bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Subgroup analysis and adaptive experiments crave for debiasing
Authors: Wang Jingshen , He Xuming
Published: April 2023

Results obtained from reliably designed randomized experiments are often considered to be evidence of the highest grade for assessing the effectiveness of biomedical or behavioral interventions. Nevertheless, even with randomized experiments, statistical bias can arise in post hoc analysis of the data or through adaptive data collection. In this article, we discuss the need for and review some of the recent developments in statistical methodologies to address the issue of potential bias in adaptive experiments and in subgroup analysis. For adaptive experiments, we focus on adaptive treatment assignments. For subgroup analysis, we focus on post hoc subgroup selection and review several frequentist approaches for debiased inference on the best‐selected subgroup effects.

This article is categorized under:

Applications of Computational Statistics > Clinical Trials
Carbon dots: Types, preparation, and their boosted antibacterial activity by photoactivation. Current status and future perspectives
Authors: Lagos Karina J. , García David , Cuadrado Coralía Fabiola , de Souza Larissa Marila , Mezzacappo Natasha Ferreira , da Silva Ana Paula , Inada Natalia , Bagnato Vanderlei , Romero María Paulina
Published: April 2023

Carbon dots (CDs) correspond to carbon‐based materials (CBM) with sizes usually below 10 nm. These nanomaterials exhibit attractive properties such us low toxicity, good stability, and high conductivity, which have promoted their thorough study over the past two decades. The current review describes four types of CDs: carbon quantum dots (CQDs), graphene quantum dots (GQDs), carbon nanodots (CNDs), and carbonized polymers dots (CPDs), together with the state of the art of the main routes for their preparation, either by “top‐down” or “bottom‐up” approaches. Moreover, among the various usages of CDs within biomedicine, we have focused on their application as a novel class of broad‐spectrum antibacterial agents, concretely, owing their photoactivation capability that triggers an enhanced antibacterial property. Our work presents the recent advances in this field addressing CDs, their composites and hybrids, applied as photosensitizers (PS), and photothermal agents (PA) within antibacterial strategies such as photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), and synchronic PDT/PTT. Furthermore, we discuss the prospects for the possible future development of large‐scale preparation of CDs, and the potential for these nanomaterials to be employed in applications to combat other pathogens harmful to human health.

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Infectious Disease
New Digital Work and Digital Sovereignty at the Workplace – An Introduction
Authors: Hartmann Ernst Andreas , Shajek Alexandra
Published: April 2023

In this chapter, a framework will be presented for analyzing and designing work systems for digital sovereignty, based on sources from action regulation, control (in the psychological sense), and sociotechnical systems theories. The individual contributions of this edited volume are then classified on the basis of this framework. After discussing specific effects regarding the technology, people, and organization dimensions of digital sovereignty, some more overarching or cross-cutting aspects shall be presented. The chapter concludes with some background information on the history of this publication, which is part of a tradition of contributions on the future of (digital) work.
Human-Machine-Interaction in Innovative Work Environment 4.0 – A Human-Centered Approach
Authors: Kreuzwieser Simon , Kimmig Andreas , Michels Felix , Bulander Rebecca , Häfner Victor , Bönsch Jakob , Ovtcharova Jivka
Published: April 2023

The working environment is constantly changing and companies face the challenge of adapting to new and constantly changing customer requirements. Employees are faced with the challenge of identifying and learning new, helpful technologies and using them in order to achieve efficiency gains and increase productivity. This article addresses the three technologies Artificial Intelligence, Robotic Process Automation and Virtual Reality, which will play an important role in the future of work and will influence the Work Environment 4.0. Artificial Intelligence and Robotic Process Automation relieve employees of repetitive and manual tasks which thus accelerate and simplify business processes. Virtual Reality offers employees new opportunities to collaborate in virtual environments. Instead of performing routine tasks, employees will increasingly promote the use of such technologies in future and orchestrate their application. In addition, it is important for employees to continuously look for new use cases within their own organization and to collaborate with external partners. The article aims to describe the opportunities that arise from the application of the technologies and to explain their effects on the Work Environment 4.0 and the employee.
Lund multiplicity in QCD jets
Authors: Medves Rok , Soto-Ontoso Alba , Soyez Gregory
Published: April 2023

Abstract

We compute the average Lund multiplicity of high-energy QCD jets. This extends an earlier calculation, done for event-wide multiplicity in e+e− collisions [1], to the large energy range available at the LHC. Our calculation achieves next-to-next-to-double logarithmic (NNDL) accuracy. Our results are split into a universal collinear piece, common to the e+e− calculation, and a non-universal large-angle contribution. The latter amounts to 10–15% of the total multiplicity. We provide accurate LHC predictions by matching our resummed calculation to fixed-order NLO results and by incorporating non-perturbative corrections via Monte Carlo simulations. Including NNDL terms leads to a 50% reduction of the theoretical uncertainty, with non-perturbative corrections remaining below 5% down to transverse momentum scales of a few GeV. This proves the suitability of Lund multiplicities for robust theory-to-data comparisons at the LHC.
The mixed-state entanglement in holographic p-wave superconductor model
Authors: Yang Zhe , Cheng Fang-Jing , Niu Chao , Zhang Cheng-Yong , Liu Peng
Published: April 2023

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the mixed-state entanglement in a model of p-wave superconductivity phase transition using holographic methods. We calculate several entanglement measures, including holographic entanglement entropy (HEE), mutual information (MI), and entanglement wedge cross-section (EWCS). Our results show that these measures display critical behavior at the phase transition points, with the EWCS exhibiting opposite temperature behavior compared to the HEE. Furthermore, we explore the behavior of thermodynamics and holographic quantum information at the zeroth-order phase transition point and find that it is opposite to that observed in the first-order phase transition. Additionally, we find that the critical exponents of all entanglement measures are twice those of the condensate. Our findings also suggest that the EWCS is a more sensitive indicator of the critical behavior of phase transitions than the HEE. Lastly, we uncover a universal inequality in the growth rates of EWCS and MI near critical points in thermal phase transitions, such as p-wave and s-wave superconductivity, suggesting that MI captures more information than EWCS when a phase transition first occurs.
On Bethe eigenvectors and higher transfer matrices for supersymmetric spin chains
Authors: Lu Kang
Published: April 2023

Abstract

We study the $$ {\mathfrak{gl}}_{m\mid n} $$

gl

m
∣
n

XXX spin chains defined on tensor products of highest weight $$ {\mathfrak{gl}}_{m\mid n} $$

gl

m
∣
n

-modules. We show that the on-shell Bethe vectors are eigenvectors of higher transfer matrices and compute the corresponding eigenvalues. Then we take the classical limits and obtain the corresponding results for the $$ {\mathfrak{gl}}_{m\mid n} $$

gl

m
∣
n

Gaudin models.
Intracranial Carotid Occlusions
Authors: Pero Guglielmo , Dória Hugo Mota , Piano Mariangela , Macera Antonio , Quilici Luca , Cervo Amedeo
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Specific decisions made by neurointerventionists are often lost behind the data of large-scale trials, and many of these studies have taken place before the development of new techniques and devices. This study compares the stent-retriever assisted vacuum-locked extraction (SAVE) technique with a direct aspiration first pass (ADAPT), as well as the use of a balloon guide catheter (BGC), in intracranial internal carotid artery (IC-ICA) occlusions.

Methods

Observational and retrospective study from an Italian hospital, including patients who underwent thrombectomy for IC-ICA occlusion between 1 January 2019 and 31 March 2021.

Results

Out of 91 IC-ICA occlusions, the ADAPT was the first choice in 20 (22%) and the SAVE in 71 (78%). A BGC was used in 32 (35%) cases, always in conjunction with the SAVE technique. The use of SAVE technique without BGC was associated with the least risk of distal embolization (DE) in the territory occluded (44% vs. 75% when ADAPT technique was used; p = 0.03) and achieved first pass effect (FPE) more frequently (51% vs. 25%, p = 0.09). When the SAVE technique was used, BGC (BGC-SAVE) compared to no BGC (NoBGC-SAVE) was associated with a tendency for less DE (31% vs. 44%, p = 0.3), more FPE (63% vs. 51%, p = 0.5), the same median number of passes (1, p = 0.8) and similar groin-to-recanalization times (36.5 vs. 35.5 min, p = 0.5), none of which reached statistical significance.

Conclusion

Our findings support the use of SAVE technique for IC-ICA occlusions; the added benefit of BGC compared to long sheaths was not remarkable in this sample.
Risk assessment, surveillance, and nonpharmaceutical prevention of acute radiation dermatitis: results of a multicentric survey among the German-speaking radiation oncology community
Authors: Layer Katharina , Layer Julian P. , Glasmacher Andrea R. , Sarria Gustavo R. , Böhner Alexander M. C. , Layer Yonah L. , Dejonckheere Cas S. , Garbe Stephan , Feyer Petra , Baumert Brigitta G. , Schendera Anke , Baumann René , Krug David , Köksal Mümtaz A. , Koch David , Scafa Davide , Leitzen Christina , Hölzel Michael , Giordano Frank A. , Schmeel Leonard Christopher ,   the German-Speaking Radiation Dermatitis Survey Group
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Radiation dermatitis (RD) represents one of the most frequent side effects in radiotherapy (RT). Despite technical progress, mild and moderate RD still affects major subsets of patients and identification and management of patients with a high risk of severe RD is essential. We sought to characterize surveillance and nonpharmaceutical preventive management of RD in German-speaking hospitals and private centers.

Methods

We conducted a survey on RD among German-speaking radiation oncologists inquiring for their evaluation of risk factors, assessment methods, and nonpharmaceutical preventive management of RD.

Results

A total of 244 health professionals from public and private institutions in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland participated in the survey. RT-dependent factors were deemed most relevant for RD onset followed by lifestyle factors, emphasizing the impact of treatment conceptualization and patient education. While a broad majority of 92.8% assess RD at least once during RT, 59.0% of participants report RD at least partially arbitrarily and 17.4% stated to classify RD severity solely arbitrarily. 83.7% of all participants were unaware of patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Consensus exists on some lifestyle recommendations like avoidance of sun exposure (98.7%), hot baths (95.1%), and mechanical irritation (91.8%) under RT, while deodorant use (63.4% not at all, 22.1% with restrictions) or application of skin lotion (15.1% disapproval) remain controversial and are not recommended by guidelines or evidence-based practices.

Conclusion

Identification of patients at an increased risk of RD and subsequent implementation of adequate preventive measures remain relevant and challenging aspects of clinical routines. Consensus exists on several risk factors and nonpharmaceutical prevention recommendations, while RT-dependent risk factors, e.g., the fractionation scheme, or hygienic measures like deodorant use remain controversial. Surveillance is widely lacking methodology and objectivity. Intensifying outreach in the radiation oncology community is needed to improve practice patterns.
The impact of voluntary folate fortification of corn masa flour on US pregnancies complicated by neural tube defects
Authors: Khalid Syed I. , Thomson Kyle , Hunter Brittany M. , Garcia Roxanna M. , Bowman Robin , Lam Sandi
Published: April 2023

Introduction

In 1996, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandated folic acid fortification for all enriched cereal grains. This resulted in a reduction of neural tube defect (NTD)–affected pregnancies. However, Hispanic women continued to be twice as likely to give birth to a child affected by NTD compared to non-Hispanic White women. Some hypotheses explaining this difference focus on cultural variation in dietary intake of cereal grains. In 2016, the FDA approved voluntary folic acid fortification for corn masa flour products to focus on the Hispanic diet staple. This study investigates rates of NTDs in predominantly Hispanic-populated zip codes before and after the voluntary fortification of corn masa flour with folic acid.

Methods

Normal pregnancies and those complicated by NTDs between 1/1/2016 and 9/30/2020 were identified using ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes in an all-payor claims database. The post-fortification period began 12 months after the fortification recommendation. The US Census data was used to stratify pregnancies in predominantly Hispanic zip codes (≥ 75% of households) vs. non-Hispanic zip codes. The causal impact of the FDA’s recommendation was assessed by means of a Bayesian structural time series model.

Results

A total of 2,584,366 pregnancies were identified among females aged 15–50 years. Of these, 365,983 took place in predominantly Hispanic zip codes. Mean quarterly NTDs per 100,000 pregnancies did not significantly differ between predominantly Hispanic zip codes and predominantly non-Hispanic zip codes pre-FDA recommendation (184.5 vs. 175.6; p = 0.427), nor post-recommendation (188.2 vs. 185.9; p = 0.713). Rates of NTDs predicted to occur if no FDA recommendation had been made were compared to the actual rate post-recommendation: no significant difference was observed in predominantly Hispanic zip codes (p = 0.245) or overall (p = 0.116).

Conclusions

Rates of neural tube defects were not significantly reduced in predominantly Hispanic zip codes following the 2016 FDA approval of voluntary folic acid fortification of corn masa flour. Further research and implementation of comprehensive approaches to advocacy, policy, and public health are necessary to decrease preventable congenital disease rates. Mandatory rather than voluntary fortification of corn masa flour products may achieve more substantial prevention of neural tube defects in at-risk US populations.
Geriatrische Aspekte bei Diabetes mellitus (Update 2023)
Authors: Huber Joakim , Smeikal Michael , Saely Christoph H. , Stingl Harald , Clodi Martin , Lechleitner Monika , Fasching Peter
Published: April 2023

Es besteht eine hohe Prävalenz an Diabetes mellitus Typ 2 bei über 70-Jährigen in industrialisierten Ländern. Dieser Artikel enthält Empfehlungen für Diagnose, Prävention und Therapieziele in der Behandlung älterer Menschen mit Diabetes anhand der aktuellen Evidenzlage.
Diabetes mellitus, koronare Herzkrankheit und Herzinsuffizienz (Update 2023)
Authors: Clodi Martin , Saely Christoph H. , Hoppichler Friedrich , Resl Michael , Steinwender Clemens , Stingl Harald , Wascher Thomas C. , Winhofer Yvonne , Sourij Harald
Published: April 2023

Die Zusammenhänge zwischen Diabetes mellitus, koronarer Herzkrankheit und Herzinsuffizienz sind wechselseitig. Bei Erstmanifestation einer koronaren Herzkrankheit sollte aktiv auf Diabetes mellitus gescreent werden, während bei an Diabetes mellitus erkrankten Patient:innen die kardiovaskuläre Risikostratifizierung immer in Zusammenschau sämtlicher Risikofaktoren, Biomarker und dem klinischen Befinden des Patient:innen durchgeführt werden sollte. Eine bereits bekannte kardiovaskuläre Erkrankung wie auch das Vorliegen zahlreicher Risikofaktoren stellen wesentliche Kriterien für die Auswahl der individuellen Therapiestrategien dar.
Lebensstil: körperliche Aktivität und Training in der Prävention und Therapie des Typ 2 Diabetes mellitus (Update 2023)
Authors: Francesconi Claudia , Niebauer Josef , Haber Paul , Moser Othmar , Weitgasser Raimund , Lackinger Christian
Published: April 2023

Lebensstil, insbesondere regelmäßige körperliche Aktivität, ist ein wichtiger Bestandteil in der Prävention und Therapie des Typ 2 Diabetes mellitus und sollte fester Bestandteil jeglicher Betreuung von Patient:innen sein. Es besteht breiter Konsens, dass eine effiziente Diabetes-Prävention und Therapie in den meisten Fällen auch von einer Modifikation des Lebensstils begleitet sein muss.

Ziele der Förderung der körperlichen Aktivität sind zunächst das Training des Herz-Kreislaufsystems, Kräftigung der Muskulatur, Steigerung des Energieumsatzes und die Reduktion von Inaktivität. Für einen substanziellen gesundheitlichen Nutzen sind wöchentlich mindestens 150 min aerobe körperliche Aktivität mit mittlerer oder höherer Intensität und zusätzlich muskelkräftigende Bewegungen erforderlich.

Das Ausmaß des positive Effektes von Bewegung steht in direktem Verhältnis zum Grad der erreichten kardiorespiratorischen Fitness, und kann nur durch entsprechendes Training aufrechterhalten werden. Körperliches Training ist in jedem Alter für beide Geschlechter wirksam und effektiv. Durch die Reduktion der Insulinresistenz und funktionelle Verbesserung der Insulinsekretion hat körperliches Training positiven Einfluss auf die Glykämie und zusätzlich wird das kardiovaskuläre Risiko gesenkt.

Im Speziellen hat Training nicht nur positiven Einfluss auf die Glykämie durch Verbesserung der Insulinresistenz und funktionelle Verbesserung der Insulinsekretion zu nehmen, sondern ist auch in der Lage, das kardiovaskuläre Risiko zu senken.

Inaktivität per se gilt unabhängig vom Konstrukt der körperlichen Aktivität als Risikofaktor. Insbesondere langandauernde sitzende Tätigkeit soll vermieden werden.

Standardisierte, regionale und angeleitete Bewegungsprogramme sind bestens geeignet, um ein ausreichendes wöchentliches Ausmaß an gesundheitsfördernder körperlicher Aktivität zu erreichen. Zusätzlich fordert die Österreichische Diabetes Gesellschaft die Position der Bewegungsberater:in als fixen Bestandteil eines multidisziplinären Behandlungsansatzes. Leider gab es in den letzten Jahren weder im Aufbau standardisierter Bewegungsangebote noch in der Bewegungsberatung erfolgsversprechende Entwicklungen.
Aerodynamics and Wake Flow Characteristics of a Four-Cylinder Cluster
Authors: Nguyen Cung H. , Inam Saad , Lasagna Davide , Xie Zheng-Tong
Published: April 2023

The aerodynamic behaviour and wake flow of a cluster of two-dimensional sharp-edged bluff bodies exhibits extremely complex unsteady phenomena in both near and far fields. Due to the high cost of wind-tunnel experiments and numerical simulations, a complete understanding of wake flows and a description of their characteristics are lacking. This paper presents large-eddy simulations (LES) in different flow/wind directions for a cluster of $$2 \times 2$$

2
×
2

aligned square cylinders, at a separation distance in streamwise and cross-wind directions equal to cylinder side length, and at Reynolds number $${Re}=22,000$$

Re

=
22
,
000

based on the single cylinder side length D. The case at $$0^\circ$$

0
∘

incidence shows an evident channel-type flow in the along-wind street/gap, and at its exit an irregularly pulsing jet with an intense shedding of large vortices. The wavelet analyses of the side force/lift coefficient and instantaneous velocities in the wake show that the characteristic length and time scales of the large vortical structures in the far-field wake are close to the cluster size 2D; this is the so called ‘cluster effect’. The cluster effect increases monotonically as the flow incidence angle increases. At a large incidence angle in the near-field wake, the cylinder-scale flow structures are much weaker compared to the cluster-scale structures. At the incidence angle of $$45^\circ$$

45
∘

, the overall wake flow and the aerodynamic characteristics are well scaled by the scale approximately equal to 2D. Nevertheless, the interaction between cylinders significantly affects the aerodynamics performance of the individual cylinders. The drag and lift coefficients of the individual cylinders differ substantially from each other in the cluster, and are significantly different from observations on a single isolated cylinder too.
Mining domain-specific edit operations from model repositories with applications to semantic lifting of model differences and change profiling
Authors: Tinnes Christof , Kehrer Timo , Joblin Mitchell , Hohenstein Uwe , Biesdorf Andreas , Apel Sven
Published: April 2023

Model transformations are central to model-driven software development. Applications of model transformations include creating models, handling model co-evolution, model merging, and understanding model evolution. In the past, various (semi-)automatic approaches to derive model transformations from meta-models or from examples have been proposed. These approaches require time-consuming handcrafting or the recording of concrete examples, or they are unable to derive complex transformations. We propose a novel unsupervised approach, called Ockham, which is able to learn edit operations from model histories in model repositories. Ockham is based on the idea that meaningful domain-specific edit operations are the ones that compress the model differences. It employs frequent subgraph mining to discover frequent structures in model difference graphs. We evaluate our approach in two controlled experiments and one real-world case study of a large-scale industrial model-driven architecture project in the railway domain. We found that our approach is able to discover frequent edit operations that have actually been applied before. Furthermore, Ockham is able to extract edit operations that are meaningful—in the sense of explaining model differences through the edit operations they comprise—to practitioners in an industrial setting. We also discuss use cases (i.e., semantic lifting of model differences and change profiles) for the discovered edit operations in this industrial setting. We find that the edit operations discovered by Ockham can be used to better understand and simulate the evolution of models.
Uncovering inbreeding, small populations, and strong genetic isolation in an Australian threatened frog, Litoria littlejohni
Authors: Stock Sarah E. , Klop-Toker Kaya , Wallace Samantha , Kelly Oliver , Callen Alex , Seeto Rebecca , Mahony Stephen V. , Hayward Matt W. , Mahony Michael J.
Published: April 2023

The status of many amphibian populations remains unclear due to undetected declines driven by disease and difficulties in obtaining accurate population estimates. Here, we used genome complexity reduction-based sequencing technology to study the poorly understood Littlejohn’s treefrog, Litoria littlejohni across its fragmented distribution in eastern Australia. We detected five identifiable genetic clusters, with moderate to strong genetic isolation. At a regional scale, population isolation was likely driven by population crashes, resulting in small populations impacted by founder effects. Moderate genetic isolation was detected among populations on the Woronora Plateau despite short distances between population clusters. Evidence of recent declines was apparent in three populations that had very small effective population size, reduced genetic diversity and high inbreeding values. The rates of inbreeding detected in these populations combined with their small size leave these populations at elevated risk of extinction. The Cordeaux Cluster was identified as the most robust population as it was the largest and most genetically diverse. This study exemplifies the value of employing genetic methods to study rare, cryptic species. Despite low recapture rates using traditional capture-recapture demographic methods, we were able to derive population estimates, describe patterns of gene flow, and demonstrate the need for urgent conservation management.
How to Organize Silence at work: An Organizational Politics Perspective on Pragmatic Mistreatment at work
Authors: Matsson Anneli
Published: April 2023

In this single-case study, practice of ostracism occurred across several levels of the occupational hierarchy in a surgery department in a large Swedish hospital. The findings show that a/ workplace ostracism is triggered by social preconceptions, b/ silence strategies is mobilised to reduce uncertainty c/ structural mistreatment reproduce targeted mistreatment and d/ decisions on expulsion is forced in order to execute organizational politics. In this article I argue that workplace ostracism is pragmatic and that different actors is cought in a form of hostage situation to prevent being rejected and blamed for wrongdoings. In this article I highlight the main results from this study and provide practical implications on how to address ostracism as an organizational problem in order to develop employee rights to be heard.
Bayesian Practical Inference
Authors: Corradini Antonella , Galvan Sergio
Published: April 2023

In this essay, we will try to provide a formal analysis of practical inference, attentive to the various phases in which it is articulated, and being so capable of explaining both the logical conclusiveness of the inference and the probabilistic nature of its conclusion. An innovative purpose of this article is to show how the final deliberation leading to action—the ultimate practical judgment—takes place according to a logic consistent with the use of Bayes’ theorem. This is why we refer to Bayesian practical inference in the title of this essay.
Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on the performance of organ transplant services using data envelopment analysis
Authors: Manoel Márcia N. F. , Santos Sérgio P. , Amado Carla A. F.
Published: April 2023

Organ transplant is one of the best options for many medical conditions, and in many cases, it may be the only treatment option. Recent evidence suggests, however, that the COVID-19 pandemic might have detrimentally affected the provision of this type of healthcare services. The main purpose of this article is to use Data Envelopment Analysis and the Malmquist Index to assess the impact that the pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 had on the provision of solid organ transplant services. To this purpose, we use three complementary models, each focusing on specific aspects of the organ donation and transplantation process, and data from Brazil, which has one of the most extensive public organ transplant programs in the world. Using data from 17 States plus the Federal District, the results of our analysis show a significant drop in the performance of the services in terms of the organ donation and transplantation process from 2018 to 2020, but the results also indicate that not all aspects of the process and States were equally affected. Furthermore, by using different models, this research also allows us to gain a more comprehensive and informative assessment of the performance of the States in delivering this type of service and identify opportunities for reciprocal learning, expanding our knowledge on this important issue and offering opportunities for further research.
Effects of the periocular botulinum toxin on the ocular surface and anterior chamber: a prospective study in patients with hemifacial spasm and blepharospasm
Authors: Romero-Caballero María Dolores , Miralles de Imperial-Ollero Juan Antonio , Sarabia-Marín Elena , Villegas-Pérez María Paz
Published: April 2023

Purpose

To analyze using Pentacam®, the corneal and anterior chamber changes following periocular botulinum toxin injection in patients with facial dystonia.

Methods

Prospective study that included patients with facial dystonia that were going to receive a periocular botulinum toxin injection for the first time or six months or more after the previous injection. A Pentacam® examination was carried out in all patients before and 4 weeks after the injection.

Results

Thirty-one eyes were included. Twenty-two had a diagnosis of blepharospasm and nine of hemifacial spasm. Analysis of corneal and anterior chamber parameters revealed a significant decrease in iridocorneal angle after botulinum toxin injection (from 35 ± 10º to 33.8 ± 9.7º, p = 0.022). No other corneal or anterior chamber parameters changed significantly after the injection.

Conclusions

Periocular botulinum toxin injection causes narrowing of the iridocorneal angle.
Scaling in Pompeii: Preliminary Evidence for the Occurrence of Scaling Phenomena Within an Ancient Built Environment
Authors: Hanson J. W.
Published: April 2023

There has recently been a great deal of interest in the effects of the sizes of communities on the social and economic conditions of settlements, drawing on theoretical and empirical work on complex systems. However, although it is clear that there is a series of relationships between the sizes of sites and their various attributes in a range of modern and non-modern contexts, it is not yet known whether these relationships extend to life within settlements, between different neighbourhoods, blocks, or individual households. In this article, I investigate whether this is the case by focusing on one site, Pompeii. The results show that there is indeed a series of relationships between the sizes of structures, the numbers and different kinds of rooms within them, and the numbers and different kinds of artefacts associated with them, which increase at a similar rate to those from other contexts. This demonstrates, for the first time, that the same scaling phenomena that have been identified across both contemporary and non-modern urban systems can also be found within the built environment of a single, well-documented ancient settlement. This suggests that the same, or similar, social network effects exist at multiple social, spatial, and temporal scales, from individual houses to entire cities, opening up the possibility of building a series of much more ambitious theoretical and empirical models of urbanism in future, which trace the variation both within and across settlements back to the net socio-economic and infrastructural consequences of embedding social networks within built environments.
Ion Pools Underneath the Surface of Superfluid $$^4$$He: A Playground of Classical Two-Dimensional Physics
Authors: Skrbek Ladislav
Published: April 2023

Positive and negative ions in superfluid $$^4$$

4

He (He II) are interesting objects of experimental and theoretical research and serve as important probes to study various aspects of superfluidity. Additionally, with the help of externally applied electric field, they can be trapped below the free surface of He II, forming pools of nearly constant areal density, suitable to study broad range of collective phenomena of classical two-dimensional (2D) physics. A rich research program of this kind, in which the author participated, was run by Joe Vinen at the University of Birmingham, UK, for more than a decade. This article reviews the main results of this program, such as investigations of various vibrational modes of response of the ion pools and interactions of the ions with ripplons, detection of the two-dimensional Coulomb crystal and studies of its physical properties.
The cut method on hypergraphs for the Wiener index
Authors: Klavžar Sandi , Romih Gašper Domen
Published: April 2023

The cut method has been proved to be extremely useful in chemical graph theory. In this paper the cut method is extended to hypergraphs. More precisely, the method is developed for the Wiener index ofk-uniform partial cube-hypergraphs. The method is applied to cube-hypergraphs and hypertrees. Extensions of the method to hypergraphs arising in chemistry which are not necessaryk-uniform and/or not necessary linear are also developed.
Modals model models: scientific modeling and counterfactual reasoning
Authors: Dohrn Daniel
Published: April 2023

Counterfactual reasoning has been used to account for many aspects of scientific reasoning. More recently, it has also been used to account for the scientific practice of modeling. Truth in a model is truth in a situation considered as counterfactual. When we reason with models, we reason with counterfactuals. Focusing on selected models like Bohr’s atom model or models of population dynamics, I present an account of how the imaginative development of a counterfactual supposition leads us from reality to interesting model assumptions; how it guides our reasoning from these assumptions to interesting consequences for the model scenario via counterfactual entailment; and how it leads us back to conclusions on real target phenomena.
Reinforcement of single-walled carbon nanotubes on polydimethylsiloxane membranes for CO2, O2, and N2 permeability/selectivity
Authors: Felemban Bassem Fareed , Iqbal Sadia Sagar , Bahadar Ali , Hossain Nazia , Jabbar Abdul
Published: April 2023

In this study, PDMS incorporated with SWCNTs have been fabricated via solution casting method for industrial applications and characterized by the analyses of SEM, FTIR, TGA, AFM, and MST. The modified membranes were further analyzed for CO2, O2, and N2 gas permeability. The strategic membranes have five different weight ratios (0.013, 0.025, 0.038, 0.050, 0.063) compared to neat PDMS membranes. The even distribution of SWCNTs in PDMS provided results that showed improvement in thermal stability. However, mechanical strength has been weakened with increased concentration of nanofiller because of the increase in the number of SWCNTs by increases that imperfections become more severe. The designed polymeric membranes with good thermal stability and adequate mechanical strength can be used for the selectivity and permeability of CO2, O2, and N2 gases. The effect of the PDMS-SWCNTs on gas permeability has been studied. 0.063 wt.% SWCNTs presented the maximum permeability of CO2 gas while maximum O2 and N2 gas permeability have been obtained by 0.013 wt.% SWCNTs. The ideal selectivity of mixed (50:50) gas conditions has been tested. The maximum CO2/N2 ideal selectivity was obtained by 0.050 and 0.063 wt.% SWCNTs while maximum O2/N2 ideal selectivity obtained by 0.050 wt.% SWCNTs. Therefore, the fabrication of this novel SWCNTs-PDMS membrane may lead to separating the industrial exhaust and be used as a potential membrane for environmental remediation in the future.
The Ethics of Technology: How Can Indigenous Thought Contribute?
Authors: Weckert John , Bayod Rogelio
Published: April 2023

The ethics of technology is not as effective as it should. Despite decades of ethical discussion, development and use of new technologies continues apace without much regard to those discussions. Economic and other forces are too powerful. More focus needs to be placed on the values that underpin social attitudes to technology. By seriously looking at Indigenous thought and comparing it with the typical Western way of seeing the world, we can gain a better understanding of our own views. The Indigenous Filipino worldview provides us with a platform for assessing our own core values and suggests modifications to those values. It also indicates ways for broadening and altering the focus of the ethics of technology to make it more effective in helping us to use technologies in ways more conducive to human well-being.
What is Hate Speech? The Case for a Corpus Approach
Authors: Lepoutre Maxime , Vilar-Lluch Sara , Borg Emma , Hansen Nat
Published: April 2023

Contemporary public discourse is saturated with speech that vilifies and incites hatred or violence against vulnerable groups. The term “hate speech” has emerged in legal circles and in ordinary language to refer to these communicative acts. But legal theorists and philosophers disagree over how to define this term. This paper makes the case for, and subsequently develops, the first corpus-based analysis of the ordinary meaning of “hate speech.” We begin by demonstrating that key interpretive and moral disputes surrounding hate speech laws—in particular, surrounding their compatibility with the rule of law, democracy, and free speech—depend crucially on the ordinary meaning of “hate speech.” Next, we argue, drawing on recent developments in legal philosophy, that corpus linguistics constitutes a distinctively promising tool for ascertaining the ordinary meaning of “hate speech.” Finally, we offer a proof of concept, by outlining, and analyzing the interpretive and moral implications of, the first such study.
Antibacterial Activity of Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Using Lawsonia inermis Against Common Pathogens from Urinary Tract Infection
Authors: Said Ahmed , Abu-Elghait Mohammed , Atta Hossam M. , Salem Salem S.
Published: April 2023

New and creative methodologies for the fabrication of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs), which are exploited in a wide range of consumer items, are of significant interest. Hence, this research emphasizes the biological approach of Ag-NPs through Egyptian henna leaves (Lawsonia inermis Linn.) extracts and analysis of the prepared Ag-NPs. Plant extract components were identified by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-mass). The analyses of prepared Ag-NPs were carried out through UV–visible (UV–Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. UV–Vis reveals that Ag-NPs have a maximum peak at 460 nm in visible light. Structural characterization recorded peaks that corresponded to Bragg’s diffractions for silver nano-crystal, with average crystallite sizes varying from 28 to 60 nm. Antibacterial activities of Ag-NPs were examined, and it is observed that all microorganisms are very sensitive to biologically synthesized Ag-NPs.
Toward an Enactive Conception of Productive Practices: Beyond Material Agency
Authors: Di Paolo Ezequiel A. , Lawler Diego , Vaccari Andrés Pablo
Published: April 2023

We examine the question of material agency as raised in material engagement theory (MET). Insofar as MET tends to highlight the causal roles played by extra-bodily material flows in human practices, the term “material agency” does not sufficiently distinguish cases in which these flows are part of an agentive engagement from cases in which they are not. We propose an operational criterion to effect such a distinction. We claim this criterion is organizational, i.e., systemic, and not causal. In the enactive account, agency requires three organizational conditions: self-individuation, interactional asymmetry, and normativity. These conditions can have organic, sensorimotor, and sociomaterial realizations. The dance of human productive practices is indeed spread between brains, bodies, and the world, as MET claims, but it is distributed in an organized manner that involves constraints and norms at various scales. We put forward a relational and non-anthropocentric perspective toward an enactive approach to productive practices. We discuss some aspects of agentive ensembles rendered more intelligible by our proposal, including incorporation, soft assembly and non-decomposability, and the grounding of teleology normative processes at multiple scales. In this manner, we seek to continue the dialog between MET and enactive theory, beginning with the view that a situated system must realize certain minimal organizational conditions to be called anagent.
Wirkung technischer und biologischer Kontexte auf das situationale Interesse beim Bearbeiten physikalischer Lernaufgaben zum Energiekonzept
Authors: Lewing Johannes , Klein Pascal , Schneider Susanne
Published: April 2023

Die Förderung von Interessen gilt als wesentliches Ziel des naturwissenschaftlichen Unterrichts, sodass der kontextorientierte Unterricht vermehrt an Bedeutung gewonnen hat. Anschließend an den empirischen Befund, dass die Orientierung fachlicher Inhalte an lebensweltliche Kontexte das Interesse von Schülerinnen und Schülern in Lernsituationen erhöhen kann, stellt sich die Frage, welche Kontexte für diesen Zweck besonders geeignet sind. In diesem Zusammenhang greift die vorliegende Untersuchung Argumente der Diskussion um fächerübergreifenden naturwissenschaftlichen Unterricht auf und nutzt zur Einbettung von Lerninhalten Kontexte aus den Themenfeldern Biologie und Technik, die von Mädchen bzw. Jungen als interessant wahrgenommen werden. In einer Online-Studie ($$N=298$$

N
=
298

) wird systematisch geprüft, inwiefern aus diesen Themenfeldern stammende Kontexte in der Lage sind, das situationale Interesse während der Arbeit an Lernstationen zum Energiekonzept zu erhöhen und welchen Einfluss individuelle Faktoren diesbezüglich zeigen. Mehrebenenregressionen mit Random Intercept auf Personenebene zeigen einen positiven Einfluss biologischer Kontexte auf das emotionsbezogene situationale Interesse von Schülerinnen, während durch den Einsatz technischer Kontexte diese Komponente des situationalen Interesses bei Schülern gesteigert werden konnte. Die wertbezogene Komponente des situationalen Interesses kann ebenfalls durch Einsatz von Kontexten eines bevorzugten Themenfeldes erhöht werden. Insgesamt wird deutlich, dass sich vor allem die emotionale Komponente des situationalen Interesses durch die Variation des Kontexts beeinflussen lässt, während die wertbezogene Komponente insbesondere durch das individuelle Interesse an Physik bedingt ist. Selbstkonzept und schulische Leistung zeigen unter Berücksichtigung der individuellen Interessen keinen signifikanten Einfluss. Für die Schulpraxis wird die Bedeutung der Auswahl geeigneter Kontexte deutlich, um mit dem Aufzeigen der Relevanz fachlicher Inhalte potentiell stabile Interessen fördern zu können.
Shifting from Soft to Hard Law: Motivating Compliance When Enacting Mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Sheehy Benedict , Khan Habib Zaman , Prananingtyas Paramita , Sophiana Sunarso Putri Philein
Published: April 2023

A policy shift from soft law to hard law rests on assumptions about motivating compliance. The basic idea is that people comply with soft law for personal, moral reasons but are motivated to comply with hard law by self-interested fear. While logically this is obvious, there is also support for the view that self-determination, organisational justice and social influence are better at motivating compliance in certain contexts. Currently, there is a global policy shift moving corporate social responsibility (CSR) from a voluntary, organisation-based initiative to a practice mandated by law. This shift provides an opportunity to investigate the phenomenon of motivation in law. The current study investigates how the shift to mandatory CSR impacts motivation. Based on an analysis of the programs of 12 firms in Indonesia, we find that CSR hard law appears to motivate CSR without displacing voluntary moral initiatives.
Cryptostroma corticale and fungal endophytes associated with Fraxinus excelsior affected by ash dieback
Authors: Langer Gitta Jutta , Peters Sandra , Bußkamp Johanna , Bien Steffen
Published: April 2023

While assessing the filamentous fungi associated with woody tissues of stem collar rots, necroses, and lesions of European ash trees (Fraxinus excelsior) presenting symptoms of ash dieback in Germany, Cryptostroma corticale was recovered from three different ash trees. These isolated strains were the first report of C. corticale on ash and the first proof of an association of this plant pathogen with woody tissues of other tree species than Acer spp. in Germany. To test the pathogenicity of C. corticale against F. excelsior and to fulfil Koch’s postulates, inoculation tests in planta with strains isolated from Acer pseudoplatanus and F. excelsior were conducted according to Henle–Koch’s postulates in a greenhouse located in Göttingen. The pathogenicity tests were performed with apparently healthy ash saplings from June 2021 until January 2022. After three and seven months, neither necroses or lesions due to C. corticale nor disease symptoms were observed. Mostly, the inoculation wounds healed over, and C. corticale could not be re-isolated from the ash woody tissue. In an attempt to re-isolate the inoculated strains, the filamentous fungal endophytes of the ash woody tissues were isolated and identified. A total of 32 taxa of the Ascomycota were found, where the most common species was Boeremia exigua. Most frequently observed orders were Pleosporales (58.4%), followed by Sordariales (13.5%), Hypocreales (9.4%), and Diaporthales (8.7%). On average, 3.7 endophytic species were recorded on each sapling.
Using Stakeholder Input to Guide Data Visualization and Reporting to Promote Evidence-based Practice Use in Public Schools
Authors: Locke Jill , Corbin Catherine M. , Cook Clayton R. , Ehrhart Mark G. , Davis Chayna , Lyon Aaron R.
Published: April 2023

Background

High-quality implementation is crucial for students to reap the benefits of school-based evidence-based practices (EBP). Despite data being routinely used to support EBP delivery to students, there is a dearth of data-driven decision-making related to school-wide implementation of universal EBPs like Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). The lack of specialized knowledge (e.g., what data to collect and how to interpret it) and systems (e.g., data teams) required to support data collection, analysis, and presentation act as barriers to school teams’ effective use of data to guide and be responsive to implementation efforts.

Methods

Guided by principles of human-centered design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 school-based implementation practitioners and stakeholders (principals, administrators, and expert intermediaries) to guide the development of data reports that provided information on a school or district’s implementation context (leadership, climate, and citizenship behavior).

Results

Four themes emerged from the interviews including: (1) interpretation and description of the report/feedback; (2) application of data to districts and/or schools; (3) reactions to the report; and (4) use of the report. The results of this qualitative case study point to the importance of incorporating stakeholder feedback as a methodology to ensure the end product (e.g., data report) is meaningful and applicable to the setting and has direct implications for how to incorporate stakeholder feedback to help shape and improve data visualization and interpretation for better use in schools’ decision-making process to support MTSS and other EBP implementation.

Conclusions

Practical implications related to report redesign and the utility of well-designed data products to support school-based implementation are discussed.
Review of the gravity model: origins and critical analysis of its theoretical development
Authors: Capoani Luigi
Published: April 2023

This article presents a bibliographic review of the gravitational model in international trade from when it was first associated with Newton's law of universal gravitation. Firstly, I will introduce the concept of gravity in commerce as originally intended by Isard (Q J Econ 68(2):305–320, 1954) in relation to Tinbergen and Tobler’s approaches. Secondly, I will analyse the theoretical roots of international economics according to several authors, including McCallum, Anderson and van Wincoop, Krugman, Tranos, and Nijkamp. Thirdly, attention will be drawn to the evolution of the ideas of the authors mentioned above upon Isard’s initial approach rooted in physics. Furthermore, I will focus on how the tool rooted in physics can be applied or adapted to international trade. Throughout this article, I will try to keep the econophysical nature of this model.