bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Robotic surgery versus Laparoscopic surgery for anti-reflux and hiatal hernia surgery: a short-term outcomes and cost systematic literature review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Gonçalves-Costa Diogo , Barbosa José Pedro , Quesado Rodrigo , Lopes Vítor , Barbosa José
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The objective of this study is to compare the operative time, intraoperative complications, length of stay, readmission rates, overall complications, mortality, and cost associated with Robotic Surgery (RS) and Laparascopic Surgery (LS) in anti-reflux and hiatal hernia surgery.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was conducted using MEDLINE (via PubMed), Web of Science and Scopus databases. Studies comparing short-term outcomes and cost between RS and LS in patients with anti-reflux and hiatal hernia were included. Data on operative time, complications, length of stay, readmission rates, overall complications, mortality, and cost were extracted. Quality assessment of the included studies was performed using the MINORS scale.

Results

Fourteen retrospective observational studies involving a total of 555,368 participants were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed no statistically significant difference in operative time, intraoperative complications, length of stay, readmission rates, overall complications, and mortality between RS and LS. However, LS was associated with lower costs compared to RS.

Conclusion

This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrates that RS has non-inferior short-term outcomes in anti-reflux and hiatal hernia surgery, compared to LS. LS is more cost-effective, but RS offers potential benefits such as improved visualization and enhanced surgical techniques. Further research, including randomized controlled trials and long-term outcome studies, is needed to validate and refine these findings.
Is complementary medicine and diagnosis associated among spinal patients in the secondary sector: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Ziegler Dorthe Schoeler , O’Neill Soeren Francis Dyhrberg , Have Kirstine Vest , Hildebrand Sabine Gantzhorn
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The services defined as complementary and alternative medicine/healthcare (CAM) are used to varying degrees according to the nature of the health problem, and musculoskeletal disorders, in particular, often lead to the use of CAM. Chronic pain is often cited as a reason for using CAM, and it is also the cardinal symptom of patients with back pain referred for specialist care. However, previous studies do not consider the heterogeneity of back pain when examining the use of CAM. Thus, this study aimed to explore the associations between CAM use and clinical findings incl. ICD-10 diagnostic codes in such a context.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study, a logistic regression analysis examined associations between CAM use and clinical findings at a public outpatient spine department. Chi-squared test examined the association between self-reported reasons for CAM use and the diagnostic groups.

Results

Of the 432 patients in the study population, 23.8% reported using CAM within 12 months prior to clinical assessment. CAM use was associated with being female and of younger age. Seeking CAM was not associated with clinical findings nor diagnosis, and no statistically significant association between the reasons for seeking CAM and the diagnostic groups was described.

Conclusions

Among patients referred to specialist care for back pain, this study provides no evidence that the spinal condition should be expected to lead to the use of CAM. Only the individual demographic findings, specifically age and gender, were associated with CAM use.
Zika virus infection suppresses CYP24A1 and CAMP expression in human monocytes
Authors: Hernández-Sarmiento Lady Johana , Valdés-López Juan Felipe , Urcuqui-Inchima Silvio
Published: June 2024

Monocytes are the primary targets of Zika virus (ZIKV) and are associated with ZIKV pathogenesis. Currently, there is no effective treatment for ZIKV infection. It is known that 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 (VitD3) has strong antiviral activity in dengue virus-infected macrophages, but it is unknown whether VitD3 inhibits ZIKV infection in monocytes. We investigated the relationship between ZIKV infection and the expression of genes of the VitD3 pathway, as well as the inflammatory response of infected monocytes in vitro. ZIKV replication was evaluated using a plaque assay, and VitD3 pathway gene expression was analyzed by RT-qPCR. Pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines were quantified using ELISA. We found that VitD3 did not suppress ZIKV replication. The results showed a significant decrease in the expression of vitamin D3 receptor (VDR), cytochrome P450 family 24 subfamily A member 1 (CYP24A1), and cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (CAMP) genes upon ZIKV infection. Treatment with VitD3 was unable to down-modulate production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, except TNF-α, and chemokines. This suggests that ZIKV infection inhibits the expression of VitD3 pathway genes, thereby preventing VitD3-dependent inhibition of viral replication and the inflammatory response. This is the first study to examine the effects of VitD3 in the context of ZIKV infection, and it has important implications for the role of VitD3 in the control of viral replication and inflammatory responses during monocyte infection.
Plasma d-asparagine and the d/l-serine ratio reflect chronic kidney diseases in children regardless of physique
Authors: Morishita Toshimasa , Nishizaki Naoto , Taniguchi Sakiko , Sakai Shinsuke , Kimura Tomonori , Mita Masashi , Nakagawa Mayu , Endo Amane , Ohtomo Yoshiyuki , Yasui Masato , Shimizu Toshiaki , Sasabe Jumpei
Published: June 2024

Biomarkers that accurately reflect renal function are essential in management of chronic kidney diseases (CKD). However, in children, age/physique and medication often alter established renal biomarkers. We studied whether amino acid enantiomers in body fluids correlate with renal function and whether they are influenced by physique or steroid medication during development. We conducted a prospective study of children 2 to 18 years old with and without CKD. We analyzed associations of serine/asparagine enantiomers in body fluids with major biochemical parameters as well as physique. To study consequences of kidney dysfunction and steroids on serine/asparagine enantiomers, we generated juvenile mice with uninephrectomy, ischemic reperfusion injury, or dexamethasone treatment. We obtained samples from 27 children, of which 12 had CKD due to congenital (n = 7) and perinatal (n = 5) causes. Plasma d-asparagine and the d/l-serine ratio had robust, positive linear associations with serum creatinine and cystatin C, and detected CKD with high sensitivity and specificity, uninfluenced by body size or biochemical parameters. In the animal study, kidney dysfunction increased plasma d-asparagine and the d/l-serine ratio, but dexamethasone treatment did not. Thus, plasma d-asparagine and the d/l-serine ratio can be useful markers for renal function in children.
Equilibrium optimizer-based harmony search algorithm with nonlinear dynamic domains and its application to real-world optimization problems
Authors: Wang Jinglin , Ouyang Haibin , Li Steven , Ding Weiping , Gao Liqun
Published: June 2024

Harmony Search (HS) algorithm is a swarm intelligence algorithm inspired by musical improvisation. Although HS has been applied to various engineering problems, it faces challenges such as getting trapped in local optima, slow convergence speed, and low optimization accuracy when applied to complex problems. To address these issues, this paper proposes an improved version of HS called Equilibrium Optimization-based Harmony Search Algorithm with Nonlinear Dynamic Domains (EO-HS-NDD). EO-HS-NDD integrates multiple leadership-guided strategies from the Equilibrium Optimizer (EO) algorithm, using harmony memory considering disharmony and historical harmony memory, while leveraging the hidden guidance direction information from the Equilibrium Optimizer. Additionally, the algorithm designs a nonlinear dynamic convergence domain to adaptively adjust the search space size and accelerate convergence speed. Furthermore, to balance exploration and exploitation capabilities, appropriate adaptive adjustments are made to Harmony Memory Considering Rate (HMCR) and Pitch Adjustment Rate (PAR). Experimental validation on the CEC2017 test function set demonstrates that EO-HS-NDD outperforms HS and nine other HS variants in terms of robustness, convergence speed, and optimization accuracy. Comparisons with advanced versions of the Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm also indicate that EO-HS-NDD exhibits superior solving capabilities. Moreover, EO-HS-NDD is applied to solve 15 real-world optimization problems from CEC2020 and compared with advanced algorithms from the CEC2020 competition. The experimental results show that EO-HS-NDD performs well in solving real-world optimization problems.
Plant disease management: a fine-tuned enhanced CNN approach with mobile app integration for early detection and classification
Authors: Iftikhar Mudassir , Kandhro Irfan Ali , Kausar Neha , Kehar Asadullah , Uddin Mueen , Dandoush Abdulhalim
Published: June 2024

Farmers face the formidable challenge of meeting the increasing demands of a rapidly growing global population for agricultural products, while plant diseases continue to wreak havoc on food production. Despite substantial investments in disease management, agriculturists are increasingly turning to advanced technology for more efficient disease control. This paper addresses this critical issue through an exploration of a deep learning-based approach to disease detection. Utilizing an optimized Convolutional Neural Network (E-CNN) architecture, the study concentrates on the early detection of prevalent leaf diseases in Apple, Corn, and Potato crops under various conditions. The research conducts a thorough performance analysis, emphasizing the impact of hyperparameters on plant disease detection across these three distinct crops. Multiple machine learning and pre-trained deep learning models are considered, comparing their performance after fine-tuning their parameters. Additionally, the study investigates the influence of data augmentation on detection accuracy. The experimental results underscore the effectiveness of our fine-tuned enhanced CNN model, achieving an impressive 98.17% accuracy in fungal classes. This research aims to pave the way for more efficient plant disease management and, ultimately, to enhance agricultural productivity in the face of mounting global challenges. To improve accessibility for farmers, the developed model seamlessly integrates with a mobile application, offering immediate results upon image upload or capture. In case of a detected disease, the application provides detailed information on the disease, its causes, and available treatment options.
Automated requirement contradiction detection through formal logic and LLMs
Authors: Gärtner Alexander Elenga , Göhlich Dietmar
Published: June 2024

This paper introduces ALICE (Automated Logic for Identifying Contradictions in Engineering), a novel automated contradiction detection system tailored for formal requirements expressed in controlled natural language. By integrating formal logic with advanced large language models (LLMs), ALICE represents a significant leap forward in identifying and classifying contradictions within requirements documents. Our methodology, grounded on an expanded taxonomy of contradictions, employs a decision tree model addressing seven critical questions to ascertain the presence and type of contradictions. A pivotal achievement of our research is demonstrated through a comparative study, where ALICE’s performance markedly surpasses that of an LLM-only approach by detecting 60% of all contradictions. ALICE achieves a higher accuracy and recall rate, showcasing its efficacy in processing real-world, complex requirement datasets. Furthermore, the successful application of ALICE to real-world datasets validates its practical applicability and scalability. This work not only advances the automated detection of contradictions in formal requirements but also sets a precedent for the application of AI in enhancing reasoning systems within product development. We advocate for ALICE’s scalability and adaptability, presenting it as a cornerstone for future endeavors in model customization and dataset labeling, thereby contributing a substantial foundation to requirements engineering.
Diversity and turnover in moth assemblages in rainforests on a remote oceanic island
Authors: Kitching R. L. , Wenda C. , Rochat J. , Thébaud C. , Strasberg D. , Vogiatzis K. , Xing S. , Ashton L. A.
Published: June 2024

Spatially driven turnover in species composition and relative abundance drives gamma diversity in all ecosystems. Assemblages of nocturnal Lepidoptera in rainforests are powerful tools for estimating and understanding this heterogeneity. There are three fundamental theoretical tools for explaining this place-to-place change: neutral stochasticity, niche-driven opportunity and historical contingency. We sampled moth and woody plant assemblages across the oceanic island landscape of La Réunion to tease apart how these factors shape diversity. We collected a total of ~ 13000 individuals of about 229 species and analyzed how distance and forest habitats shape moth assemblage turnover. We subdivided moth species into endemics and non-endemics. Our results show the local occurrence of the generally more diet-restricted endemic moths is more likely to be niche-driven due to host-plant preferences while occurrence of the generally more polyphagous non-endemic species is most parsimoniously explained by stochastic neutral mechanisms. Spatial patterns in the native flora may also be neutrally assembled sets across the rainforest region (with implications for native moth species) whereas introduced species reflect human-driven historical contingency.
Ramucirumab for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma in the current real world: a Japanese single-arm study post-REACH-2 (The R-evolution study)
Authors: Kobayashi Kazufumi , Ogasawara Sadahisa , Itobayashi Ei , Okubo Tomomi , Itokawa Norio , Nakamura Kazuyoshi , Moriguchi Michihisa , Watanabe Shunji , Ikeda Masafumi , Kuroda Hidekatsu , Kawaoka Tomokazu , Hiraoka Atsushi , Yasui Yutaka , Kuzuya Teiji , Sato Rui , Kanzaki Hiroaki , Koroki Keisuke , Inoue Masanori , Nakamura Masato , Kiyono Soichiro , Kanogawa Naoya , Kondo Takayuki , Nakamoto Shingo , Ozawa Yoshihito , Tsuchiya Kaoru , Atsukawa Masanori , Aikata Hiroshi , Aramaki Takeshi , Oka Shiro , Morimoto Naoki , Kurosaki Masayuki , Itoh Yoshito , Izumi Namiki , Kato Naoya
Published: June 2024

This study aimed to complement the results of the REACH-2 study by prospectively evaluating the safety and efficacy of ramucirumab in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a real-world setting. This was an open-label, nonrandomized, multicenter, prospective study conducted at 13 institutions in Japan (jRCTs031190236). The study included Child–Pugh Class A patients with advanced HCC who had received pretreatment with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (Atez/Bev) or lenvatinib. Ramucirumab was introduced as a second-line treatment after Atez/Bev or lenvatinib and as a third-line treatment after Atez/Bev and lenvatinib. Between May 2020 and July 2022, we enrolled 19 patients, including 17 who received ramucirumab. Additionally, seven patients received lenvatinib, another seven patients received Atez/Bev, and three patients received Atez/Bev followed by lenvatinib as prior treatment. The primary endpoint was a 6-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate, which was 14.3%. The median PFS and overall survival were 3.7 and 12.0 months, respectively. The most common grade ≥ 3 adverse events (AEs) were hypertension (23.5%), proteinuria (17.6%), and neutropenia (11.8%). The discontinuation rate due to AEs was 29.4%. Six patients progressed from Child–Pugh A to B after treatment with ramucirumab. Thirteen patients were eligible for post-ramucirumab treatment, including systemic therapy. Despite the limited number of patients, the efficacy of ramucirumab was comparable to that observed in the REACH-2 study when used after lenvatinib and Atez/Bev. However, the incidence of AEs was higher than that in the REACH-2 study.
Twenty-five years of surveillance for familial and hereditary pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Historical perspectives and introduction to the special issue
Authors: Vasen Hans FA , Canto Marcia Irene , Goggins Michael
Published: June 2024

In the 1990s, as prevention became a central strategy in the battle against cancer and the molecular genetics revolution uncovered the genetic basis of numerous hereditary cancer syndromes, there were no options available for patients at increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer. When surveillance efforts for those at familial and hereditary risk of pancreatic cancer emerged in the late 1990s, it was uncertain if early detection was achievable.

In this introduction to the special issue, we offer an overview of the history of surveillance for pancreatic cancer, including the first reports of familial pancreatic cancer in the medical literature, the initial results of surveillance in the United States and the initiation of surveillance programs for hereditary pancreatic cancer in the Netherlands.

This special issue features a collection of 18 articles written by prominent experts in the field, focusing specifically on refining surveillance methodologies with the primary objective of improving care of high-risk individuals. Several reviews in this collection highlight improved survival rates associated with pancreas surveillance, underlying the potential of early detection and improved management in the continuing fight against pancreatic cancer.
Numerical simulation of Buongiorno's model on Maxwell nanofluid with heat and mass transfer using Arrhenius energy: a thermal engineering implementation
Authors: Jawad Muhammad , Alam Mubeen , Hameed Maria Kirn , Akgül Ali
Published: June 2024

The thermal features of nanoparticles owing to progressive mechanisms are a fascinating phenomenon due to their applications in energy production, cooling procedures, heat transmission devices. Therefore, in the present study, the magnetohydrodynamic combined convection of Maxwell nanofluid and characteristics of heat transport in the presence of thermal radiation with a nonlinear relationship for modifications in the energy equation have been examined. Moreover, the features of activation energy in the presence of swimming microorganisms are considered. For motivation, the influence of bioconvection, magnetic field, and thermophoresis with convective boundary conditions are part of this investigation. The governing PDEs connected with momentum, energy, concentration, and density are converted into ODEs by using similarity functions. A transformed, dimensionless, nonlinear set of ODEs is tracked via a shooting scheme. The numerical results of prominent parameters have been analyzed in the form of graphs and tables using the computational software MATLAB. A significance improvement in the velocity profile is noted for the increasing value of Maxwell parameter. With rise of mixed convection parameter, both energy and volumetric friction field deteriorated. The determination of Biot number that is associated with the coefficient of heat transfer is more effective for growing the temperature and volumetric friction distribution. These conclusions may be appreciated in improving the efficiency of heat transfer strategies.
Indignity of Nazi data: reflections on the utilization of illicit research
Authors: Farahani Iman , Janhonen Joel
Published: June 2024

Human rights may feel self-apparent to us, but less than 80 years ago, one of the most advanced countries at the time acted based on an utterly contrary ideology. The view of social Darwinism that abandoned the idea of the intrinsic value of human lives instead argued that oppression of the inferior is not only inevitable but desirable. One of the many catastrophic outcomes is the medical data obtained from inhuman experiments at concentration camps. Ethical uncertainty over whether the resulting insights should be a part of the medical literature provides a chance to consider the seemingly irreplaceable social construct of human dignity. Would any medical benefit justify the utilization of this illicit data? Would utilization even qualify as an insult to the dignity of the exploited subjects, or is this a question about intersubjective meaning? This work discusses the wisdom in blind adherence to human dignity, the possibility of retrospective insults, moral complicity, contrary viewpoints, and possible resolutions.
An algebraic characterization of binary CSS-T codes and cyclic CSS-T codes for quantum fault tolerance
Authors: Camps-Moreno Eduardo , López Hiram H. , Matthews Gretchen L. , Ruano Diego , San-José Rodrigo , Soprunov Ivan
Published: June 2024

CSS-T codes were recently introduced as quantum error-correcting codes that respect a transversal gate. A CSS-T code depends on a CSS-T pair, which is a pair of binary codes $$(C_1, C_2)$$

(

C
1

,

C
2

)

such that $$C_1$$

C
1

contains $$C_2$$

C
2

, $$C_2$$

C
2

is even, and the shortening of the dual of $$C_1$$

C
1

with respect to the support of each codeword of $$C_2$$

C
2

is self-dual. In this paper, we give new conditions to guarantee that a pair of binary codes $$(C_1, C_2)$$

(

C
1

,

C
2

)

is a CSS-T pair. We define the poset of CSS-T pairs and determine the minimal and maximal elements of the poset. We provide a propagation rule for nondegenerate CSS-T codes. We apply some main results to Reed–Muller, cyclic and extended cyclic codes. We characterize CSS-T pairs of cyclic codes in terms of the defining cyclotomic cosets. We find cyclic and extended cyclic codes to obtain quantum codes with better parameters than those in the literature.
Can we trust machine learning to predict the credit risk of small businesses?
Authors: Bitetto Alessandro , Cerchiello Paola , Filomeni Stefano , Tanda Alessandra , Tarantino Barbara
Published: June 2024

With the emergence of Fintech lending, small firms can benefit from new channels of financing. In this setting, the creditworthiness and the decision to extend credit are often based on standardized and advanced machine-learning techniques that employ limited information. This paper investigates the ability of machine learning to correctly predict credit risk ratings for small firms. By employing a unique proprietary dataset on invoice lending activities, this paper shows that machine learning techniques overperform traditional techniques, such as probit, when the set of information available to lenders is limited. This paper contributes to the understanding of the reliability of advanced credit scoring techniques in the lending process to small businesses, making it a special interesting case for the Fintech environment.
Real-time scheduling for parallel tasks with resource reclamation
Authors: He Qingqiang , Sun Yongzheng , Jiang Xu , Lv Mingsong , Lee Jinkyu , Guan Nan
Published: June 2024

This paper considers the real-time scheduling of a parallel task with reclaiming computing resources, which can be utilized for soft real-time tasks or switching to low-energy mode to save energy. Existing works allocate a rectangular piece of computing resources based on the worst-case characterizations of the task to guarantee the deadline, which inherently incurs severe resource wasting due to coarse-grained resource allocation. To address this resource-wasting problem, this paper proposes the ladder-like resource allocation (i.e., a series of rectangular pieces of computing resources). To characterize the ladder-like resource allocation, we present two concepts called resource distribution and allocation vector, which serve as the interfaces between hard and soft real-time tasks. For the former, we derive schedulability tests under the given two interfaces; for the latter, we discuss the methods of determining the two interfaces to reclaim computing resources. This paper is the first work to fully explore the concept of ladder-like resource allocation and its potential consequences on computing resources, soft real-time tasks, and energy. Experiments demonstrate that the proposed approach can effectively reclaim more computing resources than existing approaches while maintaining hard real-time guarantees.
Exploring strategic corporate sustainability management in family businesses: A systematic literature review
Authors: Häußler Simone , Ulrich Patrick
Published: June 2024

The escalating demands from legislative authorities and stakeholders for companies to adopt corporate sustainability measures underscore the growing importance of strategic sustainability management. Despite the efforts made by companies in this domain, the strategic management of sustainability in family businesses remains an under-researched area. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic literature review covering the period from 2006 to 2022, on the topic of strategic sustainability management in family businesses. Our investigation encompasses a content analysis of 98 relevant studies. Our research question is: “What aspects are taken into account by family businesses in their corporate sustainability strategies?” We tackle this issue through a methodological triangulation of qualitative and quantitative methods. Our results yield three clusters of strategies for corporate sustainability in family businesses: (1) Family values and succession planning; Stakeholder relations and communication; (2) Risk taking, Inventions, and Technologies; and (3) Entrepreneurship and Intrapreneurship. In addition, we systematically present a range of descriptive indicators, including the research methodologies applied and the geographic focus of the published literature. This research contributes significant insights for scholars and practitioners alike, providing valuable guidance in this field. Moreover, our study paves the way for further investigations into the strategies that influence sustainability within the context of family businesses. By shedding light on this critical area, we aim to foster a more sustainable and informed approach to corporate practices among family-owned enterprises.
Management of Localized Melanoma in the Anti-PD-1 Era
Authors: Novis Elan , van Akkooi Alexander C. J.
Published: June 2024

Purpose of Review

The management of cutaneous melanoma has rapidly progressed over the past decade following the introduction of effective systemic therapies. Given the large number of recent clinical trials which have dramatically altered the management of these patients, an updated review of the current evidence regarding the management of localized melanoma is needed.

Recent Findings

The role of effective systemic therapies in earlier stages (I-III) melanoma, both in adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings is rapidly changing the role of surgery in the management cutaneous melanoma, particularly regarding surgical safety margins for wide local excision (WLE), the role of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and the extent of lymph node dissections. The randomized phase 2 SWOG1801 trial has demonstrated superiority of neoadjuvant-adjuvant anti-PD1 therapy in improving event-free survival by 23% at 2-years over adjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy only. Furthermore, the PRADO trial has suggested a more tailored approach both the extent of surgery as well as adjuvant therapy can safely and effectively be done, depending on the response to initial neoadjuvant immunotherapy. These results await validation and it is expected that in 2024 the phase 3 Nadina trial (NCT04949113) will definitively establish neo-adjuvant combination immunotherapy as the novel standard. This will further redefine the management of localized melanoma.

The use of effective systemic therapies will continue to evolve in the next decade and, together with new emerging diagnostic and surveillance techniques, will likely reduce the extent of routine surgery for stage I-III melanoma.
Defending and Defining Environmental Responsibilities for the Health Research Sector
Authors: Pratt Bridget
Published: June 2024

Six planetary boundaries have already been exceeded, including climate change, loss of biodiversity, chemical pollution, and land-system change. The health research sector contributes to the environmental crisis we are facing, though to a lesser extent than healthcare or agriculture sectors. It could take steps to reduce its environmental impact but generally has not done so, even as the planetary emergency worsens. So far, the normative case for why the health research sector should rectify that failure has not been made. This paper argues strong philosophical grounds, derived from theories of health and social justice, exist to support the claim that the sector has a duty to avoid or minimise causing or contributing to ecological harms that threaten human health or worsen health inequity. The paper next develops ideas about the duty’s content, explaining why it should entail more than reducing carbon emissions, and considers what limits might be placed on the duty.
Model-based prediction of water levels for the Great Lakes: a comparative analysis
Authors: Kurt Onur
Published: June 2024

This comprehensive study addresses the correlation between water levels and meteorological features, including air temperature, evaporation, and precipitation, to accurately predict water levels in lakes within the Great Lakes basin. Various models, namely multiple linear regression (MLR), nonlinear autoregressive network with exogenous inputs (NARX), Facebook Prophet (FB-Prophet), and long short-term memory (LSTM), are employed to enhance predictions of lake water levels. Results indicate that all models, except for FB-Prophet, perform well, particularly for Lakes Erie, Huron-Michigan, and Superior. However, MLR and LSTM show reduced performance for Lakes Ontario and St. Clair. NARX emerges as the top performer across all lakes, with Lakes Erie and Superior exhibiting the lowest error metrics—root mean square error (RMSE: 0.048 and 0.034), mean absolute error (MAE: 0.036 and 0.026), mean absolute percent error (MAPE: 0.021% and 0.014%), and alongside the highest R-squared value (R2: 0.977 and 0.968), respectively. Similarly, for Lake Huron-Michigan, NARX demonstrates exceptional predictive precision with an RMSE (0.029), MAE (0.022), MAPE (0.013%), and an outstanding R2 value of 0.995. Despite slightly higher error metrics, NARX consistently performs well for Lake Ontario. However, Lake St. Clair presents challenges for predictive performance across all models, with NARX maintaining relatively strong metrics with an RMSE (0.076), MAE (0.050), MAPE (0.029%), and R2 (0.953), reaffirming its position as the leading model for water level prediction in the Great Lakes basin. The findings of this study suggest that the NARX model accurately predicts water levels, providing insights for managing water resources in the Great Lakes region.
Remote Possibilities: Sermons as Religious Support during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Bankier-Karp Adina L. , Cooper Rebecca , Southcott Jane
Published: June 2024

Psychological and sociological studies have reported that highly religious people have better mental health overall, which was also confirmed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Little investigation has been undertaken to understand the actual enablers of religious coping that contextualize these mental health results. Australian pulpit rabbis were invited to submit sermons delivered on the eve of the first Sabbath of the pandemic. These sermons were conceived as “artifacts” of religious support and Nancy Ammerman’s (2021) multidimensional model of lived religion—in particular, the narrative, embodied and moral dimensions—served as the conceptual framework for analysis. Religious support was evident in the sermons in the ways sacred texts and values were deployed to encourage shifts in conceptions associated with congregational gatherings and agency in private religious beliefs and behavior. By tapping in on faith in God, familiar religious concepts, and values, congregants were encouraged to abide by health directives, endure them, and sustain hope for a redemptive future. The contribution of this qualitative study lies in its identification of a dimension of religious support and how it assists people of faith during difficult times.
The MIP Workshop 2023 Computational Competition on reoptimization
Authors: Bolusani Suresh , Besançon Mathieu , Gleixner Ambros , Berthold Timo , D’Ambrosio Claudia , Muñoz Gonzalo , Paat Joseph , Thomopulos Dimitri
Published: June 2024

This paper describes the computational challenge developed for a computational competition held in 2023 for the $$20{\text {th}}$$

20
th

anniversary of the Mixed Integer Programming Workshop. The topic of this competition was reoptimization, also known as warm starting, of mixed integer linear optimization problems after slight changes to the input data for a common formulation. The challenge was to accelerate the proof of optimality of the modified instances by leveraging the information from the solving processes of previously solved instances, all while creating high-quality primal solutions. Specifically, we discuss the competition’s format, the creation of public and hidden datasets, and the evaluation criteria. Our goal is to establish a methodology for the generation of benchmark instances and an evaluation framework, along with benchmark datasets, to foster future research on reoptimization of mixed integer linear optimization problems.
A qualitative exploration of the impact of COVID-19 on families with a child under 5 years-old in the borough of Newham, East London
Authors: Mann Eliana , Wilson Emma , Heys Michelle , Cameron Claire , Rosenthal Diana Margot , Whitaker Lydia , Hauari Hanan , Hollingworth Katie , O’Toole Sarah
Published: June 2024

Aim

Families from socioeconomically deprived backgrounds appear to have been greatly impacted and face worsening inequalities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. With more than half of children in Newham, East London, living in poverty, this study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns on families with a child under 5 years-old in Newham and identify their immediate needs to inform recovery efforts.

Subjects and methods

This was a qualitative study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 participants (2 fathers; 11 mothers) exploring the impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns on family life, neighbourhood and community and important relationships in the child’s world.

Results

All parents experienced significant impacts on family life and well-being because of the pandemic. Families were placed under increased stress and were concerned about the impacts on child development. Low-income families were most disadvantaged, experiencing lack of professional support, community engagement and inadequate housing.

Conclusion

Families were placed under increasing pressure during the pandemic and recovery efforts need to target those most affected, such as families from low-income households. Recovery efforts should target child social and language development, family mental health, professional service engagement and community involvement.
“You don’t get resilience overnight”: a grounded theory framework of the A-R-C sporting resilience development
Authors: Gupta Sahen , McCarthy Paul J.
Published: June 2024

Resilience in sport is growing as a topic of investigation but comparatively less focus is placed on how resilience develops in athletes. This study explored sporting resilience development in elite athletes over time using grounded theory. Participants included 10 competitive-elite athletes (5 men and women) who scored high, competing in individual/team sports from diverse cultural contexts. Experiential life-story interviews on sporting resilience development over time was conducted. Grounded theory was employed across ideation, data collection and analysis with structured methodological quality criteria to ensure rigour. Findings are synthesised into A-R-C Development Model of sporting resilience indicating that antecedent protective factors (A) enable the engine of sporting resilience (R) which through metacognition-emotion-behaviour produces consequences (C) of positive adaptation or critical adaptation failure. The emergent theory is the first comprehensive outline providing an understanding of how sporting resilience develops over time in competitive-elite athletes. Implications for developing athlete resilience for performance and mental health are discussed.
Parallel enrollments: associations between stress and coping of college students with their performance
Authors: Loder Alexander Karl Ferdinand , Brandweiner Amani Colleen , Maia de Oliveira Wood Guilherme
Published: June 2024

College students are known to have high stress levels, which can have negative consequences on their academic performance. In Austria (Europe) there are no tuition fees and students are allowed to enroll in as many degree programs as they want simultaneously. The unique setting of Austria allows examination of the impact of parallel enrollments on students’ stress dimensions. Therefore, this study aims to exploratively determine associations between performance and well-being, stress coping and resource load of students in one and multiple enrolled programs. 213 students took part in a survey and their answers were merged with their performance indicators of the last academic year, retrieved from the university’s internal database. The questionnaire was sent out during the finals- and examination phase prior to the summer holidays. Multivariate linear regression analyses with performance as outcome were conducted on three analysis levels: (1) unfiltered dataset, (2) students with one enrollment and (3) students with two or more enrollments. Results show that well-being, stress coping and resource occupation are associated with performance indicators, but differently on each analysis level. Students with one study program and students in multiple simultaneous programs may be treated as different populations performance-wise. Due to the correlative nature of this study, the outcomes and predictors are likely influencing each other, making future research on the causal relationships warranted.
Characterisation of Phase Separation in Drop-Tube-Processed Rapidly Solidified CoCrCuFeNi0.8 High-Entropy Alloy
Authors: Teggin L. S. E. , Cochrane R. F. , Mullis A. M.
Published: June 2024

We investigate the impact of cooling rate on a CoCrCuFeNi0.8 high-entropy alloy with a predicted metastable miscibility gap. Rapid solidification via drop-tube processing simulates a containerless, low-gravity solidification environment. Droplets were produced with diameters ranging from 850+ µm to 38 µm, with calculated liquid phase cooling rates of between 600 and 60,000 K s−1. Contrary to studies on similar alloys with a reported metastable miscibility gap and similar investigations on binary alloys known to undergo metastable liquid phase separation, almost no core–shell microstructures were observed in the droplets, likely due to a heavily unbalanced volume fraction ratio between the two phases formed from the parent liquid. Instead, drop-tube processing yielded myriad structures, the occurrences of which vary heavily with cooling rate. At cooling rates of 600 K s−1, a solid-state decomposition reaction begins to become noticeable, populating dendrites with copper-rich dispersions after solidification. The prevalence of these structures increases with increasing cooling rate, occurring in above 95% of droplets once cooling rate exceeds 20,000 K s−1. Occurrence rate of dispersions attributed to liquid phase separation peaks at 8% of droplets at intermediate cooling rates between 5000 and 12,000 K s−1. Spontaneous grain refinement has a maximum prevalence between 1000 and 5000 K s−1. This study begins to show how cooling rate and undercooling can be used to tailor microstructures in HEAs and highlights drastic differences in obtainable microstructures compared to those found in binary and ternary immiscible alloys.
Conversion and the Contest of Creeds in Early Medieval Christianity
Authors: Szada Marta
Published: June 2024

As the Roman Empire in the west crumbled over the course of the fifth century, new polities, ruled by 'barbarian' elites, arose in Gaul, Hispania, Italy, and Africa. This political order occurred in tandem with growing fissures within Christianity, as the faithful divided over two doctrines, Nicene and Homoian, that were a legacy of the fourth-century controversy over the nature of the Trinity. In this book, Marta Szada offers a new perspective on early medieval Christianity by exploring how interplays between religious diversity and politics shaped post-Roman Europe. Interrogating the ecclesiastical competition between Nicene and Homoian factions, she provides a nuanced interpretation of religious dissent and the actions of Christians in successor kingdoms as they manifested themselves in politics and social practices. Szada's study reveals the variety of approaches that can be applied to understanding the conflict and coexistence between Nicenes and Homoians, showing how religious divisions shaped early medieval Christian culture.
Spatial Resolution Requirements for FDTD Modeling of Geoelectric Fields
Authors: Sharma Paneru Prashanna , Simpson Jamesina J. , Moldwin Mark B.
Published: June 2024

To ensure the robustness of both civilian and military infrastructure, it is important to protect electric power grids, smart grids, and other electrotechnologies from known and possibly as‐of‐yet unknown space weather hazards. Space weather can generate intense geoelectric fields at the surface of the Earth, as well as large voltage gradients across long distances of the Earth. These voltage gradients can lead to geomagnetically induced currents (GICs), which are known to produce hazards to electric power grids. The finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) method is a powerful and versatile method that has already been applied to the study of geoelectric fields. The advantages of FDTD over other methods are that it can account for more geometrical complexities and realistic time waveforms and that it directly solves for geoelectric fields. Snell's Law predicts that any electromagnetic waves incident on the ground should essentially propagate straight downwards into the low resistivity ground. For this reason, vertical FDTD grid resolutions of 1/3 of a skin depth were usually chosen, while the horizontal grid resolution was relaxed. We find, however, that there is another important consideration for choosing an FDTD grid resolution applied to real‐world scenarios: localized field variations due to currents generated by ground features. It turns out the grid resolution requirements are much stricter when taking this physics into account.
A prospective evaluation of tibial insertion sites for intraosseous needles to gain vascular access in Asian neonates
Authors: Sengasai Chutima , Pacharn Preeyacha , Paes Bosco , Kitsommart Ratchada
Published: June 2024

Objectives

To determine the appropriate intraosseous (IO) needle insertion site, optimal depth and success using a drill-assisted device (DAD) versus a manually inserted needle (MIN).

Methods

Computed tomography scans of neonatal cadavers were analyzed. Success was based on tibial needle tip placement within the marrow cavity and contrast media distribution.

Results

Nineteen cadavers (38 tibiae) were included. The overall success rate was comparable between DAD and MIN needles, but reduced in very-low birthweight (VLBW) infants. The insertion site was consistent across birth weight groups. Contrast leakage occurred overall in 15.8% and 41.7% in VLBW infants and was insignificantly greater in DAD versus MIN needles. Minimum and maximum puncture depth was adjusted for higher BW groups.

Conclusion

IO needles should be placed 2 cm below and 1–2 cm medial to the tibial tuberosity. MIN needles are preferred to minimize leakage. IO depth should be modified by birth weight.
Real-world effectiveness of early insulin therapy on the incidence of cardiovascular events in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes
Authors: Luo Sihui , Zheng Xueying , Bao Wei , Nie Sheng , Ding Yu , Yue Tong , Zhou Yilun , Hu Ying , Li Hua , Yang Qiongqiong , Wan Qijun , Liu Bicheng , Xu Hong , Li Guisen , Xu Gang , Chen Chunbo , Liu Huafeng , Shi Yongjun , Zha Yan , Kong Yaozhong , Su Guobin , Tang Ying , Gong Mengchun , Ji Linong , Hou Fan Fan , Weng Jianping
Published: June 2024

Early insulin therapy is capable to achieve glycemic control and restore β-cell function in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D), but its effect on cardiovascular outcomes in these patients remains unclear. In this nationwide real-world study, we analyzed electronic health record data from 19 medical centers across China between 1 January 2000, and 26 May 2022. We included 5424 eligible patients (mean age 56 years, 2176 women/3248 men) who were diagnosed T2D within six months and did not have prior cardiovascular disease. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to estimate the associations of early insulin therapy (defined as the first-line therapy for at least two weeks in newly diagnosed T2D patients) with the incidence of major cardiovascular events including coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and hospitalization for heart failure (HF). During 17,158 persons years of observation, we documented 834 incident CHD cases, 719 stroke cases, and 230 hospitalized cases for HF. Newly diagnosed T2D patients who received early insulin therapy, compared with those who did not receive such treatment, had 31% lower risk of incident stroke, and 28% lower risk of hospitalization for HF. No significant difference in the risk of CHD was observed. We found similar results when repeating the aforesaid analysis in a propensity-score matched population of 4578 patients and with inverse probability of treatment weighting models. These findings suggest that early insulin therapy in newly diagnosed T2D may have cardiovascular benefits by reducing the risk of incident stroke and hospitalization for HF.
Vacuum levitation and motion control on chip
Authors: Melo Bruno , T. Cuairan Marc , Tomassi Grégoire F. M. , Meyer Nadine , Quidant Romain
Published: June 2024

By isolating from the environment and precisely controlling mesoscopic objects, levitation in vacuum has evolved into a versatile technique that has already benefited diverse scientific directions, from force sensing and thermodynamics to materials science and chemistry. It also holds great promise for advancing the study of quantum mechanics in the unexplored macroscopic regime. However, most current levitation platforms are complex and bulky. Recent efforts in miniaturization of vacuum levitation set-ups have comprised electrostatic and optical traps, but robustness is still a concern for integration into confined settings, such as cryostats or portable devices. Here we show levitation and motion control in high vacuum of a silica nanoparticle at the surface of a hybrid optical–electrostatic chip. By combining fibre-based optical trapping and sensitive position detection with cold damping through planar electrodes, we cool the particle motion to a few hundred phonons. We envisage that our fully integrated platform is the starting point for on-chip devices combining integrated photonics and nanophotonics with precisely engineered electric potentials, enhancing control over the particle motion towards complex state preparation and read-out.