bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multimodal Geolocation Estimation in News Documents
Authors: Tahmasebzadeh Golsa , Müller-Budack Eric , Ewerth Ralph
Published: November 2024

With the proliferation of news documents on the Internet, online news reading has become an important approach for information acquisition in people’s daily lives. There has, however, been increasing concern with the growing infusion of misinformation. As a complement to news text, associated photos provide readers with additional information to facilitate their ability to find the information they need. To contextualise the vast amount of news that is published worldwide, the geographic content is crucial. On the other hand, the geographic content plays an important role in news recommendation to facilitate user desires. Existing approaches for geolocation estimation are primarily based on either text or photos as separate tasks. However, news photos can lack geographical cues, and text can include multiple locations. Therefore, it is challenging to recognise the focus location of the news story based on only one modality. We introduce novel datasets for multimodal geolocation estimation of news documents. We evaluate current methods on the benchmark datasets and suggest new methods for news geolocalisation using textual and visual content. In addition, we introduce a news retrieval system called GeoWINE based on the geographic content of news photos to emphasise the importance of geolocation estimation in the news domain.
Processing Multimodal Information: Challenges and Solutions for Multimodal Sentiment Analysis and Hate Speech Detection
Authors: Hakimov Sherzod , Cheema Gullal S. , Ewerth Ralph
Published: November 2024

This chapter explores the challenges and solutions for processing multimodal information, specifically in the context of multimodal sentiment analysis and hate speech detection. The increasing amount of multimodal data, such as text, images and videos, presents unique challenges for machine learning algorithms. These challenges include the integration and fusion of information from multiple modalities to acquire the overall context. In this chapter, first, we present an overview of recent developments on multimodal learning techniques in the context of sentiment and hate speech detection; second, we present a multimodal model that combines different visual aspects and features for multimodal sentiment detection; and third, we present a multi-task multimodal model for misogyny detection in multimodal memes.
Event Recommendation Through Language-Specific User Behaviour in Clickstreams
Authors: Abdollahi Sara , Demidova Elena , Gottschalk Simon
Published: November 2024

The relevance and perception of events with global and local impact, such as national elections and terrorist attacks, can vary significantly among different language communities. This chapter discusses recent user access models for event-centric multilingual information, focusing on assisting users, including social scientists and digital humanities researchers, who analyse such events and their impacts. These models aim to facilitate information exploration by emphasising cultural and linguistic differences, a dimension often overlooked by existing entity recommendation methods. Developing recommendation models supporting cross-lingual and cross-cultural analysis of event-related information is particularly challenging due to language barriers and the lack of established datasets. To address these challenges, our prior work involved the creation of the EventKG+Click dataset, which contains event-centric user interaction traces extracted from the EventKG knowledge graph and Wikipedia clickstream data. Additionally, we introduced LaSER—a language-specific event recommendation model that considers the user’s linguistic and cultural preferences. To improve recommendations, LaSER incorporates language-specific click data from EventKG+Click. Furthermore, LaSER integrates language-specific embeddings of entities and events, along with their spatio-temporal features, into a learning-to-rank model. This chapter provides an overview of these methods, datasets and evaluation results.
Transnationality: An Advantage or a Hindrance for a Career in Theatre? Swedish Actors in Finland, the Struggle for National Independence, and the Question of Language on Stage
Authors: Hoogland Rikard
Published: November 2024

In a time of rising nationalism and the struggle for independence in Finland at the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century, theatre became a popular tool for the introduction of a transnational and bilingual identity encompassing Finnish and Swedish as stage languages. Because the Finland-Swedish variant of Swedish had long been dismissed as not being a proper stage language, native Swedish actors were engaged to ‘purify’ the Swedish language on Finland’s stages and help gain acceptance for bilingual theatres. Several of these actors and actresses migrated from Sweden to Finland and became part of the development of the Swedish-speaking theatre. This chapter follows two of these Swedish actors, who were both engaged at the Swedish-speaking national theatre in Helsinki (Svenska Teatern): Ernst Ahlbom and Karin Swanström. Their professional biographies are—as will be shown—a testament to both the transnational character of Scandinavia at the time and the parallel process of nation-building and the construction of national imaginaries through and within the theatre.
Introduction to Mastering Your Entrepreneurial Journey
Authors: Kuckertz Andreas , Leicht Thomas , Scheu Maximilian , da Silva Wagner Indra , Ebersberger Bernd
Published: November 2024

In this chapter, you will learn how to utilize this book to build essential skills for entrepreneurship. We will explain why mastering these skills is beneficial for any entrepreneurial journey and how they can enhance professional work in various contexts. We will outline the structure of each chapter and explain how adhering to the guidance provided can elevate your entrepreneurial experience. Additionally, we offer advice on how taking immediate action while reading the book can help you acquire entrepreneurial skills effectively.
Demystifying Entrepreneurship: What It Is and What It Is Not
Authors: Kuckertz Andreas , Leicht Thomas , Scheu Maximilian , da Silva Wagner Indra , Ebersberger Bernd
Published: November 2024

Entrepreneurship is a concept that many people need to understand before they engage in it. We argue for an understanding of entrepreneurship that extends the conceptual application of starting a business and outline that it is all about discovering opportunities and solving problems. The chapter guides you in finding the meaning of entrepreneurship for yourself and the world, helping you to understand the core principles that define entrepreneurship. We elaborate on who an entrepreneur is, understand the unique traits and skills that set them apart, and how you might fit into this dynamic scheme. We introduce the opportunity canvas, a tool designed to foster problem-oriented thinking. The opportunity canvas helps in sorting problems according to their intensity for the problem owner and based on the overall scale of the problem. We offer advice for immediate action.
NFκB and JNK pathways mediate metabolic adaptation upon ESCRT-I deficiency
Authors: Cendrowski Jaroslaw , Wrobel Marta , Mazur Michal , Jary Bartosz , Maurya Ranjana , Wang Surui , Korostynski Michal , Dziewulska Anna , Rohm Maria , Kuropka Patryk , Pudelko-Malik Natalia , Mlynarz Piotr , Dobrzyn Agnieszka , Zeigerer Anja , Miaczynska Marta
Published: November 2024

Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport (ESCRTs) are crucial for delivering membrane receptors or intracellular organelles for lysosomal degradation which provides the cell with lysosome-derived nutrients. Yet, how ESCRT dysfunction affects cell metabolism remained elusive. To address this, we analyzed transcriptomes of cells lacking TSG101 or VPS28 proteins, components of ESCRT-I subcomplex. ESCRT-I deficiency reduced the expression of genes encoding enzymes involved in oxidation of fatty acids and amino acids, such as branched-chain amino acids, and increased the expression of genes encoding glycolytic enzymes. The changes in metabolic gene expression were associated with Warburg effect-like metabolic reprogramming that included intracellular accumulation of lipids, increased glucose/glutamine consumption and lactate production. Moreover, depletion of ESCRT-I components led to expansion of the ER and accumulation of small mitochondria, most of which retained proper potential and performed ATP-linked respiration. Mechanistically, the observed transcriptional reprogramming towards glycolysis in the absence of ESCRT-I occurred due to activation of the canonical NFκB and JNK signaling pathways and at least in part by perturbed lysosomal degradation. We propose that by activating the stress signaling pathways ESCRT-I deficiency leads to preferential usage of extracellular nutrients, like glucose and glutamine, for energy production instead of lysosome-derived nutrients, such as fatty acids and branched-chain amino acids.
Numerical analysis of the SIMP model for the topology optimization problem of minimizing compliance in linear elasticity
Authors: Papadopoulos Ioannis P. A.
Published: November 2024

We study the finite element approximation of the solid isotropic material with penalization method (SIMP) for the topology optimization problem of minimizing the compliance of a linearly elastic structure. To ensure the existence of a local minimizer to the infinite-dimensional problem, we consider two popular regularization methods:

$$W^{1,p}$$

W

1
,
p

-type penalty methods and density filtering. Previous results prove weak(-*) convergence in the space of the material distribution to a local minimizer of the infinite-dimensional problem. Notably, convergence was not guaranteed to all the isolated local minimizers. In this work, we show that, for every isolated local or global minimizer, there exists a sequence of finite element local minimizers that strongly converges to the minimizer in the appropriate space. As a by-product, this ensures that there exists a sequence of unfiltered discretized material distributions that does not exhibit checkerboarding.
Reducing Metal Artifacts in Clinical Photon Counting Detector Computed Tomography—A Phantom Study of an Exemplary Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Marcus Roy P. , Feuerriegel Georg C. , Marth Adrian A. , Goller Sophia S. , Nanz Daniel , Anhaus Julian , Sutter Reto
Published: November 2024

Objective

To examine how different photon-counting detector (PCD) CT scanning and reconstruction methods affect the volume of metal artifacts and image quality for a hip prosthesis phantom.

Methods

A titanium and cobalt-chromium-molybdenum-alloy total hip prosthesis phantom was scanned using a clinical PCD-CT with a constant tube potential (140 kV) and Computed-Tomography-Dose- Index (7 mGy). Different scan settings were used: with/without tin-filter (Sn), with/without ultra-high resolution (UHR), both individually and combined, resulting in four modes: Quantumplus (Standard), UHR Quantumplus (HighRes), QuantumSn (Standard-Tin) and UHR QuantumSn (HighRes-Tin). Reconstructions included virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) spanning 40–190 keV and polychromatic images, with/without iterative metal artifact reduction (MAR). Artifact volumes rendered in a 3D-printing software were quantified in milliliters (ml), and image quality was evaluated using a Likert score.

Results

Polychromatic reconstruction: Tin-filter reduced artifact volumes (298 (Standard-Tin) vs. 347 ml (Standard) and 310 (HighRes-Tin) vs. 360 ml (HighRes)). The smallest artifact volume was measured in HighRes MAR (150 ml).

VMI reconstruction: The smallest artifact volume was measured in Standard 130 keV (150 ml) and HighRes 130 keV (164 ml) and in Standard-Tin 120 keV (169 ml) and HighRes-Tin 120 keV (172 ml). MAR further reduced the artifact volumes to 130 ml (Standard 150 keV MAR) and 140 ml (HighRes 160 keV MAR).

Image quality was rated best for Standard 65 keV MAR, polychromatic HighRes MAR, Standard 100 keV MAR, polychromatic Standard-tin MAR, HighRes-tin 100 keV and polychromatic HighRes-tin.

Conclusion

Combining tin-filter, UHR and MAR in VMI or polychromatic images achieve the strongest artifact reduction.
Room temperature superparaelectric state in 20BaTiO3-60V2O5-20Bi2O3 glass for capacitive energy storage applications
Authors: El-Desoky M. M. , Morad Ibrahim , Fareed Shereef A. , Harby Amany E.
Published: November 2024

Materials with high dielectric constant exhibit excellent charge storage capacity, making them favorable solutions for next-generation dielectric capacitors. The glass system with the composition of 20BaTiO3-60V2O5-20Bi2O3 was prepared by conventional melt quenching technique. The glassy nature of the sample was confirmed by using DSC and XRD measurement while the existence of nano polar cluster inside the glass matrix was confirmed using HRTEM. The real permittivity (ε\) value shows two peaks in which the dielectric constant gradually increases up to a maximum value (εm) with the increase in temperature, and then it smoothly decreases, suggesting two phase transitions around 180 and 280 ◦ C. The measurements of the P–E hysteresis loop illustrated energy storage density of 124 mJ/cm3 and energy storage efficiency about 84% at room temperature. The glass sample shows superparaelectric behavior confirmed by the dielectric and P-E loop measurements. For high-energy storage applications, dipolar glasses have more outstanding potential than conventional ceramic dielectrics. Eventually, the glass matrix maintains high breakdown strength and can effectively stabilize nanocluster phases. So, we consider the present glass sample to be a good candidate for capacitive energy storage applications.
A synbiotic mixture for the management of infantile colic: A randomized trial
Authors: Delcourt Hanne , Huysentruyt Koen , Vandenplas Yvan
Published: November 2024

Infant colic is defined as a recurrent and prolonged period of fussing, crying and/or irritability that cannot be prevented or resolved by caregivers. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a synbiotic (Bactecal D Liquid) in infants consulting a primary health care professional for inconsolable crying. A randomized trial was conducted in 68 infants diagnosed by the consulted primary health care professional as “probably suffering from infant colic”. Patients were randomized into two groups and given the synbiotic once (group 1) or twice (group 2) a day for 28 days. Quality of life (QoL) of the caregivers, evaluated with a Likert scale, was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included the total number of crying episodes, total crying time, gassiness and “balling of the fists”. The median (Q1;Q3) QoL scores were significantly (p < 0.001) higher on day 28 than at baseline: 6 (5;7) vs 2 (1;3). At baseline, there was no significant difference (p = 0.527) in QoL between both groups. The improvement in QoL was already significant after one week of intervention for both groups. The median number of crying episodes, overall crying time, gassiness and “balling of fists” were significantly lower on day 28 compared to baseline (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The synbiotic tested was shown to be efficacious in the management of infant colic. A significant improvement was observed after 7 days of intervention, which is much earlier than the expected decrease related to the natural evolution of infant colic.

What is Known:• Some probiotic strains are reported to be effective in the management of infants presenting with colic, if breastfed.

What is New:• The synbiotic studied improved quality of life of caregivers of infants presenting infant colic.
• Two doses of the synbiotic were not more effective than one dose.
• The improved occurred within one week.
• The improvement was independent of feeding (breastfeeding, formula feeding or mixed feeding).
Comparing standard- and low-dose CBCT in diagnosis and treatment decisions for impacted mandibular third molars: a non-inferiority randomised clinical study
Authors: Hung Kuo Feng , Yeung Andy Wai Kan , Wong May Chun Mei , Bornstein Michael M. , Leung Yiu Yan
Published: November 2024

Objective

This randomised clinical study aimed to assess the influence of low-dose cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) on the visibility of the mandibular canal (MC) and its proximity to mandibular third molars (M3Ms) as assessed by general dental practitioners (GPs) and oral-maxillofacial surgeons (OMFSs), as well as its impact on their clinical decisions, when compared to standard-dose CBCT.

Methods

154 impacted M3Ms from 90 patients were randomly assigned to three groups for two CBCT exposures using one standard-dose (333 mGy×cm2) and one of the three investigated low-dose (78–131 mGy×cm2) protocols. Blinded assessments of the MC visibility, M3M-MC proximity, surgical approach, crown/root sectioning, and referral decisions, were made by GPs and OMFSs on the images separately. Pairwise comparisons for MC visibility between paired scans were evaluated using Wilcoxon signed rank test, followed by a non-inferiority test with non-inferiority margin of 0.5 on a four-point scale. Differences in other variables between paired scans were evaluated using Wilcoxon signed-rank or McNemar tests.

Results

The majority (78.5–99.3%) of MCs were clearly identified on standard-dose CBCT by all observers. Pairwise comparisons showed significant differences between paired scans only in MC visibility but not in the M3M-MC proximity or treatment decisions. The mean differences in MC visibility between paired scans ranged 0-0.22 with the upper bounds of the 95% confidence intervals (0.09–0.36) falling within the non-inferiority region.

Conclusions

The investigated low-dose CBCT protocols could provide acceptable image quality for the evaluation of impacted M3Ms in most cases. When compared to standard-dose CBCT, these low-dose CBCT images did not significantly affect the assessments of the M3M-MC proximity, treatment strategies, and patient management decisions made by GPs and OMFSs.

Clinical relevance

The low-dose protocols might be clinically acceptable for M3M management while greatly reducing radiation exposure.
Transitive reasoning in the adult domestic hen in a six-term series task
Authors: Degrande R. , Amichaud O. , Piégu B. , Cornilleau F. , Jardat P. , Ferreira V. H.B. , Colson V. , Lansade L. , Calandreau L.
Published: November 2024

Transitive inference (TI) is a disjunctive syllogism that allows an individual to indirectly infer a relationship between two components, by knowing their respective relationship to a third component (if A > B and B > C, then A > C). The common procedure is the 5-term series task, in which individuals are tested on indirect, unlearned relations. Few bird species have been tested for TI to date, which limits our knowledge of the phylogenetic spread of such reasoning ability. Here we tested TI in adult laying hens using a more solid methodology, the 6-term series task, which has not been tested in poultry so far. Six hens were trained to learn direct relationships in a sequence of six arbitrary items (A > B > C > D > E > F) in a hybrid training procedure. Then, 12 testing sessions were run, comprising 3 non-rewarded inference trials each: BD, BE, and CE. All subjects showed TI within 12 inference trials and were capable of TI whatever the relative distance between the items in the series. We found that TI performance was not impacted by the reinforcement ratios of the items for most individuals, making it harder to support a purely associative-based resolution of the task. We suggest that TI is based on the same cognitive processes in poultry (Galloanserae) than in modern flying birds (Neoaves), and that the cognitive strategy to solve the task might be driven mainly by individual parameters within species. These results contribute to a better understanding of transitive inference processes in birds.
Evaluation of biofloc system effects on water quality, growth, innate immunity, physiological status, and immune- and growth-related gene expressions in early growth stages of thin-lipped mullet (Liza ramada)
Authors: Zaki Fatma M. , Said Mohamed M. , Amer M. A. , Khalil Riad H. , Dighiesh Hagar Sedeek
Published: November 2024

A 90-day experiment was carried out to study the influence of biofloc system on water quality, growth, feed utilization, survivability, bacteria in fish gut, and physiological and immunological responses of thin-lipped mullet (Liza ramada). Two treatments, clear water (CW) and biofloc (BFS), were each designed in triplicates. Both treatments were stocked with Liza ramada (mean weight of 1.18 ± 0.02 g). BFS group showed the highest final body weight, weight gain, average daily weight gain, and specific growth rate, the lowest feed conversion ratio, and the highest protein efficiency ratio and survivability. The proximate analysis of biofloc samples showed that percent crude protein and lipid were 26.17 and 7.75% respectively with the presence of essential minerals required for fish growth. The total body chemical composition of fish demonstrated improved crude protein and fat in Liza ramada stocked in BFS compared to CW. The highest total bacterial count and Bacillus number were recorded in the intestine of fish kept under BFS. Protease, lipase, and amylase levels significantly increased in fish stocked in BFS. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in fish kept under BFS treatment, while cortisol, alanine aminotransferase, and serum aspartate aminotransferase showed the lowest activity. Significantly high serum total protein, serum albumin, serum globulin, phagocytic activity, lysozymes, respiratory burst activity, and immunoglobulin M were observed in fish raised in BFS compared to CW. The intestinal histomorphometry examination showed a significantly high villi length and width, crypt depth, high number of intraepithelial lymphocytes, and goblet cells in BFS group. BFS resulted in a significantly up-regulation of the immune genes in the liver (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-10) and the growth-related genes in the liver (IGF-1 and GH) compared to CW treatment. These results revealed that applying biofloc system in the rearing of Liza ramada resulted in many advantages including growth improvement, high survivability, enhanced activity of digestive enzymes, antioxidant system, immunological response, gut health, and decreased stress enzymes.
Analysis of Lung Cancer Incidence in Non-Hispanic Black and White Americans using a Multistage Carcinogenesis Model
Authors: Skolnick Sarah , Cao Pianpian , Jeon Jihyoun , Park S. Lani , Stram Daniel O. , Le Marchand Loïc , Meza Rafael
Published: November 2024

Purpose

There are complex and paradoxical patterns in lung cancer incidence by race/ethnicity and gender; compared to non-Hispanic White (NHW) males, non-Hispanic Black (NHB) males smoke fewer cigarettes per day and less frequently but have higher lung cancer rates. Similarly, NHB females are less likely to smoke but have comparable lung cancer rates to NHW females. We use a multistage carcinogenesis model to study the impact of smoking on lung cancer incidence in NHB and NHW individuals in the Multiethnic Cohort Study (MEC).

Methods

The effects of smoking on the rates of lung tumor initiation, promotion, and malignant conversion, and the incidence of lung cancer in NHB versus NHW adults in the MEC were analyzed using the Two-Stage Clonal Expansion (TSCE) model. Maximum likelihood methods were used to estimate model parameters and assess differences by race/ethnicity, gender, and smoking history.

Results

Smoking increased promotion and malignant conversion but did not affect tumor initiation. Non-smoking-related initiation, promotion, and malignant conversion and smoking-related promotion and malignant conversion differed by race/ethnicity and gender. Non-smoking-related initiation and malignant conversion were higher in NHB than NHW individuals, whereas promotion was lower in NHB individuals.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that while smoking plays an important role in lung cancer risk, background risk not dependent on smoking also plays a significant and under-recognized role in explaining race/ethnicity differences. Ultimately, the resulting TSCE model will inform race/ethnicity-specific lung cancer natural history models to assess the impact of preventive interventions on US lung cancer outcomes and disparities by race/ethnicity.
Dressing vs. Fixing: On How to Extract and Interpret Gauge-Invariant Content
Authors: Berghofer P. , François J.
Published: November 2024

There is solid consensus among physicists and philosophers that, in gauge field theory, for a quantity to be physically meaningful or real, it must be gauge-invariant. Yet, every “elementary” field in the Standard Model of particle physics is actually gauge-variant. This has led a number of researchers to insist that new manifestly gauge-invariant approaches must be established. Indeed, in the foundational literature, dissatisfaction with standard methods for reducing gauge symmetries has been expressed: Spontaneous symmetry breaking is deemed conceptually dubious, while gauge fixing suffers the same limitations and is subject to the same criticisms as coordinate choices in General Relativity. An alternative gauge-invariant proposal was recently introduced in the literature, the so-called “dressing field method” (DFM). It is a mathematically subtle tool, and unfortunately prone to be confused with simple gauge transformations, hence with standard gauge fixings. As a matter of fact, in the physics literature the two are often conflated, and in the philosophy community some doubts have been raised about whether there is any substantial difference between them. Clarifying this issue is of special significance for anyone interested in both the foundational issues of gauge theories and their invariant formulation. It is thus our objective to establish as precisely as possible the technical and conceptual distinctions between the DFM and gauge fixing.
Objective Air Pollution and the Subjective Well-being of Chinese Residents
Authors: Li Linfei , Ning Jiachen , Khan Sufyan Ullah
Published: November 2024

In this study, we constructed a new database to investigate the complex relationship between hazy weather, heightened air pollution concerns due to elevated PM 2.5 levels, and residents’ well-being in China. Our study concludes that the results of the baseline regression showing that PM2.5 significantly increases the well-being of the population is at odds with common sense, which is attributed to potential endogeneity issues, including reverse causation and omitted variables. For this purpose, first, we used the instrumental variables method to exclude the endogeneity problem and obtained a causal relation between objective air pollution and well-being, that is, objective air pollution significantly and negatively affects residents’ well-being. Second, we also considered the effect of individual differences and verified the mechanistic pathways by which objective air pollution affects well-being through residents’ subjective air pollution. Specifically, we found that in the air quality evaluation process, “pessimistic” residents have a lower level of well-being, and “optimistic” residents have a higher level of well-being. Finally, we verified that the level of household income can weaken the negative impact of objective air pollution on residents’ well-being and has a positive moderating effect. By integrating macro and micro-level data through innovative technology, our research provides policy recommendations for effective pollution management and improved overall well-being in China.
Heterogeneous Electoral Constituencies Against Legislative Gridlock
Authors: Bloks Suzanne A.
Published: November 2024

Legislative gridlocks, driven by social partisan sorting, pose a significant threat to contemporary democracies. In this paper, I argue that this problem can be addressed by replacing geographic electoral constituencies, which group voters by area of residence, with heterogeneous electoral constituencies, which are based on random assignment and thus reflect the diversity of the entire electorate. I show that geographic electoral constituencies are likely to crystallise cleavages that reinforce geographic divisions, whereas heterogeneous electoral constituencies are likely to dilute deep social divisions. I argue that heterogeneous constituencies have this effect not because they suppress intergroup difference, as is commonly held, but rather because they encourage political parties to express cross-cutting social identities. The politicisation of cross-cutting social cleavages prevents social partisan sorting and moderates political conflict. Heterogeneous electoral constituencies should therefore be considered as part of an expressive institutional response to the democratic threat of legislative gridlock.
First report of Hexametra angusticaecoides Chabaud & Brygoo, 1960 (Nematoda: Ascarididae) in a population of captive central bearded dragons, Pogona vitticeps Ahl (Squamata: Agamidae)
Authors: Hernández-Hurtado Laura , Gomes Jacinto , Pereira Luisa , Vila-Viçosa Maria João , Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez Carlos
Published: November 2024

Between 2022 and 2023 ascaridoid nematodes of the genus Hexametra were recovered from two captive central bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps Ahl) in the Extremadura region of Spain. These nematodes were identified by an integrative approach combining morpho-anatomical and molecular data. We used two rRNA regions (D2–D3 expansion segments of the 28S, and ITS fragments), and the partial region of the cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI mtDNA) sequences. Hexametra angusticaecoides Chabaud & Brygoo, 1960 (Ascarididae) was morphologically characterized and illustrated using light and scanning electron microscopy. Bayesian inference (BI) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) phylogenetic trees for these genetic markers established relationships that highlight the importance of using molecular and phylogenetic data for accurate species identification within the genus Hexametra. Phylogenetic trees indicated that the Spanish isolates of H. angusticaecoides were clustered in a well-supported clade together with other isolates from Central Europe of the same species. Molecular phylogenetic findings also reflect that there was a higher intraspecific variation for ITS genetic markers at the intraspecific level. Phylogenetic results based on 28S rRNA suggest that Ascarididea was divided into three monophyletic major clades. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this species parasitizing bearded dragons, extending the host range of this species. These findings represent the first formal record of H. angusticaecoides in Spain.
What drives individuals’ trusting intention in digital platforms? An exploratory meta-analysis
Authors: Oesterreich Thuy Duong , Anton Eduard , Hettler Fabia Marie , Teuteberg Frank
Published: November 2024

The primary objective of this study is to delve into the determinants influencing individuals’ intention to trust digital platforms. Therefore, we conduct a meta-analysis of 74 primary studies that investigate the role of trusting beliefs, technology acceptance factors, as well as variables associated with systems, users, and platform providers in driving trust. We found evidence that all trust antecedents positively impact trusting intention in digital platforms. Notably, human-like trusting beliefs, attitude, platform provider image/reputation, structural assurance, perceived enjoyment, and perceived usefulness display the strongest effects, while familiarity, perceived value, and system-like trusting beliefs exhibit a moderate yet significant influence. Additionally, publication year was found to significantly moderate the relationship between service quality and trusting intention, indicating a temporal effect on the outcomes. Through these findings, we contribute to the body of knowledge by guiding scholars across research disciplines towards future research avenues and aiding practitioners in the development of trustworthy digital platforms.
Applicability of Vfrac in men: a qualitative study of an osteoporotic vertebral fracture screening tool for use in older people with back pain
Authors: Barker Karen L. , Toye Francine , Drew Sarah , Khalid Tanzeela Y. , Clark Emma M.
Published: November 2024

The Vfrac clinical screening tool was developed to help primary care healthcare practitioners decide if an older woman with back pain is at high risk of a vertebral fragility fracture (VFF) and requires a spinal radiograph to confirm diagnosis. The Vfrac tool developmental work was carried out in women because of the higher background prevalence of VFF. We now wish to assess Vfrac in men.

Purpose

To understand and characterise pain symptoms of men with VFF, to evaluate the wording of the Vfrac tool from men’s perspective, and to establish if a gender-specific version of the Vfrac tool was needed.

Methods

Individual interviews were conducted with 15 men using an interview topic guide based on the original Vfrac topic guide with the addition of a ‘think aloud’ section to discuss the wording of the current questions within the Vfrac tool. Thematic analysis was conducted by two researchers.

Results

Seven themes highlight that physical measurements can be potentially upsetting for those being measured (‘Weighed, measured and found wanting’), that closed questions cannot capture the complexity of experience (there is no room on the paper; pain is dynamic, not static; walking can make it better or worse; well, it depends on which chair), and that gendered roles are varied and dynamic (I try to do my share of domestic work; no more do-it-yourself).

Conclusions

This research has allowed the male perspective of osteoporosis to be heard and importantly identified that the Vfrac tool had no gender-specific barriers.
Effects of Defects and Shot Peening on Fatigue Properties of Additively Manufactured CoCrFeNiTiMo-Based High-Entropy Alloys
Authors: Hayashi Miu , Kurita Naoki , Watanabe Tadatoshi , Yamamoto Kenichi , Ogawa Yuki , Akebono Hiroyuki , Sugeta Atsushi
Published: November 2024

Recently, the automotive industry has increasingly focused on additive manufacturing as a new technology for reducing the weights of automobiles. In this study, fatigue tests were conducted on additively manufactured high-entropy alloys with different defect characteristics to clarify the relationships between their defect characteristics and fatigue strengths and to elucidate their fatigue fracture mechanisms. In addition, the effect of shot peening as an effective fatigue strength improvement method for an additively manufactured component was investigated. As a result, when defects formed by additive manufacturing were smaller than crystal grains, the numbers and sizes of defects affect fatigue crack growth behavior and barely affect fatigue life. Shot peening reduces the crack growth rate and is effective in extending the fatigue life. However, improvement in the fatigue limit is not achieved because the crack initiation site is a facet. From the above results, for defects smaller than the grain size, shot peening is a more effective method for improving fatigue life than reducing the numbers and sizes of defects.
An Unusual Histopathological Presentation of Mandibular Osteosarcoma
Authors: Alramadhan Saja A. , Vyas Rutvi , Cohen Donald M. , Bhattacharyya Indraneel , Islam Mohammed N. , Reith John D.
Published: November 2024

Jaw osteosarcoma (JOS) is a rare, distinct variant that differ from long bone osteosarcoma (LBOS) in several aspects. JOS typically appears about twenty years later than LBOS, displays a lower propensity for metastasis to other organs, and exhibits better survival rates. The dissimilarities in clinical and biological behavior between JOS and LBOS are likely due, at least in part, to variations in their respective microenvironments. In this report, we present a case of OS affecting the mandible in a young patient. This case displayed classic radiographic features but a unique histopathological presentation, posing a diagnostic challenge for pathologists, especially if encountered in small biopsies.
A Traffic Anomaly Detection Method Using Traffic Flow Vectors During Heavy Rainfall
Authors: Hirata Kensuke , Kawasaki Yosuke , Yoshida Takahiro
Published: November 2024

In torrential rain disasters, affected areas are identified through reporting and patrolling; however, traffic monitoring remains a challenge. This study establishes a traffic anomaly detection method during heavy rain disasters. Using probe trajectory data collected during such events, the proposed method captures traffic flow characteristics using directional vectors of road inflow and outflow. The effectiveness of the proposed method was evaluated through comparisons with previously proposed methods. The results confirmed that compared with existing methods, the proposed method could more accurately detect traffic anomalies, such as U-turns and detours, and can be used to detect other traffic anomalies. Moreover, the proposed model necessitates minimal calibration effort because it requires only two parameters—time step and rate of change. The proposed method can detect various traffic anomalies that occur during a heavy rain disaster and will contribute to the early restoration of damaged areas by providing a detailed understanding of the damage situation.
Graph structure based data augmentation method
Authors: Kim Kyung Geun , Lee Byeong Tak
Published: November 2024

In this paper, we propose a novel graph-based data augmentation method that can generally be applied to medical waveform data with graph structures. In the process of recording medical waveform data, such as electrocardiogram (ECG), angular perturbations between the measurement leads exist due to imperfections in lead positions. The data samples with large angular perturbations often cause inaccuracy in algorithmic prediction tasks. We design a graph-based data augmentation technique that exploits the inherent graph structures within the medical waveform data to improve the F1 score by 1.44% over various tasks, models, and datasets. In addition, we show that Graph Augmentation improves model robustness by testing against adversarial attacks. Since Graph Augmentation is methodologically orthogonal to existing data augmentation techniques, they can be used in conjunction to further improve the final performance, resulting in a 2.47% gain of the F1 score. We believe that our Graph Augmentation method opens up new possibilities to explore in data augmentation.
Unsupervised machine learning for local stress identification in fatigue analysis of welded joints
Authors: Ghanadi Mehdi , Kumar Manoranjan , Danielsson Per-Olof , Hultgren Gustav , Barsoum Zuheir
Published: November 2024

In the underlying study, a method has been proposed to automatically extract finite element (FE) peak stresses of welded components to alleviate human errors and increase the calculation accuracy. The approach is based on the K-means and DBSCAN (density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise) methods as the unsupervised machine learning approaches. Data points, in this case, nodal coordinates and their corresponding stress magnitudes, are grouped within different clusters. The peak stress in each dense region (cluster) is then highlighted and reported automatically. Parametric and comparative studies have also been carried out in order to detect optimised parameters of the K-means and DBSCAN algorithms. The methodology will ultimately be used for more reliable stress analysis in fatigue assessment of welded structures.
Influence of seed-applied biostimulants on soybean germination and early seedling growth under low and high temperature stress
Authors: Sivarathri Bala Subramanyam , Kodadinne Narayana Nisarga , Bryant Corey J. , Dhillon Jagman , Reddy K. Raja , Bheemanahalli Raju
Published: November 2024

Biostimulants are environment-friendly agricultural inputs that can improve plant health and yield potential under environmental stressors. Soybeans subjected to extreme temperatures during the growing seasons impacts plant health and performance. Uniform emergence and vigorous seedling establishment are the two traits during the early season that directly correlate with the final yield and are sensitive to abiotic stress. This study tested the effectiveness of seed-applied biostimulants in improving seed germination and emergence traits under different temperatures, low (15 °C, LT), optimum (25 °C, OT), and high (35 °C, HT), using three phenotyping methods such as the paper roll, growth pouch, and soil-based pot culture. Germination, emergence, and seedling growth were significantly accelerated under OT and HT compared to LT in both biostimulant-treated and untreated seeds. While seeds treated with biostimulants exhibited minor differences in germination, emergence, and growth traits under LT and HT compared to the OT. In the soil-based pot culture experiment, humic and fulvic acid-containing treatments extended the time to 50% emergence under LT. This delay was associated with a 13% increase in seedling biomass. A bacillus containing biostimulant improved seedling vigor by 7% under LT compared to untreated check. Notably, biostimulants containing bacterial strains, fulvic acid, and humic acid were found to have a role in reducing time to germination or emergence and enhancing seedling growth. However, the results obtained from different phenotyping methods were inconsistent, suggesting that the effects of biostimulants on germination and growth parameters may be more targeted rather than broad-spectrum. Future research is necessary to optimize application rates and fully explore their potential to mitigate the effects of stressors during the growing season.
The Dutch Body Shape Questionnaire among patients with binge-eating disorder: psychometrics and norms of the full version (BSQ34) and the short version (BSQ8C)
Authors: Melisse Bernou , de Mooij Liselotte , de Jonge Margo , Schlochtermeier Daniela , de Beurs Edwin
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This study examined the psychometric properties and provided normative data of the Dutch Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ34) and its shortened BSQ8C among patients with binge-eating disorder.

Methods

The two versions of the BSQ were administered to patients with binge-eating disorder (N = 155) enrolled for treatment, and to a community sample (N = 333). The translation and back-translation of the BSQ were performed by translators with and without eating-disorder expertise. Internal consistency, concurrent validity, test–retest reliability, incremental validity, and sensitivity to change were determined. A receiver-operating-characteristic curve-analysis was used to establish criterion-related validity, for which the Eating Disorder Examination—Shape concern subscale, was used. Uni-dimensionality of the instrument was investigated with confirmatory factor analysis. Norms (population-based T-scores and clinical percentile-scores) were determined.

Results

The psychometric properties of the BSQs were satisfactory. The BSQ34 discriminated well in body-shape dissatisfaction between patients with binge-eating disorder and the community sample (area-under-the-curve value = 0.91–0.98) and had a unidimensional factor structure. Comparing structural invariance between both samples revealed that scaler invariance was not supported, indicating that items may be interpreted differently by patients with binge-eating disorder and subjects from the community. Analyses were repeated for the BSQ8C, which yielded similar results.

Conclusion

The results indicated that both versions of the BSQ appeared suitable to screen for body-shape dissatisfaction among patients with binge-eating disorder. The BSQ34 supplies valuable information on the various types of concerns respondents have, which are critical to consider in clinical settings; the BSQ8C is recommended as a short screening tool.

Level of evidence: Level III: Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case–control analytic studies.
Can simple measures from clinical practice serve as a proxy for sarcopenic obesity and identify mortality risk?
Authors: Guandalini Valdete Regina , Tofani Patrícia Silva , Lima Sara Souza , Silveira Letícia Coelho , Cochar-Soares Natália , da Silva Thais Barros Pereira , de Souza Thales Batista , Luiz Mariane Marques , Ramírez Paula Camila , de Oliveira Máximo Roberta , Steptoe Andrew , de Oliveira Cesar , da Silva Alexandre Tiago
Published: November 2024

Background

Sarcopenic obesity is a condition where loss of muscle mass occurs alongside fat gain, and it is considered a risk factor for mortality. However, the use of various definitions for this condition has led to conflicting results.

Aim

To investigate whether the coexistence of low muscle mass and abdominal obesity, defined using two simple measures employed in clinical practice, is a risk factor for mortality in individuals aged 50 or older.

Methods

A longitudinal study with a 14-year follow-up was conducted involving 5,440 participants of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Abdominal obesity and low muscle mass were respectively defined based on high waist circumference and low skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI) determined by an equation. The sample was divided into four groups: non-low muscle mass/non-abdominal obesity (NLMM/NAO), non-low muscle mass/abdominal obesity (NLMM/AO), low muscle mass/non-abdominal obesity (LMM/NAO), and low muscle mass/abdominal obesity (LMM/AO). Cox regression models were used to estimate the mortality risk as a function of muscle mass and abdominal obesity status.

Results

LMM/AO increased the risk of death by 83% (HR:1.83; 95%CI: 1.35–2.66) compared to those in the NLMM/NAO group. AO alone was not associated with a greater risk of mortality (HR:1.09; 95%CI: 0.93–1.27), whereas LMM alone increased the risk by 40% (HR:1.40; 95%CI:1.18–1.66).

Conclusions

Identifying LMM/AO in individuals aged 50 or older can be crucial for predicting the risk of mortality. Simple and easily applicable measures can serve as a proxy for sarcopenic obesity and aid in implementing the necessary interventions.
Multimodal Assessment in Clinical Simulations: A Guide for Moving Towards Precision Education
Authors: Schwengel Deborah , Villagrán Ignacio , Miller Geoffrey , Miranda Constanza , Toy Serkan
Published: November 2024

Technological advances and cutting-edge data analytics approaches give new prospects for using multimodal assessments in simulation-based medical education. These multimodal approaches consider the interaction of data obtained from multiple sources and can enhance our ability to assess the educational efficacy of simulations and optimize learning experiences for each individual learner. However, several challenges could jeopardize the successful implementation of this approach. We present a practical guide for integrating multimodal assessment in clinical simulation-based education, offering educators and researchers a systematic checklist to consider before undertaking these multimodal assessment initiatives.