bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating practical wisdom in complex system management: What is it and how do we get more?
Authors: Hallo Leonie , Nguyen Tiep , Chileshe Nicholas
Published: August 2023

Systems are now extremely complex with the continuous involvement of multiple stakeholders and rapidly advancing technology, and a new way of viewing high‐performance system management and decision‐making is needed. This paper considers the use of practical wisdom as a promising way of revitalising system management to improve the success rate in making critical decisions. Practical wisdom has been investigated as a useful approach in many fields, including philosophy, psychology, health, education and organisation studies: however, its application to system management is sparse. Questionnaires were sent to 124 manager participants to assess their view of the importance of various practical wisdom attributes as these relate to system management success. Applying the exploratory factor analysis technique emerged the following factors: (1) practical mindset; (2) stakeholder mindset; (3) moral mindset; (4) win‐win mindset; and (5) holistic thinking mindset. Two of these factors, stakeholder mindset and win‐win mindset, have not previously emerged in practical wisdom research. The factors extracted were validated via both technical techniques and considered commentary by senior leadership practitioners. The results of this study can assist managers to develop greater insight into optimal management of increasingly complex systems via consideration of these practical wisdom factors and the interplay between them.
Morphological, Thermal, and Cytotoxicity Features Assessment of Starch–Myristic Acid Complex‐Derived Nanostructured Materials
Authors: Almushawah Mushawah Abdullah , Periasamy Vaiyapuri Subbarayan , Athinarayanan Jegan , Alhussain Maha , Alwarthan Abdulrahman , Alshatwi Ali A.
Published: August 2023

The present study investigates the morphological and cytotoxic properties of starch–myristic acid complex (SMC) derivatives. The study attempts to prepare a SMC by frying. By liquid–liquid extraction, starch–myristic acid complex nanostructured materials are isolated. X‐ray diffractometry and transmission electron microscopy are used to determine the morphology and crystallization of the extract. The study performs various assays to assess the toxicological profile of starch–myristic acid complex‐derived nanostructured materials (SMC‐NMs), including cellular viability tests, cellular and nuclear morphological examinations, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurements. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images reveal nanoscale particles between 30 and 90 nm in water fraction‐based SMC‐NMs (WSMC‐NMs) and 160 and 250 nm in methanol fraction‐based SMC‐NMs (MSMC‐NMs). The WSMC‐NMs and MSMC‐NMs decrease the cell viability by 77% and 91% at 250 µg mL−1, respectively. The SMC‐NMs enhance necrotic cell death by increasing the level of ROS in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). The SMC‐NMs alter gene expression within 24 h. Gene expression of GSTM3 and GSR has explicitly upregulated in a dose‐dependent manner in WSMC‐NMs and MSMC‐NMs exposed cells. The study finds that nanoscale particles may develop during cooking, increasing the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity.
Minimising conflicts among run‐time non‐functional requirements within DevOps
Authors: Das Souvick , Deb Novarun , Chaki Nabendu , Cortesi Agostino
Published: August 2023

Significant contributions in the existing literature highlight the potential of softgoal interdependency graphs towards analyzing conflicting non‐functional requirements (NFRs). However, such analysis is often at a very abstract level and does not quite consider the run‐time performance statistics of NFR operationalizations. On the contrary, some initial empirical evaluations demonstrate the importance of the run‐time statistics. In this paper, a framework is proposed that uses these statistics and combines the same with NFR priorities for computing the impact of NFR conflicts. The proposed framework is capable of identifying the best possible set of NFR operationalizations that minimizes the impact of conflicting NFRs. A detailed space analysis of the solution framework helps proving the efficiency of the proposed pruning mechanism in terms of better space management. Furthermore, a Dynamic Bayesian Network (DBN) ‐ based system behavioral model that works on top of the proposed framework, is defined and analyzed. An appropriate tool prototype for the framework is implemented as part of this research.
Tau as a diagnostic instrument in clinical trials to predict amyloid in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Shcherbinin Sergey , Morris Amanda , Higgins Ixavier A. , Tunali Ilke , Lu Ming , Deveau Carmen , Southekal Sudeepti , Kotari Vikas , Evans Cynthia D. , Arora Anupa K. , Collins Emily C. , Pontecorvo Michael , Mintun Mark A. , Sims John R.
Published: August 2023

INTRODUCTION

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the presence of both amyloid and tau pathology. In vivo diagnosis can be made with amyloid and tau positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Emergent evidence supports that amyloid and tau accumulation are associated and that amyloid accumulation may precede that of tau. This report further investigates the relationship between amyloid and tau to assess whether elevated cortical tau can predict elevated amyloid in participants with early symptomatic AD.

METHODS

Florbetapir F18 and flortaucipir F18 uptake were evaluated from baseline PET scans collected in three multi‐center studies with cognitively impaired participants, including A05 (N = 306; NCT02016560), TB (N = 310; TRAILBLAZER‐ALZ; NCT03367403), and TB2 (N = 1165; TRAILBLAZER‐ALZ 2; NCT04437511). Images were assessed using visual and quantitative approaches to establish amyloid (A+) and tau (T+) positivity, as well as a combination method (tauVQ) to establish T+. Associations between global amyloid and tau were evaluated with positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) and likelihood ratios (LR+, LR–). Predictive values within subgroups according to ethnicity, race, cognitive score, age, and sex were also evaluated. The relationship between regional tau (four target and two reference regions were tested) and global amyloid was investigated in A05 participant scans using receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

RESULTS

PPV for amyloid positivity was ≥93% for all three trials using various A+ and T+ definitions, including visual, quantitative, and combination methods. Population characteristics did not have an impact on A+ predictability. Regional analyses (early tau (Eτ) volume of interest (VOI), temporal, parietal, frontal) revealed significant area under the ROC curve in Eτ VOI compared to frontal region, regardless of reference region and consistent among visual and quantitative A+ definitions (p < 0.001).

DISCUSSION

These findings suggest that a positive tau PET scan is associated (≥93%) with amyloid positivity in individuals with early symptomatic AD, with the potential benefits of reducing clinical trial and health care expenses, radiation exposure, and participant time.

Highlights

Positron emission tomography (PET) evaluates candidates for Alzheimer's disease (AD) research. A positive tau PET scan is associated (≥93%) with amyloid positivity.

A positive amyloid PET is not necessarily associated with tau positivity.

Tau PET could be the sole diagnostic tool to confirm candidates for AD trials.
DIPPM: A Deep Learning Inference Performance Predictive Model Using Graph Neural Networks
Authors: Panner Selvam Karthick , Brorsson Mats
Published: August 2023

Deep Learning (DL) has developed to become a corner-stone in many everyday applications that we are now relying on. However, making sure that the DL model uses the underlying hardware efficiently takes a lot of effort. Knowledge about inference characteristics can help to find the right match so that enough resources are given to the model, but not too much. We have developed a DL Inference Performance Predictive Model (DIPPM) that predicts the inference latency, energy, and memory usage of a given input DL model on the NVIDIA A100 GPU. We also devised an algorithm to suggest the appropriate A100 Multi-Instance GPU profile from the output of DIPPM. We developed a methodology to convert DL models expressed in multiple frameworks to a generalized graph structure that is used in DIPPM. It means DIPPM can parse input DL models from various frameworks. Our DIPPM can be used not only helps to find suitable hardware configurations but also helps to perform rapid design-space exploration for the inference performance of a model. We constructed a graph multi-regression dataset consisting of 10,508 different DL models to train and evaluate the performance of DIPPM, and reached a resulting Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) as low as 1.9%.
Einleitung
Authors: Zimmermann Yves Clément
Published: August 2023

Die COVID-19-Pandemie stellt die Tourismusbranche vor enorme Herausforderungen, da internationale Reisen, Inlandstourismus, Tagesausflüge und so unterschiedliche Bereiche wie Flugverkehr, Kreuzfahrten, Bustransfers, Cafés und Gästeführungen von einem Tag auf den anderen stark eingeschränkt oder gar untersagt wurden. Der Forschungsansatz besteht darin, aus einer multidisziplinären Perspektive von Tourismus und Entrepreneurship neue Erkenntnisse über die COVID-Krise als Auslöser für Digitalisierung und Geschäftsmodellinnovation zu gewinnen, wobei der Fokus auf eine Flusskreuzfahrtdestination gerichtet ist.
Krisen und Krisenmanagement im Kontext touristischer Flusskreuzfahrtdestinationen
Authors: Zimmermann Yves Clément
Published: August 2023

Zunächst werden die Besonderheiten der Tourismuswirtschaft skizziert, bevor ein umfassender Literaturüberblick zum Destinationsbegriff präsentiert wird. Nach der Erörterung des allgemeinen Begriffs der touristischen Destination und seiner spezifischen Anwendung in der Kreuzfahrtbranche wird ein erweitertes Modell für Flusskreuzfahrtdestinationen vorgestellt, in dem die Schlüsselakteure identifiziert werden. Abschließend wird der Fokus auf die Konzeptualisierung von Krisen in touristischen Destinationen und das damit in Zusammenhang stehende Krisenmanagement gelegt.
Geschäftsmodellinnovation und Digitalisierung im Kontext von Krisen im Tourismus
Authors: Zimmermann Yves Clément
Published: August 2023

Kapitel 3 beleuchtet Geschäftsmodelle und Geschäftsmodellinnovation sowie Krisen als Auslöser von ebendieser Innovation, als Forschungsobjekt dieser Arbeit. In diesem Kontext wird auch Digitalisierung, insbesondere touristischer Geschäftsmodelle, näher problematisiert. Die Übersicht der relevanten Konzepte konzentriert sich dabei, entsprechend dem Fokus vorliegender Arbeit, auf die Literatur zum Unternehmertum, strategischem Management und der Tourismuswissenschaft.
It is (not) always on Friday: inter-hospital patient transfers in orthopedic and trauma surgery
Authors: Roos Jonas , Loy Thomas , Ploeger Milena M. , Weinhold Leonie , Schmid Matthias , Mewes Moritz , Prangenberg Christian , Gathen Martin
Published: August 2023

Background

While inter-hospital transfers for patients who have suffered major trauma have been well investigated, patient flows for other injured patients, or cases with orthopedic complications, are rarely described. This study aims to analyze the affected collective and to show possible reasons, patterns, and pitfalls to optimize the process in future.

Materials and methods

In a prospective cohort study, all consecutive transfers to a Level I trauma center in Germany were documented and assessed. Patients suffering a major trauma were excluded. Data on the primary treating hospital, patient characteristics, and differences between emergency and elective surgery were analyzed.

Results

A total of 227 patients were included; 162 were injured, while 65 had suffered a complication after elective orthopedic surgery or had a complex orthopedic pathology.

The most common diagnoses leading to transfer were pathologies of the extremities (n = 62), pathologies of the spine (n = 50), and infections (n = 18). The main reasons stated by the transferring hospitals were a lack of expertise (137 cases) and a lack of capacity (43 cases). There was a significantly higher rate of transfers due to trauma (n = 162) than for orthopedic patients (n = 65), p < 0.0001.

Conclusion

There is currently no structured procedure or algorithm for transferring patients in orthopedics and trauma surgery.
Heavy Metal Concentrations of Beeswax (Apis mellifera L.) at Different Ages
Authors: Hassona Nadia M. , El-Wahed Aida A. Abd
Published: August 2023

Beeswax is a naturally occurring product that worker bees produce. Beeswax is used in a variety of industries and pharmaceuticals. Humans utilize it extensively in cosmetics, medicinal formulations, and food manufacturing. Beeswax is an essential component of advanced contemporary beekeeping. Beekeepers, in particular, utilize significant amounts of beeswax to make beeswax comb foundation. In its natural condition, beeswax is white, but it becomes yellow then dark in color when it comes into touch with honey and pollen. The ongoing use of wax comb in bee activities (such as brood rearing, storage honey and bee bread), combined with environmental factors such as heavy metal and pesticide residues, resulted in a black color. Because of heavy metals can accumulate in wax for decades, beeswax can be a helpful tool for gathering data on hazardous contaminants in the environment. Because of their lipid-based chemical composition, beeswax combs act as a sink for numerous ambient pollutants as well as poisons when in the hive. The current study aims to measure nine heavy metals and important elements, including iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and cobalt (Co) in beeswax collected in the Behaira governorate region of Egypt between 2018 and 2022. Sample collection was conducted each year in triplicate. The samples were analyzed using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The quantity of metals in beeswax at different ages differed significantly. Depending on the wax age, Fe has the highest concentration in the range of 2.068 to 5.041 ppm, while Cd has the lowest ratio at 0.024 to 0.054 ppm from the first to fifth years old of comb age. The findings showed that as beeswax combs aged, the concentration of heavy metals rose. According to the study, it should gradually recycle beeswax combs each year and also adding new foundations.
Effects of non-tidal loading applied in VLBI-only terrestrial reference frames
Authors: Glomsda Matthias , Seitz Manuela , Bloßfeld Mathis , Seitz Florian
Published: August 2023

We investigate the impact of the reduction of non-tidal loading (NTL) in the computation of secular terrestrial reference frames (TRFs) from Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations. There are no conventional models for NTL in the geodetic community yet, but the Global Geophysical Fluid Center prepared a set of corresponding site displacements for the 2020 realizations of the International Terrestrial Reference System. We make use of these data, which comprise the total NTL consisting of non-tidal atmospheric, oceanic, and hydrological loading. The displacement series contain linear trends (i.e., offsets plus drifts), and since these affect the estimated linear station positions and the realized geodetic datum in a secular TRF, we remove the trends before reducing the NTL in our computations. The displacements are applied at two different levels of the parameter estimation process: the observation and the normal equation level. This way, we can analyze whether the latter offers a suitable approximation if the original observations have not been reduced by NTL. We find that the TRF statistics are hardly affected by the NTL. The largest impact is given for the secular motion of antennas with short observation time spans. The application level is basically irrelevant for the linear antenna positions, but it leads to differences in the rates of the jointly estimated Earth orientation parameters (EOPs). Secular TRF solutions and session solutions deviate with respect to the parameterization of the antenna coordinates, and thus also with respect to the correlations between the estimated antenna parameters and the EOPs. Due to this, the consistently estimated EOP series also show differences. However, for both solution types the reduction of the NTL leads to a change of the annual signal in the EOP series.
Learning-Informed Parameter Identification in Nonlinear Time-Dependent PDEs
Authors: Aarset Christian , Holler Martin , Nguyen Tram Thi Ngoc
Published: August 2023

We introduce and analyze a method of learning-informed parameter identification for partial differential equations (PDEs) in an all-at-once framework. The underlying PDE model is formulated in a rather general setting with three unknowns: physical parameter, state and nonlinearity. Inspired by advances in machine learning, we approximate the nonlinearity via a neural network, whose parameters are learned from measurement data. The latter is assumed to be given as noisy observations of the unknown state, and both the state and the physical parameters are identified simultaneously with the parameters of the neural network. Moreover, diverging from the classical approach, the proposed all-at-once setting avoids constructing the parameter-to-state map by explicitly handling the state as additional variable. The practical feasibility of the proposed method is confirmed with experiments using two different algorithmic settings: A function-space algorithm based on analytic adjoints as well as a purely discretized setting using standard machine learning algorithms.
An efficient multi-scale channel attention network for person re-identification
Authors: Luo Qian , Shao Jie , Dang Wanli , Geng Long , Zheng Huaiyu , Liu Chang
Published: August 2023

At present, occlusion and similar appearance pose serious challenges to the task of person re-identification. In this work, we propose an efficient multi-scale channel attention network (EMCA) to learn robust and more discriminative features to solve these problems. Specifically, we designed a novel cross-channel attention module (CCAM) in EMCA and placed it after different layers in the backbone. The CCAM includes local cross-channel interaction (LCI) and channel weight integration (CWI). LCI focuses on both the maximum pooling features and the average pooling features to generate channel weights through convolutional layers, respectively. CWI combines the two channel weights to generate richer and more discriminant channel weights. Experiments on four popular person Re-ID datasets (Market-1501, DukeMTMC-ReID, CUHK-03 (detected) and MSMT17) show that the performance of our EMCA is consistently significantly superior to the existing state-of-the-art methods.
Ultra-crystalline pyroclastic deposits and rhyolitic lavas controlled by crystal mushes: insights from the Acoculco Caldera Complex, México
Authors: Boijseauneau-López Mario E. , Sosa-Ceballos Giovanni , Farfán Gabriela A. , Macías José Luis , Andrews Benjamin J.
Published: August 2023

The Acoculco Caldera Complex (ACC), located in eastern Mexico, began its activity during the Pleistocene ~ 2.7 Ma. One of the most relevant and largest rhyolitic eruption in the complex, the Piedras Encimadas Ignimbrite (PEI), occurred during the late post-caldera phase at ~ 1.2 Ma. This ignimbrite is unique with respect to the other caldera products and other contemporaneous ignimbrites in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB) because of its ultra-high crystallinity and the absence of pumice fragments. The PEI is made almost entirely of crystals where the main constituents are k-feldspars and silica polymorphs that range from ≤ 5 µm to tens of centimeters in size. XRD on bulk rock, geochemical modeling, FTIR, Raman, and EPMA analyses were carried out in all mineral phases to assess the origin and the causes of high crystallinity within the PEI. We interpret the high crystallinity on the basis of magmatic crystallization of a magma body that was remobilized and altered by post-depositional hydrothermal alteration processes. We suggest that ACC rhyolites are geochemically influenced by at least one crystal mush established during the Pleistocene. We suggest that the PEI could be the result of an erupted crystal mush (melt + crystals), or a cumulate, or an ancient and crystallized reservoir generated after the first ACC collapse due to intrusion or underplating of mafic hot magmas. Extensional episodes within the ACC facilitated the ascent of mafic magmas. This interaction increased the liquid fraction of the mush through partial melting/crystal dissolution, generating a drop in density and viscosity in the mush, thus triggering eruption. The PEI provides evidences for an association between the geochemically-diverse ACC rhyolites with the complex interaction between mafic transitional alkaline magmas and a crustal mush system, promoted by continuous changes in the stress field during the Pleistocene.
Development and validation of nomograms for predicting the risk of central lymph node metastasis of solitary papillary thyroid carcinoma of the isthmus
Authors: Li Yonghao , Gao Xuefei , Guo Tiantian , Liu Jing
Published: August 2023

Background

This study was conducted to develop nomograms and validate them by assessing risk factors for the development of central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in patients with solitary papillary thyroid carcinoma of the isthmus (PTCI) for predicting the probability of CLNM.

Methods

Demographic and clinicopathological variables of patients with solitary papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) from May 2018 to May 2023 at the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University were retrospectively analyzed, and the lobar group and the isthmus group were divided according to tumor location. Patients with the same sex, age difference of less than 3 years, and equal gross tumor diameter were selected from the lobar group and compared with the paraisthmic tumor group. Independent risk factors were determined using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. On this basis, clinical predictive nomograms were developed and validated.

Results

Clinical data from 326 patients with solitary PTCI and 660 cases of solitary lobar PTC were used for analysis in our study. The incidence of solitary tumors CLNM located in the median isthmus, paracentral isthmus, and lobes was 69.8%, 40.9%, and 33.6%, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed that gender, age, isthmus location, maximum nodal diameter, the presence of possible CLNM in advance on preoperative ultrasound, chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, and the lymphocyte/monocyte ratio were independent risk factors for preoperative CLNM in patients with solitary PTCI. Age, isthmus location, chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, gross tumor diameter, presence of intraoperative extrathyroidal extension, and presence of metastasis in the Delphian lymph node on frozen section were independent risk factors for intraoperative CLNM. The concordance indices of nomograms for preoperative and intraoperative are 0.871 and 0.894 in the training set and 0.796 and 0.851 in the validation set, calibration curve and decision curve analysis also demonstrated the strong reliability and clinical applicability of this clinical prediction model.

Conclusion

In this study, we concluded that solitary PTCI is more aggressive compared to solitary lobar PTC, and we constructed nomograms and risk stratification to accurately identify patients with solitary PTCI who are at high risk of developing CLNM, which will help clinicians in personalized decision making.
Local uniqueness of blow-up solutions for critical Hartree equations in bounded domain
Authors: Squassina Marco , Yang Minbo , Zhao Shunneng
Published: August 2023

In this paper we are interested in the following critical Hartree equation $$\begin{aligned} {\left\{ \begin{array}{ll} -\Delta u =\displaystyle {\Big (\int _{\Omega }\frac{u^{2_{\mu }^*} (\xi )}{|x-\xi |^{\mu }}d\xi \Big )u^{2_{\mu }^*-1}}+\varepsilon u,~~~\text {in}~\Omega ,\\ u=0,~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\text {on}~\partial \Omega , \end{array}\right. } \end{aligned}$$

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Biomechanical behavior of implants with different diameters in relation to simulated bone loss— an in vitro study
Authors: Graf Tobias , Güth Jan-Frederik , Schweiger Josef , Erdelt Kurt-Jürgen , Edelhoff Daniel , Stimmelmayr Michael
Published: August 2023

Objectives

Bone resorption around implants could influence the resistance of the implant abutment complex (IAC). The present in vitro study aimed to assess the stability to static fatigue of implants presenting different levels of bone losses and diameters.

Materials and methods

Ninety implants with an internal conical connection with 3 different implant diameters (3.3 mm (I33), 3.8 mm (I38), and 4.3 mm (I43)) and 3 simulated bone loss settings (1.5 mm (I_15), 3.0 mm (I_30), and 4.5 mm (I_45) (n = 10)) were embedded and standard abutments were mounted. All specimens were artificially aged (1,200,000 cycles, 50 N, simultaneous thermocycling) and underwent subsequently load-to-fracture test. For statistical analysis, Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, Kruskal–Wallis test, and Mann–Whitney U test (p < 0.05) were applied.

Results

All test specimens withstood the artificial aging without damage. The mean failure values were 382.1 (± 59.2) N (I3315), 347.0 (± 35.7) N (I3330), 315.9 N (± 30.9) (I3345), 531.4 (± 36.2) N (I3815), 514.5 (± 40.8) N (I3830), 477.9 (± 26.3) N (I3845), 710.1 (± 38.2) N (I4315), 697.9 (± 65.2) N (I4330), and 662.2 N (± 45.9) (I4345). The stability of the IACs decreased in all groups when bone loss inclined. Merely, the failure load values did not significantly differ among subgroups of I43.

Conclusions

Larger implant diameters and minor circular bone loss around the implant lead to a higher stability of the IAC. The smaller the implant diameter was, the more the stability was affected by the circumferential bone level.

Clinical relevance

Preserving crestal bone level is important to ensure biomechanical sustainability at implant systems with a conical interface. It seems sensible to take the effect of eventual bone loss around implants into account during implant planning processes and restorative considerations.
Mental disorders in former street-working boys
Authors: Taib Nezar Ismet , Arinell Hans , Öster Caisa , Ramklint Mia
Published: August 2023

The continuity of mental disorders in street-working children is rarely studied. This study therefore investigated homotypic continuity, recurrence of the same disorder, and heterotypic continuity, when a new disorder follows on the previous, of mental disorders from childhood to adulthood in street-working boys from Duhok City, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Mental disorders were assessed by structured diagnostic interviews in 40 street-working boys in 2004–2005 and again in 2021, when the participants’ mean ages were 12.1 (SD 1.8) and 29.7 (SD 2.3), respectively. Mental disorders were common; 24 participants (60%) satisfied the criteria for at least one diagnosis at baseline and 28 (70%) at follow-up. Comorbidity increased from 1.2 (SD 1.4) disorders initially to 2.5 (SD 1.8) at follow-up. Only anxiety disorders showed homotypic continuity. Depressive disorders exhibited the greatest increase over time whereas externalizing disorders exhibited a decreasing tendency. The number of mental disorders in adulthood was related to the number of mental disorders in childhood but not to the number of childhood traumas experienced, having previously worked for more than two hours per day, having worked for over two years on the streets, or having at least one dead parent as a child. Parental ratings on the Child Behaviour Check List (CBCL) from childhood were also unrelated to the number of adult disorders. More longitudinal studies with bigger samples of both genders are needed to fully evaluate the continuity of mental disorders in street-working children and to determine whether the number of mental disorders in childhood is a stronger predictor of being mentally disordered in adult life than psychosocial risk factors or experiences of internalizing or externalizing symptoms in childhood.
Sensitivity of TOPSIS ranks to data normalization and objective weights on the example of digital development
Authors: Bánhidi Zoltán , Dobos Imre
Published: August 2023

The European Commission's Digital Economy and Social Index (DESI) is a composite index that aims to measure the state of digital transformation in the European Union (EU) and its member states based on five principal dimensions. For each dimension, the Commission assigns predefined weights to determine the ranking of countries. The following paper ranks the member states using the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method. TOPSIS is based on two data transformations. First, it normalizes the data according to a chosen procedure and second, it assigns weights to the criteria. The aim of the study is to evaluate how the countries of the European Union can be ranked according to the five principal dimensions of the DESI but using objective weights instead of the arbitrary predefined weights of the European Commission, testing the robustness of the ranking and its sensitivity to the methods of normalization and weighting.
Japanese Society of Medical Oncology/Japan Society of Clinical Oncology/Japanese Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology-led clinical recommendations on the diagnosis and use of immunotherapy in patients with DNA mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) tumors, third edition
Authors: Mishima Saori , Naito Yoichi , Akagi Kiwamu , Hayashi Naomi , Hirasawa Akira , Hishiki Tomoro , Igarashi Ataru , Ikeda Masafumi , Kadowaki Shigenori , Kajiyama Hiroaki , Kato Motohiro , Kenmotsu Hirotsugu , Kodera Yasuhiro , Komine Keigo , Koyama Takafumi , Maeda Osamu , Miyachi Mitsuru , Nishihara Hiroshi , Nishiyama Hiroyuki , Ohga Shouichi , Okamoto Wataru , Oki Eiji , Ono Shigeru , Sanada Masashi , Sekine Ikuo , Takano Tadao , Tao Kayoko , Terashima Keita , Tsuchihara Katsuya , Yatabe Yasushi , Yoshino Takayuki , Baba Eishi
Published: August 2023

Background

Clinical trials have reported the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) advanced solid tumors. The accumulated evidence of tumor agnostic agent has been made since PD-1 inhibitor was approved and used in clinical practice. Therefore, we have revised the guideline “Japan Society of Clinical Oncology provisional clinical opinion for the diagnosis and use of immunotherapy in patients with deficient DNA mismatch repair tumors, cooperated by Japanese Society of Medical Oncology, First Edition”.

Methods

Clinical questions regarding medical care were formulated for patients with dMMR advanced solid tumors. Relevant publications were searched by PubMed and Cochrane Database. Critical publications and conference reports were added manually. Systematic reviews were performed for each clinical question for the purpose of developing clinical recommendations. The committee members identified by Japan Society of Clinical Oncology (JSCO), Japanese Society of Medical Oncology (JSMO), and Japanese society of pediatric hematology/oncology (JSPHO) voted to determine the level of each recommendation considering the strength of evidence, expected risks and benefits to patients, and other related factors. Thereafter, a peer review by experts nominated from JSCO, JSMO, and JSPHO and the public comments among all societies’ members were done.

Results

The current guideline describes two clinical questions and eight recommendations for whom, when, and how MMR status should be tested.

Conclusion

In this guideline, the committee proposed eight recommendations for performing MMR testing properly to select patients who are likely to benefit from immunotherapy.
Absorbable cyst brushes
Authors: Marques Filipe , van der Wijngaart Wouter , Roxhed Niclas
Published: August 2023

Cytobrushes are used for low-invasive sample collection and screening in multiple diseases, with a significant impact on early detection, prevention, and diagnosis. This study focuses on improving the safety of cell brushing in hard-to-reach locations by exploring brush construction from absorbable materials. We investigated the efficacy of loop brushes made of absorbable suture wires of Chirlac, Chirasorb, Monocryl, PDS II, Vicryl Rapid, Glycolon, and Catgut during their operation in conjunction with fine-needle aspiration in an artificial cyst model. PDS II brushes demonstrated the highest efficiency, while Monocryl and Catgut also provided a significant brushing effect. Efficient brushes portrayed higher flexural rigidity than their counterparts, and their efficiency was inversely proportional to their plastic deformation by the needle. Our results open avenues for safer cell biopsies in hard-to-reach locations by utilizing brushes composed of absorbable materials.
Does Genotype Affect the Efficacy of PCSK9 Inhibitors in the Treatment of Familial Hypercholesterolemia?
Authors: Tandirerung Fistra Janrio
Published: August 2023

Purpose of Review

This review discusses whether patients’ genotype affects the efficacy of PCSK9 inhibitors in treating familial hypercholesterolemia and how this might influence clinical management.

Recent Findings

Currently, available evidence consistently demonstrates and is in good agreement that, in general, the LDL-C-lowering effect of PCSK9 inhibitors is similar across genotypes, except for compound heterozygous and homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). However, it remains to be seen whether the comparable therapeutic effect in lowering LDL-C level also leads to a comparable degree of cardiovascular risk reduction with different genotypes.

Generally, the level of LDL-C reduction following PCSK9 inhibitor treatment is similar within different genotypes. Hence, genotype is a less reliable predictor for further LDL-C level reduction on PCSK9 inhibitor therapy, and attention should be given to other external influences, especially for heterozygous FH.
Parent-Child Inpatient Treatment in Child and Adolescent Mental Healthcare: Predictors of Child Outcomes
Authors: von Wirth Elena , Breuer Dieter , Schröder Sabine , Döpfner Manfred
Published: August 2023

Family inpatient units in child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) services engage all admitted family members in the treatment of children’s symptoms. Studies demonstrated improvements in child and family functioning following family inpatient treatment, but evidence regarding predictors of treatment outcome is lacking. We analyzed data of families (n = 66) who received a four-week inpatient treatment for families with severe parent-child interaction problems. Hierarchical linear regression analyses revealed that parents who recalled harsher parenting practices of their own fathers reported greater improvements in their children’s externalizing and internalizing problems. Greater improvements in externalizing problems were further predicted by lower parental educational level, less adverse impacts of stressful life events, and less internalizing child problems prior to admission. We therefore conclude that family inpatient treatment was particularly effective for children in families with lower parental education and a history of harsh parenting.
Genetic analysis of federally endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow subpopulations in the Greater Everglades, USA
Authors: Beaver Caitlin E. , Virzi Thomas , Hunter Margaret E.
Published: August 2023

The federally endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow (Ammospiza maritima mirabilis) is endemic to the Greater Everglades ecosystem in southern Florida, inhabiting fragmented marl prairies in six individual subpopulations. The subspecies is threatened by loss of breeding habitat from fire and water management. Genetic information is severely limited for the subspecies but could help inform decisions regarding subpopulation protections and potential translocations for genetic rescue. To provide genetic data and inform management efforts, feather samples were collected across five subpopulations (designated A–E) and protocols were tested to optimize DNA extraction yields. We assessed four mitochondrial DNA markers (N = 36–69) and 12 nuclear microsatellite loci (N = 55) in 108 sparrows. Mitochondrial DNA sequences revealed low haplotype diversity, with NADH dehydrogenase-2 haplotypes matching to most other extant subspecies and to the Atlantic coast subspecies. Nuclear diversity was low compared to other subspecies, but similar across subpopulations. Samples grouped as one population when analyzed by Principal Component Analysis, Bayesian modelling and genetic distance metrics. Limited genetic emigration was detected from one putative migrant. Relatedness was significantly different for sparrows in the most geographically distant subpopulation (A), likely reflecting high self-recruitment and natal site fidelity (P = 0.003). The low to moderate effective population size (NE = 202.4; NE:NC = 0.06) and generation time estimates indicated that unique genetic variation could be lost quickly during stochastic events. The sample sizes were limited, which reduced the power to comprehensively address recent population size reductions and any subsequent loss of genetic diversity.
Preference formation in demand for live theatre
Authors: Throsby David , Severn John R. , Petetskaya Katya
Published: August 2023

In economics, the concept of preferences is fundamental to the theory of choice. In many demand analyses, preferences are taken as given, although interesting questions can be asked about how they originate. In this paper, we consider the formation of preferences in demand for live theatre. We propose a model where preferences are derived from certain identifiable types of experience gained from past attendances at live theatre productions, as well as from some characteristics of consumers including their theatre-related human capital and their habitual behaviour patterns in attending a performance. We hypothesise that the preferences formed through these processes determine conditional demand for future live theatre consumption. The model is estimated as a two-stage system using data from a recent survey of theatregoers. The paper is interdisciplinary in its approach, drawing its modelling and methodologies from economics, and its interpretation of results from the academic discipline of theatre studies.
“I have been pushed outside of my comfort zone and have grown as a result”: Teacher professional learning and innovation during the pandemic
Authors: Santagata Rossella , Villavicencio Adriana , Wegemer Christopher M. , Cawelti Lora , Gatlin-Nash Brandy
Published: August 2023

This study examines opportunities for teacher professional growth and innovation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Survey data, including responses to both closed and open-ended questions, were collected from 276 elementary-school teachers who taught online in two school districts in California. Quantitative and qualitative analyses document the extent to which teachers experienced opportunities for professional growth and innovation, how they described these opportunities, and what factors explained variability in teachers’ responses. Contrary to some extant research produced in the last few years, teachers overwhelmingly agreed that the transition to online instruction provided opportunities to be innovative and to learn to teach with new technologies. Specifically, they reported new approaches for connecting with students and their families as well as integrating technology into classroom practice beyond the period of remote learning. Consistent with prior theory related to teacher learning, factors that predicted perceived opportunities included their overall satisfaction with the support provided by their school/district, collaboration with colleagues, and their self-efficacy for using technology to teach specific concepts and curriculum. Findings suggest implications for how to leverage this period of professional growth beyond the pandemic.
An application of dynamic programming to local adaptation decision-making
Authors: Muccione Veruska , Lontzek Thomas , Huggel Christian , Ott Philipp , Salzmann Nadine
Published: August 2023

Adaptation decision-making in mountain regions necessitates dealing with uncertainties which are driven by the complex topography and the potential interconnections of stochastic events. Such events can lead to amplifying consequences for the exposed communities located at different elevations. In this study, we present a stylized application of stochastic dynamic programming for local adaptation decision-making for a small alpine community exposed to debris flows and floods. We assume that local decision-makers and planners aim at maximizing specific objectives by choosing from a feasible set of adaptation measures and under given constraints on these actions. Our results show that stochastic dynamic programming is a promising tool to address the underlying problem faced by local planners when evaluating the feasibility and effectiveness of adaptation measures. Furthermore, stochastic dynamic programming has some advantages compared to deterministic approaches which assume full knowledge of the system of interest in a world dominated by randomness. We provide an estimation of a best option and an appropriate metric to benchmark adaptation effectiveness for long time horizons. We show how multiple constraints, risk preferences, time horizons and decision periods all influence the decision-making and the overall success of adaptation responses over time.
Relating popularity on Twitter and Linkedin to bibliometric indicators of visibility and interconnectedness: an analysis of 8512 applied researchers in Germany
Authors: Howoldt David , Kroll Henning , Neuhäusler Peter
Published: August 2023

We analyse the degree to which the popularity of scientific authors on Twitter and LinkedIn corresponds to publication-based indicators as to their visibility and interconnectedness. Departing from the extant literature’s focus on the visibility of individual papers, we turn to the popularity of individuals on social media platforms. We explore whether this popularity is reflected in the visibility that researchers achieve and the collaborations they maintain in the publication domain. Studying a large sample of applied researchers in Germany, we find congruence between researchers’ popularity on social media, and both their visibility and interconnectedness in the publication domain. Comparing the effects of Twitter and LinkedIn engagement, we furthermore find that the characteristics of this relationship are associated with the intended function of the social media platform in which researchers engage. We conclude that social media platforms are a relevant channel of academic communication, alongside existing channels of formal and informal exchange.
Law Without Matter? The Immateriality Thesis: A Critical Commentary
Authors: Dudek Michał
Published: August 2023

Despite its popularity in recent theorisations of law as an artifact, the idea that law is an immaterial being, independent from even the documents that contain legal acts, has not been subjected to a focused analysis. This paper fills this noticeable gap. After providing generalizing account of the Immateriality Thesis, based on its different expositions in the literature, the paper criticises it. First, it argues that it is based on the counterfactual assumption that semantic content can exist beyond any carrier for itself. The paper then elaborates on the thesis’ empirical implausibility, particularly its ignorance of how much the law is as it is due to writing. Third, the paper reveals how the thesis is difficult to combine with other jurisprudential issues, notably law’s effectiveness. Following such a critique, the paper considers the possible origins of and reasons for the thesis. Given its highly questionable character, the paper concludes with some general ideas on taking law’s materiality seriously.
Somatoforme Störungen als Herausforderung für die Arzt-Patient-Beziehung – eine quantitative Fragebogenerhebung zu Beobachtungen und Umgangsstrategien von Hausärzt*innen
Authors: Wangler Julian , Jansky Michael
Published: August 2023

Hintergrund

In der hausärztlichen Versorgung sind somatoforme Symptomatiken verbreitet und können eine besondere Herausforderung darstellen. Bislang fehlt es an Studien, die den Umgang von Hausärzt*innen mit entsprechenden Patient*innen in den Blick nehmen. Insbesondere Strategien zur Herstellung eines tragfähigen Arzt-Patient-Verhältnisses sind kaum erforscht worden.

Ziel der Arbeit

Die Studie hat eruiert, wie Hausärzt*innen das Beschwerdebild der somatoformen Störungen wahrnehmen, welche Bedeutung sie diesen beimessen und wie sie mit Patient*innen umgehen. Der Hauptfokus liegt auf erlebten Patient*innencharakteristika, vermuteten Ursachen somatoformer Störungen, Herausforderungen in der Sprechstunde, Betreuungs- und Stabilisierungsstrategien sowie diagnostischen Unterstützungsformen.

Material und Methoden

Mittels schriftlicher Befragung zwischen Januar und April 2023 wurden insgesamt 1398 Hausärzt*innen in Hessen und Rheinland-Pfalz anonymisiert befragt. Zur Feststellung von signifikanten Unterschieden zwischen zwei Gruppen kam ein t‑Test bei unabhängigen Stichproben zum Einsatz.

Ergebnisse

Die Befragten benennen zahlreiche Strategien, mit denen sie positive Erfahrungen gemacht haben, wenn es darum geht, Patient*innen zu stabilisieren. Die Schaffung einer tangentialen Arzt-Patient-Beziehung wird mit Maßnahmen flankiert, einerseits körperliche Ursachen konsequent auszuschließen, andererseits Patient*innen möglichst gut einschätzen zu können und behutsam an das Krankheitsbild somatoformer Störungen heranzuführen. Aktuelle Leitlinien sind den meisten Ärzt*innen nicht bekannt. Die Zusammenarbeit mit Spezialist*innen und Therapeut*innen wird verbreitet als schwierig beschrieben.

Schlussfolgerung

Hausärzt*innen greifen auf ein breites Spektrum an Kommunikations- und Stabilisierungsstrategien beim Management somatoformer Körperbeschwerden zu. Dennoch wird der Kontakt mit dieser Patient*innengruppe im Praxisalltag als beschwerlich erlebt. Langfristig wäre neben der Schaffung von mehr therapeutischen Betreuungskapazitäten und interdisziplinären Strukturen eine Stärkung niedrigschwelliger Therapie- und Unterstützungsangebote hilfreich.