bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diffuse Lichen Planopilaris Masquerading as Diffuse Alopecia Areata
Authors: Yoo Li Jie Helena , Meah Nekma , Wall Dmitri , McDonald Ian
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Lichen planopilaris (LPP) is a primary lymphocytic cicatricial alopecia that represents a form of follicular lichen planus. Case Presentation: We describe a case of coexisting diffuse LPP and female pattern hair loss masquerading as diffuse alopecia areata in a 32-year-old female. Discussion: In complex cases such as this, dermoscopy-guided vertical and horizontal biopsies from androgen sensitive and insensitive areas are helpful in increasing diagnostic yield. Prompt initiation of treatment is key to halting disease progression. Long-term follow-up is important as resolution of clinical signs does not always correlate with the absence of disease progression.
Improving Accuracy of In-the-bag Intraocular Lens Power Calculation in Adult Eyes with Unilateral Subluxated Lenses by Using the Anterior Chamber Depth of the Unaffected Eye
Authors: Lou Wei , Chen Ziang , Huang Yang , Jin Haiying
Published: March 2024

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the interchangeability of bilateral anterior chamber depth (ACD) in intraocular lens (IOL) power calculations for cataractous eyes and refractive outcomes using the unaffected fellow-eye ACD in lens subluxation.
Methods: The predicted postoperative spherical equivalent (SE) calculated using the Kane formula with and without fellow-eye ACD in 202 cataract patients was compared. Refractive outcomes of the newer formulas (the Kane, Barrett Universal II (BUII), and Pearl-DGS formulas) with affected-eye ACD and with unaffected fellow-eye ACD were compared in 33 eyes with lens subluxation (the affected eye) undergoing in-the-bag IOL implantation. The SD of the prediction error (PE) was assessed using the heteroscedastic method.
Results: In 202 paired cataractous eyes, no marked ACD difference was found bilaterally; the predicted SE obtained without the fellow-eye ACD was comparable with that calculated with the fellow-eye one (P = .90), with a mean absolute difference of 0.03 ± 0.03D. With the affected-eye AL, keratometry, and ACD, the median absolute error (MedAE) was 0.38-0.64D, and the percentage of PE within ±0.50D was 30.30-57.58%. The unaffected-eye ACD improved the results (MedAE, 0.35-0.49D; the percentage of PE within ±0.50D, 54.55-63.64%). The SDs of the BUII (0.82D) and Pearl-DGS formulas (0.87D) with the affected-eye ACD were significantly larger than those of the Kane and Pearl-DGS formulas (both 0.69D) with the unaffected-eye ACD.
Conclusion: Bilateral ACD was interchangeable in IOL power calculation for cataractous eyes. Unaffected-eye ACD in lieu of affected-eye ACD can enhance the accuracy of newer formulas in patients with unilateral subluxated lenses undergoing in-the-bag IOL implantation.
The Ratio of Serum Urea Nitrogen to Albumin Is a Better Predictor of Overall Survival in Multiple Myeloma Patients than Urea Nitrogen Alone
Authors: Shao Jiaqi , Zhang Enfan , Chen Haoguang , Cai Zhen , Dong Mengmeng
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant proliferative disease of plasma cells. Abnormally cloned plasma cells secrete large amounts of monoclonal immunoglobulins in the bone marrow of MM patients. Serum urea nitrogen (sUN) is a byproduct of protein metabolism, and its effect on MM patients’ prognoses remains unknown. Therefore, we analyzed MM patients’ clinical data to explore the role of sUN and sUN/serum albumin (sUAR) in the baseline tumor load and MM prognosis of MM patients. Methods: We downloaded the clinical data of 762 MM patients from the MMRF database. After excluding those without baseline sUN, 452 patients were finally included in the study. Smoothed curve fitting, threshold analysis, Tamhane’s T2 test, multivariate-adjusted Cox regression analysis, Kaplan-Meier (K-M) curves, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were applied in the study. Results: There were 452 newly diagnosed MM patients included in this study. In most patient groups, sUN and sUAR were positively linked with β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) according to smoothing curve fitting and threshold analysis. The higher the ISS stage, the greater the values of sUN and sUAR. Furthermore, smoothed curve fitting and threshold analysis showed that sUN was correlated with overall survival (OS), although sUAR had a stronger correlation with OS and could be applied to a broader group. The results of a multivariate-adjusted Cox regression analysis demonstrated that sUN and sUAR were independent prognostic factors for OS. The K-M curve confirmed the correlation between higher sUN and sUAR levels and worse OS. β2-MG and LDH are generally recognized prognostic factors of OS. ROC analysis revealed that sUN might boost β2-MG and LDH’s predictive value and sUAR had a higher predictive value. Conclusion: This retrospective study based on the MMRF database showed that high sUN and sUAR levels were positively associated with β2-MG, LDH, and ISS staging, and sUAR exhibited a stronger correlation with OS than sUN alone.
A Klotho-Based Machine Learning Model for Prediction of both Kidney and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Wang Yating , Shi Yu , Xiao Tangli , Bi Xianjin , Huo Qingyu , Wang Shaobo , Xiong Jiachuan , Zhao Jinghong
Published: March 2024

Introduction: This study aimed to develop and validate machine learning (ML) models based on serum Klotho for predicting end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: Five different ML models were trained to predict the risk of ESKD and CVD at three different time points (3, 5, and 8 years) using a cohort of 400 non-dialysis CKD patients. The dataset was divided into a training set (70%) and an internal validation set (30%). These models were informed by data comprising 47 clinical features, including serum Klotho. The best-performing model was selected and used to identify risk factors for each outcome. Model performance was assessed using various metrics. Results: The findings showed that the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression model had the highest accuracy (C-index = 0.71) in predicting ESKD. The features mainly included in this model were estimated glomerular filtration rate, 24-h urinary microalbumin, serum albumin, phosphate, parathyroid hormone, and serum Klotho, which achieved the highest area under the curve (AUC) of 0.930 (95% CI: 0.897–0.962). In addition, for the CVD risk prediction, the random survival forest model with the highest accuracy (C-index = 0.66) was selected and achieved the highest AUC of 0.782 (95% CI: 0.633–0.930). The features mainly included in this model were age, history of primary hypertension, calcium, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and serum Klotho. Conclusion: We successfully developed and validated Klotho-based ML risk prediction models for CVD and ESKD in CKD patients with good performance, indicating their high clinical utility.
Fresnel lenses and auto tracking to increase solar panel output power
Authors: Hutauruk Sindak , Sianturi Libianko , Togatorop Irvan
Published: March 2024

This solar panel, which is equipped with microcontroller-based auto tracking, is also equipped with a Fresnel lens to obtain more optimal power because the Fresnel lens has the property of bending or refracting light rays that pass through it so that it can focus sunlight. The Fresnel lens focuses sunlight radiation onto the solar panels. To determine the magnitude of the influence of Fresnel lenses on increasing the power produced by solar panels, two solar panels of the same size (11×11) cm were moved by auto tracking using the same axis. One solar panel is not fitted with a Fresnel lens, and the other is fitted with a Fresnel lens measuring 30×30 cm, where the distance between the Fresnel lens and the solar panel is 5 cm. Measurements of the output power of both solar panels were carried out simultaneously, namely from 08.00 to 18.00 WIB (West Indonesia time). The power output of both solar panels was measured in 30-minute intervals, resulting in 21 measurements. Solar panels using Fresnel lenses produce an output power that is 105.306% more significant than that of those without Fresnel lenses.
Using Genetics to Inform Interventions Related to Sodium and Potassium in Hypertension
Authors: Reay William R. , Clarke Erin , Eslick Shaun , Riveros Carlos , Holliday Elizabeth G. , McEvoy Mark A. , Peel Roseanne , Hancock Stephen , Scott Rodney J. , Attia John R. , Collins Clare E. , Cairns Murray J.
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND:

Hypertension is a key risk factor for major adverse cardiovascular events but remains difficult to treat in many individuals. Dietary interventions are an effective approach to lower blood pressure (BP) but are not equally effective across all individuals. BP is heritable, and genetics may be a useful tool to overcome treatment response heterogeneity. We investigated whether the genetics of BP could be used to identify individuals with hypertension who may receive a particular benefit from lowering sodium intake and boosting potassium levels.

METHODS:

In this observational genetic study, we leveraged cross-sectional data from up to 296 475 genotyped individuals drawn from the UK Biobank cohort for whom BP and urinary electrolytes (sodium and potassium), biomarkers of sodium and potassium intake, were measured. Biologically directed genetic scores for BP were constructed specifically among pathways related to sodium and potassium biology (pharmagenic enrichment scores), as well as unannotated genome-wide scores (conventional polygenic scores). We then tested whether there was a gene-by-environment interaction between urinary electrolytes and these genetic scores on BP.

RESULTS:

Genetic risk and urinary electrolytes both independently correlated with BP. However, urinary sodium was associated with a larger BP increase among individuals with higher genetic risk in sodium- and potassium-related pathways than in those with comparatively lower genetic risk. For example, each SD in urinary sodium was associated with a 1.47–mm Hg increase in systolic BP for those in the top 10% of the distribution of genetic risk in sodium and potassium transport pathways versus a 0.97–mm Hg systolic BP increase in the lowest 10% (
P
=1.95×10
−3
). This interaction with urinary sodium remained when considering estimated glomerular filtration rate and indexing sodium to urinary creatinine. There was no strong evidence of an interaction between urinary sodium and a standard genome-wide polygenic score of BP.

CONCLUSIONS:

The data suggest that genetic risk in sodium and potassium pathways could be used in a precision medicine model to direct interventions more specifically in the management of hypertension. Intervention studies are warranted.
Subtype Identification of Surgically Curable Primary Aldosteronism During Treatment With Mineralocorticoid Receptor Blockade
Authors: Pintus Giovanni , Seccia Teresa Maria , Amar Laurence , Azizi Michel , Riester Anna , Reincke Martin , Widimský Jiří , Naruse Mitsuhide , Kocjan Tomaz , Negro Aurelio , Kline Gregory , Tanabe Akiyo , Satoh Fumitoshi , Rump Lars Christian , Vonend Oliver , Fuller Peter J. , Yang Jun , Chee Nicholas Yong Nian , Magill Steven B. , Shafigullina Zulfiya , Quinkler Marcus , Oliveras Anna , Lee Bo-Ching , Chang Chin-Chen , Wu Vin-Cent , Krátká Zuzana , Battistel Michele , Bagordo Domenico , Caroccia Brasilina , Ceolotto Giulio , Rossitto Giacomo , Rossi Gian Paolo
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND:

Current guidelines and consensus documents recommend withdrawal of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) before primary aldosteronism (PA) subtyping by adrenal vein sampling (AVS), but this practice can cause severe hypokalemia and uncontrolled high blood pressure. Our aim was to investigate if unilateral PA can be identified by AVS during MRA treatment.

METHODS:

We compared the rate of unilateral PA identification between patients with and without MRA treatment in large data sets of patients submitted to AVS while off renin-angiotensin system blockers and β-blockers. In sensitivity analyses, the between-group differences of lateralization index values after propensity score matching and the rate of unilateral PA identification in subgroups with undetectable (≤2 mUI/L), suppressed (<8.2 mUI/L), and unsuppressed (≥8.2 mUI/L) direct renin concentration levels were also evaluated.

RESULTS:

Plasma aldosterone concentration, direct renin concentration, and blood pressure values were similar in non-MRA-treated (n=779) and MRA-treated (n=61) patients with PA, but the latter required more antihypertensive agents (
P
=0.001) and showed a higher rate of adrenal nodules (82% versus 67%;
P
=0.022) and adrenalectomy (72% versus 54%;
P
=0.01). However, they exhibited no significant differences in commonly used AVS indices and the area under the receiving operating characteristic curve of lateralization index, both under unstimulated conditions and postcosyntropin. Several sensitivity analyses confirmed these results in propensity score matching adjusted models and in patients with undetectable, or suppressed or unsuppressed renin levels.

CONCLUSIONS:

At doses that controlled blood pressure and potassium levels, MRAs did not preclude the identification of unilateral PA at AVS.

REGISTRATION:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT01234220.
UDP-Glucose/P2Y14 Receptor Signaling Exacerbates Neuronal Apoptosis After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Rats
Authors: Kanamaru Hideki , Zhu Shiyi , Dong Siyuan , Takemoto Yushin , Huang Lei , Sherchan Prativa , Suzuki Hidenori , Tang Jiping , Zhang John H.
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND:

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a severe subtype of stroke with poor outcomes. Abnormal glucose metabolism often occurs after SAH, but the strict control of blood glucose levels is not always beneficial. This study aimed to investigate the contribution of uridine diphosphate glucose (UDP-G), an intermediate of glucose/glycogen metabolism, and its receptor P2Y14 (P2Y purinoceptor 14) to SAH pathology and explored the potential targeted treatments in rats.

METHODS:

A total of 218 Sprague-Dawley male rats were used. SAH was induced by endovascular perforation. Brain expressions of P2Y14, uridine diphosphate glucose (UDP-G), and its converting enzyme UGP2 (UDP-G pyrophosphorylase-2) were evaluated. Exogenous UDP-G or selective P2Y14 inhibitor was administered intranasally at 1 hour after SAH to explore their potential effects. Intranasal
Ugp2 or P2ry14
siRNA was delivered 24 hours before SAH for mechanistic evaluation. Primary neuron culture and hemoglobin stimulation were used as in vitro model of SAH. Post-SAH evaluation included liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry measurement of brain endogenous UDP-G level, neurobehavioral assessments, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, TUNEL staining, and Nissl staining.

RESULTS:

There was an acute elevation of endogenous brain UDP-G and UGP2 after SAH, and P2Y14 was expressed in neurons. Although P2Y14 inhibitor decreased neurological dysfunction, neuronal apoptosis, and proapoptotic molecules, exogenous UDP-G exacerbated these outcomes at 24 hours after SAH. Early inhibition of P2Y14 preserved long-term neuronal survival in the hippocampus, amygdala, and cortex with improved neurocognition and depressive-like behavior. In addition, in vivo knockdown of
Ugp2
- and
P2ry14
-reduced neurological deficits and proapoptotic molecules at 24 hours after SAH, and furthermore in vitro knockdown of
P2ry14
-reduced apoptosis in hemoglobin stimulated primary neuron.

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings suggest a detrimental role of brain UDP-G/P2Y14 signaling in SAH, as a part of glucose metabolic pathology at the tissue level. P2Y14 inhibitor 4-[4-(4-piperidinyl)phenyl]-7-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid hydrochloride may serve as a potential therapeutic target in treating patients with SAH.
Operationalizing open and restricted-access data—Formulating verifiable criteria for the openness of data sets mentioned in biomedical research articles
Authors: Bobrov Evgeny , Riedel Nico , Kip Miriam
Published: March 2024

Increasing the availability of research data sets is a goal of many stakeholders in science, and monitoring related practices requires definitions of the entity in question. There are several, largely overlapping, definitions for open data. However, they have so far not been translated into operationalizations that would allow us to detect, in a structured and reproducible way, whether, for a specific research article, the underlying data have been shared. Here, we propose a detailed set of criteria to enable such assessments, focusing on biomedical research. We have used these criteria to distribute performance-oriented funding at a large university hospital and to monitor data sharing practices in a dashboard. In addition to fully open data, we include separate criteria for data sets with restricted access, which we also reward. The criteria are partly inspired by the FAIR principles, particularly findability and accessibility, but do not map onto individual principles. The criteria attribute open data status in a binary fashion, both to individual data sets and, ultimately, articles with which they were shared. The criteria allow a verifiable assessment, based on automated and manual screening steps, which we have implemented and validated, as described elsewhere. Here, we focus conceptually on assessing the presence of shared data.
The Use of Weather, Water, Ice, and Climate (WWIC) Information in the Polar Regions: What Is Known after the Decadelong Polar Prediction Project?
Authors: Heinrich Victoria J. , Stewart Emma J. , Liggett Daniela , Carrasco Jorge F. , Dawson Jackie , Lamers Machiel , Ljubicic Gita J. , Jeuring Jelmer , Thoman Rick
Published: March 2024

The polar regions are facing a wide range of compounding challenges, from climate change to increased human activity. Infrastructure, rescue services, and disaster response capabilities are limited in these remote environments. Relevant and usable weather, water, ice, and climate (WWIC) information is vital for safety, activity success, adaptation, and environmental protection. This has been a key focus for the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) Polar Prediction Project (PPP), and in particular its “Societal and Economic Research and Applications” (PPP-SERA) Task Team, which together over a decade have sought to understand polar WWIC information use in relation to operational needs, constraints, and decision contexts to inform the development of relevant services. To understand research progress and gaps on WWIC information use during the PPP (2013–23), we undertook a systematic bibliometric review of aligned scholarly peer-reviewed journal articles (n = 43), examining collaborations, topics, methods, and regional differences. Themes to emerge included activity and context, human factors, information needs, situational awareness, experience, local and Indigenous knowledge, and sharing of information. We observed an uneven representation of disciplinary backgrounds, geographic locations, research topics, and sectoral foci. Our review signifies an overall lack of Antarctic WWIC services research and a dominant focus on Arctic sea ice operations and risks. We noted with concern a mismatch between user needs and services provided. Our findings can help to improve WWIC services’ dissemination, communication effectiveness, and actionable knowledge provision for users and guide future research as the critical need for salient weather services across the polar regions remains beyond the PPP.

Significance Statement

Every day, people in the Arctic and Antarctic use weather, water, ice, and climate information to plan and carry out outdoor activities and operations in a safe way. Despite advances in numerical weather prediction, technology, and product development, barriers to accessing and effectively communicating high-quality usable observations, forecasts, and actionable knowledge remain. Poorer services, prediction accuracy, and interpretation are exacerbated by a lack of integrated social science research on relevant topics and a mismatch between the services provided and user needs. As a result, continued user engagement, research focusing on information use, risk communication, decision-making processes, and the application of science for services remain highly relevant to reducing risks and improving safety for people living, visiting, and working in the polar regions.
Risk Factors for Venous Thromboembolism and Eventual Amputation in Traumatic Femoral and Iliac Vein Injuries: A Trauma Quality Improvement Program Analysis
Authors: Falcon Allison K. , Caballero Ladd M. , Filiberto Dina M. , Lenart Emily K. , Easterday Thomas S. , Bhatt Maunil N. , Mitchell Erica L. , Byerly Saskya
Published: March 2024

Background

Iliac and femoral venous injuries represent a challenging dilemma in trauma surgery with mixed results. Venous restoration of outflow (via repair or bypass) has been previously identified as having higher rates of VTE (venous thromboembolism) compared to ligation. We hypothesized that rates of VTE and eventual amputation were similar whether restoration of venous outflow vs ligation was performed at initial operation.

Methods

Patients in the 2019-2021 National Trauma Data Bank with iliac and femoral vein injuries were abstracted and analyzed. The primary outcomes of interest were in-hospital lower extremity amputation and VTE.

Results

A total of 2642 patients with operatively managed iliac and femoral vein injuries were identified VTE was found in 10.8% of patients. Multivariable logistic regression was performed and identified bowel injury, higher ISS, older age, open repair, and longer time to VTE prophylaxis initiation as independent predictors of VTE. Amputation was required in 4.2% of patients. Multivariable logistic regression identified arterial or nerve injury, femur or tibia fracture, venous ligation, percutaneous intervention, fasciotomy, bowel injury, and higher ISS as independent factors of amputation.

Conclusion

Venous restoration was not an independent predictor of VTE. Venous ligation on index operation was the only modifiable independent predictor of amputation identified on regression analysis.
Application research on improved genetic algorithm and active disturbance rejection control on quadcopters
Authors: Jijun Shui , Daogang Peng
Published: March 2024

For nonlinear, strongly coupled, underdriven quadcopters in the context of modeling complexity and demanding performance requirements for the controller, this paper proposes a strategy based on an improved genetic algorithm to optimize the active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) controller. To make the quadcopter continue to fly stably in a complex environment, the dynamics model of the quadcopter was firstly established, the mathematical model was simplified according to the real world, and the ADRC controller of the quadcopter was designed. Given a large number of ADRC controller parameters, the difficulty of manual tuning and obtaining the optimal control effect, and the shortcomings of the genetic algorithm in solving the problem of local optimal and precocious convergence, a control strategy based on improved genetic algorithm to optimize ADRC’s parameters is proposed to improve the genetic diversity in the population and enhance the adaptability of individuals to the environment, ITAE (Integral-of-Time-multiple Absolute Error) evaluation index is selected as the fitness value. Finally, the model of the control system is built according to the real aircraft. The application results prove that the altitude, attitude of the quadcopter are controlled stably, and it is verified that the control strategy based on the improved genetic algorithm optimizing ADRC has faster rapidity, stronger tracking performance, and robustness in altitude, attitude control of the quadcopter, which has greater practical application value.
Numerically assisted calibration procedure of nonlinear in-plane shear properties of unidirectional composite laminae based on off-axis tensile experiments
Authors: Kovács László , Romhány Gábor
Published: March 2024

In this paper, a novel methodology is presented to evaluate the true nonlinear shear response of continuous fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) unidirectional laminae. It requires simple off-axis tensile experiments to be conducted and a finite element (FE) representation of them with a material constitutive law capable of handling nonlinearity in shear. Upon successful evaluation of the normal stiffness properties, the shear stress-strain response is derived via numerical calibration of the underlying FE models. The presented approach is also demonstrated by processing the raw data of an extensive material characterization test campaign conducted on a thermoplastic matrix CFRP. The outcome is compared to the conventional methods for shear response derivation using relevant standards such as ASTM D3518 and ASTM D5379. It has been successfully demonstrated that the pseudo-hardening phenomenon obtained from standard shear experiments as a result of fibers aligning with load direction can be eliminated with off-axis specimen tension experiments, thus, the true shear stress versus deformation response can be extracted up to failure. The main purpose of current work is to demonstrate the inconsistency in the available standard methods related to mechanical testing-based derivation of nonlinear in-plane shear behavior of UD plies. In addition, a novel technique is presented to achieve a more accurate prediction of nonlinear shear stress and strain along the entire representative loading range that contributes to more accurate simulations of composite parts up to failure and thus, better strength predictions.
Writing Red Taylorism into management history
Authors: Nyland Chris
Published: March 2024

An increasing number of Western scholars are currently arguing that socialist transition theory may provide solutions to industrial relations and management problems that capitalism struggles to resolve. I add to this effort by introducing the debate on whether scientific management could assist the transition from capitalism to socialism that was undertaken in the United States through the first two decades of the 20th century. By so doing, I make two contributions. First, I show that socialist theory has a substantial lineage within management studies from which current progressives might draw lessons. Second, I add to the literature that has problematised the authoritarian depiction of Taylorism that is orthodoxy in the management and industrial relations literature. I do so by showing that a significant body of theorists and practitioners believed scientific management could assist populations to move beyond capitalism. Some welcomed this possibility, while others viewed it as a dire threat, requiring that Taylorism be demonised.
Modeling and simulation of fire evacuation considering guiding factors: a case study of Shenyang subway interchange station
Authors: Liu Jiaxi , Zhang Rui , Yan Weidong , Zhao Qingyan , Guo Chunbing
Published: March 2024

In case of fire, effective evacuation guidance can reduce evacuees’ hesitation time and improve evacuation efficiency. In this paper, an improved model of fire evacuation (guided fire cellular automata, GF-CA) is provided. First, the parameters of the improved model are quantified and analyzed to determine the parameter calculation method and variation law. Second, a typical subway interchange station in Shenyang is used as an example for evacuation simulation. Then, a lightweight building information modeling (BIM) is constructed and applied to the example combining the evacuation simulation software of Pathfinder and virtual reality technology for personnel evacuation simulation. Three types of simulation scenarios are examined, including simulation without guiding factors, simulation with guiding factors based on the improved model, and simulation based on the virtual reality experiment with guiding factors. The results show that the evacuation efficiency is increased by 75.63% after effective guidelines through personnel diversion and reasonable exit allocation, noting that the path results of the model are highly similar to those of the virtual reality experiment, which has good validity and rationality. Meanwhile, we analyze the guiding scheme and propose that we should pay attention to the position of the sign and the configuration of the conductor, and flexibly use the composite scheme, which provides effective technical support for improving evacuation safety and evacuation efficiency.
Institutional work within the boundaries of multi-stakeholder initiatives: The relational agency of implementing partners and women cotton-pickers in practice change
Authors: Linneberg Mai S , Hassan Ahmad , Bjerregaard Toke
Published: March 2024

In Pakistan, cotton is picked by women who witness first-hand the social and environmental challenges of the global textile industry, which the BCI, a multi-stakeholder initiative (MSI), aims to mitigate. Scholars have yet to investigate the ability of MSIs to achieve change as experienced by the cotton-pickers themselves. This article offers an original perspective on how relational agency is exerted between an MSI, implementing partners and cotton-pickers, through the mutually interacting work of creating boundaries around an institutional space. This helps explain how, in an otherwise highly restrictive context, women’s agency is leveraged. Based on 40 qualitative interviews with the BCI cotton-pickers and their implementing partners, the study finds that, through institutional work, cotton-pickers have upgraded their working practices. However, the MSI’s impact depends on its ability to maintain its boundary and corresponding practices. By implication, the women’s poverty continues to be a highly significant limitation on the improvements to their lives.
Analysis of Pore Water Pressure Effect in Asphalt Patch Failure: An Integrated Modelling and Experiment Study
Authors: Chen Xiao , Wang Hao
Published: March 2024

Moisture has been widely accepted as the main cause of asphalt patch failure, while the investigation of pore water pressure (PWP) in asphalt patch is limited. This research investigated the PWP generated in asphalt patch and quantified its impact on mechanical performance considering the inadequate compaction of asphalt patch. A hydro-mechanical model was first developed to analyze the PWP under field conditions, considering the effects of patch geometry, vehicle wandering, traffic loading, and temperature. The moisture-induced stress tester (MIST) was then used to condition patching materials under different PWP levels in a laboratory. After that, indirect tensile (IDT) and interface shear strengths of patching materials were evaluated to quantify the impact of PWP on material degradation. The numerical modeling results show that the maximum PWP can be within or at the interface of the asphalt patch, depending on the wheel path. The magnitude of PWP is related to the patch geometry, traffic load, and temperature. The maximum PWP, whether inside or at the interface of the asphalt patch, can be from 100 kPa to over 300 kPa under common field conditions. The laboratory experimental results suggest that the first 500 cycles of MIST conditioning led to over 30% decrease in both IDT and interface shear strengths of asphalt patch, and the strength ratio was much lower than the recommended level. These findings indicate that asphalt patches with poor compaction quality are very susceptible to moisture-induced damage, and the mechanical performance of patching material should be evaluated after conditioning with PWP effect.
Why the turn to matter matters: A response to post-Marxist critiques of new materialism
Authors: Ejsing Mads
Published: March 2024

Theories of new materialism have gained increasing traction in the social and human sciences in recent decades, as thinkers like Donna Haraway, Bruno Latour and Jane Bennett have reinvigorated the philosophical interest in topics such as the agency of nonhuman matter, the relational nature of existence and the limitations of anthropocentric forms of inquiry. However, these theories have faced criticism from post-Marxist critical theorists, who argue that theories of new materialism blunt social and capitalist critique and promote obscurity by flattening the world to a single ontological plane. In this article, I argue that these critiques rely on mischaracterizations of new materialist scholarship and that theories of new materialism can in fact help us re-examine – not reject, as their critics suggest – the role of critique, responsibility and human politics in the context of the Anthropocene and its unfolding ecological crises.
Gender, Race, and Authorship in Criminological and Criminal Justice Journals: A New Look With an Old Result
Authors: Sever Brion , Canales Crespo Krystal , Baer Erica
Published: March 2024

There is a wealth of research that has tested faculty productivity in criminology and criminal justice (CCJ) journals over the past 30 years, although only a modest proportion of these studies have analyzed the gender of authors publishing in CCJ journals. Moreover, only a couple of studies have assessed the race of the authors in these journals, with their focus placed on either African American productivity or the comparison of non-White and White authors. The present study examines 1,836 journal articles in 14 journals from 2016 to 2018, including the top eight CCJ journals, the top three sociology and psychology journals, and the top three gender-focused journals in the area of crime and justice. We broke author productivity in these journals down by specific demographic categories and found that White men account for the majority of authors publishing in the CCJ journals, followed by White women. We also found that the advances for women authors found in some journals are primarily due to White women authors, as the production of all minority groups in the journals remains low regardless of gender.
Nuclear weapons and interstate conflict behavior: The moderating influence of civil–military relations
Authors: Asghar Rizwan
Published: March 2024

Do nuclear weapons deter aggression or make states more likely to engage in conflict? I argue that we can explain whether and when nuclear capabilities increase state belligerence by examining the role of domestic institutions that shape state security policy. This study provides evidence that nuclear weapons have an emboldening effect on conflict initiation by elevating state capacity but that whether this emboldening translates into higher levels of belligerence depends on the extent to which civilians (relative to the military) control the state, an important dimension of state decision-making. Results provide suggestive evidence in support of my argument. I illustrate this mechanism using the case of Pakistan (1972–2010).
Big Five traits predict between- and within-person variation in loneliness
Authors: Shrestha Sujan , Sigdel Kripa , Pokharel Madhusudan , Columbus Simon
Published: March 2024

Past research has linked individual differences in loneliness to Big Five personality traits. However, experience sampling studies also show intrapersonal fluctuations in loneliness. These may reflect situational factors as well as stable individual differences. Here, for the first time, we study the relationship between personality traits and within-person variation in loneliness. In a one-week experience sampling study, n = 285 Nepali participants reported feelings of loneliness three times a day (3597 observations). We use Bayesian mixed-effects location scale models to simultaneously estimate the relationship between Big Five personality traits and (a) mean levels and (b) within-person variability in loneliness. We also test whether these relationships vary depending on whether participants were alone or in the company of others. More neurotic individuals felt lonelier, especially (but not only) when they were alone. These individuals also experienced greater intrapersonal fluctuations in loneliness. These findings extend the differential reactivity hypothesis, according to which individuals vary in loneliness due to differential reactivity to social situations, and accord with the conceptual view of neuroticism as hyperreactivity to social stressors. In addition, we document the role of personality and social context in people’s everyday experience of loneliness in a non-WEIRD population.
Strategic avoidance and rulemaking procedures
Authors: Bils Peter , Carroll Robert J. , Rothenberg Lawrence S.
Published: March 2024

Informal, ‘notice-and-comment’, rulemaking is the prototypical mechanism employed by US regulators. However, agencies frequently claim their actions exempt from the process, and courts typically agree. Agencies thus face an important strategic choice between informal rulemaking and avoidance. To study this choice, we analyze a model of rulemaking with exemption and empirically analyze agency avoidance. Our model implies that more biased agencies engage in less avoidance, as they face more skepticism from the courts and, thus, require support from group comments to have their rules upheld. Empirically, we find support for this prediction. As for policy implications, we show it is more beneficial to allow exemptions when the agency is more biased.
Grey wolf optimization tuned drivetrain vibration controller with backlash compensation strategy using time-dependent-switched Kalman filter
Authors: Yonezawa Heisei , Yonezawa Ansei , Kajiwara Itsuro
Published: March 2024

To improve the performance and durability of vehicle components, efforts have been made to reduce driveline oscillations using advanced active control algorithms. However, existing methods often rely on subjective parameter adjustments, which can be burdensome for designers. This study introduces an effective tuning algorithm for a driveline vibration controller that accounts for nonlinear backlash effects. Initially, a driveline dynamics model is developed to focus on transient oscillations resulting from changes in driving force and the presence of nonlinear backlash. The backlash impact is incorporated into the model through a discontinuous dead-zone region. Two operational dynamics, which are the contact mode and the backlash mode, are considered. A dynamic output feedback [Formula: see text] controller is designed as a baseline controller to mitigate low-frequency resonance in the driveline. A solution for managing the nonlinear backlash challenges is introduced, involving the use of a simple control mode switching algorithm in conjunction with the controller. This algorithm relies on a time-dependent-switched Kalman filter. Additionally, the optimal settings for the parameters needed by the mode-switching algorithm are autonomously determined using the grey wolf optimizer (GWO). The proposed active controller can be implemented in real vehicles by using an on-vehicle acceleration sensor and electronic control unit (ECU). In a simulation environment, the vehicle body vibration is online fed back to the resultant controller, and an actuator is supposed to apply control commands to the driveline. The effectiveness of this newly proposed active controller is confirmed through comparative tests, revealing the superior vibration control.
Magnetohydrodynamic stagnation point flow of Williamson hybrid nanofluid via stretching sheet in a porous medium with heat source and chemical reaction
Authors: Vinodkumar Reddy Mulinti , Ajithkumar Moorthi , Zafar Syed Sohaib Bin , Faizan Muhammad , Ali Farhan , Lakshminarayana Pallavarapu
Published: March 2024

The stagnation point flow of non-Newtonian fluids has several engineering and industrial applications. In this article, we considered the investigation of the magnetohydrodynamic stagnation point flow of Williamson hybrid nanofluid with chemical reaction and energy generation effects over a porous extending sheet. Similarly, the characteristics of radiation and convective boundary conditions are also taken. Presumptions of boundary layer movement of Williamson hybrid nanofluid facilitate the simplification of the essential mathematical equations for the conservation of mass, energy, momentum and concentration. By introducing the similarity variables, the controlling partial differential equations have been transformed into dimensionless ordinary differential equations. Then, the most effective homotopy analysis method is used to approximate the solutions of reduced ordinary differential equations. Graphical calculations are carried out for hybrid nanofluid [Formula: see text] and nanofluid [Formula: see text]. To investigate the impacts of leading parameters, graphs for the quantities are generated. At the boundary, the local skin friction factor, the Sherwood number and the Nusselt number are also determined. According to the outcomes, it is discovered that when the porosity parameter increases the velocity profile of the hybrid nanofluid [Formula: see text] climbs above that of the nanofluid [Formula: see text]. An increase in thermal radiation parameter and Biot number causes a greater thickness of the thermal boundary layer, which in turn raises the temperature of the hybrid nanofluid. Furthermore, the increased chemical reaction decreases the concentration in both [Formula: see text] hybrid nano liquid and [Formula: see text] mono nanofluid cases.
Exploring the potential of large language models and generative artificial intelligence (GPT): Applications in Library and Information Science
Authors: Formanek Matus
Published: March 2024

The presented study offers a systematic overview of the potential application of large language models (LLMs) and generative artificial intelligence tools, notably the GPT model and the ChatGPT interface, within the realm of library and information science (LIS). The paper supplements and extends the outcomes of a comprehensive information survey on the subject matter with the author’s own experiences and examples showcasing possible applications, demonstrated through illustrative instances. This study does not involve testing available LLMs or selecting the most suitable tool; instead, it targets information professionals, specialists, librarians, and scientists, aiming to inspire them in various ways. Within this paper, we explore both well-known and less recognized use cases of generative AI tools, which may prove relevant not only for the target group of information specialists but also for other users. Our analysis demonstrates that apart from merely summarizing or expanding existing textual content, these AI tools hold the potential for performing non-standard yet sophisticated tasks with electronic information resources. They can facilitate interactive engagement with these resources, aid in the extraction and composition of descriptive metadata, indexing, and even possible classification. Nevertheless, it is essential to acknowledge the numerous limitations of current LLMs, which we acknowledge in this study.
Participant perceptions of different forms of deliberative monetary valuation: Comparing democratic monetary valuation and deliberative democratic monetary valuation in the context of regional marine planning
Authors: Ainscough Jacob , Kenter Jasper O. , Azzopardi Elaine , Wilson A. Meriwether W.
Published: March 2024

As conceptual and theoretical discussions on environmental valuation approaches have advanced there is growing interest in the impact that valuation has on decision making. The perceived legitimacy of the outputs of valuation studies is seen as one factor influencing their impact on policy decisions. One element of this is ensuring that participants of valuation processes see the results as legitimate and would be willing to accept decisions based on these findings. Here, we test the perceived legitimacy to participants of two approaches to deliberative monetary valuation, deliberated preferences and Deliberative Democratic Monetary Valuation, in the context of marine planning in the Clyde estuary in Scotland. We compare and contrast deliberated preference and deliberative democratic monetary valuation and track their emergence as responses to critiques of conventional stated preference approaches. We then present the results of our case study where we found that deliberative democratic monetary valuation produced valuations that were perceived as more legitimate that deliberated preference as the basis for decision making by those involved in the valuation process.
Exploring economic dimensions of social ecological crises: A reply to special issue papers
Authors: Spash Clive L.
Published: March 2024

In this paper I consider various shifts in my research and understanding stimulated by seeking how to combat social ecological crises connected to modern economies. The discussion and critical reflections are structured around five papers that were submitted to Environmental Values in an open call to address my work. A common aspect is the move away from neoclassical environmental economics, and its reductionist monetary valuation, to a more realist theory and multiple methods. This relates to my work on environmental ethics, plural values, stated preference validity and deliberative monetary valuation. Expanding beyond the narrow confines of mainstream orthodoxy has involved exploring a range of other disciplines (e.g. applied philosophy, social psychology, human geography, political science, social anthropology, history of thought and philosophy of science) and learning from this literature to rethink economics and develop social ecological economics. A broad range of subjects are covered here, including: personal responsibility, social practice, psychology of the individual, participatory processes, value (intrinsic, instrumental and relational), Nature–society relationships and interdependencies, critical realism and the conduct of unifying interdisciplinary science. I end with a series of comments concerning the failings of orthodox economics and the conduct of scientific research for social ecological transformation.
Outcomes and Costs in Patients with Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Receiving Front-Line Versus Delayed Caplacizumab: A US Hospital Database Study
Authors: Arnaud Alix , Schilsky Samantha , Lucia Jackie , Maia Marta , Laredo Fernando , Marques Ana Paula , Okada Hikaru , Roberts Andrew W.
Published: March 2024

European real-world data indicate that front-line treatment with caplacizumab is associated with improved clinical outcomes compared with delayed caplacizumab treatment. The objective of the study was to describe the characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes in hospitalized patients with an immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) episode treated with front-line versus delayed caplacizumab in the US. This retrospective cohort analysis of a US hospital database included adult patients (≥18 years) with an acute iTTP episode (a diagnosis of thrombotic microangiopathy and ≥1 therapeutic plasma exchange [TPE] procedure) from January 21, 2019, to February 28, 2021. Unadjusted baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, healthcare resource utilization, and costs were compared between patients who received front-line versus delayed (<2 vs ≥2 days after TPE initiation) caplacizumab treatment. Out of 39 patients, 16 (41.0%) received front-line and 23 (59.0%) received delayed treatment with caplacizumab. Baseline characteristics and symptoms were similar between the two groups. Patients who received front-line caplacizumab treatment had significantly fewer TPE administrations (median: 5.0 vs 12.0); and a significantly shorter hospital stay (median: 9.0 days vs 16.0 days) than patients receiving delayed caplacizumab therapy. Both of these were significantly lower in comparison of means (t-test P < .01). Median inpatient costs (inclusive of caplacizumab costs) were 54% higher in the delayed treated patients than in the front-line treated patients (median: $112 711 vs $73 318). TPE-specific cost was lower in the front-line treated cohort (median: $6 989 vs $10 917). In conclusion, front-line treatment with caplacizumab had shorter hospitalizations, lower healthcare resource utilization, and lower costs than delayed caplacizumab treatment after TPE therapy.