bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in an Egyptian cohort
Authors: Soliman Radwa , Onbool Enass , Omran Kareem , Fahmy Nagia
Published: September 2024

Objective

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder associated with progressive loss of motor neurons. It is a growing and underestimated disease, prompting this epidemiological study to describe the characteristics of ALS in Egyptian patients.

Methods

This is a prospective hospital based study. ALS patients were recruited consecutively from Neuromuscular Unit in Ain Shams university Hospital from December 2018 to June 2023. Demographic data and disease related parameters were recorded.

Results

203 ALS patients had a mean age of onset equal 39 years and an inter quartile range IQR of (28.00–51.00). 76% of the cases were spinal onset ALS. Median disease duration was 2 years with IQR of (1–4 years); male to female ratio was 2.5:1; 18% of patients were familial ALS (FALS), while 19% were Juvenile ALS (JALS). Median diagnostic delay was 12 ± (6–36) months. Median Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale Revised scores (ALSFRS-R) at presentation was 34.5 IQR of (26.00–40.00). Also, the mean rate of disease progression ALSFRS-R decline [points/month] was 0.76 ± 0.51.

Conclusion

Our cohort was characterized by a younger age of onset, male predominance, more familial cases, within average Initial ALSFRS-R scores as well as diagnostic delay. Juvenile ALS patients were much more common in our population. These findings suggest an influential presence of genetic and epigenetic factors affecting the clinical phenotype of Egyptian ALS patients.
Impact of shifting from rice to shrimp farming on migration aspirations in Bangladesh
Authors: Samui Sayantan , Mallick Bishawjit , Bailey Ajay
Published: September 2024

The Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna delta is one of the most populous deltas in the world, threatened by diverse environmental stressors, including salinity intrusion, causing adverse consequences on livelihood adaptation. Shrimp farming has been recognized as one of the most practiced livelihoods among various livelihood opportunities. Growing global demand and higher economic returns encouraged many farmers to convert their agricultural land to shrimp farms by intruding saline water into the farmlands to produce shrimps. In this study, we investigated whether the growing trend of shrimp farming influences the migration aspirations of the vulnerable coastal communities in Bangladesh. The study employed qualitative interviews with individuals in four villages in southwest coastal Bangladesh. Satellite images were analyzed to detect land-use changes and changes in soil salinity in the last 28 years, confirming a rapid increase in shrimp farms. Results from the qualitative interviews indicate that poor people with limited resources cannot produce paddy on their land because of increased soil salinity caused by shrimp farming. Such a situation leads them to aspire to migrate. Thus, our analysis contributes to the discourse on “aspiration and capability” in environmental migration by adding the impacts of land-use changes on livelihoods.
A Hamilton principle-based model for diffusion-driven biofilm growth
Authors: Klempt Felix , Soleimani Meisam , Wriggers Peter , Junker Philipp
Published: September 2024

Dense communities of bacteria, also known as biofilms, are ubiquitous in all of our everyday life. They are not only always surrounding us, but are also active inside our bodies, for example in the oral cavity. While some biofilms are beneficial or even necessary for human life, others can be harmful. Therefore, it is highly important to gain an in-depth understanding of biofilms which can be achieved by in vitro or in vivo experiments. Since these experiments are often time-consuming or expensive, in silico models have proven themselves to be a viable tool in assisting the description and analysis of these complicated processes. Current biofilm growth simulations are using mainly two approaches for describing the underlying models. The volumetric approach splits the deformation tensor into a growth and an elastic part. In this approach, the mass never changes, unless some additional constraints are enforced. The density-based approach, on the other hand, uses an evolution equation to update the growing tissue by adding mass. Here, the density stays constant, and no pressure is exerted. The in silico model presented in this work combines the two approaches. Thus, it is possible to capture stresses inside of the biofilm while adding mass. Since this approach is directly derived from Hamilton’s principle, it fulfills the first and second law of thermodynamics automatically, which other models need to be checked for separately. In this work, we show the derivation of the model as well as some selected numerical experiments. The numerical experiments show a good phenomenological agreement with what is to be expected from a growing biofilm. The numerical behavior is stable, and we are thus capable of solving complicated boundary value problems. In addition, the model is very reactive to different input parameters, thereby different behavior of various biofilms can be captured without modifying the model.
Short-term outcomes of gastric per-oral endoscopic pyloromyotomy (G-POEM) then and now: a comparison analysis
Authors: Rashid Shazia , Neice Michelle , Mubashir Maryam , Raza Syed Musa , Roppolo Natalie , Andrus Victoria , Okuampa David , Pass Brittany , Armstrong Elizabeth , Dies Ross , Kawji Lena , Deville Ashely , Ahsan Sidra , Mekaroonkamol Parit , Cai Qiang
Published: September 2024

Background

Gastric per-oral endoscopic pyloromyotomy (G-POEM) has been performed for 10 years in the treatment of refractory gastroparesis (Gp). Many studies from the early years of G‑POEM reported short-term outcomes with 60–80% clinical success. Notably, no recent studies have assessed short-term outcomes after a decade of experience with this procedure. In this study, we compare the short-term outcomes of our initial 16 patients undergoing G‑POEM 8 years ago with 16 of our recent patients undergoing G‑POEM.

Patients and methods

The initial 16 patients who underwent G‑POEM from 06/2015 to 07/2016 (group A; the first 16 G-POEM procedures QC performed) and 16 recent patients who underwent G‑POEM from 07/2021 to 01/2022 (group B; the first 16 procedures performed when QC moved to a different institution) were enrolled in the study. Patients’ demographics, clinical success, procedure time, and length of hospital stay were analyzed and compared between the two groups. All procedures were performed by a single advanced endoscopist (QC).

Results

Patients’ age, gender, and etiology of gastroparesis were similar between the two groups. There were no differences between the two groups in terms of short-term clinical outcomes. However, there was a significant difference in procedure time and the length of hospital stay between the two groups. There were no adverse events reported for either group A or group B.

Conclusion

For a single experienced advanced submucosal endoscopist, there were no differences in the short-term clinical outcomes of G‑POEM when comparing the initial timeframe of performing G‑POEM with that after 8 years of experience at the time of the study in a different institution. Notably, the procedure time and the length of hospital stay were significantly shorter after 8 years of practice.
Compact minimal submanifolds of the Riemannian symmetric spaces $${{\textbf {S}}U}(n)/\textbf{SO}(n)$$, $${{\textbf {S}}p}(n)/{{\textbf {U}}}(n)$$, $$\textbf{SO}(2n)/{{\textbf {U}}}(n)$$, $${{\textbf {S}}U}(2n)/{{\textbf {S}}p}(n)$$ via complex-valued eigenfunctions
Authors: Gegenfurtner Johanna Marie , Gudmundsson Sigmundur
Published: September 2024

In this work we construct new multi-dimensional families of compact minimal submanifolds of the classical Riemannian symmetric spaces $${{\textbf {S}}U}(n)/\textbf{SO}(n)$$

S
U

(
n
)
/
SO
(
n
)

, $${{\textbf {S}}p}(n)/{{\textbf {U}}}(n)$$

S
p

(
n
)
/
U
(
n
)

, $$\textbf{SO}(2n)/{{\textbf {U}}}(n)$$

SO
(
2
n
)
/
U
(
n
)

and $${{\textbf {S}}U}(2n)/{{\textbf {S}}p}(n)$$

S
U

(
2
n
)
/

S
p

(
n
)

of codimension two.
Theoretical properties of the MiCRO negotiation strategy
Authors: Jonge Dave de
Published: September 2024

Recently, we have introduced a new algorithm for automated negotiation, called MiCRO, which, despite its simplicity, outperforms many state-of-the-art negotiation strategies (de Jonge, in: Raedt (ed) Proceedings of the thirty-first international joint conference on artificial intelligence, ijcai.org, Vienna, Austria, 2022). Furthermore, we claimed that under certain conditions which typically hold in the Automated Negotiating Agents Competition (ANAC), it is a game-theoretically optimal strategy. The goal of this paper is to formally prove those claims. Specifically, we define ‘negotiation’ as an extensive-form game and define the class of consistent strategies for this game, which consists of those strategies that satisfy a number of rationality criteria. We then prove that under the above mentioned conditions MiCRO is a best response against itself among all consistent negotiation strategies. Furthermore, we define the notion of a balanced negotiation domain, which is a domain in which two MiCRO agents would always come to an optimal agreement. Finally, we show that many of the domains used in ANAC indeed happen to be (approximately) balanced. The importance of this work is that if we know under which conditions MiCRO is theoretically optimal, then we can use this to test to what extent other negotiation algorithms are able to achieve similar results to MiCRO when applied under those same conditions. Furthermore, it would help researchers to design more challenging test cases for automated negotiation in which MiCRO is not optimal.
An emergency supply policy for an inventory replenishment model with returns and partial backorders
Authors: Drezner Nethanel , Barron Yonit
Published: September 2024

This paper studies a continuous-review inventory replenishment model with a limited storage capacity S in an uncertain environment. We assume that the demands and returns follow independent Poisson processes. We further assume a ra1079 shelf life, a random lead time, and early loss. The storage is managed according to the base-stock (S, s) policy for $$s0.$$

s
<
S
,
S
>
0
.

In case of overstock, each returned item exceeding S is transferred to a foreign facility. If during the lead time a demand reaches zero stock, we consider two alternatives: either allow partial backordering up to $$L_{B}$$

L
B

items, beyond which the unsatisfied demand is lost, or call for an immediate and costly emergency supply up to level $$0<Q_{B}^{e}\le S$$

0
<

Q

B

e

≤
S

. Our objective is to study how the thresholds s,  S,  $$L_{B},$$

L
B

,

and $$Q_{B}^{e}$$

Q

B

e

are impacted by the system’s parameters, such as returns, demands, and costs. Using a Markovian framework, we derive the steady-state probabilities for the inventory level, and construct closed-form expressions for the average cost functions. Then, we numerically investigate the impact of the different parameters on the best policy and on the threshold levels. We compare the two alternatives and identify situations in which calling for an emergency supply is economically profitable.
Low-frequency bandgap and vibration suppression mechanism of a novel square hierarchical honeycomb metamaterial
Authors: Dong Xingjian , Wang Shuo , Wang Anshuai , Wang Liang , Zhang Zhaozhan , Tie Yuanhao , Lin Qingyu , Sun Yongtao
Published: September 2024

The suppression of low-frequency vibration and noise has always been an important issue in a wide range of engineering applications. To address this concern, a novel square hierarchical honeycomb metamaterial capable of reducing low-frequency noise has been developed. By combining Bloch’s theorem with the finite element method, the band structure is calculated. Numerical results indicate that this metamaterial can produce multiple low-frequency bandgaps within 500 Hz, with a bandgap ratio exceeding 50%. The first bandgap spans from 169.57 Hz to 216.42 Hz. To reveal the formation mechanism of the bandgap, a vibrational mode analysis is performed. Numerical analysis demonstrates that the bandgap is attributed to the suppression of elastic wave propagation by the vibrations of the structure’s two protruding corners and overall expansion vibrations. Additionally, detailed parametric analyses are conducted to investigate the effect of θ, i.e., the angle between the protruding corner of the structure and the horizontal direction, on the band structures and the total effective bandgap width. It is found that reducing θ is conducive to obtaining lower frequency bandgaps. The propagation characteristics of elastic waves in the structure are explored by the group velocity, phase velocity, and wave propagation direction. Finally, the transmission characteristics of a finite periodic structure are investigated experimentally. The results indicate significant acceleration amplitude attenuation within the bandgap range, confirming the structure’s excellent low-frequency vibration suppression capability.
ThermoNet: advanced deep neural network-based thermogram processing pipeline for automatic time series analysis of specific skin areas in moving legs
Authors: Andrés López Daniel , Hillen Barlo , Nägele Markus , Simon Perikles , Schömer Elmar
Published: September 2024

Infrared thermography is an emerging technique in biomedical research, potentially providing diagnostic insights into psychological stress, physical strain, muscle fatigue, inflammation, tissue damage, and diseases with thermogenic effects. However, manual analysis strategies are frequently applied causing incomparable, non-reproducible results and hampering standardization. Moreover, widely applied manual analysis cannot recognize blood vessel-related thermal radiation patterns during physical exercise. Therefore, an enhanced processing pipeline, “ThermoNet”, has been developed to automatically process thermograms captured during running. For acquisition, an automatic temperature calibration technique has been introduced to obtain reliable pixel-temperature mapping. The thermograms are semantically segmented in the processing pipeline to extract the anatomical regions of interest (ROIs) by a state-of-the-art deep neural network rather than considering both legs as a single area. A second neural network further examines the ROIs to identify different venous and arterial (perforator) patterns. Within the segments, advanced statistical features are computed to provide time series data. Separate analysis of venous and perforator vessel patterns is carried out on individual connected components, resulting in the extraction of 276 features for each thermogram. The enhanced ROI extraction achieved a high accuracy for the left and right calf on the manually annotated test set. Each step of the ThermoNet pipeline represents a significant improvement over previous analysis methods. Finally, ThermoNet is a transferable pipeline for automatic, reproducible, and objective analysis of ROIs in thermal image sequences of moving test individuals.
Internal hydrophobic treatment for mortar containing supplementary cementitious materials: thermal analysis of kinetics and products of hydration
Authors: Materak Kalina , Wieczorek Alicja , Chałupka-Śpiewak Karolina , Koniorczyk Marcin , Kalina Lukáš , Bílek Vlastimil
Published: September 2024

The presented research investigates the application of the organosilicon admixtures based on triethoxyoctylsilane (OTES) on the hydration of the cement-based material with addition of supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) such as blast furnace slag and microsilica. The influence of silane-based admixtures on the kinetics of hydration was investigated by isothermal calorimetry. The calorimetric results disclosed that applied admixtures affect the hydration process of cement paste with SCM. The DTA/TG analysis provided the information about impact of triethoxyoctylsilane on the composition and formation of the mineral phases. The DTA/TG measurements showed noticeable changes in the thermal decomposition of the tested materials and amount of bounded water. The impact of OTES on the microstructure and pore size distribution of pastes was examined by mercury intrusion porosimetry. The result showed significant changes in the range of pore diameters. The influence of organosilicon admixtures on the compressive strength of mortars after 2, 7, 28, 56 and 90 days was also investigated. The effect depended on the mineral additive used. In case of blast furnace slag, the development of compressive strength was only delayed, however, in the case of microsilica, it was stopped.
Efficient private SCO for heavy-tailed data via averaged clipping
Authors: Jin Chenhan , Zhou Kaiwen , Han Bo , Cheng James , Zeng Tieyong
Published: September 2024

We consider stochastic convex optimization for heavy-tailed data with the guarantee of being differentially private (DP). Most prior works on differentially private stochastic convex optimization for heavy-tailed data are either restricted to gradient descent (GD) or performed multi-times clipping on stochastic gradient descent (SGD), which is inefficient for large-scale problems. In this paper, we consider a one-time clipping strategy and provide principled analyses of its bias and private mean estimation. We establish new convergence results and improved complexity bounds for the proposed algorithm called AClipped-dpSGD for constrained and unconstrained convex problems. We also extend our convergent analysis to the strongly convex case and non-smooth case (which works for generalized smooth objectives with H$$\ddot{\text {o}}$$

o
¨

lder-continuous gradients). All the above results are guaranteed with a high probability for heavy-tailed data. Numerical experiments are conducted to justify the theoretical improvement.
Becoming ‘Wild Citizens’: Children’s Articulation of Environmental Citizenship in the Context of Biodiversity Loss
Authors: Christodoulou Andri , Grace Marcus
Published: September 2024

Calls to tackle the global disasters of climate change and loss of biodiversity are becoming more and more prominent and urgent. Such calls require environmental citizens, that is citizens who act at local, national and transnational scales, assuming environmental agency through pro-environmental behaviours, attitudes and values in public and private spheres. To enable children to become active environmental citizens, we collaborated with five inner city primary schools in the south-east of England in co-designing a school-based, outdoor ‘Wild Citizens’ programme, underpinned by socioscientific inquiry-based learning, focusing on biodiversity loss. Approximately 130 primary school children (6–10 years old) explored their school grounds, discussed, decided on, and implemented interventions to enhance biodiversity, and communicated their findings within their community (schools, peers, parents, teachers). Semi-structured group interviews were conducted with a sub-sample (60%) exploring how children articulate environmental citizenship within this context. We found that environmental citizenship was articulated at both local and global scales of influence in relation to (a) environmental awareness, (b) values and (c) action competence. Children articulate the links between their performed actions to the impact these might have at a global scale, showing their ability to conceptualise and discuss implications and consequences of issues such as biodiversity loss in simple terms. Their articulation of actions as relevant and impactful to their school’s grounds, transforms the issue of biodiversity loss from a slow, invisible disaster to an observable phenomenon for children, which they then act to mitigate against. This work provides empirical grounding towards the operationalisation of environmental citizenship at the primary school level in the context of a less discussed, but as urgent, ecological disaster, that of biodiversity loss.
Sliding on Slide-Ring Gels
Authors: Rhode Andrew R. , Montes de Oca Iván , Chabinyc Michael L. , Bates Christopher M. , Pitenis Angela A.
Published: September 2024

Recent investigations have pointed to physical entanglements that greatly outnumber chemical crosslinks as key sources of energy dissipation and low friction in hydrogel networks. Slide-ring gels are an emerging class of hydrogels described by their mobile crosslinks, which are formed by rings topologically constrained to slide along linear polymer chains within the network. These materials have enjoyed decades of study by polymer chemists but have been underexplored by the tribology community. In this work, we synthesized a pseudo-rotaxane crosslinker from poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEG-diacrylate) and α-cyclodextrin-acrylate followed by hydrogel networks by connecting the sliding crosslinks with polyacrylamide chains. The mechanical and tribological properties of slide-ring hydrogels were investigated using a custom-built microtribometer. Slide-ring hydrogels exhibit unique behavior compared to conventional covalently crosslinked polyacrylamide hydrogels and offer a vast design space for future investigations.

Graphical Abstract
Microplastic Pollution in Riparian Soils of the Rapidly Growing City of Thimphu, Bhutan
Authors: Jamtsho Karma , Lund Mark A. , Blake David , Van Etten Eddie
Published: September 2024

Plastic has become a vitally important material for humans; however, the large amount of plastic waste generated annually pollutes the environment. Plastic decomposition generates microplastics (MPs), which have emerged as a concerning global environmental pollutant because of their potential to be more harmful to the environment than their larger counterparts. This study examined the occurrence and abundance of MPs in riparian soils (RS) of a rapidly growing city in Thimphu, Bhutan. Additionally, the study investigated the relationships between the abundance of MP and several variables, such as the physicochemical properties of the soil, land use, the distance to impervious cover (IC), the plot IC%, surface plastic, textile waste, and the distance to upstream drainage outlets within the riparian zone (RZ). A density separation technique was used to extract MPs. The results showed that RS in urban sites had higher concentrations of MPs (93.3%) than in other land use (7.7%, p = 0.04). Blue MPs (46.2%) were the most common plastic colour. In urban RS, MPs ranged from 0 to 500 particles/kg. MP concentration showed a positive correlation with available phosphorus (p = 0.01) and the distance to the upstream drainage outlets (p = 0.01). Our findings highlight the nature and pathways of MP pollution in rapidly growing cities, where economic growth often overshadows environmental management. We also identify opportunities for these cities to mitigate MP pollution by reclaiming surface plastic and textile waste, stepping up recycling initiatives, and disposing of plastic-ridden waste in low-impact landfills.
Experimental Study on the Influence of Thermal Loading Caused by Shoe Braking on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Railway Wheels
Authors: Faccoli Michela , Ghidini Lorenzo , Mazzù Angelo
Published: September 2024

This study aimed to investigate the impact of thermal loading resulting from shoe braking on ER8, SUPERLOS® and ER-TEN railway wheels. To assess the effects of exposure to temperatures ranging from 700 to 970 °C, a series of tests, including hardness, tensile, toughness, fatigue crack growth rate tests and microstructural analysis, were conducted. Specimens were collected from both new wheels and wheels subjected to heat treatments to replicate the microstructural changes induced by shoe braking. The results revealed that the heat treatment at 700 °C caused a decrease in the hardness, yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of the steels due to the formation of globular pearlite. However, a reversal of this trend was observed after heat treatments at 750 and 970 °C. Nonetheless, these properties remained lower than those of the un-treated condition, primarily due to the presence of globular pearlite. Regarding fracture toughness, ER8 and SUPERLOS® generally exhibited a decrease after the heat treatments, while ER-TEN showed an increase after heat treatments at 750 and 970 °C. Additionally, a slight increase in the crack growth threshold and sub-critical crack growth rate was observed after the heat treatments in all steels.
The effect of second screening on repeat viewing: Insights from large-scale mobile diary data
Authors: Gelper Sarah , Lovett Mitchell J. , Peres Renana
Published: September 2024

This paper examines the effect of second screening, the common practice of using another digital device while watching a television show, on repeat show viewing. We leveraged large-scale individual-level data from mobile diaries of 1,702 US TV viewers on 2,755 prime time shows. We used causal forest analysis for estimation, focusing on the moderating role of viewing preferences and show loyalty, and captured heterogeneity in viewer preferences using latent-class segmentation. We found that overall, show-related second screening has a positive effect on the attitude toward the show, as well as on actual repeat viewing. Show-unrelated second screening diminishes the viewer’s attitude. These effects are especially pronounced in the heavy viewer segment and among infrequent show viewers. Interestingly, our analysis did not provide evidence that second screening harms actual repeat viewing, countering potential concerns of negative distraction effects.
10-Hydroxy Decanoic Acid and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Retrieve Nrf2/HO-1 and Caspase-3/Bax/Bcl-2 Signaling in Lead-Induced Testicular Toxicity
Authors: Maher Adham M. , Elsanosy Ghidaa A. , Ghareeb Doaa A. , Elblehi Samar S. , Saleh Samar R.
Published: September 2024

There has been a significant increase in human exposure to heavy metals (HMs) over the course of the previous century, primarily due to the extensive industrial processes. Male infertility is a prominent complication associated with lead exposure, wherein lead has the potential to accumulate within the testes, resulting in oxidative stress and inflammation. In addition, 10-hydroxydecanoic acid (10-HDA) is a component found in the secretions of worker bees and possesses the capacity to mitigate oxidative stress and prevent inflammation. Due to their advantageous properties, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) possess a wide range of applications in the field of biomedicine. This study aimed to assess the therapeutic effect of 10-HDA and ZnO-NPs on testicular toxicity in rats induced by lead acetate (PbAc). PbAc was administered orally for a period of 3 months. Following that, 10-HDA and/or ZnO-NPs were administrated for 1 month. PbAc deformed seminal analysis, decreased seminal fructose and sex hormonal levels, and resulted in the development of histopathological complications. Additionally, PbAc increased MDA and decreased Nrf2 and HO-1 expression, confirmed by the declined antioxidant defense system. Furthermore, an increase in testicular inflammatory markers and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was observed subsequent to the administration of PbAc. The administration of 10-HDA and ZnO-NPs demonstrated significant efficacy in the restoration of semen quality, pituitary/gonadal hormones, antioxidants, and  testicular histoarchitecture. Moreover, 10-HDA and ZnO-NPs decreased testicular inflammatory markers and apoptotic proteins (caspase-3 and Bax expression levels). In conclusion, combining 10-HDA and ZnO-NPs demonstrated synergistic potential in treating PbAc-induced testicular toxicity, thereby presenting a promising approach in nanomedicine and natural drugs.
Bildgebung der Lentigo maligna
Authors: Pustelnik K. , Tschandl P.
Published: September 2024

Die Lentigo maligna (LM) ist ein In-situ-Melanom chronisch aktinisch geschädigter Haut im Gesichtsbereich vorwiegend älterer Patient:innen. Spezielle Eigenschaften der Gesichtshaut, schwer abschätzbare subklinische Ausbreitung und Progression der LM sowie die Ähnlichkeit zu anderen UV-bedingten Läsionen führen zu diagnostischen und therapeutischen Herausforderungen für die LM. Zu den wichtigsten Werkzeugen der klinischen Evaluierung gehören die Dermatoskopie sowie ergänzend auch die In-vivo-Konfokalmikroskopie, während die Diagnosesicherung in der Regel durch die histopathologische Aufarbeitung in Zusammenschau mit immunhistochemischen Färbungen und klinischen Informationen erfolgt. Die Aufgabenstellungen für diese Werkzeuge umfassen neben der Primärdiagnostik auch die präoperative Planung von Resektionen, Beurteilung der Radikalität und Effektivität von Therapien sowie Evaluierung von potenziellen Rezidiven.
Exploring the limits of the provenience postulate: chemical and mineralogical characterization of Bronze Age ceramics from the Great Hungarian Plain
Authors: Golitko Mark , Riebe Danielle J. , Kreiter Attila , Duffy Paul R. , Parditka Györgyi
Published: September 2024

Determining the provenience of archaeological objects relies on the so-called “provenience postulate,” namely, that sources of these objects are more compositionally distinct from each other than they are internally variable. For ceramics, it can be relatively straightforward in geologically heterogeneous environments to determine where vessels were produced, and whether they were traded or not. In geologically homogeneous regions, this can be far more complicated. In this study, we mineralogically and chemically compare Bronze Age ceramics (primarily Middle Bronze Age) from five archaeological sites on the Great Hungarian Plain to a large regional clay sample. The Great Hungarian Plain is comprised almost entirely of Pleistocene loess deposits, yet prior compositional studies have identified patterned variability between ceramics from different sites. Our results show that chemical variation in the region is continuous and clinal, making it difficult to strictly apply the provenience postulate to identify distinct production locations. However, we show that this clinal chemical variability can be used to make broad statements about whether most ceramics at any given site were produced relatively locally or were obtained from further distances (c. 50 km or more). We show that while production at most of our study sites was likely relatively localized, in one instance (the tell at Berettyóújfalu-Herpály-Földvár), many ceramics may have been obtained from other Bronze Age communities, including those in the Körös River drainage.
Long-Term Effects of Transtheoretical Model-Based Lifestyle Intervention on Self-efficacy and Self-management in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes — Randomised Controlled Trial
Authors: Dunkel Annalena , von Storch Katja , Hochheim Martin , Zank Susanne , Polidori Maria Cristina , Woopen Christiane
Published: September 2024

Background

Self-efficacy and self-management are fundamental factors for successful treatment of type 2 diabetes, but long-term studies are rare. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether the effects achieved in the context of a lifestyle intervention based on the transtheoretical model can be maintained by the patients in the long term.

Method

A two-arm randomised controlled trial examined whether long-term effects of self-efficacy, self-management, and HbA1c can be achieved by a lifestyle intervention of 12 months and persisted beyond the intervention. During the intervention, the intervention group (n = 86, mean age 59.7 years) was supported by a telephone coach and telemedical devices, while the control group (n = 65, mean age 58.8 years) received regular care. In the year after intervention, both groups received standard care.

Results

The intervention group achieved significantly better self-management after 12 and 24 months (12M, 1.11 (0.81; 1.41) p < .000; 24M, 0.52 (0.19; 0.85) p = .002) as well as self-efficacy (12M, 1.18 (0.83; 1.52) p < .000; 24M, 0.76 (0.39; 1.13) p < .000) and HbA1c than the control group.

Conclusion

TTM-based lifestyle interventions show a long-term effect beyond the duration of the intervention in most areas, and behavioural changes can be sustained by patients.
Breinbrekers? Beter begrip van breinfunctie bij mensen bij spina bifida leidt tot betere zorg
Authors: Veenstra Wencke S. , Lammers Rianne J. M.
Published: September 2024

Samenvatting

Patiënten met spina bifida (SB), oftewel spinaal dysrafisme, hebben diverse hersenafwijkingen die hun dagelijks functioneren beïnvloeden. In dit artikel leggen we uit hoe die te onderzoeken zijn en wat de relevantie is voor de zorg voor adolescenten en (jong)volwassenen met SB. Voorspellers voor problemen met het functioneren zijn: het niveau van de laesie, de aanwezigheid van hydrocefalie, de aanwezigheid van ventriculaire-peritoneale draindisfunctie, de aanwezigheid van insulten en de sociaaleconomische status. In de praktijk kunt u merken dat mensen met SB verbaal sterk zijn, maar daarna toch in de problemen komen omdat executieve functies minder goed werken. Plannen, afspraken nakomen, therapietrouw en dergelijke kunnen lastig zijn voor patiënten met SB. Dit verergert naarmate de patiënt veroudert. Het helpt om informatie gedoseerd aan te bieden. Gebruik van korte zinnen en herhaling zijn belangrijk. Ook kan het revalidatieteam helpen, bijvoorbeeld door het inzetten van een neuropsychologisch onderzoek en/of het aanleren van compensatiestrategieën.
Vragen naar seksueel grensoverschrijdend gedrag binnen instellingen
Authors: Bicanic Iva A. E. , de Jong Dennis C. , de Kort Laetitia M. O.
Published: September 2024

Samenvatting

Seksueel misbruik komt veelvuldig voor, in het bijzonder bij mensen met een lichamelijke, zintuiglijke of verstandelijke beperking die in een instelling verblijven. In een wooninstelling zijn patiënten afhankelijk van zorgverleners, hetgeen een risicofactor vormt voor misbruik. Ook kan seksueel grensoverschrijdend gedrag bij bewoners onderling voorkomen. Er bestaat steeds meer evidentie voor het verband tussen urologische problemen en seksueel misbruik in de voorgeschiedenis. Inzicht in de relatie tussen seksueel misbruik, bekkenbodemoveractiviteit en urologische problemen biedt kansen voor traumaverwerking. Dit artikel beschrijft hoe urologen deze kennis in hun werkzaamheden kunnen toepassen bij patiënten die in een instelling verblijven, daarbij rekening houdend met de schaamte en schuld die aan deze ervaringen kleven. Ook worden concrete vragen en psycho-educatie voor in de spreekkamer beschreven.
Understanding Children’s Learning of Part–Whole Relations Using Fingu
Authors: Kortenkamp Ulrich , Ladel Silke , Larkin Kevin
Published: September 2024

In this article, we investigate the effects of the app Fingu on a child’s understanding of the part-whole concept. Using the Artifact Centric Activity Theory framework, we initially analyse the internalisation and externalisation processes that appear to occur during one child’s use of the app. Based on the learning from this process, we then use other aspects of the framework, in particular the subject-artifact-group triangle, to understand how Fingu might be used productively in mathematics education classrooms. Using a 13-min video of a child playing Fingu as our data source, we analyse how children might, as they learn about part-whole relationships, interact with the game. We also investigate how design principles in creating apps can impact on the experience of using the app in ways that may be unintended by their designers. This work has implications for app designers and for mathematics educators seeking to incorporate digital technologies into mathematics education.
Understanding community-based mental health interventions among migrant workers in Singapore
Authors: Kwek Theophilus
Published: September 2024

Background

Migrants in Singapore face unique mental health risk factors and barriers to formal care. Within this context, the Migrant Writers of Singapore (an arts collective) has organised a community-based intervention to address mental health needs, the Mental Health Awareness and Well-Being Festival.

Aim

To understand migrants’ motivations for organising and participating in the Festival as a form of community-based mental health support, as well as their perspectives on the role and effectiveness of such interventions.

Methods

Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted in October and November 2023, with 10 members of MWS involved in the Festival.

Results

Interviewees were primarily motivated by personal experiences of giving or receiving peer support, or finding relief through MWS’s arts-based activities; and to a smaller extent by the need for greater mental health awareness among migrants. Interviewees saw the value of community-based interventions in: (i) easing loneliness, (ii) establishing solidarity, (iii) facilitating communication in help-seeking, and (iv) building longer-term social networks.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that community-based interventions may be an enabler of peer support, and help address underlying mental health risk factors. Arts-based activities can enhance these interventions, though further research is required to evaluate concrete outcomes, and ascertain the wider applicability of these findings.
Modelling of morphogenesis to support the design of fungal-based engineered living materials
Authors: Carlström Vilhelm , Rigobello Adrien , Ayres Phil
Published: September 2024

To realize the potential of materials comprising living organisms, bioengineers require a holistic understanding of the reciprocal relationship between environmental conditions and the biochemical and biophysical processes that influence development and behaviour. Mathematical modelling has a critical part to play in managing the complexity of biological dynamical systems and attaining higher degrees of control over their trajectories and endpoints. To support the development of mycelium-based engineered living materials, this paper reviews the literature of growth models for filamentous fungi with emphasis on the connection between morphogenesis and metabolism.
On algebraic dependencies between Poincaré functions
Authors: PAKOVICH FEDOR
Published: September 2024

Let A be a rational function of one complex variable of degree at least two, and
$z_0$
its repelling fixed point with the multiplier
$\unicode{x3bb} .$
A Poincaré function associated with
$z_0$
is a function meromorphic on
${\mathbb C}$
such that , and In this paper, we study the following problem: given Poincaré functions and , find out if there is an algebraic relation between them and, if such a relation exists, describe the corresponding algebraic curve
$f(x,y)=0.$
We provide a solution, which can be viewed as a refinement of the classical theorem of Ritt about commuting rational functions. We also reprove and extend previous results concerning algebraic dependencies between Böttcher functions.
Marked length pattern rigidity for arithmetic manifolds
Authors: HAO YANLONG
Published: September 2024

In this paper, we prove a cocycle version of marked length spectrum rigidity. There are two consequences: the first one is marked length pattern rigidity for arithmetic hyperbolic locally symmetric manifolds, and the second one is a strengthened marked length spectrum rigidity for surfaces and closed locally symmetric manifolds.
Nested travelling wave structures in elastoinertial turbulence
Authors: Kumar Manish , Graham Michael D.
Published: September 2024

Elastoinertial turbulence (EIT) is a chaotic flow resulting from the interplay between inertia and viscoelasticity in wall-bounded shear flows. Understanding EIT is important because it is thought to set a limit on the effectiveness of turbulent drag reduction in polymer solutions. Here, we analyse simulations of two-dimensional EIT in channel flow using spectral proper orthogonal decomposition (SPOD), discovering a family of travelling wave structures that capture the sheetlike stress fluctuations that characterise EIT. The frequency-dependence of the leading SPOD mode contains distinct peaks and the mode structures corresponding to these peaks exhibit well-defined travelling structures. The structure of the dominant travelling mode exhibits shift–reflect symmetry similar to the viscoelasticity-modified Tollmien–Schlichting (TS) wave, where the velocity fluctuation in the travelling mode is characterised by large-scale regular structures spanning the channel and the polymer stress field is characterised by thin, inclined sheets of high polymer stress localised at the critical layers near the channel walls. The travelling structures corresponding to the higher-frequency modes have a very similar structure, but are nested in a region roughly bounded by the critical layer positions of the next-lower-frequency mode. A simple theory based on the idea that the critical layers of mode

$\kappa$

form the ‘walls’ for the structure of mode

$\kappa +1$

yields quantitative agreement with the observed wave speeds and critical layer positions, indicating self-similarity between the structures. The physical idea behind this theory is that the sheetlike localised stress fluctuations in the critical layer prevent velocity fluctuations from penetrating them.
A PARAMETERIZED HALTING PROBLEM, TRUTH AND THE MRDP THEOREM
Authors: CHEN YIJIA , MÜLLER MORITZ , YOKOYAMA KEITA
Published: September 2024

We study the parameterized complexity of the problem to decide whether a given natural number n satisfies a given

$\Delta _0$

-formula

$\varphi (x)$

; the parameter is the size of

$\varphi $

. This parameterization focusses attention on instances where n is large compared to the size of

$\varphi $

. We show unconditionally that this problem does not belong to the parameterized analogue of

$\mathsf {AC}^0$

. From this we derive that certain natural upper bounds on the complexity of our parameterized problem imply certain separations of classical complexity classes. This connection is obtained via an analysis of a parameterized halting problem. Some of these upper bounds follow assuming that

$I\Delta _0$

proves the MRDP theorem in a certain weak sense.
Why business adoption of quantum and AI technology must be ethical
Authors: Hoffmann Christian Hugo , Flöther Frederik F.
Published: September 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) recently had its “iPhone moment” and adoption has drastically accelerated. Quantum computing appears poised to follow suit over the next years. However, while there has been discourse about how to use AI responsibly, there is still little appreciation and awareness among executives, managers and practitioners about the broader ethical questions and implications raised by the intersection of these emerging technologies. In this article, it is highlighted why quantum computing and AI ethics must be taken seriously by businesspersons and how these technologies affect strategic decisions; moreover, recommendations and action areas are formulated.
Civic Organizations and the Political Participation of Cross-Pressured Americans: The Case of the Labor Movement
Authors: HERTEL-FERNANDEZ ALEXANDER
Published: September 2024

Civic associations underpin American democracy. How can politically cross-cutting associations engage members who hold divergent viewpoints amidst increasing partisan polarization and nationalization of politics? I examine this question in the context of labor unions, studying how unions engage members who hold conservative views at odds with some of the union’s political actions. Using original surveys of local union presidents, members, and non-members along with in-depth interviews in selected local unions, I show how local union leaders can foster norms of participation among politically cross-pressured members. Norms of participation increase conservative members’ perceptions of political representation and engagement in politics, including participation in the union’s political action committee and support for union political mobilization. These findings have implications for understanding civic associations and participation in an era of political division, as well as the role unions continue to play in politics.
The Textual Demiurge: Social Status and the Academic Discourse of Early Christian Forgery
Authors: Coogan Jeremiah , Moss Candida R.
Published: September 2024

This article reconsiders the classed and gendered construction of the Author in the Roman Mediterranean, a construction that generates the intertwined notions of authorship and authenticity. Modern scholarly conversations about authorship and pseudepigraphy in the Roman Mediterranean often proceed from the uninterrogated assumptions that (a) ancient texts (including early Christian texts) were the monographic products of solitary authors and (b) everyone in antiquity, regardless of gender or class, had access to the status of being an ‘Author’. While conversations about (in)authentic textual production extend beyond the works that become part of the New Testament, these twin assumptions form the basis for modern debates about ‘forgery’ in New Testament literature. This article challenges both assumptions by first surveying the role of uncredited collaboration in Roman literary culture and then analysing ancient Christian discourses surrounding (a) illicit textual meddling and (b) inappropriate textual ascription. These two discursive categories reveal how the categories of class and gender are entangled with early Christian ideas of the Author. Ancient discourses of authenticity and authorship were not simply about who produced texts but about policing which acts of textual production count as ‘authoring’.
This Hand is Validation: Philemon as a Pauline Holograph
Authors: Elder Nicholas A.
Published: September 2024

On five occasions in Pauline literature, the author claims to write in their own hand. In three of the five instances, the autograph is reserved for the final greeting and the greeting alone. In Galatians 6.11 and Philemon 19, however, Paul writes more than the letter's greeting in his own hand, as the comment about his autograph appears well before the closing salutations. This article engages one of these texts, Philemon, and argues that it was written entirely in Paul's hand. The letter was a Pauline holograph. To make this argument, the article first assesses the ‘cheirographic rhetoric’ of Philemon 19. Paul alludes to a type of documentary writing, the cheirograph, that recorded various sorts of financial proceedings. Paul's autographic guarantee recalls validation statements that were integral to this genre of text. Comparanda from the non-literary papyri show that when an author of a cheirograph called specific attention to their own handwriting, the entire document was customarily written in their own hand. The article then turns to the personal nature of Philemon and the abundance of second-person singular forms, arguing that there was a strong preference that personal letters like Philemon be handwritten in Paul's context. Taken together, these two arguments demonstrate that Paul's short letter to Philemon was more likely to be handwritten than dictated.
Turnip hoeing matches in Aberdeenshire, 1840–1940: Material practice and cultural impact
Authors: Mutch Alistair
Published: September 2024

This article explores the competitive hoeing matches, which were a significant feature of certain parts of Scottish rural life in the period 1840 to 1940. An analysis of newspaper reports shows how important such matches were in Aberdeenshire, attracting significant numbers of both competitors and spectators. By contrast, similar reports for the rest of Scotland show only a small number of such matches outside the northeast. Reasons for the differences are attributed to both material factors, such as the visibility of cultivation, and the social structure of the areas. In Aberdeenshire, a culture valorising hard work and skill was set in a social structure of small farmers and farm servants, which led to self-sustaining organisational forms. By contrast, elsewhere a top-down form of organisation prioritising the needs of farm productivity meant that competitive hoeing matches failed to kindle much enthusiasm. The value of a focus on taken-for-granted practices is the way it can shed light on such contrasts.