bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiphysics simulation of recent experiments on alkali‐silica reaction expansion in reinforced concrete members
Authors: Jain Amit , Spencer Benjamin W. , Dahal Albert , Biswas Sudipta , Dhulipala Somayajulu L. N.
Published: January 2025

Alkali‐silica reaction (ASR) is an important degradation process that causes volumetric expansion and damage in concrete, and is affected significantly by the local temperature, moisture and stress conditions that often vary across the regions of a structure. Numerical simulation is essential to predict the progression and effects of ASR on the performance of structures. Because of the interactions between thermal and moisture transport and mechanical deformation, it is important for numerical models to represent all these physical phenomena and the coupling between them. Simulations of ASR in reinforced concrete (RC) structures are further complicated by the need to capture interactions between concrete and embedded reinforcing bars. This paper describes the implementation of a scalable, coupled‐physics ASR model for simulating RC structures and assesses the ability of that model to predict ASR‐induced expansion in recent laboratory tests on RC block and beam specimens. These laboratory tests and the simulation approach were selected because of their applicability to RC structural‐scale simulations. This validation study helps builds confidence the ability of this approach to model ASR expansion in large, complex RC structures, which is a current high‐priority need.
Shear failures in pile caps: Governing mechanisms and influence of size on the resistance
Authors: Sørensen Jesper Harrild , Hoang Linh Cao , Fernández Ruiz Miguel
Published: January 2025

Design of squat pile caps without shear reinforcement is typically governed by failures in shear, with development of inclined failure surfaces and crack sliding. Although the basic load‐carrying action can be efficiently described by means of equilibrium‐based models (such as strut‐and‐tie models or stress fields), determining the actual resistance is still subjected to scientific discussion concerning a number of topics. One of the open questions relates to the influence of size on the unitary shear resistance, which is typically extrapolated for design purposes from the size effect observed in one‐way members failing in shear or from failures in punching. Such extrapolation is, however, debatable as pile caps of practical interest may have significantly larger sizes than those that can be tested in laboratories and this advises to ground design on the basis of a consistent mechanical model. In this paper, the results of an experimental program on 15 pile caps are presented in an effort to better understand the mechanics of failure and to specifically address the influence of size on the resistance. The tests were performed following perfect geometric scaling with effective depths ranging from 200 to 500 mm while keeping the material properties constant. The results of the tests show that failures are originated by shear cracks developing in the clear shear span between the edges of piles and the loading area and that they are associated with strain localisation. A notable size effect is observed, whose asymptotic slope expressed in a double‐logarithmic scale results close to −1/3 (milder than the one corresponding to Linear‐Elastic Fracture Mechanics). On the basis of the test results, a design approach based on the concepts of the Critical Shear Crack Theory and the upper‐bound theorem of limit analysis is presented. The model allows for accurate predictions of the resistance and suitably captures the influence of size on the response of the specimens.
Identification, characterization, and expression of Oryza sativa tryptophan decarboxylase genes associated with fluroxypyr‐meptyl metabolism
Authors: Wang Hao Wen , Shi Xu Zhen , Zhong Xiao Yu , Ai Gan , Wang Yan Hui , Zhou Zhi Zhong , Lu Dan , Liu Xiao Liang , Chen Zhao Jie
Published: January 2025

Tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC) belongs to a family of aromatic amino acid decarboxylases and catalyzes the conversion of tryptophan to tryptamine. It is the enzyme involved in the first step of melatonin (MT) biosynthesis and mediates several key functions in abiotic stress tolerance. In Oryza sativa under pesticide‐induced stress, TDC function is unclear. Three TDC differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and six TDC‐coding genes were found to be expressed in fluroxypyr‐meptyl (FLUME)‐treated rice transcriptome datasets, which allowed researchers to explore the properties and roles of rice TDC family genes under pesticide‐induced stress. By applying sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis, two subfamilies of the TDC gene family—DUF674 and AAT_I—were found in rice, Glycine max, Zea mays, Hordeum vulgare, and Solanum lycopersicum. According to chromosomal location studies, segmental duplication aided in the expansion of the OsTDC gene family, and the three TDC DEGs in rice were irregularly distributed on two of its 12 chromosomes. In addition, nine rice TDC genes displayed a collinear relationship with those of soybean, maize, barley, and tomato. Rice TDC genes can encode a variety of biotic and abiotic stress responses because of their diverse gene architectures, cis‐elements, motif compositions, and conserved domains. Reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) analysis confirmed that a proportion of TDC genes (Os08g0140300, Os08g0140500, and Os10g0380800) were preferably expressed under 0.08 mg L−1 FLUME stress, with a 5.2‐, 3.2‐, and 3.9‐fold increase in roots and a 2.1‐, 2.4‐, and 2.6‐fold increase in shoots, respectively. MT treatment further increased the expression of these genes, with a 2.1‐fold, 3.1‐fold, and fivefold increase in roots and a 1.5‐, 1.1‐, and 1.1‐fold increase in shoots than that treated with 0.08 mg L−1 FLUME only, respectively. When rice seedling roots and shoots were subjected to 0.08 mg L−1 FLUME stress, TDC activity was increased by 2.7 and 1.6 times higher than in the control, respectively. MT application also further promoted TDC activity in rice tissues; TDC activity in rice roots and shoots was twofold and 1.4‐fold higher, respectively, than that under 0.08 mg L−1 FLUME alone. These findings indicate that TDC genes respond effectively to FLUME stress, and the application of MT could enhance the expression of these TDC genes, which comprise a set of candidate genes that regulate pesticide metabolism and degradation with the application of MT.
Discussion on the Relation Between Carbon Emissions and Solid Waste Management to Develop a Sustainable Business Model
Authors: Avşar Cemre , Çelik Ertuğrul , Ertunç Suna
Published: January 2025

Increasing environmental issues, such as climate change and industrial waste management, have been putting pressure on developing novel and efficient solutions. Besides, global population increase is another increasing challenge for humanity in terms of adequate and secure food supply. The Merseburg process, the conversion reaction of gypsum with ammonium carbonate to yield ammonium sulfate and calcium carbonate, offers dual advantages against global warming and solid waste management issues. Another advantage of the process is the production of ammonium sulfate, an agriculturally valuable fertilizer. Utilization of the Merseburg process would be strategically important since it provides both consumption of phosphogypsum and low‐cost raw material supply for ammonium sulfate production together with carbon dioxide consumption. This mini‐review gives a detailed discussion of semi‐batch ammonium carbonate production, followed by gypsum conversion, which can be an alternative operation and feed strategy for the Merseburg process conducted as a ternary‐multiphase reaction system. The paper also provides the discussion of an alternative resource utilization route for phosphogypsum, including CO2 sequestration and low‐cost ammonium sulfate production.
Pyloric hypertrophy and gastric outflow obstruction in an adult ornate bichir (Polypterus ornatipinnis)
Authors: Anton Brian J. , Rosenthal William C.
Published: January 2025

A 5‐year‐old, captive bred, 327 g female ornate bichir (Polypterus ornatipinnis) presented with a history of reduced appetite and cranial coelomic swelling. On physical examination, the swelling was smooth, soft, devoid of masses and consistent with an enlarged stomach. No other abnormalities were detected. Eleven months later, the bichir was found deceased in its aquarium and was diagnosed with pyloric hyperplasia with stenosis on postmortem examination. On histopathology, the pyloric mucosa appeared thickened with no signs of infiltrative disease. Outflow obstructions are rare in fish and are infrequently reported. This is the first report of a gastric outflow obstruction due to pyloric hyperplasia in a fish species.
EOL‐NiMH Batteries: An Alternative for Critical Raw Materials. Chemical Characterization by WD‐XRF
Authors: Rodrigo M. , Gazulla M. F. , Montañes L.
Published: January 2025

Nickel‐metal hydride (NiMH) batteries hold not only the base metals but valuable rare earth elements (RREs) like La, Ce, Pr, and Nd. Given the importance of resource recycling and assured supply of the contained metals in such wastes, the present study has focused on the development of an XRF method able to fully characterize these residues. In this study, a robust method for the chemical characterization of the anode and cathode by wavelength‐dispersive x‐ray fluorescence spectrometry was developed. For that, NiMH batteries were manually disassembled to obtain the active materials used in the anode and cathode, where critical raw materials are used. The results showed that NiMH batteries' anode is valuable due to the high concentrations of La, Ce, Nd, and Pr, apart from Ni. Besides, the cathode is quite rich in Ni. The different composition of these two materials justifies the need for a recycling process that separates these fractions in order not to dilute the number of RREs and Ni that can be recovered from these batteries when they are disposed of.
Bridging the Educational Gap in Circular Design and Engineering—An Educational Concept and Case Study from Austria
Authors: Erol Selim , Hörbe Roman
Published: January 2025

Despite promising developments towards a circular economy, a recent study by EUROSTAT concluded that only 12% of EU’s economy is circular. One cause is suspected in particular in the fact that the scientific knowledge relating to the design and development of sustainable and recyclable products and processes has not arrived sufficiently in industrial practice. Educational offers for practitioners in circular design and engineering are still sparse and taken up hesitantly by companies in this context either. To close this educational gap, we have developed a particular training program for learning of Circular Design and Engineering principles. The development of the program was publicly funded and involved five industry partners from furniture and interiors industry. In this paper, we describe the underlying educational concept and lessons learned from a particular application of the concept in the Austrian furniture and interiors industry.
Urban Agrifood Circularity: Exploring Consumable and Capital Micro Circular Production Loops
Authors: Ball Peter , Badakahshan Ehsan , Bell Joseph , Holden Nicola , Jensen Jens , Kanu Ifeyinwa , Smith Lydia , Zhao Xiaobin
Published: January 2025

The circular economy concept is typically applied at scale, especially for high value products and materials. The dominant manufacturing model is for large global factories with research and practice independent of agriculture. This paper challenges the dominant “big is beautiful” ethos and explores how agricultural and industrial production can operate at local, urban scale with wastes circulating for consumable and capital production. The research case is a UK city where food wastes could be used for food production and beverage production waste could be used to produce building materials. The research explores the industrial symbiosis engineering challenge of small-scale waste conversion and the digital challenge of identifying and measuring waste flows for conversion. In considering waste conversions through local, distributed manufacture this paper also tackles the digital challenge of how to source local, small volume material flow data for optimization. Future potential research avenues of micro manufacture as well as digital twins are discussed.
Social Inclusion Challenges of Low-Income People Through Entrepreneurship in Industry 4.0
Authors: Kano Celia Hanako , de Carvalho Marly Monteiro , de Castro Souza Piao Roberta , de Oliveira Jairo Cardoso
Published: January 2025

Industry 4.0 raises concerns about the inclusion of low-income people. Researchers approach entrepreneurship as a path to social inclusion. In this context, this paper aims to investigate how Industry 4.0 engages low-income people under the perspective of entrepreneurship. This paper is based on a systematic literature review using bibliometrics and content analysis. The paper combines RStudio, VOSviewer and NVivo software analysis for conducting a systematic literature review. The paper also conducted a content analysis. This study understands that entrepreneurship has different challenges in Industry 4.0 depending on the social group. To better understand these challenges, low-income people were divided into three social groups: low-literacy and poor people, rural communities and women. The results indicated that the main challenges to engage low-income people on Industry 4.0 are digital inclusion, digital financial inclusion, adoption of digital platforms, and others.
Business Model Design in Context of Circular Economy
Authors: Gellert Benjamin , Buxmann Henry Nicolai , Orth Ronald
Published: January 2025

In dynamic environments, businesses not only look for sustainable technology solutions, but also for new business model opportunities that management can apply as they move to a more sustainable future. Being embedded in the process of analyzing the status quo and identifying potential improvements of sustainability management, this article focuses on the development of a catalog with circular economy-based business model patterns to provide an overview of universally applicable implementation measures for business model development. For this purpose, four steps were conducted: An extensive literature research to identify a comprehensive collection of sustainable business model patterns with specific emphasis on circular economy, reduction of identified patterns to exclude redundancies and ambiguities, derivation of the influence of these patterns on the elements of the Business Model Canvas—taking into account their impact on environmental sustainability, and a final enrichment with further details for practical application. This includes a definition, benefits, barriers, implementation steps as well as filterable categories for the specific selection of business model patterns. The result is a catalog which provides a valuable resource for businesses looking to adopt more sustainable business practices.
Language Models for Functional Digital Twin of Circular Manufacturing
Authors: Akay Haluk , Capezza Antonio J. , Henrysson Maryna , Leite Iolanda , Fuso-Nerini Francesco
Published: January 2025

A key challenge for implementation of a circular economy model in manufacturing systems is the functional dependence of downstream processes on upstream byproducts. Design principles provide a framework for mapping goals to solutions by decomposing complex engineering problems into structured sets of requirements to be satisfied and embodied by design parameters and process variables. Large Language Models can computationally represent such textually-described design elements to quantify interconnections between problems, solutions, and processes. We present a Functional Digital Twin concept, powered by AI language modeling and guided by principles of manufacturing systems design, to identify functionally coupled process variables in an industrial symbiosis and automatically push alerts to stakeholders in a circular manufacturing system. Changes in byproduct composition are pushed downstream, and upstream decision-makers are guided to balance satisfying their design requirements with maintaining circularity of the system. The presented method is demonstrated in a case study of bio-based absorbent materials for intended use in disposable sanitary articles developed from byproducts of the agro-food industry.
Towards Circular Business Models in the Punching Industry: Leveraging Smart Sensor Technology for Sustainable Manufacturing Processes
Authors: Wörner Daniel , Budde Lukas , Friedli Thomas
Published: January 2025

The punching industry (PI) remains largely dependent on unsustainable resource use in its manufacturing process, consuming finite materials. Evolving market needs for increased environmental sustainability in the PI causes punching companies to reevaluate their existing manufacturing processes. Considering this trend, this research explores the prerequisites for transitioning to circular business models (CBMs), a subset of sustainable business models, by using smart sensor technology (SST) supporting a sustainable manufacturing process (SMP). Prior research has shown that using different sensors pertaining punching tools and machines is prevalent. Standard parts in the punching tool itself address these challenges of an imprecise set-up of the punching tool on the punching machine resulting in process improvements and efficiency enhancements. Yet, no similar data-driven punching tool concepts have been installed highlighting the novelty. To address this gap, this study examines how data can be gathered and successfully utilized to support SMP fostering CBMs in the PI based on data-driven punching tools. Mixed methods are applied in a practice oriented project, involving a Swiss-based manufacturer. The results demonstrate several key drivers supporting SMPs enabled by data-driven punching tools. Future research should involve a larger number of interviews and further field testing to increase maturing SST data-driven punching tools.
Investigations on the Use of Photodiodes for In-Situ Defect Detection in Laser-Based Powder Bed Fusion of Metals
Authors: Uhlmann Eckart , de Ascencao Gustavo Reis , Hesse Bernhard , Suuronen Jussi-Petteri , Domingos David Carlos , Zhuang Jianlin
Published: January 2025

The sustainability of AM is strongly related to the ability of producing functional parts using minimal resources. In-situ monitoring saves energy and material by providing information to support process stops in case of anomalous events detected in critical regions. In this work, AlSi10Mg samples with different defect conditions were PBF-LB/M manufactured under the observation of photodiodes in three wavelength ranges. The samples were scanned through synchrotron-based micro-CT, and a defect score was attributed to every point in a non-destructive manner. The results were registered to the emissions acquired during the PBF-LB/M process. An exploratory data analysis has shown that the mean and standard deviation of the emissions of defect points do not differ from the ones found for points labelled as normal by micro-CT. A neural network was trained to infer the points’ quality based on their emissions. The maximum F1-score was 4.79%, suggesting that the photodiodes in the studied set-up are not suitable for the in-situ identification of local porosities in PBF-LB/M parts.
An Approach to Quantifying the Lifecycle Sustainability Impacts of Tungsten Carbide Tools
Authors: Arnold Gatewood , Polizzi Julian , Mohsin Syed Ibn , Carnesi Daniel , Schoop Julius , Badurdeen Fazleena
Published: January 2025

Tungsten carbide cutting tools are widely used for their high machining performance and low cost. However, their cost does not currently reflect the material rarity, environmental costs, nor societal costs associated with their production. Critically, embodied energy makes a sizeable contribution to the total lifecycle energy consumption. This study quantifies the true triple bottom line cost of the tools with respect to established sustainability metrics by leveraging cross-disciplinary insights from the product, process, and system levels. Based on the adjusted cost, a comparative analysis of the cutting tool sustainability on the profitability of a nickel-based superalloy machining process was carried out for different tools. Tool wear rates were experimentally measured across a range of industrial feeds and speeds for milling of Inconel 718. Using a Taylorian cost optimization model, the relative influence of the true cost of different tungsten carbide tools was compared. In all cases considered, changes in tool cost had a minimal impact on process profitability, suggesting that more sustainably produced cutting tools may readily justify increased tooling costs. Thus, identification and further development of more sustainable cutting tools may offer a meaningful opportunity to enhance sustainability performance of tungsten carbide cutting tools enabling more sustainable manufacturing.
Nonthermal heavy dark matter from a first-order phase transition
Authors: Giudice Gian F. , Lee Hyun Min , Pomarol Alex , Shakya Bibhushan
Published: January 2025

Abstract

We study nonthermal production of heavy dark matter from the dynamics of the background scalar field during a first-order phase transition, predominantly from bubble collisions. In scenarios where bubble walls achieve runaway behavior and get boosted to very high energies, we find that it is possible to produce dark matter with mass several orders of magnitude above the symmetry breaking scale or the highest temperature ever reached by the thermal plasma. We also demonstrate that the existing formalism for calculating particle production from bubble dynamics in a first-order phase transition is not gauge invariant, and can lead to spurious results. While a rigorous and complete resolution of this problem is still lacking, we provide a practical prescription for the computation that avoids unphysical contributions and should provide reliable order-of-magnitude estimates of this effect. Furthermore, we point out the importance of three-body decays of the background field excitations into scalars and gauge bosons, which provide the dominant contributions at energy scales above the scale of symmetry breaking. Using our improved results, we find that scalar, fermion, and vector dark matter are all viable across a large range of mass scales, from $$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
(10) TeV to a few orders of magnitude below the Planck scale, and the corresponding phase transitions can be probed with current and future gravitational wave experiments.
Two-loop amplitudes for $$ \mathcal{O}\left({\alpha}_s^2\right) $$ corrections to Wγγ production at the LHC
Authors: Badger Simon , Hartanto Heribertus Bayu , Wu Zihao , Zhang Yang , Zoia Simone
Published: January 2025

Abstract

We present the two-loop helicity amplitudes contributing to the next-to-next-to-leading order QCD predictions for W-boson production in association with two photons at the Large Hadron Collider. We derived compact analytic expressions for the two-loop amplitudes in the leading colour limit, and provide numerical results for the subleading colour contributions. We employ a compact system of integration-by-part identities provided by the NeatIBP package, allowing for an efficient computation of the rational coefficients of the scattering amplitudes over finite fields.
Rectifiability and uniqueness of blow-ups for points with positive Alt–Caffarelli–Friedman limit
Authors: Allen Mark , Kriventsov Dennis , Neumayer Robin
Published: January 2025

We study the regularity of the interface between the disjoint supports of a pair of nonnegative subharmonic functions. The portion of the interface where the Alt–Caffarelli–Friedman (ACF) monotonicity formula is asymptotically positive forms an
$$\mathcal {H}^{n-1}$$

H

n
-
1

-rectifiable set. Moreover, for
$$\mathcal {H}^{n-1}$$

H

n
-
1

-a.e. such point, the two functions have unique blowups, i.e. their Lipschitz rescalings converge in
$$W^{1,2}$$

W

1
,
2

to a pair of nondegenerate truncated linear functions whose supports meet at the approximate tangent plane. The main tools used include the Naber–Valtorta framework and our recent result establishing a sharp quantitative remainder term in the ACF monotonicity formula. We also give applications of our results to free boundary problems.
Wie steht es um die Gesundheit pflegender erwerbstätiger Personen?
Authors: Elling Jan Mathis , Hetzel Christian , Hampel Sarah , von Spee Adelheid , Ollertz Greta
Published: January 2025

Hintergrund

Der Großteil der pflegebedürften Menschen in Deutschland wird zu Hause von Angehörigen oder anderen Bezugspersonen gepflegt. Viele informell Pflegende sind zudem erwerbstätig und stehen somit vor der Herausforderung, die Anforderungen beider Lebensbereiche zu vereinbaren. Dabei besteht die Gefahr, dass die eigene Gesundheit der Pflegenden leidet.

Fragestellungen

(1) Inwiefern steht eine Pflegeverantwortung im privaten Umfeld bei Erwerbstätigen mit gesundheitlichen Beschwerden im Zusammenhang? (2) Innerhalb der Gruppe der pflegenden erwerbstätigen Personen, inwiefern stehen der Umfang von informeller Pflege und Erwerbsarbeit mit gesundheitlichen Beschwerden im Zusammenhang?

Material und Methoden

Die Datenbasis dieser Sekundärdatenanalyse ist die BIBB/BAuA-Erwerbstätigenbefragung 2018. Um systematische Strukturunterschiede zwischen Pflegenden und Nichtpflegenden in den Analysen zu berücksichtigen, wurde das Propensity Score Matching angewendet.

Ergebnisse und Diskussion

Pflegende Erwerbstätige haben häufiger psychosomatische und körperliche Beschwerden als Erwerbstätige ohne Pflegeverantwortung. Erwerbsarbeitszeit und Pflegeumfang stehen in Beziehung zueinander, und ein hoher Umfang in beiden Lebensbereichen ist mit schlechterer Gesundheit assoziiert.

Schlussfolgerung

Personen, die neben ihrer Berufstätigkeit Pflegeaufgaben übernehmen, sind häufig gesundheitlich belastet. Daher sind gezielte Interventionen zur Gesundheitsförderung notwendig, um diese Gruppe zu unterstützen und ihre Gesundheit zu verbessern.
Online multi-agent deep reinforcement learning platform for distributed real-time dynamic control of power systems
Authors: Zhen Fan , Zhenghong Tu , Wenxin Liu
Published: January 2025

In recent years, multi-agent deep reinforcement learning (MADRL) has made significant strides in power system decision-making and control. However, there is a scarcity of high-fidelity, real-time platforms for testing various DRL control algorithms in detailed power systems. Motivated by EtherCAT communication and DRL features, this study presents a MADRL online testing platform for distributed real-time dynamic control of power systems. The platform utilizes the Opal-RT real-time simulator for real-time simulation of dynamic power system environments and uses multiple AI workstations for the implementation of MADRL control algorithms. The proposed platform facilitates real-time interaction among AI workstations and the Opal-RT real-time simulator by leveraging the EtherCAT communication protocol to transmit system information and control signals. It enables the online and real-time training of distributed MADRL algorithms for power system dynamic control. The effectiveness and advantages of the proposed platform have been validated through detailed case studies of testing distributed MADRL algorithms for classical power system control problems.
Enhancing affordable EEG to act as a quantitative EEG for inattention treatment using MATLAB
Authors: Magdy Rady Radwa , Elsalamawy Doaa , Rizk M. R. M. , Abdel Alim Onsy , Diaa Moussa Nancy
Published: January 2025

Lack of attention is a chronic behavior in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and other disorders that harm academic and social performance. ADHD is a disorder whose typical symptoms include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. They have a major impact on the affected person’s function and development. The electroencephalogram (EEG) device is a diagnostic tool, whereas the quantitative EEG (QEEG) device is a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for most mental disorders. QEEG applies the neurofeedback method in treatment. Neurofeedback is a technique for training brain functions and is an alternative to the traditional oral treatment of inattention disorders due to its numerous side effects. The proposed software can upgrade most EEG devices in hospitals and clinics into QEEGs capable of neurofeedback. The upgrading tools and stages are introduced in this study. The cost of upgrading an EEG device is 25 times less than the purchase price of a QEEG device. The EEG device (Open BCI) has been upgraded with MATLAB to function as a QEEG system, integrating a variety of feature extraction methods for inattention detection such as fractal dimension (FD), wavelet transform (WT), multi-resolution techniques (MR), and empirical mode decomposition (EMD) which signified a notable progress in the field. Furthermore, the implemented software is easily customizable to include any forthcoming superior techniques that may arise. Earlier research distinguished the differences between states of relaxation and concentration using a simple fixed threshold. In this paper, short training has been utilized to calculate adaptive thresholds to optimize individual effects. Different thresholding techniques were employed with the EMD_Dt technique to distinguish between focused and unfocused epochs. The adaptive threshold method results have been more accurate reaching the benchmark of 99.82%, as opposed to the fixed threshold method, which reaches an accuracy of 97.73%. The findings were assessed through a pilot study involving 3483 epochs collected across 24 sessions from male and female children aged between 5 and 16. The proposed QEEG software was evaluated to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timed (SMART) with an effect size of 0.85528336, which is significant.
McCormick envelopes in mixed-integer PDE-constrained optimization
Authors: Leyffer Sven , Manns Paul
Published: January 2025

McCormick envelopes are a standard tool for deriving convex relaxations of optimization problems that involve polynomial terms. Such McCormick relaxations provide lower bounds, for example, in branch-and-bound procedures for mixed-integer nonlinear programs but have not gained much attention in PDE-constrained optimization so far. This lack of attention may be due to the distributed nature of such problems, which on the one hand leads to infinitely many linear constraints (generally state constraints that may be difficult to handle) in addition to the state equation for a pointwise formulation of the McCormick envelopes and renders bound-tightening procedures that successively improve the resulting convex relaxations computationally intractable. We analyze McCormick envelopes for a model problem class that is governed by a semilinear PDE involving a bilinearity and integrality constraints. We approximate the nonlinearity and in turn the McCormick envelopes by averaging the involved terms over the cells of a partition of the computational domain on which the PDE is defined. This yields convex relaxations that underestimate the original problem up to an a priori error estimate that depends on the mesh size of the discretization. These approximate McCormick relaxations can be improved by means of an optimization-based bound-tightening procedure. We show that their minimizers converge to minimizers to a limit problem with a pointwise formulation of the McCormick envelopes when driving the mesh size to zero. We provide a computational example, for which we certify all of our imposed assumptions. The results point to both the potential of the methodology and the gaps in the research that need to be closed. Our methodology provides a framework first for obtaining pointwise underestimators for nonconvexities and second for approximating them with finitely many linear inequalities in an infinite-dimensional setting.
The connection between distance learning profiles and achievement emotions in secondary mathematics education
Authors: Sydänmaanlakka Anni , Häsä Jokke , Holm Marja E. , Hannula Markku S.
Published: January 2025

During the COVID-19 pandemic, distance learning became the dominant form of education, utilizing a variety of technological resources to activate students and facilitate independent learning. In this study, latent profile analysis was used to identify different distance learning profiles and analysis of covariance was used to analyze the relationships between identified profiles and students’ (n = 552) achievement emotions in Finnish upper secondary schools (n = 18). The results supported a four-profile model contrasting teaching practices against student involvement: the largest profile (32.97%) was characterized as deactivating–distracted, followed by deactivating–engaged (24.92%) and activating–engaged (24.64%), with the smallest profile (17.57%) being activating–distracted. Here, activation refers to teaching practices with a focus on student participation and school support, whereas distraction reflects students’ involvement in the distance learning environment. Notably, the activating–engaged profile exhibited the most positive achievement emotions, while the deactivating–distracted profile was associated with the most negative emotions. These results highlight the importance of active participation, promoting engagement, and the need for support in distance learning contexts to foster students’ positive achievement emotions.
Monitoring slow-moving deep-seated landslide using PSI technique: a case study of a potential sliding slope from southern Taiwan
Authors: Lakhote Abhishek , Chan Yu-Chang , Lu Chiao-Yin , Kumar Gopal , Sun Cheng-Wei
Published: January 2025

Studying slow-moving, deep-seated landslides is crucial due to their long-lasting effects on landscapes, infrastructure, and communities. In mountainous regions like Taiwan, understanding these landslides is vital for hazard mitigation and land-use planning. Over 2500 pre-existing landslides have been cataloged in Taiwan using LiDAR data, with many identified as potential slow-moving landslide zones, including a significant site, the Liugui-D047, near Hsinfa Village in southern Taiwan. This study aims to understand the E-W and vertical deformation rates at the potential landslide site using the persistent scattering interferometry (PSI) technique. PSI is particularly effective for detecting slow-moving landslides, providing millimeter-level precision in surface deformation measurements over time. By utilizing open-source tools like ISCE and StaMPS, we conducted a five-year PSI analysis from 2018 to 2023 to monitor surface movements at the site. Our results revealed minimal deformation rates, with westward movements ranging from 4.1 to 2.2 mm/yr and vertical downward movements from 4.2 to 1.4 mm/yr. These findings were validated by in situ measurements collected in 2023, confirming the observations of PSI for long-term monitoring. This highlights the effectiveness of combining PSI techniques with open-source tools for monitoring landslide sites, especially in areas with limited in-situ resources. Our study shows that this integration can yield detailed, long-term insights into surface deformations while reducing the costs of extensive in-situ monitoring. Additionally, our findings indicate that the topographically well-defined Liugui-D047 landslide site remained stable with minimal movement over five years, though ongoing monitoring is essential due to multiple influencing factors.
Impact of Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs): A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies
Authors: Kallapiran Kannan , Suetani Shuichi , Cobham Vanessa , Eapen Valsamma , Scott James
Published: January 2025

Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) may mitigate the negative outcomes resulting from Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). To date, most PCE research has used cross-sectional or retrospective designs. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, PsychINFO, CINAHL, and Scopus were searched in May 2024 for longitudinal studies that examined the impact of cumulative PCEs. Eight publications from five longitudinal studies with a total of 16,451 participants were included. Three studies focused only on adolescent outcomes. PCEs were associated with reduced rates of depression, substance use, delinquent behavior, risky sexual behavior, persistent insomnia, and lower inflammatory markers. Cumulative PCEs in childhood may moderate the impact of ACEs, potentially playing an important role in reducing the risk for mental disorders and other adverse outcomes later in life.

PROSPERO (ID: CRD42022384775).
Mathematical induction in education research: a systematic review
Authors: Arnesen Kristin Krogh , Skartsæterhagen Øystein Ingmar
Published: January 2025

Mathematical induction is a powerful method of proof, taught in most undergraduate programs involving mathematics and in secondary schools in some countries. It is also commonly known to be complex and difficult to comprehend. During the last five decades, mathematics education research has produced numerous studies on the learning and teaching of mathematical induction. In this systematic literature review, we consider important features of this body of research. First, we investigate how the nature of mathematical induction is presented in the research literature. Then, we synthesize the findings of the research. In particular, we pay attention to the approaches and findings of teaching interventions and establish the current state of the art.
Meaning(s) of a student perspective in mathematics education research
Authors: Källberg Petra Svensson , Roos Helena
Published: January 2025

This systematic literature review explores meaning(s) of a student perspective in mathematics education research by investigating the intentionalities of research texts that use a student perspective. The study views research texts as being produced in and influenced by the context and the discourses in which they are submerged. In exploring the meaning(s) of a student perspective in mathematics education research, we draw on Skovsmose’s intentionality interpretation of meaning. A total of 98 unique research texts were explored, resulting in three meanings of student perspectives in mathematics education research: ‘feelings, experiences, and views’, ‘evaluating interventions’ and ‘validating effects’. The results show that student perspectives in mathematics education research predominantly consisted of studies with the intentionalities of evaluation and validation having a “regular” student in mind. Perspectives from students with certain characteristics, like underserved students and students in different performance levels, are scarce. While the findings might not be surprising, this literature review nonetheless calls for rethinking student perspectives in mathematics education research to include research with students that recognize students’ diverse backgrounds. We end the article by suggesting a desire-based research approach to seriously address students’ hopes, wishes, aspirations, and desires in mathematics education research.
Outcomes of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in 5 Patients with Autosomal Recessive RIPK1-Deficiency
Authors: Walsh Rebecca B. , McNaughton Peter , Nademi Zohreh , Laberko Alexandra , Balashov Dmitry , Al-Mousa Hamoud , Arkwright Peter D. , Wynn Robert F. , Flood Terry , Williams Eleri , Cant Andrew , Abinun Mario , Hambleton Sophie , Slatter Mary , Gennery Andrew R. , Lum Su Han , Owens Stephen
Published: January 2025

Receptor Interacting Serine/Threonine Kinase 1 (RIPK1) is widely expressed and integral to inflammatory and cell death responses. Autosomal recessive RIPK1-deficiency, due to biallelic loss of function mutations in RIPK1, is a rare inborn error of immunity (IEI) resulting in uncontrolled necroptosis, apoptosis and inflammation. Although hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been suggested as a potential curative therapy, the extent to which disease may be driven by extra-hematopoietic effects of RIPK1-deficiency, which are non-amenable to HSCT, is not clear. We present a multi-centre, international review of an additional 5 RIPK1-deficient children who underwent HSCT. All patients presented with very early onset inflammatory bowel disease, 2 also suffered from inflammatory arthritis. Median age at transplant was 3 years (range 1—5 years); 1 received matched sibling marrow, 1 matched unrelated peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC), 2 TCRαβ/CD19-depleted PBSC from maternal-haploidentical donors, and 1 had TCRαβ/CD19-depleted PBSC from a mismatched unrelated donor. All received reduced-toxicity conditioning, based on treosulfan (n = 4) or busulfan (n = 1); 1 patient underwent a successful second transplant following autologous reconstitution. Four of five patients (80%) survived; 1 child died due to multi-drug resistant pseudomonas infection and multi-organ failure. With a median duration of 14 months follow-up, 2 survivors were disease-free, and 2 had substantially improving enteropathy. These findings demonstrated that HSCT is a potential curative therapy for RIPK1-deficiency.
Pre-Transplant Immune Dysregulation Predicts for Poor Outcome Following Allogeneic Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Adolescents and Adults with Inborn Errors of Immunity (IEI)
Authors: Fox Thomas A. , Massey Valerie , Lever Charley , Pearce Rachel , Laurence Arian , Grace Sarah , Oliviero Filippo , Workman Sarita , Symes Andrew , Lowe David M. , Fiaccadori Valeria , Hough Rachael , Tadros Susan , Burns Siobhan O. , Seidel Markus G. , Carpenter Ben , Morris Emma C.
Published: January 2025

Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) is safe and effective for adolescents and adults with inborn errors of immunity (IEI) with severe disease manifestations of their disease. The haematopoietic cell transplantation comorbidity index (HCT-CI) score predicts transplant survival in non-malignant diseases, including IEIs. We hypothesised that immune dysregulation pre-transplant may also influence transplant outcomes. We calculated the pre-transplant immune dysregulation and disease activity score (IDDA v2.1) for 82 adolescent and adult IEI patients (aged ≥ 13 years). Three-year overall survival (OS) for the whole cohort was 90% (n = 82) with a median follow up of 44.7 months (range 8.4 to 225.8). Events were defined as acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) grades II or above, chronic GvHD of any grade, graft failure, or death from any cause. Three-year event free survival (EFS) for the whole cohort was 72%. In multivariable analysis the IDDA v2.1 score pre-transplant and HCT-CI score significantly impacted OS (hazard ratio 1.08, p = 0.028) and EFS (hazard ratio 1.04, p = 0.0005). Importantly, 35% of this cohort had a high IDDA v2.1 score (≥ 15) and low HCT-CI score (< 3) suggesting that the risks of alloHSCT may be underestimated in a proportion of patients with IEI if the HCT-CI score is used alone. These findings support the potential for improved outcomes following successful modulation of immune dysregulation pre-transplant. The IDDA v2.1 score has utility as an objective measurement of pre-transplant immune dysregulation providing additional information reagrding the risks and potential complications of alloHSCT in an individual IEI patient.
Computational Thinking in Science Laboratories Based on the Flipped Classroom Model: Computational Thinking, Laboratory Entrepreneurial and Attitude
Authors: Sari Uğur , Ulusoy Alperen , Pektaş Hüseyin Miraç
Published: January 2025

Computational thinking (CT) has gained more value for individuals in a world reshaped by digital transformation in the last decade. Therefore, educators and researchers are trying to integrate CT into teaching practices. Efforts to teach CT are increasing, especially in basic courses widely included in school curricula. The focus of this study is the integration of CT into science teaching in the flipped classroom model. In this context, the effects of flipped computational science laboratory (Flipped-CSL) activities carried out with teacher candidates on CT skills, laboratory entrepreneurship, and attitude were investigated. An intertwined mixed research design, in which quantitative and qualitative data were evaluated together, was used in the study. Findings showed that flipped-CSL activities were effective for teacher candidates and improved their CT skills, laboratory entrepreneurship, and attitudes significantly and positively. The results of this study include the practical use of flipped-CSL activities when planning laboratory activities for school science subjects to improve CT skills. Implications for using of flipped-CSL activities in science education were discussed, and suggestions were made regarding the results.
A phase I study of convection-enhanced delivery (CED) of liposomal-irinotecan using real-time magnetic resonance imaging in patients with recurrent high-grade glioma
Authors: Narsinh Kazim H. , Kumar Karishma , Bankiewicz Krystof , Martin Alastair J. , Berger Mitchell , Clarke Jennifer , Taylor Jennie , Bush Nancy Ann Oberheim , Molinaro Annette M. , Aghi Manish , Butowski Nicholas
Published: January 2025

Background

Irinotecan demonstrates anti-tumor efficacy in preclinical glioma models but clinical results are modest due to drug delivery limitations. Convection enhanced delivery (CED) improves drug delivery by increasing intratumoral drug concentration. Real-time magnetic resonance imaging of infusate delivery during CED may optimize tumor coverage. This phase 1 trial examines the safety and tolerability of liposomal irinotecan and gadolinium delivered via CED using real-time MRI guidance in recurrent high-grade glioma patients.

Methods

Initially, a 3 + 3 dose-escalating, single dose trial was planned with 4 cohorts based on a fixed drug dose and volume. After 9 patients, a protocol amendment allowed for variable volume and dose of the study agent based on tumor size. The amended design specified ‘personalized’ drug volume but fixed concentration of 20 mg/mL of liposomal irinotecan in the first cohort escalating to 40 mg/mL in the second cohort.

Results

Eighteen patients with recurrent WHO grade 3 or 4 gliomas (diameter 1–4 cm) were treated. Based on the tumor volume, the total dose of liposomal irinotecan was 20–680 mg in a total volume of 2–17 ml. Technical challenges were overcome by real-time MRI guidance and protocol amendment. The only dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was a grade 3 stroke. Safety and survival information is presented.

Conclusions

CED of liposomal irinotecan using real-time MRI in patients with recurrent high-grade glioma is feasible. Image-guidance allowed for improved placement of CED cannulas and optimal tumor coverage. Our results warrant further study with repeat CED dosing.