bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gambling Habits and Attitudes among Athlete and Non-Athlete High School Students in Skåne Region, Sweden
Authors: Miles Molly , Andersson Mitchell , Claesdotter-Knutsson Emma , Kapetanovic Sabina , Håkansson Anders
Published: July 2024

Previous literature has reported increased rates of gambling problems in athletes compared to non-athletes. More liberal gambling-related attitudes have been suggested as a reason, although this rarely has been researched. The present study aimed to examine gambling experience, gambling problems, and gambling-related attitudes and parental gambling experience in high school students, comparing student-athletes to students at conventional schools. This is a cross-sectional web survey study in high school students (N = 473, 53% at sports high schools, 57% male) at eleven schools in the Skåne region, Sweden, who answered a web survey addressed gambling experiences, parental gambling and gambling-related attitudes, and included validated screening instruments for gambling problems and psychological distress. A history of any gambling was common and increased with age. Problem gambling was detected in 10% (13% of males and 5% of females, p < .001), and was associated with paternal and maternal gambling but not with psychological distress. Sports high school students were not more likely (9%) than other students (10%) to endorse gambling problems and history of each gambling type. However, paternal (but not maternal) gambling was more commonly reported in athletes, who also had more positive attitudes to gambling’s effects on society and gambling availability. In contrast to other studies, this study did not demonstrate higher prevalence of gambling or gambling problems among young athletes than among other students, but liberal attitudes towards gambling, and experience of parental gambling on the father’s side, were more common among athletes than among non-athletes. Gambling attitudes in adolescents may need to be targeted in future preventive efforts in young athletes and others.
Super T2-FLAIR mismatch sign: a prognostic imaging biomarker for non-enhancing astrocytoma, IDH-mutant
Authors: Ozono Iori , Onishi Shumpei , Yonezawa Ushio , Taguchi Akira , Khairunnisa Novita Ikbar , Amatya Vishwa Jeet , Yamasaki Fumiyuki , Takeshima Yukio , Horie Nobutaka
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The T2-FLAIR mismatch sign is a highly specific diagnostic imaging biomarker for astrocytoma, IDH-mutant. However, a definitive prognostic imaging biomarker has yet to be identified. This study investigated imaging prognostic markers, specifically analyzing T2-weighted and FLAIR images of this tumor.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 31 cases of non-enhancing astrocytoma, IDH-mutant treated at our institution, and 30 cases from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)/The Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA). We defined “super T2-FLAIR mismatch sign” as having a significantly strong low signal comparable to cerebrospinal fluid at non-cystic lesions rather than just a pale FLAIR low-signal tumor lesion as in conventional T2-FLAIR mismatch sign. Cysts were defined as having a round or oval shape and were excluded from the criteria for the super T2-FLAIR mismatch sign. We evaluated the presence or absence of the T2-FLAIR mismatch sign and super T2-FLAIR mismatch sign using preoperative MRI and analyzed the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) by log-rank test.

Results

The T2-FLAIR mismatch sign was present in 17 cases (55%) in our institution and 9 cases (30%) within the TCGA-LGG dataset without any correlation with PFS or OS. However, the super T2-FLAIR mismatch sign was detected in 8 cases (26%) at our institution and 13 cases (43%) in the TCGA-LGG dataset. At our institution, patients displaying the super T2-FLAIR mismatch sign showed significantly extended PFS (122.7 vs. 35.9 months, p = 0.0491) and OS (not reached vs. 116.7 months, p = 0.0232). Similarly, in the TCGA-LGG dataset, those with the super T2-FLAIR mismatch sign exhibited notably longer OS (not reached vs. 44.0 months, p = 0.0177).

Conclusion

The super T2-FLAIR mismatch is a promising prognostic imaging biomarker for non-enhancing astrocytoma, IDH-mutant.
On modeling and damage detection methodologies in rotor systems
Authors: Abdul Nasar Rafath , Alzarooni Tariq , AL-Shudeifat Mohammad A.
Published: July 2024

Damages in rotor systems have severe impact on their functionality, safety, running durability and their industrial productivity, which usually leads to unavoidable economical and human losses. Rotor systems are employed in extensive industrial applications such as jet engines, gas and steam turbines, heavy-duty pumps and compressors, drilling tools, and in other machineries. One of the major damages in such systems is the propagation of fatigue cracks. The heavy-duty and recurrent cyclic fatigue loading in rotor systems is one of the main factors leading to fatigue crack propagation. For the past few decades, numerous research have been conducted to study crack related damages and various methodologies were proposed or employed for damage detection in rotor systems. Therefore, the purpose of the present review article is to provide a thorough analysis and evaluation regarding the associated research related to the modeling aspects of rotor systems that are associated with various kinds of (rotor related) damages. Based on this review, it is observed that the crack modeling, especially with the breathing crack type in rotor systems, is still based on few primary models. Several researchers, based on different assumptions, have extended and modified such models to be more reliable for analysis. Moreover, the arising demand for early crack detection has led to utilization of various tools such as Fast Fourier transform, Hilbert Huang transform, wavelet transform, whirling analysis, energy methods, and the correlation between backward whirling and rotor faults etc. In addition, the significant impact of nonsynchronous whirl within resonance zones of rotor systems on post-resonance backward whirl, under various rotor related faults, is also highlighted in the present review. Therefore, the review provides an evaluation and comparison between several crack models and detection methodologies in rotor systems. Moreover, this review could help in identifying the gaps in modeling, simulation, and dynamical analysis of cracked rotor systems to establish robust research platform on cracked rotor systems.
Duo photoprotective effect via silica-coated zinc oxide nanoparticles and Vitamin C nanovesicles composites
Authors: Kandil Soha M. , Diab Heba M. , Mahfoz Amal M. , Elhawatky Ahmed , Abdou Ebtsam M.
Published: July 2024

Objective

Zinc Oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are used widely in nowadays personal care products, especially sunscreens, as a protector against UV irradiation. Yet, they have some reports of potential toxicity. Silica is widely used to cage ZnO NPs to reduce their potential toxicity. Vitamin C derivative, Magnesium Ascorpyl Phosphate (MAP), is a potent antioxidant that can efficiently protect human skin from harmful impacts of UV irradiation and oxidative stress. The combination of silica coated ZnO NPs and MAP nanovesicles could have potential synergistic protective effect against skin photodamage.

Methods

Silica coated ZnO NPs and MAP nanovesicles (ethosomes and niosomes) were synthesized, formulated, and evaluated as topical gels. These gel formulations were evaluated in mice for their photoprotective effect against UV irradiation through histopathology and immuno-histochemistry study. Split-face clinical study was conducted to compare the effect of application of silica coated ZnO NPs either alone or combined with MAP nanovesicles. Their photoprotective action was evaluated, using Antera 3D® camera, for melanin level, roughness index and wrinkles depth.

Results

Silica coated ZnO NPs when combined with MAP nanovesicles protected mice skin from UV irradiation and decreased the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines, NF-κB. Clinically, silica coated ZnO NPs, alone or combined with MAP nanovesicles, could have significant effect to decrease melanin level, roughness index and wrinkles depth with higher effect for the combination.

Conclusion

A composite of silica coated ZnO NPs and MAP nanovesicles could be a promising cosmetic formulation for skin protection against photodamage signs such as hyperpigmentation, roughness, and wrinkles.

Graphical Abstract
Mechanized wet direct seeding for increased rice production efficiency and reduced carbon footprint
Authors: Van Hung Nguyen , Thach Tran Ngoc , Hoang Nguyen Ngoc , Binh Nguyen Cao Quan , Tâm Dang Minh , Hau Tran Tan , Anh Duong Thi Tu , Khuong Trinh Quang , Chi Vo Thi Bich , Lien Truong Thi Kieu , Gummert Martin , Rakotoson Tovohery , Saito Kazuki , Kumar Virender
Published: July 2024

Crop establishment is one of the major rice production operations that strongly affects rice production, productivity, and environmental impacts. This research introduced a new technology and provided scientific evidence for the benefits of mechanized wet direct seeding (mDSR) of rice as compared with the other crop establishment practices commonly applied by farmers for wet direct seeded rice in Mekong River Delta in Vietnam, such as seeding in line using drum-seeder (dDSR) and broadcast seeding (bDSR). The experiment was implemented across two consecutive rice cropping seasons that are Winter-Spring season and Summer-Autumn season in 2020–2021. Treatments included (1–3) mDSR with seeding rates of 30, 50, and 70 kg ha− 1, (4) dDSR with 80 kg ha− 1 seed rate, and (5) bDSR as current farmer practice with seeding rate of 180 kg ha− 1. The fertilizer application was adjusted as per seeding rate with 80:40:30 kg ha− 1 N: P2O5: K2O with lower seed rate 30 and 50 kg ha− 1 in mDSR; 90:40:30 kg ha− 1 N: P2O5: K2O with medium seed rate of 70 to 80 kg ha− 1; and 115:55:40 kg ha− 1 N: P2O5: K2O with high seed rate of 180 kg ha− 1 in bDSR. Mechanized wet direct seeding rice with a lower seed rate of 30 to 70 kg ha− 1 and fertilizer rate by 22–30% reduced variation in seedling density by 40–80% and in yield by 0.1 to 0.3 t ha− 1 and had similar yield to bDSR. In consequence, N productivity was 27 and 32% higher in mDSR as compared to bDSR during the Winter-Spring season and Summer-Autumn seasons, respectively. The use of lower seed rate and fertilizer in mDSR also led to higher income and lower carbon footprint (GHGe per kg of paddy grains) of rice production than the currently used practices of bDSR. Net income of mDSR was comparable to that of dDSR and higher by 145–220 and 171–248 $US than that of bDSR in Winter-Spring season and Summer-Autumn, respectively. The carbon footprint of mDSR rice production compared to bDSR was lower by 22–25% and 12–20% during the Winter-Spring and Summer-Autumn seasons, respectively. Given the above benefits of farming efficiency, higher income, and low emission, mDSR would be a technology package that strongly supports sustainable rice cultivation transformation for the Mekong River Delta of Vietnam.
Orthographic facilitation of English vocabulary learning in monolingual and bilingual children
Authors: Wang Hua-Chen , Salins Andrea , Murray Lyndall , Wegener Signy , Castles Anne
Published: July 2024

Research suggests that bilinguals often have weaker vocabulary in their second language compared to that of monolinguals (e.g., Hoff, 2013). It is thus important to identify factors that may facilitate vocabulary learning for bilinguals. One suggested factor is the presence of orthography while learning new oral vocabulary. The current study aims to examine the orthographic facilitation effect on vocabulary learning and evaluate whether this effect is larger for children who are simultaneous or emergent bilinguals, compared to monolinguals. A group of 33 bilingual and 38 English monolingual Year 2–4 students participated in an online novel word learning study. Novel words were paired with pictures of vintage tools and taught by presenting the pictures and repeating their names, either with the spelling of the words or picture only. Learning was measured using a picture-naming task, and a 4AFC word-picture matching task. The results showed a significant effect of orthographic facilitation in both measures. For the picture naming task, there was a significant interaction between orthographic condition and language group, with the monolingual group benefiting more from the presence of orthography. However, no such interaction was found in the 4AFC matching. We conclude that both English monolingual and bilingual children learn more novel words when the spellings of words are present, and that this benefit does not appear to be larger for bilingual children.
One-Pot Liquid-Phase Synthesis of Methyl Isobutyl Ketone Over Bifunctional Ion-Exchange Resins: Unravelling the Role of Resins Structure and Active Pd or Cu Phases on Sintering, Leaching and Catalytic Activity
Authors: Canadell E. , Badia J. H. , Soto R. , Tejero J. , Bringué R. , Ramírez E.
Published: July 2024

This work evaluates the catalytic activity of gel-type and macroreticular sulfonic styrene-divinylbenzene ion-exchange resins (IERs) incorporating metallic Pd or Cu nanoparticles for the synthesis of methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) from acetone following a one-pot synthesis approach. The effects of reaction time, temperature, and metal loading on the catalytic activity are studied, along with reusability (batch) and stability (fixed-bed) tests, highlighting the industrial potential of the most active catalyst prepared consisting of Pd-embedded particles within a strongly acidic gel-type IER support. Pd-based catalysts are more active than Cu ones, reaching 100% selectivity to MIBK and yields to MIBK of 36%, similar to the commercial benchmark also tested for comparison, i.e. Amberlyst™CH28. The highest yield to MIBK (54%) is obtained at 120 °C, 30 bar of H2, 300 rpm, a catalyst load of 5 wt% and a Pd loading of 1 wt% after 24 h, with margin to improvement since the catalytic activity is found to increase with temperature up to 130 °C without detectable by-products formation. The extensive characterization by several techniques (ICP-MS, SEM–EDS, N2 physisorption, ISEC, TEM/HRTEM, and XRD) enabled to draw crucial conclusions to understand the role of IER morphology and metal used on the catalytic activity. Sintering of both Pd and Cu nanoparticles depends on the structural type of the resin support, being magnified for macroreticular resins due to an enhanced propensity towards particle coalescence in comparison to gel-type supports. The different extent of leaching observed for the Pd- or Cu- containing IERs is explained on a basis of the behavior of the corresponding metallic nanoparticles within the resins structure. The active metallic Pd or Cu phases have been identified by HRTEM, confirming the presence of metal oxide species.
The impact of electromagnetic fields generated by high-voltage power lines on the spatial arrangement of pike (Esox Lucius Linnaeus 1758) embryos
Authors: Krzystolik Jan , Tański Adam , Piesiewicz Radosław , Formicki Krzysztof
Published: July 2024

Urbanization and technological advancements result in the dispersion of antropogenic electromagnetic fields (EMF) that can affect on ecosystems. Therefore, it is important to understand their impact on the environment. Aquatic ecosystems are subject to EMF as part of various electricity sources, e.g., high-voltage transmission lines (HVTL). We examined the impact of EMF generated by HVTL on the spatial arrangement and survival of pike (Esox lucius) embryos. Fertilized eggs were incubated under two HVTL configurations 110 kV and 220 kV compared with a control group devoid of anthropogenic EMF. Embryo orientation and survival were monitored until blastopore closure. The control group showed dominance in the arrangement of embryos along the N-S, NNW-SSE, and NNE-SSW axes, with a slight prevalence of northern directions. EMF originating from HVTL did not exert a significant influence on the spatial arrangement of pike embryos, although some deviations from the arrangement noticed in the control group were observed. Increased embryo mortality was observed only at 110 kV site, but probably due to factors unrelated to EMF. In conclusion, EMF generated by HVTL did not significantly change pike embryo orientation or chances of survival. However, longer exposure or higher EMF levels could provoke notable reactions, requiring ongoing evaluation as power networks continue to spread more widely.
Maternal α-casein deficiency extends the lifespan of offspring and programmes their body composition
Authors: Kolb Andreas F. , Mayer Claus , Zitskaja Alina , Petrie Linda , Hasaballah Khulod , Warren Claire , Carlisle Ailsa , Lillico Simon , Whitelaw Bruce
Published: July 2024

Early nutrition has significant effects on physiological outcomes during adult life. We have analysed the effect of maternal α-casein (CSN1S1) deficiency on the physiological fate of dams and their offspring. α-casein deficiency reduces maternal milk protein concentration by more than 50% and attenuates the growth of pups to 27% (p < 0.001) of controls at the point of weaning. This is associated with a permanent reduction in adult body weight (− 31% at 25 weeks). Offspring nursed by α-casein deficient dams showed a significantly increased lifespan (+ 20%, χ2: 10.6; p = 0.001). Liver transcriptome analysis of offspring nursed by α-casein deficient dams at weaning revealed gene expression patterns similar to those found in dwarf mice (reduced expression of somatotropic axis signalling genes, increased expression of xenobiotic metabolism genes). In adult mice, the expression of somatotropic axis genes returned to control levels. This demonstrates that, in contrast to dwarf mice, attenuation of the GH-IGF signalling axis in offspring nursed by α-casein deficient dams is transient, while the changes in body size and lifespan are permanent. Offspring nursed by α-casein deficient dams showed permanent changes in body composition. Absolute and relative adipose tissue weights (p < 0.05), the percentage of body fat (p < 0.001) as well as adipocyte size in epididymal white adipose tissue are all reduced. Serum leptin levels were 25% of those found in control mice (p < 0.001). Liver lipid content and lipid composition were significantly altered in response to postnatal nutrition. This demonstrates the nutrition in early life programmes adult lipid metabolism, body composition and lifespan.
DMFVAE: miRNA-disease associations prediction based on deep matrix factorization method with variational autoencoder
Authors: Wei Pijing , Wang Qianqian , Gao Zhen , Cao Ruifen , Zheng Chunhou
Published: July 2024

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are closely related to numerous complex human diseases, therefore, exploring miRNA-disease associations (MDAs) can help people gain a better understanding of complex disease mechanism. An increasing number of computational methods have been developed to predict MDAs. However, the sparsity of the MDAs may hinder the performance of many methods. In addition, many methods fail to capture the nonlinear relationships of miRNA-disease network and inadequately leverage the features of network and neighbor nodes. In this study, we propose a deep matrix factorization model with variational autoencoder (DMFVAE) to predict potential MDAs. DMFVAE first decomposes the original association matrix and the enhanced association matrix, in which the enhanced association matrix is enhanced by self-adjusting the nearest neighbor method, to obtain sparse vectors and dense vectors, respectively. Then, the variational encoder is employed to obtain the nonlinear latent vectors of miRNA and disease for the sparse vectors, and meanwhile, node2vec is used to obtain the network structure embedding vectors of miRNA and disease for the dense vectors. Finally, sample features are acquired by combining the latent vectors and network structure embedding vectors, and the final prediction is implemented by convolutional neural network with channel attention. To evaluate the performance of DMFVAE, we conduct five-fold cross validation on the HMDD v2.0 and HMDD v3.2 datasets and the results show that DMFVAE performs well. Furthermore, case studies on lung neoplasms, colon neoplasms, and esophageal neoplasms confirm the ability of DMFVAE in identifying potential miRNAs for human diseases.
Neuroaxonal Injury May Mediate the Association Between Hyperglycemia and Prognosis in Spontaneous Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Santana Daniel , Llull Laura , Mosteiro Alejandra , Pedrosa Leire , Pujol Gabriel , Zattera Luigi , Werner Mariano , Martín Abraham , Justicia Carles , Chamorro Ángel , Torné Ramón , Amaro Sergio
Published: July 2024

Hyperglycemia during early brain injury (EBI) period after spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is associated with poor outcome, but the underlying physiopathology is unknown. This study assessed if hyperglycemia during EBI is associated with markers of neuroaxonal injury and whether these biomarkers partially account for the association between hyperglycemia and poor clinical outcome. Ninety-two SAH patients admitted within 24 h of bleeding onset were prospectively included. Glucose levels were measured at arrival and every 6 h for 72 h. Serum neurofilament light chain (NFL) levels were measured at 72 h. Functional outcome was assessed with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 90 days (poor outcome, mRS > 2). The association between glucose metrics, NFL levels, and clinical outcome was assessed with univariate and multivariate analyses. Mediation analysis was performed to examine the potential chain in which NFL may mediate the relationship between glucose and functional outcome. Higher glucose and NFL levels during EBI were associated with poor clinical outcome in adjusted analysis. NFL levels were associated with older age, higher initial severity, and higher glucose levels during EBI period. In adjusted mediation analyses, the association between glucose and clinical outcome was significantly mediated by NFL levels. The mediator NFL explained 25% of the association between glucose during EBI period and poor functional outcome at 90 days. In SAH, the association between glucose levels during EBI and poor clinical outcome might be significantly mediated by NFL levels. The link between hyperglycemia and poor clinical outcome might be explained in part through secondary neuroaxonal injury.
Lenalidomide and pomalidomide modulate hematopoietic cell expansion and differentiation in the presence of MSC
Authors: Fujii Sumie , Miura Yasuo
Published: July 2024

Cytopenia is a well-documented complication in the treatment of hematological malignancies with lenalidomide and pomalidomide. Although prior studies have highlighted direct effects on hematopoietic cells to explain this adverse effect, the involvement of hematopoietic-supportive stroma remains less understood. This study examined the effects of lenalidomide/pomalidomide on the expansion and differentiation of human CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) in vitro, in co-culture with human bone-marrow mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs). Our findings indicate that lenalidomide/pomalidomide increases the population of immature CD34+CD38− cells while decreasing the number of mature CD34+CD38+ cells, suggesting a mechanism that inhibits early HSPC maturation. This effect persisted across myeloid, megakaryocytic, and erythroid lineages, with MSCs playing a key role in preserving immature progenitors and inhibiting their differentiation. Furthermore, in myeloid differentiation assays augmented by granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, lenalidomide/pomalidomide not only enhanced the presence of CD34+ cells with mature myeloid markers such as CD11b but also reduced the populations lacking CD34 yet positive for these markers, irrespective of MSC presence. Thus, while MSCs support the presence of these immature cell populations, they simultaneously inhibit their maturation. This finding provides novel mechanistic insights into lenalidomide- and pomalidomide-induced cytopenia, and could guide therapeutic strategies for its mitigation.
Exploring the Viability of Socially Assistive Robots for At-Home Cognitive Monitoring: Potential and Limitations
Authors: Luperto Matteo , Romeo Marta , Lunardini Francesca , Monroy Javier , García Daniel Hernández , Abbate Carlo , Cangelosi Angelo , Ferrante Simona , Gonzalez-Jimenez Javier , Basilico Nicola , Borghese N. Alberto
Published: July 2024

The early detection of mild cognitive impairment, a condition of increasing impact in our aging society, is a challenging task with no established answer. One promising solution is the deployment of robotic systems and ambient assisted living technology in the houses of older adults for monitoring and assistance. In this work, we address and discuss a qualitative analysis on the feasibility and acceptability of a socially assistive robot (SAR) deployed in prospective users’ houses to monitor their cognitive capabilities through a set of digitalised neuropsychological tests and spot questions conveniently integrated within the robotic assistant’s daily tasks. We do this by describing an experimental campaign where a robotic system, integrated with a larger framework, was installed in the house of 10 users for a duration of at least 10 weeks, during which their cognitive capabilities were monitored by the robot. Concretely, the robots supervised the users during the completion of the tests and transparently monitored them by asking questions interleaved in their everyday activities. Results show a general acceptance of such technology, being able to carry out the intended tasks without being too invasive, paving the way for an impactful at-home use of SARs.
Why are low-income eligible students reluctant to apply for financial aid? An empirical study from Central Java, Indonesia
Authors: Mulyaningsih Tri , Miranti Riyana , Dong Sarah , Suryandari Retno Tanding
Published: July 2024

Despite generous financial aid provided by the government for low-income students studying at universities, eligible students are still reluctant to apply for such aid. This study aimed to assess the effects of students’ expectations; knowledge, attitudes, and actions toward higher education; financial aid; parental, school, and student characteristics; and intentions to apply for scholarships among low-income students in two districts of Central Java, Indonesia. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds were invited to participate in the survey, and logistic regression was employed to assess the determinants of students’ intentions to apply for financial aid. This study revealed that more than 70% of low-income students have low expectations, which is mainly attributed to a lack of academic performance. Moreover, expectations play a significant role in increasing students’ intention to apply for financial aid by 3.026. In addition, the level of knowledge, positive attitude toward higher education, and financial aid and action were demonstrated to be statistically significant in affecting students’ intention to apply for aid.
Multidimensional measures of farmer well-being: A scoping review
Authors: Isaac Marney E. , Lin Tian , Caillon Sophie , Sebastien Léa , MacDonald Ken , Prudham Scott , Doncieux Antoine , Renard Delphine , Aumeeruddy-Thomas Yildiz , Vincent Lisa , Cobelli Océane , Locqueville Jonathan , Sterling Eleanor
Published: July 2024

Determinants of farmer well-being can be derived from objective and subjective measures of social components, environmental sustainability indicators, and quality of life indices, as well as the multiple scales that farms and farmers operate. Yet, despite multiple frameworks on farmer well-being, the extent to which farmer-expressed values are used in the development of farmer well-being indicators is unclear. Challenges can arise from extracting indicators that are insufficiently grounded in place, or that inadequately incorporate context and biocultural relations and practices. Here in this scoping review, we synthesize the methodologies in the literature on assessing farmer well-being and identify the extent to which farmer well-being domains are derived from values expressed directly by farmers. We consolidated and coded 92 papers to respond to the following questions: (1) What are the most frequent farmer well-being domains in published studies? (2) What methods are used to elicit multidimensional farmer well-being domains? (3) Do well-being domains used in the literature adequately reflect a biocultural context, including place-based influences on well-being? Our results show that economics and social relationships are frequent domains of how farmer well-being is identified and assessed. These domains tend to be measured simultaneously, while less common domains, such as governance and place, are rather isolated. A suite of methods was used to assess well-being domains, ranging from basic surveys to in-depth participant observation. Yet, we identify gaps in the methods for deriving farmer well-being indicators. Specifically, methods that refer to farmer-expressed values were rare and domains identified through a place-based approach were often not recorded, but, arguably, critical in developing multidimensionality of farmer well-being. We show that while the translocal approach is well represented in established well-being frameworks, farmer expression is not foundational in well-being assessments but is needed in order to center farmer values when generating indicators of well-being.
Assessing ChatGPT’s theoretical knowledge and prescriptive accuracy in bacterial infections: a comparative study with infectious diseases residents and specialists
Authors: De Vito Andrea , Geremia Nicholas , Marino Andrea , Bavaro Davide Fiore , Caruana Giorgia , Meschiari Marianna , Colpani Agnese , Mazzitelli Maria , Scaglione Vincenzo , Venanzi Rullo Emmanuele , Fiore Vito , Fois Marco , Campanella Edoardo , Pistarà Eugenia , Faltoni Matteo , Nunnari Giuseppe , Cattelan Annamaria , Mussini Cristina , Bartoletti Michele , Vaira Luigi Angelo , Madeddu Giordano
Published: July 2024

Objectives

Advancements in Artificial Intelligence(AI) have made platforms like ChatGPT increasingly relevant in medicine. This study assesses ChatGPT’s utility in addressing bacterial infection-related questions and antibiogram-based clinical cases.

Methods

This study involved a collaborative effort involving infectious disease (ID) specialists and residents. A group of experts formulated six true/false, six open-ended questions, and six clinical cases with antibiograms for four types of infections (endocarditis, pneumonia, intra-abdominal infections, and bloodstream infection) for a total of 96 questions. The questions were submitted to four senior residents and four specialists in ID and inputted into ChatGPT-4 and a trained version of ChatGPT-4. A total of 720 responses were obtained and reviewed by a blinded panel of experts in antibiotic treatments. They evaluated the responses for accuracy and completeness, the ability to identify correct resistance mechanisms from antibiograms, and the appropriateness of antibiotics prescriptions.

Results

No significant difference was noted among the four groups for true/false questions, with approximately 70% correct answers. The trained ChatGPT-4 and ChatGPT-4 offered more accurate and complete answers to the open-ended questions than both the residents and specialists. Regarding the clinical case, we observed a lower accuracy from ChatGPT-4 to recognize the correct resistance mechanism. ChatGPT-4 tended not to prescribe newer antibiotics like cefiderocol or imipenem/cilastatin/relebactam, favoring less recommended options like colistin. Both trained- ChatGPT-4 and ChatGPT-4 recommended longer than necessary treatment periods (p-value = 0.022).

Conclusions

This study highlights ChatGPT’s capabilities and limitations in medical decision-making, specifically regarding bacterial infections and antibiogram analysis. While ChatGPT demonstrated proficiency in answering theoretical questions, it did not consistently align with expert decisions in clinical case management. Despite these limitations, the potential of ChatGPT as a supportive tool in ID education and preliminary analysis is evident. However, it should not replace expert consultation, especially in complex clinical decision-making.
“Don’t talk to me like I am an illness”: exploring patients’ needs using the communication passport in an eating disorder service
Authors: Li Zhuo , Chubinidze Dimitri , Croft Philippa , Webb Jessica , Sarpong Amanda , Zesch Elisa , Tchanturia Kate
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Social challenges are common in patients with eating disorders (ED). The presence of autistic characteristics often exacerbates social difficulties within this group, potentially affecting treatment outcomes. This study investigates the communication preferences, challenges, dislikes, and support needs of patients with ED, both with and without autistic traits, using a communication passport in a national inpatient ED service.

Methods

An explorative qualitative analysis of 38 completed communication passports was conducted to investigate patients’ communication preferences, sensory needs, struggles and dislikes, and areas of support required, paying particular attention to the distinct needs of patients with high levels of autistic traits.

Results

The communication passport provided valuable insights into patients’ communication preferences, sensory sensitivities, challenges, and support needed. Patients also used the passports to share information about their strengths, personal identity, and life beyond the hospital.

Conclusion

The communication passport fosters a deeper understanding of patients’ needs and may support clinicians in care planning and communication strategies tailored to each patient’s needs. Regular evaluation and updates are warranted to ensure its usability and accessibility by the wider care team.
Unsupervised Graph Representation Learning with Inductive Shallow Node Embedding
Authors: Kiss Richárd , Szűcs Gábor
Published: July 2024

Network science has witnessed a surge in popularity, driven by the transformative power of node representation learning for diverse applications like social network analysis and biological modeling. While shallow embedding algorithms excel at capturing network structure, they face a critical limitation—failing to generalize to unseen nodes. This paper addresses this challenge by introducing Inductive Shallow Node Embedding—as a main contribution—pioneering a novel approach that extends shallow embeddings to the realm of inductive learning. It has a novel encoder architecture that captures the local neighborhood structure of each node, enabling effective generalization to unseen nodes. In the generalization, robustness is essential to avoid degradation of performance arising from noise in the dataset. It has been theoretically proven that the covariance of the additive noise term in the proposed model is inversely proportional to the cardinality of a node’s neighbors. Another contribution is a mathematical lower bound to quantify the robustness of node embeddings, confirming its advantage over traditional shallow embedding methods, particularly in the presence of parameter noise. The proposed method demonstrably excels in dynamic networks, consistently achieving over 90% performance on previously unseen nodes compared to nodes encountered during training on various benchmarks. The empirical evaluation concludes that our method outperforms competing methods on the vast majority of datasets in both transductive and inductive tasks.
Experimental study on pore structure evolution of thermally treated shales: implications for CO2 storage in underground thermally treated shale horizons
Authors: Hazra Bodhisatwa , Chandra Debanjan , Vishal Vikram , Ostadhassan Mehdi , Sethi Chinmay , Saikia Binoy K. , Pandey Jai Krishna , Varma Atul K.
Published: July 2024

Extracting gas from unconventional shale reservoirs with low permeability is challenging. To overcome this, hydraulic fracturing (HF) is employed. Despite enhancing shale gas production, HF has drawbacks like groundwater pollution and induced earthquakes. Such issues highlight the need for ongoing exploration of novel shale gas extraction methods such as in situ heating through combustion or pyrolysis to mitigate operational and environmental concerns. In this study, thermally immature shales of contrasting organic richness from Rajmahal Basin of India were heated to different temperatures (pyrolysis at 350, 500 and 650 °C) to assess the temperature protocols necessary for hydrocarbon liberation and investigate the evolution of pore structural facets with implications for CO2 sequestration in underground thermally treated shale horizons. Our results from low-pressure N2 adsorption reveal reduced adsorption capacity in the shale splits treated at 350 and 500 ºC, which can be attributed to structural reworking of the organic matter within the samples leading to formation of complex pore structures that limits the access of nitrogen at low experimental temperatures. Consequently, for both the studied samples BET SSA decreased by ∼58% and 72% at 350 °C, and ∼67% and 68% at 500 °C, whereas average pore diameter increased by ∼45% and 91% at 350 °C, and ∼100% and 94% at 500 °C compared to their untreated counterparts. CO2 adsorption results, unlike N2, revealed a pronounced rise in micropore properties (surface area and volume) at 500 and 650 ºC (∼30%–35% and ∼41%–63%, respectively for both samples), contradicting the N2 adsorption outcomes. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images complemented the findings, showing pore structures evolving from microcracks to collapsed pores with increasing thermal treatment. Analysis of the SEM images of both samples revealed a notable increase in average pore width (short axis): by ∼4 and 10 times at 350 °C, ∼5 and 12 times at 500 °C, and ∼10 and 28 times at 650 °C compared to the untreated samples. Rock-Eval analysis demonstrated the liberation of almost all pyrolyzable kerogen components in the shales heated to 650 °C. Additionally, the maximum micropore capacity, identified from CO2 gas adsorption analysis, indicated 650 °C as the ideal temperature for in situ conversion and CO2 sequestration. Nevertheless, project viability hinges on assessing other relevant aspects of shale gas development such as geomechanical stability and supercritical CO2 interactions in addition to thermal treatment.
Modelling and Simulation of Stray Current in Urban Rail Transit—A Review
Authors: Yang Xiaofeng , Wang Miao , Zheng Trillion Q. , Sun Xiangxuan
Published: July 2024

With the rapid development of urban rail transit, the issue of stray current due to incomplete insulation between the rail and the earth is attracting increasing attention. Stray current seriously affects the safe operation of urban rail transit, pipelines and power grids, and pose challenges to the development of urban energy security. However, there are significant differences among the various methods for the analysis and verification of stray currents, and existing research works thus lack a mature theoretical framework. To address this, this paper presents an in-depth review on the study of stray current including the mechanism, technical standards, modelling, simulation and mitigation technologies. Firstly, the principle and standards of stray current are introduced from multiple perspectives (i.e. metro side, pipeline side and grid side). Then, the typical modelling and simulation of stray current are summarized and compared in detail. The representative stray current mitigation measures, together with the stray current hardware simulation technologies, are also discussed. In conclusion, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of key technologies involved in the modelling and simulation of stray current, and highlights the valuable research direction in stray current mitigation.
Die ermäßigte Umsatzsteuer in der Gastronomie – Bewertung und subventionspolitische Schlussfolgerungen
Authors: Heinemann Friedrich , Nicolay Katharina , Steinbrenner Daniela
Published: July 2024

Nach einer kontroversen Debatte ist Ende 2023 die temporäre Anwendung des ermäßigten Umsatzsteuersatzes für die Gastronomie in Deutschland ausgelaufen. Die Autorinnen und Autoren beleuchten dieses finanzwissenschaftlich und politökonomisch aufschlussreiche Fallbeispiel. Sie erläutern den steuersystematischen Hintergrund, der bei der Entscheidung über die Abweichungen vom Normalsatz gemäß EU-Mehrwertsteuersystem zu berücksichtigen ist. Nach steuersystematischen und politökonomischen Vorüberlegungen werden alle von Branchenverbänden vorgebrachten Argumente zugunsten der Ermäßigung geprüft. Diese betreffen (i) den Krisenkontext von Pandemie, Energiekrise und Inflation, (ii) unternehmerische Herausforderungen in Bezug auf Planbarkeit und Arbeitskräftemangel, (iii) Ungleichbehandlungen mit dem EU-Ausland und dem Außer-Haus-Verkauf sowie (iv) soziale Aspekte in Bezug auf Verteilungswirkungen, Kulturgüter, Nachhaltigkeit und Gesundheit. Insgesamt erweisen sich die Argumente zugunsten eines ermäßigten Steuersatzes als nicht stichhaltig. Aus den Erfahrungen zu den dennoch großen politischen Widerständen gegen die Rücknahme der temporären krisenbezogenen Steuersubvention folgt die Empfehlung, in künftigen Krisen vorübergehenden Finanzhilfen konsequent den Vorzug gegenüber Steuerermäßigungen zu geben.
Developing Resilient Peer-to-Peer Energy Sharing Scheme Using “N-1” Contingency
Authors: Kiu Juliana Pei Ying , Kong Karen Gah Hie , Andiappan Viknesh , How Bing Shen
Published: July 2024

A peer-to-peer energy sharing system, aiming to achieve emissions reduction by generating and sharing renewable energy among participants, has emerged as an appealing solution for addressing carbon emissions attributed to energy consumption. However, the resiliency of the peer-to-peer energy sharing system, particularly in addressing the risks of disruptions, has yet to be studied thoroughly in existing literature. Hence, this work aims to design an optimal peer-to-peer energy sharing scheme that can reduce electrical costs, while ensuring the carbon emissions reduction goal can be achieved even in the presence of disruptive risks. The concept of N-1 contingency has been incorporated into the proposed methodology. With the proposed approach, the minimum renewable capacity requirement of each player can be determined to ensure the fulfillment of energy demand and emissions reduction goal even when any of the players are unexpectedly shut down. Generally, by expanding the size of the solar panel, the remaining players are able to share extra renewables to fulfill its energy demand while achieving the emissions reduction goal. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology, an illustrative case study with three energy players is introduced. The result shows that if N-1 contingency is not applied, both energy cost and total emissions have at least increased by 35,054.49 RM/month (10.81%) and 46,218.34 kg/month (19.47%), respectively, assuming one of the players is experiencing disruptions. In short, this work reveals the potential of applying N-1 contingency to enhance the robustness of peer-to-peer system while ensuring its stability and performance even under challenging conditions.
Research Progress on Bio-inspired Flapping-Wing Rotor Micro Aerial Vehicle Development
Authors: Pan Yingjun , Guo Shijun , Huang Xun
Published: July 2024

Flapping-wing rotor (FWR) is an innovative bio-inspired micro aerial vehicle capable of vertical take-off and landing. This unique design combines active flapping motion and passive wing rotation around a vertical central shaft to enhance aerodynamic performance. The research on FWR, though relatively new, has contributed to 6% of core journal publications in the micro aerial vehicle field over the past two decades. This paper presents the first comprehensive review of FWR, analysing the current state of the art, key advances, challenges, and future research directions. The review highlights FWR’s distinctive kinematics and aerodynamic superiority compared to traditional flapping wings, fixed wings, and rotary wings, discussing recent breakthroughs in efficient, passive wing pitching and asymmetric stroke amplitude for lift enhancement. Recent experiments and remote-controlled take-off and hovering tests of single and dual-motor FWR models have showcased their effectiveness. The review compares FWR flight performance with well-developed insect-like flapping-wing micro aerial vehicles as the technology readiness level progresses from laboratory to outdoor flight testing, advancing from the initial flight of a 2.6 g prototype to the current free flight of a 60-gram model. The review also presents ongoing research in bionic flexible wing structures, flight stability and control, and transitioning between hovering and cruise flight modes for an FWR, setting the stage for potential applications.
Jetting-based bioprinting: process, dispense physics, and applications
Authors: Ng Wei Long , Shkolnikov Viktor
Published: July 2024

微液滴喷射生物3D打印：工艺、物理过程以及应用

喷射式生物打印是一种通过无接触的按需喷射亚微升级微液滴在特定位置准确控制细胞、生长因子、药物和生物材料空间排列的高度自动化逐层制造方法。由于其极大的多功能性，喷射式生物打印已被用于组织工程和再生医学、伤口愈合和药物研发等各种应用。现阶段对于喷射式生物打印过程中发生的机制还缺乏深入的理解。本综述将全面讨论喷射式生物打印中使用的生物墨水和打印条件的物理考量。作者首先总结了不同的喷射式生物打印技术，如喷墨生物打印、激光诱导前向转移（LIFT）生物打印、电-液喷射生物打印、声波生物打印和微阀生物打印。接下来，作者对与细胞沉积、打印室设计、液滴形成和液滴撞击相关的生物墨水配方的各种考虑进行了深入讨论。最后，作者着重讨论了喷射式生物打印的最新成就。作者介绍了每种方法的优势和挑战，讨论了与细胞存活率和蛋白稳定性相关的考虑，并对喷射式生物打印的未来方向进行展望。
Investigation of a Variable Camber Morphing Airfoil via SMA Wire and Corrugated Structures
Authors: Aly Reem , Kaygan Erdoğan , Esat Volkan , Orang Ali Atashbar
Published: July 2024

This study proposes a novel design concept of SMA wire technology that is applied to an Eppler E397 morphing airfoil. The study suggests replacing a conventional flap like structure which is typically located at 75% chord with a smooth geometry morphing flap positioned at 65% chord. The morphing flap is assumed to be actuated by a shape memory alloy wire and compliant structure mechanism instead of a conventional hydraulic system. The design concept is studied and verified by conducting a finite element analysis to check the structural integrity. A parametric study was then conducted on the number and position of the wire within the airfoil to investigate the amount of downward deflection that can result from the proposed mechanism. As a result, the amount of deflection angle increased directly as the position of the wire approached the upper surface of the airfoil (up to 8.2°). In addition, aerodynamic parameters resulting from the deflected geometries were evaluated using Athena vortex lattice methods (AVL) and then compared to a conventional airfoil with hinged flap-like-structure. The results showcased an increase in lift coefficient, a decrease in drag coefficient, and enhanced aerodynamic efficiency of the morphing flap-like-structure.