bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Barriers and facilitators for providing self-care advice in community pharmacies: a qualitative study
Authors: Lelie-van der Zande Rian , Koster Ellen S. , Teichert Martina , Bouvy Marcel L.
Published: April 2023

Background

Community pharmacies are easily accessible for self-care advice. Guidelines for providing self-care advice were introduced in several countries, including the Netherlands in the 1990s. Previous studies have indicated room for improvement in self-care advice in daily pharmacy practice.

Aim

To identify barriers and facilitators for providing self-care advice.

Method

Semi-structured interviews were conducted face-to-face or online with pharmacists and pharmacy assistants using a topic guide based on the Theoretical Domains Framework. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were deductively analysed to identify barriers and facilitators for self-care counselling. COREQ guidelines were followed.

Results

In total, 13 pharmacists and 12 pharmacy assistants were interviewed to reach data saturation. In general, most themes addressed by pharmacists and pharmacy assistants belonged to similar domains. The following domains were frequently mentioned: environmental context and resources (e.g. priority for prescription drugs, privacy, collaboration with general practitioners, access to patients’ records), intentions (providing reliable advice), skills (communication, decision-making), knowledge (ready guideline knowledge), beliefs about consequences (patient safety), social influences (patient awareness of pharmacist role), reinforcement (lack of reimbursement for relatively time-consuming advice).

Conclusion

This study identifies barriers and facilitators for evidence-based self-care advice. Pharmacists should first support pharmacy assistants by helping them keep their knowledge and skills up to date and creating suitable pharmacy preconditions to facilitate improvements in self-care counselling. Second, collaboration with general practitioners regarding minor ailments should be improved.
Numerical analysis of bipartite entanglement evolution in simple cubic 1/2-spin system with additional spin 1 dopant
Authors: Kaczor Michał , Jakubczyk Paweł
Published: April 2023

The system in consideration is a singular simple cubic cell of spins $$s = \frac{1}{2}$$

s
=

1
2

doped in centre with additional spin $$S = 1$$

S
=
1

. The structure is located in external magnetic field and is undergoing dissipative, Markovian evolution. The analysis of system time evolution is focused on the entanglement evaluation and determination of its behaviour over time. We found out the distinct effect of doping the structure with additional spin $$S = 1$$

S
=
1

in the time evolution of the bipartite entanglement in $$\vert W \rangle $$

|
W
⟩

state. We also distinguished the raising and lowering spin interaction with environment and determined its impact on decoherence. Furthermore, we have shown that the entanglement between spins is in the form of a damped superposition of Gaussian functions. Its pulsed nature results from the unitary evolution in spin structure, while the damping is caused by the influence of the environment.
SIMD vectorization for simultaneous solution of locally varying linear systems with multiple right-hand sides
Authors: Kühn Martin J. , Holke Johannes , Lutz Annette , Thies Jonas , Röhrig-Zöllner Melven , Bleh Alexander , Backhaus Jan , Basermann Achim
Published: April 2023

Developments in numerical simulation of flows and high-performance computing influence one another. More detailed simulation methods create a permanent need for more computational power, while new hardware developments often require changes to the software to exploit new hardware features. This dependency is very pronounced in the case of vector-units which are featured by all modern processors to increase their numerical throughput but require vectorization of the software to be used efficiently. We study the vectorization of a simulation method that exhibits an inherent level of vector-parallelism. This is of particular interest as SIMD operations will hopefully be available with std::simd in a future C++ standard. The simulation method considered here results in the simultaneous solution of multiple sparse linear systems of equations which only differ by their main diagonal and right-hand sides. Such structure arises in the simulation of unsteady flow in turbomachinery by means of a frequency domain approach called harmonic balance.
SME research: SMEs’ internationalization and collaborative innovation as two central topics in the field
Authors: Audretsch David B. , Guenther Christina
Published: April 2023

SMEs’ internationalization and innovation activities represent fundamental economic activities that are conducive to SMEs’ individual success, but likewise contribute to the economic well-being of their home region and country. Therefore, understanding how some SMEs are innovative and internationally active has attracted significant scholarly attention within and beyond the SME research community. This paper highlights selected key findings from prior literature with regard to the context factors that facilitate SMEs’ internationalization and innovation. In the latter case, we focus on innovation within inter-organizational collaborations. We conclude with directions for future SME research above and beyond SMEs’ internationalization and innovation.
Probing the Functionality of Halogen-Free Electrolytes Using Succinonitrile Additive in Magnesium-Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Gamal R. , Sheha E. , El Kholy M. M.
Published: April 2023

Rechargeable magnesium batteries have attractive features as a post-lithium battery owing to their high volumetric capacity, safety, and low cost. However, the high charge density of Mg2+ causes sluggish interfacial charge transfer kinetics at the electrode/electrolyte interface. This paper is an attempt to optimize the electrochemical performance of a halogen-free liquid electrolyte (HFE)-based magnesium nitrate (Mg(NO3)2) and variable additive of succinonitrile (SN). A polymer layer interface (PLI) consisting of Mg (CF3SO3)2, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), SN, and G4 has been introduced to isolate the Mg anode's surface from HFE in order to reduce the growth rate of the passivation layer at the surface of the Mg anode. The introduction of SN regulates the ionic conductivity, overpotential of Mg plating/stripping, and the ion transference number of the HFE. A prototype of the Mg/HFE_SN/S full cell delivers a high initial discharge/charge capacity of ~ 1200/500 mAh g−1 with a rapid capacity fade, while (Mg/PLI/HFE_SN/S) cell offers low capacity with long cycle life over (Mg/HFE_SN/S) counterpart. Postmortem analysis of sulfur electrodes at different electrochemical states reveals the reversible back and forth movement of Mg2+ ions in Mg/S cells via conversion reaction.
Evidence for a Parabasalian Gut Symbiote in Egg-Feeding Poison Frog Tadpoles in Peru
Authors: Weinfurther K. D. , Stuckert A. M. M. , Muscarella M. E. , Peralta A. L. , Summers K.
Published: April 2023

We report preliminary evidence of a symbiotic parabasalian protist in the guts of Peruvian mimic poison frog (Ranitomeya imitator) tadpoles. This species has biparental care and egg-feeding of tadpoles, while the related R. variabilis consumes the ancestral detritus diet in their nursery pools. Each species’ diet was experimentally switched, in the field and lab. Analyses of gut gene expression revealed elevated expression of proteases in the R. imitator field egg-fed treatment. These digestive proteins came from parabasalians, a group of protists known to form symbiotic relationships with hosts that enhance digestion. Genes that code for these digestive proteins are not present in the R. imitator genome, and phylogenetic analyses indicate that these mRNA sequences are from parabasalians. Bar-coding analyses of the tadpole microbiomes further confirmed this discovery. Our findings indicate the presence of parabasalian symbiotes in the intestines of the R. imitator tadpoles, that may aid the tadpoles in protein/lipid digestion in the context of an egg diet. This may have enabled the exploitation of a key ecological niche, allowing R. imitator to expand into an area with ecologically similar species (e.g., R. variabilis and R. summersi). In turn, this may have enabled a Müllerian mimetic radiation, one of only a few examples of this phenomenon in vertebrates.
Access to external credit during COVID-19: evidence from green SMEs in Italy
Authors: Arcuri Maria Cristina , Pisani Raoul
Published: April 2023

This study explores the impact of being “green” as a response to variability in the business environment. We examine the financial resilience of green Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Italy compared to non-green during the COVID-19 pandemic. We verify whether green SMEs are more able to attract external funding than non-green and whether green SMEs rely more heavily on trade credit than non-green ones. We carry out an analysis with 215,564 observations, of which 6844 refer to “green” firms, over the period 2017–2020 and we find that before and during the pandemic, Italian green SMEs do not attract more external funding than other SMEs, but they rely more on trade credit than non-green SMEs. Our results partially confirm the traditional substitution effect, and we suggest that the reasons for this relationship are also supplied in the literature which sees trade credit as a component of a long-term portfolio management strategy, i.e., as a tool for consolidating relationships with clients, for price discrimination and/or for increasing firm profitability in facing variable demand conditions. Our paper contributes to the literature in two ways. First, it investigates the relationship between the “green” characteristics of a firm and its level of economic and financial resilience during the pandemic. Second, it verifies whether, during a complex economic shock, green orientation increases or decreases the importance of trade credit relative to bank credit in financing the firm.
Oxidized cellulose-based reaction mimicking thyroidal recurrence of disease: a case report and literature review
Authors: Liberale Carlotta , Segato Erika , Sacchetto Andrea , Silvestrini Marina , Saetti Roberto
Published: April 2023

Oxidized cellulose is a hemostatic agent currently used in surgery. Foreign body reactions have been described after its use. This paper describes a foreign body reaction caused by oxidized cellulose in a young woman who underwent thyroid surgery. A patient underwent two thyroid surgeries for treatment of papillary carcinoma. Five years after the last surgery, an asymptomatic mass was detected with a routine ultrasound in the left thyroid cavity. After surgical removal, the mass turned out to be a foreign body granuloma based on oxidized cellulose sheets used in the previous surgery. The patient was discharged from the hospital without complications. The follow-up period was uneventful. Oxidized cellulose is a useful tool in surgery to control and prevent intra and post-operative bleeding. Even if it is a biodegradable material, sometimes it persists in the human body causing foreign body reactions that can be misdiagnosed.
Development of a deep pathomics score for predicting hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after liver transplantation
Authors: Qu Wei-Feng , Tian Meng-Xin , Lu Hong-Wei , Zhou Yu-Fu , Liu Wei-Ren , Tang Zheng , Yao Zhao , Huang Run , Zhu Gui-Qi , Jiang Xi-Fei , Tao Chen-Yang , Fang Yuan , Gao Jun , Wu Xiao-Ling , Chen Jia-Feng , Zhao Qian-Fu , Yang Rui , Chu Tian-Hao , Zhou Jian , Fan Jia , Yu Jin-Hua , Shi Ying-Hong
Published: April 2023

Background and purpose

Tumor recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) impedes the curative chance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. This study aimed to develop a deep pathomics score (DPS) for predicting tumor recurrence after liver transplantation using deep learning.

Patients and methods

Two datasets of 380 HCC patients who underwent LT were enrolled. Residual convolutional neural networks were used to identify six histological structures of HCC. The individual risk score of each structure and DPS were derived by a modified DeepSurv network. Cox regression analysis and Concordance index were used to evaluate the prognostic significance. The cellular exploration of prognostic immune biomarkers was performed by quantitative and spatial proximity analysis according to three panels of 7-color immunofluorescence.

Results

The overall classification accuracy of HCC tissue was 97%. At the structural level, immune cells were the most significant tissue category for predicting post-LT recurrence (HR 1.907, 95% CI 1.490–2.440). The C-indices of DPS achieved 0.827 and 0.794 in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. Multivariate analysis for recurrence-free survival (RFS) showed that DPS (HR 4.795, 95% CI 3.017–7.619) was an independent risk factor. Patients in the high-risk subgroup had a shorter RFS, larger tumor diameter and a lower proportion of clear tumor borders. At the cellular level, a higher infiltration of intratumoral NK cells was negatively correlated with recurrence risk.

Conclusions

This study established an effective DPS. Immune cells were the most significant histological structure related to HCC recurrence. DPS performed well in post-LT recurrence prediction and the identification of clinicopathological features.
Alcohol consumption and breast cancer prognosis after breast cancer diagnosis: a systematic review and meta‑analysis of the Japanese Breast Cancer Society Clinical Practice Guideline, 2022 edition
Authors: Nomura Tsunehisa , Kawai Masaaki , Fukuma Yuna , Koike Yoshikazu , Ozaki Shinji , Iwasaki Motoki , Yamamoto Seiichiro , Takamatsu Kiyoshi , Okamura Hitoshi , Arai Masami , Ootani Shoichiro , Iwata Hiroji , Saji Shigehira
Published: April 2023

Alcohol consumption is internationally recognized as one of the compelling risk factors for breast cancer, but it does not necessarily correlate with the prognosis of breast cancer patients. Alcohol consumption in breast cancer patients was addressed in the 2022 Breast Cancer Clinical Practice Guidelines. A systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies on alcohol consumption and breast cancer recurrence, breast cancer-related mortality, all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular disease mortality in breast cancer patients was performed. The PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Ichushi-Web databases were searched for relevant publications reporting cohort or case–control studies published until March 2021. A total of 33 studies (32 cohort studies and 1 case–control study) met the eligibility criteria; 4638 cases of recurrence, 12,209 cases of breast cancer-specific mortality, and 21,945 cases of all-cause mortality were observed. With regard to breast cancer recurrence, 7 studies assessed pre-diagnosis alcohol consumption (relative risk (RR) 1.02, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.77–1.37, p = 0.88) and 3 studies assessed post-diagnosis alcohol consumption (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.85–1.10, p = 0.57), and no significant increase or decrease in risk was observed. With regard to breast cancer-related mortality, 19 studies assessed pre-diagnosis alcohol consumption (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.93–1.11, p = 0.69), 9 studies assessed post-diagnosis alcohol consumption (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.77–1.19, p = 0.70), and no significant increase or decrease in risk was observed. With regard to all-cause mortality, 18 studies assessed pre-diagnosis alcohol consumption (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.82–0.99, p = 0.02), 8 studies assessed post-diagnosis alcohol consumption (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.74–1.02, p = 0.08), and pre-diagnosis alcohol consumption was associated with a significantly decreased risk. With regard to cardiovascular disease mortality and alcohol consumption, 2 studies assessed it, and the RRwas 0.47 (95% CI 0.28–0.79, p = 0.005), showing that alcohol consumption was associated with a significantly decreased risk. The limitations of this study are that drinking status was mainly based on a questionnaire survey, which is somewhat inaccurate and has many confounding factors, and the cut-off value for the maximum alcohol intake in many studies was low, and it is possible that the actual intake was only an appropriate amount. In many countries, a standard drinking amount is set, and wise decisions are required.
System dynamics model for improving the robustness of a fresh agri-food supply chain to disruptions
Authors: Esteso Ana , Alemany M. M. E. , Ottati Fernando , Ortiz Ángel
Published: April 2023

The agri-food sector is subject to various sources of uncertainty and risk that can have a negative impact on its supply chain performance if not properly managed. In order to determine what actions the supply chain (SC) should take to protect itself against risks, it is necessary to analyze whether the supply chain is robust to them. This paper proposes a tool based on a system dynamics model to determine the robustness of an already designed five-stage fresh agri-food supply chain (AFSC) and its planting planning to disruptions in demand, supply, transport, and the operability of its nodes. The model is validated using the known behavior replication test and the extreme conditions test. In order to guide decision-makers in the different uses of the above system dynamic model, a methodology for the improvement of the AFSC robustness is presented and applied to a case study. As a result, the SC robustness to the defined disruptions is provided. For critical disruptions, protective actions are defined. Finally, the model is re-run to evaluate the impact of these proactive strategies on the AFSC in order to finally select the most beneficial for improving its robustness.
Application of novel binary optimized machine learning models for monthly streamflow prediction
Authors: Adnan Rana Muhammad , Dai Hong-Liang , Mostafa Reham R. , Islam Abu Reza Md. Towfiqul , Kisi Ozgur , Elbeltagi Ahmed , Zounemat-Kermani Mohammad
Published: April 2023

Accurate measurements of available water resources play a key role in achieving a sustainable environment of a society. Precise river flow estimation is an essential task for optimal use of hydropower generation, flood forecasting, and best utilization of water resources in river engineering. The current paper presents the development and verification of the prediction abilities of new hybrid extreme learning machine (ELM)-based models coupling with metaheuristic methods, e.g., Particle swarm optimization (PSO), Mayfly optimization algorithm (MOA), Grey wolf optimization (GWO), and simulated annealing (SA) for monthly streamflow prediction. Prediction precision of standalone ELM model was compared with two-phase optimized state-of-the-arts models, e.g., ELM–PSO, ELM–MOA, ELM–PSOGWO, and ELM–SAMOA, respectively. Hydro-meteorological data acquired from Gorai and Padma Hardinge Bridge stations at Padma River Basin, northwestern Bangladesh, were utilized as inputs in this study to employ models in the form of seven different input combinations. The model’s performances are appraised using Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency, root-mean-square-error (RMSE), mean absolute error, mean absolute percentage error and determination coefficient. The tested results of both stations reported that the ELM–SAMOA and ELM–PSOGWO models offered the best accuracy in the prediction of monthly streamflows compared to ELM–PSO, ELM–MOA, and ELM models. Based on the local data, the ELM–SAMOA reduced the RMSE of ELM, ELM–PSO, ELM–MOA, and ELM–PSOGWO by 31%, 27%, 19%, and 14% for the Gorai station and by 29%, 27%, 19%, and 14% for Padma Hardinge bridge station, in the testing stage, respectively. In contrast, based on external data, ELM–PSOGWO improves in RMSE of ELM, ELM–PSO, ELM–MOA, and ELM–SAMOA by 20%, 5.1%, 6.2%, and 4.6% in the testing stage, respectively. The results confirmed the superiority of two-phase optimized ELM–SAMOA and ELM–PSOGWO models over a single ELM model. The overall results suggest that ELM–SAMOA and ELM–PSOGWO models can be successfully applied in modeling monthly streamflow prediction with either local or external hydro-meteorological datasets.
Calling for justice with #JusticeforBreonnaTaylor: a case study of hashtag activism in the evolution of the black lives matter movement
Authors: Chong Miyoung
Published: April 2023

Taking a stage-based approach, before and after the release of the 15-h audio recording files of the grand jury’s inquiry on the Breonna Taylor case on October 2, 2020, this study examined the #JusticeforBreonnaTaylor Twitter networks. By employing multimethodology, including natural language processing, social network analysis, and qualitative textual analysis, I examined keys connectors of the two Twitter networks and investigated major themes conducting thematic analysis of network discourses and highly associated hashtags with the hashtag #JusticeforBreonnaTaylor. In both networks, several key stakeholders, such as Benjamin Crump, Danial Cameron, and Black women activists were identified as key connectors along with social activists and ordinary participants. Demanding justice to the case was the core agenda of the hashtag activism. The findings of the study revealed that the participants not only shared breaking news and important information but also organized protests and routinely tagged people to spread messages about the Taylor’s case on Twitter. The participants conversed major issues about the Taylor case and set the agendas for the next action, such as encouraging to take part in voting for the 2020 presidential election. The thematic analysis concurrently demonstrated that the network participants strongly demanded legal prosecution to the three Louisville cops that involved in the act of killing Breonna Taylor during the botched raid in her apartment.
Intellectual freedom and teaching performance assessment in Australia
Authors: Brownlee Patrick , McGraw Amanda , Talbot Deborah , Buchanan John
Published: April 2023

The requirement for Australian initial teacher education (ITE) providers to administer a Teaching Performance Assessment (TPA) highlights a tension between policymaking directives and academic independence. It has raised fears of entrenching simplistic notions of measurement and evidence into a professional field distinguished by its complex relationship with intellectual and academic labour. Drawing on focus group data and reflections of academics co-designing an Australian TPA, this study considers how intellectual labour intertwines with its operational field, wherein co-construction of knowledge, critical thinking, and reflection define both academic and teachers’ work. Our analysis explains how education academics, as principle-designers of an assessment instrument, might also negotiate the intellectual premise of a TPA within their own ITE programs. We find that Australia’s initial TPA policy framework has been mediated with ITE academics. This offers opportunities for building knowledge to understand more precisely the TPA in its contexts, including admissible evidence to measure classroom-readiness.
Inference with non-probability samples and survey data integration: a science mapping study
Authors: Salvatore Camilla
Published: April 2023

In recent years, survey data integration and inference based on non-probability samples have gained considerable attention. Because large probability-based samples can be cost-prohibitive in many instances, combining a probabilistic survey with auxiliary data is appealing to enhance inferences while reducing the survey costs. Also, as new data sources emerge, such as big data, inference and statistical data integration will face new challenges. This study aims to describe and understand the evolution of this research field over the years with an original approach based on text mining and bibliometric analysis. In order to retrieve the publications of interest (books, journal articles, proceedings, etc.), the Scopus database is considered. A collection of 1023 documents is analyzed. Through the use of such methodologies, it is possible to characterize the literature and identify contemporary research trends as well as potential directions for future investigation. We propose a research agenda along with a discussion of the research gaps which need to be addressed.
Diabetes-specific eating disorder and possible associated psychopathologies in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Tarçın Gürkan , Akman Hazal , Güneş Kaya Didem , Serdengeçti Nihal , İncetahtacı Sena , Turan Hande , Doğangün Burak , Ercan Oya
Published: April 2023

Purpose

It was aimed to investigate the frequency of the risk of diabetes-specific eating disorder (DSED) in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and to reveal the accompanying psychopathologies.

Methods

Adolescents with T1DM aged 12–18 who applied to the pediatric diabetes outpatient clinic between July 2021 and March 2022 were included. Diabetes Eating Problem Survey-Revised (DEPS-R) was applied to all patients to determine the risk of DSED. In order to detect accompanying psychopathologies, Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), Child Anxiety and Depression Scale-Child version (RCADS) and Parenting Style Scale were applied. After completing the scales, semi-structured interviews were conducted with all patients by a child and adolescent psychiatrist.

Results

Ninety-two adolescents (45 boys, 47 girls) were included. DSED risk was found in 23.9% of the cases. A positive correlation was found between DEPS-R and EDE-Q scores (p = 0.001, rho = 0.370). RCADS mean scores were significantly higher in the group with DSED risk (p < 0.001). When the Parenting Style Scale was evaluated, psychological autonomy scores were significantly lower in the group with DSED risk (p = 0.029). As a result of the psychiatric interviews, 30 (32.6%) patients had at least 1 psychiatric disorder. Of these, 2 patients were diagnosed with eating disorder.

Conclusion

Almost one-fourth of adolescents with T1DM were found to be at risk of DSED. Routine screening of adolescents with T1DM with the DEPS-R scale may provide early detection of DSED, and referral of those at risk to child psychiatry enables early diagnosis and intervention for both eating disorders and accompanying psychopathologies.

Level of evidence

Level III: Evidence obtained from cohort or case-control analytic studies.
Application of improved black hole algorithm in prolonging the lifetime of wireless sensor network
Authors: Zheng Wei-Min , Liu Ning , Chai Qing-Wei , Liu Yong
Published: April 2023

Sensor technology is developing rapidly and up to date. The lifetime of the Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) has also attracted many researchers, and the location of the Base Station (BS) plays a crucial role in prolonging the lifetime. The energy consumption in the WSN occurs during transmission of data and selection of cluster-head nodes. A reasonable location of the BS prolongs the lifetime of the WSN. This study proposes a Levy Flight Edge Regeneration Black Hole algorithm (LEBH) to speed up convergence and enhance optimization capabilities. The performance of LEBH and other heuristic algorithms are compared on CEC 2013. The result shows that the LEBH outperforms other heuristics in most cases. In this study, the energy consumption and WSN models are simulated. Subsequently, the proposed LEBH is combined with relocation technology to change the location of the BS to prolong the lifetime. Simulation results show LEBH-BS prolongs the lifetime of the WSN better than random-base and static-base stations and other heuristic algorithms in most cases.
Bayesian VARs of the U.S. economy before and during the pandemic
Authors: Sznajderska Anna , Haug Alfred A.
Published: April 2023

We compare the forecasting performance of small and large Bayesian vector-autoregressive (BVAR) models for the United States. We do the forecast evaluation of the competing models for the sample that ends before the pandemic and for the sample that contains the pandemic period. The findings document that these models can be used for structural analysis and generate credible impulse response functions. Furthermore, the results indicate that there are only small gains from the application of a large BVAR model compared to a small BVAR model.
Medical Astro-Microbiology: Current Role and Future Challenges
Authors: McDonagh Francesca , Cormican Martin , Morris Dearbháile , Burke Liam , Singh Nitin Kumar , Venkateswaran Kasthuri , Miliotis Georgios
Published: April 2023

The second and third decades of the twenty-first century are marked by a flourishing of space technology which may soon realise human aspirations of a permanent multiplanetary presence. The prevention, control and management of infection with microbial pathogens is likely to play a key role in how successful human space aspirations will become. This review considers the emerging field of medical astro-microbiology. It examines the current evidence regarding the risk of infection during spaceflight via host susceptibility, alterations to the host’s microbiome as well as exposure to other crew members and spacecraft’s microbiomes. It also considers the relevance of the hygiene hypothesis in this regard. It then reviews the current evidence related to infection risk associated with microbial adaptability in spaceflight conditions. There is a particular focus on the International Space Station (ISS), as one of the only two  crewed objects in low Earth orbit. It discusses the effects of spaceflight related stressors on viruses and the infection risks associated with latent viral reactivation and increased viral shedding during spaceflight. It then examines the effects of the same stressors on bacteria, particularly in relation to changes in virulence and drug resistance. It also considers our current understanding of fungal adaptability in spaceflight. The global public health and environmental risks associated with a possible re-introduction to Earth of invasive species are also briefly discussed. Finally, this review examines the largely unknown microbiology and infection implications of celestial body habitation with an emphasis placed on Mars. Overall, this review summarises much of our current understanding of medical astro-microbiology and identifies significant knowledge gaps.

Graphical Abstract
Natural Radioactivity and Associated Radiation Hazards in Samples of Maize Available to the People of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Authors: Adeleye Bamise , Chetty Naven
Published: April 2023

Ingestion of foods and drinking water is considered the leading cause of human exposure to radioactive elements that guide to internal radiation doses. The concentrations and distributions of natural radionuclides 238U, 232Th, and 40K in samples of yellow maize directly consumed in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa were determined to estimate possible radiological hazards to human health. Representative samples collected from towns in six regions of the province were analyzed using a Canberra-supplied broad energy hyper pure germanium (HPGe) detector. The mean activity concentrations were 21.3, 26.0, 21.0, 52.0, 53.3, and 80.7 Bq/kg for 238U, and 203.3, 386.7, 183.3, 336.7, 320.0, and 526.7 Bq/kg for 40K. 232Th was not detected in any of the maize samples from the studied locations. The estimated effective ingestion doses and the lifetime cancer risks due to 238U and 40K were within internationally recommended limits of 1 mSv and 10–3 for members of the public. However, the values obtained seem high in some locations, particularly for a single diet intake. This finding is part of the radiological baseline information of the KwaZulu-Natal province and, in general, South Africa from maize consumption.
Using Coevolution and Substitution of the Fittest for Health and Well-Being Recommender Systems
Authors: Alcaraz-Herrera Hugo , Cartlidge John
Published: April 2023

This research explores substitution of the fittest (SF), a technique designed to counteract the problem of disengagement in two-population competitive coevolutionary genetic algorithms. SF is domain independent and requires no calibration. We first perform a controlled comparative evaluation of SF’s ability to maintain engagement and discover optimal solutions in a minimal toy domain. Experimental results demonstrate that SF performs similarly to alternative techniques presented in the literature but has the advantage of requiring no parameter tuning. We then address the more complex real-world problem of evolving recommendations for health and well-being. We introduce a coevolutionary extension of EvoRecSys, a previously published evolutionary recommender system. We demonstrate that SF is able to maintain a better trade-off between engagement and performance than other techniques in the literature, and the resultant recommendations using SF are higher quality and more diverse than those produced by EvoRecSys.
Estimating Time-To-Compromise for Industrial Control System Attack Techniques Through Vulnerability Data
Authors: Rencelj Ling Engla , Ekstedt Mathias
Published: April 2023

When protecting the Industrial Control Systems against cyber attacks, it is important to have as much information as possible to allocate defensive resources properly. In this paper we estimate the Time-To-Compromise of different Industrial Control Systems attack techniques by MITRE ATT&CK. The Time-To-Compromise is estimated using an equation that takes into consideration the vulnerability data that exists for a specific asset and category of vulnerability. The vulnerability data is derived from an Industrial Control Systems specific vulnerability dataset. As a result, we present the mapping of the attack techniques to assets and categories of vulnerability, which makes it possible to apply specific vulnerabilities to the technique. We also present the method of how to estimate the Time-To-Compromise of the techniques and finally the values of Time-To-Compromise. After mapping the attack techniques to assets and category of vulnerability we are able to estimate the Time-To-Compromise and discuss its trustworthiness.
Shining in the dark: the big world of small peptides in plants
Authors: Feng Yan-Zhao , Zhu Qing-Feng , Xue Jiao , Chen Pei , Yu Yang
Published: April 2023

Small peptides represent a subset of dark matter in plant proteomes. Through differential expression patterns and modes of action, small peptides act as important regulators of plant growth and development. Over the past 20 years, many small peptides have been identified due to technical advances in genome sequencing, bioinformatics, and chemical biology. In this article, we summarize the classification of plant small peptides and experimental strategies used to identify them as well as their potential use in agronomic breeding. We review the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of small peptides in plants, discuss current problems in small peptide research and highlight future research directions in this field. Our review provides crucial insight into small peptides in plants and will contribute to a better understanding of their potential roles in biotechnology and agriculture.
Probabilistic finite element analysis of failures in concrete dams with large asperities in the rock–concrete interface
Authors: Ulfberg Adrian , Gonzalez-Libreros Jaime , Das Oisik , Bista Dipen , Westberg Wilde Marie , Johansson Fredrik , Sas Gabriel
Published: April 2023

Common analytical assessment methods for concrete dams are unlikely to predict material fracture in the dam body because of the assumption of rigid body behavior and uniform- or linear stress distribution along a predetermined failure surface. Hence, probabilistic non-linear finite element analysis, calibrated from scale model tests, was implemented in this study to investigate the impact of concrete material parameters (modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, compressive strength, fracture energy) on the ultimate capacity of scaled model dams. The investigated dam section has two types of large asperities, located near the downstream and/or upstream end of the rock–concrete interface. These large-scale asperities significantly increased the interface roughness. Post-processing of the numerical simulations showed interlocking between the buttress and the downstream asperity leading to fracture of the buttress with the capacity being determined mainly by the tensile strength of the buttress material. The capacity of a model with an asperity near the upstream side, with lower inclination, was less dependent on the material parameters of the buttress as failure occurred by sliding along the interface, even with inferior material parameters. Results of this study show that material parameters of the concrete in a dam body can govern the load capacity of the dam granted that significant geometrical variations in the rock–concrete interface exists. The material parameters of the dam body and their impact on the capacity with respect to the failure mechanism that developed for some of the studied models are not commonly considered to be decisive for the load capacity. Also, no analytical assessment method for this type of failure exists. This implies that common assessment methods may misjudge the capacity and important parameters for certain failure types that may develop in dams.
Peri-operative Antibiotic Prophylaxis in K-Wire Fixation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Abul Ahmad , Karam Mohammad , Al-Shammari Shaima , Giannoudis Peter , Pandit Hermant , Nisar Sohail
Published: April 2023

Introduction

There are currently no standardised guidelines on whether antibiotic prophylaxis is required for Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation to minimise the risk of surgical site infection when used in patients undergoing clean orthopaedic surgery.

Purpose

To compare the outcomes of antibiotic prophylaxis versus no antibiotic in K-wire fixation when used in either in trauma or elective orthopaedics.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) Guidelines and a search of electronic information was conducted to identify all randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomised studies comparing the outcomes of antibiotic prophylaxis group versus those without antibiotic in patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery in which K-wire fixation was used. Incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) was the primary outcome. Random effects modelling was used for the analysis.

Results

Four retrospective cohort studies and one RCT were identified with a total of 2316 patients. There was no significant difference between the prophylactic antibiotic and no antibiotic groups in terms of incidence of SSI (odds ratio [OR] = 0.72, P = 0.18).

Conclusions

There is no significant difference in administering peri-operative antibiotics for patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery using K-wire.
Availability and Reliability of Service Function Chain: A Quantitative Evaluation View
Authors: Li Yaru , Li Lin , Bai Jing , Chang Xiaolin , Yao Yingying , Liu Peide
Published: April 2023

Service function chain (SFC) based on network function virtualization (NFV) technology can handle network traffic flexibly and efficiently. The virtual network function (VNF), as the core function unit of SFC, can experience software aging, which reduces the availability and reliability of SFC and even leads to service interruption, after it runs continuously for a long time. Software rejuvenation technique can effectively combat software aging. However, its effectiveness in improving the availability and reliability of SFC needs to be evaluated. Compared with existing models, this paper proposes a semi-Markov model to capture the behaviors of each VNF in a SFC from the occurrence of software aging to recovery by software rejuvenation technique under the condition that the failure times and recovery times follow general distribution, while considering trigger intervals of software rejuvenation technique. We then derive the calculation formulas of the steady-state availability, transient availability, and reliability, which are applied to evaluate the effectiveness of software rejuvenation technique. Finally, we conduct sensitivity analysis and numerical experiments to analyze the effects of system parameters, the number of VNFs and trigger interval of software rejuvenation technique on availability and reliability of SFC, and the effects of time-varying parameters on transient availability of SFC.
Clinico-pathological profile of schistosomal appendicitis detected in surgically resected appendices: A retrospective study
Authors: Hasan Abdulkarim , Elhussiny Mohammed E.A. , Nagaty Mahmoud E. , Eid Mohamed , Elias Abd-Al-Kareem , Abdulmohaymen Ayman , Ibrahim Adel Abdelwahid , El-Sayed Samar , Salem Doaa , Othman Alyaa E. , Mandour Essam
Published: April 2023

Abstract

Background

Appendicular schistosomiasis (AS) is an uncommon cause of acute appendicitis that can only be diagnosed histopathologically. There are few reports of AS and its histopathological profile is unclear in Egypt. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence and clinicopathological, profile of AS among patients presented with acute appendicitis for proper management and to reduce the health burden of the disease.

Methods

This is a retrospective study performed at a university hospital comprising all patients with pathological confirmation of appendiceal Schistosomiasis after appendectomies between 2017 and 2021. All data were extracted from patient’s files including age, sex, residence, main patient’s complaint, Alvarado scores, and laboratory data. The histopathological specimens were reviewed by the histopathologist in this study and special stains were done when indicated.

Results

The prevalence of AS was 1.07% (20/1870), all of them were adults or old age with a mean age of 39.25, 80% of cases were males. The most frequent clinical presentation in our patients was abdominal pain in the right iliac fossa (96%) with a mean duration of symptoms of 2.5 days. At the time of the operation, two patients had perforations, with no recorded mortality. Only 20% showed gross unusual foci, and lymphoplasmacytic infiltration was seen in 90% of cases. All patients were advised to postoperative praziquantel therapy.

Conclusion

Histopathological evaluation for schistosomiasis in all surgically removed appendix is recommended in endemic areas for middle and old ages and comprehensive postoperative follow-up with praziquantel therapy is required to ensure disease eradication and prevent further complications.

Highlights
Global Riverine Export of Dissolved Lignin Constrained by Hydrology, Geomorphology, and Land‐Cover
Authors: Bao Hongyan , Wu Ying , Zhan Xiaoqian , Wang Xiaona , Spencer Robert G. M. , Hernes Peter J. , Feng Xiaojuan , Lee Li‐Chin , Huang Jr‐Chuan , Zhang Jingjing , Zhao Hongwei , Kao Shuh‐Ji , Zhang Jing
Published: April 2023

The land‐to‐ocean export of terrestrial dissolved organic matter (tDOM) links the two largest organic carbon (OC) pools on Earth and is changing due to anthropogenic activity and climate change. Lignin phenols are often utilized as diagnostic markers for tDOM in aquatic systems, but information on the global dissolved lignin flux is still uncertain as linkages between future changes in export and global changes are poorly constrained. Thirty‐two new measurements from 15 Chinese rivers and 548 measurements collected from 97 global rivers were combined to analyze its distributions, fluxes, and potential controls. Dissolved lignin concentrations (in μg L−1) varied by more than two orders of magnitude (0.7–138 μg L−1) and were positively correlated with dissolved OC (DOC) concentrations globally, suggesting coupled export of dissolved lignin and DOC. The carbon‐normalized lignin yields (in mg g OC−1) varied by an order of magnitude (<1–30 mg (g OC)−1) and was significantly lower in the Arctic than in temperate and tropical rivers. Correlation analyses indicated that the dissolved lignin flux (FLignin) was mainly affected by water discharge and mean basin slope, while the area‐normalized yield of dissolved lignin as well as discharge‐weighted lignin concentration strongly and positively correlated with forest coverage. We, for the first time, estimated global FLignin ranges from 0.58 to 1.2 Tg yr−1 by using different approaches. Our synthesis reveals that future changes in land‐cover that is driven by climate change as well as other human activities would impose a significant influence on the land‐to‐ocean export of tDOM.
Flexural Response to Erosional Unloading of Continental Margins: An Example From the Bering Sea, USA
Authors: Malkowski M. A. , Steelquist A. T. , Hilley G. E.
Published: April 2023

The geodynamic response of continental margins to erosion may reveal current and past changes in the location of the continental slope. We model the three‐dimensional isostatic response to erosion along the retreating Beringian Margin to test the hypothesis that the margin and its canyons were dominantly eroded during the Pleistocene. Our results predict 900 m of flexural uplift, though evidence for this magnitude of uplift is not observed in Pleistocene and younger deposits, suggesting a substantial amount of margin erosion occurred pre‐Pleistocene. Uplift of this magnitude may be represented by a Late Miocene unconformity across the Bering Shelf and upwarped subsurface units at the base of the Beringian Margin. The distribution of uplift from varying canyon incision and margin retreat scenarios has implications for the extent of geodynamic response during erosional periods.
Do the Throat Auroras Create Polar Cap Patches?
Authors: Zhang Duan , Zhang Qing‐He , Oksavik Kjellmar , Xu Tong , Xing Zan‐Yang , Lyons L. R. , Han De‐Sheng , Zhang Hong‐Bo , Ma Yu‐Zhang , Hu Ze‐Jun , Liu Jian‐Jun , Wang Yong , Wang Xiang‐Yu
Published: April 2023

Throat auroras and polar cap patches are common phenomena in the polar ionosphere resulting from magnetosphere‐ionosphere coupling. A campaign was organized, with all‐sky imagers at Yellow River Station, the European Incoherent Scatter Svalbard Radar, and coordinated low‐altitude spacecraft observations. During periods of radial interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), observations showed that, as poleward moving throat auroras faded around the polar cap boundary, they linked to poleward moving ionization patches. The throat auroras were produced by soft‐electron precipitation associated with dayside magnetic reconnection. The red line emission intensity of throat auroras was correlated with dayside reconnection events. Dense plasma from lower latitudes was transported poleward via enhanced convection in the throat auroras to form patches. This is a potentially new formation mechanism for patches associated with throat auroras and magnetic reconnection for radial IMF. Moreover, the patches move anti‐sunward due to the E × B drift.
Short‐Wavelength Electrostatic Wave Measurement Using MMS Spacecraft
Authors: Lalti Ahmad , Khotyaintsev Yuri V. , Graham Daniel B.
Published: April 2023

Determination of the wave mode of short‐wavelength electrostatic waves along with their generation mechanism requires reliable measurement of the wave electric field. We show that for such waves the electric field measured by Magnetospheric MultiScale becomes unreliable when the wavelength is close to the probe‐to‐probe separation. We develop a method, based on spin‐plane interferometry, to reliably determine the full three‐dimensional wave vector of the observed waves. We test the method on synthetic data and then apply it to ion acoustic wave bursts measured in the solar wind. By studying the statistical properties of ion acoustic waves in the solar wind, we retrieve the known results that the wave propagation is predominantly field aligned. We also determine the wavelength of the waves. We find that the nominal value is around 100 m, which when normalized to the Debye length corresponds to scales between 10 and 20 Debye lengths.