bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear dimensionality reduction with q-Gaussian distribution
Authors: Abe Motoshi , Nomura Yuichiro , Kurita Takio
Published: February 2024

In recent years, the dimensionality reduction has become more important as the number of dimensions of data used in various tasks such as regression and classification has increased. As popular nonlinear dimensionality reduction methods, t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) and uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP) have been proposed. However, the former outputs only one low-dimensional space determined by the t-distribution and the latter is difficult to control the distribution of distance between each pair of samples in low-dimensional space. To tackle these issues, we propose novel t-SNE and UMAP extended by q-Gaussian distribution, called q-Gaussian-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (q-SNE) and q-Gaussian-distributed uniform manifold approximation and projection (q-UMAP). The q-Gaussian distribution is a probability distribution derived by maximizing the tsallis entropy by escort distribution with mean and variance, and a generalized version of Gaussian distribution with a hyperparameter q. Since the shape of the q-Gaussian distribution can be tuned smoothly by the hyperparameter q, q-SNE and q-UMAP can in- tuitively derive different embedding spaces. To show the quality of the proposed method, we compared the visualization of the low-dimensional embedding space and the classification accuracy by k-NN in the low-dimensional space. Empirical results on MNIST, COIL-20, OliverttiFaces and FashionMNIST demonstrate that the q-SNE and q-UMAP can derive better embedding spaces than t-SNE and UMAP.
Comparison between the 0- and 30-s balloon dilation time in percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for restenosed arteriovenous fistula among hemodialysis patients: a multicenter, prospective, randomized trial (CARP study)
Authors: Saiki Tomoki , Sasaki Kensuke , Doi Shigehiro , Takahashi Akira , Osaki Yosuke , Ishiuchi Naoki , Maeoka Yujiro , Kawai Toru , Kawaoka Koichiro , Takahashi Shunsuke , Nagai Takuo , Irifuku Taisuke , Nakashima Ayumu , Masaki Takao
Published: February 2024

Background

This study aims to compare patency rates of the 0- and 30-s (sec) balloon dilation time in hemodialysis (HD) patients with restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA).

Methods

The patients who underwent PTA within 6 months for failed arteriovenous fistula at the forearm were randomly assigned the 0-s or 30-s dilation time group. Effect of dilation time on the 3- and 6-month patency rates after PTA was examined.

Results

Fifty patients were enrolled in this study. The 3-month patency rate in the 30-s dilation group was better than that in the 0-s dilation group (P = 0.0050), while the 6-month patency rates did not show a significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.28). Cox’s proportional hazard model revealed that 30-s of inflation time (hazard ratio 0.027; P = 0.0072), diameter of the proximal (hazard ratio 0.32; P = 0.031), and dilation pressure (hazard ratio 0.63; P = 0.014) were associated with better 3-month patency. Dilation pressure between previous and present PTA did not differ in the 0-s (P = 0.15) and 30-s dilation groups (P = 0.16). The 6-month patency rate of the present PTA in the 30-s dilation group was higher than that of the previous PTA (P = 0.015). The visual analog scale did not differ between the two groups (P = 0.51).

Conclusion

The presenting data suggest that 30-s dilation potentially results in a better 3-month patency rate than 0-s dilation in HD patients with restenosis after PTA.
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and artificial intelligence in finance: State-of-the-art and research takeaways
Authors: Lim Tristan
Published: February 2024

The rapidly growing research landscape in finance, encompassing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) topics and associated Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications, presents challenges for both new researchers and seasoned practitioners. This study aims to systematically map the research area, identify knowledge gaps, and examine potential research areas for researchers and practitioners. The investigation focuses on three primary research questions: the main research themes concerning ESG and AI in finance, the evolution of research intensity and interest in these areas, and the application and evolution of AI techniques specifically in research studies within the ESG and AI in finance domain. Eight archetypical research domains were identified: (i) Trading and Investment, (ii) ESG Disclosure, Measurement and Governance, (iii) Firm Governance, (iv) Financial Markets and Instruments, (v) Risk Management, (vi) Forecasting and Valuation, (vii) Data, and (viii) Responsible Use of AI. Distinctive AI techniques were found to be employed across these archetypes. The study contributes to consolidating knowledge on the intersection of ESG, AI, and finance, offering an ontological inquiry and key takeaways for practitioners and researchers. Important insights include the popularity and crowding of the Trading and Investment domain, the growth potential of the Data archetype, and the high potential of Responsible Use of AI, despite its low publication count. By understanding the nuances of different research archetypes, researchers and practitioners can better navigate this complex landscape and contribute to a more sustainable and responsible financial sector.
Traits of insect herbivores and target weeds associated with greater biological weed control establishment and impact
Authors: Panta Sujan , Schwarzländer Mark , Weyl Philip S. R. , Hinz Hariet L. , Winston Rachel L. , Eigenbrode Sanford D. , Harmon Bradley L. , Bacher Sven , Paynter Quentin
Published: February 2024

Improving success rates of classical weed biocontrol programs is an ongoing effort that requires a variety of different approaches. Previous assessments indicated biocontrol agent taxonomy and feeding characteristics and weed life history traits are associated with better control outcomes. We examined weed biocontrol releases for correlations between biocontrol agent and target weed traits associated with different levels of reported establishment and control. Data collated in the 5th edition of ‘Biological Control of Weeds: A World Catalogue of Agents and Their Target Weeds’ were used as the basis for this global analysis. Published literature was used to augment the catalog with data for eight biocontrol agent traits and four target weed traits. Biocontrol agent establishment and impact data were analyzed against these traits using generalized linear mixed models and categorical models, respectively. Analyses for biocontrol agent establishment reveal the following agent traits were correlated with a greater probability of establishment: being an internal feeder, feeding on above-ground plant tissues, multivoltine agents and agents that feed during both their adult and immature life stages. Insect taxon did not affect establishment except for the order Lepidoptera, which had the lowest establishment probability. For weed traits, those occurring in aquatic or riparian habitats were associated with a higher probability of biocontrol agent establishment. Regarding agent impact, using the definition categories in the catalog, agents feeding externally and on vegetative plant tissues, multivoltine agents and those with both adult and immature plant-feeding life stages were strongly correlated with greater impact. Perennials, reproducing only vegetatively and invading aquatic or riparian habitats were associated with greater biocontrol impact. Our findings could facilitate both the prioritization of invasive plants targeted for biocontrol and the selection of suitable biocontrol agent candidates, which should further improve biocontrol project outcomes.
Self-Burdensomeness, Self-Esteem and Suicidal Ideation
Authors: Teismann Tobias , Joiner Thomas E. , Robison Morgan , Brailovskaia Julia
Published: February 2024

Background

Low self-esteem and self-burdensomeness have been proposed as risk factors for suicidal ideation. Yet, self-burdensomeness may be more relevant to suicidal ideation than low self-esteem. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between self-esteem, self-burdensomeness, and suicidal ideation in a sample of adult outpatients.

Methods

Data from N = 202 patients (66.3% female; age: M[SD] = 39.87 [13.31], range: 19–73) who started therapy at an outpatient clinic were collected. A subsample of n = 111 patients (68.5% female; age: M[SD] = 38.50 [13.48], range: 20–73) also took part in a second assessment three-months later.

Results

Self-burdensomeness was shown to predict suicidal ideation concurrently and prospectively – after controlling for age, gender, depression, and self-esteem. Furthermore, self-burdensomeness completely mediated the association between self-esteem and suicidal ideation. However, the reverse relationship, where the association between self-burdensomeness and suicidal ideation is mediated by self-esteem, was not supported.

Conclusions

Self-burdensomeness might be understood as a driver of suicidal ideation. Findings point to the possibility that a focus on self-burdensomeness and/or low self-esteem might be relevant in the treatment of suicidal patients.
Learning by Doing or Doing Without Learning? The Potentials and Challenges of Activity-Based Learning
Authors: Skulmowski Alexander
Published: February 2024

Engaging learners in activities is an important instructional method. However, the learning-by-doing approach also poses some risks. By analyzing the differences between various types of learning activities, issues of activity-based learning are revealed and discussed. Activity-based learning can consist of relatively simple patterns of motor activity or may involve additional task-related knowledge, resulting in complex activities. Excessive movement or failure to properly integrate motor activity into a task can lead to problems for motor activity–based learning. Elaborate activities, such as letting learners generate drawings, can quickly evolve to secondary tasks in their own right. Demanding learning tasks can create their own cognitive load, resulting in less working memory capacity being available for engaging with the actual content. If activity-based interventions are to be used, as many redundant aspects as possible need to be avoided while providing additional guidance to learners. In addition, it is necessary to consider how task demands transform once tasks are shifted from the physical to the digital world in order to properly acknowledge potential increases in cognitive load. Taken together, this review connects educational and cognitive perspectives on activity-based learning to arrive at models and recommendations that are of high relevance for the digital transformation of education and learning.
The values of cultural goods and cultural capital externalities: state of the art and future research prospects
Authors: Bille Trine
Published: February 2024

Cultural economics has largely looked toward environmental economics and used non-market valuation techniques such as contingent valuation to estimate the total economic value of cultural goods. These methods are well suited to the valuation of cultural heritage goods, where the benefits are mostly related to the level of supply and mainly take the form of existence and bequest values. This stands in contrast to cultural institutions such as theatres, libraries, exhibitions, and concerts, where the value is produced, when the goods are consumed. For this type of cultural goods, I suggest that cultural economics rather turn to find inspiration in the economics of education. The value of schooling can be divided into private returns and social returns (human capital externalities). Likewise, the value of cultural consumption can have a private and a public component, where I suggest labeling the public component cultural capital externalities. The idea is that when private consumption of arts and culture is taking place, the individual will accumulate cultural capital. This accumulated cultural capital can impact other people (e.g., through changed behavior, future decisions or interactions) and create externalities, i.e., the cultural capital externalities. The size of the externalities is expected to increase (or decrease) with the level of consumption. Without the consumption by the users, no externalities are produced. While this is one of the most fundamental arguments for cultural policy, it has not yet been extensively studied within cultural economics.
An encoding approach for stable change point detection
Authors: Wang Xiaodong , Hsieh Fushing
Published: February 2024

Without imposing prior distributional knowledge underlying multivariate time series of interest, we propose a nonparametric change-point detection approach to estimate the number of change points and their locations along the temporal axis. We develop a structural subsampling procedure such that the observations are encoded into multiple sequences of Bernoulli variables. A maximum likelihood approach in conjunction with a newly developed searching algorithm is implemented to detect change points on each Bernoulli process separately. Then, aggregation statistics are proposed to collectively synthesize change-point results from all individual univariate time series into consistent and stable location estimations. We also study a weighting strategy to measure the degree of relevance for different subsampled groups. Simulation studies are conducted and shown that the proposed change-point methodology for multivariate time series has favorable performance comparing with currently available state-of-the-art nonparametric methods under various settings with different degrees of complexity. Real data analyses are finally performed on categorical, ordinal, and continuous time series taken from fields of genetics, climate, and finance.
Unveiling the future: precision pharmacovigilance in the era of personalized medicine
Authors: Silva Lurdes , Pacheco Teresa , Araújo Emília , Duarte Rita J. , Ribeiro-Vaz Inês , Ferreira-da-Silva Renato
Published: February 2024

In the era of personalized medicine, pharmacovigilance faces new challenges and opportunities, demanding a shift from traditional approaches. This article delves into the evolving landscape of drug safety monitoring in the context of personalized treatments. We aim to provide a succinct reflection on the intersection of tailored therapeutic strategies and vigilant pharmacovigilance practices. We discuss the integration of pharmacogenetics in enhancing drug safety, illustrating how genetic profiling aids in predicting drug responses and adverse reactions. Emphasizing the importance of phase IV—post-marketing surveillance, we explore the limitations of pre-marketing trials and the necessity for a comprehensive approach to drug safety. The article discusses the pivotal role of pharmacogenetics in pre-exposure risk management and the redefinition of pharmacoepidemiological methods for post-exposure surveillance. We highlight the significance of integrating patient-specific genetic profiles in creating personalized medication leaflets and the use of advanced computational methods in data analysis. Additionally, we examine the ethical, privacy, and data security challenges inherent in precision medicine, emphasizing their implications for patient consent and data management.
Horizontal Mergers and Supplier Power
Authors: Perkins Joe , Shekhar Shiva
Published: February 2024

Supplier market power—such as the ability of branded goods suppliers to dictate terms to retailers—is an important feature of many markets. We show that supplier power can counteract the effects of downstream mergers on consumer prices where there are two-part contracts. This is because greater market power allows suppliers to set contracts that internalise partially the impact of the merger on downstream prices. Post-merger, the supplier reduces the per-unit price at which it supplies the merged downstream firms, with the aim of maintaining total industry profitability—and then recoups the profits via a larger fixed fee. We modify the standard upward pricing pressure (UPP) formula to account for the supplier’s response to a horizontal merger in the downstream market, while preserving much of the simplicity of the standard approach.
Publicity’s Misinformation Problem
Authors: Koreman Sam
Published: February 2024

This paper argues that everyday practices crucial for ensuring politically engaged citizens such as sharing news articles or deliberating about potential laws can also be responsible for undermining the state’s efforts to publicize the law. Theorists view publicity—a requirement that laws should be public and accessible—as having crucial normative and practical importance in liberal democracy and, more broadly, in ensuring the rule of law. Due to egalitarian concerns, laws are often long, complex, and specific to ensure that street-level bureaucrats exercise low levels of discretion in applying the law. This—what I deem the institutional publicity problem—means that the law is so inaccessible that busy, everyday citizens must turn to third-party sources to understand policymaking. These intermediaries often make mistakes promulgating the law. Misinformation is hard to counteract, and pre-existing beliefs affect information acceptance. This all represents a behavioral publicity problem: morally and legally permissible actions can complicate and undermine reasonable efforts of citizens to learn about the law. I argue that the state is caught between a rock and a hard place. While there are benefits to having the state fight against misinformation, it also raises serious concerns about democratic engagement.
Defending behavior in school bullying: The role of empathic self-efficacy, social preference, and student-teacher relationship
Authors: Levantini Valentina , Gelati Carmen , Camodeca Marina
Published: February 2024

Being able to defend victims of school bullying is central in any intervention; thus, it seems paramount to investigate which factors may contribute to defending behavior. The present report aims to investigate whether empathic self-efficacy is associated with helping behavior and whether interpersonal factors (i.e., social preference and student-teacher relationship) may interact with it. The sample comprised 249 middle-school students (47.80% boys) aged 11–14 years, who received peer nominations on defending behavior and social preference. Self-reports were used to assess empathic self-efficacy and the relationship with the teachers. Results highlight a positive association between empathic self-efficacy and defending behavior when social preference and a positive relationship with teachers were average or high but not when they were low. Results are discussed in light of the importance of considering individual and interpersonal factors to understand defending in bullying situations and to develop intervention programs.
Potential of Soil Conditioners to Mitigate Deficit Irrigation Impacts on Agricultural Crops: A Review
Authors: Abdelfattah Ahmed , Mostafa Harby
Published: February 2024

In light of the current water scarcity, one strategy for reducing water consumption in irrigated agriculture is to reduce the amount of irrigation water compared to full crop irrigation or in other words deficit irrigation. Deficit irrigation management may be a critical issue due to climate change. Incorporation of different soil conditioners can improve soil hydro-physical properties and mitigate negative effects in water-stressed conditions. Recent review articles either addressed specific crop behavior under water deficit or covered a single type of soil conditioners. This manuscript represents an inclusive review providing insight into deficit irrigation methods incorporated with different soil conditioners. Crop response to deficit irrigation is discussed in the light of some mathematical models. Three main types of soil conditioners are covered: bentonite, biochar, and super-absorbent polymers. Mechanisms associated with effects of each conditioner to enhance soil water retention is highlighted as well. Previous study findings were discussed comparatively and future prospective, recommendations and challenges were addressed.
Genetic and functional modulation by agonist MRS5698 and allosteric enhancer LUF6000 at the native A3 adenosine receptor in HL-60 cells
Authors: Gao Zhan-Guo , Chen Weiping , Gao Ray R. , Li Jonathan , Tosh Dilip K. , Hanover John A. , Jacobson Kenneth A.
Published: February 2024

The A3 adenosine receptor (AR) is an important inflammatory and immunological target. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we report the gene regulation in HL-60 cells treated acutely with highly selective A3AR agonist MRS5698, positive allosteric modulator (PAM) LUF6000, or both. Both pro- and anti-inflammatory genes, such as IL-1a, IL-1β, and NFκBIZ, are significantly upregulated. During our observations, LUF6000 alone produced a lesser effect, while the MRS5698 + LUF6000 group demonstrated generally greater effects than MRS5698 alone, consistent with allosteric enhancement. The number of genes up- and down-regulated are similar. Pathway analysis highlighted the critical involvement of signaling molecules, including IL-6 and IL-17. Important upstream regulators include IL-1a, IL-1β, TNF-α, NF-κB, etc. PPAR, which modulates eicosanoid metabolism, was highly downregulated by the A3AR agonist. Considering previous pharmacological results and mathematical modeling, LUF6000’s small enhancement of genetic upregulation suggested that MRS5698 is a nearly full agonist, which we demonstrated in both cAMP and calcium assays. The smaller effect of LUF6000 on MRS5698 in comparison to its effect on Cl-IB-MECA was shown in both HL-60 cells endogenously expressing the human (h) A3AR and in recombinant hA3AR-expressing CHO cells, consistent with its HL-60 cell genetic regulation patterns. In summary, by using both selective agonists and PAM, we identified genes that are closely relevant to immunity and inflammation to be regulated by A3AR in differentiated HL-60 cells, a cell model of neutrophil function. In addition, we demonstrated the previously uncharacterized allosteric signaling-enhancing effect of LUF6000 in cells endogenously expressing the hA3AR.
Participatory hackathon to determine ecological relevant endpoints for a neurotoxin to aquatic and benthic invertebrates
Authors: Rasmussen Sofie B. , Bosker Thijs , Ramanand Giovani G. , Vijver Martina G.
Published: February 2024

The aim of this study is twofold: i) to determine innovative yet sensitive endpoints for sulfoxaflor and ii) to develop best practices for innovative teaching in ecotoxicology. To this end, a group of 52 MSc students participated in an environmental hackathon, during which they did creative toxicity testing on 5 freshwater invertebrate species: Daphnia magna, Chironomus riparius, Asellus aquaticus, Lymnaea stagnalis, and Anisus vortex. Involving the students in an active learning environment stimulated increased creativity and productivity. In total, 28 endpoints were investigated, including standard endpoints (e.g., mortality) as well as biomechanistic and energy-related endpoints. Despite high variances in the results, likely linked to the limited lab experience of the students and interpersonal differences, a promising set of endpoints was selected for further investigation. A more targeted follow-up experiment focused on the most promising organism and set of endpoints: biomechanistic endpoints of C. riparius larvae. Larvae were exposed to a range of sulfoxaflor concentrations (0.90–67.2 μg/L) for 21 days. Video tracking showed that undulation and swimming were significantly reduced at 11.1 μg sulfoxaflor/L after 9 days of exposure, and an EC50 = 10.6 μg/L for mean velocities of the larvae in the water phase was found. Biomechanistic endpoints proved much more sensitive than mortality, for which an LC50 value of 116 μg/L was found on Day 9. Our results show that performing a hackathon with students has excellent potential to find sensitive endpoints that can subsequently be verified using more targeted and professional follow-up experiments. Furthermore, utilising hackathon events in teaching can increase students’ enthusiasm about ecotoxicology, driving better learning experiences.
Opportunity entrepreneurship after 65: Relevant factors in OECD countries
Authors: Amorós José Ernesto , Leporati Marcelo , Torres-Marín Alfonso Jesús , Roses Sergio
Published: February 2024

This research aims to analyze individual and national level factors that influence opportunity-driven senior entrepreneurship (people older than 65 years) in a group of 12 OECD countries. At this age most people in developed economies could choose between retiring, continuing working, or starting a new venture. It is important to understand the motivations behind their decision. We use data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), to identify the effect of attitudes, perceptions, and aspirations as well as their sociodemographic characteristics. The sample consists of 24,139 observations from individuals older than 65 years. Additionally, we used the Human Development Index (HDI) – from the United Nations database–, to measure the country's level of development. Because of the nested nature of the data, we estimate our models using a multilevel logistic regression. Our results show that income, education, and occupation, in conjunction with the level of human development of a country have a significant influence on the probability of entrepreneurship by opportunity for senior individuals (+ 65). This research has policy and practical implications related to the decision of senior people to explore the creation of a new venture instead of opting for other alternatives such as retiring.
Optical Susceptibility of Hybrid Semiconductor Quantum Dot-Metallic Nano Ellipsoid System Under the Effect of the Exciton-Plasmon Coupling Field Interaction
Authors: Abd-Elsamie Asmaa M. , Abd-Elnabi Somia
Published: February 2024

We examine the optical susceptibility of the semiconductor quantum dot-metallic nano ellipsoid system under the effect of the exciton-plasmon coupling field. Also, we determine the optical susceptibility for the semiconductor quantum dot and the three metallic nano ellipsoids under the responses to the total effect of the three applied electromagnetic fields. The phenomena of Fano-resonance with amplification and Autler-Town doublet peaks are obtained and discussed. The phenomena of Fano-resonances and Autler-Town doublet peaks can be controlled by varying the depolarization factor of nano ellipsoid, semi-axes, and other parameters in a hybrid system.
Black-white hole pattern: an investigation on the automated chronic neuropathic pain detection using EEG signals
Authors: Tasci Irem , Baygin Mehmet , Barua Prabal Datta , Hafeez-Baig Abdul , Dogan Sengul , Tuncer Turker , Tan Ru-San , Acharya U. Rajendra
Published: February 2024

Electroencephalography (EEG) signals provide information about the brain activities, this study bridges neuroscience and machine learning by introducing an astronomy-inspired feature extraction model. In this work, we developed a novel feature extraction function, black-white hole pattern (BWHPat) which dynamically selects the most suitable pattern from 14 options. We developed BWHPat in a four-phase feature engineering model, involving multileveled feature extraction, feature selection, classification, and cortex map generation. Textural and statistical features are extracted in the first phase, while tunable q-factor wavelet transform (TQWT) aids in multileveled feature extraction. The second phase employs iterative neighborhood component analysis (INCA) for feature selection, and the k-nearest neighbors (kNN) classifier is applied for classification, yielding channel-specific results. A new cortex map generation model highlights the most active channels using median and intersection functions. Our BWHPat-driven model consistently achieved over 99% classification accuracy across three scenarios using the publicly available EEG pain dataset. Furthermore, a semantic cortex map precisely identifies pain-affected brain regions. This study signifies the contribution to EEG signal classification and neuroscience. The BWHPat pattern establishes a unique link between astronomy and feature extraction, enhancing the understanding of brain activities.
Review of Ann Whittle’s Freedom & Responsibility in Context (Oxford University Press, 2021)
Authors: De Marco Gabriel
Published: February 2024

In a recent book, Ann Whittle develops a view of freedom and responsiblity according to which their attribution to agents is sensitive to the speakers' contexts. This review provides a summary of the main argument, and briefly mentions some points that will be of interest in further developing the view.
Nash equilibria for relative investors with (non)linear price impact
Authors: Bäuerle Nicole , Göll Tamara
Published: February 2024

We consider the strategic interaction of n investors who are able to influence a stock price process and at the same time measure their utilities relative to the other investors. Our main aim is to find Nash equilibrium investment strategies in this setting in a financial market driven by a Brownian motion and investigate the influence the price impact has on the equilibrium. We consider both CRRA and CARA utility functions. Our findings show that the problem is well-posed as long as the price impact is at most linear. Moreover, numerical results reveal that the investors behave very aggressively when the price impact is close to a critical parameter.
Detection of Rickettsia raoultii in Vermipsylla alakurt-Like Fleas of Sheep in Northwestern China
Authors: Li Fengshi , Zhao Shanshan , Li Ente , Xie Songsong , Wang Nan , Tan Wenbo , Wang Yuanzhi
Published: February 2024

Introduction

To date, a total of 2574 validated flea species have been discovered. Vermipsyllidae is a family of fleas that comprises at least eight species. Vermipsylla is a genus of the family Vermipsyllidae within the order Siphonaptera of fleas. Here a novel Vermipsylla species was described, and rickettsial agent was also detected in it.

Methods

A total of 128 fleas were collected directly from 260 pastured sheep in China. Of these, eight representative fleas (four males and four females) were identified by key morphological features. Meanwhile, 120 flea DNAs, including six flea samples for molecular taxonomy, were subjected to Rickettsia spp. DNA detection. The molecular identity of fleas was determined by amplification and sequenmce analysis of four genetic markers (the 28S rDNA genes, the 18S rDNA genes, the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and subunit II). In addition, five Rickettsia-specific gene fragments were used to identify the species of the rickettsial agents. The amplified products were sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed.

Results

The morphological characteristics of the flea species identified in this study were similar to Vermipsylla alakurt, but presented difference in hair number of the metepimeron, the third tergum, the genitals and the tibiae of hind leg. The 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA and COII genetic markers from fleas showed the highest identity to those of V. alakurt, shared 98.45% (954/969), 95.81% (892/931) and 85.86% (571/665) similarities, respectively. However, the COI sequence showed the highest identity to that of Dorcadia ioffi with 88.48% (576/651) similarity. Rickettsia raoutii tested positive in 14.17% (17/120) flea DNA samples.

Conclusion

Our study reports the detection of R. raoultii in V. alakurt-like fleas infesting sheep in China.
Approximation of multistage stochastic programming problems by smoothed quantization
Authors: Šmíd Martin , Kozmík Václav
Published: February 2024

We present an approximation technique for solving multistage stochastic programming problems with an underlying Markov stochastic process. This process is approximated by a discrete skeleton process, which is consequently smoothed down by means of the original unconditional distribution. Approximated in this way, the problem is solvable by means of Markov Stochastic Dual Dynamic Programming. We state an upper bound for the nested distance between the exact process and its approximation and discuss its convergence in the one-dimensional case. We further propose an adjustment of the approximation, which guarantees that the approximate problem is bounded. Finally, we apply our technique to a real-life production-emission trading problem and demonstrate the performance of its approximation given the “true” distribution of the random parameters.
The impact of social changes on MICE tourism management in the age of digitalization: a bibliometric review
Authors: Martín-Rojo Inmaculada , Gaspar-González Ana Isabel
Published: February 2024

The meetings, incentives, conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism has intensively grown in recent decades. The MICE sector has also been strongly affected by social and technological changes, especially new social habits resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Our research maps the state of the art in MICE tourism and its digitalization from 1997 (first published article found on the subject) to 2022, as well as the changes brought about by COVID-19 to the management of MICE tourism. To identify the main changes caused by COVID-19 pandemic in MICE tourism management, we carried out a survey based on surveys with Conference managers, Exhibition and Trade Fair Centers, and Convention Bureaus in Spain, a leading country in MICE tourism worldwide. For this purpose, we carried out a survey based on surveys with managers of Conference, Exhibition and Trade Fair Centers and Convention Bureaus in Spain, a leading country in MICE tourism worldwide, to identify the main changes that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused in the management of this type of tourism. Based on the results obtained, a bibliometric analysis was carried out using the software SciMAT to find out the thematic evolution of the terms MICE tourism, digital and Business Tourism. This study identifies the most significant topics in MICE tourism management during the pre-pandemic period (1997–2019), the pandemic, and post-pandemic period (2020–2022). We also analyzed the most cited concepts during 1997–2019, as well as their evolution towards other concepts in 2020–2022. Considering the results obtained, future lines of research related to innovation, digitalization, social networks, and destination analysis are proposed for a better and more competitive management of this tourism activity.
The Natural History and Risk Factors for the Development of Food Allergies in Children and Adults
Authors: Lee Eric C. K. , Trogen Brit , Brady Kathryn , Ford Lara S. , Wang Julie
Published: February 2024

Purpose of Review

This narrative review explores food allergy prevalence and natural history stratified by life stages, especially in context of evolving knowledge over the last few decades.

Recent Findings

The prevalence of food allergy remains highest in early childhood with common food triggers being cow’s milk, soy, hen’s egg, wheat, peanut, tree nuts, sesame, fish, and shellfish. This correlates with certain risk factors especially pertinent in the postnatal period which appear to predispose an individual to developing a food allergy. Some allergies (such as milk and egg) were previously thought to be easily outgrown in early life; however, recent studies suggest increasing rates of persistence of these allergies into young adulthood; the reason behind this is unknown. Despite this, there is also evidence demonstrating that food allergies can be outgrown in adolescents and adults.

An understanding of the paradigm shifts in the natural history of food allergy allows clinicians to provide updated, age-appropriate, and tailored advice for patients on the management and prognosis of food allergy.
The Clinical Reality of Granulomatous Prostatitis
Authors: Hanssen A. , Vrij C. , Heesakkers J.
Published: February 2024

Purpose of Review

Granulomatous prostatitis is a rare inflammatory disease of the prostate. It is challenging for the clinician because it mimics prostate cancer and cannot be distinguished from prostate cancer clinically, biochemically, or radiologically. Granulomatous prostatitis can only be diagnosed by histopathological examination. To prevent overdiagnosis and overtreatment, it is an important disease to recognize.

Recent Findings

There are multiple case reports and studies describing granulomatous prostatitis.

This review aims to give an overview regarding the epidemiology, etiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of granulomatous prostatitis using (recent) literature.
Smart home technology adoption in Denmark: Diffusion, social differences, and energy consumption
Authors: Hansen Anders Rhiger , Trotta Gianluca , Gram-Hanssen Kirsten
Published: February 2024

Smart home technology (SHT) is increasingly entering homes to provide services such as energy management, security, comfort, and convenience. However, research shows that adoption varies across social groups and that SHT might affect energy demand. Denmark is considered a frontrunner in the uptake of SHT and offers a unique opportunity to combine administrative household information with energy consumption data and survey responses on SHT uptake. This paper studies a representative sample of 1,468 Danish households to investigate SHT diffusion, social differences in SHT adoption, and correlations between SHT and energy consumption, divided into appliance use and heating. The results indicate that entertainment and home security are the most popular SHT services in Denmark and that SHT is more widespread among younger households, especially for entertainment and robotic help. In contrast, smart heating systems are more widespread among older households. Living in a detached house seems to increase the likelihood of having SHT, while the highest income group appears more likely to have security systems, and technical education seems associated with the adoption of SHT for heating management. Finally, smart security systems were associated with higher electricity consumption, and SHT for electricity management was associated with higher heating consumption and to a lesser extent higher electricity consumption, but there was no significant correlation between having smart heating control and heating consumption.
Mindfulness-based empathy training supported by Obese Simulation Suit: Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Can Gür Ganime , Yılmaz Emine
Published: February 2024

Nursing serves as the foundation of patient-centered healthcare services, and the empathetic connections formed between nurses and patients are integral to delivering quality care. In this context, the mental well-being and empathy levels of nurses significantly impact the efficiency of healthcare services and patient contentment. This study investigates the impact of mindfulness-based empathy training and obese simulation suits on nursing students' attitudes and empathy levels towards obese patients. The research, conducted as a randomized controlled trial, encompassed 84 nursing students and employed the "Attitude Scale Towards Obese Patients," "Jefferson Empathy Scale for Nursing Students," and "Descriptive Information Form." Data analysis involved two-factor ANOVA for mixed measurements. The study revealed significant interaction effects between group and time concerning nursing students' attitudes towards obese individuals [F(1,70) = 43.281, p < 0.05] as well as their empathy levels towards obese individuals [F(1,70) = 15.657, p < 0.05]. The experimental group exhibited a noteworthy increase in both attitudes and empathy levels compared to the control group. Furthermore, Single Factor ANOVA for Repeated Measures revealed a statistically significant difference in the experimental group's attitudes and empathy scores across pretest, posttest, and follow-up assessments [p < 0.01, partial η2 = 0.492 and 0.186, respectively]. These findings underscore the effectiveness of these interventions in enhancing essential nursing competencies necessary for providing comprehensive patient care. Thus, integrating these methods into the curriculum is recommended to cultivate more positive attitudes and heightened empathy among nursing students, particularly concerning obese patients, throughout their educational journey.
Shattered hierarchy: how the Gaza conflict demolished Maslow’s pyramid of needs
Authors: Abed Alah Muna
Published: February 2024

Conflicts and wars have a profound impact on human needs, as vividly illustrated by the ongoing crisis in Gaza. This paper aims to systematically examine how these crises affect individuals’ ability to meet their basic and higher-order needs, as conceptualized by Maslow’s hierarchy. By employing Maslow’s framework, this paper seeks to uncover the specific ways in which conflict disrupts the fulfillment of essential human needs and to identify targeted interventions that can mitigate these effects. Through this focused lens, I hope to contribute to a deeper understanding that supports efforts to end the war. In this paper, a methodical approach that integrates a review of online news, media reports, published official reports from international organizations, and academic publications was adopted to identify the current challenges in Gaza impacting the different levels of need. An exploration through the framework of Maslow’s hierarchy revealed the extensive humanitarian challenges stemming from the blockade and military actions since 2008. There are significant disruptions across all levels of Maslow’s hierarchy. Despite the severe compromise in basic needs like safety and physiological sustenance, there is a notable resilience in the pursuit of transcendence needs among the residents by transcending personal suffering through acts of solidarity, altruism, and community engagement and exhibiting a deeper sense of spirituality and faith that provide solace and a sense of connection to a larger purpose. There is an urgent need to end the conflict, facilitate unrestricted aid, and address the multifaceted needs of Gaza’s population. Strategies that support both immediate survival and long-term personal and communal growth in the face of adversity are critically needed. Essential initiatives include establishing community support networks for critical needs like food, shelter, and healthcare, alongside promoting economic stability through livelihood projects. Additionally, the development of online education programs offering vocational training and digital literacy, in partnership with international institutions, is crucial. These initiatives, tailored to Gaza’s context and aimed at overcoming siege-related barriers, are vital for empowering residents with the skills for community rebuilding, economic self-sufficiency, and enhanced social cohesion. Such strategies are indispensable for addressing immediate adversities while laying a foundation for sustainable future growth.
Dactylorhiza maculata agg. (Orchidaceae) in Central Europe: Intricate Patterns in Morphological Variability, Cytotype Diversity and Ecology Support the Single-Species Concept
Authors: Taraška Vojtěch , Duchoslav Martin , Hroneš Michal , Batoušek Petr , Lamla František , Temsch Eva M. , Weiss-Schneeweiss Hanna , Trávníček Bohumil
Published: February 2024

Effective protection of endangered species is often limited by taxonomic discrepancies across state borders. This is also the case of the Dactylorhiza maculata agg. in Central Europe, where one to three species and several infraspecific taxa are recognized in various countries. Based on an extensive analysis of morphological variation, ploidy levels, environmental traits and habitats of 64 populations in Central Europe and adjacent regions, we aimed to propose a unified taxonomic concept applicable throughout the study area. Multivariate analysis of morphological traits revealed continuous variation at the individual level and only minor differences between particular clusters of populations. Four DNA-ploidy levels were detected using flow cytometry. Diploids (2n = 40) and tetraploids (2n = 80) were the most abundant and usually formed single-cytotype populations whereas DNA-triploids and DNA-hexaploids occurred only sporadically as minority cytotypes. The inferred patterns of morphological and ploidy variation were not congruent with traditional taxonomic treatment regarding diploid D. fuchsii and tetraploid D. maculata as two species with several infraspecific taxa. Instead, all taxa analysed in the current study are best treated at the subspecies level within D. maculata s. lat. due to somewhat continuous morphological variation between morphotypes. A total of eight D. maculata subspecies may be recognized in Central Europe, of which one is newly described here as D. maculata subsp. arcana, subsp. nov. Some nomenclatural riddles have been resolved, and the threat status of the recognized taxa is discussed.
Causal Conditionals, Tendency Causal Claims and Statistical Relevance
Authors: Sikorski Michał , van Dongen Noah , Sprenger Jan
Published: February 2024

Indicative conditionals and tendency causal claims are closely related (e.g., Frosch and Byrne, 2012), but despite these connections, they are usually studied separately. A unifying framework could consist in their dependence on probabilistic factors such as high conditional probability and statistical relevance (e.g., Adams, 1975; Eells, 1991; Douven, 2008, 2015). This paper presents a comparative empirical study on differences between judgments on tendency causal claims and indicative conditionals, how these judgments are driven by probabilistic factors, and how these factors differ in their predictive power for both causal and conditional claims.
Multi-omics Integrative Analysis for Incomplete Data Using Weighted p-Value Adjustment Approaches
Authors: Zhang Wenda , Ma Zichen , Ho Yen-Yi , Yang Shuyi , Habiger Joshua , Huang Hsin-Hsiung , Huang Yufei
Published: February 2024

The advancements in high-throughput technologies provide exciting opportunities to obtain multi-omics data from the same individuals in a biomedical study, and joint analyses of data from multiple sources offer many benefits. However, the occurrence of missing values is an inevitable issue in multi-omics data because measurements such as mRNA gene expression levels often require invasive tissue sampling from patients. Common approaches for addressing missing measurements include analyses based on observations with complete data or multiple imputation methods. In this paper, we propose a novel integrative multi-omics analytical framework based on p-value weight adjustment in order to incorporate observations with incomplete data into the analysis. By splitting the data into a complete set with full information and an incomplete set with missing measurements, we introduce mechanisms to derive weights and weight-adjusted p-values from the two sets. Through simulation analyses, we demonstrate that the proposed framework achieves considerable statistical power gains compared to a complete case analysis or multiple imputation approaches. We illustrate the implementation of our proposed framework in a study of preterm infant birth weights by a joint analysis of DNA methylation, mRNA, and the phenotypic outcome. Supplementary materials accompanying this paper appear online.