bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hofmeister‐Effect‐Driven Hybrid Glycerogels for Perfect Wide‐Temperature Shape Fixity and Shape Recovery in Soft Robotics Applications
Authors: Janipour Shahroudkolaei Mona , Mredha Md. Tariful Islam , Chuang Kuo‐Chih , Jeon Insu
Published: May 2024

Shape memory gels have emerged as crucial elements in soft robotics, actuators, and biomedical devices; however, several problems persist, like the trade‐off between shape fixity and shape recovery, and the limited temperature range for their application. This article introduces a new class of shape memory hybrid glycerogels (GGs) designed to address these limitations. The well‐modulated internal structure of the GGs, facilitated by the Hofmeister salting‐out effect, strategically incorporates a higher crystallite content, abundant crosslinking points, and a high elastic modulus. Unlike reported shape memory gels, the GG exhibits a perfect triple‐step shape memory behavior in air with 100% shape fixity in a wide programming temperature range (75–135 °C) and simultaneously achieves 100% shape recoverability. The gel recovers its shape at −40 °C under near‐infrared light across a wide programming temperature range (25–135 °C), showing unexpected initiation even at subzero temperatures. Inspired by the mechanics of composite structures, a method is proposed to integrate the GG seamlessly with a shape memory alloy, which further expands the temperature range that yields perfect shape memory properties. Finally, two light‐controlled fluttering and crawling soft robot prototypes are engineered to illustrate the versatility and potential applications of the composite gel in soft robotics.
Lessons learned from integrated remediation using self‐regulated learning
Authors: Vaughans Andrea , Sy Jobila
Published: May 2024

This chapter describes the implementation and impact of a remediation program in the health sciences. Lessons learned are explored based on common academic difficulties students experience in remediation programs with an emphasis on self‐regulated learning outcomes.
Varieties of How Actors Use Human Rights Treaties in Subnational Policy Processes
Authors: Miaz Jonathan , Schmid Evelyne , Niederhauser Matthieu , Kaempfer Constance , Maggetti Martino
Published: May 2024

In this chapter, we examine the varieties of how actors use international human rights treaties in policy processes at the subnational level. As explained in Chapters 1 and 2, our case studies are the Istanbul Convention (IC) and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in Swiss cantons. Here, we identify the most relevant actors and how they come to know about a treaty, and we then categorise various uses according to the actors and to the stage of the policy process in which the actors intervene. We find that various subnational actors—including bureaucrats, elected politicians (members of cantonal parliaments or governments), civil society representatives and academic experts—use treaties according to their own local interests, agendas and strategies. The uses of the treaties often occur along a continuous and incremental process involving back and forth and both top-down and bottom-up dynamics. In the policy process, subnational actors use treaties to (a) set issues on the policy agenda and (b) to support claims (new ones or existing ones). If the relevant subnational political authorities use a treaty with a view to further its implementation, we qualify this type of use as an engagement, which we will address in Chapter 5.
Conceptual framework
Authors: Klingebiel Stephan , Hartmann Flora L. , Madani Elisa , Paintner Jonas , Rohe Rebekka A. , Trebs Lisa , Wolk Teodor
Published: May 2024

The chapter introduces the main concepts of our research. Firstly, we expand on the concept of knowledge and argue why it is important to focus on the relationship between knowledge and power structures. Secondly, we explain how power structures manifest in knowledge interactions and how we operationalise this theoretical concept to conduct our empirical research. Thirdly, we introduce the concept of modalities of knowledge interaction and present our typology of modalities of knowledge interaction.
Methods for Data Collection and Analysis
Authors: Klingebiel Stephan , Hartmann Flora L. , Madani Elisa , Paintner Jonas , Rohe Rebekka A. , Trebs Lisa , Wolk Teodor
Published: May 2024

In this chapter we elaborate on the methods we use to collect and analyse our data. We followed a multi-method data collection process in which we triangulated data obtained via different collection methods. The methods we use comprise document analysis, semi-structured interviews, participant observations, surveys, and workshops in which group discussions take place.
Arbeitsgruppe Interoperabilität: Kerndatensatz und Informationssysteme für Integration und Austausch von Daten in der Medizininformatik-Initiative
Authors: Ammon Danny , Kurscheidt Maximilian , Buckow Karoline , Kirsten Toralf , Löbe Matthias , Meineke Frank , Prasser Fabian , Saß Julian , Sax Ulrich , Stäubert Sebastian , Thun Sylvia , Wettstein Reto , Wiedekopf Joshua P. , Wodke Judith A. H. , Boeker Martin , Ganslandt Thomas
Published: May 2024

Die Arbeitsgruppe Interoperabilität der Medizininformatik-Initiative (MII) ist die Plattform für die Abstimmung übergreifender Vorgehensweisen, Datenstrukturen und Schnittstellen zwischen den Datenintegrationszentren (DIZ) der Universitätskliniken und nationalen bzw. internationalen Interoperabilitätsgremien. Ziel ist die gemeinsame inhaltliche und technische Ausgestaltung einer über das Forschungsdatenportal für Gesundheit nutzbaren verteilten Infrastruktur zur Sekundärnutzung klinischer Versorgungsdaten. Wichtige Rahmenbedingungen sind dabei Datenschutz und IT-Sicherheit für die Nutzung von Gesundheitsdaten in der biomedizinischen Forschung. Hierfür werden in dezidierten Taskforces geeignete Methoden eingesetzt, um prozessuale, syntaktische und semantische Interoperabilität für Datennutzungsprojekte zu ermöglichen. So wurde der MII-Kerndatensatz, bestehend aus mehreren Modulen mit zugehörigen Informationsmodellen, entwickelt und mittels des Standards HL7® FHIR® implementiert, um fachliche und technische Vorgaben für die interoperable Datenbereitstellung von Versorgungsdaten durch die DIZ zu ermöglichen. Zur näheren Beschreibung dieser Datensätze dienen internationale Terminologien und konsentierte Metadaten. Die Gesamtarchitektur, einschließlich übergreifender Schnittstellen, setzt die methodischen und rechtlichen Anforderungen an eine verteilte Datennutzungsinfrastruktur z. B. durch Bereitstellung pseudonymisierter Daten oder föderierte Analysen um. Mit diesen Ergebnissen der Arbeitsgruppe Interoperabilität stellt die MII eine zukunftsweisende Lösung für den Austausch und die Nutzung von Routinedaten vor, deren Anwendbarkeit über den Zweck der Forschung hinausgeht und eine wesentliche Rolle in der digitalen Transformation des Gesundheitswesens spielen kann.
The case for a broader approach to AI assurance: addressing “hidden” harms in the development of artificial intelligence
Authors: Thomas Christopher , Roberts Huw , Mökander Jakob , Tsamados Andreas , Taddeo Mariarosaria , Floridi Luciano
Published: May 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) assurance is an umbrella term describing many approaches—such as impact assessment, audit, and certification procedures—used to provide evidence that an AI system is legal, ethical, and technically robust. AI assurance approaches largely focus on two overlapping categories of harms: deployment harms that emerge at, or after, the point of use, and individual harms that directly impact a person as an individual. Current approaches generally overlook upstream collective and societal harms associated with the development of systems, such as resource extraction and processing, exploitative labour practices and energy intensive model training. Thus, the scope of current AI assurance practice is insufficient for ensuring that AI is ethical in a holistic sense, i.e. in ways that are legally permissible, socially acceptable, economically viable and environmentally sustainable. This article addresses this shortcoming by arguing for a broader approach to AI assurance that is sensitive to the full scope of AI development and deployment harms. To do so, the article maps harms related to AI and highlights three examples of harmful practices that occur upstream in the AI supply chain and impact the environment, labour, and data exploitation. It then reviews assurance mechanisms used in adjacent industries to mitigate similar harms, evaluating their strengths, weaknesses, and how effectively they are being applied to AI. Finally, it provides recommendations as to how a broader approach to AI assurance can be implemented to mitigate harms more effectively across the whole AI supply chain.
The Brownian transport map
Authors: Mikulincer Dan , Shenfeld Yair
Published: May 2024

Contraction properties of transport maps between probability measures play an important role in the theory of functional inequalities. The actual construction of such maps, however, is a non-trivial task and, so far, relies mostly on the theory of optimal transport. In this work, we take advantage of the infinite-dimensional nature of the Gaussian measure and construct a new transport map, based on the Föllmer process, which pushes forward the Wiener measure onto probability measures on Euclidean spaces. Utilizing the tools of the Malliavin and stochastic calculus in Wiener space, we show that this Brownian transport map is a contraction in various settings where the analogous questions for optimal transport maps are open. The contraction properties of the Brownian transport map enable us to prove functional inequalities in Euclidean spaces, which are either completely new or improve on current results. Further and related applications of our contraction results are the existence of Stein kernels with desirable properties (which lead to new central limit theorems), as well as new insights into the Kannan–Lovász–Simonovits conjecture. We go beyond the Euclidean setting and address the problem of contractions on the Wiener space itself. We show that optimal transport maps and causal optimal transport maps (which are related to Brownian transport maps) between the Wiener measure and other target measures on Wiener space exhibit very different behaviors.
GenAI and me: the hidden work of building and maintaining an augmentative partnership
Authors: Boulus-Rødje Nina , Cranefield Jocelyn , Doyle Cathal , Fleron Benedicte
Published: May 2024

It has been argued that emergent AI systems should be viewed as working partners rather than tools. Building on this perspective, this study investigates the process through which academics develop a working partnership with generative AI chatbots using a relationship lens and collaborative autoethnographic methods. Based on a collaborative autoethnographic analysis of our experiences of working with AI, we identify five stages of relationship development in building a successful working partnership with generative AI: Playing Around, Infatuation, Committing, Frustration, and Enlightenment and Readjustment. In reporting each stage, we provide vignettes to illustrate the emotional and cognitive challenges and rewards involved, the developing skills, and the experienced anthropomorphic dimension of this emerging relationship. Drawing on prior theory, we identify and examine three types of work that are required in developing this working partnership: articulation work, relationship work, and identity work. We analyse how each type of work unfolds with the stages of relationship development and consider implications for research and practice.
DC-Graph: a chunk optimization model based on document classification and graph learning
Authors: Zhou Jingjing , Zhang Guohao , Alfarraj Osama , Tolba Amr , Li Xuefeng , Zhang Hao
Published: May 2024

Existing machine reading comprehension methods use a fixed stride to chunk long texts, which leads to missing contextual information at the boundaries of the chunks and a lack of communication between the information within each chunk. This paper proposes DC-Graph model, addressing existing issues in terms of reconstructing and supplementing information in long texts. Knowledge graphs contain extensive knowledge, and the semantic relationships between entities exhibit strong logical characteristics, which can assist the model in semantic understanding and reasoning. By categorizing the questions, this paper filters the content of long texts based on categories and reconstructs the content that aligns with the question category, compressing and optimizing the long text to minimize the number of document chunks when inputted into BERT. Additionally, unstructured text is transformed into a structured knowledge graph, and features are extracted using graph convolutional networks. These features are then added as global information to each chunk, aiding answer prediction. Experimental results on the CoQA, QuAC, and TriviaQA datasets demonstrate that our method outperforms both BERT and Recurrent Chunking Mechanisms, which share the same improvement approach, in terms of F1 and EM score. The code is available at (https://github.com/guohaozhang/DC-Graph.git).
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the STAT Family in Reeve’s Turtle (Mauremys reevesii)
Authors: Song Yi , Zhou Zeshuo , Huang Shichen , Li Zhiyuan , Zhu Xuechi , Zhou Hongming , Jiang Yuxin , Dissanayake Duminda S. B. , Georges Arthur , Xiong Lei
Published: May 2024

The Stat (signal transducer and activator of transcription) gene family plays a vital role in regulating immunity and the processes of cellular proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis across diverse organisms. Although the functions of Stat genes in immunity have been extensively documented in many mammals, limited data are available for reptiles. We used phylogenetic analysis to identify eight putative members of the Stat family (Stat1-1, Stat1-2, Stat2, Stat3, Stat4, Stat5b, Stat6-1, and Stat6-2) within the genome of M.reevesii, a freshwater turtle found in East Asia. Sequence analysis showed that the Stat genes contain four conserved structural domains protein interaction domain, coiled-coil domain, DNA-binding domain, and Src homology domain 2. In addition, Stat1, Stat2, and Stat6 contain TAZ2bind, Apolipo_F, and TALPID3 structural domains. The mRNA levels of Stat genes were upregulated in spleen tissues at 4, 8, 12, and 16 h after administration of lipopolysaccharide, a potent activator of the immune system. Stat5b expression at 12-h LPS post-injection exhibited the most substantial difference from the control. The expression of Stat5b in spleen tissue cellular was verified by immunofluorescence. These results suggest that Stat5b plays a role in the immune response of M.reevesii and may prove to be as a positive marker of an immune response in future studies.
Healthcare disparities, screening, and molecular testing in the changing landscape of non–small cell lung cancer in the United States: a review
Authors: Kurzrock Razelle , Chaudhuri Aadel A. , Feller-Kopman David , Florez Narjust , Gorden Jed , Wistuba Ignacio I.
Published: May 2024

Inequitable access to care continues to hinder improvements in diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. This review describes healthcare disparities in the changing landscape of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the United States, focusing on racial, ethnic, sex-based, and socioeconomic trends. Furthermore, strategies to address disparities, overcome challenges, and improve patient outcomes are proposed. Barriers exist across lung cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment regimens, varying by sex, age, race and ethnicity, geography, and socioeconomic status. Incidence and mortality rates of lung cancer are higher among Black men than White men, and incidences in young women are substantially greater than in young men. Disparities may be attributed to geographic differences in screening access, with correlating higher incidence and mortality rates in rural versus urban areas. Lower socioeconomic status is also linked to lower survival rates. Several strategies could help reduce disparities and improve outcomes. Current guidelines could improve screening eligibility by incorporating sex, race, and socioeconomic status variables. Patient and clinician education on screening guidelines and patient-level barriers to care are key, and biomarker testing is critical since ~ 70% of patients with NSCLC have an actionable biomarker. Timely diagnosis, staging, and comprehensive biomarker testing, including cell-free DNA liquid biopsy, may provide valuable treatment guidance for patients with NSCLC. Efforts to improve lung cancer screening and biomarker testing access, decrease bias, and improve education about screening and testing are needed to reduce healthcare disparities in NSCLC.
Efficacy of thermal analysis in the detection of bacterial strains in periprosthetic joint infections
Authors: Lőrinczy Dénes , Dandé Árpád , Nöt László G.
Published: May 2024

In musculoskeletal surgery, joint and periprosthetic infections are rare but significant complications with a high risk of morbidity. Rapid diagnosis, surgical intervention and definitive antibiotic therapy are key factors to the success of the treatment and the recovery of former limb function. In addition to the current diagnostic procedures, there is a need to introduce new, therapy-centered diagnostic procedures in view of the increase in antibiotic resistance. In our current study, we set out to demonstrate the practical utility of differential scanning calorimetry and the isoperibolic calorimetry in diagnostics of joint and periprosthetic infections. We have shown significant differences among the different grade of arthritis. Under experimental conditions, synovial fluid samples were artificially superinfected with the most frequently occurring bacteria at a concentration of 103–105 CFU mL−1 and monitored in isothermal mode at 37 °C. The isoperibolic tests clearly showed a specific, concentration-dependent representative curve (duration of proliferation and its maximum rates) for each bacterial strain of the study. In our opinion, the different thermal analytical methods can be useful in the diagnosis of septic inflammatory processes and, in the rapid selection of definitive antibiotic therapy.
Preliminary feasibility assessment of a targeted, pharmacist-led intervention for older adults with polypharmacy: a mixed-methods study
Authors: Liu Lisheng , Brokenshire Bernadette , Davies Deborah , Harrison Jeff
Published: May 2024

Background

Polypharmacy is associated with the prescription of inappropriate medications and avoidable medication-related harm. A novel pharmacist-led intervention aims to identify and resolve inappropriate medication prescriptions in older adults with polypharmacy.

Aim

To conduct a preliminary feasibility assessment of the intervention in primary care, testing whether specific components of the intervention procedures and processes can be executed as intended.

Method

The mixed-methods study was approved by the New Zealand Health and Disability Ethics Committees and public health agency. Patients from a New Zealand general practice clinic were recruited over 4 weeks to receive the intervention. The preliminary feasibility assessment included measures of intervention delivery, patient-reported outcome measures, and perspectives from ten patients and six clinicians. Data were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively to determine if a full-scale intervention trial is warranted. The study's progression criteria were based on established research and guided the decision-making process.

Results

The intervention met the study's progression criteria, including patient recruitment, retention, and adherence to the intervention procedures. However, several modifications were identified, including: (1) enhancing patient recruitment, (2) conducting a preliminary meeting between the patient and pharmacist, (3) supporting pharmacists in maintaining a patient-centred approach, (4) reviewing the choice of patient-reported outcome measure, (5) extending the 8-week follow-up period, (6) allocating more time for pharmacists to conduct the intervention.

Conclusion

The study found the intervention feasible; however, additional development is required before progressing to a full-scale trial. This intervention has the potential to effectively reduce medication-related harm and improve outcomes for older adults with polypharmacy.

Trial registration number

ACTRN12621000268842 Date registered: 11/03/2021
Adaptive histogram equalization in constant time
Authors: Härtinger Philipp , Steger Carsten
Published: May 2024

Adaptive Histogram Equalization (AHE) and its contrast-limited variant CLAHE are well-known and effective methods for improving the local contrast in an image. However, the fastest available implementations scale linearly with the filter mask size, which results in high execution times. This presents an obstacle in real-world applications, where large filter mask sizes are desired while maintaining low execution times. In this work, we propose an efficient algorithm for AHE that reduces the per-pixel computational complexity to $$\mathcal {O}(1)$$

O
(
1
)

. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a constant-time algorithm is proposed for AHE and CLAHE. In contrast to commonly used fast implementations, our method computes the exact result for each pixel without interpolation artifacts. We benchmark and compare our method to existing algorithms. Our experiments show that our method exhibits superior execution times independent of the filter mask size, which makes AHE and CLAHE fast enough to be usable in real-world applications.
Das „Prinzip Antworten“: Eine postapokalyptische Theorie der Verantwortung für das Anthropozän
Authors: Hoppe Katharina
Published: May 2024

Der Beitrag lotet die Anforderungen an eine Theorie der Verantwortung im Anthropozän aus. Dafür kartiert er zunächst drei soziologische Thematisierungsstränge von Verantwortung in den Debatten um ökologische Krisen. Diese Zugänge lassen Verantwortung in Zurechenbarkeit aufgehen und verfahren tendenziell individualisierend und ethisierend, moralisierend und generalisierend oder abstrahierend und entpolitisierend. Um diese Fallstricke zu umgehen, befragt der Beitrag die Verantwortungsethik von Hans Jonas und leitet aus dessen Position drei Herausforderungen für eine Theorie der Verantwortung im Anthropozän ab: Die angemessene Anthropozentrismuskritik, den Vorrang der „Sache“ in Verantwortungsbeziehungen und die Frage der apokalyptischen Untermauerung. Diese Herausforderungen diskutiert der Artikel im Anschluss an alteritätstheoretische Perspektiven. Er schlägt ein „Prinzip Antworten“ vor, das Verantwortung nicht in Responsibilisierung aufgehen lässt, sondern als Prozesse des Antwortens auf die Welt und mit der Welt begreift. In verantwortungsethischen Einlassungen dieser Art sind Infragestellungen des Eigenen von zentraler Bedeutung. Entgegen einer Verantwortungsübernahme aus Furcht vor der Apokalypse geht diese Perspektive von ethischen Begegnungen in der postapokalyptischen Situation des Anthropozäns aus, die „unsere“ spezifischen Verortungen in der Welt ins Zentrum ethischer Erwägungen stellen.
Evaluating cardiovascular risk in metabolic steatosis with precision medicine non-invasive approaches: insights from a cohort study
Authors: Masarone Mario , Motta Benedetta Maria , Torre Pietro , Aquino Marco , Belladonna Federica , Lombardi Martina , Troisi Jacopo , Persico Marcello
Published: May 2024

Metabolic associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common liver condition. It is associated with increased liver-related morbidity and mortality, and also with high risk of cardiovascular events (CVD), representing itself an independent risk factor for it. This makes MASLD a presentation of high interest for internal medicine, also because of its association with metabolic syndrome (MetS). It is crucial to assess its risks in a noninvasive way. With the aim of finding specific risk profiles for CVD development in MASLD by performing a noninvasive assessment of: (1) preclinical signs of endothelial dysfunction (ED); (2) clinical assessment of CVD risk by Framingham Heart Risk Score (FHRs); (3) genomic characterization of MASLD associated polymorphisms; (4) specific untargeted metabolomic profiles, we enrolled 466 MASLD patients non-invasively classified in 4 group of liver fibrosis severity (group-A: low-fibrosis risk, group-B: high-fibrosis risk, group-C: MASLD-cirrhosis, group-D: MASLD-HCC) and 73 healthy controls. FHRs was similar in controls and low-fibrosis group and significantly higher in high-fibrosis patients, cirrhosis, and HCC, increasing among classes. At a multivariable regression, FHRs was associated with liver disease severity and diabetes. 38.2% of patients had altered EndoPAT, resembling ED. Patients with high FHRs (> 40%) and ED had different metabolomics compared to those without ED. Our study reveals that a deep, non-invasive characterization of MASLD patients through precision medicine approaches (untargeted metabolomics, SNPs, ED assessment) was able to show a peculiar pattern in MASLD patients with increased CVD risk, mostly correlated with liver disease severity.

Graphical abstract
Blockchain for real estate provenance: an infrastructural step toward secure transactions in real estate E-Business
Authors: Abualhamayl Abdullah , Almalki Mohanad , Al-Doghman Firas , Alyoubi Abdulmajeed , Hussain Farookh Khadeer
Published: May 2024

In the rapidly evolving digital era, the growing trend of conducting real estate e-business transactions through online platforms has led to escalated challenges in ensuring transactional security and trust. These challenges underscore the importance of balancing transparency with data privacy and enhancing accountability in this field. As an extension of our previously published work (Abualhamayl AJ, Almalki MA, Al-Doghman F, Alyoubi AA, Hussain FK (2023) Towards fractional NFTs for joint ownership and provenance in real estate. In: 2023 IEEE international conference on e-business engineering (ICEBE), p. 143–8. 10.1109/ICEBE59045.2023.00022.), this paper introduces the Global Real Estate Platform (GREP), a novel hybrid blockchain system that utilizes real estate provenance to establish a secure and trustworthy environment for real estate e-business, specifically focusing on two key challenges: ensuring data authenticity and effectively managing access rights. Integral to GREP's design is the involvement of government entities, which is essential for maintaining the required balance between transparency, privacy, and high levels of accountability. This proposed framework is explained conceptually and demonstrated practically, offering an innovative perspective on the integration of hybrid blockchain technology in the real estate system. Furthermore, our research encompasses a detailed implementation, using various tools, and an in-depth examination of three use cases. This combined analysis effectively demonstrates GREP's efficacy in addressing the targeted challenges in the field. While acknowledging the system's limitations, including challenges in user adoption and performance variability under different network conditions, our findings open new avenues for further exploration, such as landlords' payment histories and utility bills, and using blockchain as a secondary user identifier. These features collectively highlight the transformative potential of blockchain technology in real estate e-business.
Advances and perspectives in environmental health research in China
Authors: Zhu Tong , Liu Yingjun , Xu Shunqing , Dong Guanghui , Huang Cunrui , Sang Nan , Zhang Yunhui , Su Guanyong , Chen Jingwen , Gong Jicheng , Qin Guohua , Qiu Xinghua , Shang Jing , Wang Haobo , Wang Pengpeng , Zheng Mei
Published: May 2024

Environmental health research aims to identify environmental conditions suitable for the healthy living and reproduction of human beings. Through the interdisciplinary research bridging environmental sciences and health/medical sciences, the impacts of physical, chemical, and biological environmental factors on human health are investigated. This includes identifying environmental factors detrimental to human health, evaluating human exposure characteristics to environmental factors, clarifying causal relationships between environmental exposure and health effects, analyzing the underlying biochemical mechanisms, linking environmental factors to the onset and progression of diseases, establishing exposure-response relationships, and determining effect thresholds. Ultimately, the results of environmental health research can serve as a scientific basis for formulating environmental management strategies and guiding prevention and intervention measures at both the public and individual levels. This paper summarizes the recent advances and future perspectives of environmental health research in China, as reported by a group of Chinese scientists who recently attended a workshop in Hainan, China. While it is not intended to provide a comprehensive review of this expansive field, it offers a glimpse into the significant progress made in understanding the health impacts of environmental factors over the past decade. Looking ahead, it is imperative not only to sustain efforts in studying the health effects of traditional environmental pollution, but also to prioritize research on the health impacts of emerging pollutants and climate change.
Relationship between sense of coherence and depression, a network analysis
Authors: Kieraité Monika , Novoselac Aleksandar , Bättig Jael Jessica , Rühlmann Charlotta , Bentz Dorothée , Noboa Vanessa , Seifritz Erich , Egger Stephan T. , Weidt Steffi
Published: May 2024

The “sense of coherence” incorporates the notion that when life seems comprehensive, manageable, and meaningful for an individual, even under tremendous adversity, this accounts for stamina and confidence. Its absence is associated with mental health problems, including depression. The current analysis aimed to explore the relationship between the sense of coherence and depression through a network analysis approach in a sample of 181 people with depression. The mean age of the individuals in the sample was 35.59 (11.50) years, and 76.8% were females (n = 139). All participants had at least one previous depressive episode; the duration of the current episode was 30.30 (77.30) days. Sense of coherence was assessed using the 13-item Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-13). The severity of depression was quantified with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-I). The correlations between the two scales, three networks (i.e., SOC-13; BDI-I and joint SOC-13/BDI-I), and their centrality indices were calculated. The mean SOC-13 was 40.56 ± 9.99, and the mean BDI-I was 49.90 ± 9.26. There was a strong correlation-concordance (− 0.65; 95% CI: − 0.72 to − 0.55) index between the two scales. We identified detailed relationship dynamics between symptoms, clusters, and domains through the novel network analysis approach. The analysis of SOC-13 nodes revealed the pivotal role of social relationships in the network. However, in the depression network, we found a role for affection (in contrast to neglect) and joy (as opposed to boredom). In conclusion, solid and sustainable personal relationships in distress and adversity stand against the burden of depression.
Evaluation of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT: a Phase 1 clinical study in Japanese patients with primary, recurrent, or suspected recurrent prostate cancer
Authors: Inaki Anri , Mizokami Atsushi , Wakabayashi Hiroshi , Izumi Kouji , Kadono Yoshifumi , Toyama Tadashi , Takahara Shizuko , Murayama Toshinori , Kinuya Seigo
Published: May 2024

Background

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted radiopharmaceuticals allow whole-body imaging to detect prostate cancer (PC). Positron emission tomography imaging using gallium-68 (68Ga)-PSMA-11 has been shown to have a favorable safety and tolerability profile and high diagnostic performance. The study evaluates the safety and pharmacokinetics of68Ga-PSMA-11 in Japanese patients with primary, recurrent, or suspected recurrent prostate cancer.

Methods

This single arm study enrolled Japanese patients with primary PC (n = 3), suspected recurrent PC following radical prostatectomy (n = 4), or suspected recurrent PC following radical radiotherapy (n = 3). All patients received a single intravenous dose of68Ga-PSMA-11 2.0 MBq/kg (±10%) followed by PSMA PET imaging and safety and pharmacokinetic evaluations. Based on the blood concentrations of68Ga-PSMA-11 and the radioactivity distribution rate in each organ/tissue, the absorbed doses in major organs/tissues and the whole-body effective dose were calculated by the Medical Internal Radiation Dose method.

Results

Ten patients were enrolled. Mean age was 73.3 ± 4.8 years, and median prostate-specific antigen was 8.250 ng/mL. Five patients (50%) experienced a total of 6 adverse events, and no grade ≥ 2 adverse events or serious adverse events were reported. No clinically significant changes in vital signs, haematology parameters, or blood chemistry or ECG abnormalities were observed. The estimated whole body effective dose of68Ga-PSMA-11 (mean ± standard deviation) was 2.524 × 10–2 ± 2.546 × 10–3 mSv/MBq. Time to maximum concentration (1.16 × 10–4 ± 1.3 × 10–5% ID/mL) in whole blood was 2.15 ± 0.33 min.

Conclusions

68Ga-PSMA-11 has a favourable safety and tolerability profile in Japanese patients with primary, recurrent, or suspected recurrent prostate cancer, which is comparable to previous observations in other populations.
Network of Mindfulness and Difficulties in Regulating Emotions in Firefighters
Authors: Chiang Hui Ning , Medvedev Oleg N. , Ponder Warren N. , Carbajal Jose , Vujanovic Anka A.
Published: May 2024

Objectives

Growing evidence supports the role of mindfulness in regulating emotions in the general population. However, the interactive network of mindfulness facets and difficulties in regulating emotions is not well understood, which is specifically important for individuals involved in high-risk professions, such as first responders. The aim of this study was to investigate the interactive relations between mindfulness facets (acting with awareness, non-judging, describing, observing, and non-reacting), ability to regulate emotions and alcohol use in a sample of firefighters, including military veterans.

Method

A sample of 685 career firefighters, of whom 154 (22.5%) are military veterans, completed measures of mindfulness and difficulties in regulating emotions. The dataset was subjected to network analysis.

Results

The mindfulness facet non-judging was negatively related to emotion-regulation challenges, such as nonaccepting attitudes and lack of clarity, and positively related to deficits in goal-directed behaviour. Acting with awareness was negatively related to goal-directed behaviour deficits and impulsivity. Alcohol use was positively linked to impulsivity and negatively linked to describing. Overall, emotion-regulation difficulties were positively linked together, and positive links were found between most mindfulness facets. Directed network analysis found non-judging and emotion-regulation strategy as primary predictors. Non-judging acted as a protective factor, supporting other mindfulness facets, while emotion-regulation strategy exacerbated emotion-regulation challenges acted as a risk factor.

Conclusions

This network analysis demonstrated that acting with awareness and a non-judgmental attitude, facets of mindfulness, are linked to better emotion-regulation and may play protective role against impulsivity and alcohol use.
“I’m Not Sure I Can See Myself in This World”: Experience of Mindfulness Teacher Training among Trainees from Diverse Backgrounds
Authors: Fontana Victoria E. , Griffith Gemma M. , Crane Rebecca S.
Published: May 2024

Objectives

There is a growing recognition of the importance of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in mindfulness-based Teacher Training Programs (TTPs), given current imbalances in representation of teachers and trainers, and a recognised need to build awareness of personal and organisational biases. Little is known about how EDI issues may impact the experience of trainees on a TTP. This study aimed to explore underrepresented trainees’ experiences on a TTP, including what hindered or helped them access training or feel included, and their views on how best to foster EDI in TTPs.

Method

Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with seven current and graduate mindfulness teacher trainees from underrepresented groups. Their experiences of EDI throughout training were explored. Data was analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.

Results

Key findings were that feelings of inclusion were influenced by how represented and acknowledged trainees felt by their trainers and peers; feelings of safety influenced their choices around disclosure; a main access barrier was cost; and more explicit teaching about EDI in TTP curricula is needed. There was a need for wider access to entry trainings such as 8-week mindfulness-based programmes.

Conclusions

This study provides valuable insight into how underrepresented teacher trainees experience TTPs and highlights opportunities to better support mindfulness teacher trainees. TTPs need to integrate EDI awareness and understanding into their ethos and curriculum. Further research is needed to inform and develop approaches to further embed EDI in mindfulness-based program teaching and training.
Can water mites’ parasitism influence the number of microplastics ingested by aquatic insects?
Authors: Khedre Azza M. , Ramadan Somaia A. , Ashry Ali , Alaraby Mohamed
Published: May 2024

Microplastic pollution endangers both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Their spread across the food chain also endangers human health. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can be viewed as the final barrier between microplastics and the environment. In addition, it is well-known that water mites are abundant parasites in aquatic ecosystems, and nearly all insect orders with aquatic stages are considered potential hosts for at least one water mite species. However, no studies have been conducted to test the direct and indirect effects of parasites on population dynamics in freshwater ecosystems or the role of predators in shaping the behavior and life histories of aquatic organisms. Thus, this work aimed to study the seasonal abundance, distribution, composition, and risk assessment of MPs in surface water, aquatic insects (Coroxide and Notonectidae), and for the first time, water mites (Hydrachnidiae), as well as the effect of water mites’ parasitism on the number of MPs ingested by aquatic insects in two of the most polluted wastewater sites (S1 and S2) in Sohag Governorate, Egypt. The two wastewater sites receive different wastewater inputs (domestic and industrial). The results showed that the MPs abundance in surface water was higher in S2 than in S1 during the four seasons of the year, where the microplastic abundance in surface water was 2.05 ± 0.79 and 3.01 ± 0.9 particles/L in S1 and S2, respectively. Also, MPs were significantly higher in S2 in two insect taxa (Corixidae and Notonectidae) that are known to be infected by water mites. In contrast, the number of MPs was lower in S1, where water mites were absent. In addition, our results showed that adult water mites accumulated MPs. Overall, the 500–2000 µm size range was the most prevalent for both wastewater sites. Fibers were the most common MP morphotype discovered, followed by fragments. The dominant colors of MP were blue, red, and black. Furthermore, FTIR spectroscopy revealed the existence of three distinct polymers, namely polyester (PES), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene (PE). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the effect of water mites’ parasitism on the number of MPs ingested by aquatic organisms. However, Further research is needed to confirm our suggestion.
Research progress of magnetorheological polishing technology: a review
Authors: Lu Ming-Ming , Yang Ya-Kun , Lin Jie-Qiong , Du Yong-Sheng , Zhou Xiao-Qin
Published: May 2024

As an essential link in ultra-precision machining technology, various new surface polishing technologies and processes have always attracted continuous in-depth research and exploration by researchers. As a new research direction of ultra-precision machining technology, magnetorheological polishing technology has become an important part. The polishing materials and magnetorheological fluids involved in the process of magnetorheological polishing are reviewed. The polishing principle, equipment development, theoretical research and process research of magnetorheological polishing technologies, such as the wheel-type, cluster-type, ball-type, disc-type and other types, derived from the magnetorheological polishing process, are reviewed. The above magnetorheological polishing technologies are analyzed and compared from the perspective of processing accuracy, processing efficiency and application range. The curvature adaptive magnetorheological polishing technology with a circulatory system is proposed to achieve high efficiency and high-quality polishing.
Degradation characteristics of 3D printed continuous fibre-reinforced PA6/chopped fibre composites in simulated saltwater
Authors: Ghabezi Pouyan , Flanagan Tomas , Walls Michael , Harrison Noel M.
Published: May 2024

This paper investigates the performance of continuous fibre-reinforced 3D printed components in salt water medium at room temperature. Markforged® Mark Two 3D printer was employed to fabricate standard specimens made of Onyx and reinforced Onyx specimens with continuous carbon, high-strength high-temperature glass, and Kevlar fibres. Aging process was conducted to characterize the long-term effect of salt water on the mechanical behaviour of fibre-reinforced 3D printed samples. Several mechanical tests including tensile, 3-point bending test and indentation testing have been carried out on the dry and aged standard samples to evaluate tensile strength, flexural strength, micro-hardness, and modulus of elasticity in micro-scale. The mechanical tests revealed the degradation and loss in mechanical properties of the printed samples after aging in salt water. The data highlighted that Onyx samples without continuous fibres experienced the most significant reduction in both tensile (33.54%) and flexural (63.47%) strengths after 1 year, while continuous carbon fibre-reinforced Onyx samples showed comparatively lower strength reductions (28.46% in tensile strength and 18.73% in flexural strength). Optical and scanning electron microscopy were performed to investigate the fracture behaviour of the tested specimens. In addition, the DSC assessment showed a slight change in the thermal properties of aged specimens.
Bridging depths and data in mines: 5G-based point cloud mapping in unstructured environments
Authors: Krishnan Ajith , Lee Hyung Joo , Emontsbotz Johannes , Brell-Cokcan Sigrid
Published: May 2024

Underground mines pose significant challenges, including hazardous working conditions, limited access, and the need to ensure the safety of human workers. Digital transformation through the integration of modern technologies is essential to mitigate these challenges and enhance the overall safety and efficiency of mining operations. This paper addresses the pressing need for 5G connectivity for the digital transformation of underground mines and demonstrates its application through a live 3D point cloud mapping by a mobile robot. The results of the experiments conducted to validate the network’s performance for such a use-case are presented. The first experiment involved testing the latency of the network over a test drift at various loads. The second experiment involved mapping the drift and streaming the 3D point cloud map of the drift over the 5G network. These initial experiments emphasize the potential of the 5G-enabled automation in underground mines and holds promise in digitalizing underground mining operations.
Attention-Focused Eye Gaze Analysis to Predict Autistic Traits Using Transfer Learning
Authors: Vasant Bidwe Ranjeet , Mishra Sashikala , Kamini Bajaj Simi , Kotecha Ketan
Published: May 2024

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental issue that affects the behavior and communication abilities of children. It is extremely needed to perceive it at an early age. The research article focuses on attentiveness by considering eye positioning as a key feature and its implementation is completed in two phases. In the first phase, various transfer learning algorithms are implemented and evaluated to predict ASD traits on available open-source image datasets Kaggle and Zenodo. To reinforce the result, fivefold cross-validation is used on the dataset. Progressive pre-trained algorithms named VGG 16, VGG 19, InceptionV3, ResNet152V2, DenseNet201, ConNextBase, EfficientNetB1, NasNetMobile, and InceptionResNEtV2 implemented to establish the correctness of the result. The result is being compiled and analyzed that ConvNextBase model has the best diagnosing ability on both datasets. This model achieved a prediction accuracy of 80.4% on Kaggle with a batch size of 16, a learning rate of 0.00002, 10 epochs and 6 units, and a prediction accuracy of 80.71% on the Zenodo dataset with a batch size of 4, a learning rate of 0.00002, 10 epochs and 4 units. The accuracy of the model ConvNextBase is found challenging in nature as compared to an existing model. Attentiveness is a parameter that will accurately diagnose the visual behavior of the participant which helps in the automatic prediction of autistic traits. In the second phase of the proposed model, attentiveness is engrossed in identifying autistic traits. The model uses a dlib library that uses HOG and Linear SVM-based face detectors to identify a particular facial parameter called EAR and it is used to measure participants' attentiveness based on the eye gaze analysis. If the EAR value is less than 0.20 for more than 100 consecutive frames, the model concludes the participant is un-attentive. The model generated a special graph for a time period by continuously plotting the value of EAR based on the attention level. The average EAR value will depict the attentiveness of the participant.
Harmonic Functions and Random Walks on Groups
Authors: Yadin Ariel
Published: May 2024

Research in recent years has highlighted the deep connections between the algebraic, geometric, and analytic structures of a discrete group. New methods and ideas have resulted in an exciting field, with many opportunities for new researchers. This book is an introduction to the area from a modern vantage point. It incorporates the main basics, such as Kesten's amenability criterion, Coulhon and Saloff-Coste inequality, random walk entropy and bounded harmonic functions, the Choquet–Deny Theorem, the Milnor–Wolf Theorem, and a complete proof of Gromov's Theorem on polynomial growth groups. The book is especially appropriate for young researchers, and those new to the field, accessible even to graduate students. An abundance of examples, exercises, and solutions encourage self-reflection and the internalization of the concepts introduced. The author also points to open problems and possibilities for further research.
Higher Special Functions
Authors: Lay Wolfgang
Published: May 2024

Higher special functions emerge from boundary eigenvalue problems of Fuchsian differential equations with more than three singularities. This detailed reference provides solutions for singular boundary eigenvalue problems of linear ordinary differential equations of second order, exploring previously unknown methods for finding higher special functions. Starting from the fact that it is the singularities of a differential equation that determine the local, as well as the global, behaviour of its solutions, the author develops methods that are both new and efficient and lead to functional relationships that were previously unknown. All the developments discussed are placed within their historical context, allowing the reader to trace the roots of the theory back through the work of many generations of great mathematicians. Particular attention is given to the work of George Cecil Jaffé, who laid the foundation with the calculation of the quantum mechanical energy levels of the hydrogen molecule ion.