bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Why ‘New’ Foods Are Safe and How They Can Be Assessed
Authors: Dall’Asta Chiara
Published: September 2022

The chapter presents an overview of the safety assessment process for Novel Foods within the European Union. The main steps are presented and discussed together with the applied methodologies. Bottlenecks and limitations are examined, also in view of increasing transparency in consumer communication and improving overall consumer trust in Novel Foods.
Improving Tool Support for Nested Parallel Regions with Introspection Consistency
Authors: Indic Vladimir , Mellor-Crummey John
Published: September 2022

The OpenMP 5 standard defines OMPT—an application programming interface for tools that includes a set of introspection routines. At any point in time, a sampling-based performance tool may invoke these introspection routines from a signal handler to inquire about the nesting of parallel and task regions. Unfortunately, the OpenMP 5 standard doesn’t precisely specify what one may observe with these routines when monitoring a program as it executes nested parallel regions. To address this shortcoming, we propose that the OpenMP standard require that an OpenMP implementation supportsintrospection consistency. This paper defines introspection consistency, describes why tools need it, and explains a novel strategy for implementing it using wait-free coordination between an OpenMP implementation and its OMPT introspection routines. We describe an implementation of this technique in the LLVM OpenMP runtime and evaluate the runtime overhead of supporting introspection consistency in LLVM OpenMP using a microbenchmark for nested parallel regions and SPEC OMP2012.
Quasi-Equivalent Concept Trade-Off in Ontology Design: Initial Considerations and Analyses
Authors: Svátek Vojtěch , Nesterova Anna , Nguyen Viet Bach
Published: September 2022

The problem of concept equivalence is often addressed within ontology alignment. A similar problem is however encountered in ontology design: the decision whether to express multiple semantically close informal concepts as one or more formal classes, for which we coin the term concept quasi-equivalence trade-off. We outline its formal framework as well as an initial set of decision-making criteria. We also tried to collect traces of the trade-off from two sources: the LOV vocabulary catalog and ontology design experts addressed through a questionnaire. Finally, we discuss possible modalities of a software support.
Should We Afford Affordances? Injecting ConceptNet Knowledge into BERT-Based Models to Improve Commonsense Reasoning Ability
Authors: Gretkowski Andrzej , Wiśniewski Dawid , Ławrynowicz Agnieszka
Published: September 2022

Recent years have shown that deep learning models pre-trained on large text corpora using the language model objective can help solve various tasks requiring natural language understanding. However, many commonsense concepts are underrepresented in online resources because they are too obvious for most humans. To solve this problem, we propose the use of affordances – common-sense knowledge that can be injected into models to increase their ability to understand our world. We show that injecting ConceptNet knowledge into BERT-based models leads to an increase in evaluation scores measured on the PIQA dataset.
Inequalities for Plane Partitions
Authors: Heim Bernhard , Neuhauser Markus , Tröger Robert
Published: September 2022

Inequalities are important features in the context of sequences of numbers and polynomials. The Bessenrodt–Ono inequality for partition numbers and Nekrasov–Okounkov polynomials has only recently been discovered. In this paper we study the log-concavity (Turán inequality) and Bessenrodt–Ono inequality for plane partitions and their polynomization.
$$L^p-L^q$$ Local Smoothing Estimates for the Wave Equation via k-Broad Fourier Restriction
Authors: Beltran David , Saari Olli
Published: September 2022

We explore the connection between k-broad Fourier restriction estimates and sharp regularity $$L^p-L^q$$

L
p

-

L
q

local smoothing estimates for the solutions of the wave equation in $$\mathbb {R}^{n}\times \mathbb {R}$$

R

n

×
R

for all $$n \ge 3$$

n
≥
3

via a Bourgain–Guth broad-narrow analysis. An interesting feature is that local smoothing estimates for $$e^{i t \sqrt{-\Delta }}$$

e

i
t

-
Δ

are not invariant under Lorentz rescaling.
Teamspezifische Auswirkungen der Corona-Pandemie auf Mitarbeiter:innen der Internistischen Intensivmedizin eines Krankenhauses der Maximalversorgung
Authors: Wolff Jochen , Becker Jürgen , Naendrup Jan-Hendrik , Borrega Jorge Garcia , Heger Jan-Michel , Hamacher Laura , Böll Boris , Eichenauer Dennis A. , Shimabukuro-Vornhagen Alexander , Kochanek Matthias
Published: September 2022

Die anhaltende Belastung der Mitarbeiter im Gesundheitsdienst während der COVID-19-Pandemie ist erheblich und stellt die Mitarbeiter vor große emotionale und psychologische Herausforderungen. In einer teaminternen Evaluation (Ärzt:innen und Pflegekräfte) wurden teamspezifische Belastungen, mögliche Entlastungsstrategien, positive und negative Erfahrungen sowie Wünsche für eine Verbesserung der Situation auf einer Intensivstation erhoben. Während beide Berufsgruppen gleich hohe emotionale Belastungsintensitäten wahrnahmen, werden bei der Pflege zusätzlich starke Belastungsintensitäten im organisatorischen und körperlichen Bereich wahrgenommen. Damit erweist sich die Berufsgruppe der Pflegenden als am stärksten durch die COVID-19-Pandemie belastet. Durch die hier herausgearbeiteten Erkenntnisse können für die Zukunft konkrete Handlungsanweisungen abgeleitet werden.
Mental health services use and depressive symptom scores among gay and bisexual men in Canada
Authors: Marbaniang Ivan , Rose Eric , Moodie Erica E. M. , Hart Trevor A. , Cox Joseph
Published: September 2022

Purpose

To evaluate the association between mental health services (MHS) use and depressive symptom scores among gay and bisexual men (GBM) and compare with heterosexual men in Canada.

Methods

We used data from the 2015–2016 cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the PHQ-9 questionnaire (prior two weeks). MHS consultations with any licensed mental health professional (prior year) were categorized as 0, 1, 2–11, ≥ 12. We fit linear regression models to quantify the associations between MHS use and PHQ-9 scores, with an interaction term for sexual identity (GBM and heterosexual men). Models were adjusted for socioeconomic and health-related indicators.

Results

Among 21,383 men, 97.3% self-identified as heterosexual and 2.7% as GBM. Compared to heterosexual men, GBM used any MHS (21% vs. 10%, p < 0.05) and consulted ≥ 2 health professionals for their mental health (6% vs. 2%, p < 0.05) in the preceding year more frequently. Overall, mean PHQ-9 scores were higher among GBM compared to heterosexual men (3.9 vs. 2.3, p < 0.05). Relative to no consultations, higher MHS use (2–11, ≥ 12 consultations) was associated with higher PHQ-9 scores (1.4–4.9 points higher). Associations between MHS use and PHQ-9 scores did not differ statistically between GBM and heterosexual men.

Conclusion

Our findings were inconclusive in demonstrating a difference between heterosexual men and GBM for the association between MHS use and PHQ-9 scores. However, GBM consistently had higher average PHQ-9 scores for every category of consultations. Considering the higher use of MHS and higher burden of depressive symptoms among GBM, more research is needed.
Examination of the temporal sequence between social media use and well-being in a representative sample of adults
Authors: Jarman Hannah K. , McLean Siân A. , Paxton Susan J. , Sibley Chris G. , Marques Mathew D.
Published: September 2022

Given insufficient prospective evidence for relationships between social media use and well-being among adults, the present study examined the temporal sequence between social media use and psychological distress and life satisfaction, and explored age and gender differences. A representative sample of adults (N = 7331; 62.4% women; Mage = 51.94; SD = 13.48; 15–94 years) were surveyed annually across four waves. Cross-lagged panel models demonstrated bidirectional relationships between social media use and well-being. Higher psychological distress and lower life satisfaction predicted higher social media use more strongly than the reverse direction, with effects particularly pronounced for the impact of psychological distress. Although the patterns of findings were relatively consistent across age and gender, results suggested that women and middle- and older-aged adults experience detrimental effects of social media use on well-being, which may drive subsequent increased use of social media. The bidirectional relationships suggest that adults who experience psychological distress or lower life satisfaction may seek to use social media as a way to alleviate poor well-being. However, paradoxically, this maladaptive coping mechanism appears to drive increased social media use which in turn can exacerbate poor well-being. Clinicians should be aware of these bidirectional relationships and work with clients towards replacing ineffective strategies with more helpful coping approaches. As this study used a simplistic measure of social media use, future research should address this limitation and explore nuanced relationships afforded by assessing specific social media activities or exposure to certain types of content.
On the rigidity of Souslin trees and their generic branches
Authors: Lamei Ramandi Hossein
Published: September 2022

We show it is consistent that there is a Souslin tree S such that after forcing with S, S is Kurepa and for all clubs $$C \subset \omega _1$$

C
⊂

ω
1

, $$S\upharpoonright C$$

S
↾
C

is rigid. This answers the questions in Fuchs (Arch Math Logic 52(1–2):47–66, 2013). Moreover, we show it is consistent with $$\diamondsuit $$
♢
that for every Souslin tree T there is a dense $$X \subseteq T$$

X
⊆
T

which does not contain a copy of T. This is related to a question due to Baumgartner in Baumgartner (Ordered sets (Banff, Alta., 1981), volume 83 of NATO Adv. Study Inst. Ser. C: Math. Phys. Sci., Reidel, Dordrecht-Boston, pp 239–277, 1982).
Size-dependent and -independent prey selection of dinoflagellates
Authors: García-Oliva Ovidio , Wirtz Kai
Published: September 2022

Mechanisticapproachestoplanktonfood-websoftenrelyonsize-basedmodels.Thesemodelsdescribe predator–preyrelationshipsbasedonpredator body or cell size. However, size-based representations of trophic relationships fail to encompass the diverse feeding behavior of dinoflagellates, which play an essential role in the food-web due to their abundance and ubiquity. Here, we introduce the specialization factor (s) as an effective trait, which aggregates over aspects of morphology, trophic strategy, and feeding behavior and quantifies the degree of specialization towards a specific prey size. We found that specialization to either the upper or lower edge of the prey size spectrum is connected to size independent trophic relations. As a result, dinoflagellates can be divided into three groups with distinct dependencies of optimal prey size on predator size: (1) mixotrophic engulfers specialized on small prey ($$s=-1$$

s
=
-
1

), (2) pallium feeders on large prey ($$s=1$$

s
=
1

), and (3) neutral feeders ($$s=0$$

s
=
0

) encompassing generalist engulfers and tube feeders. Our trait based approach elucidates the evolutionary significance of diverse feeding modes and specialization in dinoflagellates compared to phylogenetically older groups such as ciliates. It furthermore leads to a more accurate representation of trophic relationships of dinoflagellates in models and can provide, more generally, an efficient description of complex and diverse feeding relations in plankton food-webs.
Vertex results for the robust analysis of uncertain biochemical systems
Authors: Blanchini Franco , Colaneri Patrizio , Giordano Giulia , Zorzan Irene
Published: September 2022

We consider the problem of assessing the sensitivity of uncertain biochemical systems in the presence of input perturbations (either constant or periodic) around a stable steady state. In particular, we propose approaches for the robust sensitivity analysis of systems with uncertain parameters assumed to take values in a hyper-rectangle. We highlight vertex results, which allow us to check whether a property is satisfied for all parameter choices in the hyper-rectangle by simply checking whether it is satisfied for all parameter choices at the vertices of the hyper-rectangle. We show that, for a vast class of systems, including (bio)chemical reaction networks with mass-action kinetics, the system Jacobian has a totally multiaffine structure (namely, all minors of the Jacobian matrix are multiaffine functions of the uncertain parameters), which can be exploited to obtain several vertex results. We consider different problems: robust non-singularity; robust stability of the steady-state; robust steady-state sensitivity analysis, in the case of constant perturbations; robust frequency-response sensitivity analysis, in the presence of periodic perturbations; and robust adaptation analysis. The developed theory is then applied to gain insight into some examples of uncertain biochemical systems, including the incoherent feed-forward loop, the coherent feed-forward loop, the Brusselator oscillator and the Goldbeter oscillator.
Objectively combining climate sensitivity evidence
Authors: Lewis Nicholas
Published: September 2022

Recent assessments of climate sensitivity per doubling of atmospheric CO2concentration have combined likelihoods derived from multiple lines of evidence. These assessments were very influential in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) assessment of equilibrium climate sensitivity, thelikelyrange lower limit of which was raised to 2.5 °C (from 1.5 °C previously). This study evaluates the methodology of and results from a particularly influential assessment of climate sensitivity that combined multiple lines of evidence, Sherwood et al. (Rev Geophys 58(4):e2019RG000678, 2020). That assessment used a subjective Bayesian statistical method, with an investigator-selected prior distribution. This study estimates climate sensitivity using an Objective Bayesian method with computed, mathematical priors, since subjective Bayesian methods may produce uncertainty ranges that poorly match confidence intervals. Identical model equations and, initially, identical input values to those in Sherwood et al. are used. This study corrects Sherwood et al.'s likelihood estimation, producing estimates from three methods that agree closely with each other, but differ from those that they derived. Finally, the selection of input values is revisited, where appropriate adopting values based on more recent evidence or that otherwise appear better justified. The resulting estimates of long-term climate sensitivity are much lower and better constrained (median 2.16 °C, 17–83% range 1.75–2.7 °C, 5–95% range 1.55–3.2 °C) than in Sherwood et al. and in AR6 (central value 3 °C,very likelyrange 2.0–5.0 °C). This sensitivity to the assumptions employed implies that climate sensitivity remains difficult to ascertain, and that values between 1.5 °C and 2 °C are quite plausible.
MIND diet lowers risk of open-angle glaucoma: the Rotterdam Study
Authors: Vergroesen Joëlle E. , de Crom Tosca O. E. , van Duijn Cornelia M. , Voortman Trudy , Klaver Caroline C. W. , Ramdas Wishal D.
Published: September 2022

Purpose

To assess the association between the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet and the incidence of open-angle glaucoma (iOAG), as well as the association between iOAG and two other well-established diets in the Netherlands, i.e., the Mediterranean diet and Dutch dietary guidelines.

Methods

In the Rotterdam Study, participants were followed for iOAG since 1991, with intervals of approximately 5 years. A total of 170 participants developed iOAG during follow-up. Participants with iOAG were matched with healthy controls on age and sex in a case:control ratio of 1:5. The associations between food frequency questionnaire-derived diet adherences (baseline) and iOAG were analyzed using multivariable conditional logistic regression analyses. The associations between the diet adherences and intraocular pressure (IOP; a risk factor for OAG) were assessed using multivariable linear regression analyses.

Results

Greater adherence to the MIND diet was associated with a decreased iOAG risk (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.80 [0.66 to 0.96], for each 10-percent increase in adherence). Food component analyses showed that, in particular a higher intake of green leafy vegetables, berries and fish tended to be protective for iOAG. No significant associations were observed between adherence to the Mediterranean diet or Dutch dietary guidelines and iOAG. Moreover, none of the three examined diets were associated with IOP.

Conclusion

Adherence to the MIND diet was significantly associated with a lower incidence of OAG in contrast to adherence to the Mediterranean diet or the Dutch dietary guidelines. As this association was IOP-independent, the MIND diet may be particularly relevant for the prevention of neurodegeneration in the eye.
Stress-inducible phosphoprotein 1 (HOP/STI1/STIP1) regulates the accumulation and toxicity of α-synuclein in vivo
Authors: Lackie Rachel E. , de Miranda Aline S. , Lim Mei Peng , Novikov Vladislav , Madrer Nimrod , Karunatilleke Nadun C. , Rutledge Benjamin S. , Tullo Stephanie , Brickenden Anne , Maitland Matthew E. R. , Greenberg David , Gallino Daniel , Luo Wen , Attaran Anoosha , Shlaifer Irina , Del Cid Pellitero Esther , Schild-Poulter Caroline , Durcan Thomas M. , Fon Edward A. , Duennwald Martin , Beraldo Flavio H. , Chakravarty M. Mallar , Bussey Timothy J. , Saksida Lisa M. , Soreq Hermona , Choy Wing-Yiu , Prado Vania F. , Prado Marco A. M.
Published: September 2022

The predominantly pre-synaptic intrinsically disordered protein α-synuclein is prone to misfolding and aggregation in synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Molecular chaperones play important roles in protein misfolding diseases and members of the chaperone machinery are often deposited in Lewy bodies. Here, we show that the Hsp90 co-chaperone STI1 co-immunoprecipitated α-synuclein, and co-deposited with Hsp90 and Hsp70 in insoluble protein fractions in two mouse models of α-synuclein misfolding. STI1 and Hsp90 also co-localized extensively with filamentous S129 phosphorylated α-synuclein in ubiquitin-positive inclusions. In PD human brains, STI1 transcripts were increased, and in neurologically healthy brains, STI1 and α-synuclein transcripts correlated. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) analyses revealed direct interaction of α-synuclein with STI1 and indicated that the STI1 TPR2A, but not TPR1 or TPR2B domains, interacted with the C-terminal domain of α-synuclein. In vitro, the STI1 TPR2A domain facilitated S129 phosphorylation by Polo-like kinase 3. Moreover, mice over-expressing STI1 and Hsp90ß presented elevated α-synuclein S129 phosphorylation accompanied by inclusions when injected with α-synuclein pre-formed fibrils. In contrast, reduced STI1 function decreased protein inclusion formation, S129 α-synuclein phosphorylation, while mitigating motor and cognitive deficits as well as mesoscopic brain atrophy in α-synuclein-over-expressing mice. Our findings reveal a vicious cycle in which STI1 facilitates the generation and accumulation of toxic α-synuclein conformers, while α-synuclein-induced proteostatic stress increased insoluble STI1 and Hsp90.
Overexpression of INSM1, NOTCH1, NEUROD1, and YAP1 genes is associated with adverse clinical outcome in pediatric neuroblastoma
Authors: Metovic Jasna , Napoli Francesca , Osella-Abate Simona , Bertero Luca , Tampieri Cristian , Orlando Giulia , Bianchi Maurizio , Carli Diana , Fagioli Franca , Volante Marco , Papotti Mauro
Published: September 2022

Pediatric neuroblastoma is responsible for approximately 8–10% of pediatric tumors, and it is one of the leading causes of tumor-related deaths in children. Although significant progress has been made in the characterization of neuroblastoma in recent years, the mechanisms influencing the prognosis of neuroblastoma patients remain largely unknown. Our aim was to investigate if the major neuroendocrine-associated transcriptional drivers, including ASCL1, NEUROD1, DLL3, NOTCH1, INSM1, MYCL1, POU2F3 and YAP1 are correlated with specific clinical and pathological characteristics. We selected a retrospective series of 46 primary pediatric neuroblastoma, composed of 30 treatment-naïve and 16 post-chemotherapy cases. Gene expression levels were explored by means of quantitative real-time PCR. An increased expression of NOTCH1 (p = 0.005), NEUROD1 (p = 0.0059), and YAP1 (p = 0.0008) was found in stage IV tumors, while the highest levels of MYCL1 and ASCL1 were seen in stages IVS and III, respectively (p = 0.0182 and p = 0.0134). A higher level of NOTCH1 (p = 0.0079) and YAP1 (p = 0.0026) was found in cases with differentiating morphology, while high mitosis-karyorrhexis index cases demonstrated significantly lower levels of POU2F3 (p = 0.0277). High expression of NOTCH1 (p = 0.008), NEUROD1 (p = 0.026), INSM1 (p = 0.010), and YAP1 (p = 0.005) together with stage IV (p = 0.043) was associated with shorter disease-free survival. In summary, our data indicate that the assessment of gene expression levels of neuroendocrine-lineage transcription factors might help to identify neuroblastoma patients with the risk of relapse.
A multi-level methodology for the automated translation of a coreference resolution dataset: an application to the Italian language
Authors: Minutolo Aniello , Guarasci Raffaele , Damiano Emanuele , De Pietro Giuseppe , Fujita Hamido , Esposito Massimo
Published: September 2022

In the last decade, the demand for readily accessible corpora has touched all areas of natural language processing, including coreference resolution. However, it is one of the least considered sub-fields in recent developments. Moreover, almost all existing resources are only available for the English language. To overcome this lack, this work proposes a methodology to create a corpus for coreference resolution in Italian exploiting knowledge of annotated resources in other languages. Starting from OntonNotes, the methodology translates and refines English utterances to obtain utterances respecting Italian grammar, dealing with language-specific phenomena and preserving coreference and mentions. A quantitative and qualitative evaluation is performed to assess the well-formedness of generated utterances, considering readability, grammaticality, and acceptability indexes. The results have confirmed the effectiveness of the methodology in generating a good dataset for coreference resolution starting from an existing one. The goodness of the dataset is also assessed by training a coreference resolution model based on BERT language model, achieving the promising results. Even if the methodology has been tailored for English and Italian languages, it has a general basis easily extendable to other languages, adapting a small number of language-dependent rules to generalize most of the linguistic phenomena of the language under examination.
Comparison of two mesh-moving techniques for finite element simulations of galvanic corrosion
Authors: Harzheim Sven , Hofmann Martin , Wallmersperger Thomas
Published: September 2022

Galvanic corrosion is a destructive process between dissimilar metals. The present paper presents a constructed numerical test case to simulate galvanic corrosion of two dissimilar metals. This test case is used to study the accuracy of different implementations to track the dissolving anode boundary. One technique is to numerically simulate a mesh displacement based on the prescribed displacement at the anode boundary. The second method is to adjust only the boundary elements. Re-meshing after a certain number of time steps is applied to both implementations. They produce similar results for an electrical and electrochemical field problem. This work shows that mesh smoothing does not result in higher accuracy when modeling a moving anode front. Adjusting only the boundary elements is sufficient when frequent re-meshing is used.
Prevalence of engagement and frequency of non-suicidal self-injury behaviors in adolescence: an investigation of the longitudinal course and the role of temperamental effortful control
Authors: Esposito Concetta , Dragone Mirella , Affuso Gaetana , Amodeo Anna Lisa , Bacchini Dario
Published: September 2022

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is among the most frequent maladaptive behaviors reported in adolescence, with prevalence rates around 18–22% in community samples worldwide. The onset of NSSI typically occurs between early and middle adolescence, with a peak during middle adolescence (14–15 years) and a subsequent decline during late adolescence. This study investigated the growth curves of NSSI across four years during adolescence, analyzing simultaneously the probability of engagement in NSSI at least once (i.e., prevalence) and the frequency of engagement once initiated (i.e., severity). Furthermore, the study examined the predicting role of effortful control on NSSI over time (time-varying effects), net of other key risk factors for NSSI, such as anxiety-depression and bullying victimization. A sample of 430 Italian adolescents enrolled in Grade 9 at baseline was involved in the study. Based on the Latent Growth Curve Zero-inflated Poisson methodology, the results indicated a negative quadratic trend of both NSSI prevalence, with an increase between T1 and T3 followed by a decrease in the subsequent wave, and NSSI frequency once initiated, with a peak at T2 followed by a decline over time. The results also showed that adolescents who reported low effortful control abilities had a heightened probability of involvement in NSSI at each time point, whereas no significant association was found with NSSI frequency once initiated. Findings from this study offer important insights into the developmental course of NSSI and point out the need for future in-depth investigations of the mechanisms that might underlie NSSI prevalence and severity throughout adolescence.
Global declarations on electric vehicles, carbon life cycle and Nash equilibrium
Authors: Bakhtyar Baher , Qi Zhang , Azam Muhammad , Rashid Salim
Published: September 2022

Universal environmental policies adopt strategies that enhance and encourage the production and usage of electric vehicles (EVs). Universal cooperation is evident in the framework of agreements or protocols so as to successfully lead countries towards the predetermined goals. The question is whether this trend can reduce global warming or CO2 emissions worldwide. By adopting game theory, this study analyses electricity carbon life cycle in leading EV countries. Results show that although the spread of EVs in Europe and the USA can mitigate carbon emissions, the production and use of electric vehicles in some countries, such as China and India, become a new source of such emissions. This reverse effect is due to the emission of greenhouse gases from electricity sources in these countries. Game theory also suggests that countries with unclean electricity sources should reconsider their plans to produce and use EVs. This study confirms that although carbon emission and global warming are global problems, regional and local policies can be substituted with a single comprehensive approach for an effective means of CO2 emission reduction.

Graphical abstract
Statistical shape modelling of the thoracic spine for the development of pedicle screw insertion guides
Authors: Wai Gordon , Rusli Wan , Ghouse Shaaz , Kieser David C. , Kedgley Angela , Newell Nicolas
Published: September 2022

Spinal fixation and fusion are surgical procedures undertaken to restore stability in the spine and restrict painful or degenerative motion. Malpositioning of pedicle screws during these procedures can result in major neurological and vascular damage. Patient-specific surgical guides offer clear benefits, reducing malposition rates by up to 25%. However, they suffer from long lead times and the manufacturing process is dependent on third-party specialists. The development of a standard set of surgical guides may eliminate the issues with the manufacturing process. To evaluate the feasibility of this option, a statistical shape model (SSM) was created and used to analyse the morphological variations of the T4–T6 vertebrae in a population of 90 specimens from the Visible Korean Human dataset (50 females and 40 males). The first three principal components, representing 39.7% of the variance within the population, were analysed. The model showed high variability in the transverse process (~ 4 mm) and spinous process (~ 4 mm) and relatively low variation (< 1 mm) in the vertebral lamina. For a Korean population, a standardised set of surgical guides would likely need to align with the lamina where the variance in the population is lower. It is recommended that this standard set of surgical guides should accommodate pedicle screw diameters of 3.5–6 mm and transverse pedicle screw angles of 3.5°–12.4°.
Does generativity matter? A meta-analysis on individual work outcomes
Authors: Wiktorowicz Justyna , Warwas Izabela , Turek Dariusz , Kuchciak Iwa
Published: September 2022

Ongoing demographic changes and global population ageing require organisations to pay special attention to their employment policies. With working life extension and age management increasingly included in discussions about reactive versus proactive personnel policies, the term ‘generativity’ gains special importance as an approach to managing a generationally diverse workforce. Generativity can be understood as an attitude of openness towards the younger generations that focuses on exchanging values, knowledge, and experiences with them. It is a source of positive emotions and better social relationships, personal fulfilment, good energy, and aliveness. In the paper, generativity is discussed in the framework of two theories: the socio-emotional selectivity theory (SST) and successful ageing theory (SOC). The aim of this paper is to assess the relationship between generativity and individual work outcomes. We considered both in-role and extra-role outcomes analysed in the job context. Meta-analysis is conducted of studies that investigate generativity and its relationships with motivational outcomes (job satisfaction, engagement, work motivation, affective commitment, self-efficacy), cognitive outcomes (attitudes toward retirement, career success, self-control), personal outcomes (wellbeing, health, job strain), relational outcomes and extra-role behaviours (organisational citizenship behaviour and sustainable behaviour). The analysis examines 65 independent samples that included 30,540 individuals, and considers the role of three moderators—the cultural context, the measurement method and age. It demonstrates that generativity has significant and positive motivational, cognitive and extra-role behaviour outcomes for workers and that it improves their well-being.
Anglonormativity in Norwegian language education policy and in the educational trajectories of immigrant adolescents
Authors: Beiler Ingrid Rodrick
Published: September 2022

In the Nordic countries, policy debates about English often highlight the threat of domain loss for national languages, but the high status of English may also have a differential impact on people in Nordic societies. This article investigates a policy gap in Norwegian upper secondary education, whereby an advanced English subject requirement may hinder graduation for immigrant adolescents with little previous English instruction, despite English not being the medium of education in Norway. The aim of the study is to examine the impact of the upper secondary English requirement and of sheltered instruction as a local policy solution for such students. I use nexus analysis (Hult, 2015) to analyze ethnographic data from one upper secondary school that created an ad hoc sheltered English class. Data include field notes, classroom video and audio recordings, language portraits, and interviews with one school leader, one teacher, and six students. I draw on decolonial theory (e.g., García et al., 2021; Santos, 2007), notably Anglonormativity (McKinney, 2017), to trace discursive, interactional, and personal policy scales. I found that the sheltered class reflected discourses of integration and Anglonormativity, but nonetheless offered greater affordances for participation than a mainstream English class. Furthermore, comparing the emphasis on English remediation with students’ broader repertoires surfaced possibilities for reframing students as resourceful multilingual learners. I discuss policy options that might better address underlying issues of epistemic justice, compared to solutions limited to increasing students’ proficiency in languages of power like English.
Distinct-Cluster Tree-Child Phylogenetic Networks and Possible Uses to Study Polyploidy
Authors: Willson Stephen J.
Published: September 2022

As phylogenetic networks become more widely studied and the networks grow larger, it may be useful to “simplify” such networks into especially tractable networks. Recent results have found methods to simplify networks into normal networks. By definition, normal networks contain no redundant arcs. Nevertheless, there may be redundant arcs in networks where speciation events involving allopolyploidy occur. It is therefore desirable to find a different tractable class of networks that may contain redundant arcs. This paper proposes distinct-cluster tree-child networks as such a class, here abbreviated as DCTC networks. They are shown to have a number of useful properties, such as quadratic growth of the number of vertices with the number of leaves. A DCTC network is shown to be essentially a normal network to which some redundant arcs may have been added without losing the tree-child property. Every phylogenetic network can be simplified into a DCTC network depending only on the structure of the original network. There is always a CSD map from the original network to the resulting DCTC network. As a result, the simplified network can readily be interpreted via a “wired lift” in which the original network is redrawn with each arc represented in one of two ways.
4D Flow MRI in the portal venous system: imaging and analysis methods, and clinical applications
Authors: Hyodo Ryota , Takehara Yasuo , Naganawa Shinji
Published: September 2022

Thus far, ultrasound, CT, and 2D cine phase-contrast MRI has been adopted to evaluate blood flow and vascular morphology in the portal venous system; however, all these techniques have some shortcomings, such as limited field of view and difficulty in accurately evaluating blood flow. A new imaging technique, namely 3D cine phase-contrast (4D Flow) MRI, can acquire blood flow data of the entire abdomen at once and in a time-resolved manner, allowing visual, quantitative, and comprehensive assessment of blood flow in the portal venous system. In addition, a retrospective blood flow analysis, i.e., "retrospective flowmetry," is possible. Although the development of 4D Flow MRI for the portal system has been delayed compared to that for the arterial system owing to the lower flow velocity of the portal venous system and the presence of respiratory artifacts, several useful reports have recently been published as the technology has advanced. In the first part of this narrative review article, technical considerations of image acquisition and analysis methods of 4D Flow MRI for the portal venous system and the validations of their results are described. In the second part, the current clinical application of 4D Flow MRI for the portal venous system is reviewed.
Solving PDEs by variational physics-informed neural networks: an a posteriori error analysis
Authors: Berrone Stefano , Canuto Claudio , Pintore Moreno
Published: September 2022

We consider the discretization of elliptic boundary-value problems by variational physics-informed neural networks (VPINNs), in which test functions are continuous, piecewise linear functions on a triangulation of the domain. We define an a posteriori error estimator, made of a residual-type term, a loss-function term, and data oscillation terms. We prove that the estimator is both reliable and efficient in controlling the energy norm of the error between the exact and VPINN solutions. Numerical results are in excellent agreement with the theoretical predictions.
Sustainable water tariffs and inequality in post-drought Cape Town: exploring perceptions of fairness
Authors: Enqvist Johan , van Oyen Wessel
Published: September 2022

Fair allocation of diminishing natural resources is increasingly central to sustainability. This includes the allocation of costs related to providing access, such as dams, pipes and pumps delivering clean water. Water tariffs are often designed to both recover these costs, meet social needs of water services to the poor, and incentivise conservation in dry times. However, strained public finances, prolonged droughts and economic inequality can undermine these goals and force prioritisations that many see as unfair. This happened in Cape Town, South Africa, during its 2015–2018 water crisis. This study investigates what residents in three different socioeconomic contexts view as fair water tariffs 1 year after the crisis. Using Q method, we describe five distinct perspectives on fairness: ‘the Insurer’, ‘the Individualist’, ’the Bureaucrat’, ‘the Humanitarian’, and ‘the Prepper’. These, we argue, can help distinguish between different ideas of what fairness implies, and what is required to promote it. We exemplify this by examining how viewpoints might have been shaped by specific communities’ experiences during and after the apartheid state’s discriminatory segregation policies. Using distributive, procedural and interactional interpretations of fairness, we discuss how the complex layers of poverty, inequality, mistrust, privilege and discrimination might produce different experiences and ideas of who should pay for and benefit from water services. Using these insights, we also reflect on the merits of tariffs that emphasise cost recovery and resource conservation over social needs, and the risks this poses for growing informal settlements in climate-stressed cities of the global South.

Graphical abstract

Using Q method, we identified five distinct perspectives with different views on what constitutes a fair water tariff.
Bayesians Still Don’t Learn from Conditionals
Authors: Günther Mario , Trpin Borut
Published: September 2022

One of the open questions in Bayesian epistemology is how to rationally learn from indicative conditionals (Douven, 2016). Eva et al. (Mind 129(514):461–508, 2020) propose a strategy to resolve this question. They claim that their strategy provides a “uniquely rational response to any given learning scenario”. We show that their updating strategy is neither very general nor always rational. Even worse, we generalize their strategy and show that it still fails. Bad news for the Bayesians.
Cerebellar Prediction and Feeding Behaviour
Authors: Iosif Cristiana I. , Bashir Zafar I. , Apps Richard , Pickford Jasmine
Published: September 2022

Given the importance of the cerebellum in controlling movements, it might be expected that its main role in eating would be the control of motor elements such as chewing and swallowing. Whilst such functions are clearly important, there is more to eating than these actions, and more to the cerebellum than motor control. This review will present evidence that the cerebellum contributes to homeostatic, motor, rewarding and affective aspects of food consumption.

Prediction and feedback underlie many elements of eating, as food consumption is influenced by expectation. For example, circadian clocks cause hunger in anticipation of a meal, and food consumption causes feedback signals which induce satiety. Similarly, the sight and smell of food generate an expectation of what that food will taste like, and its actual taste will generate an internal reward value which will be compared to that expectation. Cerebellar learning is widely thought to involve feed-forward predictions to compare expected outcomes to sensory feedback. We therefore propose that the overarching role of the cerebellum in eating is to respond to prediction errors arising across the homeostatic, motor, cognitive, and affective domains.
Machine Learning for Intelligent Data Analysis and Automation in Cybersecurity: Current and Future Prospects
Authors: Sarker Iqbal H.
Published: September 2022

Due to the digitization and Internet of Things revolutions, the present electronic world has a wealth of cybersecurity data. Efficiently resolving cyber anomalies and attacks is becoming a growing concern in today’s cyber security industry all over the world. Traditional security solutions are insufficient to address contemporary security issues due to the rapid proliferation of many sorts of cyber-attacks and threats. Utilizing artificial intelligence knowledge, especially machine learning technology, is essential to providing a dynamically enhanced, automated, and up-to-date security system through analyzing security data. In this paper, we provide an extensive view of machine learning algorithms, emphasizing how they can be employed for intelligent data analysis and automation in cybersecurity through their potential to extract valuable insights from cyber data. We also explore a number of potential real-world use cases where data-driven intelligence, automation, and decision-making enable next-generation cyber protection that is more proactive than traditional approaches. The future prospects of machine learning in cybersecurity are eventually emphasized based on our study, along with relevant research directions. Overall, our goal is to explore not only the current state of machine learning and relevant methodologies but also their applicability for future cybersecurity breakthroughs.
A novel dynamic reference point model for preference-based evolutionary multiobjective optimization
Authors: Lin Xin , Luo Wenjian , Gu Naijie , Zhang Qingfu
Published: September 2022

In the field of preference-based evolutionary multiobjective optimization, optimization algorithms are required to search for the Pareto optimal solutions preferred by the decision-maker (DM). The reference point is a type of techniques that effectively describe the preferences of DM. So far, the reference point is either static or interactive with the evolutionary process. However, the existing reference point techniques do not cover all application scenarios. A novel case, i.e., the reference point changes over time due to the environment change, has not been considered. This paper focuses on the multiobjective optimization problems with dynamic preferences of the DM. First, we propose a change model of the reference point to simulate the change of the preference by the DM over time. Then, a dynamic preference-based multiobjective evolutionary algorithm framework with a clonal selection algorithm (ĝa-NSCSA) and a genetic algorithm (ĝa-NSGA-II) is designed to solve such kind of optimization problems. In addition, in terms of practical applications, the experiments on the portfolio optimization problems with the dynamic reference point model are tested. Experimental results on the benchmark problems and the practical applications show that ĝa-NSCSA exhibits better performance among the compared optimization algorithms.
Monodomain Liquid Crystals of Two-Dimensional Sheets by Boundary-Free Sheargraphy
Authors: Cao Min , Liu Senping , Zhu Qingli , Wang Ya , Ma Jingyu , Li Zeshen , Chang Dan , Zhu Enhui , Ming Xin , Puchtler Florian , Breu Josef , Wu Ziliang , Liu Yingjun , Jiang Yanqiu , Xu Zhen , Gao Chao
Published: September 2022

Eliminating topological defects to achieve monodomain liquid crystals is highly significant for the fundamental studies of soft matter and building long-range ordered materials. However, liquid crystals are metastable and sensitive to external stimuli, such as flow, confinement, and electromagnetic fields, which cause their intrinsic polycrystallinity and topological defects. Here, we achieve the monodomain liquid crystals of graphene oxide over 30 cm through boundary-free sheargraphy. The obtained monodomain liquid crystals exhibit large-area uniform alignment of sheets, which has the same optical polarized angle and intensity. The monodomain liquid crystals provide bidirectionally ordered skeletons, which can be applied as lightweight thermal management materials with bidirectionally high thermal and electrical conductivity. Furthermore, we extend the controllable topology of two-dimensional colloids by introducing singularities and disclinations in monodomain liquid crystals. Topological structures with defect strength from − 2 to + 2 were realized. This work provides a facile methodology to study the structural order of soft matter at a macroscopic level, facilitating the fabrication of metamaterials with tunable and highly anisotropic architectures.
Inflammatory Biomarkers in Elite Cross-Country Skiers After a Competition Season: A Case–Control Study
Authors: Luoto Raakel , Ruuskanen Olli , Ihalainen Johanna K. , Pekkala Satu , Hintikka Jukka , Kanerva Noora , Waris Matti , Heinonen Olli J. , Valtonen Maarit
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Whether elite athletes, who have been exposed to vigorous-intensity exercise combined with other stressors, have elevated systemic low-grade inflammation, remains largely unclear. To address this question, we studied the levels of six inflammatory cytokines as potential biomarkers of a low-grade inflammatory state in elite athletes after an 11-month training and competition season.

Methods

We collected sera from 27 Finnish elite cross-country skiers and 27 gender- and age-matched, moderately-exercising controls. The serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), glycoprotein acetyls (GlycA), interleukin 10 (IL-10), and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) cytokines were quantified as surrogate markers of low-grade inflammation.

Results

The athletes were found to have significantly lower concentrations of CRP (P = 0.0232) and higher concentrations of IL-10, TNF-α, and IFN-γ (P = 0.0097, P = 0.0256, and P = 0.0185, respectively) than the controls. No significant differences between athletes and controls were detected in the concentrations of IL-6 and GlycA. The inflammatory score (IS) did not differ significantly between athletes and controls.

Conclusion

The results of this study argued against the hypothesis of a significant chronic low-grade inflammation in response to prolonged high-performance exercise among elite endurance athletes.