public organisations to implement new ethics guidelines, introduce AI ethics boards, and list ethical principles. Nevertheless, some of these efforts remained a façade not backed by any substantive action. Such behaviour made the public question the legitimacy of the AI industry and prompted scholars to accuse the sector of ethicswashing, machinewashing, and ethics trivialisation—criticisms that spilt over to institutional AI ethics boards. To counter this widespread issue, contributions in the literature have proposed fixes that do not consider its systemic character and are based on a top-down, expert-centric governance. To fill this gap, we propose to make use of qualified informed lotteries: a two-step model that transposes the documented benefits of the ancient practice of sortition into the selection of AI ethics boards’ members and combines them with the advantages of a stakeholder-driven, participative, and deliberative bottom-up process typical of Citizens’ Assemblies. The model permits increasing the public’s legitimacy and participation in the decision-making process and its deliverables, curbing the industry’s over-influence and lobbying, and diminishing the instrumentalisation of ethics boards. We suggest that this sortition-based approach may provide a sound base for both public and private organisations in smart societies for constructing a decentralised, bottom-up, participative digital democracy.
Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation on strain-hardening and fracture behaviors of polycarbonate: Effect of polydispersity and spatial distribution
Authors: Leelaprachakul Tatchaphon , Kubo Atsushi , Umeno Yoshitaka
Published: October 2023

Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation of polycarbonate is utilized to investigate the relationship between molecular structure (i.e., polydispersity and molecular spatial distribution) and strain-hardening and fracture behavior of polycarbonate. We find that strain-hardening modulus and chain extensibility, which are the constitutive parameters of the Eindhoven Glassy Polymer model are highly affected by spatial distribution but are insensitive to polydispersity. This is attributed to the higher rate of nonaffine deformation in the structure with a high radius of gyration. On the other hand, maximum stress at fracture is highly influenced by both spatial distribution and polydispersity due to the ability to sustain entanglements at larger strain. We suggest the phenomenological expression of maximum stress as a function of the radius of gyration, the number of entanglements, and polydispersity.
A note on the remainder in the approximation of functions by some positive linear operators
Authors: Birou Marius-Mihai
Published: October 2023

In this note we give representations for the remainder in approximations formulas generated by positive linear operators which preserve some functions including linear functions. We show that in these cases the Peano kernel from the integral representation of the remainder has the same sign on the definition domain. Applications to the iterates of some positive linear operators and quadrature formulas are given.