bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A global evaluation of advanced dosimetry in transarterial radioembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma with Yttrium-90: the TARGET study
Authors: Lam Marnix , Garin Etienne , Maccauro Marco , Kappadath S. Cheenu , Sze Daniel Y. , Turkmen Cuneyt , Cantasdemir Murat , Haste Paul , Herrmann Ken , Alsuhaibani Hamad Saleh , Dreher Matthew , Fowers Kirk D. , Salem Riad
Published: April 2022

Purpose

To investigate the relationships between tumor absorbed dose (TAD) or normal tissue absorbed dose (NTAD) and clinical outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with yttrium-90 glass microspheres.

Methods

TARGET was a retrospective investigation in 13 centers across eight countries. Key inclusion criteria: liver-dominant HCC with or without portal vein thrombosis, < 10 tumors per lobe (at least one ≥ 3 cm), Child–Pugh stage A/B7, BCLC stages A–C, and no prior intra-arterial treatment. Multi-compartment pre-treatment dosimetry was performed retrospectively. Primary endpoint was the relationship between ≥ grade 3 hyperbilirubinemia (such that > 15% of patients experienced an event) without disease progression and NTAD. Secondary endpoints included relationships between (1) objective response (OR) and TAD, (2) overall survival (OS) and TAD, and (3) alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and TAD.

Results

No relationship was found between NTAD and ≥ grade 3 hyperbilirubinemia, which occurred in 4.8% of the 209 patients. The mRECIST OR rate over all lesions was 61.7%; for the target (largest) lesion, 70.8%. Responders and non-responders had geometric mean total perfused TADs of 225.5 Gy and 188.3 Gy (p = 0.048). Probability of OR was higher with increasing TAD (p = 0.044). Higher TAD was associated with longer OS (HR per 100 Gy increase = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.71–0.95; p = 0.009). Increased TAD was associated with higher probability of AFP response (p = 0.046 for baseline AFP ≥ 200 ng/mL).

Conclusion

Real-world data confirmed a significant association between TAD and OR, TAD and OS, and TAD and AFP response. No association was found between ≥ grade 3 hyperbilirubinemia and NTAD.

Trial registration number

NCT03295006.
Fully automated AI-based splenic segmentation for predicting survival and estimating the risk of hepatic decompensation in TACE patients with HCC
Authors: Müller Lukas , Kloeckner Roman , Mähringer-Kunz Aline , Stoehr Fabian , Düber Christoph , Arnhold Gordon , Gairing Simon Johannes , Foerster Friedrich , Weinmann Arndt , Galle Peter Robert , Mittler Jens , Pinto dos Santos Daniel , Hahn Felix
Published: April 2022

Objectives

Splenic volume (SV) was proposed as a relevant prognostic factor for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We trained a deep-learning algorithm to fully automatically assess SV based on computed tomography (CT) scans. Then, we investigated SV as a prognostic factor for patients with HCC undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Methods

This retrospective study included 327 treatment-naïve patients with HCC undergoing initial TACE at our tertiary care center between 2010 and 2020. A convolutional neural network was trained and validated on the first 100 consecutive cases for spleen segmentation. Then, we used the algorithm to evaluate SV in all 327 patients. Subsequently, we evaluated correlations between SV and survival as well as the risk of hepatic decompensation during TACE.

Results

The algorithm showed Sørensen Dice Scores of 0.96 during both training and validation. In the remaining 227 patients assessed with the algorithm, spleen segmentation was visually approved in 223 patients (98.2%) and failed in four patients (1.8%), which required manual re-assessments. Mean SV was 551 ml. Survival was significantly lower in patients with high SV (10.9 months), compared to low SV (22.0 months, p = 0.001). In contrast, overall survival was not significantly predicted by axial and craniocaudal spleen diameter. Furthermore, patients with a hepatic decompensation after TACE had significantly higher SV (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Automated SV assessments showed superior survival predictions in patients with HCC undergoing TACE compared to two-dimensional spleen size estimates and identified patients at risk of hepatic decompensation. Thus, SV could serve as an automatically available, currently underappreciated imaging biomarker.

Key Points

• Splenic volume is a relevant prognostic factor for prediction of survival in patients with HCC undergoing TACE, and should be preferred over two-dimensional surrogates for splenic size.

• Besides overall survival, progression-free survival and hepatic decompensation were significantly associated with splenic volume, making splenic volume a currently underappreciated prognostic factor prior to TACE.

• Splenic volume can be fully automatically assessed using deep-learning methods; thus, it is a promising imaging biomarker easily integrable into daily radiological routine.
Assessing the relative accuracy of coral heights reconstructed from drones and structure from motion photogrammetry on coral reefs
Authors: Casella E. , Lewin P. , Ghilardi M. , Rovere A. , Bejarano S.
Published: April 2022

Low-altitude high-resolution aerial photographs allow for the reconstruction of structural properties of shallow coral reefs and the quantification of their topographic complexity. This study shows the scope and limitations of two-media (air/water) Structure from Motion—Multi-View Stereo reconstruction method using drone aerial photographs to reconstruct coral height. We apply this method in nine different sites covering a total area of about 7000 m2, and we examine the suitability of the method to obtain topographic complexity estimates (i.e., seafloor rugosity). A simple refraction correction and survey design allowed reaching a root mean square error of 0.1 m for the generated digital models of the seafloor (without the refraction correction the root mean square error was 0.2 m). We find that the complexity of the seafloor extracted from the drone digital models is slightly underestimated compared to the one measured with a traditional in situ survey method.
Patient and pathological predictors of management strategy for malignant polyps following polypectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zammit Andrew P. , Lyons Nicholas J. , Chatfield Mark D. , Hooper John D. , Brown Ian , Clark David A. , Riddell Andrew D.
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Malignant polyps present a treatment dilemma for clinicians and patients. This meta-analysis sought to identify the factors that predicted the management strategy for patients diagnosed with a malignant polyp.

Methods

A literature search was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and the Cochrane Collaboration prognostic studies guidelines. Reports from 1985 onwards were included, data on patient and pathological factors were extracted and random effects meta-analysis models were used.

Results

Fifteen studies were included. Seven studies evaluated lymphovascular invasion (LVI). The odds of surgery were significantly higher in malignant polyps with LVI (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.36–3.55). Ten studies revealed the odds of surgery were significantly higher with positive polypectomy margins (OR 8.09, 95% CI 4.88–13.40). Tumour differentiation was compared in eight studies. There were significantly lower odds of surgery in malignant polyps with well/moderate differentiation compared with poor differentiation (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.21–0.46). There were non-significant trends favouring surgical resection in younger patients, males and Haggitt 4/Kikuchi Sm3 lesions. There was considerable heterogeneity in the meta-analyses for the variables age, gender, polyp morphology and Haggitt/Kikuchi level (I2 > 75%).

Conclusion

This meta-analysis has demonstrated that LVI, positive polypectomy resection margins, and poor tumour differentiation significantly predict malignant polypectomy patients who underwent subsequent surgery. Age and gender were important factors predicting management, but not consistently across studies, whilst polyp morphology and Haggitt/Kikuchi levels did not significantly predict the management strategy. Further research may assist in understanding the management preferences.
Guideline adherence and implementation of tumor board therapy recommendations for patients with gastrointestinal cancer
Authors: Krause Alina , Stocker Gertraud , Gockel Ines , Seehofer Daniel , Hoffmeister Albrecht , Bläker Hendrik , Denecke Timm , Kluge Regine , Lordick Florian , Knödler Maren
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Although participation in multidisciplinary tumor boards (MTBs) is an obligatory quality criterion for certification, there is scarce evidence, whether MTB recommendations are consistent with consensus guidelines and whether they are followed in clinical practice. Reasons of guideline and tumor board deviations are poorly understood so far.

Methods

MTB’s recommendations from the weekly MTB for gastrointestinal cancers at the University Cancer Center Leipzig/Germany (UCCL) in 2020 were analyzed for their adherence to therapy recommendations as stated in National German guidelines and implementation within an observation period of 3 months. To assess adherence, an objective classification system was developed assigning a degree of guideline and tumor board adherence to each MTB case. For cases with deviations, underlying causes and influencing factors were investigated and categorized.

Results

76% of MTBs were fully adherent to guidelines, with 16% showing deviations, mainly due to study inclusions and patient comorbidities. Guideline adherence in 8% of case discussions could not be determined, especially because there was no underlying guideline recommendation for the specific topic. Full implementation of the MTBs treatment recommendation occurred in 64% of all cases, while 21% showed deviations with primarily reasons of comorbidities and differing patient wishes. Significantly lower guideline and tumor board adherences were demonstrated in patients with reduced performance status (ECOG-PS ≥ 2) and for palliative intended therapy (p = 0.002/0.007).

Conclusions

The assessment of guideline deviations and adherence to MTB decisions by a systematic and objective quality assessment tool could become a meaningful quality criterion for cancer centers in Germany.
Development and consensus process for a clinical pathway for the assessment and management of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
Authors: Mizrahi David , Goldstein David , Kiernan Matthew C. , Robinson Louisa , Pitiyarachchi Omali , McCullough Susan , Mendoza-Jones Phil , Grimison Peter , Boyle Frances , Park Susanna B.
Published: April 2022

Background

Cancer patients treated with neurotoxic chemotherapy are at risk of developing neurological symptoms that can impact functional capacity and quality of life. However, there are no standardised pathways to assess and manage chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (CIPN). This study aimed to determine consensus on statements regarding a CIPN assessment and management clinical pathway.

Methods

A CIPN clinical pathway (CIPN-path) was developed and reviewed by an expert multi-disciplinary panel and consumers. Agreement with 18 statements regarding four content themes (pretreatment review, screening and assessment, management and referral, and CIPN-path feasibility) were assessed by 70 Australian respondents (68 health professionals, 2 consumers), using a 2-stage Delphi survey process to reach consensus. Respondents rated statements using a 5-point Likert scale to determine the level of agreement, with consensus defined as ≥ 80% of respondents agreeing with each statement.

Results

The consensus was reached for 14 of 18 items after stage 1 and all items after stage 2. Feedback was obtained for all items to refine the CIPN-path. There was an agreement on important characteristics of the CIPN-path, including pretreatment screening, regular patient-reported assessment, and a stepped-care approach to investigating and managing symptom burden. There was a lack of agreement on who should oversee CIPN assessment, which may differ according to the structure and resources of each site.

Conclusions

There was an overall agreement concerning the CIPN-path to assess and manage CIPN, which may be adapted accordingly to the resources of each clinic. The CIPN-path may assist teams across different health services in identifying CIPN symptoms, aiding decision-making, and reducing morbidity from CIPN.
On the mathematical fluid dynamics of the atmospheric Walker circulation
Authors: Johnson R. S.
Published: April 2022

Starting from the general, governing equations for a viscous, compressible fluid, with an associated description of its thermodynamics, we outline an asymptotic derivation based on the thin-shell approximation. [The details appear in another publication.] This produces a reduced system of equations which retain all the dynamics and thermodynamics of the steady atmosphere, the thin-shell approximation alone being the basis for the construction of the asymptotic solution. The leading order describes the background state of the atmosphere, and the next order provides a simple set of equations that can be used to investigate, for example, the Walker circulation, a particular atmospheric flow which is restricted to the neighbourhood of the Equator across the Pacific Ocean. Our formulation of this problem shows, explicitly and in detail, how the pressure and temperature gradients in the azimuthal direction drive the circulation; this extends the usual physical arguments used to describe the Walker circulation. An initial investigation highlights the rȏle of the variable eddy viscosity and then, on the basis of these observations, a solution is obtained which describes in detail the velocity and temperature fields in the Walker cell. In particular, we present an example of the temperature profile and of the streamlines for the flow along the Equator and which is bounded above by the tropopause. Further details of the Walker circulation are given, together with an identification of the heat sources that drive the motion. Finally, we comment on the changes to the flow pattern that arise during an El Niño event.
Multiphoton microscopy providing pathological-level quantification of myocardial fibrosis in transplanted human heart
Authors: Yang Yuelong , Zheng Liqin , Li Zhen , Chen Jianhua , Wu Xinyi , Ren Guanmin , Xiao Zebin , Li Xiaodan , Luo Wei , Wu Zhigang , Nie Liming , Chen Jianxin , Liu Hui
Published: April 2022

Multiphoton microscopy (MPM), a high-resolution laser scanning technique, has been shown to provide detailed real-time information on fibrosis assessment in animal models. But the value of MPM in human histology, especially in heart tissue, has not been fully explored. We aimed to evaluate the association between myocardial fibrosis measured by MPM and that measured by histological staining in the transplanted human heart. One hundred and twenty samples of heart tissue were obtained from 20 patients consisting of 10 dilated cardiomyopathies (DCM) and 10 ischemic cardiomyopathies (ICM). MPM and picrosirius red staining were performed to quantify collagen volume fraction (CVF) in explanted hearts postoperatively. Cardiomyocyte and myocardial fibrosis could be clearly visualized by MPM. Although patients with ICM had significantly greater MPM-derived CVF than patients with DCM (25.33  ± 12.65 % vs. 19.82  ± 8.62 %, p = 0.006), there was a substantial overlap of CVF values between them. MPM-derived CVF was comparable to that derived from picrosirius red staining based on all samples (22.58 ± 11.13% vs. 21.19 ± 11.79%, p = 0.348), as well as in DCM samples and ICM samples. MPM-derived CVF was correlated strongly with the magnitude of staining-derived CVF in both all samples and DCM samples and ICM samples (r = 0.972, r = 0.963, r = 0.973, respectively; all p < 0.001). Intra- and inter-observer reproducibility for MPM-derived CVF and staining-derived CVF were 0.995, 0.989, 0.995, and 0.985, respectively. Our data demonstrated that MPM can provide a pathological-level assessment of myocardial microstructure in transplanted human heart.
An exception handling framework for case management
Authors: Andree Kerstin , Ihde Sven , Weske Mathias , Pufahl Luise
Published: April 2022

In order to achieve their business goals, organizations heavily rely on the operational excellence of their business processes. In traditional scenarios, business processes are usually well-structured, clearly specifying when and how certain tasks have to be executed. Flexible and knowledge-intensive processes are gathering momentum, where a knowledge worker drives the execution of a process case and determines the exact process path at runtime. In the case of an exception, the knowledge worker decides on an appropriate handling. While there is initial work on exception handling in well-structured business processes, exceptions in case management have not been sufficiently researched. This paper proposes an exception handling framework for stage-oriented case management languages, namely Guard Stage Milestone Model, Case Management Model and Notation, and Fragment-based Case Management. The effectiveness of the framework is evaluated with two real-world use cases showing that it covers all relevant exceptions and proposed handling strategies.
Extracting LPL privacy policy purposes from annotated web service source code
Authors: Hjerppe Kalle , Ruohonen Jukka , Leppänen Ville
Published: April 2022

Privacy policies are a mechanism used to inform users of the World Wide Web about the processing of their personal data. Such processing has special requirements, since personal data are regulated by data protection legislation. For example, a consent or another legal basis is typically needed. Privacy policies are documents used, among other things, to inform the data subject about processing of their personal data. These are formally represented by privacy languages. In this paper, we present a technique for constructing Layered Privacy Language policy data from web service code bases. Theoretically, we model the purposes of processing within web services by extending the privacy language with composition. We also present a formal analysis method for generating privacy policy purposes from the source code of web services. Furthermore, as a practical contribution, we present a static analysis tool that implements the theoretical solution. Finally, we report a brief case study for validating the tool
The Challenges of Inflation in Europe and the US
Authors:   Forum Introduction
Published: April 2022

Inflationary pressures and uncertainties related to the severity and duration of the coronavirus pandemic have been growing steadily in the last year. Different approaches to supporting labour force participation in Europe and the United States have led to different inflationary outcomes. In addition, the Russian war against Ukraine, which began on 24 February, has provided a definitive answer to questions about whether rising inflation is just temporary. The sharp increase in already volatile food and energy prices is presenting monetary policymakers with new challenges. The authors in this Forum consider how to respond to rising inflation, discuss why inflation is so hard to predict and examine whether long-term inflation expectations have de-anchored.
Why Did (Almost) No One See the Inflation Coming?
Authors: Furman Jason
Published: April 2022

To understand the possible trajectory of inflation in 2022 and beyond, it is helpful to understand why the United States and Europe had so much inflation in 2021.
Komorbidität bei Epilepsie im höheren Lebensalter: kardiovaskuläre Erkrankungen und medikamentöse Interaktionen
Authors: Gaida Bernadette
Published: April 2022

Multimorbidität ist die besondere Herausforderung der älter werdenden Gesellschaft. Der ältere Patient mit neu diagnostizierter Epilepsie trägt nicht nur die Bürde seiner Epilepsie, sondern ist mit zunehmendem Lebensalter dem Risiko komorbider chronischer Erkrankungen ausgesetzt. Die Übersichtsarbeit fokussiert auf kardiovaskuläre Erkrankungen bei Epilepsie im höheren Lebensalter und ihren Beitrag zur vorzeitigen Mortalität. Es werden aktuelle Arbeiten zu medikamentösen Interaktionen bei Komedikation von Antiepileptika (AED) mit direkten oralen Antikoagulanzien (DOAK) und kardiovaskulären Medikamenten zusammengefasst.
Selection and spectral matching of recorded ground motions for seismic fragility analyses
Authors: Manfredi Vincenzo , Masi Angelo , Özcebe Ali Güney , Paolucci Roberto , Smerzini Chiara
Published: April 2022

Ground motion selection is one of the most important phases in the derivation of fragility curves through non-linear dynamic analyses. In this context, an easy-to-use software, namely S&M—Select & Match, has been adopted for the selection and spectral matching of recorded ground motions approaching a target response spectrum in a broad period range. In this paper, after a brief description of the key features of the S&M tool, two sets of 125 accelerograms, separately for stiff (i.e. site classes A and B according to the Italian code) and soft soil (i.e. site classes C and D) conditions, have been selected on the basis of the elastic design spectra of the Italian seismic code defined for different return periods. The selected ground motions have been analysed and used for non-linear dynamic analysis of a case study representative of a common Italian RC building type designed only to gravity loads. Results have been analysed in order to check the capability of the considered signals to adequately cover all the damage levels generally adopted in seismic risk analyses, as well as the effects on seismic response due to the selection criteria permitted by the proposed tool.
The need for local-adjusted Participatory Forest Management in biodiversity hotspots
Authors: Nzau Joslyn Muthio , Ulrich Werner , Rieckmann Marco , Habel Jan Christian
Published: April 2022

Numerous conservation activities in Africa have been of little effect. In this study, we investigate socio-economic trade-offs that might have been overlooked, yet may undermine conservation action in discret pathways. Data was collected in three study sites with fragile forest ecosystems in south-eastern Kenya, through locally adapted structured surveys and semi-structured expert guides. These analyses are drawn from 827 structured surveys and 37 expert interviews, which were done during 2016–2018. We found general coherences between age, gender, ethnicity, indigenous knowledge, formal education, and higher incomes, which shapes forest conservation attitudes. Indigenous knowledge is marginal, and most people with formal education in the rural setting are likely to be young without legal land rights or among the minority with off-farm employment. The reluctance to address historical land injustices and inequitable sharing of entitlements and management authority overrides positive attitudes and intentions towards forest conservation in all three study sites. However, we found considerable discrepancies among the three study sites. For Arabuko Sokoke forest, the awareness of forest conservation was relatively low when compared with the other two study sites. Forests play a major role against the backdrop of resource use in all three regions. But, different ecosystem services are used among the three study sites. For environmental education and communication, internet plays a comparatively minor role. Strategies to preserve forest differ among the three study sites: Reforestation is proposed in cloud forests of Taita Hills and riparian forests, whereas off-farm employment and alternative income sources plays a major role in Arabuko Sokoke forest. Our findings underline that locally specific conservation management is needed to conduct efficient nature conservation, particularly in countries with very heterogeneous ethnicities and environments.
Parents’ and Teachers’ Knowledge of Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children and Adolescents and Their Agreement Towards Screening
Authors: Burgess Aaron , Rushworth Imogen , Meiser-Stedman Richard
Published: April 2022

Background

Trauma exposure is common in children and adolescents. Parents and other key adults, such as teachers, are necessary to facilitate help-seeking behavior, which involves recognizing trauma and adverse reactions and awareness of accessing treatments. Where screening measures in schools are used to detect post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the attitudes of parents and teachers towards screening need to be considered.

Objective

To examine whether parents and teachers can accurately detect trauma events, symptoms and effective treatments. In addition, to assess how supportive parents and teachers are towards PTSD screening in schools.

Method

A total of 439 parents and 279 teachers completed online questionnaires assessing PTSD knowledge across three domains: traumatic events, PTSD symptoms and evidence-based treatments. Responses of acceptability of using PTSD screening tools in schools were elicited.

Results

Teachers and parents were accurate in recognizing trauma events and PTSD symptoms. However, understanding was inclusive, with events not considered traumatic and non-PTSD diagnostic criteria being endorsed. Trauma-Focussed Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy was recognized as an effective treatment for PTSD, but Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing was not. Treatments not recommended by health guidelines were frequently endorsed. The majority of participants were supportive of PTSD screening in schools, but a minority were not.

Conclusions

Parents and teachers are able to recognize trauma events and symptoms of PTSD, although this tends to be overly inclusive. Schools could be targeted to promote understanding trauma among parents and teachers. Agreement with screening is encouraging and further research is warranted to understand barriers and facilitators.
Damages for infringements of competition law
Authors: Schweizer Urs
Published: April 2022

The EU Damages Directive (2014) requires that compensation shall place a person who has suffered harm in the position in which that person would have been had the infringement of competition law not been committed, i.e., firms’ actions free of infringements serve as benchmark for specifying harm caused by deviations. The paper confronts this specification with game-theoretic models of market interaction. It is shown that firms are not necessarily deterred to form a cartel that coordinates action choice but non-deterred cartels turn out to be of less concern as they are at least welfare preserving if not enhancing. To implement damages rules that satisfy the Directive’s compensation requirement, courts must have sufficient information. When the actions taken by firms cannot be directly observed, implementing the compensation requirements remains possible only if the available evidence is sufficiently informative.
psBLUP: incorporating marker proximity for improving genomic prediction accuracy
Authors: Bartzis Georgios , Peeters Carel F. W. , Eeuwijk Fred van
Published: April 2022

Genomic selection entails the estimation of phenotypic traits of interest for plants without phenotype based on the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and phenotypic traits for plants with phenotype. Typically, the number of SNPs far exceeds the number of samples (high-dimensionality) and, therefore, usage of regularization methods is common. The most common approach to estimate marker-trait associations uses the genomic best linear unbiased predictor (GBLUP) method, where a mixed model is fitted to the data. GBLUP has also been alternatively parameterized as a ridge regression model (RRBLUP). GBLUP/RRBLUP is based on the assumption of independence between predictor variables. However, it is to be expected that variables will be associated due to their genetic proximity. Here, we propose a regularized linear model (namely psBLUP: proximity smoothed BLUP) that explicitly models the dependence between predictor effects. We show that psBLUP can improve accuracy compared to the standard methods on both Arabidopsis thaliana data and Barley data.
‘Deeply and deliciously unsettled’? Mis-reading discourses of equity in the early stages of Covid19
Authors: Belluigi Dina Zoe , Czerniewicz Laura , Gachago Daniela , Camps Catherine , Aghardien Najma , Marx Renée
Published: April 2022

In the early stages of the ‘pivot online’, various conceptions of inequalities and their relations to educational equity peppered the discourses of higher education practitioners and the promotional discourses of their institutions. Concerned with what conditions subjectification and action within micro- and meso-curricula, this paper explores the cultural and structural discursive positions in which such agents are entangled, and the discourse conflicts they negotiated about what to adopt, shape, defer or resist. Offering deliberations on the possibilities and problematics for equity in higher education were insiders’ perspectives of those who operate in the thresholds between academic and professional communities within South African and UK higher education—learning technologists, academic developers and Higher Education Studies scholars—in the period from March to June 2020. Careful not to provide a monovocal nor hierarchical interpretation of these discourses at that early stage in the pandemic, our analysis rather juxtaposes complex and at times conflicting local accounts and negotiations of three schisms around which their narratives skirted: (i) the substantial fault lines under and in societies, institutions and practitioner communities; (ii) the complexities which intersect with digital divides; and (iii) the in/visibility of differentially impacted individuals and groups during that period. As people with often strong ethico-political commitments, and responsibilities as members of evanescent interpretative communities, their acts of narration drew from and at times against the dominant discourses situated within particular socio-economic and ideological higher education contexts.
Preliminary evidence of key factors in successful flipping: predicting positive student experiences in flipped classrooms
Authors: Sointu Erkko , Hyypiä Mareena , Lambert Matthew C. , Hirsto Laura , Saarelainen Markku , Valtonen Teemu
Published: April 2022

Flipped classrooms have become widely adopted in educational settings (e.g., in higher education) worldwide. However, there is a need for more precise understanding of the ingredients for student satisfaction in a flipped setting. The aim of this paper was to investigate university students’ experiences of the factors that create a successful flipped course. Ten measures were used to investigate the hypothesized factors affecting satisfaction, which were chosen based on the results from previous flipped classroom studies and higher educational research. These measures were grouped into three dimensions: (1) pedagogical (five measures), (2) social (three measures), and (3) technological (two measures). Exploratory factor analysis was run to analyze the adequacy of the instruments. Results revealed that the factor structure was as expected and that the instruments measuring all ten factors of teaching and learning in a flipped classroom were adequate. Furthermore, confirmatory factor analysis was used to formally operationalize the hypothesized latent constructs, and to build a structural equation model for predicting the student satisfaction of a flipped classroom. In the end, seven factors were found to predict student satisfaction with flipped courses. The highest predictor was guidance from the dimension of pedagogy, and the second-best predictor was experienced teaching for understanding. The results, limitations, and conclusion are discussed in terms of key issues and the development of a flipped classroom pedagogical design for higher education.
Eliciting Expressions of Emotion: An Exploratory Analysis of Alexithymia in Adults with Autism Utilising the APRQ
Authors: Ryan Christian , Cogan Stephen
Published: April 2022

This study examined alternative methods for detecting alexithymia to the Toronto Alexithymia Scale—20 (TAS-20) by comparing the emotional linguistic performance of ASD and NT samples (n = 32 in each) on the Alexithymia Provoked Responses Questionnaire (APRQ). We utilised both the LIWC and tidytext approaches to linguistic analysis. The results indicate the ASD sample used significantly fewer affective words in response to emotionally stimulating scenarios and had less emotional granularity. Affective word use was correlated with ASD symptomatology but not with TAS-20 scores, suggesting that some elements of alexithymia are not well detected by the TAS-20 alone. The APRQ, in combination with the tidytext package, offers significant potential for sophisticated exploration of emotional expression in ASD.
A Dual Formula for the Noncommutative Transport Distance
Authors: Wirth Melchior
Published: April 2022

In this article we study the noncommutative transport distance introduced by Carlen and Maas and its entropic regularization defined by Becker and Li. We prove a duality formula that can be understood as a quantum version of the dual Benamou–Brenier formulation of the Wasserstein distance in terms of subsolutions of a Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellmann equation.
Effective Approximation Methods for Constrained Utility Maximization with Drift Uncertainty
Authors: Zhu Dongmei , Zheng Harry
Published: April 2022

In this paper, we propose a novel and effective approximation method for finding the value function for general utility maximization with closed convex control constraints and partial information. Using the separation principle and the weak duality relation, we transform the stochastic maximum principle of the fully observable dual control problem into an equivalent error minimization stochastic control problem and find the tight lower and upper bounds of the value function and its approximate value. Numerical examples show the goodness and usefulness of the proposed method.
Frobenius–Schur indicators and the mapping class group of the torus
Authors: Farnsteiner Julian , Schweigert Christoph
Published: April 2022

The Turaev–Viro state sum invariant can be extended to 3-manifolds with free boundaries. We use this fact to describe generalized Frobenius–Schur indicators as Turaev–Viro invariants of solid tori. This provides a geometric understanding of the$$\mathrm {SL}(2,\mathbb {Z})$$SL(2,Z)-equivariance of these indicators.
Topology optimization using the discrete element method. Part 2: Material nonlinearity
Authors: Masoero Enrico , O’Shaughnessy Connor , Gosling Peter D. , Chiaia Bernardino M.
Published: April 2022

Structural Topology Optimization typically features continuum-based descriptions of the investigated systems. In Part 1 we have proposed a Topology Optimization method for discrete systems and tested it on quasi-static 2D problems of stiffness maximization, assuming linear elastic material. However, discrete descriptions become particularly convenient in the failure and post-failure regimes, where discontinuous processes take place, such as fracture, fragmentation, and collapse. Here we take a first step towards failure problems, testing Discrete Element Topology Optimization for systems with nonlinear material responses. The incorporation of material nonlinearity does not require any change to the optimization method, only using appropriately rich interaction potentials between the discrete elements. Three simple problems are analysed, to show how various combinations of material nonlinearity in tension and compression can impact the optimum geometries. We also quantify the strength loss when a structure is optimized assuming a certain material behavior, but then the material behaves differently in the actual structure. For the systems considered here, assuming weakest material during optimization produces the most robust structures against incorrect assumptions on material behavior. Such incorrect assumptions, instead, are shown to have minor impact on the serviceability of the optimized structures.
Simplified Kripke Semantics for K45-Like Gödel Modal Logics and Its Axiomatic Extensions
Authors: Rodriguez Ricardo Oscar , Tuyt Olim Frits , Esteva Francesc , Godo Lluís
Published: April 2022

In this paper we provide a simplified, possibilistic semantics for the logics K45(G), i.e. a many-valued counterpart of the classical modal logic K45 over the [0, 1]-valued Gödel fuzzy logic $$\mathbf{G}$$
G
. More precisely, we characterize K45(G) as the set of valid formulae of the class of possibilistic Gödel frames $$\langle W, \pi \rangle $$

⟨
W
,
π
⟩

, where W is a non-empty set of worlds and $$\pi : W \mathop {\rightarrow }[0,1]$$

π
:
W
→
[
0
,
1
]

is a possibility distribution on W. We provide decidability results as well. Moreover, we show that all the results also apply to the extension of K45(G) with the axiom (D), provided that we restrict ourselves to normalised Gödel Kripke frames, i.e. frames $$\langle W, \pi \rangle $$

⟨
W
,
π
⟩

where $$\pi $$
π
satisfies the normalisation condition $$\sup _{w \in W} \pi (w) = 1$$

sup

w
∈
W

π

(
w
)

=
1

.
A new species, new host records and life cycle data for lepocreadiids (Digenea) of pomacentrid fishes from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Authors: Duong Berilin , Cutmore Scott C. , Cribb Thomas H. , Pitt Kylie A. , Wee Nicholas Q.-X. , Bray Rodney A.
Published: April 2022

A new species of lepocreadiid, Opechonoides opisthoporusn. sp., is described infecting 12 pomacentrid fish species from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, with Abudefduf whitleyi Allen & Robertson as the type-host. This taxon differs from the only other known member of the genus, Opechonoides gure Yamaguti, 1940, in the sucker width ratio, cirrus-sac length, position of the testes, position of the pore of Laurer’s canal, and relative post-testicular distance. The new species exhibits stenoxenic host-specificity, infecting pomacentrids from seven genera: Abudefduf Forsskål, Amphiprion Bloch & Schneider, Neoglyphidodon Allen, Neopomacentrus Allen, Plectroglyphidodon Fowler & Ball, Pomacentrus Lacépède and Stegastes Jenyns. Phylogenetic analyses of 28S rDNA sequence data demonstrate that O. opisthoporusn. sp. forms a strongly supported clade with Prodistomum orientale (Layman, 1930) Bray & Gibson, 1990. The life cycle of this new species is partly elucidated on the basis of ITS2 rDNA sequence data; intermediate hosts are shown to be three species of Ctenophora. New host records and molecular data are reported for Lepocreadium oyabitcha Machida, 1984 and Lepotrema amblyglyphidodonis Bray, Cutmore & Cribb, 2018, and new molecular data are provided for Lepotrema acanthochromidis Bray, Cutmore & Cribb, 2018 and Lepotrema adlardi (Bray, Cribb & Barker, 1993) Bray & Cribb, 1996. Novel cox1 mtDNA sequence data showed intraspecific geographical structuring between Heron Island and Lizard Island for L. acanthochromidis but not for L. adlardi or O. opisthoporusn. sp.
Agile, Institutionalised, and Dependency-driven: Multifaceted Forms of the Collaboration Agency of Third-sector Organisations
Authors: Tuurnas Sanna , Paananen Henna , Tynkkynen Liina-Kaisa
Published: April 2022

This study investigated the collaboration between public and third-sector organisations (TSOs) in the framework of collaborative governance. We examined how TSOs portray their collaboration with public organisations and what kind of collaboration agency can be identified based on these descriptions. Using a discourse analytical approach, we identified three multifaceted, and somewhat paradoxical, types of collaboration agency discourse in third-sector organisations: situationalised, service system–oriented, and dependency-driven. We argue that collaborative governance both sets expectations and shapes the agency of TSOs. At the same time, TSOs strategically use these opportunities to their advantage, constantly reshaping their collaboration with public organisations.
Social mining for sustainable cities: thematic study of gender-based violence coverage in news articles and domestic violence in relation to COVID-19
Authors: Manzoor Muhammad Asad , Hassan Saeed-Ul , Muazzam Amina , Tuarob Suppawong , Nawaz Raheel
Published: April 2022

We argue that social computing and its diverse applications can contribute to the attainment of sustainable development goals (SDGs)—specifically to the SDGs concerning gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls, and to make cities and human settlements inclusive. To achieve the above goals for the sustainable growth of societies, it is crucial to study gender-based violence (GBV) in a smart city context, which is a common component of violence across socio-economic groups globally. This paper analyzes the nature of news articles reported in English newspapers of Pakistan, India, and the UK—accumulating 12,693 gender-based violence-related news articles. For the qualitative textual analysis, we employ Latent Dirichlet allocation for topic modeling and propose a Doc2Vec based word-embeddings model to classify gender-based violence-related content, called GBV2Vec. Further, by leveraging GBV2Vec, we also build an online tool that analyzes the sensitivity of Gender-based violence-related content from the textual data. We run a case study on GBV concerning COVID-19 by feeding the data collected through Google News API. Finally, we show different news reporting trends and the nature of the gender-based violence committed during the testing times of COVID-19. The approach and the toolkit that this paper proposes will be of great value to decision-makers and human rights activists, given the prompt and coordinated performance against gender-based violence in smart city context—and can contribute to the achievement of SDGs for sustainable growth of human societies.
Modellierung der Struktur der Variablenkontrollstrategie und Abbildung von Veränderungen in der Grundschule
Authors: Brandenburger Martina , Salim Cem Aydin , Schwichow Martin , Wilbers Jens , Mikelskis-Seifert Silke
Published: April 2022

Die Variablenkontrolle ist bei der Planung und Durchführung von Experimenten von besonderer Bedeutung, weil sie eindeutige Aussagen über Beziehungen zwischen Ursache und Wirkung zulässt. Ihre Anwendung ist daher ein eigenständiges Lernziel des naturwissenschaftlichen Sachunterrichts und Gegenstand zahlreicher empirischer Studien. Entsprechende Fähigkeiten werden unter dem Begriff Variablenkontrollstrategie (VKS) zusammengefasst und beinhalten die vier Teilfähigkeiten: 1) Planung kontrollierter Experimente, 2) Identifizierung kontrollierter Experimente, 3) Interpretation der Ergebnisse kontrollierter Experimente und 4) Verständnis der fehlenden Aussagekraft unkontrollierter Experimente. Bisherige Studien zeigen starke positive Veränderungen bezüglich der VKS während der Grundschulzeit. Allerdings erfassen sie oft nur eine Teilfähigkeit bzw. differenzieren in ihren Analysen nicht zwischen unterschiedlichen Teilfähigkeiten oder dem Einfluss der Fachkontexte der Aufgaben. Wir haben zur Erfassung der VKS in der Grundschule ein Testinstrument im Multiple-Choice-Format entwickelt, welches Aufgaben zu den Teilfähigkeiten Identifizierung und Interpretation in unterschiedlichen Fachkontexten enthält. Das Instrument wurde in einer Querschnittstudie mitN = 415 Zweit- bis Viertklässler*innen eingesetzt. Entgegen bisherigen Befunden zeigen die Ergebnisse einer Rasch-Analyse eine mehrdimensionale Struktur der VKS entsprechend den Teilfähigkeiten. Die Fachkontexte der Aufgaben haben keinen Einfluss auf die Dimensionalität. Die Schwierigkeitsstruktur von Aufgaben wird durch die angesprochene Teilfähigkeit (Identifizierung ist einfacher als Interpretation) und den gewählten Aufgabentyp (z. B. Wahl der Distraktoren nach Schülervorstellungen) beeinflusst. Darüber hinaus wurde eine unterrichtliche Förderung der VKS untersucht (N = 44), um abzuschätzen, inwiefern das entwickelte Testinstrument erwartete Veränderungen hinsichtlich der VKS abbildet. Die gemessenen Veränderungen werden in diesem Beitrag in Relation zur Querschnittsstudie gesetzt. Abschließend werden die Konsequenzen unserer Befunde für die Messung und Förderung der VKS in der Grundschule diskutiert.
Cooperative Chloride Hydrogel Electrolytes Enabling Ultralow-Temperature Aqueous Zinc Ion Batteries by the Hofmeister Effect
Authors: Yan Changyuan , Wang Yangyang , Deng Xianyu , Xu Yonghang
Published: April 2022

Aqueous zinc ion batteries have high potential applicability for energy storage due to their reliable safety, environmental friendliness, and low cost. However, the freezing of aqueous electrolytes limits the normal operation of batteries at low temperatures. Herein, a series of high-performance and low-cost chloride hydrogel electrolytes with high concentrations and low freezing points are developed. The electrochemical windows of the chloride hydrogel electrolytes are enlarged by > 1 V under cryogenic conditions due to the obvious evolution of hydrogen bonds, which highly facilitates the operation of electrolytes at ultralow temperatures, as evidenced by the low-temperature Raman spectroscopy and linear scanning voltammetry. Based on the Hofmeister effect, the hydrogen-bond network of the cooperative chloride hydrogel electrolyte comprising 3 M ZnCl2 and 6 M LiCl can be strongly interrupted, thus exhibiting a sufficient ionic conductivity of 1.14 mS cm−1 and a low activation energy of 0.21 eV at −50 °C. This superior electrolyte endows a polyaniline/Zn battery with a remarkable discharge specific capacity of 96.5 mAh g−1 at −50 °C, while the capacity retention remains ~ 100% after 2000 cycles. These results will broaden the basic understanding of chloride hydrogel electrolytes and provide new insights into the development of ultralow-temperature aqueous batteries.
Femtosecond Laser Thermal Accumulation-Triggered Micro-/Nanostructures with Patternable and Controllable Wettability Towards Liquid Manipulating
Authors: Yin Kai , Wang Lingxiao , Deng Qinwen , Huang Qiaoqiao , Jiang Jie , Li Guoqiang , He Jun
Published: April 2022

Versatile liquid manipulating surfaces combining patternable and controllable wettability have recently motivated considerable attention owing to their significant advantages in droplet-solid impacting behaviors, microdroplet self-removal, and liquid–liquid interface reaction applications. However, developing a facile and efficient method to fabricate these versatile surfaces remains an enormous challenge. In this paper, a strategy for the fabrication of liquid manipulating surfaces with patternable and controllable wettability on Polyimide (PI) film based on femtosecond laser thermal accumulation engineering is proposed. Because of its controllable micro-/nanostructures and chemical composition through adjusting the local thermal accumulation, the wettability of PI film can be tuned from superhydrophilicity (~ 3.6°) to superhydrophobicity (~ 151.6°). Furthermore, three diverse surfaces with patternable and heterogeneous wettability were constructed and various applications were successfully realized, including water transport, droplet arrays, and liquid wells. This work may provide a facile strategy for achieving patternable and controllable wettability efficiently and developing multifunctional liquid steering surfaces.
Global Atmospheric and Oceanic Modelling
Authors: Staniforth Andrew N.
Published: April 2022

Combining rigorous theory with practical application, this book provides a unified and detailed account of the fundamental equations governing atmospheric and oceanic fluid flow on which global, quantitative models of weather and climate prediction are founded. It lays the foundation for more accurate models by making fewer approximations and imposing dynamical and thermodynamical consistency, moving beyond the assumption that the Earth is perfectly spherical. A general set of equations is developed in a standard notation with clearly stated assumptions, limitations, and important properties. Some exact, non-linear solutions are developed to promote further understanding and for testing purposes. This book contains a thorough consideration of the fundamental equations for atmospheric and oceanic models, and is therefore invaluable to both theoreticians and numerical modellers. It also stands as an accessible source for reference purposes.