bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Joint Autoethnography on Collecting Qualitative Data Remotely: Insights From Doctoral Students’ Experiences
Authors: Vinte Joaquim Vicente , Khalil Eftima , Çavuşoğlu Çise
Published: November 2023

Researchers in general and those conducting English Language Teaching (ELT) studies in particular have been using alternative data collection methods and strategies due to recent technological advancements, natural events, as well as personal researchers’ predicaments. In this article, we present our research insights into remote qualitative data collection from the perspective of doctoral students. Using a joint-autoethnography research design, we share our reflections on collecting data from two different studies conducted in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) contexts. We support these reflections with similar literature about remote data collection. Our focus is on the use of remote observations and remote surveys in qualitative studies. In our settings, while collecting data through remote observation, the major challenges we faced were related to technological management for the use of in-class video-recordings. Consequently, the change to audio-recordings demonstrated to be appropriate in such contexts. Furthermore, the use of remote qualitative surveys for data collection taught us that despite a high rate of initial acceptance for participation in other studies, the response rate in our study was quite low. As a result of this challenge, additional data collection methods were used in the relevant study. These experiences reveal that there will be a need to improve our procedures for a successful collection of remote qualitative data, not only in our future studies, but also for those researchers intending to use these data collection methods in similar situations.
Impact-meshing vibration characteristics of high-speed gear systems with Backlash
Authors: Qi Shiyuan , Guan Yunchao , Liu Yang , Zhang Yiqiang , Yu Guangbin
Published: November 2023

The meshing process includes high-speed impact between the teeth. The vibration and noise in the gear transmission become prominent owing to the backlash between gears. Currently, the concentrated mass model is primarily used to analyse the vibration and noise mechanism of gear transmission, and it is difficult to effectively explain high-speed gear collision. In this study, an improved impact vibration model was applied to the meshing state of a high-speed gear. The gear transmission was simplified as a collision vibration system with absolute and traversable boundaries, and the piecewise-smooth dynamics model of the gear system is established. A mapping dynamic analysis method was then used to describe the impact and meshing boundary of gears. The impact-meshing situation of the gear system was observed, and the vibration response of the system under different speeds and loads was analysed using numerical simulation. The results revealed that the main source of the gear vibration was the meshing frequency of a gear pair. The resonance generated by the modulation of the rotation and meshing is the main reason for the long-term impact-meshing phenomenon of the gear transmission system. The results of this study are of great significance as they reveal the vibration characteristics of a high-speed gear transmission system.
Understanding Sensory-Motor Disorders in Autism Spectrum Disorders by Extending Hebbian Theory: Formation of a Rigid-Autonomous Phase Sequence
Authors: Nojiri Eiichi , Takase Kenkichi
Published: November 2023

Autism spectrum disorder is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. The symptoms invariably appear in early childhood and cause significant impairment in social, occupational, and other important functions. Various abnormalities in the genetic, neurological, and endocrine systems of patients with autism spectrum disorder have been reported as the etiology; however, no clear factor leading to the onset of the disease has been identified. Additionally, higher order cognitive dysfunctions, which are represented by a lack of theory of mind, sensorimotor disorders, and memory-related disorders (e.g., flashbacks), have been reported in recent years, but no theoretical framework has been proposed to explain these behavioral abnormalities. In this study, we extended Hebb’s biopsychology theory to provide a theoretical framework that comprehensively explains the various behavioral abnormalities observed in autism spectrum disorder. Specifically, we propose that a wide range of symptoms in autism spectrum disorder may be caused by the formation of a rigid-autonomous phase sequence (RAPS) in the brain. Using the RAPS formation theory, we propose a biopsychological mechanism that could be a target for the treatment of autism spectrum disorders.
Validity, reliability and responsiveness of a goniometer watch to measure pure forearm rotation
Authors: Harte Daniel , Nevill Alan , Ramsey Lucia , Martin Suzanne
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Innovative instruments have been designed to assess forearm rotation, an anatomically challenging motion to measure. This study assessed the concurrent validity, interrater reliability and responsiveness of a novel goniometer watch (GoWatch) to measure pure forearm rotation. The modified finger goniometer (MFG) was the criterion reference.

Methods

Forty participants with restricted forearm rotation were recruited. Two raters measured supination and pronation using the GoWatch and MFG before and after a hand therapy session. Repeated-measures ANOVA assessed for systematic bias with an apriori residual error of 5° deemed as acceptable. Secondary analysis used intraclass coefficients (ICCs) to categorise interrater reliability. Responsiveness of the GoWatch was calculated using Cohen’s d

Results

The GoWatch demonstrated acceptable agreement with the MFG with a mean difference for supination 1.19° and pronation 0.20°. Interrater reliability was also within acceptable limits with a mean difference GoWatch supination 4.43° and pronation 2.23°. Interrater reliability for GoWatch supination and pronation were categorized as excellent (ICC = 0.94) and good (ICC = 0.85) respectively. Systematic bias was observed in the instrument by rater interaction with rater two consistently underestimating GoWatch measures ( p<.05). GoWatch supination showed small to medium responsiveness (Rater 1: d = 0.14; Rater 2: d = 0.29) and pronation very small to medium responsiveness (Rater 1: d = 0.29; Rater 2: d = 0.05).

Conclusion

The GoWatch is a viable and user-friendly alternative to measure forearm rotation with demonstrable validity, interrater reliability and responsiveness. Further research is required to ensure systematic bias is not endemic when used across multiple raters.
Next for Europe: Defining its own battlefield tactics
Authors: Benhamou Michael
Published: November 2023

Now that European defence budgets are (finally) on the rise, Europe’s military circles are faced with one issue that has not been addressed at EU level: how do they want to fight? The US-led NATO alliance rightfully coordinates all doctrinal work in Europe at the moment, but the time to discuss how soldiers and weapons function in larger operations is coming, considering the US’s gradual withdrawal amid increasing turmoil in the neighbourhood. Having these field concepts in place would demonstrate the determination and cohesiveness of the Europe of today while shaping the military procurement of tomorrow.
Kazakhstan’s January 2022 Crisis: Representations by National Experts via Social Media
Authors: Troitskiy Evgeny F , Pogorelskaya Anastasia M , Yun Sergey M , Dunaeva Darya O , Blaginin Alexey L
Published: November 2023

This article aims at reconstructing the representations of the 2022 January crisis developed by Kazakhstani political analysts via social media. The research methodology seeks to combine quantitative and qualitative methods by assessing these representations by use of critical discourse analysis of social media posts by Kazakhstani political analysts extracted and processed by the use of API and PolyAnalysts based on marker words. The research significance lies in the unique situation of regime instability potentially providing the expert community with the chance to speak up openly. However, it is concluded that most analysts reproduced the official discourse that is in line with the discourses developed in non-democratic context. Thus, the dominant expert discourse of the January crisis is rather homogenous and relies on the dichotomies of “the old” versus “the new” as well as “the weak” versus “the strong.” As a result, the general picture by Kazakhstani political analysts looks more like a political myth about the birth of a “new Kazakhstan” than a reconstruction of the causes, actors and consequences of the January crisis. It implies that the expert community prefers controlled evolution of the state regime rather than grass roots initiated changes.
Digital criminal investigations in Italy. The intersection between data protection and cybersecurity
Authors: Flor Roberto , Panattoni Beatrice
Published: November 2023

The scope of digital criminal investigations is rapidly expanding, as they have become indispensable in prosecuting not only cybercrime but all kinds of crimes involving digital evidence. Digital investigations often involve a high degree of intrusiveness, granting law enforcement authorities large-scale access to personal data, programs, and systems. As a result, it is essential to critically assess the legitimacy of digital investigations to prevent potential abuses. When balancing the social need for crime control with the protection of citizens’ rights and interests, we find, on one side of the scale, the public interest of countering and preventing serious crime in a digital world. But which parameters must be incorporated on the other side of the scale? While most attention is given to privacy and data protection in European law to regulate the collection and processing of personal data by law enforcement in criminal proceedings, we propose that another increasingly vital interest needs to be factored in as well: the protection of cybersecurity.
Living on the block: How equitable is tokenized equity?
Authors: Crandall Jillian
Published: November 2023

Recently blockchain has become a tool for spatial coordination and appropriation. Globally, the tokenization of land and housing has led to new forms of datafication and increased financialization. In the case of land non-fungible tokens), security token offerings, and blockchain-based real estate investment trusts, blockchains act as exclusionary digital platforms, with new socio-technical assemblages emerging as complex predatory formations of speculation that are intentionally obfuscatory and difficult to regulate. With the security token offering, crowdfunding and venture capital are combined with cryptocurrency to create a “tokenized venture capital fund” tied to tangible assets, such as ownership rights in housing, real estate, or land. Distributed ledgers are proposed to be used as the digital technology underlying new forms of land/property documentation, ownership, and inhabitation – from conducting and recording land surveys and title creation to transference of land/property rights. This paper addresses the question: how equitable is tokenized equity – does it prioritize the right to the city for all or to all but a very few? This paper looks toward the means of contestation against extractive crypto-settlements, speculation, and housing financialization, critically comparing a range of proposed distributed ledger technology projects that claim to inject equity in the system, pose alternative housing economies, or leverage distributed ledgers for land rights and data sovereignty. I question the utility and limits of datafication and explore how engaging with digital technology – with or without distributed ledgers – can raise awareness and enact alternative forms of housing and land stewardship, from cooperativism to Community Land Trusts and to counter-hegemonic commoning practices.
Feasibility of communication platforms to empower transgender cultural competence among human immunodeficiency virus screeners: A qualitative analysis
Authors: Chiou Piao-Yi , Chou Szu-Jui , Tsao Wei-Wen , Yu Jheng-Min
Published: November 2023

Background

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screeners have limited experience of interacting with trans people. The application of communication platforms between them to empower HIV screeners’ trans-related cultural competence remains unknown.

Objective

This study aims to qualitatively explore the follow-up interviews of HIV screeners regarding their opinions on the feasibility of an online platform group discussion and web page to enhance communication between them and trans people and to explore their perspectives on how these components enhanced their promotion of cultural competence.

Methods

This study was conducted between October 2020 and June 2021. Purposive and snowball sampling were applied to recruit 6 trans persons and 11 HIV screeners. Six online platform group discussions were held on weekday evenings, each group meeting for 60 min, 360 min in total within 3 months, via a video chat room of Google Meet; this was supplemented by a closed web page. The major results were presented through content analysis of the HIV screeners’ follow-up interviews.

Results

The HIV screeners identified the facilitators of participating in the communication platforms, which included a reminder message, easy-to-use interface, visible–audible and readable interaction, recalled and reviewable content and group belonging; the barriers included time and space limitation, device restrictions and operation problem. Two categories of trans-related cultural competence – trans awareness and action taken – were revealed, from which five major themes emerged: provoked to ask questions, improved cognition, reflection, trans-sensitive communication and self-enhancement.

Conclusion

The results revealed that the communication platforms could facilitate the mutual and vivid discussion between HIV screeners and trans people and empower the trans-related cultural competence of HIV screeners. The highly feasible intervention design of this research can be applied to digital training courses related to gender diversity issues.
Developing a mobile health app for chronic illness management: Insights from focus groups
Authors: Fernández César , Vicente María Asunción , Guilabert Mercedes , Carrillo Irene , Mira José Joaquín
Published: November 2023

Background

Mobile applications have the potential to assist patients and caregivers in managing chronic diseases, but current offerings are typically limited to a single disease or only focused on patients. A multifaceted app could expand the user base and provide more comprehensive support for patients who usually suffer from diverse chronic conditions at the same time and their caregivers.

Objectives

This study aimed to design, develop, and evaluate a mobile application that could aid chronic patients and their caregivers in managing the range of chronic conditions.

Methods

Focus group meetings were conducted with patients and caregivers to identify their needs, which were translated into app functionalities. The final version of the app was evaluated through a survey and analysis of the most used features.

Results

Five focus group (FG) meetings were held, involving 39 patients and 22 caregivers. The app included medication aids, self-monitoring aids, activation reminders, messages for caregiver shifts, remote monitoring, medicine management, and informative videos. Testing by 65 patients revealed that medication reminders (96.8% positive responses), medicine information (96.8%), messages for caregiver shifts (90.3%), and ease of use (80.6%) were the most valued aspects. The most frequently used feature was the health data record check.

Conclusions

A multifaceted mobile application can address the needs of a variety of chronic patients and their caregivers, while still being easy to use. The app's most used functionalities were aligned with the needs expressed in the FG, which reflects the success of this study and suggests that future research could benefit from incorporating similar user-centered design methodologies.
Digital inclusion: A mixed-method study of user behavior and content on Twitter
Authors: Salzmann-Erikson Martin
Published: November 2023

Objective

This study is the first to explore user behavior and characterize the content shared about digital inclusion on Twitter.

Methods

This mixed-methods research consists of 14,000 tweets featuring the hashtag “#digitalinclusion,” posted on Twitter over 15 months. A machine learning technique, latent Dirichlet allocation, was utilized to discover abstract topics within the tweets statistically. The algorithm identified important keywords and text associated with each topic by modeling the underlying word co-occurrence patterns in the dataset. A manual qualitative content analysis was applied to the qualitative data (1000 tweets).

Results

Tweets containing #digitalinclusion are driven by four motives: 1) warning against the risks of digital exclusion; 2) tweets that promote actions to increase digital inclusion; 3) tweets that call for others to take action to improve digitalization; and 4) tweets that are neutral but fuel the debate by being active. Quantitative analysis revealed that users discussing digital inclusion come from various continents, including the USA, Europe, Africa, and Asia. There were 3931 unique user accounts, with individuals posting between one and 368 tweets. Approximately half of the tweets contained some embedded media.

Conclusion

The study concludes that digital inclusion is a subject that engages Twitter users worldwide. Tweets that were associated with community and local initiatives and sustainable development had the highest engagement in terms of the number of retweets and likes. The interpretation is that digital inclusion is crucial for achieving equity in living conditions and enhancing access to health information and services. While initiatives to increase digital inclusion are underway, Twitter users call for more efforts to prevent growing digital exclusion. Twitter, as a social media platform, is valuable for studying the motivations that drive digital inclusion and help counter digital exclusion.
A Mathematical Model Relating Foam Material Properties to Heightened Interface Pressure between a Human and Mattress Surface
Authors: Laird Molly E. , Rayess Nassif , Conrad Megan O.
Published: November 2023

Hospital patients often develop pressure injuries when lying in bed for an extended time due to relatively high contact pressures breaking down skin tissues. Pressure injuries adversely affect patients by potentially leading to infection and creating advanced health risks. Our prior research identified children experience highest risk of pressure ulcer in the head region. Thus, this study aimed to gather pressure data and create a corresponding model relating foam material properties to predicted interface pressure between the head and a foam mattress overlay surface. Research findings provide data guiding clinicians and designers to mattresses with material properties capable of reducing the incidence of pressure ulcers in children and adults.
A Completion Rate Conundrum: Reducing bias in the Single Usability Metric
Authors: Pearson Carl J.
Published: November 2023

In the Single Usability Metric benchmarking method, the calculation of completion rates creates a bias for completion rates by ignoring the z-score transform that is conducted for satisfaction and time-on-task measures. This artificially inflates all ‘good’ scores and marks some ‘poor’ scores as ‘good’. This paper discusses two methods to augment the SUM so that it will accurately calculate completion rates into the final SUM score.
Early and recurrent cerebral vasospasms after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: The impact of age
Authors: Tokareva Bogdana , Meyer Lukas , Heitkamp Christian , Wentz Rabea , Faizy Tobias D , Meyer Hanno S , Bester Maxim , Fiehler Jens , Thaler Christian
Published: November 2023

Introduction:

Cerebral vasospasms remain a strong predictor of poor outcome after aneurysmal SAH. The aim of this study was to describe the time course of relevant vasospasms after aneurysmal SAH and to determine the variables associated with early-onset or prolonged and recurrent vasospasms.

Patients and methods:

We conducted a retrospective, single-center study of consecutive adult patients with aneurysmal SAH admitted between 2016 and 2022 at our tertiary stroke center. Relevant vasospasms, defined as vessel narrowing detected in DSA in combination with clinical deterioration or new perfusion deficit, were detected according to our in-house algorithm and eventually treated endovascularly. The primary endpoint was the diagnosis of relevant vasospasms. As secondary endpoints, the time from hemorrhage to the onset of vasospasms and the time from the first to the last endovascular intervention were measured.

Results:

Of 368 patients with aneurysmal SAH, 135 (41.0%) developed relevant vasospasms. The median time between ictus and detection of vasospasms was 8 days (IQR: 6–10). Patients with early-onset vasospasms were significantly younger (mean 52.7 ± 11.2 years vs 58.7 ± 11.5 years, p = 0.003) and presented more frequently vasospasm-related infarctions at discharge (58.8% vs 38.7%, p = 0.03). In 74 patients (54.8%), recurrent relevant vasospasms were observed despite endovascular treatment. Younger age and early onset were significantly associated with longer duration of relevant vasospasms (both p < 0.05).

Discussion and conclusion:

Younger age was associated with early-onset and longer duration of relevant vasospasms in this study. More frequent clinical and diagnostic follow-up should be considered in this subgroup of patients that are at risk for poor outcomes.
Conducting Research With People in Lower-Socioeconomic-Status Contexts
Authors: Emery Lydia F. , Silverman David M. , Carey Rebecca M.
Published: November 2023

In recent years, the field of psychology has increasingly recognized the importance of conducting research with lower-socioeconomic-status (SES) participants. Given that SES can powerfully shape people’s thoughts and actions, socioeconomically diverse samples are necessary for rigorous, generalizable research. However, even when researchers aim to collect data with these samples, they often encounter methodological and practical challenges to recruiting and retaining lower-SES participants in their studies. We propose that there are two key factors to consider when trying to recruit and retain lower-SES participants—trust and accessibility. Researchers can build trust by creating personal connections with participants and communities, paying participants fairly, and considering how participants will view their research. Researchers can enhance accessibility by recruiting in participants’ own communities, tailoring study administration to participants’ circumstances, and being flexible in payment methods. Our goal is to provide recommendations that can help to build a more inclusive science.
Keeping Meta-Analyses Alive and Well: A Tutorial on Implementing and Using Community-Augmented Meta-Analyses in PsychOpen CAMA
Authors: Bucher Lisa , Burgard Tanja , Tran Ulrich S. , Prinz Gerhard M. , Bosnjak Michael , Voracek Martin
Published: November 2023

Newly developed, web-based, open-repository concepts, such as community-augmented meta-analysis (CAMA), provide open access to fulfill the needs for transparency and timeliness of synthesized evidence. The main idea of CAMA is to keep meta-analyses up-to-date by allowing the research community to include new evidence continuously. In 2021, the Leibniz Institute for Psychology released a platform, PsychOpen CAMA, which serves as a publication format for CAMAs in all fields of psychology. The present work serves as a tutorial on implementing and using a CAMA in PsychOpen CAMA from a data-provider perspective, using six large-scale meta-analytic data sets on the dark triad of personality as a working example. First, the processes of data contribution and implementation of either new or updated existing data sets are summarized. Furthermore, a step-by-step tutorial on using and interpreting CAMAs guides the reader through the web application. Finally, the tutorial outlines the major benefits and the remaining challenges of CAMAs in PsychOpen CAMA.
An Overview of Contrast-induced Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: G. Sengottuvelu , Rao Ravinder , Limaye Atul
Published: November 2023

With a rise in the complexity and widening of its applicability in diagnostic procedures, a parallel rise has been witnessed in the use of contrast agents and information about contrast-induced acute kidney injury. Contrast media play a critical role in medical imaging procedures today, and physicians and diagnostic radiologists are responsible for assessing the potential risks of contrast media with diagnostic benefits. Physicians are currently focusing on preventive therapies and identifying risk factors because there is no particular treatment for CI-AKI. Although CI-AKI is uncommon in general, the risk of CI-AKI can increase up to 20% to 30% in individuals with risk factors. Numerous models have been used in clinical settings to evaluate CI-AKI risk factors, identify high-risk populations, and enhance the value of care provided to these patients. Over the last several years, effective preventive strategies have helped reduce the CI-AKI risk. However, several unanswered questions still remain due to the evolving diagnostic and therapeutic interventions paradigm. This review summarizes CI-AKI epidemiology, pathogenesis, risk factors, and prevention strategies to manage this complication in Indian populations effectively.
Comparing perceived and observed instructional practices and their predictive power for student mathematics achievement: An analysis of Shanghai data from OECD global teaching inSights
Authors: Cheng Qiang , Shen Jinkun , Zhang Shaoan
Published: November 2023

This study examined the alignment and predictive power of instructional practices as reported by teachers, students, and external raters by using the Shanghai data that included 85 teachers and 2,613 students who participated in the Global Teaching Insights study. Results from exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis along with ordinary least square regression indicate that the same four conceptual components including classroom discourse (e.g., allowing students to explain their ideas and engage in peer discussions), meaning-making (e.g., explaining why a mathematical procedure works), cognitive activation (e.g., encouraging students’ critical thinking in solving complex tasks), and clarity instruction (e.g., teachers’ giving clear explanation of subject matter) were identified in the instructional practices reported by teachers and their students. The cognitive activation factor in the data reported by teachers emerged as the most significant predictor of students’ post-test scores, whereas the classroom discourse factor in the data reported by students accounted for the largest portion of variance in students’ post-test scores. Furthermore, our analysis revealed that the alignment between ratings reported by students and external raters was the highest, and student ratings of their mathematics teachers’ instructional practices demonstrated the highest predictive power for students’ post-test scores. Results of this study provide important empirical evidence for the merit of cognitive activation and classroom discourse in mathematics teaching and inspire researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers to pay careful attention to student-reported instructional practices that can serve as a better source of data in measuring mathematics teaching quality.
Sex differences in the clinical manifestations related to dependence behaviors in medication-overuse headache
Authors: Wang Yen-Feng , Tzeng Yi-Shiang , Yu Chia-Chun , Ling Yu-Hsiang , Chen Shih-Pin , Lai Kuan-Lin , Chen Wei-Ta , Wang Shuu-Jiun
Published: November 2023

Objective

The present study aimed to compare sex differences in the clinical manifestations related to dependence behaviors in medication-overuse headache (MOH).

Methods

Consecutive patients with newly diagnosed chronic migraine (CM) with and without MOH based on the Third Edition of International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) were enrolled prospectively from the headache clinic of a tertiary medical center. Demographics and clinical profiles were collected by using a questionnaire, which included current use of tobacco, alcohol, and caffeinated beverages, the Leeds Dependence Questionnaire (LDQ), the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS), the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Results

In total, 1419 CM patients (1135F/284 M, mean age 41.7 ± 13.9 years) were recruited, including 799 with MOH (640F/159 M, mean age 42.5 ± 13.2 years) (56.3%). Smoking was associated with an increased risk for MOH in men (odds ratio [OR] = 3.60 [95% confidence interval = 1.73–7.50], p = 0.001), but not in women (OR = 1.34 [0.88–2.04], p = 0.171) (p = 0.021 for interaction). Hypnotic use ≥ 3 days/week was a risk factor for MOH (OR = 2.55 [95% confidence interval = 2.00–3.24], p < 0.001), regardless of sex. By using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves, the cutoff scores of the LDQ for MOH were determined at 7 for women and 6 for men, and those for the SDS were 5 and 4, respectively (area under curve all ≥ 0.83). Among patients with MOH, the male sex was associated with a shorter latency between migraine onset and CM onset (12.9 ± 11.1 vs. 15.4 ± 11.5 years, p = 0.008), despite less average headache intensity (6.7 ± 1.9 vs. 7.2 ± 1.9, p = 0.005), functional impacts (HIT-6: 63.4 ± 8.3 vs. 65.1 ± 8.0, p = 0.009), and sleep disturbances (PSQI: 10.9 ± 4.4 vs. 12.2 ± 4.3, p = 0.001).

Conclusions

The current study identified an association between smoking and MOH in men, as well as sex-specific cutoffs of the LDQ and the SDS, for MOH. MOH was characterized by a shorter latency between migraine onset and CM onset in men and a more severe phenotype in women. Sex should be considered as an important factor in the evaluation of MOH.
Locating helicopter ambulance bases in Iceland: efficient and fair solutions
Authors: Gunnarsson Björn , Björnsdóttir Kristrún María , Dúason Sveinbjörn , Ingólfsson Ármann
Published: November 2023

Background

Fixed-wing air ambulances play an important role in healthcare in rural Iceland. More frequent use of helicopter ambulances has been suggested to shorten response times and increase equity in access to advanced emergency care. In finding optimal base locations, the objective is often efficiency—maximizing the number of individuals who can be reached within a given time. This approach benefits people in densely populated areas more than people living in remote areas and the solution is not necessarily fair. This study aimed to find efficient and fair helicopter ambulance base locations in Iceland.

Methods

We used high-resolution population and incident location data to estimate the service demand for helicopter ambulances, with possible base locations limited to twenty-one airports and landing strips around the country. Base locations were estimated using both the maximal covering location problem (MCLP) optimization model, which aimed for maximal coverage of demand, and the fringe sensitive location problem (FSLP) model, which also considered uncovered demand (i.e., beyond the response time threshold). We explored the percentage of the population and incidents covered by one to three helicopter bases within 45-, 60-, and 75-min response time thresholds, conditioned or not, on the single existing base located at Reykjavík Airport. This resulted in a total of eighteen combinations of conditions for each model. The models were implemented in R and solved using Gurobi.

Results

Model solutions for base locations differed between the demand datasets for two out of eighteen combinations, both with the lowest service standard. Base locations differed between the MCLP and FSLP models for one combination involving a single base, and for two combinations involving two bases. Three bases covered all or almost all demand with longer response time thresholds, and the models differed in four of six combinations. The two helicopter ambulance bases can possibly obtain 97% coverage within 60 min, with bases in Húsafell and Grímsstaðir. Bases at Reykjavík Airport and Akureyri would cover 94.2%, whereas bases at Reykjavík Airport and Egilsstaðir would cover 88.5% of demand.

Conclusion

An efficient and fair solution would be to locate bases at Reykjavík Airport and in Akureyri or Egilsstaðir.
Conventional type 1 dendritic cells (cDC1) in cancer immunity
Authors: Liu Peng , Zhao Liwei , Kroemer Guido , Kepp Oliver
Published: November 2023

Cancer immunotherapy, alone or in combination with conventional therapies, has revolutionized the landscape of antineoplastic treatments, with dendritic cells (DC) emerging as key orchestrators of anti-tumor immune responses. Among the distinct DC subsets, conventional type 1 dendritic cells (cDC1) have gained prominence due to their unique ability to cross-present antigens and activate cytotoxic T lymphocytes. This review summarizes the distinctive characteristics of cDC1, their pivotal role in anticancer immunity, and the potential applications of cDC1-based strategies in immunotherapy.
Unravelling the mosquito-haemosporidian parasite-bird host network in the southwestern Iberian Peninsula: insights into malaria infections, mosquito community and feeding preferences
Authors: Mora-Rubio Carlos , Ferraguti Martina , Magallanes Sergio , Bravo-Barriga Daniel , Hernandez-Caballero Irene , Marzal Alfonso , de Lope Florentino
Published: November 2023

Bakground

Vector-borne diseases affecting humans, wildlife and livestock have significantly increased their incidence and distribution in the last decades. Because the interaction among vectors-parasite-vertebrate hosts plays a key role driving vector-borne disease transmission, the analyses of the diversity and structure of vector-parasite networks and host-feeding preference may help to assess disease risk. Also, the study of seasonal variations in the structure and composition of vector and parasite communities may elucidate the current patterns of parasite persistence and spread as well as facilitate prediction of how climate variations may impact vector-borne disease transmission. Avian malaria and related haemosporidian parasites constitute an exceptional model to understand the ecology and evolution of vector-borne diseases. However, the characterization of vector-haemosporidian parasite-bird host assemblages is largely unknown in many regions.

Methods

Here, we analyzed 5859 female mosquitoes captured from May to November in five localities from southwestern Spain to explore the composition and seasonal variation of the vector-parasite-vertebrate host network.

Results

We showed a gradual increase in mosquito abundance, peaking in July. A total of 16 different haemosporidian lineages were found infecting 13 mosquito species. Of these assemblages, more than 70% of these vector-parasite associations have not been described in previous studies. Moreover, three Haemoproteus lineages were reported for the first time in this study. The prevalence of avian malaria infections in mosquitoes varied significantly across the months, reaching a maximum in November. Mosquito blood-feeding preference was higher for mammals (62.5%), whereas 37.5% of vectors fed on birds, suggesting opportunistic feeding behavior.

Conclusion

These outcomes improve our understanding of disease transmission risk and help tovector control strategies.

Graphical abstract
CO2 emissions from service sectors in Ecuador: an analysis using input–output subsystems
Authors: Buenaño Edwin , Padilla Emilio , Alcántara Vicent
Published: November 2023

Ecuador is one of the most megadiverse countries in the world and a pioneer in establishing some regulations to take care of its environment. Despite this, its levels of pollution and environmental deterioration are higher than those of neighboring countries. A better understanding of the pollution channels of a subsystem such as services, which increasingly occupies a more relevant place in the economy and many of its activities tend to go unnoticed as a source of pollution, allows the development of mitigation strategies that could be analyzed and adopted for similar contexts. We estimated direct and indirect emissions for the 71 economic activities of Ecuador and applied an input–output subsystem analysis, breaking down the generation of total CO2 emissions (direct and indirect) of the 18 activities that make up the services subsystem into 6 sources. Total emissions of the services subsystem were a third of the emissions for the year 2018. Although it is known that transport is a well-known relevant actor in overall CO2 emissions, our decomposition provides a clearer view of the direct and indirect pollution channels of other relevant service sectors. We detect several service sectors with an insignificant level of direct CO2 emissions and a high level of total emissions. This is the case of trade services, real estate services, services provided by professionals, telecommunications or the government public administration. These sectors induce the generation of emissions from other sectors inside and outside the services subsystem. The results inform the design of policies to mitigate CO2 emissions in Ecuador.
A Study on the Flexural Performance of Para-aramid Fiber Reinforced Concrete Beams with Recycled Coarse Aggregates
Authors: Ruziev Jamshid , Kim Woosuk
Published: November 2023

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of para-aramid fiber sheet in enhancing the flexural performance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams made with Environmental-Friendly Recycled Coarse Aggregates. The experimental program examines the effect of substitution ratio of recycled aggregates (0%, 30%, and 50%), type of para-aramid fiber sheet (KN 206 RFL and KN AA070-RFL), and the method of fiber sheet attachment (bottom and bottom-side). The test results show that the ultimate load-carrying capacity of RC beams reinforced with para-aramid fiber sheet attached to the bottom and side parts increased by 23.9% compared to the unreinforced specimens. The main findings of the study include the identification of the BU-type attachment method as the most effective method for enhancing the flexural performance of reinforced concrete beams. The comparison of the experimental results with analytical predictions showed that the nominal flexural strength obtained from the experimental study was lower than the analytical predictions, but the ductile capacity of the specimens indicated the effectiveness of para-aramid fiber sheet reinforcement in EFRCA RC beams for flexural strength. The study highlights the potential of using para-aramid fiber sheet in improving the flexural behavior of RC beams made with recycled aggregates, offering a sustainable solution for the construction industry.
Precise in-situ detection of inorganic pigments in ancient architectural color paintings by HH-XRF
Authors: Zhang Long , Song Ziyan , Zuo Shengda , Hou Feng , Chen Shuaiqing
Published: November 2023

The handheld X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (HH-XRF) is commonly used to detect the inorganic elemental composition of pigments on-site. However, the accuracy of in-situ detection results can be affected by the characteristics of the painted surface contaminants and the layered structure of pigments in ancient architectural color paintings. To mitigate this error, a method was proposed that combined the XRF spectra of inorganic pigments with the elemental concentration values obtained through principal component analysis (PCA). Additionally, this study discussed the typical surface contaminants and pigment layering found in color paintings separately. Firstly, experiments were conducted on dust accumulation layers of varying thicknesses. The results indicated that the condition of color paintings after pretreatment of dust accumulation tended to resemble the situation with thin dust accumulation during in-situ testing. A fitting formula was derived to establish a relationship between field testing and laboratory testing results. Secondly, experiments were conducted using various combinations of pigment layers. Based on the findings, it was hypothesized that there was a connection between XRF detection results and the maximum concentration value of a single element (as determined by XRF, in an unmixed or unlayered pigment sample without dust or smoke accumulation). The test results were fitted using a Polynomial formula, providing evidence for the existence of a nonlinear functional relationship between these two variables. Finally, an empirical formula for predicting the concentration values of the top color layer with different base colors was proposed. This study offered a precise method for accurately assessing pigments of ancient architectural color paintings through in-situ testing.
Humic substances trigger plant immune responses
Authors: da Silva Rakiely Martins , Canellas Natália Aguiar , Olivares Fábio Lopes , Piccolo Alessando , Canellas Luciano Pasqualoto
Published: November 2023

Background

Huanglongbing (HLB) is a devastating citrus disease. Before callose deposition, the bacterial infection causes oxidative stress, starting cell damage. Humic substances are among the most efficient antioxidants found in nature. Furthermore, it is also previously reported that humic substances can induce a phenylpropanoid metabolism contributing to the production of antimicrobial compounds. It has been noted by technicians and growers in the Brazil's main citrus belt that orchards continuously treated with humic substances can live well with the symptoms of HLB.

Methods

We treated two young citrus orchards (Citrus sinensis cultivars Baía and Pera)  with soluble humic substances (HS) isolated from peat either combined or not with a plant growth-promoting bacteria consortium. The activity of key enzymes related to the response against biotic stresses, such as peroxidase (POX), β-1,3-glucanase (PR) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), as well as the differential transcription level of target genes linked to plant stress response by qRT-PCR was monitored for six months.

Results

No differences were obtained between sole humic substances and their application combined with plant growth-promoting bacteria, indicating that the microbial consortium had no modulatory effect on HS-treated plants. The treatments promoted the activities of POX, PAL and β-1,3-glucanase, which remained significantly higher concerning the control throughout the evaluation period. In addition, treatments positively regulated the transcription levels of CsPR-7, CsPR-3 and CsPR-11 genes. The experimental data were qualitatively similar to those found in commercial orange orchards treated continuously for 12 and 6 years with humic substances, where the activity and transcription levels were also more significant than for untreated plants.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that humic substances can trigger immune-mediated responses in plants and they can be used as a natural chemical priming agent to mitigate disease symptoms and contribute to more resilient citrus cultivation.

Graphical Abstract
How organisations regulate Muslim body practices: a comparison of schools, hospitals, and swimming pools
Authors: Apelt Maja , Koch Annika , Michalowski Ines , Molzberger Kaspar , Schenk Liane , Schmidt Max Oliver
Published: November 2023

In a comparison of three human service organisations in which the human body plays a key role, we examine how organisations regulate religious body practices. We concentrate on Muslim norms of dressing and undressing as a potential focal point of cultural and religious diversity. Inspired by Ray’s (2019) idea of racialized organizations, we assume that state-run organizations in Germany are characterized by a strong commitment to religious tolerance and non-discrimination but also marked by anti-Muslim sentiment prevalent among the German population. Our study looks for mechanism that explain how Human Service Organizations accommodate Muslim body practices. It draws on qualitative empirical data collected in state-run hospitals, schools and swimming pools in Germany. Our analyses show that the organizations draw on formal and informal rules at the organizational level to accommodate Islam. We identify five general organizational mechanisms that may hinder Muslim accommodation in human service organizations. In particular, we see a risk of decoupling between the expectation of religious tolerance and processes that lead to informal discrimination, driven mainly by the difficulty of controlling group dynamics among users.
Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation effects of F5 fraction of Crinum amabile chloroform extract
Authors: Lim Chung Pin , Fei Yam Mun , Asmawi Mohd. Zaini , Chin VoonKin , Khairuddin Nurul-Hayah , Yong Yoke Keong , Lawal Mukhtar Gambo , Basir Rusliza
Published: November 2023

Background

Vascular dysfunction can lead to many health problems including hypertension and heart disease. The complexities of vascular dysfunction and vascular disorder-related diseases have prompted the search for many new biologically active compounds in the efforts of resolving the problems. Previous studies have shown that Amaryllidaceae alkaloids exert multiple biological activities, including the vasorelaxation effect. Crinum amabile, which is a family member of Amaryllidaceae, is believed to possess a promising pharmacological activity as a vasorelaxant.

Method

The vasorelaxation activities of Crinum amabile extracts and fractions were determined using in vitro models of phenylephrine pre-contracted intact and denuded rat aortic rings. The mechanistic pathways of vasorelaxation were investigated by pre-treatment of endothelium-intact rat aortic rings with L-NG Nitro Arginine Methyl Ester (L-NAME), methylene blue (MB), indomethacin, atropine and propranolol, respectively.

Results

The results showed that chloroform extract (CE) of Crinum amabile exhibited the highest vasorelaxation activity, and further fractionation of CE found that its F5 fraction exerted the strongest activity. An in-depth study on the mechanistic pathway revealed that the endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation induced by F5 fraction was primarily achieved through stimulation of prostaglandin (PGI2) production and partially associated with NO/cGMP activation pathway.

Conclusion

Findings from this study suggest that Crinum amabile can serve as a promising candidate for the discovery and development of the new vasorelaxant drug.