bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dissecting bias of ChatGPT in college major recommendations
Authors: Zheng Alex
Published: June 2024

Large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT play a crucial role in guiding critical decisions nowadays, such as in choosing a college major. Therefore, it is essential to assess the limitations of these models’ recommendations and understand any potential biases that may mislead human decisions. In this study, I investigate bias in terms of GPT-3.5 Turbo’s college major recommendations for students with various profiles, looking at demographic disparities in factors such as race, gender, and socioeconomic status, as well as educational disparities such as score percentiles. To conduct this analysis, I sourced public data for California seniors who have taken standardized tests like the California Standard Test (CAST) in 2023. By constructing prompts for the ChatGPT API, allowing the model to recommend majors based on high school student profiles, I evaluate bias using various metrics, including the Jaccard Coefficient, Wasserstein Metric, and STEM Disparity Score. The results of this study reveal a significant disparity in the set of recommended college majors, irrespective of the bias metric applied. Notably, the most pronounced disparities are observed for students who fall into minority categories, such as LGBTQ + , Hispanic, or the socioeconomically disadvantaged. Within these groups, ChatGPT demonstrates a lower likelihood of recommending STEM majors compared to a baseline scenario where these criteria are unspecified. For example, when employing the STEM Disparity Score metric, an LGBTQ + student scoring at the 50th percentile faces a 50% reduced chance of receiving a STEM major recommendation in comparison to a male student, with all other factors held constant. Additionally, an average Asian student is three times more likely to receive a STEM major recommendation than an African-American student. Meanwhile, students facing socioeconomic disadvantages have a 30% lower chance of being recommended a STEM major compared to their more privileged counterparts. These findings highlight the pressing need to acknowledge and rectify biases within language models, especially when they play a critical role in shaping personalized decisions. Addressing these disparities is essential to foster a more equitable educational and career environment for all students.
Transcriptomic Analysis of Pubertal and Adult Virgin Mouse Mammary Epithelial and Stromal Cell Populations
Authors: Heijmans Nika , Wiese Katrin E. , Jonkers Jos , van Amerongen Renée
Published: June 2024

Conflicting data exist as to how mammary epithelial cell proliferation changes during the reproductive cycle. To study the effect of endogenous hormone fluctuations on gene expression in the mouse mammary gland, we performed bulk RNAseq analyses of epithelial and stromal cell populations that were isolated either during puberty or at different stages of the adult virgin estrous cycle. Our data confirm prior findings that proliferative changes do not occur in every mouse in every cycle. We also show that during the estrous cycle the main gene expression changes occur in adipocytes and fibroblasts. Finally, we present a comprehensive overview of the Wnt gene expression landscape in different mammary gland cell types in pubertal and adult mice. This work contributes to understanding the effects of physiological hormone fluctuations and locally produced signaling molecules on gene expression changes in the mammary gland during the reproductive cycle and should be a useful resource for future studies investigating gene expression patterns in different cell types across different developmental timepoints.
Thermoeconomic analysis and environmental impact assessment of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant
Authors: Saylan Elvin , Aygün Cemalettin
Published: June 2024

Within the scope of this study, a thermoeconomic analysis was carried out for Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP), the first nuclear power plant of Türkiye. As a result of the analysis, it is aimed to reduce the cost of energy production and prevent thermal pollution at the same time by converting the heat discharged into the environment into useful heat due to the working principle of NPP. Thermodynamic analysis was performed in the Engineering Equation Solver (EES) program using equipment values equivalent to ANPP. Cost analysis was performed using the specific exergy costing (SPECO) method, which is based on the second law of thermodynamics and is the most widely used cost analysis method. The study concludes that the energy efficiency is 35%, while the economic analysis shows that the best case has an exergy efficiency of 68% with a payback period of 7–8 years, and an electricity cost of $0.0196 per kWh. It is possible to use the heat discharged from the plant indirectly in district heating (heating, hot water needs of the lodgings, guesthouses in the facility), greenhouse heating, agricultural drying and heating, considering the geographical conditions and livelihood of the region. Thus, 68% of the waste heat was utilized, the unit cost of the energy produced was reduced and at the same time thermal pollution was reduced at the same rate. The results of the study can contribute to the efforts preventing energy waste, thermal environmental pollution, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, it could aid in the development of more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly power generation systems, including pioneering nuclear power plants in developing countries.
Reliability and Interpretability in Science and Deep Learning
Authors: Scorzato Luigi
Published: June 2024

In recent years, the question of the reliability of Machine Learning (ML) methods has acquired significant importance, and the analysis of the associated uncertainties has motivated a growing amount of research. However, most of these studies have applied standard error analysis to ML models—and in particular Deep Neural Network (DNN) models—which represent a rather significant departure from standard scientific modelling. It is therefore necessary to integrate the standard error analysis with a deeper epistemological analysis of the possible differences between DNN models and standard scientific modelling and the possible implications of these differences in the assessment of reliability. This article offers several contributions. First, it emphasises the ubiquitous role of model assumptions (both in ML and traditional science) against the illusion of theory-free science. Secondly, model assumptions are analysed from the point of view of their (epistemic) complexity, which is shown to be language-independent. It is argued that the high epistemic complexity of DNN models hinders the estimate of their reliability and also their prospect of long term progress. Some potential ways forward are suggested. Thirdly, this article identifies the close relation between a model’s epistemic complexity and its interpretability, as introduced in the context of responsible AI. This clarifies in which sense—and to what extent—the lack of understanding of a model (black-box problem) impacts its interpretability in a way that is independent of individual skills. It also clarifies how interpretability is a precondition for a plausible assessment of the reliability of any model, which cannot be based on statistical analysis alone. This article focuses on the comparison between traditional scientific models and DNN models. However, Random Forest (RF) and Logistic Regression (LR) models are also briefly considered.
International Education’s Academic Benefit: Potential for Community College Virtual International Exchange
Authors: Whatley Melissa
Published: June 2024

This study focuses on the potential academic benefit of virtual international exchange for community colleges and the students they enroll through a comparison of virtual exchange and study abroad. Using data from two community colleges in the US Southeast, this study draws upon the notion of socioacademic integration. Specifically, this study theorizes that both virtual exchange and study abroad have a positive relationship with students’ academic outcomes given their potential to foster socioacademic integrative moments. However, given the scalability of virtual international exchange, it was expected that these programs are associated with a greater relationship to students’ academic outcomes in the aggregate. This study’s results generally confirm these expectations, although findings for virtual exchange are less positive compared to study abroad. Results have implications for the establishment and success of both approaches to international education programming at community colleges. The potential for virtual international exchange to reach a larger group of students compared to study abroad, thus having a greater aggregate impact on students’ success and outcomes, has key policy implications particularly for community colleges, for which service to the community is an integral component of institutional mission.
Public attitude toward solar radiation modification: results of a two-scenario online survey on perception in four Asia–Pacific countries
Authors: Sugiyama Masahiro , Asayama Shinichiro , Kosugi Takanobu , Ishii Atsushi , Watanabe Shingo
Published: June 2024

Solar geoengineering or solar radiation modification (SRM) is increasingly looming large as a potential response to human-induced climate change. However, it is deeply mired in controversies surrounding environmental risks and social governance challenges. Given the high stakes and uncertain characteristics of SRM, it is essential to understand public perception. However, previous studies on public perception have not explicitly utilized scenarios to frame SRM as an option in the future and mostly have been conducted in the Global North. Here, we present the results of an online survey conducted in Australia, India, Japan, and the Philippines in 2022. In our survey, we showed two different SRM scenarios in which SRM would play different roles in the policy response to the possibility of climate tipping points. Overall, respondents in India and the Philippines were more concerned about climate change and more supportive of SRM, and tended to feel that future scenarios with SRM deployment were more plausible than those in Japan and Australia. Nonetheless, public support of SRM was ambivalent, and many voiced concerns about the environmental and governance risks of SRM. Our findings suggest the significance of explicitly communicating the policy contexts in which SRM might be deployed in the future for capturing more nuanced understandings of SRM among the public.
Eye-controlled endoscopy — a benchtop trial of a novel robotic steering platform — iGAZE2
Authors: Sivananthan Arun , Rubio-Solis Adrian , Darzi Ara , Mylonas George , Patel Nisha
Published: June 2024

The endoscopic control system has remained similar in design for many decades The remit of advanced therapeutic endoscopy continues to expand requiring precision control and high cognitive workloads. Robotic systems are emerging, but all still require bimanual control and expensive and large new systems. Eye tracking is an exciting area that can be used as an endoscope control system. This is a study to establish the feasibility of an eye-controlled endoscope and compare its performance and cognitive demand to use of a conventional endoscope. An eye gaze-control system consisting of eye-tracking glasses, customised software and a small motor unit was built and attached to a conventional endoscope. Twelve non-endoscopists used both the eye gaze system and a conventional endoscope to complete a benchtop task in a simulated oesophagus and stomach. Completion of tasks was timed. Subjective feedback was collected from each participant on task load using the NASA Task Load Index. Participants were significantly quicker completing the task using iGAZE2 vs a conventional endoscope (65.02 ± 16.34s vs 104.21 ± 51.31s, p = 0.013) Participants were also significantly quicker completing retroflexion using iGAZE2 vs a conventional endoscope (8.48 ± 3.08 vs 11.38 ± 5.36s, p = 0.036). Participants reported a significantly lower workload (raw NASA-TLX score) when using iGAZE2 vs the conventional endoscope (152.1 ± 63.4 vs 319.6 ± 81.6, p = 0.0001) (Fig. 7). Users found iGAZE2 to have a significantly lower temporal demand, mental demand, effort, mental demand, physical demand, and frustration level. The eye gaze system is an exciting, small, and retrofittable system to any endoscope. The system shows exciting potential as a novel endoscopic control system with a significantly lower workload and better performance in novices suggesting a more intuitive control system.
Advanced Heart Failure Therapies in Neuromuscular Diseases
Authors: Agdamag Arianne Clare , Nandar Phoo Pwint , Tang W. H. Wilson
Published: June 2024

Purpose of Review

The main objective of this review article is to discuss the prevalence, utilization, and outcomes associated with advanced heart failure therapies among patients with neuromuscular disorders.

Recent Findings

Neuromuscular disorders often have multisystem involvement with a high prevalence of cardiovascular pathology. With the improvement in management of respiratory related complications, heart failure is now the leading cause of mortality in this patient population. Advanced heart failure therapies with durable left ventricular assist devices and heart transplantation have proven to be feasible and safe treatment options in selected patients.

Management of neuromuscular disease involves multidisciplinary team involvement given the systemic nature of the disease. Early recognition and close monitoring of these patients will allow for timely initiation of advanced heart failure therapies that can lead to successful outcomes.
Screening for Atrial Fibrillation: Risks, Benefits, and Implications On Future Clinical Practice
Authors: Ilyas Muhammad Haris , Sharih Amaan Mohammad , Tukur Jido Jamila , Ali Abdul Rahman Zulfiqar , Khoshnaghsh Ava , Nadeem Mehak , Zahra Syeda Anum
Published: June 2024

Purpose of the Review

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most commonly encountered arrhythmia in clinical practice with constantly rising prevalence due to an overall increased ageing population with multiple co-morbidities. Since AF predisposes patients to debilitating and life-threatening complications such as stroke and coronary artery disease (CAD), much emphasis has been placed recently on early recognition and management of the disease to prevent complications. Hence, the focus of this review is deliberate on the potential risks and benefits of screening initiatives for AF and their ultimate impact on healthcare systems the associated disease burden.

Recent Findings

Due to lack of clarity on the matter, implementation of national screening programmes for AF are not currently recommended by health authorities in the UK and USA. Nevertheless, recent multicentre studies such as AF-SCREEN and STROKESTOP have concluded that select groups may benefit from screening for this disease. Research in the use of electrocardiographs (ECGs) and wearable smart devices for early detection of AF has also demonstrated a marked decrease in AF-associated thromboembolic events

Although there is a dire need for further robust clinical trials to investigate various screening modalities and develop a robust criterion for AF screening, current literature supports the implementation of a national screening programme to combat the rate of AF-associated complications which continue to challenge the healthcare system.
Comparison between surgical and non-surgical management of primary hyperparathyroidism during pregnancy: a systematic review
Authors: Eli Shezifi , Gal Shlomo Gozlan , Adnan Zaina
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The management of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) during pregnancy may be surgical or conservative. This study compared adverse outcomes between surgical and non-surgical treatments. Additionally, the study investigated the correlation between serum calcium values and complication rates.

Methods

A systematic review of retrospective studies, case series, and case reports. Biochemical parameters, interventions, and outcomes of each pregnancy were recorded. The study population comprised two groups: the non-surgical and surgical groups. Adverse outcomes were categorized as maternal, obstetric, or neonatal.

Results

The surgical and non-surgical groups consisted of 163 and 185 patients, respectively. A positive correlation was observed between the mean maternal gestational calcium value and both maternal and obstetric complication. Neonatal complications were more prevalent in patients treated conservatively across all maternal calcium values (p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in maternal outcomes and overall obstetric outcomes between the study groups, albeit a higher mean serum calcium value in the surgical group (12.3 mg/dL) compared with the non-surgical group (11.1 mg/dL).

Conclusions

Given the significantly lower neonatal adverse outcomes in the surgical group compared to the non-surgical group, along with non-inferior maternal and obstetric outcomes in the surgical group, the overall data of this study suggest that parathyroidectomy is favorable to non-surgical management even in cases of mild hypercalcemia.
Silicon and Potassium-Induced Modulations in Leaf Carbohydrate Metabolism Confer Freezing Tolerance in Satsuma Mandarin
Authors: Iqbal Shahid , Balal Rashad Mukhtar , Seleiman Mahmoud F. , Mattia Matthew , Chater John M. , Shahid Muhammad Adnan
Published: June 2024

Freezing temperatures are a severe issue in North Florida, primarily due to occasional cold snaps and frost events in winter and early spring that cause damage to citrus groves, resulting in reduced fruit yield. The apoplasm is the primary cell component that interacts with environmental stress and is essential for plant tolerance to freezing temperatures. The present study was conducted to gain insight into how the application of silicon (Si) and potassium (K) are involved in the leaf apoplasm contributes to freezing stress tolerance, and regulates carbohydrate metabolism. We used Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.), the most successful commercially grown citrus cultivar in North Florida, and treated trees with two concentrations of Si and K (50 and 100 ppm) both individually and combined as foliar spray to determine their effect as they relate to improving cold hardiness. Freezing stress (-6 °C) caused a severe reduction in photosynthesis, and modulations in leaf carbohydrate metabolism resulted in inhibited plant growth. The exogenous application of Si and K both improved the photosynthesis rate, soluble sugars, and activities of enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism such as fructokinase, phosphofructokinase, hexokinase, sucrose and phosphate synthase, and acid and neutral invertase. Applying Si (100 ppm) and combined treatment (Si + K-50) showed the best response by inducing the maximum tolerance to freeze stress. Our data demonstrated the ameliorative effect of Si and K under freezing stress in citrus is associated with modification in carbohydrate metabolism in the leaf apoplasm. This study provides direction for future research to investigate the effect of Si and K on the transcriptome and metabolome in citrus plants and their tissues under freezing stress.

Graphical Abstract
Comparative analysis of volatile profiles and antimicrobial activities of freeze-dried and oven-dried pomegranate seeds: implications for waste valorization in a circular economy
Authors: Kubáleková Jana , Bajerová Petra , Stará Ivana , Fawole Olaniyi Amos , Bajer Tomáš
Published: June 2024

Pomegranate (Punica granatum), an ancient and well-recognized fruit, is highly valued in traditional medicine and the food industry for its rich composition of phytochemicals. This research investigated the effect of freeze-drying (FD) and oven-drying (OD) on the aroma profile and antibacterial activity of pomegranate seed essential oils (EOs). The aromatic compounds were evaluated using four different extraction techniques—hydrodistillation (HD), supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME), and simultaneous hydrodistillation extraction (SHDE) for comparison. Antibacterial activity of the EO was tested in 7 microorganisms, including 3 Gram-positive (Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus), 3 Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae), and yeast (Candida albicans). A total 93 compounds (FD) and 55 compounds (OD) were identified, belonging to groups such as carbonyls, fatty acids, esters, furans, alcohols, lactones, and other unspecified categories. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the antimicrobial properties of the EOs between the two drying methods. E. coli exhibited the highest resistance to the tested EOs as its growth remained uninhibited. K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa demonstrated resistance, with no inhibitory effects observed except at the highest concentrations tested (4550 µg∙g−1 and 4580 µg∙g−1). Among the Gram-positive bacteria, S. aureus was inhibited at 4550 µg∙g−1 and 4580 µg∙g−1, B. cereus at 4550 µg∙g−1 and 2425–4580 µg∙g−1, and E. faecalis at 2275 µg∙g−1 and 2425–4850 µg∙g−1, while C. albicans was the most susceptible (1138 µg∙g−1 and 1213 µg∙g−1). SFE proved effective in extracting fatty acids, particularly saturated fatty acids (SFAs), while HD and SHDE were most effective in extracting carbonyl compounds.
Positive effects of intercrop yields in farms from across Europe depend on rainfall, crop composition, and management
Authors: Brooker Rob W. , Pakeman Robin J. , Adam Eveline , Banfield-Zanin Jennifer A. , Bertelsen Inger , Bickler Charlotte , Fog-Petersen Jesper , George David , Newton Adrian C. , Rubiales Diego , Tavoletti Stefano , Villegas-Fernández Ángel Ma , Karley Alison J.
Published: June 2024

Modern “intensive” agriculture drives the biodiversity-climate crisis but is also central to global food security. Future farming needs management approaches that maintain (or even enhance) food production while reducing negative climate and biodiversity impacts. Intercrops could provide part of the solution, increasing biodiversity and boosting production with fewer inputs. However, barriers remain to their wide-scale uptake, in particular tailoring intercrops to local equipment, management practice, and environment. We analyze data from multiple trials of cereal-legume intercrops conducted on farms across Europe between 2018 and 2021. Our study is the first attempt, to our knowledge, to quantify the yield benefits of cereal-legume intercropping undertaken at commercially relevant scales for farms across Europe. We used crop performance ratio (CPR)—the ratio of the observed intercrop yield compared to the expected yield based on monoculture yields—as our metric of intercrop performance. Using CPR, we found a roughly 30% yield gain across all sites. However, CPR was modulated by a number of factors. CPR was not strongly affected by management except for the negative effects of direct drilling and the positive effects of organic fertilizer addition. CPR also depended on intercrop composition (number and identity of components), background yields (being highest where yields were lower), and rainfall (being higher with higher rainfall). Our findings allow us to reduce uncertainty about how intercrops will perform in realistic local farm conditions, give guidance for tailoring intercrops to local farming conditions, and provide key goals for further work to integrate intercrops into sustainable farming systems.
Virtual Interviewing and Diversity Among Psychiatry Residents
Authors: Lesanpezeshki Mohammad , Chifamba Lincoln , Haynie Hannah , Bonfine Natalie , Welton Randon S.
Published: June 2024

Objective

Psychiatry residency program directors were surveyed regarding their impression of the impact virtual interviewing had on the perceived and actual diversity of individuals selected for interviews and residency training.

Methods

A link to an anonymous survey was sent to 299 psychiatry residencies. Psychiatry program directors provided information about their programs and rated their perception of the impact of virtual interviewing on candidates they interviewed and matched. They also reported the demographic information of incoming residency classes for 2020–2023. This data was assessed for differences in the average number of residents by each diversity category and interview format (i.e., in person or virtual) and between diversity categories and cohorts. A linear trend analysis assessed whether the number of residents in each demographic category had a significant change over time.

Results

Sixty-five program directors (21.7%) provided at least partial data. Half of the responding program directors believed that virtual interviewing had increased the diversity of interviewed applicants, but there were no statistically significant differences in the average number of incoming residents who were identified as women or were in an Underrepresented in Medicine category when comparing the in-person interview year (2020) and the virtual interview years (2021–2023).

Conclusions

The analyzed data demonstrated that the type of interview (in-person vs virtual) did not appear to affect the diversity of incoming psychiatry residents. Ongoing efforts to increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging should be paired with measurements of their impact.
Technostresserleben in der stationären medizinischen Versorgung in deutschen und schweizerischen Kliniken: aktueller Forschungsstand
Authors: Bail Clara , Marquardt Berit , Harth Volker , Mache Stefanie
Published: June 2024

Hintergrund

Ziel dieser Arbeit ist die Darstellung der aktuellen Studienlage zur Prävalenz und Ausprägung von Technostresserleben in der stationären medizinischen Versorgung in deutschen und schweizerischen Kliniken. Dieses stellt ein aufkommendes Risiko im Zusammenhang mit dem zunehmenden Einsatz von Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien (IKT) im Gesundheitswesen dar.

Methodik

Mithilfe einer systematischen Literaturrecherche wurden unter Verwendung von Schlüsselbegriffen vordefinierten Ein- und Ausschlusskriterien 49 Artikel identifiziert, von denen 9 Studien einbezogen worden sind.

Ergebnisse

Theoretische Grundlage der in dieser Arbeit analysierten Studien bildet überwiegend das Technostress-Konzept von Ragu-Nathan et al. (2008) mit den Subkategorien Techno-overload, Techno-complexity, Techno-insecurity, Techno-uncertainty und Techno-invasion. Bei fast allen Studien handelt es sich um Querschnittsstudien, welche sich auf die Ausprägung von Technostress unter Ärzt:innen, seltener Pfleger:innen und anderen Gesundheitsberufen konzentriert haben sowie auf die Analyse der auslösenden und abschwächenden Faktoren von Technostress und Auswirkungen auf organisationale und gesundheitsbezogene Outcomes (u. a. Produktivität, Arbeitszufriedenheit, Burnout). Die aktuelle Studienlage spricht hierbei für ein moderates Level von Technostress, wobei die höchsten Ausprägungen für die Subkategorien „Techno-overload“ und „Techno-uncertainty“ erhoben worden sind.

Schlussfolgerung

Ärzt:innen und Pfleger:innen zeigen die höchsten Ausprägungen von Technostresserleben, gefolgt von Medizinisch-technischen, Medizinisch-therapeutischen und anderen Berufen (z. B. Sozialarbeiter:innen, Psycholog:innen, Hebammen). Es mangelt jedoch an empirischen Studien zu nichtärztlichen Gesundheitsberufen sowie an Interventionsstudien, die insbesondere Coping-Strategien im Umgang mit arbeitsbezogenem Technostresserleben evaluieren und darauf basierende Handlungsempfehlungen für Gesundheitsorganisationen aussprechen.
Reinforcement learning inclusion to alter design sequence of finite element modeling
Authors: Ciklamini Marek , Cejnek Matous
Published: June 2024

The study explores possibilities on how to approach cross-field methods, such as the design of mechanical systems via finite element modeling, with the contribution of reinforcement learning as a machine learning technique for guidance in design space. The application of the epsilon-greedy algorithm for optimizing parametric finite element model is illustrated by simulations through practical examples, namely the design of a cantilever beam and a JetVest. The results obtained clearly show that this approach can be beneficial in the field of rapid prototyping.
Potential Improvements in Crop Production in Egypt and Implications for Future Water and Land Demand
Authors: Ayyad Saher , Karimi Poolad , Ribbe Lars , Becker Mathias
Published: June 2024

Similar to numerous water- and data-scarce regions, Egypt confronts a critical challenge in sustaining food production for its rapidly growing population. Consequently, the country’s water and land resources are under considerable stress and require careful management. About half of Egypt’s both annually harvested areas and renewable freshwater are allocated for cultivating rice, maize, wheat, and berseem clover. However, the extent to which crop production might be improved and how this would impact future water and land requirements remains poorly understood. We analyzed potential improvements in the production of these crops and quantified their future water and land requirements under different scenarios. Potential improvements were detected through percentile analysis in three remote sensing-derived performance indicators for each crop in the Nile Delta’s Zankalon region: (i) crop yield, (ii) crop water productivity, and (iii) transpiration fraction (transpiration to actual evapotranspiration, T/AET). We applied detected improvementsto construct plausible scenarios for Egypt’s water and land requirements to sustain domestic crop production until 2050. Our findings indicate limited potential to improve T/AET (< 4%). However, improvements of up to 27% for crop yields and up to 14% for water productivity are possible. To meet the production targets by 2050, national production must increase by 128, 78, 69, and 71% above the 2016–2020’s average for rice, maize, wheat, and berseem, respectively. Depending on the improvement levels in the developed scenarios, a total harvested land area between 5.3 and 6.4 million ha will be required by 2050, with 18% allocated to rice, 28% to maize, 36% to wheat, and 18% to berseem. Associated freshwater requirements will amount to 59–68 billion cubic meters, divided into 23% for rice, 34% for maize, 28% for wheat, and 15% for berseem. Interventions increasing yields and water productivity will benefit more the summer (rice and maize) than the winter crops (wheat and berseem). We discuss likely interventions for meeting these requirements and for sustaining the supply of these crops in Egypt.
Through the Looking Screen: Exploring Familiar Places Through Google Maps Street View
Authors: Ghita Cristina
Published: June 2024

The widespread of digitalization and its consequent adoption of digital navigation tools has led to an increased digitally mediated wayfinding of unknown and known places. In this study, the focus was placed on the latter, namely the exploration of familiar places through Google Maps. This study aimed to understand how familiar places are digitally revisited through the use of the popular Google Maps Street View. By employing digital go-along interviews, participants were invited to choose a known place which they have not physically visited in a significant amount of time and guide a digital walk. By adopting an agential realist theoretical perspective, Google Maps Street View is articulated as a more-than-digital tool. The main emerging themes consisted of the experienced disruptive elements leading to workarounds, the existent spatiotemporal shifts, and the visibility of present and absent matter emerging from the intra-actions of human and non-human actors. The work illustrates how digital places are understood and engaged with, and how meaning is ascribed to such digital worlds which come into being through an entanglement of memories, physicality, and digital elements. The paper contributes to an understanding of digital place, being of relevance to future directions in the development of similar navigational technologies, and to policy and legislation being formulated in this area.
Facilitated Collaborative Group Co-Design of Hypothetical Digital Tools to Understand University Students’ Well-being Support Needs and Requirements
Authors: Bannigan Gráinne , McGrath Denise , Matthews James , Duignan Ciara
Published: June 2024

The number of students in higher education encountering issues with their well-being is increasing every year, with many struggling to seek appropriate support due to reasons such as stigma or lack of access to services. Consequently, digital well-being support tools may be best placed to address their needs; however, few of these tools involve students in the design process, and thus, there is a lack of clarity as to whether these tools meet the needs of students. Therefore, the aim of the present research was to provide a series of design considerations that should be incorporated in the design and development of digital tools to support student well-being. Co-design methods were used to develop these design considerations by understanding the well-being domains in which students want support, their views on existing digital supports, and their desired features in a digital support tool. Undergraduate students enrolled in a well-being module at an Irish University completed a facilitated group assignment in which they were required to co-design a hypothetical digital tool to support other students’ well-being. Deductive thematic analysis of the 10-min presentations of their tools was carried out. The overall findings were that:

Students recognize all well-being domains as interconnected and view social connectedness and time management as crucial for them to find good balance in their lives and to thrive;

Current digital well-being tools do not appropriately meet their needs, being too expensive, unmotivating, not suited to the student lifestyle and perceived as untrustworthy;

Students desire a digital well-being tool that can give them structured and streamlined support and that clearly relates to their specific university environment;

Specific desired features include the ability to log and visualize data, personalization capabilities, a motivational rewards system, and trustworthy educational information, tips and advice.
Implementation of Multi-agency Safeguarding Arrangements Regarding Exploitation of Young People: Aligning Policy and Practice Using Normalisation Processing Theory
Authors: Ball Emma , McManus Michelle , McCoy Ellie , Quigg Zara
Published: June 2024

Multi-agency working has long been advocated for within safeguarding (how we promote an individual’s welfare and keep them safe from harm) and is particularly advantageous when responding to risks of child criminal exploitation. In the United Kingdom (UK), despite a commitment from government policy and a consensus on the ground, there remain substantial challenges in implementing this policy into practice. This paper attempts to explore the relationship between policy and practice, with a focus on how certain factors facilitate effective multi-agency working. The study utilised data from 23 qualitative interviews from professionals and practitioners working with young people across local safeguarding partnerships, from different sectors, within one local authority area based in the UK. It sought to apply a theoretical analysis of how specific mechanisms enable the embedding of new practice. Findings suggest that a number of factors can support effective multi-agency working, including congruence in strategy to operational activity, proactive, passionate, and productive leaders, and effective partnerships, underpinned by a culture of inclusion and challenge. Normalisation Processing Theory highlighted these factors related to the process of cognitive participation, an essential component in initiating and enacting partnership working and embedding a multi-agency approach. These findings can be considered when seeking to implement existing and future multi-agency policy to safeguard young people, to ensure that the realities of the nuances involved in implementation are considered. Whilst there is a wealth of research surrounding multi-agency working, there is less specifically on embedding multi-agency working into practice and the theory underpinning this.
Amorphous multimetal based catalyst for oxygen evolution reaction
Authors: Zhang Zishuai , Vieira Daniela , Barralet Jake E. , Merle Geraldine
Published: June 2024

The development of efficient, low-cost water splitting electrocatalysts is needed to store energy by generating sustainable hydrogen from low power clean but intermittent energy sources such as solar and wind. Here, we report a highly sustained low overpotential for oxygen evolution reached by the unique combination of three metals (NiCoV) prepared from a simple low temperature auto-combustion process. The amorphous multimetal oxygen evolving catalyst could be stably coated on a stainless-steel support using a tribochemical particle blasting method to create an oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrode with a low overpotential of 230 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and a low Tafel slope of 40 mV dec−1. In addition to their low overpotential, this oxygen evolving electrocatalyst preserved performance demonstrating a stability after 10 h at the technologically relevant current density and without any surface morphology alteration. Given the importance of sustainable hydrogen production, the development of this new OER catalyst points the way to removing a key technical bottleneck for the water splitting reaction and could offer a route to cost reduction and lowering hurdles to more widespread adaptation of electrolyser technologies for hydrogen production.
Organotin complexes with Schiff’s base ligands: insights into their cytotoxic effects on lung cancer cells
Authors: Ibadi Falih , Yousif Emad , Al-Ani Ahmed , Al-Mashhadani Mohammed. , Al-Saffar Ali Z. , Basem Ali , Bufaroosha Muna , Hashim Hassan , Husain Amani , Jawad Ali H. , Hairunisa Nany
Published: June 2024

Organotin(IV) complexes can be used in chemotherapy due to its lipophilicity which can be affected by the availability of Sn coordination bond and bond stabilization between ligand and Sn(IV). In this study, three types of tri-organotin(IV) complexes which are, Ph3SnL, Me3SnL, and Bu3SnL derived from Schiff base ligand were synthesized by the reaction of methyl dopa with p-dimethyaminobenzaldehyde. All prepared complexes were charechterised using nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR, 13C NMR, and 119Sn NMR. The 1H NMR). The results confirm the coordination of the organotin(IV) moieties to the ligand. The cytotoxicity of tri-organotin(IV) complexes was evaluated against the A549 human lung cancer cell using MTT assay. Ph3SnL showed a high cytotoxic effect among othger complexes, Bu3SnL also showed a significant cytotoxic effect, while Me3SnL demonstrated a relatively lower effects. These findings highlight the potential of the tri-organotin(IV) complexes, particularly Ph3SnL and Bu3SnL, as promising candidates for further modification as anticancer agents. The results obtained from this study can be used to understand the structure–activity of organotin(IV) complexes and their applications as anti-cancer activity.
Heparin Therapy and Mortality in Patients with Sepsis: An Observational Study Using a Marginal Structural Cox Model Based on MIMIC-IV Database
Authors: Jiang Meng , Wu Xiao-peng , Li Chang-li , Lin Xing-chen , Yang Xiao-feng
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Although heparin has been widely used in clinical practice, its effect on mortality in sepsis is still controversial. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of heparin in septic patients.

Methods

Adult septic patients were identified from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV 2.0 database, which contains patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre from 2008 to 2019. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to adjust for the baseline differences in the probability to receive heparin or not. The marginal structural cox model (MSCM) was used to account for both baseline and time-dependent covariates. Group-based trajectory modelling (GBTM) was performed to identify activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) trajectory groups, and patient outcomes were compared between the heparin- and non-heparin groups in each phenotype.

Results

A total of 9940 septic patients were enrolled in the study, including 1690 (17%) in the heparin group. By PSM, significant benefit in terms of mortality was observed among the heparin group (HR = 0.82; 95% CI 0.71–0.94; p = 0.004). Similar findings were replicated with the MSCM analysis (HR = 0.66; 95% CI 0.44–0.98; p = 0.038). In the GBTM analysis, three APTT trajectory groups were identified: “normal” (n = 8236; 82.8%); “medium high” (n = 1358; 13.7%); and “high” (n = 346; 13.5%). Heparin therapy was associated with a reduced mortality (HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.41–0.84; p = 0.003) in patients with the medium high APTT level [51.7 s (interquartile range, 40.1–64.3)].

Conclusions

Heparin therapy was associated with improved outcome in septic patients, and it showed significant survival benefit in patients achieved the medium high APTT phenotype.
Provision of sexual and reproductive health care services for refugees in Greece in the framework of the Minimum Initial Service Package: a scoping review
Authors: vom Dahl Felicitas Joyce , Weng Ánimo , Vergara Guerra Maya , Ängeby Karin , Envall Niklas
Published: June 2024

Background

Since 2015, Greece has hosted most refugees arriving in Europe. In the refugee camps, humanitarian organizations have reported unsafe and bad health conditions. The Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) was designed to assure a standard minimum of sexual and reproductive health services in humanitarian settings. We aimed to explore the provision of and identify gaps in sexual and reproductive health services for refugees in Greece within the framework of MISP.

Methods

A scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. In February 2022 and January 2023, the electronic databases CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched for peer-reviewed articles in English published from January 2015 to January 2023. Gray literature was retrieved from the websites of well-known humanitarian organizations. The data charting and summary of the results were structured in themes according to the six predefined objectives of the 2018 version of MISP, with the addition of “safe abortion care” as a seventh objective.

Results

We included 23 journal articles and eight gray literature sources. Much of the research focuses on sexual violence, while there is limited data on coordination, sexually transmitted infection treatment, family planning, and abortion care. Gaps in protection, support services for survivors, postnatal care, and clinical rape management were identified. Barriers to accessing health services existed.

Conclusion

Since 2015, Greece has hosted many refugees facing barriers to accessing SRH services in camps. Research on family planning and safe abortion care is limited, with more focus on sexual violence and maternal and child health. Addressing SRH service gaps is crucial for human rights, requiring more research and implementation of best practices.
Advances in clinical and basic research for hepatocellular carcinoma in China: a 2023 review
Authors: Wang Pengxiang , Sun Yunfan , Fan Jia
Published: June 2024

Primary liver cancer, predominantly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), remains to be a significant public health challenge in China. Drug therapy continues to be a cornerstone in the treatment of HCC. Notably, recent breakthroughs in immunotherapy, exemplified by immune checkpoint inhibitors, have introduced innovative avenues for pharmacological intervention. Chinese researchers have undertaken extensive investigations into this therapeutic pathway, focusing particularly on its applications in neoadjuvant and transitional therapies, as well as postoperative adjuvant treatments. These endeavors have yielded promising therapeutic outcomes, showcasing the potential of immunotherapy across various aspects of HCC management. In addition to therapeutic advancements, researchers have made notable progress in understanding the complexities of HCC, particularly in deciphering tumor heterogeneity and the mechanisms underlying tumor recurrence and metastasis. Leveraging cutting-edge methodologies such as spatiotemporal omics and clinical cross-omics, these researchers have gained deeper insights into the disease's biology. These fundamental discoveries have solidified the theoretical basis for future precision medicine approaches in HCC treatment. This article aims to comprehensively summarize these pivotal research advancements across both basic and clinical research fields.
Vulnerability to climate change of coastal mangrove-dependent communities in the Tana Delta, Kenya: a local perspective
Authors: Mulonga Julie , Olago Daniel
Published: June 2024

Coastal mangrove-dependent communities face various risks due to climate change, thus rendering them vulnerable. This study explored the vulnerability of these communities in the Tana Delta in Kenya using an indicator-based vulnerability assessment framework to better understand their exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. Data was collected through household surveys (n = 377), focus group discussions (FGDs), and key informant interviews (KIIs). The analysis revealed mean vulnerability indices at the sub-location level ranged from 0.850 for Kipini to − 0.913 for Kilelengwani and − 2.702 for Ozi. The statistically significant indicators of vulnerability were (i) exposure—high temperatures and rainfall changes; (ii) sensitivity—household numbers, head of household’s age, dependents’ education, and dependents’ employment; and (iii) adaptive capacity—ownership of assets, access to community infrastructure and services, condition/quality of houses, total income, and alternative sources of income. The findings highlight the need for adaptation strategies that ensure greater financial assets supported by education and skills enhancement to utilize existing opportunities. Attention to community infrastructure and services is crucial. Policy should focus on financial, physical, and human assets to reduce community vulnerability alongside the continued conservation and management of mangrove resources. The results will help policymakers in addressing the impacts of climate change and benefit households in the study area. These insights can be applied to regions with similar climate conditions and livelihood systems.
Transfer metric learning: algorithms, applications and outlooks
Authors: Luo Yong , Wen Yonggang , Hu Han , Du Bo , Duan Ling-Yu , Tao Dacheng
Published: June 2024

Distance metric learning (DML) aims to find an appropriate way to reveal the underlying data relationship. It is critical in many machine learning, pattern recognition and data mining algorithms, and usually require large amount of label information (such as class labels or pair/triplet constraints) to achieve satisfactory performance. However, the label information may be insufficient in real-world applications due to the high-labeling cost, and DML may fail in this case. Transfer metric learning (TML) is able to mitigate this issue for DML in the domain of interest (target domain) by leveraging knowledge/information from other related domains (source domains). Although achieved a certain level of development, TML has limited success in various aspects such as selective transfer, theoretical understanding, handling complex data, big data and extreme cases. In this survey, we present a systematic review of the TML literature. In particular, we group TML into different categories according to different settings and metric transfer strategies, such as direct metric approximation, subspace approximation, distance approximation, and distribution approximation. A summarization and insightful discussion of the various TML approaches and their applications will be presented. Finally, we indicate some challenges and provide possible future directions.