bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cost-effectiveness of posterior versus anterior surgery for cervical radiculopathy: results from a multicentre randomised non-inferiority trial (FACET)
Authors: Broekema A. E. H. , de Souza N. F. Simões , Groen R. J. M. , Soer R. , Reneman M. F. , Kuijlen J. M. A. , van Asselt A. D. I. ,   for the FACET investigators
Published: June 2024

Purpose

For cervical nerve root compression, anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (anterior surgery) or posterior foraminotomy (posterior surgery) are safe and effective options. Posterior surgery might have a more beneficial economic profile compared to anterior surgery. The purpose of this study was to analyse if posterior surgery is cost-effective compared to anterior surgery.

Methods

An economic evaluation was performed as part of a multicentre, noninferiority randomised clinical trial (Foraminotomy ACDF Cost-effectiveness Trial) with a follow-up of 2 years. Primary outcomes were cost-effectiveness based on arm pain (Visual Analogue Scale (VAS; 0–100)) and cost-utility (quality adjusted life years (QALYs)). Missing values were estimated with multiple imputations and bootstrap simulations were used to obtain confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

In total, 265 patients were randomised and 243 included in the analyses. The pooled mean decrease in VAS arm at 2-year follow-up was 44.2 in the posterior and 40.0 in the anterior group (mean difference, 4.2; 95% CI, − 4.7 to 12.9). Pooled mean QALYs were 1.58 (posterior) and 1.56 (anterior) (mean difference, 0.02; 95% CI, − 0.05 to 0.08). Societal costs were €28,046 for posterior and €30,086 for the anterior group, with lower health care costs for posterior (€12,248) versus anterior (€16,055). Bootstrapped results demonstrated similar effectiveness between groups with in general lower costs associated with posterior surgery.

Conclusion

In patients with cervical radiculopathy, arm pain and QALYs were similar between posterior and anterior surgery. Posterior surgery was associated with lower costs and is therefore likely to be cost-effective compared with anterior surgery.
Delay to surgery beyond 12 hours is associated with increased hip fracture mortality
Authors: Warren Madeline , Bretherton Chris , Parker Martyn
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Time to surgery from admission is one of the few variables known to influence outcome after a hip fracture. We reviewed our hip fracture database to determine correlation between delays to surgery and mortality in our elderly hip fracture population.

Methods

Data on all hip fracture patients admitted to a large district hospital were prospectively collected between January 1989 and August 2021. Time of the injury, time of admission and time of surgery were recorded. Patients over 60 years old with a hip fracture requiring operative management were included. Patients with pathological fractures, those managed conservatively, and patients delayed for medical reasons were excluded. Surgical timing categories were divided into; under 12 h, 12–24 h, 24–72 h and over 72 h.

Results

Time from admission to surgery was recorded for 10,659 patients, of these time of fall was available for 10,346 patients. Mean age was 82.2 years (sd 8.39) for the cohort and 30 day mortality was 6.20%.

Odds of 30-day mortality was 1.43 (CI 1.057–1.988, p = 0.025) for delay to surgery from admission of over 12 h compared to under 12 h. Odds ratios for 30-day mortality were not significant at any other time threshold. The odds of 30-day mortality for delay to surgery from time of fall were 1.550 (CI 1.026–2.459, p = 0.048) at the 12 h threshold.

Conclusion

This is the largest prospective study to date in elderly patients with hip fractures demonstrating a statistically significant increase in 30-day mortality with a delay to surgery over 12 h.
The relationship between endothelial-dependent flow-mediated dilation and diastolic function in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Cutruzzolà Antonio , Parise Martina , Cacia Michele , Lucà Stefania , Irace Concetta , Gnasso Agostino
Published: June 2024

Aims

Diastolic dysfunction represents the earliest and most common manifestation of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Nitric oxide (NO), a potent vasodilator and anti-inflammatory mediator released from the subendocardial and coronary endothelium, favors left ventricular distensibility and relaxation. In type 2 diabetes (T2D), the NO bioavailability is reduced due to the oxidative stress and inflammatory state of the endothelium, because of chronic hyperglycemia. The aim of the present research is to evaluate the relationship between endothelial function and diastolic function in subjects with T2D.

Method

Subjects with T2D and age and sex-matched healthy controls were consecutively recruited. All participants underwent flow-mediated dilation (FMD) to assess endothelial function, and echocardiography to evaluate diastolic function.

Results

Thirty-five patients (6 women, 29 men) and 35 healthy controls were included in the final analysis. FMD was significantly lower in T2D than controls (4.4 ± 3.4 vs. 8.5 ± 4.3%, p = 0.001). T2D presented different abnormalities in diastolic function compared to controls: lower E/A (early to late diastolic transmitral flow velocity), lower septal and lateral e′ (early diastolic myocardial tissue velocity at septum and lateral wall), and higher E/e′ (surrogate of filling pressure). In subjects with T2D, we observed a significant correlation between FMD and E/e′ (r = −0.63, p = 0.001), lateral e′ (r = 0.44, p = 0.03), and septal e′ (r = 0.39, p = 0.05).

Conclusions

Our observational study demonstrated a link between FMD and diastolic dysfunction in subjects with type 2 diabetes.
Optimised graphite/carbon black loading of recycled PLA for the production of low-cost conductive filament and its application to the detection of β-estradiol in environmental samples
Authors: Augusto Karen K. L. , Crapnell Robert D. , Bernalte Elena , Zighed Sabri , Ehamparanathan Anbuchselvan , Pimlott Jessica L. , Andrews Hayley G. , Whittingham Matthew J. , Rowley-Neale Samuel J. , Fatibello-Filho Orlando , Banks Craig E.
Published: June 2024

The production, optimisation, physicochemical, and electroanalytical characterisation of a low-cost electrically conductive additive manufacturing filament made with recycled poly(lactic acid) (rPLA), castor oil, carbon black, and graphite (CB-G/PLA) is reported. Through optimising the carbon black and graphite loading, the best ratio for conductivity, low material cost, and printability was found to be 60% carbon black to 40% graphite. The maximum composition within the rPLA with 10 wt% castor oil was found to be an overall nanocarbon loading of 35 wt% which produced a price of less than £0.01 per electrode whilst still offering excellent low-temperature flexibility and reproducible printing. The additive manufactured electrodes produced from this filament offered excellent electrochemical performance, with a heterogeneous electron (charge) transfer rate constant, k0 calculated to be (2.6 ± 0.1) × 10−3 cm s−1 compared to (0.46 ± 0.03) × 10−3 cm s−1 for the commercial PLA benchmark. The additive manufactured electrodes were applied to the determination of β-estradiol, achieving a sensitivity of 400 nA µM−1, a limit of quantification of 70 nM, and a limit of detection of 21 nM, which compared excellently to other reports in the literature. The system was then applied to the detection of ß-estradiol within four real water samples, including tap, bottled, river, and lake water, where recoveries between 95 and 109% were obtained. Due to the ability to create high-performance filament at a low material cost (£0.06 per gram) and through the use of more sustainable materials such as recycled polymers, bio-based plasticisers, and naturally occurring graphite, additive manufacturing will have a permanent place within the electroanalysis arsenal in the future.

Graphical abstract
Macro- and micromorphology of Carex pauciflora-type fossils (Cyperaceae) from Europe and Siberia reveals unexpected affinity to Carex sect. Cyperoideae
Authors: Martinetto Edoardo , Jiménez-Mejías Pedro , Hakobyan Elen , Krivonogov Sergey , Hvalj Aleksej Vladimirovič
Published: June 2024

Elongated biconvex Carex fossil fruits are relatively common in fossil assemblages, but they are of much uncertain taxonomic affinity. Three fossil-species have been erected to accommodate the materials from the respective type localities (C. klarae, C. paucifloriformis and C. paucifloroides) and a number of superficially similar-looking fossils were reported from other sites. The formerly proposed affinities mostly pointed to the extant C. pauciflora (subgen. Euthyceras) or Carex sect. Cyperoideae (subgen. Vignea), depending on the authors. But despite the similar superficial resemblance of the fossil remains to these not very closely related sedge taxa, other groups are also possible matches. We used a comparative approach employing stereomicroscope and SEM to analyze the affinities of several Old World “mummified” fossils (ca. 23 to 0.1 Ma) of elongated biconvex fruits. Several samples showed a fair preservation of previously unattested microscopic characters. In particular, one of them allowed us to detect an indirect record of fine silica body morphologies (impressions) on the periclinal walls, which permitted the sound taxonomic placement of the remains from the Miocene of Siberia as a Carex sect. Cyperoideae. In all the other fossils analyzed, the epidermal cell outline and the central position of the main silica body were sufficient to discard assignment to subgen. Euthyceras, despite a purported affinity to C. pauciflora reported in previous literature. In the absence of detailed information on silica bodies, epidermal cell (exocarp) details in fossil specimens do not seem to be determinant for the systematic placement. However, the addition of diagnostic style characters pointed to sect. Cyperoideae as the best match with the available information. Our data support a continued presence of Carex sect. Cyperoideae in the Old World since the Miocene, which candidates Eurasia as a possible place of origin for it, despite DNA-based reconstructions alone proposed North America. This study underlines the importance of detailed taxonomic studies to properly address the identity of fossils and unravel the biogeographic history of plants.
Rockfall susceptibility analysis of the “San Michele Arcangelo” historic trail (Central Italy) based on virtual outcrops and multiple propagation models
Authors: Guerriero Luigi , Annibali Corona Mariagiulia , Di Martire Diego , Francioni Mirko , Limongiello Miriam , Tufano Rita , Calcaterra Domenico
Published: June 2024

The “San Michele Arcangelo” historic trail (Aurunci Regional Park, central Italy), located along the southern slope of Mt. Altino, which is highly prone to rockfalls, is hiked every year by thousands of faithful on pilgrimage who are exposed to such kinds of instabilities. To contribute to a better understanding of the condition and evolution of such phenomena, providing a susceptibility scenario able to support the adoption of mitigation measures, a specific analysis was completed based on field and literature data. Three-dimensional virtual outcrop models were obtained through both photogrammetric and iPad Pro LiDAR surveys to derive geomechanical features of outcropping rocks and estimate potential detaching block volume. Possible mechanisms of detachment were then analyzed using the Markland test method. Susceptibility to rockfall propagation and block deposition was analyzed using GIS processing and rockfall propagation simulations based on deterministic/stochastic models. Such models consist of a combination of a deterministic algorithm able to simulate the physics of rockfall movement during propagation and a stochastic treatment of input parameters based on random sampling within defined interval. Two different rockfall simulations were compared in this study using the Rockyfor3D™ (ecorisQ Association) software and the newly developed RocFall3© (RocScience) code. The use of iPad Pro LiDAR survey provides accurate and high-resolution point clouds, with high speed of acquisition and real-time processing of data. Discontinuity sets identified from 3D models have represented the input for kinematic analyses of slopes, allowing to identify potential failure mechanisms among wedge and planar sliding or toppling. Rockfall simulations indicate the potential for rock blocks propagation and deposition over the whole study area. Comparing the results of rockfall simulations with the geomorphological map of the area it is evident the control exerted by the hydrographic network on rockfall propagation as demonstrated by the presence of screes and slope deposits along the main channels. Understanding the potential susceptibility to both propagation and deposition of rock blocks along the trail provides useful indication for the assessment of appropriate mitigation measures to realize for the safer touristic fruition of the site.
Prevalence and effects of Vitamin D receptor polymorphism on bone mineral density and metabolism in patients with systemic sclerosis: a preliminary study
Authors: Schulz Nils , Dischereit Gabriel , Henke Laura , Lange Uwe , Klemm Philipp
Published: June 2024

Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) have a disproportionately high prevalence of reduced bone mineral density (BMD). Polymorphisms of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene have been associated with osteoporosis in patients with autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and possible effects of VDR polymorphism on BMD and bone metabolism in patients with SSc. In patients with SSc measurement of BMD was performed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. VDR polymorphisms (FokI, BsmI) were genotyped using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Markers of bone metabolism (calcium, osteocalcin, β-crosslaps) were determined. Primary endpoint was the prevalence of VDR gene polymorphisms and the association with reduced BMD. Secondary endpoints included associations between bone metabolism and VDR gene polymorphism. 79 Caucasian patients with SSc were included. Overall, 83.5% had reduced BMD (51.9% osteopenia, 31.6% osteoporosis). The prevalence of VDR gene polymorphism (73% BsmI, 77% FokI) was comparable to studies in healthy and rheumatic populations. The homozygous presence of FokI polymorphism, but not BsmI, was significantly associated with reduced axial BMD. Fokl polymorphism was significantly associated with reduced CTX levels, although changes remained within the reference limits. VDR polymorphisms can frequently be found in patients with SSc in comparable prevalence to healthy and rheumatic populations. The homozygous presence of FokI polymorphism, but not BsmI, was significantly associated with reduced axial BMD. This could be a possible contributor for the high prevalence of reduced BMD in 83.5% of patients with SSc in this study.

Trial registration. DRKS00032768, date: 05.10.2023, retrospectively registered.
The Future Role of Radiologists in the Artificial Intelligence-Driven Hospital
Authors: Sedaghat Sam
Published: June 2024

Increasing population and healthcare costs make changes in the healthcare system necessary. This article deals with ChatGPT’s perspective on the future role of radiologists in the AI-driven hospital. This perspective will be augmented by further considerations by the author. AI-based imaging technologies and chatbots like ChatGPT can help improve radiologists’ performance and workflow in the future AI-driven hospital. Although basic radiological examinations could be delivered without needing a radiologist, sophisticated imaging procedures will still need the expert opinion of a radiologist.
Rotation invariance and equivariance in 3D deep learning: a survey
Authors: Fei Jiajun , Deng Zhidong
Published: June 2024

Deep neural networks (DNNs) in 3D scenes show a strong capability of extracting high-level semantic features and significantly promote research in the 3D field. 3D shapes and scenes often exhibit complicated transformation symmetries, where rotation is a challenging and necessary subject. To this end, many rotation invariant and equivariant methods have been proposed. In this survey, we systematically organize and comprehensively overview all methods. First, we rewrite the previous definition of rotation invariance and equivariance by classifying them into weak and strong categories. Second, we provide a unified theoretical framework to analyze these methods, especially weak rotation invariant and equivariant ones that are seldom analyzed theoretically. We then divide existing methods into two main categories, i.e., rotation invariant ones and rotation equivariant ones, which are further subclassified in terms of manipulating input ways and basic equivariant block structures, respectively. In each subcategory, their common essence is highlighted, a couple of representative methods are analyzed, and insightful comments on their pros and cons are given. Furthermore, we deliver a general overview of relevant applications and datasets for two popular tasks of 3D semantic understanding and molecule-related. Finally, we provide several open problems and future research directions based on challenges and difficulties in ongoing research.
Effect of dietary protein reduction on growth performance and water quality of the blue streak hap Labidochromis caeruleus (Fryer, 1956) reared in a biofloc system
Authors: Yılmaz Melis , Erdoğan Fatime , Erdoğan Mete
Published: June 2024

The 8-week study evaluated the effect of dietary protein reduction on growth performance and water quality of blue streak hap (Labidochromis caeruleus) using biofloc technology (BFT). Fish averaging 0.67 ± 0.13 g in weight were distributed into 15 polyester tanks, each with a water volume of 60 L within 100 L tanks, accommodating 15 fish per tank. Four isolipidic and isoenergetic diets were formulated with gradually decreasing protein levels (40%, 35%, 30%, and 25%). Four biofloc groups (40P + BF, 35P + BF, 30P + BF, and 25P + BF) and control (C) (40P + without BF) were fed twice daily (09:00 and 17:00) at a rate of 5% of their body weight. Molasses was added to the experimental tanks on a daily basis as an organic carbon source. This ensured that the biofloc tanks had a balanced carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio and facilitated control of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), nitrite-nitrogen (NO2-N), and nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) levels. The nutritional composition of the bioflocs obtained from the experimental groups revealed that the crude protein and crude lipid contents were 37.00–38.14% and 1.45–1.52%, respectively (P > 0.05). The best specific growth rate (SGR) (1.68%) and feed conversation ratio (FCR) (2.21) were determined in the 35P group. Based on the overall evaluation of the study’s data, it can be concluded that the dietary protein for the blue streak hap (L. caeruleus) can be reduced from 40 to 35% in a biofloc system without any negative effects on health. Improving water quality and providing additional food to fish through zero water exchange and organic carbon addition (BFT) can be considered a sustainable aquaculture technique that can be used in ornamental fish farming.
Invasive vegetation encroachment modulates dual threats faced by island-endemic scaly crickets
Authors: Chin Weng Yuen , Wilkins Vicky , Sharp Adam
Published: June 2024

The mechanisms by which non-native species impact island-endemic populations are varied and often convoluted. For effective invertebrate conservation where capacity is limited, it is vital to understand both direct and indirect species interactions. Those interactions define specific threats and therefore highlight possible solutions. We quantified several of the non-native species threats faced by an endemic scaly cricket, Discophallus ascension (family: Mogoplistidae), found on Ascension Island’s naturally barren coastlines. We hypothesized that encroaching non-native Mexican thorn Prosopis juliflora (1) directly reduced microclimate suitability, (2) indirectly increased resource competition with non-native species, and (3) indirectly increased non-native predation. Our aim was to assess how rapidly spreading Mexican thorn might reduce endemic cricket populations. Lab trials first confirmed the temperature and diet preferences of D. ascension. Mexican thorn significantly increased ground-level temperature but not above the estimated optimum for D. ascension within key habitat. Observed interspecific resource competition was significantly greater in habitat degraded by Mexican thorn and was driven by non-native ants, house crickets Gryllodes sigillatus and cockroaches Periplaneta americana. Recorded cricket predation was almost entirely by non-native rats Rattus rattus in barren habitat but primarily by ants in Mexican thorn habitat. Threats to D. ascension were therefore modulated by invasive vegetation, but driven by non-native insects and rats at all sites. We conclude that removal of vegetation alone is likely to reduce resource competition but not predation. Managing multiple invasive species is likely necessary for successful species conservation.
Contribution of invasive carp (Cyprinus carpio) to fish biomass in rivers of the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia
Authors: Schilling Hayden T. , Butler Gavin L. , Cheshire Katherine J. M. , Gilligan Dean M. , Stocks Jerom R. , Thiem Jason D. , Crook David A.
Published: June 2024

Following the introduction of the ‘Boolarra’ strain to Australia in the mid 1960’s, Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) rapidly spread in waterways across the Murray–Darling Basin (MDB) in southern-eastern Australia. A previous study of the population expansion based upon data up to the early 2000s suggested the carp population may have reached, and was fluctuating around, the ecosystem carrying capacity. It has been widely stated in the scientific literature and media that carp comprise up to 90% of fish biomass in MDB rivers; however, this figure is largely based on sparse data collected in the 1990s and the accuracy of this estimate is uncertain. Here, we analyse three decades (1994–2023) of electrofishing data to estimate the median proportion of total fish biomass contributed by carp across > 1,400 sites in lowland rivers (< 700 m elevation) of the New South Wales (NSW) portion of the MDB. The proportion of sites with fish biomass dominated (> 90%) by carp has declined from ≈ 33% of sites in the mid-1990s to ≈ 20% of sites. The proportion of biomass comprised by carp varied depending on the scale of analysis. Across the NSW MDB, carp accounted for a median of 57% (95% CI: 42.5–70.4) of fish biomass at the site level. At the river catchment scale estimates ranged from ≈ 45–66%. In contrast, the median proportion of carp within key rivers ranged from ≈ 46–80%, suggesting that carp can dominate total fish biomass in some rivers for short time-periods. The proportion of biomass contributed by carp at the NSW MDB scale was remarkably stable across decades, suggesting that the carrying capacity of carp may have been reached. Our revised estimates of the contribution of carp to overall fish biomass can facilitate informed debate around the dominance of carp in MDB rivers and provide important information for carp management in the future.
Persistent and lagged effects of fire on stream solutes linked to intermittent precipitation in arid lands
Authors: Lowman Heili , Blaszczak Joanna , Cale Ashley , Dong Xiaoli , Earl Stevan , Grabow Julia , Grimm Nancy B. , Harms Tamara K. , Melack John , Reinhold Ann Marie , Summers Betsy , Webster Alex J.
Published: June 2024

Increased occurrence, size, and intensity of fire result in significant but variable changes to hydrology and material retention in watersheds with concomitant effects on stream biogeochemistry. In arid regions, seasonal and episodic precipitation results in intermittency in flows connecting watersheds to recipient streams that can delay the effects of fire on stream chemistry. We investigated how the spatial extent of fire within watersheds interacts with variability in amount and timing of precipitation to influence stream chemistry of three forested, montane watersheds in a monsoonal climate and four coastal, chaparral watersheds in a Mediterranean climate. We applied state-space models to estimate effects of precipitation, fire, and their interaction on stream chemistry up to five years following fire using 15 + years of monthly observations. Precipitation alone diluted specific conductance and flushed nitrate and phosphate to Mediterranean streams. Fire had positive and negative effects on specific conductance in both climates, whereas ammonium and nitrate concentrations increased following fire in Mediterranean streams. Fire and precipitation had positive interactive effects on specific conductance in monsoonal streams and on ammonium in Mediterranean streams. In most cases, the effects of fire and its interaction with precipitation persisted or were lagged 2–5 years. These results suggest that precipitation influences the timing and intensity of the effects of fire on stream solute dynamics in aridland watersheds, but these responses vary by climate, solute, and watershed characteristics. Time series models were applied to data from long-term monitoring that included observations before and after fire, yielding estimated effects of fire on aridland stream chemistry. This statistical approach captured effects of local-scale temporal variation, including delayed responses to fire, and may be used to reduce uncertainty in predicted responses of water quality under changing fire and precipitation regimes of arid lands.
Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis: A Resting-State EEG Microstate Study
Authors: Baldini Sara , Sartori Arianna , Rossi Lucrezia , Favero Anna , Pasquin Fulvio , Dinoto Alessandro , Bratina Alessio , Bosco Antonio , Manganotti Paolo
Published: June 2024

Fatigue affects approximately 80% of people with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) and can impact several domains of daily life. However, the neural underpinnings of fatigue in MS are still not completely clear. The aim of our study was to investigate the spontaneous large-scale networks functioning associated with fatigue in PwMS using the EEG microstate approach with a spectral decomposition. Forty-three relapsing–remitting MS patients and twenty-four healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. All participants underwent an administration of Modified Fatigue Impact scale (MFIS) and a 15-min resting-state high-density EEG recording. We compared the microstates of healthy subjects, fatigued (F-MS) and non-fatigued (nF-MS) patients with MS; correlations with clinical and behavioral fatigue scores were also analyzed. Microstates analysis showed six templates across groups and frequencies. We found that in the F-MS emerged a significant decrease of microstate F, associated to the salience network, in the broadband and in the beta band. Moreover, the microstate B, associated to the visual network, showed a significant increase in fatigued patients than healthy subjects in broadband and beta bands. The multiple linear regression showed that the high cognitive fatigue was predicted by both an increase and decrease, respectively, in delta band microstate B and beta band microstate F. On the other hand, higher physical fatigue was predicted with lower occurrence microstate F in beta band. The current findings suggest that in MS the higher level of fatigue might be related to a maladaptive functioning of the salience and visual network.
Understanding Multiple Perspectives on Social Value in Business: An Integrative Review and Typology
Authors: de la Cruz Jara Marcelo F. , Spanjol Jelena
Published: June 2024

Although the concept of social value has been present in business literature for over a century, it lacks definitional consensus, is often imprecise, and has not been sufficiently theorized. With social value becoming more prevalent across business scholarship domains, the lack of conceptual clarity and consistency hampers substantive research progress. We conduct an integrative review of 288 articles drawn from 60 peer-reviewed journals covering a wide spectrum of business domains. We synthesize the review findings into a polythetic typology that identifies five distinct approaches to understanding and managing social value in business. The proposed typology of social value organizes and consolidates the theoretical and conceptual heterogeneity of the social value concept providing much-needed clarity and structure for future research. It allows scholars to structure and unify various conceptualizations into a more holistic yet nuanced understanding, and the necessary (but currently lacking) clarity to enable new theorizing and guide future research. The proposed typology further offers new ways of thinking about social value and provides direction to managerial practice on the desirability and feasibility of implementing different social value approaches into firms’ core business operations and strategies.
Cultivating Response-Ability in Secondary Literary Education: Staying with the Trouble with/in Lisen Adbåge’s Picturebook Furan
Authors: Åkerholm Katrina , Höglund Heidi
Published: June 2024

While research has highlighted the potential of picturebooks in upper secondary education, empirical research is still limited. This article explores what the picturebook Furan by Lisen Adbåge produces in the secondary literature classroom by engaging with Donna Haraway’s [2016] concept of “staying with the trouble”. From a vantage point of postfoundational inquiry, we ask how the theoretical concept can unfold the encounters in-between the students and the picturebook. The data consists of video recordings of three upper secondary classrooms, and in the analysis, we follow Maggie Maclure’s [2013] approach of “data that glows”. Instances that glow are when the students struggled to make sense of the picturebook, either staying with the trouble or avoiding it. The analysis shows how the picturebook produces string figuring, sympoietic thinking and crafting in the literature classroom, enabling students to start cultivating response-ability as a way of responding to troubled times. The article explores what postfoundational theories like Haraway’s can bring about in literary education.
Polynomial worst-case iteration complexity of quasi-Newton primal-dual interior point algorithms for linear programming
Authors: Gondzio Jacek , Sobral Francisco N. C.
Published: June 2024

Quasi-Newton methods are well known techniques for large-scale numerical optimization. They use an approximation of the Hessian in optimization problems or the Jacobian in system of nonlinear equations. In the Interior Point context, quasi-Newton algorithms compute low-rank updates of the matrix associated with the Newton systems, instead of computing it from scratch at every iteration. In this work, we show that a simplified quasi-Newton primal-dual interior point algorithm for linear programming, which alternates between Newton and quasi-Newton iterations, enjoys polynomial worst-case iteration complexity. Feasible and infeasible cases of the algorithm are considered and the most common neighborhoods of the central path are analyzed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to deliver polynomial worst-case iteration complexity bounds for these methods. Unsurprisingly, the worst-case complexity results obtained when quasi-Newton directions are used are worse than their counterparts when Newton directions are employed. However, quasi-Newton updates are very attractive for large-scale optimization problems where the cost of factorizing the matrices is much higher than the cost of solving linear systems.
My museum: A study of pre-service social studies teachers’ experience in designing virtual museums
Authors: Kayaalp Fatih , Namlı Zeynep Başcı , Meral Elif
Published: June 2024

This study aims to reveal pre-service teachers’ experience in virtual museum design that they can use in social studies teaching, and their opinions on virtual museum applications. In line with this purpose, phenomenology design was used as one of the qualitative research approaches. Selected by the criterion sampling method, the study sample consisted of a total of 15 pre-service social studies teachers (9 female, 6 male) who were studying in year 4 at the Department of Social Studies Education of a State University in the 2021/22 academic year. During the 9-week virtual museum design process, virtual museums on “epidemics, women’s rights, population, environmental problems, climate, human rights, and migration” were designed through the Artsteps application. The study was executed in a dynamic manner in co-operation and interaction with pre-service teachers based on the principles of design, implementation and evaluation. A semi-structured interview form was used as a data collection tool to determine the opinions of pre-service teachers about virtual museums and the use of virtual museums in social studies teaching. The data was analysed by content analysis. The results revealed that the virtual museum design process positively affected the views of pre-service teachers and that virtual museums are very effective and applicable tools in social studies teaching. This study suggests that virtual museums be used in social studies courses since they offer rich content to achieve meaningful learning in social studies courses owing to easy accessibility, and that future studies focus on examining the effects of popularizing virtual museums designed with gamification and guided content.
Distraction, multitasking and self-regulation inside university classroom
Authors: Deng Liping , Zhou Yujie , Broadbent Jaclyn
Published: June 2024

As digital devices become ubiquitous in learning contexts, they have become the main source of distraction that leads to distractive multitasking. This underscores the growing importance of self-regulated learning as a means of combating distraction and persisting in learning. This study aims to bridge the perspectives of self-regulation and distractive multitasking in academic settings to gain a comprehensive understanding of how distractions from various sources induce multitasking and how students employ self-regulation strategies to manage distractions during class time. A framework was constructed to explore internal and external distractions that account for distractive multitasking and self-regulation strategies for coping with distractions. A mixed-method design was adopted to collect data from three Chinese universities. The results show that distractive multitasking can be induced by cognitive, emotional, and behavioral conditions and external factors concerning physical, social, and technological contexts. Further, students’ multitasking behaviors and implementation of self-regulated learning strategies are changeable depending on their motivation and the perceived value of the ongoing course. Our study also illuminates a range of self-regulated learning strategies that involve minimizing distractions during the planning phase and monitoring and combating distractions during class.
Soil organic carbon exchange due to the change in land use
Authors: Başaran Nermin , Akdogan Cinal Gamze , Eroglu Engin
Published: June 2024

This study analyses the decrease in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks due to changes in land use following the earthquake in Düzce, Turkey, 1999. The primary objective of the study is to determine the changes in land use within Düzce and to provide a multi-dimensional approach to the spatial and quantitative distributions of SOC losses. Corine Land Use- Land Cover (LULC) within the study is used to determine the change in land use. The loss of LULC and carbon stocks were identified by means of LULC with transfer matrix method and GIS-based analysis. The study of land-use change caused by urbanisation and agricultural activity shows that the limited green spaces around the urban core created by degrading natural areas do not compensate for the loss of SOC. SOC stocks decline after the land use changes from agricultural regions to artificial areas (− 5%), Natural- Semi-natural (N-SN) regions to artificial areas (− 15%), N-SN areas to agricultural areas (− 20.9%) and agricultural areas to water bodies (− 9%), and SOC stocks increase after land use changes from artificial areas to N-SN areas (+ 29.6%), artificial areas to agricultural areas (+ 8%), agricultural areas to N-SN areas (+ 25%). However, in some agricultural areas, SOC stocks are similar to semi-natural and natural areas. For instance, in sparsely vegetated areas, SOC stocks from fruit and berry plantations may be poor. Although it is generally assumed that SOC loss can occur on land transformed from natural areas, this rule of thumb may be revised in some particular circumstances. Therefore, local ecological restoration decisions should not be based on land cover generalisations.
Heavy metal and metalloid concentrations in red deer (Cervus elaphus) and their human health implications from One Health perspective
Authors: Jota Baptista Catarina , Seixas Fernanda , Gonzalo-Orden José M. , Patinha Carla , Pato Pedro , Ferreira da Silva Eduardo , Fernandes Gilberto , Oliveira Paula A.
Published: June 2024

The red deer is an ungulate and large game species. The contamination of the ecosystems by metal(loid)s may lead to the exposure of animals (as well as humans) through water and food resources. The direct contact of hunters and wild animal meat consumers with deer carcasses may be a potential contaminant source. This study aimed to determine the metal(loid)s’ concentrations in the liver and kidney of red deer from two regions of Portugal (Idanha-a-Nova and Lousã), and to relate these with histopathologic lesions. Thirteen young male deer were submitted to metal(loid) determination (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrophotometry (ICP-MS) and histopathology examination. Renal Cd (8.072 ± 5.766 mg/kg dw) and hepatic Pb (3.824 ± 6.098 mg/kg dw) mean values were high, considering the maximum values for consumption established by the European Commission. The hepatic mean value of Cu was significantly higher in Idanha-a-Nova (150.059 ± 33.321 mg/kg dw), and it is at the Cu toxicity limit considered for ruminants (150 mg/kg). The pollution induced by Panasqueira mines (Castelo Branco) may be a possible explanation for some of the findings, especially the higher values of hepatic Cu and Pb found in Idanha-a-Nova deer. These results have high importance under a One Health perspective, since they have implications in public health, and pose at risk the imbalance of animal populations and ecosystems.
Natural peloids originating from subsea depths of 200 m in the hupo basin, South Korea: physicochemical properties for potential pelotherapy applications
Authors: Park Changyun , Kim Jae-Hwan , Choi Woohyun , Kim Daeyoung , No Sang-Gun , Chung Donghoon , Lee Hae-in , Seo Seungbin , Seo Sung Man
Published: June 2024

The present study firstly reports surface sediment from the subsea depth of 200 m as a potential natural peloid. The fine-silt sediment exhibited a consistent clay mineral composition dominated by illite, chlorite, kaolinite, and diatomite. The most abundant clay mineral was illite/mica, with other minerals loosely packed in a face-to-face orientation. The thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, and cation-exchange capacity of the sediment were in the range 0.855–0.885 W/m K, 2.718–2.821 J/g °C, and 23.06–32.96 cmol/kg, respectively. The concentrations of most toxic elements in the sediment were considerably lower than the limits set by domestic cosmetic regulations and other international standards. The analyzed samples exhibited similar properties to those of previously reported peloids, thus making them suitable for use in the field of pelotherapy; furthermore, the consistency in data across a wide peloid-distribution area is expected to enable economically viable mining. Future investigations should aim to to evaluate the long-term effects on the skin, the bioavailability of potentially hazardous substances, and the therapeutic efficacy for various skin conditions.
Exploring Rare Earth Element behavior in the Mount Etna volcanic aquifers (Sicily)
Authors: Dominech Salvatore , Federico Cinzia , Brusca Lorenzo , Fornasaro Silvia , Bellomo Sergio , D’Alessandro Walter
Published: June 2024

This study presents the first data on REY (Rare Earth Elements plus Yttrium) in the aquifer of Mount Etna (Sicily, Italy). Patterns normalized to chondrites indicate strong water–rock interaction, facilitated by a slightly acidic pH resulting from the dissolution of magma-derived CO2. REY patterns provide insights into the processes of both mineral dissolution and the formation of secondary phases. The relative abundance of light to heavy rare earth elements is compatible with the prevailing dissolution of ferromagnesian minerals (e.g., olivine or clinopyroxenes), reinforced by its strong correlation with other proxies of mineral dissolution (e.g., Mg contents). Pronounced negative Ce anomalies and positive Y anomalies demonstrate an oxidizing environment with continuous formation of secondary iron and/or manganese oxides and hydroxides. The Y/Ho fractionation is strongly influenced by metal complexation with bicarbonate complexes, a common process in C-rich waters. In the studied system, the measured REY contents are always below the limits proposed by Sneller et al. (2000, RIVM report, Issue 601,501, p. 66) for surface water and ensure a very low daily intake from drinking water.
Challenges, adaptations, and fringe benefits of conducting software engineering research with human participants during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Madugalla Anuradha , Kanij Tanjila , Hoda Rashina , Hidellaarachchi Dulaji , Pant Aastha , Ferdousi Samia , Grundy John
Published: June 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we live, work and the way we conduct research. With the restrictions of lockdowns and social distancing, various impacts were experienced by many software engineering researchers, especially whose studies depend on human participants. We conducted a mixed methods study to understand the extent of this impact. Through a detailed survey with 89 software engineering researchers working with human participants around the world and a further nine follow-up interviews, we identified the key challenges faced, the adaptations made, and the surprising fringe benefits of conducting research involving human participants during the pandemic. Our findings also revealed that in retrospect, many researchers did not wish to revert to the old ways of conducting human-orienfted research. Based on our analysis and insights, we share recommendations on how to conduct remote studies with human participants effectively in an increasingly hybrid world when face-to-face engagement is not possible or where remote participation is preferred.
MMFG: Multimodal-based Mutual Feature Gating 3D Object Detection
Authors: Xu Wanpeng , Fu Zhipeng
Published: June 2024

To address the problem that image and point cloud features are fused in a coarse fusion way and cannot achieve deep fusion, this paper proposes a multimodal 3D object detection architecture based on a mutual feature gating mechanism. First, since the feature aggregation approach based on the set abstraction layer cannot obtain fine-grained features, a point-based self-attention mechanism module is designed. This module is added to the extraction branch of point cloud features to achieve fine-grained feature aggregation while maintaining accurate location information. Second, a new gating mechanism is designed for the deep fusion of image and point cloud. Deep fusion is achieved by mutual feature weighting between the image and the point cloud. The newly fused features are then fed into a feature refinement network to extract classification confidence and 3D target bounding boxes. Finally, a multi-scale detection architecture is proposed to obtain a more complete object shape. The location-based encoding feature algorithm is also designed to focus the interest points in the region of interest adaptively. The whole architecture shows outstanding performance on the KITTI3D and nuSenece datasets, especially at the difficult level. It shows that the framework solves the problem of low detection rates in LiDAR mode due to the low number of surface points obtained from distant objects.
A Bayesian approach to data-driven multi-stage stochastic optimization
Authors: Chen Zhiping , Ma Wentao
Published: June 2024

Aimed at sufficiently utilizing available data and prior distribution information, we introduce a data-driven Bayesian-type approach to solve multi-stage convex stochastic optimization, which can easily cope with the uncertainty about data process’s distributions and their inter-stage dependence. To unravel the properties of the proposed multi-stage Bayesian expectation optimization (BEO) problem, we establish the consistency of optimal value functions and solutions. Two kinds of algorithms are designed for the numerical solution of single-stage and multi-stage BEO problems, respectively. A queuing system and a multi-stage inventory problem are adopted to numerically demonstrate the advantages and practicality of the new framework and corresponding solution methods, compared with the usual formulations and solution methods for stochastic optimization problems.
High Energy X-Ray Source Characterization at 0.450, 3, 6, 9, and 15 MVp
Authors: Hellmann David , Liesenfelt Michael , Hayward Jason P.
Published: June 2024

As the availability and importance of high energy X-ray sources grows, accurate source characterizations provide critical information for field flatness corrections, beam hardening corrections, detector response corrections, and radiation shielding assessments. This study uses MCNP6.2 to create accurate high definition angular and energy dependent X-ray source definitions for the most common high energy industrial X-ray sources at 450 kVp, 3 MVp, 6 MVp, 9 MVp, and 15 MVp.
Reduced Training Data for Laser Ultrasound Signal Interpretation by Neural Networks
Authors: Rus Janez , Fleury Romain
Published: June 2024

The performance of machine learning algorithms is conditioned by the availability of training datasets, which is especially true for the field of nondestructive evaluation. Here we propose one reconfigurable specimen instead of numerous reference specimens with known, unchangeable defect properties, which are usually complicated to fabricate. It consist of a shape memory polymer foil with temperature-dependent Young’s modulus and ultrasound attenuation. This open a possibility to generate a reconfigurable defect by projecting a heating laser in the form of a short line on the specimen surface. Ultrasound is generated by a laser pulse at one fixed position and detected by a laser vibrometer at another fixed position for 64 different defect positions and 3 different configurations of the specimen. The obtained diversified datasets are used to optimize the neural network architecture for the interpretation of ultrasound signals. We study the performance of the model in cases of reduced and dissimilar training datasets. In our first study, we classify the specimen configurations with the defect position being the disturbing parameter. The model shows high performance on a dataset of signals obtained at all the defect positions, even if trained on a completely different dataset containing signals obtained at only few defect positions. In our second study, we perform precise defect localization. The model becomes robust to the changes in the specimen configuration when a reduced dataset, containing signals obtained at two different specimen configurations, is used for the training process. This work highlights the potential of the demonstrated machine learning algorithm for industrial quality control. High-volume products (simulated by a reconfigurable specimen in our work) can be rapidly tested on the production line using this single-point and contact-free laser ultrasonic method.