bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Universal Features of Turbulent/Non-turbulent and Turbulent/Turbulent Interfaces
Authors: D. Alves Pedro , Zecchetto Marco , P. Xavier Ricardo , Buxton Oliver , B. da Silva Carlos
Published: December 2024

The characteristics of turbulent/non-turbulent interfaces and turbulent/turbulent interfaces (TNTI and TTI) are analysed by new carefully designed direct numerical simulations (DNS). Whereas TNTIs separate the turbulent from the non-turbulent region in free shear flows and turbulent boundary layers, TTIs appear whenever two regions of distinct turbulent characteristics interact such as in turbulent jets and wakes surrounded by external turbulent flow, or strongly perturbed turbulent boundary layers, i.e., when the external flow is in turbulent condition. Direct numerical simulations (DNS) of temporally evolving and spatially evolving TTIs are carried out to analyse the conditional mean profiles of enstrophy. Preliminary results suggest that, if properly normalised using the mean local Kolmogorov velocity and length scale, these conditional mean profiles are universal.
Entrainment Across a Turbulent/Turbulent Interface: Points of Distinction from the Turbulent/Non-turbulent Interface
Authors: R. H. Buxton Oliver
Published: December 2024

We show that the physics of a turbulent/turbulent interface (TTI) are different from those of a turbulent/non-turbulent interface (TNTI), with inertial vorticity stretching being wholly responsible for creating the enstrophy discontinuity in the former, whilst viscous diffusion dominates in the outermost region of the latter. We show how the entrainment velocity evolves spatially across a TTI formed between a planar-wake and turbulent backgrounds of various characteristic turbulence intensities and length scales. Background turbulence is shown to enhance entrainment in the near-wake where both nibbling and engulfment are active, whilst it suppresses entrainment in the far-wake where nibbling is the predominant entrainment mechanism. Finally, we consider the entrainment of streamwise momentum and kinetic energy and show that the presence of background turbulence can modify the efficiency with which these quantities are entrained with respect to mass but these effects are only important in the near-wake.
Strukturierte Ersteinschätzung in der Notaufnahme mittels des intelligenten Assistenzdienstes OPTINOFA
Authors: Blaschke Sabine , Dormann Harald , Somasundaram Rajan , Dodt Christoph , Graeff Ingo , Busch Hans-Jörg , Erdmann Bernadett , Wieckenberg Marc , Haedicke Christoph , Esslinger Katrin , Nyoungui Elisabeth , Friede Tim , Walcher Felix , Talamo Julia , Wolff Julia K. ,   OPTINOFA Study Group, Behringer Wilhelm , Heida Ulrich , Ruhnke Thomas , Günster Christian , Dröge Patrik , Schmucker Michael , Haag Martin , Dietrich Michael , Schirrmeister Wiebke , Greiner Felix , Ludolph Paul , Nolting Hans-Dieter , Pischek-Koch Kerstin , Wache Stefanie , Chaplinskaya-Sobol Irina , Krefting Dagmar , Antweiler Kai , Hummers Eva , Karg Marina , Lenz Jennifer , Munski Kathrein , Brockmann Andreas , Boehne Wiebke , Teupe Heike
Published: December 2024

Die Organisation der Notfallversorgung in Deutschland bedarf einer grundlegenden Reform. Die Steuerung der Patientenströme in den ambulanten bzw. stationären Sektor stellt hierbei eine der zentralen Herausforderungen dar.

Im Innovationsfondsprojekt OPTINOFA wurde ein neues Triageinstrument zur strukturierten Ersteinschätzung von Behandlungsdringlichkeit und Notfallversorgungsstufe entwickelt und in einer clusterrandomisierten kontrollierten Studie im Stepped-wedge-Design in 8 Modellkliniken (davon 2 Per-protocol-Modellkliniken) im Zeitraum vom 01.07.2019 bis zum 31.05.2021 evaluiert. Zudem wurden Vergleichsdaten für allgemeine zeitliche Trends von einer Modellklinik im gleichen Zeitraum erhoben. Der primäre Endpunkt der Studie umfasste den Anstieg der Weiterleitung in den ambulanten Sektor; die sekundären Endpunkte bezogen sich auf Outcome, Prozess- und Qualitätsindikatoren sowie Kosten der Notfallbehandlung.

Im Kontrollzeitraum wurden in den Modellkliniken n = 46.558 und im Interventionszeitraum n = 37.485 Notfälle in die Studie eingeschlossen. Für den primären Endpunkt ergab sich in den Per-protocol-Modellkliniken ein signifikanter Anstieg der Zuweisungen in den ambulanten Sektor (p < 0,001; OR = 10,59). In Bezug auf die Wartezeiten fand sich eine signifikante Reduktion um durchschnittlich 20 min im Interventionszeitraum. Die stationäre Aufnahmerate innerhalb von 3 Tagen nach primär ambulanter Notfallbehandlung blieb im Interventionszeitraum stabil. In der Kostenanalyse ergab sich keine Kostensteigerung innerhalb von 28 Tagen nach der Notaufnahmevorstellung.

Im Innovationsfondsprojekt OPTINOFA konnte ein valider Assistenzdienst zur strukturierten Ersteinschätzung von Behandlungsdringlichkeit und Versorgungsstufe in der Notaufnahme entwickelt und als digitales Triageinstrument im interoperablen Format zur Verfügung gestellt werden. Die Studienergebnisse belegen ein großes Potenzial für die OPTINOFA-Triage zur transsektoralen Steuerung der Patientenströme in der Notfall- und Akutmedizin.
Plant use at Funnel Beaker sites: combined macro- and microremains analysis at the Early Neolithic site of Frydenlund, Denmark (ca. 3600 bce)
Authors: Out Welmoed A. , García-Granero Juan José , Andreasen Marianne H. , Patús Cristina N. , Kirleis Wiebke , Barfod Gry H. , Andersen Niels H.
Published: December 2024

Understanding the neolithisation process in northern Europe requires detailed knowledge of both the type of crop plants as well as gathered food plants from Neolithic Funnel Beaker sites (4000–2800 bce). However, although many sites from this culture are known, significant gaps remain in our knowledge on which taxa were used as well as on how plant food was prepared. Here, we present the results of combined plant macro- and microremains from the Early Neolithic site of Frydenlund in present-day Denmark. The macroremains include carbonised seeds, fruits and underground storage organs from a variety of contexts. The microremains are phytoliths and starch granules recovered from 14 grinding stones that are among the oldest from Denmark as well as the first from this region analysed using state-of-the-art methods. The data are discussed in the context of an updated overview of crop spectra, evidence of gathered plants and of plant food preparation techniques at Funnel Beaker sites in the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Sweden. The results from the Early Neolithic site of Frydenlund show that the macroremains assemblage was dominated by Triticum turgidum ssp. durum (durum wheat), T. turgidum ssp. dicoccum (emmer wheat) and Hordeum vulgare var. nudum (naked barley), which apart from durum wheat fits the observed pattern from other Funnel Beaker sites in northwestern Europe. These crops were presumably cultivated separately as summer crops. Corylus avellana (hazel), Rubus fruticosus (blackberry) and R. idaeus (raspberry) were probably consumed as well, and possibly R. caesius (dewberry). While cereals were abundant in the macroremains assemblage, the microremains from the grinding stones indicate that these were used for grinding solely wild plants. The carbonised cereal grain fragments are therefore interpreted as possible evidence of cereal consumption mainly in the form of porridge or gruel, which corresponds well to comparable finds at other contemporary northwestern European sites. Future analysis of comparable high-quality data on combined macro- and microremains analysis is necessary to further refine our understanding of plant diets and plant food preparation techniques of the Funnel Beaker Culture as well as during the neolithisation process.
Sampling-free investigation of microbial carbon source preferences on renewable feedstocks via online monitoring of oxygen transfer rate
Authors: Grebe Luca Antonia , Richter Paul , Altenkirch Torben , Mann Marcel , Müller Markus Jan , Büchs Jochen , Magnus Jørgen Barsett
Published: December 2024

The transition towards sustainable bioprocesses requires renewable feedstocks to reduce dependency on finite resources. While plant-based feedstocks offer significant potential, their complex composition poses new challenges. The microorganisms often exhibit polyauxic growth when presented with multiple carbon sources simultaneously, consuming them in a distinct order according to their carbon source preferences. The traditional investigation of polyauxic growth involves laborious sampling and offline analysis, hindering high-throughput screenings. This study introduces an efficient method for identifying carbon source consumption and their order of metabolization by various microorganisms using the respiration activity monitoring system (RAMOS) in shake flasks. As aerobic carbon metabolization and oxygen consumption are strictly correlated, the characteristic phases of polyauxic growth are visible in the oxygen transfer rate (OTR) and can be assigned to the respective carbon sources. An extended 16-flask RAMOS enables real-time monitoring of microbial respiration on up to seven carbon sources and one reference cultivation simultaneously, thus providing crucial insights into their metabolization without extensive sampling and offline analysis. The method’s accuracy was validated against traditional high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Its applicability to both fast-growing Escherichia coli (investigated carbon sources: glucose, arabinose, sorbitol, xylose, and glycerol) and slow-growing Ustilago trichophora (glucose, glycerol, xylose, sorbitol, rhamnose, galacturonic acid, and lactic acid) was demonstrated. Additionally, it was successfully applied to the plant-based second-generation feedstock corn leaf hydrolysate, revealing the bioavailability of the included carbon sources (glucose, sucrose, arabinose, xylose, and galactose) and their order of metabolization by Ustilago maydis.
Trade-offs and management strategies for ecosystem services in mixed Scots pine and Maritime pine forests
Authors: Vázquez-Veloso A. , Ruano I. , Bravo F.
Published: December 2024

Mixed forests are increasingly recognized for their resilience to climate change and enhanced ecosystem services (ESs) provision, making them a focal point for sustainable forest management strategies. This study examines the trade-offs in ESs provision between pure and different proportions of mixed stands of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) in the Northern Iberian Range, Spain. Using the SIMANFOR simulation platform, we evaluated various silvicultural scenarios developed to obtain different ESs such as carbon sequestration, timber and mushroom yields. Our findings reveal that ESs provision varies depending on the forest type (pure or mixed) and the mixture proportion, following different trends on each ES. The initial species proportions and their maintenance were less critical than the management approach itself, which significantly influenced ESs outcomes. Focusing solely on individual ESs can lead to trade-offs, as highlighted by our study on silviculture focused on large saw timber yields. However, adopting a balanced approach that considers multiple ESs can mitigate these trade-offs. Our findings underscore the effectiveness of this approach in maximizing yields of mushrooms, sequestered carbon, and small saw timber. This research provides valuable insights for forest managers aiming to balance productivity and sustainability in ESs provision, providing strategies to maximize compatible ESs effectively.
Deepening the Conversation on Systemic Sustainability Risks: A Social-Ecological Systems Approach
Authors: Ahlström Hanna , Williams Amanda , Wassénius Emmy , Downing Andrea S.
Published: December 2024

Narrow views of systemic sustainability risks can result in ecological concerns being neglected, as well as giving rise to unequal distribution and exploitation of natural resources, creating injustice. Given recent advancements in integrating justice with the safe space environmentally, as defined by the planetary boundaries, now is a critical moment for business ethics researchers to deepen the conversation on managing systemic sustainability risks to create a safe and just operating space. We argue that the social-ecological systems approach, that views humans as embedded in and dependent on the natural environment, provides a foundation for business ethics scholars to deepen the conversation. We build on two key dimensions from the social-ecological systems approach, social-ecological connectivity and cross-scale dynamics to develop a framework that illustrates four ways for business ethics scholars to research systemic sustainability risks. We demonstrate the relevance of these dimensions for understanding systemic sustainability risks, discuss their ethical implications, and outline opportunities for future research.
Young children’s understanding of AI
Authors: Heeg Dagmar Mercedes , Avraamidou Lucy
Published: December 2024

AI has become integral to daily life. Teaching, learning, and research are no exception. However, most studies on education have approached AI as a technology and focused mostly on learning outcomes rather than understanding student engagement and sense-making of AI as a socio-cultural tool with impact on their daily lives. To address this gap in the knowledge base, we performed a qualitative case study to explore young children’s conceptualization of AI not only as a technology but also as a tool utilised in their everyday lives. We collected data through semi-structured group interviews with eighteen children aged 11 to 12 and thematically analyzed the data through a combination of deductive and inductive coding techniques. The findings suggest that: a) children’s conceptualizations of AI as a technology are grounded in their personal experiences; b) children have a socio-cultural approach to AI in which they experience and understand AI as first and foremost a supportive tool; and, c) children exhibit a high level of engagement with ethics of AI, showing a keen interest in the socio-cultural implications, particularly about AI applications with which they are familiar. Based on these findings and grounded within existing literature, we offer a set of recommendations for the design of engaging and personally relevant AI education curriculum materials for young children with critical AI literacy at the forefront.
The Effectiveness of Interventions to Increase Employment in Education and Healthcare: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Fleck Lara , Somers Melline , Stolp Tom , Groot Wim , van Merode Frits , de Vries Ralph
Published: December 2024

Both the healthcare and education sector suffer from considerable staff shortages. In the healthcare sector, shortages are particularly prominent for nurses, while the education sector experiences significant teacher shortages. In this systematic literature review, we examine the effectiveness of interventions and policies to reduce staff shortages in healthcare and education in high-income countries. We focus our analysis on studies that apply research designs that allow for causal inference to inform policymakers about the effectiveness of interventions. In total, we include 85 studies that meet our inclusion criteria. Out of these studies, 71 studies focus on teachers and 14 on nurses, and 72 of the retrieved studies were conducted in the US. The majority of studies examine the impact of financial incentives and a large share of these studies report positive effects on teacher employment. Moreover, different types of interventions that invest in workers’ human capital show predominantly positive effects on employment. Interventions that equip nurses with skills to better cope with the stressors of their profession seem to be particularly effective. The same holds for policies that increase the scope of practice for nurses. Finally, effective school leaders are better capable of retaining (high-quality) teachers.
Mapping Economic Growth and Employment in EU-Funded Research Projects: Trac(k)ing the SDG 8 Trajectory
Authors: Boudt Kris , Inghels Yanick , Spithoven André
Published: December 2024

Research on Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8) promotes sustained economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work. This paper presents a complementary approach to standard systematic literature reviews and monitors the intended ex-ante research efforts on SDG 8. We introduce a large-scale research project analysis framework to trace and track the prevalence of SDGs within research funded by the European Union (EU) since 1984, underscoring the EU's significant role in promoting research on sustainable development. Using the publicly available CORDIS database, we identify the extent to which SDG 8 related targets have been represented in the titles and abstracts of projects funded by the EU's Framework Programmes. Our findings reveal that SDG 8-related research projects are dominated by four targets: economic growth, productivity, entrepreneurship and decent work, and full and decent employment.
Psychiatry as Mind-shaping
Authors: Russell Jodie Louise
Published: December 2024

I argue that psychiatric researchers, clinicians, and the wider public actively regulate the minds of individuals with mental disorder through the prescriptive processes of mind-shaping (see Andrews in South J Philos 53:50–67, 2015a; Andrews in Philos Explor 18(2):282–296, 2015b; McGeer, in: Folk psychology re-assessed, Springer, Berlin, 2007; McGeer in Philos Explor 18:259–281, 2015; Mameli in Biol Philos 16(5):595–626, 2001; Zawidzki in Philos Explor 11(3):193–210, 2008; Zawidzki, in: Kiverstein (ed) The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy of the Social Mind, Taylor and Francis Group, London, 2016). Consequently, all those with a vested interest in the language of mental disorder should take a critical and dialogical approach in how concepts of psychopathology are developed, disseminated and used. Mind-shaping describes how our folk-psychological categorizations actively regulate the behaviour of those categorized. This is done through setting certain norms, which can be achieved through the application of folk-psychological concepts. I argue that psychiatry has embedded norms and goals in its activities that are non-epistemic in nature and these are not only bound up in disorder concepts, but also in the social roles that clinicians, researchers and patients play. In this way, psychiatry uses folk-psychological type tools for the social understanding of individuals with mental disorder, and the application of these tools also helps it meet these non-epistemic goals. Given this, I characterise psychiatry as partaking in mind-shaping. When we characterise psychiatry as mind-shaping, we are then able to explain occurrences of looping effects between disorder categories and individuals categorized (Haslam in J Psychopathol 22(1):4–9, 2016) and provide a theoretical basis for the occurrence of hermeneutical injustice in the field of mental health.
The influence of seeding method and water depth on the morphology and biomass yield of farmed sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) at a small-scale cultivation site in the northeast Atlantic
Authors: Wilding Catherine M. , Smith Kathryn E. , Daniels Carly L. , Knoop Jessica , Smale Dan A.
Published: December 2024

Seaweed farming is a rapidly growing global industry, driven by increasing demand for biomass with a range of commercial applications. A major barrier limiting expansion of the industry is the need for cost-effective approaches to production. Established twine seeding methods are reliable, but recently developed binder methods offer potential scalability while minimising hatchery costs. Here, we compared growth of the farmed kelp Saccharina latissima using these two seeding methods. We also examined the influence of water depth on biomass production within a vertical cultivation system. Twine consistently achieved greater S. latissima biomass yield, with mean biomass almost four times higher than from binder seeding, and sporophytes reaching significantly greater density and total length. The biomass, length and density of S. latissima decreased with increasing water depth, a pattern which was more pronounced with twine seeding. We also observed morphological variability, with larger individuals on twine compared with binder treatments at all depths. Natural settlement of the non-target macroalga Sacchoriza polyschides was also recorded, at significantly greater biomass on binder treatments and at greater depths. Further work is needed to examine the predictability and extent of natural settlement of S. polyschides, and its potential as a commercially-viable species. Overall, twine seeding methods out-performed binder at a relatively dynamic, open coast, small-scale cultivation site. Moreover, while vertical cultivation systems can maximise yield relative to the spatial footprint of a seaweed farm, the marked reduction in cultivated biomass with increasing water depth should be considered within the local environmental context.
The Association Between Chronic Pain Acceptance and Pain-Related Disability: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: White Kyle M. , Zale Emily L. , Lape Emma C. , Ditre Joseph W.
Published: December 2024

Chronic pain acceptance has been identified as a crucial determinant of functioning among individuals living with chronic pain. However, research examining the relationship between chronic pain acceptance and pain-related disability has revealed variability across studies. The aims of this meta-analysis were to synthesize associations between chronic pain acceptance and pain-related disability, and test the moderating influence of pain characteristics, demographic factors, and methodological variables. Searches of PubMed and PsycINFO electronic databases located 24 studies (N = 6072) reporting correlations between chronic pain acceptance and pain-related disability. Meta-analytic calculations were performed using random effects models. Results indicated a negative association between chronic pain acceptance and pain-related disability that can be characterized as moderate in magnitude (r = −.45) and was stable across pain characteristics and demographic factors. Moderator analyses suggested the association between chronic pain acceptance and pain-related disability may be sensitive to the measures used to assess these constructs. These findings underscore the role of chronic pain acceptance in pain-related disability and reinforce the clinical significance of acceptance-based approaches in enhancing functional outcomes among chronic pain patients.
The Built Environment, PTSD Symptoms, and Tobacco Use among Permanent Supportive Housing Residents
Authors: Hawes Mark R. , Chakravarty Deepalika , Xia Fan , Max Wendy , Kushel Margot , Vijayaraghavan Maya
Published: December 2024

Introduction

50% of permanent supportive housing (PSH) residents in the U.S. smoke cigarettes, and tobacco-related mortality is their number one cause of death. Over 30% of PSH residents have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and many perceive their built environment (e.g., housing) as inadequate for mental and physical health recovery. It is unknown whether built environment factors moderate the relationship between PTSD and tobacco use among PSH residents.

Methods

We used baseline data from 400 participants in a smoke-free home intervention in PSH sites in the San Francisco Bay Area between 2022 and 2024. We explored whether perceived housing quality and perceived neighborhood safety moderated the relationship between PTSD symptoms and cigarettes per day (CPD) using linear mixed models.

Results

62.8% of the participants were male, 41.8% were Black, 30.5% screened positive for PTSD, 54.3% rated their housing as average/poor, and the mean neighborhood safety score was 3.4 (SD 0.9). Mean CPD was significantly higher in participants with PTSD compared to those without PTSD among participants who rated their housing as good/excellent (5.1; 95% CI: 2.7, 7.5) or their neighborhood as safer (7.8; 95% CI: 2.8, 12.8). Mean CPD was not significantly different between those with and without PTSD among participants who rated their housing as average/poor or their neighborhood as less safe.

Conclusions

Perceived housing quality and neighborhood safety moderated the association between PTSD symptoms and CPD. Findings have implications for developing trauma-informed, multi-level interventions for tobacco use that combine individually directed approaches with those that consider the built environment.
Enhancing civic engagement with science: a comparative approach across European regions
Authors: Mocanu Mihaela , Bibiri Anca-Diana , Rusu Valentina Diana , Moroșanu Alina , Bejan Iustinian Gabriel
Published: December 2024

Public understanding of science and his involvement in different aspects of research activities impact contemporary life more than ever. This study compares civic engagement with science across European regions and assesses the determinants of this kind of engagement. The research is based on the Special Eurobarometer data (2021) and uses non-parametric tests and multilevel logistic regression. The results show significant differences between European regions in civic engagement with science, with the most notable distinctions between Northern Europe and the other European regions. The main determinants of civic engagement with science as scientific literacy, citizens’ attitudes towards science, their manifested interest, informing tools, and observed benefits, provide valuable insights for decisional actors to foster greater engagement with science among citizens. The considered determinants reveal a comprehensive view of the complex relationships between individual attitudes, information sources, and perceived benefits, and highlight the diversity of behaviours towards science and community heterogeneity across the continent.
How endogeneity problems are addressed in analyzing the relationship between diversity in top management teams and company financial performance—a systematic literature review
Authors: Tubik Daniel , Herberger Tim Alexander
Published: December 2024

Endogeneity is a primary concern for empirical research that examines the relationship between firm leadership and company performance. This is especially true for demographic heterogeneity in boardrooms and top management teams, where reverse causalities are prevalent. Based on a systematic literature review, we contribute to the current state of empirical literature by highlighting the effects of mitigating endogeneity methodically, showing how studies differ in various types of demographic heterogeneity variables and endogeneity checks, and how all these influence performance outcomes in research. We thus offer a new perspective on the numerous empirical findings already available. Our findings show that most studies acknowledge and check for endogeneity concerns but do so by employing different methodical approaches. We further show that the utilization of various techniques affects the variability in study outcomes regarding relationship directions. Papers employing more sophisticated methods (e.g., System GMM) have a higher share of positive significant findings than our overall sample. Still, the general trend that an overwhelming share of papers finds at least some significant positive relationship between leadership demographic heterogeneity and financial performance holds firm all the techniques employed. We consider research created from 1990 to 2024 for our sample of 163 publications.
Populism and Anti-Populism in Climate Politics: Conflict Line, Contingent Relation, or Tacit Alliance in Climate Obstruction?
Authors: Dannemann Hauke
Published: December 2024

Denial and far-right populism are regularly blamed for the inability of liberal democracies in the Global North to address climate change properly. But what is the nexus of populism and climate obstruction? In this article, I explore how ideational and discursive approaches to populism illuminate mechanisms of climate obstruction. While ideational approaches erroneously imply that there is a line of climate political conflict between “bad” populism and “good” anti-populism, discursive approaches suggest a contingent and relational character of populism, anti-populism, and climate obstruction. They not only enable raising awareness of the strategic–authoritarian character of far-right obstruction and the prevalence of obstruction beyond the far right but also prompt that anti-populist responses qua anti-populism contribute to obstruction by depoliticising climate politics. Eco-populist responses to obstruction that feature a political–strategic proximity to discursive approaches to populism, however, overlook an unresolved tension between agendas of inclusion via economic growth and agendas of ecological limitation. By ignoring this tension, they fail to capture societal boundaries of transformation, and they spread unwarranted strategies to break through climate obstruction politically. Therefore, I argue that instead of establishing a conflict line or a contingent relation, far-right obstruction, anti-populist, and eco-populist responses result in a tacit alliance in climate obstruction. To overcome this deadlock, I suggest research on (far-right) climate obstruction to focus on multiple entanglements of authoritarian defences of an unsustainable and imperial mode of living.
Living well with advanced cancer: a scoping review of non-pharmacological supportive care interventions
Authors: Kumar Brinda , Htaa Moe Thet , Kerin-Ayres Kim , Smith Andrea L. , Lacey Judith , Browne Sarah Bishop , Grant Suzanne
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The increasing number of people living longer with advanced cancer presents unique physical, psychosocial, financial, legal, practical and complex care needs. Supportive care interventions aim to address these needs by improving symptom management, promoting wellbeing, enhancing quality of life and potentially improving prognosis. To integrate supportive care interventions into clinical practice, a comprehensive review of existing studies is needed. This scoping review maps the evidence on non-pharmacological supportive care interventions for people with advanced cancer and identifies gaps to inform future research.

Methods

We systematically searched four electronic databases—CINAHL, Medline, Cochrane and PsycINFO—for peer-reviewed original research on non-pharmacological supportive care interventions for adults with advanced cancer, published from January 1, 2013, to July 1, 2024.

Results

Out of 3716 studies, 84 publications met the inclusion criteria. These studies were categorised into key supportive care domains: physical activity, psychosocial support, patient care and autonomy, multimodal approaches and others. Most publications focused on interventions addressing physical and psychosocial needs, showing benefits such as reduced fatigue, pain and improved mood. However, significant gaps were found in research on interventions addressing practical needs essential to autonomy, including health system and information needs, patient care and support and financial needs.

Conclusion

Mapping the studies to the needs of the advanced cancer population showed that domains with greatest unmet needs have the fewest interventions available. Our scoping review suggests that non-pharmacological supportive care interventions can improve the wellbeing and quality of life of people living with advanced cancer. However, addressing methodological limitations requires further large-scale, multi-centre studies focusing on the identified gaps to inform the implementation of suitable supportive care programs.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

Non-pharmacological interventions can boost wellbeing and quality of life for advanced cancer survivors, but addressing gaps in practical and systemic support is crucial.
Digitised demand response in practice: The role of digital housekeeping for smart energy technologies
Authors: Vindegg Mikkel , Julsrud Tom Erik
Published: December 2024

The renewable energy transition requires more flexible electricity consumption. This article follows up on Norwegian plans to achieve this through demand response and a piloting of smart home technology targeting indoor heating, which we call Smart Energy Technology (SET). Based on 17 in-depth interviews with participants in a technology pilot project, we map the work required to keep the SET system running, how it impacted electricity-consuming household practices, and analyse why use of the system varied widely among participants. We show that the system in question was too complex for other than exceptionally skilled and motivated users, who engaged in extensive “digital housekeeping”. Other users were navigating a complex Norwegian electricity market using technology they found difficult to operate. This was linked with limited system use, which lowered the energy efficiency contribution of the smart system. Smart systems and their use are highly gendered and have the potential both to challenge and reinforce gendered divisions of labour. More research into the gendered impacts of smart systems in Norway is needed. Simpler and more user-friendly systems are necessary for future pilot projects, more hands-on training for users in such pilots is required, and the daily work required to operate complex smart systems should be recognised more clearly by both smart system developers and policy makers.
„es ist gut, dass wir uns updaten“
Authors: Disler Stephanie
Published: December 2024

Schulsozialarbeit in der Schweiz versteht sich in erster Linie als ein Angebot für Kinder und Jugendliche. Gleichzeitig adressiert sie auch die Lehrkräfte und Eltern. Gerade die Zusammenarbeit mit den Lehrpersonen ist ein herausforderndes, vieldiskutiertes und breit besprochenes Thema, wohingegen die Elternarbeit in der Schulsozialarbeit bisher vergleichsweise wenig Beachtung findet und entsprechend seltener beforscht wird. Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird die Elternarbeit der Schulsozialarbeit in den Blick genommen, indem die Adressierung von Eltern durch Fachkräfte analysiert und Überlegungen zur Rolle der Schulsozialarbeit ausgeführt werden.
Inhibition of the cGAS‑STING Pathway Reduces Cisplatin-Induced Inner Ear Hair Cell Damage
Authors: Sun Ying , Zou Shengyu , Xu Xiaoxiang , Xu Shan , Sun Haiying , Tang Mingliang , Kong Weijia , Chen Xiong , He Zuhong
Published: December 2024

Although cisplatin is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, it is severely toxic and causes irreversible hearing loss, restricting its application in clinical settings. This study aimed to determine the molecular mechanism underlying cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. Here, we established in vitro and in vivo ototoxicity models of cisplatin-induced hair cell loss, and our results showed that reducing STING levels decreased inflammatory factor expression and hair cell death. In addition, we found that cisplatin-induced mitochondrial dysfunction was accompanied by cytosolic DNA, which may act as a critical linker between the cyclic GMP-AMP synthesis−stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) pathway and the pathogenesis of cisplatin-induced hearing loss. H-151, a specific inhibitor of STING, reduced hair cell damage and ameliorated the hearing loss caused by cisplatin in vivo. This study underscores the role of cGAS-STING in cisplatin ototoxicity and presents H-151 as a promising therapeutic for hearing loss.
Die Konzeption von Erfolg aus Sicht von Absolvent:innen mit Beeinträchtigung: Schlüsselaspekte der Inklusion in der deutschen Hochschulbildung
Authors: Lopez-Gavira Rosario , Orozco Inmaculada , Angerhausen Pascal
Published: December 2024

Während sich in den letzten Jahren verschiedene Wissenschaftler:innen mit der Inklusion und dem Bildungserfolg von Menschen mit Beeinträchtigungen auseinandergesetzt haben, bleibt die Frage, was diese selbst unter Studienerfolg verstehen, weitgehend außer Acht. Das erste Ziel dieses Artikels ist es, die Konzeptionen von Erfolg in der Hochschulbildung und die Schlüsselfaktoren zu analysieren, die zum Hochschulerfolg von 28 Absolvent:innen mit Beeinträchtigung aus 16 deutschen Hochschulen beigetragen haben. Das zweite Ziel besteht darin, Empfehlungen zu geben, die die Teilnehmenden selbst an andere Studierende mit Beeinträchtigung sowie an die Hochschulen richten, um ihren Erfolg in der Hochschulbildung zu verbessern. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Teilnehmenden unterschiedliche Konzeptionen von Erfolg haben (Erreichen eines Abschlusses, gute Noten, Erlernen und Entwickeln von Fähigkeiten, Sammeln von praktischen Erfahrungen, Überwinden von Herausforderungen und Aufrechterhalten eines Gleichgewichts zwischen Studium und Gesundheit) sowie verschiedene persönliche Faktoren (die Behinderung als treibende Kraft) und kontextuelle Faktoren (soziales und familiäres Umfeld, Auslandsaufenthalte, positives Feedback, Anerkennung von Leistungen und zugängliche Online-Kurse und digitalisierte Materialien) als relevant für ihren Erfolg identifizierten. Die Ergebnisse zeigen ferner, dass es für den Erfolg in der Hochschulbildung und die Stärkung von Studierenden mit Beeinträchtigung entscheidend ist, die Stimmen von Absolvent:innen mit Behinderung zu hören.
Transforming Online Teacher Training Through Expansive Learning: A Case Study Applying Cultural-Historical Activity Theory and the Change Laboratory Method
Authors: Chen Ken-Zen , Tseng Jing-Yu , Oakley Barbara
Published: December 2024

This study investigates the transformative potential of a professional development program launched in 2022 to meet the evolving needs of digital teaching competencies within K-12 and higher education sectors. Using the Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) and Change Laboratory (CL) framework, the research examines how a MOOC platform designed and iteratively improved a training program for high school teachers, enhancing their online teaching capabilities. Data were collected through meeting minutes, course materials, participant surveys, and platform engagement analyzed using inductive qualitative methods. The study identifies critical contradictions and tensions within the MOOC platform’s activity system and explores how these challenges were resolved through collaborative and expansive learning. Findings show that the vibrant learning community established through the MOOC platform was critical in supporting teachers’ continuous professional development. Teachers expanded their professional capabilities through peer mentoring, collective problem-solving, and sharing innovative practices, adapting to digital education’s changing demands. The study highlights the importance of ongoing support and community-driven learning in sustaining long-term professional growth. The insights gained through CHAT and CL provide fresh perspectives on the dynamics of online teacher training programs, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement to address evolving needs. The study affirms the critical role of vibrant digital teacher communities as hubs for learning, collaboration, and innovation, calling for further CHAT-based research to enhance MOOC platforms and enrich educational exchanges.
Nonnatural automorphisms of the Hilbert scheme of two points of some simple abelian varieties
Authors: Sasaki Yuya
Published: December 2024

We construct nonnatural automorphisms of the Hilbert scheme of two points of some simple abelian varieties preserving the big diagonal by considering automorphisms of the n-th product of the abelian varieties.
Concurrently Boosting Activity and Stability of Oxygen Reduction Reaction Catalysts via Judiciously Crafting Fe–Mn Dual Atoms for Fuel Cells
Authors: Zhang Lei , Dong Yuchen , Li Lubing , Shi Yuchuan , Zhang Yan , Wei Liting , Dong Chung-Li , Lin Zhiqun , Su Jinzhan
Published: December 2024

The ability to unlock the interplay between the activity and stability of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) represents an important endeavor toward creating robust ORR catalysts for efficient fuel cells. Herein, we report an effective strategy to concurrent enhance the activity and stability of ORR catalysts via constructing atomically dispersed Fe–Mn dual-metal sites on N-doped carbon (denoted (FeMn-DA)–N–C) for both anion-exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFC) and proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). The (FeMn-DA)–N–C catalysts possess ample dual-metal atoms consisting of adjacent Fe-N4 and Mn-N4 sites on the carbon surface, yielded via a facile doping-adsorption-pyrolysis route. The introduction of Mn carries several advantageous attributes: increasing the number of active sites, effectively anchoring Fe due to effective electron transfer to Mn (revealed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy and density-functional theory (DFT), thus preventing the aggregation of Fe), and effectively circumventing the occurrence of Fenton reaction, thus reducing the consumption of Fe. The (FeMn-DA)–N–C catalysts showcase half-wave potentials of 0.92 and 0.82 V in 0.1 M KOH and 0.1 M HClO4, respectively, as well as outstanding stability. As manifested by DFT calculations, the introduction of Mn affects the electronic structure of Fe, down-shifts the d-band Fe active center, accelerates the desorption of OH groups, and creates higher limiting potentials. The AEMFC and PEMFC with (FeMn-DA)–N–C as the cathode catalyst display high power densities of 1060 and 746 mW cm−2, respectively, underscoring their promising potential for practical applications. Our study highlights the robustness of designing Fe-containing dual-atom ORR catalysts to promote both activity and stability for energy conversion and storage materials and devices.
Exploring the Solidification Sequence and Solid-State Transformations in High-Boron Multi-Component Cast Alloys by Differential Scanning Calorimetry
Authors: Chabak Yuliia , Golinskyi Michail , Podobova Maria , Petryshynets Ivan , Efremenko Vasily , Zurnadzhy Vadym , Halfa Hossam , Efremenko Bohdan , Khrunyk Yuliya
Published: December 2024

The newly designed multi-component (Fe–5 wt.% W–5 wt.% Mo–5 wt.% V–10 wt.% Cr–2.5 wt.% Ti) cast alloys, containing 0.7–1.1 wt.% C and 2.7–3.6 wt.% B, are intended for tribological applications. The present work was aimed at studying the solidification sequence and phase transformation temperature intervals of the above-mentioned alloys, in order to elucidate their structural status and further develop an appropriate heat treatment regime. For this purpose, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), microstructure observation and thermodynamic modeling were applied. Two temperature ranges of exothermic reaction (caused by the release of latent heat during transformation) were revealed at 1200-1091  °C and ≤400 °C. The first range was caused by the primary carboboride (M(C,B), M2(B,C)5) precipitation, followed by sequential eutectic reactions with the formation of carboborides M2(B,C)5, M7(C,B)3, and M3(C,B). The temperature ranges of eutectic transformations decreased with the increase in carbon and boron contents. Low-temperature exothermic reactions (at 399-181 °C) referred to the transformation of austenite into bainite or martensite. The values of the latent heat of the transformations were calculated and discussed.

Graphical Abstract
UK Counter-Terrorism and Multiple and Complex Needs: A Policy-Informed Discourse Analysis
Authors: Knudsen Rita Augestad , Betts Paul
Published: December 2024

Of the four work strands of UK counter-terrorism (CT), Prevent and Pursue are directed towards stopping individuals from becoming involved in terrorism, and investigating and prosecuting those suspected of terrorist crimes. Over the past few years, both these two work strands of UK CT seem to have captured more individuals with Multiple and Complex Needs (MCN), especially people of young age and with mental health issues. This article describes key UK CT discourse on the terrorist threat landscape and its proposed countermeasures, with particular regard to the role of MCN. It considers the extent to which discourse on the threat and set-up of UK CT seems to correspond to academic research, media reporting and other open sources—and is interested in whether the apparent increase of MCN in UK CT (only) reflect real-life developments in the threat landscape, or whether the current structure of UK CT may disproportionately draw in individuals with MCN. It finds that while accurately capturing some recent trends, UK CT discourse overall reifies largely outdated ideas of the role of ideational radicalisation and of there being a sharp distinction between the categories of vulnerability and risk. It also suggests that the emphasis of UK CT seems to increasingly be on the category of risk and on the logic of Pursue—also when MCN are involved—rather than proposing a multifaceted approach to the ever-changing complexity of the threat of terrorism.
Identification and amplification of candidate genes for virus defence in common ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.)
Authors: Köbölkuti Z. A. , Rehanek M. , von Bargen S. , Büttner C. , Fussi B.
Published: December 2024

Across various European countries, Fraxinus excelsior L. is facing a decline caused by Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. The underlying mechanisms of the disease are still insufficiently understood in detail. Observations suggest that, in addition to the main pathogen, viral infections may also contribute to the decline of ash trees. We described homologues in the F. excelsior genome of formerly annotated virus resistance genes in model species and tested the applicability of primers on these gene fragments. Further, a prediction of cis-acting regulatory elements and transcription factor binding sites was accomplished, to determine the exact location of the promoters of these genes in the ash genome. After annotation and filtering the low-complexity regions, primers for use with genomic DNA were designed on sequences that showed a high degree of similarity and equality in length to translated regions and promoters of these regions. From the newly designed primers, those with the most favourable primer selection parameters were selected and tested on eight virus infected—four symptomatic and four asymptomatic—samples. The amplified products were analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis. From all producing one-band amplicons, 36 primer pairs amplifying translated, and 36 primers amplifying promoter regions were selected. Our study is the first step of a SNP discovery and marker development test. The further marker development on these sequences could be useful for the selection of ash individuals with various resistance to viral infections, providing a route for a more thorough understanding of the ash dieback–virus resistance interaction.