bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Initiating, innovating and accelerating edible cities. A case study based on two transition experiments in the city of Dresden (Germany)
Authors: Reiß Kristin , Seifert Thea Luisa , Artmann Martina
Published: February 2024

Civic transition experiments targeting sustainable food production increasingly engage with edible cities aiming at providing free food on public urban spaces. To deepen the understanding regarding how transition experiments can build urban transformative capacities, this paper presents a transdisciplinary case study on two civic edible city initiatives and their measures to cooperatively initiate, innovate, and accelerate edible cities in Dresden (Germany). We identified the two key action areas “civic participation” and “cooperative area activation” covering ten key transition activities to illustrate the variety and content of a transformation towards an edible city. Based on expert interviews and document analyses, we evaluated their process progression by linking research from urban ecology with transformation science. By visualizing its quantitative results, common and distinct patterns of the edible city initiatives could be made visible. Overall, we found that the level of activity is highest in the key action area of “citizen participation”. In this context, both transition experiments had different but specific foci in terms of their key transition activities (i.e. education, activation of stakeholders), whereby activities related to civic empowerment and social cohesion were lacking in both cases. To re-shape narratives pertaining to land access, food production, and participation under the principles of justice, we suggest that transition experiments related to “civic participation” and “cooperative area activation” must be approached together. Our systematic assessment can then enable civic transition teams to strategically identify common goals that need to be prioritized for initiating, innovating, and accelerating urban edible commons.
Associations of the placental metabolome with immune maturation up to one year of age in the Swedish NICE-cohort
Authors: Hartvigsson Olle , Barman Malin , Rabe Hardis , Sandin Anna , Wold Agnes E , Brunius Carl , Sandberg Ann-Sofie
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Allergies and other immune-mediated diseases are thought to result from incomplete maturation of the immune system early in life. We previously showed that infants’ metabolites at birth were associated with immune cell subtypes during infancy. The placenta supplies the fetus with nutrients, but may also provide immune maturation signals.

Objectives

To examine the relationship between metabolites in placental villous tissue and immune maturation during the first year of life and infant and maternal characteristics (gestational length, birth weight, sex, parity, maternal age, and BMI).

Methods

Untargeted metabolomics was measured using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Subpopulations of T and B cells were measured using flow cytometry at birth, 48 h, one, four, and 12 months. Random forest analysis was used to link the metabolomics data with the T and B cell sub populations as well as infant and maternal characteristics.

Results

Modest associations (Q2 = 0.2–0.3) were found between the placental metabolome and kappa-deleting recombination excision circles (KREC) at birth and naïve B cells and memory T cells at 12 months. Weak associations were observed between the placental metabolome and sex and parity. Still, most metabolite features of interest were of low intensity compared to associations previously found in cord blood, suggesting that underlying metabolites were not of placental origin.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that metabolomic measurements of the placenta may not effectively recognize metabolites important for immune maturation.
Assessing the impact of seed accelerators in start-ups from emerging entrepreneurial ecosystems
Authors: Yagüe-Perales Rosa M. , March-Chorda Isidre , López-Paredes Héctor
Published: February 2024

This study provides new evidence regarding the significance of enrolling in a seed accelerator programme for the performance and prospects of startups. The main novelty and contributions of this work lie in siting the analysis within an emerging entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) and exploring the impact of both the business model and technological levels of new ventures. We tested a set of six hypotheses through empirical analysis of a dataset comprising 735 startups located in Valencia (Spain), a region representing the category of an emerging, medium-sized EE. The findings revealed that within this EE, the advantages of being accelerated tended to diminish and were more marginal than expected. Furthermore, the seed accelerator profile appeared to be of little importance to the prospects and attractiveness of firms to investors. Interestingly, their technological levels were strongly correlated with higher investment but not with a higher number of employees. The expected direct relationship between funding and firm size was also confirmed. A particularly noteworthy finding was the direct relationship between a higher technological level and business-to-business (B2B) models, as well as the opposite relationship for business-to-consumer (B2C) models. These findings have several significant implications for management and policymakers, including the apparent lack of advantages for accelerated firms in closing large investment rounds and the recommendation that incubators prioritise new ventures with high technological capacity and focussing on B2B models. Finally, we highlight the profile of startups with strong prospects for attracting investment and scaling up.
Sediment budget of a Maumee River headwater tributary: how streambank erosion, streambed-sediment storage, and streambed-sediment source inform our understanding of legacy phosphorus
Authors: Williamson Tanja N. , Fitzpatrick Faith A. , Kreiling Rebecca M. , Blount James D. , Karwan Diana L.
Published: February 2024

Objective

We described source and phosphorus (P) retention potential of soft, fine-grained, streambed sediment and associated phosphorus (sed-P) during summer low-flow conditions. Combining in-channel, sed-P storage with relative age provided context on relevance to western Lake Erie Basin management goals.

Methods

In 2019, rapid geomorphic assessment (30 reaches) compared streambed-sediment storage (S) to streambank erosion (E), providing annual sediment budgets (S:E). Streambed sediment (13 reaches) was fingerprinted and analyzed for sed-P. The P saturation ratio (PSR; four reaches) quantified potential sorption/desorption of dissolved P (DP) between the water column and streambed sediment. Analyses were supplemented with data from 2017 and 2021. The ratio of two fallout radionuclides, beryllium-7 (54-day half-life) and excess lead-210 (22.3 years), apportioned “new” sediment based on time since rainfall contact.

Results

Streambed sediment was mostly streambank (54–96%) for contributing areas > 2.7 km2; for upstream reaches, a larger percentage was apportioned as upland (cropland, pasture, forest, and road), with < 30% streambank. Streambank erosion correlated with contributing area; however, soil type (ecoregion), stream characteristics, and land use combined to drive streambed-sediment storage. Individual-reach S:E (accumulation of 0.01–35 years of streambank erosion) differentiated erosional and depositional in-channel environments. Most reaches indicated that 17–57% of sediment had recent contact with rainfall. Streambed-sediment PSR indicated a low potential for further sorption of DP from the water column; one reach was a P source when sampled.

Conclusion

Sed-P was higher in streambed sediment than in source samples, which varied by land use and ecoregion. This indicates homogenization resulting from in-stream sorption of DP during sediment transport that occurs over multiple events.
Ecological implications of boron and sulfur in sediments from a lake in the Nile Delta: Remote sensing, fractionation and ecotoxicity
Authors: El Zokm Gehan M. , Okbah Mohamed A. , El-Said Ghada F. , Sinoussy Khaled S.
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The study aimed to provide an overview of the behavior, fate and ecotoxicity of boron and sulfur in the sediments of Lake Burullus, Egypt, after the degradation of the lake area.

Materials and methods

Changes in the studied lake area due to human activities were estimated using Erdas Imagine v14 and ArcGIS. Sequential and non-sequential extraction techniques for boron and sulfur fractionation in sediments were evaluated.

Results and discussion

A remote-sensing tracking investigation revealed a decrease in area of about 19.4%. Boron geochemical fractions had the order of residual (BF5, 61.48 ± 3.84%) > bound oxide (BF3, 15.47 ± 9.64%) > specifically adsorbed (BF2, 13.34 ± 9.85%) > bound organic (BF4, 9.85 ± 12.40%) > water-soluble and exchangeable (BF1, 2.2 ± 2.66%). Sulfur gave the order of the fractions as residual (SF5, 70.52 ± 16.92%) > phosphate extractable (SF2, 15.47 ± 9.34%) > bound organic (SF4, 7.20 ± 5.35%) > CaCl2 -extractable (SF3, 9.85 ± 12.40%) > water-soluble sulfur (SF1, 1.34 ± 1.52%). A worst-case scenario involving boron and sulfur toxicity values was studied using mixture risk characterization ratios (RCRmix) based on the predicted no effect concentration (PNEC) and sum of toxic units (STU).

Conclusions

The RCRmix and STU of boron showed high long-term risks to aquatic organisms, while sulfur showed high short-term risks. Invertebrates were the most sensitive species to boron and sulfur. This study sheds light on the ecological impact of boron and sulfur in Lake Burullus sediments, highlighting potential risks to aquatic organisms. Further research could focus on developing mitigation strategies to address these concerns.

Graphical Abstract
Arching development above active trapdoor: insight from multi-scale analysis using FEM–SPH
Authors: Xiong Hao , Qiu Yuanyi , Shi Xiusong , Wang Xiang , Chen Xiangsheng
Published: February 2024

Underground excavation is usually accompanied by complex soil-structure interaction problems in practical engineering. This paper develops a novel multi-scale approach for investigating the soil arching effect through trapdoor tests. This approach adopts the finite element method (FEM) and smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method to handle the particle-rigid body interaction in the trapdoor tests, incorporating a micromechanical 3D-H model to derive the nonlinear material response required by the SPH method. The variation of the earth pressure on the trapdoor in simulations exhibits good agreement with those of the experiments. Extensive parametric analyzes are performed to assess the effects of soil height and inter-particle friction angle on the evolution of load transfer and soil deformation. Three deformation patterns are observed under different buried conditions, including the trapezoid, the triangle, and the equal settlement pattern. Results indicate that the planes of equal settlement develop progressively with the trapdoor movement and then enter the range of experimentally observed values. Additionally, three failure mechanisms are identified that correspond to the three deformation patterns. Due to the advantages of the micromechanical model, mesoscale behavior is captured. The anisotropy of stress distribution in the plastic region is found during the arching process.
Exploring semantic consistency in unpaired image translation to generate data for surgical applications
Authors: Venkatesh Danush Kumar , Rivoir Dominik , Pfeiffer Micha , Kolbinger Fiona , Distler Marius , Weitz Jürgen , Speidel Stefanie
Published: February 2024

Purpose

In surgical computer vision applications, data privacy and expert annotation challenges impede the acquisition of labeled training data. Unpaired image-to-image translation techniques have been explored to automatically generate annotated datasets by translating synthetic images into a realistic domain. The preservation of structure and semantic consistency, i.e., per-class distribution during translation, poses a significant challenge, particularly in cases of semantic distributional mismatch.

Method

This study empirically investigates various translation methods for generating data in surgical applications, explicitly focusing on semantic consistency. Through our analysis, we introduce a novel and simple combination of effective approaches, which we call ConStructS. The defined losses within this approach operate on multiple image patches and spatial resolutions during translation.

Results

Various state-of-the-art models were extensively evaluated on two challenging surgical datasets. With two different evaluation schemes, the semantic consistency and the usefulness of the translated images on downstream semantic segmentation tasks were evaluated. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the ConStructS method in minimizing semantic distortion, with images generated by this model showing superior utility for downstream training.

Conclusion

In this study, we tackle semantic inconsistency in unpaired image translation for surgical applications with minimal labeled data. The simple model (ConStructS) enhances consistency during translation and serves as a practical way of generating fully labeled and semantically consistent datasets at minimal cost. Our code is available at https://gitlab.com/nct_tso_public/constructs.
Randomized Trial of Information for Older Women About Cessation of Breast Cancer Screening Invitations
Authors: Smith Jenna , Cvejic Erin , Houssami Nehmat , Schonberg Mara A. , Vincent Wendy , Naganathan Vasi , Jansen Jesse , Dodd Rachael H. , Wallis Katharine , McCaffery Kirsten J.
Published: February 2024

Background

Older women receive no information about why Australia’s breast screening program (BreastScreen) invitations cease after 74 years. We tested how providing older women with the rationale for breast screening cessation impacted informed choice (adequate knowledge; screening attitudes aligned with intention).

Methods

In a three-arm online randomized trial, eligible participants were females aged 70–74 years who had recently participated in breast screening (within 5 years), without personal breast cancer history, recruited through Qualtrics. Participants read a hypothetical scenario in which they received a BreastScreen letter reporting no abnormalities on their mammogram. They were randomized to receive the letter: (1) without any rationale for screening cessation (control); (2) with screening cessation rationale in printed-text form (e.g., downsides of screening outweigh the benefits after age 74); or (3) with screening cessation rationale presented in an animation video form. The primary outcome was informed choice about continuing/stopping breast screening beyond 74 years.

Results

A total of 376 participant responses were analyzed. Compared to controls (n = 122), intervention arm participants (text [n = 132] or animation [n = 122]) were more likely to make an informed choice (control 18.0%; text 32.6%, p = .010; animation 40.5%, p < .001). Intervention arm participants had more adequate knowledge (control 23.8%; text 59.8%, p < .001; animation 68.9%, p < .001), lower screening intentions (control 17.2%; text 36.4%, p < .001; animation 49.2%, p < .001), and fewer positive screening attitudes regarding screening for themselves in the animation arm, but not in the text arm (control 65.6%; text 51.5%, p = .023; animation 40.2%, p < .001).

Conclusions

Providing information to older women about the rationale for breast cancer screening cessation increased informed decision-making in a hypothetical scenario. This study is an important first step in improving messaging provided by national cancer screening providers direct to older adults. Further research is needed to assess the impact of different elements of the intervention and the impact of providing this information in clinical practice, with more diverse samples.

Trial Registration

ANZCTRN12623000033640.
Reducing hot water consumption through real-time feedback and social comparison using persuasive technologies: evidence from a Swiss energy-efficient district
Authors: Tomic Uros , Sütterlin Bernadette , Lobsiger-Kägi Evelyn , Marek Reto , Derungs Curdin , Sandmeier Ernst
Published: February 2024

The buildings sector is a substantial contributor to total energy consumption and, according to current forecasts, will remain so in the near future. Technical energy efficiency innovations can reduce energy demand; however, if not accompanied appropriately by building occupants’ behaviour, discrepancies between planned and resulting energy consumption will persist, which is known as the building energy performance gap. To tackle this challenge, interventions such as feedback and social comparison are increasingly applied in combination with persuasive technologies. We report the results from a field experiment conducted in a Swiss energy-efficient district where two consecutive behavioural interventions involving persuasive technologies were tested: (1) real-time hot water consumption feedback while showering and (2) a weekly newsletter with social comparison feedback regarding overall hot water consumption, including hot water saving tips, in addition to real-time feedback. Based on the data from 33 households, we found that, compared with the baseline consumption, hot water consumption was 12.4% lower immediately after the real-time feedback intervention and 16.1% lower after the combined intervention. Hot water consumption increased again after the intervention phase, but it was still 9.7% lower than the baseline consumption 2 months after the combined intervention and 8.6% lower 4.5 months after the combined intervention. While the reductions after the real-time feedback and combined intervention were significant, the reductions 2 and 4.5 months after the combined intervention were not.
Housing Informality and Labor Informality in Space: In Search of the Missing Links
Authors: García Gustavo A. , Badillo Erika Raquel , Aristizábal Juan Manuel
Published: February 2024

This paper analyzes the relationship between informal housing and labor informality at the intraurban level, considering these two phenomena' simultaneity and spatial dimensions. Our analysis focuses on the context of a city in a developing country, Medellín (Colombia), characterized by significant housing precariousness and low employment quality, where space seems to play an essential role in understanding this relationship. Using data from 176 analytical regions in Medellín for 2017, we estimate a series of spatial simultaneous equation models that consider the potential cross-equation correlations in the error terms. The results show that these two types of urban informality are highly persistent in space, with noticeable spatial clusters observed in the peripheral and marginalized areas of the city. Additionally, the estimated econometric models reveal that precarious working conditions are key to explaining the spatial choice of housing and its characteristics, and vice versa. These findings emphasize the need for place-based policies that specifically target disadvantaged areas and help improve residents' working and housing conditions to address urban informality.
Validation of the Super-Brief Pathological Narcissism Inventory (SB-PNI) among Swedish adolescents
Authors: Kapetanovic Sabina , Andersson Lisa , Svensson Robert , Johnson Björn
Published: February 2024

This study examines the psychometric structure and properties of the Swedish version of the Super-Brief Pathological Narcissism Inventory (SB-PNI) among adolescents. In order to ensure the validity and feasibility of the measure, we examined the factor structure, measurement invariance across gender, age and ethnicity, and construct validity in relation to a number of correlates of narcissism in adolescence. Data were drawn from a large cross-sectional survey conducted in 35 schools in southern Sweden. The sample consisted of N = 5313 adolescents (Mage = 16.10 SD = 1.55) with 52.2% girls, 45.9% boys and 1.8% adolescents with unspecified gender, from compulsory and upper secondary schools in southern Sweden. The results showed that the measure holds a two-factor structure, suggesting the use of the subscales grandiosity and vulnerability separately, rather than as a unidimensional measure. The correlated factors grandiosity and vulnerability yielded full configural and metric invariance across gender, age, and ethnicity. Both grandiosity and vulnerability were correlated with externalizing and internalizing symptoms, as well as with low self-esteem. The study provides evidence for the utility of the SB-PNI among Swedish adolescents and indicates that the measure can be used across male and female adolescents of different ages and ethnic groups.
Effects of human herpesvirus 6B reactivation on cognitive function in cord blood transplant recipients: a prospective multicenter study
Authors: Ogata Masao , Oshima Kumi , Takano Kuniko , Kawano Rie , Ueda Yasunori , Imamura Takashi , Nakamura Yukinori , Okada Takahiro , Toubai Tomomi , Ueki Toshimitsu , Uoshima Nobuhiko , Ishida Hiroyuki , Shinohara Akihito , Seo Sachiko , Fukuda Takahiro , Inagaki Masatoshi
Published: February 2024

This prospective multicenter study aimed to determine the effects of human herpesvirus-6B (HHV-6B) reactivation on central nervous system (CNS) function in cord blood transplant (CBT) recipients. Our focus was to track HHV-6B reactivation and evaluate its association with delirium and cognitive function, specifically in the domains of verbal memory, attention/processing speed, and quality of life (QOL). A cohort of 38 patients participated in this study. Of the 37 patients evaluated, seven (18.9%) developed delirium, with six of these cases emerging after HHV-6B reactivation (median lag, 7 days). Evaluation of verbal memory showed that the final trial score for unrelated words at 70 days after transplantation was significantly lower than that before preconditioning (P = 0.004) among patients (n = 15) who experienced higher-level HHV-6B reactivation (median or higher maximum plasma HHV-6 DNA load for participating patients). Patients without higher-level reactivation did not show significant declines in verbal memory scores. QOL was assessed using the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey, and the social functioning score 1 year post-transplantation was significantly lower in patients who experienced higher-level HHV-6B reactivation than in those who did not. Our findings suggest that higher-level HHV-6B reactivation can detrimentally affect certain cognitive functions in CBT recipients.
Allograft Model of Aortic Arch Segment Grafting to Abdominal Aorta Through End-to-Side Anastomosis in Mice
Authors: Liu Chiyu , Chen Qi , He Mingyuan , Liao Yulin
Published: February 2024

The mouse aortic transplantation model is a valuable tool for investigating the mechanisms of atherosclerosis regression, but few laboratories can generate it due to the operation difficulty, especially for the style of end-to-side anastomosis, which facilitates syngeneic heterotopic transplanting a plaque-rich aortic arch into the abdominal aorta. Here we provide a modified protocol for generating this allograft model, which is capable of overcoming several critical surgical challenges such as separating a longer abdominal aorta segment, reducing bleeding and thrombosis, optimizing aortotomy, and improving end-to-side anastomosis to guarantee a potent graft. By transplanting plaque-rich aortic arches into the abdominal aorta of wildtype mice, a high operation success rate (over 90%) was noted with aortic clamping time under 60 min, the graft potency was satisfactory evidenced by examinations of micro-CT, ultrasound, and lower limb blood flow measurement, while a significant atherosclerosis regression was observed in the grafts at 1 week after transplantation.

Graphical Abstract
Pazopanib-induced enteritis in a patient with renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Ariyoshi Misa , Hayashi Ryohei , Takasago Takeshi , Yamashita Ken , Hiyama Yuichi , Yuge Ryo , Urabe Yuji , Ueno Yoshitaka , Shimamoto Fumio , Oka Shiro
Published: February 2024

A 69-year-old woman presented to our department with the chief complaint of diarrhea. She had undergone left nephrectomy for renal cancer 14 years earlier. Three years earlier, metastasis was detected in the left retroperitoneal cavity, and pazopanib administration was initiated. In the 29th month after the start of chemotherapy, the patient developed diarrhea, and on the 31st month, computed tomography showed thickening of the intestinal wall. Colonoscopy revealed white villi, intramucosal hemorrhage in the terminal ileum, and rough inflammatory mucosa with inflammatory polyps extending from the transverse to the sigmoid colon. Suspecting pazopanib-induced enteritis, we discontinued the medication, and the diarrhea resolved within 3 days. On the 21st day after discontinuation, colonoscopy revealed that the inflammatory polyps had shrunk, and the inflammatory findings had improved. Biopsy of the white villi of the ileum revealed histiocytes. The patient resumed treatment with pazopanib at 400 mg/day and developed soft stool on the 7th day after resumption. Compared with other tyrosine-kinase inhibitor-induced enteritis cases, this case showed less bleeding and more extensive inflammatory findings. There are similarities as well as differences from cases of previously reported pazopanib-induced enteritis. The mechanisms and characteristics of this disease require further investigation.
Die Zeitenwende und die Renaissance der Verteidigung
Authors: Schwegmann Christoph
Published: February 2024

Mit der Zeitenwende erlebt Verteidigung in Deutschland eine Renaissance. Sie ist eine Rückkehr zum Verteidigungsauftrag des Grundgesetzes. Dieser war als Ausdruck staatlicher Selbstbehauptung Grundlage für die Wiederbewaffnung der Bundesrepublik. Der Autor argumentiert, dass diese Perspektive wichtig ist, um den Verteidigungsauftrag mit Blick auf aktuelle Herausforderungen in zeitgenössischer Weise zu erfüllen.
Satellite Remote Sensing Shows Maintenance of Fish Pond Area Improves Persistence of Eurasian Otters in Hong Kong
Authors: Fung Jamie , Ledger Martha J. , McMillan Sharne , Wu Jin , Lee Calvin K. F. , Bonebrake Timothy C.
Published: February 2024

Urbanization and land cover change are significantly affecting the availability of habitats for wildlife worldwide. However, linking species persistence to large-scale habitat changes is challenging, especially when wildlife monitoring data is lacking. In China, the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is a species of conservation concern and is listed as endangered as a consequence of declining populations across the country. Hong Kong is home to a small population of Eurasian otters, which are primarily restricted to a set of wetlands in the inner Deep Bay area. However, the drivers of their historical distribution changes are largely unknown. We combined otter spraint data from 2018 to 2019 with historical records of otter data spanning 1959–2018 to examine otter habitat preference and changes in their distribution, relating this with land cover changes measured by Landsat-5 and Landsat-8 satellite remote sensing in the past (1986 and 1995) and present (2018) using supervised random forest classification. We found that otters showed habitat preference for fish ponds and watercourses, and persisted in areas where fish pond area was more readily available. We also found no significant effect of the extent of land cover changes on otter persistence, suggesting that the species is resilient to some level of fish pond loss and find value in available terrestrial habitats. Our results demonstrate the utility of relating satellite remote sensing data to species distribution data over decadal time scales and highlight the importance of managing terrestrial and wetland habitats for otters and other key species in increasingly urbanized landscapes.
Clostridioides difficile recurrence in individuals with and without cancer: a Swedish population-based cohort study
Authors: Mpakaniye Peace , Boven Annelies , Callens Steven , Engstrand Lars , Vlieghe Erika , Brusselaers Nele
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Patients with cancer are vulnerable to Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) due to their disease, treatment and regular hospital contact, yet if CDI-recurrence is more common remains unclear, and differences among cancer types remain unexplored.

Methods

This Swedish nationwide population-based cohort included all 43,150 individuals with recorded CDI (2006–2019) to assess CDI-recurrence in individuals with and without cancer, with binary multivariable logistic regression, stratified by anatomical location, and survival status.

Results

Compared to those without cancer (N = 29,543), ongoing cancer (diagnosis < 12 months; N = 3,882) was associated with reduced recurrence (OR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.73–0.89), while there was no association with cancer history (diagnosis ≥ 12 months; N = 9,725). There was an increased 8-week all-cause mortality (Ongoing cancer: OR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.43–1.74; Cancer history: OR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.36–1.55) compared to those without cancer. Among CDI-survivors, those with ongoing cancer presented with a decreased odds of recurrence (OR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.76–0.94), compared to those without cancer history, with no association for those with cancer history (OR = 1.04, 95% CI 0.97–1.1). Large variations were seen across cancer types, with the highest observed proportion of recurrence in oral and mesothelial cancer, and the lowest for esophageal cancer, although no statistically significant OR were found.

Conclusion

The population-based study indicates that individuals with cancer may have fewerrecurrences than expected, yet variations by cancer type were large, and mortality was high.
Evaluating the physico-mechanical performance of cement mortar reinforced with metakaolin/graphene oxide dual nano-additives
Authors: Mokhtar M. M.
Published: February 2024

Researchers interested in producing high-mechanical-performance cement-based structures follow many strategies to achieve this purpose; one of these is the dual addition of materials. The current study was used thermal activation and chemical exfoliation to successfully prepare nano-metakaolin (NMK), whereas Hummers’ traditional technique was followed to prepare graphene oxide (GO). The key aim of this investigation was to promote the mechanical performance of cement mortars by incorporating both NMK and GO in the same matrix, where very few studies have examined the usage of both NMK and GO in the same cement matrix. For this purpose, six groups of plain and blended mortars were cast, with the cement being partially replaced with 10% NMK and GO being added at ratios of 0.01–0.04 wt.% of cement. The pore size distribution of the prepared mortars was studied using the nitrogen adsorption method, while phase composition/decomposition analysis was recognized by TGA and XRD. The microstructure was investigated by SEM. The obtained results revealed a great enhancement of splitting tensile strength by about 71% and about 20% for compressive strength, in addition to the refinement of the pore structure and promotion of the hydration reaction as confirmed by XRD, TGA, and SEM analysis.
The role of nudge-based messages on the acceptability and download of COVID-19 contact tracing apps: survey experiments
Authors: Kurokawa Hirofumi , Sasaki Shusaku , Ohtake Fumio
Published: February 2024

We investigated the effectiveness of nudge-based messages in promoting the download of contact tracing apps, particularly in the context of low uptake due to serious distrust in the product. Even in the presence of distrust towards the app, promoting downloads can be a beneficial means of preventing infection spread at a stage before pharmacological interventions, such as vaccines or therapeutic drugs, are established. Two studies were conducted with Japanese residents who had not yet downloaded any contact tracing apps. Study 1, based on smartphone location data, targeted 2690 individuals who had gone out despite public instructions to stay at home. Study 2 targeted 4126 individuals whose web-search behavior could be tracked. Nudge-based messages did not increase app downloads in either study. In Study 1, where participants were considered non-cooperative, these messages also did not enhance acceptability such as willingness to accept and intention to download the apps. Conversely, in Study 2, a more representative sample, nudge-based messages emphasizing altruism, economic losses, and medical losses increased app acceptability, although they did not increase searches related to the app's keywords.
Privacy-Preserving Classification on Deep Learning with Exponential Mechanism
Authors: Ju Quan , Xia Rongqing , Li Shuhong , Zhang Xiaojian
Published: February 2024

How to protect the privacy of training data in deep learning has been the subject of increasing amounts of related research in recent years. Private Aggregation of Teacher Ensembles (PATE) uses transfer learning and differential privacy methods to provide a broadly applicable data privacy framework in deep learning. PATE combines the Laplacian mechanism and the voting method to achieve deep learning privacy classification. However, the Laplacian mechanism may greatly distort the histogram vote counts of each class. This paper proposes a novel exponential mechanism with PATE to ensure the privacy protection. This proposed method improves the protection effect and accuracy through the screening algorithm and uses the differential privacy combination theorems to reduce the total privacy budget. The data-dependent analysis demonstrates that the exponential mechanism outperforms the original Laplace mechanism. Experimental results show that the proposed method can train models with improved accuracy while requiring a smaller privacy budget when compared to the original Pate framework.
Intelligent Vehicle Violation Detection System Under Human–Computer Interaction and Computer Vision
Authors: Ren Yang
Published: February 2024

In view of the current problems of low detection accuracy, poor stability and slow detection speed of intelligent vehicle violation detection systems, this article will use human–computer interaction and computer vision technology to solve the existing problems. First, the picture data required for the experiment is collected through the Bit Vehicle model dataset, and computer vision technology is used for preprocessing. Then, use Kalman filtering to track and study the vehicle to help better predict the trajectory of the vehicle in the area that needs to be detected; finally, use human–computer interaction technology to build the interactive interface of the system and improve the operability of the system. The violation detection system based on computer vision technology has an accuracy of more than 96.86% for the detection of the eight types of violations extracted, and the average detection is 98%. Through computer vision technology, the system can accurately detect and identify vehicle violations in real time, effectively improving the efficiency and safety of traffic management. In addition, the system also pays special attention to the design of human–computer interaction, provides an intuitive and easy-to-use user interface, and enables traffic managers to easily monitor and manage traffic conditions. This innovative intelligent vehicle violation detection system is expected to help the development of traffic management technology in the future.
The Vaginal Microbiota, Human Papillomavirus Infection, and Cervical Carcinogenesis: A Systematic Review in the Latina Population
Authors: Mancilla Vianney , Jimenez Nicole R. , Bishop Naomi S. , Flores Melissa , Herbst-Kralovetz Melissa M.
Published: February 2024

Background

Latina women experience disproportionately higher rates of HPV infection, persistence, and progression to cervical dysplasia and cancer compared to other racial–ethnic groups. This systematic review explores the relationship between the cervicovaginal microbiome and human papillomavirus infection, cervical dysplasia, and cervical cancer in Latinas.

Methods

The review abides by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus databases were searched from January 2000 through November 11, 2022. The review included observational studies reporting on the cervicovaginal microbiota in premenopausal Latina women with human papillomavirus infection, cervical dysplasia, and cervical cancer.

Results

Twenty-five articles were eligible for final inclusion (N = 131,183). Forty-two unique bacteria were reported in the cervicovaginal microbiome of Latinas. Seven bacteria: Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus iners, Chlamydia trachomatis, Prevotella spp., Prevotella amnii, Fusobacterium spp. and Sneathia spp. were enriched across multiple stages of cervical carcinogenesis in Latinas. Therefore, the total number of reported bacteria includes four bacteria associated with the healthy state, 16 bacteria enriched in human papillomavirus outcomes, 24 unique bacteria associated with abnormal cytology/dysplasia, and five bacteria associated with cervical cancer. Furthermore, three studies reported significantly higher alpha and beta diversity in Latinas with cervical dysplasia and cancer compared to controls. Lactobacillus depletion and an increased abundance of L. iners in Latinas compared to non-Latinas, regardless of human papillomavirus status or lesions, were observed.

Conclusions

The identification of 42 unique bacteria and their enrichment in cervical carcinogenesis can guide future cervicovaginal microbiome research to better inform cervical cancer prevention strategies in Latinas.
The Effect of COVID-19 on Male Sex Hormones: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Lan Xiucheng , Chen Diang , Wang Meijing , Yu Xujun , Dong Liang , Li Junjun , Chang Degui , Yang Fang
Published: February 2024

Purpose

To evaluate the possible effects of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (2019-NCOV) on male sex hormones and reproductive ability, and analyze its incidence and risk factors.

Methods

We retrieved from PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Clinical Trails, CNKI, CBM, Wan Fang Database and VIP to collect research on the effects of COVID-19 on the male sex hormone. Our literature search was conducted until April 2022, and two investigators independently screened articles based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. In strict accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, two researchers independently screened the literature and comprehensively analyzed 8 cohort studies on the impact of COVID-19 on male sex hormone. And We used RevMan5.4.1 and Stata15.0 for statistical analysis. Finally, there were eight cohort studies on the effects of COVID-19 on male sex hormones.

Results

T(RR = − 3.94; 95% CI − 6.22, − 1.66; P = 0.0007), testosterone in the COVID-19 group decreased by 3.94 nmol/L compared with the control group, and the difference was statistically significant. LH (RR = 0.85; 95% CI − 0.26, 1.96; P = 0.13), the LH in COVID-19 group was 0.85 mlU/ml higher than that in control group, but the difference was not statistically significant. FSH (RR = 0.25; 95% CI − 0.72, 1.23; P = 0.61), the FSH of COVID-19 group was 0.25 mlU/ml higher than that of the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant. PRL (RR = 2.42; 95% CI 0.52, 4.31; P = 0.01), the PRL in the COVID-19 group was 2.42 ng/ml higher than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant. E2(RR = 11.88; 95% CI 9.90, 13.86; P < 0.00001), The level of E2 in the COVID-19 group was 11.88 pg/ml higher than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant. T:LH (RR = − 0.39; 95% CI − 076, − 0.02; P = 0.04), the ratio of T:LH in COVID-19 group was lower than that in control group, and the difference was statistically significant. FSH:LH (RR = − 0.38; 95% CI − 0.86, 0.11; P = 0.13), the ratio of FSH:LH decreased in COVID-19 group compared with control group, but the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusions

COVID-19 can affect the level of sex hormones, especially T, which may further affect male fertility. Due to the limitations of this study, this conclusion needs to be further verified by large-sample, high-quality prospective cohort studies on the long-term effects of COVID-19 on male sex hormones and fertility.
Getting into a good headspace: a study protocol of a pragmatic trial for an eating disorder prevention program in an Australian youth mental health service
Authors: Burton Amy L. , Hatoum Amaani H. , Berry Sophie L. , Hamilton Blake
Published: February 2024

Eating disorders (EDs) are serious, deadly disorders that emerge in adolescence and early adulthood. Further, reported incidences of EDs are increasing worldwide. As such, accessible, affordable, and effective early intervention and prevention efforts are critical. The Body Project is a well-established ED prevention program with demonstrated success at reducing ED symptom severity and the risk of onset of EDs in young females. However, it has not yet been formally evaluated in an Australian population, nor have the benefits of the treatment for young people of all genders been thoroughly investigated. This protocol paper outlines the design for a study which aims to investigate the outcomes and feasibility of the Body Project as a brief ED prevention program within an Australian youth mental health service: headspace Camperdown. This pragmatic trial will compare outcomes between a Body Project treatment group and a Treatment-as-usual control group. Primary outcomes include body image concerns, ED symptomatology and general psychological distress, measured pre- and post-treatment, and at one-month follow-up. All young people attending headspace Camperdown for care are eligible for participation in the trial. The Body Project program is comprised of four group-based 1.5 h sessions run over 4 consecutive weeks. Overall, a trial of the Body Project as an ED prevention program is warranted to investigate the outcomes of the intervention in this sample and will provide valuable information about the feasibility for widespread implementation of the treatment as part of a stepped-care approach to intervention for EDs at youth mental health service locations across Australia. ANZCTR Trial Registration Number: ACTRN12623000695606 (registered 29 June 2023).
Quantum lock-in measurement of weak alternating signals
Authors: Zhuang Min , Chen Sijie , Huang Jiahao , Lee Chaohong
Published: February 2024

The detection of weak time-dependent alternating signals in a strongly noisy background is an important problem in physics and a critical task in metrology. Quantum lock-in amplifier can extract alternating signals within extreme noises by using suitable quantum resources, which has been widely used for magnetic field sensing, vector light shift detection, and force detection. In particular, entanglement-enhanced quantum lock-in amplifier can be realized via many-body quantum interferometry. The many-body lock-in measurement provides a feasible way to achieve high-precision detection of alternating signals, even in noisy environments. In this article, we review general protocol, experiment progresses and potential applications of quantum lock-in measurements.
Care transformation defined by conditions, mechanisms, and outcomes: a systematic literature review
Authors: Garritsen G. A. G. , den Ouden M. E. M. , Keijser W. A. , Hulshof S. F. H. , de Jong N. Beerlage , Kelders S. M.
Published: February 2024

Background

Quality of care is under pressure due to demographic changes (shifting age of the population), epidemiological trends (more chronic diseases) and changes in the external environment (rapid development of technological innovations). Transformation in care is essential to deal with these changes. However, there is no consensus in the literature regarding the definition and factors contributing to care transformation.

Methods

This systematic review systematically searched the scientific databases Scopus, Web of Science and Pubmed until 22 January 2022. We included articles that focused on care transformation from a complex setting and multi-level perspective, with an empirical or theoretical rationale and methodology. Relevant data regarding the interconnection between contextual conditions, mechanism of change and outcomes were analysed using deductive coding. The generic contextual conditions-mechanisms outcome structure (CMO) as reported (Pawson and Tilly in Realistic Evaluation, Sage Publication Ltd, London, 1997) was used as a framework to synthesise the results.

Results

Nineteen articles were included. All related articles explain transformation from a complex systems perspective. Four of the 19 articles gave a definition of care transformation. These definitions of care transformation have the following in common: It involves radical and far-reaching change at an organisational and system-wide level, with the aim of improving performance, behaviour, efficiency, and quality of care, both at individual and population level. Relevant contextual conditions were the changing environment, organisational conditions, collaboration, direction of change and sources of funding. Relevant mechanisms for change were collaboration, leadership, interpersonal relationships, engagement, information technology and coordination. The key outcomes of care transformation are Integration of care, patient-centred care, and improvement of quality of care.

Conclusions

An important goal of care transformation is to deliver better quality of care and enable care integration. This study showed that effective collaboration among healthcare providers, supported by transformational leadership, strong interpersonal relationships, and coordination from multiple perspectives, play an important role in facilitating care transformation. Collaboration is an important mechanism for achieving the key outcomes of care transformation.